Odeda opened her eyes to find herself in a fancy looking room. The bed was large and tons of pillows lay behind her. In front of the bed was a large old-fashioned dresser that looked very elegant. To the right was a table with a large mirror sitting on top of it. To her left was the door where Sesshomaru was standing at the moment. Her body froze and she stiffened.
�I see you have finally woken up,� he said calmly.
�Um yeah good morning to you too,� she said sarcastically. Sesshomaru straightened and moved further into the room.
�What is your name?� He said stopping just before the bed. Odeda backed up further into the pillows.
�It�my name is Odeda.� His face showed that he approved of the name, but that it did not fit such a pitiful woman such as her. For a name that meant strength, he saw Odeda as weak.
�I need you to tell me what you saw in your nightmares.� He was stern and cold, but Odeda did not back down. She straightened herself up and looked him dead in the eyes.
�First you tell me where I can get freshened up around here, or do men in this world still hold the same values of not bathing as they do in my world?� Odeda crossed her arms and glared back at Sesshomaru. He did not move, nor did he move his eyes away from hers. Instead he played along with her and acknowledged her request. Actually he was quite impressed that she stood up to him. Maybe there was more to her after all.
�There is a spring below in the back of my castle. You can clean up there. I�ll have Jyaken bring you up some clean clothes and then you will tell me what you saw regarding the blue Lewej.�
�The what? Wait a minute�HEY!� Odeda reached out for Sesshomaru, but pulled back at the pain still in her left arm. Her body still ached all over. A good hot bath was just what she needed. Sesshomaru was standing in the doorway once more. He turned and nodded in her direction. Odeda slid of the bed, still holding her left arm and followed Sesshomaru. The two of them walked down countless halls and entered in doorways. She was just about out of breath from climbing so many steps and was going to give in, believing Sesshomaru was taking her on a wild goose chase. To her astonishment, he took her to an underground hot tub right beneath his castle. She was impressed; it felt so good in the stone chamber. She walked in front of him and looked around. Sincing that she was pleased her reached out and put his hand on her left shoulder. Out of reflex she turned away and faced him in battle stands.
�Relax, I mean only to help your wound.� He reached for her again, but she still pulled away and backed up.
�Your persistence in wanting to battle me is tiring. To fight Acro you need to be well and well rested. If you wish for me not to help then I shall take my leave.� Sesshomaru had taken small, careful steps towards Odeda during his speech. She lowered her hands and he set his hands on her shoulder once more. Slowly he felt along her arm, down to her wrist. His hands were surprisingly gently and so was his grip. She didn�t care who this Acro was; she just didn�t want him to stop touching her. He had placed his other hand on her right shoulder and was now performing massage therapy. Odeda melted as he continued to move his hands up and down her shoulder and arm. Just as she was getting into it, he pulled away. Odeda was caught in a daze and felt embarrassed as he looked down into her eyes. She turned away and looked at the hot water.
�Take your time. Dinner will be served when you finish.� He turned and left, his shadow disappearing with him and all she heard were his soft step down the hall.
�Snap out of it girl. You are a prisoner here. He only wants to use you to get to this�Lewej thing and you are falling right into his trap. From now on you take charge and you make all the demands got it?� She talked herself up as she undressed and slipped into the warm water. It felt so good to her body. She could feel all her aches and pains disappear and she took a quick dive under the water. She loved the feel of water; it made her feel at home, like she belonged with the creatures that swam beneath the depths of the earth, where there were no worries. She felt like all she had been through was a dream, but surfacing made her realize that she was still being held as a captive. On the side of the bath were some towels and oils. Odeda dog paddled over to them and investigated. She saw two bottles and picked them up. Feeling as though she would get into trouble she looked over her bare shoulder to see if anyone was coming. When she saw that the coast was clear, she opened one of the bottles and smelled it. The scent was so heavenly; she wondered why such a strong man like Sesshomaru would have a bathhouse under his castle with scented oils? She decided to try some on, what could it hurt? When she had finished swimming around and relaxing, she got out of the bath and wrapped herself in one of the towels she found next to the scented oils. Water ran off her long legs and a few of her braids hung in front of her face. She was startled to see Sesshomaru leaning in the corner next to the door. Odeda felt as though she needed to hide, but there was nowhere for her to go. Her big brown eyes were wide with fear as she saw him coming over to her. She backed up, knocking over the scented oils behind her. Sesshomaru looked down as the oils spilled into the water, but he didn�t seem to care.
�This is it girl, stand up to him or he will walk all over you.� She said to herself. Sesshomaru had backed her into a corner on the other side of the bath. She clutched onto her towel afraid of what he might do. She flinched when he took off his over coat and handed it to her. She looked up at him and saw that he was sincere.
�Take this and follow me. I have some fresh clothes for you back in the room.� He turned and began walking away from her. Odeda quickly put on the coat and closed the front, then followed after him. He lead her back down the hallway and back into the room, where she found a pair of black pants and a shirt as well as a red covering, which would cover just the font and back of her body, not the whole way around. She looked back to thank him, but Sesshomaru had already disappeared. Quickly she grabbed the clothes and dressed, she didn�t want any more surprises.
Sesshomaru walked outside and found Jyaken staring off into the distance as though he saw something coming their way. Sesshomaru walked up to him and noticed the barrier. A thought crossed his mind. He knew that Jyaken had no power to create such a barrier, nor did her. This was Odeda�s work, but she didn�t know it. He had to find a way to bring the rest of her �hidden talent� out, and he knew only one way.
�She doesn�t know that she can put up a barrier around her and anything else when she is frightened. Demons will be able to sense her aura soon and they will come.�
�Lord Sesshomaru look!� Jyaken pointed to a nearby tower of the castle and saw a small almost clear spirit floating around. Sesshomaru frowned and ran back into the castle.
�Keep watch for more Jyaken, don�t let them in.� Jyaken held up his staff and stood his ground. The spirit had made its way into the castle and was following the pink aura that was given off by Odeda. Odeda had taken the opportune moment to take another nap. She was worried about Sam and wondered if she was still alive.
�Jack? Why? How? I thought you-� Just then she felt a chill run up her spine, she sat up, looked towards the door and waited for whatever was coming. She saw a shadow and then relaxed as Sesshomaru came into the room or so she thought.
�Oh thank goodness it is you, I mean-� Sesshomaru had disappeared and the spirit jumped out at Odeda, quick as lightning. Odeda managed to doge it and ran towards the door. She ran into the real Sesshomaru who had flung her back into the room.
�What are you doing? There is something after me!�
�Stand your ground human!� The spirit had collected itself and was coming around again for a second chance. Terrified Odeda put her hand up to her face as a brace. Sesshomaru took her hands and held them at her sides.
�If you want her, take her.� Odeda tried to pry herself free.
�Sesshomaru you double crosser I should have known never to trust you.� The spirit was moments away from inhabiting her body. At top speed it aimed for Odeda�s face, but before it entered, Odeda�s eyes lit up with a pink vibrant light and a small bubble had shielded her and Sesshomaru. In the same instant, the spirit had bounced off the shield and flew across the room. Odeda was in a trance.
�Demon go back from where thou came. Go back to your master and tell him my body is mine own. BE GONE!� The spirit wiggled and writhed as though it were being attacked on all sides, then it just flew out of the window. Odeda let out an exhausted sigh and fell faint in Sesshomaru�s arms. She was shaking uncontrollably and Sesshomaru lifted her and place her on the bed. Jyaken ran in and stood in shock as he watched his master comfort the human.
�Lord Sesshomaru, the demon is gone, it headed towards the out skirts of the mountains. We should follow it my Lord and destroy whatever is after you. The barrier that was once up is now gone my Lord, what should we do�huh?� Jyaken noticed that Sesshomaru was tending to Odeda. He brushed back some of her braids and lightly touched her face.
�My Lord?�
�The demon was not after me Jyaken, it was after her.� Jyaken stared on and Sesshomaru thought to himself. �She has the power to make a barrier when she is frightened or threatened. I can sense that she has more yet, to be revealed to me. She held back whatever power she has within her, that is why she shakes now.� Sesshomaru covered her with a light blanket, stood, and then left the room.
�My lord, where are you going? My Lord?�