: Wow! Thank you so much! I'm overjoyed that you are enjoying it even though it was just the first chapter. ^-^

Note - POV will shift every chapter so that you all get a different perspective other than the OC's. (mostly between 1st person: OC; and 3rd person: Sesshomaru) I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 2

What Makes One Worthy

(3rd POV)

The Inu Daiyōkai watched as the human woman slept a mere few feet from where he laid against a tree, his wounds already healing at an exceptional rate. It had surprised him that she would let him see her in such a vulnerable state. Did she really not fear him? He remembered the ways she would speak to him. In a way, he had been angered by the way she would speak down to him. If she only knew who she had been addressing in such a way. He should have killed her for her insolence. And yet, he couldn't help but be intrigued by this woman. She had even smiled at him and talked to him as if they had known each other for some time. This should have displeased him but it did not. He would continue to deny it but it was actually quite pleasant to him. Her company had been unwanted but his interest had peaked to rather unusual heights. So much more once he had become aware of the fact that the Hikage had chosen her as its host.

Choosing a mortal as its vassal, he thought in amusement and wonder, Why would it do so when there are far many other more powerful and obvious options in this world. Who exactly is this woman?

He continued to ponder these questions as he remembered what his father had once, long ago, told him about the impressive power of the Hikage. It was said that this ancient power had once belonged to the very first youkai to ever come into existence. That it lacked a physical body and would possess whoever it deemed the most powerful. He had a hard time believing that this woman was that powerful even with her small display earlier with the Oni. It had been the Hikage's power and not her own.

No, he thought as he remembered the exact words his father spoke to him when he was but a mere pup, The Hikage chooses a vassal that it deems worthy of its power. This woman…

His eyes narrowed at her sleeping form. Somehow, this ancient power believed her to be worthy. What exactly was it that made her worthy? More importantly, would the power of the Hikage corrupt her as it had done all the others before her? Would she want to reign over lands of blood like the last youkai who possessed its great power? Like his father before him, he wondered if there would come a time when he would need to take her life before she would want to destroy everything around her. Perhaps, he would take her with him so that he could keep an eye on her. If she were to ever become corrupted and go on a rampage he would kill her himself. Yes, that seemed to be the sensible thing to do. Not to mention the fact that she was probably the most interesting human he had come across. Maybe getting to know her wouldn't be such a terrible ordeal. After all, he did need his questions answered.

What makes this mortal woman worthy?

This only frustrated him as his mind wandered to the sword he had been trying to take from his younger half-brother. Hadn't he been more worthy of its power than that hanyou? It made his blood boil thinking about it. He had inherited the worthless sword from their father rather than the sword he had been waiting to carry and wield. It made him wonder which of his father's two sons he had favored. His father was a man he had wanted to make proud. He thought of the man as someone he deeply cared for even though he scarcely showed it at all. After all, his father was a man worthy of great respect.

"Hmm," his thoughts were interrupted by the soft moan of the woman as she shifted to lay on her side. Her face was now clearly visible. She had a soft smile on his lips as she slept, long light-brown hair sprawled around her head. Her kimono shifting to reveal some more of her delicate looking skin that already showed far too much. Her legs were almost completely exposed to him. She had an almost exotic look about her. He would not admit such a thing but the woman had a beauty to her that normal human women did not possess. And here she laid, completely at ease as if she hadn't been threatened moments before.

How can she sleep so peaceful in my, Sesshomaru's, presence?

Indeed, he was a powerful youkai capable of killing her with ease and yet she held no fear of him. This both annoyed and intrigued him. He wanted to know more even against his better judgment and instinct as a youkai. He would never admit such a thing. He would keep her in his presence in case she would begin to fall into bloodlust and became hungry for power. It was only a matter of time until the madness would sink in.

He sunk deeper in his Mokomoko-sama, closing his eyes as the peace settled in. He could hear the soft breaths of the woman laying so close to his person. He let his thoughts drift off, not once letting his guard down in case an enemy were to come to visit them. He dared them to even try. They would meet their untimely demise.

The sun shone down on his skin, clearly indicating that it had become morning. He heard the footsteps of the small girl as she approached them. She smelt of dirt and fish. He opened his eyes but did not move to look at her, "No thanks." He did not want any food that she would offer him. Her kindness was unneeded but he would still give some form of polite rejection to her offer. He wasn't sure why he thanked her but he felt it would be necessary.

The small child did not seem to want to take no for an answer. She moved a few more steps before falling to her knees to offer the small amount of food displayed on a large leaf. He wondered briefly whether this stubbornness came from the woman's teachings. It had occurred to him that the woman was teaching the child some human decency.

"I told you, I don't need anything from you," he told her, rejection her offer once again. To think that a human woman and child would want to offer anything to him just because they wanted to. They had shown him kindness that he had never once experience before. It wasn't out of fear or because of his status. It was merely because of the fact that they had decided to offer it without wanting any form of reward. This was all new to him and he was attempting to figure out what it was he should feel about it or what to do in the situation he had found himself in. His mind strayed at the fact that the child was visibly injured, "Where did you get those bruises?" The girl seemed to be surprised and confused as to why he would ask such a question. For some reason, his voice softened, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." He could feel her staring at him. He turned his head to rest his eyes on her. Her face brightened into a smile with a missing tooth. He wasn't sure what to make of it. Now both the woman and the child had smiled at him and it wasn't entirely unpleasant. "What are you smiling about? I simply asked a question. I don't care. I'm just curious."

He heard a soft laugh from the other side of him where the woman had been sleeping. She wore a warm smile on her lips as she looked at the both of them, "I don't know. It looks like you care to me. So, cute."

He had never once ever heard someone refer to him as 'cute'. He wasn't sure what his next move should be. Perhaps he should slit her throat for even daring to utter that word. But the way she was looking at him was what stopped him. She was merely teasing him. He watched as she got up, dusted off and adjusting her revealing kimono and walked to Rin. She knelt down to the child's level with a frown.

"Oh, Rin. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you from getting hurt like this," she said. It was obvious that this woman cared deeply for the small girl. This woman had an honest face that was very easy to read.

The small girl shook her head, grinning as she pointed at the woman and the male. The woman blinked at the girl before looking at him. "What is it?" he asked her, somewhat curious. Could the woman really understand the silent child?

The woman frowned, "I think she's wondering if we get along." They watched as the girl nodded in excitement. The woman seemed to be in thought before speaking to the child, "Hm. I guess we do. I haven't slept so well in months. I wouldn't have if I didn't think he was at least safe to be around."

Safe. She had called him safe. That was something he never believed himself to be. After all, he was a powerful and feared youkai lord. Why is it that this woman felt safe to be near him? And she even insinuated that she is only able to sleep in his presence. It was all foolish. And yet, he couldn't hear a single trace of a lie from the woman. Her heart was steady as she had spoken those words. She had not once lied to him since their meeting.

"Yes. I'll keep staying with him, Rin. I already gave you my promise, didn't I?" he heard the woman say to the girl. He watched as the girl happily made her way back to the village she lived in.

"Are you not worried about her injuries?" he asked her once they were alone.

"I am. I want to be with her," she turned to look at me, "But she's more worried about your well being than her own at the moment. And I am not about to break my promise to her." He could tell that it was taking all she had not to go after the small girl.

"Humans are foolish creatures. I am a Daiyōkai. Your concern is wasted on me."

"You can be the most powerful being in existence," she stared as her features softened while she looked at him with her dark reddish-brown eyes, "And she would still be concerned for you." She looked to where the child had just left moments before, "Whether you are aware of it or not, you showed both of us some kindness. Our concern for you is not in relation to your ability but rather in the fact that we have grown to care about you."

Those words she uttered had left him silent. They were foreign to him. These mortals were awfully sentimental. He wasn't sure how to feel about it. He decided to deem them more foolish than before. He began to stand on his feet once he felt the presence of his servants. He would now leave this place but would the woman come with him or stay with the child? Why did he care about the woman's desires when he could easily force her to come with him? To his satisfaction, she was following him through the woods. Perhaps this would prove easier than he had thought.

"Where are you-?" they had come to a larger clearing as she stopped leaving her question unfinished as the two-headed dragon and imp had become visible. "Oh."

He found himself become amused by the way her face turned into a deep frown. Was she truly not expecting him to have followers? His attention was taken by the imp who dared utter that he, Sesshomaru, was an ungrateful dog. He promptly sent a rock to meet the imp's head. The small green demon began to question him.

"I expected a relieved welcome from you, Jaken. Not an interrogation," he said to his servant.

The imp looked nervous as he replied, "Right. I'm glad you're well. I thought you might be dead." He had earned himself another rock, only this time to his face.

"Pfft," Sesshomaru shifted his eyes to gaze at the woman who attempted to hold her laughter. He could see her body shaking, wanting release as she hid her mouth with her hand. Her eyes held the laughter she suppressed, "You have great aim."

Hn. She finds this amusing, does she? For an unexplainable reason, he found mild pride in his ability to achieve this reaction from her. The wind caused his long strands to sway in the wind. Hm, his attention shifted to the directions the air had come from, Blood. Blood and the smell of wolves.