Disclaimer:I do not own Inuyasha. I do own Sakura, Suzuran, and Hokiboshi. But someday I will own my Sesshy-chan!

Kiniro Sakura

Chapter Seven: The Aristocratic Demon Lord

The next morning Sakura was up very early and was heading to the hotsprings. She had told Suzuran last night to watch over the group while she was gone so she wasn't worried about an attack. A few minutes later she had arrived at the hotsprings and was getting undressed. She slid into the water and her aching muscles immediately felt better. She pulled a bottle out of the bag Kagome had given her and put some soapy stuff into her hand. She smelled it and it smelled like Sakura flowers. She smiled as she lathered it into her hair and tail. After she had washed the stuff out she made a mental note to thank Kagome for this stuff called 'shampoo'. She dove under the water and swam for a few minutes before a rustling in the bushes caught her attention. She whirled around and sunk lower into the water. She waited while her eyes scanned the area for any signs of peeping or danger. A small squirrel came out of the bushes and she mentally hit herself for getting so worked up over it. She went back to cleaning when she heard another noise. She figured it must be another squirrel and let her guard down a little bit but still kept on the lookout. She was just about to get out of the springs when a cold voice spoke.

"What are you doing in my lands, wench?" Sakura gulped and turned around to stare into the eyes of the most beautiful demon she had ever seen. She yelped when she realized that she was almost completely naked in front of a stranger. She quickly grabbed her clothes and tried to cover herself as much as she could. The demon raised one of his delicate eyebrows as she struggled to put a kimono on. Once she tied the obi she jerked her head up and was about to warn the others but the demon had her throat in his hands. He lifted her off of her feet and held her close to his face.

"I, Sesshoumaru, demand to know what you are doing on my lands." The demon that called himself Sesshoumaru growled as he sunk his claws into her throat. Sakura gasped but didn't cry out. A few minutes later Suzuran and Inuyasha burst into the clearing with the rest of the group close behind.

"Sakura! What's wrong? I had a feeling that something...bad...had...happened." Suzuran trailed off as she looked at the scene. Inuyasha pulled out his Tetsaiuga and pointed it at Sesshoumaru.

"What the hell do you want you jackass?" He snarled. Sesshoumaru smirked as he dropped Sakura. He slowly turned around and pulled out his sword Tokijin. Kagome, Sango, and Hokiboshi ran over to Sakura and helped her up. Miroku and Kirara went over to help Inuyasha and Suzuran.

"Are you okay? Did Sesshoumaru hurt you?" Kagome asked worriedly as she fussed over Sakura. Sakura shook her head but winced when the cuts on her neck reopened. Kagome gasped.

"He did hurt you! Let me see your neck so I can help you." Kagome said as she took out a cloth. She tried to clean the wounds but Sakura turned her head and stood up.

"Sakura! You're wounded. Let me help you!" Kagome said loudly as she too stood up. Sakura looked at her and growled.

"I do not need your help. Leave me alone." Sakura ground out as she walked over to Sesshoumaru who was now engaged in a battle against Inuyasha. Suzuran was helping when she could but Inuyasha was making it hard for her. Sakura let out a loud growl and the brothers stopped. Suzuran took one look at her eyes and backed up a few steps before running over to Sakura.

"Sakura stop! If you do that then everyone in this clearing will be killed, even you!" Suzuran cried as she pulled on Sakura's arm. Sakura shrugged her off and kept walking. By now Inuyasha was yelling at her to stop but she didn't hear him. The only thing she noticed was the demon in front of her. Sesshoumaru looked highly amused that she was coming this close after he had hurt her but kept his guard up all the same. He calmly looked into her eyes and a warmth overcame him but was quickly replaced by anger. He softly growled as she came closer but that was not what was bugging him. He looked at her once and then at Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, I will be back but right now I have to sort something out." He said as he turned his head back to Sakura who was still advancing on him. He let out a small smile and jumped away. Sakura charged but Sesshoumaru was already gone so it did no good. Inuyasha and Sakura stood huffing at not battling the highly skilled demon but let it drop.

Later on that night everyone was gathered around a fire and were near sleep at having walked all day without any breaks or food. Shippo, Hokiboshi, and Kirara were already asleep and the females of the group were very close to falling over. Sakura stared at the fire and wondered about her encounter with the stuck-up demon today. Suzuran noticed her friends discomfort and decided to ask the Inu-gumi about the demon Sesshoumaru.

"Hey Kagome, who was that demon that attacked today?" She asked while looking Kagome in the eye. Kagome sighed and began her tale.

"His name is Sesshoumaru and he is Inuyasha's half-brother. He is the Lord of the Western Lands and has tried numerous times to kill Inuyasha and take the Tetsaiuga. He usually ends up winning the fight but he never gets the Tetsaiuga. I winder why he didn't fight today?" Kagome finished with a wondering look on her face. Inuyasha 'fehed' from up on the tree he was staying in tonight. Suzuran nodded and looked back at Sakura. She was still staring at the flames but Suzuran knew that she had heard what Kagome said. Suzuran hopped up and lay down near Shippo. Kirara went to lie down near Sango who was suspiciously close to Miroku. Hokiboshi went over and sat by his master's side and stared at the flames too. About an hour later Sakura was asleep with Hokiboshi nestled into her arms. Little did anyone know that someone was watching them. When the dog-demon in the bushes noticed that Sakura was asleep got up and flew back to his campsite where a small human girl and a toad demon were sleeping. He was till wondering about his encounter with the female kitsune and it was bugging the heck out of him. He let out and demon-like snort and closed his eyes. Sesshoumaru decided to forget about the girl until morning.

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This chapter was a little shorter than the previous ones but I did my best.^_^ I would like to thank my first three reviewers: Inuko, Star Silver fox, and Kaiulani89. Arigatou Gozaimasu! Keep reviewing! Animechick8