When Mizoshi awoke again, she found her demon lover had disappeared. Where had he gone to? Looking over to her right, she saw the sliding screen had been left standing open. Judging by the sun's position, she knew it was late morning.
As she sat with the covers up to her chin, the memories of last night reran through her mind. It had been…wonderful. Naraku had aroused sensations and emotions she was never aware she possessed. But strangely, without him here next to her, she felt a bit guilty.
On the floor, she could clearly make out the crumpled form of her turquoise and pink kimono. She'd never guessed following the spider would have led to this. It had taken her by complete surprise. Yet, in the end, she wouldn't have wanted the previous evening to conclude any other way. So, why did she feel so awkward?
She sensed a change within herself. Of course, her body wasn't the same. She was no longer an inexperienced maiden. Still naive perhaps, but not wholly inexperienced. However, it just wasn't about that. No, this metamorphosis seemed to take place in the very makeup of her corporal structure.
On edge, she started when a figure suddenly swept into the room. The dark shape was holding a tray of some sort. Was it Kagura? The wind sorceress would surely find something to quarrel about now.
To her relief, she found it was the man whose bed she was sleeping in. Naraku was dressed in his stately robes of navy and royal purple. The gold ornaments on his kimono glittered as he leaned forward into the sunshine to place the miniature table in front of her. "Good morning," he intoned pleasantly. "I have taken the initiative to bring you breakfast."
She swallowed hard. "Thank you, Naraku." Why was he acting so casual?
Sitting across from her on the floor, he smiled thinly. "While you're involved, I thought I'd tell you beforehand what to expect in the terms of living conditions."
Mizoshi confusedly sipped the hot tea. What was he going on about? He was back to treating her like a client or a guest. Is this how he chose to express his apparent affections?
"I have decided to move your room closer to mine," he continued. "So, in short, we will be seeing each other more often during the course of the day…or night."
She nearly choked on the steaming amber liquid.
"Right this minute, Kanna is retrieving your things. I do hope you will grow to like your new situation." Naraku ended this speech with a smirk.
Deciding rather to let her stomach digest the food instead of allowing her mind to digest this unexpected information, she made no reply as she began to eat. She hastily ate the eggs and fresh peaches while he watched on. He didn't budge an inch. Mizoshi couldn't guess what he was thinking, nor did she wish to.
Somehow, his presence made her more nervous than usual. In the comfort of his bed, within the velvet darkness, there had been nothing between them. No secrets and no distances. Now, under the sun's harsh rays, reality and old roles returned.
After she had finished her meal, he picked up the kimono from the floor he himself had removed and laid it in her trembling fingers. "Come. I shall personally escort you to your new chamber." He held out his hand.
Mizoshi held the blanket up to her chest. "May I at least dress first?" she asked.
Naraku looked first at the two-toned kimono and then at her. "Yes, I suppose that could be arranged." The amused smirk widened.
He turned his back to give her some privacy. Quickly, she thrust her arms into the garment's sleeves and tied it around her body. But quite frankly, he needn't have averted his gaze. He'd seen and touched these same vulnerable areas scarcely hours ago.
"I'm ready," she finally announced.
"So, it appears. Although, you're most beautiful without a stitch on." A familiar glimmer entered his heady orbs of red.
A deep blush staining her cheeks, she allowed the tall, dark hanyou to take her into this new part of this castle. Mizoshi would miss her old room and especially the walled garden, but what good was it when all the flowers were already dead?
With flourish, he gestured towards an open doorway that was approximately three turns and two hallways away from his own private rooms. "Your new chamber, my lady. I shall give you opportune time to situate yourself."
She had barely taken her next breath before Naraku was gone from sight. Gamely treading into her new chamber, Mizoshi's mouth widened in awe. It was nearly as big as Naraku's own room and certainly grander than her previous accommodations. For one, the floor was lined with white and plum mats. Not a speck of the grainy wooden floor showed beneath them. The walls were painted a sunny golden yellow, and the bed was easily twice as large. On it was her painting supplies and her creations themselves. How had the ghostly little girl guessed the paintings were hidden under the mattress?
A depressed sigh escaping her lips, she studied the forbidden image of the two distinctively colored birds; one violet, one viridian; flying and chirping atop the surrounding crimson heart. All of a sudden, she required some fresh air. Was it ungrateful to desire that Naraku had just left her where she was?
Glancing around, she searched for a sliding screen door or compartment. Mizoshi examined every wall for some sort of connecting garden or courtyard. Eventually, she ruefully admitted there was nothing of the kind in this particular room. Perhaps she could get another living spaceif she kindly appealed to the master again in his chambers at midnight. Mizoshi let the bitter thought pass and walked into the hall once more. There, she saw a thin rectangle of light. Not far from her chamber was a screen that exited on a porch. Stepping out of the castle itself, she witnessed the menacing winged demons plaguing the dusty, noxious horizon; demons that Naraku could unleash on any helpless village he chose. Why did he need so many demons? For defense? For offense? For callous destruction?
Sitting down on the overhang, Mizoshi wondered if she had just betrayed her entire race. She musn't ever forget that the man she had shared her "company" with last night was technically inherently wicked. The poisonous barrier was proof enough. She was still to be kept imprisoned here, and Naraku was clearly willing to send his own legion of demons after her should she try to escape. And yet, whenever she searched her heart; her complex, whirling feelings gave the same answer. She was in love. In love with her own jailer. Even though he could feed her to his underlings if she displeased or refused him.
Mizoshi's musings were sharply interrupted when she heard a throaty feminine chuckled behind her. Great. Now, my morning is complete…
Wow, thanks for all the reviews, guys! That's the most I've ever gotten in a single chapter. Werewolfpixie, don't worry, neither Mizoshi nor Naraku will die. That would be mean and I hate when people kill off their OCs or the main characters in a fic. Oh, and there will be more Sesshoumaru/Kagura in the next chapters. ;)