Sorry about the long delay again and the short chapter. I am in the process of making a mini me and my energy is sapped by the time I get off work. I'll try to do better. Please read and review. Nice long reviews might distract me from my constant need to vomit.

Sesshomaru became more and more worried as the days dragged into weeks. No one in any of the towns he visited had seen Melissa. Getting lost and missing one town was to be expected, but surely she'd seek out her own kind. The fact that she had not been seen in any of the villages he'd visited did not bode well.

He always checked the shrines and temples first. Being a traveling miko he was sure those would be the lodgings she'd seek. Some of the miko and priests were wary, but greeted the youkai politely enough. Others had to be overpowered and subdued before they would answer his questions.

The sun was near setting and he had been greeted politely at this shrine. The monk had been sympathetic but had not heard of this youkai's golden haired miko. He did offer Sesshomaru and Jaken lodgings for the night before they continued their search. Sesshomaru declined and turned away just as another traveler entered the shrine. The traveler stared at him as he strode past.

"Sesshomarusama?"

Sesshomaru stopped at the door and turned to look at him. "How do you know me?"

"I have heard talk to the south. A young foreign woman is helping villages plagued by spirits or disease as she searches for her husband. A pale youkai named Sesshomaru."

"Where is my wife?!" he asked walking back toward the traveler. The traveler scratched the back of his head and looked up at the ceiling. Sesshomaru took a menacing step towards him as he did something he never did, he repeated himself, "Where is she?"

"Let me think for a moment." the man replied, "Mind you I never met her for myself, but it seems I heard talk of her about a week's walk to the south. There will be a river that goes to a town she passed through. That's 'bout all I know." Sesshomaru turned on his heel and exited the shrine. Jaken grabbed on the mokomoko as he passed knowing Sesshomaru would take to the air as soon as they were outside.

She was south of them, that's why he couldn't find her. They had been traveling south, but he'd told her about a town to the north. He assumed she'd go there. But then she had been screaming at him, she may not have heard him tell her about the town.

How much time had been wasted, could he have found her sooner? Could he find her quickly now? At least she was alive, or had lived long enough for the traveler to learn of her. These were violent times however, anything could happen to a woman alone without her husband to protect her. He had to find her quickly!

Melissa stretched and looked up at the sky. The fine cirrus clouds made her think of her husband and she sighed sadly. How many weeks had it been, and yet he had not found her. He had to be searching, but where? How long before he gave her up for dead? What would he do then?

She thought about trying to find Kagome's village, but she had no idea where it was. She'd always had a poor sense of direction. She knew it was to the east. but she had decided to stay in the west, in Sesshomaru's territory. Or she thought it was anyway, she wasn't sure where his borders were. She'd passed a waterfall that looked familiar the other day, she was sure they passed it last summer.

She continued walking, adjusting the hat she'd bought to protect herself from sun and rain. It also helped conceal her odd appearance, preventing the stares and occasional harassment. Though sometimes people would realize the gold cord hanging down her back was her braided hair and try to get a glimpse of her.

The sound of horses drew her out of her thoughts and she looked up to see a number of soldiers, some mounted, others on foot, walking toward her on the road. She moved to one side so they could pass her easily to avoid confrontation.

As she passed the last of them she heard the whisper "Youkai whore?" She turned and saw one of Kojo's friends had joined this army. He was staring at her with deep loathing. She quickly turned and continued to walk away quickly. He was with an army, he couldn't desert right now, but she needed to be well gone by nightfall.

She hadn't gone far when she heard men behind her and glanced back over her shoulder to see several of the soldiers approaching "Hey, you, come with us!" She instead darted into the woods hoping to lose them but they quickly caught up to her.

One grabbed her arm but she drew Raven with the other hand and slashed his face, causing him to release her. "The general want's her alive!" One man reminded his comrades as blades were drawn.

Another man dodged forward to grab her but she slit him across the belly and tried to jump over him to get way. More men grabbed at her and she slashed at them with Raven. One of the attackers grabbed the necklaces around her neck and a moment later pearls and her grandmother's crystal went flying as the cords gave way.

There were to many, they grabbed her arms and forced her to the ground. One man stomped on her hand until she could no longer hold Raven then bent to take it. He yelled in pain as the blade glowed red hot and flung it away. She continued to fight and yell but she could not get free. They twisted her arms behind her back and tied them with rope.

She continued to twist and pull as they dragged her to her feet and marched her back to the road. The General was waiting on horse back, Kojo's friend standing near him. "So, a youkai's little pet you say?"

"Yes sir. I would recognize the little whore anywhere."

"Wife!" Melissa spat fiercely. "I am wife!"

"Wife or whore, it makes no difference. You have defiled yourself with an animal." The General replied, "Now we'll see how possessive he is of you." She twisted and fought again until she was dazed by a blow to the head and he hauled her up to his horse, face down across it's withers in front of him.

"Though I must say, the youkai has good taste." He started stroking her backside. "Once we have killed the beast I think I'll keep his little wife as a trophy. More concubines means more sons. I think I'll go ahead and break her in tonight."

Many miles away Sesshomaru paused in his search and looked down at his swords, "Tenseiga, what is wong?" His sword was raising a racket and urging him to go more southward. When had Tenseiga ever mislead him? He immediately changed direction, following the urging of the blade on his hip.