Well, I found salvation. I have a compy with limited Internet access. That doesn't mean the updates will be as frequent as usual, but it means there will be updates. Sorry in advance for mistakes. I don't have Word on this computer, so I have to wing it. I tried to read thru, but that's no guarantee. And just so that you know, I have to work 12+ hours a day here, so when I post, I'm very drained and irritable. Sorry about that. Maybe reviews will help me feel better. Well, review and I may get to see them tomorrow. This compy only works late in the day, for some reason.

Enjoy your read.

Sesshoumaru led the Inu-gumi on their travels now. Their first stop would be a village two days from Kaede's village. A fair walk, but not one they weren't used to.

Sesshoumaru walked in front, followed by Inuyasha. Kagome rode on her bike with Shippo in the basket, Sango walked with Kirara on her shoulder, Miroku walked close to her, and Rin rode on Ah-Un, who was being led by Jaken as usual.

"So," Kagome said, pulling up next to the taiyoukai. "Where are we going?"

"A small ningen village near the edges of my lands. I promised my immediate attention to them," Sesshoumaru explained. "The journey will be long, but we will not have to stop in a village unless you wish to…"

"I do like staying at the inns…" Kagome admitted.

"Me, I shall sleep in the forest," Sesshoumaru told her.

"Why?"

"I prefer to sleep in the trees is all. Or amongst them, whichever the case may be."

The tone of his voice ended that part of the conversation if not the entire conversation. But Kagome could see that trees weren't all that he was worried about. His eyes looked distant, as if there was a very important—and cruelty-linked—reason to why he wouldn't stay in an inn.

Maybe it has something to do with him being a youkai…Kagome thought. I won't force him to stay in an inn, though.

Sesshoumaru's tail flicked as he stared at the moon in the sky. It being so early, the moon was visible. He was slightly concerned, for the moon had been waning from the gibbous stage and was dangerously close to becoming a crescent. He would give it about three days more before he would have to separate from his companions and Inuyasha's group to transform.

"Sesshoumaru?"

The taiyoukai was taken from his train of thought as he turned to Shippo.

"Yes?"

"I wanna show you something," the kitsune said in a questioning manner. It was evident that he wanted Sesshoumaru's permission.

"Hn," was the demon lord's reply.

"Well, I've been practicing a lot and even though it took me a while, I finally learned to do it just right…"
Sesshoumaru stopped.

"Can you help me from the basket?"

The Inu Youkai lord pulled Shippo from the basket and set him on the ground.

"Thanks. Well…here goes!"

POOF!

Suddenly, there were two Sesshoumarus.

"So," Shippo said in Sesshoumaru's voice. "What do you think?"

There was only one problem with Shippo's transformation. It was of Sesshoumaru's old self. That upset him a little more than he would care, for he secretly missed his looks and life. It must have showed on his face (which it normally never would) because Shippo reversed the transformation.

"Look," he said apologetically, "I can do this one too!"

He transformed to the Sesshoumaru of now. That didn't help either. In fact, Sesshoumaru was quite sure his disappointment was evident now.

"Er…well, I can do this, too!"

Shippo's eyes flashed red and he instantly transformed into a Demon-Dog. Sesshoumaru knew this took a great deal of effort on the kitsune's part, but yet he couldn't be happy. He had only three legs, and when Shippo tried to rectify this mistake as before, it only proved to throw more depression onto Sesshoumaru's shoulders.

"…"

"Sesshoumaru, I'm sorry," Shippo said sadly. "I didn't mean to make you sad."

"No, it does not matter. I know you put much effort into transforming yourself in such a manner. I appreciate your intentions, and compliment your dedication."

Shippo put a small smile on, but he still wasn't sure how to feel as Sesshoumaru began to walk forward again.

After a hard day of travel, the Inu-gumi and Sesshoumaru-gumi came to a small village. The first group found lodgings, and Rin and Jaken were quite welcome as well, but Sesshoumaru told them he was much more at home in the forest.

"I'll see you and Ah-Un in the morning," Rin said in farewell.

Sesshoumaru waved softly at her before retreating to the forest. The villagers gave him hard looks, which didn't really faze him in fear as much as in the lack of trust. He still had not forgotten the last village he had been in, and he didn't trust them anymore than they did him.

/Come, milord. The forest awaits us/ Ah said.

The demon lord followed his dragon into the forest and he soon found a nice tree to sleep in.

"Good night," he said, leaping up.

'Sesshoumaru, we were thinking maybe you could sleep with us, you know? Rin isn't around and we miss your company…' Un pleaded.

Sesshoumaru's toes rocked on the low branch he had leapt to.

:…Very well. I will.:

Sesshoumaru jumped back down with grace and settled himself next to Ah-Un with his back to a tree. Ah's head settled onto his lap and he pat it.

"Are you quite certain my stomach will not disturb you?" Sesshoumaru wondered.

/We'll be fine. Don't worry. Just sleep./

Sesshoumaru leaned into the tree and within moments, his tired, energy starved body was lulled into a deep sleep—not too deep though, for he could still sense his surroundings.

As if we've never seen this…The Next Day

Kagome stretched and yawned off her sleepiness. Inuyasha was already awake and greeted Kagome as she exited the hut.

"Hey, Kagome. Didja sleep okay?"

"Yes. So did Sesshoumaru wake up yet?"

"No, he hasn't come from the forest, and I gotta admit, that's starting to bug me. I dunno if he's comin' out, you know?" Inuyasha replied.

"Are you worried?"

"I have a vow to him. He's not gonna die before I fulfill it."

"So let's check up on him, d'you think?"

Inuyasha nodded and they both headed to the woods, following the hanyou's nose. They soon came upon Sesshoumaru, who was breathing shallowly. Ah's head was still on his lap and they could tell that he had been petting the dragon's head for a while.

What they also noticed was that he was the most beautiful creature when he slept. His normally stoic face relaxed utterly when he slept and he looked so innocent that one could not tell that he was a cold, calculating killing machine when he was awake.

Apart from that, he also looked rather ill from malnourishment. The flesh on his arm looked rather drawn and it was obvious he had grown skinnier since they had first seen him. His face looked slimmer and longer as well, probably due to him not eating for such a long time.

"You know, I don't think he ate much before, Kagome," Inuyasha remarked. "He must be starving…"

"You have no idea."

Inuyasha and Kagome jumped up as Sesshoumaru spoke.

"Good morning," he greeted, rising to his feet. He winced at the dull ache in his empty belly.

"Good morning, Sesshoumaru," Kagome replied. "Did you sleep well?"

"No. I never seem to," the taiyoukai replied distantly. "So. I expect you all will want to freshen up before we depart. Do so, and quickly. The sooner we get to the village the better. I do not wish to be in close proximity of them in a few more days.

"Oh!" the young miko gasped. "That's right! Your transformation!"

"Quiet, onna. By now, many must know of my predicament. These people could be among them…"

R & R pretty please.