Chapter Two:

The morning came with yawns from the tired crew, slowly raising, they were surprised to find Youko already there, working on something.

Kagome was first to get over to him and kneel beside him watching him, "What is that?" she asked, noticing the smell it gave off. She couldn't hide the face she made it made her feel a little uneasy in her stomach.

Youko simply looked up at her for a moment, then back to what he was doing, "This, little miko, is a mix of different plants that will fight off the poison in your friend here," was all he stated. As he finished, he handed her the bowl, "Get him to drink it." Was all he said before he stood, heading for the tree line he was stopped...

"Thank you Kurama," Kagome spoke looking up at him with a smile he didn't recall ever receiving before from anyone.

Youko just gave the faintest of nods before continuing… Only to stop and stay put as the fox who had been following ran into his leg. Youko slowly turned, "and what are you doing kit?" Youko asked little Shippo simply.

Shippo blinked a few times as he got back to his feet, "I was going to go with you!" he stated simply as it was the most obvious thing, right?

Youko rose a brow, a hand on one hip as the other stayed at his side, "Let me rephrase... Why are you following me then?" he asked bluntly.

Shippo blinked a few times, "Well... You're a fox too... I figured..." his words started to trail off looking up at those hard golden eyes, "I was hoping you'd... teach me... ya know... fox stuff?"

Youko sighed inwardly, but shook his head, "You stay with the little miko and these others." he stated simply before he turned and pretty much vanished as before.

Shippo growled kicking at the ground. Finally another fox and he was being ignored!

Kagome smiled softly, "Shippo it's okay, Come why don't you help me get breakfast going?" she asked once she finished getting Inuyasha to drink the mix Kurama had made for her to give him.

Shippo sighed, but nodded eagerly going over to Kagome to help her.

-Time Skip-

It'd been hours since they had cleaned up breakfast, but couldn't do much in the way of traveling, since Inuyasha was not yet recovered, and she didn't want to not be here when Kurama came back... If he came back, Kagome was certain he would, she doubted he'd leave them high and dry after doing so much to help them.

Kagome jumped, turning as Sango grabbed hold of her Hiraikotsu, looking around. The roar of some demon hadn't gone unheard.. Then they came out of the tree line, bear demons, and not a small number. For being territorial beasts, Sango's only thought was perhaps it was a family, or the few rare bear packs.

Sango called and Kirara shifted forms and Sango was on her back as the feline snarled.

Miroku frowned, "I think they smell Inuyasha in his weakened state and are looking for an easy meal."

Kagome gasped, "That's a horrible thing!" She moved, getting her bow, and notched an arrow, standing before Inuyasha.

The battle began, bears rushed out as Sango went to work, as did Kagome, and Shippo stayed in front of Inuyasha to keep them away. Miroku did what he could without his Kazanna(Wind Tunnel) As they were too bunched and close he didn't want to hurt his friends.

It got bad, bears are known for their strength and their unwillingness to give up. Sango had gotten thrown from Kirara as the fire feline was struck hard by one of the bears, shifting to her small form to escape a deadly blow.

Kirara fled to Shippo and Kagome's side nursing an injured shoulder.

Miroku gasped getting pinned down, using his staff to keep the bears front claws and fangs off him. This wasn't looking good.

Sango was moving, running when she saw it coming she moved to stop, sliding on the ground, closing her eyes for it. But after a moment she slowly opened her eyes. She blinked confused at the white and silver in front of her eyes, then realized it was the kitsune.

Kurama grunted pushing the bear off and glanced back at her, cold golden eyes watching her, "And you're a demon hunter? What a shame." he stated, his voice was plain but Sango growled at the insult.

Youko didn't give her time to really get mad at him as he moved, a rose was in his hand and she scoffed, like what good would a... Well that was different, it was no longer really a rose, but a whip of sorts.

The kitsune moved, helping Miroku out, the bear attacking him seemed to burst into pieces and Miroku could only twitch as the blood ended up almost all over him, barely missing his face due to covering it with an arm.

Youko moved just as quickly as he had before, the whip of his making quick work of the last of the bears... Once they were dead, he moved a hand, a few seeds getting tossed from his hands, and large plants suddenly sprang to life and devoured the meat from the bears, and others went so far as to lick the blood off the ground.

The fox slowly turned once they finished and the plants he had made seemed to just vanish into the ground.. "Little miko, you really shouldn't stay here longer," he said softly, the blood on Youko, they could only assume was bear blood as they didn't see him faltering.

Kagome could only mutely nod after seeing all that she had just witnessed... Thanking for whatever reason he was on their side.

Youko turned, "you're best heading into the forest and going to the lake, where you can get cleaned up." He stated, a smirk tossed in the direction of Miroku who was looking absolutely miserable under all that bear blood. Youko was tempted to walk over and give him a good licking, but thought better of it with the Demon Slayer still glaring daggers at him...

-mini time skip-

After patching what injuries they had, Sango took to carrying Inuyasha's unconscious form on her back as Kagome couldn't and Shippo was far too young, Kirara was hurt, and Miroku was too busy worrying over the fact he had bear blood on him. That man peeved Sango so often.

Youko was leading the way when Sango noticed the fox lean against a tree a bit heavily for a moment. Sango frowned but continued to follow, the others behind her, Shippo was walking beside Kagome as Kagome carried Kirara so she could rest.

When they finally reached the lake, Sango carefully set Inuyasha down and they set up camp and she frowned seeing it. The blood on the ground, it was fresh and no way was it from the bear.

The girls ignored Miroku as he went to clean himself up, and Sango told Kagome her suspicion. "I think that kitsune got hurt when he protected me from that bear." She stated bluntly, not one to normally beat around the bush.

Kagome gasped a bit, and turned, not seeing him, so she reached out with her other sense, "I'll take care of it," she said to Sango, "Watch Inuyasha." She added as she moved to where Youko's signature was.

She found him slumped at the side of the lake a ways away from the group. Kagome crossed her arms, "Are all demons stubborn, or just stupid? If you were hurt you should have told us"

Youko rose a brow looking at her, "Like it matters, the demon hunter friend of yours is probably happier with it this way little miko." he stated simply, turning away once more.

Kagome rolled her eyes, "you're worse than Inuyasha." she huffed, but walked over, "Let me see," she demanded sharply.

Youko's quirked brow rose higher, watching her, but sighed, "Fine," he grumbled, slowly moving, as soon as his top came off she noticed the slash in the fabric, and then noticed the gash on his side, it was obviously made by a bear claw with the four distinct claw lines.

Kagome shook her head, "I can bandage it for you."

Youko rolled his eyes, "No wonder the other guy is as he is… You don't just bandage a wound and hope for it to go away, You need to take care of it first." he said a bit sharply, ignoring the look that came onto her face. Moving a hand, a plant grew, he moved closer to the water, using it to clean the injury as best as he could with one hand, as the other was holding himself up as he felt ready to collapse.

Once it was cleaned, he poured more power and the plant started producing a sap, which he put into the gash wincing a bit. Kagome vaguely remembered it, he had used it to help her.. When he was finished, Kagome could see his body was trembling, and she moved to catch him as he started to slump, She sighed, but laid him back relieved his eyes were closed and not glaring at her. She bandaged the treated injury, and then pulled him up doing her best to ignore the faint growl that escaped him.

"I know it hurts Kurama, but I need you to move. We're going back to the others." she spoke as she helped him back to the others after she grabbed his top. Once she had him there, Sango and Shippo had already gotten a fire going, and she laid him down near it.

Shippo whimpered, scampering over and took over doting over the older fox. Shippo noticed how much paler the already pale silver fox was, he almost looked white at the moment, he must have lost a lot of blood leading them here. Shippo whimpered a bit and looked up to Kagome. She gave a weak smile, then moved to the water, washing the fox's top for him.

Sango frowned, leaning back against a tree. He got hurt to help her, despite knowing she was a demon hunter, she didn't understand why he did that. Was he serious about really helping them?

-Time Skip-

In the morning Youko was forcing himself to sit up, Shippo frowned, "you should rest some more."

Youko rose a brow and turned his head, looking right the kit, "can't do that" he stated simply and continued to get up, surprised at seeing his shirt cleaned and sewn. His nose told him the little miko had done it. Great now he had to thank her. He pushed the thought back and shrugged it on ignoring the twinge in his side.

Despite Shippo's complaints of him staying put and not moving Youko did so anyhow, and made the last mixture Inuyasha would need. Since the only one awake was Miroku who apparently wasn't paying attention or didn't care he was up, Youko actually got the hanyou to drink it this time.

Youko stood and turned, moving away when Shippo grabbed his tail, glaring up at him, Shippo let out a bit of fury the others jumped hearing.

"You're hurt Kurama! I don't care if you're an older fox, you need to rest! So go lay back down, we'll do what's needed!" the small fire fox was glaring up at Youko.

Youko looked down at the fox for a long time watching the kit's resolve slowly crumble, then he laughed. "Kit, a bear won't make me roll over into my grave, and certainly walking will do no such thing. So either let go of my tail, or prepare for a fight." Youko gave a warning glare, and Shippo could only gulp and let go.

Once his tail was freed he started to walk off, Kagome frowning, "Kurama, where do you go all the time?" she asked bluntly.

Youko looked over his shoulder at her, "Not far if you must know little miko... And your hanyou is waking," he stated simply before he turned and walked off.

Gasps were released and they all turned and sure enough Inuyasha was waking.

-End Chapter two-