Sesshomaru Fanfic Chapter 5: "You Were Reborn Anew".

This was beneath him. He should kill her and get it over with. He should torture her into answering his questions about Rin. He was sure he could get it out of her. She seems to submit whenever her pride is threatened. 'Whenever I get near her…' he thought. She probably didn't realize he could hear her increased heartbeat, see the blush spread over her porcelain skin, and fragrance her rising arousal at his proximity. Sesshomaru shouldn't care about such reactions from this human woman. He rarely ever showed such carnal interest in demon women, much less a mortal being.

Still, he couldn't ignore her. Not then, and not now.

He thought because she was now a human woman, he would despise her, but instead, he was foolishly enjoying her vulnerable state. The way she couldn't break free from simple ropes around her wrists made the predatory side of him want to…

Mayumi's eyes widened but before he could go any further in his ministrations, the girl returned.

"Kaede made dinner. Bring your friend; she looks like she could use a warm meal." The girl winked at Mayoumi while Sesshomaru sighed.

"She is not my friend," he said, pushing her to walk ahead of him.

Kagome spoke to Mayumi, "I might be able to give you my spare uniform to wear. I know my clothes might seem strange, but it's all I have, and you can return them to me once you get your own clothes."

Mayumi nodded and began walking alongside the girl. She was always aware of Sesshomaru's presence behind her, watching her intently. If she tried to escape now, he would put her back in the tent or attack her again. She had no choice but to follow the strange girl inside.

Dinner wasn't actually ready which was terrible news to hear for Mayumi. She hadn't eaten anything since… since literally forever! This was ridiculous, she just came alive and already she had been held captive, starved, and constantly attacked by demons and humans alike!

Mayumi's stomach must have read her mind because it made a most troubling sound in response. Everyone talking around her stopped their conversations and turned to stare at her. She blushed bright red and looked away. Before she could think of what to say, the woman named Kagome took her hand "While we wait for the food, why don't we take a warm bath? I've been traveling non-stop for days."

"Uh, sure, it's just that…" Mayumi was about to elaborate, but it wasn't necessary. The moment Kagome tried to move her by the arm towards the hot springs, she fell back against her. The unmoving mountain that was Sesshomaru had not let go of her arm and refused to let her leave his sight.

Kagome quickly recovered from the fall, "Sesshomaru! Mayoumi needs a bath and so do I!" she exclaimed.

"She will try to escape."

"You are faster, she knows you have her scent and will find her quickly. There is nowhere for her to go anyways, so stop being such a weirdo and let the girl breathe!" Kagome shouted at the top of her lungs to Sesshomaru. He seemed unfazed by her hysterical tone. Narrowing his eyes at Kagome and her, he let go of her arm.

Mayumi couldn't believe this loudmouth had managed to break through to him. She looked down to find a slight bruise where he had been holding her and covered it with her hand. Maybe if she rubbed, it will go away. Bruising was such a mortal weakness. She couldn't stand it. She couldn't stand being so fragile, and everyone around her knew it now. She didn't have a chance to protect herself and word could spread of her vulnerability.

Kagome took her sweet time getting her out of there. Mayumi didn't dare start the first movement. Anything could awaken Sesshomaru to action. It was best not to provoke him. She had to seem as harmless as she felt on the outside. On the inside, she had to remain as strong as ever.

"Alright, here we are," Kagome led her through a sliding door to the outside. It looked beautiful. The half-moon shone brightly in the night sky. Bamboos were surrounding the hot springs and warm steam that warmed her body nicely. Kagome had placed both their old clothes to wash and left the new clothes in the next room. She had been given a simple towel to wrap around herself and she held it as she submerged in the warm pool with a peaceful sigh. A sigh she immediately choked on as the water made a splash in her face.

"Are you alright? What's wrong?"

"Something jumped in-" before she could wonder what had happened, it floated back up to face her and she smiled in delightful surprise. "An apple!" she announced and took it, waving it happily towards her. It was the perfect fruit, this apple. Perfectly red and plump. She could tell it would taste amazing. She could tell because she was starving and she would eat almost anything at this moment.

Kagome joined her after she took her first delicious bite. It was heaven in her belly and she moaned approvingly. Kagome just watched her in deep thought before she looked around and smiled "I don't remember the apple tree being this close. Oh well, I'm glad you have something to hold you over while we wait for dinner. I'm guessing you haven't been fed well, or treated well since you arrived at this village."

Mayumi tried to pace herself while she took bite after bite of the apple. She tried to listen to Kagome as she devoured the apple, and talked mid-bite "I'm surprised your first statement is not related to Rin."

There was a long pause where Kagome looked to be in deep troubling thoughts before succumbing to a smile. "I understand what it's like to be accused of stealing someone's life."

"I didn't steal anything."

"I didn't say you did, On the contrary." Kagome smiled and it irritated Mayumi.

"If you know I'm not a murderer, why don't you help me convince them to let me go?"

"Imagine I did. Where would you go? How will you live? Will you marry someone? Or will you get a job? What about those demon men that want you? How will you-?"

"Alright, alright, I get it!" Mayumi turned away from her "I'm trapped here. All because-, wait, how do you know I did not kill Rin?"

"Ah. That is complicated. I can sort of sense things sometimes. Strong auras, souls… Seeing as I myself am a reincarnation of an old priestess…"

"I see. So…" Mayumi was afraid of her next question. If this was a trick, it was a good one. She felt very much compelled to tell her what she had been hiding from the rest, but if it was true that she could sense souls and auras, maybe… just maybe… "if you were to define how I… how I… came to be… what would… I mean, well, what would you think?"

Kagome watched her curiously and for a second Mayoumi thought she had exposed how little she understood herself. If it was known, the rest of them would eat her alive. Kagome leaped forward and hugged her. Mayumi gasped in surprise when her arms enveloped her.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I wish I could tell you, but I think that is something you have to discover yourself. I can tell you something that could help…" Kagome whispered low in her ear, words that would stay seared to her mind long after this day. Her eyes widened and she gasped at the revelation.

"Kagome! You're bathing without me? That's so mean!" A loud splash exploded right next to them. Her entirety got soaked, including her hair. It was no use having it up in a bun now. Mayumi shook her head and her hair came undone. Long black locks that curled at the ends.

"Shippo! You made it!" Kagome hugged the furry little creature tightly and brushed the top of his head lovingly. The creature named Shippo smiled and blushed at the attention and they forgot she existed entirely as they spoke to each other.

"Of course I did! No smelly demon can defeat me in battle! I am the strongest there is and the bravest. Miroku and Sango barely did anything. I had the beast subdued before Sango could slap Miroku a third time.

"That must be pretty fast." Kagome grinned "So you're all here, then. Where is Sango? You and her should meet my new friend-"

"We are not friends." Mayumi told her before she could introduce her. After what Kagome had whispered, it didn't feel right to be addressed as she had been. "and I'd like to make a proclamation," Mayumi stood on the edge of the pool, she held the towel against her chest as she began, "From this night on, I renounce my prior names. I will now be addressed as May."

After she made her proclamation, there was a silence around her before Shippo continued "So she's May. Understood," he whispered something to Kagome and she giggled.

May blushed before sinking back down into the water. She supposed they would find it odd that she would make such an announcement. Demons usually took pride in their names. Maybe humans did not. Either way, it was a necessary change.

Shippo continued to explain the woman named Sango and the monk Miroku had stayed behind but would join them later.

"Dinner is ready! Come get it before Inuyasha eats it all!"

"I will not!"

Kagome stood up quickly and screamed, "Inuyasha!" she ran out of the pool, barely holding her towel, "Sit boy!"

The next thing, she heard was a loud smash against the floor maybe and Inuyasha groaning in pain. What she heard next was what she believed to be a very entertaining argument between Inuyasha and Kagome.

"I can't believe you started eating without us! You're such a jerk!"

"Yeah? So what? We were hungry! Just shut your trap and go change! In case you did not realize, you're naked, you crazy woman!"

"Ah! What are you doing? Don't touch me!"

"I'm trying to get you out of here! Stop squirming before something slips!"

"Stop! Ah! My towel! Sit boy! Sit boy! SIT BOY!"

"I better get over there and help them," Shippo told her.

She had completely forgotten of his existence. She nodded as he began to leave, but then he stopped and turned to look at her "Don't think I trust as easily as her. I'm watching you, May…"

It was probably the least threatening threat she'd received so far.

May could breathe a breath of relief. She was finally alone. Something she would not normally enjoy, but after being surrounded by people that despise her, she could understand why solitude suddenly sounded safe. Not that she was truly safe. She knew perfectly well she was a prisoner here and the longer she stayed here, the less likely will she ever escape. There had to be a way to escape that demon, Sesshomaru.