Keiko froze looking in those cold soulless eyes. Captured by the blade's sparkle, her face paled even more. She took a step back, but his hand grabbed her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. Instinctively she threw her fist at him, but he grabbed her wrist and tightened his grip. Her eyes widened, he had a speed beyond comprehension, almost like Sesshoumaru. She wrenched her arm and freed herself from his grip, taking a few steps back. She refused to give up, frankly searching for a hole in his defense. Unfortunately at the moment, she could see none. She hid the knife in her hand under the long sleeve as much as she could, so that only the sharp tip was barely seen. She craved she will have her moment for a strike.

The demon only looked at her, a satisfied smirk painted on his lips. His gaze wandered at her hand. Keiko didn't cringe, hoping that he didn't see the sharp object. She prepared to fight until the end. She took a battle stance, her eyes never leaving the demon. An elegant brow arched at the sight.

"My, my so you refuse to just die?" he asked in a mocking way and Keiko nodded, eyes cold and confident. He chuckled sarcastically and looked at his katana. After a moment of contemplation, he thrust his blade in the ground whispering.

"Well, then let's play, shall we?" He disappeared only to appear next to her in the next second. Keiko blocked his hand that wanted to grab her throat, and gave him a solid kick in his stomach. This seemed to slightly amaze him and he flexed his claws smirking again. He looked at the panting woman and took a deep breath.

"My, my you've been poisoned. I wonder if this is the reason you have Sesshoumaru's blood in your system." Keiko didn't flinch; it took her all of her will power to do so. He was strong if he was able to sniff the difference in her blood. Her heart was beating like crazy and they both knew he could hear that. Keiko knew he was toying with her, lazily walking around. He jumped at her again this time his fist collided with her chest and Keiko barely refrained from falling down. He was too quick. Keiko took a deep breath, frankly searching for an impossible weakness.

"Why do you want to kill me?" she asked when he appeared behind her. She elbowed him in the stomach, turning around and smashing a solid boost in his face. She was breathing hard, knowing she was weak after the sickness, but she refused to succumb to the death.

"None of your business, it was fun to play, but I have other plans for you," he whispered in her ear appearing next to her again. Keiko instinctively turned around, aiming for his neck but he flew a few meters back, and started laughing. Appearing next to her again, he raised his hand to hit her, but Keiko rolled on the ground barely escaping his smash.

"What plans, you sick bastard?" she asked him looking around, expecting his next move. Her mind wandered, trying to find a tactic to attack such a creature. He appeared to her right side, and smashed her head, so hard that she felt the taste of her blood in her mouth. Keiko was caught off guard; the damn bastard was truly fast. She staggered and this time fell on the ground, hissing in pain. Her head continued to spin and her vision blur after the hit. He towered above her and grinned looking how she tried to get up, but then knelt next to her. She swung her hand but he easily caught her fist again. Immediately she kicked the hand that was holding her wrist, and with her digits she squeezed the weak point. The demon hissed but released her hand. She tried to get up again, but he pushed her hard in her chest ordering in a cold voice.

"It is futile, we both know I am stronger, but you fought well."

"Fuck you!" she cursed. He grabbed her chin and looked in her eyes.

"So much passion and hatred in there. I rather like that."

"Well I don't like you," she mumbled her eyes becoming even colder. The futuristic woman hit his inside elbow joint, but this time he didn't flinch and approached his face to her. She shivered in disgust when he licked her check. Keiko's mind wandered at her opportunities, she already knew he was fast and strong, so she needed to catch him off guard, to deliver her blow. Sink or swim, there was no other option. She pretended to give up and lay down when his hands started to wander around her body, squeezing and touching everywhere. Her mind worked like crazy, observing his body language, his breathing and his eyes.

"Hm… this is no fun…" he mumbled observing her drastic change. His knee pushed her thighs apart and he waited for her reaction. She started to tremble and wriggl,e trying to push him off her. She tried to kick him with her knee, but he easily caught the limb and pinned it to the ground, with his second hand trying to grasp her hand. She trashed like crazy, fighting with all her power. Suddenly he saw tears in her eyes and his lips widened in a satisfied smile.

Keiko's hand was already raw and cut, the knife clutched tightly in her hand. She knew she had only one chance. She knew she had to play along show him what he wanted to see. Suddenly her eyes stopped at the katana that sparkled a few feet away. The plan was easily created in her mind. When she felt how his hand stripped her yukata from her shoulders and his claws easily cut the fiber, she knew she was almost there. He relaxed, touching her waist and she heard a low guttural growl in his throat.

She decided to feel disgusted later, when she will be free. Now she had to concentrate at his motions. When his hand traveled up her milky tight, she nevertheless shivered and reacted instinctively. She threw her head back and sharply hit him in the nose, with all her might. She heard the cracking of his nose and felt hot blood rushing on his face. The demon growled being caught by surprise and covered his nose with his hand, with other palm smashing her face. The blow was powerful and Keiko's world became black for a second. The blood started pounding in her ears and her head became heavy like iron. She gritted her teeth, trying to overcome the awful pain that was pulsing in her head. She was almost fainting, with her last forces she braced for the impact. The knife in her hand, flew toward his belly and Keiko thrust the blade deep then twisted the razor-blade inside the injury. With a hard push she threw him off her, jumped on her feet and ran towards his katana.

"So you want to play hard bitch!" his eyes followed her and he laughed.

"Do you think you will be able to touch my sword stupid human?" grabbing the knife's hilt while growling, he pulled it out and tossing it aside. He made a few steps toward Keiko. Keiko's gaze never left him and she stretched her hand toward the katana. Just in the second he appeared next to her, Keiko released the blade and waved it toward him. The blade easily passed through his body, and the demon blinked in confusion. Looking at his already disappearing body he blabbed not believing the reality.

"How? You're only human?"

"Yes I am, but I refuse to die by a hand of a crazy demon." Just as the wind carried away the last ashes of his body, Keiko's nerves gave up and she fell to the ground, clutching the hilt in her hand. She trembled and felt how tears kept traveling down her checks. In the next second she felt she heard something and she freaked out pushing the katana in front of her.

"Human…" that cold arrogant and mocking voice seemed the most welcome at the moment. Tossing the sword aside she rose to her feet and ran toward the figure dressed in white.

"Sesshoumaru…" she whispered gulping and gluing herself to his chest. She grabbed the silk of his haori and trembling she clutched it so hard, that her knuckles went white. This caught him of guard, he saw the mess she was in, but the fact that she felt relieved seeing him, amazed him. The fact that she searched some kind of comfort from him, annoyed him further. He grabbed her shoulders and tried to push her away hissing, but she shook her head and whispered.

"Please… just let me stay like this for a while… just…" when she saw that he dropped his hands she continued.

"I almost died… he would've killed me… why? Why does everyone that I meet want to kill me? I did nothing, nor I offended anyone, so why? I just want to go home…" she gulped her tears and continued to tremble. Sesshoumaru looked at her ripped yukata. The damnable woman was almost naked pressed to him. At the moment she seemed to don't care, as he saw she was very scared. Her frail body continued to tremble as she tried to regain her senses, silently crying. She just sobbed quietly and he could still smell the salt tears in her eyes. He also smelled a foreign scent on her, and he knew the possessor. He caught himself growling, but after analyzing this, he didn't understand why his instincts went wild, smelling another male on her body. After a few minutes, she raised her red eyes to look at him. She blinked a few times and closing her eyes murmured.

"I'm sorry, I really am. I seem to bring only bad luck and continue to disturb your life. I guess you curse the day you met me…"

"Hn."

She yelped remembering the state she was in, and modestly tried to cover herself with her hands, her checks painted a deep crimson. She took a few steps back and fell on her backside. Sesshoumaru only smirked and approaching her he smelled her face.

"This blood… isn't yours…" he stated as a matter of fact. She shook her head and Sesshoumaru turned around. Seeing the katana on the ground he asked.

"You were able to touch Nasumi?" Keiko startled, so he recognized the blade.

"Y…yes I did…" she answered still trying to cover her body with the rags that once was her yukata.

"Hm, does this mean the yielder died by his own weapon? Pathetic." He said smirking and looking at her again.

"Yes, it was a risk… but it worked…"

"Cover yourself," he said tossing her the fur that earlier hung on his shoulder. Keiko's eyes widened, catching the pelt and quickly covering her chest with it. The fur actually was alive and soon wrapped itself around her frame. She giggled almost inaudibly at the ticklish sensation. Keiko rose to her feet and he looked at her.

"Clean yourself up."

"Yes," she replied understanding his reasoning and totally agreeing. The kids were too young to see her like this. This was the reason he gave her the fur, to protect Rin.

"Thanks…" she whispered patting the fur, sure that his demonical hearing will catch her words.

"Take Nasumi, we are going," he said turning his back at her and starting walking. At least he waited until she cleaned her face and somehow brushed her hair. Keiko blinked at him asking:

"Take Nasumi? You mean…"

"The trophy belongs to the winner," he replied and Keiko furrowed her brow.

"It was just pure luck, I would've been dead if…" she shook her head refusing to think at other possibilities. A shiver traveled down her spine when she remembered his hands on her skin. She secured the katana in its scabbard and attached it to her hip, wondering if she was doing the right thing. This was a demonical blade for God's sake! Yes, it was, but this blade saved her life… plus she refused to be useless and helpless again. Having such a powerful weapon, when every passer-by wanted to kill her, was a good idea.

"Sesshoumaru?" she asked carefully trying to sound as calm as possible. After he didn't reply she called again.

"Um… Sesshoumaru… Sesshoumaru!"

"I'm not deaf woman, speak," he growled not turning to look at her.

"Ah, do you… do you think we can find a place for me to bath?" she asked carefully and he growled louder.

"Woman…" he menaced and she started blabbering.

"I mean I know I smell of that demon, I want to wash his odor away, plus I know your nose and…" she continued to scrub her hands wanting to get rid of his touch, she needed a bath. Sesshoumaru turned around and appeared before her. Grabbing her chin he looked directly into her eyes. Keiko froze caught in the depths of those amber eyes and couldn't utter a word. Sesshoumaru looked at her pale face, he could smell her blood, she had a few cuts and bruises and her lips were broken and swallowed. She looked terrible but her eyes still had that burning passion and stubbornness in them.

"Human, did he touch you?" at first she blinked, but then caught the hint of his question and shook her head in denial.

"No… I made in time… he just… damn why does everyone want to rape and kill me lately?!" she asked tossing his hand aside. Taking a deep breath she made a step apart.

Sesshoumaru looked at her not understanding her words. Did someone else try to force himself at her? Did they not know that she was his… what? Sesshoumaru stopped in place. What? What was she to him, a servant, a companion or a burden? He decided the last one, but until she was next to him no one can dare to touch her. He started walking but when he didn't sense her coming, he turned around only to see her fainting. Weak, pathetic human that lost all of her energy. He cursed tossing her on his shoulder. One of these days he will either kill her or tie her to Ah-Un.