Disclaimer:
I don't own, Sesshou, Rin and all other inu char's Takahashi Rumiko
does. The characters from Alice in Wonderland belong to Lewis
Carroll. All of them are used here without permission… if you made
it through all the other chapters then you know who, what belongs to,
if you just popped onto this chapter randomly, read backwards.

Chapter 16: A Tail for
You

Dear Alice,

I shall explain it one last time:
Five nights are five times warmer than one night and they are also
five times as cold, by the same rule. Just as I'm five times as rich
as you are, AND five times as clever! It is a poor sort of memory
that only works backwards.

-The Queen of Hearts

The first day was awkward as initially
all my inquires about our destination and itinerary were met with
stoic silence. So I gave up and our time traveling that day was
therefore spent without another word between us. We stopped for the
night in a cave, and he left me for several minutes as I prepared a
fire and a small meal of herbed rice and dried mushrooms. When he
returned he said nothing, merely laid a dead rabbit he place near the
fire.

“What are you going to do with
that?” I asked, looking from the rabbit to him speculatively.

“Baka, ningen, it is for you to
eat.” He replied exasperatedly.

“Uh, Thank you, I think, the meat is
appreciated but my rice is adequate. There was no need for you to
inconvenience yourself for my sake.” I mumbled, avoiding his eyes
to mask my confusion.

“You will need the nourishment meat
provides to continue on this journey, ningen, the cold will sap your
energy quickly. I will not have you become a burden by consuming only
rice.” I considered asking him to explain, but his refusal to
discuss the journey thus far halted me. I only nodded as I focused on
preparing my meal and I felt him move away to watch me from a corner
of the cave. Hesitantly I took the gift and began to prepare it for
cooking.

The oppressive silence continued as I
ate, cleaned, repacked and settled down next to the fire to sleep.
The cold quickly seeped through the layers of cloths, douchuugi,
cloak and blanket making it hard to find sleep. Exhaustion and
preoccupation with my own discomfort distracted me so thoroughly that
I did not notice Sesshomaru had moved until I felt the familiar furry
mantle wrap around my body and I was enveloped in warmth.

I turned to his crouched form to thank
him, but the inscrutable look wore stopped me, “What’s wrong,
Sesshomaru-sama?” I asked instead, scrambling quickly to a sitting
position.

“Baka, ningen it is nothing, sleep
or you will be useless tomorrow.” His rude retort annoyed me, but
not wanting to lose the warmth of the fur I only frowned before
settling back down to rest.

The next two days followed the same
pattern of silent trudging through the snow, dinner of rice and meat
followed by fur shrouded sleep. I had offered a story or a song the
second evening, but it was rebuked, “Leave me in peace, ningen, and
go to sleep.” By day four it was obvious his attitude was
deteriorating even more and though he was even less communicative
than ever, his every gesture and stance radiated a dangerous aura of
annoyance and short tempered wrath.

Travel
had become arduous due to the ever deepening snow and freezing winds
we encountered in the ever increasing altitudes. Several times I
wanted to ask Sesshomaru why we were walking, but prudence kept me
mute. Instead I endured in silence and prayed that my numb limbs
would continue moving sluggishly forward. I also hoped that it was
the weather conditions and not some disrespect of mine that had
darkened Sesshomaru’s mood. If it was my attitude, there would be
no one to carry me when I collapsed.

That night when he returned with a small rabbit I
confronted Sesshomaru on his behavior as I arranged my meal. “If we
are to continue traveling like this for much longer Sesshomaru-sama,
would you please, grant me the courtesy to know what it is I have
done to put you in such a foul mood?”

“Baka, ningen, you have done nothing
wrong.” He growled dismissively.

I sighed, Time to face the lion in
its den, I moved to his side and placed my hand on his, the
action caused him to glare at me. “Then please, tell my why you are
so cross.” I begged gently.

Obviously it’s because he hasna
slept a wink in five days lass. Sitting only inches away from his
face it was evident from the rings under his eyes and his slumping
posture Uacteran was more observant than me, he was clearly
exhausted.

“It is none of your concern, ningen.
This Sesshomaru does not need you…” But I interrupted his vexed
diatribe.

I tightened my grip on his hand,
“Sesshomaru-sama, just tell me why you have not been sleeping and I
swear I will never broach the subject again.” I pleaded.

“Yokai do not require the constant
amount of rest you weak Jinrui do.” He scoffed.

His off handed manner annoyed me, “I
understand that, Sesshomaru-sama, but it is obvious you need at least
some sleep, and I wish to know why you have allowed yourself to come
to such a disgraceful state.” With an angry roar he raised his arm
forcefully flinging me back against a nearby wall as he stood.

“I told you it is none of your
concern, ningen; do not presume to meddle in my affairs.”  He
growled as he towered over my prone form and my heart tried to
retreat from my trembling chest in an effort to save itself.

Yet, while I attribute with many good
virtues to myself, restraint is not one of them, and his behavior had
made me angry. My voice dripped contempt and an icy indifference I
didn’t feel, “Honestly, this is getting old I would rather jump
naked into the nearest lake that meddle in your affairs. But when you
drag me out into the middle of the frozen wilderness and then
endanger my life by being an egocentric dumb-ass, you really leave me
with no other choice! Now, are you going to tell me or am I going to
have to find that lake, because I am more likely to survive
hypothermia than your brainless antics.”

I had made it to my knees during the
rebuke and my fear was subsiding as I rocked back onto my feet;
standing, I defiantly glaring into his irate, red-rimmed eyes. After
several tense minutes his hand went to rest on his furry stole, “My bibu is a part of me, I
cannot sleep without it.”

Bibu…
Bibu… The word eluded me for a moment; my eyes widened in shock
when the meaning finally came, Jesus H. Christ, all this time I’ve
been cuddling up to an Inu-Daiyoukai’s  tail! The revelation
was startling, a bit disconcerting and drained the last of my
aggravation. “Oh” I answered slowly unable to find a reasonable
retort to his bewildering admission; I let my eyes drop. Slowly I
moved back to the fire and resumed my work on the rabbit nervously.

Sesshomaru
eventually returned to his seat and the silence dragged as I ate my
meal and cleaned up. Thoughtfully I repacked by dinner things and
pulled my blanket from the pack. He watched intently as I banked the
fire and settled in on his left side. His expression was unreadable,
but I did my best to ignore it and the pounding of my own heart as I
closed my eyes and waited for sleep to claim me. “Ningen, this is
not an appropriate position for you to rest in.” I heaved a heavy
sigh and opened my eyes to glare up at him.

“First
and for mostly, it is painfully obvious that it is too cold for me to
sleep directly on the earth, otherwise you would not have allowed me
the use of your…” I hesitated with the word still finding it hard
to come to grips with the idea I had been cuddling an actual physical
part of his person this whole time a blush crept un bitted into my
cheeks as I pressed on, “…bibu in the first place. Secondly I
have told you before, I find this position quite comfortable, and
thirdly I do not wish to relive my brief occupation as your
nursemaid. To that end I would appreciate it if you held off on
objecting to this arrangement until the morning when you have had
some rest and appear less like death warmed over.” Looking into his
haggard, displeased gaze I hesitated for a moment before adding
beseechingly, “Please, Sesshomaru-sama.” He turned from me with a
wordless grunt, but I felt the familiar weight of fur as I was
enveloped and pulled towards him. Warm and safe, I fell asleep
content that I had won, for the moment.

The
next morning I woke with the pattern of his armor imprinted on my
face and a stiff neck from sleeping on the unyielding surface. That’s
what I get for arguing with him, I thought contritely as I my
companion stirred next to me. I quickly pulled away from the intimate
pose, but my downy covering was slow to release me as his stunning
yellow eyes opened and gazed down at me with considering scrutiny.

“Your
rest has not improved you appearance, Donella-san.” His remark was
rude but it was the first time he had used my name in six days and
the sudden effect banished my aches.

“Funny
I was just going to comment on the vast improvement sleep had made on
your own appearance, but since the enhancement has not extended to
your boorish mien the compliment seems unjustified in retrospect.”
I know my words were only a mask to cover my discomfort, but the
combination of my name from his lips and his physical closeness were
causing me to reconsider kissing him again and I was desperate to
derail that hazard bound train.

My
peanut gallery wasn’t helping either, Aye lass tell him ye’d
wake up pretty as ye please if’n he’d sleep without the armor, A
barking chuckle followed and I realized where Uacteran was going a
second be fore he said it,  or the cloths fer that matter.

I
pushed roughly away from Sesshomaru and stood as I grumbled back at
Uacteran, “I need neither sarcastic repartee nor vulgar suggestions
this early in the morning, seanathair, I would thank
you to be silent.” It was Sesshomaru who answered, however, as I
realized I had uttered my rebuke aloud.

“I
believe speaking to yourself is considered abnormal behavior even by

Jinrui standards, ningen.”

Leaning down to retrieve my blanket I
paused in picking it up and allowed my eyes to meet his. “So it is,
but so too is traveling back in time through a whole in the ground,
befriending hostile yokai and having the souls of your dead relatives
inhabit your jewelry.  Therefore, by human standards I am already
damned; muttering to myself is inconsequential by comparison.” I
was careful to avoid touching his fur as I picked my blanket up and
began to fold and repack it neatly. For some reason the revelation
that the furry mass was a part of him made me even more sensitive to
the idea that touching it was a trespass on his person.

“You need to bathe, ningen.” Like
most of his bald statements, this one did not have the air of an
insult, just a clinical statement of fact, but it cut me.

“I apologize if my trekking through
the snow for five days without a change of cloths or a chance to
bathe has finally offended your delicate nose! It’s a shame that I
find the smell of wet dog so enticing, otherwise I would understand
your suffering.” I remarked drolly, sarcasm dripping from my voice.
I pulled a small jar of nuts from my pack and strapped the satchel
securely to my back.

“That is indeed a blessing for you,
ningen.” He remarked coolly as he left the cave to begin our day’s
hike. Great, he’s pissed; this is going to be a very long day.
I thought as I hurriedly doused the fire and followed him into the
white expanse while munching on my meager breakfast. He set a steady
and difficult pace for me. The snow had become deeper in the night
and the wind was a brutal and fierce adversary, threatening to blow
me from the stark landscape. The fight against the two elements and
my struggle to maintain his pace was exhausting. My day passed in a
fog of anesthetized, dogged movement.

It was nearing sunset when, panicking
I realized the white blur of Sesshomaru’s immaculate cloths against
the matching snow was no longer in front of me. Relief flooded my
frozen brain when I heard his voice call out from behind.  “Ningen,
where are you going? There is a storm approaching and you have passed
the shelter.” I turned on numb feet to find him standing, rather
impatiently, back the way I had come. I was too numb to be irritated,
or mount an argument, I just sluggishly moved back towards the sound
of his voice.

Moments later I was at his side as he
preceded me into the cave. Warm, steaming air hit me and the sudden
change in climate was a shock to my frozen system. I collapsed in a
dizzy slump within only a few feet of the entrance. I labored weekly
with irresponsive fingers and resistant vinyl to take my backpack
off, but quickly gave up and just sat there, eyes closed, soaking up
the warmth and praying I’d never have to move again.

A derisive snort alerted me to
Sesshomaru’s presence and I slowly opened my heavy lids to look to
him. He was still only a few feet ahead of me and I realized he must
have turned when I collapsed and had seen my comical tussle with my
pack. “I suppose you find this amusing.” I tried to sound
sarcastic, but the sore, rasping, whisper that escaped my throat was
almost unrecognizable to me.

He turned back and knelt at my side.
Face to face I could see that he was obviously still annoyed, Geeze,
crack one wet dog joke and suffer for the rest of your life! He
reached for my pack and after several failed attempts he managed to
open the clasps that shortened the arm straps and relieve me of most
of my burden and I reached for the buckle at my hip. When the bag
finally fell onto the packed, earthen floor with a soggy thud he
said, “This will not do, ningen.”

I looked up from my
now free waist to his disapproving glare, “I suppose you want me to
apologize?” My voice was getting stronger, but the damp heat was
giving me a serious case of the sniffles and I couldn’t muster the
indignant air I was hoping for.

“I do not understand
you, ningen, most Jinrui I have encountered are obsessed with their
own needs and comfort and yet you insistently cause yourself
discomfort, injure and put your life in peril when I am not available
to aid you. How am I to keep my word to Rin to safeguard when you
seem determined to destroy yourself?”

I
was too tired to start a fight with him and not waiting for a reply,
he started tugging at the laces of my boots. Fearing for the
livelihood of the fragile bonds against his sharp claws I batted at
him as I dove forward with trembling hands to release the knots
myself. Yet the thick gloves I wore encumbered my progress, “Here
let me get those, if you ruin my laced I won’t have anything to
wear on my feet,” but, while I numbly tugged at my gloves he went
for the ties again.

“I am quite
accustomed to this sort of fastening, I assure you I can manage a few
strings,” Using the tips of his claws to loosen them enough to fit
his fingers through the laces, he efficiently pull the knots lose
without running the razor edges of his claws against the fraying
cords. I was surprised at how delicately he handled the knots,
especially since he was so obviously annoyed. My fascination at the
gentle work was soon interrupted however, when with a rough jerk, he
pulled the first boot free using enough force to knock me backward
onto my discarded pack and invoke a yelp of protest.

“Sesshomaru-sama,
please, I am not an invalid or a doll, as soon as I warm up a bit
more I will be perfectly capable of removing my own shoes. This abuse
is uncalled for.” He ignored me, opting to strike at the remaining
shoe in silence as I mounted protests to the undignified behavior and
toiled, unsuccessfully, to convince my frozen limbs to evade him.

My remonstrations were
cut short when he removed the first, damp, half-frozen sock from my
foot and the blue appendage was struck full force with the heated air
of the cave. I cried out in pain as my foot seemed to catch fire and
the muscles cramped painfully. Not waiting for me to recover, he
brutally ripped the other sock free. Helpless tears of pain and
stifled whimpers escaped me as he began to vigorously chafe the
damaged limbs with his long fingers.

After several,
excruciating minutes my torturer released me, “It does not appear
that you have caused any permanent damage to your feet, ningen, show
me your hands.” Still numb from pain and shock I obediently held
them out for inspection. He took each in turn and scrutinized them
intently before giving a short nod and standing. “The storm will be
upon us soon, I shall attempt to find you sustenance and fuel before
then. While I am away you will bathe and change out of those soggy
garments.”

His haughty command
irritated me, “Now see here mister high and mighty Inu-…” I
started, but he had already vanished and I was left yelling at aloof,
echoing stone.

Looking around the
cave I realized that Sesshomaru’s lithe figure had been hiding an
underground hot spring from view. To my left, dryer air entered the
chamber from another low tunnel. This must be a series of caves; I
wonder how far back they go.

Slowly venturing forward in my bare feet, I realized the stones
beneath me were also warm. This cave must be above a lava tube.

I mused, searching my memory for the name and location of Japan’s
active volcanoes before I realized that my information was four
hundred years away from being useful. I suppose several volcanoes
on the main island have gone dormant since the Sengoku period. I
wonder if Sesshomaru knows anything about cartography, do they even
have maps yet? I wish I could find a way to figure out where I am.
I continued to speculate for a while longer, but my knowledge of
Japanese history and development was miniscule and could not provide
me with any usable answers so I abandoned the endeavor.

Deciding there was no
help for it, and wanting a bath more than I wanted to defy the
pompous yokai, I quickly stripped and lowered myself into the
steaming water. The warmth after so many days of being cold and dirty
was intoxicating. Modesty be damned I never wanted to leave this
blessed pool ever again! I went through the motions of scrubbing,
washing, and rinsing the last five days from my body while arguing
with my incorporeal family members, who were apparently alerted to my
good humor and felt the need to crush it.

Ack, gal, ye should
thank that pup of yers fer letin’ ye get close ta him last night
smellin’ the way ye do! The whelp is either in love or his nose is
completely useless.

“The pup isn’t
mine and he’s not in love.” I groused as I scrubbed my arm more
vigorously.

Then why’d he let
yer stinkin’ carcass curl up next ta him last night? Uacteran
asked smugly.

“Because he was
exhausted and I was pushy.” I replied gruffly focusing my vigorous
ministrations to my grimy hair.

Believe what ye
like, lass, my mate has the right o’ it an’ denyin’ the truth
is only hard on ye. Donella chimed in.

“You two are
really putting a damper on the only nice event of this miserable,
Japanese mountain tour. He despises most humans and it’s taken
almost two years for us to establish even a rocky friendship. There
is no possible way that, even in the vaguest stretch of the
imagination, this could ever be more than that.” I sighed as I dove
bellow the tepid water to rinse.

Ye wanna make it
morn’ than that, lass, and all we want is fer ye to be happy, my
mamo mollified.

Well, an’ fer ya
ta finish absorbin’ our energy so we can finally move on ta
Tir-na-n-Og. T’aint no picnic fer us sittin’ in this make-believe
field an’ watchin’ the outside world got ta hell while ye muddle
on through it. Uacteran griped as I surfaced and took a deep gasp
of the humid air.

“And, exactly what
do you want me to do to speed that along?” I asked piqued by his
accusing tone, but again the mollifying voice of my mamo answered.

We only want ye ta
practice while ye have this break, garinion.

I sighed
heavily as I propped myself on the edge of the pool and let the
soothing water melt the tension form my muscles, “Mamo, tonight?
I’m exhausted.” I protested wearily but already giving in to
their demands.

Nay lass, tomorrow
will do. That storm outside is gonna be a fierce one and ye’ll be
stuck in these caves fer the next three days at the least.

Plenty ‘O time
fer yer leisciuil thoin ta practice, me gal, Uacteran added
rudely.

“My Lazy ass has
been pretty busy getting beaten up by annoying yokai and hiking
through snow covered mountain ranges in January, you jackass.” I
groused as I angrily pulled myself from the water and toweled off.
“Not that you have been any help, pushing people around with my
mind, seeing into the past, erecting barriers and blowing things up
are all pretty nice tricks, but I wish one of them could keep me a
little warmer out there.” I pulled my spare kimono from my pack and
began to dress hurriedly, “I would really like to know why we are
mountain-goating around here in the first place; it doesn’t really
make a lot off sense.”

“If I use any other
mode of travel, ningen, then my quarry would be alerted to my
presence and know that I yet live.” Sesshomaru’s icy voice made
me jump as I fumbled with my obi. Damn it! How long has he been
back? Why didn’t I feel his aura, how the hell did he sneak up on
me?

He’s been there a
wee bit lass, long enough ta see ye change fer sure. An’ ye dinna
seriously believe he canna control his anam do ye? He’d be a poor
madra indeed if’n he couldna cover himself enough ta hunt. The
awkward thought of him watching me dress, and my mamo’s
condescending tone made me blush as I turned to face the devious
Inu-Daiyoukai.

“We are out here
looking for Byakuya then?” I asked, frantically straitening my
kimono in order to buy time as I calmed my nerves. What the hell!
Creepy, peeping stalker! Yokai or human, all men really are the same!

I thought irately.

“Byakuya is an
inconsequential distraction. I am, as always, pursuing Naraku’s
heart.” I was grateful that his tone was as cool and distant as
ever, I found the normalcy of it soothing. If he can act normal so
can I. Geeze what is the yokai protocol on nudity anyway?

Now there’s an
interstin’ thought lass. Strip down an’ find out! Uacteran
urged with an evil snicker.

Go back to sleep!
I thought at him, furiously as I turned my attention once more to the
peeping yokai. He was holding an armload of fire wood and wore a
distracted speculative look. His disquiet air set me on edge, “What
is it now?” I demanded peevishly.

“Bring your
possessions this way, ningen.” He remarked as he moved towards the
adjacent tunnel without answering the question. With a frustrated
noise, I grabbed my discarded gear and rushed to follow.

The tunnel led to a
cooler, less expansive grotto. A serious of large, earthen jars
occupied one corner and a small underground stream dominated much of
the remaining space. Sesshomaru laid his burden near the water’s
edge before wordlessly moving to the only uncluttered corner of the
small confinement and sitting. Taking this as my cue to start a fire
and prepare a meal, I set my gear near him and moved towards the
brook.

For
the next several minutes the only sound that could be heard was that
of digging scrapping and the breaking of kindling as I settled into
the familiar routine of and reveled in the peace. Not for the first
time I found myself thinking about how, in such a short time, I had
become so accustomed to the aloof yokai’s presence to the point
that I found his stoic silence soothing, familiar and incongruously
comforting. When he’s around I feel…I struggled
distractedly to break particularly tough branch as I tried to pin the
feeling down in my mind. Protected, warm, satisfied, happy…The
branch finally snapped and I muttered audibly, “safe.”

“What
is safe, ningen?” I blinked at him dumbly for a moment, and
realized I must have spoken the last part of my thought out loud; a
slow blush crept into my cheeks.

“I
apologize, Sesshomaru-sama, it is nothing; a stray thought spoken
aloud and of no consequence.” I muttered sheepishly as I went to my
pack and removed the flint and steel.

“Indeed.”
He commented shortly and lapsed back into silence, but as I returned
to my work my mamo interjected.

Darlin’,
forgive yer old mamo fer lyin’ ta ya but I wanna ye ta try
somethin’ instead O’ yer flint.

The
excitement in her tone made me pause, What do you want me to do?

I asked apprehensively expecting it to be another lewd and outrageous
suggestion involving my companion, but I was wrong.

I
want ye ta start yer fire like ye blew up the mock-up th’other day.
Thinking about that incident sent a small shiver down my spine and
deposit a nervous flutter in the pit of my stomach.

Mamo,
I’m too tired for that today and I’d rather not try something
like that in this closed space, and more to myself than her I
added, I don’t want to hurt anyone.

A
soothing, comforting warmth flooded through me, Hush, dear heart,
ye won’t use near that kinda power this time. Just close yer eyes
an’ hold out yer hand ta the fire. I felt my body comply, my
eyes drooped shut automatically and her presences in my mind became
stronger. Now, think o’ yer tine lass, think o’ your kindlin’
an’ a small spark startin’ in its heart. Think o’ that tiny
spark getting’ hotter, an’ hotter; burnin’ hot an’ hungry ta
devour the wood ye gave it. As she spoke her hypnotic voice
carried me through the disconcerting feeling of heat spreading
through my outstretched hand and pooling in my palm. As she finished
talking the vivid image that had formed in my mind burst and my eyes
flew open to greet the warmth of the now crackling fire before me.
Well done, garinion, remember that all o’ the things yer
learnin’ ta do are just a way ta control the elements: tine, uisce,
speir, talamh, an’ anam. If’n ye
remember that an’ let the power flow in ta what ye want; even ye
canna foul it up.

“An impressive
trick, ningen.” Sesshomaru’s voice pulled me roughly from
Donella’s trance. I experienced a short period of disorientation as
a wave of dizziness passed over me causing me to grab the cave wall
for support. Gratefully it passed quickly and I managed a week reply.

“A bit wasteful
considering that my flint and steel would have done the job without
making me tired.” He remained thoughtfully silent. I gave him a wan
smile as I returned to my pack and exchanged my unused flint and
steel for my pot and some rice.

I gave the stream a
considering look and he answered my unvoiced question, “The water
is safe for you to drink, ningen.”

“Thank you.” I
replied with a sheepish smile before filling my pan and returning to
my meal preparations. Sesshomaru continued to eye me strangely as I
stirred the rice and some herbs into the boiling water. I, in turn,
desperately tried not to speculate why the devious yokai had felt the
need to sneak up on me while I was bathing. The certain knowledge of
the many vulgar suggestions my unwelcome family members would have on
the subject helped a great deal in quickly derailing that train of
thought, but the trepidation remained.

When I’d settled in to eat my meager repast Sesshomaru finally
stood and began to fumble with the ties of his armor. Bewildered by
this strange new turn of events, I felt a blush creep into my cheeks
as I simultaneously tried to avoid gawk at the undressing yokai and
find my meal mesmerizing. Unfortunately rice and rabbit stew has very
little fascination value when compared to toned, ethereal
magnificence. I had to physically turn my body, until he was no
longer in my direct line of sight, in order to keep the food I was
mindlessly shoveling from falling out of my gaping mouth. God help
me this is so unfair!

I
finished my meal about the time I heard stylized metal and leather
contraption clatter to the floor. The noise made me jump and scramble
to face him, “What the hell!” I grumbled as I moved, but I by the
time I’d faced him, he was gone.

Unsure
as to what his aberrant behavior signaled, I desperately tried to
find more productive thoughts than those of the bizarre yokai and his
inscrutable behavior, his mind numbing physical presence or my
growing inability get my hormones under control. I forcefully set
about washing my dishes and removing the last five days of travel
from my kimono with a mania born of frustration. Why does he have
to be so damned… interesting, pretty, intriguing…I thought of
a few more adjectives to stave off the provocative mental images that
flooded my mind as I viscously beat my kimono into a soapy mess on
the riverbank before thrashing it violently into the water.

My
taciturn companion had still not returned by the time I had finished,
so I settled in by the fire to update my journal. I gave into
exhaustion with less than a page written and sometime later I woke to
find the fire nothing but embers and someone physically attempting to
lift me. Incongruously, the antagonist didn’t cause any sirens to
go off in my foggy mind. I sleepily struggled against the looming
form and strong arm that grasped me. I quickly came to my senses
enough to identify the season turning smell I associate with late
autumn mingled with the equally familiar aroma of crushed pine
needles.

Recognition
of his familiar scent, and his nearness caused me rush, panicked and
wide-eyed into full consciousness. “Sesshomaru, what’s wrong?”
The alarm was evident in my voice as I sat bolt up right in his grasp
and tried to focus on the dimly illuminated outline of his face. My
gaze was immediately drawn to his golden eyes, which seemed to
reflect the fire’s dying light and give my racing heart yet one
more reason to maintain its frenzied tempo. Anytime I find myself
forgetting he isn’t human, those eyes will remind me.

His arm fell away from
where it supported my back his trifling withdrawal caused a few
strands of his hair to brush my exposed arm. His hair is damp, but
he’s too warm to have been outside, I mused as I arranged
myself in a more conversational position. Ach, lass the boy took
yer barb this mornin’ hard and ran off ta bathe. Uacteran
provided wearily.

Hush you, I figured
that out on my own.

He chuckled, Aye
well now ye canna make those daydreams o’ yer’s more interestin’.
After all, the lad was only in the hot spring yonder naked an’…He
was saved my scathing response as Sesshomaru’s icy, angry voice
interrupted the nonverbal dialogue.

“Do not address me so casually, ningen.” His rebuke and my
unconscious blushing over Uacteran’s words angered me, The
freaking nerve of this guy! First he wakes me up and then he’s
pissy because I dropped the honorific from his name and now I can’t
stop trying to picture him naked! Why couldn’t they let me sleep
through this? I gave him and virulent glare before turning to the
fire and slowly beginning the task of reviving it.

“I apologize,
Sesshomaru-sama, but your bizarre conduct made me concerned
that there was some danger, I spoke without thinking.” My tone was
spiteful and I stressed the honorific vindictively, but I was in no
mood to be diplomatic.

“Again
your voice betrays the insincerity of your words, ningen.” He
countered reproachfully. I continued to ignore him as I fed the
rekindled flame and prayed he would accept my silence. My karma
wasn’t that good. He allowed a few, peace-filled moments to pass
before he grasped my chin firmly and viciously forced me to face him.
“I have been very tolerant of your mistakes and impertinence in the
past, ningen, but you will apologize for your disrespect.” His
still damp hair reflected the orange glow of the fire as it threw
dancing shadows across his face in a macabre and incongruously
malevolent pattern.

I
suppose, one of these days I will learn to back down when facing a
tremendously superior force, but that day has not yet arrived, “Would
you have me shed tears for your injured pride? Morn the damage caused
to your conceit? Tell me Oh Great Sesshomaru-sama, what penance
should I pay for assaulting your precious vanity?” I let the
sarcasm and contempt drip from my voice like acid rain as I met his
fiery glare with an unwavering intensity born in the heat of my own
injured pride and hurt feelings. God damn it all! I thought we’d
made more progress! It’s been two year! Two years and we
always circle back to our original roles, him being the lord of the
castle and I nothing more than a cockroach scuttling along his clean
floor.

An
eerie silence filled the cave in the wake of my angry words. I could
hear the frightened hitch of my own inhalation as his grip on my chin
tightened and he pulled my face ruthlessly forward. Warm breath
caressed my ear as he leaned towards me and whispered, “I would
have you beg my forgiveness, ningen,” He sniffed and I had to fight
hard to suppress the giddy shiver that threatened to break free as
that liquid baritone continued to rumble in my ear, “However, that
may be expecting to much from such an uncouth creature. I suppose I
should content myself with the knowledge that you can at least follow
a simple directive. Your odor is reasonably tolerable now.”

I
snorted derisively and his fingers loosened on my chin. Using the
moment I wrenched my head until we were again eye to eye and a
cynical smile spread across my lips, “You once told me false
modesty and respect would win me no favors with you, and yet you
often take me to task over my disingenuous civility. I’ll tell you
now, if you wish me to say, ‘please, Sesshomaru-sama, I have
transgressed. I beg you to forgive this unworthy ningen,’ then I
will say the words, but it would take more than two of your lifetimes
to make me say them and be earnest in my plea. Frankly, I cannot turn
around without scraping that enormously inflated ego you have; so if
I let a little air out now and again then it may become that much
easier to tiptoe around you! Furthermore, I am not your minion to be
ordered about. I bathe when the opportunity presents itself so that I

am comfortable, not because it offends your delicate nose.” His
reaction to my verbal battery was startling. His hand instantly
relaxed its hold on my face, a small smile curved his lips and a
roguish glint lit his eyes.

My
words, my indignation, my very thought process died as my stomach
flipped and I was caught in the glory of his countenance like a deer
in the headlights of a hunter’s truck. Wow; the only word
that filled the echoing void of my dumbstruck mind as a chill
trembled up my spine. “You must truly be exhausted, Donella-san, if
that is all the venom you can muster against me.”

I laughed at this
sudden change in our old game, So maybe not an insect and maybe
not his castle. However, I doubt I’m Cinderella, and though he is a
handsome prince, he is less than charming. I returned his
miniscule smile with a genuine and broad grin. “I doubt a toxin I
could produce in any quantity would be in the least bit effective
against you, Sesshomaru-sama. I am convinced that, unlike many others
who have fallen to my vituperative wit, you are immune.”

“Indeed,
Donella-san, yet your feeble attempts to scold are often amusing and
your expression when you are angry is,” I frowned at his pause and
the gentle way his fingers slid from my face as he consulted his
mental lexicon, “intriguing.” Suddenly the look in his eyes, the
smile on his lips; his very proximity to me was more than I could
handle. Abruptly I stood and went in search of my blanket. The fire
projected a fascinating silhouette of his impassive form onto the
cave wall before me. As I rummaged I addressed that dancing shadow.

. “Geeze, you can
be seriously bizarre some times. One second you’re a supercilious,
pretentious jackass and the next you can be more charming than Don
Juan Demarco! For the most part, there is just no way for me to gage
when you’re being serious and when you are just playing with me.”
I gave a short laugh in an effort to lighten the intensity of the
moment and alleviate some of the pressure caused by my pounding heart
and raging hormones, “Your moods are too haphazard it’s no wonder
Jaken is such a wreck.” I didn’t look at him as I moved to the
only unoccupied corner of the cave and settled down to sleep. At
least this place is warm enough that I won’t need to cuddle him to
stay warm. The thought should have been heartening, but it left
me feeling a bit melancholy as curled up and closed my eyes. For
several minutes after I’d uttered my sarcastic rebuke Sesshomaru
remain silent and unmoving.

I was almost asleep
when I heard the rustle of his cloths as he came towards me. Warily I
cracked my eyes open as he claimed a spot against the wall to my
right. I moved left to give him some space, but as I did so his tail
wrapped around me, impeding my movement and pulling me back the way I
had come. I made a frustrated noise and opened my mouth to
remonstrate the manhandling, but he beat me to the punch.

The sub-zero,
perturbation in his voice was something I had heard many times
before, directed at Rin and Jaken during one of their protracted
squabbles. Yet, this was the first time it was leveled at me,
“Donella-san, save you arguments against this arrangement for a
time when you have had more rest. There is no other place for me to
recline,” The truth to that statement was obvious, but when his arm
wrapped around my waist and I found myself pressed into his side.

Again, I began to
mount an objection, but the incongruously pained look that met my
affronted scowl stopped me. It lasted only a moment before his icy
mask slid back into place, but it was enough to completely dissipate
my hostility. In all honesty, the effect that momentary glimpse of
despondency had on my physiology was so profound, that I could not
bring myself to voice even an unreasonable complaint. Instead I only
nodded mutely and let my head rest on his silk clad chest.

Once in that
position; my body pressed against his side, the silk of his shirt on
my face, the warmth of his tail wrapped around me and his steady
breathing in my ear, I never wanted to move again. Yet, feeling I
could not let him win so easily, I twisted in his grip, leaned up and
gently whispered, “Arigato, Sesshomaru-sama, but your scent never
resembled a wet dog, Ashikarazu,”
into his ear.

He gave me an
inscrutable sidelong look and I felt his hand tighten on my hip,
“Spiteful creature. Go to sleep.” I smiled a happily as I wiggled
back into a comfortable position. It took me a long time to fall
asleep like that, but as my over worked brain and frantic hormones
finally allowed me to drift off, I think one word echoed contentedly
in my mind, Safe.

A/N: I swear I’ll write you all
back as soon as I can!

Some vocabulary:

Japanese

Bibu

isn’t the correct word
for Sesshomaru’s tail, though it means the caudal end of an animal.
The correct word is Shippo which means “animal’s tail” and also
“silver” but I thought that might be confusing to Inuyasha fans…

Arigato:
Thank you

Ashikarazu:
Formal “I am sorry”

Jinrui:
humans as a species

Baka:
Idiot

Irish Gaelic

Tir-na-n-Og:
The summer lands, the after life, heaven

Garinion:

Granddaughter

Mamo:
Informal Grandmother

leisciuil
thoin: Lazy Ass

Anam:
Spirit, soul, aura

Madra:
Specifically hound, as apposed to just dog. A canine prized for
its hunting abilities.

Tine:
Fire

Uisce:

water

Spear:
sky/air

Talamh: earth

Anam:
Spirit, soul, aura

Fin.

Ok to
everyone: Ta bron orm, I’m very sorry, but my life hit a real
shitty 4 months and unfortunately I had no time to do anything until
I figured out how to: stay in my apartment, stay warm and eat. I hope
everything is more stable now but thanks for hanging in there with
me!

Tottsiepop: Had ta get ya in
here girl, thanks for sending me green things to make my sad life
brighter!

D-Chan3: I
think a longer life can be a safe bet at this point, but for anything
cosmetic, I’m not sure. Donella is not gonna get strong enough to
kill Naraku on her own or change her shape. However, she is gonna
definitely be able to protect Rin, beat up Jaken and help Sessh kick
some serious ass anyway.

Feathergriffin: The
Fiddler on the Roof, hahaha well, unfortunately for some fans Donella
and Sessh aren’t going to start rabidly ripping each other’s
cloths off. I Sessh has to get Donella to trust him first, and he’s
kind of a self involved jerk so that’s gonna take some work on her
part. But at least she’s realized she’d like to rip his cloths
off!

Closet Oddity:

Thanks for the review, if you like dry humor you should read
my short oneshot “Fan Girl”. I hear it’s funny and it’s about
Sessh

Ritual Noise/
Jenna ThompsomThanks so much! Reviews are like crack as
is evident that, though my life fell in the toilet these last 4
months I am back righting soon after I can afford to have internet,
coffee and my dog in the same place! Thanks so much please keep
reading!

Ladii Tempest: As
always, thank you for being such a loyal fan and laughing in all the
right places. It makes me think I don’t stink thanks again.

Phoenix Nephthys:
Always a loyal year thank so much your criticism means a lot.

Mmoirai: Well
she realizes she want to boink him, but then she’s had a 2 year dry
spell, may be that monk is going to start looking good too. I kid. ;)

Tsubasa Kya: Does
Sessh ever do anything randomly? Alas we should enjoy these warm
moments he’s gonna piss her off again soon…

Watterlilykitty: Thanks for
your care, concern and support it was rough but I’m back, at least
for a little while.

Arvael: I’m sorry I lost
your email!

Wandering Hitokiri,
Sueariel, InuDstories, firefarire93, Inusbabe, Suki dah Turdle, Miss
L. Anyus, dark eyed demon girl ,  JamminChick93613entropy9,
HikoCassidy, FulleLover, any anyone I may have missed or reads
without reviewing: Thanks so much for your patience and your
love! They keep me going in the hard times!!