It was dark, and it was cold. There was no light yet in the sky from the coming dawn. Nevertheless, Lord Sesshomaru guarded his eyes from the lanterns over the little shrine.

It was here that the scent permeated, flowed, wound. It was with her that his destiny lay.

The woman was young, pure, and lovely. Her miko powers only lasted as long as she remained a maiden. These stories of love ruining a priestess' powers had some truth to them. A priestess that allowed herself the pleasures of a woman would lose her sacred powers.

This was why, he mused, the priestess hated men.

This was the Guardian of the Northern Mountain. She was famous for Lotis Mastery. Her demon and human power were known well to everyone.

Here was another hanyou that was created, not born. There was said to have been a great battle of the Lotis, and in the end, the two became one.

Sesshomaru paused to wonder if the hatred of men came from the demon or the human. Also what kind of demon could she be?

Oh…

He finally caught a glimpse of Kuri, standing at the front of the shrine, preforming her prayers. The light from the fire hit her eyes just right.

Sesshomaru felt the longing for this woman like an ache in his soul. His claws twitched to touch her. Aah…what an exquisite slow burn…

"Who's there?" Kuri faltered in her prayers and her ki extended into the forest, stinging him a bit. "Do not try to hide from me! I can sense you easily. What is your business in my shrine?"

With a wry smile, Sesshomaru stepped from the darkness. "Would that you could purify this Sesshomaru."

He spoke softly, keeping his ki low. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her, or anger her.

Kuri hesitated, her pure energy sparking like wildfire. She took a step, then another. "Lord Sesshomaru." She smirked, and the barrier snapped and shattered. "This priestess welcomes you to her humble shrine." Her tone was mocking, but Sesshomaru didn't care.

He stepped into her shrine, inhaling that lovely aroma. In a second he was close to her, so close. Ah…

When she didn't move, he raised his claw and ran it over her soft skin. Kuri shuddered, a soft pleasant mewling noise escaping her.

Did she too sense what was between them? Or was this tortured ache a pain only he would feel?

Her lips parted wetly, and she bit her bottom lip against unspoken word. His claw found those parted lips, touching…touching…

Without warning, Kuri broke free, a tear falling. How had he caused her to hurt? A snarl of frustration.

This didn't help. Kuri stepped back further, scared now.

Sesshomaru decided this was enough for now. He made move to leave, only to have her grab Mako. The jolt that past through him had almost nothing to do with her stinging energy.

Silence, then, piercing the cold night, and his aching heart, were the words he had so longed to hear.

"Stay."

As she opened the door to the shrine, he saw his mistake. There it was, the building, in all it's austere ancient glory. A training ground for hunting down demons like himself.

A hand on his shoulder, a soft smile, asking wordlessly for his trust.

Sesshomaru relaxed. He could not scent any danger. It would be alright. She was here.

But could it be safe?

Involuntarily hiss.

Hikawa Shrine.