A few stray rays of sunshine awoke Katara. She stretched her arms up above her head while letting go of a tremendous yawn. She looked down, and found Rin looking up at her with interest.
So it wasn't a dream. I really am with Rin and Sesshoumaru. But I still don't get it. Why did he save me?
"Katara! Aren't you going to come down for breakfast?"
Katara looked down at that little face, so full of hope. She laughed and nodded.
"Absolutely! I'm starving, Rin! What's on the menu?"
She jumped down from the branch and landed right beside Rin. Rin took her hand and led her to the campfire where some birds and mushrooms were roasting. To Katara, who hadn't had anything but fish to eat for the past few days, it smelled divine. Rin speared one of the roasted fowl on a stick and handed it to Katara.
"Lord Sesshoumaru caught them this morning before he left."
Katara took a bite of the bird, swallowed, and looked puzzled at Rin. "You mean he's not here? Where did he go?"
Rin just shrugged, but Jaken who had walked over to them responded, "Never you mind. Lord Sesshoumaru goes where he pleases."
After they had all eaten and cleaned up, Katara asked Jaken to watch over Rin, and to call if anything went wrong. She walked off, leaving Jaken mumbling something about always being left behind, even by hanyous. Katara laughed to herself, and walked off into the woods. She had found out from Rin that there was a hot spring nearby, and that was where she intended to go. Katara was sore from her encounter with the demon the previous day, and hadn't had a good bath in a week. She broke through some bushes, and saw she had arrived at the spring. She also saw that someone else had had her idea. Sesshoumaru was basking in the spring, the water reaching up to his chest. He was leaning against a rock, and had his eyes closed. Katara stopped walking. Sesshoumaru hadn't noticed that there was anyone around.
Oh wow. He looks really...well...hot! I never noticed before, but he's pretty cute. All he needs is a personality transplant, and he'd be perfect. Should I still go in? I wouldn't want to disturb him. He looks so...peaceful. On top of that, I wouldn't want him to see me naked!
She looked at the figure in the water for a moment. He stirred slightly, but didn't open his eyes.
Aw, what the hell! I ain't waiting all day until he decides to get out of there. I'm too sore for that.
She came out of the bushes and walked over to the water, opposite from where Sesshoumaru was. Suddenly he opened his eyes, and saw Katara standing on the other side of the spring, taking her shoes off. That startled him.
"Katara! what are you doing here?" Katara glanced up at him.
"Cool your jets! I wasn't going to wait for you to take all day here, so I'm just going to soak my feet for a while before I go in."
She finished removing her socks, sat down at the edge of the spring, and placed her feet in the hot steamy water. She couldn't help but sigh at the relief on her feet. That sigh had a very curious effect on Sesshoumaru. He felt a small thrill go up and down his spine.
What was that? he thought.
But he dismissed it as nothing. Closing his eyes he rested his head against the rock. He tried to clear his head, to forget about the half-demon sitting across from him. This lasted, oh, about two minutes. He opened his eyes slightly. He saw Katara, her eyes closed, head back, her hair moving slightly with the wind flowing through it. Her arms were behind her, supporting her body, and her breathing was deep, as if she wanted to take in all of nature around her at once. Sesshoumaru could see her chest heaving up and down. His pulse quickened.
What is this? There is no way she could be doing this to me. Not her. Not a-a hanyou.
Katara sat up and Sesshoumaru quickly closed his eyes. Katara glanced at Sesshoumaru.
"Allright, I'm going in. And don't even think about looking while I'm out here!"
Sesshoumaru forced his voice to not give away any emotion.
"Huh. Don't flatter yourself."
Katara just shook her head.
"Whatever." , she said as she began removing her clothing.
She folded all her clothes neatly in a pile by the edge of the water, and then slid into the spring, a soft moan escaping her lips. Sesshoumaru felt it again. That tingle that went all the way down through his spine. He opened his eyes. Katara had her back to him, but he could see she was washing her hair. Before, her hair had been a dark dirty brown. The water washed away all of the dirt and grime, and he could see that her hair was a glossy pale blue.(How that happens, don't ask me. I've never seen hair get so dirty.) Katara turned around to face Sesshoumaru, and began to run her fingers through her hair, combing out any tangles that might have occured. She had such a look of pure delight on her face, that Sesshoumaru was half-expecting her to let out a soft purr, her being the half-cat demon that she was. When she was done, she moved her hair so that it was all behind her, and began to wash her ears. Katara looked up, and saw tthat Sesshoumaru was looking at her rather strangely.
"What, a girl can't wash her ears in peace?"
Sesshoumaru's face went back to it's usual seriousness, but Katara could see that his eyes were sparkling.
"I don't suppose you know that you look like a cat when you do that, do you."
Katara smiled at him. "Gee, no. Nobody ever told me that cat demons look like cats." she teased. "My friends always used to tell me that. Well, friend. I never had that many friends."
Sesshoumaru looked puzzled.
"Why?" he wondered.
She seemed like the kind of person that humans would like to be around. Katara's smile flickered. She looked sad for a moment, as if a memory pained her.
"Sesshoumaru, close your eyes. I'm getting out." Sesshoumaru noticed that she never reffered to him by his proper title. Yet that didn't bother him that much. He had no idea why that was, either.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I'm sorry if I pryed. I'm just curious."
Katara smiled at him.
"No don't apologize, as unusual it seems for you to do so. I'll tell you, but I want to put my clothes on first."
Sesshoumaru turned, and Katara put on her red tank top and long jeans.
When she was done, "Alright. Are you getting out or what?" she asked Sesshoumaru.
He nodded and began to get out. Katara quickly turned around. Sesshoumaru got dressed, all the while looking at her.
She's got a nice figure. The men from where she's from should have been flocking around her. Why does she claim that she's alone?
He finished dressing and Katara turned around.
"All done? Let's go sit under a tree. It helps me relax more."
Katara began walking and Sesshoumaru followed. They ended up at a cherry blossom tree, Katara's favorite. She sat down at the base of the trunk and looked up at Sesshoumaru expectantly.
"Now, you can't tell me that it's degrading for 'The Lord of the Western Lands' to sit under a tree. Besides, I've seen you do it before."
Sesshoumaru looked flustered.
"No, it's not that. It's just that, well, I've never just sat and talked. Especially not with a hanyou." Katara looked up at him, laughter in her eyes.
"I should have expected it. You're too meticulous. You'd soil your clothes."
Sesshoumaru saw that she was teasing him, and went and sat down beside her, leaning up against the trunk. Katara looked at him approvingly.
"See? Now was that so bad?", she said, laughing. Sesshoumaru grimaced. "Alright. I'm sitting. Now tell me about you."

Katara's face got serious.
"My mother was a demon. A cat demon, to be exact. She traveled to my world by means of a well. She met my father, a human, and fell in love with him instantly. He brought her to his bed, and they had me. As you so lovingly keep refering to, I'm a hanyou. Not human, not demon, but a little bit of both. Not belonging anywhere."
Sesshoumaru nodded, encouraging her.
"Go on."
Katara took a deep breath and went on.
"Demon's aren't common in my world. People fear them, because they don't know them. My mother left us when I was about six years old. I can't remember what she looks like. I only remember her holding me, and me feeling safe and warm in her arms."
Katara wrapped her arms about herself, as if suddenly cold. She looked down, blinking back tears.
"My father was heart broken. He never recovered from the loss. He died two years ago."
Sesshoumaru looked at her. He felt strangely sad at the story this girl was telling. But then, he could relate to her.
"Katara, I'm sorry." Katara smiled through her tears.
"It's okay. I've gotten used to him not being there. But anyway, I never had any other family. My father was an only child. He told me of a sister once, but he never told me where to find her. So I was alone. I stopped going to school (just pretend he knows what that is. I don't feel like explaining it.), because the kids laughed at me. The boys all tried to get me into their beds, just so they could say they'd done a hanyou."
Katara clenched and unclenched her fists.
Well, that explains why she claims she's alone. Even the men from her world were cruel. But how did she come here? thought Sesshoumaru.
Katara was really fighting back her tears now, but Sesshoumaru could see one or two dripping down her cheek. Katara wiped them away. She went on.
"A few months ago, I traveled to Japan. I wore a head band that covered up my ears, and a kimono that covered my tail, so the people accepted me. I came across a shrine and entered it. In a shed behind the shrine, I found a well. I was leaning over it to see how deep it might be, when suddenly something pulled me in. A few minutes later, I awoke on the ground in the middle of the forest, and have just been traveling around. That is, until you came along."
Sesshoumaru didn't know what to say. And he thought he'd had problems, what with his mother killing herself.
"Katara, I-" Katara interrupted him.
"Don't go feeling sorry for me. I've been through a lot, but I've survived. But now, it's your turn."
Sesshoumaru looked puzzled. What was she getting at? Katara went on.
"I've told you my story. You don't need to tell me yours, but at least answer me this. Why do you hate my kind? You treat hanyous, and even humans, except for Rin of course, like dirt. Why?"
She looked at Sesshoumaru, a patient look on her face. Sesshoumaru looked down. After a few moments, he began.
"My mother and father were demons. That's why I'm a pure demon, too. But my brother, Inuyasha, is only half-demon. That is because my father fell in love with a human woman, and he brought her into his bed. My mother was hurt. She went insane wondering what a human could possibly have that was better than her. She ended up commiting suicide. My father died years ago. But he left me a gift. He gave me Tenseiga, the sword that heals. My brother got Tetsuisaiga, the most powerful sword my father had."
Katara was silent for a moment. Her hand drifted upwards, as if wanting to touch Sesshoumaru, to reasure him. She didn't know what to say.
Is that why he hates anything human? Because it reminds him of his mother's death?
She brought her hand back down.
"Sesshoumaru, I-I-"
Sesshoumaru looked at her, and Katara saw a spark of something different in his eyes appart from the usual coldness.
Is that...kindness?
She wondered. Katara looked away from him, suddenly shy. Sesshoumaru stood up.
"I think we've done enough talking for today. We need to get back to Rin and Jaken, or they'll start wondering wether something happened to us."
He held out his hand, and Katara didn't hesitate before she took it. He pulled her up and began walking through the forest, heading towards where the others were. Katara brushed a stray cherry blossom from her hair, and began walking after him. Suddenly, she tripped on a stone hidden by some leaves, and Katara saw the ground come up to meet her. She had a split second to think,
Boy, I should really remember to watch where I step.
Just as she was about to hit the ground, Sesshoumaru caught her in his arms. He straightened her up, and set her gently on the ground. Katara looked up at him.
"Thanks.", she said.
She wanted to say more, but didnt know exactly what to say. On an impulse, Sesshoumaru smoothed back a strand of hair that was in Katara's face. His hand moved lightly down her neck all the way down to her collar bone. His light touch sent a ripple of excitment all throughout Katara's body.
Why is he doing this? It's all so confusing. No, he'd never. He'd never even think of me as a friend. Not a hanyou., she thought bitterly.
Sesshoumaru looked puzzled. A minute ago, he had smelled a scent of happiness coming from the girl. He had expected that. But now, it was replaced by something else.
Is that...confusement?
He withdrew his hand, wondering what could be making Katara give off a smell like that. And what had possesed him to touch her? Katara began walking, keeping a sharp lookout for any other stones in her path.
"We should get going. It's getting dark, and Rin will be wondering where we are."
Sesshoumaru stayed behind, pondering over this strange girl that seemed to make him want to do strange things. Katara didn't wonder what kept him back. She was deep in her own thoughts.
What's wrong with me? I'm falling for a guy that's a demon, who hates humans! He'll never love me. and all because I was born a fuckin' hanyou!
Sesshoumaru was startled. That smell...I'm sure of it! It's the smell of loathing! But it's mixed with something else. Hurt and sadness. But why?
He saw that darkness was enveloping the forest, and looked ahead to see where Katara was. She was nowhere in sight, and he hastened his step, worried that something might have happened to her. When he got back to the clearing where they had stopped, he found Jaken asleep, and a campfire roaring. He looked around and saw Katara, fast asleep. In her arms, was Rin, Katara's tail covering her, keeping her warm. Sesshoumaru walked over to them, and bent down on his knees. He lightly stroked Katara's cheek, taking in her light scent of vanilla and cherry blossoms. Katara stirred, but didn't wake up.
All humans are filth. Or so I thought. Rin and Katara seem to be proving me wrong. How is it that this hanyou, this girl, is making me feel all these things I swore I'd never feel again after mother died?
"Katara, why do you irk me so?", he whispered.
He withdrew his hand, hesitating for a moment. He stood up, and began to prepare his own bed.