Chapter 5

"Sesshoumaru-sama..." Sesshoumaru stopped when he heard a young female voice utter his name. He looked back at the little girl that had been traveling with him ever since he had used his sword, the Tenseiga, to revive her after she had been attacked by wolves. The little girl looked up at the demon lord with big innocent eyes, "Rin's hungry. Can I go look for some food now?"

A loud grunt came from the side of the duo as the third member of their entourage, Jaken, made his presence known, "Stupid girl. Lord Sesshoumaru is a very busy person. He doesn't have time to stop every five minutes so you go get food, or a drink, or relieve yourself, or gather flowers, or any other ridiculous thing you upon wasting out time on..."

Sesshoumaru paid no attention to the prattling of his vassal. He walked over to a nearby rock and sat. There was no harm in taking a short break and Rin couldn't help it if she was hungry. "There is a stream about thirty feet away Rin. You can catch fish there."

Rin's eyes lit up happily and she took off in the direction of the stream. Jaken stood still for a moment with his jaw to the ground.

"But my Lord! What about-" he started to say but a sideways glace from Sesshoumaru silenced him quickly. The toad demon sighed and started pacing grumbling something about whipped dogs under his breath.

Seishi hadn't left Japan yet... On the contrary the wandering she-dog was running across the Japanese landscape, swift and free. Not because she needed speed, but only for the joy of the rush of the wind as she tore across the land; over hills, through grassy meadows and forest clearings, dodging around and leaping in and out of trees... It wasn't like running was tiring for her, and she wasn't really pushing herself in any case. She wasn't sure why she hadn't moved on in her travels, or went on back into the Asian mainland, but she felt kind of drawn to this small island country. It wasn't like she needed to leave, had anyone waiting for her, or she had somewhere else she really wanted to go anyway. She ignored people and villages she passed... They weren't her concern right now. As she moved, she kept testing the air for what she sought, and then she felt it, heat and moisture in the air. Following her sense, she soon found herself standing on the edge of what she hunted, a hot spring...

"Ooh... I haven't had a hot soaking in too long... This will be nice... not another ice cold bath for me!" Seishi glanced about, her senses open. Nope, no demon presence or scent of humans. Nothing around except the occasional normal animal. She didn't waste time, removing her western style armor and her under clothing. The only thing semi-covering her milky pale flesh then was her long hair as she pulled out a small pouch from one of her belt pouches, and moved to the water.

Sesshoumaru's nose twitched as the wind brought a familiar scent to his nose. It was a scent he hadn't smelt in a while but one he found nearly impossible to forget. He rose from the rock he had been sitting, "Jaken," he addressed his vassal, "You will keep Rin safe while I am gone. If you fail, then you will die..." After his ominous warning/threat to Jaken, Sesshoumaru was gone in a flash, leaving a very confused, yet nervous, Jaken behind.

Sesshoumaru hurried to the place his nose was leading him. He had wonder what she had been doing since last he had seen her. They had nearly killed each other in their encounter and at one point he had even held her life in his hand, but he had not killed her. 'This time,' he thought to himself, 'I will settle whatever issue I seem to have with her. Enough of this nonsense.'

Seishi had no inkling to her hunter as she quickly waded into the steamy pool after undressing; glad to find that it was at least chest deep for her at its lowest point. "Mm..." She pulled open the pouch in her hand, pouring some sand-like substance into the palm of her other hand. She dipped her hand careful into the water, then brought the sand to her arms, rubbing it in... it forming a soft lather... She used the soup sands to wash her face and behind her pointed ears and neck, then after rinsing that off and thoroughly soaking her hair, she rubbed it into her long platinum white mane.

She let the soap sit in her hair for a moment, then dunked under the water, scrubbing the suds out. With her face and hair now washed, she waded to and sat down in the shallower water... so it only covered her lap and legs really. She lifted her right leg out of the water, and scrubbed the soap sands down her long bare leg from her thigh down her knee, over her shin and calf, and finally her ankle and foot. She paused to clean even between her toes, before letting her lathered up leg slip back into the hot water and shifted, bring up her left one to repeat the process...

Once done with her legs, she stood and waded out again, to about mid thigh depth, and lathered the sands against her shapely hips and bottom, as well as her more delicate areas of her female-hood, and up her around her slender waist and toned stomach. She waded deeper into the water as she moved her lathering up, getting her lower back and as much of her upper back as she could reach. She had to keep shifting her long, water-weighted hair out of her way. The last things she washed were her neck, shoulders, and buxomly chest, scrubbing in a circular motion. Now done, she pulled her soap sand pouch closed, so tossed it onto the dry shore and then moved into the deepest part of the spring; dunked herself under.

Sesshoumaru stepped out from behind the trees surrounding the hot spring and stepped up to the water's edge. Strange, no one was here... but he was positive he smelled that woman all over the place... but where? Where was she? Just then he spotted her discarded clothes... then he notice bubbles rising up in the hot spring...

Seishi had stayed under for a moment, letting the hot water wash away all of the soapy suds. She took a moment to scrub at her hair again to make sure she had gotten all the soup sand out. It felt so good to be clean! And to have a hot bath instead of a cold one in a stream, river, or lake! She then surfaced, tossing her head back sending her soaked platinum hair flying behind her. She almost seems unearthly with her fair skin, white hair, and the steam rising up from the water swirling around her. She was done now, but debated on staying to just soak and relax; she was in no rush after all... Then she became aware she wasn't alone and her silvery blue eyes drifted to the spring shore.

If Sesshoumaru were the type to let his emotion and expression show, his jaw would probably have hit the ground when the naked dog demoness broke the water's surface. But he was not and he stood there staring through his emotionless mask at the most beautiful dog demoness he had ever seen. Her skin was perfect and unblemished; she had all the curves in the right places, and the water on her skin glistened in the afternoon sunlight. Despite the fact that his face showed no reaction, he did find himself quite unable to tear his gaze away.

Seishi stood there in water that was about waist deep... She was very confident of her body and all, hey she was a sexy bitch, and she knew it, but it was still unnerving to be stared at, especially when the person staring was so cold and emotionless you had no idea what they was thinking. "Well, hello again Lord Sesshoumaru... Did you come here because you had some business with me or do you often from to hot springs in hopes of catching females bathing? I never would have thought you a... what is the Japanese word for it again... Hentai?" She waded out of the water and moved toward where she discarded her clothing.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the bitch. She would dare call him, Lord Sesshoumaru, a hentai? He had far better things to do then look at woman bathing. Then he simply turned and started to walk away.

Seishi glanced over her shoulder at him as he started away... She gave a rather saucy smirked as she called out after the retreating demon lord, "Did I hit a sore spot? So sorry... Didn't mean to soil your pride by pointing out your erotic hobbies..." She leaned over and picked up the outfit that fit under her armor and started to dress.

Sesshoumaru walked quietly though the woods; his mind however was not so quiet. 'Curses, why did that have to happen? It's isn't enough that not a day goes that I don't think of her, but now I have to see her without any clothes...' Then Sesshoumaru's walk stopped, 'Maybe it wasn't the best thing to leave so suddenly... It is not as if I was spying on her. I really did have things to discuss with her, issues... that absolutely must be resolved now!' Sesshoumaru turned back towards the hot springs. It's not like it was labeled "Women's Hot Springs" anyway. Anyone could have passed by.

Sesshoumaru didn't have to go far, since she came walking out of the trees toward him. She blinked at him, not having expected him to be coming back, but then shrugged, working on fastening something behind her neck. "Damn thing..." she was trying to tie a bead necklace on... it wasn't anything fancy, on the contrary it looked like something a child would have made. She continued walking... right on past him as if he wasn't there, still fiddling with the strings. She sighed with irritating and glanced back at him. "I would ask you for help, but seeing how you've tried to kill me twice, I think letting you near by throat would be a death wish." still fiddling with it to get it on, "So what DO you want? I really don't think you came here for the view."

Veins threatened to pop out on Sesshoumaru's forehead as the youkai bitch walked straight passed him like he was invisible. He clenched his fist in fury, how dare she? The disrespect she kept showing was more then he could bear. He felt his sharp nails dig into his palm and blood started to drip onto the dirt of the forest floor from the deeps wounds his nails were making. Then her words reached his ears and he turned to face her, "I came here to better understand my own actions on the last time we met. Last time I did something I do not understand and you are the only one who causes this strange feeling to stir within me. I have come to settle these feelings once and for all"

The she-dog finally tied her necklace on and blinked at Sesshoumaru as she dropped her arms to her sides, "You mean your letting me go when you could have killed me? Feeling? Stirring? Heh... Well I'm no expert, but I'd say you are just dealing with the natural reactions a male gets when he sees what he likes. Hormones are a bitch, huh? Almost as much of one as me," laughed as she turned her back to him and pulled out a shell comb, starting to attack her long white tassel. "Then again I suppose someone like you doesn't have much experience in something like that..."

"No, I do not, " he said, matter-of-factly, "but I'm guess you don't either. I can't imagine a man putting up with you for long."

Paused in her combing, "I really don't think I'd care to share the aspects of my past love life with you." Combed out the last of her tangles and put her comb away, turning back to him. "If that is all, then I bid you good day."

Sesshoumaru smirked and leaned forward and short of a light bow, "Yes, good day" Sesshoumaru then walked forward past Seishi heading back to were Rin and Jaken were. Seishi watched him a moment then remembered an encounter she had during the time between this meeting and the last she had with the overly proud dog demon lord...

(Flashback)

Seishi had been spending the night in a forest clearing, having actually made a fire for once since it was an extra cold night. She had been lying out on her stomach next to her fire and was dozing lightly… you never slept deeply if there was a chance of attack from wild demons. An attack did come… but it wasn't a typical one… SMACK! She slapped her ass…

Seishi sat up and glared down at the flea demon that was half smashed in her palm, "Teach you for biting without asking."

Myoga, the flea, pulled himself together on Seishi's palm then looked up at the dog demoness's eyes, "Greetings and salutations, my lady. Forgive me, but I hadn't had a bite in several days and I just couldn't help myself. I must say however, your blood is delicious, I'd say it's just as tasty as Lord InuYasha's."

Seishi lofted a brow at the flea demon, "Lord InuYasha…" she remembered the hanyou that Sesshoumaru had been fighting when she first saw him, "Does he happen to be a half breed with cute little dog ears?"

Myoga blinked at Seishi, "Oh you have met Lord InuYasha? How wonderful! I didn't think master InuYasha new another dog demons besides his brother. Tell me how do you know him?"

"I wouldn't say I know him…" Seishi admitted, "I've only seen him from afar… He was fighting with a rather arrogant dog demon named Sesshoumaru… I tired to speak with him and for my trouble he tired to lope my head off… I do hope InuYasha is not as rude?"

Myoga's eye's widened in wonder, "You fought Lord Sesshoumaru and survived! Madam that is no small feat. Sesshoumaru has taken the lives of countless powerful demons." Myoga then shifted position in Seishi's palm sitting and getting more comfortable. He loved talking about the sons of Inutaisho whenever he had the chance. "But it is no surprise Sesshoumaru is powerful. After all he is the son of Inutaisho, the Great Lord of the West. Until now Sesshoumaru's only rival has been his brother, InuYasha. The two have fought many brutal battles, the fiercest of which have been over their father's heirloom sword, Tessaiga."

Seishi shifted how she sat herself, "Tessaiga huh? Was that the blade the hanyou brother wielded or one of the two Sesshoumaru has? The one Sesshoumaru used against me when he attacked was rather powerful… though he never drew the second one…"

Myoga chuckled a bit, "Sesshoumaru would like nothing more then to possess the Tessaiga. That sword was passed down to master InuYasha by his father. Sesshoumaru has been relentless is his pursuit of the sword. However even if Sesshoumaru were to possess the sword it would do him no good. The Tessaiga is a sword that can never be wielded by a full demon."

Seishi tilted her head, "Oh I see… So what's the story behind Sesshoumaru's two blades then?"

"Sesshoumaru himself possess two very powerful swords. The first is the Tokijin. That sword was forged from the fang of a demon that bit through the Tessaiga. The capabilities of that sword are simply amazing. The second is the heirloom sword of his father, the Tenseiga. The forger of the sword has told me that sword is even more powerful then the Tessaiga, but strangely enough I've never seen him use it in battle."

"I see… interesting pair those two seem…" she yawned, "Perhaps I should meet the hanyou brother… If he's any better mannered then Sesshoumaru that is… I rather not have to fight to protect my life again..."

Myoga smiled, "Indeed, master InuYasha may seem a bit gruff at first, but he has a good heart. Sesshoumaru however doesn't have any compassion or kindness whatsoev- well actually I suppose that might not be entirely true.."

"Oh really? From my experience with him, that is hard to imagine… " Seishi reached up with her free hand and rubbed her neck that was long healed, "Those poison claws of his sting…"

Myoga nodded, "yes indeed Sesshoumaru's cruelty is renown throughout the western lands. But recently master InuYasha's traveling companion, Kagome, told me something interesting. You see it is very well known that Sesshoumaru holds nothing but contempt for human beings. He holds particular distain for his half brother InuYasha because he is a half-demon, born of a demon father and human mother. However Kagome told me that she recently notice a young human girl in the company of Sesshoumaru. The girl was not a prisoner and seemed to go with him of her own free will. Curious isn't it?"

Seishi was quiet a moment, her eyebrow twitching as she thought about that, "If he's anything like some of the lowlife dirty demon lords I know back in my own country, I will have to neuter him next we meet…"

Myoga nodded, "yes the thought did occur to me as well. But Kagome said the girl did not seem to have been abuse in anyway. In fact the girl seemed very happy to see him when he arrived. Besides, although he is completely heartless in battle, I do believe Sesshoumaru inherited his father's moral code on such things. He would consider such things the mark of a lowlife scum. Sesshoumaru takes great pride in that that he is a high-class demon and he conducts himself as one. I don't it would be in his character to do such a thing"

Seishi chuckled, "Well I guess it's not very wise to jump to conclusions on those kind of things until I have all the facts… but I really can't see him as being the type to take care of someone, especially someone as fragile as a human child…" looked down at the flea, "Well Flea… did you have a name?"

The flea smiled at the dog demoness, "Myoga, the humble flea demon, at your service" he said with a bow.

Seishi nodded, "Well Myoga the Flea… My name is Seishi, and I'm a foreigner from a far away land. Are you headed somewhere and just decided to stop for a bite? Oh I do suggest next time you wish for a bite, that you ask first."

"I was on my to see master InuYasha. If you would like to meet him in person I could show you the way" the flea suggested.

Seishi thought about his a moment, "Perhaps… It's not like I have anything better to do…" So it was agreed and Seishi ended up traveling a day with the flea, which never grew tired of talking about his 'Lord InuYasha' and sometimes would speak of Sesshoumaru as well. She shared only little bits about herself… keeping most of her past private. Everything went well for a while until they came across a village that was being attacked by a water serpent demon that had flooded it. Seishi of course wanted to help the humans…

When the dog demoness mentioned saving the helpless village, beads of sweat began running down Myoga's forehead, "Heh well, uhh... yes of course you should go help them. After you can tangle demons like Lord Sesshoumaru, a lowly water serpent demon should be no match for you. I'll go on ahead and inform master InuYasha! Bye!" the flea then zipped away as fast as he could away from the dog demoness and the trouble he was sure she was about to get herself into.

Seishi blinked after the flea, then sweatdropped… what a big brave bug he was… Pushing him from her mind she darted off on her mission… a hour or so later, she had slain the water serpent and the flood waters receded… Most of the village humans were nervous of her when they came to thank her, but one little human girl was brave enough to approach her and even gave her a gift… a bead necklace the little girl herself made. It wasn't much, but coming from the little girl it was more of a reward to Seishi then any money or goods. With that Seishi made her leave of them… there was no sign of the flea Myoga… so Seishi just went back to her wandering…

(End Flashback)
Seishi watched Sesshoumaru a moment more as he walked away, then smirked, calling after him as she started to follow at her own pace, "Before you go, could you perhaps point out the best direction I might run across that cute hanyou InuYasha and his human friends? I hear that he's your half brother... Is it true he's the one that parted you of your left arm? Must be infuriating that your little half human brother could deal you such a humiliating blow..." She said it so casually… but you could still sense the mockery in it.

Sesshoumaru turned to face Seishi. He had no words to say. He offered only a smile...

Seishi paused in her walk, eyeing him and his smile… not trusting it in the least. "You know every time you've smiled or smirked at me you've followed it by trying to remove me from this life…"

She had not but finished those words when Sesshoumaru sprang at her. His face was still the emotionless mask, but his eyes burned with fury at her mocking him in such a way. Very few knew of his humiliation and he intended upon keeping those who knew to a very, VERY small number.

Seishi didn't waste time being surprised, she sprang to the side, avoiding his first attack, and instead of turning to face him, took off in a run in the direction he had been heading before she called after him. She ran, but she didn't push herself yet, keeping track of where Sesshoumaru was; if he looked like he could get where he could attack her, she'd change things up to avoid. Of course he might not choose to follow, but then Seishi didn't have to worry about getting into another fight for her life.

Sesshoumaru followed Seishi like glue and easily caught up and ran along side her, "Coward, finish what you started..." he then snap his energy whip across her back to punctuate his statement.

Seishi ducked under the whip and picked up the speed some. "Again, what I started? I don't remember EVER attacking you first…" she gave him a smile then drew off to the side some to give her some distance between them.

Sesshoumaru again closed the distance again and jump up over her striking downwards, "and what did you think my response would be from your comment?"

Seishi sprung back so he only struck the ground, then darted around him, "Exactly what it was! You are an easy one to anger, Lord Sesshoumaru…" She caught the smell of human and an amphibian demon on the wind.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, "so you had every intention to starting this fight, so don't play the victim." He uses his demon speed to appear before her and a slashed at her with his poisonous claws.

She stopped dead and caught his wrist with both her hands… the poison burned at them some, but she protected herself with her own demon youki powers. "But you're so cute when you get all flustered and angry." Gave him a cute smile, then kicked out at his stomach before releasing his arm and springing back.

Sesshoumaru quickly brought his knee up and blocked her kick to his gut. He did not pursue her this as she had leapt into the field where Rin and Jaken had been awaiting Sesshoumaru's return.

Rin looked up from bouquet of flower she had picked for Sesshoumaru, she was also wearing a crown of flowers on her head. He eyes lit up when she caught sight of her favorite person in the world, "Sesshoumaru-sama!" She ran over to Sesshoumaru and started babbling about what she had done in his absence. "Rin picked all these flowers for you, Sesshoumaru-sama. I asked Jaken-sama when you were coming back but he said you were never coming back because you can't stand the way Rin smells. But you did come back so that means you like the way Rin smells?" Just then little girl notice the other person that had arrived, "Oh who is that Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin asked pointing her finger at Seishi. "Is she a friend of yours?"

Seishi noticed Sesshoumaru stopped his attack and glanced back spotting the reason. So that must be his little human child and that toad demon vassal Myoga has mentioned. Seishi had been crouched in her landing, now she stood up straight and relaxed. The little girl had spotted Sesshoumaru and came running. Seishi could have sworn the girl talked a mile a minute… "Oh what a adorable child! She's totally… what is the Japanese word… Kawaii?" there was no mockery in her voice this time, on the contrary Seishi's whole demeanor chanced in the presence of the child, "Hello little one, my name's Seishi." She knelled down to Rin's height and just gave the girl a warm smile.

Rin blinked a bit then smiled, turned towards Seishi, bowed respectfully, and started talking again. "Hello Seishi-sama, my name is Rin. Are you a demon too? I meet a lot of demons traveling with Sesshoumaru-sama. You hair is very pretty, like Sesshoumaru-sama. I wish I had pretty hair like that."

Seishi smiled, "Aren't you sweet… Yes I am a dog demon like your Sesshoumaru-sama. Did you pick all those flowers? They are very pretty…" Seishi, unlike most other powerful demons, didn't see humans as just inferior creatures that were worth nothing, except maybe be prey. In all her wanderings, she had learned that humans could surprise you if you gave them a chance. The fact Sesshoumaru seemed to have adopted this human child spoke highly of him, at least in Seishi's eyes. She has made acquaintances with many humans, as well as demons and hanyous, in her travels.

Sesshoumaru stared at the two chattering females. He no longer felt the need to kill Seishi right that minute, so he moved to Jaken who was staring at Seishi in wonder of where she had come from and why his master Sesshoumaru seemed to have been fighting with her not but a minute ago. Jaken straightened up as he saw his master approach. "Sesshoumaru-sama, welcome back, my lord. Did you find what you were looking for?"

Sesshoumaru didn't answer his vassal's question, "Ready Ah-Un, Jaken, we are leaving."

Rin nodded vigorously to Seishi, "um-hm. I only gathered the prettiest ones, because I wanted to give Sesshoumaru-sama the best flowers there were." Rin looked through the bouquet and selected a red and white flower to hand to Seishi, "You can have this one. I offered Jaken some as well but he said he didn't want any. Ah-Un likes my flowers though."

Seishi smiled and accepted the flower, "It's lovely, thank you," she reached up and tucking it behind one of her pointed demon ears. "You are a very sweet girl, Rin."

Rin smiled happily at Seishi and was about to start talking again when Sesshoumaru's voice interrupted her, "Rin we're leaving." Rin nodded and bowed to Seishi again, "It was wonderful meeting you Seishi-sama. I hope I can see you again sometime." She then ran over to Sesshoumaru's side

Seishi slowly stood up and looked at Sesshoumaru, the look she gave him was as empty as those he wore himself. She looked back down at Rin. "I hope so too, Rin... If we meet again, I'll teach you a game I know, ok? Be safe." Since they were leaving, she had no reason to stay, but she decided to see them off anyway.

Rin waved to Seishi as the group departed. Sesshoumaru returned Seishi's rather blank look and the trio then departed, to wherever Sesshoumaru decided to take them. Once they were out of sight, Seishi turned and wandered back into the forest.

To Be Continued...