I don't own Inuyasha.

I like reviews, they make me want to write more.

Sesshomaru watched the dark purple sky slowly change to pink and gold. He'd dozed a little, that was all that he needed for tonight. He'd slept the night before. Jaken was asleep, the kappa was old, he needed more rest. The woman was asleep too, her exhaustion had won out over her fear a few hours ago.

He'd planned to wake her at dawn. But he was in no real hurry, he'd let her sleep until Jaken awoke. He allowed his gaze to travel to the embers of the fire. He wouldn't have kept it going had there not been a human present, the cold didn't affect youkai as strongly as humans. They felt it, yes, but it didn't often bother them. But a human could easily die of cold.

Jaken muttered in his sleep and rolled over. He would awaken soon. The human was still in deep sleep. Her head was pillowed on her arm and a wet spot had formed on her sleeve beneath her check where she'd drooled in the night.

He tossed the last two pieces of wood on the fire and strode off into the woods to mark a tree before the others awoke for the day's travel. When he returned Jaken was stoking the fire, knowing that humans liked to eat in the morning. At least Rin had.

"Jaken, wake her." He ordered, dipping his hands in the river then settling himself against his tree.

"Aye m'Lord." He waddled over to the sleeping woman and began shaking her shoulder. "Wake up, Merissa."

"Merissa?"

"It is her name m'lord, she told me last night before you returned."

Sesshomaru hadn't bothered to get her name. Hadn't bothered to introduce himself. And she had been to frightened to remember her manners.

Jaken returned to shaking Melissa's shoulder. Still sleeping she smacked him, sent him tumbling, and rolled over. Sesshomaru stood and went to wake her, He shook her shoulder and grabbed her hand when she tried to slap him away.

"Merissa, this Sesshomaru commands you to wake up." She muttered incoherently. Stifled a yawn with her free hand. Then her eyes fluttered half open. She yanked her hand away and rolled back over mumbling. He yanked her to her feet and she stumbled and fell against him.

Whatever she said as she glared up from against his chest he was pretty sure it wasn't "good morning." She pushed herself away from him and yawned and rubbed her eyes before wandering off into the bushes. When she reemerged she washed her hands and face in the river. Then spoke to him again, motioning to the woods and making a motion with her hand as though putting something in her mouth.

As she walked away he turned to his retainer "Jaken"

"Go with her, m'lord?"

He didn't respond, the kappa remembered traveling with Rin. Jaken hurried to catch up to Melissa, to make sure she didn't get hurt or eaten while she foraged. It took longer than Sesshomaru had expected for them to return, but then again maybe she wasn't used to foraging. Rin had been living by herself for quite some time when she'd found him.

After they returned she had washed her food before she cooked it then washed her hands after eating. He'd never met such a fastidious person. Luckily for her they'd stay close enough to water for her to keep clean. This river would eventually take them to his brother's village. He wondered if the body of her attacker would float all the way to the village or sink to the river bed to be eaten by fish.

Once she had finished he stood "Lets go." He stopped, he didn't hear but one set of foot steps behind him. He turned and saw the woman hadn't been paying attention, she was looking in another direction towards some bird singing in a tree.

"Woman." She didn't respond. "Merissa." She turned and looked at him.

Knowing she wouldn't understand his words he decided to beckon her as he spoke. He extended his hand, palm down and folded his fingers under toward him. "Come." She looked frightened, sounded worried as she spoke. Why? He repeated the gesture, ordering her to come again. She looked ready to cry.

She took a deep breath. She nodded, then as she spoke she held her hand up, palm towards him and curled her fingers down. Then she turned and began to walk away.

'That brazen woman dares beckon this Sesshomaru?' He growled at her. He called her name and she turned happily, then looked confused at his bared fangs. Then she became frightened.

"Come!" He demanded, beckoning her again. She took a step back at the sound of his voice. Round eyes impossibly wide, trembling she raised her hand and curled her fingers again. He stalked toward her, if she would not come willingly he'd drag her.

She turned and fled from him. He ran after her. He leaped over her, turning in midair so that he landed facing her, eyes glowing red and fangs exposed, stripes becoming jagged. She screamed and turned to flee back the way they'd come.

He fought down his youki, ignoring the predatory urge to give chase. She was running in the right direction at least. And at that pace she would have to stop to rest soon. If he walked maybe she'd calm down by the time he caught her.

Jaken was already ranting when he met the tiny kappa, "What did the stupid human expect? She should have known better than to defy you m'lord, serves her right..."

What had she expected indeed? It made no sense. She had no where to go, why would she beckon him to follow her everywhere. She'd seemed confused and frightened when he first told her to come. Why? Had he given her any cause to fear him? She was fine before... before he beckoned her. It meant something else to her people.

He ordered Jaken to be silent as her scent grew stronger. He caught the scent of salty tears. Then heard her ragged breathing. Finally they reached the spot where she'd left the path to hide herself. He quietly told Jaken to continue and went in search of her.

She was well hidden, but had foolishly trapped herself in the process. She'd wedged herself between a large tree and a sheer cliff face, behind a bush. She was literally between a rock and a hard place.

She didn't see him at first, she was curled into a ball with her face in her hands. He could smell the fear rolling off her. "Merissa."

Her head snapped up and she jumped to her feet. She tried to flee but quickly realized she'd trapped herself. She drew Raven and yelled an empty threat. He stood, waiting for her to see he was no longer angry, had no wish to harm her.

He eyed the blade. A weapon forged from part of a youkai would have tremendous youki, would come into being with a soul of it's own. A human blade did not, but it could absorb energy from it masters and victims. A blade that was well made, lucky enough to get passed down through enough generations, could absorb enough energy to eventually develop a soul. Merissa's blade was pissed at him. She and her blade could never hope to defeat him, but that blade could injure him.

What could he do to calm her? She didn't even know his name, he'd never introduced himself. He should do that now. "This one is Sesshomaru."

She didn't understand. How could she? He'd have to simplify it. Pointing to his face he said "Sesshomaru."

She simply stared at him, still terrified.

"I believe we have had a misunderstanding."

She continued to stare. Then after a long time she started screaming. Ranting at him in her strange tongue. He would allow it, he had given her quite a fright.

Finally she stopped yelling at him and placed the dagger back in it's sheath. He stepped back, allowing her room to come out of her hiding place. He wanted her to understand what he'd been saying, but if she didn't understand the gestures...

He'd had a pet once, as a pup. He remembered training his pet to come, but he didn't think she'd respond well to a leash. So he extended his hand, hoping she'd take it. She looked at him curiously. Then cautiously reached out and placed her hand in his.

"Come." He commanded then pulled her to him. She was caught off guard and stumbled but he caught her, didn't let her fall. Once she had her feet back under her he backed up a few paces and repeated the process. On the third try she stepped toward him when he spoke, before he pulled her. He gave an approving nod.

Then he walked several paces away, unable to touch her. She came to him when he called, eyeing him curiously. He rather thought she had a shrewd idea what he was doing. He walked several more paces, called her, and as he did so beckoned her.

Her eyes widened with a sudden realization. She started taking animatedly while pointing at his had. Then she jogged up to him, still chattering away. She laughed. Japanese women giggled shyly, hiding behind hands or sleeves, but her laughter was open and free.

Then she socked him by embracing him. He could not remember ever being hugged by a woman, and certainly not as an adult. Then he felt lips against his cheek, she'd kissed him? No one was so bold!

Her actions were highly inappropriate, but she didn't seem to know that. She beamed at him and skipped back towards the path. He stood rooted in place, the woman had hugged him! Kissed him! Even Kagura hadn't been so bold! But he couldn't punish Melissa for something she didn't know was wrong.

Authors note: I will not go back over it from Melissa's point of view because in this case I feel it would be redundant. For those who don't understand her earlier reaction she thought she was being left behind. She thought he was waving 'bye bye'.