Disclaimer: Since i tend to forget to post a disclaimer at every chapter, this will be my only disclaimer. I don't own any inuyasha any thing nor do i own any songs used in this story.

Chapter 1

I can't believe what I've done. I can't go back to my village. I shouldn't have left them, but gods I didn't want to go to the Geisha house. I heard about what went on there from the men in my village talking. I overheard when they thought I wasn't listening. So, when that strange man came and started to destroy the escorts, I ran. I ran back to my parents house. It was nearly midnight when I reached their house.

I knew that what I had done would bring disgrace to my parents. They had needed money and got more than their asking price. Mainly because of my waist length black hair, rare bright green eyes, and my fair skin. I scrawled a note to my mother, telling her what had happened. I lied about where I was going. I wasn't going back to the Geisha house.

My name was Izumi Katsuma, but now it is jut Izumi. The Geisha houses are in the South and Main lands. I am from the East, so I can go North or West. I cannot stay in the East. I will go West and the first village that has a miko, is where I will try to persuade her to train me. Since I am a celestial inu-miko, I would be a fairly easy learner. In one week to the day I will transform into what I will look like for the rest of eternity.

My father said that the only changes would possibly be my ears pointed like an inu's, my body filled out like one or like a celestials too, and I would get full use of my miko powers. But I am no stronger than a human miko and my powers would be my only weapons. Sadly I only have purification and barrier powers.

I was walking through the forest, just about a mile past the Western border, when I heard it. A little girl screaming. She was calling out to someone, Lord Sesshomaru. And then I was running. Running to her voice. I couldn't let anything happen to her if I could help it.

When I arrived, there we six men surrounding her, dressed like bandits. They had her cornered by a large rock. I ran to her. pushing my way between her and the men.

" Stay behind me.", I whispered to her pushing her behind me, so that her back was against the stone.

" When I tell you to, run." I whispered to her. The man closest to us moved to the right. Just enough for her to squeeze through. Quickly I raised my hand and raked my nails down the side of his face. He screamed in pain and I pushed the little girl out of the circle before they closed in again.

" Run!" I yelled at her. I watched her make it almost out of the clearing before one of them grabbed her.

" Lord Sesshomaru!" the girl cried.

" No!", I pleaded," No! She's just a girl! Please!" I looked into her eyes. They were big, round, and full of fear.

" Please." I begged," Please, just let her go. I'll do anything you want. Just please let her go. Please." I looked at them while I begged. Hoping that they might have one shred of decency in their hearts. That hope crumbled when I heard them laugh.

" What would you be willing to trade for the brats life?" the one directly in front of me asked. I took him to be the leader, since he was the most finely dressed of the bandits.

" Anything!" I answered immediately.

" Ya hear that boys? She said she'd do anything." the finely dressed one repeated what I'd just said. They all looked at me. I didn't like the gleam in their eyes, the way they smiled at me lustily. Cold fear trickled down by spine as I realized what my 'anything' meant to them.

I looked at the leader and then at his feet. Not wanting to meet his appraising stare. It was then that I noticed something small, green, and dressed in brown squished beneath his foot. It squirmed, probley trying to get away.

Suddenly I as pushed back against the rock, the breath leaving my body. I was then pulled forward, by the front of my kimono, to the ground and rolled onto my back. before I could reclaim my breath and fight back, they had my hands held above my head and my ankles pinned to the ground.

My eyes flew to the girl's face. I couldn't regret my decision to help her. As long as I saved her from this, I would be able to live through the shame. I hoped beyond hope that this Lord she cried out to would come and take her away, before they finished with me. The leader stopped before he touched me at the girls squeals.

" Lord Sesshomaru! You've come! " She exclaimed. The man that had had the girl by her hair was now twenty feet away, with a large hole in his chest. Then the leader was standing in front of me, his sword drawn. One of the men released my wrist, but another grabbed me around my waist. Both pinning my arms at my sides and me to his body in the process.

" Take the brat!" the leader shouted," But the woman does not belong to you!" the leader sneered at the tall man. I could see him in the break between the bandits. He was tall, handsome with chiseled features. His hair reached mid-calf and was silver. He wore a white kimono with the sleeves and left shoulder dyed red, with white sakura flowers. His armor was black and held one shoulder piece on his left shoulder.

The armor was pointy along the top edge. Pointy like dragons teeth. On his right shoulder he wore a white boa. At his waist was a yellow and blue obi that secured his two swords. His feet were clad in black boots. My eyes traveled back to his face. He had two magenta stripes on either side of his face and one on each eyelid. I saw his eyes, they were gold and smoldering. Then he smiled.

" Who are you to tell this Sesshomaru what does and does not belong to him? " The man known as Sesshomaru spoke with such indifference. His voice was cold like ice, but held such authority. 'This must be the Lord the girl spoke of.' I thought.

" Let the woman and my ward go and I will let you live. ", his baritone voice commanded again, " Men such as you have no business on my land. " The Lord added. 'Wait! His land? The Western lands were owned by a very powerful Tiayouki named...' my thought broke off as I both made the connection and mentally slapped myself in the head. My eyes followed his jaw line to his ears. They were pointed. And the stripes on his cheeks and each eyelid, not to mention the purplish-blue crescent moon on his forehead. Signs of a full demon.

" She belongs to us. She traded her life for the brats. " The Leader stated happily.

" The woman belongs to me. ", Sesshomaru stated simply, " It is not for her to decide to whom her life belongs. " I stared at him. Shocked at what he had just said. his eyes shifted then.

" Rin. " Sesshomaru spoke to her in slightly a softer tone, " Take Jaken and wait for me in the forest."

" Yes, milord. " The girl I now knew as Rin stated happily. She started toward the forest, dragging behind her the green thing I suddenly knew as an imp, by the brown robes I had seen underneath the leader's foot.

" I have given you a warning. This Sesshomaru will not warn you again. ", Sesshomaru stated simply, " Let.The.Woman.Go. " He said each word slowly and separately. The leader laughed as he answered.

" Did you not hear me demon? ", he laughed again, " The woman belongs to us. " Before the leader could turn his back on the Lord, a bright green whip appeared at the tip of Sesshomaru's claws. With a flick of his wrist, the remaining five members of the group fell to the ground. Never to rise again as the poison from Sesshomaru's whip ate at their cloths and flesh.

I stood there shocked. Looking at the bodies of the men as the sweet smelling poison ate them, yet the whip had not touched me.

" Are you injured? " The Lords voice sounded in front of me. I looked up, unable to speak yet. He looked exasperated. His face showed no emotion, but his eyes held his emotions.

" Can you speak girl? " He asked curtly.

" Yes. " I whispered. To frightened by the look in his eyes to do more. He liked my fear of him. I could tell.

" Then answer me girl. Are you injured? " He asked again.

" No. " I said quietly.

" Can you walk? " He sounded aggravated about something.

" Yes. " I answered again.

" Rin! Jaken! ", Sesshomaru called, " We will be leaving. " They came through the trees, an imp and a girl. Followed by a giant two headed dragon. They started across the meadow, when Sesshomaru stopped.

" Did you not hear me girl? I said we were leaving." His tone was icy.

" I did. " I answered him. He turned to look at me squarely.

" Then you also heard me say that you belong to me. ", His eyes were furious as he said this, " And that means you are to follow my orders. whatever they may be. " He turned back to face the forest ahead.

" But you can't just..." I was cut off as he spun on me, his voice angry.

" I said you belong to this Sesshomaru and that is final! " He turned and continued walking. I followed behind him. Too stunned to say anything. I didn't know when the sun set, but suddenly the girl called Rin was curled up in my lap under a blanket, sleeping. Two pairs of eyes watched me from either side of the fire. The imp Jaken from one side and Sesshomaru from across it. His eyes held mine until I dropped mine to looked at Rin. The last thing I remember was the Imp whispering about humans and complaining that one was enough. Then my eyes closed and sleep found me quickly.