Chapter Two

Rude Awakening

The cool air was crisp as the fog blanketed the earth. Emerald eyes soaked in ebony locks tangled with silver. Shippo tilted his nose to the air, nostrils flaring with each breath. No youkai came that night and from the smell of things it was safe to leave. Slowly he walked the few feet to Kagome. She was lying beside the Daiyoukai, her hair tangled in the part of Sesshomaru's that was still left. She was curled into his side for warmth, her one hand gripping part of the blanket. Kneeling beside her Shippo reached out with his right hand to gently grab her right shoulder. With a gentle nudge he woke her. He watched as her eyes blinked a few times, adjusting to wakefulness. The fog of sleep clearing her mind. She rose to a kneeling position before quickly checking Sesshomaru's pulse once again. He listened to her let out a small sigh before she gave him her attention.

"I thought I should wake you, dawn is approaching and i thought I would catch you some rabbits before I take off. I should be back hopefully by tomorrow evening. Luckily the stream is right here so at least you will not need to worry about water. I will warn you Kagome, do not under any circumstance move if Sesshomaru's beast takes over." He watched her nod, he knew she knew this but he wanted to be sure. Daiyoukai will attack anything that runs, if she ran, the hunt was on.

Nodding his head in approval of her agreement Shippo took to the woods. Kagome was then left alone with the Lord of the West. Turning her attention to the broth that stayed hot with the fire she poured some in a cup before bringing it to the Dayokais mouth. He drank this one down much more smoothly. She slowly rested his head back down on the grass before turning to rinse the cup and fill it with fresh water from the stream. Upon returning she knelt back beside him to get him to drink more. He was so dehydrated, she was a little shocked when he started to down the cup quickly after the first sip.

Sapphire eyes looked to the sick Daiyoukai, she wished she could give him more water but she did not want to risk him not keeping it down. A pulse of yokai drew her attention from Sesshomaru, she looked up to see Shippo with two sinned rabbits. He had a large grin on his face. No matter how old he got, he was always so proud to take care of her. She couldn't help but smile back. He left soon after he got tem cooking, leaving the pack of supplies with Kagome. She watched him take off to Edo, hopefully he would get there quick and undisturbed.

She was left alone with her thoughts as she took care of Sesshomaru. Every hour she would get up to give him a small tea cup of water. Then again with some of the broth she had made. She never strayed far from his side, she hoped the water,broth and rest were working.

It was evening when she noticed any sign of improvement, she noticed his hands twitching at his sides ever so lightly. His eyes moved under his lids as if he were dreaming about something. She gently placed her hand upon his forehead. He was sweating slightly but she felt no fever. Rising to her feet she went back to her herbs to make another sleeping tea. Hopefully it would help him rest easier.

It came as quite a shock when the being beside her let out a sickening roar. The sound shaking the trees around them, the air rushing past sending her ebony locks to the side with its current. Birds took flight as the animals took cover in the brush below. Kagome didn't even get the chance to turn to him before she lay pinned beneath him. Looking above her all she saw was red. Bright red eyes stared at her from above. Her wrists were held down on each side of her face, his legs straddled across her hips. Only half of his hair hung down his right side, the other half burned off to his shoulder blade. She was trying hard to keep her breathing even, focusing her gaze to the stream on her right. She kept her throat bared as she was taught to show submission to the Daiyoukai above her.

That's when she felt it, a wet drop landed on her jawline, then another. She slowly turned her head to gaze up at the Western Lord. His bright red eyes stared down, and along his cheeks streamed fresh tear lines. Tears still coming down, she took in a sudden breath from the suddenness of emotion from him. She knew that she was most likely the only one still alive taat has seen him cry. The warm liquid of his tears ran down her neck, the sound of his voice weak as he spoke. No sang out his pain to her.

"I see the fire in the sky, see it all around me. I said the past is dead, the life I had is gone. Said I won't give up until I see the sun."

Her brow wrinkled as she listened to his words trying to decipher its meaning. She watched his eyes close tightly together the snarl and pained expression cross his handsome features, markings shining brightly with the moon.

"Hold me now, until the fear is leaving. I am barely breathing."

He let another pained roar, the earth shaking with its force. Her eyes widened with his words, she tried to loosen his hold on her wrists. But he didn't relent, the movement causing his gaze to flash back to her. He continued to scream out as his tears ran down his face. He shook his head from side to side as he screamed.

"Hold me now, Until the fear is leaving. I am barely breathing. Crying out, these tired wings are falling, I need you to catch me. As I burn, as I break. I can't take it anymore, I'll return, to the place. Where the waters covers over everything, rescue me some how."

He let the last words hang upon them. His aura flared wildly around hers, she watched his fangs elongate, her eyes widening in realisation of what he was about to do. She had no choice but to bare her throat and clench her teeth. Only to have the piercing pain of fangs being deeply embedded in her flesh second later.

The pain was intense, almost unbearable has she kept her reiki in check. She felt his youkai being pushed into her very soul and he marked her as his. She only hoped for his sake, he didn't finish the mating by taking her. At least right now the bond would break after so much time of not being completed. It would fade. She turned her gaze to him once she felt his fangs leave her. When she looked back his gaze was back to the amber pools, they shined with grief. It was then that she was given another shock of her life as concern swiftly over took his stoney features.

She slowly sat up, her hand instinctively rising to her neck. Her wrist was caught quickly, a purple striped hand holding it. His left hand tilted her chin as he gazed at the blood oozing down her neck. He looked to her cerulean eyes brimmed with unshed tears from the pain the mark caused.

Sesshomaru leaned into her neck, his tongue licking his dry lips before he allowed himself the luxury the Miko's blood would surely give him. Gently he started to lap at the wound he had caused her. Her blood had a good sort of tanginess to it, her purity washing over his soul. Her powers melding with his helping heal his body. He felt her blood rejuvenate him in ways none other has. Closing his eyes he allowed himself this bliss, he knew once her wound was closed, he would then face the reality of his situation.

He felt her hand whined its way into his hair. Her nails gripping tightly to the strands. Her wound was almost closed now. Letting out a breath he backed away from the Mik, her fingers slid through his hair back to her side. He watched her open her eyes before they locked with his own.

The last he remembered of the Miko is she was loud, and most likely would begin to yell at him. He was shocked when all she did was begin to look him over for injury. Her skilled hands roamed down his bare chest across his shoulders, she turned his head side to side as she examined him. His other shock was the fact she was not saying a word about his nude form, not even a hint of a blush. This was the same woman was it not? The mark clearly told him it was but he had yet to experience anything she should being doing to him. Hell in his current state she could purify him. Yet all he was getting from there mark was concern for his well being.

He watched her rise to her feet, she grabbed one of he blankets for him to cover himself with. She then quietly walked over to the makeshift drying wrak she had made holding his torn clothing. His shirt was gone, there had been no saving that. His pants though, she was able to clean for the most part, they still had a few blood stains but they would have to do. Grabbing them off the wrack she handed them to him. She then turned to the fire, eyes focused on not watching him dress.

He only blinked at her once before attempting to rise to his feet, it was a slow painful process but he managed to rise to his feet. Now he had to balance himself to get them on. Oh what would people do to see him in the state he currently was in. Once he was somewhat dressed he took a seat beside the miko along the side of the fire. He was handed a cup a tea and what looked to be a piece of raw rabbit. He ate the small piece quickly before downing the tea she had given him. He startled a bit from the sudden sound of her voice.

"I do not know what happened to you, Lord Sesshomaru. But if I can help you in anyway, I will. I do believe for both our sakes though, we will tell the others this partial mating was intentional. I consented to such a thing. I am sure the only one who will know otherwise is Shippo, but he knows better than to say anything. He should be here by tomorrow evening with Kilala, she will help you get back to Edo with me where I can continue to help you regain your health."

She was looking right into his eyes, they held no anger at the situation she was now placed in, only concern for his well being. These were things he would have long scoffed at, now, now he wanted to protect such a loving creature. His brothers Miko was a gift from the gods for this earth. He would be damned if anything broke that. Leaning in he allowed his beast the comfort it craved, his nose found there mark on her neck and nuzzled her.

She assumed the nuzzling was his response to her statement, it still shocked her but she felt something was off. She wished she could come out and ask straight out what happened to him. But judging by how he awoken and the way he was currently treating it was best to let him have time. It didn't help that he was incredibly handsome and what girl with hormones wouldn't want a man like that giving them their undivided attention? She felt him withdraw from her and she looked into his amber eyes. The breeze blew his hair gently to the side, dragging with it his musky scent. Wait, scent?

"Huh, Sesshomaru-sama?" She watched him cringe with the honorific. Odd he always glared at anyone who did not acknowledge him as their better.

"Kagome." He cut her off. "I-I"

She watched his gaze drift from hers to the ground, his face displaying a mix of emotions, grief, pain, anger, humility."

"Kagome, you do not need to use an honorific with this ones name. I no longer hold that title."

Her eyes widened with the shock, and then realisation that one statement just dawned on her. Sesshomaru, the great Daiyoukai of the West, was no longer a gaze flicked up to hers for a moment before they turned downcast once more. The crack of the fire disturbing the silence his statement brought to the campsite. Then she felt it. Someone had breached her safety net. It was not a strong youkai but it was silently stalking its way closer. She watched Sesshomaru's eyes widen before he rolled to dodge the attack his way. Kagome hand flew up to erect a barrier around herself. The attack was nothing compared to her. Rising to her feet she flared out her power. The demon walked up confidence. He wore armor that held the Wests, moon symbol. He glanced at her then back to the heavily breathing Sesshomaru.

"Oh I am terribly sorry for missing you young prince." the demon bit out sarcastically.

Sesshomaru gazed at his soldier, it was Kenta. He was one of the few assassin's the West held. He was not strong but he was a master of manipulation. He was a Kitsune so trickery was his game. He was about to warn Kagome, he wanted so badly to protect her. Unfortunately the roll caused his body to much stress and he currently was incapable of moving. He felt a wave of holy power around him, suddenly he watched a barrier form around himself as the one around the miko dissipated like a fog. The Kitsune let out a laugh.

"Oh how the mighty fall." Then he lunged for the Miko. Sesshomaru almost screamed for her. But Kenta never made it to her. She was gone in an instant, Kento standing where she was previously crouched. A spear made of reiki lodged through his chest.

"You greatly underestimated your opponent. If this is all the new ruler of the West is capable of sending after the rightful Lord, then they are in for a rude awakening upon his return." She then serged her power once and Kenta was nothing.

The barrier placed around Sesshomaru dissipated and before he could blink she was before him. She had an arm around him to help him in a seated position. His breathing was ragged as he began to cough. He hated being so weak. Yet the woman beside him had grown to be so powerful. If only she were there when it all happened. Maybe then Rin would still be alive.