Soulless Desire
Chapter One

Turning his head back to glance at the trees once more, Sesshoumaru internally sighed. He disliked the noise and smell of a city.

The warm breeze danced through his silken hair, the silver tresses brushed across his face, caressing his cheek. No doubt he stuck out in a crowd. Although humans had become such closed up beings, some primitive instincts remained. When he walked past, something in them clicked, something screamed to them, predator. It would, of course, simply be passed off as his size and features intimidating them. Yet, they still scooted away, shifted in the other direction, kept a wary eye on him.

The feeling of belonging escaped him, no matter where he went. Only in his woods did he ever feel remotely safe and at home. And even there his privacy was repeatedly invaded. Hunters, and hermits like the one before would pass through, believing the land unoccupied.

Perhaps we should invest in fencing?

Had he truly possessed enough sarcasm before for both sides to be so readily blessed?

"Kagome!" A high pitched voice called. A thin girl called to another, seemingly waving her to follow. She had a bit of hair pulled up on one side; her eyes seemed beyond her age.

"But don't they look so sweet Rin! I just want to take them all home with me." This girl, Kagome he presumed, had her face pressed up against a wide glass window.

"They do!" Rin laughed pointing at the glass, "But the movie will start any minute now."

"Alright," Kagome sighed, "Maybe I can convince my mom to let me have one…" She walked with the other girl, steps light, carefree.

"Hope so. They're so cute!" Her face glowed with laughter.

She has blue eyes…

"So I noticed." Sesshoumaru wasn't surprised by her resemblance to Kikyo, for he'd seen it before. Even her scent was remarkably similar, though less marred by worry and pain. She appeared in her late teens, sixteen of seventeen perhaps.

Not only does she smell delicious, but her appearance is more than appealing…

Nodding automatically, Sesshoumaru walked down the busy sidewalk to the building they'd been at moments ago. The crude sign above the entry to the building read "Animal Shelter" and scrawled in beneath in smaller letters was "No Kill"

Bringing his face closer to the glass, he glanced into the window. In a high walled box covered in blankets resided over a dozen bright eyed puppies. The strategically placed creatures had caught the attention of Kagome for obvious reasons. They were cute, and innocent looking in the least. The largest bullied the others, but only in fun at this age. Much like Inuyasha and himself when they were young.

I'm beginning to like this one already.

"And here I thought you wanted to eat her."

Well, if she likes dogs, maybe she's worth having around...

As Sesshoumaru entered the shelter, he was greeted by an array of barks and howls. He walked past the window puppies, and looked at the others, golden eyes greeted with brown counterparts.

One cage in particular caught his eye. The tag read "Alaskan Malamutes"

Inside the thin metal bars were five puppies. They were a bit older than the ones in the window, but still very much puppy nonetheless. Sticking a claw between the bars, he scratched a fuzzy white head.

"I feel bad for that one." A feminine voice said from his right.

"And why is that?" Sesshoumaru withdrew his finger from the cage.

"Well, all four of her brothers are going to be going to a dog shower. But that one won't, she can't be shown." The plump woman sighed slightly, looking fondly at the creatures in the cage.

"Why not?" Really, although most people felt the constant need for speech, they always seemed to require an invitation to share information they possessed.

"She's got blue eyes." The woman smiled sadly, "Her pure white coat is allowed and all, but blue eyes are a disqualification. Her brother's all have brown eyes. I rather prefer the way she looks, but I don't make the rules."

The woman's round face seemed honest enough, even kind, but she didn't seem very bright. She was the type of person who was very knowledgeable on one subject, but could tell you very little of anything else.

"Will she ever be adopted?" Sesshoumaru kept his face emotionless, but he could see the woman's eyes light up a bit.

What on Earth are you doing?

"Hmm… Probably. But she most likely end up back here in a few months." She ran her fingers through her massive mess of curly reddish-brown hair. "Sure she's all small now, but she won't be for long. Malamutes, even females, weigh eighty or so pounds as adults. Possibly more depending on her diet."

I can't believe it. My other half has gone all soft over a puppy.

"Do they require large amounts of care?" Sesshoumaru kept his mask in place, but he felt as though he had something in common with the little creature.

"Do you have a nice open space she could run in? If you don't, she'll need plenty of walking, they need lots of exercise." The woman walked over to a nearby table. She searched through stacks of papers, looking for something.

"I have extreme amounts of space."

Wow, you're adopting a puppy. This is, in no way, an odd day.

Ignoring the thought, Sesshoumaru followed her to the desk.

"So, would you like to have her?" The hearty woman smiled warmly as she pushed a pen and paper towards him suggestively.

Well of course we do!

Nodding, Sesshoumaru signed his name, and handed her the cash, a little surprised at the cost of taking such a tiny animal.

The woman clapped her hands happily, handing him a cardboard animal carrying box. As she rambled on about vets and shots, food and care, Sesshoumaru simply nodded, mostly tuning her out.

So… what are we supposed to do with another dog around? We already have issues with feeding me. Wait, will she be fine with deer? Or does she prefer old people too?

As the woman opened the tiny metal cell, Sesshoumaru carefully reached in, picking up his puppy in one hand.

The warm creature barked in delight, her high pitched yelps filled with excitement. She quickly went about slobbering all over his hand, eventually resting her fragile head on his marked wrist.

"Well, you two seem happy together already!" Placing a ragged towel in the box first, the woman motioned for him to put her into this cardboard cell. Nodding slightly, Sesshoumaru put the drooling puppy in, taking the box by its handles.

"What does she eat?" Sesshoumaru asked quietly, disturbed by his other half's thoughts.

"Well dog kibble of course!" The woman laughed warmly, her eyes smiling. "There's a pet shop just around the corner, the guy in there can help you."

Kibble? Alright, I guess we can keep the mutt. But she better not drool all over me like that.

"What did I just do?" Sesshoumaru asked himself, exiting the pet store. He'd bought said 'Kibble' and also a few other strange objects the clerk had 'Highly recommended'. The puppy whined considerably, scratching at her cardboard prison.

It's called pity.

"Hn." Stepping quickly through the crowded streets, Sesshoumaru stopped at a small park. The 'park' consisted of little more than a few benches and a handful of trees. Bending to his knees, Sesshoumaru released his puppy to the worn grass, freeing her of her entrapment.

"What's his name?" A small girl child, no more than five or six asked him. Her voice was slightly marred by her tiny hand she had stuffed halfway in her mouth.

"She doesn't have one." Sesshoumaru watched the foolish puppy try to outrun a butterfly, tripping and falling every few steps.

My, aren't we the social one today?

"She has to have a name!" The fair-haired child looked appalled by the puppy's lack of name.

"Does she?" Sesshoumaru watched the child's face twist in thought.

"Everyone needs a name." Her eyes widened, "Can-can I name her?"

Nodding, Sesshoumaru watched the girl carefully as she combed through her young mind, configuring a name for the tiny creature.

"Amaya!" The girl smiled, satisfied. She carefully reached out a sticky hand, petting the tiny puppy behind her pointy ears. She turned to leave, her short attention span drawn elsewhere.

Well, this exciting day has yielded a blue-eyed over-excited puppy. Now what about our blue-eyed girl?

"Working on it…" Sesshoumaru growled, coaxing the newly named Amaya back into the box.

How are we going to introduce ourselves? She seemed to like dogs well enough, perhaps I could –

"You, will not be going near her."

Fine, fine. How will You introduce us then?

"I was going to go with Sesshoumaru, although if you have any other suggestions, I'm sure I will be hearing them." Closing the pet carrier box, Sesshoumaru winced at the instant whining he was greeted with.

And yet you're so kind to the puppy…

:------:

Brushing a small white hair from his shirt, Sesshoumaru watched Kagome carefully. She was with the Rin girl again today, and also another. He was fairly certain her name was Sango.

Kagome's choice of skirt was slightly disturbing to him. He didn't mind her wearing it, but it really bothered him she was out in public with such a short garment on. The skirt itself was black, her shirt the color of her eyes.

They were walking towards him, and he carefully measured their steps. Kagome was talking with the others, not paying close attention to her steps.

"He was all over you Rin!" Sango's cheerful voice called.

Grinning, Rin felt her face grow hot, "You really think so?"

"Trust me Rin, he was." Kagome assured, her long hair blowing to one side.

Turning to look at her friends, Kagome wasn't looking in front of her. Her face smashed into something hard, she looked up, and was greeted by a muscular shoulder.

"Oh, I'm sorry, wasn't paying attention there." She blushed like mad, muttering her apologies. She turned only redder at the chorus of stifled giggles behind her.

"I assure you, it is quite alright." Sesshoumaru looked deeply into her eyes. They were similar to the pair he'd seen centuries ago, save the set in front of him held more kindness, and less pain.

Kagome didn't move, simply remained there, staring dumbly at him. His appearance was striking, and she felt she could fall into those Golden eyes and never make her way out.

"I should have paid more attention to where I was going…" Kagome stammered. Feeling Rin's elbow in her side, she blinked. How long had she been staring at him?

"I don't suppose you're hungry?" Sesshoumaru tilted his head to the side.

"We just ate." Rin grabbed Kagome's arm, "Another time though!"

Kagome shook her head, trying to regain herself, "Wait, what's your name?"

"Sesshoumaru."

"Oh, well I'm Kagome. See ya around?" Kagome flashed a nervous smile, and followed her friends on down the sidewalk, Rin still hanging on to her arm.

"Of that, I'm certain." Sesshoumaru smirked, hearing their words as they walked away. A conversation about him filled his ears.

Hmm... We're 'hot'. And our pointed ears are 'cute'.

"So it would seem."

Short, I know! But I felt it should stop there for now. The next chapter will be much longer, I promise. Please tell me any suggestions or ideas you may have! I always need them.

– Pets Ray – Such a good Muse and Editor!
Please, Review.