"Wind scar!" Torrents of the deadly move barreled towards their target. Sesshomaru batted it away as if it were a piece of dust, sending it into the air. His dense brother threw attacks his way.
"You must be getting desperate, filthy half-breed." He allowed himself these words.
"Shut up! I'm just getting started!" He gritted his teeth, showing no emotion.
"Inuyasha," Kagome's voice fluttered through the air, catching the two brothers by surprise. "Can we just go? You'll wake Rin with all this noise." She pointed to the small girl, whose head rested in her lap.
"Why are you being nice to her? She's the enemy!"
"She's ten."
Inuyasha shut his mouth. Sesshomaru smiled lightly. She was feisty, for a woman. Out of all Inuyasha's comrades, all of whom failed to appear at this battle, he disliked her the least. He felt a borderline… respect.
His thoughts were cut short when Inuyasha's 'Blades of Blood' were announced. The Hanyou's aim was sloppy, so the blades were spinning on a path that led not to the intended, but to his ward. Sesshomaru was there in seconds, blocking the teenager and small girl. The blades shaved off the bottom of his mokomoko and narrowly missed his leg. As the blades buried themselves three inches into he trunk of the nearest tree, he spun around, surveying the damage.
The dark haired girl had her back towards him, with the smaller girl wrapped in her arms. Shielding her.
Blood and large gashes ran down the poor girl's back.
She appeared to be unconscious, most likely from the pain. Stunned, Inuyasha walked over to Kagome. They stood above the two girls, eyes wide. Sesshomaru snapped out of it first and kneeled to pick up the girls. Blood immediately stained the white garments and armor he was wearing. As he set Rin on Ah-Un, Inuyasha came to.
"You can't take her!" Guilt laced his words.
"I am The Lord of the Western Lands. I take what I wish."
Inuyasha just turned his head to look at the blood that pooled on the dirt. Guilt and sorrow made his mind a blank slate.
Sesshomaru knew that Inuyasha wouldn't stop him. They were both dog youkai, so both could hear her heartbeat growing ever weaker with every drop of crimson that turned his armor red.
Both eyes connected, amber on amber, and Inuyasha nodded. Cradling her body, Sesshomaru mounted
Ah-Un and gave his command. Inuyasha sat on the ground. "Take her pack." He said before the reptile took to the air. Sesshomaru grabbed the ugly yellow sack before starting his journey towards his castle.
Three days later, Kagome awoke. Looking beside her bed, she saw a familiar dark head. "Rin?" She sat up, wincing at the pain. The girl spun around. "Ms. Kagome! You're awake!"
After a short explanation of the situation, Rin jumped up. "Lord Sesshomaru told me to get him the moment you woke up! I'll be right back. He's been so worried!"
'Worried! About me?' She thought skeptically. 'Doubt it.' She snorted.
"Why do you laugh, Miko?" Sesshomaru gracefully stepped into the room.
"Rin said you were worried about me. I just thought that was funny."
He shot a look at Rin, who giggled sheepishly and latched onto his mokomoko.
"Why would it be funny? Can one not be worried about someone who was dying?" His piercing stare sent ice down her spine.
"I wasn't dying. Inuyasha wouldn't try to kill me."
"I beg to differ, Miko. Especially since I witnessed what transpired, how would I benefit from lying to you?" He tilted his chin up slightly, awaiting her retort. Since she had none, she moved on to a different topic. "I have a name. It's Kagome, not 'Miko'."
"You dare challenge The Lord of the Western Lands?" His eyes grew red and his magenta strips darkened into a fuchsia.
"No!" She held up her palms in a surrender. "It was a joke! Lay off, Sesshy." She smiled.
"I will show you a joke, and you will know the true meaning of surrender. I am-" his eyes faded back to amber.
"Did you just call me… Sesshy?" He was confused. No one had this much confidence.
She giggled at his face. He clearly needed some help in taking jokes.
"Do you not like it? I guess I could call you… Fluffy." She tousled his hair. He growled softly.
"Or puffball," she poked his mokomoko.
"Oh, wait. You can't be puffball. Inuyasha is puffball."
He forgot his anger. "You call my brother, who has slain thousands of demons using the mighty Inutaisho's fang, puffball?" He shook his head, chuckling quietly.
"Have you seen his ears?" She gestured to the top of her head, where Inuyasha's ears lay. "How do you resist?"
"I'm usually trying to kill him."
She stopped. Did he just make a joke? She smiled widely at him. "Ok, that was funny. Now get out." She waved her hand towards the door.
Sesshomaru stopped. "Did you just order me around in my own castle?"
"I have to change. Unless you want to see some nasty scars, I suggest the door as an easy way to exit."
"Fool. Who do you think changed your bandages?"
Her eyes widened.
"Calm yourself. It was a servant named Anika."
She relaxed and smiled as he left the room, pulling Rin along with him.
She settled on an orange kimono with purple flowers, with an obi that matched the flowers. Looking around the large castle, she attempted to find Rin. She flinched with every step she took. The pain was almost too much. When her vision began to get dark around the edges, she felt her feet leaving the floor. She spun around and met the stark white of someone's kimono.
"You certainly aren't that stupid, to think three days will heal all wounds."
Sesshomaru picked her up bridal-style and walked her towards her room.
"I was actually… looking for someone."
"I will tell Rin to go to your room. Unless it was I you were looking for."
His mouth whirled into a crooked smile. Kagome retorted quickly.
"What if I was?"
"Then I would feel no qualms about meeting your demands."