Anonymous Reviewer Poet: Thankyou for your correction, but I prefer to spell his name as Sessoumaru, not Seshomaru. Both are correct, really, so I hope you don't mind! Sessoumaru just looks prettier to me, lol.

Thanks to everyone for your reviews! I didn't expect them so soon, lol!

Chapter Two

It's an illusion, yeah, that's it.. just a figment of my wretched imagination! She blinked again, expecting the scene before her to disappear. No such luck. Standing, or rather looming, in front of her was the same over-bearing Taiyoukai.

"Good morning, Rin," Sessoumaru answered the joyful girl. The girl, Rin, jumped up and ran over to him, clutching onto his pant leg and looking up at him with adoring eyes. Giving Kagome a sidelong glance, Sessoumaru knealt down and began to speak softly to the young girl so that Kagome could not hear him. Rin would giggle every few seconds and glance at Kagome, who sat there baffled. It was like she was seeing an entirely new Sessoumaru. She wasn't even sure if the demon before her was Sessoumaru. He wasn't being curt with the girl, he was being quite gentle and . . . loving?? As though he actually enjoyed the human girl's companionship. . .

With a last few words, Rin gave Sessoumaru a big nod and scurried off into the nearby fields, dancing and jumping around. Kagome watched her, distracted by the girl's merriment. So of course she didn't notice when Sessoumaru walked over to her. He took hold of her wrist, pulling her up to her feet. Kagome's eyes widened, expecting to see the green acid poison leak from his claws. When he released her she was dazed. How many times has he tried to kill me and here was the perfect oppurtunity and . . . oh, shit, he's playing with me. . .

"Here," Sessoumaru handed her a flask. "Drink. You and Rin will eat before we leave for the Western Citadel."

"Eh?" Kagome squinted her eyes, trying once more to correct her vision. No, he was still there. Okay, then . . . what about . . . She pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. Hot? Nope. No feever, no mirage . . . She shook the flask to the sounds of the liquid in it slushing around. Poison? "Drink it," Sessoumaru growled to her, an angry glint in his eyes. "I assure you, it will not kill you. Unless you are allergic to water?" An eyebrow raised, she shook her head, and he went about his business, meticulously placing the neatly folded fur blanket into a saddle bag. Slowly she twisted off the top of the flask and took a small sip. As the small amount of water touched her lips, she realized how thirsty she was. Deciding that if he wanted to kill her with poison he would have used his claws, she threw caution to the wind and gulped down every drop of water she could squeeze from it.

"Uhm . . . Sessoumaru?"

"You will adress this one as Sessoumaru-sama." He didn't even look at her as he berated her.

"Are you sure it's not 'Your Royal Pain in the Ass?" she muttered. The only sign that he had heard was a short pause in his movements. He continued to pack. "Sessoumaru-sama?" Ignored. "Sessoumaru-sama?" she said a bit louder. The Taiyoukai looked up and over Ah-un, checking on Rin. Kagome's brow creased in frustration. "Oi! Sessoumaru!" The iris of his eyes slid to the side so that he was leering at her. Kagome gulped down her instant fear and straightened her back. "How am I to get back to my friends?" she demanded. Sessoumaru raised an eyebrow. She stared at it, noticing how elegantly curved and refined even that small feature on Sessoumaru was. He truly was magnificent . . . Shaking the thoughts out of her head, she gave him a steely gaze. It was like a showdown. Kagome saw a sparkle in his eye and, if she hadn't known better, would have sworn that the tiniest of smiles blessed his face. But that was surely impossible.

"Perhaps your friends will think you come find you?" he said, his tone just as cold as ever.

"They wouldn't have to come find me if a certain demon hadn't kidnapped me!"

Sessoumaru issued a snort, perhaps the first expression she had seen come from him other than cold indifference. "I did not kidnap you, miko, for who would want to steal the wench of a mere hanyou?"

Her eyebrow quirked. Wench? Let's see, what can I throw at him? Ah, a rock. That will do. Seeing said rock, she bent down and grasped it in her hands. Turning back towards Sessoumaru she blinked. Er . . . where'd he go? Quickly standing, she twirled around searching for him. She clenched the rock, prepared for the demon to come at her with homocide on his mind.

"Aieee!" Something had picked her up by the back neck of her shirt. She twisted and flailed her arms, trying to hit whatever had a hold on her.

"Be still!" he growled into her ear. She did as she was told, shivers of fear running down her spine. I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die . . .

"Now," he continued, "I did not kidnap you, I have shown you nothing but hospitality. So why, miko, do you hold a rock in your grasp? Do you really think such a pathetic thing as a rock could harm this Sessoumaru?"

Ugh. What an ego! But she had to admit. Had she thrown the rock at him it would have done nothing.

"Please release me," she pleaded. "And Shippo as well," she indicated the sleeping kitsune with a nod of her head. "We would like to leave."

There was no reply for a few moments, then, "The fox may go, but you stay."

"What?!" He put her down and she immediately turned, glaring at him.

"Would you rather I fed him to Ah-un?" As if on cue the dragon licked his chops. Kagome blanched.

"Nono, that's okay. Let him go, I'll stay." She nodded enthusiastically to prove her point. Sessoumaru walked over to the kitsune, picked him up and walked off. "Hey! Where are you going?!"

He didn't answer, just walked into the wood. Kagome ran after him, following him into the trees. "Sessoumaru!" she called out. Then she stopped. He was nowhere to be seen. Sighing in resignation and hoping to God he wasn't going to hurt Shippo, she returned to the dragon. Rin sat there now, holding a bouquet of flowers and grinning. Kagome couldn't help but smile at the child's innocence. If a human girl follows him and he protects her, perhaps he isn't all bad.

"Kagome-sama!" Rin waved her over. "Kagome-sama, I picked these for you!" She got up and ran up to Kagome, handing her the bouquet of wild flowers. Kagome took them and grinned. Knealing down she thanked her.

"These are beautiful flowers, Rin!"

Rin blushed. "Sessoumaru-sama told me I should pick them for you."

A wave of shock shot through her. She fought the instinct to check the sky for flying pigs.

"Kagome-sama? Are you going to marry Sessoumaru-sama?"

Kagome's eyes grew big. "WHAT?! Oh, no! Nononononono NO!" She shook her head vigorously. Marry that jerk? Where did she get that idea? Even IF Sessoumaru took his head out of his ass and put up with a human wife . . . just . . . NO!!

Rin looked down. "Oh," she said in a sad voice. "That's too bad," she looked back up at Kagome with a watery grin. "I was kind of hoping for a new mommy."

Kagome's heart broke. She took Rin into her arms in a big hug. "Oh, Rin, that's sweet! But I don't love Sessoumaru. I'm in love with Inuyasha."

Rin clung to her. "koulph yoo fearnth teh luff feffomsaroo fampha," came her muffled response. Rin had buried her face against Kagome. Kagome pried Rin from her and backed her up a bit.

"Could you say that again?" she laughed.

Rin wiped her watery eyes. "Do you think you could learn to love Sessoumaru-sama? I think he's lonely."

Rin's words tugged at her heart. But her mind scoffed. Oh yeah, a lonely demon lord looking for love. Get real. Especially with THIS demon lord. "Well, Rin, that's why you're with him!" she said brightly. "You keep him company!"

Rin shook her head. "I may be a child, but I know that a man always wants a woman. I am but a child!"

Oh, snap! "Uhm . . . Look, Rin, if you ever want a mother, I'll be here for you," she just couldn't say no to those adorable eyes! "But Sessoumaru isn't exactly the type to go yearning after a human, dontya think?"

Rin stared at her with confused eyes. "No. Sessoumaru-sama isn't a bad person, Kagome-sama, if that's what you think! I'm always with him and I know he's nice to people!"

Pfft, he must be a good actor then . . . "Oi . . . Rin," she said exhasperated. She sighed. Might as well give the girl what she wants. "We'll see, okay?"

Her face immediately brightened. "So you'll give him a chance?!"

Kids. Didn't know they could meddle so much. And be oh so naive! "Sure." Not really. Just to make the girl happy she would agree. But as her thoughts went to the Ice King she smirked. Hah! Yeah right . . .

Chapter Two End

Er, yeah, I know that was kinds short! Sorry. Just wanted to get the second chapter up before I go out tonight! Please review! And give me some tips or something! Anything to make it better! XD Now, I'm off to see SAW III!!! WHOO! XD

Satsu-chan