Disclaimer:
I do not own InuYasha; Kagome and Sesshomaru

How many times had kagome seen him sneaking away at night to kikyo, how many countless hours wasted on someone not alive, to even think of him with her made her cringe, she didn't want to remember the nights of inuyasha sneaking off to kikyo catching them holding each other so close kissing it all but made her break into a thousand pieces inside. she couldn't take it anymore she wouldn't shed another tear for inuyasha.

She grabbed her yellow backpack and packed her things she stood on wobbly legs trying to get past the group without waking them up. She had to get away from it all she needed time to clear her mind and headed to the edge of camp she took one last look and the gang and went on her way to where she didn't know yet. The moon was high the night was peaceful, the cool calm air on her skin relieved her bitter tension she felt. Kagome had lost the track of time but she didn't care. Picking up a few flowers and pressing them to her nose she slowly forgot about her worries...pain to her heart.

Kagomes pov – the nerve of that baka off again with kikyo what does she have that I don't, IM ALIVE I've always been there for him and she' doesn't love him like how I lov.. Love? No not love not anymore, I refuse to waste my time being number two. all he see's is a reincarnation of her.

She had made it to an open clearing the smell of wild flowers decorated the lush green and the sound of a hot spring she couldn't hold back the sigh of relief it had been a while since her or the gang found a hot spring let alone time alone in one to relax without the lecherous monk sneaking a peak. She had lost track of how many whacks sango gave to miroku, if the wind tunnel wasn't his demise then brain damage would be.

Kagome didn't make it five feet before she felt it the strong demonic aura hit her in waves but something was wrong it didn't feel right it felt weak, then she saw him there lying hunched against a tree. Lord Sesshomaru as if seeing a ghost, instantly she froze in place as if staring at his person was an instant K.O, she tip toed closer it couldn't be? The great dog demon covered in blood his armor was broken and his haori was tattered. Her fear was overcome with curiosity to see someone so strong laying there injured.

Kagome crept closer within reaching distance before she could touch him his eyes flew open, they were different his once golden eyes were as red as crimson , he hissed and reached for kagome her first thought was to flinch and run but nothing came no death grip no poison whip nothing . She opened her eyes and saw him passed out blood flowing from his wounds. Kagomes first reaction was to get out of dodge but she couldn't no matter how much her mind screamed for her to RUN she couldn't it was wrong to leave him to die. The once great lord Sesshomaru was here in front of her hurt in need of medical attention. He was someone with pride and honor to ask for help but she just couldn't walk away

Kagome pov – Kagome what are you doing this is Sesshomaru. He is going to heal and rip you into pieces get up leave LEAVE... I can't I know he tried to kill me before but I can't just let him die think kagome think what do I do.

Kagome placed her pack down and found her medical box (thank you grandpa) kagome fumbled with the sash around his waist, she felt her modesty kick in and stopped for a moment, all the help she has given to the local villages didn't train her for the great lord before her, she managed to remove his broken armor, it felt like heavy cinderblocks how he could wear this and move was beyond her thought she continued on and removed his haori and saw the wounds and gashes all over his chest and abdomen.

She slowly began to clean and bandage his wounds as best she could , kagome wasn't dumb something was wrong he was a full demon his wounds should be healing faster than humans or half demons at that but they weren't , she didn't know why but she couldn't help stair and his pale ivory skin and the crimson marks on his arm for being badly hurt he still looked amazing like a Greek warrior after a great battle she caught herself staring at him more then she should but it wasn't the issue right now.

Kagome spent the night cleaning his wounds collecting water from the spring and washing strips of cloths. Sometime during the night with cleaning his wounds and medicinal herbs she had fallen asleep. The morning sun rays hit her eyes Yawning widely, kagome stretched her arms yawned out loud again then she shot up and it hit her where she was who she was with, she had fallen asleep it was a dream wasn't it? She shot a glare at him and remembered of the night before attending to his wounds, cleaning and the herbs.

Deep in her thoughts about the other night she failed to notice the golden orbs staring at her from a few foot away, till he spoke. "Miko Why are you here?" "Why did you help me?" he stated firmly, he was looking at her straight in the eyes with his usual stoic face with intensity as strong as the sun. "Huh?"It took Kagome a moment to register his words before she answered, she had tried avoid his face avoid his golden eyes I couldn't just leave you there to die. And with that she continued to collect the bandages from the night before then he spoke again "Why are you here?" Why are you alone without the half breed?"

Kagome was shocked this is the most she had heard from Sesshomaru besides his demands for Tessaiga, and his never ending death threats to inuysha. But she couldn't, she didn't want to tell him about inuyasha and kikyo and avoided the questions all together. Then in a gentle voice she asked. "Are you in pain? He turned his face away to face away as if there was something more important to look at and replied with his usual cold voice "I'm fine"

Sesshomaru pov - " Why does she stay with the half bread when he runs off to the priestess corpse at night, I myself have caught the stench of the dead priestess and the half breed a few times before does she think this Sesshomaru stupid?

Sesshomaru in his own train of thoughts failed to notice the mikos nimble hands change his bandages he grabbed her wrist asked what she was doing. Kagome explain her actions to he let go of her wrist and let her continue with her menstruations and with that he sat back and watch with amazement as she attended to him with great ease, after a moment curiosity propelled him to ask her more questions. "Why do you follow the half breed, he chooses a priestess with the scent of death over you," "why not be with someone who will love you in return?" Kagome stubbornly stared back despite feeling extremely awkward, she had thought of the same question in her mind over and over perhaps it was time for her to open her eyes. She avoided his questions again till his stoic voice came back into ear "MIKO you have yet to answer my questions I will not ask again". She took a breath and finally mustered the answer best she could think of "it's complicated "

Kagomes pov – nice kagome your getting the 5th degree from Mr. frosty, this guys a full demon I'm sure he is not stupid and knows you're lying just tell him and get it off your chest

She continued her back and forth ramble in her mind till he cleared his throat. She sighed inuyasha doesn't have any feelings for me not the way I would like him to, he is in love with kikyo. She spent the morning talking to Sesshomaru and was surprised to find him sitting and listening to her , the more kagome felt better and the burden of keeping her feelings bottled up and hiding them from the gang put a toll on her nerves it felt good to talk and someone,

after a while Sesshomaru had try to get up with a few pained noises and loss of balance it only served to open some of his wound kagome was quick enough and managed to grab a hold of his shoulder and help him back down, she was surprised he hasn't fully healed and had to ask why. "Sesshomaru if you don't mind me asking why haven't you healed" he managed to adjust himself against the tree and then answered her question, "I was attacked by some lower level demons when a priest snuck up behind me with his sutras and words I was bound in place and the demon managed to strike me with his acid claws. I'm am able to heal from any attack but it has taken longer to heal from his acid but I will heal. Kagome was relieved and from there they continued to talk

As they talked Sesshomaru couldn't help but be astonished as a miko let alone a human girl had a vast vocabulary and education, unlike most human she was clean smelled of sweet cherry blossoms and lavender compared to most humans smelling of filth and dirt. He always thought of humans as primitive animals lacking proper hygiene and below him. During their conversation kagome knew it was mid afternoon and inuyasha would be cursing and yelling while looking for her she needed to head back to camp. "No" I'm not a dog I'm not going to run back to him like a sad little puppy I'm old enough to make my own choices and be where I want." "And I chose to be here" don't I?