Wings of a Butterfly

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Pathetic. She was pathetic! Could she do nothing for herself? What was this little hanyou doing at that temple all this time? His eyes narrowed and his expression showed just how much he was looking down on her at that moment. Manual labor like gathering firewood was already going too far. Where was Jaken when he needed him?

Ah, right...back at home. Closing his eyes for a moment with the sudden decision he began to undress. He worked on the knots that held his chest armor together and tugged down the shoulder plate. With that out of the way he slipped out of the first layer of his haori, the one bearing his mark and tossed it at her.

It was rather funny to watch the large fabric that seemed to engulf her whole. He couldn't see any part of her beneath the haori. He tightened the plain white underlayer he had beneath around himself. The sleeves were not as long but he tucked them into each other as he avoided looking at the pile that now was under the tree.

[Birdie]

The contempt in his eyes, emanating from his body made her feel more shame. Did he not already know just how embarrassed she was by her general uselessness? She looked down at the pile of sticks instead, concentrating on them.

She felt the warm fabric fall over her body. The shivering stopped immediately as the smell of him engulfed her. She sat very still, dazed with the heat and scents. After a while of sorting everything out she pulled the fabric properly (and very carefully) around herself so that only her veiled head poked through. It was wonderful! She could just sing his praises in that moment. Instead she settled for, "Thank you my lord. You are very kind." She settled in, the fabric draping over her wings.

Her eyes turned toward the sticks again, wondering if the demon felt any cold. She wished she could start a fire. Brigantia willed the sticks to light, but it was to no avail. It was not long before she fell into a deep slumber. This night had been long and stressful. Recuperation was necessary.

---

The morning came swift. Sunlight poured through the trees and awake Brigantia. Her eyes fluttered open and through the veil she could see the day. It had been so long since she could great the sun. She did cry out with joy. The world was full of song and her whole being wished to be a part of it. Standing, Brigantia carefully folded the lord's clothing before she moved toward a patch of sunlight. The rays pushed through to her skin, kissing her face. She lifted her arms in jovial greeting. The trees spoke, the birds trilled, and the insects worked incessantly. This was how life should be.

Then the tragedy of the night hit her all at once and she lowered her arms. She had no place in the world and it made her sick to her stomach. Placing a hand over her middle she turned back towards Sesshomaru. Did he still need her? The debt was not yet paid back in full. What should she do?

[Lord Sesshomaru]

The night was boring once she was asleep. He was left with nothing but his thoughts and all he could think about was just walking off and going on about his life without the hanyou. It would be so easy. But something in him wouldn't let that happen. And so, on the other side of the clearing he made his own spot to get comfortable. Any form of rest evaded him however.

The next morning, however, he wasn't sure why she was so happy. They were so much closer though to his destination. That was good. He forced himself up onto his feet, and ignored her for more important things. Like his clothes back. He quickly dressed and placed back on his armor. Now that he had two arms again it was all that much easier.

Once Sesshoumaru was ready, he set off again. If she was going to continue her plan he assumed she'd follow. If not, then...he wasn't sure.

[Birdie]

She watched him start walking. He seemed to be a man of very few words and all action. It made him a little hard to predict. She could feel general moods from him, but nothing to clue her in on the specifics. Unsure of whether or not she should follow him, Brigantia followed. He could always shoo her away, but her best bet for survival was to stick behind him at this point. It wasn't as if she could unlearn where he lived or forget his scent. It had overwhelmed her last night. She felt all of those pheromones he secreted would never leave her memory. After all, they were pleasant for a dog.

Despite her sadness at having lost her home and the closest thing to friends she could ever have, Brigantia had a slight skip in her step. The day was full of warm and beauty. She found herself touching every plant she passed by, conversing silently with everything that would listen. Everything spoke back at her, intrigued by the moving body which could understand their language.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

They walked on in silence, and soon the trees seperated to reveal the magnificence of his home. It was the size of a whole village, with many buildings only connected by opened hallways. The trees served as a border of the entire estate. And although no one was out in the open, it wasn't particularly quiet. Servants hustled down the hallways from one building to the other and even a few lazy gaurds soaked in the sunlight.

No one came to meet them except one. He hadn't expected much more. The little imp had been pacing from one side of the home to the other not sure which section his Lord would enter from. But news spread fast and the sighting of his arrival sent Jaken in a rush. He snapped at servants before rushing his way out the nearest entrance.

"Mi'lord!!" he cried out, his eyes gleaming at the glorious sight of his lord and the way the sun glistened off his beautiful long hair. He scuttled quickly on his little legs and met them halfway before quickly following in step behind his lord as he continued to speak. His yellow eyes were so concentrated on Sesshoumaru he completely ignored the new follower. "We were expecting you sooner! Of course you must have found more important things to do, right?" he laughed, trying to somehow get some information from his lord on why he was late. It mattered little.

Once Jaken was ignored and followed behind Sesshoumaru as he stayed off the pathways and moved his way around the main building and onto the side of the smaller more heavily structured one to the far right. Although not usually a pathway used, stone steps had been placed lead the way. This was not an unusual path he took.

Through the silence it was when Jaken could take the time to look behind him. He followed much closer on Sesshoumaru's heel and had to twist his head back to see the half demon and her butterfly features. "Lord Sesshoumaru...who is this you brought with you?" he sneered lightly, showing his distaste.

Sesshoumaru stayed quiet at first, wondering if she would speak up herself.

[Birdie]

She had felt the walls and structure when she had searched for this place. She knew it's lay out well. What she had not come to know what how beautiful it all was when put together before her. A magnificent house! Not that she had seen many houses in her lifetime, but she knew this to be a grand one. Even in comparison to the temple, this place dripped presence.

She paused to take in the entirety of the place. She felt the servants scuttle about their daily tasks. The general life made her feel as vibrant as those living within the walls. Brigantia was being left behind. She hurried to catch up with her savior, unsure for how long she should follow. Though her debt still unpaid, she felt as if she would be of no use here. Perhaps she would be made into a servant. She would be absolutely useless! Fear griped her at the terrifying notion.

A little man who had the uncanny resemblance to a toad met up with them. His voice was grating and yet fit his face. He seemed to hardly require an answer from his stoic master, which served as amusement for a while. It did not take long for her mind to wander elsewhere, seeing all she could. She was snapped back to the pair in front of her when it seemed she was being spoken about.

Lifting a hand, she gestured toward herself and looked wildly about to see if anyone else might be the subject of their conversation. It appeared there was no one. It was in that moment she realized she had never properly introduced herself to Sesshomaru.

"Ah... Forgive me... I am Brigantia called Birdie. Or, at least I used to be. I used to be... a relic I suppose." It had never been properly explained to her. She simply did as she was told and let them usher her about in her daily routine. The hanyou never questioned her life. She bowed, careful that the veil should stay properly over her head. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance sir."

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Jaken sniffed, looking her up and down and not finding her as anything special. Including since she was a hanyou. What place would make her a relic? "And why are you here?[/b]" he asked her, both hands gripping his staff as he continued to walk behind Sesshoumaru.

"She is here to serve. Make use of her." Jaken stumbled with his feet and his words as he tried to figure out why in seven hells his lord would want anything to do with someone like her!

"Make use!?" he repeated with a squawk, his grip on the staff tightening as he now used it as a crutch to keep himself from falling in his surprise. "She looks like she'd be nothing more than a garden ornament!" Sesshoumaru ignored him and kept going, turning swiftly to the left to enter through the side of the further and secrete building. It was the only one with a man made fence which was further back and hid the so called garden in which Jaken spoke of.

As Sesshoumaru stepped up onto the wooden floor of the entrance into the building Jaken paused and grumbled. An idea struck him easy enough. "Could you at least tend to a garden?" he turned and asked the female, his figure blocking the opening that Sesshoumaru had made as he slid the door open. The demon lord paused then, keeping his back turned as he eyed Birdie from the corner of his eye.

[Birdie]

They were saying things about her again. Or at least the little man was. He was not being very kind at all. Had she done something wrong already? She did not understand why she should receive so much contempt. Frowning, Brigantia stopped a few feet from the rest of the group. She did not feel particularly welcomed by the toad, perhaps leaving with the debt unpaid would not be a problem. Something inside of her told her that would cause a lot of unwanted issues and so she stayed where she was.

She caught the Lord's eye and considered his question. Could she tend to a garden? After a long moment of thought she replied,"I am not at all sure when 'tending to a garden' entails. But I can speak with the plants and give them what it is they desire. The flowers and I understand each other very well." She chewed her lower lip. "But I will do anything that is asked of me. If there were one who would teach me what it is I should do." Her hands clasped together tightly in front of her, Brigantia awaited on some sort of order.

That was what she was missing, the order and structure of her temple life. There was always someone to tell her what she should be doing. Her purpose was well drawn out. What was her purpose now? She longed to know and be set to the task immediately.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Seeing as Jaken had found something in mind, Sesshoumaru closed the sliding door behind him with a quiet thud. Loud enough that seemed to declare his departure from his small temporary traveling companion. "Speak with plants. Strange, but if you're not just crazy this might work." Jaken nodded as he closed his eyes in thought, feeling mighty proud with himself for coming to the perfect conclusion. "Come with me then!"

Jaken lead the way further down the stone pathway and opened the tall fence. Before them was a secluded and sectioned off garden. It was overgrown and seemed unattended to for a few years. It almost seemed like a battle ground, with plants and flowers growing over each other and fighting to space and sun. None of the pathways were walkable anymore and they had to walk around and step up onto the wooden entrances. They passed two sliding doors seperated by only a few feet. In the further corner which was kept yards away from the building itself was a much more orderly garden. Everything had it's own space and seemed very taken care of.

"This is our vegetable and fruit garden. Lord Sesshoumaru and his guests enjoy things that are fresh. The servants pick these to use for our Lord's meals." He informed the girl, having her follow him to inspect the grounds. There was a side exit out of the garden by the fence which was kept oddly away from the building the garden itself was attached to. Near this exit baskets and buckets were kept including the tools needed for the garden.

"Could you handle this?"

[Birdie]

His departure was quite sudden and a little saddening. Brigantia would have loved to speak with him more, learn of her savior. It would not be so. He did seem to be the type to enjoy his time alone. Brigantia had her fill of it and wished to meet and speak with as many people as possible. Curiously, she followed the toad.

She loved that wild garden which had no tameness to it. It ran rampant in the natural way of life. Things grew haphazardly, though it seemed some weeds would have to go unless they took over all the beautiful flowers and fruit bearing plants. Unfortunately this garden would not be her work. Instead the toad showed her on in which everything was organized. Each plant had its own little home. The stark loneliness of it made her heart ache. The plants were happy, they were given plenty of sunshine and a lot of nutrient rich earth, but there was not the wild togetherness of the other garden.

Brigantia turned toward the toad. "I do not know. What is it you would like me to do with this garden? It looks as if it is properly placed and needs no further work at this time." She wandered around the fence, studying each vegetable which grew in the plot. Idly, she wondered if there had been a plot like this at the temple where the humans who lived there got their supper.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Jaken scoffed, insulting her choice of words in his mind. "At this time, of course!" He drummed his fingers against his staff as he narrowed his eyes. "But things change, and it will be needing tending to in the future!" He grumbled something under his breath before starting to lead her away. "I'll show you where you will be staying." The servants quarters was a decent walk away but he barely made it two steps before he was halted.

"That won't be necessary." Sesshoumaru added in, sliding the door open was closest to them. "She will stay here." Jaken seemed troubled and bothered by this decision but he didn't say anything as he lead Birdie back to where Sesshoumaru was. He took a step back to allow Jaken and Birdie to enter. They entered into a small bedroom, which seemed untouched for a decent amount of months. Anything and any decorations left behind were covered in a flower design, even the futon had been left untouched with it's strangely bright sakura design.

"Are you sure, Mi'lord?" Jaken grumbled uncomfortably, and was not surprised when Sesshoumaru didn't answer. He hadn't followed them, per say. But had made his way to this room through the inner hallways as they had stayed in the same building.

Instead, he had a few choice words for Brigantia. "The servants pick the fruit, your job is to make sure there are fruit to pick. If you wish to do more, Jaken will find more for you to do." He turned then and left the room from the opposite door which was a long hallway. The only other door nearby was the one that also had an exit to the garden. He passed it with a pause before going back to work at his studies which was on the opposite side of the building.

Jaken sighed then as his lord left and for the last time of the their meeting met her eyes. "Well since everything is fine now you could wander about, I guess. Any questions?"

[Birdie]

She blushed beneath the veil, feeling rightly chastised for her silliness. "Yes sir, Forgive me sir. You are right." She could do nothing more then but to follow him. She wondered what her room would look like now. She had a feeling it would be nothing like the grandness of the room she once lived in at the temple. Would she have to live amongst people? The would mean she could never remove her veil. The thought was discomforting.

It seemed luck would be on her side yet again. Her savior took time to bring her into what she assumed would be his personal residence. This was vaguely confirmed by Jakken's request for affirmation.

The bedroom was gorgeous, nothing like her once home but she would never complain. It gave her the privacy she most desired. The bedroom was extremely feminine in decoration. All the colors and flowers made her feel very at home. She longed to touch the design on the covers as well as inspect the paintings. Instead of acting on her impulses, Brigantia bowed to Sesshomaru's retreating back. "Thank you very much my Lord." Pausing, he seemed to ignored her thanks and instead gave her the opportunity to further apply herself. She smiled brightly and said her thanks again. And then he was gone. She looked down at the little toad.

"Rather than wander, sir, I think I would like to be given more chances to help out. I fear I might get lost if I were to just walk. Please, is there anything I can help out with? I do not know how to do much, but I would like to learn!" She spoke with earnest. She no longer wished to stay idle. Brigantia could not stand to sit still. This place was new and her role had not been completely etched out.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

More? What kind of servant asked for more?! Grumbling in his distaste since he'd rather be doing his own personal business, Jaken took the lead once again and lead her out the room into the indoor hall. "I guess a tour could be in order." And he began with knowledge that took a while for him to have learned on his own. How there were four secluded buildings and one main building in the middle. Each had it's own kitchen but only the middle one was used for grand banquets and guest entertainment.

And he continued to tell more exact things of each building. The one they were at on the far right was the only one with a garden, and in between the two secluded buildings was a hotspring seperated for servants and for their lord.
They walked the outer wooden hallway that joined the two buildings and the steam from said hotsprings could be seen peeking through large rock formations and bamboo expertly used to hide and seperate. The building they now walked to were the servants quarters. Even most servants' families were kept here and small children played in the back area.

Jaken was too tired to dare walk the entire premises from start to finish so he made his way back as he explained the other two buildings opposite theres. One was a dojo used by the guards and soldiers of an army unneeded for many years. And the other was main storage for scrolls, information, and the main treasure that made up the Lord's fortune. Although he spoke the basics, each building was large enough to hold many other uses besides what he spoke of.

"Today you could make yourself at home, I guess. Tomorrow maybe you could...I don't know, learn to cook and clean." he rolled his eyes, but realized quickly he would have to find one of the main servants to take in charge for Brigantia if she still wished to do more.

They walked down the same hallway as before back to their building, the news of Brigantia already spreading like wildflower. Demons muttered how the lord had brought 'another one home. Complaining that he only recently got rid of the last one. Jaken ignored, taking Brigantia back inside the building and stopping at the door to her room.

"You can probably already sense Lord Sesshoumaru down the hall, it is his study room. No one's allowed in but I think he would like a snack." he smirked, trying hard not to enjoy the fact that he had entered the office before Sesshoumaru had come home. "I'm sure Mi'lord will be in there a while with all the paperwork I saw." Ah, Birdie was still standing there.

"Well, go on! Pick some fruit and take it to him! Shoo!" he waved her off with his hand before huffing off and storming out. Unlike Brigantia, Jaken's room was technically in the servant's quarters and her elevation to that 'room' made him slightly more irritated towards her.

[Birdie]

Brigantia followed lightly behind Jakken, each step careful and measured. She concentrated very hard on where everything was laid out and attempted to commit all the information to memory. There was so much to learn. As they made their way back to her room, Brigantia was aware of just how little the toad liked her. It made her feel sad in someway. She hoped that when she could take on more duties tomorrow she would be able to prove herself to him and get in his good graces.

Then he offered her something else to do. A quest! Her wings fluttered in excitement. "Thank you, sir! I shall do as you request." She gave the toad a little bow before she hurried over to the gardens. On her way to the vegetables she paused when she saw the overgrown mess. It looked so fantastic, she could not stop herself from traversing the little used paths inside. So many things here had been left forgotten in these vast gardens. There were dead vines and plants that should be removed and used as fertilizer for a later date. Despite being forgotten the plants were happy and they sang at her presence. She sang quietly back, afraid to disturb the sort of sacred silence the place demanded. It was a lovely place that had been well loved once upon a day.

Unfortunately she had to leave that tiny wilderness. It was now, perhaps a half hour after Jakken had asked her to gather something for Sesshomaru to eat, that Brigantia entered the correct garden. There were all sorts of vines and tree bearing an assortment of fruit as well as lines of vegetables growing out of the ground. Brigantia was overwhelmed, having never made such a huge choice in her life.

Finally, after spending another ten minutes wandering the gardens in search of something good, she decided to take a couple of different fruits that appeared good. In a basket found near the entrance she now had a few plums, a peach, a mandarin orange, and a very plump looking Japanese Pear. She exited the garden with these things and paused, looking about. A logical side of her said the she should probably wash these things off. The basket informed her this was the proper course of action. She did not understand why, but she believed the basket.

She followed the wicker's directions and made it to a small well not too far off from what Brigantia supposed was a gardening shed. Now she took her directions from another bucket which dangled over the black opening. Taking the rope in her hands she lowered it down only to them lift it back up. It was filled with cool, crisp water. Brigantia was elated at having completed the task without mishap. Humming softly, she washed the fruits clean before she made the trek back to the house.

Pausing at the door to the building, Brigantia stared at her bare feet. They were covered in dirt from her adventure. Dirt also stained the bottom edge of her dress. She was not much bothered by it, but judging from the cleanliness of the floors in the house she did not think that her dirty feet would be welcome. She was in quite the dilemma. As best as she could she attempted to wipe her feet clean in the grass. It got the job done admirably well. If need be she would be more than happy to learn how to clean the floors until they shined.

She entered the building and made her way down to where she felt Sesshomaru's aura strongest. Suddenly, Brigantia was very nervous. Her heart rate quickened and her breathing became a little irregular. What if he did not want the fruits as Jakken had said he might? What if he became upset with her and simply tossed her out? The balance of things would be left out of order and she would be walking misfortune! Taking a deep breath, she renewed her resolve and knocked on the door, all dirty feet, wet sleeves, and a basket of fresh clean fruit.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

It was only when Sesshoumaru had settled down onto the floor with his work to be done, did he realize how much he wished the travel had taken longer. His urge to procrastinate made him easily distracted and he sensed her outside of his door for quiet some time. He waited for her to knock before he bid her entrance.

A brow rose in questioning at her disheveled appearance while he stared her down. She must have been busy indeed. He placed his pen down beside the small tray of ink and quickly realized why she was here. Adjusting his seat, he grabbed at the clean plates kept on the table for just the occasion. Oddly enough there were two stacked on each other and he placed one in front of himself before placing the other on the opposite side of the table. A cushion was kept there, but for many years he had enjoyed his fruit alone.

"Whatever mud you track down the halls you will have to clean it up." He stated, giving her a critical eye from his seating position as he picked up his pen again and wrote in quick neat strokes.