After dinner Sango fell asleep again well into the next night. She dreamt of lights and strange shapes. She woke up with no recollection, however. Her body was still hurting and she felt very hungry. She looked around the hut once more. To her dismay Miroku, Kagome, and Shippo had not miraculously appeared. The past day had not been a horrid nightmare. They were gone. Her heart sinking a little her eyes drifted to Inuyasha. His eyes were focused on his sword, which he seemed to be absent mindedly polishing. Sango could tell of Inuyasha's sadness, even if he wasn't showing her. It poured out of his posture and his every movement. She studied the hanyou for a moment before he cast a glance her way. He started a little, obviously concerned. "You're awake." he said softly, setting Tessaiga down. She nodded a little. "How're you doing?" Sango swallowed. "

Hungry." she said feebly.

Inuyasha frowned. She hadn't been conscious since the day before, and leaving the hut had exhausted her so much she'd slept till now. Inuyasha ignored his own lasting soreness to think up an idea for dinner. "You sit tight, I can-" His dog like ears swiveled before he himself could react. Sango studied his movements carefully, slowly easing herself up.

"What is it..." Inuyasha frowned, turning towards the doorway.

"Something's afoot. Someone's- Someone's here..." Sango frowned too, scanning the hut for her own weapons if need be. Her hiraikotsu and katana were leaning faithfully in the corner. Her chocolate eyes shifted back to Inuyasha who was listening intently. "I'm gonna check it out, Sango. You-" Her turned to the injured woman who was already attempting to lean on her katana. "What are you doing?!" He hissed in disgust. Sango grunted through gritting teeth. Her robe slipped off her shoulders revealing a heavily bandaged bust.

"What do you think? Going to check it out.."

Inuyasha growled as he forced Sango into a sitting position. "You must be out of your mind, onna. Don't follow me." He sent her warning look before dashing out of the hut. Sango's stomach was swirling. She was tired, and she definitely trusted Inuyasha to take care of things. But he had said something that still was ringing like a bell in her mind.

"If you're not gonna let anything happen to me..." She began, slowly struggling to wobbly feet. "Then I won't let anything happen to you. We're all the other's got." She said to nobody in particular. Her wrap skirt clung to her sweaty legs as she shrugged her pink and maroon robe around her shoulders. Flicking a bead of sweat from her face she started the long journey to the opening of the door. All things considered, she made it in good time and without incident. She carefully peeled back the sheet in the doorway and saw Inuyasha sniffing and inspecting some carefully arrange meat. Seemed like deer. Cleaned and freshly killed. The sight actually brought a grumble of hunger from Sango's stomach.

"You aren't a very good listener." Inuyasha said flatly, still sniffing and inspecting the cuts of meat. "Nobody would leave such succulent meat here on accident. It seems like an offering, but from who?" Inuyasha was silent for a long moment before grabbing onto Tessaiga's hilt. "Listen, stay in there! This isn't any of your business." he called over his shoulder. He was on the edge of hysterics now as he leapt away and quickly out of sight. Sango frowned at his impulsive behavior. She made the decision to follow him quickly, hoping it wouldn't take her long to catch up.

The short, green imp tugged at his brown robes. He was frankly disgusted by his lord's strange display of kindness. Why hunt dinner for his half breed brother and his rag tag lot? Such a thing seemed beneath them. Then again, so did being in the company of a human child. And Sesshomaru had proven this apparently wasn't. Jaken, however couldn't keep his feelings quiet any longer. As the human girl hummed and plodded along side him, he looked into the Inu Youkai's calculating face. "M'Lord? Why waste valuable time hunting for that pathetic brother of yours? If he can't hunt adequately he shouldn't eat." Jaken whined. Sesshomaru shot him a miffed look but stopped in his tracks before he could retort.

He glanced around, sniffing ever so lightly. "Jaken-" he called quietly. The imp looked up attentively, his eyes bulging.

"H-Hai!" Sesshomaru blinked slowly.

"Take Rin elsewhere. Keep her safe." Confusion washed over Jaken's features as the dog demon turned in the opposite direction.

"Y-Yes, m'lord! But why-"

"My brother approaches." Rin looked between the two, a contemplative look on her young features.

"You think he'd cause the Rin harm?" Jaken didn't notice the hint of disgust in his voice. Sesshomaru shook his head no ever so slightly.

"He wouldn't. But I don't think Rin should see him this way." Jaken could tell by the ever rising note in his voice he shouldn't press further.

"Come along Rin, we will go ahead and Lord Sesshomaru will follow." Jaken grabbed a grubby hand and tugged on the girl who obeyed. She cast one more look back at the Inu Youkai before following behind Jaken out of sight.

Only moments later did Inuyasha appear across from him, his eyes ablaze and his teeth already bared. "Inuyasha." Inuyasha was panting from the mild exhaustion but his clawed hand hovered over his sword.

"You're trying to mock me, is that it? I know you know. You had to smell it." Sesshomaru pressed his mouth into a thin, straight line. "That last thing you want to do is fuck with me, Sesshomaru... I'm warning you." The snarl in Inuyasha's voice was impressive but he was not in good shape. Sesshomaru blinked before snorting.

"I can think of many other ways to insult you. Rin was fond of the Kagome woman-" Inuyasha inhaled sharply at hearing Kagome's name leave his mouth.

Sesshomaru tossed a look behind him. "And whether or not I like to admit it, you've looked out for Rin on more than one occasion. So I felt a little compelled to offer some sort of respects at least on her behalf." Inuyasha glared, a bit shocked. A bit rough around the edges, it seemed to be his stoic brother's attempt at compassion. With folded arms, however, Sesshomaru continued. "I also must say I feel guilt."

"Wha-"

Sesshomaru's eyes went from indifferent to hard in an instant. "You're barely put together yourself. Always scrounging for survival, to think you could ever be responsible for a lot less armed than you against this world. This was inevitable. I should have known eventually..." His voice trailed off, his eyes narrowing as Inuyasha whipped his sword from it's sheath.

"You bastard!" he seethed, his whole body trembling.

"Rin travels with me and she has never been in considerable danger because I can take care of myself. One who can barely manage on their own should never be responsible for those weaker than him. Learn from that, Inuyasha. Our father's compassion for humans has done nothing for you. You failed that other woman and all of your friends." Inuyasha swung the transformed Tessaiga over his head, his eyes stinging with tears.

Despite his brother's imminent attack something in the nearby bushes caught his attention. With ease he leapt, pushing the brush out of the way to reveal a pale Sango. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of the demon slayer who he had assumed dead as well. "You." he uttered quietly, eyeing her as she stood. Sango barely caught a brief glimmer of emotion that melted back into the pools of amber eyes.

'His expression was almost warm... Was he glad I'm alive?' Inuyasha leapt between them instantly, his teeth bared.

"AWAY FROM HER!" he held Tessaiga defensively.

"Inuyasha!" She cried out. Sesshomaru frowned at his sibling's current state. With a quick, firm jab of a stiff hand sent Inuyasha recoiling to one knee.

"D-Damn it..." He felt Sango's hands brace his back.

"You're in no position to attempt to fight anyone, much less me. Focus on attempting to protect that remaining onna as her wounds are bleeding out."

Inuyasha sniffed and tossed a worried glance at the paling Tajiya behind him. "Idiot." He growled to her. With a disdainful snort Sesshomaru turned to exit. It was upon seeing his back Sango found his voice.

"Wait!" she cried out with a shudder. Sesshomaru paused but did not turn to them. "D-Did you try? I mean... Think about using your sword..." Sango's voice fell silent. She knew she might not like the answer. Sesshomaru's fist tightened.

"I stopped by the graves once, if only to test the limits of my sword. The scent of death was days old. I couldn't see any beings of the afterlife. Does this answer your question, onna?"

"Hai." They watched Sesshomaru disappear from sight.

Inuyasha grunted, hoisting Sango up and starting the trek back to camp. He was silent, his face obviously pained and annoyed Sango had ignored him. She felt almost too tired to protest. If it was just the two of them it wouldn't be the first time she acted of her own accord. "Inuyasha..." She began softly. His ears swiveled and he grunted lowly.

"Hmm?"

"Gomen nasai... For coming after you."

"...Ah." She let her head rest fully on his back.

"But if it's only just us now-" She stifled a sudden sob. "You can't expect me to let you go off to fight alone." Inuyasha opened his mouth but shut it. She felt his grip on the back of Sango's calves tighten in a reassuring squeeze.