*Hello Hello! Thank you to everyone who subscribed to my story! Sorry for the super late update, been busy with work for the next semester -_- well any who I hope you enjoy!*

~*~*~*Disclaimer: I do not own either Final Fantasy VII (Square Enix) or Inuyasha (Rumiko Takahashi)~*~*~*

Chapter 2

He seethed in anger as he remembered how those incompetent 3rd class SOLDIERs damaged the result of all his hard work.

'How could those fools even think to do that? I should've simply employed the 1st class SOLDIERS or at least the Turks to take care of it.' The President's low class SOLDIERs are nothing but cumbersome fools!'

Though these new recruits were injected with the same cells as Sephiroth they were still too imperfect to be of any permanent use. Should Sephiroth be found, his preparation would be multiplied 10 fold. The professor scowled at his tented wall. 'He must be found for the rest of his tests then I can be rid of him,' he thought, 'well until then I'll just have to be patient,' he smiled sensuously.

He had other subjects that could be used should the boy turn out to be a failure, though he preferred it if he were a success. He didn't want to have all those fruitful years wasted for nothing.

"Professor Hojo?" He turned to the voice in annoyance.

"What is it?"

The boy winced at the caustic tone of the scientist, before giving him the honorable soldier's salute and relaying his message. "Sir, we have located the target."

Hojo looked at the young soldier in a mix of anxiety and anger. "Well? Where?" he demanded.

"All I was informed of sir was that he is being transported as we speak."

Hojo stared at the boy in thought for a moment before a small smirk placed itself upon his thin lips. "Make sure he is taken to the lab will you?"

"Yes sir, I will sir!" The boy saluted once more before leaving out the flap of the quarters.

'So they found you,' he thought, 'I'll have to make sure you don't attempt to run away again,' Well, well the evening just seemed to perk up just then. Hojo chuckled lightly as he walked out of the flapped doorway and to his makeshift laboratory.

'Time for a little re-education.'


The two figures continued to walk down the same familiar path together. "Maru hurry up!" Serene said impatiently. Sesshoumaru gave a slight smile, "Well my little 'princess' why are you in such a hurry? I believe I can take all the time I want." Serene scowled at him at the pet name. She really did not want a reminder of her duties, "Well I believethat it was you who said we should hurry before it became too late and have to go home." Serene retorted. Sesshoumaru gave a chuckle at her pouting.

"Ah, so I did."

He enjoyed teasing her though he wasn't all that sure why. Perhaps it was the cavalcade of emotions he could elicit from her or maybe he just desired to witness her happy at the end of it. In what was to come in time, that want should not feel unwelcomed. As heir to the western lands in his own homeland etiquette would demand of him to find a mate before taking his father's place as the overlord of the region. Sesshoumaru looked at his young royal ward as she walked with the small pout still marring her face. She too would be made to settle and when the time came he would be sure to see her settled right…by his side. Though the customs were different in both of their lands he would prove his worth for her when the time came.

"Maru, what's wrong?"

Serene looked back at her escort to fling another remark about his slow canter but turned to only find him starting at her with a far off look in his eyes. 'He doesn't do that too often,' she thought to herself. Sesshoumaru was brought out of his revere, throwing up his façade to erase any worry in her. "It is nothing milady." She looked at him unconvinced. Sesshoumaru sighed internally, of course she wouldn't be calmed so simply. He stopped his stride which made her stop hers and turn fully to him.

"My lady Serene I promise you that I am fully well and unbothered and would not tell you such if I were, and should this not be so…" he trailed off for a moment unsure of how to finish to prove to her that she should not worry.

"And should you not be I would be allowed to find a suitable punishment for your lying to me." She smiled saccharinely up at him. Sesshoumaru internally grimaced. 'Punishment' could very well mean just whatever a twelve winters young royal could deem appropriate. Anything.

"Alright, then I will leave it for you to decided," Serene's smile just widened before turning around to continue on the way, "Good."

The two continued on to their destination the matter resolved. He could be so puzzling at times. She was accustomed to his chilly demeanor whenever he found need to hide behind it, but she could usually tell if it was thrown up for intimidations sake or to cover what he truly felt. Her smiled widened a bit, 'You can't hide from me Maru! I'll always know when you're riled,' She may not have been able to read minds but she may as well say she could!

A cold shiver ran up her spine causing her to stop suddenly. Her grip on Sesshoumaru's hand slackened as she gazed out on the path before them.

"Lady Serene?" Sesshoumaru looked at her perplexed before tugging her hand gently to elicit a response from her.

She said nothing but only continued to look out onto the beaten path; her eyes seemingly glazed in thought.

Suddenly as if imbued with life again she snatched her hand from her guardian's and sprinted away from him as fast as her legs would carry her. It was the utmost importance that she got there as quickly as possible, she was needed there. She did not understand completely, she could only see hazy images, but the stark crimson and white stood out more than anything and she knew where to find the blurred colors. She was nearly clear of the brush line before she was pulled back forcibly and held tightly against an amour clad body. She nearly shrieked in fright as she looked up into alarmed golden eyes.

"Serene what are you doing? What is the matter?" Sesshoumaru kept his grip on her tight enough to not let her suddenly take off as he turned her to face him.

She looked up at him with a look of distress. How could she possibly explain to him what happened; that she saw a splash of red and white all of a sudden and had to get to the clearing as quickly as possible? 'He would make sure papa never let me out to town ever again,' she bit her lip trying to find that right words to explain. Perhaps the truth would be easier than trying to cover it up.

"Sesshoumaru, I have…"

Sesshoumaru's attention was drawn from Serene to the forest thicket. He let out a low growl and let go of the nervous girl turning in the direction of the sound. They both stayed quiet as he listened intently. Shouts rang out in the depth of the forest causing Sesshoumaru to let out another growl before turning to his young ward and giving her a firm, "Stay here and keep silent."

She was about to ask him what it was exactly that he was going to do but he disappeared into the forest before she could utter a single word. 'I hope it's nothing serious,' she bit her lip in contemplation, 'He's going to be so angry with me, but I suppose he'll just have to get over it. Besides it's not like he stays mad at me when I don't listen to him.' There were quite a few occasions where he told her to just do what he said for her own sake. If it was truly for her sake then shouldn't she go see why she should stay away? How else was a growing young girl going to learn to stay away from things she was supposed to if she didn't go see why they were so bad. Ah, the mind of a pre-teen. With resolution she quietly made her across the path avoiding anything that would alert her keeper that she was doing the exact opposite of what he wanted.