Sesshoumaru slowly straightened his body as he acknowledged the visitor. She stared at him with calm violet eyes and a small smile on her lips. She smelled of the forest but mostly of jasmine. The combination slightly hid her human scent. Her appearence however, gave her away. Her hair was tied below her neck, revealing the human shape of her ears. Her eyes were normal by human standards. He was slightly annoyed by the disturbance in his travels by such a lowly creature. And whatever test she was speaking of, it ended now. When he started to speak, she interrupted.
"Because you have passed my test, I would like to tell you about my propostion. Before you speak, hear me out, you might be interested." She waited a brief moment for some sign of acknowledgement, but he stood there quietly, waiting for her to speak. She pressed her lips together and went on. "I'm in a bit of a situation you see. Men, demons and humans alike, are after me for I have stolen jewel shards of the shikon no tama from them. I must collect the shards, for reasons I will not bother to explain to you because you would not understand, but these men are hindering my search. I spend more time hiding out than searching for the shards. This is where you come in."
Sesshoumaru merely stared at the girl. He of course had no shards and if he did, he certainly would not allow some weak human girl take them from him. "If you were planning to take a shard from me, I have none and I don't think you would have been able to take it anyway. Therefore whatever plans you had end now - as well will your life." He took a step forward, his right hand drawn back preparing for an attack, when the air became crowded with flower petals. The scent bombarded not only his nose but his eyes, forcing them to close. When he opened them again, the girl was gone. Looking around he saw nothing and smelled her every where around him.
"Please Sesshoumaru, calm yourself." Her voice echoed from some where in the forest. "Hear all I have to say before you try to kill me. I need you to protect me from those who seek me. In exchange for your protection, I will give you half the shards I collect when my journey is over. You may say that you have no use for the shards, but I disagree. With a shard you could posess Tetsuaiga, am I correct?"
"How do you know of Tetsuaiga?"
"Why does it matter? You will be that much closer to obtaining it."
"Clever girl. But I no longer form alliances with strangers."
"Yes, I heard of your misfortune with Naraku. This is the reason I tested my magic on you. I am only a mere Flower Goddess, my powers are no rival to yours or Naraku's. You were able to resist my magic so you have no reason to be threatened by it. Not to mention, I would never cross you." She jumped down from a tree and slowly began to walk to him. She stared at him with an expression that he himself would probably use. Her head tilted to the side in question. "So what is your decision?"
He stared at her, considering. She was correct, he was able to reist her magic. But should she choose to, she could try to use the shards to over power him in the end. He did not trust her and she was correct in assuming it had something to do with his association with Naraku. The shards tempted him as it had with Naraku. He would be forced to be with her day and night, making it difficult for her to betray him. He disliked the idea of spending his time in the company of a human and disliked more the idea of protecting it.
"I see you need more time to consider." Her voice was quiet and soft when she spoke. "If you accept, meet me at sunset tomorrow below the mountains east of here. We will begin our search for the shards and the sooner we get started, the sooner you will be done with me. If I do not see you there tomorrow..." she trailed off and looked away. "...I will try to find someone else. I hope to see you tomorrow my Lord." She bowed gracefully and respectfully.
"What is your name?" He was suprised he cared to ask.
A smile spread slowly across her lips and disappeared as she rose to meet his eyes. "Should you accept, you will find out. For my safety I must remain anonymous. Goodbye, my Lord." Turning, she walked away and disappaeared in the night.
Jaken, who had awoken to hear most of the end of the converstation, stared up at his master. "Lord Sesshoumaru! You're not going to do as she asked are you?"
Sesshoumaru watched her walk away, considering. "Silence Jaken. Your weakness has angered me already, do not push me futher." Turning, he walked away, leaving Jaken to scurry behind him, uttering apologies.
The great demon lord stood for some time on a clif, staring down at the place in which he was to meet the girl, should he except her offer. It was unlike him to even consider such a thought, but again, the jewel shards tempted him. With them, he could rightfully claim what was his from that disgusting hanyou. He would be able to find an arm on his own that was not cursed, as was the one Naraku had given him. It was true she possessed no real threat, but he still did not trust her. He would need to see the shards she had collected before he agreed to protect her. He would make his decision then.
He closed his eyes as the wind picked up, forcing his long mane to dance lightly in the air. He could imagine himself killing her, if need be. Shards or no shards, how powerful could a Flower Goddess be? He cursed his conflicting emotions. I, Lord Sesshoumaru, should not consider sinking so low for a shard of the shikon no tama, he thought to himself. Still, he had sent Jaken to find more about the maiden before he made his final decision. Speaking of the rotten toad. Jaken quickly rushed to his master.
"I hope, for your sake, that you were able to find some worthy information. You have been gone all morning."
"Forgive me M'Lord!" He bowed quickly before speaking again. "I was able to find information about her. She is a criminal of the highest crime! She has stolen many shards from strong and weak men alike. But her ways are distatseful. She uses her beauty to seduce her victims and some how places them under a deep sleep before they are even able to touch her. In their dreams, they say she allows them to mate with her over and over, but when they awake, they can't remember her face."
"You gave in to her magic Jaken. Is that what you dreamt of?"
Jaken looked down shamefully as his cheeks turned red. "Aye M'Lord, but it wasn't my fault! Her magic is powerul."
"Her magic is only powerful to the weak. What else did you learn?"
"Many of her victims are banning together in search of her. None have had luck but their quest continues. They are haunted by dreams of her every time they sleep."
Sesshoumaru turned his back to Jaken to again look over the cliffs. Should he aid this woman in tortoring more weakminded men? He had to commend her, however, for he always believed that the weak paid for being so. It was possible that she held back her full potential in order to decieve him. But if that were the case, Jaken would not have fallen. He could tell that Jaken was not looking forward to seeing the woman again. Surely it would be torture for him. A slow smile crept across his face. It was time he stopped questioning his ability to destroy the girl if she chose to betray him. There really was no doubt.
He lifted his eyes towards the sky, moving the hair from his face that the wind insisted on putting there. By the time he reached the valley plains, it would be sunset. "Come Jaken, we have someone to meet."
