Tag you're it by janai

My treasure

To those that are new to the story it is set on the fringes of Lord Sesshoumaru's lands in a secluded forest with Kagome as his distraction.

To all who've enjoyed the story from the beginning I have revised the tale as it was meant to be...

So I hope you all enjoy the story as it unfolds from here on.

Shade and cool breezes, Janai

I do not own the rights to InuYasha the series, magna, etc. and the characters within are just having a bit of fun as they plague me for more time in this yarn as it careens along.

Chapter 1 my treasure

'By the Gods this feels good. It has been so long since I last allowed my self to relax this way,' Sesshoumaru pondered to himself as he delved deeper into the swirling warm liquid.

The steam gently coiled around Sesshoumaru's submerged form as he lowered himself further into the secluded hot spring. Long silver hairs wisped with a life all their own as the tendrils slowly sank in the steaming waters.

Golden eyes that rarely showed emotion were content and at peace. Something this demon lord protected fiercely was his emotions, never show them and you never get hurt and so it went.

Sesshoumaru laid his head down for he has been troubled as of late and was in need of a distraction. The pressures of being a Lord of ones own lands can be bothersome at times and this was one of them.

The only thing that had made his current situation tolerable was a certain slight slip of a moppet, who was his secret joy.

Rin came to him when he was gravely injured some time ago and the stubborn child refused to leave his side, even when asked.

Sesshoumaru's thoughts soon drift to a place where the demon Lord reflects upon an event which subtly changed the stoic lord forever...

It was not too long after he lost his arm while battling his half breed brother InuYasha for their father's sword Tetsusaiga that she first appeared and stubbornly stayed.

She showed no fear as she tried to help the injured demon Lord regain his momentary loss of strength. Even when he tried to shoo her away she still continued to return to check on him.

Rin often left an assortment of food items for the demon Lord each time she made a visit hoping that he would find something appealing enough to consume so he could once again regain his full might.

It had taken him several days to fully recover from his injuries, but even then he was in no real condition to confront his dim witted half brother so soon. So he decided it was time to revisit his home and take up the duties of his lands once more.

The down side to that was the fact he would have to face the various advisors that kept asking the same pesky, annoying, and some times insulting, questions day in and day out.

When Jaken finally found Sesshoumaru he was in a more regenerative state by then and more than ready to leave the small forest. He told the faithful toad that they were to return to the place of his birth when he suddenly smelled the distinct scent of freshly killed prey.

The blood and this particular redolence he knew well.

It was then he told his retainer to follow him with out question making sure to keep his wits about him as they approached the clearing.

He was itching for a battle, anything to release the tension that was building up within him. Sesshoumaru observed the avenue ahead sensing that whatever happened the foul creatures were long gone.

He closed his eyes to heighten his senses to their full extent when the discerning pungent odor of death wafted its unmistakable presence in the fast approaching vista which revealed itself before the demon lord and his strange associate.

Then he found her. Rin was long dead ruthlessly attacked by a pack of wolves for no other reason than for sport.

'It's a disgrace,' he fumed inside.

'To die like this, it's not honorable.' Then an idea crossed his flooded mind as he pulled Tenseiga out of its scabbard, and swathed a blinding wave of healing energies through the departed lass.

Sesshoumaru knelt on the pounded path and gently picked up the diminutive child as he observed the reaction to Tenseiga.

Rin's feathery lashes fluttered ever so slightly before she opened her brown orbs and took a long breath of fresh air as the color returned to her cherub like face.

Sesshoumaru was indeed pleased with the results; 'perhaps this sword is not so worthless after all,' he mused to himself as he stood up to continue along his way back to his home.

'It was from then on, Rin followed this Sesshoumaru with a loyalty beyond measure,' he briefly reflected.

She soon became a welcome divergence to the duties that plagued him at his castle while he governed the business and humdrum burdens of civilities over his subjects and lands.

All too soon his thoughts returned to the present, and the obligations that went along with it.

Although he was duty bound, being the first son to the Lord of the Western lands, he often found it all boring and soon found an excuse patrolling his lands as often as he could.

As young as he was, for a demon, Sesshoumaru was from a powerful lineage and no one dared challenge him, even damaged as he was just two years ago.

"Enough of this," he paused. "I have better things to do than bring up the past, besides the reason for my being here is to relax and I intend to do so," he smirked knowing full well that he was totally alone thus allowing a small measure freedom with his emotions to fly free for a brief period, very brief.

Sesshoumaru tilted his head back enjoying the simple beauty of the clear night's sky as small droplets formed along his silken mane.

He shook his head trying to dislodge some of the clinging dew drops heavily encrusted along his silvery bangs as he secured a more comfortable seating arrangement on a smooth flatten rock.

"Too much thinking," he hissed. "Just need to let the steaming liquid of my hot spring take the stress's of the day away," he whispered.

Slowly his eyes begin to close as he let the healing waters cleanse, calm and rejuvenate his body and soul.

This was his favorite place in all of his lands; giant trees surrounded him on all sides elegantly swaying to the gentle breeze as if dancing to a lover's song under the moon light. Pin points of twinkling lights adorned the night's sky giving a captivating spectacle in the otherwise unilluminated forest.

The hot spring reflected the grand display on the glassy exterior of the ever changing liquid and further grounded the reason for the demon lord's most potent of protection spells; to conceal this cherished of all treasures, his private hot spring.

A welcomed side effect to the barrier spell came in the form of a menagerie of rare magical creatures that dwelled within the enchanted spans of densely populated greenery.

Safeguarded from rampaging lesser demons, and humans alike, they cared for his forest diligently making sure to preserve the surrounding landscape as their payment for his protection.

The sun left her place of honor some time ago and brother moon soon took his sister's throne for the night as twilight was now bearing down on the secluded little clearing.

Day walkers settled down in their warm nests and burrows to slumber the night away as shadowy figures awoke to take on the still of night their eerie songs echoing throughout the forest till they mingled into a lazy melody to lull even the hardiest of warriors to peaceful slumber.

A cool zephyr whisked through the tall timbers gently touching sleeping buds as they shivered and struggled to close their tender petals to the chilly mistress's serene touch.

Dancing illuminations floated aimlessly about giving an ethereal consciousness to the now busy carpet along the forest floor as a multitude of luminous eyes seemed to pop up every where as they foraged for food on this cool summer evening.

The soft callings of creatures of the night were an array of musical tales of longing, beautiful and alluring. Tall grasses and fragrant night-time flowers surrounded the natural hot spring which further concealed the location.

Large rocks, worn over time, made comfortable smooth seats in which to lay or sit upon as one sat in blissful contentment.

"Heaven or as close to heaven as I am going to get," he chuckled. For this was the one place in all of his lands that Sesshoumaru could let himself relax, and be content that he need not worry of an attack.

He had placed powerful spells surrounding the entire area years ago when he first discovered this little treasure and he means to keep it his secret.

Sesshoumaru remembered the day he stumbled across this prize and smiled at his own innocence in those carefree days of his youth...

It was many years ago, when he was just a pup of barely twelve seasons, when his Mother first brought him to the fringes of his Father's lands. She wanted him to practice tracking small game to hone his skills for battle.

Even then he was a natural at this particular sport and had gained the reputation of being able to sniff out just about anything.

It was at that place in time when he had been tracking a rather gamey red deer when he stumbled on this delightful panorama of wonderful delights.

Being a curious youth Sesshoumaru ventured deep into the inviting flora and fauna when he finally came across this steaming pool of tantalizing smells and warm liquidly pleasure.

Once Sesshoumaru returned to his Mother's side he decided to cloak the location of this secret so he could make use of it later on making it his special retreat from palace life...

It wasn't until the untimely death of his beloved Mother that he finally had the skill to actually conjure the spells needed.

Once again Sesshoumaru's semi conscious mind returns to replay certain events that pushed him here in the first place as he picks apart any pieces he deemed worthy of his scrutiny.

'Not even Jaken knows of this little piece of tranquility,' he mused to himself.

"Leaving Rin with Jaken at the home of my birth while I traveled along the boarders of my lands was an excellent decision," he smirked as he scooped up some of the warm water to cleanse his face.

'It has been too long since I last visited this place,' he thought as he settled him self on a rather long and well used piece of submerged obsidian.

Sesshoumaru fought off the specter of sleep for just a little while longer as he smiled in spite of himself.

'While I do enjoy the company of the little moppet and her ability to confound Jaken with her endless enquiries, which I must confess is more than amusing to me, it does get tiresome at times,' he pauses.

'This has been a rather pleasing distraction one I plan on savoring for awhile longer,' as a rare smile crosses his handsome face.

"I have to admit that this was just what the demon ordered," he chuckles as his body floats in pure bliss at the moment.

"Not that I would ever let anyone know any differently," he smirked feeling quite free and unrestrained, if only for a moment.

Sesshoumaru reflected for a bit longer on just how much Rin really meant to him. He truly cared for the girl; perhaps this urge to keep her safe went beyond even that.

'Could this odd feeling be love? He paused.

'Has it been that long since I last felt the pulse of my heart?' he pondered.

'Perhaps, but what I feel is more of a father's devotion to his daughter, yes that must be it,' he frowned not so sure if this was a good thing or not.

"All those years of training wasted by one small girl's affections to this Sesshoumaru," he breathed.

He had trained diligently perfecting his mask, making damn sure to keep those same emotions hidden deep within his soul. Keeping them locked away and protected unless he deemed it necessary for their release and that was rare.

'Seems Rin found a way past my mental walls,' he smiles seeing the irony of it all for the first time.

His thoughts soon drift to the main reason he had come here in the first place when a warm jet of mineral water suddenly caresses his lower back.

This sent a wave of pleasurable sensations throughout his tense muscles relaxing them under the barrage of delectable soothing pressure. "Ah, that's better," he sighed.

'I sensed something was amiss along the fringes of the lands of my Father not knowing for sure if there could be a chance of an impending invasion by a rival demon pack,' his brow was glistening with moisture as he reflected further.

'I then Mulled over the many scenarios of an impending conflict and how to shorten such an uprising before it reached the main court of my castle. However, since I really had no other information, other than my gut to go on, I resolved to continue on this quest alone,' Sesshoumaru shook his head releasing the small beads of liquid that had formed again along his silvery bangs.

'It was then that I decided to investigate this disturbance further, but since we were already at the home of my birth I decided that it was not necessary for Rin to accompany me to the boarder of my lands, this time,' he smiled as tilted his head back till only his nose was exposed to the chilly night time air.

Especially since I was not exactly sure what this disturbance was and why it affected me in such a way.

'No since in endangering my charge,' he thought. 'If there was a battle I would have no distractions. Yes, keeping Rin within the confines of my castle was the best choice,' he smirked.

'Rin had made quite a fuss when I told her she was to stay in the castle with Jaken where she would be safe and to continue with her schooling. However, to my displeasure Jaken began ranting and raving about having to baby sit Rin once again as I went on without him,' he snorted which sent a wave of bubble to disturb the glass like surface indicating something was indeed in the water.

'That was until I booted him across the library where I had just been instructing Rin this very morning. Jaken soon rushed back to my side to apologize for his impertinence bowing over and over again hoping for my approval and forgiveness,' he sighed as the hot spring soon regained its smooth surface once again.

Jaken was more loyal than any of his other subjects, but he also groveled at Sesshoumaru's feet at the least little thing, and it sometimes drove the demon lord to the brink of executing Jaken's whinny ass to extinction on more than one occasion.

Then there was Rin who was more than just loyal to the demon lord. He sensed that she loved him as the Father she never had. This made him more than protective and that being one of the reasons for her remaining safe and out of harms way.

'Even if it meant being in the same latitude as his pesky retainer,' he snickered which sent another cluster of bubbles to froth up.

Seshoumaru smiled in spite of him self, in truth; 'I thoroughly enjoy having Rin as my charge. She is a clever child bright and full of all that life has to offer and she is totally devoted to me,' he thought as he sat up scaring a few cottontails that sat idly by the hot spring as they ate sweet clover and tasty buds.

'Yes, I am quite fond of the girl. Not that I would out worldly show it, for I am the Lord of the Western lands, and a demon Lord has a reputation to up hold after all,' he mused as Sesshoumaru breathes in the tranquility of the moonlight feeling more relaxed than he has been in months.

As he paused a slight smile appeared for a brief second before once again disappearing beneath his mask.

'Uumm, damn this feels wonderful. I think that I'll just linger in these blessed waters for awhile longer before returning to my home,' Sesshoumaru's body is so relaxed he lets his internal alarms go lax as he is lulled slowly to sleep.

'Never did discover what had glazed across my lands. I looked to the locale where my senses took me, but there was no threat just a lingering wisp of latent magic that I couldn't discern exactly whom its owner was,' he yawned as his defenses were slightly allowing this small reprieve before firing back up.

"I have been on edge for some time; perhaps it was my body telling me that this is what I needed. To meditate, recharge, and refocus," he sighed out loud.

Sesshoumaru settles his body in a comfortable position while soaking in the healing water. He feels a gentle darkness take him and slowly the Demon Lord falls asleep welcoming the blissful blackness of dreamless slumber.

The demon Lord peacefully drifts off to sleep unaware that an intruder is about to make her debut to the lively menagerie that's now busily busting forth as nocturnal creatures go about their nighttime meanderings.

There is the rustling of tall grasses as a cool nights breeze gently touches the silent sentries standing guard and pushes its way through the tender saplings that hope to become like the parent trees above them.

Someone pads softly as if walking along a delicate rose petal path trying not to disturb the splendor lay out before her beautiful eyes.

A scent of Jasmine and fresh spring rain fills the air mixing with the surrounding flowers of the forest floor as they consumed each other.

The mingling of her natural scent with that of the fragrant landscape masked her scent from the snoozing demon lord basking in submerged sublime bliss. This allowed the girl to walk virtually undetected.

Kagome paused for a few minutes to take in the beauty of the moment which had taken her breath away upon seeing such elegance. She then continued on her self appointed quest to find her extraordinary prize that she had found just the month before.

Her excitement swells and flows outward setting off an eerie soft glow all around her fragile form as she moves like a graceful deer.

Being mindful of her surroundings Kagome made sure to avoid the delicate sleeping buds that graced the path she was now following all the while admiring their night loving counter parts as she glides along an unspoken path of her own design.

Taking in the full beauty of the forest in its night time essence she breathes in the redolence. So alluring, her senses are soon over whelmed and she succumbs to the joy this special place fills her with.

Tilting her slender neck back she lifts her head to the tree tops above to drink in the loveliness of this most perfect of nights.

Kagome's long black hair flows along her back in cascading ripples of silken velvet reflecting the crashing of waves in the ocean when they strike the clusters of coral reefs along the sea shore.

Her eyes try to focus on something in the trees; she smiles in delight as fireflies gracefully begin their descent to the forest floor to couple as their dance of love fills the surrounding venue.

"Beautiful," she sighs as Kagome continues on her way determined to find her special place.

"I know that it's here somewhere I can almost smell it," she softly breathes.

Kagome lingers for a few more minutes to admire the flickering glowing orbs of illuminations before continuing with her walk and perhaps collect her prize in the process.

'Damn InuYasha why does he always have to be so mean,' she thought as tears begin streaming down her pretty face.

Kagome shakes her head trying to clear the sadness that is threatening to well up inside her before continuing her little trek.

'He can be such a jerk. Why does he always fight with me after we've found a jewel shard? And it's becoming more frequent as the days go by,' Kagome paused.

She knew the answer to that one, but decided to push the irritating name to the back of her mind not wanting to spoil the whole reason she was here in the first place, and that was to relax.

It was on a sunny afternoon, much like this morning, that drove her here in the first place and it was also the reason for her being here tonight as Kagome's thoughts drift back...

It was almost a month ago when she first found her magical forest and the special place it held.

She had another unpleasant disagreement with InuYasha and rather than stay and fight she ordered him to sit so she could cool off with out the annoying half demon following her.

After obtaining another jewel shard from a hideously deformed wind dragon InuYasha decided to make an asinine remark about Kagome's fixation on her cleanliness.

They had just scaled a huge vertical cliff high above a vast river far below their current position. InuYasha had jumped the massive cliffs to survey the large clearing above as Kirara flew over head looking for any hidden demons from her high vantage point.

The half demon sniffed the compact earth as he made sure there were no new surprises' awaiting his friend's as they struggled to climb the rest of the shear jagged half mountain.

Sango reached the top first. She was more adept at scaling the rough terrain than Kagome and Miroku, but she had paid special attention to this and allowed them both more time to safely catch up as she belly crawled along the vertical rock.

She easily guided the others below her to safe hand holds along the journey up the side of the mountain trying to avoid a certain monk's devious hands that seemed to always find her rounded backside, much to her displeasure.

As Sango cleared the last few feet however, Miroku decided to help the demon slayer the remaining rise by letting his wandering right hand cope a cozy grope on her succulent soft round derriere which sent her flying upward to the top of the cliff.

Sango was compelled to strike the braggart, but held back as the fall alone might just kill him and she wanted to pound on a live pervert, not a corpse. So she waited till he cleared the rest of the way to the top, and to her awaiting Hiratsu.

Miroku knew what was waiting for him once he reached the crest, but it didn't matter.

'Any affection the lovely Sango inflicted on his hide was well worth the pain afterwards,' he grinned.

"Kagome we have reached the pinnacle take my hand and I shall help you to the last hand hold," he yelled down to a bemused Kagome.

"No you go on ahead I'm fine. I can hold my own really," she replied.

"Besides you have someone expecting your arrival," Kagome snickered knowing full well what was going to happen next.

Miroku sighed. He already knew his fate and he turned to scale the final few feet to his impending doom.

Kagome lumbered along the fringes of the remaining fortitude when she suddenly heard the distinctive thud of Sango's tempered boomerang striking the even harder head of the lecherous monk.

"Serves him right," she chuckled as her friend Sango reached out her hand to help Kagome the rest of the way up.

"Thanks Sango. Hey Shippo are you alright back there?" Kagome sweetly sang out.

"Are we there yet?" Shippo shivered as he clinched his small hands over his cute face.

"Come on where's the brave little fox demon who said he wasn't afraid of a little slip of a mountain?" She giggled as Kagome helped the still shaking kit out of her backpack.

"I think I lost my lunch someplace down there," Shippo grumbled as he stumbled along the soft turf.

Kagome glanced over to the direction of Miroku's slumbering bulk gracing the landscape in a most revealing position as he tried to regain what was left of his senses.

"So we've reached the top now what?" Kagome inquired.

"I'm not sure, but we need to rest after such an audacious adventure and this seems to be a safe place as any," Sango offered to her friend and near sister.

"I'm filthy I need a bath," Kagome winched as she tried to expel some of the caked dirt and grim off her school uniform.

It was the last day of school today and she was so anxious to see everyone she only stopped long enough at home to get her backpack she had so carefully packed the day before. She stopped only long enough to give a quick goodbye kiss to her Mother and Grand Father in passing as she leapt over the edge of the bone eaters well to the feudal era.

"I don't have anything else to wear," she grumbled.

"I need to find a spring near by to wash my grimy garments as well as myself." she sighed.

Sango just shrugged her shoulders she didn't think Kagome was all that dirty, but then her friend was from a different era so perhaps they viewed cleanliness in a particular way.

The demon slayer turned and shooed Shippo away to gather some tinder for a cooking fire while she prepared the evening meal.

Kagome looked around the clearing for any signs of a stream, pool of lingering water, anything to get clean. It was then InuYahsa rolled his eyes and proceeded to blast a surprised Kagome with insults as she took off her heavy pack.

"Always with the bathing, what's wrong with a little dirt now and then," he screamed as a dumbfounded Kagome looked on in feigned frustration.

"It's healthy to have a soiled free outlook," she shot back.

"Besides I don't like to smell bad," she screamed right back at InuYasha, causing his hair to bellow behind him.

"Who says you smell all that good when you're clean," he smirked as a black cloud suddenly materialized over Kagome's soiled personage.

Steam was rolling out of her delicate ears now as she prepared to pound InuYasha's sorry butt to the solid earth below.

Kagome had forgotten where they were arguing and she said the sit command with such force that InuYasha not only kissed the dirt, but fell clean through the ledge he had just been standing on.

By now Miroku had regained enough of his wits to witness the comical event that had just transpired as InuYasha's face bobbled in the torrent below for a few seconds before disappearing with the rest of his fee falling form.

InuYasha continued falling until he was just a speck in the vast river below bobbing here and there as his half demon hide went down stream.

'Will he never learn,' Miroku whispered, chuckling to him self.

'The large lump on my head was well worth the pain,' he smirked as the young monk struggled to arise from his uncompromising position.

'Now where the heck have I seen that before?' Kagome thought to herself.

Miroku was looking through the hole that was a perfect reflection of the half demon; a low chortle escaped his lips as he tried to hold the childish giggle that was soon to escape his smiling lips.

"Kagome perhaps you should go and collect your self while InuYasha takes his bath," Miroku chuckled.

A rather huge grin now engulfed his handsome face as Miroku tried again to stifle his mirth.

Sango too was trying to contain herself, but soon found it impossible and a loud snicker followed by side splitting laughter filled the air.

Shippo quickly followed with giggles of childish glee and gasps for air soon filled the sunny afternoon.

Suddenly Kagome chirped. "WILE COYOTE," as she looked through the hole InuYasha had made. Soon Kagome's giggles joined Miroku's, Sango's, and Shippo's as they were all laying on the soft turf with tears of merriment streaming down their collective faces.

"Umm, Kagome maybe you should go now?" Sango wheezed as she looked down again through the Inu-hole.

"Why, Sango?" The Monk inquired.

Miroku then peered down to where Sango was looking only to see a very angry InuYasha gingerly climbing up the side of the river ranting and raving all along the way.

"Perhaps it would be best for you if you went to find someplace to take a bath Kagome," Miroku smiled as he joined in agreement with Sango's unspoken thoughts.

"We can handle InuYasha when he gets to the top again. Besides we need to make camp for the night anyway and this place seems to be as good as any." He offered as an excuse to get Kagome out of harms way, before InuYasha reaches the cliff top again.

Kagome thought how nice it would be to take a bath and change into some fresh clothing. She found a surprise in her bag when she was rummaging through it a moment before.

There was also this odd sensation that something was pulling at her in a way she couldn't describe with just words, more of a feeling than anything.

Then it hit her. She sensed a hot spring in the area, but it was quite a walk away.

'So all those long hours training with Lady Kaede were paying off,' she proudly thought.

Kagome searched the surrounding area with her budding Miko powers and found no traces of any kind of demons. She searched deeper for the unmistakable aura of any jewel shards, but found none as well.

So she released her tense frame of its burden and looked around the remaining vista marveling in the picturesque beauty which played out and blossomed around her now sensitive curvaceous figure.

In fact this place reeked of magic, old and lingering, but not dangerous in any way.

"Miroku, can you sense anything threatening in the surrounding area that perhaps I may have missed?" Kagome enquired.

"I'll see what I can do Kagome," Miroku replied as he closed his eyes and concentrated on the task of filtering out anything dangerous concerning demons.

The Monk used his training to seek out anything demonic and found none, but the mutterings of mammals, insects, and such as they busily went about their daily business.

"This place is perfect," he replied.

"You go on and refresh yourself Kagome we'll handle InuYasha upon his return," Miroku grinned.

"Please be careful Kagome," Sango smiled.

"We'll have dinner ready for you when you get back," as she prepared a fire with the various twigs and branches Shippo had gathered.

"Be careful Kagome," Shippo sang out as he looked in the direction of his adoptive Mother.

"Thanks. I'll try to hurry as fast as I can, but I think that this hot spring is quite a distance away," she called back to the others.

"That's alright Kagome it may take us a bit to calm down InuYasha's temper before we can prepare our supper anyway," Miroku chuckled back.

Kagome grinned as she took a few things out of her pack and happily padded along an invisible path that only she seemed to see as the seemingly ordinary school girl from the future happily skipped along to the inviting lush majesty that awaits beyond...

Alright, for those who are new to the story it has been revised as it was meant to be.

The rest of the chapters are being reworked as well, but it will be a long process till I've completely cleaned up the rest so bare with me.

Hope you enjoy the next chink in the chain as this train thunders right along.

**Shade and cool breezes, Janai**