A/N: To all my readers I thank you for your reviews and patience for my stories, they give me motivation to unleash imagination and it's a wonderful feeling. :) this chapter was meant for a small moment but I tried to stretch out and cover as much personal thoughts and plotline as I could.

This chapter also contains some vulgar language and mild sexual content. Enjoy!

A Life to Bargain

Chapter 3

Since the first time I died I had adopted an abnormal fear of wolves; the fight to rid myself of that fear has not been progressive as when the sound of a howl lingers through a dead night air I find myself trembling with a mild panic. My fingers would tingle, my hair felt not of my own, my feet like they were sewn to the ground beneath me. I can't remember the last time I was ever in contact with a wolf since I came to live in the village, but the memory of them brings on the worst part, the painful fear in my body ripping my insides apart and taking away my ability to move. The bites were numb compared to the hopeless fight against the stone pressure in my chest.

For a moment my fear for wolves held no ground against what I was going through now, and somewhere the tiniest spark of warmth washed over me. A grateful feeling.

He's alive...

When I stopped waiting I began to worry. Each night a later bedtime; more time saved for waiting for a surprise visit until sleep would finally catch me. When a year or two year went by I stopped eating, always worrying the worst. Kaede-baba's powerful thumps and wise tales couldn't get through to me, Kagome-san and Sango-san would do their best to coax me but I was a stubborn brat. I had to see for myself. I never expected it to annoy Inuyasha-sama though, and one day he told me the truth and that he wasn't going to talk to me like a child. They didn't know where he was, I didn't know where he was, and I had to get over it.

"The kind of person he is...it comes to no surprise if he never comes back. But compared to him you have to accept that you're place to him is a little lower than you thought. Taking offense to it is when it will consume you."

One of the wisest things I'd ever hear come out of Inuyasha-sama's mouth, which was not very often at all but bless those random moments of generations old wisdom because that day I began to fight back those terrifying dreams, the fatigue of starvation, my stomach too full of knots to keep anything down. From then on I gave no mourn to his hypothetical death or hope for his valious return. I just lived, day by day growing more with the people in my life and became the simple happy rough-edged village girl I once gagged thinking about when I was younger. Years passed and with them more and more subdued thoughts and forgotten memories. The restraints I made over time were stemmed from my lack of facing such terrible feelings again, a flaw made to be the perfect shell of defense. They were unbreakable.

Until now. Kaede-baba's death had stressed them weak, there was no way they could hold now. Shattered, memories flowing like a raging water, I felt ripped open and exposed.

This man, this demon, striding toward us was Sesshoumaru-sama. After ten years...those eyes the same honey gold as they were so long ago, however I couldn't say I recognized the rest of him. His hair once so long and unbound was in a high ponytail sparing his bangs that framed his crescent birthmark. His mokomoko wrapped around one shoulder shrouded half of the artistic engraving on his armored chest plate and spike covered shoulder plates. A deep purple added to his signature red and white attire on one of the most gorgeous silk under armour I've ever seen. My eyes finally gazed down to his feet only to be struck with the notion of something peculiar. As magnificently dressed as he was his boots were worn and battered, the polish long gone replaced with a dusty tint and battered sides. It must have been a bad war...

"My lord," the thundering voice of the bear demon demanded the field suddenly, addressing his lord with the utmost respect while doing a fine job of masking his wavering tone pitch, "what brings you here to the camp, sir?"

Sesshoumaru-sama reached the middle of the squander and stopped only a few feet from the bear demon...a good seven feet away from me. He was so close to me...my eyes hungry on his appearance taking in every bit. All those forgotten memories, all those years without seeing or hearing any mention of him and what seemed like only seconds he's hear right in front of me as real as the grass and the sky and everything inbetween!

I wanted to hurt him, I wanted to hug him, I wanted to scream at him like he was everything wrong at the moment. Instead I kept my mouth shut and watched; the best way I knew how to understand him was his facial expressions and his body language.

His eyes traveled through the field meeting the majority that stared back at him. "It seems we'd rather throw a festival instead of masking our whereabouts. Tell me, will you still find amusement when they ambush you from the sky?" His voice, it sounded so different than when I was a child. Now having a better grasp at the world I'd say it sounded more...sultry, deep and dominating with texture. Unique like the rest of him.

The bear demon blanched for a moment. "N-No sir, but with all due respect haven't we won this war? I was under the impression your magnificent leadership carried us through to a valiant rewarding end!" Ugh he was worse than Jaken-sama on a more than usual ass-kissing mood. Even I know that much smooching was going to get him nowhere.

"Nevertheless," you could catch just a hint of growing agitation in his tone, "you know better than to parade on the first day, fool."

The bear soldier winced as if slapped with the insult, replying hastily, "you're right, sir. Our apologies we seemed to have lost ourselves in our earnings."

Those sharp honey colored eyes flashed through the field again. At one moment our eyes locked and I gasped. What was I expecting? For him to instantly remember me? As if I looked the same...my scent has probably altered so much through the years plus the hassle of commanding an army at war I'd understand if he looked right past me without a seconds hesitation.

"Where did these women come from?" More than a statement than a question. I heard many of them call out, shouting the same thing simultaneously. "It was him! The traveling salesman!" They were quick to kick Tite's legs out from under him, to throw him under like that but what was to be expected? A few soldiers moved to the side revealing a quivering form of a frightened man bundled up against himself. How do you like it I thought rather wickedly, to cower helplessly before someone much stronger than you. One of the demons swiped him up by his collar and tossed him forward to stumble and catch himself until finally skidding to his knees only inches in front of Sesshoumaru-sama. Still Tite kept his head down, either of fear or respect he would not meet eyes with the ethereal ones staring down at him.

"Traveling salesman?" Sesshoumaru-sama sounded mildly amused just enough for the demon soldiers to shift uncomfortably. "Tell me, human, did these worthless hides purchase anything from you?"

He was toying with the poor man. Sesshoumaru-sama was never one for words, giving simple gestures or complete unacknowledgement with complete silence, but I remember these moments; maybe he was bored or Inuyasha-sama was irritating him but in these rare moments he shared more about him than one could gather.

In this case however he thought nothing more of Tite than a bug on his shoe; something to play with before he kills it.

Upon being addressed Tite's head shot straight up revealing those bright eyes that only moments ago had gleamed with the triumph of a greed ridden man now glazed with disorientation, fear, an early stage of shock. I pitied him now wondering how someone could make such a sketchy profession and not expect the worst scenarios. I've probably seen more death and otherworldly happenings by the time I was ten compared to him.

"I...n-no, no sir. They w-were a gift..." he was trembling out words, "for your grace...a-and your excellency. These are f-for your men who have fought a great fight!" A nice actor, but it certainly wasn't getting past a demon like Sesshoumaru-sama. Those eyes said it all; disinterest, boredom, disgust, Tite wasn't going to live for very much longer. They stared at each other for a moment and my pity grew for him even more. You don't stare a dog in the eyes...everyone knows that.

Cringing when Sesshoumaru-sama smirked I then immediately looked to his hand; I was right, his right hand began to clinch, a green mist enveloped his claws.

"My lord!" Interrupted the bear demon with a baritone plea. Sesshoumaru-sama's attention was on the bear now and by the slight twitch of his eyebrow the demon lord wasn't very happy to be denied the chance to take out an annoyance.

"Ah!" The bear demon must have noticed this as well. Nevertheless he stood in front of his fellow soldiers facing his commander as bravely as he could without looking like a pouting child. "Sir, I say this with the utmost respect, but we've been given gifts to celebrate our achievements. I speak for my men as well as myself when I say we would enjoy having those women!"

The silence that followed after was ear-ringing, a little embarrassing. Sesshoumaru-sama simply stared at him, the same stare that lingers in your being when you don't know what to expect, the same that gets into your head and makes you doubt your entire life. He use to give them to Jaken-sama on occasion so many years ago. Some demons began to shrink away silently from their head soldier. Something caught my eye from my right and I glanced back to see some of the women taking the opportunity to crawl into the tall grass and disappear. My heart lifted; maybe this was a great sign. Finally in the time I could say unregrettably that I needed him to save me he actually came in the form I'd never imagined him in. The temptation to run out and grab him and spill my heart out was too strong and yet something kept me back, perhaps it was too much of a show in front of all this chaos at the moment. I decided to wait just a moment more.

How I wished those bittersweet hopes had lingered a bit longer.

Sesshoumaru blinked, turning his attention to gaze upon the field once more. His eyes glazed, seemingly bored of this entire situation.

"Do with them how you will."

In a flurry of fur and silver hair he turned his back and began to leave. Roars of cheers erupted around me, the panicked screams of the women made my stomach twist; pleading for their lives and for their dignities.

I couldn't stop staring at his retreating form, knowing I should fight, beg, run, but my body would do no such thing. He might as well have turned me to stone to forever relive this moment.

This wasn't suppose to happen...

A scream from my right brought my attention to a woman being thrown on her back by a horned weasel. "No, please!" She begged through sobs, "I have a husband and children! Have mercy!" The demon only cackled at her...

"Bitch, you think I care about your worthless life?"

And then...I wasn't so sure what happened next. After a short blacked out moment I realized how bad my jaw felt from grinding my teeth. My eyes burned as if set under hot coals, my breaths heaving raggedly. This was rage... something I wasn't use to. Overwhelming and sudden had something exploded inside me. I wanted to lash out at every living thing, I wanted to maim.

Rage numbed my pain and I stood with ease, feet stomping indentions in the soft earth. How could he... I knew he was considered heartless but this... was a sentence to a disgraceful death. I may have never been on the merciless side of Sesshoumaru-sama's wrath, but what wrath had been established here? None of us had angered or insulted him...he just didn't care.

He didn't care... like he never cared to come back for me... not even a note to quell the nights of terrifying dreams or endless pondering.

He didn't care about any of these innocent women...mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, their lives would end at the simple wave of a hand and he wouldn't lose a bit of rest over it.

My stomps became short jogs. I was gaining up on him.

I hate you... I tore myself apart over you... thought you were dead, lived my life without you, and for what...for you to sentence me to death by the hands of your men?

How dare you...!

"HOW DARE YOU!" I screamed my throat raw, caring whether or not he bothered to realize he was the target.

"You bastard!" My knee buckled and I stopped stomping in an attempt to catch myself, my screams catching some abnormal eyes in my direction however none of that mattered, my senses were deaf to the anger that surged through me; Kami-sama did I want to hurt him.

"After ten years! Ten years and this is what I deserve!?" Through the crowd it was difficult to see if he caught what I said, but before I had the chance to blow the steam and think of my actions a strong hand gripped my arm tightly enough to bruise for sure. I winced but kept struggling forward not caring what or who had grabbed me.

"Disrespectful wench," growled a furious voice behind me and before I could register the words I was thrown around viciously to come face to face with a rather repugnant fur covered cyclops demon. "Insulting a mighty demon lord is intolerable. I'll be glad to put you in your place, girl!" He stuck the point of his foot into my weak ankle and from the sudden sharp pain my legs buckled sending me to the ground on my knees. The grip on my arm was now on my hair as he wrapped his massive fist in my hair forcing my head up to look at him. I refused, casting my eyes down to the dirt.

Someone shouted at me from some feet away. A young woman, sprinting for her dear life past me gave me a look of utmost terror. "Rin!" She backtracked and started for me, yet a another sprinting woman behind her grabbed her by the arm dragging her away. Good! She was stupid to risk her life for me, I already chose my fate when I opened my tempered mouth. But what astounded me was that she attempted to reach out to me even as the other girl dragged her back, even as chaoitic as it was around us this woman was willing to put herself in harms way just to see I had a chance. But I did nothing, acting as if I barely acknowledged her. Finally the woman gave up, but before she did she let out a piercing scream of defeat. "Riiiiiin!" I squeezed my eyes shut holding back the want to act desperately. Please, I prayed, let her see another light of day.

I bit my lip when I heard him shuffling with the sashes around his waist with his other arm. My anger slowly faded into a nauseous headache blended well with hopeless fright. I should keep fighting, to continue thrashing and screaming until they'd have no choice but to slay me right away, but...what good would that do now...whether they kill or rape me first they'll just act on the other after. This feeling...like a child waiting to die in her own puddle of blood hearing only the lonely wind and the distant howling of wolves...

I cursed the tears that stained my face when the sound of chuckling from above leaked into my ears and stung like poison. "Your tears are enticing, little one."

My mind began to act on its own, drifting away and into times of much happier moments in a desperate attempt to save my sanity before my death.

Was that me screaming? I must have drifted off so far I felt miles away from myself, but once the screaming became clear enough to distinguish a strangled cry of befuddled fear I casted my tired unfocused eyes to the gut wrenching masochistic gaze of the demon who would take me brutally and then stick me on a skewer...

...but instead I met no eyes, but that of a decapitated body. The green acidic mist eating through the neck spreading to the torso and causing the arms to melt slowly off the body. A smell of acid scorched flesh assaulted my nose, a smell you could not compare to any other scent. It was vile.

After some slight convulsions the body collapsed in a melting heap, the only sound that echoed through the field was the hissing of the rest of the cyclops demon killing the grass and boiling the soft earth beneath it. I glanced around the field in a daze, as if time had stopped from fright. All eyes peered through the smoke wide and fearful. I squinted through the smoke as it began to clear...

Sesshoumaru-sama

So he did hear me.

His intense stare, his entire attention was on me now and by the look on his face I regretted ever needing him to acknowledge me. A haunting caution, a look of masked shock only visible by the scrunch of his brows. He wasted no time stepping over the rotted carcass and standing inches in front of me, towering over me as he always did. I began to tremble, oh lord why was I acting this way? There was no escape, no waking up from any of this in the security of my bed in another world.I kept my eyes on the ground, hands gripped around my robes protectively and legs folded underneath me. I couldn't match his gaze, not like this...the condition I was in, it was embarrassing.

"Tell me you're name." Stern, cold, and yet...softer than before. I stayed silent, if I opened my mouth now I'd probably vomit.

After a moment of silence I heard him shift, landing to one knee and our fabrics touched. I gasped. He was so close now, I could smell him, feel his body heat. I wanted to run away, kami-sama did I want to run away, back to the village where nothing could hurt me, back to my bed with my forgotten memories and longings.

Cold skin touched my chin and I flinched violently. A soft, gentle touch with a hint of demand. "Look at me." The request was quiet, as if to hide a meaning. I need you to look at me... Sounded more fitting for the tone slip in his request.

I can't...

The touch on my chin urged, pulling my face up to meet his. Those eyes...piercing into my heart. I was terrified and mystified, it was so hard not to get lost into them. He searched every bit of my face, observing, speculating. He was still so unsure.

"That woman...called you something. What was it?"

My jaw trembled as his grip tightened.

"I will not repeat myself."

I choked back a sob, finally finding the courage to stare him dead in the eyes. With a voice low and stoic I whispered. "Sesshoumaru-sama..." Those molten eyes widened, momentarily forgetting he was surrounded by his soldiers. As his eyes began to roam my entire body I lost his gaze and looked away shamefully. I was a flat out mess, scratches, bruises, small gashes, head trauma, dirty bloody matted hair, swollen joints, I looked rugged and probably smelled like something that crawled out of a swamp. I wouldn't blame him for tossing me away like a soiled cloth.

"Rin..." a whisper more to himself than me. He withdrew his hand from my chin and fisted it at his side, his eyes suddenly disappearing under his bangs and out of my scrutiny. He stood up rather quickly and began to stride through the crowd. Soldiers stumbled out of his way as he glided through, stepping over a few of the women sprawled on the ground as if they were nothing more than fallen branches. He stopped suddenly and when the soldiers formed an opening I was able to catch the sight of a crumpled man with his back to the earth. Tite. Upon noticing the demonic presence he began to panic, holding up one arm for defense. "Please...sir, have I angered...!" he was hoisted high in the air by his neck, his pleas turning into gurgled yelps.

The distinct pops and cracks that filtered through the air were haunting. I had no time to even register a blink before Sesshoumaru-sama snapped Tite's neck, a terrifying reminder how easy it took him to break the man's bones with only a few fingers. I shivered, knowing full well his death was solely because of me being among the group of women. I brought about his death. Never were my intentions to kill the man, severely injure him, blind him, cripple him maybe, but not this. Saving the other women were a priority, but I wasn't prepared to walk away with a death toll not including myself.

Evidently I would never get the chance to grieve very long as when I collected myself suddenly Sesshoumaru-sama was there, striding past me not before grasping my arm and dragging me back to follow him. To his four stomps were my pathetic attempts to catch up what with my ankle as weak as it was and the swelling of my feet, however he must have noticed right away and I felt myself get scooped up into two strong arms seconds before a bright warmth enveloped my entire being.

The bright warmth must have been that shape-shifting thingy he does, remembering various flashbacks when he'd take the shape of a radiant orb, and same as now from then the orb proved to be a speedy travel, only I never remembered feeling so nauseous after I was shaped back into my original form in a split second. My head thumped painfully against my skull.

We were a good ways away from the camp now, in a separate area of the field there sat remnants of a once large bonfire, scattered about were discarded food, smaller fire spots, personal belongings, weapons, and one befuddled little goat like creature quivering a few feet from us. Upon seeing Sesshoumaru-sama he bowed so hard it seemed as if he crammed his face against the dirt.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!? How can I be of service, m-milord?" He mumbled against the soft earth.

I was laid gently on a large stump next to the little demon. "See to her wounds." His tone was sharp, demanding. My eyes caught the exchanged glance the tiny goat demon was giving me. A very shocked expression, more of a blatant gawk than anything. I knew well what that look meant; a demon lord demanding the treatment for a young roughed up human girl. An odd request to take on I thought admittedly.

"Now."

And the gawking was dismissed with a yelp as the little demon grabbed my hands and started about his work. For minutes it was complete silence save for the small croaks of evening crickets, I kept my head down and felt the heat of magma colored eyes as they bore into me the entire time. Once my hands were treated and wrapped my legs were next, little clawed digits poking and prodding their way around my ankle.

The staring continued. He was angrier than I thought. I wasn't sure whether to speak first or wait for him, if he bothered to say anything at all. What was there to be said? It didn't matter, something needed to be said to cut through this awful air around us.

"Sessho-,"

"Why were you out there alone?"

I shut my mouth instantly. I should have known he wasn't going to let me explain. He was that angry; where reasoning with him was a difficult task, answers to his questions were meaningless against his ferocity.

He shifted forward slightly, eyes unblinking and harsh. "How did that filth come across you?"

I was quick to get a word in. "I was near a river bank..."

He was quick to cut me off. "You weren't in the village?"

"N-No, I..."

"Why were you not accompanied? Did you think it wise to wonder off so far on your own?"

"My lord, please listen," I grew louder, more frantic. He was towering over me now.

"Do you still not know any better?"

That stung. Anger twisted my gut then; after what I've been through today I will not be badgered by him! I never ignored the responsibility of getting myself into all this mess, who was he to suddenly make an assumption of my situation?

My glare matched his, and I whispered coldly, "Kaede-baba's dead."

Sesshoumaru-sama's eyes weren't so inflamed anymore as he gave me a more milder expression. He turned away to gaze at the field. A breeze whipped through then, rustling objects through the camp and finally through the tall grass. It stayed silent, save for the quiet grunting of the small physician at work.

"Hold still, dear." mumbled the tiny demon. "This may hurt."

He snipped something, and the sting of it made me wince. After a few touches here and pats there he fixed his attention to the wound on my head.

"I see," Sesshoumaru-sama finally said in a voice much softer, more stoic. "The old miko has passed on."

I nodded even if he didn't see it. A feeling of my morning woe washed over me and rekindled a little of the reason why I blindly ran through the forest in the first place.

"This morning. I ran...I didn't know what else to do, so I just...ran off."

His stature never faltered, unwavered in his expression he stood still. "Does anyone know where you are?" He must have meant Inuyasha-sama and Kagome-san and the others. I shook my head quietly. "No."

After yet another moment of silence he glanced back at me. I met his eyes sadly, suddenly feeling like a child for the umpteenth time that day. "I'm sorry that my actions have burdened you, Sesshoumaru-sama." I heard a soft sigh emit from him, and he turned to me with a shadow of a pained expression.

"Do you understand the occurrences that could have been?"

Indeed I did. I lost my tongue at that remark. "You would have had all those women killed."

"I'm not worried for the fates of those other females. Yours is my only concern."

I really should have shut my mouth at this point, but pride was one thing. "Is it really? I would have argued otherwise."

His left brow raised slightly. "I would have never taken you to be brazen."

A rather frothy retort was about to poor from my mouth when only then did I feel a wave of dizziness fall upon me, my vision wavering with the intensity. I attempted to sit up and finish my retort but alas I was never awarded the last word as the second I lifted myself my knees wobbled to the ground. When did my feet suddenly feel like solid stone? And my head...felt ten times bigger that second...

"W-What..." I sat back on the stump holding my head in my hands in an attempt to quell the swirling. My mind didn't seem all there at the moment; certain thoughts made no complete sense all being equally difficult to process. Calloused fingers scooped my chin and plucked my head up. Why must you do the chin thing?

Sesshoumaru-samas face gleamed through the fog and admittedly was the one of the most breathtaking sights I had ever seen...his skin porcelain, his eyes gleaming in the setting sun. If this was anything due to what has so suddenly bewitched me I wish it would spare me these awkward knots in my chest.

"How much did you give her?" I shivered at the chill in his voice. Who gave me what?

"Oowah!" The shriek came from all directions bouncing back and forth. "I-I only lathered about 3 stems-worth, a mild dose for a human I promise you!"

Damn this, it was so strenuous to understand even that. I just wanted to lay down...or melt, either one would have been fine-

And then the notion set in. I knew that kind of hushed speaking from Kaede-baba and I while crushing certain herbs and secretly applying to wounds of skeptic people whether from shock or pride would harshly refuse any pain-relieving herbs.

I jerked my head away from the fingers holding my chin and sent Sesshoumaru-sama the best glare I could muster. "You drugged me?"

He simply stared at me, that bored blank expression could be seen even through a hazy mind.

"The herbs were for your pain, the effects will calm you."

I snorted, turning my eyes to the little goat demon who met my glare with a shriek. "N-Now now! I was only trying to h-!" I shoved the tiny brat off the stump and with a huff I struggled to cross my arms without falling over. "Save it, tiny goat!" I couldn't believe this! Ugh this feeling; once before one night as I broke into Kaede-baba's stash of cough syrup to relieve my aching fever. What I thought would be a delightful sleep turned to dancing around the village square's fire pit until Shippou-chan dragged me away grumbling something about how I'd make a good village idiot. We hid from Inuyasha-sama's nose and Kaede-baba's knuckle thumps into the forest to a nearby stream so I could sober up. I'll never forget that night; he stayed with me, watching me fall into the stream while trying to wash my face off. Even through his ridiculing laughter I knew we both appreciated being there that night, to have someone to relate to, to have similar memories and similar outlooks and both being around the same age while it lasted.

The youthful amber eyes in my memory became engulfed in hot molten gold and a completely different warmth washed over me. Ignoring the gaze I made another move to stand on my own only to fail giving myself more momentum than my legs could keep up with and when my eyes blurred by the rush of the fall I could only feel a strong arm encircle through my arm and around my back. How great it felt to be this close to him, to touch him, but letting myself look past the griefs and agitation between us at the moment was losing; I may not be taking the pain-relievers well, but I wasn't about to succumb to forgiving my current situation yet.

I was thrown into Sesshoumaru-sama's arms then and I cursed the coincidence of my earlier thoughts. He began to walk away from the camp to round the clearing. Back to the beginning? I became anxious.

"Sesshoumaru-sama...where are we going?" I settled drowsy eyes on to his impassive face.

"...You're going home." He said simply giving no room for argument. I shouldn't have felt so hurt by that statement, damn my easy heart for years of preparation for moments such as this and nothing gained; the one chance to see dreams come true only to end in a blink as all truly wonderful dreams do. I kept quiet, however, and accepted this. Like always...to always accept what you do, whether or not how painful I may feel...

Another more worrisome realization set in. "My lord," not waiting for him to respond I continued quietly, "what will happen to the women?"

He said nothing, his eyes straight ahead and unwavered, his expression cold and emotionless. Of course he wasn't listening, hearing everything and only listening to what he wants. Did he ever listen to me...

My exhaustion battled my anger and I shielded my eyes when I felt the sting of the oncoming downpour of frustrated tears. My teeth clenched, my chin trembled. Before I could realize what I was doing my arms were throwing slow feeble punches at his chest which through the heavy chest plate Sesshoumaru-sama would most likely never feel them, and even if he had there was no trace of acknowledgement from his expression.

"Why..." my voice cracked, "...are you letting this happen?" Of course he didn't say anything back.

Anytime I knew these herbs would put me in a deep sleep. Dark spots invaded my vision, my legs heavy and stiff like lead weight. And yet I kept beating his chest, hot trails of tears stinging the small cuts on my face.

"When did..."

I couldn't hold back the sob.

"...you become such a monster...?"

"Listen."

Such a sudden baritone command had caused me to flinch.

"And listen well."

Suddenly in my ear and the next miles away, the blur in my sight taking over; I was slipping fast.

"This is a war, death is in abundance, sacrifices must be made whether insignificant or extensive the loss..."

My eyes would no longer keep open, my fists tightened into his fabric, desperate to hear him...fighting to understand.

"...you're life is a far greater cost than the turnout of this war. I will not under any circumstance let you be apart of this..."

...was the last words I heard from the demon lord holding me, as my eyes shut so did the rest of my senses and I drifted into a deep sleep.

-:-

The soldiers were scattered about the field, sounds of hushed complaints and hesitant steps fluttered about. An uneasy situation to say the least; the human women huddled together in the middle, watching, waiting for the most insignificant sign that would force their tired bodies to fight for their lives again. Dirty, gritty, wounded, some of them held each other, some of them prayed, and some cried.

Nothing made sense. These monsters were attacking them only moments ago, wild and driven to defile and maim. Why, when that girl, Rin was her name? Why, when she was lifted into the arms of the tall ethereal demon leader that the terror ceased? And now as the army of demons bored hungry eyes at them did a few of the captive women ponder a similar question; who was this Rin girl? Where did they take her?

Their thoughts weren't just similar to each other, but to the entire demon army surrounding them. The said hushed complaints were of puzzling questions and frustrated confusion. And as the exchanging glances of suspicious eyes continued with simultaneous grumbles none of the troops seemed to notice the presence in question striding through the mass.

Sesshoumaru's rejoinder had finally caught the eye of the pig demon from earlier, who snorted in definate startlement and straightened his posture. "My lord!" The blunt address caught the rest of the soldier's attentions, for when the acknowledgment of their Commander finally registered the field had suddenly volumed with all the littered noise of choked surprises and shouts which gave way to panicked howls from the female captives.

The crowds of demons went silent, however, once eyes turned to the unconscious woman laxed in his arms. Sesshoumaru made no move to meet their eyes, choosing instead to drift past them as one would bypass simple dirt-welling insects. He moved through the crowd like he was parting a sea as the demons scurried out of his way and leaving the one they assumed their leaders direct attention narrowed in on standing alone.

The large bear demon, who as massive as he was in stature and in build seemed to shrivel when Sesshoumaru stopped only few feet before him; molten eyes casting an unreadable stare that melted the slanted brown pupils of the head soldier. More curious than cautious his eyes flickered away to look at the small human unconscious in the dog lords arms and glanced back. "Chujitsuna."

The bear's eyes shot anxiously back to Sesshoumaru's. He gulped. "My lord?"

"Gather few and build a carriage to take her to a village, you will have my exact directions as to where. Understood?"

"Ah..."

Chujitsuna caught himself in his fumble and dropped to one knee. "Y-Yes, sir!" He barked. However..."

Some of the surrounding soldiers gasped. No one, save for the small ugly frog that waddled beside their lord from time to time, ever survived questioning a direct order. Their head soldier may not of been the smartest demon, but he was wise and at all times fiercely dutiful toward his leader, which in the case of questioning his master's authority he had only received a questioning arch in Sesshoumaru's eyebrow.

"What do we do with the rest of them?"

-:-

A/N: Thank you all for viewing! Constructive criticism is welcomed. Until next time. :)

-JATT