Hey all! I'm back from Myrtle beach :) I sorta kinda wrote this chapter at like 3 in the morning, so I'm sorry if it seems rushed. I'll make up for it in the next chapter, I promise :)

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Chapter 4: Surprising Meets

Kagome stared at the bird youkai that hovered a few feet from the edge of the stream. This was the second youkai in a row that had come to attack her while she was bathing. Since when had she become a youkai magnet? It was starting to irk her that she couldn't even take a bath in privacy, or without getting interrupted by an annoying youkai of some sort.

She then realized that something else was standing on the opposite side of the bird youkai. She turned her head, saw the other youkai, and gasped. What was he doing here? What in the world would he want with her? Whatever it was, he had his sword in his hand, so he obviously wanted her to die as well. She put her hands on her face, and shook her head.

Kagome was beginning to notice that there were two youkai standing on either side of her, and she was naked. Again. She blushed a deep red, and sank low into the water. If they were going to kill her, could they at least give her some dignity? She started to chuckle. This was becoming all too funny.

She closed her eyes, and started making her death wish. Just as she started praying in her mind, she felt a cool rush of air fly in her hair and through the water. She looked to the right, and found that the youkai were fighting one another.

'Ok...'she thought, 'why...aren't they attacking me instead?'

Kagome watched the fight form in the stream, almost drawn into it. She stopped thinking, and thought for a minute. An idea came to her. This was the perfect time to get away from the two fighting youkai, and possibly keep her life. She swam quietly over to the ledge of the stream, and got out. She didn't take the time to try to dry herself, she just grabbed her leaf and sap clothing, and made a run for it.

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The peeping youkai had decided to attack the bird youkai. He seemed easy enough anyway. He dashed in past the miko, and landed on the grounds in front of the bird. The bird lashed at him as soon he had landed, and threw him off guard. He cut open his face with his dirty claws, and watched him get back up. This had pissed off the peeping youkai very much. He had taken a firm grasp to his sword, and slashed it at the bird. It had cut off one of his wings, surprisingly, leaving a bloody and battered wing on the ground, and a screeching bird left standing. He wasn't hesitant when it came to killing the bird, and threw his sword though it.

'Too easy...' the youkai thought, and looked behind him. The miko was gone. Where had she gone off to? He had just saved her from a youkai that was going to kill her, and she runs away? Oh well. She couldn't have gone far, for just being a human. He sniffed the air, and followed her scent, back into the forest.

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Kagome had ran off, and had gotten herself deeper into the forest, if that was even possible. She stopped awhile back, and had attempted to get her clothes back on. She noticed that there wasn't anything following her, or trying to, so she just stopped running. No need to waste her energy... The leaves on her clothes were starting to fall apart, so she decided that she needed a new set of clothing. She closed her eyes, moaned in annoyance, and set on to the nearest tree.

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The youkai had went back into the forest, looking for the miko, and came upon her, picking leaves off of trees again, possibly to make herself new clothes. He thought for a second.

'Maybe...just maybe...if I bring her back to the castle...she could teach Rin the basics for survival, and keep me amused as well...but...that would look bad on my part, with all of the other youkai lords, they would spread rumors about me and I would be seen as weak...'

He was caught up in his thoughts. Maybe his thoughts weren't as bad as he thought, this could prove to be interesting, actually. He was trying to make himself not want the miko to go back with him to his castle, but he just couldn't. He wanted her there.

He happened to look up at the miko, and he realized that she was staring straight at him. Her eyes were too big for her face, almost like they were popping out of her head. She was pretty much scared. Great. He didn't want to be noticed yet. He wanted to wait a bit, just to keep his thoughts straight. But, he had already decided what he was going to do.

The youkai stepped up to the frightened miko, and she didn't hesitate to run. She made a big mistake on her part. She ran face first into the tree that was standing behind her. Apparently she forgot she was in a very dense forest. All the youkai heard was a thump, then a plunk. Who knew he could be so frightening? He surely didn't. But, it was nice to know that he was feared. Especially by a silly human girl.

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Kagome had fallen to the ground, and kept her eyes closed. She had quite a lump growing on her forehead also. 'Maybe if I act like I passed out, he will leave me alone...but I feel that calming presence again...could it be him? Him, out of all the people? Sesshoumaru?'

Kagome was confused. Wasn't Inuyasha's brother evil, cold and haughty? She had thought so, but from feeling this aura coming off of him, one would never know how evil the man really was. Maybe he wasn't evil at all? Maybe he was good at heart?

'No, no, no Kagome! Get a hold of yourself! This is Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, brother to the arrogant prick! How could he be a kind and caring man?'

Kagome mentally slapped herself. She knew she wasn't that stupid.

She had realized that Sesshoumaru had been staring at her the entire time, noticing her facial expression go from happy, to angry, to scared, to angry, and now to normal. Wow, she really needed to control her facial expressions a little more often. They seemed to get out of hand every now and then.

"Miko, get up."

Sesshoumaru had spoken to her. Was she going to act like she was passed out? No, she knew he could tell she wasn't unconscious, and it would probably shorten her lifeline by a few years. Too many years. So, she had gotten up, correct to his orders. She placed her hands to her side, and looked at him. He had a calm expression, one that she knew wasn't fierce and lusting for blood. Ok, so she wouldn't loose her life right this second. She thanked the gods.

"What are you doing here, miko?"

The cold demon lord asked his second question. Kagome answered.

"I was taking a bath, when a youkai attacked me. Inuyasha came and rescued me, but said some harsh things to me, enough to make me angry, and run away. I had forgotten my clothes, so I had run off...naked...and here I am now, lost and hopeless in this forest. Now, if you don't mind me asking, was that you who was watching me this entire time...?"

Kagome had enough courage to ask that last question. She had just hoped that he wouldn't kill her as a response. But, to Kagome's surprise, he had answered her.

"Yes."

Kagome was shocked. So, it really was him? But...why? Why would he want to watch her? Why was she so interesting to watch? Her mind was buzzing with questions, too many to count. She began to feel a bit lightheaded.

She had not noticed the growl that came from the demon lord.

"You say you were with Inuyasha. Tell me why."

This question had thrown Kagome off guard. Didn't he know she was traveling with his brother? Obviously not, because he stood patiently, waiting for a response.

"Don't you know...? I'm the girl that travels with him, the girl that helps him collect the jewel shards..."

Sesshoumaru growled at her response. She was the girl that traveled with his insolent half-brother? How was he supposed to know that? He thought for a second, and came up with an idea.

"Miko, I will allow you to stay at my castle if you wish. My ward needs training, and from seeing the skills you have, I would appreciate it if you could give her the skills you acquire too. You may stay under one condition though. Do not ever make contact with my idiot half-brother again."

Kagome's eyes grew wide at this. Was he...inviting...her to his castle? He did say it was to help train Rin, his young human ward...but didn't it seem a little weird for him to invite her in? Maybe he just needed the help around his castle...him being a single man, running the whole Western lands, with a young girl running around to be bothering him every couple of seconds...she decided that he really did need the help. Plus, she needed to be free of Inuyasha anyway. He irked her a lot.

"Ok...I accept your invitation. And by the way, my name is Kagome. I have one question though. Would you kick me out after a desired amount of days? I do not want to be stranded again, in the forest, with nowhere to go-"

"No."

Sesshoumaru's voice that cut off Kagome's scared her for a second, but she realized that she was beginning to ramble on. She was going to speak again, until she saw Sesshoumaru had beaten her to it.

"If you, in any way, make an attempt to hurt Rin, I will kill you instantly. If you damage any of my possessions, I will kick you out. You will follow my rules, and respect my lands. Agreed?"

Kagome put no thought into her answer.

"Agreed."

Sesshoumaru was relived with her response. He was glad she was going. Even if the reason was for Rin...she would keep him amusement also. It would take a lot of stress off of his chest when he saw her in his castle...but he didn't need to think about that right now. He was to set off for his castle today, and hopefully get there by dawn the next day. Rin would surely be missing him, and she would be extremely excited to see another female in the castle with her. A young one at that, the only females in the castle were the old servants, and they weren't much of a help when it came to the energetic Rin. He decided that they needed to leave now.

"We will leave now."

Kagome nodded her head, and walked up slowly next to Sesshoumaru when he waved her over. It was funny. A few weeks earlier, he had tried to kill her. Now, he was offering her hospitality within his home. Well, the only reason why he had tried to kill her was because of Inuyasha, he really didn't have anything against her. Or so she hoped.

Sesshoumaru made a yellow cloud appear below Kagome and his own feet, and lifted them off of the ground. She eeped, and grabbed onto Sesshoumaru's sleeve for support, but let go immediately and blushed when she realized what she had just done.

Sesshoumaru had to stifle a laugh when Kagome grabbed onto him, but immediately let go, and began to blush deeply. It was quite amusing. Yes, she would keep him entertained. Sesshoumaru couldn't wait to get back to his castle, to see what Kagome's response would be to it. Hopefully it would be amusing...

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Well, there you have it! I'm really sorry that Sess is a little OOC, but when isn't he :) I'm also sorry that its rushed...I didn't mean it :( Well, hope you liked it...read and review please!