Her arms ached as she kept her grip on the bow tight, her forearm drawn back as she held the arrow against the taut string. Her muscles sore and her vision slightly blurred by the blood dripping into her eye from the cut on her head.
This was a youkai that hurt Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo. She would be damned if she did not defend her friends.
The bow line went slack as the arrow released and Kagome fell to her bare knees. She watched as it began to glow bright pink, brighter and brighter by the second, until it hit the demon in the chest. Roaring screams of agony sounded as the oni began to glow in the bright pink aura. His body began to disintegrate. He threw his head back and roared, his entire body sizzling. She watched as it resulted to a pile of smoldering ash.
"Miko," she heard a deep, stoic voice speak causing her sore back muscles to tighten.
"Sesshomaru." Inuyasha hissed; he tried to get to his feet. Heavy gashes were carved into his arms and torso, while he was dripping in blood and sweat. His skin was a deathly pale, in comparison to the usual deep tanned bronze.
"Silence, hanyou," Sesshomaru snarled. He flicked his wrist. Inuyasha cried out, flung backwards into a tree with the green poison whip. "Do not fight while so weak and vulnerable, it ensures your failure," he snapped before turning back to Kagome to see an arrow pointed at himself. "Miko, do you wish to harm this Sesshomaru?"
"I won't hesitate to kill you if you hurt Inuyasha."
"If I had came to harm that pathetic half breed while nearly on his deathbed, he would already be dead. I came to speak with you, miko. Do not take this Sesshomaru for such, why would this Sesshomaru kill a defenseless ningen, hanyou, or youkai? That is dishonorable."
Slowly, but surely, the bow string loosened and she laid the bow across her lap. "What is it?" she snapped.
"Miko, your power is stronger than any spiritual power this Sesshomaru has ever laid eyes on, yet you are untrained."
"Kagome," Inuyasha groaned weakly. She looked at him to see Sango helping him to his feet. The sight of his blood made her shiver. Watching the way it pooled around his feet ever so slowly. Miroku leaned propped up against Kirara, unconscious it seemed. He took quite the hit to the head during battle.
"Inuyasha, it's fine," she spoke softly, watching him stumble closer to her. He fell to his knees, hissing in pain. "Inuyasha," she shouted. His head jerked up at the sound of his name. His amber eyes tired and weary. Turning away, noting that he was fine for now, Kagome looked at Sesshomaru.
"Why does that interest you, Sesshomaru?"
"You are a fierce fighter, worthy opponent, and excellent caretaker. You will do fine with the task this Sesshomaru gives you."
"Sesshomaru, what are you getting at?" Inuyasha hissed.
I'll slice off your other stupid arm, if you even think about taking Kagome as your mate, Inuyasha thought hatefully.
Sesshomaru ignored him, glaring down at the miko. "You are to protect and provide for Rin until I return. If she is in danger, I expect you to give your life if it meant her safety. Understood?"
"Wha- I mean… of course?"
"Good." He spoke in a hard tone. He turned to the edge of the forest. "Rin! You will come at once."
Rin appeared into the clearing, from the trees. "Yes, my lord," she giggled sweetly, skipping over to Sesshomaru's side. "Hello, Kagome! It is most excellent to see you." She gave her a beautiful, childlike smile.
"You will feed Rin when she asks for food. You will let her rest when she is stricken with fatigue. You will show her the ways of woman when asked," he nearly growled out in his very Sesshomaru-like tone.
"Sesshomaru-"
"When I return, I expect to find her happy and healthy. If there is so much as a scratch upon her skin, I will do harm to the person who laid hands on her, and the person meant to protect her. Rin."
"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru?" She looked up at the tall taiyoukai. She was so small compared to him. Admiration and love for her demon protector heavy in her eyes.
"You will stay with the miko while this Sesshomaru is at battle."
"Hai."
"You will stay with her at all times. Not with the demon slayer, not the monk, not the half demon, not the kitsune, not the hellcat. You are to stay with the miko at all times. No excuse that may fall from her mortal mouth shall grant reason to accurate separation or departure. Understood?"
"Hai, Sesshomaru-sama."
"Goodbye, Rin. I will return when the battle between the western and southern lands ceases. I will come back when I have rid myself of this petty issue."
"Sayonara, my lord. I know that you will win," she giggled. She waved as he vanished, his figure retreating back into the woods.
"Hi, Kagome," Rin grinned, walking over to the small girl. She helped the girl up off of her knees, before clasping the older girl's hand. Her palm was warm. Kagome sighed heavily, trying her best to keep breathing evenly, but Kagome was so tired. Bone deep fatigue.
"R-Rin," she rasped out.
"Yes, Kagome?"
"Rin, I need you to help me bandage up my friends."
The young girl looked to Sango, Inuyasha, Shippo, Kirara, and Miroku. All were in bad shape. "Of course, Lady Kagome. I will help you help them however I can." Kagome smiled weakly down at the young girl.
"Kagome," Inuyasha groaned in pain.
"Inuyasha," she whispered, rushing over to the half demon. Rin stayed by close, following quickly, doing just as Sesshomaru told her.
"You will stay with the miko while this Sesshomaru is at battle."
"You are to stay with the miko at all times."
"Kagome, what are you doing?" he whispered as she watched him fall out of consciousness.
She thought about Inuyasha's words. She wasn't sure what she was doing, but she'd do anything to protect such a sweet, innocent twelve year old. Even if that sweet, innocent twelve year old girl traveled with her koi's cruel stoic older brother.
"Sango, let's get Miroku and Inuyasha on Kirara. We need to find a safe place to set up camp," she rasped out. Sango nodded. Her armor had protected most of her but she did crash into a tree.
"Rin, can you wake up Shippo?"
The small girl looked at the demon slayer, then smiled and nodded, shuffling a few feet over to the kitsune cub that had been knocked unconscious.
Inuyasha sputtered for air as he woke, arching his chest out in pain. His entire body hurt. "Sh-shit," he hissed. He started rise to his feet before small hands slowly pushed him back down. He looked up at the little girl with a scowl.
"You mustn't get up. Kagome-sama says that you need to rest."
"Where is Kagome?" he snapped. He pushed himself up despite his body's protests. The little girl looked to her left. Inuyasha followed her gaze, looking to see the sleeping girl.
She looked to be clean, but smelt horribly of blood and her modern medicines. It irritated Inuyasha considering that he'd come to love her scent.
"What's wrong with her?"
"She's just sleeping. She's been taking care of you and Sango-chan. Kagome-sama hasn't slept since the battle until now."
"Rin, how long is that?" he ground out, glaring at the sleeping girl.
"About five days, Inuyasha-kun."
I swear to Kami, I'll kill her for being so considerate. Why in seven hells would she wait five days to sleep? Fucking no for good girl, has no common sense enough to know when she needs to stop putting other's needs before her own!
"She told me that if you should wake up, to tell you to rest. She said that you were badly hurt, she worried that you'd never wake up."
"Keh. I'm a hanyou. I think I can take a little beating," he spat, crossing his arms as he continued to glare at Kagome. Why the hell does she have to be so stupid?
He couldn't stay mad at her, to be truthful. Sure, he could drag it out until she apologized, but while she laid there, exhausted, looking almost peaceful and serene, he couldn't help feel the tenseness in his muscles melt away.
"So I've been asleep for five days?"
"Hai, Inuyasha-kun."
Sniffing, he looked to the door of the hut to see Shippo carrying a large bucket of water, or struggling to carry a large bucket of water.
"Rin will help," Rin announced, dashing over to the kitsune and taking hold of the wooden pail. Together, they brought it over to rest between Inuyasha and Kagome.
"Inuyasha!" Shippo shouted happily, plopping down beside the hanyou. "We were all worried. You've been asleep for a while and you're usually the first one to wake up."
"Keh, I'm fine," he snorted, laying back down and turning to face the other direction, away from Kagome.
Shippo sighed at the hanyou's uncouth behavior before turning to Rin who gave him a silly grin. "Wanna see more of my kitsune magic?" She nodded, giggling as he threw out his spinning top.