He stood up from his position next to the water and walked briskly over toward the woman, he firmly garbed her arm pulling her from behind the tree. His eyes hard and burning as though they could easily rip her soul out from her body. She stared in to those eyes with slight shock her breath hitched as his face came closer, as he whispered lowly to her. " Who are you to disturb me from my peace woman?"

"My name is Kagome my Lord, I did not mean to disturb you I was coming to the river to bath. I didn't know anyone was here." She said timidly trying to gather her voice. She wasn't scared of her present situation, but more taken by his beauty he was gorgeous his long silver hair, the eyes that seemed to stab you in the chest every time you caught a glimpse. She couldn't look away.

"What are you staring at human?" He inquired while letting go of her arm, he saw her smile as he turned away walking back toward the river.

"What is your name my Lord?" she asked coming to sit next to him.

"Answer my question first, then I will answer yours."

Her face turned three shades of red before answering, "I was staring at you my Lord."

"My name is Lord Sesshomaru of the west." He said standing to leave, "I will leave you to your bathing, all gods know you need it." He disappeared into the woods.

"What happened to all the men in his fathers day he wouldn't have dreamed of speaking to me in such a manor. Where has chivalry gone? Young people these days have no respect, none what so ever."

She began to strip off her cloths and stepped into the water to relax for a while. She was disturbed by what sounded like men marching she could hear orders being shouted, when they came into view she noticed that they were marching on the path next to the river. Her face turned red as one of the Generals caught sight of her naked form and began whispering to the man beside him they began to laugh at the sight.

"Looking good my lady." One of them said before laughing again

After his statement was made she was no longer embarrassed but mad she discreetly pointed one finger in the air before moving it to the side, the man lost his balance and fell off his horse. She began to giggle a little, as the man stood up and looked straight at her she stopped just so she could avoid having to kill him. She turned her gaze from the man getting back on his horse to the man bringing up the rear of the army, it was him Lord Sesshomaru along side… was that who she thought it was, no it couldn't be.

She got behind a rock and got her cloths on slightly damp but she didn't care she had to find out.

"Lord Bankotsue!" She shouted. He turned his horse around to see the most beautiful sight, he smiled at her as he climbed off his horse. Leaving Sesshomaru to sit and watch as he picked her up and hugged her tightly.

"Well by all the gods in the heavens, what are you doing here?"

"I'm on a mission,"

"It wouldn't have anything to do with this war, would it?"

"It might,"

"You promised Inutashio that you wouldn't have anything else to do with war." He said cocking his head back.

"I know that," she said walking to Bankotsue's horse and mounting it. "But, he came to me in a dream and told me to help out this one last time, so here I am." Bankotsue mounted the horse positioning himself behind her.

"So… then why is it that when I sent a letter to you it was sent back to me?"

"That's because my people deemed me crazy for speaking of a war they knew nothing about. Only one person believed me, I was exiled."

"I see. Oh yea Kagome this is Lord Sesshomaru of the West." He said gesturing over to his friend.

"Yes we met at the river," She said glaring at him. Before bowing her head in respect, he simply nodded back.

Bankotsue began to chuckle a little before saying, "Your face was quit amusing, when the army came threw, and you knocking Tako off of his horse was a beautiful work of art I must say." Kagome giggled slightly at his statement.

"I've done better than that and you know it."

"I suppose you're right."

They rode in silence for a while Bankotsue had demounted the horse a while back giving it to Kagome, when she insisted she wouldn't mind walking he told her no it wasn't right for a woman to walk. She was happy he would think of her needs but she was slightly ruffled for the fact he didn't think you couldn't make the walk on her own, she kept it to herself. Wouldn't get angry over something so trivial. After marching on for three days the set up camp, all of the Generals were called to counsel with their lords. As they sat in discussion over the campfire Bankotsue looked up seeing Kagome separated from everyone else. He stood up and walked over to her, she looked up seeing him, and he knelt down and spoke softly to her. "We could use your in take on a subject." He took her hand helping her stand, they walked together over to the group of generals Bankotsue sat Kagome down next to Sesshomaru and walked away.

"Why is that woman here Lord Sesshomaru?" One asked with a sneer.

Sesshomaru looked down at the woman sitting next to him he then looked back at the man across the fire, before getting up and leaving the camp. The man stood walking toward her his eyes burning with hatred as he raised his hand bringing it down upon her cheek. "Go home wench." He stated, she looked at him with compassion shown in her eyes. He was quit taken back by the sweet smile that she gave to him, his shock quickly turned to anger. Is she mocking me… that whore! How can she smile after being, assaulted, is she dumb? He asked himself slightly miffed. About that time Bankotsue decided to show up once more.

"Kagome, come here for a moment." He spoke letting his presence be known

She looked at the general and said "We will finish this lovely conversation later General…."

"Tokasue," he spoke sternly.

She stood walking to Bankotsue's side, he gestured for her to take his arm and she did. "What is it you need my Lord?" He looked down at her before turning to look ahead once more, he stayed silent for a moment before speaking.

"I want you to get to know Lord Sesshomaru," he seemed as though was speaking to her like a father would his daughter.

"Why is that, might I inquire?" She stopped walking and looked at him as though he had just shot her in the leg and told her to walk it off.

"Deep down he is a good person, just a little hard to get to at times. I'm worried about you and his lands are in dire need of an heir. Besides he could really make you happy-"

"With what material possessions? I have those, believe me. I'll get to know him as you so desire but unless he gives me absolute unconditional love then I'm not making any promises. Besides he seems like a man with his priorities in line and a good future ahead of him."

"Did you look into his future?" He asked shifting slightly from side to side.

"What me…no, I remember the last time I did that, I made a huge mess of things. I know my boundaries now I'm two hundred years older, and two hundred year wiser."

"Older yes, wiser maybe."

"Hey! That's mean." She picked up a small rock and hurtled at his head, he stepped to the side barely missing him.

Looking at her he felt something was out of place, but after moving slightly the moon cast a glow just bright enough to see the bruise forming of her left cheek. He advanced on her quickly, he grabbed her chin firmly moving her head so he could see it better. He felt anger rise in him like a thunderstorm on a hot summer night. He glared down at her letting go of her chin.

"Who did this?" He spoke turning around like a whirl wind beginning to pace back and forth.