Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters but I wish I did Sess!

Sesshoumaru snarled menacingly at the people that surrounded him and Rin who clutched his pant leg tightly. The people were human but not ordinary humans, these were poachers of sorts. They killed demons and skinned them for their fur or other various skins only demons had. The most valuable of all the demon skin was the fur of the dog demon. The value of dog demon fur sky rocketed when the dog demon population went from hundreds of thousands to just a handful that stayed in the western Province and the Northern Province. Two areas heavily guarded by demons to protect their population and to protect the well populated centers of the provinces from invasion.

So, of course, poachers had a hell of a time finding dog demon fur until they saw Sesshoumaru but knew he was a powerful one and could not be brought down the way others had in the past. The poachers knew he was a survivor of what killed off most of the dog demons. Only with careful planning they had managed to corner Sesshoumaru in order to try and get him to transform into his true form; for the only way to get the best of the demon's skin was in their true form but that only made them even more formidable. The poachers were prepared for that though.

Smoke bombs were thrown at Sesshoumaru because they attacked his sense of smell. So that forced him to be distracted as the poachers used various methods to get him to transform. Rin screeched and Sesshoumaru knew Rin was in danger. He called out and the two headed dragon AuOun appeared. Sesshoumaru put Rin on AuOun and the dragon flew off. Rin called for her lord who still fought against the poachers. She cried out to Sesshoumaru who didn't look up at her as the dragon carried to her safety.

Hours later and Sesshoumaru was still not found by Jaken and Rin who had not stopped searching for him since the battle fell quiet and the wilds of Japan were once more silent. It was only when they stopped for Rin to get a drink when they saw red in the water. Rin and Jaken quickly looked at the source of the red in the water. Jaken gasped and Rin broke into tears for they saw their lord terribly injured and unconscious.

Sesshoumaru wasn't actually in the water but had collapsed near it and the blood from his multiple injuries had flowed into the river. Rin and Jaken ran over as fast as they could at their lord to try and rouse him. On a closer look they could see Sesshoumaru had some bald spots on his tail from where the poachers had managed to get some of his fur. Rin shook her lord as best as she could to try and wake him up but there was no response from him. His face looked serene much like the faces of the dead but the small ripples in the puddle of blood told them he was still alive because he was still breathing. Jaken looked worriedly at Sesshoumaru, he didn't know how to heal wounds and him and Rin wouldn't be able to move him.

He took a deep breath and looked at Rin, "you need to go find help. We can't move Lord Sesshoumaru," he managed to hide the worry in his voice as he watched Rin run off in search of someone who would help her battered master.

"Sit boy!" Kagome shouted out at Inuyasha because of something he did that pissed Kagome off. So of course Inuyasha was eating dirt while the rest of the inugroup looked on at the Inuyasha shaped hole in the ground. Shippo shook his head and licked at the lollipop Kagome brought back for him. Miroku took a feel of Sango's ass and of course got a hit on the head.

Rin heard the shouting and her heart filled with hope as she ran over to the source. She stopped in her tracks when she saw who it was; she was ready to run away but was spotted by Kagome.

"You're the little girl who follows Sesshoumaru around aren't you?" she asked. Rin reluctantly nodded. Inuyasha stood up at the mention of Sesshoumaru. He looked at Rin with suspicion.

"What the hell are you doing you here?!" He demanded of the little girl who immediately burst into tears. Kagome glared at Inuyasha, she knew something was wrong for the little girl to come to them.

"What's wrong?" Kagome gently asked as she walked over to Rin.

Rin trembled with her tears and then blurted it all out, "Lord Sesshoumaru was attacked by people who were trying to get me but he sent me away to where it was safe. Master Jaken and I looked so long! He's badly hurt!" more tears fell as her lower lip trembled as she tried to hard to keep her wails inside of her. Kagome and the others fell silent. Sesshoumaru was injured and Rin came to them begging for help.

It was of course Inuyasha who broke the silence, "no way! We're not helping that bastard!" Rin's heart fell and her wails broke out and she cried and looked at them

"Please! You have to help," she begged them. Kagome looked at her and laid a hand on her.

"I will help you Rin," she looked sincerely in Rin's eyes.

Rin's eyes brightened, "you will?!" she looked at Kagome with so much hope. Kagome nodded.

Sango and Miroku stood up, "we will too." Inuyasha looked at them with disbelief. He wanted to say something but they were already leaving. Inuyasha swore under his breath and followed.

What met them was something terribly heart wrenching, the sight of Sesshoumaru lying there in his own blood with so many deep wounds that couldn't heal. Kagome, Miroku, and Sango walked over to move Sesshoumaru away from the water. Jaken stood there gaping at who was here helping but he didn't dare complain he needed his lord to be well so he didn't dare say a word. Inuyasha looked at his half brother with hidden concern. He didn't dare say a word or show his concern. Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha thought, for the first time I am worried about your life. Inuyasha leapt into a tree and watched as his brother had death's hand on his shoulder.

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