Disclaimer: I wouldn't be where I am right now if I owned Inuyasha. Bumi is my own character, though, and if you wish to use, please ask!

No Way Out
Chapter 16 - Wondering

I looked up at Sesshoumaru, then folded my right hand over the handle of Kami. For some reason, I felt jumpy around him.

Maybe it was because Sesshoumaru could kill me with one slash of his claws if he really wanted to. But, lucky me, we'd been traveling for about three days and he hadn't shown any signs of wanting to kill me.

And there was no sign of Inuyasha. I scowled. He was probably with Kagome. But there was also the chance that he was looking for me.

Inuyasha wouldn't be expecting me to be traveling with his half brother, so traveling with Sesshoumaru worked to my advantage.

I also got to know Rin a little better. She was such a sweet little girl. She told me that she was an orphan and that Sesshoumaru had saved her.

Despite his cold exterior, Sesshoumaru seemed to be a sweet guy. I glanced up at him, and blushed at the thought. Yeah right. Sesshoumaru can't be sweet. He's a youkai.

Inuyasha scowled. "Where the hell is she?"

He'd thought he had caught Bumi's scent, but it was soon covered by Sesshoumaru's. Sesshoumaru better not have gotten to her, Inuyasha thought.

He'd been searching for her for three days, and still could not pick up her scent again.

He felt almost sorry for Kagome, but he had to find Bumi. He'd left Kagome there in the clearing when Bumi ran away, and hadn't seen her since.

And now, as he was running, he felt torn. Should he go back to Kagome, and act like this never happened? Or should he keep on trying to find Bumi, and see if the two hanyous could have a happy life together?

Sure, Inuyasha loved Kagome, that was certain. But he felt something far more for the small, new hanyou in his life, and it sure as well wasn't the newly healed scratch on his arm from training with her.

He liked the way that she could always keep his attention.

Much to Inuyasha's dismay, Sango, Miroku, and Shippou had stayed to comfort Kagome the first day, instead of helping him search. He said he didn't need the help then, but now he felt he truly did. Even if he wouldn't admit it.

And, whenever Inuyasha thought he'd finally caught Bumi's scent, he'd notice Sesshoumaru's scent. I must be losing my touch, he thought, Sesshoumaru would never travel with a hanyou.

"Lord Sesshoumaru? You never told me where we were going," I said. I looked up at him, and smiled slightly. Now that I'd been traveling with him, Sesshoumaru didn't seem as scary.

Sesshoumaru glanced down at me, and I looked away. I began to wonder, again, why he was missing his left arm, then decided that maybe I didn't want to know.

I looked up at Sesshoumaru again, and he was still silent. I bet he's thinking of ways to kill me, I thought.

This time, I know I smell her! Inuyasha thought. He'd finally caught Bumi's scent. And her distinctive scent was mingling with Sesshoumaru's.

Inuyasha couldn't imagine Bumi traveling with Sesshoumaru, and he wouldn't. But as he began to follow his nose, he could smell a faint hint of blood. Bumi's blood.

Sorry for such a short chapter! And, If I just happened to confuse you with the asteriks, I'm sorry! It was meant for a scene change.

Review Shout-outs!

Lisa: Are you sure you're not still on that sugar high of yours? Anywho, yes, I just HAD to add Sesshoumaru-sama! (-steals Sesshoumaru back-)

Ear-Tweak: -blush- Inferno-chan sounds nice, Ear-Tweak-sama (Would you prefer me to keep calling you Ear-Tweak-sama, or change to Ear-Tweak-chan?). As for Sesshoumaru-sama knowing whether or not Bumi's a hanyou... You'll find out soon enough.

Kikyo618543: Glad you like my story. And to answer your question right now, Sesshoumaru-sama will not fall in love with Bumi (Because he's in love with me, duh! ), or vice versa. Sorry if this spoils any 'tension' or characterization of the next two chapters, just ignore that statement. And, sorry to say, I'm gonna add one more person to the love square, just to make it interesting (But trust me, she does have a point to it! -scattered gasps- Yes people, it's a girl.).