Disclaimer: Yeah as we all know I do not own Inuyasha... but I wish I did cause I wouldn't have stopped the series - -'

Author's Note: Yay a chapter. Sorry for such a long wait, I've had a hard summer...which led to a hectic beginning of the school year, but for you guys I found time in my busy schedule for you I'm in a pageant at my school (called Miss Indian River) so I might have time during rehearsal to write more, so if you have any ideas for the fic drop me an email and I'll try to work it into the plot that Chel and I have worked up. Now onto the fic

At an ungodly speed, he raced toward the awaiting salvation of the little girl in his arms, barely noticing anything going on around him. The forest smelt heavily of Inuyasha but at the moment it didn't matter, he had to get her to a dakutoru and soon. The only thing that mattered was the girl he had come to look at as more kike daughter of his own than the helpless human child he had once thought.

Spying a man, far off, he raced forward, picking up speed, if that were possible.

The day had been uneventful. Haruki hadn't seen any deer or any other animals worth bringing home for dinner.

"I guess Ryoku, Okaa-san, and I will have to have rice again for dinner," he said bitterly.

He had never been a good hunter but when their father had died he had been made the man of the house, which meant he would be the soul provider of food for the family.

Seeing a flash of color out of the corner of his eye, he drew his bow and spun around, only to come face to face with a man carrying a child.

"Excuse," was all he was able to say before the bow was savagely thrown from his hand and he was lifted a few feet off the ground by the color of his haori.

As he stared in horror at the man who held him, realization hit him. This was no man, this was a youkai. He would probably face the same fate as the little girl in his arms, or even worse.

"Oh no, with me dead who will take care of Ryoku and Okaa-san?"

Breaking into his thoughts was the harsh tone of Sesshomaru's voice.

"Human, where is your village dakutoru?"

Barely able to breath, he managed to squeak out, "In he hut," but as soon as he had, he was dropped on the ground at the demon's feet.

Getting up he ran as fast as he could toward the village to warn of the possible youkai invader.

"Insolent human," he said as he began toward the village himself.

As Haruki told everyone in the village of the youkai, he couldn't help but catch the attention of Yuu.

"A youkai," he said to himself as he ran out of his hut, sword in hand.

He had donned himself the village protector when Inuyasha was away.

Ever since he was young he had never liked youkai, of even hanyous for that matter. Having Inuyasha as the village protector unnerved him and now that he had the chance , he felt he should protect the village from such filth.

"The youkai looked like a human except for his hair and weird facial markings. Unless you are close up you would never notice the claws and fangs," he overheard a woman gossiping about what she had heard.

"Don't worry ladies," he said heroically, "I'll protect the village."

Running, he made it to the village entrance in no time flat.

"That youkai should be here any minute, and I'll show it what I'm made of," he said to himself.

"Is that so?" Sesshomaru asked in a monotone voice.

"Youkai!" he said as he changed toward him, "I'll kill you before you ever set foot in our village."

As he neared, Sesshomaru stood his grand, but as quick as lightning he had grabbed the swords blade and he snapped it in two.

"Do you think that you could stop me? I, the great Youkai Lord of the west be taken down by a scrawny human weakling? I should strike you down for the thought" he said, his eyes flashing red.

"Lord Sesshomaru," a voice said, calling from behind the man in front of him.

"Who would know Sesshomaru here?" he thought to himself.

"Kaede-sama, you know this youkai?" Yuu asked, still in shock that his prized sword had been snapped in two with only a flick of the wrist like nothing more than a child's plaything.

"Yuu leave us, go and prepare a bed in my hut. Can you not see that Lord Sesshomaru had a hurt child with him? How could you dare endanger her life anymore by prolonging her treatment?" she chastised him.

Doing what he was told, he picked up the broken pieces of his sword, having had more than that broken that day.

"Please follow me, I am the village miko and I can take care of the little girl you have there," mentioning toward the girl that was thrown over his shoulder.

When they arrived at the hut, a bed had been made in the front room as well as a fire.

"Lord Sesshomaru, please if you will place her on the futon so I may treat her properly."

As she was placed onto the futon, she let out a moan of pain.

As she did, Kaede looked up at Sesshomaru. A flash of emotion across his face, but it was to quick to know if it were real.

"I see he truly cares for her" she thought to herself, "Even though he may act otherwise. Reminds me of someone else I know."

"Miko, you are a wise ninjin indeed to know of the Great Lord Sesshomaru."

"Arigatou, but I had never known of you until recently, although I have heard of the other youkai lords."

"All the other youkai lords may be more popular than I, but this Sesshomaru is far more superior in power and strength."

"Well, that may be true, but there is certain hanyou who you are still unable to defeat. As a matter of face isn't he the same one that took your arm, Oh Great Sesshomaru?"

"Old Hag, do not pry into matters that do not concern you. This Sesshomaru could defeat that half-breed if he choose to. He only decides that he will spare that filth until he is worthy enough to challenge the Great Youkai Lord of the West."

"Insolent dog, I do not pry," she began, "That filth as you call him, is more like you than you realize. He has done more for this village than you can ever hope to do," defending Inuyasha as best she could.

Sesshomaru began to speak, but was cut off by a small yawn. As they both looked down, they saw Rin's eyes flutter open.

"Sesshomaru-sama where is Rin?" she said trying to sit up, but was pushed back when a hand came to rest on her shoulder.

"Child, you mush rest. You must let your wounds heal," Kaede said, trying not to scare her.

"You were attacked in the flower patch, so Sesshomaru brought you here," he said as he came to sit beside her.

As he finished this though, her eyes began to brim with tears.

"Rin picked flowers for Sesshomaru-sama but that youkai at them."

Coming to his rescue, as he seemed to be at a loss for words, Kaede quickly whispered in Rin's ear, "Once you are better, I will take you to a place with the most beautiful flowers in all of Japan and you may pick as many as you would like for Sesshomaru-sama."

Although he was not meant to hear what she had said to her, he couldn't help but smirk at the miko, silently thanking her for what she said.

Author's Note 2 : I hope you liked it. and look its not a cliffy. I think you'll be happy about that at least. Well I wanted to tell you all that I am sorry for this but I will probably not be updating the fic until Dec 11 at least (Miss IR and SATs are the forces preventing me from being able to think what to do next). I hope you R&R and I look forward to hearing from you all Ja ne!!