~Chapter 1~

"We need him, Inuyasha." Kagome lowly voiced, as she continued to bandage his cracked ribs.

Growling under his breath, he closed his eyes and frowned.

Sighing and fastening a clip to the bindings, her hands fell to her sides. "I know it won't be easy to get him to agree, but he wants Naraku gone just like we do. If you talk to him and..."

"And what, Kagome!" He yelled, rounding on her. "You expect Sesshoumaru to just turn a blind eye on the fact that he hates me and wants me dead? Fat chance, you damn wench!"

"We can't take much more of this!" Pausing, she motioned to the three figures across the hut deep in slumber. "Sango, Miroku, and Shippo can't take this...and neither can I! We damn near died yesterday! It's a miracle we're still here today!" Releasing a breath and standing, she lowered her voice. "You either ask him or fight Naraku on your own. We all have our reasons for wanting him gone just as you, but we need to work as a team. It may have worked in the past...just us six, but we need help. If you can't see past your ego to what's in front of you, then you're alone...because we're done risking our lives if you're not willing to sacrifice your damn massive ego to see the bigger picture."

"They said they would give up the fight?"

Kagome nodded.

Lowering his head, he frowned. "We can do this on our own, Kags. All we have to do is..."

"I told you what we said." She voiced, cutting him off. "It's now up to you, on what happens from here on out...goodnight Inuyasha." And with that, she exited the small hut.

Hours later, Kagome found herself heading back to Edo, when she sensed something. Giving pause, she turned and entered the forest around her .

Slowly making her way through the underbrush and climbing over a fallen log, she froze.

Blood. It was everywhere.

Studying the scene and her surroundings, she spotted up turned gravel. There seemed to have been some type of struggle...and if the trail of blood was any sign, someone obviously lost. Feeling something at the edge of her senses pulling her closer, she slowly followed it.

Noting the branches and blood splatters, her own ran cold. Continuing on and ignoring all the scratches and nicks that her clothes was now harboring, she heard a thud just up ahead. Just as she came to a group of trees, the sound of a stream sounded.

"...Die..."

Eyes widening in recognition as the voice graced her ears, she soon took off in a run towards it. Quickly breaking through the trees and tripping over an upturned root, her breath caught.

"Sessh...ou...ma...ru?"

Stabbing Tokajin within the ground and supporting his crimson stained form, his maroon colored eyes narrowed on her ridged being.

Looking from the dead and mutilated youkai before him, her gaze locked with his.

"Come to finish this Sesshoumaru, miko?" He growled, falling to a knee, and coughing up his life essence.

Instantly forgetting her fear and what he was capable of, she moved towards him. Kneeling, she pulled her scarf from around her neck and pressed it to a gash above his heart.

Reaching out, his hand closed around her wrist. "This Sesshoumaru gave no permission to touch his being, miko."

Eyes widening in fear as his hold on her tightened, she whimpered. "I...I..."

"Why have you come?"

"I sensed...something...and came to see what it was." Pausing, her eyes traced his face. Scratches, slashes, and gore graced his once god blessed appearance. His long and beautiful hair that any female would envy, was now filled with mud, rocks, leaves, branches, and caked in the everlasting pool of blood; no doubt falling from wounds to his back. Hell, one would think it was originally a dark red tint, instead of its originally silky silverness. Looking into his eyes, she frowned. "You need to rest, Sesshoumaru. You're going to...oomph!"

Falling on the ground with the now unconscious taiyoukai on her, she cursed.

First that horrible battle with Naraku, then arguing with Inuyasha, and now this...it just wasn't her week.

Sighing, she hefted him off her and did what she was good at.

Healing and bandaging his wounds.

I know that the chapter is short, but tell me what you think. Please review.