"Hey! Are you going to keep ignoring me? Because I'm not going to leave even if you do!" Kagome had been following Sesshoumaru and Jaken along the mountain trail for what seemed hours. Her mind was filled with concern for little Rin, alone with that horrible… monster. Why wouldn't Sesshoumaru even pretend to be concerned?

Sesshoumaru glanced back at Kagome, her face dirty and hair unkempt. The clothes she was wearing were in just as poor condition. Yet her eyes still shone with the same fire. "Aren't you even worried about Rin? By now, she could be hurt or killed!" Kagome's hands were on her hips and her voice was growing ever higher when she saw that she finally had his attention. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed, and in a moment he was in front of her, and she was pinned against a wall of rock. Kagome gasped with surprise.

"I am not my brother. You may speak to Inuyasha in such a way, but not me. Especially if you are, after all, my mate," Sesshoumaru growled softly at her. Kagome froze, eyes locked with the demon lord who definitely had the upper hand. She wondered if it had been better when he wasn't showing emotion.

"I'm sorry I lied about you. I was trying to stop the demons from hurting us," Kagome said, softly. "I know you're not Inuyasha. If you were, I would know that you actually cared about finding Rin and saving her." Kagome winced at the words that flew unbidden from her mouth. Sesshoumaru's eyes clouded over for a moment.

"If you care so very much for my brother, why aren't you looking for him? Your leg is healed. I have no need for you to remain," Sesshoumaru said. He was almost too close for Kagome to be able to breathe.

"Because…" Kagome's mind went blank as she stared into the large golden eyes before her. Why wasn't she looking for Inuyasha? He probably thought she was dead right now. Sango, Miroku, Shippou… They might have all given up on their search by now. Guilt nearly overwhelmed her at the thought of their grief and worry for her. Then she wondered if they could be hurt themselves, and in need of her help after the battle they fought…

"Because Rin is just a little girl, and I care about her. I can't just leave without knowing that she's okay. I know you just think of humans as weak and foolish, I've heard it from you often enough. But you must have some kind of emotion within you somewhere, because you not only allow a little girl to follow you, you protect her. You have to care for her, and that's a human emotion. Or do you deny it?" The flow of words was unstoppable. Kagome had never spoken to anyone in such a way, let alone a powerful demon who had her totally immobile. The powerful emotions surging through her brought on the tears, and they flowed through the dirt smears on her face.

"I do not need to justify myself to you," Sesshoumaru said, but now the anger was gone from his voice. Kagome flinched when he brushed the tears and dirt from her cheeks with a clawed finger.

"Is that your answer to everything? Is that how you make every person you face leave you alone?," Kagome asked, unable to stop her voice from shaking. "I know you're more than a demon who cares only for himself. If you weren't, you wouldn't have saved Rin all the times you have. And you would have left me to die in the river," she said.

A breeze swept by, and strands of white hair billowed around Kagome's tear stained face. Silence fell between the girl and the demon as they stood still, staring at each other. Jaken dared not move; he tried to not even breathe. There was some sort of battle of wills going on that he dared not interrupt.

"Even for a human… You are very annoying," Sesshoumaru said finally. "Just like Rin," he muttered. He leaned even closer, and Kagome flushed red with embarrassment as she felt his breath on her neck. She swallowed thickly, and realized that he was taking in her scent. She wondered what she would do if Sesshoumaru… If he what?! She blushed even more fiercely, and her heart pounded. "I can almost see why Inuyasha keeps you around." Sesshoumaru's hair fell across her face, and all she saw was white. She felt his lips pass over her cheek and then he released her.

Kagome could only stare at the demon lord, completely at a loss. Her jaw was slack and her eyes wide with surprise. Then he leaned forward once more and whispered into her ear. "After your written word, I am entitled to whatever I should wish to take from you. Either that or I kill you for your deceit." His words were so soft she barely heard them. Then he turned his back to her and resumed his walk, hair flowing smoothly behind him.

Kagome slipped down the wall and sat still while hugging her knees, waiting for her heart to slow. Sesshoumaru's words echoed unceasingly within her mind.

Jaken stared at Kagome, then turned and scurried after his master. Kagome rose onto shaky legs, then followed as well. Her mind told her to turn around and run, to find her way back to Kaede's village and look for Inuyasha. Inuyasha had always protected her, and never treated her in such a strange, confusing fashion. She told herself she was following Sesshoumaru out of concern for Rin. Yet something told her that wasn't the only reason…

"Wait for me!" Kagome cried out as she hurried to keep up.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Gebi stood before the old woman, eyes narrowed. "You're sure this will work?," he asked, staring at the small purple bottle she offered him.

"Yes, yes. This poison is lethal to any demon. I have never seen one powerful enough to withstand it." The woman stared blankly in the direction of the pig demon, her milky white eyes proof of her blindness.

"What do you have to offer me for payment?," the crone asked.

"Take the girl. I don't want her." Gebi pushed Rin at the old woman. The little girl struggled against her bonds and tried to cry out through the gag in her mouth. She nearly fell into a shelf of strange looking containers and bottles. The old woman scowled.

"I could, perhaps, find use for her. Take the bottle. Be careful with it, idiot," she grumbled. Gebi snatched it away and hurried out of the small cave, his weapon in hand and a gleam in his eyes.