First: Disclaimer: I own NOTHING! Only Amaya and the servants.
Second: Here is where Sesshomaru begins to question why exactly he kept Amaya around.
Thirdly: Constructive reviews are welcome!
Fourth: Sorry for the long delay. I'm trying I really am but writing about a demon with little emotion is not my place of expertise. School has been a real pain so I'll try to update as soon as possible.
Lastly: If you see any mistakes I may have overlooked please let me know so I can fix them
Arigatō mina for staying with me :)

-Wafflez

Amaya seethed in her room, glaring out the window into the cloudless night sky, snarling every now and then and pacing over the floor only to stop and stare out the window again. Sesshomaru had refused to tell her what she had to do to repay her debt. Instead he sent her to her room as "their business was concluded"

"Damn him!" She growled, stepping to her open window and eyeing the ground. Swiftly she stepped up and out, landing gracefully on the balls of her feet. She walked along the garden wall, growling to herself. "Who does he think he is? Demanding I pay 'a life debt' and yet he won't tell me what it is he wishes me to do! How is it I'm suppose to free myself from this pompous ass if I know not how?" She questioned the air around her. A gentle breeze danced through the garden, carrying with it the strong scent of the salty sea. It was as if it was trying to comfort her.

Inhaling deeply she breathed out her frustration.

"Well there's not much I can do about-" She stopped.

The air seemed to changed. It was still now, like the world was holding it's breath. Something was out there, watching and waiting. She could feel it out there, hiding in the shadows. She didn't feel threatened by what ever it was but it did make her feel uncomfortable. Slowly, she followed the wall back to the door that led into the castle. She didn't turn her back to the forest until she was inside, pressing her back against the cool wood. As soon as the door had closed the hallway was deprived of any light, as were most of the back halls at this time of night.

She was surprised to find that the darkness didn't give off a cold feeling as it did most other nights. There was something now, that made the shadows feel almost alive, warm almost. She liked it. But now was not the time to ponder about it. She looked around and let out a small sigh. She knew her way around by now, but even if she didn't she could always use her nose to smell her way through the halls. Instead of lowering herself to the status of "common mongrel", she followed the overwhelming feel of demonic energy to Sesshomaru. He was in the library, working. This didn't surprise Amaya in the slightest.

Now under his control Amaya had to wait for him to acknowledge her, instead of announcing her self.

After several minutes Sesshomaru looked up from his work. Taking that as her cue to speak Amaya opened her mouth.

"There's something lurking in the shadows at the edge of the forest." She said calmly. "I could feel it watching-" She paused, pondering what it was watching. It hadn't exactly been focused on anything in particular, but she could feel eyes watching her. "Watching me." She said finally. Sesshomaru looked unfazed by this.

"And you let it live?"

"It's not a threatening presence."

"Does it matter?" The cold tone in his voice shocked her, even though she knew it shouldn't have.

"Yes!" She nearly screeched. Sesshomaru just arched a pale eyebrow while she got her temper in check. Her mother had always taught her that attacking anything that didn't pose a threat was a disgrace to her family name. She may have put many mortals to their deaths, but it didn't mean she didn't regret it sometimes. With her temper finally under control she spoke up again. "I just thought to inform you, as this is your castle after all." The two said nothing for a long time after that, Amaya was silent out of respect, while Sesshomaru studied her. She surprised him in many ways, from the way she spoke to him, to the way she acted toward other beings, including what ever it was she felt watching her.

How strange, he mused, leaning back in his chair. She wishes to let this being live, when it means absolutely nothing to her. He eyed her closely, watching as her silver green eyes danced across the rows of books in the library. Such and interesting creature.

Soon, Amaya became bored with just standing there, and quite uncomfortable under Sesshomaru's gaze.

"If we're finished, I'd like to return to my room." She said with a heavy sigh.

"I expect you to be awake and ready for travel by dawn. We leave tomorrow."

"Leave? To where?" But the demon lord had returned to his work and said nothing more. Amaya sighed and left.

X X X

Amaya woke before dawn, not because she was told to, but because she felt eyes watching her. She had been lost in a dream of her mother, teaching her all the things she knew, telling her stories of battles long since passed. But the uncomfortable knot that had tied itself in her stomach woke her, and she could feel the hunger in the air, and the eyes watching her. She sat up quickly and looked around, her silvery eyes narrowed, scanning the shadows. The presence had returned and it felt much closer now, as if it were on the inside of the garden wall. She stood slowly and gazed out her window her eyes looking for anything that didn't belong.

Fog rolled in off the sea, weaving through the trees like a thick blanket of gray. The air was chilled and it would be until it was warmed by the rays of the sun. Normally the early morning fog brought with it a strange sense of peace when Amaya looked at it. But now she knew it was hiding whatever-or whoever- was watching her. She stepped away from the window slowly and made a reach for Hou-ou, finding that the sword was calm. This calmed her nerves if only a little, but there was still something that made her feel on edge. She opened her door quietly and scanned the halls, stopping a servant who was passing by.

"Yes my lady?" The young girl asked. Amaya hesitated before letting out a defeated sigh.

"I need to speak with Hoshiko. Send her here as soon as you see her." The servant girl nodded and-after bowing- walked away. Amaya had to wait only a few minutes before a sleepy eyed Hoshiko made her way down the hall. Her long, stormy hair was braided behind her back. She bowed slightly, rising to smile sleepily at Amaya.

"You wished to see me?" She asked, stifling a yawn. Amaya pulled her friend into her room.

"I need your assistance." She said, holding up her new rose colored kimono. Hoshiko nodded and set her candle down on the window sill. The two were silent for a few minutes before Amaya spoke again. "You are aware that Lord Sesshomaru and I are leaving this morning, am I right?"

"Yes." Amaya nodded.

"Hoshiko…can I tell you something? Something you can't tell Sesshomaru." She asked. The girl made a sound that Amaya took as a yes. "There seems to be something out there Hoshiko. It's watching the castle very closely…or that's what I thought at first, when I first felt it last night. But this morning I woke feeling as if it was watching me." She shuttered slightly before continuing. "And it wasn't in a pleasant way either." She turned to look Hoshiko in her violet eyes. "I'm not sure what it has in mind and though it isn't a threatening presence yet I still want you to promise me you'll be careful." Hoshiko smiled softly and smoothed out the fabric of Amaya's kimono.

"You don't need to worry about me Lady Amaya-"

"Amaya. Just Amaya." Hoshiko smiled again and nodded her head.

"Amaya. You don't need to worry about me. I watched over this castle and it's staff for seven and a half decades. I'll be just fine." Amaya nodded her head and glanced out the window at the foggy morning. "Come. Lord Sesshomaru does not like to be kept waiting." Amaya latched her sword to her hip and tied her hair up before following Hoshiko through the winding halls. When they made their way to the castle gate, Amaya noticed that Sesshomaru looked stiff, more stiff that she had ever seen him before. Could he sense the presence as well? Hoshiko bowed respectfully. "Have a safe trip." She said, rising to smile at Amaya. Sesshomaru said nothing, he only turned to leave and Amaya followed close behind.

The female felt alone, now taken away from her friends and a place she had considered a temporary home. Though she traveled close behind the demon lord, his cold presence did nothing to dispel the chilling feeling that danced over her skin. Even the rising sun couldn't warm her. She felt pathetic and weak for feeling sorrow for leaving a place where she did not belong, leaving people who she barely knew. Coming to the conclusion that these feelings would do nothing for her she locked them away only to allow frustration take their place.

The sun was high in the sky before Amaya spoke a single word, her tone was laced with boredom and irritation.

"Where the hell are we going?" She asked, only to met by silence as a reply. Groaning she ran her fingers through her hair, which had come loose some hours before. She felt it then, the unmistakable feeling of being watched. She quickened her pace until she fell in step beside the demon lord. "Lord Sesshomaru…" She whispered lowly.

"I know." Was his reply. She could tell instantly that this was not the same presence she had felt that morning and the night before. She barely had time to jump out of the way when a large panther demon leapt from the trees, its yellow eyes glowing in the afternoon sunlight. She had jumped to one side of the worn forest path, Sesshomaru to the other. But where he had landed neatly on a tree branch, she had landed hard on her hands and knees in the under brush.

Damn! She thought, glaring at the skirts of her kimono. This one isn't meant for combat like the ones Ayaka has fashioned for me! The skirts were to confining, making it hard for her to move her legs the way she wanted to. She rolled out of the way when a large black claw reached out for her, watching as the large cat leapt back when Sesshomaru had attempted an attack. For some reason, the large cat seemed more focused on attacking her, and dodging Sesshomaru, then trying to attack what was attacking it. While the panther was distracted by Sesshomaru, Amaya willed her claws to grow long enough to pierce the delicate fabric that wound around her body. With an angry snarl she tore the kimono, the fabric came away from her legs, tearing just above her knees and she let out another snarl.

X X X

At the sound of fabric tearing, Sesshomaru's golden eyes darted to the side in time to watch a good amount of rose colored cloth fall to the ground from the clawed hands of Amaya. Her silver green eyes had taken a brighter silver tint, instead of darkening as he had seen them do when she was angry. She shook her black hair back and drew her sword, shifting her all her weight onto her right leg. He watched as the muscles in her legs coiled as she sprung forward, the blade of her sword sliding across the thick hide of the panther demon. Blood gushed from the wound and Amaya flipped in the air, her graceful landing surprised him for a moment. She looked at him out of the corner of her silver eyes.

"You're losing your touch." She said, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. He narrowed his eyes at her, leaping away as the panther made yet another dive for the two of them. Shooting poison from his claws he listened to the painful screech that came from the beast as the poison found its way into the open wound. He watched as Amaya raised her sword so the blade was parallel to the ground. "Wings of the Phoenix." She whispered. Sesshomaru watched with mild surprise as fire erupted from below the bleeding demon. The beast wailed as the flames engulfed it, the sword in Amaya's hand gave off a glow the color of fresh blood. The stench of burning hair and flesh danced on the breeze and invaded his senses. When the flames died down all that remained was a charred corpse in a pool of boiling blood. Sheathing her sword, Amaya let out a satisfied sigh, her eyes finding Sesshomaru's. Every time they made eye contact they seemed locked in silent combat. But this time it was different. This time something passed between them that neither of them understood. Sesshomaru watched the color creep up Amaya's neck and she looked away quickly. Sesshomaru smirked and began walking, listening to Amaya's gentle footsteps behind him.

"What are you going to do about you're clothing?" He asked glancing over his shoulder and eyeing her torn kimono. She looked down.

"It's a lot easier to move in than most things I've worn. Maybe I'll have Ayaka make one based off this one for me." She said softly and Sesshomaru guessed she was talking more to herself then him. She grew silent then, her features settling into a calm, pleasant smile. He studied her quietly and she was far to lost in her thoughts to notice the demon lords eyes on her. His eyes scanned her from head to toe, taking in the strange clash of warrior strength and feminine beauty.

"Why is it you…requested I accompany you?" She asked, her silver-green orbs finding his golden ones. He just watched her for a moment. Little did the demoness know that Sesshomaru himself didn't fully understand why he had "requested"-as she put it- her company. He turned away from her and kept his eyes trained on the path ahead of him.

"My reasons are my own." He said coldly. She said nothing more to him after that, and the two walked in silence though it was not a tense silence as it had been earlier. After their fight with the panther demon(which Sesshomaru was sure he would hear about when he returned to his castle) the two had witnessed each others strength and had come to a silent alliance. He knew she was upset by being taken from the comfort and safety that the walls of his palace produced, but he could tell by the calm that radiated off of her, and the excited spikes in her aura that she was glad to be in the open again.

She truly is an interesting creature.His inner voice whispered with a slight chuckled. Sesshomaru had to agree. After traveling nearly five miles, Sesshomaru was aware that Amaya had slowed her walk until she came to a complete stop. Sesshomaru turned to cast a bored glance over his shoulder. The girl was sniffing the air. The jewel at her throat gave of a subtle glow as her eyes took on a brighter silver color.

"Papa Kitsune?" She questioned, her eyes peering deep into the forest. She looked to Sesshomaru, her gaze growing defiant. "We stop here." She said, a slight growl working its way into her words. Sesshomaru arched an pale eye brow.

"What make's you think that this Sesshomaru will just stop his travels because you want to."

"Because if this Sesshomaru whishes for me to repay my life debt then he will stop. If not, I am willing to disgrace myself and walk away right now." She crossed her arms over her chest in rebellion. The jewel gave of a brighter glow as did her eyes.

"I'll bring you back."

"Then I'll fight you to the death." For a split second Sesshomaru's eyebrows shot up with surprise. Inu youkai meant business if they threatened a superior with a duel to the death. It was a show of independence and defiance. To his own surprise he inclined his head and gave her permission to lead the way surprising himself even more by following her without arguing. A smug smile graced her lips as she led the young demon lord through the forest. Up until that point, Sesshomaru was unaware of the strong scent of fox demons. He looked at the demoness who walked less than five feet in front of him. Her aura was spiking with excitement again, excitement and eagerness. Where in the world was this woman taking him?