Love Can Be Found in The Darkest of Places

Chapter 3:Long Term Healing Process

She sat on her knees tending to her hurt patient. Fear shone in his hurt eyes and the scrapes and cuts on his body were deep. She had gotten a bowl of cold water and placed a cloth in the bowl. She was gentle but the pain was excruciating for him. She gently removed the top half of him kimono so she could treat his wounds. She gently cleaned the blood from his body. He tensed in pain but did not want to scream in her ear as she was tending to his wounds. When she was done she put bandages around his body.

"It will be a while before you'll be fully healed but you can stay here until your better."He nodded and closed his eyes.

"I do owe you."She placed a thin blanket over his weak body.

"This wouldn't have happened if you'd let me come along with you."She said as she finished tucking the blanket around him. He sat up and leaned against the wall. She sat in front of him and began talking to him about what she did over the three years they were separated. "The children have grow a lot in three years, but we stay the same for hundreds of years. I've missed you and all the children think were mates. It's really quite funny."He smirked without looking directly at her.

"And what do you tell them?"She giggled and shook her head.

"I tell them we're just friends and . . . ."He took her arm and pulled her towards him. She landed on his chest surprised. He wrapped his arms around her thin frame and pulled her into a tight embrace. "InuTashio. . . ."He cut her off when she felt water seep through her kimono onto her shoulder.

"I. . .I was so worried that they'd find you. That's why I left you here. I'm so sorry I dragged you into this."She placed her hands on his chest comforting him with her soft voice.

"I understand. It's okay. Really."She froze as she felt his lips touch her neck. "InuTashio."she muttered.

"Yes?..."His finger tips touched her back seductively making her swoon. She did not know what to do.

"Wha. . ."she swallowed hard. "What are you doing?"He pulled her at arms length and smiled.

"Do you know how beautiful you are?"She blushed and he traced her lips with his clawed finger.

"Inu. . . ."He didn't let her finish her sentence. He pushed his lips to hers harshly then broke. He felt a blush rise to the back of his neck and he tried to suppress it. She looked surprised and confused and he did not like that she was uncomfortable.

"Gomen. I shouldn't have done that."she blushed and looked away. A smile played across her lips.

"That. . .that was nice."She felt like a young girl who had done something naughty and was afraid to tell anyone. The blush escaped and reached his cheeks.

"Nanii?"She smiled and looked quickly into his eyes.

"Gomen, but I thought it was nice. I wouldn't mind if you did it again."She said smiling. He took her chin and held it so his gaze could meet hers. He brought his lips down but they were interrupted. A young girl ran into the room.

"Gomen Sesshanaru-sama! Gomen InuTashio-sama!"She ran to Sesshanaru and pulled her hand. "Houjou-kun had an accident! Please come quickly!"She urged. Sesshanaru smiled and followed the girl outside. InuTashio stood and went to the doorway to watch her. She ran to the side of a young boy the was lying on the ground holding his knee crying. She frantically began tending to the scape on his leg and he smiled at how worried she got. He remembered the time three years ago when he touched sunga and she jumped like a startled rabbit.

"You wield Sunga, the sword of destruction and power, correct?"She nodded and removed the sword from her belt. She out stretched her arm to show it to him.

"Forgive me my lord but, I'm afraid if you touch it, it will scorch your hand."He nodded but touched it with one finger. Electricity surged through the sword scorching his finger. Sesshanaru looked worried and grabbed his hand to examine his finger.

"My lord! You should not have done that. Are you all right? She took the cloth she had wet earlier and placed it on his finger. He smiled at how worried she got over something so trivial. She was trying to bandage his finger up when he placed his hand over hers.

"You are kind but I am all right. It does not hurt."She began to speak in protest but he placed his burnt finger on her lips. "Like I said, I'm all right. Don't bother with something so silly."She removed his finger from her lips and continued bandaging it.

"I'm sorry. I'm always jumping when a child gets a cut or scrapes himself. I've always been like that."

That seemed so very long ago. He watched as she kissed the boys scraped knee and the boy blushed. He stood up and ran off and Sesshanaru laughed. She stood up and picked up a small twin tailed cat. She cradled it in her arms and noticed someone watching her. She blushed and sat the cat down as the village children called it. She felt embarrassed and shy. She looked up at the man standing in the doorway and realized he was smiling. She walked up to him and smiled. Many of the villagers had stopped to admire the young couple. Sesshanaru smiled girlishly and was shocked when InuTashio kissed her quickly on the lips in front of everyone. He smiled and she blushed madly.

"InuTashio-sama!"she yelled angrily. All the villagers were giggling at the couple.

"Hai?"He replied a little confused. Sesshanaru's face grew read with embarrassment.

"Kono. . .Kono. . .Ki-ni shinaide!"She stormed inside so embarrassed that she wanted to cry.

"Kono nanii!"He shouted a little hurt. Then he realized all the villagers. "What have I done?"He sighed. He didn't think she would be upset. He followed her into the hut and the villagers went about their business. She was in the corner her legs pulled up to her chest and her face was red. He couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or anger. He sat beside her not sure of how to precede.

"Hontou-ni moushiwake-gozaimasen." He said not directly looking a her.

"Nanii?"She said shyly. She was taken aback and was almost positive she had heard wrong.

"I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?"She wasn't quite sure how to respond. A man had never apologized to her before.

"It's not important what I think."He looked serious instead of playful at that moment.

"Soumoi-masu."She gasped. She had always been taught that a man was always right and a woman must do what a man required of her. She had to agree to everything he said, but this man cared about her feelings and didn't treat her ill. Sure he had embarrassed her, no one was perfect.

"Why would you care what I think?"He blushed but turned his head away so she cold not see it.

"Because I. . .I have my reasons."He snapped at her. He turned his back to her because his face was turning even redder. She bit her bottom lip and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"And they are?"He still wouldn't look at her and likewise he didn't respond. "I wont make fun of you if that's what's on your mind."He still didn't respond. "You are very special to me InuTashio."He still wouldn't look at her. She became angry and sat right in front of him but his bangs still covered his face in the shadows. "InuTashio look at me."she said wondering what had upset him so.

"I decline."he said softly. She felt guilty for prying.

"I'm nosey aren't I? Forgive me."They sat in silence for neither knew what to say to the other. She reached up to his face and moved the hair from his face. His cheeks were red and his eyes were fearful and daring. She let the hair fall back in his face and did not say anything. After around an hour of silence Sesshanaru placed her hand on top of his.

"Would you like to watch the sunset with me? If you go to the top of the hill you can see the entire village and when the sun sets it's so beautiful. It would me a lot to me if you came."He nodded and she smiled in triumph and led him to the hill top. He didn't talk the entire hike up to the hill but Sesshanaru thought she knew why. They reached the top of the hill and Sesshanaru sat on the grass, knees pulled up to her chest. It wasn't really a hilltop it was more like a cliff and you could look out and see the entire village. She smiled as the wind blew her hair behind her. InuTashio felt distant from her, like he wasn't himself. She let her legs dangle over the side of the cliff as she giggled happily. She looked over her shoulder at the boy who was wearing red kimono pants and a white silk shirt his red one tied at the waist. "Careful InuTashio someone will mistake you for a priestess."His face was still in the shadows but he walked over and stood behind her. "Tell me what's wrong. We're friends after all."His hands turned to fists and they began shaking as InuTashio fought to keep them still.

"You want to know what's the matter? Fine! You don't know what it's like waging war. Watching your men kill innocent children. Watching a child's parents die in front of their eyes. I don't deserve to be happy. I deserve to die like the people I recklessly killed just to win some stupid war!"She watched as tears fell from his eyes as he struggled to hold them back. "I've lead all my men to there deaths in a war we would never win. Those children shouldn't have had to loose their parents. . .like I did. My life has been nothing but causing death and chaos and I should be the one to pay for my sin."his face was still covered with his long bangs. Sesshanaru stood up and looked at her lord. She removed the hair from his eyes and she saw hurt and anger. He looked at her as tears fell from his eyes.

"Your men wanted to win the war or die trying. They loved you and respected you and were willing to follow you into death if need be. You are supposed to be happy but I understand your pain. Remember I waged war with you, I know what it's like to watch countless innocent children and villager's die at my hands. I've spilt so much blood with this sword of mine trying to protect this village. I even killed my own brother! But I live on and live by the laws of each day regretting how I destroyed my ten year old brother's life and how I destroyed my brother's trust. At times I'm so unhappy but then I come to this cliff, were I murdered him with my own hands. His spirit his here with me and he forgives me, that much I know, That was 30 years ago."Tears fell freely from her eyes as she took the sword from her belt and threw it to the ground, casting it aside. He embraced her and they cried together, sharing each others pain. Such young people should not see so much blood and death. It does things to a person's mind, war does. It can make even the strongest worriers cry like children in the depths of the night.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know. . . . . ." He let her go and they stood inches from each other. She nodded in understanding. "I can never have a family because of my sins. You know that don't you?"She shook her head.

"Your family will not suffer for your sins. You can have a prosperous family."He nodded in agreement just wanting to be in her company.

"Sesshanaru. . . .There's this woman, She's the most beautiful being that ever walked the earth. I get nervous when I look at her and when she smiles my legs can't support me."He blushed. "Well I. . .I think I love her and I would love it if she'd be my mate but I don't want to be straightforward and ask her to be mates with me. I'm afraid that she'll reject me and that's my greatest fear."Sesshanaru nodded.

"Tell me InuTashio, do you love this woman? Would you be willing to spend the rest of your life with her?"He nodded.

"I'd be more than willing but if she rejected me I would be crushed."

"Well, ease into it. Just spend time with her and if she likes you than she'll enjoy your company. If you feel that she likes you back just ask her. If she shares your feelings than in a few days ask her to be mates with you."He nodded and kissed her cheek.

"Thanks a lot Sesshanaru. I really owe you one."She smiled and he flicked a strand of hair from her face. "I'm ready to go back to the hut and then I'll be gone by morning."She looked surprised and shocked.

"Gone! Gone where!"She demanded, pouting. He kissed her forehead but she still wanted to know where he was going.

"I'm going back to my throne. I am the Lord of the West remember?"She nodded sadly. She really wanted to stay with him and be by him. She was protector of the village and couldn't just up and leave overnight.

"Oh. I see."She said sadly. He would forget about her and find another fine demoness. He saw her sadness and decided to take her advise.

"Come with me. You could live in a palace with your own maid. You'd be pampered. . . ."She shook her head sadly.

"I can't leave them defenseless. Other villages have demon slayers but they just have me. If some demon finds a way to get around the barrier there done for. I have to stay. It's my duty. I must watch over Sayo. The girl is a half-breed and I owe it to my brother to stay here, But I'll never forget you."He nodded. She was caring and always putting other's before herself. "Take her with us. Sayo I mean. I'll station guards all over the village to protect it or there are a couple demon slayers that are promising in there work. Please Sesshanaru, I'll do anything you ask of me."She folded her arms and smiled.

"All right, I'll go with you if you answer one question."He shrugged.

"All right. Who is this woman your in love with? Was she a prisoner in the eastern lands castle? Do you plan on rescuing her?" He blushed and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "Who is it InuTashio!"

A/N: Here are the translations for the words in bold type. Japanese to english. R+R and tell me if you prefer the story with or without the Japanese words. R+R! Arigatou! (Thank You!)

GomenSorry

NaniiWhat

HaiYes

KonoYou

Ki-ni shinaideNever Mind

Hontou-ni moushiwake-gozaimasenI'm really sorry

souomoi-masuI think so.