Chapter 1:

It had been many years since he had received the Tenseiga. His sword Tokijin was in for repairs at a sword smith's lodge a good distance away, just to keep it in the best shape, there was nothing wrong with it. He had been returning to retrieve Tokijin when he caught a smell that was, unfortunately very familiar.

'Inu Yasha.'

He changed his direction, since he had acquired the sword Tokijin he had no real need for the Tetsusaiga. Trying to take it from the undeserving hanyou had become something of a habit however, and one he delighted in.

It amused him, when few things did. He reached the small opening where Inu Yasha and his wench (what was her name Ka-something) stood squaring off over some petty argument. Inu Yasha seemed to be loosing. Sesshoumaru mentally smirked. His emotions held firmly in check. His face revealing nothing of his inner excitement and sardonic amusement. Inu Yasha couldn't seem to win a confrontation either with his wench or with him, Sesshoumaru.

The stupid hanyou hadn't even smelled him yet. Sesshoumaru wasn't masking his scent or presence, in fact he was spreading his power the best he could. Sesshoumaru smiled, his expression never changing from his cold calculating glare. It would have to be the old fashion way. He attacked . . .

"Rin . . . Rin when I catch you you'll beg mercy from punishment!" A loud male voice yelled. There was a pause, and the voice turned pleading. "Come on Rin . . . I meant nothing by it . . . It's natural between men and women. I won't try it again, I promise it to you . . . you've got my word . . . Rin? I know you're around here somewhere, you can't hide forever." The voice was impatient now. "Don't you trust me Rin." It was pleading again.

Rin shuddered and shrank back between the two barrels where she hid. He promised it wouldn't happen again, but it always happened. His word was worth nothing. He had gone further than usually this time, taking advantage of the fact that she was mute. Knowing she couldn't scream or call out for help. Not that anyone would come. She was an orphan and not worth angering the lord's son.

She glanced behind her there was a small hole in the back, perhaps she would be able to slip out, she was a tiny delicate woman. She slowly scooted back toward the light shinning through the dark storage room, knowing that was her exit.

"Rin?" She stifled a gasp at how close the voice was. She would not give away her position, she was only a scoot away from her escape. Her small chin hardened with determination. She turned when she reached the hole. Rin squeezed the front half of her body through as quietly as she could. She could FEEL him getting closer, and she was having a problem getting her hips through the hole. When he was right upon her, she finally slipped all the way through. She heaved a sigh took in a deep breath, and looked around. The only people around to see her; were the villages who knew what was happening and felt sorry for her so therefore would pretend not to see her, and travelers who could care less about the property of a lord they didn't live under. She quickly ran into the forest.

'Damn Inu Yasha and damn that wench of his. Especially his wench. If it hadn't been for her, I, Sesshoumaru would have been victorious.'

Flashback

"Inu Yasha!" Kagome yelled as Sesshoumaru landed behind him and prepared to charge. Inu Yasha who had just become aware of Sesshoumaru's scent swung around Tetsusaiga coming out of it's sheath at the same time.

"Sesshoumaru, what the hell do you want!"

"Inu Yasha, why do you ask such senseless questions? Is it because you yourself are senseless?" Sesshoumaru asked in his usual smooth monotone voice.

"That's it. I'm gonna end this once and for all." Inu Yasha raged charging Sesshoumaru as Sesshoumaru knew he would. 'Stupid hanyou do you ever change your technique.' Sesshoumaru thought as he stepped smoothly to the side. He quickly lifted his clawed hand and the predictable half-breed ran right into it. Sesshoumaru dug his claws in, piercing the fire rat Kimono. Disgusted he lifted the hanyou and threw him. That was too easy, what was the point of indulging in this sport if the hanyou made stupid moves like that. Sesshoumaru sighed, he would give his younger brother one more try.

"Inu Yasha, stop attacking in anger, you'll never win that way!" Kagome yelled.

'Smart wench.' Sesshoumaru thought, not sparing her a glance. Sesshoumaru got tired of waiting, he decided to take the offensive. He spared with his brother using just his whip and his fist. He soon had Inu Yasha pined to the ground, his knee braced on his chest and his poison claws inches from his throat.

"Sesshoumaru!"

Sesshoumaru jumped back to dodge a purifying arrow. The miko power that radiated off the arrow pushed him back a couple of steps, but he was uninjured. He turned to glare at the girl holding the quivering bow. He looked at her face and realized . . .

'That was an arrow meant for distraction, not killing. She was distracting me from the hanyou.' He swung around and saw his brother about to perform the Kaze no Kizu.

'Damn' he quickly dodged but was swept up in it's power. Tenseiga and quick reflexes were the only things that kept him alive and standing when the power faded.

"Inu Yasha you bore me. Another time, when you've decided not to hide behind a woman. A human at that." It took all of his strength not to collapse. He kept his bleeding in check but he wouldn't be able to last long. He had to get out of there before they saw how injured he really was. He took to the sky.

Sesshoumaru couldn't get back up in the sky. He was bleeding profusely now, his wounds were great and his legs could barely move. He walked on until his body couldn't take it anymore and then he collapsed against a nearby tree. He hoped no enemy came by, he wasn't even a match for a human in this condition.

End Flashback

Rin had been running for a while. Actually it was more like jogging, her interest in her beautiful surroundings overriding her desperation to get as far away from the village as she possibly could.

When she was a safe distance away she paused to stare at a blue flower, wondering if she should pick it. Atsuko a spiteful girl who coveted the lord and his son's attention, had told her that picking flowers killed them, that she was a murderer. A murderer of flowers.

Rin refused to believe Atsuko. Rin had never seen a flower she had picked die, of course she had always given the flower away after she picked it.

Rin bent over and plucked the blue flower. 'Who will I give this to?' she thought, a smile spreading over her face. Her smile died, a look of great pain and loneliness swept over her features. She had no one to give flowers to now. No one that deserved them. She tucked the beautiful flower into the small ponytail on the side of her head. No sense wasting it.

As she started to move on she heard a noise. It was more like a vibration that shook her very soul even though it was barely audible. 'There is something special about that sound. I can't help but feel it should be very important to me.' She slowly began to walk in the direction of the sound. Being careful not to make a sound. The creature (whatever it may be) sounded frustrated enough without her adding to it's discomfort By spooking it.

She hid behind a tree and casually peeked around it. She bit back a gasp. There sitting under a tree was the most beautiful man she had ever seen.

'He's . . . he's . . . so beautiful, no beautiful doesn't do him justice, it's an insult to his looks.' She thought awe shinning in her dark eyes. Unconsciously she moved closer to the tree. A twig snapped under her foot.

"Hisssh, Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"

Quick as lightening the man who obviously was not a man turned, his breath coming out in a startled hiss followed by a threatening growl. His eyes bright red. Rin finally noticed things that she had been blinded to because of her early wonderment, things that separated him from humans. The pointed ears the markings on his cheekbones, eyelids, forehead, and wrists. As well as (the more obvious) long platinum hair and red eyes. She had thought that the fur on his shoulder was just decoration, now she wasn't so sure.

'Why isn't he getting up? I've heard horrible things about youkai, and I'm sure he is a youkai, so why doesn't he get up and kill me?' Rin wasn't afraid of death, some days she welcomed it. When she had those days she would sneak off to pick flowers. Soon she would calm and her faith in life would be restored. If she were caught she would be beaten, it didn't matter to Rin, those little moments of peace and joy were worth a million beatings.

Rin watched the youkai as he continued to glare at her. His eyes had slowly returned back to normal, as if deciding that she wasn't a threat, but he was still growling.

'He's hurt,' she thought noticing the blood on his garments, 'he needs help.'

In the next instant Rin lost her mind. She didn't know what possessed her to take the chance of getting even closer to the youkai. Whatever it was she couldn't stop it. She couldn't stop herself from inching closer and closer to him. With each of her hesitant steps his eyes became more and more red.

'How do I show him I mean him no harm?' she thought about it and an idea came to her. She reached up and drew the blue flower out of her hair. When she was close enough, she offered it to him.

His face remained impassive, but Rin got the impression that the youkai was confused as to what he was supposed to do with the flower.

Rin was close to him now but she needed to get closer to check his wounds. She didn't think he would be too happy with that, so she did the only thing she could think of. She kneeled down so as not to be standing over him and half scooted, half crawled in a position of submission and respect. This was done for his benefit because for some unknown reason she wasn't afraid. She felt no fear around this youkai. He had relaxed when she had gotten on her knees, now he was stiff again.

"Begone human!"

Rin winced. 'Had he just . . . Barked!' He had literally barked the words right into Rin's ear. Rin glanced at his face. It was still indifferent, there was no indication that he had even spoken. Rin reached out with the flower in her hand. Her peace offering was placed gently on his lap. For an instant he looked as though he had been supremely insulted, but the expression was gone so quickly that Rin thought that she had to have imagined it.

Rin sat back on her heels and looked at him, waiting to see if he would except her treaty. When all he did was turn his head away from her in disgust, Rin grinned and leapt to her feet. Startling the youkai who became immediately tense ready to leap up injuries and all if this human tried something. But her smile just got bigger and then she turned and ran back into the forest.

Sesshoumaru was wondering why he was feeling so disappointed. 'You wanted the girl gone, baka!' He had in fact wanted the bothersome human to leave. It was just so anti-climatic. He glanced down at the flower on his lap. It's bright fragility looked out of place next to his harsh white kimono and cold armor. He lifted his hand and ran one of his claws down one of the petals. He was careful not to damage the flower. 'What does this flower mean? And what was she so pleased about when she left?' Sesshoumaru puzzled. He thought about that moment, when he turned away from the human disgust. 'Does she enjoy being insulted? you never knew with humans, they are strange creatures.' Sesshoumaru was confused and while part of him was infuriated by his confusion the other part found it amusing and thrilling to wonder.

There was no use thinking about such trivial things, Sesshoumaru decided. She was gone now and if she had any sense she wouldn't be back. He closed his eyes stretching his other senses to stay alert.