Authoress here.

For the sake of the story, Rin does not exist. I'm sorry! I think she's a cutie too, I just don't know her character well enough to plot out what she would do and say. It's so I don't distort her character or anything. Rin-Sesshomaru fans, don't hurt me!

One question before chapter two commences: did anyone else think Shippo was a girl when they first saw him?

START CHAPTER

Walking through the woods was awkward enough, but when carrying a girl who could awaken at any moment, it became a bit more so.

Sesshomaru wasn't really watching the teenage healer he held effortlessly in his arms. She was very light. I'll have to remind her to eat more when she wakes up, Sesshomaru found himself thinking.

He was a bit surprised by that thought, considering he despised humans. Reminding himself that he was keeping her around solely to get his brother's sword, Sesshomaru let himself relax about his sudden concerned thoughts. If she was unhealthy, she would be of no help to him.

"Where is the nearest town?" he asked Jaken quietly, knowing that he did not have to speak up in order for his faithful manservant to hear him.

"Not too far, my lord. Only a mile or so. Why?"

Looking not ahead of him but at the woman in his arms, Sesshomaru replied, "When she wakes up, she'll need something to eat."

"If you don't mind me asking, Lord Sesshomaru, why do you care about this girl? She's only human, after all." Jaken watched his master carefully as he waited for an answer.

"It takes human blood," he responded finally. "To wield the Tetsuiga. I need her."

"I see! Most wise, My Lord!"

Sesshomaru did not bother to give an answer. When speaking to Jaken, formality and good manners were not required. Being his servant, Jaken was not of a very high demon class.

Sesshomaru surveyed the girl once more. She didn't seem injured herself, but she did seem tired for some reason. Being a healer would make her tired physically, but Akina seemed to be tired mentally. Her thoughts were nearly still, her sleep dreamless.

It was like a river, her mind. There were many twists and turns, and some blank gaps. For example, there was a mental wall between Sesshomaru's own probing mind and Akina's life before the age of twelve. Even while passed out, she protected her thoughts. Some she chose to let free to ease the pressure of magical energy being used. That could have been another reason for her suddenly slumping over. Using an abundance of healing magic while trying to block out memories from twelve years could be very tiring.

Despite his hatred for humans, Sesshomaru found himself interested in this mental shield. What could have happened to this girl that she wished for it to be blocked out, even to herself? He prodded gently at the mental wall, and was greeted by a light snap of pain, similar to an electric shock.

Intrigued, he pushed harder. This time, it was a spike of pain equal to the pressure he had originally applied.

Sesshomaru stopped walking without saying anything, leaving Jaken to amble on, chatting to himself.

This human was strange, stranger than Kagome, the girl from another time and place. She seemed normal enough at first glance, but her mind was another story.

And her eyes, Sesshomaru suddenly remembered. They seemed a to be hollow when he looked at her, and she had yet to smile. There was something wrong with that picture. She was a teenager, a girl who should have been out having fun with her friends.

Instead, she was a wandering healer with no will left to smile. How cruel fate could be.

"My Lord!" Jaken had noticed that his demon master had stopped walking a few yards back, and rushed to his side. "Is something wrong, My Lord?"

He hesitated a moment. "No. It's nothing, Jaken."

The pair walked in silence for a moment.

"Where did you say the nearest village is? Mishu or something, right?"

"Nishi," Sesshomaru corrected. "It's only a few more miles."

Akina could hear voices, just faint echoes, but still there, as Sesshomaru and Jaken carried out a conversation.

A tall man smiled and extended his arms to her for a hug. When she reached up her own arms, she was startled by the stubby hands and fingers of a child. This man was her father. The smiling woman beside him, her mother. Both looked happy. She was three again.

The sun was shining brightly above their heads.

When her mother spoke, it was an echo. "My beautiful little girl. You're all I ever wanted."

Her father crouched down so he was at her level. "You're what I live for! Give your father a hug, eh?"

The young Akina went towards her family, able to feel her lips curving up into a smile. She was laughing with her parents.

Moments later, blood splattered across the perfect picture and Akina awoke with a gasp. Sesshomaru shifted his eyes to the now wide-awake teen in his arms.

"You fainted. Don't ever use that much magic again, you fool. You'll wind up killing yourself next time," he explained emotionlessly, not bothering to ask her if she was okay.

"Don't act so concerned," she replied sarcastically, shifting in his arms. "Put me down. I can walk."

He ignored her request. "You won't even be able to stand up."

"Don't pretend that you know me," she snarled back, her eyes glinting.

He glanced down at her, his expression the same but his mind spinning. She is afraid of me, and yet she can snap at me without worry, he mused. Such an odd child.

Akina looked around, momentarily defeated by the change in surroundings. She could not see the tree she remembered Sesshomaru sitting up against.

Suddenly, she remembered slumping over onto Sesshomaru's lap, and her eyes widened.

Catching her expression, Sesshomaru found the whole mess to be quite comical. He did not smile, however, similar to her.

Instead, he asked her rather bluntly, "Why are the memories of your childhood blocked out?"

Shock registered on her face, quickly replaced by anger when she began to speak. "How do you...? Why did you feel you had the right to poke into my mind? You may be an all-powerful demon, but none of that matters if you're an asshole."

Sesshomaru didn't seem to be angry. "Once again, you have dodged my question like you would an arrow."

"Would you let an arrow hit you?" she countered.

"I suppose not," he replied, leaping over a fallen tree without warning. Akina grabbed onto his shirt to steady herself, letting go only when they were on solid ground.

"If you were able to walk, you wouldn't have to deal with those things," he reminded her brusquely.

Akina seemed rather discontented and altogether ashamed that she was so weak, and she didn't reply. Nothing she said could dignify being in her position.

I need her to be my friend for this to work, Sesshomaru thought, flinching mentally at his use of the word "friend" to explain the bond required.

"I won't do that again if it bothers you," he offered calmly, the words feeling foreign even as they came out of his mouth.

Akina, lying in his arms, merely nodded. She had noticed his slight change in tone, but as she was unable to pry into his thoughts like he had done hers, she could not pinpoint the reason. Feeling it might be rude to ask him why he had suddenly said something in a more gentle tone than before, she remained silent.

"Something on your mind?" he inquired a minute or so later.

Akina sighed. "Why bother asking when you can take a look yourself?"

Sesshomaru fell silent. He hadn't meant to annoy her.

"My beautiful little girl."

Akina squeezed her eyes shut tight, her body going rigid. Go away. Please, go away.

"You're what I live for!"

Placing her hands to her face, Akina drew in a deep shuddering breath.

Slowly, the image faded. Sesshomaru had stopped walking again and had moved underneath a tree. He sat down carefully and waited for her to open her eyes.

Not seeming to care that she was sitting on his lap, Akina leaned her head against his shoulder, her hands still covering her face.

Feeling very awkward, Sesshomaru placed a hand on her back as a simple form of comfort. Jaken watched with a look of awe. Sesshomaru hates humans, he thought hysterically. Why would he choose to comfort her when she was upset? I know it's part of the plan, but why is he going this far?

She doesn't believe I actually want to help her feel better, Sesshomaru thought. This is much too risky. Maybe I should just leave her at Nishi during the night.

He sighed to himself. If I ever want to unlock the secrets of the Tetsuiga, I have to keep her with me. I cannot touch that sword, but she can. Inuyasha will not suspect her. She could get closer to him than I could and gain his trust like I am gaining hers.

Akina realized what she was doing with a start, and jerked her head off his shoulder, derailing his train of thought.

"Sorry," she muttered as he gathered her in his arms and stood up again. "Where are we going?" Changing the subject was quite possibly the only thing she could do, given the situation.

"A small town called Nishi," Sesshomaru replied quietly.

"Nishi?" she repeated nervously.

"Is there something wrong with Nishi?" he asked, mystified by the concerned tone of his voice.

She bowed her head, looking abashed. "The people there don't like me very much. I have a scar from the last time I was there."

Sesshomaru thought for a moment. He hadn't stopped walking while he spoke to her. He had merely slowed down a bit. "If I am by your side, they will not harm you."

"I can only hope," she replied dully. After a moments pause, "I can walk now. I'm not dizzy anymore."

Obeying the implied command, Sesshomaru deposited her onto the ground. She got up, brushing herself off. "I didn't mean you could drop me," she said, scowling.

"Specify, then," he replied emotionlessly.

She rolled her eyes. "Are all demons like you?"

"What do you mean?" Sesshomaru said, pausing to cast a glance over his shoulder.

She shrugged, waking to catch up with Sesshomaru. "Sarcastic, cold, morbid. You know what I mean."

She walked by his side. Jaken had kept up his normal pace and was now substantially far ahead of them.

All of a sudden, Akina's right foot sank into the ground. She tugged to pull it out, but to no avail. "Quicksand?" she cried to Sesshomaru, who had leapt away in time.

He watched her sink for a few seconds. Then, without thinking, he appeared at her side to pull her free.

When both of them were out of harms way, Sesshomaru turned to the pale faced Akina. "Look where you're going, fool."

To this, she replied, "Thanks for helping me." It still felt strange to use his name, knowing who he was, so she left that part out.

Sesshomaru paused, unsure of what to say. Then, awkwardly, "You're welcome."

The corners of Akina's mouth twitched, and she came close to smiling. She stopped herself just in time.

"Why don't you ever smile?" Sesshomaru asked brazenly.

Akina didn't answer him, and walked on in silence.

"Well?"

"There are some things in my mind that you haven't found yet, I guess," she said finally, still not offering an answer.

Sesshomaru replied coldly, "I should have expected you to be so irritating."

"I guess you don't know everything, then."

On the contrary, child, Sesshomaru thought. Neither do you.

END CHAPTER

Okay, so I got bored. I'm aiming for 50 reviews on this story, so review every chapter if you can. I've never set a goal for number of reviews before, so here's hoping I can achieve this one!

I wish it was summer already.

Authoress out.