Chapter Two: The First Encounter

At first, the stranger seemed to stare directly at Yuki, looking her up and down, examining her for the first time. It made poor, shy Yuki shrink and look away at the ground with uneasiness at being judged in such a way by a complete stranger. But Sango stood strong with eyes glaring at the man and her hand on her boomerang, ready to whip it into action at any moment if the need should arise. "Sesshomaru," the exterminator said simply and broke the thick silence, "Watch yourself."

The man Sango had identified as Sesshomaru didn't seem the least bit threatened by the ice in her voice for he didn't seem in a hurry to turn his attention away from Yuki, bringing relief to her, and focusing on the somewhat familiar face of the human. "What are you doing here human?" he asked, ignoring her demand, "And where is that filthy half breed?"

Suddenly Shippo jumped down from his perch on Yuki's shoulder so that he could scurry and hide behind her, cowering from the tall figure. He knew that this was no time to be brave, which Yuki guessed he would have done if had been any other being. And she didn't blame the little one for hiding. This Sesshomaru fellow gave off a very threatening and powerful impression that was so intimidating that Yuki herself wanted to run and hide.

This impression was then somewhat lessened as a little girl of about six or seven years ran into the clearing, if it was not completely dashed to smithereens. This girl was too cute and happy looking to allow her ally's façade to continue. Shortly after entering the clearing, the child was followed shortly by a… clothed toad carrying a staff? What WAS that thing anyways? It was hard for Yuki to say...

But the girl stopped by the man and looked over at Yuki in wonder. She then pulled on Sesshomaru's sleeve, put her hand to the side of her mouth, and whispered a question just loud enough for Yuki to make out, "Lord Sesshomaru, who's the pretty girl with Inu Yasha's friends?"

Yuki blushed at the compliment. To be praised so openly was a new experience for the older girl, but the smile that she was trying so hard to hide behind a raised hand showed that she slightly and secretly enjoyed it.

Sesshomaru looked down at the little girl with the same emotionless expression and replied, "She is most likely only another human that he is traveling with, Rin."

By now, Sango's hand had tensed and tightened with impatience on the handle of her weapon. "What do you want Sesshomaru?" she questioned, a demanding tone in her voice.

Slowly Sesshomaru focused his attention back to the minor threat before him. "I believe I was the one who asked that question first," he skillfully dodged, "But if your puny mortal mind does not recall, then I will ask it again. What are you doing here?"

And for some reason, Yuki was able gather an immense amount of courage that she never knew dwelt inside of her step forward and answer for her friends, "I just wanted to go for a walk. Sango and Shippo where just escorting me." It was immediately after she finished this statement that Yuki gave a gasp in the recollection of Shippo and noticing that he was no longer clinging to her leg. Yuki started looking around for him, but he was nowhere in sight. This was when she began to worry about the little kitsune and started calling for him. There was no answer.

In desperation and panic that Shippo could now be lost to them, Yuki turned and blindly ran into the forest calling his name, but there was still no sight or reply of the fox. Yuki ran blindy through the trees, scouring the trees for the child, praying that he would go unharmed.

All of this frantic searching finally got to Yuki's mortal body so she was forced to stop and rest. And after sitting underneath the good shelter of a tree, Yuki finally realized the danger that she could also be in. She was alone in an unfamiliar forest that was teeming with who-knew-what. But regardless of her concerns for herself, Yuki was more concerned about everyone else. How long would it be until they finally came looking for her? How long would it take them to find her? Would Shippo be safe?

Luckily, the exhaustion of the search finally caught up with her. It dominated her body, making it weak and begin to ache. Soon, it finally spread to her mind, beginning to prepare it for rest. Then, her eyes finally fell closed, feeling as if they were made of lead.