A Whole New World

Redirection

AN:~ I am SO sorry you guys! I know its been a while. I got the urge to write again months ago but I got a job soon after and I was tired all the time and it eventually made my depression worse. I started a new job about a month ago and while that one is harder than the last, its easy too. I'm home for a week and the urge to write came back! It makes me happy cause I know knew chapters make you guys happy and that makes me happier lol. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! :)

Another night of no sleep and the biggest thing she would ever do was today.

Obviously sleeping on the ground would prevent her from sleeping too good but some sleep was better than none. After the rough night she had, she had been really hoping to get a decent amount sleep.

Granted she went to bed just a few hours before sunrise, but she had done it before and been fine. It couldn't be helped though. She wasn't about to let it stop her from her getting what she wanted.

And what she wanted was information.

Turning herself over, she peeked an eye open to see if anyone else had woken up. The first person she noticed was Sesshomaru and where he was, or rather where he wasn't. The last thing she remembered was that he sat right next to her just before she had fallen asleep. Maybe he got up after I passed out? Or maybe he left to do his little walk thing?

Deciding it wasn't really any of her business what he was doing or where he went, she sat herself up, pushed her blanket off, stood and stretched.

Since she was meeting his mother today she wanted to give a good first impression. Especially if she decided that she looked homeless or messy and didn't want to help her. She knew not all demons would be willing to help a stranger, let alone a human but she truly hoped she wouldn't refuse.

Reaching for her bag, she looked in to find the rag and towel she had shoved in there before they had left home. She glanced at the scented soap she brought but decided against it, thinking that it might be too strong. If Inuyasha had made a face, surely someone with a stronger sense of smell would have an even worse reaction than he did. Before she left, she turned back to grab her water bottle.

Creeping silently out of camp, Yuriko took one last look around making sure everyone was still asleep.

As she made her way to clean up a little, she began thinking. How would she approach the subject of help? How would she greet her? How do you greet demon royalty? So many questions running through her head and she didn't have a single answer to any of them.

Just before she passed through the bushes, she heard movement.

Pushing a few small branches aside, she quietly peeked to see what was there. When she caught a glimpse, it wasn't a what, but a who.

It was Sesshomaru.

She had tried to peel her eyes away from such a sight but she couldn't. He stood there, waist deep in the water and the early morning sunlight reflected off of him perfectly. It was something she definitely had never seen before, and probably never will again.

She breathed out, "Absolute perfection.." Yuriko brought her hands up to cover her mouth as quick as possible, hoping she hadn't been heard. Yeah right, I'm sure he heard me coming and I'm sure he heard that! Of all things for me to say too!

She saw that as soon as the words had passed through her lips, his head turned to look into the trees. His gaze landed directly on her, but he made no move out of the water.

When he finally spoke, she jumped. "You may come out. There is no sense in hiding, when I knew you were already there."

He saw that a rosy color was dusting across her naturally pink cheeks, but he didn't know if it was from the heat surrounding the small area or from being caught. It didn't matter though. The sooner he found out why she was here, the sooner he could finish his bath in peace.

Trying to steady her nervous heart, Yuriko closed her eyes. After a moment, she opened her eyes and stepped from behind the bush. "I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone would be here."

He, at first, was confused as to why she said that. It was only then did he notice what she was holding. "You planned to bathe while it is not yet light out and without your friend?"

She walked closer to the spring and sat down at the edge, noticing that when she did Sesshomaru had an annoyed look on his face. "Well I figured since there's no chance in me getting any more sleep, I might as well clean up a little and let the water wash away my stress."

He quirked a brow at her and she chuckled. "It's just a saying Sesshomaru. Water is relaxing for me and it helps."

After she spoke, a few minutes of silence passed between them. She didn't know what to do or what to say. This was a man of few words and obvious pride. By the look on his face, it showed that he also like his privacy but she wanted a bath too. But, for her to do that would mean stripping in front of a stranger, one who could so easily kill her too. No she didn't want to risk that.

So instead, she stood up and began to walk away when he stopped her. "You may bathe if you wish. I am done, I will leave."

"No it's ok. You seem to be enjoying it and I don't want to disrupt a man who clearly needs a little peace to himself dealing with the things you do. I can wait until you've had your peace."

He was stunned? No, stunned wasn't the right word for it. Intrigued? Confused? He supposed any of those could describe it, but not entirely. He hadn't seen anyone before who wanted him to have peace. His father always told him that a Lord would never have a moment to himself once he became a Lord. For the most part, he was right. The only time he was able to get away was when he was patrolling his lands or in his own chambers back in his own home.

And the very few moments he could get when he found a flower field for Rin.

So yes, this was definitely a first for him. What he would do next would probably be the start of many firsts, and most likely for her as well.

"You may join me, if you wish. There is a small blind spot for you to have your privacy. I have heard my half-brothers woman say women from where she comes from prefer that sort of thing. I shall look away if that puts your fear of peeping behind." He added the last part because he also heard the miko say such things about the monk before.

She laughed. She actually laughed at him.

Noticing the scowl form again, she stopped and smiled at him instead. "I'm sorry, I wasn't laughing at you, just the offer. I was told that you hated us humans and would never be near one, let alone naked with one in a hot spring."

"I do not hate humans. I don't like them, but that is not the same thing as hate. I am sure you heard these things from the hanyou then?"

"I did. Him and his friends." She paused. "I appreciate the offer but I really don't want to intrude anymore than I already have."

"If I thought you were intruding, I would not have offered."

"Are you sure it's alright and you really don't mind?"

"If you do not want to accept the offer, I can take it back-"

She cut him off before he could finish and said, "No no. I accept." She walked around to said blind spot, set her stuff down and began to undress.

Once she was done, she slowly sank into the warm waters. "Ah! This feels great!" she said with a sigh. "Thank you for letting me stay."

"Hn." Was his only response.

Silence once again drifted between the two before she spoke. "You know," she began, "I don't see why they think you're so mean and scary. I mean everyone has their days, and here everyone has done bad things. No one is worse than the other, it's just how life is."

"You say that for someone who has never seen what goes on throughout these lands. It is much more different than what you are used to I am sure." He said. Surely there could be nothing worse than youkais and crazy hanyous?

She moved away and into his line of sight. "You're right, I haven't. I'm sure things are bad here but things are bad no matter where you go. In my time, things haven't really changed. The only difference is that youkai aren't behind the terrible things that go on in the world. Humans are."

"Humans?"

She nodded. "Mhm. They could be, but I'm not sure if there is any actually alive. I don't know how to sense them or tell if magic is involved or anything. I thought, before I came here, that youkai were myths, legends. But I always had a thought in the back of my mind that says that all those stories are true. Stories have to come from somewhere, and if they're coming from somewhere, they're often true and not just a story."

"Wise words, for a human." He said with a smirk.

She smiled at him again. "Thanks."

He nodded his head to her. I have heard those very words once before but not in a very long time. She could not have heard it from him himself. She said that she has never been here before so there has never been an opportunity for her to hear it directly. There is no lie in her eyes and I cannot smell deceit coming from her either.

He stopped his train of thought, intent on asking where she had heard them before, but paused when he noticed where she sat.

"You are not in your blind spot." He pointed out.

Yuriko was brought out of her little daydream and looked at him. "Does that bother you? I can go back if you want." she asked. In truth, she thought that it would be her who would be bothered. She was wrong.

He actually had to think about it. Did it bother him that a human woman was naked and barely five feet from him? "I am not bothered, no. I had thought you would simply want privacy, that is all." It should have bothered him though. He didn't like it when the demonesses tried it when he was home. So why was this any different?

She 'hmmed' in agreement. "I thought so too but I'm fine. Besides," she added, "someone is bound to see me naked at some point while I'm here, and I'd rather it be an attractive taiyoukai than some dirty creep." She picked up her rag from the rock she set it on and began to wash.

So the woman found him attractive. Not entirely strange to him since demonesses threw themselves at him all the time. Strange enough though that a human found him attractive. That he has never heard of and most certainly never experienced.

"Attractive you say? And why is it that you don't think of me as one of those dirty creeps?" He asked, a small smirk playing on his lips as she stopped washing herself.

She knew she probably shouldn't have said that. Mama always said something about stroking a mans ego. What I said was definitely one way to do it. "Yes, attractive." She replied. "The dirty creep thing isn't you. I would never have taken you as someone who would lower themselves to peep on a bathing woman, but if I'm wrong the-"

"No." He said cutting her off. "I would never lower myself to do such a thing."

She knew she was taking a risk saying this, but she said it anyways. "But you would take a risk of someone seeing you bathe with one?"

He blinked. She must have a great deal of courage to speak to him like that, or she fears nothing. Only one other has done it, but he grudgingly admitted that they needed her help with the little power she held in defeating Naraku.

"Who I choose to bathe with or without is no ones concern but my own and possibly the other party." He said.

"I was just curious, that's all." She squeezed the rag of the excess water and laid it against the rock. She then dove under the water to soak her hair and hopefully wash away the smell of the dirt and sweat.

He watched as she came back up. Before she swept her hair to the side to rid the water from it, he noticed how drops of the water clung to her lashes and how her hair began to curl. He had never seen a human with curls before, so this was another new experience for him. One he liked.

"We should probably head back. I'm sure the others are awake by now. Especially if they woke to Jaken screaming." She giggled and made her way to the blind spot. Bathing was one thing, but she didn't want to flash him completely.

He kept his eyes on her as she made her way back behind the rock. Once she was there, he lifted himself out of the water, dried and dressed himself.

As he turned around, he saw that she too was ready to leave, her rag and towel on her arm. She walked back to grab her water bottle that she had almost forgotten and continued until she stood next to him. With both of them ready, they began their walk back in a comfortable silence.

Kagome had been the first to wake up. She found it odd because Inuyasha was usually the one who woke her and his reason was always the same. She overslept. Not this time though. When she looked up at the sky, she saw that the sun had just risen which also made for a beautiful sight.

She slid carefully out of her sleeping bag so she didn't wake Shippo. I don't want him up right now cause then he'll want breakfast right away. But he's also bound to notice that I'm not there eventually. She sighed. Instead of catching up on her homework, she began to make a light breakfast for everyone. There wasn't much for her to make, only a few cups of noodled left, some fruit and some oat bars she had hidden away for herself. The noodles I'll make for Shippo and Rin since they're more filling. Inuyasha will just have to deal or catch himself something else.

As she started the fire back up, she caught figures in the corner of her eye. Turning to get a better look, she saw that it was Sesshomaru and Yuriko. Odd for those two to be together. Oh well.

Yuriko caught her stare. "Hey Kagome?"

"Yea?"

"Do you by chance have any apples left?"

Kagome looked down at what she pulled out. "I have one left, would you like it?"

Yuriko smiled, "Yes please!" She walked over and took the fruit from her hand. "Thank you."

Kagome smiled back in reply and watched as she walked back to Sesshomaru. Her smile slowly faded away as she began to worry. I hope she doesn't get too close to him. If she does, she's going to get hurt. We told her how he is and yet, she doesn't seem bothered by it.

She was sure there was at least shock on her face. She knows about the cautions her and her friends had given her, but she couldn't help it. He seemed more relaxed and willing to have a conversation with her than anyone else did.

Finding his little hideaway spot behind one of the bigger trees, she sat down beside him. "Would you like half?" she asked.

"No, thank you."

"Are you sure?" she asked again. She hadn't seen him eat anything since she got there. Surely sharing an apple wouldn't hurt him. It's not like anyone would notice anyways.

He gave her a nod of his head. Leaning back against the tree, he looked at her. "Why is it you find the need to converse with me?"

Need? "There's no need. I just want to talk to someone and you seem more than willing. Rin is sweet but young and talking to her requires a different level of strength. With you, it's more relaxed, calming. Easy. If I'm wrong, then by all means, tell me so." She said with a grin in her tone.

He said nothing. There was nothing to say. She wasn't wrong. Rin did tend to have a lot of energy, which is why he tended to tune her out most times when she would ramble on.

Before he could say anything back to her, she spoke. "Say Sesshomaru." She paused. "Do you think your mother will help? If she doesn't, what am I supposed to do? I have no idea how to handle anything that's happening or where to go to look! How am I-"

He leaned forward and put his hand on her mouth to quiet her. When she stopped mumbling, she looked at him. He put his hand down and said, "I do not know if she will help or not. She might. She is a woman who likes odd things, but she is also a woman who would not give you a second glance." She frowned when he said that. "However," he continued, "Should she not be able to answer any questions you might have, you may use my library or ask my healer. Both are very old and both may have what you seek."

Yuriko flew into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you" she whispered. Then she froze. Realizing what she was doing, she unwrapped herself and sat back on her knees. "Sorry. I just got a little excited."

"It is alright." He said, though he wasn't sure what it was he felt just now. It wasn't a bad feeling he got, it was just strange. Familiar, and oddly comforting.

"I was wondering.."

"Yes?" he asked.

"Is it alright to try your library first?" she wondered. "It's just that the thought of meeting your mother is nerve racking and I'm afraid she'll say no and I'd rather be disappointed already meeting her than to be disappointed after meeting her which might also make me a little calmer when doing so, so she doesn't thin-" he covered her mouth again.

"You're rambling again."

Her cheeks warmed underneath his palm. She pulled it away, "I'm sorry."

He nodded. "There is no need to apologize." He thought for a moment. "Or explain why you do not wish to meet Mother first. It is your choice what you do first, not mine."

Yuriko hmmed in response, as she finished her apple and set the core next to her. She was a little relieved that he wasn't agitated at having to change plans. Besides, if she could avoid at all costs at meeting a woman who may or may not find her interesting enough to listen to, she would gladly do so. Especially since she would get the chance to look through so much history! Things no one in the future would know and probably never will. Personal conflicts, interests, daily life for a demon.

Since plans had been changed, and the fact that not everyone was awake yet, she laid down and stretched herself across the grassy area. Sesshomaru had already resumed his position on the tree when she turned to face him, his fur pelt in front of her. At first she hesitated, but she brought her hand up anyways to touch it. It looked so soft, she couldn't help herself.

She ran her fingers through it and mentally groaned. I never would've thought it would be this soft! It's better than any plush blanket I've ever had! Hoping he either would not notice or would not mind, she carefully laid her head against it. Oh wow! I wish I could have something this nice.

Soon after her little exploration, Yuriko had fallen asleep next to a very content Sesshomaru.

Ok so I know that's not the way some of you had wanted it to go but since I just got back into writing, I want her meeting Sesshomaru's mom to be a REALLY good chapter and I want that one to be the best I've written so far. I've already got it started on how things are going to play out but theres a good chance itll change again! I mean the whole story has changed so far from when I first started this and for the better might I add. If any of you are new, please favorite, follow and review this story! I love to hear back from you guys

Ms. Manami