Disclaimer: I do not owe Inuyasha or any related character. Only in my dreams.

AN: I planned on starting this story like ages ago, but my pc went to hell and came back just now. Sooooo... I'll be writing it from now on. The chapters should be of this length, usually, not much bigger or shorter. I do need a Beta, but I don't know how that stuff works. Someone heeeelp me! Anyway. Read, review, favorite, do whatever you want! :) It is gonna be a looooong story, so yes, it's gonna take sometime to reach some one the points mentioned in the summary!

"Do not suppose things that are beyond your understanding, miko. A ningen's life or two are not of my concern. But this Sesshoumaru will do what must be done to prevent further disadvantage for the Western lands." his answer seemed to hold no emotion, but Kagome knew better. The brief seize of his left eyebrow flagged his discomfort at her comment, so she perceived the true reasons of his actions no further, for she had already guessed them. Little Rin must've been affected by the terrible illness. Or if not her, someone of her concern. What else could move almighty Sesshoumaru to her call?

Silly youkai. If he would only tell me the child is hurt, I'd be half way there already. How much can your pride cost you yet, Sesshoumaru? Kagome wondered to herself, holding a soft gaze for a few moments.

"I'll help, if I can. What do you need me for, Sesshoumaru-sama?" she finally replied, and the slight bulging of Sesshoumaru's eyes made her lack of resistance more then worth it, though she had considered giving him a hard time before helping in his quest just a few seconds before. He thought she would give him a hard time, too, apparently, because his upper muscles suddenly relaxed a tenth, as if he had been building up tone so far to physically coerce her, if needed.

"There is no certainty concerning the forms in which you might help yet, miko, only that it will you will be required once we arrive at our destination." his eyes regained his cold constrain and his voice sounded as imposing as usual, reminding the human girl of her place beyond his icy stare.

Confrontation was no option. She had no idea what was asked of her, and had just accepted she would not know until it was time to do it. Perhaps he himself doesn't know, she mused, why it is that I must go.

"Why... Do you think I should go, Sesshoumaru? I mean... What hinted my presence might be needed? If it's just a flower you need, I don't see why I... have anything you can't do." Kagome murmured, walking slowly towards the stoic figure.

"You are of most and absolute inferiority to this Sesshoumaru in both power and connections. All you have is what you are. I need a miko." he half lied. It wasn't all true, because it was not a miko in essence he was demanded by the prophecy; it was a pure, good soul. And as far as the ones he knew went, she was the closest to that.

"Oh, I see... So... Yasha isn't gonna like this one bit... But i'm sure I can convince him. It's not like we've been doing much lately anyway. At least he might find something to kill in the way" before the end of her sentence, Sesshoumaru had already raised his hand mid-air, silencing her.

"The hanyou and his pack are not to join us, miko. We shall leave alone."

"What? I can't just leave them! They will..." Kagome started, building up some uprising at the mention of leaving her friends behind for what might be a long journey. And besides, Sesshoumaru had already appeared and practically demanded that she helped him, who was he to now force her to do it so by herself? Alone in the world with the cruelest of beings!

"They'll be glad of it, ningen, believe me. It is time you realize your position in this world. You are a miko, you do not belong in a pack, and all of them know it. Right now they are each discussing their future and none of them include you in it." the taiyoukai coldly replied, holding no deceit in his voice.

He could, after all, hear just that. Apart from Kilala and Shippou who were both playing hide and seek, the remaining components of the inu-pack were, indeed, talking about the decisions they should take in the coming times. And there was one common question: what should they do about Kagome? All was right, except for how to fit their friend in their so hoped for new lives.

Kagome knew of it. She pretended not to hear, but how could one not to, when living with those people for so long? She could almost hear their thoughts, but she didn't have to, for she – too – had already listened to conversations such as those the youkai told many times before. But one thing was to pretend not to know when the only witness to your lies was youself, and another when someone presented the facts to your face. How could she deny him the reality of what she avoided for so long?

With anger. With rage. Damn him, idiot youkai. Who he thinks he is to say something like that? He, who nobody loves. He, who nobody cares about. He, the killing perfection!

"Damn you! Damn you all!" she screamed, both in her mind and voice, and turned to give him her back and put some distance between any of them and herself. Three steps further into the grass and her body was thrown across the water, reaching the other side of the bank of the river, pressed against a tree by a very rigid taiyoukai body.

"Hold your tong, ningen, before I cut it off." his voice echoed within her soul, bringing up bitter thoughts and further anger.

"Then do it! Cut it, eat it, burn it! What gives you the right to say awful things to my face and have the NEEERVE to demand me to help you? I respect you! You are strong and powerful, but that's it. You are no better than me! You are intolerable and there is absolutely no chance I'm traveling all alone with you, ice lord! Actually, there is no chance I'm traveling with you AT ALL! You tell me what needs to be done and I'll do it by myself." she finally concluded, thinking of little Rin and what must be done to cure her, despite of her own hatred against the demon lord. It was not for him, but for humanity as a whole.

Sesshoumaru had not foreseen the little ningen's reaction to his words. Of course he expected some downside of emotions coming out of the predictable thing, but rage and fire of the kind weren't amongst them. He had expected her to cry and take some time to deal with the fact that her group no longer required her presence, but instead, she not only seemed to already understand that fact very well, but hate him for forcing her to face it.

What a curious creature. Fierce bitch. Fierceness, beast? This petty disposition is barely savage. Savage is good. Good is silent.

Pushing aside his beast once again, the taiyoukai evaluated the enraged woman between his arms – pierced in the three – for instants before growling thunderously under her ear. He was a predator, a killer, his voice, his body, his whole presence was designed to inspire fear and she'd better soon realize that.

She shrank and turned her head, unknowingly baring the slim side of her neck in submission to the inu-youkai. Sesshoumaru knew of her humanity and lack of knowledge of the inu's customs, but something within himself reverberated at her display of submission, nonetheless.

He growled once again, lifting Kagome's body from the ground, her screams ringing loud inside his ears as she took notice of the cloud forming beneath them. With one last growl, the strongest one, Sesshoumaru silenced the miko, baring his sharp teeth with the promise of hurting her if she ever dared to do question him again.

Delighted with the new found silence of her fast-beating heart, he smiled. A broad, cynic smile. Well, the kamis were witness to his attempt to convince the girl. He was not the most diplomatic youkai in the Feudal Lands, though.

And she realized that as they took air and disappeared in the horizon.