Chapter Three

"You would do well to remember your place, wench!" Sesshomaru snarled. "When I ask a question, I expect it answered!"

He was growling demandingly with dangerously bared fangs. Kagome barely heard him as she struggled to find her breath for the second time that day. Kagome was grabbing at his wrist in a futile attempt to pry it from her throat. Sesshomaru continued to growl until her body resigned and went limp beneath his grasp. He released her and she dropped to the ground on her knees holding her chest coughing, regaining her strength and ability to breath.

"You want to know?" she said darkly though gritted teeth without even looking up at the dog demon above her. Her voice was husky after having her airways being clenched together beneath his grasp but still managed to portray decent anger and absence of fear. "Inuyasha ran off after Kikyo! Just like he always does when she's around! He was so concerned about Kikyo that he didn't even realize I had been fatally injured! Is that what you wanted to hear? He chose her and I paid the price with my life!" she yelled rambling. She couldn't recall when she'd gotten to her feet but she now stood, fists clenched stiffly to her sides and glaring darkly up at his tall figure.

Insensitive jerk! She hoped that he was happy that his curiosity was filled. Because for her, saying it all out loud made it all the more real. Allowing the anger to erupt wanted to make her crumble. She was angry at Inuyasha for abandoning her and angry at Sesshomaru for making her admit it. She wasn't ready to face the emotions of it all yet and he single handily forced her to.

Unable to hold the tears back anymore, she fought against her body to hold them in with little success and she found herself struggling to breathe yet again. Perhaps she was destined to suffocate. Emotions raged up in her beyond the point of control and she began to hyperventilate. She dropped to her knees again trying to stave off the tears that kept on coming, clutching fiercely to her chest as if to hold it together. She fell apart in a tremendous mess at Sesshomaru's feet. Her white long sleeved blouse stained with the dried blood and a gaping hole that only served as a reminder of her death. Her short green skirt stained with grass and dirt and her bare knees had layers of skin removed from the multiple collapses to the ground.

Inuyasha had abandoned her to the grips of death and now she was stuck with an even worse, emotionally stunted demon. Why couldn't she just go home to people who actually cared for her? She broke, her shoulders shuddering beneath her. She feared her body wouldn't hold together much longer. How could he betray her after everything they had been through together?

"Cease your crying." Sesshomaru cringed. It was a sickly sight if he'd ever seen one and the smell of the salt was insulting. A human girl submitting to such weakness and all due to a half-breed. He felt her Reiki spike stronger than he'd felt it before. Apparently it wasn't the correct thing to say. Not that he cared. He didn't understand humans and their abhorrent need to wail. Especially over such pitiful things. It was weak and therefore she was weak, and Sesshomaru detested weakness.

She looked up and glared a deathly glare. An aura of pink surrounded her body and started to slowly expand. Hn. Sesshomaru knew it would not hurt him but nevertheless, it almost made his hair stand on end. If she was a demon, she might actually be impressive. It was fairly impressive for a Miko none the less. Although, he would never admit it.

Sesshomaru hadn't noticed Rin approaching until she was bent down next to the Miko, her small hand gently placed upon Kagome's shoulder offering her a comforting smile.

"Please don't cry, Kagome." She said sweetly. "Sesshomaru will look after you now."

Sesshomaru did not confirm, neither deny that assumption.

Kagome looked up at the small girl with tearful eyes and returned her smile. Her aura began to settle as she reached out and grabbed Rin's hand and squeezed gently. Rin handed her a small lavender Iris that she had just plucked from the ground and Kagome accepted it with a warm smile.

"Thank you." She reached toward her yellow backpack and dug around inside for a few short moments. "Here, you would like this. It's called a lollypop." Kagome handed Rin a strawberry chupa-chup from her stash that she had brought back with her for Shippo. Oh how she missed Shippo. Rin took it and inserted it curiously into her mouth.

"Oh my! That's delicious!" She beamed as her eyes widened a degree more than Sesshomaru had witnessed before. Kagome reached her hand to the girls head and gave a gentle pet.

"I have more but you can't eat them too often. They will rot your teeth otherwise."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes.

"You are feeding her some form of poison?" he was not going to have this human divulging harmful ailments to his ward.

Kagome laughed awkwardly, their exchange practically forgotten. Sesshomaru restrained himself from wrapping his clawed hand around her neck again. Was she mocking him?

"No, no! It's just sugar. It's a sweet. It's harmless. I promise." She smiled up at him waving a hand as she tried to dispatch the idea like it was a fly. If he was one to roll his eyes, they would be rapidly revolving in their sockets. However Rin seemed to enjoy this treat and so he let it be.

"Hn." He began to walk away, implying wordlessly that everyone was to pursue. Kagome was just happy that their confrontation was at an end. Kagome reached a hand to her face and wiped away the dampness, recovering herself and pulling herself to a stand. Rin followed suit. With Rin around Kagome felt like things can't be all that bad. Surely if Sesshomaru had her around he was not as evil as he once was. Right?

Digging deep within herself, she shrugged off her negativity and focused on the positives. Like for one, she had just survived a confrontation with the great and all powerful demon Lord without Inuyasha's aid. Rin linked her hand with Kagome's and they followed behind hand in hand, Rin humming quietly.

Sesshomaru did not fail to notice Rin holding the Miko's hand for quite a period of time. No one else would have noticed that he had been observing the pair inconspicuously. He could not kill the human thus far for Rin's sake and he wondered what he managed to get himself into. Rin would be upset if he was to dispose of the Miko now. He mentally sighed. She seemed to enjoy the company and it seemed the human came with a supply of food. But still, a part of him regretted resurrecting this girl. Or at the very least having her accompany him. What was happening to the great dog demon? How did he wind up in a position to have not one, but two humans accompanying him? Perhaps there was more of his father in him than he initially anticipated. He repressed a growl at the thought and then, like an unsuspecting slap in the face, a memory hit him. One from so long ago. It was the last conversation he'd had with his father. The night he'd died.

It was a night of a full moon and they stood on a small hill on a beach. It was snowing and blood was dripping down his father's left arm, staining the thick snow beneath him red. Inu no Taisho had just come from his battle with Ryukotsusei and his wounds were severe. However he stood strong regardless as he starred out at the black ocean with his back to his son, as if he hadn't incurred any wounds at all. His fur hung down his back and his long silver, high tied ponytail was being whisked about by the wind. He sensed when his son approached but did not turn to face him.

Sesshomaru stood a few paces from his father. His attire was similar to what he currently wore except the white kimono he had worn held a red flower at the collar and partially down his left arm instead of the small flowers in hexagons. His armour was still the same however the obi that he adorned was navy with gold tips and his silver tresses were significantly shorter, barely reaching the small of his back. Chronilogically he appeared to resemble a fifteen year old human.

"Father, do you insist on going?" Sesshomaru asked stoically.

"Do you intend to stop me, Sesshomaru?" His voice was deep, strong and unwavering.

"I will not stand in your way. However, before you go, you must entrust the swords So'unga and Tetsusiega to me."

"And if I refuse, will you kill me? Your own father?" his father asked, his tone unrevealing to any emotion. There was a pause. You could hear the whistle of the wind, cloth sweeping across armour and the grass that protruded from the snow rustling together. Inu no Taisho let out a short and low growl in response to Sesshomaru's hesitation.

"Do you desire power so much?" he asked with a hint of disappointment. "Why do you seek power, my son?"

"The path I walk is the way of supreme conquest and it is power that will reveal the way for me."

Inu no Taisho lowered his head disconcertingly.

"Supreme…conquest?" The great Inu contemplated the words for a brief moment. His demeanour revealing nothing of his thoughts before he continued with severity. "Tell me Sesshomaru, have you someone to protect?"

"Protect?" Sesshomaru repeated the word in disgust. Was his father testing him? "The answer is no. I, Sesshomaru, have no need of such."

Sesshomaru glared at his father's back for even suggesting something so heinous. The wind picked up wildly as his father began to transform. Within seconds a giant dog graced the cloudy dark skies, white fur ethereal against the moonlight.

Inu no Taisho ran off in his true form, leaving Sesshomaru on the beach alone with his thoughts. 'Someone to protect?' he heard his father's last words again.

"Why would I have any reason to waste my time protecting someone? Ridiculous!" He scoffed to himself as he turned and walked away. He knew he would likely never see his father again, and he didn't care.

Although that encounter had long passed, the memory of it seemed to be more frequently intruding his thoughts. That abominable question sitting on the brink of his mind ready to reveal itself periodically, lest he forget its existence. It was a time after he first took Rin into his care that it had first invaded his thoughts since that night so many moons ago. Sesshomaru looked over at the Miko and Rin strolling hand in hand as the question involuntarily echoed in his mind again. Have you someone to protect?

…

It was well into the night when Sesshomaru found a secure clearing for them to rest up for the remainder of the night.

"Jaken," the tiny Kappa beamed up at his Lord awaiting his orders. "Arrange a fire. We are to rest here until morning."

"Of course, Milord." He scampered off in search of firewood and brought back a small bundle shortly after. He used the staff of two heads to light it.

Kagome sat down against a tree, not realizing just how exhausted she was. Mentally, emotionally, and physically. Especially after her confrontation with Sesshomaru that she miraculously survived. Rin had taken to Kagome and went and sat by her to curl up. Sesshomaru just stood with his back facing them and starring off into the distance. He observed the curved slit of the moon that in a couple days would resemble the crescent that adorned his forehead, distracted in thoughts from his past and contemplating how he had gotten here. For the past couple hundred years, he had spent his time seeking power. His road to 'supreme conquest'. Yet of late he found the desire for that path seemed to be dwindling. Ever since Tetsusiega had chosen Inuyasha as its wielder, he had been trying to understand why. What had been behind his father's motives in leaving that sword to Inuyasha? Why did it reject him? And why,was Tenseiga entrusted to him. Even more pressing was why it continued to urge him to save humans?

Kagome watched as Sesshomaru stood starring at the night sky. So still that he could have passed as a statue. She knew Tenseiga had implored he save her but why? And why did he listen? On top of that, why did he wish her to follow? Was it possible that Sesshomaru, the cold and ruthless demon she had come to know, that had hated humans so very much, was developing…dare she think, compassion?

He knew that the Miko had been watching him. He could sense her eyes on the back of his head. He internally sighed.

"Have I something on my back you wish to inform me of, Miko?" he asked her without turning to face her. Her cheeks flared red as she realized he was not oblivious to her gawking.

"No, I just…never mind." She sighed before turning over and closing her eyes. It wasn't long until she surrendered to sleep.

Sesshomaru could hear when the Miko was asleep. Her breathing slowed and she was much less anxious. She was constantly anxious. Why was she constantly anxious since she'd travelled with them? She was weary of him but not fearful, therefore it couldn't be her fear of him causing the anxiety. He looked around. Jaken and Rin were also asleep. Rin had curled up against Kagome instead of her usual spot by Ah-Un and Jaken was against a tree clutching his staff. He quietly treaded over to the Miko's position and looked down on her sleeping form. She was much more peaceful when she was asleep, that much was certain. However he could see the sadness in her face even whilst dormant. Her obsidian curls curtained down and pooled at her hands that supported her head and her bangs fell sideways toward the ground. Something tugged somewhere inside him. He wasn't sure what, but it was ever present.

Curious….

A/N: So here is Chapter 3 guys. It is quite the bit shorter than the other chapters but this was intended to be more of a character development than anything and an insight to Sesshomaru's ponderings and conflictions.

I just want to thank all who have reviewed. You have no idea what it means and it inspires me to keep working hard on this. I promise there is much more to come. The first few Chapters are a bit slow but I'm trying to create the foundation. I promise there is more action ahead! I'm trying my best not to rush this.

I am revising Chapter 4 for the upteenth time and I wouldn't be surprised if it's up within the next 24 hours. I try to give myself a cooling off period before posting in case I change or want to add more. The next chapter is longer than this one too.

So let me know what you all think of this.

OH! and also, in case you weren't already aware, the dialogue between Sesshomaru and his father was an exact rendition of the 3rd movieSwords of an honourable ruler and so I am not claiming that section as my own. I merely attempted to put the scene to words and I hope that I did it justice as that was one of my favourite scenes in the anime.

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