"Kazumi"

I was dozing off with Rin's head on my lap when I heard my name being called. After blinking the sleep away, I looked up at the source of the voice. Why was Sesshomaru calling me? Whoa, he called me by my name. That realization woke me up completely. He gave me a look that instructed me to set Rin down and follow him to a more secluded place. I didn't exactly want to be alone with him anywhere, but I didn't have that choice. I quietly moved myself and lay Rin against Ah-Un's back before walking off in the direction Sesshomaru wandered off in.

We were out of earshot before he spoke.

"Naraku knows of you."

"How much?" I asked, knowing all too well what the hanyou could do with information.

"More than I would like."

"He knows that I know?" I asked vaguely. Who knows who was listening? The fact that Naraku knows about me now meant that he was keeping tabs on everything I did and said, or that someone from the other group blabbed about me. If I had to guess how it went down, I'd assume they wished they knew something and I came to mind. Or InuYasha's dumb butt ran into battle screaming out my information.

"No." Sesshomaru said, catching what I said.

"Well, that's good. I guess the advantage is still ours."

He said nothing as I turned to my side, staring at a random tree as an object to stare at as I contemplated the situation. Would Naraku be willing to take the chance of acting upon his interest in my situation? He was more than willing to do so with Rin. If he manages to get his hands on me, I'm sure my position would be worse than the little girl. But, ironically, it gave security for a limited time. Being in the hands of the enemy would be more of a hostage situation until my usefulness was spent. Unless I was more of a threat than something worth being taken hostage. It all hinges on what he knows versus what he doesn't know.

"Can you be a bit more specific on what he knows?" I asked with a sigh as my gaze shifted to the night sky. I was suddenly becoming sore again.

"He is simply intrigued by your sudden appearance within my pack."

"Nothing on what I've told you then, or what you concluded me to be." I confirmed before letting out another sigh. "Well this will be interesting."

He said nothing as I covered my mouth as I yawned. "It's been a long day."

"How so?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Well, I don't know. I'm just tired."

"Will you be able to return on your own?" He asked.

"You're not going with me?" I asked as I looked at him again.

"Would you prefer my company?"

"That's not what I asked, at all."

"Then what is it that you are saying?"

"Well, I assumed you'd take your regular post like always. It's just odd."

"There is a situation that requires my attention."

"Is that what she told you?" I asked, recognizing my sudden change in tone much too late.

There was a moment of silence before he responded with a simple, "yes."

"Then I hope it goes well for you." I said before waving the subject away and starting on my way back to the camp.

Once I got back to camp, I stoked the fire before sitting across from the sleeping dragon and girl. I sighed deeply, trying to relax my now active mind and body. I suddenly had a feeling that I wasn't going to get any sleep tonight. Not with those damn bells chiming. Those beautiful bells that made me get up just after I sat down. I sighed again, after failing to ignore the bells. I forced myself up again before wandering off toward the flowers that seemed to chant my name and beckon me forward. I let myself go to the flower, accepting the fact that I'm not normal. I was here, and that was all the proof I needed now. I hesitated, wondering if the chiming was worth the walk, but its echoing pushed me to throw caution to the wind and pursue the damn thing.

I followed the chiming as it grew louder with each step I took. When I finally found it, I was surprised to see that there was only one. With how loud and often the chiming was, I expected to find a cluster of them. Regardless of the number, I sat on the tree stump that was conveniently located near the flower. Only in anime will you find such convenience. I took a deep breath and calmed myself on the stump as I let my mind wander. What was there to do? Well, I'd rather not think about it. I finally had a moment to myself, and I wouldn't fill it with my concern for other things.

The moment I took my mind off of the future, I drifted back to sleep. I wouldn't call it a peaceful sleep, but it was definitely better than going the night with no sleep. I was willing to sleep there all night, but found myself being woken up right after I dozed off to sleep. My drowsy eyes met Sesshomaru's ever silent ones as he moved his hand from my arm. I wanted to go back to sleep, but the chiming was gone by now. I pushed myself off the tree before following Sesshomaru, who constantly watched me to make sure I didn't wander off again or walk into a tree.

By the time we got back to camp, I was wide awake. This time, I had a feeling that going back to sleep would be much harder. I sat back down in my spot across from the fire, and listened to it burn as my mind became active again.

It was rather dumb of me to fall asleep in the middle of the woods, especially since I was just informed of Naraku's eyeing of me. Anything could have happened. I could have ended up as a night lurker's lunch, or waltzed right into Naraku's hands. There was no sense in scolding myself now for the reckless action, but I would steer clear of making a similar mistake later. And those flowers would be something to worry about, but hopefully I wouldn't run into any more along the way. They're supposed to be rare. So me walking into a situation that leaves me vulnerable, because of the flower, shouldn't happen often.

"What troubles you?" he asked.

"Why do you assume something troubles me?"

"You do not sleep now, yet rested peacefully before."

"Well, I was nodding off once and asleep another time. It will take more time for me to fall asleep for a third time." I stated simply.

He said nothing, preferring to stare at me. He didn't believe a word I said. I was trying to convince myself more than him.

"If you won't take that as an answer, what's here that wasn't there, or what's there that isn't here?" I responded as I laid my head in my lap while looking directly at him.

He said nothing as we stared at each other. Our staring would have continued if the silent flying of fireflies hadn't stolen my attention. The rather large bugs drifted around with their sporadically illuminating butts, robing amber of my gaze and focus. I watched quietly as one struggled in its flight before falling into the fire. Well, of all the places the bug could have landed, he just so happened to be in the proximity of the fire to be burned. It was part of a much greater light than it would have ever be able to produce. I guess that was the bright side of the situation. I let out another sigh as I turned away from the fire.

What felt like an hour passed before I heard him call me again. I looked at where he once was, only to find him standing in front of me. Needless to say, I jumped a bit.

He held out his hand to me, before allowing the single word, "come," to leave his lips. I saw nothing wrong with seeing what had been concocted in that mind of his. I gave him my hand, and got up at his pull. He led me back to where he was sitting before moving to pick me up. I wasn't exactly confused when he sat down with me in his lap, disconcerted is the word I would use to describe how I felt. It was more of a "what the heck is happening" than an "I don't get it." It was much more comfortable than sitting against the ground and scrunching into a ball to sleep, and I almost got swept away into it, but I caught myself before I snuggled into what would be my pillow.

"I can't do this." I said before attempting to get out of his seductive hold.

"Why not?" he asked, pulling me back into the softness that was him.

"I… We're not…"

"Did you not cling to my chest the previous night?"

"That was different."

"How so?"

"I could barely stand on my own."

"You spoke of being tired. Stop fighting and rest."

"We're not in a relationship." I continued to protest. "I can't just sleep in any guy's arms."

When I tried to stop his arms from locking me in his snare, a rumbled filled the air. I immediately stopped my intervention at the prick of the hairs on my neck standing up. I didn't think I would need to protect myself against Sesshomaru. I would think twice before carelessly following along with his plans next time.

"Unless you are going to put a ring on my finger, you should let go."

He was silent, sending a chill down my back.

I gave an awkward laugh before understanding what he was trying to imply in this situation. I tried again, hoping he didn't understand the phrase.

"I'm serious. If you don't plan on settling down with me, you should let go."

He still made no movement. My heart fluttered from the chills and hope that wrecked my nervous system. I thought that phrase chases away most guys!

"If this is to get back at me for something I did earlier, you got me. I won't do it again."

"Be still and sleep." He finally said.

Well, I shut up, but that was it. I remained wide awake for as long as I could before crashing and burning.