Waking up in a bed made me think that I was back in my room, that I could just head downstairs and see my sister on her laptop and my brother playing the Wii. Sleep can be a deceitful thing, and I remembered that when my ears were assaulted by that stupid toad's voice.

"The wench should not question Lord Sesshomaru! She should be grateful that she is not dead!"

"You should be grateful that I'm not strangling you, kappa." I told him.

He was startled by my reply. He must not have noticed that I was awake.

"How much did you hear?!" It asked.

"This WENCH heard just enough." I said, emphasizing the wench part.

"Well a wench should know her place." Jaken said, not realizing his mistake.

"So long as I'm here, I will make sure to make your life a living hell, Jaken." I told him with a smile.

Jaken backed away from me, and kept backing away until he bumped into Sesshomaru's leg. He proceeded to apologize and beg for forgiveness. It amazes me how Sesshomaru can deal with Jaken's constant squealing, but I wouldn't say that aloud. Sesshomaru walked past the toad and commanded him to leave. Jaken obeyed him. I was glad to see the toad leave, but was not so happy to be left alone with King Fluffy again. I refused to look at him and decided that the scenery outside would have the honor of holding my gaze.

"You are awake." He stated.

"Unfortunately." I replied with furrowed brows.

There was a moment of silence between us. I know Sesshomaru was observing me. There are a lot of things I don't like, and being scrutinized is one of them. Another one is being thrown at a wall, both of which he was guilty of doing.

"You are upset?" he asked me.

"Oh, of course not, I've always dreamed about being thrown at a wall and passing out." I said as every pore in my body released sarcasm.

"Let the past remain in the past."

I glared at him. I was not willing to let bygones be bygones. That was not acceptable. He can't go around venting his anger like that. I'm no glass figurine, but I can't be tossed around like that. He could have broken something.

It took me a while, but I eventually let go of my grudge. Expecting to get an apology from him was an impracticable idea, so I decided to act maturely. This is Sesshomaru we're talking about. The fact that he's on my list of "Anime/Game Characters I Wish Were Real" may have influenced my decision. If he did it again, I won't be so willing. He might even lose his place on my list. I don't care how sexy he is. Two times is inexcusable.

"What do you want?" I sighed.

"What do you know about my father?"

"I'm going back to sleep." I said. I just woke up and he was already interrogating me.

"Answer."

"And if I were to refuse?"

He arched one of his eyebrows. "Would you like to repeat what happened?"

"How would that help you? I'd just be more averse to you and your relentless questioning."

"Answer."

This man was irritating me. I sighed again to keep my thoughts in check. I was becoming a sigher. Even though I wanted to keep my tongue silent, I decided that the best way to get him off my back was to tell him what he wanted to know. "InuTashio, Inu demon, what do you have to protect?" I said as I laid back against my pillow. If I was going to do this, I was going to be comfortable.

"Do you know what you speak of?" He asked me.

"Yes, I do." I said.

"How do you know?"

From the tone of his voice, I could tell that he was getting very defensive, very quick. He had a good reason to. Only he and his deceased father should know about that conversation, yet here I am, speaking about it as though I was there as well. Saying it now made me feel like a snooper, and a stalker. The information I know, I now feel bad for knowing it. I know who dies, why they die, the outcomes of their struggles, all of it. I looked at where Sesshomaru's arm used to be. I knew how he would get it back. I want to help, to be useful, but time is a very fickle and persistent thing. One mistake, and what I know can become false. As far as I know, the main plot will not change, but those side episodes might. The possibilities are frightening. My knowledge is the only advantage I have here. Stripping me of that leaves me as vulnerable as a fish out of water.

"Answer." Sesshomaru commanded, forcing me out of my thoughts. Perhaps I should have been thinking of a way to avoid the question.

"I learned about it." I said vaguely, trying to make some time for me to think.

"From where?" He caught onto me trying to stall for time, so he reduced his sentences to two words.

I remained silent, contemplating how I could avoid the words 'anime' and 'manga'. "You know the situation I'm in." I finally replied.

He narrowed his eyes at my statement.

"How much do you really know?" He growled at me.

"... A lot."

"I do not like your response." he said coldly.

I did not catch the hint. "Neither do I."

Next thing I knew, I was staring into the face of a killer who had lost his patience with me. Oops, I did it again; I managed to get on Sesshomaru's nerves.

"If I could tell, you'd be the first to know, trust me. You're the only one that would understand and come up with solution that wouldn't get somebody killed." I said, trying to talk my way out of the situation.

It's either my somewhat subtle flattery calmed him down or he heard/smelled the underlying truth I my words. Thank goodness. He removed himself from me. That was too close for comfort. I'm not saying that I wouldn't like to be closer to him, just not while he's hostile. I got out of bed, and was surprised at what I saw what I was wearing. Nothing! Oh no! I'm naked! Just kidding. Someone must have changed me into an indigo yukata, or at least what I think is a yukata. Talk about prideful. Just because it's the color of your symbol doesn't mean it should be everywhere.

"Who-"

"A maid." He answered before I finished.

"Why-"

"I told her to do so."

I stopped, and looked at him. He stared back at me.

"What-"

"I have my reasons."

He knew what I was going to ask! He waited until I started my sentence to cut me off! Rude! I decided to not play his game, and remained silent as he turned and left. When I was positive that he was gone, I stuck my tongue out at him.

"I would watch where you place your tongue. I am sure you would like to keep it."

HOW DID HE SEE THAT?! He knows majiks. That was the only explanation I could come up with. Yes majiks, the majiks that's spelled with a j and k.

After a couple more minutes passed, I went over to the door, and opened it. No one was immediately outside of the door. I looked to my right and to my left. The hall was completely empty. It's time to go exploring. I know it's not a smart idea, but I felt like being dumb. I exited the room, and closed the door quietly. I then decided to go right, since right is associated with good things. I walked down the hall, observing all that I could. I had to be careful or else I would get lost. Getting lost would not help me.

First I had to go up the hall and take a right, third door on the left. That was easy enough. I continued this process, and used things to bookmark where I was supposed to go. After seven turns, I made my way outside and across one of the gardens. There was such a variety of flowers, that the colors just seemed to melt together. Through all of the colors, I spotted a single patch of light blue orchids, or at least what I thought were orchids. They were simple, but gorgeous. All of the other flowers just…. they just disappeared. I watched it sway in the wind, and heard it chime. It was soft, and delicate. I loved it. I was tempted to go over to it and examine it, but I'm sure someone would see me. I'm aware that I'm probably going to get caught, but I want to see as much as I could first. There was also the possibility that things would go my way for once. As a matter of fact, I decided that I would call it quits while the odds were still in my favor. Left, right, second right, left, first left, right, third door on left. So long as I remembered that, I would be fine. Left, right, second right, left, first left, right, third door on left. I turned around and started on my venture back to my room, but bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry." I said, embarrassed by my mistake. I kept my head bowed, and started to leave again.

"Ah, so you are Sesshomaru's guest."

I stopped. I did not recognize this voice, but it froze me in my place. Who was this man? My blood ran cold, and the hairs on my arm stuck up. I was in some deep shit. I didn't want to answer, but I couldn't just ignore him. "I would not consider myself as his guest." I said with a small laugh. I bowed slightly before continuing to walk away. I just needed to get back to my room.

"A human, almost of age I see."

My feet started to carry me away faster.

"What would Sesshomaru be doing with someone like you?" He asked as he grabbed my arm, halting my progress back to my room.

I found myself staring into deep blue eyes, speechless for a moment.

"Why do you run?" he asked.

"Well…"

"I wonder why Sesshomaru would keep you here, but then there is something about your scent that interests me as well. It seems familiar."

I could feel a cold sweat on my back. This wasn't what I signed up for.

"I can assure you that we have never met." I said as I stepped away from him. His hair was a solid black that reached around an inch below his shoulders. He had markings similar to Sesshomaru's, but his were blue, and he had a tear shape on his forehead.

"That does not explain your scent or why you are here." he said as his grip fastened on my arm.

I tried to pull my arm out of his hand politely, but he wasn't going to budge. There was no way I could overpower a demon man. What was I going to do?

I knew this was a bad idea!

'Shut up Conscience! I need a way out of here, not you rubbing this in my face!'

"I must be going."

"Why?"

"I am not exactly supposed to be outside of my room."

"And why is that?" He asked as he pulled me closer to him. "I'm sure Sesshomaru can allow me to give you some company."

"Please, release me." I said as I attempted to push him away gently.

"Could it be that Sesshomaru…"

I felt a blush creep onto my face as I realized what he was thinking. "No, it's nothing like that."

"Then why are you so secretive? Why must you remain in your room?"

"…I may be considered a trouble maker."

"Really? Why would Sesshomaru go out his way to shelter a trouble maker?"

"I do not believe that saying he is only being hospitable to me would suffice."

I got the man to smirk. "I guess I should tell you that I have a nasty habit of wanting what Sesshomaru has."

"…"

"Then you see where this is going."

I started my subtle struggle against him again.

"Release her."

At that moment, I gave up on my dream of getting away with this. I felt like my entire body had frozen over. Sesshomaru's voice was cold, and devastating. If I didn't freeze, I would have jumped, or had a panic attack. The man released me, but I didn't dare move. That would make things worse than they already are.

"I was wondering what a young lady such as herself was doing out alone." The man said.

"That is not your business." Sesshomaru snapped back, his patience obviously wearing thin. I was in a hell of a lot of trouble.

"I just found it odd that you would return with a human around her age."

"There is no need for you to think such things."

"If that is what you say." The demon said before leaving me with Sesshomaru.

He looked at me, agitated beyond what I would like. I was glad that I didn't try to sneak away; things would have been worse for sure.

"Why did you leave your room?" Sesshomaru questioned.

"Well, I wanted to explore…" I trailed off.

He growled more fiercely at me, scaring me into continuing.

"I saw the garden, and when I tried to leave that guy was here." I finished.

"Do not do such a thing again." He instructed.

I nodded my head, but when he glared at me, I gave him a verbal answer.

"Follow."

I put up no resistance. At first, we were going the exact way to my room, but then he took a right instead of the first left. Oh goodness. I wanted to ask where we were going to ease the queasy feeling I had in my stomach, but I didn't. I may have, or may have not just remembered how dangerous this place is. As it would turn out, his destination had been the library. I hate this place. It opened a healing wound. I was a little reluctant to enter, but when Sesshomaru gave me the death glare, I did.

The portion of the wall I was thrown at was cleaned up well. That kind of angered me.

"Your stupidity is beyond belief."

"I'm not as stupid as you think I am. You just catch me at the wrong times." I told him.

"Then make sure it does not happen again."

"But it's not fun that way."

"You can have your fun elsewhere." Sesshomaru scolded.

I winced. Maybe I should take his advice. The smarter the decisions I make are, the quicker this will be over with. Once again, I sighed. This time it was followed by a yawn. I was tired. What time was it? I sat down and found that I needed a way to keep myself busy. I would be here for some time apparently. Before I knew it, I was humming Kikyo's theme. I know I give her a lot of hate, but every time I hear it, I want to cry. All she wanted was to be happy with InuYasha, but that damn jewel couldn't even give her that. She didn't even wish on it. It looked into her soul, saw what she wanted, and gave her the exact opposite. If that's not douche baggery, I don't know what is. It reminds me of Truth from Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood way too much. I stopped myself from eternally looping the song and found that Sesshomaru was staring at me. He didn't complain, and went back to his work. I closed my eyes, and thought about what would happen next in my fanfic. While doing this, I forgot about my surroundings, and saw that single flower again. I heard its soft ring again, and felt my body relax as I focused solely on it. It was so beautiful. The petals seemed to glisten as they consumed my every thought. It strikes me as odd. I'm really a nature lover, but there was just some type of unnatural beauty in it. I wanted to know what made it so special. Did I just have a natural affinity for it? I didn't know, but I wanted to find out. The next thing I knew, Sesshomaru's voice was shaking me out of my daze.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

I opened my eyes, and noticed that the same book from before sat in my lap. I was confused as to how it got there, while Sesshomaru seemed to be confused as to why I had it. My fingers were in between some pages. I wasn't understanding majority of this, but I could feel my heart pounding. A feeling spurred within me, telling me not to open the book, that I didn't want to see what was in it. Something was about to go down, and it gave me a bad feeling. But my curiosity got the best of me. I had nothing to worry about… right? It was just going to be a picture of something nasty, like a gangrene infected foot, right? I had to take the chance. No, there was no chance of anything. I opened the book.