I was warm. I knew what it felt like to sleep in the middle of the woods, and this was not it. I'd never slept so well here. It was like sleeping on the softest carpet, or memory foam bed, or the finest long-grain cotton the earth could ever yield, all while matching the voluminous nature of pelts, and the smoothness of silk. When I decided to wake up, I found that I had rested on a white cloud. I believed myself to still be dreaming, running my hands through the cloud, wondering why I was not freezing, as would happen if a cloud from the sky came down to embrace me. It wasn't until I felt the rhythmic breathing below it that sleep disappeared from my eyes. What I slept on was Sesshomaru's mokomoko, which had wrapped around me and cushioned my rest on the man's chest.

I stiffened. I didn't know how I ended up in the position, but my skin felt like it would burn off if I didn't move. My hands attempted to slowly trace a path out of his grasp for my body to follow as I attempted to calm down. He could smell fear, and I was sweating fountains of it. If I could find my way out, I could sooth the blisters on my arms, and calm myself without twitching fingers.

It was then that I noticed two black eyes staring up at me. I sat, staring at the creature, before remembering the rabbit Sesshomaru had placed in my hands the previous night. I stared at the rabbit, wondering why it hadn't fled earlier. Had it been trapped with me? I could only feel sorry for the small creature. What was it doing here? The circle of life would have it dead or free by now. It belonged in the forest, whether it was a bear or bunny.

I jumped, suddenly feeling the tips of claws run through my hair. The rabbit was startled as well, but didn't attempt to flee. I, on the other hand, immediately attempted to unravel myself from Sesshomaru's tail. It took a few seconds for me to accept and submit to the fact that Sesshomaru had me snared again. A quick blush spread across my cheeks as I found no words to express myself. My face burned as two fingers pushed my head up to meet his gaze. My arms tensed and my throat closed.

"You continue to run." He noted.

I said nothing, my eyes were glued on his with fear. I was drowning in tar. With every second I stared, mobility was forfeited.

"Must I make you cooperate," his voice was getting colder. "Must I lock you away?" He asked as his hand ran through my hair again. "I will not hesitate, should you run again."

I was at a loss of words, barely able to remind myself to breathe.

He slipped his left arm around me and held my stomach. My legs instinctively pressed together as he pulled me back onto his chest. My hands turned clammy. My ears threatened to burn off, and my stomach churned. I could feel his breath on my neck and his right hand slipping along my side to hold my stomach as well. I twitched, uncomfortable with where his hands waited. I put my hands on top of his, hoping to persuade them away.

Thankfully, he stopped as abruptly as he started. He unraveled me from his mokomoko and stood, staring at me before telling me to stay put. He disappeared, making me blink and wonder if I'd really slept on the demon lord, or if I imagined it all. I did as I was told, staring at the rabbit. It was a prime time to run away, but I was too terrified of what awaited me in the forest.

Sesshomaru had hurriedly left me, meaning that danger was near. He was an advocate of staying in close quarters, and finally had me locked in place. He wouldn't have given it up to entertain a fly. Even if I did have the nerve to try and escape, what would his reaction be? He'll track me down for sure, but what would come after that? He's told me to stop fleeing. He will tie me to him, by any means necessary. I'd never see daylight from beyond a window again. He'd break me. I couldn't run. I had nowhere to run to. He is the only real chance I have. I was stuck with the demon lord. InuYasha's opinion was useless and uninformed. I don't know why I even contemplated it. Escaping from Sesshomaru was indeed running into death's arms.

I took a deep breath, losing some tension. If I simply conducted myself in an agreeable manner, I wouldn't have to worry as much. If I could just do that, I won't have to forfeit anything else. I let in another deep breath as a strong gust of wind dashed by. My hair whipped around me, hoping to free itself from my head. I shut my eyes and curled over to prevent lift and shield the rabbit in my lap. The wind lasted for around five seconds before it died down. When I looked up to find the cause of the wind, I instead found that Sesshomaru had moved me to for cover behind a tree.

He said nothing, staring at me for a second before disappearing again.

I didn't move my back from the tree. He was engaged in battle, and moving now would make the both of our lives harder. The poor rabbit hadn't put up a fight since she was caught, and now she sat here, completely still as her heart raced. I ran my hand through its fur, and loosened my grip slightly. The least I could do was reassure it that things were fine. Maybe I hoped to reassure myself while I was at it. The clang of metal threatened to displace my spine with the tremors that ran through it. The constant need to remind myself to breath didn't ease my worry. I'm not a fan of the battle field, and whoever Sesshomaru was fighting, wasn't going down easily. Whatever it was, Sesshomaru planned to be done with it quickly.

"Oh, did you hide her, Sesshomaru?" A voice asked, freezing my chest. "How selfish you are. Having her rest so peacefully in your arms was not enough?"

His question was met with silence.

"I can only imagine how she tastes. It must be divine: to think it would make you abide by her requests."

There was a deafening roar from the forest as the sound of trees collapsing sent birds flying.

"None the less, I will have her soon enough. After all, the more value she holds to you, the sweeter tearing her away will be." Naraku commented.

Silence again.

"I have accomplished what I set out to do. Take care to not break our little toy. It would be all too easy to steal her away then. But I am sure putting her back together would be entertaining enough."

I didn't dare move until Sesshomaru pulled me out of my spot. What had Naraku initially set out for, and what is my role to him? I know mocking Sesshomaru is a cause up there, but he could have the same intentions as Sesshomaru. Knowing his character, Naraku would make my nightmares reality.

Before I could say anything, Sesshomaru was guiding my face to his lips. He stopped himself a second after he had guided my gaze to him, staring into my eyes before letting my chin slip out of his fingers and turning away. I watched him, listening to the blood rushing behind my ears before taking a step away.

"S-so what next?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"We depart."

I followed him, sullenly. His broad shoulders gave no hint of any intention of telling me of Naraku's purpose for suddenly appearing. I planned to wait for him to tell me, but realized that he was not going to. I inched closer to him from behind, scared of the words that would come from my mouth.

"Has Naraku been watching us?" I asked.

He gave me no reply.

I let out a nervous laugh, "that was a stupid question, wasn't it? A better question is why he was here to begin with."

I received no answer, but a sharp gaze from the corner of his eyes.

I quickly and quietly fell back, following him silently. He wasn't going to tell me on his own. I shouldn't have pestered him