I woke up with a rather vivid blush. I could be a bit vulgar at times, even if it was just in my dreams. I sat up, finding that I had been tucked away in the comfort of a blanket and pillow. I was glad to escape that trap of a mind I have.

I wonder how you managed to live so long with so many different thoughts. [Beast]

Hold up, Beast?

Yes. I am able to influence you outside of your mind, and in the material plain. [Beast]

Awesome, now I had someone talking to me all the time! This wasn't going to work out.

Do not worry; I will not bother you unless necessary. [Beast]

I was fine with it either way. I'd learned to live with the other, 10, 14? I honestly don't know anymore. My feet kicked away the blankets that rested daintily there. I reached for the sky and stretched my arms and chest. A yawn was pushed out of my body along with a couple of cracks from my joints. I felt a hundred times better. My stiffness became a distant memory as I was flooded with a new breath of air and movement. I tilted my chin up a bit, sticking my nose further into the air than the rest of my body. I wanted to try out the new nose. What was a good scent to start with? Kagome, she stuck out like a granny smith apple among black forest cherries. It was rather easy for me to pinpoint her scent and follow it to her. She was bringing back firewood for the night when I ran into her.

"Kazumi, you don't ache anywhere?" she asked once we met up.

"I'm fine, just going to go home for a bit, so don't worry about me." I told her.

"Okay, have a great time!" Kagome said overenthusiastically.

I waved goodbye and went to the well. I slid down the side of the mossy landmark and stared off into the sky. It was a clear day, void of both clouds and insects. No multicolored butterflies, no creepy spiders, no tons of water floating in the atmosphere. The lack of action sent Zs rolling off of my out-cold body. After what felt like a few minutes nap, I woke up in my actual bed. When I rolled over and reached for my phone, I was surprised that no more than an hour had passed since I went to sleep. Repeating the same movements from before, I got out of bed before running downstairs.

"GUYS! I NEED FOOD!" I yelled downstairs.

"You just ate!" My sister yelled back.

"THAT MEANS NOTHING! I'M A GROWING GIRL!" I screamed.

"Then get something out of the fridge." She told me.

I shimmied my way over to the fridge, avoiding the various kitchen objects that attempted to trip me: the table, the broom, the chairs; they were all out to get me! After making it to the safety of the fridge, I gilled my plate with breakfast leftovers and ate as much as I wanted. After that, I found some comfort in picking up a Wii remote and brawling a bit with my home boy Marth before switching to Fire Emblem: Awakening, and finally Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions. After satisfying my gaming need, I went back to my bed, actually forgetting that when I wake up, I wouldn't be shrouded in my light blankets with my fan turned on medium.

Can you guess how long I simply stared straight ahead of me before remembering my circumstance? A whopping three minutes of me just staring in complete silence. Fascinating, right? I had to ponder how whatever magical force at work managed to transport me across the U.S, over the Pacific, and back in time to put me here. It is a persistent and terrifying power. I stood to pat off the dust that accumulated on my clothes, and soon realized that I had changed clothes. If that magical force could transport me back and forth through time and space, I'm sure it can change my clothes too. My new dress was pale blue with no fancy patterns or designs. I felt like it fit me better to be unadorned. It's much more of a "what you see is what you get" feel. I reached backward, grabbing hold of the rim of the ancient well to help myself up. I most definitely did not require the aid of the well, but I sure as heck wanted it none the less. For what I think was the third time today, I forced my arms into the air, reaching for the clouds I knew I would never catch. My fingers interlocked as my torso curved to the left before curving to the right. I could never stretch too much. The feeling of having my muscles and joints loosen fills me with a special type of delight, the type of delight a cat has while stretching in the sun.

I let out a small yawn once finished and took my first few steps toward the village. I wasn't sure if the Inu pack would still be there, but I wanted to see and find out. If they weren't there, than I would relax with Kaede. A wonderful plan if I do say so myself. But, the feel of someone's gaze on my back stopped me in my tracks and sent me turning to face where the gaze came from. I wasn't surprised to see Sesshomaru, but maybe I was a bit disappointed. My hopes of lazing around quickly vanished as visions of toiling replaced them rather quickly. However, those visions were replaced just as quickly by the reminder that I wasn't exactly human anymore.

I said nothing as I moved my gaze to the swaying branches beside him. He stared at me, as though he was formulating the sentences he would say.

"If you came to just stare at me, I'll be leaving now." I told him.

I honestly tried to abandon the situation, turning away from the man and in the process of fleeing like a wild Pokémon, but Sesshomaru broke the rules and stopped me. He blocked my path with his body, and grabbed my hand. I was taken aback by his decision to default to such a romantically associated place. I was expecting him to grab my elbow, or shoulder, or arm... but I guess physical contact on any part of the body is associated with romance, just some parts, such as the hand, more than others. Still, it was unlike him.

"You are not safe here." He told me as he pulled my gaze back to him.

"Oh, and who made you my protector? If you really cared, you would stay away from me since you are the largest threat to me." I told him, deciding to give him the cold shoulder.

His grip on my hand tightened. I instinctively attempted to free my hand, using my free one to try and pull away his; but even with my newly acquired strength, I could not budge him. I even put my entire body into it, trying to put some momentum into my pull away. After seeing that that wouldn't work, I crouched and pushed away from him. Hoping he would tire of holding me up, I made the greater-than shape and continued to pull. My effort still made no headway.

He pulled me back up and to his chest with little effort and quickly exchanged his grip on my hand for my upper arm. I'll assume he preferred a grip that required closer quarters. "You will not escape me." He said bluntly. "You will follow."

I held my breath, knowing what would happen should I breathe while so close to him. "You cannot order me around!" I told him.

This is ridiculous! HE is ridiculous! HE's the one who made things awkward, and decided that dropping me off with Kagome would make everything better. Now he thinks he can just come back a few days later and that I'll just start following him again? Boy is he delusional!

"If you will not come peacefully, I will take you by force." He told me.

I wasn't scared by his ultimatum. "I'm sure-as-hell not going with you peacefully!" I exclaimed. What exactly is he thinking?

"Sesshomaru, what the hell do you want?!" InuYasha yelled at him.

Yes! Backup arrived! Now it was two 'gainst one! Well, we were most likely going to lose, but still, it's the thought that counts! I think that phrase works with the situation, and if it doesn't, sue me.

"This is nothing that concerns you." Sesshomaru said to InuYasha, but was staring into my eyes.

"Yes the hell it does!" InuYasha said back.

"Let go of me!" I said, raising my voice now with my last bit of reserved breath.

He pulled me closer, almost burying my head in his shoulder. "A woman should not raise her voice." Sesshomaru whispered in a voice that would have been inaudible to my human ears, even with such little space between us. The words rang clearly in my ears now, bringing an angered blush to my face. InuYasha made no sign to show he'd heard the words, but I was already more than angry for the two of us (though something within me tells me that he would have made an unnecessary comment). I opened my mouth to through my own comment at his rather presumptuous actions, and fell right into his ploy.

The moment his scent hit my nose, I stopped my breath and attempted to cover my nose. His hold on my arm tightened, pulling my hand away from my nose to comfort my aching arm. Feeling my lungs burn and having had another taste of his scent, I gave in. I stood there, staring at his chest as his scent filled me.

"What are you doing?!" InuYasha questioned.

I couldn't answer. I walked into his chest, burying my head in his scent before grabbing hold of his kimono to take a deeper breath of that piquant smell of his. I burned red, suddenly drunk and unable to keep myself upright. My hands trembled as I managed to let go and back away a single step.

"What did you do to her?!" InuYasha continued to question, only to continue to be ignored by his older brother.

"I-I…" I stumbled over my words, not knowing what I wanted to say. "I won't throw myself at you."

Sesshomaru continued to stare at my wobbling form as I tried to separate myself from him.

"Don't expect for me to let you do as you please. I'm not the ordinary woman!" I said as I tripped over my own foot.

Sesshomaru took the opportunity to sling my incapable body onto his shoulder and carry me off, continuing to ignore his young brother to focus on whatever was on his mind. I ended up passing out on his shoulder as his scent ingrained itself in my nose and my person.

When I came to, I was sitting up from a reclined position on a tree. The shade the tree provided kept me out of the sun's harsh rays. I reclined back to my sleeping position as I ran a hand through my hair. If I act like that every time he comes close to me, I'll end up as a mother in no time. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing like the miracle and joy of being a mother, but that's just not the career path I wasn't to walk down right now. I dropped my arm to my side as I looked further up the river. Rin was catching fish while Jaken rested and watched. I was glad they were having fun. I face palmed as I recalled my immediate swooning over the demon lord.

"Ah, Jaken-san, Kazumi-san is awake!" Rin exclaimed as she ran over to me.

"Yeah, I'm up." I said as I stood to accept her running hug.

"I do not understand why milord would waste his time on a wench like you!" Jaken thought aloud.

"Don't think that Sesshomaru is the only one who can end your life." I informed him, as my eyes narrowed.

"Oh? And how would you do so?"

"I could choke you, set you on fire, throw you off a cliff, leave you to a larger, hungry demon, and drown you." I said as I picked him up, and tossed him into the river. "I don't need much force to whoop your ass-tronomically large ego to a size that fits your stature." I managed to save the last sentence. I'd forgotten that Rin was present.

The Kappa would have drowned, ironically, had the little girl not been there to fish him out. I glared at him, only to have Rin's laughter soften my heart. I let out a sigh, but snapped into an alert stance at the sound of twigs crunching. Everything up to this point had been too peaceful, and I had a feeling that was going to end now.

"We were supposed to take the little girl, but I think she would be much better." A man's voice reminded.

"If she wasn't important, why would Sesshomaru go out of his way to get her?" A chipper voice commented.

I had to keep myself from banging my head against a tree. I opted to face the voices that were all too familiar instead of chastising myself for forgetting about the panther demons. Jaken stood in front of Rin, holding onto the Staff of Two Heads firmly as he waited to use it. I was sure they would be fine if they were questioning kidnapping me instead.

"What do you want?" I asked as though I didn't know.

"Tell me; what are you to Sesshomaru?" the man asked.

My eyes narrowed, more at the question than the man's intent.

"Oh, she's feisty! I see it in her eyes." the red-headed one said.

I held my breath, already knowing the ploy they would try to use to knock me out easily. I simply turned to face the third member of their party as she attempted to use her sleeping powder on me. She stopped after seeing that I'd already found her out and took a step back. I left my spot for higher ground, knowing that the air between the tree branches wouldn't be stained with the sleep inducing scent.

"You'll have to try harder than that." I told them.

"We already did." The fire elemental said.

Her comment made me raise an eyebrow. I quickly found out the meaning behind her words when something cold wrapped around my wrists and pulled me away from the refuge I'd found in the branches. I managed to face who'd caught me by surprise, and was surprised to see that I was staring at their leader. She was supposed to be talking with Sesshomaru!

"I'm sure you don't fight much, considering Sesshomaru has you in his pack." She said.

Her fingers sapped my wrists of their heat. My body heat rushed toward my wrists, following the laws of nature, only to be continually stolen away from me. The numbness that soon followed held a pain similar to being stuck with needles. I managed to ignore the pain. My eyes abandoned their wide awe for a sharper demeanor, once again upset by their mentioning of the man who was not exactly highly esteemed by me at the moment.

"He won't come." I stated, not knowing that my statement and body language gave off a demeanor colder than the woman's hands.

She let go of me from the shock. I took the precaution of having some distance between us before looking to see if Rin and Jaken were still here. I was glad to see that the kappa was smart enough to get out of here.

"How do you know about our plans?" The leader asked me, her tone deadly serious.

"I have my ways." I said.

"What are you, exactly?"

"Why would I tell you?"

"If you're not Sesshomaru's lover, why else would he have you?" The brunette flower user asked.

"Maybe to serve as distractions for situations like these." I offered. "Or to play mother for the little one." I replied.

"Even at that, that makes you valuable to the child at least, and through the child, we'll get him." The fire cat suggested.

"Or I'm as dispensable as the grass you walk on. Regardless, your target is already gone; my job is done."

"Liar." The leader called. "Anyone who is incorporated into Sesshomaru's pack is someone special; and, you have just matured none the less. You cannot deceive me. Sesshomaru plans to have you. I was wondering whose scent was on him when we spoke, but now I see that you are the one who has caught his eye."

I said nothing.

"Such a young kitten. I pity you, having been snared in his trap." She laughed. "And it seems that he's left you out for any beast to snatch away."

Somehow, I didn't notice the huge man tiptoe behind me. He needn't hit me with all his strength to make me crumple to the ground, but it sure was enough to send me crumpling to the ground.