Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Chapter 5

Warning

The adrenaline pumped madly in her veins. Her feet ached as she ran but for the sake of her life and that human girl she kept running. She had do make it!

-There she is!

She gasped horrified. She ran as fast as she could. Tears threatened to fall but she held them back. Her vision was becoming blurry. The guards' footsteps became closer.

Kami, give me strength!

She screamed when a very sharp katana barely missed her left side. She clung to the precious scrolls in her arms for dear life.

She hated her lord. She was but a slave taken from the love of her family and friends to pay off a debt. Many times she had scrubbed the floors at day and warmed his bed at night. She scorned him. He disgusted her more than everyone else.

She always liked humans unlike most of the demons. She soon found it easier to have a true human friend than a demon. Yes, they had their many flaws but wasn't that what made them the perfect race? Balance needed not only good but evil too. The good needed evil and vice versa. The fact that humans made this far without even half the power demons have was truly astounding and just proved their worth for her. But of course, the perfect self-proclaimed gods that were demons could never understand that. That was why she humbly thought herself superior to all of those brain witted fools.

She winced when an arrow pierced her right in her back. Calling out her demon strength she sped up.

-Don't let her escape!

She narrowed her eyes in concentration…and released a relieved sigh when she finally lost sight of them. She looked down at the battle plans in her arms and her eyes had a glimmer of hope.

Lord Sesshomaru, a well known master warrior and tactician. When she heard the rumors of him having a human ward and protecting some human villages in his domain too she couldn't believe it. But right now he was her only escape. She would give him the precious battle plans and protect the human girl and in return he would be her new master.

*Dream*

She never felt so happy. She giggled as she ran away from her play mate. She stopped near one of the many trees and hid herself behind it, trying to stop giggling.

The place was beautiful. She could see clearly the hot spring nearby. The steam coming from it was inviting and she grasped her kimono to strip it. Two strong arms wrapped around her waist, interrupting her and her heart skipped a beat when warm lips kissed her ear. His deep voice whispered.

-I found you…

*End Dream*

Rin opened her eyes and groaned frustrated. Such a good dream…she didn't want to wake up. That voice was so familiar but she shook her head and rubbed her eyes.

It was just a dream.

She went to her window and opened it. She huffed when she noticed it was still late at night. What could she do now? She didn't feel like sleeping anymore. She glanced at her door and bit her lip. Would Inuyasha be mad at her if she got out for a walk? Last time he didn't look very happy but she didn't know what to do now. She grasped her blanket and wrapped herself around it. She opened the door and smiled when the cold breeze hit her face. She liked the cold. While others loathed it she found it inviting. She remembered with longing the last time it snowed in the village. It was so beautiful. The whole village was covered in white. She laughed silently when she recalled having snowball fights with her friends.

*Thump!*

She rubbed her nose and her eyes closed in pain. She groaned realizing she just hit a tree. Giggling to herself at how silly she was she resumed her walk but now she had her full attention in it. Looking back she noticed she was getting a bit far from the village and she pondered in returning back to her hut. She tried to feel tired but she was full of energy. Shrugging, she continued further into the forest.

She halted when she heard and awfully familiar voice.

-My lord! I have returned with the information you wanted!

Her eyes widened and she ran towards the voice.

Damn that screeching of his. It was giving Sesshomaru a headache. He looked down at the little demon holding enthusiastically a scroll in his hands and reached for it. Just when he opened it there was an orange blur and next thing he knew he saw Rin pinning Jaken to the floor and cuddling him, suffocating him even.

-Master Jaken! Oh, I missed you so much!

Jaken coughed and sputtered, trying to calm his racing little heart. He sniffed the human embracing him and his eyes widened at the scent. He managed to pull her away to see her face.

-Rin?

She giggled and nodded. He gapped like a fish.

-My goodness girl! You look so changed!

-She has grown up, you fool.

They both looked at Sesshomaru who had his usually stoic expression but there was amusement in his eyes. Jaken felt his heart racing again and he tried to speak properly.

-I am aware of that, my lord. It's just…

He then looked down and noticed he was still in Rin's arms. Blushing madly he struggled to get out of her grip.

-Let me go at once, you insufferable human!

She laughed and let him go. Jaken could be annoying but she had missed him too.

-Rin.

She gulped. She looked at her lord, her heart racing too.

-Yes, Lord Sesshomaru?

He subtly licked his lips and she felt a tingle in her stomach.

-What are you doing up this late?

She paled. Great, now how could she explain that? She found herself giving him the same answer she had given Inuyasha.

-I was just taking a walk.

He quirked an eyebrow.

Totally not buying it.

He crossed his arms over his chest. She sighed.

-I couldn't sleep anymore.

He had an odd look in his eyes. She felt drawn to it and she stared back.

Jaken watched those two feeling really confused and out of place. He cleared his throat breaking them of their trance.

-My lord, the information…

Sesshomaru looked at the scroll in his hand and opened it.

"…we still have the upper hand in the war but Lord Akio's forces managed to break one of our defenses at the castle. They were killed immediately but the castle was damaged…"

Sesshomaru looked at Jaken and gave him a very scary smile. Jaken gave a long and audible gasp and his eyes widened comically. He braced himself for the pain that was to come. Soon enough he felt Sesshomaru's fist connecting with his head with more force than ever and his vision started to blur before falling unconscious.

-Useless.

Sesshomaru muttered frustrated. He just hoped that Rin decided to come with him soon. He didn't want to force her but if it had to come to that he would do it without hesitation.

Rin watched all of this with a frown. Poor Jaken. He didn't seem to have done anything wrong. She looked at her lord who was still reading the scroll. She took a deep breath and walked towards him. He closed the scroll and sighed silently.

-My lord?

He was startled at Rin's closeness. He didn't even notice her there. He nodded at her to make her know that he was listening.

-You look troubled…

He blinked slowly. He did? He thought his lack of expressions hid everything he truly felt.

Yes he was troubled. He was stressed. Rin could tell by the darkening in his amber eyes. She felt this urge to caress him, take the stress away. Before she knew it she was caressing those magenta stripes in his cheeks. She saw his cat like pupils dilate and she gasped fascinated. She heard a soft rumbling coming from his chest and she noticed he was purring.

I think I love him more now.

Her touch felt so good…so right. He wanted to lean into it, seek more of it. Have it all for himself.

Touch her!

He almost complied to his beast's wishes. Almost. Breaking from his stupor he snatched her hands away from his face and took a step backwards. Looking into her eyes he saw hurt and confusion. He said as coldly as he could.

-Go back to bed, Rin.

She frowned but didn't say anything. She stood there for a little while staring at him. Frustrated, he said a little louder.

-Go back to bed!

She looked startled and she nodded sadly. She turned and headed to the village with slow and unsure steps. In the depths of his soul his beast roared its outrage. He silenced it and sighed.

I can't!

Takeru cut the large vegetation in his way with his spear. Three days. Three long days searching for the human wench and the hanyou abomination. He was starting to think that maybe the rumors were just that. Rumors. He too, found it hard to believe the famous cold hearted and feared Lord Sesshomaru would ever have a human as ward. He snorted. Maybe Lord Akio wasn't as bright as he thought.

He continued to walk, ignoring the frustrated and tired sounds his soldiers were making. He really was tired too. But duty was duty.

He suddenly lost balance and realized he, a feared demon general, just tripped in a tree root. He fell and his face hit the dirt, making a little cloud of dust around. He stayed like that for a while still not believing he just tripped. The soldiers were snorting and trying to stifle their laughter but without success. Takeru grunted when he heard those fools laughing at him. He got up in a jump and faced them angrier than ever. They slowly stopped laughing but their satisfied smiles remained. He cleared his throat and spoke his threat.

-What just happened will remain between us alone, do you understand? If I hear one of you told anyone about this there will be hell to pay!

They nodded but they were still smiling. Takeru huffed at his soldiers' impertinence.

And here I thought they were more disciplined. At least they stopped complaining.

He sniffed the air and caught the scent of another village. This looked like a human only village. Maybe this was the one. He led his unit to its direction and soon found it. Hiding in the vegetation he watched as the humans started to get out of their homes to start their daily chores. He smirked and his green eyes sparkled with the promise of blood and suffering.

She sighed in relief when she saw a village. Maybe they were kind enough to treat her wounds. She was starting to feel weak from blood loss. Turns out that arrow in her back was poisoned. Her vision was blurring and her head was pounding. She used all her strength to get there and when she saw the humans looking at her with curious glances instead of menacing and suspicious ones she let herself fall unconscious. She heard the shouting for help and she let a small and weak smile grace her delicate face.

Rin heard the commotion outside and got out of her hut with sleep deprived eyes. She still didn't feel tired anyway.

Her eyes widened when she saw what looked to be a demon woman lying on the ground with an arrow attached on her back and holding some scrolls in an iron grip. Rin approached her slowly. She didn't know if it was safe but something told her that this demon was one of the good ones. She turned to one of the villagers standing there and said with determination.

-Get Kagome-chan now! This woman needs urgent healing!

He nodded and ran towards Kagome's hut.

Soon Rin saw Kagome with a curious looking case that Kagome uses to call "first aid kit". She kneeled near Rin and started to take the arrow off and disinfect it. She then applied a disgusting sort of goo and spread it all over the wound. She closed her case and ordered the villagers to take the demon to her hut and place her in the futon. They silently obeyed and Rin sighed in relief. It looked like the woman was going to make it. She looked at the scrolls that the woman was holding and she made sure no one was looking. She grabbed them and opened one but just when she was starting to read it…

…she heard the most horrific scream ever.