"Ahem…" Bella cleared her throat loudly, hoping to gain the attention of a certain tai-youkai. When he gave no response she tried again, only louder and more obvious. "A-HEM!"

Still nothing. Man, what did it take to get this guy's attention anyway? He didn't even bother to tilt his head in her direction the slightest bit, let alone ask what she wanted. I swear, I could probably be choking back here and he wouldn't even notice! What a jerk that guy is! Maybe a swift kick in the shin would get his attention…or it could get me killed…no…it would definitely get me killed. So…maybe I shouldn't do that. Ugh…I'm so bored…and tired…She glanced over at the sleeping child on Ah-un's back and smiled softly. Rin was such a sweet little girl, and Bella couldn't understand how in the world she'd ended up following around a demon like Sesshoumaru. She'd asked the "Almighty Golden-eyed Cold One" earlier that day how he'd met Rin, but Sesshoumaru simply glared at her before turning away and continuing on toward some place that wasn't revealed to her.

"Aaaa-HEMMM!" Well, I bet that got his attention…or not….ugh…he is such a stubborn…ERRRRR! Oh wait…was that movement? Yup, it was…he's stopped…okay, so that's actually lack of movement, but hey, it's a reaction. Yeah, that's it ya stupid dog. Turn around…Yay, he is! I am no longer being ignored! Woo-hoo! I, Bella, am victorious!

"Jaken, wake Rin and take her to get a drink at the river," He said without acknowledging Bella's existence. The little imp shook Rin awake and they began walking toward the water.

The girl's mouth opened in utter disbelief. He was STILL ignoring her! "Hey! What about me?"

"…And take the other human with you. I'm not quite ready for her to die of thirst yet."

"Not quite… 'other human'…myeh…" Okay, so what kind of pathetic sound was that? Well, at least he remembered I was here…Wow…he's so…so…uh…flawless…even with one arm…Crap! Bella, the guy kidnapped you for crying out loud! You can't be attracted to him…no matter how lovely he is with his golden eyes and silver hair and big fluffy thing…Hey…what is that fluffy thingy anyway? I mean…is it a boa or…ugh…don't tell me he's gay. It would figure…I mean, of course the world's most beautiful man…or demon…or whatever…would be gay…Gah! What am I saying? It doesn't matter if he's gay! Because I think he's just a big….big…dog!

"Actually, I am a dog. Inu-youkai. And…what do you mean by gay? Why would you think this Sesshoumaru was happy for an instant? Has he done something to make you assume any emotions exist in him?" He was staring at her with that same indifferent expression.

"I…said that out loud?"

He narrowed those cold eyes at her. "How else would I have heard you, wench?"

Bella growled at him, not noticing the way Sesshoumaru's eyes widened at the sound. "Ya know what? STOP calling me a wench! It sounds like something on the front of a fourwheeler…Gah! You are so infuriating! My name is Bella. I know you can say it!"

"Enough…wench!"

If she hadn't known better, she would have thought that was a smirk that crossed Sesshoumaru's face. But no, it couldn't have been, right. I dunno…he is pretty cocky. "You jerk! I…I hate you! I hope you know that! Because I do!"

"Really? Is that why you were thinking about my happiness?"

"Huh?"

"You were concerned as to whether I was 'gay' or not, correct?"

Bella stifled a laugh. That's right. He'd made a comment about it moments earlier but she hadn't caught it then. Of course Sesshoumaru wouldn't know the modern connotation of the word "gay". It's the Feudal Era for goodness' sake! "Um…I don't mean happy. Where I'm from, 'gay' means…well…" Dear diary, today I told the demon lord from the feudal era what gay means in my world…Oh man…how do I do this?

"Spit it out, woman!" He growled, losing his patience.

"Errr…fine…it means that…well…a guy…likes…uh…other guys…in an um…extra-friendly way…" Well, his facial expression changed, that's for sure. Sesshoumaru went from irritated to completely shocked. Why would someone think that…about him?

"You think that this Sesshoumaru is attracted to men?" There was an unspoken warning in his tone telling her that she had better be careful how she answered.

"I…no…not exactly. I just mean…You're um…the uh…boa thing…on your shoulder…is that the, uh, style for demons around here, or do you just wear it for the fun of it?"

"Boa thing? That boa thing you speak of is part of this Sesshoumaru's fur." His voice remained neutral, yet there amusement in his eyes.

"F…fur?" She laughed nervously. "Oh thank God…you're not…uh…are you?"

His head cocked to one side. "Not…attracted to men?"

"Yeah that…"

"This Sesshoumaru has no interest in men, human. Now go drink before we continue our journey."

She stared at the river and its surrounding area. This place was so beautiful. The grass was amazingly green and the water was a brilliant blue, unlike the brown-tinted rivers of the modern era. "I…where are we going, anyway?"

"Have we not discussed this before?"

Her face was getting flushed as her temper rose. "Do you have to answer every single question I ask with a question?"

One silver eyebrow went up. He found he was actually enjoying this pointless conversation. "It appears you are doing the same thing, are you not?"

"What do you mean I'm doing the same…crap…" She sighed heavily in defeat and started walking to the river, mumbling about stupid dogs and they're mind games the whole time.

Sesshoumaru smirked at her words. She hadn't meant for him to here any of that little conversation with herself, especially not the part where she had said, "If he wasn't so freakin' hot, I think this would be totally unbearable." He wasn't sure what she meant by that, since he was actually quite comfortable, and not the least bit warm, but he knew he could use that word later to make her face change colors again. It did that a lot, apparently, and he knew the last thing he should do was to encourage her foolish attraction, but it wasn't often he got to have fun playing around with people, so…why not?