Uncertain Hearts

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters but Lana is forever mine!

A/N: I couldn't resist trying something like this...

Lana clutched at the straps of her backpack nervously, anxious green eyes scanning the sea of foreign faces. 'This place is huge!' she worried, 'how am I meant to find Mrs. Higurashi in this lot? I don't even know what she looks like!'

Lana didn't like big crowds or strangers, so she tried to avoid eye contact with anyone as she made her way to the luggage collection. After selecting her own suitcases, Lana dragged them to a mostly area of the room to wait for the unknown Mrs. Higurashi.

Noises buzzed loudly around her and in another nervous gesture, Lana fingered the beautiful sakura broach the nice lady had sent with instructions to wear it at the airport. 'So she'd have a way to spot who I am,' Lana thought wryly, because she felt very noticeable at the moment, with her oak-brown hair, and large green eyes. Despite this feeling no one seemed to care at all, and Lana huddled against the cool wall to try and avoid the rat race that was Tokyo airport.

Lana had been under the impression that Mrs. Higurashi would be collecting from airport, so when she saw a tall young man with silver long silver hair striding intently towards her she tried to ignore him. 'He'll ignore me like the rest' Lana told herself, but he was close now and Lana recoiled after glimpsing the cold amber eyes glaring icily into her. 'Please god,' Lana prayed, 'please let him not be the one to escort me back to the shrine.'

Lana had never really believed in God, and he had obviously chosen to ignore the pleas of a scrawny 15-year-old girl, because Mr. Ice prince was coming infinitely closer. She tried, and failed to ignore him, as he stood just a mere meter away, staring at her with those impossibly cold amber eyes.

"Miss Grant I presume," it was spoken as a statement rather than a question, and Lana shrank away from the icy contempt in his voice. Her natural shyness had activated, making speech impossible, so that all she could do was nod. The amber eyes narrowed slightly, then in one fluid graceful movement he picked up her suitcases and proceeded towards the entrance with a curt "Follow me," tossed over his shoulder. Lana, eager to be free of the crowded room, followed close behind.

But as she stepped through the large airport doors an icy wind blasted her, making her body shiver, which was noted by the also cold eyes of her escort. "You did not realize that when it is summer in your country it is winter here?"

Lana blushed, "Of coarse I realised," she answered quietly, "these are the warmest clothes I have." Her blush increased as the stranger took in her sneakers, faded jeans, and thin black jacket, with a raised eyebrow.

They had by now reached his car, a glistening silver affair that looked very modern, and very expensive. As he opened the door for her he murmured, "Then you shall have to buy something more decent then…"

Lana's eyes flashed, this man was insulting her! Just because she didn't have for fancy clothes like that designer suit he was wearing! Lana vowed that she would ignore this arrogant man, and forced herself to turn and stare out at the city's many sights as the car speed along the busy streets of Tokyo.

So lost in the sights was she, that Lana hadn't noticed that the car had slowed and turned into a rather grand entrance way. Her knowledge of Japanese shrines was limited, but the mansion-like, western styled building looming just ahead, was definitely not, a shrine…

"We have arrived," her nearly silent companion stated as he halted the car in front of a series of steps that lead to the entrance of the mansion. Lana tossed him a startled glance.

"There must be some mistake," she exclaimed nervously, "I was told Mrs. Higurashi lived at the sunset shrine…" Amber eyes regarded her coolly.

"Indeed she did," he agreed coldly, "right up until her marriage to Takayama Taisho…" Lana paled as she stepped out of the fancy car and stared up at the forbidding building, not only was she foreign, she was also of much lower class, if the expensive house was anything to go by. 'I hope this family isn't anything like ice-man here,' Lana prayed as she and her companion were hailed by a polite but distant lady that was introduced as the housekeeper Yoko-san.

Lana smiled shyly as she bowed, "Greetings Yoko-san," she murmured, and the housekeeper nodded, as if she approved.

"Hello to you to," she greeted, stepping aside so that they could pass, "I'll show you to your room now." Lana nodded and bent to pick up her suitcases that had been retrieved by the iceman, when a now familiar frosty voice spoke out.

"Don't bother with your cases, I shall bring them up later." Lana didn't want to provoke him, so instead she grabbed up her pack and hurried after Yoko-san, barely noticing the expensive items displayed around her.

After being led through what looked to be a vast sitting room, complete with a roaring log fire, Lana was then led through a wide hallway and up a very grand looking, polished staircase.

Yoko then opened a door and stood aside so Lana could go in first, and was surprised by what she saw. Instead of just one room, Lana had been given a suite of rooms! She had a bathroom, bedroom, and even a small study! She turned to Yoko, amazement clearly etched all over her face, "It's great!" Lana enthused, as she looked around and wandered over to the large bed. It had a beautiful jade bedspread, complete with matching a mass of matching cushions and pillows. The frame itself was made of a darkish-coloured wood, very chic, and probably very expensive.

Lana then checked out the bathroom, which had both shower and a generously sized bath, and was also filled with top brand products. It was nice, Lana thought, but it also made her feel self-conscious because she didn't fit in with all this wealth and luxury.

These rooms were fantastic, but the small study was her favourite because it seemed the most homely of them all, and even had its own fir and shelves lined with books.

Lana had to stop exploring when she heard a sharp tap on her door. It was her icy companion bringing her cases and asking politely if she liked her rooms, Lana barely had time to nod before he had disappeared down the hall.

A combination of tiredness and jet lag forced her to use the beautifully made up bed, and as Lana drifted the thought dawned on her that she didn't even know his name…

Sesshomaru's nose twitched in agitation, the scent of eucalyptus and spring water had followed him, it was her scent, the scent of the foreign girl. She had seemed she and meek, but he had seen fire in those strange green eyes, and he believed she would fight if provoked. Fighting down the urge to smile at this thought, Sesshomaru made his way to his own room…

An hour later there was a knock on his door, and his stepsister entered with his annoying excuse for a half-brother. "Has she arrived yet?" they asked loudly, Sesshomaru and gave them both a glare.

"Didn't I tell you to stop pestering me?" he asked, ignoring their question, and turning back to his paper work. But when it became clear that they weren't going to leave him in peace until they knew he relented. "Miss Grant is in her room, though may I suggest that you use better manners than when you charged in here." Hearing his door click shut Sesshomaru sighed again, 'Maybe now I can work in peace…'

Lana was awoken by a tap on her door, and because she was still half asleep she gave the affirmative to enter in English. But when to Japanese people her own age entered she bolted upright, an apology already halfway out of her mouth when the girl laughed.

"Don't worry about it," she laughed, and Lana was surprised to hear that she spoke perfect English. She studied her guests shyly, the girl had the typical black hair, but she also had smoky blue-grey eyes, and the guy looked much like the iceman she'd already, except less refined. Judging the girl to be a future friend, Lana introduced herself.

"My name is Lana," she explained shyly, "I'm the exchange student from Australia." The blue- eyed girl grinned, "I'm Kagome and this is my stepbrother Inuyasha."

"Iceman…" Lana murmured and turned red when she realised Kagome had heard her and asked what Lana meant. "Well…Inuyasha reminds me of someone I've just met…"

"Feh! You must be talking about that dirt-bag Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha snorted, "Iceman…What a great description!"

Lana coloured again, "Please don't tell him I said that," she pleaded, "it wouldn't do to insult one of those who allow me in their home for such a long stay!"

Kagome looked slightly shocked, "Calm down Lana, your not the first to refer to him as such, I'm just glad your not going to be part of that damn Sesshomaru lover's club!"

Lana's eyes widened in surprise, "Is he that popular at school?" she asked dubiously, and shook her head when she saw Kagome nod. "What have I gotten myself into?" she wondered aloud, and Kagome laughed again.

"Lana, this is only the beginning…"

A/N: An experimental fic, please review and tell me what you think...

Sakura Dragonwolf