After breakfast, Mizoshi padded to her room and slid the screen door shut. She couldn't remove the horrendous vision of the black spider or the hot intensity of Naraku's red eyes. This castle was getting to her. If something would happen in the future, she would be caught in the crossfire. Yet, although she didn't belong here, she had no idea where else to travel either. Perhaps a hot bath would soothe her nerves.

Leaving the sanctuary of her personal chamber and connecting garden, she wandered into the dusky corridor. Mizoshi would find the bathing room Kagura had led to and soak in it all day, even under the possibility of having to haul the water herself. Pushing away her doubts of getting lost, she trod upon the secure wooden planks below.

Unfortunately, she barely got to the first bend until a quiet voice stopped her. "Where are you going, Mizoshi?"

Mizoshi spun around to face the ghostly white face of Kanna. "Thank goodness I found someone," she said, putting just the correct amount of distress in her voice. "I require directions."

"To where?"

"The bathing room with the wooden tubs. There were three of them I believe."

"Did Naraku-sama say you could?"

Growing mightily irritated, Mizoshi remained calm. "No. Should I ask him first? I understand this is his home, and I should've gotten his permission, but…"

"Don't worry about it. I'll take you," Kanna whispered. The girl turned around; that odd mirror still in her possession.

It had worked. Mizoshi didn't want to Kanna to catch on to her purpose of familiarizing herself with the castle while concurrently desiring a soak. Why shouldn't she? Naraku couldn't keep her under lock and key in her chamber forever. She refused to believe that. Still, she wouldn't get far should she flee outside these connecting rooms. Kagura and Naraku himself took special delight in describing the poisonous barrier of gases that thwarted the efforts of any being ranging from the weakest of mortals to the strongest of demons. The barrier only opened when Naraku wished it to be, which was never.

Leading Mizoshi through the winding halls, she foolishly wondered if the place could be brightened up then summarily dismissed it. Spiders preferred the dark coziness of their dens. Naraku wouldn't let her touch so much as a cobweb.

Finally, they entered a familiar corridor and Kanna gestured to an open doorway. "These are the baths. Stay as long as you need. I'll take you back to your room when it's time."

"Please, Kanna. I don't want to be a bother--"

"It has nothing to do with that. I'm to supervise your wanderings lest you stumble into forbidden areas."

Of course.

Mizoshi sighed in the perfumed water. The steam closed in around her. Here, up to her shoulders in radiating liquid heat, she hadn't a care. She forgot her past. She forgot the eerie Kanna and the malicious Kagura. She even succeeded in forgetting about Naraku briefly, yet those crimson eyes would not leave her memory for long. Sadly, reality returned when the water turned cold. She couldn't hide in here forever.

Reluctantly, she left the tub and groped for the thick towel to dry herself Kanna had set out on a wooden bench. Sweeping back her wet hair, she leaned down once more for her kimono and discovered it missing. She gasped. Who would take her clothing? Was this another game?

At that moment, Kanna floated inside. Her trademark mirror would grow cloudy if she stayed here in this humid atmosphere. "I'll take you back now," she said in her whispery voice.

"Kanna, where are my clothes?"

She cocked her pale head to the side in thought. "I took them to be properly cleaned."

A likely story. With no other choice but to keep that towel wrapped around her tight, she followed Naraku's first incarnation. If Mizoshi could keep out of sight, she would be extremely grateful. Alas, this was not to be the case.

In the opposite direction, Naraku turned a corner and began walking towards them. Stifling a whimper of embarrassment, she closed the folds of her towel all the more closer together. Why had the gods chosen to humiliate her in this manner? Her shoulders were uncovered and her legs were showing! The cloth covered just her vital parts. For this, she was thankful at least.

Naraku stared her up and down as she blushed heavily. "I was taking a b-bath," she stammered out. "Forgive my inappropiate attire, Naraku-sama."

From the way he looked at her, he truly didn't seem to mind. However, annoyance came rushing to the surface all the same. "Taking a bath?"

"I escorted her," Kanna said.

He sneered. "In the future, obtain my permission first and foremost. I don't care for those that exhaust my utilities without my permission." Naraku's eyes had hardened into crimson ice.

"I'm sorry for being so presumptuous. It won't happen again."

Barely glancing at her, he strode away. What had gotten into him? Something about her appearance obviously angered him. Mizoshi couldn't understand. Did he not find her pleasing? Her face fell. Wait…why should she care?

Suddenly, she felt something tugging at her hand. "Mizoshi?"

She let the little girl with the personification of a remorseless goddess take her to her familiar room. Kanna made sure to slide the door shut behind her. Shaking out her hair, Mizoshi flung open the wardrobe and chose an orange kimono with a triangular pattern of sky blue. As she dressed, her mind kept turning over Naraku's reaction. What was wrong with him? He was a mystery she couldn't solve. He could be kind, he could scare her out of her wits, or he could be cruel and indifferent.

Sighing, she brushed out her hair and let it air-dry. She would wear her hair loose with no ornaments. Her favorite style. What was he hiding in his dark corner? Why did he shy away? Naraku was virtually wicked. Blackness itself attached itself to him. And her fate lay in his hand…

On the verge of tears, Mizoshi rummaged for her art supplies and pulled out the finished piece that she had hid under her mattress hours earlier. Beside the green bird, she began construction on another. This new bird would have feathers of purple and eyes of crimson. Because she had never drawn a spider before, this would have to do. Somehow, it numbed the sting.

Naraku paced in his own chambers. He was livid, and rightfully so. At everyone; including himself.

She did not know her place. That much was certain.

So, he couldn't keep her locked in her room forever. Sooner or later, she was bound to get curious and bolder. First, it was a bath. Second, it would be something else. How dare she have the audacity to treat this castle as if she in fact owned the property? Why did she feel she had to sneak around at all? Couldn't she just ask him?

And yet, the image of her wrapped in his towel wouldn't leave his mind. She was so innocently alluring with her wet tresses skimming her slim shoulders that were dewy from the bath. There had been no modest way to hide her form from his eyes then. Seductress! Had she planned that display on purpose? Women with their natural feminine charm wouldn't beat him. Mizoshi was merely one out of thousands.

He was losing patience with his "guest." Perhaps more drastic measures were in order…

Evil bastard, huh? ;) Don't worry, they'll be no sugary, redemptionist Naraku in this story, Dev. And Lady Dandybell, yes, the spider represents Naraku. That's what his evolutionary state eventually turns into anyway. (Unless it's a scorpion.) Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers! But, I just want you guys to tell me one thing. I'm afraid Mizoshi is on the borderline of Mary-Sueness for some reason and want to know if any feel the same way. Thanks, guys!