A/N :

Five:Yes, this is chapter three. No, you are not hallucinating.

Radiac: ...

Five: Okay maybe there was no point to that but... The song I refer to this chapter, 'cause I can do that, is 'Holding Out for A Hero' by Frou Frou. Yup, the very one that plays during the end credits of Shrek 2! I just recently remembered that song and got it. Hehehe.

Radiac: You know you can be a real idiot sometimes, right?

Five: Umm... Right?

Radiac: Yeah, okay, just checkin'.

Five: Anywhoo... Wait! I just thought up somethin' that's actually quite interesting if you think about it. Question- What's the official way to spell said 'anywhoo'? I just spell it whatever way I feel like at the time.

Radiac: Oh, Lord...

Five: What!? I was just askin!

Radiac: -cough- Cue the story!

Five: Wait! One more thing! If any of you want to meet Radiac just read my Oblivion story. And-

Radiac: Five has always had a thing about wanting to make an A/N sub-story. Please bear with me here... Now, cue the story!

Crystal Leaves

III: Mr Hero and Miss Distress

Kagome's eyes flashed in horror and she lurched to face the enemy, but suddenly she couldn't breathe. Or, better yet, the breath was knocked out of her by an unimaginable force, both physical and highly demonic. She blinked and tried to turn her head to see the new addition to the plot, but she was braced rather tightly against a very stable object, her head jarred roughly to the side. Her shallow breathing only intensified as it caught, hitching in her throat, as she realized that part of her problem was the arm of steel-corded muscle that was forced diagonally against her minuscule form, locking her to a tree. The bark, raw against her sun-kissed cheek, was only slightly dampened by the warmth of the body. But her fear intensified as she felt the fur and faintly heard a heartbeat against her ear; and she could strongly identify the metallic scent of blood.

Blood? My blood? Why now?

After everything I've survived out here, in this wild lawless land... Naraku, and everything else! A wolf?!

Of course, her first thoughts were racing, circling around mentioned blood origins, but soon enough, her thoughts would take other actions. Then it came, surely.

What the heck, did he transform? And why the heck is this wolf just pressing against me!? Is it trying to squish me to death? Or... do something other than kill me? Do I even want to think... No. Nope. Not gonna.

Her thoughts a flurry, not exactly sane trains of thought, she cut them off.

She then noticed the stream that still lay in sight, meaning that she was still there, and had not been whisked away into Disneyland, or Wonderland or even NeverNeverland for that matter. Upon even further inspection, she noticed the wolf was not the one that held her in such a harsh grip. How did she know this? Well, said being stood in clear view not yards away, head down with bared fangs, tail flashing vehemently, fresh claw marks stained blood clear across the side of his face, dripping from the end of his muzzle to soil the earth.

Hum... Well, this could be... good?

The internal idea blew away like a leaf as the wolf youkai lunged clear across the distance and directly at her. Her first instinct was to protect herself with a pink-enflamed bow. Though, said bow seemed to have disengaged itself from her company upon her forced tree-hugging. However, she realized her right arm was still in full control of its nerves and normal capabilities, though pinned at an awkward angle. Without hesitation she summoned her power as quickly as she could with palm pointed outward. Maybe, just maybe, by now she had enough control of her miko powers to command at will, not unlike that first day with Miss Centipede, even if that way was just an accide-

The sound of a sword instantly unsheathing touched her ears louder than she had anticipated; for some unknown reason she had always loved that sound, though unsure as she was of whether or not it boded well for her in this instant. But, oh, how delicious, it seemed to give her an almost instinctual tingle in the tips of her fingers. As if her powers reacted to the noise all on their own. Her dark eyes caught the glint of steel as it languidly seemed to float a few inches in front of her body in a possessive manner. And she all but noticed the lacking of a muscular arm against her.

If I do say so myself, I believe this sword is trying to protect me.

Kagome mused only momentously before she was jolted back and to her left a few feet, tripping unceremoniously to the ground, like a worn out marionette, only just barely avoiding getting drenched in the cool waters of the stream.

Then she finally thought to note the figure that materialized in front of her, and for the second time in less than a minute or so, her breath hitched. Her eyes grew wide as she saw the spiked armor over his left shoulder, the white stretch of fur over his right, and the long silver hair gleaming in the midday sun rays. If ever there was a time for her to be happy to see the Lord of the West, this would be it. But not for long. Then, it hit her like a book over the head.

Why in the hell would Sesshoumaru-oh, great, powerful ruler of the Western Lands-save me!? There's gotta be a catch. I just know it, he's gonna kill this wolf and turn on me, then maybe he'll hold me hostage and demand the Tetsusaiga for my return. This cannot be for real.

She let the thought slide and tried her legs, annoyedly finding them quite rubbery and difficult to stand on.

Gah! What else could happen!? ... Wait! No, nevermind I said anything.

She gave in as her interest was caught by the short battle that ensued, ending in the wolf's expected demise. Meekly, she watched as the daiyoukai sheathed the blade Tokijin and turned to her with an abnormal look, curiosity glancing across narrowed eyes. He stalked up to her and reached out his right hand; Kagome, above all, noticed that his left arm was subtly growing back from the wound InuYasha had inflicted some three years back. Then came the horror of such an unexpectedly polite gesture, such shock overcame her that she didn't even move to take it. In fact, she didn't move at all. Dark cherry-wood eyes were wide with combined confusion and something akin to fear.

This is not Sesshoumaru. Nope, this is Sesshiko; eternally unbeknownst twin brother to the feared Lord of the West. Oh, the tragedy. If only they had known one another sooner, maybe Sesshiko could have rubbed such good manners off on Sesshoumaru and saved everyone a big headache!

Okay, maybe not. Even if they were twins they would not have the same exact clothes and fiercely eerie golden eyes, and the stubby-arm. Can't forget Stubs.

She detached from her reverie in time to see the lord slowly lifting his hand away, an awkward-feeling Kagome growing even more uneasy, but not wanting to make him anger, she gently placed her small hand into his before it was too late. His eyes flashed with something indiscernible, but it quickly disappeared as he easily righted her to her feet.

"Um, thank you." She smiled hesitantly catching an indistinct nod and looked away, with no short supply of confused embarrassment, then her eyes caught the earthy color of her bow. Oh! Her bow was snapped in two, only still connected by the thin material that made up the string. Momentarily forgetting about her saviour, Kagome rushed over to the poor thing, lifting one of the pieces off the ground, which succeeded in dangling its counterpart in the air a ways. Her earlier thoughts of herself as a marionette were quickly replaced by her bow. The it would seem meaningless to anyone else, there was some sentimental value to the bow; for it was the very weapon she had managed to hang onto since the battle with Naraku, roughly half a year prior. But maybe she was using the sentimentality to selfishly distract herself from the obviously-deranged daiyoukai that now stood soundly behind her.

Might as well get this over with. I am curious as to what made him turn over his leaf'.

She placed the bow back in its currently foreseeable resting place and turned to face the very tall, very-almost obnoxiously so-handsome dog demon. She hated to admit that fact...

'He is hot...' her mind drawled. If she were back in high school and had the same time and lack of distractions as back then, she might have made a list of the top five hottest guys she had ever met.

'And guess what? Yes, Sesshoumaru would be... numero uno Then somewhere around there would be undoubtedly Inuyasha, then Koga to some degree, and whomever else she decided to throw in... Bankotsu and Hiten! -cough-'

Ack! What is wrong with me! My attention span, why have you dwindled exceptionally in the last few minutes?

She thwacked herself on the head, mentally of course, and looked sheepishly up at the youkai lord.

"Uh... Well... Ya see, I was." She stopped herself before she made a complete fool of herself. Either the shock from the earlier action had rattled something in her brain loose, or she had truly reverted to a child again. She bowed her head for only a moment, collecting her thoughts, before raising it again. A look of determination rested over her again, finally.

"Thank you. But why did you help me?"

It seemed a sensible enough question to start with.

"I felt obligated. You were clearly going to die, had I not taken action."

How quaint.

"Oh. Okay. Um, why are you out here?"

She had not gotten the complete facts from Rin, so she decided to straighten it out here and now.

"I was curious of the same."

Or... What?

"You mean you don't know, Sesshoumaru?"

Hah! ...Really, did he not?

"Why lie about something of such importance?" No, wait, it was not a question.

"How do you know this one, ningen?" Well, that was.

"Oh...I've, uh, known you for years. Ya'know, I'm the one who was always with your half-brother InuYasha? The wench who pulled the sword from the proverbial stone?"

Right? I am Kagome, aren't I? Wait... I question my being me just 'cause a stupid delusional taiyoukai questions me? Keh. Wait, that's what InuYasha says-said-not what I say. Though... it is catchy.

Another mental knock over the head and she was good as new.

"InuYasha...? You insist that I know you?" His voice had become a note threatening. Just a little more time and it would be a few notes. Who knows! It could become a whole symphony, just wait.

"I am Higurashi Kagome. Miko of the Higurashi Shrine. Protector of the Shikon no Tama?"

Some reason she felt entitled to try and explain it as easily as she could, though she still questioned his lacking in knowledge of her. She was not that forgettable. And really, that was probably the last thing anyone in this time would ever say about her, what with her way of dress and speech and the company she kept. At the least.

What if Sesshoumaru really did forget me? Rin had said the bridge must have broken, so maybe... Maybe Sesshoumaru... lost his memory of me somehow?

She closed off her thoughts for the moment, intent on listening to his reply.

"Well, Higurashi Kagome, I do not know if I trust your words, but I sense no lies from you, nor ill will; as well, you indeed have miko powers. I myself do not recall. So, for now, I will allow you to aid me in the remembering of all that which I do not."

Kagome tried to catch some begrudging tone in his voice, some horrible anger at lowering himself to being 'aided' by a human, but her hook was empty. Her eyes lit with a slight sparkle. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as it first sounded.

Sure, Sesshoumaru is still Sesshoumaru, but if he has lost the blunt of his arrogance and hatred of humans-well, that would just make this almost bearable.

A/N: Oh! I'm so happy about your reviews! Maybe it's not a lot compared to... Well, a lot, but I am proud of the few I have(love you all!). And I hope you guys are happy about this chapter, I for one was a little uneasy typing it out. I wasn't so sure how I would make his 'new' attitude or how much he should forget, so I just had to wing it. I mean, he has to lose some of that arrogance if Kagome were to ever love him.

Wow, I never would have imagined myself typing all of this out in one sitting. I've noticed there were a lot of 'maybe's in here, but I couldn't think of something to take its place, so for now: Maybe! Hah, anywhoo, maybe a lot of you can type out chapters and chapters all at once, but I have to take breaks and get ideas and such. I usually go by sudden urges to write a certain sequence, so I always have to wait for that, unless I want to waste valuable time trying to think. I mean seriously, how primitive! Pah, thinking! That really is a good 'un.

P.S. I reread the first bit... and that about the wolf not being the one that had caught her... Well, I suppose I was kinda thinking that the wolf could have transformed into his humanoid form and get her. 'Cause... Sesshoumaru has two forms. And, I'm sure Koga has two forms, although we never see it. And... Yeah I hope you jumped off my train of thought before it crashed.

P.S.S. Review bunnies love... well... reviews! The meadow is right below the wee arrows below hither.

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