A/N: Thanks again to Peyton Cummings, my lone reviewer. And thanks to those who have put this story on alert.. at least now I know you're reading it )
Chapter 3
"What am I supposed to do then, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Kagome nearly shrieked, having sarcasm dripping from her voice when she used the honorific. "Miroku and Shippou are dead! Sango is gone! And Inuyasha and Kouga can't stop fighting long enough to realize I'm falling apart!" Another sobbed escaped her small form and she smiled bitterly at him. "What do you care anyway?"
Sesshoumaru snarled at her outburst. The insolent wench had the gall to yell at him? Only the truce kept him from separating the miko's head from her body.
His beast was berating him for his harsh thoughts. "There are more pressing matters," he said to her finally. "You cannot change what has already come to pass." His beast was insisting he be more compassionate towards the girl and he was having a difficult time ignoring it.
Her tear stained face met his, her azure eyes fixing him in the most desperate stare he had ever seen. "I just want the pain to stop."
Something in her tone broke his resolve and he found himself enveloping her in a loose embrace. She cried harder with this action and Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around her tighter. His inner beast purred at the feeling of her pressed against him.
He relaxed as she leaned into him. She was tiny against him. And her scent wasn't nearly as offending as most humans. It was almost… nice. He shook his head at the wayward thought. Holding a human was anything but nice. They were ignorant, weak creatures.
'But still,' the thought as her crying subsided and sleep began to over take her, 'if this is what I have to do to stop her tars, it really isn't so bad.'
His beast smiled victoriously.
/
Kagome awoke quite early only to find herself back at the camp. She didn't remember coming back. She only remembered crying. And then Sesshoumaru had come and she had yelled at him and he had… held her. 'Did I fall asleep in his arms?' A small blush crept up her face as she realized she must have and he had carried her back to camp.
"Why do you have that stupid look on your face?" Inuyasha asked suddenly. "We've been waiting on your lazy butt for almost an hour. Get moving," he huffed and walked away.
Kagome groaned as she stood up. Why did he always have to be that way? Why couldn't he care every now and then? She hadn't bathed last night, as she normally did. She knew that the scent of her tears was heavy. She let out a small gasp as she realized Sesshoumaru's scent must be all over her as well. Is that why Inuyasha seemed so mad? Either way, he had no right to treat her like that. He had made his feelings for her abundantly clear when he had told her he would never be able to see her for herself, just someone that reminded him of Kikyou. That had happened just days before Naraku had destroyed the walking corpse.
In minutes they were ready to go. Kagome stalled, scanning the area one last time for Sango. Inuyasha sighed impatiently, pushing past her, though he too was looking for any sign of the demon slayer. Kagome felt and hand on the small of her back guiding her away.
"Come," Sesshoumaru saud as he released her.
/
They had just made camp when Inuyasha suddenly sprinted into the forest. Kouga sniffed the air and smiled slightly at Kagome. She looked at him quizzically, but he was resolutely avoiding her eyes and lamely mentioned firewood before heading in the opposite direction Inuyasha had gone.
Kagome glanced at Sesshoumaru with the same questioning look she had given Kouga. The demon lord simply stared at her impassively. "The hanyou approaches," he said.
Hanyou? Naraku? Why was everyone acting so weird when Naraku was coming right at them? Why weren't they getting ready to fight? Why weren't they—
Her panic stricken thoughts were interrupted by Inuyasha emerging from the trees. The hanyou. Sesshoumaru had meant Inuyasha. A bubble of anger swelled inside her and she turned around to yell at the demon for scaring her, but he had gone.
"Kagome," a voice she had been longing to hear made its way to her. Excitement jolted through her as she turned around to meet Sango's eyes.
Tears were welling up in her own eyes. "Sango," she almost whispered before launching herself at the older girl. They landed in a heap, clinging to each other as tears streamed down their faces.
"I'm… so sorry…. Kagome," Sango choked between sobs. "I was so caught up over what I had lost… I-I didn't realize what I… s-still had." She gripped Kagome tighter and whispered in her ear, "It will never happen again, Little Sister."
Inuyasha stood awkwardly to the side. This was embarrassing to watch. "I'll just… ugh…" he began, "hunting… firewood… Kouga…" he continued mumbling as he quickly moved away from the two weeping females.
Kagome finally pulled away from Sango, a bright smile on her face. "I'm so glad you're back, Sango! I've missed you so much!" He hugged her again before standing up. "We must have scared Inuyasha away with all our blubbering." She giggled strangely, trying to quell the many emotions flooding through her.
"Look at us," Sango said ruefully, drying her eyes. "We're both a mess now. Bath?"
Kagome nodded eagerly and they sought out a hotspring.
/
A/N: I know these chapters are short and I apologize. I'll try to make the next one longer. Please review.