Ugh, I am extremely sorry, but everything has been really hectic. I won't bother making excuses. I hope people are still interested in this story.

Complexity
複雑さ

Order Two: New companions

"Sesshoumaru…" The name rolled out of her tongue before she could think; something in his eyes flashed before Kagome found herself hung by the neck by an angry demon lord. She coughed, and wheezed for breath as she clawed at his wrist.

"How dare you insult this Sesshoumaru without the proper respect," he said, his grip tightening on her neck. Sesshoumaru watched the girl turned boy passively before he dropped the now wheezing boy as he tried to gulp for air. Sesshoumaru could smell the unshed tears that stung the boy's eyes, although he could smell the remnants of the tears beforehand. "Pathetic," he had ended saying to the boy who now breathed more evenly.

As soon as the word had left the demon lord's mouth, the teen looked up sharply from where he sat and actually had the nerve to glare at Sesshoumaru. The Western Lord raised an eyebrow at this, not knowing whether to be amused or insulted that a mere human was glaring at his person. The boy should be fearful!

"Pathetic?" The human said angrily as he stood up and poked him in the chest, "You have no idea what I've just been through and you call me pathetic! What is it with you dogs and calling me worthless!" he said, his unique sapphire eyes burning defiantly, although his voice almost sounded girly…

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes in discontent. The nerve of the human. How dare he touch his person? The boy should learn to use his respect, especially if he knew who he was. Suddenly, the boy's face lit up in horror as he seemed to realise what he had said and to whom it was said to, before a frown flitted onto his facial features. Sesshoumaru was about to strike and kill the boy for his impudence, when a soft voice stopped him.

"Sesshoumaru-sama," the tired voice of his ward reached his ears as she came out into the clearing.

Kagome let out a sigh of relief. She wasn't stupid. She knew that Sesshoumaru was about to kill her and if it weren't for the appearance of the little girl, then she would be lying on the floor growing cold in her own blood. But what should she do now? She was worthless in this form, unable to even bring out her spiritual powers. And if Sesshoumaru left, she'd have no one to protect her and she'd be left for dead for even weaker demons. She knew she could always turn to the Inuyasha group, but she knew with her disappearance and now that she was a guy they would suspicious of her throughout the whole stay. To suddenly appear when their miko had disappeared. If that wasn't suspicious enough.

Kagome watched as the sleepy girl made her way to the stoic demon lord. Suddenly, staring at the young girl, an idea came up into her head and Kagome silently thanked the Gods for giving her this chance. She just needed to play her cards right and she'd be travelling with the demon lord with some kind of protection, as much as she hated being weak, this was the only thing she could do.

"Hello," Kagome said kindly to the young girl. She heard a growl from the demon lord, but she ignored it. He wouldn't do anything to her if she was in the presence of Rin… well she hoped not, "What's your name, young one?"

Rin blinked and looked at Kagome with wide eyes, before a wide smile broke out feeling no bad intentions from the young man before her master. Rin was about to go up to Kagome, when Sesshoumaru stopped the young girl, his eyes narrowed in suspicion at Kagome. Kagome silently scoffed. What was the use in hurting Rin if it equalled your own death?

Unable to read the atmosphere between both Sesshoumaru and Kagome, Rin answered Kagome's question. "Rin is Rin! What is Pretty boy's name?"

Kagome chuckled. She knew that if she was actually a guy and born a guy, she would have been offended by such a comment, but she wasn't. So, she gave the young girl a smile, quickly thinking of a name for her guise. That and she had to word it properly so that Sesshoumaru couldn't smell her lie (She remembered Inuyasha mentioning it to her once). She knew she had to answer quickly or else Sesshoumaru would suspect something.

'Hiroki…' The name whispered eerily in the depths of her mind, but Kagome didn't think of it, for she was still trying to stay alive. "You may call me Hiroki, young one," she said with a small smiled as Rin instantly brightened.

Rin suddenly looked up at Sesshoumaru, tugging at his pant leg. Sesshoumaru looked down at the young girl. Had anyone else pulled at his cloth, Kagome was sure that they would be killed on the spot. If not, kicked away then killed so he wouldn't get any blood on himself.

"Is Hiroki-san going to be coming with us?" she asked innocently. Well, why else would her master be talking to a human if he wasn't going to bring him with them.

When Sesshoumaru was about to answer a 'no', Kagome spoke up. "Would it be alright Sesshoumaru-sama," Kagome said, suddenly being respectful, "If I can follow you in your journey?"

"Why should this Sesshoumaru allow this?" Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the human teenage boy before him with suspicion. Kagome bit her lip. She had to play it properly if she was going to join Sesshoumaru in his travels. She needed a proper story.

A glint of red caught Kagome's eye and she looked at the hand still caked in dry blood and there lay a bracelet innocently on her wrist. She didn't need a story, she had one. She lifted her arm so that the bracelet was seen by Sesshoumaru. "I'm looking for the owner of this bracelet," she said seriously to Sesshoumaru, "To be honest, I do not know where to begin and was thinking of perhaps looking for a strong miko or witch to help me with this… problem, but I cannot tell you why." She took a deep breath, "While I'm with you, not only will I be protected, but I can take care of Rin as well. I know the proper nutrients and food humans need to take and the proper medicine and herbs for when she may be sick. And it'll be good for her to have another human to talk to."

Sesshoumaru stared at the teenager, thinking whether or not he was worth the problem. Sure, he could help take care of Rin, but they were doing fine without the help of another human so far

Kagome opened her mouth once more. "If it makes it any better, even at the face of danger I will not run away. I may look weak, but I have had lots of experience in the face of danger. I can safely say that I will defend the girl even if it costs me my life just to keep her safe," Kagome stared back defiantly at Sesshoumaru. Her words rang true and Sesshoumaru could not smell a lie. "I promise I'll try not to slow you down, so, please, Sesshoumaru-sama, may I travel with you."

"Why would you travel with this Sesshoumaru to keep yourself safe, but throw your life away for a mere girl?"

He was examining her. Hell, she would do the same thing in such a situation. Only moments before Rin had come and unknowingly saved her life was he about to slice her into bits and pieces. She would be lying on the ground if that were so. So why would she want to be with her would-be killer? Why would she risk her life for a life of a human child? Simple.

"The 'mere girl'," she said looking at the young child, "Is but a child, still needing to learn much of the dangers of the world. If I had to choose one of us to live in a battle, I would choose her. While I have lived up to eighteen years of age now, she has still yet to grow." Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru calmly, "She's a beautiful girl, Sesshoumaru."

Kagome knew that she shouldn't promise her life away so easily, but she knew that even if she weren't with Sesshoumaru, she would still try to protect lives with all she could. Of course, she would want to live, and of course, she knew she had a duty to cover, but if it meant that lots of lives had to waste just so she could live, she'd rather not have that happen. She would try the best she can to save as much lives as she could, even if that meant she'd have to go down trying.

Sesshoumaru felt something akin to astonishment –although he didn't show it – as he stared at the young boy before him. His eyes were serious and he had not told a lie. Hiroki was something else. Sesshoumaru looked at the bracelet that pulsed with dark magic on his wrist and concluded that he was looking for a witch or a miko for this reason. Either the bracelet had depleted whatever 'strength' he had (since the boy mentioned he had a lot of experience in fighting, and Sesshoumaru had smelt no lie), or he was under a curse. Sesshoumaru had a feeling it was the latter.

"Very well," Sesshoumaru said after a long time, and Rin gave Kagome a toothy grin, "You will travel with this Sesshoumaru to take care of my ward. If I see any harm come to her, you will see personally just why I am feared."

To his surprise, Hiroki only smiled and bowed. "I thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama," he said with a grateful smile, "I will care for Rin with the best of my abilities."

"Hn." Sesshoumaru said, turning away with nothing more to say.

Rin grabbed Hiroki's hand and he smiled down at the girl. Hand in hand, they both followed the demon lord back to camp.

OoO

In a different clearing not too far from the river, a loud exclamation was heard. Sango jumped awake, on sudden guard, although still groggy from sleep. Miroku was slowly coming to his senses, hearing loud curses of an irate hanyou. Kirara hissed, not happy that she had been woken up and Shippou yawned tiredly, rubbing his eyes before the young Kit realised something very wrong with the picture.

It was dark, but not really dark as it was just before sunrise. It was too early, but that's not what had the kit worried. It was the fact that someone who should also be in the sleeping bag with him, was in fact nowhere in sight.

"Inuyasha," Sango said as sternly as her sleepiness allowed, "What is wrong?"

"Where the hell is Kagome?" the hanyou asked and as soon as those words came out of his mouth did the monk and the demon slayer notice the absence of their friend. Shippou was already looking frantically about.

Miroku sighed, having a feeling that the words of what Inuyasha had said earlier might be why she wasn't at the campsite at the moment. "Can you get a whiff of her scent?" Miroku asked, as Sango went and picked up the almost in tears fox.

"It's your entire fault Inuyasha!" Shippou wailed, "If you didn't just call her a shard detector, she would be here!" Sango patted his head as the fox cried onto her shoulder. After all, it was someone he considered a mother that was missing.

"Shut up, brat!" Inuyasha growled, a little harsher than he intended. After all, what Shippou had said might actually not be a lie. He went on smelling Kagome out, the group following behind him, except for Kirara, who was staying back to take care of the campsite. When he stopped at the river, he frowned when her scent just suddenly disappeared. But that's not all that made him frown. "I smell Sesshoumaru."

"Inuyasha, you can't possibly be saying…"

"I know what I smell!" Inuyasha interrupted Sango with a growl, "As soon as his scent appears, Kagome's disappears! That bastard! If he done anything to Kagome I'll kill him!"

Miroku opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Inuyasha had already walked away in rage following the scent of his half-brother. He turned to Sango and Shippou. They nodded to each other and ran after the angry hanyou.

OoO

"Hiroki… Hiroki," Eerie voices echoed around her. It was dark and Kagome felt like she was floating. "My love, wake up."

And as if she were opening her eyes, a scene blurred before her until it became clear. There, before her was a very beautiful female and Kagome could tell she wasn't human, if the fox ears above her head gave any indication. She was a simple blue yukata, her green eyes sparkled brightly. Her black hair was tied up in a ponytail. Kagome figured this was a memory of some sort.

"Hiroki, come on, get up," she said a giggle to her voice, "Your son wants you to play with him."

Kagome's body moved on her own as her arms pulled down the beautiful demon. "Where is he now?"

The demon lifted her hand and moved the fringe of Kagome's face. The bracelet was what caught her attention. It was the exact one that she wore right now. "He's—"

The scene suddenly changed. Fear gripped at her heart as she looked at her hands. Blood. Blood was everywhere. On her clothing, on her hands. Two bodies lay motionless before her as she took a step forward.

"WHERE IS KAGOME?" Kagome was jerked awake by the sound of her hanyou friend, but she found something seriously wrong with scene before her. That is, until memories of what had happened returned to her. Rin was stirring beside her.

"I know you took her Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha hollered at the stoic demon lord, "Now where is she!"

Kagome pierced her lips together as she watched the scene before her unfold. Miroku, Sango and Shippou broke into the scene behind Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru said nothing and Jaken bristled angrily at what Inuyasha was implying.

"Sesshoumaru-sama would never kidnap your human wench?" Jaken said angrily.

"I know what I smell!" Inuyasha looked angrily at Sesshoumaru, "Now where is she?"

"Your inferior senses fail you, half breed," Sesshoumaru said, his eyes flashing dangerously, "There is no scent of the miko here, nor is she seen."

Miroku put a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. "Inuyasha, calm down and think logically," Miroku said and Kagome's heart wrenched when she looked upon the friends she could not return to. She would miss confiding in Sango, Miroku's wisdom, miss Shippou's antics, Kirara's silent comfort, and Inuyasha's brashness.

"There's no way that Sesshoumaru would steal Kagome," Sango said, "If he wanted to steal her, why would he do so now?" Inuyasha growled, but didn't say anything as he stared at Sesshoumaru in barely contained anger.

Sesshoumaru turned away and looked at Kagome briefly, before he looked at Rin and Jaken, "Come, we leave."

Kagome quickly scrambled up, and that was when Inuyasha and the group noticed her presence. Before Jaken could make a comment, Sesshoumaru gave a growl in warning to not make a fuss. Kagome took hold of Rin's hand and followed behind the two headed dragon. "Come on, Rin," she said quietly, and inwardly winced in how male her voice sounded. She was still not used to it.

And there you have the second chapter of Complexity, and geezus was it complex. It took me ages to think of how will I have Sesshoumaru and Kagome travel together without Sesshoumaru losing his patience and killing Kagome! And it clicked! Rin, lovely adorable Rin!! And I'm sorry if anyone got confused with how I worded things. Sesshoumaru sees her as a boy, but Kagome sees herself as a girl, so there'll be times where I would address her as a guy. Hope that doesn't confuse anyone.