Well, here's the next chapter my awesome readers! :D But first, as usual, cookies for my six AWESOME reviewers: VampireSiren, RosesMoon, Mango-sama, Transformers' BABY, karlachan18, and Junoshi. LOLOL! Well, Junoshi, I can honestly say that that's the first time someone's called ME an old lady, haha! XD Anyhoo… also, a big thanks to all the people who have either favorited and/or followed this story. Hope you all enjoy chapter 11! :D

Terms to know…
Daiyoukai – Great Demon
Youkai – Demon
Hanyou – Half Demon
Inu – Dog

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha, the Inuyasha plot, NOR the Inuyasha characters. I only own my own OC Kaze Hijikata, any other OCs created along the way, and any part of the plot NOT a part of the Inuyasha anime or manga. This fanfic, however, is MINE and I'd like to keep it that way.


Chapter 11-An Interesting Meeting

With Sesshomaru and Kaze/In the Clearing…
The Daiyoukai's golden gaze swept across the clearing. The slight scent of Naraku, that had previously been lingering in the area, had vanished the moment Sesshomaru had arrived upon the scene. The evasive spider hanyou's presence had now vanished completely, leaving the Western Lord alone with the raven-haired spiritualist; who was currently sitting down on the ground with one elbow resting tiredly on her knee. "Strange…" the Daiyoukai mused, "For while I can easily smell the scent of her pain, I can detect no wounds on her person."

"Well," Kaze sighed, her voice interrupting the white Inu's thoughts, "I guess I should probably try to catch up with Inuyasha and the others."

Sesshomaru watched dispassionately as the young woman painfully struggled to her feet, almost falling over in the process and causing the Inu's beast to once again make a demanding stir for freedom. Golden eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance upon, once again, feeling his inner emotions try and rise to the surface.

"I guess I'll see ya around, Sesshomaru." The raven-haired girl said in a friendly manner as she began walking away, heading in the direction that Inuyasha and the rest of her party had gone.

"This Sesshomaru shall accompany you." The powerful Daiyoukai spoke up calmly as he followed in her footsteps, for he figured that now was as good as time as any to continue their earlier discussion that his younger brother had previously interrupted, and hopefully shut his inner self up for a while.

"Oh?" she replied, pausing as she raised a curious eyebrow at him.

"We shall continue our discussion that we were holding earlier before that fool hanyou interrupted." Sesshomaru stated matter-of-factly.

"Suit yourself." Kaze replied with an indifferent shrug, too tired to yell at him for his arrogant ass nature, "What'cha wanna ask?"

Several moments of silence passed as the white-haired Inu pondered over what he should ask first. "This Sesshomaru is curious about how even after his attempt and threat on your life, that you can be so calm and easygoing around him." He asked calmly as he gave the young spiritualist a calculating but somewhat curious look, "Even now, you leave your back fully exposed to this one. Do you not fear that this Sesshomaru might take your life?"

"Not at all." A light laugh escaped the young woman's lips. "Even in the short time I've known you, I can tell you're an honorable guy. You ain't the kind of person who's just gonna suddenly lop my head from behind." She grinned, "Besides, what transpired between us before was nothing more than a little spat, a test of each other's strength if you will. No reason we can't be friends now."

Golden eyes widened fractionally in surprise at her answer before narrowing in slight annoyance. "This Sesshomaru does not befriend the likes of mortals." He stated coldly, although he was still rather astonished at her simple reasoning and openness to a Daiyoukai such as himself, "Does she honestly hold nothing against me for trying to kill her?"

"Yeah, I kinda figured you'd say that, but suit yourself." Kaze shrugged indifferently as she turned around with a wry grin, "But whether one decides to see me as a lowly human, a friend, or a monster is their own business. I am myself, and will not change for anyone. So, if you decide that you don't like me, that's fine and that's your problem. One that I will not waste my time in pondering over."

The Daiyoukai raised a delicate eyebrow at the mortal woman's indifferent answer. He was rather taken aback that, with the temper she seemed to hold, that she had not outright gone off on him for so flippantly rejecting her offer. Weren't most humans supposed to be sensitive about their appearances and what other people thought of them? And yet, this woman didn't seem to care one way or the other. "It is as if she is already used to being shunned and rejected by those around her." Sesshomaru mentally noted.

"Anything else you wanna ask?" the spiritualist chuckled as she turned back around and continued walking.

"Being but a human, why is it that you do not fear Youkai?" the Western Lord inquired; for it puzzled him, her constant lack of fear when in the presence of Youkai while most humans were utterly terrified of them.

The young woman halted in her tracks upon hearing the question. When she turned back around, the Daiyoukai was surprised to see the suddenly serious look her dark red eyes held. "I can see you." Kaze stated darkly, "I can touch you, smell you, hear you. There are many things in this world much more terrifying then Youkai. Things you couldn't possibly imagine, things you can't see, you can't touch but can touch you. Horrors that you couldn't comprehend. Why am I not afraid of Youkai, you ask?" a wry grin appeared on the raven-haired girl's face as she began walking off again, "Because there are far too many more terrifying things to be in fear of."

Sesshomaru was silent as he moved forward so that he was walking along side of the mortal female. Her answer, as well as her sudden change in her demeanor, had puzzled him. In truth, the white-haired Inu wasn't sure whether he should feel insulted or not at her lack of fear. But he couldn't help but find himself wondering just what the young woman had gone through to steel her the way she was now. "Do you not hate Youkai for what they have done to your race?" the Daiyoukai finally asked.

"Of course not." The raven-haired girl laughed slightly, a warmth appearing in her dark red eyes, "Just what kind of mediator would I be if I judged an entire race by the crimes of but a few?"

The golden-eyed male raised a bemused eyebrow in slight confusion. "Explain." He demanded.

"It's a lesson that my mother taught me a long time ago. She was a spiritualist as well, and a great one at that." The ruby-eyed female smiled upon thinking of the memory, "She said to never be too quick to judge and that you can never condemn a whole race based on the actions of but a few. For if you do that, then you will be condemning those that are innocent as well."

Flashback
A six year old Kaze sat silently on her porch as her mind was lost in thought, pondering over a certain question that had been running through her mind.

"Kaze?" a pure, female voice spoke out as a beautiful young woman with long raven-black hair and stunning red eyes approached the child.

Likewise red eyes broke out of their trance as they gazed up curiously to meet the older female, "Oh hi, Mother."

A beautiful smile adorned Riko's face as she looked down at her daughter. "What'cha doing, Kido?" the raven-haired woman inquired with a bright grin.

"Nothing much." The small child replied as she once again went back to staring off into space, "Just thinking."

The female spiritualist raised a curiously amused eyebrow. "You, thinking?" Riko laughed lightly, "Since when did my temperamental little girl actually start using that noggin of hers?"

A light blush formed on Kaze's cheeks as she sent her mother a glare. "I do think sometimes, you know!" she defended herself.

"Of course you do." The ruby-eyed female smiled down at the young girl, though you could still see the mirth sparkling in her ruby eyes, "So, what could possibly be so important that it actually got you thinking?"

Several moments of silence passed before the small child answered her mother. "Well, just the other day, some of the other kids from school were talking about ghosts and telling ghost stories." The raven-haired child began, "It just reminded me of the fact that ghosts and spirits haunt people. So, ghosts and spirits are bad, right?"

"How absurd!" Riko chided gently as she sat down beside her confused daughter, "Just because a few individuals of a race are bad doesn't mean that the whole race is evil. Hell! Even if the majority of them are evil, you still can't condemn the whole race. Because there are still some that are good."

Kaze blinked up at her mother in surprise. "I see." she said slowly as she let the woman's reasoning sink in.

"Exactly." The female spiritualist continued, "You must never be too quick to judge, Kaze. That will be an important key to your future path as a spiritualist."

Present
Sesshomaru could feel his beast rumble in some sort of contentment at her answer, but chose to ignore it. He was about to farther his inquiry when the young woman stumbled over with a ragged cough to lean against one of the large forest trees. Almost instantly, the sweet scent of human blood assaulted his sensitive nose. "What is this trickery?!" The Daiyoukai mentally growled, "I was sure that she was unwounded!"

"She is… in… pain!" his beast supplied, finally worming forward enough to put a word in edgewise.

"SILENCE! I am quite aware!" the Western Lord snarled before regaining a solid hold on his inner self and sealing it, once again, far away into his inner depths; never once losing his outward cool.

Still coughing, Kaze slid down to the ground as she held her bloodied hand up against her mouth. Pain wracked through her body as she shuddered with the impact of it. The young woman was fully aware that a full-fledged relapse was not far behind, and she was NOT looking forward to it. "You know," the raven-haired girl said with a pained chuckle, "I know I said I was gonna go after Inuyasha and all. But on second thought, I think I'll rest here for a bit."

"You are in pain, woman." Sesshomaru stated, a bit of a question being heard in his tone of voice.

"Heh! No shit, Sherlock." The spiritualist laughed painfully, "Guess that's what I get for being so reckless."

"Reckless?" the Inu questioned.

Grimacing as another wave of pain hit her, Kaze looked up to meet Sesshomaru's molten gold eyes. "Well, I hope you're done asking your questions, cause my condition is saying that I'm just about done answering them." The ruby-eyed female chuckled a bit, "I suppose I'll be seeing ya."

Golden eyes tore away from her red orbs as Sesshomaru looked out into the shadowy woods. He could tell by the scent that Inuyasha and the rest of his pack were already quite a ways away, meaning that they probably wouldn't return for at least the next day. In which case, the female would be left all alone and seemingly helpless out here in the middle of Youkai filled territory. And, far from her assumption, the white-haired male was a far cry from being finished with his inquiry. In other words, he needed her alive, for the time being, not dead. "You will come with this Sesshomaru." The Daiyoukai ordered finally after a long pause and careful consideration.

The young woman gave the arrogant lord a slightly annoyed look. "Are you deaf? I said I'm staying here. I'm tired, sore, and my spiritual energy is very near exhausted. So, forget it! I ain't taking one more damn step." She answered stubbornly, crossing her arms and putting on a defiant face. Pain or no pain, there was still no way in hell she was gonna let this prick boss her around.

Sesshomaru's golden eyes sharpened into a piercing glare, the kind that would make armies cower in fear, but the young mortal woman didn't even flinch. A feeling akin to frustration bubbled up inside of his being as the female continued to defy him, an act that not even most of the greatest Youkai would dare. "There are still questions in which this one wishes to be answered." The Western Lord growled lowly, doing his level best to temporarily ignore her insolence, "It will not do for you to die at this time. It would prove troublesome."

Irritation and a tinge of anger mixed with Kaze's scent as she returned the golden-eyed male's glare with double the ferocity. "You calling me weak?!" she snapped.

"As of this moment, yes." The Daiyoukai replied emotionlessly, "Your current condition clearly states that you are too weak to properly defend yourself at this time."

"Damn it all, he's right!" the raven-haired spiritualist mentally hissed, and dying was NOT on her list of things to do this evening. But still… "I'll be fine." Kaze insisted stubbornly.

"Tch! Troublesome woman." Sesshomaru growled softly under his breath before walking over, reaching out his one good arm and throwing the stubborn creature over his shoulder.

"JUST WHAT THE HELL-"

The Western Lord was forced to grit his teeth before answering as his beast made yet another flying attempt at freedom upon making physical contact with the female. "Silence!" the white-haired hissed to struggling girl as he turned around and began making his way back to his pack, "You shall be coming with this Sesshomaru. There is no use arguing it."

"How about I argue by shooting a chunk of spirit energy up your ass?!" Kaze mentally snarled. Unfortunately, the furious spiritualist currently did not possess the power to do that in her weakened state. Leaving her with nothing to do but cease her pointless struggles and allow herself to be carried off like a sack of potatoes.

A triumphant feeling settled over Sesshomaru as he felt the female give up her struggles and resign herself to his whims. However, he soon began to find just how unsettling it was that he wasn't finding himself as disgusted as he should be by touching a lowly mortal. Perhaps it was because she was different from the others, like Rin. The spiritualist was stubborn, yes, but deadly intelligent. She was incredibly strong, both in body and spirit, as shown when she refused to let her physical pain slow her down while fighting. Her views were unique in the way that she looked at all races with an open mind and, unlike other mortals, her scent was actually quite pleasant; smelling like mountain pine instead of urine and soil. Suddenly, the Daiyoukai paused in his train of thought, "Did I just think her scent was pleasant?"

"That would be my doing." His beast interjected smugly.

Red-tinted golden eyes widened fractionally in shock. The Western Lord had been sure he'd securely locked his beast back away down in his inner most depths, where those troublesome emotions would not be able to affect him. Just when the hell had it snuck back out?!

"Hn… She truly is quite a fascinating creature, isn't she?" it asked.

No wonder his thoughts had wondered off in such a direction! With his beast interfering and beginning to meld together with his emotionless self, bringing his emotions to the surface…

"Who would have thought that a mortal could be so strong?" It mulled over with dark curiosity, "Both physically, spiritually, and mentally-"

"SILENCE, BEAST!" the white Inu mentally roared, a low, dangerous growl rumbling in the back of his throat as he shut off all his beast's thoughts for good, "Hn… Perhaps this night has been just a little too interesting."


Haha! Well, it seems these two have met their match in one-another. XD Not to mention poor Sesshy-chan is having difficulties with his inner beast again. But it seems that our two main characters (not love interests yet) will finally be able to have a semi-peaceful meeting without trying to kill each other. XD Anyways, hope you enjoyed the chapter. Now, PLEEEAAASE REVIEW! I am on my hands and knees BEGGING you! Also, pretty please follow and favorite if you're enjoying this story! See ya'all in the next chapter!

You're up, Mango-sama, my amazing beta friend! :D

Rock Out!
Kira