~Chapter 2~

Falling to her hands and knees, she grumbled. Staring at the now clean, bandaged, and slumbering taiyoukai, she narrowed her eyes.

After a good two or so hours, she been stripping his torn clothes off, cleaning his wounds, healing the ones she could, and bandaging his over grown ass. But that's so not mentioning her having to lift him off her and ever so slowly drag his tall, heavy and much larger frame a good few feet near the stream. And all the while, being careful of his wounds and trying to keep them from getting anymore dirt in them if possible. So in all, she was beyond exhausted.

Sighing, she unfastened her button up and fixed a glimpse towards Sesshoumaru. Finding him still slumbering, she peeled her shirt off and gave a whimper. Looking down at her right side, she grabbed her bag. Retrieving her small dagger, she removed her bloody bandages to reveal a nasty five inch gash.

"You aid this Sesshoumaru, yet you cannot do the same to yourself?"

Jumping and earning a jolt f pain through her body, she winced.

Pushing off the ground and hoisting himself into a sitting position, he sluggishly came to his feet. "You should not have aided this Sesshoumaru at the risk of your own health. You are truly foolish miko."

Hastily placing new gauze around her wound, she slid her top back on. "You would've died."

Raising an eyebrow, he stared down his nose at her. "Do you doubt this Sesshoumaru's knowledge?"

Quickly shaking her head, she frowned. "You...'wanted' to die?"

Fixing his gaze out at the stream, he gave a low nod. "This Sesshoumaru is not young, miko. This Sesshoumaru has lived 1,473 years. It is safe to say, that many things as well as events have passed and so forth. What's another day being lord and watching death great all one knows? You humans wish for prolonged life, yet never think of the repercussions that one must face. Death, loss, greed...and loneliness. This Sesshoumaru has faced it all, yet never allowed such to deter himself."

"What changed?"

"Death of a parent."

"Lord InuTashio? But he has been..."

"This Sesshoumaru's sire was not whom he spoke of." He coldly bit out bit out.

Eyes widening, she came to her feet. Staring at him in disbelief, she tried to take in what he was saying. "Your mother...she was alive...when Lord Inu..."

"Do you now see why the half-breed brings this Sesshoumaru such pain? He not only caused a great riff between this Sesshoumaru's parents upon his birth, but great pain to his giver of birth." He growled, balling a fist. "All may stand and say that this Sesshoumaru is cold and void to the world, but such actions have made this Sesshoumaru this way."

"But that's still no reason to let you die. Wouldn't she want you to live?"

He said nothing.

"Sessh..."

"Take care of yourself and forget what was spoken miko."Turning, he walked off and vanished in the forest surrounding them.

Shaking her head as she knew what she had to do, she just preyed that Inuyasha would forgive her. Forgoing taking her bag, she ran after him. Not sure why, she couldn't help the pull she still felt from his youkai as if summoning her.

Hearing the mat being moved to the side, he frowned. "Kagome, I'm sorry about..."

"Kagome? Did you see her?" Sango exclaimed cutting him off.

Coming to his feet, the hanyou rushed out the hut.

"Inuyasha!"

Ignoring her, he took off tracing Kagome's scent into the forest.

Coming across the same blood and markings from the battle, he gave a powerful sniff. Narrowing his eyes as recognition hit him, he growled. Seconds later coming to the stream, he frowned as the big yellow bag met his eyes. Hearing rushing feet behind him, he sighed.

"She's gone..."

"Gone?" Miroku voiced, taking a glimpse towards the bloody rags. "Are those..."

"No...They belong to that bastard that took her." He angrily spat, bending over and trying to catch their mingled scents on the ground.

"Who took Kagome?" Little Shippo added, leaping off Kilala's back.

Looking up to the sky, he said the one name that struck all with fear.

"Sesshoumaru."

Entering the clearing from the throng of trees, she gave pause.

"Stalking now, miko?" Came his cold voice, as he leaned his back against a tree. "Do as you were instructed and forget what was said of this Sesshoumaru's past. Now leave and allow this Sesshoumaru to move to the next plane."

Eyes widdening, she shook her head. "No...I won't let you take your life."

He smirked. "Who said that this Sesshoumaru was suicidal?"

"But you just..."

"This Sesshoumaru has been poisoned, miko. The wounds that you treated were inflicted, after such was given to this Sesshoumaru. Thus, why this Sesshoumaru stated that you should've not risked that of your health to do such."

Walking closer, she sighed. "You're dying and welcoming it?"

"Yes...now leave and allow this Sesshoumaru to go in peace and ..."

"What of Rin? Jaken? The western lands? Your people...you're going to abandon them? Just like that?"

Eyeing her, he slid down the bark, until he landed on his ass. "If there was a way for this Sesshoumaru to live, would you grant it?"

"What? What are you ta...?"

"This Sesshoumaru has not enough energy, nor that of youkai to purge this being of the poison. For it is immune to that which resides within this Sesshoumaru."

"But what does that have to do with me?"

Quickly reaching out and grabbing her arm, he pulled her closer. "Does your human heart still yearn for the hanyou, miko?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"If you truly wish to aid this Sesshoumaru in sustaining that of his life, then you will be forever his." Raising his other hand, he caressed her jaw. "For in order for this Sesshoumaru to live and continue to manage his lands…a mating with one of purification must be done." Narrowing his eyes, she gulped. "Are you willing to take this Sesshoumaru as your mate and forget all and everything pertaining to Inuyasha?"

I know that it's a cliffy and all, but tell me what you think….review please!