Yakumo shot up in her bed, holding her sheet protectively over the thin white nightgown she wore. She tried to calm herself enough to use her demon senses. She breathed in the breeze blowing in from the open window the intruder stood before and immediately recognized the murky, sweaty scent of Madoka. Feeling as though she only had seconds to make a decision she tried to process what he could be doing sneaking around her room this time of night. The hour was late from what she could tell and she had been in and out of sleep for some time.

Fight or flight.

Yakumo had never been much of a fighter, but to run and cause a stir among the castle the night of Lord Sesshomaru's return would not serve her well either. The young woman slowly relaxed her pose a little more, still holding her bed sheet protectively over the nearly see through nightgown she swung her feet over the side of the bed. She would simply have to go with the third option.

Diplomacy.

"Lord Madoka," she called sweetly, gently, trying to flatter him though she seethed with rage inside. "Please, come forward. Is there something you wish to speak with me about?"

"I apologize, my lady," he replied, seeming dazed and confused as she called to him, snapping him from some sort of spell. "I did not mean to disturb you, I simply wished to check on you and make sure you were well after leaving the celebrations so abruptly," he explained.

Yakumo squinted at his figure which was still shrouded in shadow near the open window where the moonlight simply shone over his shoulder and into the room onto her. With the wind blowing, she could now smell something on his scent that she had missed before.

Sake.

Of course, she thought bitterly. He was simply a drunk fool blundering around the estate and could not control himself from coming to her quarters to watch her sleep or possibly something even more creepy. Had she not been woken up who knows what he may have tried to do to her sleeping figure. Her nerves tingled and her palms felt sweaty. She could defend herself if she needed to but she desperately wished she could at least call out to Uri and gain an upper hand on the dog demon general.

Standing with uncertainty, she still tried to hold the sheet over her slim body.

"I am still well, good general, I simply felt overwhelmed by the excitement of the day," she lied, hoping to tenderly ease him out of her rooms and back towards his own. "Please, don't stress yourself with concern over me. Return to your rooms and sleep, as I am sure you must be exhausted from today as well."

"So sweet, so kind," Madoka muttered, "That is what I like about you so much Lady Yakumo, always thinking of others and not yourself. But rest assured there are those thinking about you," he paused, glancing over her still covered body, "and how lovely you are," he finished.

Yakumo flushed red, feeling the weight behind his words. She could feel panic rising in her throat. He took a step toward her, now entering into the beam of moonlight shining in. He was somewhat handsome, but at this point Yakumo was too repulsed by his behavior to consider that a redeeming quality.

"I think you should leave, General Madoka," she responded, her voice losing it's honey tone, replaced by a harsher, more commanding tone.

"Ah there is that fire I know you have inside you," the demon laughed, continuing towards her as if she had said nothing.

Fear gripped her as she realized she was not sure she could combat the large man.

"I will scream," she squeaked, hoping the threat would make him realize what he was actually doing.

The man paused, his green eyes glimmering. He shook his head causing his black pony tail to shake behind him, "My lady, there is no reason to scream, I simply wi-" but his words were cut off as a flash of silver whipped across Yakumo's bedchamber through her door.

Yakumo nearly fell back onto her bed, the force of Sesshomaru's appearance knocking the wind out of her. She felt an undeniable rush of relief as she saw the silver maned demon standing defensively in front of her body, facing Madoka.

"Your Grace," Madoka stammered out, most likely realizing his possibly fatal mistake. "My Lord, I simply wanted to check on the lady to make sure-" he started, but Sesshomaru cut him off once again.

"Madoka, I do not care what you believe your misguided reasons were for barging into a woman's apartments in the middle of the night while she is barely clothed. Further more, this woman belongs to me, and to my estate. She is mine to do with what I will, and I should kill you now for your blatant disregard for my property," Sesshomaru said evenly, his voice sounding almost bored.

The girl behind him huffed in aggravation at being called his property. She made a mental note to remind him later that was certainly not true and she belonged to no one, especially a man, and especially not him. But given her current situation and his willingness to step in and rid her of the nuisance Madoka, she forgave his choice of words.

General Madoka seemed to fumble for words as he gazed with fear towards the great dog demon. Without another word he simply fell to his knees, bowing before the stoic lord.

"Leave," commanded Sesshomaru with an ominous tone. His golden globes followed Madoka's movement out of the room, this time through the correct door and not an open window.

Forgetting herself for a moment, Yakumo dropped the sheet she had been clutching and stepped in front of Sesshomaru. She felt a wave of ease come over her, her body relaxing, and her lungs able to function again.

She faced Sesshomaru for the first time in years. Words were about to come out of her mouth, but now she stopped short as she found herself face to face with the very man she hated so much, yet felt an overwhelming gratitude towards. Remembering herself, she briskly lowered her eyes to the floor respectfully and began a low bow.

"Thank you for your assistance Lord Sesshomaru," she whispered, her head still low as she remained bowed at his feet.

"Hn," he grunted, though gracefully, continuing to simply peer down at the woman before him.

Yakumo raised her eyes, allowing them to rise until they met his. Becoming exasperated at his lack of response she huffed and straightened from her bow. Standing to her full height, still only reaching his shoulder, she gave him a look of annoyance.

"I said thank you," she reminded him, trying to keep her tone even and refrain from giving her eyes the biggest roll.

"Keep your window closed and locked from this point forward," he commanded, still obviously trying to ignore her appreciation for his assistance.

He looked down to her face, pausing to look at it for a moment, but allowing his eyes to travel further down. At this point, Yakumo remembered she was wearing a very transparent nightgown. A blush rose to her cheeks as she recalled this fact and as she realized Sesshomaru had now noticed as well. She quickly grabbed the sheet off of her bed and hugged it around her shoulders, covering herself from his gaze, which had quickly snapped back up to her face.

They stood in silence for a moment longer until Sesshomaru gave her a curt nod and turned to leave the room. Yakumo yearned to reach out for him but held herself back, instead offering a very gentle, "Goodnight, my Lord."

Sesshomaru slid her door shut quietly, pausing outside of it long enough to hear the rustling of her climbing back into her bed.

"Goodnight, my Lady," he whispered so gently, it was almost not spoken at all.