I do not own Inuyasha.

Please read and review, pretty please.

Lady Meliko, not quite yet. Soon. On a related note, I just watched Sesshomaru In The Underworld in English for the first time. His mom is a royal bitch in English. I much prefer the snippy, conniving Japanese version to the hateful bitch in English. But we ain't there yet.

Sesshomaru stared silently at the moon over head. They had visited the Village for three days and left that afternoon after he'd given Rin her gift. It wasn't much, a carving of a swallow on a flowering peach bough. He hoped she'd like it, as was their custom she did not open it until he had left.

He directed his gaze down to his little pack. Jaken was fast asleep, however Melissa was awake stargazing. She was flat on her back slightly ahead of him, where he could watch her, her head would be about level with his knees were she right beside him.

"Oh!" She yelled sitting up and pointing "Sesshomaru, ask for want!" She turned back to the heavens and closed her eyes briefly opening them in time to see the falling star burn out.

"I do not understand what you mean,"

"Maybe I say wrong." She flopped back down in the grass and gazed up at the moon

"It is possible. Japanese is not your native tongue." He stared back up and the sparkling night sky. "Rin wishes upon stars. Perhaps that is what you mean?"

"Probably."

"What did you wish for, Melissa."

"If tell I not get it."

"Tell me and I will see that you receive it." He stated. She rolled over and propped her head on her hands to look at him. He was sincere, he truly wished to give her her wish. She shook her head sadly.

"You can't give wish."

"You are my pack. It is my responsibility to see that your needs are met. It is my desire to see that you desires are met as well."

She smiled sadly at him. Well, she wouldn't get it anyway. "I wish for... I think word is family." She flopped back over quickly so that he wouldn't see the tears trying to form in her eyes.

His heart plummeted. He could not give her the ability to bear a child. Nor could he find her a husband who would love her despite her body's shortcomings. He could not give her what she wished for.

The were both silent for a long time. She was still awake, he could hear it in her breathing. "Melissa, you cannot bare a child, but that does not mean you will never have one. I have one. This should be an impossibility as I have never lain with a woman, yet I have a little girl. There are many other children who need mothers. Perhaps fate wishes you to care for one of them."

She rolled over and looked at him again, smiling as tears started to fall from her eyes. She didn't bother standing, she crawled the few feet to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She hugged him tightly and laid her head on his shoulder. He leaned his head against hers.

"Wait..." She lifted her head and leaned back to look at him. "You never..."

"Never. I remain a virgin."

She blinked in surprise. "But you could have many. I see them try."

"And you have seen me turn them all away. This Sesshomaru is powerful, wealthy, and handsome..."

"Not forget modest." She joked, her arms still around his neck.

"It is these attributes that motivate these women. They come to me out of desire for wealth and power. I choose to keep myself for someone worthy."

She nodded in understanding. That was how it should be, though in America it was rare. Then she released him from her embrace and moved away to lay back down.

It was a warm day, unseasonably warm and Sesshomaru had decided to give his pack a break. He had told Jaken his presence was not needed and had no idea where the kappa was. Melissa was playing in the creek near the tree he was reclining under. She had tied the hem of her kimono up and was wading around, occasionally flipping rocks or poking a stick in a hole to stir up the small creatures living there. She was bored.

He decided to capitalize on Jaken's absence. "Melissa, what was said about this Sesshomaru at the village?"

She rolled her eyes. This was not the first time he'd asked since they'd left the villager. "You do not give up." Her Japanese was getting better every day.

"No, I do not."

She left the creek and sat down in front of him. "I tell her you are sweet."

"This Sesshomaru is not sweet." He scoffed.

"Well that is what I tell her. I think you are sweet. You just want to look like bad boy. If you were not sweet you would not take care of me."

"I take care of you only because I wish to."

"You wish to because you are sweet."

He glared at her and she smiled that dazzling smile of hers. Then she picked up her gourd and poured the hot water out before refilling it from the creek. She walked past him, toward the fire she'd cooked her lunch on, then he jumped up in surprise as the brazen woman dumped the cold water on top of his head.

"You are hothead, I cool you off." Then she shrieked with laughter and tried to run as he lunged at her. He grabbed her arms and forced her back to the creek. He forced her down so that she was lying in the water, then holding her with one hand he began to splash water on every part of her that wasn't submerged. She fought back, splashing him and giggling. He quit splashing her only when she became to winded to fight back.

He stood with a satisfied smirk and crossed his arms. He was wet, but she was drenched. She laughed as she stood up, water streaming from her hair and kimono. He stared at her, the water caused the kimono to cling to her, showing her shape.

He looked at her face again. Her blue eyes were sparkling with laughter and her smile was brilliant. Spending so much time in the sun had caused a light dusting of pale freckles to appear across the bridge of her nose and cheeks, so pale they disappeared where her cheeks turned pink. She was adorable.

He reached out and took hold of her elbow. "Return to the fire before you become chilled."

She laughed "I not get chilled, is hot day." But she allowed him to lead her to the fire anyway. He released her arm and she stood back a few feet from the glowing embers as she began to wring out her sleeves. Once that was done she began to wring out the hem of her kimono, showing far more of her legs than was appropriate here. He flashed back to Kagome's future garments, apparently in their time it was ok to show one's legs. With great difficulty he turned away before she caught him staring.

His hair needed combing after their water fight. He stood next to the fire and began the task of straightening his hair.

"Why not sit to comb hair?" Melissa asked, pausing to watch him.

"The length of my hair makes it impossible for me to perform this task in a seated position."

"I help?"

He paused and looked at her. "You wish to groom this Sesshomaru?"

"My fault it tangled." They looked at each other for a long moment. "You ever have hair comb?"

"If you mean by another then no, Not since I was a very small pup."

"Feels nice."

He stared at her for a long moment then extended the comb to her. He would indulge her this once. Her grin was priceless as she took the comb then held his hair back out of the way as he sank into a cross legged position. She spread it on the grass behind him and began gently working the comb through his long silver hair.

This was nice he realized. As she raked the comb through his hair he could feel the tension melt from his body. He would ask her to do this again sometime. He was so relaxed he almost fell asleep, that is until...

"Sesshomarusama, I have returned! You brazen woman, how dare you touch mi'lord..."

"Jaken. Melissa is performing a service to this Sesshomaru."

"Oh. Oh, but mi'lord if you require help with your hair I would be more than happy to..."

"Silence. Melissa is busy, go gather wood for tonight."

"Yes mi'lord."

Melissa giggled softly as Jaken scurried away to do as he was told. Sesshomaru didn't care why. He closed his eyes when he felt her fingers gather the hair around his temple and pull it back from his face so the comb wouldn't scratch his skin. When he felt her fingers brush against the sensitive skin behind his ear, performing the same action, he sighed deeply. She paused then continued with her task. Then moved to the other side.

She finished combing his hair and set the comb aside. She cautiously began to stroke behind both of his ears and was rewarded with a very soft moan of pleasure as he leaned his head slightly back. She smiled and began to pull her hands away.

"Don't" He whispered softly.

"Don't what?" She asked softly.

"Don't stop."

So she resumed stroking behind his ears. Then she gently rubbed the ears themselves. Then moved her fingers in small circles as she massaged his entire scalp. She massaged until she felt her fingers were going to cramp. When she finally stopped he opened his gold eyes and looked slowly over his shoulder.

"You were correct. That felt very nice."