Hey, you guys sorry for the lack of updates. I've been super busy, and I just started another wrestling fic. I think I must be out of my mind. Oh well. I'll just leave you guys to it.

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Oh, and yes I do use 'lol' way too much but I'm usually in a good mood when I write so that's my explanation. You know, all that happiness, LOL. That's my story dagummit, and I'm sticking to it!

Chapter Fourteen: Just a Dream

A puzzle wasn't the half of it. Sesshoumaru was downright non-conversational. Had it really been him that had offered her this job, or was it some look alike? Sango didn't know. However, she did know the exact scheme of the back of his kimono. Mainly because she had been staring at it for the better part of two days. Sango let out a sigh. She wished Kirara were here.

Sango had sent Kirara back to village last night to retrieve some of her belongings and weapons from the hut. She hadn't wanted her to leave, but if they were to be building a new home and exterminating demons, then Sango would be needing some of her supplies. It was for the best, Sango knew and besides, Kirara would be back the day after tomorrow.

"Are you tired?" Hearing him speak so suddenly momentarily threw her and she was unable to register the fact that he was talking to her. While she was still trying to reply, Sesshoumaru paused his steps and continued, "There is a small clearing and a stream that flows to a spring just over this hill. We will be stopping there for the night."

Sango was indeed tired and a good soak in a nice spring sounded so good to her. She hadn't even been aware that the sun had gone down. She had been that consumed by all of her thoughts. She had been mulling over this new job, thinking of Kohaku and that she should have at least returned to the village to visit his grave, and she had also been trying to figure out the demon in front of her.

Sesshoumaru had noticed how tired she was. He had not been traveling with Rin for quite sometime, and he had forgotten that humans need more rest than demons. He looked at Sango boldly as she walked to catch up to him. Her eyes shone her weariness as they slowly met his. Her shoulders slumped, her breath was shallow, and her face was pale. 'She's going to faint,' he realized. He should have stopped earlier. They had been traveling since dawn non-stop and she had scarcely been eating.

Sango slowly lifted her head to see the whole world spinning around her. "What's happening…" It was she could manage as she felt her legs give out beneath her. What she didn't feel was the strong arm that caught her and heaved her over a sturdy shoulder. Sesshoumaru carried her over the hill and to the stream. He opened her canteen to find it empty. She had failed to fill it again, he mused.

'Hmph,' he breathed as he knelt down at the bank and filled her canteen. He then brought it over to her and hesitated. It wasn't the fact that he was disgusted with the thought of having to touch her, but the fact that he wasn't nearly disgusted enough. In fact, he wasn't disgusted with her at all regardless of this display of her weaker mortality. He did find himself wondering if this was the same woman that fought side by side with him against Sorikata. She had seemed indestructible then, despite her death at the end. It had been her human blood that had destroyed their enemy. It had been her weak, inferior blood that had done what he could not.

Yet, now he knelt before her exhausted body. She was a mystery in this way. Perhaps it was the abandon with which she entered herself into battle that allowed her to be such a force against an enemy. Was she really so reckless? Sesshoumaru thought this over for a moment. She must not only enter battle with total and complete abandon, but life in general as well. How else would she forget that her human body needed food and water? That she needed rest? Why had she said nothing? She was not afraid, was she?

It hit him at that moment. Sango wasn't afraid of him, but was afraid of this very situation. Sango was afraid of appearing or being weak. It was her goal to emulate strength and endurance. She wanted to impress him in order to show that she could handle this job. Hell, if he had any doubts about her abilities, he would not have offered her the job. Sesshoumaru no longer hesitated as he finally leaned toward her and tipped up her chin.

He gently opened her mouth and raised the canteen to her lips. When he allowed the cool water to flow into her mouth, she began to come around. Slowly, her eyes blinked open and were met with Sesshoumaru's steady, golden gaze. He seemed so translucent to her at that moment, that she thought she was dreaming.

Drowsily, she reached out to touch him. She hadn't expected to feel anything, yet when her fingertips made contact with the dreamlike figure before her, she felt everything. His skin, soft yet firm as his hair blew in the wind and tickled the back of her hand. Her vision and reactions still a bit hazy, Sango expanded her reach and allowed her entire palm to rest against this 'dream' Sesshoumaru.

Her eyes drifted to where she touched him. She had always wondered what it would be like to touch him in this way. If her father could read her dreams, he would no doubt be turning in his grave at this very moment. Yet, Sango couldn't stop herself in her dreams but even if she could, she doubted she would even consider trying. So she allowed her eyes to turn back to his.

Sango sighed when she saw that the coldness in them had dispersed. It was a shame that he could never radiate such warmth in real life. Studying his eyes, she tried to read into the soul of this illusion before her. What was she seeing in him. She couldn't tell so she gently pulled him toward her to get a closer look. When he was mere inches from her face, his clawed hand took a hold of her wrist in firm gentleness. What was he thinking?

Sesshoumaru studied her hand for a moment. He should be repulsed at her touch, insulted by her indifference. The fact that she was half conscious was irrelevant. Yet…as hard as he tried, Sesshoumaru could not despise her touch. He couldn't loathe her concentrated gaze or her display of weakness. He couldn't find disgust in her closeness. However, the worst of it all was that he could not seem to despise himself for taking pleasure in all of those things.

Sesshoumaru knew that he should be pushing her away and shaking her until she snapped out of it, but he simply couldn't. His eyes opened wider when he felt Sango's other hand on the other side of face pulling him closer. He could feel his heartbeat quicken and his breath become staggered. He needed to stop this and pull away, but it was as if he were in a trap. It was as if his entire body and soul were ignoring all logic and commonsense.

They were so close now that Sesshoumaru could feel her light breath on his face. He could feel the warmth from her body and it was intoxicating. He felt his eyelids becoming very heavy and his willpower leaving him completely. Then he heard it and all his senses and control struck him the way lightening does a tree. He whipped around to face the intruder on his land.

"Sesshoumaru! I have been looking high and low for you," the wolf demon smirked.

"For me? And now that you've found what you are looking for?" Sesshoumaru unnoticeably, but purposefully stood in front of Sango with his hand on the hilt of tokijin.

"I'm going to take back the land your father stole from my peop-"

"Stole? My father did not steal anything from your pathetic race of demons. It was bartered fairly, and you know that to be the truth. Tell me, why is it that you wish to go back on the word of your ancestors? Would it not shame them to learn of this dishonor?"

The wolf demon growled, "That's none of your concern! Your father used his cunning to cheat my ancestors! What I do now is only to improve the lives of my people!"

"Your land you were awarded is vast. Surely there is enough territory-"

"Enough! I'm done drabbling with you! Will you hand over the land that is rightfully mine or will you die?!" The demon charged immediately, not caring what the answer was.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes in contempt as he drew his sword and pointed it toward the charging, lower being, "Neither." With that one word, Sesshoumaru channeled his power through the sword and sent it at the demon, sending him into a large tree.

Sesshoumaru approached the poor fool, "What is your name, *soaku?"

The demon glared back at him, "*Ryoku."

"Ryoku, you will leave this land and not return until you are willing to do one of two things: Die or negotiate under my terms. Understood?" Sesshoumaru glared, "You have ten seconds to agree and then leave."

"Understood," Ryoku grunted in disgust before hopping up and running off. The entire time vowing to kill Sesshoumaru and take back his land. There would be no negotiations. As far as he was concerned, part of this land belonged to his people and he would be damned if he were going to let that mangy dog possess it for much longer.

Sesshoumaru stood watching the retreating form as he fled, "3...2...1..." he counted before taking flight and landing directly in front of Ryoku. "You didn't run fast enough," he informed the now frightened wolf demon before infecting him with his poison claws. Sesshoumaru knew that if he allowed this demon to live, he and possibly the rest of his clan would have come to his land and caused a massacre.

Demons like Ryoku were not peaceable nor negotiable. They were annoying in that way. They simply refused to admit their defeat and constantly re-nicked on their deals. No, Sesshoumaru could not allow this one to live. Nor could he allow any other demon that threatened him to walk away practically unscathed. In that sense, Sesshoumaru was very much like his father. 'Before he met her,' Sesshoumaru recalled as a mental picture of Inu Yasha's mother entered into his mind, 'Then everything changed…he changed.'

Pushing the thoughts aside, Sesshoumaru made his way to where Sango lean against the tree, now fully awake. Her eyes were wide open from the battle she had just witnessed. When he was finally standing over her, she couldn't stop herself from asking, "Why did you kill him?"

Sesshoumaru glared at her, "You are questioning my judgment?"

Sango swallowed hard before sitting up as straight as she could, "Yes."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at her, "He would have returned, caused more trouble, and I can't allow that type of havoc on my land. Perhaps his death will serve as a warning to his comrades."

Sango was silent for many minutes. She decided to drop the subject under his constant glare and asked another question, "What happened to me? I don't seem to remember climbing the hill or going to sleep here." She gestured to where she was sitting as she spoke.

The harshness left his features, "Your body gave out on you and you fainted. Why didn't you stop to rest or for water today?"

Sango only shrugged, "I…" she cleared her throat. She hadn't wanted to appear weak, but she wasn't going to tell him that, "I wasn't thinking about it, really. My mind has been lingering on my brother and Kirara. I was not thinking of water or rest."

Sesshoumaru let out a quiet, "Hmph," knowing that she was lying. He wouldn't press her to admit it, instead he gestured down the hill, "There is a spring at the bottom of this hill. The stream is also abundant in fish. I will be patrolling this area to make sure there are no others like Ryoku wandering about. Take your weapons with you."

Sango nodded and stood. She looked up when Sesshoumaru did not move, but stood there, a mere foot from her. She was met with analytical golden eyes. Before she could open her mouth to speak, he turned and went to do his patrolling.

Letting out a half sigh, half breath of relief, Sango grabbed her things and headed toward the spring. She would bathe first, then eat. When she was finally undressed, she allowed her foot to test the water, and was surprised to find that it was a warm spring. Letting out a sigh, Sango walked slowly into the water, allowing herself to unwind on the way in.

She swam toward a boulder that was on the other side of the spring. She was grateful that Kagome had taught her to swim last year. It had always been fun hanging out with Kagome. There was always something to learn or something to teach. She felt like she wasn't so alone and had practically made Kagome her surrogate sister.

Smiling at the fond memories coming to mind, Sango allowed her body to fully relax against the broad side of the boulder. She thought back to the strange dream she had of Sesshoumaru earlier. She had thought that he was going to kiss her…it was so real. However, when she had awakened, Sesshoumaru had his back to her and was facing Ryoku.

It had to have been a dream. Not even Lord Sesshoumaru could be that fast…could he? No. NO way! That would be suggesting that Sesshoumaru actually was that close to her and that she really had touched him. Sango couldn't live with that. It was too embarrassing. No, it was definitely a dream. Oh, but a good dream it was.

~~~

An hour later, Sango returned to the top of the hill. Sesshoumaru was still gone, but Sango didn't worry. He was quite capable of taking care of himself, of that she was sure. Instead, Sango started up a fire and headed toward the stream to catch her dinner.

She hiked up her kimono and crouched down, sinking her hands slowly into the water. It was cool and clear. She could see and feel many large fish swimming and swarming around and about her hands. When she saw one she liked, Sango grabbed it and pulled it's wiggling body out of the water. She really did enjoy fishing. It was easy to prepare and within twenty minutes, Sango was quietly enjoying her meal. She only looked up when she heard a rustling of leaves. She turned her head to see what approached as she pulled Hiraikotsu closer.

Sesshoumaru approached Sango's position and stepped out into her sights. He noticed how her shoulders slumped in relief. She had heard him coming, 'Very good,' he thought to himself. "It's clear," he stated before taking a seat by the fire opposite her.

Sango stared at him for a moment before continuing her eating. She then looked up again and shot a wondering glance at him, "Do you want something to eat?"

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Well, I'm sorry this chapter took so long and sucks so bad, but this is the best I can do right now. I'm going to try and write in some more action scenes as soon as Sango gets to the North boarders of our darling Sesshoumaru's land. Thank you for reading, and please REVIEW!!!!

REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! C'MON!!! DAGUMMIT!!! REVIEW!!! LOL.