Heya old and new readers! I have edited this story to the point I am sick of looking at it. I also added a short epilogue with Chapter 25. If there are any inconsistencies or errors, let me know and I will fix them. I hope you enjoy.

Unrequited Love

Chapter 1

Lord Sesshomaru

I am dead. At least… it was my first thought. I sat in a field full of white tulips and it was obviously afternoon with the golden sun shining above me. I hit my head. I would have to for this to happen.

I remember falling asleep rather distinctly. I was dreaming- a smile, golden eyes, and a blue flower. The next thing I noticed were these tulips all around me and now it was afternoon for crying out loud. The loose petals floated through the wind, like snow. I stood and decided to take a walk. There was no use in staying here. Besides, if I had bumped my head while I was sleeping, then I probably should make the time I had here worth the headache I would have in the morning.

I walked into a forest with no one around. It was silent except for a few chirping birds. I smelled the fresh air. It was a relief after smelling the cigarettes my mother smoked at home. I was so glad that I didn't have my pajamas on. It would be quite a disaster if someone were around.I normally wore a pair of short shorts and a tank to bed- not the type of clothes you want to wear walking around a forest. I had on a pair of jeans and my Linkin Park band T-shirt. I tripped a bit along the way through the forest. Having been born with a klutzy disposition, this was going to be fun.

'Crap.' I cursed. I landed on my hands. I looked back to find I'd tripped over a tree root twisted around a few white tulips. I stood and dusted off my hands, but to no avail. They'd bled a bit and burned. I would have to wash them when I found water in this dream world.

I walked for quite awhile before I finally exited the forest. I entered into a clearing overlooking a tiny village with acres of rice fields. It was the dark ages of Japan as far as I could tell. It did look like the pictures I saw in a book. I liked the medieval version of Japan. Japanese culture was so intricate and interesting. I was from America and a mixed breed like pretty much everyone else. I was part Indian, German, French, Irish, etc. I had no real traditions besides going downtown to see the fireworks with my sister's every year. I loved their smiling faces and the pretty colors of fireworks. I had a weird thing for pretty colors and things. I just wanted to keep them all and put them into my pocket.

The village below was identical to the picture I'd seen of Japan from 500 years ago. This dream was getting more and more exciting every minute. I really wanted to see a real live sword. I was giddy at the prospect.

"Help!" A scream called from the forest and a young girl ran out from between the trees. She ran to me and grabbed onto my jeans.

"Please. You've got to help me." Her adorable brown eyes looked up to me pleading. She was about seven and wore an orange-checkered kimono that confirmed my suspicions that I was now in Japan.

I was about to ask why she needed help when the answer growled and leapt out from the forest. A huge ugly looking ogre stalked over to the little girl and me. I stepped in between her and the monster with horns and bones popping out of his skin. It looked like some creepy thing from my nightmares. I didn't feel fear. I suppose I should at seeing something out of a horror movie, but I didn't. There were many times when my sister's or I was threatened that I would always be courageous. It was just a feeling that everything would be okay, but I wasn't really sure where I'd gotten that. This is a dream. So there wasn't anything to be worried about. Right?

"Human!" It hissed, melted flesh dripped down its grotesque teeth, "out of the way or you'll be next."

What would I be next for? He smelled awful. Like of dead things and maggots. I narrowed my eyes. "What do you mean?" I wasn't aware something like this creature existed let alone why it was chasing the little girl. I also wasn't aware of the food preferences of lower class demons.

"Fine!" It hissed, "I will eat you first."

'Eat?' I thought, 'Wait. He is going to eat me?' This thing growled at me and his eyes turned red. It raised its huge claws. I closed my eyes waiting for the pain that I thought would come. I could've run, I guess. I didn't really think about it.

I heard the wind and prayed that I wouldn't die. Then I heard something fall to the ground and I opened my eyes. There was the monster lying in front of me, in half. A man with silver hair and golden eyes stood over him.

"Rin," he said with a silky voice. I'd never known a voice could sound like that. His voice was like velvet against my ears. I looked at him in wonder.

The girl I'd protected ran to him. I noticed from the designs that his clothing was also Japanese, but he also had armor on. It was more sophisticated and richly than most samurai. He also had some weird fluff thing on his shoulder, but he was beautiful. 'He is definitely gay.' I frowned. I was always attracted to what I couldn't have, so if he were, it would not surprise me. A true shame it was. I was never going to have my first kiss.

"Yes," the little girl answered. I guess her name is Rin.

"We're leaving," he said again with his beautiful voice. Rin turned her head towards me and smiled. I smiled back. She was so adorable.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked, her head tilted slightly. Sesshomaru? It was an impossibly strange name. I haven't heard such a name ever before. It kind of sounded like Sephiroth who also had silver hair… hm.

"Hn."

"Can she come too?" she asked. He stared at me for a second and I felt an odd warm sensation under his gorgeous eyes. I felt the familiar butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Jeesh. I am totally crushing on him! Yep. He was definitely gay. Something prickled against my memory. He'd seemed somehow familiar, but I would definitely remember someone like him.

"As you wish," he said.

"Yay!" Rin squealed. She grabbed my hand and pulled me after her.

I followed after the pair. I didn't have much else to do anyway besides get lost in the forest and I'm pretty sure I'd be safe with this guy around.

After Rin had told me all the things that she had wanted to do, which mostly included various things with flowers, she said, "Oh. How rude of me, I forgot to ask your name." She gave a toothy grin. "My name is Rin. What's yours?"

"Alexandria," I answered.

"That's a really pretty name," she exclaimed. "Can I call you Ria for short?" I nodded. "Well, this is Lord Sesshomaru and Master Jaken," she said.

I looked at the 'Lord Sesshomaru' who stare pointedly ahead and then looked for Jaken. "Master Jaken? Where is he?" I asked.

"Oh, sorry. I guess Master Jaken isn't here," she said.

"Hm, Okay." I murmured.

"Ha," Rin giggled, "You sounded like Lord Sesshomaru."

"Oh really?" I asked and arched an eyebrow.

"Uh-huh."

We came to a small hot spring. I kneeled down and washed the dirt off my hands. "Ria-san," Rin said. "How did you do that?" She pointed to my scrapes on my hands.

"I tripped," I said bluntly.

"Oh," she said. Lord Sesshomaru was still walking away. "Ria-san, Lord Sesshomaru is going to leave us behind." I wiped the water on my pants and then we followed him into another part of the forest.

The sun gleamed over the horizon as dark approached when I heard growling and the rushing wind overhead. I stared into the twilight sky and saw a huge two-headed dragon with an impish creature. The imp was straight off of the pictures of Hell I saw from Japan- grotesque with beady eyes. The dragon landed next to Lord Sesshomaru as the imp fell off the dragon and fell on the ground.

"This is Master Jaken," Rin said.

I was still staring at the dragon ignoring the creepy looking imp. I'd never met a dragon before. "Who's the dragon?" I asked.

"Oh. That's Ah-Un," she stated.

"Hm…" I walked up to the dragon. Both heads turned toward me and gave me an odd look.

"Stay away from it human," the imp shouted. I ignored him. The dragon fascinated me, dream or not. I slowly stuck my hand out. I desperately wanted to pet him. It sniffed me, and then I stroked the dragon's neck.

"Wow Ria." Rin said, "I never saw Ah-Un let someone pet him so quickly."

"Beginners luck," Jaken scoffed. "Lord Sesshomaru, who is this human? She smells strange, like lilies."

Sesshomaru turned his head slightly, and then looked away.

"This is Ria," Rin clarified. "Lord Sesshomaru said she could come with me."

"Good," Jaken smirked. "Then we'll get rid of both of you at Kaede's."

I put my hands behind my head. I guess I should find out where I'm going. "Who is this 'Kaede'?" I asked.

"She is a priestess in a village," she stated, "She is training me."

"Hm," I murmured. I wanted to stay longer and get to know this 'Lord Sesshomaru' person a bit more before I woke up.

Before too long and too soon in my opinion, night cascaded through the sky. We came to a small clearing when Lord Sesshomaru told Jaken, "We will stay here tonight."

Sesshomaru? The question was on my mind. He was very quiet and not so talkative. I really felt like I knew him from somewhere, but shrugged it off. I would remember later.

I sat down, occasionally gazing at the 'Lord Sesshomaru'. He was different, somehow. He had elfish ears and tattoos of a crescent moon in the middle of his forehead and two stripes on each side of his face. The armor and this fluffy white thing on his right shoulder were suspiciously weird. His stunning hair glistened in the moonlit night and his eyes sparkled like a thousand fireflies. It also didn't help that there were fireflies around either. What kind of otherworldly creature was he? An elf? A god?

Rin decided to play a game of catching fireflies. I had to count. "How many was that?" she asked for probably the sixteenth time.

"Fifty-six," I told her.

"You silly girl," Jaken laughed, "You are probably catching the same ones over and over." He was right, but he didn't have to make Rin cry. She walked over to me and laid her head against my leg.

"I am sleepy now," she said. "Can you tell me a story?" I nodded. Jaken scoffed. Lord Sesshomaru was aloof.

"Once upon a time there was a princess in a far away castle." I said.

"Did she have a cat?" Rin asked.

"Hm." I gave her a suspicious look. "I thought you were sleepy."

"I am, but…"

"No 'buts' I am telling the story here," I said and poked her nose. "Now you rest your mind while I tell you a story."

"Sorry, Ria-san," she yawned.

"Okay well now lets see, " I said. "Hm. One day she saw a young lad talking to her father, who was the king of the land. She didn't know him and crept closer to hear their conversation. 'Yes you will make a fine lad for my daughter,' said the king. The princess was angry with her father and left to her room. She stayed there three days without food or water. No one could open the doors. On the third day, a message came to the castle that said that the prince that her father had betrothed her to was missing. The princess forgot her anger toward her father and left her room. That night they had a huge feast. A young lad caught her eye. It turned out that the lad was the missing prince. She and her father were ecstatic and they lived happily ever after. " I ended and found Rin snoozing against my lap.

"Happily ever after, what a lame ending," Jaken, complained.

"Hey, she's asleep isn't she?" I shrugged and he glared at me. I looked at Lord Sesshomaru one last time and I fell asleep mesmerized by the fire reflected in his eyes.

It was still dark when I stretched my arms to the bright full moon that hung overhead. It looked ethereal with the thick fog. I looked around and I noticed Rin still sleeping on me. Jaken slept against Ah-Un and Lord Sesshomaru was missing. It was hot and I felt the sweat drip down my face. I needed a bath. I wouldn't get to sleep otherwise. I knew there was a spring somewhere around here, as we didn't walk too far from there. I carefully picked up Rin and laid her next to Ah-Un. The dragon opened one of his eyes and looked at me. "I am just going to take a bath," I said, "I'll be back soon. Please take care of Rin while I am gone." Ah-Un nodded and I walked into the forest.

It took me a bit to get to the spring. I could barely see anything with the fog. I was unable to see the other side of the spring let alone my hand in front of my face. This wasn't something I would usually do, but I felt gross from walking all day in the hot sun. I striped my clothes, laid them on a rock, and I slowly sunk into the water. I didn't have any shampoo, conditioner, or anything to clean myself. I ran my fingers through my hair, attempting to get the dirt out. The water rippled, but not from me. 'Something's in here,' I thought. I backed closer to the edge. I ran into a wall faster than I thought I would. Faced with a chiseled set of abs, I gazed up above me. Two mesmerizing golden eyes were there encased by a pale face and silver hair. I knew I had to be dreaming, this couldn't happen. I was naked in a spring with an attractive man. Not just any man- Sesshomaru of all people. Shock was my only emotion. His arms snaked around me.

"Stay away from me if you know what is good for you," he whispered in my ear.

"Why?" I stared into his magnificent narrowed eyes and felt my body heat up.

He pushed me away and I fell into the water. I stood up and turned away attempting to hide my nakedness from him. I felt rejected, but mostly embarrassed. I felt my blush on my cheeks and butterflies in my stomach. I kept my eyes on him, as I didn't know whether I could trust him. He turned his bare back toward me. His body was well built.

"You don't need to hear my reasons," he stated. His voice was icy cold, but he almost sounded bitter. A shiver ran up my spine.

"But-"

"Leave!" He barked. I slowly walked out of the spring keeping an eye on him. I didn't want him peaking. I glared at my clothes and remembered I didn't have anything to dry off with.

"Use the cloth on your left to dry," he stated. He still had his back towards me. I dried off quickly and dressed. I heard him take a deep breath. I folded the cloth and looked at him one last time. He stared at me. I felt his gaze stare into my soul, but he probably wanted to make sure I would leave. I did.

The walk back to where we were sleeping wasn't too bad. The fog had dispersed leaving the path clear. I sat against my tree, dejected. I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep. My mind kept reverting to him, to Lord Sesshomaru. He was very attractive, but I knew he wasn't actually human- not that it bothered me. He sat against his tree on the opposite side from where I was. He was farther away from me than earlier. "You will not mention this to anyone," he said with his voice a feather above a whisper. "Especially not to anyone in that village."

I nodded. I couldn't fathom how he knew that I was awake. "Sleep," he ordered with no emotion in his voice. I fell asleep, but my dreams weren't necessarily so pure.