Side note: Thoughts are distinguished by italics.

Prologue: Midnight Meeting

He tilted his head skyward. The moon was full and cloaked the world below him in an ethereal glow. The wind blew gently fluttering his long, silver mane out behind his silent form. He closed his eyes, hiding their golden hue from the dark night. His mind was for once not occupied by thoughts of the war that was soon to come.

Winter will soon be beginning and when it falls to spring, the war will unfailingly begin. Many are anxious. There are stirrings in the south about a new lord taking over. The whole issue is a mystery, even to one such as myself.

He knew that is these rumors were true the new lord could not be trusted, but they were only rumors. However, it would all be dealt with at a later date.

Sesshoumaru turned his thoughts back to those of a more calming nature. His examination of the sky continued.

The natural light was muted every now and then by the passing clouds. He lazily studied the lands. Directly below him was his mother's garden that still bloomed as if living in her memory, but it was vastly overgrown with weeds. Beyond that were meadows surrounded by woods creating an intimate hiding place. His receptive eyes could easily see the many fresh springs and crystal lakes that now glistened when touched by the moon's touching rays.

Something was amiss. In all of these observations only one thing struck his mind as odd.

Even though the world was sleeping, the forest should be awake with nocturnal creatures. His perceptive ears would have caught such noises. However, there were none. Not even the hoot of an owl or the scratch of a mouse as it created its nest preparing for winter hibernation.

Sesshoumaru's brow creased in concentration. His instincts were warning him about something to come, but who would risk entering his territory? Few demons that could cause him worry entered, especially without his permission.

The silver demon leapt from his balcony to loftily descend into the thriving beauty that was the western lands. Sesshoumaru landed nimbly, creating no sound other than the shuffle of his pristine ivory robes. He crept cautiously towards the dark looming forest which, to many demons and humans alike, represented the dark mysterious character of his late father who spent the majority of his time there, scouting and wandering the familiarity of his homeland.

The woodlands in front of him seemed to draw him in. Like an attraction that he never felt towards any other being, male or female. He drew closer accepting the craving he felt to hunt or whatever it was calling out to his beast. This beast was one long since tamed and captured beneath his skin.

Sesshoumaru skillfully maneuvered a path through the shadowed giants until he came upon an open clearing. A shiver traveled the length of his spine as his curiosity reached its peak.

There in front of him was one of the many lakes that stretched throughout his terrain. The inky depths hiding the many creatures he knew to be in existence beyond his sight. He scanned the area his gaze falling on a lone figure.

The figure was obviously feminine, distinguished by soft curves that were only slightly hindered by the damp fabric of her yukata. The design of the cloth was that of doves flying across the shoulders and along the bottom hemline. The color was a rich violet with a lavender obi. Her ebony tresses glistened in their wetness signifying that she had only collapsed recently. Her delicate face was shadowed and framed by her bangs. Her bare feet were slightly swollen and bleeding from what would seem a long journey. Her dainty hands were tinted a light bluish hue from their rest in the shallow lapping of the freezing lake. Upon approaching closer, he acknowledged the presence of a cut on her left palm. She had stopped to clean it and probably had fallen into a deep slumber out of exhaustion.

He studied the human further not noticing anything interesting until he repeated a recent observation. Her feet and palm had cuts, not deep enough to scar, but deep enough to bleed. Even though the flow of blood had long since clotted, he should be able smell the salt and iron of its scent. The fact that Sesshoumaru, an inuyoukai, couldn't was worrisome and even more curious.

Sesshoumaru raised his nose slightly higher sniffing with a clear intent in mind.

Still nothing.

Sesshoumaru drew closer and lifted her injured palm from the icy pool. He was slightly shocked by the sheer coldness of it, as well as the softness. He observed her palm. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary. The pads of her fingers slightly wrinkled from their lengthened time in the water. He lowered his head so that his nose was only inches from the cut.

Perhaps the water diluted her scent of her hand…but that wouldn't explain her feet.

No, the fact of the matter was that for some reason her blood's scent was concealed from him.

Everyone has a unique odor, even demons or rather especially demons. In their blood, on their skin, and in the area generally surrounding their bodies was a specific scent that was entirely that individual's own. Family shared similarities since they share bloodlines, but each living creature was different. Being an inuyoukai, he could distinguish one person from another. He could even recognize the race of said individual by their scent.

Although he could smell the scent on her skin, that of sakura blossoms and jasmine, he couldn't smell the tinge of blood. Without actually seeing the damage a person wouldn't have known of her injury.

A great advantage.

His once peaked curiosity was now beyond its limit. He growled low in his throat, knowing he'd most likely regret this later. Sesshoumaru bent down and picked the woman-child up. He threw her, none too gently, over his shoulder only making sure she wasn't impaled on his spiked armor.

He crouched down slightly as a white mist floated around him at his feet. The air began to whip at his hair lifting it from his shoulders. In a matter of seconds he was aloft and backtracking to his haven.

Sesshoumaru entered his mother's garden heading towards his abode. That was, in no way, humble. Instead of heading towards the stairs that would lead up into the main entrance hall, he turned left. His final destination was a small cottage that lied cattycornered to the back of his residence and on the far edge of the garden. This was used mainly for guests that wished to be reclusive from others. Or if there happened to be two guests visiting that quarreled and otherwise didn't get along, they could be separated. One in the main building and the other in this cottage; it could be rather useful at times.

The bungalow wasn't large, but wouldn't be called a hut either because it contained several spacious rooms and a fireplace. He walked towards the back where a small bedroom was located. The room was relatively bare, leaving two side tables to be decorated as the guest pleased. The small bed covered in a pale green comforter and white sheets below was placed in the center with the two small oak tables on either side.

One small window was to his right with sweeping, pale green drapes. The bare walls were white and had nothing shrouding their blankness. Directly to his left, in the corner, across the room from the side table was a small wood cabinet. He knew this held various herbs and bandages for wounds, some illnesses, etc. It also held candles to give light to the room. This was because when his father had commissioned this dormitory, he saw no need to give the little place electricity. That the candles would only add to its uniqueness and natural appeal.

Sesshoumaru crossed the room swiftly and dumped the woman-child on the bed. So now her legs were slightly hanging off the end, her arms on either side off her head, and her hair fanning out above her in random directions. She was mostly dry by now, but he could see the slight dampness still in the stubborn garment.

He frowned.

She can't sleep in that. The servants would have to change the bedding...she's more trouble than I realized and she's still unconscious.

However, one look at her still injured hand quieted these thoughts. Besides, once his curiosity was quenched he would rid himself of the burden. Or he could kill her. He smirked just imagining the ways to do so. He glanced up at her again. He would have to replace her clothes. Not that he cared, but it was a nuisance. Usually he would have a few of his many servants do it, but it was just past midnight. Again not that he cared, but he wouldn't bother to wake his servants just to change some strange human's clothes. That was too much trouble.

He left the room momentarily to enter the door to his left. Even in the obvious darkness he successfully found the armoire that contained a stock of yukatas. He slipped one used for sleeping off the shelf and silently closed the cabinet. He then crossed the hall that would have been to his right once leaving the bedroom. The bathroom was small, but took up most of the cottage space-wise. Again crossing the room, he opened yet another wood cabinet pulling out a towel.

Retracing his steps he re-entered the bedroom. Approaching the girl, Sesshoumaru expertly untied the obi and removed the cotton fabric. He reached for the towel to dry any skin that was still wet. Running the fluffy material across her skin, his eyes lazily scanned the beautiful paleness. Her skin seemed to glow from the light that leaked in through the half covered window, casting shadow across her face, but highlights across her raven tresses.

He clothed her in the simple, white sleeping yukata and tied it with a cotton sash. Sesshoumaru walked to the small cabinet in the corner of the room to remove certain ground herbs that would motivate healing and strips of bandages. The herbs he placed against her injured hand and then proceeded to bind with a bandage. Sesshoumaru then repeated this process with her feet. After this was completed, he lifted her from the end of the bed and placed her under the covers. Pulling the layers up to her chin, he observed her face for the first time. He was slightly surprised by her beauty.

She had surpassing beauty for a human. She wasn't an ordinary peasant like he had assumed by the quality of her clothes. She had sculpted eyebrows with closed eyes below. Her eyelashes were a thick laced ink color. She had a delicate nose. The woman had a full bottom lip that was a light rose color. Upon closer inspection, he could see slight grooves on her bottom lip, indicating that she would bite or chew said lip. He rose from the bed and closed his eyes for a moment longer than needed.

Sesshoumaru realized how tired his body had become. He slipped from the room and crossed back passed the garden and up the lengthy staircase. He slinked through many halls and soon into his personal wing. He wound his way through the maze of smaller corridors expertly. Even though each one exactly the same- white walls with shoji screens lining both sides. Finally entering his personal quarters, he deftly removed his robes and fell into bed. Closing his eyes, the last vision in his mind was the shining moon smiling in through his large balcony window. The window that still lied open, but the moon was now slowly descending in the firmament. Then the lunar king surrendered its throne to the dawn, leaving only twilight to remind the awakening day of his eternal promise to rise to power once again.

Blink.

Darkness.

Blink.

She had managed, somewhat amazingly, to rise from the oh-so-comfortable bed and was leaning on the frame by the window.

It seemed like forever since she'd slept in a bed and the woman left it grudgingly. However, the call of curiosity was stronger than any desire to remain in bed all day.

Kagome glanced down at her hand that was stinging slightly. She was surprised to see a bandage there, but even more so when she saw a thin red line across the middle. It was blood leaking through the cotton binding.

Did I hurt myself? I don't remember…

Kagome tilted her head slightly to the side so that it was resting against the window frame. Her head was only padded by the drapes and her wavy tresses. She peered once more out of the sun's rays. She almost couldn't help the tears that glazed over her once clear eyes as painful memories returned to her.

Tearing her eyes from the heartbreakingly beautiful sunrise, she wiped furiously at her eyes. Tears were a weakness. Kagome promised herself she wouldn't cry and she won't. She turned to study the room she currently occupied. She couldn't help, but wonder who her mysterious host was. Whoever it was must have found her in the forest, most likely sleeping, and brought her here.

I wonder why though. Maybe they know my reputation... if that is the case then I had better try to escape.

Kagome exited her small, neat room. Her feet were sore from her long trek through the mountains and woods. She noticed with a small melancholy smile that her rescuer had also bound her feet and tried to heal them with herbs. Unless they were helping her out of the kindness of their hearts, they probably knew who she was. Was she being sought after already?

Kagome couldn't help herself. She always liked to explore, even if it usually got her in trouble. Though, she couldn't sense anyone in surrounding area (which was only being a small radius). She crept as best she could around the cottage. Just in case her senses were off from the lack of sleep, she searched her surroundings. Even after the brief hibernation, her legs still felt like they could break off at any point. She grasped the wall gently as her knees buckled weakly.

Regaining composure and power over her body, she continued her escapade through the small residence. She came across two doors right outside her bedroom. One seemed to be an overly large closet with armoires lining all four walls. Kagome couldn't believe someone could ever need so many clothes. By the quality of each exquisite garment, she agreed that the proprietor of these items was quite well endowed in financial status. Her eyes widened.

Even the yukatas for sleeping and bathing are more expensive than most I've seen!

Kagome fingered the material gently. She slid a hand over the folded sleeve. They were gorgeous, but such extravagance really wasn't necessary, especially for a yukata one would only be sleeping in. Who'd ever see it?

The other door across from the humongous closet was, to her relief, a bathroom (And no, not because she had to go). Kagome sighed in relief. A bath was what her body really needed at this point. Besides she could be curious after her bath. It was weird that someone's aches and pains could be washed away down the drain by taking a mere bath, but in Kagome's case it was all too true. She always was an eccentric creature.

She padded into the room that would soon become her refuge. Her hips swaying in rhythm as she hummed a little ditty while she prepared her much needed bath (Again not because she smelled- she was tense.). The petite woman perched on the wide ledge of the bath tub that might as well have been a small lake. Kagome carefully untied the bandage around her palm allowing the cotton material to twist and twirl into a pile in her lap. Kagome gasped when she saw the ragged tear in her skin. She gingerly touched it, tracing the jagged line, wincing. Seems the skin was still pretty sensitive. Bending down she unwrapped her feet and easily undressed, being careful to avoid her injuries when she was able.

Her feet felt somewhat better just resting on the chilled floor. Their swelling had gone down, but it was still painful to walk. Her lithe form slid into the steaming water. Kagome reached behind her head where a rack of soaps and other care products rested waiting to be used. She grabbed some soap and let the thick substance slowly drip down into the hot bath. Kagome pulled her knees up, resting her chin on them. Watching the greenish substance of soap disperse into the torrent of running water, she let her mind wander.

After awhile the bath clouded from the soap. Kagome snapped out of her thoughts and busied herself by playing with the small bubbles forming on top of the water. She was truly amazed that there was running water coming directly into the bathroom. Kagome blew bubbles off her fingers absently, not trying to catch them. She shut off the tap when her bath was full. The girl lowered herself into the steaming comfort until her nose was just above the cloudy depth now hiding her naked form.

The muscles in her neck began to steadily unwind from their knots to transform magically back into tissue by the water's coaxing gentleness. Her legs finally stopped their incessant aching. Kagome took up her soft tune once again while trying not to doze off. Feeling herself start to slip further under the water than she wanted, she stuck out her hands to push off the sides of the tub to pull herself back up. She yelped in pain. Instantly realizing her mistake, she gently braced herself with her battered feet and raised her forgotten injury above the misty warmth.

I really don't remember doing this. I was in such a haze. Did I do it when I accidentally tripped on that darn tree root? It seems forever ago. Hmm then there was that lake. There was something about it. The trees seemed to speak, yet I didn't hear anything. And the water! It almost glowed…I think I'm losing it. That's the last time I wander around at night in the cold.

Kagome stood up and made sure she didn't catch her foot of the edge of the tub, like last time. She winced at the memory. She'd had a concussion and a bruise when she woke up. She shivered a little from the sudden change in temperatures. She grabbed a towel from one of the three wood cabinets in the bathroom and wrapped it around herself.

Kagome crossed the hall again to find an appropriate outfit. She shifted through the many wardrobes that ranged from ungodly fancy to sleep wear. She stopped in the middle to choose a simple yukata, one that was most likely more expensive then the one she had been wearing (which by the way was still lying in a pile in her borrowed bedroom).

Kagome's choice was a midnight blue yukata with light blue flowers and white fans that decorated randomly across the fabric. She then slipped on a pair of comfy slippers and entered the bedroom. Kagome picked up the discarded clothing she'd worn the previous day and hung it up in the one empty armoire that was set aside from the others. It was for garments that were chosen to be worn usually, but it served her purpose just fine. She smiled for the first time in several days. Her past few days being spent wandering that forsaken forestry.

Now- to continue my tour, possibly find an escape, and perhaps find out something about my rescuer.

Kagome smiled softly and set about discovering more about her surroundings. Little did she know that her mysterious host was heading her way.

Edited chapter one.