I'll go on and say for now, the previous chapters, and those to come that have songs, I DO NOT own any of the lyrics in ICMD. Neither do I own Inuyasha, (cries).

Yukiko wasn't there when Rin woke up the next morning, though her fuzzy red neko was sleeping peacefully next to her. She petted the top of his head and he let out an ecstatic purr, pushing his ears against the child's soft hands. Kyo stood and stretched as a cat usually would, his claws digging into Rin's blanket.

The young girl stood up, lifting Kyo into her arms; he seemed content enough and fell asleep again almost instantly. Jaken was already awake, trudging around the camp that was his normal fashion. Incoherent words rolled out of his mouth and he seemed tense about something.

"What's the matter, Master Jaken?" Rin asked cutely, her wide eyes watching him anxiously. The toad stopped abruptly and glared at her, pointing his staff towards her.

"What's the matter?! What's the matter?! You impudent little girl, you and that conceited woman is the problem! Ever since the both of you ningens came into Lord Sesshomaru's presence, he has completely disregarded me--his loyal, trustworthy servant!" the imp bellowed, completely unaware of the tall shadow looming over him.

Before he could turn around, Sesshomaru had stepped on Jaken's head. The toad flailed uselessly until eventually he stopped, either realizing it was pointless or he had passed out from lack of air. The demon lord continued on further into camp until he reached Rin and the sleeping neko demon in her arms.

"Good morning, Sesshomaru-sama!" the girl piped cheerfully, a broad smile placed on her face. He inclined his head to let her know he had heard her, but said nothing as he looked around the camp, noticing the lacking presence of a certain woman.

"Where is the woman, Rin?" Sesshomaru asked. It wasn't that he actually cared where she was--or so he told himself--but she was now a part of his company, therefore under his protection. So long as she kept after Rin, he would guard her. Though she showed clearly last night that she was more than capable of taking care of herself.

Rin's smile faltered slightly and she shook her head. "Rin doesn't know Sesshomaru-sama. Yukiko-chan told Rin that she was going to find Lord Sesshomaru once she went to sleep, so she did right away. Rin hasn't seen her since last night," the child said nervously, almost afraid he would stalk off again.

Sesshomaru could not only see her anxiety, but smell it, too. He cringed slightly, though not noticeably--the woman had been telling the truth. A rustling from the trees caught there attention and Rin scurried behind her lord holding to his leg, afraid of what might come out.

Though when Yukiko walked out with a small blue bundle of food in her arms, Rin immediately ran over to her. "Yukiko-chan, you're back! Rin missed you, where have you been?" The girl's enthusiasm was just too irresistible and the traveler broke out into a light laughter. "Rin, I've only been gone for a few minutes getting breakfast. No need to worry yourself over nothing," she joked and patted the child's head.

Sesshomaru watched from the other side of camp, taking his usual resting place against a tree. The demon lord tried to resist looking towards the human woman by watching the fire, but his gaze always seemed to stray from the flames.

The humans finished their breakfast and Rin had persuaded Yukiko with her childish face to play tag with her. The difference this morning was almost shocking from how he remembered her last night. Right now, Yukiko was running about with a jovial smile traced on her lips, eyes glowing brightly in the patches of sun that broke through the trees as she chased Rin. It was a drastic comparison from when she stood lethally in the fog; the blood lust and will to kill was evident in her deep eyes, and her voice as hard and cold as his.

Before he had a chance to realize it--to stop himself--Sesshomaru was watching her lithe form, admiring her curved figure. Her white kimono hugged her waist fittingly, complementing her stature even more. His golden eyes roamed where they should not have dared, over her bust and along her sides, taking her in as if she was the prey and he the voracious demon he was. Her lips parted slightly as she smiled at Rin; they looked redder than he remembered.

A soft breeze blew through her hair and kimono, wafting between the trees towards him. He had never seemed to have paid any mind to was her luscious scent before--or maybe it was never this strong, but right now it was overwhelming. A balanced aroma of vanilla and cinnamon assaulted his sensitive senses; it was making his mouth water.

His beast was getting volatile, suddenly putting deviant thoughts in his head that should not--would not--ever be possible. He stared blankly into the forest, images racing before his eyes. Of Yukiko underneath him, panting desperately for breathes between her swollen lips. Her will broken and calling out his name as he bent forward licking her neck, the woman shivering from his possessive touch. His fangs lengthened as he nipped at her sweat-slick, bare skin…

Lord Sesshomaru blinked and his breath hitched at the sudden tightness in his pants. He found himself unable to inhale, his chest as tight as the rest of him. Yukiko nor Rin noticed the sudden disappearance of the taiyoukai as he escaped to the forest, but a certain neko youkai did.

Kyo's tails flickered back and forth rhythmically and the mischievous glint in his eyes shifting to a look of pure impishness. With a content glint of fangs to form a smile, the cat stalked back over to his mistress.

x

They were traveling again; Sesshomaru was in the lead, Rin and Jaken riding Ah-Un followed shortly, and Yukiko with Kyo in her arms tailing the company. All was quiet, no one had said a word since the demon lord had come back that next morning and commanded that they packed up.

Yukiko's eyebrows furrowed as she stared at the inu's back; he had been avoiding her since their little confrontation the other night. Lord Sesshomaru seemed to be spending a little more time with Rin, actually speaking with her when the child would ask a question, and Rin was ecstatic about this small change. It pleased Yukiko to know that she had at least gotten that little message across to the dense demon.

Though, the inuyoukai refused to even look at her now. She would ask him for small favors--and he would do them without a word--but he seemed oblivious of her otherwise. It wouldn't normally have bothered her, it was how the demon normally acted when he was ireful towards something. That was just the point, though, he didn't seem indignant at her.

As she was mulling over her thoughts, the demon lord looked back over his shoulder to find her watching him intently. He had been putting forth his best effort into paying no attention to the things she did, the manner in which she moved, her lips when she spoke…and it frustrated him to no end to find it was exceedingly difficult.

Sesshomaru growled suddenly and turned back around, scaring both Rin and Jaken. Yukiko just gave him a curious yet warning look as she hurried beside Rin to calm her. "What is it Lord Sesshomaru? Is something the matter?" the child asked, getting a little fidgety. Despite having both Yukiko and Sesshomaru to protect her, the girl had seemed more distressed recently.

Her caretaker took her hand and patted her head, trying to give her some comfort. "Don't concern yourself, Rin. I am sure that whatever it is, Lord Sesshomaru can take care of it…himself," she said, malice dripping in her last word to serve as an ominous notice. Rin didn't seem to catch it, but the youkai did.

His demonic snarl lessened, though his eyes turned crimson as they looked forward. She was threatening him, and he couldn't do anything about it! At least not unless he wanted to worry Rin further; he cared too much for the small human girl to do that. Yet his beast was pleased with how candidly she controlled him, something no one--not even his father--had been able to do. Its howls of laughter were enough to drown out the woman's voice as she once again lashed out at Jaken for insulting Rin.

Eventually, their small group stopped and Yukiko lifted Rin off of Ah-Un's back. The girl giggled as she was spun around in the air several times before set down gently on the ground. "I do believe that there is a hot spring near here. How about you go and ask Lord Sesshomaru if I can take you? I think we both could use a good washing up," the older girl nudged and Rin's eyes lit up.

"Really?" she asked eagerly, and when Yukiko nodded she raced over to the demon lord. He was resting peacefully against a tree on the farthest side of their camp--Yukiko could only guess why. "Sesshomaru-sama, may Yukiko-chan take Rin to the hot springs that she says is close by? We promise not to go too far," the child pleaded.

Sesshomaru's eyes opened slightly, their hard gaze softening as he looked at Rin's imploring expression. He sighed and looked over to Yukiko, who was looking back at him expectantly, as if daring him to defy the girl of her austere wish. "Stay close," he said before standing on his feet and stalking off. The girl jumped up and down happily, running over to Yukiko.

"He said yes, Yukiko-chan! Let's go, let's go, let's go!" Rin yelled chirpily, tugging on the woman's sleeve. Yukiko laughed and took hold of the child's hand, squeezing it.

"Alright, let me grab my bag and we can head out." She walked over to Ah-Un, the dragons watching her lazily as she took her bag from their saddle and threw it over her shoulder. "Keep near me, Rin, do you hear? I don't want you running off into the trees. I highly doubt we want Sesshomaru-sama going off on rampage, now do we?" Yukiko asked teasingly, tapping her finger on the child's nose.

Rin made a face and shook her head, trying to hide her laugh. "Alright, follow me," and with that, the two girls began heading north. It was only a few minutes walk to the springs, but with Rin skipping along asking what random things were, they had to slow their pace. The older girl didn't seem to mind though, she appreciated another girl's company--even a child--that she had not had in years.

Yukiko looked above them to see the sun getting ready to set on the low horizon. It was still in the forest, daytime creatures were settling in their burrows and holes for a night's rest as nocturnal animals slowly stirred for their dusk-restricted life. Everything was peaceful as the day died, bringing life to the dusk.

Her new young care scurried up beside her holding a flower; the petals were white with small specks of purple on them, curving back softly into themselves. "What kind of flower is this, Yukiko-chan?" Rin asked curiously. Yukiko took the flower from the child and turned it over in her hand, examining the stem, leaves, and petals.

"This is a very rare kind of iris, Rin, called ayame. They only grow on dry land, though they are usually purple. It is exceptionally hard to find a white one, even if you look for it. You are lucky to have found it," the woman explained with a gentle smile, handing the flower back to the girl.

Rin's eyes were wide and seemed to sparkle as she looked at the flower with a new found awe. She spun around taking back off into the direction she had come with the original, only to return with at least a dozen more. Yukiko laughed as Rin handed her the small bouquet, her face simply glowing with a mixture of pride and delight.

"Can Rin put this one in your hair, Yukiko-chan?" the child asked adorably, holding up the first flower. Yukiko couldn't resist the offer from the girl and nodded, kneeling down to the girl's level. Rin tucked the iris behind the woman's ear; the flecks of purple against white on the petals bringing out her eyes.

Yukiko decided they better hurry to the hot springs and get back before it got too dark. She took hold of the younger girl's hand, small fits of giggles escaping her throat as she looked up at her caretaker. The woman looked down at her inquiringly, an eyebrow raised. "What's so funny?"

Rin covered her mouth with her free hand and laughed into it. "Rin thinks you look beautiful with the flower, Yukiko-chan," the child complemented. Unknown to herself, Yukiko had turned a slightly flushed as she thanked the young girl. She thought she looked only decent at best, accessories or not.

The two reached the hot springs just as their surrounding took on a deep set shade of orange and red, kudos of the sinking sun. Both girls striped off their kimonos, folding and laying them on a nearby rock to keep them dry. Rin--being the eager child she was--jumped in right away.

"It feels so good, Yukiko-chan! Come in with Rin," the girl and Yukiko shook her head, a delicate smile placed on her lips. "Calm down, Rin. I'll be there in a second," the older girl reassured.

Yukiko opened her bag, not surprised to find a sleeping Kyo there curled up among her things. The cat yawned, his razor-sharp teeth glistening in the remaining sun. She shook her head and pulled out two towels from underneath the neko. He mewed in protest at being moved, but stayed inside the bag.

The water was a welcome relaxation on Yukiko's wound up nerves and tense muscles. Of coarse, with Rin splashing around, it didn't last very long. The child held her breath and dunked under the water, small air bubbles the only sign of where she was under the hot springs.

She popped up in front of her watcher, squirting water in Yukiko's face. The woman laughed and tickled Rin, the girl's energetic mood rubbing off on her. "My, aren't we lively right now!" Yukiko chided playfully. Rin was having a laughing fit, squirming and twisting, trying desperately to get away from the "torture".

"Come on, Rin, let's get you washed up." Yukiko reached over to one of the irises in her bouquet she had set near the spring. "Squeeze the petals of the iris and wash the extract through your hair," the woman said in a knowing tone, handing the flower to Rin.

The child looked quizzically at the flower then at her guardian. "Why Yukiko-chan?" Yukiko laughed, her light voice filling the area around them. "It acts as a natural scenting; not only will you smell like the sweet, little flower you are, but it can keep demons and animals alike from detecting your scent as easily. I have used it for myself plenty of times as a safety precaution," Yukiko explained as a mother would to her own daughter.

Rin's eyes seemed to light up as she smelled the flower, then did as Yukiko told. The older girl followed suit and picked a flower from the bundle and made sure to cleanse her hair and skin with the remnants of the iris. She ducked under the water one last time before lifting herself out of the water, Rin scuttling close behind.

They dried with the towels laid out and dressed once again in their kimonos. Yukiko reached inside her bag once more--finding that Kyo had up and left--and pulled out her comb. It was a small comb with thick teeth that effectively detangled her and Rin's hair. The white comb was decorated with vines carved into its side, and a lotus flower on the top painted with explicit detail.

Yukiko had surrendered once again to Rin's pleas, allowing the girl to brush through her hair. Though it was anything but an unwelcome gesture, it seemed to sooth the older girl--she had always relished it when someone groomed her hair as a young girl.

After combing the child's dark locks as well, both decided it was time to journey back to camp where Sesshomaru was undoubtedly waiting for his ward to return. The thought of the demon lord already had Yukiko's shoulders strained once again, but she dared not show it in front of Rin.

The wind was a little harsher that night, howling raucously through the trees. Deeming it unsafe for Rin to walk among the root entangled path, Yukiko had Kyo--who had returned once both girls started back towards the camp sight--transform to his larger form. The child was now snuggled closely into the neko youkai's fur, warm and secure from the nipping gusts.

Yukiko didn't have to smell the air or see the black clouds in the darker sky that a storm was approaching, a dangerous one at that. What unsettled her, though, was the rate it had suddenly appeared. The sky had been perfectly clear before they had left, and now lightning was flashing frighteningly close to the treetops--too close for Yukiko's comfort.

There was a haze of white during the last flash of light and thunder rattled the ground Yukiko stood on. She could barely make out Sesshomaru's silhouette amongst the dark of the moonless night, his glowing amber eyes the only thing that she could use to clearly identify him as the demon lord. Though she was forced to quickly close her eyes against the force of the next gale.

"Onna, you and your neko will follow. This Sesshomaru has found decent shelter from the storm," and with that, he disappeared. Yukiko could feel his presence clearly and Kyo still had his scent as strong, so they tailed along wordlessly.

After what seemed like a few minutes of playing "follow-the-leader", the small group came to an overhanging that was located conveniently for protection. Yukiko could see Ah-Un and Jaken already under the cliff, the flickering existence of a fire barely visible through the underbrush.

She led Kyo under the shelter and slid Rin off the cat's back. Though instead of returning to his usual form, the neko remained in his more fearsome state. Yukiko took out one of Rin's blankets from the two-headed dragon's saddle, laying it on the stone ground. Kyo curled up into a ball and the child snuggled under the demon's three tails, the appendages wrapping around her protectively.

Yukiko smiled contently and strolled over to Ah-Un, petting the dragon affectionately on the nose. She decided to pay no attention to Lord Sesshomaru as she readied for sleep, and he seemed to be doing the same. Laying near the fire, the warmth was welcomed as the fire's light licked at her face.

Sesshomaru sat against the wall of their shelter, watching the woman intently. She had not said a word since her arrival with Rin, nor had she even spared a glance his way. This seemed to frustrate him when it should please. The human woman was finally learning her place as the servant and he the master. Though…that was not how it felt at the moment; the mockery in his head continued.

She tugged the blanket around her shoulders tighter, her breathes slow and even showing that she was indeed asleep. Was the woman so sure that he--Demon Lord of the Western Lands--would not harm her that she would venture dreaming so deeply to where even the storm did not wake her?

Something wrenched at his chest as he continued gazing at her. It should seem that after that incident the morning before last, he would have learned not to tempt himself by watching her. Though his pride was thrown in the way when this woman--a mere human--was able to make him run and hide with his tail between his legs like a new born pup. It was infuriating!

A low, fierce growl escaped his throat and rumbled throughout their shelter. Kyo lifted his head to look at the demon lord, Yukiko flinched slightly though remained asleep--she seemed to sense no danger, ha! Though the scared, high-pitched whimper that came from Rin awoke her right away.

Yukiko was on her feet in an instant, hurrying over to the now thrashing Rin. "Yukiko-chan! Sesshomaru-sama!" the child cried out in her sleep. Sesshomaru was standing there even before his name had completely left the child's trembling lips, though the woman was already soothing the girl in her arms.

"Shh, it's alright Rin-chan, it is only a dream. Wake up, dear," Yukiko spoke softly as to not frighten her any more. Rin's eyes snapped open and she cried out, clinging tightly onto her caretaker. Thunder rolled at an earsplitting volume managing to rattle loose a few stones overhead, lightning illuminating the thick drifts of rain pouring down.

The child was crying enough tears to compete with the rain, ranting on about wolves and bandits. "Don't worry, Rin. As long as Lord Sesshomaru and I are here, there will be no wolves to get you, do you hear me?" The girl's sobs had turned to sniffled and she nodded, gripping tighter to Yukiko's kimono.

The woman lifted Rin up to get a better look at her, wiping away the remaining tears and tucking away a few stray hairs out of her face. She kissed her forehead and pulled her close, rocking the young girl slowly to comfort her. As Rin's eyes began to drift close once more, Yukiko decided to ease the child into a more restful sleep.

I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all of my childish fears,
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave.
Because your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone.

These wounds won't seem to heal,
This pain is just too real,
There's just too much that time cannot erase.

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears,
And I held your hand through all of these years,
But you still have all of me.

You used to captivate me
By your resonating light,
But now I'm bound by the life you left behind,
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams,
Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me.

These wounds won't seem to heal,
This pain is just too real,
There's just too much that time cannot erase.

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears,
And I held your hand through all of these years,
But you still have all of me.

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone,
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along.

Yukiko held Rin closer, resting her head on top of the girl's. "Sesshomaru-sama, will you hand me my blankets?" she asked quietly, her hand stroking Rin's hair comfortingly.

A growl wanted to rise in his throat and he wanted to demand who she was to order him around, but he bit both threats back. The demon lord looked down at the woman with his ward in her arms, her eyes gentle and caring as she watched over the slumbering child.

This woman--Yukiko--was Rin's caretaker and was she not performing her role? She was like a mother to Rin now and could comfort the child in ways he was unable. Everything this human did was for her new care--her retaliation a few nights ago was to insure that Rin was safe of both physical and mental harm…safe from indefensible disposition.

Sesshomaru did as requested--she had asked of him, not demanded as he was so fixated with--and retrieved the blankets from near the fire. Without a word, he handed them to the woman who smiled sincerely up at him. "Arigatou, Lord Sesshomaru," she thanked and tucked the blankets tightly around Rin to protect the child from the creeping cold and moisture in the air.

The demon lord gave a "hn" in response, though Yukiko seen it as progress from the demonic glares she would usually receive. Suddenly, her stomach began to twist once again only this time more violently and she felt as if she would heave.

Kyo could sense his mistress' sudden distress and lifted his head anxiously, looking Yukiko over for the cause of her tense behavior. Sesshomaru, too, could smell her biliousness and watched as her eyes squeezed shut and teeth clenched, skin turning pale and sickly.

"Onna, what is wrong?" he inquired, sniffing the air for anything that could have caused her sudden nausea. Then a faint demonic presence caught his attention, seemingly to come from all around them and never in one specific location.

Yukiko set Rin aside and quickly went to the edge of the overhanging. She bent over on her knees and heaved a large portion of what was left in her stomach from that day's lunch. The rain quickly washed away all evidence, but the stench still hit Sesshomaru's sensitive nose.

He turned his head away, but the neko continued to watch wearily over his mistress. After cleaning her face, she stood on shaky legs leaning against the rock wall for support. Her eyes were slightly glazed over and she still looked sickened from her expression.

"That demon, from a few nights ago…I can sense it," Yukiko mumbled mostly to herself. She stumbled over to her bag and pulled out a towel, drying her hands and face of rain water. It was better than bile.

Sesshomaru had felt nothing aside from the demon's energy when he became aware of it, so it confused him as to why the woman was so ill. "Explain, onna, why it is that you are so revolted by the youkai's presence," the demon lord demanded, watching as she went to the fire.

Yukiko tucked her knees under her chin as an attempt to settle her stomach. "It is not the demon's presence per say, though depending on the demonic aura it has made my stomach turn whenever it is even remotely near. For some reason, it won't leave," she spoke, her voice cracked and she closed her eyes again.

"Has this ever happened before?" he asked, walking to the front of the overhanging, his golden eyes scanning for any sign of the demon. It dared to interfere with those under his protection. How he told himself was if this lowly demon was dauntless enough to bring injury to a fighter such as Yukiko, it could easily harm Rin.

There was a weak shake of the head as Yukiko spoke, "Happened with another demon? No, but I have had this vile sensation the past few times the demon was near."

Yukiko went back to Rin, though her eyes were too tightly closed to be asleep and there were inaudible moans coming from her lips. Sesshomaru's gaze was shifting between the rain drenched forests and the restless form of the woman next to Rin. The demon's presence was driving him and his beast's temper over the edge when they could not locate the creature.

It seemed that no one was going to be getting much sleep that night, especially with a demon lingering overhead…

x

Thanks for reading, and please R&R. I want to know what my readers think about this, and I'm not quit sure where I'm going with this. Ha-ha, I've only got this much and with school, my brains orking overload. Please, I need ideas! Arigatou, Shiro.