Okay, here's chapter 7...These chapters always seem longer when I'm writing them, but oh well. I wasgoing to putthe Inu gang in this chapter but decided to just go ahead and postitas is. Once again, thanks to everyone for reading. One person who reviewed suggested a little more description, so in this chapter I decided to give it a try. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha...man, this is getting old. It's like they just keep rubbing it in...Inuyasha is NOT mine...grrr...

Bella couldn't believe how dangerous he could look simply standing there. The sun was setting, and it seemed to do so around the stoic lord. Streams of light rained down and wove themselves through his silver hair, making some strands seem almost golden. His eyes were cold save for the reflected sun-fire burning within them, and his mouth was set in its usual, impassive position. He held his head high as if to show his status above mere humans and other demons.

Slowly, he lifted his clawed hand to brush it through the tendrils of silvery-gold. Bella gasped at the action. Beautiful, she thought, absolutely, undeniably beautiful.

Hearing her sharp intake of breath, Sesshoumaru turned toward her, his cool expression never faltering. The young human girl couldn't look away; it was just too difficult, yet her need to look away intensified as her ability to do so quickly vanished. She was trapped-trapped by twin pools of chilling fire. Icy flames of amber burned though her, right into her soul, engulfing her very existence in the process. What is this feeling? She thought as she tried to move and failed miserably.

Sesshoumaru continued to stare at her for what seemed like an eternity before turning his head, looking back toward the horizon. In doing so, Bella was released from whatever kind of spell she'd been under. She blinked a few times and lowered her head, deciding that studying her hands was safer than studying him. Oh man, now he definitely knows I think he's gorgeous…Hmph, it probably disgusts him. After all, I'm only a human. Yet…if he really hates humans as much as he says he does, then why does Rin follow him everywhere? Why does he put up with her? Now that I think about it, why did he kidnap me? Her brow furrowed, a sign she was in deep thought—and frustrated. Yeah! What gives! That jerk! Making her decision, a rather hasty one at that, she rose from her place in the grass and walked over to him, a sudden anger blinding her senses.

"Hey, dog-breath!" She called, reaching out to tap his shoulder. The demon lord had grabbed her wrist before she could even think to pull away. Okay, so maybe I should've thought this through a bit more.

"You will give this Sesshoumaru respect, human," he demanded, those eyes capturing her once again.

"I…I…I'm s-sorry," Bella answered. Those two words were difficult to get out, considering she could barely think at all.

"Are you?" He still hadn't let go of her. His grip wasn't painful, but it wasn't loose either. She tried to pull free, and he held on tighter.

"Y…y…yes. I'm sorry. Please, just…let me go," Bella pleaded, still struggling weakly. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes and threatened to fall.

A look of disgust flashed across the tai-youkai's face as he released her, causing her to fall to the ground. "What a shame. You disappoint me, human."

Bella stared up at him, her green eyes shining brightly with the unshed tears. "What?"

"I thought you had no tears."

"Everyone has them."

"Hm…not me," he stated flatly.

"Why does it disappoint you?"

Those golden eyes looked away from her then, and focused on something far off in the distance. "Crying is a sign of weakness. You had been strong, for a human, until just then. It disappoints me that you would give in to defeat so easily."

Did he really just say that? Does that mean he wants me to argue with him? She stood back up and brushed off her clothing. Trying to ignore the way he was eying her jeans and tank top, Bella asked another question. "So…do or don't you want me to argue with you?"

"That depends," he answered, walking away from her, "do you or don't you wish to die?"

"Hey!" What is with this guy? Can't he just answer a simple question? Bella ran after him. "Do you have to be so cryptic? It was just a 'yes' or 'no' question!"

Sesshoumaru stopped suddenly, almost causing her to run right into him. "You are trying my patience, woman."

"Oooo…I don't get it! I don't get you!" Bella imagined steam coming out of her ears. That's how infuriated she was. "What do you want me to do!"

"You will do what you are told-without hesitation, question, or complaint. And you will do so with pride. Never beg, especially not with tears." Then he added in an afterthought, "It does not become you."

"Um…" Well, what could she say to that? Not much of anything she could think of, really, so she simply nodded. Even though Sesshoumaru wasn't facing her, he knew by the silence she had agreed—at least for the moment.

"Very well, then. Soon we will be on our way. We have a lot of ground to cover tonight."

"Whoa whoa whoa…Tonight? What? You don't believe in sleep?"

She has regained her confidence too quickly. It seems she has already forgotten the discussion we had only moments ago. "This Sesshoumaru does not need sleep as humans do. I sleep when I wish, nothing more."

"Yeah, well…I generally sleep at night."

"You have Ah-Un to travel on. Sleep there."

"On that…thing? Are you crazy!"

Sesshoumaru clenched his fist in an attempt to check his temper. This girl was exasperating. "Do you forget so soon that you are to do as you are told?"

"No, I didn't forget. I just…nevermind. Fine, I'll sleep on the two-headed creepy thing."

"Good."

Bella glanced around nervously in search for the other two members of their party. They were, however, nowhere to be seen. "Um, Sesshoumaru…sama…where did Rin and Jaken go?"

"Rin wished to explore the surroundings. I had Jaken accompany her in order to keep her safe."

"Hmm…" She thought for a moment before continuing. This next question had to be worded very carefully. "Why do you keep Rin with you?"

"I do not keep her with me," he replied, still standing in the same spot, looking every bit like a statue. "She simply chooses to follow me. I do not deter her from doing so."

"Oh…so…do you always have Jaken take care of her?"

"She would get in far too much trouble if I did not."

Bella fought to control the grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. So he did care about the child, then. "If she's so much trouble, then why don't you just drop her off in some human village and leave her there?"

"She would not want that."

"What does that matter?"

He turned to face her, his expression revealing no clue as to what he might have been feeling—if anything. "Rin would be devastated."
"And you care?"

"I…you have asked too many questions for now, human." With that, he turned away from her again, and stared blankly at the heavens.

Bella sighed and went toward a nearby stream. She could see Jaken and Rin down there, and decided that she would much rather be with them at the moment. Sesshoumaru was obviously through humoring her for the night. Hmm…and I was so sure I had him cornered that time, too…

Hope you enjoyed it! I'll try to update soon! Thanks for reading!