Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha

Sesshomaru slowly opened his eyes. He could smell the miko close by but….something was wrong. He couldn't smell his brother's scent with hers. Sesshomaru rose gracefully and set of in the direction of the mikos intoxicating scent.

"My lord, where are you going?" screeched Jaken setting after him in a rush.

"Jaken stay with Rin" replied Sesshomaru icily without looking back at the bewildered imp or the little girl picking flowers.

"But my lord!" protested Jaken taking a step towards him. Sesshomaru glanced back over his shoulder at the pleading imp. Jaken immediately began grovelling at Sesshomaru's feet, he remembered what it was like to be dead. "Yes my lord."

Sesshomaru ran out of the clearing, almost flying to the place where the mikos scent was lingering. She was further away than he first thought. Her scent was strong, but there was something else. Blood. By the time he reached the small clearing where the miko was it was pouring rain. The miko was leaning over a pile of soaked wood. She was holding a small metal square that spit out a flame every now and then. He walked up behind her but she did not notice him. He noted that her chest was shaking, she was crying.

"Burn, damit!" yelled the frustrated Miko. Her voice shook with the sheer determination of someone who had nothing left but to hope the impossible will happen for them. Her voice surprised him, he might later begrudgingly admit that it pleased him.

"Miko, it will not burn wet." Said Sesshomaru. As the Miko heard his voice she let out something that sounded like a small squeak and spun around knocking over her pile of wood. She looked so small, sitting on the ground looking up at him. "This Sesshomaru knows a place out of the rain." Said Sesshomaru slowly. The almost invitation hung in the air, she nodded her head and slowly got to her feet. She winced with the pain the movement caused. Sesshomaru looked her over carefully before proceeding on. She was wearing her short kimono but her sleeves were torn in several places and below her short skirt her legs were decorated with scrapes, shallow cuts, and bruises. Sesshomaru resisted the urge to ask her about her state, he shouldn't even be here! She was his brother's mate. But why then couldn't he smell his brother on her? Why was she alone?

I'm on not done this story but I'm done several chapters. I'll try to publish a chapter a week so don't give up on me. Reviews are loved and if you have any ideas on what should happen please tell me I'd love to here them. If I use one of your ideas I'll include you in the credit guaranteed. Please review. Flames will be used to heat my coffee.