My eyes pierced through my blurry vision with a few quick blinks. I was too shocked to think. The violet night sky was cloudless. The river was icy.

I didn't hear him at first.

The man who carried me was a demon, and one I've met. He was wearing a light purple haori, since he had shed his outer layer.

I'm pretty sure I blushed. Toned abs were visible, as his haori clung to his skin, wet. His arms were well-defined as well. His face was gorgeous in the dimming horizon.

"Moriko."

I felt cloth underneath me, and after a few moments, I realized he had set me on the ground. My eyes never left his silhouette.

He walked ten paces away and sat on a rock.

"You should dress yourself."

Her gasp surprised him. He kept his eyes away as he heard her shuffling. She had not noticed until now? What had put her into such a shock in the first place?

Hearing her draw a sharp breath, he braced himself, especially his ears.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU UNDRESS ME FOR?!"

I stomped over to him, growling. My shadow loomed over him. His face peeked around, taken by surprise as I bonked him on the head.

"WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"

He turned back around and sighed. I stood there. I felt the need to sit on the ground beside his rock, facing the river, willing to listen to him.

"Are you going to believe me if I bother explaining?"

I stared at his violet-streaked hair. It wasn't really streaked, as I had thought before. It was violet underneath, and was more noticeable from the back of his head. "Nope."

Another sigh. "You had a strong fever. I merely wished to quell it before I let you be on your way."

He . . . Cared for me? I cherished the feeling, placing a hand on my chest, fingers curling. I looked down at the ground. Oh, why had I bothered yelling at him? I don't know how I could be so violent when he still could of killed me or just left me where he found me.

I thought about that. That was no coincidence that it was him that I ran into in my . . . Time of need? I guess? Could he have . . .? The wind picked up then. My hair, haven fallen out of my hair band at some point, swept over my right shoulder a bit. Strands tickled my face. It blew forward from behind me, towards Byakko. Kaze. My heart wanted to burst from my chest with yearning. Though I desired so much for the love of another, I shook my head.

No. There's no way. Don't even suspect it, Moriko, or there'll be consequences and you know it.

Trying to push down my feelings, I turned away, "Well, thank you. I owe you that much, at the very least."

I wasn't until I'd stepped into the woods again that I thought about how I was going to get home. Well, gee, Moriko, what does home smell like?

"Uh great. It's getting dark too." I said aloud.

I don't really think I want to go home. What was the point? To stay and watch everyone suffer the limits of mortality? No. I will not be present for that.

I turned back and approached the daiyoukai. He was still lounging on his rock, an arm draped over a bent knee. I stood there for a moment, debating.

Then, bravely, and spending much effort not looking at him, I sat on the sand with my feet before me. From the corner of my eye, I saw him turn and look over at me, expressionless. I found myself staring into those deep green eyes. They look . . . Dare I say it? . . . a little worried.

"Are you going home?" I watched his mouth move at his words, mesmerized.

Realizing what I was doing, I looked away at the calm river. Summoning courage, I coolly replied, "I don't want to go home right now."

I was surprised that his unrelenting interest in me suddenly dimmed as he watched the peaceful river himself. After a while, he admitted, "I don't want to go home either."

Her words cut through him as though she had taken those claws of hers to his throat. "Would you like to stay away from home with me?" She had asked, a smile hiding her sadness.

He made a calm noise of surprise at that.

"It would be an honor." He said without any effort at sounding polite or caring. No need to lead her on.

She stood suddenly, her hands clasped behind her back, "So! Where should we go?"

"I have places I need to go, and others that need me to come."

At his silence, she asked, "So let's get going . . .?"

"We stay for the night and ride in the morning."

Ride? Though my thoughts love to dance in the gutter I refuse to let them this time. I watched him retrieve his clothes and armor. Sorry honey, but that glorious ass is way out of your league. Not that I could actually see his ass, but I knew that it was just as glorious as the rest of him.

Then, my stomach grumbled. I blushed. I'd hoped he hadn't heard it, but as I laid my eyes on him I found his green ones at my stomach. My head started to panic, he -he heard it! no no no no no no no

"Can you fend for yourself?"

I sighed. I'm going to have to say it. "I'm ashamed to admit it but I cannot."

"You were not taught?"

I shook my head. I guess I would have been taught in time but . . .

"Hn."

He set his clothes back down and stepped towards the river. He held out his hand to me. His face was kind and even a little happy. Without even thinking, I placed my hand upon his, and he led me to the water. I was entranced. Yep, definitely entranced.

I feel the edge of my kimono touch the water. It broke me from his trance, "-Oh! Matte."

He loosened his grip and my hand reached for my kimono as I bent down. I had noticed some of the rice planters in the village do this in their paddies.

I folded the skirt into my obi to make it short.

Then he taught me how to fish.

"Let her be." Sesshomaru said.

"But-"

"An inu-youkai emanates particular scents depending on her mood. Your daughter is no exception. She is content where she is."

I put a hand on my husband's shoulder, "Don't forget, Inuyasha, Rin traveled with Sesshomaru."

He eyed the pregnant woman next to Sesshomaru, "Un. And we all know how their relationship ended up."

Rin blushed and Sesshomaru backhanded Inuyasha across the face.

"Do Not embarrass MY MATE."

The night was awkward. I had changed into my taijiya clothing, minus the armor and shoes, and used my folded kimono as a pillow. I went over the course of the day in my head. Inuyasha must be worried. Come to think of it, why hasn't he followed me as he did before? Did mom think it best not to?

Knowing I wouldn't find the answers now, I thought about the fishing training I'd received. I sucked. Big time.

Byakko, in all his gracefulness, had sliced through the water and grabbed a writhing fish. My mouth had been agape. I tried and failed several times. I wanted to just quit and wait till tomorrow to eat but I didn't want to look like a weakling in front of him. I probably already looked like one in comparison to him.

Eventually, he'd decided to catch another one for me and we settled beside his fire. I felt so stupid letting him do everything for me.

I think he had smelled my embarrassment, for he had commented, "It is not your fault you were not taught how to survive."

I shift my arm underneath my makeshift pillow. Why was he so kind to me?

During their shared meal, he had questioned her upbringing. Knowing that she should hide the whole time-traveling thing and also knowing that lying to daiyoukai was very difficult, she simply told him things that were believable and safe to relay to him. In the end, she hoped his opinion of her wasn't too low. After some time, he did admit that my level of education was "more than suitable."

Every time I had asked him a question he would answer it vaguely or skirt around it completely.

He heard her shiver, her teeth chatter. His irises lazily rolled over her dozing form. She was going to keep him up all night at this rate. He sighed as he made his way over to her.

I awoke to find him already awake, sitting on his rock again, but this time he was facing me. I was surprised that he had not donned his armor yet. I sat up. Why was he watching me?

I felt something fall into my lap after I had sat up. I lifted the blue fabric, astonished. I can't believe he's been so kind to me!

Could he . . .? No. Nope, forget it Moriko. It isn't possible. He's just . . . Kind.

I rose and stretched with my arms behind my head, counting the series of pops in my back and upper arms. He still watched me.

"Oh, you must want this back." I lifted the kimono in emphasis.

"Hai."

I walked over and handed it to him. "Sorry if it smells like me now." I added, remembering how animals are picky about how things smell. Seems all demons are just animal beasts that can change form. He would have to wear his kimono all day, or longer. Not that I'm the one who gave it away as a blanket.

"It is fine."

With that he dressed himself, latching his armor and retying his obi around it.

Finally realizing I should probably put my kimono back on I start to unfold it.

"No."

"Eh?" What? It wasn't proper for a woman to be out and about without a kimono on. Not that Kagome had cared during the Shikon travels. I don't care either. I hate being a proper lady or whatever.

"Do not bother yourself." He simply looked away at my confused expression, to the sky.

He put his clawed fingers to his lips and whistled. I waited expectantly for some pet to show up. I hadn't even thought about what kind of pet until I saw a black shadow in the skies. My eyes widened. I could smell it. The smooth tang of sweet fig and chestnut. I automatically smiled from ear to ear.

A horse.

The black mare trotted down from the sky with perfect energy. Her nostrils flared excitedly. She shook her mane and her tail flew blissfully in the wind.

She landed before her master and she laughed (in a horse-like way) and nibbled at his hair. She was twice the size of a normal horse and her mane and tail blazed a brilliant turquoise. His hands rested on her cheekbones, affectionately.

I inched my way over, eager to just at least touch the gorgeous magnificent creature. I hadn't seen a horse in ages. I stopped my advancements. Huh, it literally has been ages. This was a demon horse. The turquoise flames about her hooves proved that. It's not like she hadn't just flown down from the sky, you idiot.