Author's Note: I couldn't update during my Spring Break, and I feel really bad about not getting a chapter up before I left. So to make up for it, here's an extra-long chapter.

Oh yea, special thanks go to the wonderful Kashiaga for the suggestion. Many thanks, I used it in this chapter!!!!

Disclaimer: As kinky as bondage may be, I don't own anyone. Hmmmm. I definitely wouldn't mind tying Sesshomaru up though… (Yes, I am a rabid, obsessed fan-girl!)

Secret Code needed for interpreting my story:

*** indicates a passage of time, italicized words are thoughts, "quotation" marks indicate speech or dialogue, and (parentheses) are author's comments.

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~ ~ Chapter 10: A Bath and a Bonfire ~ ~

Sesshomaru awoke the next morning to find his sleeve still trapped in the miko's unrelenting grasp. She had somehow moved closer to him in the night, and was now curled up right next to him. He gently rested his hand on her head; his hand was large enough to cover the entire top of her head. It's strange to think that such a fragile body houses such incredible powers, he thought. Using merely the slightest fraction of my strength I could crush her skull into dust. That thought made him feel very powerful, but it also made him slightly uneasy. I cannot lose my control again, he realized. If I do, then who knows what I would do to her?

He began running his sharp claws through her hair, enjoying the way the silky strands slipped through his fingers like water. He probably would never have done this had she been awake, and definitely not if someone had been watching. But while they were alone, and she was asleep, he felt more comfortable lowering his guard and revealing his emotions. Once she began to stir, however, he yanked his hand away; his features returned once more to their usual bland expression.

When Yukari awoke the first thought that registered was yuck. She hadn't bathed in days, and she felt disgusting. The pain in her ribs hadn't lessened at all; they were nowhere near as healed as they should have been. Guess I overestimated my body's capabilities, she thought wryly. Gazing around her, she noticed that the sun had risen, and that most of the morning had already been wasted; she should have resumed traveling a few hours ago.

She rolled over onto her back, and as she did so she realized that she was clutching something in her hand. Confused, she sat up very carefully and looked to see what it was. Oh gods, she moaned silently. It was Sesshomaru's sleeve. She glanced fearfully up at him; nothing seemed to register on his face. Oh well, she thought. It could be worse. He could have killed me in my sleep… She was slightly amused by the situation. Sesshomaru, however, was no longer happy being her security blanket. He yanked his sleeve out of her fingers.

She offered no resistance to his sudden withdrawal, but he could see the hurt flicker across her face. He gracefully rose to his feet and stalked off; however, he paused as he reached the edge of the clearing. Yukari realized he was waiting for her, so she got to her feet rather awkwardly, grabbed her pack, and followed closely behind him.

***

They had been walking for about four hours, Yukari guessed, and her body ached in places she didn't even know she had injured. Not to mention the fact that she was drenched in cold sweat and she was breathing heavily. Her chest was in absolute agony from the blistering pace Sesshomaru set. She had to keep up or die trying; her pride wouldn't let her beg him to slow down. She paused to catch her breath, and as she did so she caught a very familiar sulfur smell. Hot springs! she silently rejoiced.

"Sesshomaru!" she called to him. The only sign he gave that he had heard her was the fact that he stopped walking. "There are hot springs in this direction. Do you think we could stop for a little while?"

He turned to glare fiercely at her. She returned his glare and refused to back down. Finally, with a toss of her head, she turned away and limped off towards the hot springs carrying her pack with her. I don't care if he wants to stop or not, she fumed. He can just leave for all I care! But the irritating little voice in the back of her mind told her that she did care.

Sesshomaru watched the miko walk away, shocked. He just stood there in utter silence for a few minutes. She dares to walk away from this Sesshomaru? he thought incredulously. I should just leave her here to fend for herself. "You know that you won't do that, right?" the voice asked him. Just as he was going to reply he heard a small, plaintive female voice calling to him. He sighed, and walked towards the sound of Yukari's voice.

Yukari was so happy about finding the hot springs that she didn't realize her dilemma until she had already gotten far away from Sesshomaru. Perfect, she sighed. Now what am I going to do? "Sesshomaru!" she called sweetly, praying that he was still around to hear her.

Luckily he was, and he responded to her call within moments. Sesshomaru found the girl sitting on a rock beside the steaming hot springs. He raised an eyebrow at her in a silent question.

Yukari blushed a deep crimson and looked at the ground, not saying a word. A very frustrated Sesshomaru was about to walk away when she finally spoke.

"I need help," she whispered. Sesshomaru was stunned. She's asking me for help? He smirked. My, my. She must be desperate.

"I wanted to take a bath, but… but… I can't raise my arms above my head because of my ribs, and well… Ineedhelptakingmyshirtoff," she said in a rush.

Sesshomaru wasn't sure he had heard her correctly. She needs help undressing? Inwardly he erupted in a fit of silent laughter but no emotion showed itself on his face. He glanced at the miko's face: it was bright red and she refused to look into his eyes. She's not jesting, he realized suddenly. They were both feeling very uncomfortable, but were both stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the fact that they were disturbed by the situation.

Sesshomaru slowly reached his hands out, grasped the miko by the shoulders, gently spun her around so she wasn't facing him, and very carefully sliced her shirt down the back with his claws. She gasped as her torn hakui slipped off of her shoulders, revealing cotton bandages wrapping her from armpits to navel. (A/N: You all thought she was naked, didn't you? Admit it! Sick, sick, sick… o_O ) She glared at him.

"I didn't mean for you to do it like that!" she yelled. "Now what am I supposed to wear?"

Sesshomaru gazed calmly back at her. "You didn't specify how you wanted it done, merely that you wanted it done. I was simply doing as you requested."

As he spoke he removed his red haori and tossed it at her; now he was wearing only his black hakama and a white under-kimono. Yukari opened her mouth and then shut it again, completely at a loss for something to say. Sesshomaru stared into her eyes for an instant longer, then turned to walk away. She cleared her throat and he turned back around to face her. Her face had flushed even more, if that were possible, and she matched the haori bundled in her arms perfectly.

"The bandages too, please," she whispered. She turned around so that her back was facing him again.

He carefully sliced through the layers of bandaging with his claws, revealing a white cotton breastband. Thank the gods! he thought in relief. He wasn't sure if his poor body could have taken any more abuse. Now that they were both thoroughly embarrassed and uncomfortable, Sesshomaru left and Yukari slipped out of her hakama and waded into the soothing water. She put her hands to her face in an attempt to cool her flushed cheeks. Could this situation get any worse? she asked herself. Then she realized something that made her blush even worse than before.

Sesshomaru sat down with his back to a tree and folded his arms across his chest. He was desperately trying to regain his inner peace; the encounter with the half-naked priestess had left him more shaken than he cared to admit. This will not affect me, he thought. I can conquer this. I will rise above the pettiness of these emotions and come out stronger.

***

Her soak in the hot springs had drained most of the tension out of Yukari's muscles, and she could feel that her healing powers had finally begun to take effect. As soon as she felt able to continue her journey she climbed out of the hot springs and redressed in her hakama. She dug a fresh roll of linen bandages out of her bag, and stared at it. I really don't want to do this, she moaned to herself. But she took a deep breath anyway, and opened her mouth to speak.

"Sesshomaru!" she called.

The miko's shout shook Sesshomaru out of his meditation. What, in the name of all that is holy, does she want now? He got to his feet and walked back to the hot springs. He found the girl sitting on the rock again, her hair dripping and her face flushed, clutching his haori around her shoulders.

"I need help again," she confessed. She held out a roll of bandages to him, and he took them from her with a small sigh. He walked around her so she wasn't facing him; she dropped the haori off her shoulders. (A/N: yes, she is still wearing the breastband)

This will not affect me, this will not affect me, this will not affect me. Sesshomaru repeated this mantra over and over to himself as he reached around the miko and began tightly wrapping her upper torso in the bandages. He was trying very hard to ignore the compromising situation they were in, but his proximity to the young woman was making it very difficult for him to concentrate.

This will not affect me, this will not affect me, this will not affect me. Yukari said this to herself repeatedly, trying to convince herself that it was true. However, Sesshomaru's closeness, and the fact that they were in a very tense, physically compromising situation, was making it even harder for her to believe it.

His job finished, Sesshomaru fled as quickly as his pride would allow. His heart was beating so hard and so fast that he could barely breathe; unbeknownst to him, Yukari was having a similar difficulty. I refuse to allow my body to dominate me! they both thought simultaneously.

The miko let out a small sigh, and put on Sesshomaru's red haori. It fell nearly to her knees, and the sleeves hung well past her fingertips. Giggling at herself, Yukari walked into the woods to find Sesshomaru. When she found him he refused to look at her, and walked away quickly.

They walked that way for about an hour: Sesshomaru was always a few steps ahead, and Yukari had to struggle in order to keep up with his long strides. Finally Sesshomaru slowed down; it was completely unexpected and Yukari, oblivious, almost ran into him.

"You really are a pathetic, helpless human, aren't you?" he asked her.

"Wha… What?" she stuttered. He refused to repeat himself and simply narrowed his eyes at her. She had, in fact, heard him; drawing a deep breath, she looked him straight in the eyes, a red flag of rage flying on each cheek.

"I was born a human, just as you were born a demon," she shouted. "I can't help what I am any more than you can help what you are. Perhaps I'm not as strong as you are, or as fast, and my senses aren't as good as yours…"

She paused in speaking, and when she resumed, it was in a much softer tone of voice. "But the one thing that I can do and you cannot is look past what you are. I can look beyond any differences between us and see you for who you are: my friend."

Sesshomaru was stunned by her words and by the force with which she spoke them, but he hid his shock with a cruel smirk. "So we are friends, are we?"

Yukari had the grace to blush. "Well, I consider you my friend, even if you don't consider me yours," she said softly, looking down at the ground.

Sesshomaru was very surprised, and didn't know how to react to the miko's confession. He chose not to answer her. Hmm, he thought. I never had a human friend before. This could prove to be… interesting.

Suddenly Yukari had a realization. "Sesshomaru, do you even know my name?"

He glared at her. "Of course I do," he said in a superior, haughty tone of voice. "Your name is Yukari."

Yukari blinked in surprise; she hadn't actually expected him to know what her name was. He had never called her by it, so she had naturally assumed that he didn't know it. Apparently he paid more attention to her than she gave him credit for.

The walked in silence for another few hours, but this time it was a more comfortable, companionable silence. Although Yukari's body was beginning to heal itself, the hours of walking were starting to take its toll on her. In addition to that, she hadn't eaten in more than a day, so overall she was starting to feel pretty miserable. I don't want to ask Sesshomaru to stop for food though, she thought. That will just prove to him that I am weak, and I really don't want that. Maybe I could get my own food. Gods, how I wish I had my bow and arrows. That would make this much easier. Oh well. I will just have to make do with what I have.

With that in mind, Yukari decided to take a brief foray off the path and find a stream or river of some sort nearby. Following a trail of vegetation, she found exactly what she was looking for: a medium-sized river teeming with fish. She drew her sword, waded out into the water, and waited patiently for the fish to become accustomed to her presence. Once they had resumed swimming in the waters around her, she raised her sword, tensed to strike. All of a sudden her sword flashed downwards, neatly spearing a fish. Tossing it to the riverbank, she repeated the process two more times, spearing another fish each time. When she felt like she had enough, she left to find some dry wood to build herself a fire.

Sesshomaru, meanwhile, was lost in his own thoughts and not really paying any attention to the world around him. Consequently, it was some time before he realized that Yukari was no longer following him. Gods, she is worse than a child, he thought. Sniffing the air, he picked up her scent and followed it. He consoled himself by imagining all the ways in which he could inflict painful punishments on her for inconveniencing him. Deep down he knew that he would never actually do any of them, but it soothed his wounded pride somewhat to think of them.

He found the miko some ways away, kneeling by a small fire and cooking three sword-speared fish. He couldn't really be too angry with her. After all, he had forgotten that humans needed to eat more often than demons did. I suppose that I should have fed her, he grudgingly admitted. She had gone a long time without food, and hadn't even complained once. Now that was a trait that Sesshomaru could definitely admire: stoicism.

"You are worse than a child, do you realize that?" he demanded. "I cannot even leave you alone for two seconds before you wander off."

She grinned up at him, her face prettily flushed from the heat. This caused Sesshomaru to lose his train of thought and temporarily forget that he was supposed to be acting stern. Instead of continuing to yell at her, he gracefully sat down an arms-length away from her and crossed his arms over his chest.

Yukari ignored his angry scowl and concentrated on cooking: the fish were almost done. When they were cooked to her satisfaction, she took them away from the fire and blew on them to cool them off. She held one of them out to Sesshomaru, who was evidently still ignoring her; when he showed no intention of taking it, she left it on a rock beside him and proceeded to eat her own fish.

When she had finished, she sighed in satisfaction and laid down on the cool grass. It wasn't long before sleep overcame her.

Sesshomaru glanced at the sleeping girl, and then at the fish she had placed beside him. I wonder if she will ever stop trying to persuade me to eat, he thought. A cool breeze blew by, ruffling Sesshomaru's silver hair. It carried with it a familiar scent… the same scent as before. Hokkaido.

Sesshomaru knew that they should resume traveling, but didn't really want to wake Yukari. He knew that she needed to sleep so that her body could repair itself. He also knew that, with Hokkaido lurking nearby, the miko needed to return to peak fighting condition very quickly. Therefore, having made a decision but not liking it, Sesshomaru gently picked the girl up and resumed the journey towards her home.

***

When Yukari finally woke up the sun had set and night had fallen. She awoke feeling very warm and protected: Sesshomaru's arms were wrapped around her, and she was held close against his chest. Snuggling deeper into his warm embrace, she tried to fall asleep again; she didn't want to leave the safety of his arms just yet. Sesshomaru's sharp ears, however, could hear the difference in her breathing, and he knew that she was awake. He suppressed his conflicting desires to either dump her onto the ground or hold her closer, and was able to maintain an outwardly collected appearance.

While Yukari was feeling at ease, Sesshomaru was growing more edgy. Hokkaido's scent grew stronger with every step he took, and he wasn't looking forward to leaving the miko alone and vulnerable at her home. He knew that he had to return to his lands, though; he had been away for far too long already, and his duties were probably piling up. When Yukari began to fidget, he carefully set her on her feet and continued walking.

The miko knew that they were nearing her home, and her sadness at the thought of Sesshomaru leaving was suppressing all other thoughts. She caught up to Sesshomaru, and they walked side by side for a while. Intending to ask him to stay with her longer, she opened her mouth to speak, but was distracted by an itching sensation in the back of her mind. The itching grew stronger until it became a burning, and then Yukari recognized the sensation: Hokkaido!

Sesshomaru heard Yukari's sharp intake of breath and knew that she could sense Hokkaido now as well. She clutched at his arm, and he could feel her fingernails digging into his flesh through the fabric of his kimono.

As they came out of the woods, they met with a horrifying scene which caused Yukari to sink to her knees. Flames fifteen feet tall seemed to brush the sky. Poison gas rising from barbs in the ground mingled in the air with floating ash, creating a thick, hazy gray cloud.

Sesshomaru glanced down at the miko, and even his cold heart was touched by the flames reflected in the tears that coursed slowly down her cheeks. She drew her knees up to her chest and sat there for a long time, just staring into the blaze that had once been her home. This is just too much like another incident I can remember so well, she thought. Another heartache, another bonfire, the same demon causing it all.

After a while she looked up at Sesshomaru, who was watching her impassively. His unsympathetic, stoic gaze irritated her suddenly, and she felt her blood boil.

"Does this make you happy?" she shouted at him. "Is this punishment fitting enough for a pathetic human who can't protect herself?"

She paused to take a breath, and when she began to speak again her voice was softer, and more tears had begun to stream down her face.

"Haven't you ever cared about anything before?" she asked him quietly, not really expecting an answer.

In true Sesshomaru-style he fulfilled her expectations by not answering her; he turned as if to walk away. This only caused Yukari to weep harder, because she thought she was being abandoned. He wasn't hurt by her anger because he knew that she wasn't angry at him. She is angry at fate for giving her another painful event to deal with. And who wouldn't be angry? he thought.

It was because of this realization that he came to an unusual and hasty decision: summoning his youki, he concentrated it into a cloud, and then leapt upon it. Guiding it over to where Yukari was sitting, he reached a hand out to her to help her up. Her tear-filled eyes widened in surprise, but she allowed him to pull her onto the energy cloud.

"I thought you were leaving," she said.

"I am," he replied.

He turned the cloud around so that it was facing west: they streaked off into the night, destined for Sesshomaru's castle.

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Author's Note: There has been some confusion as to the voices in Sess-chan's head. No, he is not going insane. The voice represents his softer side, the part of him that wants to give in and fall in love. His tougher, more macho demon side has to fight against it though. And that, my friends, is the root of Sesshomaru's internal conflict: which side will win? (Plus it's kinda funny to picture the Lord of the Western Lands having an argument with himself. . . Are the voices in my head bothering you??)

Responses: (Hooray for all reviewers! You all are really what inspires me to keep writing!!)

Kashiaga: I'm glad that you're happy with my story. I like reading about Sesshomaru falling in love cause it's so unlike him, so now I decided to write about it. And who doesn't love Rin?! She's so darn cute!!!

theMaven: Yea, he's a security blanket now. I guess he's just a demon of many uses… But ya gotta admit that the idea of Sesshie being anyone's security blanket is kinda cute. Thanks for the review!

XOekiOX: *blushes* well thank you for all the compliments!! I'm glad that you liked my story, and I'm very happy that I could initiate you into the world of loving Inuyasha fanfics!!! You know, flattery gets you everywhere… p.s. Steve, I know it's you!!!

ShortPoet: Of course he's going to kiss her!!! I loved the comments my roommate made, so I put them in as editor's notes. I'm glad you thought they were funny too! Thanks for always reviewing. You always have such inspiring thing to say, and I really appreciate it.

Serenity971: You're such a wonderful reviewer!!! I'm lucky to have such kind, dedicated reviewers like you and theMaven. So, in honor of you two, I'm hereby dedicating my next chapter to you!!! Thanks for reading.

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All right, there was another chapter (finally!). Thanks go to all of you out there who are reading, but cookies go to those who review. Hooray! I only post after I get at least 5 reviews per chapter. That's not too selfish, is it?? Maybe I'm just needy. Anyways, please REVIEW if you liked it!!!!!

XOXOXO Sayori-chan