Deds:

Nimeway - Oh, she confronts him alright - or rather, I guess he confronts her... I still gotta edit, hehe, so I guess we'll both find out!

helenluvsboo - Thanks!

Kitsune's Lover - Lol, I would, you're right, haha! I like a spick and span Sessh-pants, lmao. I still work at the same place, only on days. Its a lot more money, and I like it better, too, but, heehee, I'm on holidays right now, so, I like it a lot this week, ha!

DemonDog113 - Read on, muchacho!!

Mystical Hanyou - Okay now yer freakin' me! That guess was pretty good! Well, read, see what else you can guess from this chapter about what might unfold??

Question Existing

Kagome awoke suddenly, and opened one eye.

There was a demon nearby; it's youki was strong, and she berated herself for not picking up on it earlier. One whole day on her own and already she was falling flat on her face!

Reaching out, she slid her fingers silently over her bow and a nearby arrow, then waited. All she could hear were morning insects buzzing, and leaves rustling in the breeze, but the youki wasn't moving; it was still, somewhere behind her. Taking a deep breath, she moved.

Sitting up, nocking the arrow and swinging around, Kagome closed one eye and aimed behind her, pulling the bow-strings taught, and just caught herself before she let them loose.

In her sight stood Sesshoumaru, an unreadable expression on his face. She frowned. I should have recognised his youki. No one's is that strong, not even Naraku's.

Slowly, she opened her eye, and lowered her bow to her lap, though she didn't let it go. She stared back at him. What was he doing here? He didn't seem to be threatening her, though with Sesshoumaru, one never really knew. He could be calm one minute, and the next he was crushing your throat. She kept her fingers tightly around her arrow's fletching, the smooth texture of the string soothing under her fingertips.

He took a step toward her, and she tensed, but he didn't make any sudden moves; slowly he made his way closer.

She noted how his silver hair was gilded gold in the early morning sun. His eyes, so cold, yet so luminescent, were captivating in a face such as his. Smooth skin, fine magenta stripes, and thin, delicate eyebrows made him what could only be described as beautiful; perfect in face and form, she was only reminded of her own imperfections the longer she watched him. Her clothes were rumpled, and she probably had a major case of bed-head, too. Her eyes felt crusty, and if the pain was any indication, she had a zit coming under all her makeup, which was probably smeared all over her face unattractively.

It briefly occurred to her to wonder why she should care, but in the light of his approach that thought went wayward. She felt self-conscious and repressed the urgent temptation to fix her hair.

"All alone, miko?"

His smooth, deep voice startled her from her thoughts, and she blinked, frowning. Her arrow bobbed around in her lap as she fumbled to keep her grip on it.

"Who wants to know?" She smiled inwardly. Since when was Sesshoumaru so nosy? Was he planning to use her against Inuyasha? Fat chance. She'd shoot him first. But, then again, he could just be curious. Somehow, curiosity wasn't a trait she imagined he possessed. She assumed he just knew everything. She felt quite clever in her evasive response. If he could be nonchalant, so could she.

Inwardly, he smirked. So, she knew how to play the game, did she?

Giving in, he replied after a moment's thought, "I do."

She raised a brow, as if to ask, Oh? "Do you? What about me could possibly be of interest to you?"

He raised a brow in return, though the rest of his expression remained indifferent. "You are on my land, miko."

She looked around, then rested her gaze on his face once again. "Am I? There were no border markings."

"There are, but you do not have the facilities to recognise them." His clawed fingers flicked back and forth, lazily. "There are scent marks."

"Oh. Sorry. Do you want me to leave?"

He eyed her quizzically. She was trespassing, yet nothing about her apology was sincere. He ignored her question and asked one of his own.

"Did your companions abandon you?"

She looked down at her hands, and a small wrinkle grew between her brows before she looked up again. "No. I left them."

That was surprising. He couldn't imagine why he cared enough to ask, but he did. "Why?"

She tossed her blanket aside and folded up her leg so that her chin rested atop it. "I'm trying to prove that I can survive without them. Or, more accurately, without Inuyasha."

That wasn't what he'd expected to hear. She had wilfully abandoned his Neanderthal of a brother? It proved she had some sense, more than he thought a human could possess. But why the need to prove herself?

"You are human. He assumes you are incapable of looking after yourself. Correct?"

The furrow in her forehead grew deeper, and he would swear she was glaring at him. "Yes. I admit I've needed help in the past, but for my own peace of mind, I'd like to at least prove to myself whether or not his stupid assumptions are true."

She fingered the bow in her hands, and he noted its odd shape and strings. It was unlike anything he'd ever seen.

"And he let you go?"

She snorted. "He doesn't own me. I'll do as I please, when I please. He's not my mother."

Sesshoumaru suppressed the urge to grin. She was fiery, this miko! He admired her, only in the fact that she seemed to enjoy annoying his hanyou half-brother. In his book, that made her tolerable.

"Am I correct in assuming that you are endeavouring to teach yourself survival skills so you may show Inuyasha that you don't need him?"

She smiled a little at him. "You could say that. I'm sick and tired of being the lead weight. Once and for all, I want to stand on my own, without any help from anyone else. I have the drive and the ambition. Still, I have to admit that this is all very new to me. I may have bitten off more than I can chew."

Ah, there is the apprehension.

Folding his arm into his chest plate, for lack of a better place to rest it, he leaned back against the nearest tree and seemed lost in thought; Kagome thought he looked rather comfortable, and wondered if he planned to stick around, which would be nice, but... she really couldn't let him. She needed to do this on her own.

"What do you know about survival, miko?"

His question startled her for the second time. She narrowed her eyes momentarily. Why does he care?

Sesshoumaru himself couldn't believe he was hearing himself ask her all these questions. She was merely a trespasser on his lands, someone to be dealt with as efficiently and quickly as possible, but despite his own personal objections to associating with humans of the adult sort, this one intrigued him. She was so innocent, yet so brave; her powers were raw and inexperienced, yet she plunged ahead anyway, to face what she may with nothing but her bow, arrows, and holy strength. She was certainly remarkable, but he would never tell her that. It did no good to have a human thinking she was in any way important to him.

"Not much, but I've read this book from cover to cover, and I hope it's enough to keep me going."

She held up her nature guide, and he tilted his head. She could read? He'd heard she was from the future, but personally had not believed in such rumours. She dressed strangely, surely, but perhaps she was from another country. He knew the Chinese on the Continent were renowned for their strange traditions and practices.

"I really should learn how to fight, and defend myself, but I didn't have the time or the money to pay for lessons, so I'm hoping my arrows will be enough, when push comes to shove." She thought of encountering Naraku alone and shuddered. She wasn't at all sure she could control her fear should that ever happen.

Sesshoumaru was wondering the same thing. He knew he'd never hear the end of it if Inuyasha ever discovered that he'd been near Kagome and had done nothing to keep her from harm; she was in his lands, after all, and he knew of everyone who set foot in his domain, be it for an hour or a day. It was his duty to patrol and defend his borders, and since she obviously had some destination in mind, he decided that it would be best if he escorted her to it. From there, he would carry on with his own affairs. At least then his stupid brother couldn't accuse him of negligence.

"Lord Sesshoumaru? Where are you?!"

Sesshoumaru mentally cringed as Jaken's high, nasally voice penetrated the relative peace of the forest. A muttered, "Keep up, girl!" could be heard between shouts for his Master.

Kagome lowered her brows. Who was calling him? Was it the toad and the little girl?

Suddenly, Rin burst through the shrubbery and cried, "Lord Sesshoumaru! There you are! I found him, Master Jaken!" She ran toward him, and before he could even think about moving away, Rin had attached herself to his leg and looked up at him with wide, adoring eyes.

The adoration of a child for a beloved parent, Kagome thought, before a smile bloomed on her lips. So this was the little girl Sesshoumaru had been fostering? She'd have never guessed he had a compassionate side had she not seen the display of affection between child and demon herself. Or, more accurately, of the child for the demon. Sesshoumaru merely stood there and took it.

Rin saw her, and smiled shyly, before letting go of her Lord's hakama and approaching cautiously. "What's your name?"

Kagome laughed. "I'm Kagome."

Rin smiled back. "I remember you. You're the candy lady!"

Sesshoumaru snorted. What an undignified title. He'd not blame the woman for picking up and leaving, highly insulted, but she only laughed again and replied, "Yes, that's me. You're Rin, right?"

Rin nodded, and sat down close to Kagome's side, as if they were old friends reunited. "That's right, and that's Master Jaken, over there. AhUn didn't come with us, but they're Lord Sesshoumaru's dragon. They like flowers, like me." She picked a nearby daisy and asked, "Do you like flowers, Lady Kagome?"

Kagome wondered if this child was ever unhappy. She didn't know how Sesshoumaru was doing it, but Rin seemed as exuberant as any child could ever be, which was surprising, since two demons were taking care of her, neither of which struck her as particularly outgoing. At all. In fact, Jaken glowered at her as soon as she opened her mouth to reply.

"Yes, Rin, I like flowers."

"May I put one in your hair? It's pretty."

Kagome raised her brows, and looked to Sesshoumaru, but he only moved his shoulders slightly, his way of shrugging. She sighed quietly.

"Sure."

Rin tucked a daisy behind Kagome's ear, and smiled happily at the result. Kagome smiled back, until Sesshoumaru said, "Rin. Go with Jaken and find some breakfast."

Jaken looked up at Sesshoumaru, aghast. "My Lord, you are staying? What have you to do with this pathetic-"

"That's enough, Jaken."

Kagome watched, fascinated, as Jaken hung his head, chastised. Apparently Sesshoumaru's business was to be none of Jaken's today.

"Yes, milord," he replied meekly, and Rin waved goodbye before following him away. Kagome waved back, and stood up herself.

After the imp and the child were gone, Kagome began to rummage through her bag, expecting that Sesshoumaru would follow his vassals and leave her, but when she turned around, he was still there.

"Aren't you going with them?"

"No."

She was puzzled, and, taking her water bottle, pored a little over her toothbrush, smeared toothpaste on it, and jammed it in her mouth. "Why not?"

Humans are so uncouth, he thought distastefully as she spoke around the toothbrush, but he replied haughtily, "I will escort you to your destination. The half-breed would never let me hear the end of it if I did not."

Kagome shrugged. "You don't need to go out of your way. Though the thought is appreciated."

He merely stared at her, the matter apparently settled. Fine, she thought, spitting out the toothpaste into the grass by the cool fire-pit. Don't answer me. See if I care.

When she had adjusted her hair, and seemed to be finished getting ready, he pushed himself off the tree and stood by her side, waiting. He couldn't help but notice her pleasant scent; a mixture of her greasy makeup, something flowery, like lilacs, and mint. The mint was especially refreshing, and when she spoke, the scent grew stronger.

"I'm ready. Lead the way, Lord Sesshoumaru." The way she stressed Lord made him think she was mocking him.

Retaliating in kind, he replied deceptively smoothly, "Did you have a destination in mind, Lady Kagome?"

This earned him an impish smirk, and he found himself admiring her face, despite the dark green and brown smudges that covered it. She looked dirty, but her scent told him otherwise. He covertly breathed deeper while she dug some papers out of her pack and consulted them, briefly. Her lips pouted in the most adorable fashion when she was miffed-

Stop, he told himself, giving his mind a mental shake. She is human. End of story.

"Yeah, I'm supposed to check out this area," she said, showing him the map and gesturing toward the Western seaboard. All within the confines of his territory. He was a little surprised at the accuracy of her map. The maps he had back home in his study were not nearly as detailed.

"Follow," he commanded, taking the lead as she'd asked him to.

She made a face at his shortness, and mumbled, "Follow," in an insolent voice under her breath, while shaking her head in a most unbecoming manner.

"I heard that, miko," he said, and she glowered. Of course you did. Can you hear my thoughts too, your Highness?

She said nothing but quickened her pace to keep up. This could be a long trip, she thought, slightly gloomily.

Heehee! I think someone's getting under someone else's skin... but who?? Lol, let's face it - they piss each other off - in a not-so-bad way!! You know what they say about relationships that start out this way, lmao!