Ch. 1: Sesshomaru's Desire

Disclaimer: I own no one

New York City was used to strange sights. Street performers, people fighting for obscure causes or even just young people trying to make a fashion statement. Natives of the small island city had learned to blink at these sights so long as they themselves weren't affected.

New York had never seen a sight like this man.

He was tall, easily more than six feet, but he was also slender, with fine angular features that bespoke of noble lineage. His long white hair reached the backs of his legs and had a sheen no shampoo could ever hope to give. His ears were pointed and his eyes were golden. On his forehead was a purple mark shaped like a crescent moon and he boasted two horizontal purple stripes under his eyes.

Despite his presence in the theater district, the young man's clothing would have made anyone stop and stare. He was garbed in a long white robe, decorated I with red cherry blossoms, white breaches, and black slippers. On his left hip were strapped two swords, bound close so they wouldn't swing loose. But by far his most discerning garment was a long fluffy cloak, wound around his right shoulder with the end trailing behind him.

The man walked the city streets, not hurrying, but neither pausing to look around him. His slender white hands, the nails long and sharp, poked out of his billowing sleeves and he kept flexing his left fist, as though reacquainting himself with it.

The people walking up and down the streets at night, the homeless, the night shift workers, and the ne'er-do-wells, all gazed upon this young man with a mixture of awe and fear. No one dared to approach him, some inner instinct warning those who beheld him to stay away. An instinct that was obeyed without question.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" The man turned at the high-pitched call, his face belaying no expression. Running as fast as his stubby legs would allow him, a squat, toad-like imp of a creature with a frog-like face and bulging yellow eyes came hurrying up the street to catch up with the strange aristocrat. The imp paused by the man's leg, gasping for breath. He was dressed in plain brown robes and breaches and his green feet were bare. In one three-fingered hand, he clutched a wooden staff that ended in a carving of the heads of an old man and a young woman.

"Jaken," Lord Sesshomaru said, his voice soft, but strong as steel. The imp looked up at his master.

"Forgive me for saying so, my Lord, but we have been searching this human-infested hellhole all day. There's been so sign of the one you seek."

"No, there hasn't," Sesshomaru agreed. He turned away from his servant and kept walking. "We'll just have to keep looking."

"My Lord!" Jaken exclaimed, but the young lord didn't turn around. He didn't need to; seconds later, his sharp ears caught the frantic pattering of Jaken's feet as the imp struggled to keep up.

"You seem to be going to a lot of trouble to find a mere mortal," Jaken grumbled.

"This is no mere mortal, as you are well aware of, Jaken," Sesshomaru replied, not raising his voice. "This girl possess the power of the Shikigami; she is far from normal."

"Still." Jaken let his voice trail off and Sesshomaru ignored him, his mind too focused on what he sought.

Or rather, whom he sought.

Kaname Kururugi, the girl with the power of the Shikigami.

He had met her some time ago, when the girl had been separated from traveling with his half-breed brother and his companions. He had recognized Kaname's clothing as being familiar to that of Kagome's, Inuyahsa's priestess lover and had originally assumed he'd have to baby sit the wretched mortal while searching Naraku's castle for his elusive enemy. Much to his surprise, Kaname not only joined him in battle against Naraku's demons, but her power proved to be a valuable asset as well. After returning Kaname to Inuyahsa's' group, Sesshomaru had temporarily abandoned his search for Naraku to learn more about the mysterious Shikigami power. His efforts had proved useful in more ways than one; pity he'd had to torture that old monk before the human would perform the ritual that would regrow his left arm. Sesshomaru had been willing to let him live.

Sesshomaru's quest had led him to an abandoned temple, where he'd found heaps of scrolls documenting the power of the Shikigami. He'd learned that it existed in all creatures, but that demons usually never tapped into it because they were almost always focused on their own demonic power. Usually, the humans who somehow tapped into their Shikigami became monks or priestesses and traveled the world fighting demons and monsters and such. But what caught Sesshomaru's eye were notes written by an unknown, obviously demon, author.

A human with the power of the Shikigami will soon find that living an ordinary life-style is out of the question. The Shikigami will grant them a lifespan equivalent to that of a demon, ensuring that they will outlive any family members who lack the power. On top of that, a male or female with the Shikigami will find it harder to find a mate; males will grow to hate weak women while females will feel oppressed and tied down by male lovers. However, a demon who could claim a Shikigami-wielding human for a mate would find themselves very fortunate indeed. Their children, though half-human, would inherit both demonic power and Shikigami power, making them more powerful than most demons could ever hope to be. Such half-breeds are rare; at the time of this writing, none are alive.

Those words had branded themselves in Sesshomaru's mind and he'd immediately sought out Inuyasha, only to find that she was gone. According to the priestess Kagome, Kaname had managed to return to her own world, the place where Kagome was from.

Not to be daunted by circumstance, Sesshomaru had explored the Bone-Eater's Well, noting its unusual aura. It had taken him a full month, but he'd eventually been able to find a way to unlock its power and use it to create his own portal to "the present." Leaving Rin behind with Ah-Un, he and Jaken had ventured forth to find Kaname Kururugi.

The strange world had initially surprised him (though he'd been careful not to let Jaken see his feelings), but locating Kaname's scent hadn't been too difficult. Traveling through the skies at night, Sesshomaru had managed to find his way to her home, noting that she came from a family of shrine-keepers. No wonder the Shikigami power had emerged in her, despite the absence of demons and monsters.

Unfortunately, there was no sign of activity at the shrine. Easily forcing his way inside, Sesshomaru had let Jaken gawk over the odd layout and unfamiliar devices and searched the house for clues that could tell him where his quarry was. A half hour of searching later, he'd found a letter addressed to whom he could only guess was Kaname's father, asking him and his family to spend the summer in New York City to teach Japanese culture at something called a University. Yet another setback; a setback that had been unexpectedly solved by Jaken crashing into a large circular object that spun as it fell and landed showing the country of Japan.

Intrigued by what was obviously a map, Sesshomaru had managed to pinpoint New York City's location. Getting there, however, proved to be a bit of a hassle, even for a demon lord as powerful as he was. Crossing the vast ocean had drained him of nearly half his power and he'd been forced to take the journey across the country called America at a slower pace than he would have liked. A full week had passed before he'd reached New York City and he'd had to allow himself another two days to fully restore his power. Sesshomaru was pleased that once he'd found Kaname, he'd be able to create a portal back to his own time; it would save him the trouble of taking the girl back to Japan.

"My Lord?" Jaken had spoke up again.

"What is it?"

"I was just saying, My Lord, while I understand your fascination with this strange power, it still seems like you're going to a lot of trouble to absorb the girl's Shikigami."

Sesshomaru halted, ignoring Jaken's frantic apologies as the imp collided with his leg. The demon lord allowed the ghost of a smile to flicker across his face.

It was true he'd kept his findings from the scroll a secret, even from Jaken. It had cut down on the imp's trying to talk him out of his quest, but now that they had reached New York, Sesshomaru decided it was time to divulge his true intentions to his servant.

"I do not intend to absorb the power of the Shikigami, Jaken. Such an act is beneath me."

"Then, why all the fuss if you're not going to put the Shikigami to good use, My Lord?"

"I fully intend to put the Shikigami to good use."

"How do you-"

"Kaname Kururugi carries the power of the Shikigami within her. She uses it well and is a strong and reliable fighter." Sesshomaru's cold eyes gleamed. "What more could a demon ask for in a mate?"

"A MATE?" Jaken all but screamed. "My Lord! The girl is a human and you want her for a mate? Why would you even entertain the notion of-"

"Enough, Jaken!" Now Sesshomaru raised his voice. "Who I plan to mate with is none of your concern! I desire Kaname Kururugi and I shall have Kaname Kururugi!"

"But, My Lord! If you mate with this human, your children shall be half-demons! Why would you want such a thing when you can't stand your own mongrel of a half-brother?" Sesshomaru started walking again, explaining as he did.

"Inuyasha's human blood is that of an ordinary wretched mortal. I don't know why my father ever bothered mating with her. However, to mate with a human who possess the power of the Shikigami is not only an honor, but such a mate will produce children on par with the most powerful of demons. Who better to be my mate?"

"Well, when you put it that way," Jaken murmured. "But what shall you do if the girl does not wish to be your mate?"

"I'll persuade her. In the end, Kaname will be mine."