~Hey all!!!! Thanks major for the reviews!!!! I really appreciate them!! Um… lets see here…… OH!!! Guess what?!?! I finally got my own computer, so now I'll probably be updating a lot sooner… But yeah, hope ya enjoy chapter nine!!!!

Purest Hearts, Tainted Souls

Chapter Nine: Between Canis lupus and Canis familiaris!

With a rather loud 'thunk', Usagi found herself sitting painfully, but safely on the forest floor looking up to the extremely large tree she'd spent the past night in. Life wasn't so easy anymore; she had to fend for herself since the incident in the flower field, which had to have been at least four days earlier. Food was a problem, not to mention the occasional demon demanding the jewel shards that where currently in her possession, everything went haywire once she'd left home!

……Home……

Willing her exhausted, under fed body to her feet, she continued on in the direction she'd been heading, for what seemed like an eternity, four days, four days and still no sign of it! She'd thought many times of turning back, and trying a different direction, but then, there was always a possibility of there being a village or people just a little further ahead. And so she treaded on, all hopes of reaching her destination slowly fading with each small exhausted step she took.

……Come Home……

A small breeze blew past her, as if urging her to continue on forward, the petite girl could almost swear she heard a voice along with it. Usagi let out soft giggle, no matter how bad her situation was, she couldn't help but think of herself a bit silly; the wind can't talk.

……Please, You Must Come Back……

Usagi's eyes widened, that voice, it was so familiar…… Another gust of wind caused her to quicken her pace, trying to follow the voice, and the wind that carried it. She quickly came to a small clearing in the forest; it was filled with many wild flowers, instantly bringing a smile to her angelic face.

'Come back to us Usa' 'This isn't where you belong' Usagi frantically looked around, the voices seemed as though they were coming from everywhere, and yet nowhere at the same time. 'Usagi, you must come back!' So many different voices, each one so familiar, and so…… desperate. "I don't understand, what's going on, who are you?!" The silvery-blue eyed girl let her gaze fall to the calming flowers on the forest floor, they were…… changing!!! 'Its all your fault!' 'Your killing us all!' 'Please! Come Home!' 'Your selfish decisions…… have sealed our fate!' Usagi cried out in horror as the whole clearing of flowers wilted and turned black. She took off running; it didn't matter in which direction, just as long as she got away, away from the voices, away from the pain, away from…… reality. She didn't want to be in this horrid, hate-filled land anymore, she wanted to go home!!!!! ~~*~~ Usagi quickly stepped out of the cold and soothing river water, slipped into her slightly damp, yet clean kimono, and tied her hair up into a high ponytail with the small light blue cloth. Little did she know, piercing blue eyes watched her through the bushes. Letting out a heavy sigh, the silver haired girl though back to the voices, 'so familiar, and yet I cant seem to remember who they could be.' A rustling in the bushes behind her made her quickly turn to face them. "Woman!" Usagi jumped in surprise and looked to her right to see a demon with long black hair pulled back into a high ponytail, and breath taking blue eyes. "Hand over those Jewel Shards!"

"You can't have them!" she stated firmly, holding her ground as he started towards her. Suddenly, he stopped and turned his head, as if listening to something that was to far off to be heard by anything but demons, with their enhanced senses.

He then quickly grabbed Usagi, put her over his shoulder, much to her dismay. "I'll deal with you later," and with speed she had never before witnessed, ran off through the forest.

~~*~~

"Inu Yasha!" Kagome cried out, "I sense a Jewel Shard, and it's coming at us really fast!"

As if on cue, a great whirl-wind appeared, and from it came a handsome black haired demon with an extremely familiar silver-haired woman slung over his shoulder, who he quickly dropped with a with a painful sounding 'plop'.

"Why are you killing my pack?" the dark haired demon asked, disgust was evident in his voice.

"Be careful Inu Yasha, he has three shards!" Kagome pointed out, "one in each leg, and one in his right arm!"

The dog-eared half demon smirked arrogantly, "how fortunate for us to run across six easy Jewel Shards so soon."

~~*~~

Sesshoumaru quickly stopped and turned on his heel, making the small toad demon to run smack into the taller demon's leg, the small human child that followed behind giggled in amusement. "Lord Sesshoumaru-sama" the small ugly demon croaked out in worry, "what is wrong?"

"That scent," the tall silvery-white haired demon's eyes narrowed, "Jaken, watch her."

The toad gasped in surprise, "b-bu-but Milord, it is only a lowly human!' He exclaimed pointing to the small child that stood just a bit away from him.

"Jaken."

"Y-Yes Milord!" he said bowing respectfully and watching as his lord quickly left, jumping from tree to tree to get to who knows where.

~~*~~

A low threatening growl made its way from Sesshoumaru's throat as he landed lightly on his feet just a ways away from Inu Yasha and the black haired demon, who was currently holding onto Usagi's arm tightly. Sesshoumaru immediately recognized the dark haired guy to be a wolf demon.

Usagi's eyes widened as she looked upon the one she'd thought about so often, the one she wished each day to see again, "Sesshoumaru."

Inu Yasha was next to speak, "so you've come to get whooped again Sesshoumaru?"

The tall Lord of the Western Lands didn't even so much as glance and his long hated half-brother. Another, louder and more intimidating growl emitted from the tall handsome demon's throat as he watched the dark haired demon pushed the petite girl behind him and take a defensive stance.

Miroku, being the perceptive one that he is, immediately caught on to what was happening. "Leave him be Inu Yasha." His four companions looked at him as if he had just asked the great Lord of the Western Lands himself to bare his child. "It is obvious that Sesshoumaru did not come here for your sword."

Usagi slowly stood up, her eyes never leaving the tall demon that was slowly advancing on the dark haired man standing in front of her. He was acting so different, she'd never seen him act this way before, sure she'd seen him get mad, but this was different…… And that look in his eyes, as if……… she didn't even want to think about it.

"Sesshoumaru-sama… don't-I mean please don-" she didn't get a chance to finish, he seemed to disappear, only to reappear right behind her, rap is arm around her waist, and once again, disappear. In all actuality, he was only moving extremely fast.

The wolf demon was about to take off after the two, but stopped himself when Inu Yasha's arrogant voice reached his ears.

"Hey you! Its me you wanna fight 'member? I was the one who killed your weak little followers!!!"    

"How dare you disrespect them! I'll make you pay!"

"Feh, I'd like to see you try!"

Kagome smiled as she watched Inu Yasha, 'who would have thought, Inu would help his evil brother in escaping with "his Jewel Shards".'

~~*~~

 For the third time of the day, Usagi was dropped painfully to the ground. Scanning the area, she noticed they where near a river, probably the same one she was at earlier, just downstream a bit. She then looked up to see Sesshoumaru, who was currently glaring down at her.

"Bathe"

Usagi raised a confused eyebrow, "huh?"

"You smell like wolf. Bathe."

"I just did this morning Sesshoumaru-sama"

By now, the tall Lord's patience was growing thin, normally, he would be able to stay cool and composed, but she had the scent of the dark haired wolf demon all over her, and the only scent she was aloud to have on her was his!

"But I will," with a bright smile, she walked towards the river's edge, then turned to look at Sesshoumaru, who was still watching her. A playful smile came across the young Pixie's lips, "I don't think any river grass will get me this time."

~~*~~

Time seemed to go by very slowly as Sesshoumaru leaned against a tall tree near the forests edge, waiting for a certain silver haired girl to get done bathing.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" A little while after her call, Usagi watched the tall silvery-white haired demon step out of the forest and walk towards her.

Sesshoumaru stopped near the petite girl, and turned to his right, they need to head downstream to reach where he left Jaken, "this way."

"Sesshoumaru-sama," the tall Lord stopped, but kept his back towards the pixie, she started making her way closer to him, "I just wanted, I wanted to say……"

He slowly turned toward her, waiting for her to finish her sentence, and was surprised when she wrapped her fragile looking arms around him, and leaned her head against what would be his chest, had his armor not been in the way. For the first in a very long time, Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, was unsure of what to do.

"Thank you."

Sesshoumaru looked down to the beauty holding onto him, her eyes closed, and a small smile played across her lips. Here she was, thanking him, when he put her in danger many times, didn't help her when Inu Yasha attacked her, and then abandoned her in a village. Slowly he placed his arm around her shoulders. He'd never met anyone like her, no one as pure and filled with love, and for that, to protect everything that he wasn't, he'd protect her.

~~*~~

"Kikyo… she's tried to protect the little flower by running her off……" A man with dark hair and eyes sat in the darkness of his castle, "but no matter, my plans are working out perfectly……."

*~~~~~~*

Sorry if there are any grammar mistakes, I was kinda in a hurry, and didn't have much time to read it over.

Ok, so Sesshoumaru wasn't in here as much as I'm sure you'd all have liked, but he was in here a lot more than he was in the last chapter!

Ahknee/Kitteen: Thank you very much! I'm very glad you enjoyed the last chapter so much!!!

Kagona: I'm glad you liked it!!! *makes whipping sound* Vegeta's whipped!

Kyuuka-Kaimei: Yay!! I'm so very glad you still like this fic!! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!

Dee-Chan: Your Welcome, Your Welcome, Your Welcome…… Yeah the guard dieing was kinda sad huh? Oh well!!! Eh heh heh, erm…… a black thumb huh? Is that an actual phrase or did you make it up? Yeah….. I'm pretty bad with plants too, so don't feel bad!! Hehehe, ya do realize that when you said, you didn't write anything about the Exorcist, you mentioned it right?? Oh Well though, I'm a big girl now, I'm over that…… now it's the Burr Woman that scaring me! Ever heard of her? Well anywayz, I'm very pleased to know that you liked the last chapter, I hope you like this one just a much!!!

Cheska: Yes, Yes, writers block, isn't it horrid!!!?!?! I'm so glad that you liked the last chapter, I hope this one lived up to your expectations!

CleScout: Yeah, now that I think about it, I really like that Idea, pairing Sango with Inu Yasha, aww how cute, I can just picture it in my head…… I hope you liked this chapter as well!!

starfury3000: Thanks! I'm very glad to know that you liked it!!! Sorry for not updating very quickly!

Kage-Shadow-of-Darkness: Umm…. Hun, I think the cross things only work on Vampires…… ^^;; I know! Isn't Adult Swim irritating!?! Cutting the series off right in the middle like that!!! Anywayz, thanks so much for the review, I hope you liked this chapter as well…

BlueFrost: Ahhh…. Way no fair! Sesshoumaru's never given me gifts before!!! I'm glad you liked the last chapter so much, and I hope you liked this one just as much!

kalika55: I'm glad you think it's turning out well, Thanks for the review!

Sailor Fantasy: Hehehehe thanks for taking time to review!! I'm so glad to know you like it!! Hope ya liked this chapter as well!!!

unspoiled rini: I'm glad you like it! I agree, Usa and Sesshou make a great pairing.

Luna Princess: ^^ Thanks so much, sorry it took me so long to update, heh your one of the only reviews who guessed right on who the arrow shooter was…. I hope you liked this chapter too!!

MarsMoonStar: Hehehe Glad you like it!

Sailor Fire Dragon: Thanks! Sorry it took me so long to update!!

star-siren: Yay! Thanks so much! I'm so very glad to know that you like it! Sorry it took me so long to update! Thanks again.

Ok on to this chapters question!

Ok, Who do you all like better, as in attractive wise, or personality wise, or whatever makes your boat float, but anyways, who do you all like better, NARAKU or Sesshoumaru?? Hehehe……. ^^;;;

If anyone know what the title says in normal talk, I'll give them 5 points!!! (Guess my biology book is good for something after all!)