Grudgingly, Mizoshi opened her eyes. It was such a torture to awaken in this castle of horror. At least she had slept the night through. Sadly, her position had not changed. He was still here.

Daring to peek at the dark hanyou's face, she found that his eyes were still closed. Ever so slightly, she could feel his chest rise and fall under her.

She was faced with a dilemma. If she got up, she would risk waking him. If she stayed, she would have to endure his unsettling presence all the longer.

He made the decision for her. Naraku's eyelids sprang open, revealing blood-red orbs. He smirked upon seeing her.

"Watching me sleep, Mizoshi? Were you concerned for me?"

How does he always manage to be so damned witty at any point in the day?

Uncomfortably, she tore her gaze away from the smirking demon. Mizoshi wasn't in the mood. In fact, she just wanted to reenter her slumber.

"Come now, Mizoshi," he soothed. "I won't bite." Unceremoniously, he grasped her wrists, bringing her down closer to him.

She cried out from pain. Her wrists hadn't healed, and his touch was aggravating the tender skin.

Naraku frowned. Then, his eyes roamed over their joined limbs. "Oh." He hastily released her hands. "I didn't realize…"

Mizoshi went to get up from the bedding but saw that she was rather inconvenienced. Under the blankets, she at once recognized she was mostly naked. It was hardly surprising considering she had retired in nothing but a bath towel the previous evening. The towel in question was bunched around her hips, her front left bare. Somehow, this fact had not evaded Naraku.

"Well, well," he purred, "this is certainly a welcome situation to awaken to."

Mizoshi wanted to slap his handsome face. If he dared peek under the cover…

Reaching down, she pulled the scant blanket up over her exposed bosom. Now, at least she could pretend she was wearing clothes under the sheets she was forced to share.

"I presume you are preparing, Mizoshi," he intoned.

She wrapped the silken sheet tighter around her, as if to stave off an invisible attack. "Preparing?"

"For your lesson." The dark hanyou smiled thinly. "Your lesson in how to control your demonic nature. Shall we begin this afternoon?"

She stared at him in wonder.

He's going to teach me to control my demonic nature? One of the worst demons ever to walk the earth?

"What are you thinking, Mizoshi?" Naraku moved closer to her.

"Oh, nothing in particular," she lied.

He searched her eyes. Eventually, he gave up the game, and scooted off the mattress. Naraku gazed down at his captured bird appraisingly.

"I will bring you back a kimono. Wait here."

Mizoshi nodded blandly.

Why is he pretending to care? Doesn't he understand how I feel?

Of course he doesn't. One needs emotions in order to feel.

Scarcely two minutes later, the dark hanyou strutted in the drafty chamber with a kimono. It was scarlet with fiery orange peonies. She gritted her teeth at the subtle hint the sumptuous fabric wafted.

I hate red, and he knows it. Obviously, the point must be made.

He took note of her annoyance and chuckled. "I think that this is the best kimono suited for the occasion." Carelessly, he laid it across the bedding before making over towards the door. However, at the threshold, he stopped.

"I shall wait out here. Do not worry, you'll have all the privacy you desire." With that, he left; the faint scent of miasma lingering after him.

Not even bothering to contemplate, Mizoshi leapt to her feet and tied the summery kimono around her. There. One problem was solved. Behind this layer of silk, she no longer felt so vulnerable. Still, Hell awaited outside the bedroom.

Bracing herself, she walked out into the corridor. The hell demon was waiting.

"Why, Mizoshi. You look…exquisite. It was woven especially for you."

"Thank you, Naraku," she replied crisply. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must cook myself breakfast."

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

She tensed under her elaborate, tropical robe. "I'm afraid I don't follow."

"Don't I get a goodbye kiss?"

She looked at the dark hanyou in horror; letting her eyes roam where they would. In truth, it was the first time in a long while where she had actually looked at Naraku.

His dark allure had not diminished. Not the slightest bit. He was dressed as splendidly as when she had first laid her cursed eyes on him in his princely navy blue and violet robes. His jet, rippling tresses resembled nighttime waterfalls. That impossibly perfect pale skin that had been crafted so beautifully radiated pure magnetism. He was so intoxicating. At present, those ivory lips twitched amusedly while his crimson eyes sizzled.

"Well? Do I, my love?"

Naraku's demeanor shook her to the core. She didn't ever want to lay her lips on him again.

But why can't I stop staring at him?

Suddenly, Naraku pulled her into his embrace and sealed his mouth over her own. He then immediately released her from the stifling atmosphere of his arms just as quickly. It was almost as if the kiss had never taken place at all. Yet it had. For inside Mizoshi's chest, her heart had turned upside-down.

"Now, run along Mizoshi As you have stated, you need food to eat."

Mizoshi spun on her heel and skulked away, her cheeks reddening.

I most certainly need food to eat. He kept me in the dungeon for the better part of a day.

On instinct, she traversed the lonely halls to the food preparing area. And lo and behold, the wind witch was standing there, primly holding her fan whilst leaning demurely against the wall. She was as repugnant as ever.

"Kagura," she managed. "What are you doing?"

"Waiting," the woman in lavender replied nonchalantly.

"For me?"

Kagura rolled her luminous eyes. "No. For the Empress. Who else would go into this room?"

"Why?" Mizoshi nearly gasped the word out.

She's here to finish it. Naraku must've ordered it done.

"To see how you've been faring. The dungeon is harsh, isn't it? I imagine it would be worse for--"

Mizoshi broke in the conversation before the wind witch could insult her. "So, now you've come to gloat?"

The wench smiled, her ruby lips glistening. "Not at all. I'm here to congratulate you."

What was this?

"Congratulate me?" she echoed.

"Yes. I didn't recognize that your kind was capable of such powers. Now, in reality, you could say that you really do have a fiery phoenix temperament."

Mizoshi shot her a glare.

Why did I tell her of my grandmother's comment? Why did I even bother to share any information with her? She'll only turn it against me if she can.

With a toss of her head, Kagura ignored Mizoshi's venomous glower. "I hope we meet more in the near future, hanyou."

A hanyou. Not half-breed, not mongrel, but hanyou. She had never considered herself as such. Still, it was a far cry from being Kagura's equal, or even anything at all.

The wind sorceress strutted out of the narrow chamber, leaving Mizoshi to her thoughts.

Should I be worried? What designs could Kagura have now? Does this newfound sweetness cover a greater bitterness within?

Methodical with her movements, Mizoshi poured the water in the pot for the rice grains to boil. As long as she kept busy, she wouldn't have to muse about the wind witch's complete change of personality or her upcoming lesson with her evil sensei.

Turning away from the boiling water, Mizoshi nearly let out a bloodcurdling scream when she discovered what was precious inches from her bare foot. Kuro. That damned black spider…

The arachnid calmly accessed her with its eight eyes, twitching its eight furry legs. Obviously, it believed she would not step on it. Perhaps it had a death wish.

Yet, in spite of her fear, she forced herself to stoop down and pet its hairy abdomen.

At any rate, the spider can't speak. It can't yell, gossip, insult, or tease.

She found a small comfort in that.

Thanks to all who reviewed. You guys are great:)

Nothing really to report. Just that "sensei" means teacher. (Just in case no one knew.) Wow, this is my shortest note in a while…

oblivionknight7: No. Sorry. Inuyasha and co. will not be showing up.