DISCLAIMER: I don't own squat, yada yada yada.

Chapter 4

Level Playing Field

Inu No Taisho came back to the cage. None stood near it. She could have escaped at any time, but didn't. She stayed within the confines of the now magicless cage. Kyo was there, but he didn't come too close either. The woman was sleeping, curled into a fetal ball on the bottom of the cage. She had refused food, and drink. It was still sitting next to the bars of the cage. Her dreams were fitful. Events only she could know going on behind rapidly moving eyes, shuddered by heavy eyelids. A sweat covered her brow.

"Kagome!" she jumped looking about frantically before realizing her surroundings. She promptly covered herself with her arms and tattered remnants of clothing. "Stand to be removed from the cage."

She did as told, adjusting her tatters to try to remain decent. As the door opened a robe was dropped over her head.

"Cover yourself," he ordered. She complied warily and untrusting. A bird ready to take off into flight at the first sign of trouble.

She was lifted from the cage by the bear youkai and dropped to the ground where she landed in a heap. After a long sigh she allowed herself, she stood brushing off the robe of the dust covering the bear gave her.

"Follow, and stay near," the man barked and turned away from her. Walking to his son's tent. Once his back was to the woman, a large grin donned his face.

"How is Sesshoumaru sama?" she queried.

"Ask him yourself," he lifted the tent flap for her to enter. She did and kowtowed to the demon lord sitting upon his desk. Inu Taisho did not enter, just releasing the flap and walking away to his own tent. He signalled Kyo to join him and gave Jaken a warning glare to die for if he were to disturb his son now.

"Hm.. rise," Sesshomaru didn't bother to signal. She clasped her hands over the sides of the robe and held it tightly closed as she stood. His eyes were closed, and he sat slightly off kilter. It was apparent he was not fully well yet.

"Milord, you should be resting," she said softly. He took in a deep inhale of her sweet scent.

"Yes, but my futon lies in the next room," was all she would get for an answer.

She moved forward and stopped before him.

"May this Kagome assist you?" she asked, her head bowed. 'Thank you Rin, Thank you Rin...'

His eyes fluttered open and he looked to her, as if searching her eyes for something other than the truth of what might be there. No, all he sensed were human eyes. He stood slowly, and shakily. His muscles were still bereft of energy. He leaned on her shoulders and she guided him into the next room. It was luxurious indeed, but that wasn't important right now.

"Wear are your sleeping clothes?" she asked quietly. His hand dauntingly signalled to a trunk. With grace, she kneeled, helping to lower him to the futon. Once he was seated she left his side and opened the trunk, pulling out a sleeping robe, which could have been mistaken for one of the finest kimonos. She moved back to him and kneeled again. Her fingers moved to his obi, and she waited for permission to assist him.

With no fight given, she undid the precious knot she had done earlier, and removed it. With great care she laid it next to his form. His haori was next. Once it was off, she moved away from him and retrieved her bag. He pondered her motions, and an eyebrow raised on her return.

"What are you doing?" he queried.

"Changing your bandages, and getting that medicine off of you so you may sleep more soundly. Without it irritating your nose," she replied.

"I thought it was called gauze," he murmured.

"It is, it is a type of bandage," she moved to his side and whispered softly. "This will sting, I apologize for any discomfort."

He waved his hand dismissively, only to find a fiery pain shoot through him with what sounded to be ripping silk. She had ripped off the bandage! He glared back at her after letting his back settle from arching against the pain so. But she did not notice his deathlike glare as she peered into the now pink and healing wound.

"You are healing nicely," she said softly. "Hey, look it's a female Jakken!" she pointed.

His eyes snapped up to the door and his back stiffened. Suddenly he felt himself lurch again, searing pain stung all over his back as she yanked the bandaging off the rest of his back. A low growl eminated from his throat, realizing she had fooled him to get his attention away.

"Easy now, shhh..." she said softly. "I'm finished removing the bandages."

"You lied to me woman?" he snarled.

"Well you were the one so desperate to see a female Jakken," she giggled. Sesshoumaru just growled feeling foolish. "I didn't need you watching, it hurts more when you watch a wound on yourself being treated. Some of these are bruised, what happened?"

"I was attacked," he snarled. Anger still seething.

"These are still too open to leave uncovered, it will ruin your robe. I will use a wrap this time. Your skin does not like the tape I used to hold the bandages on," she said quietly and moved to her bag. She pulled a roll of white fabric like material out, and another set of "gauze" and set about her work. She poured a foul smelling substance onto her hands and rubbed it in thoroughly.

"What is that?" he held a hand to his nose.

"It's a cleaner, it removes evil shouki that cause flesh death from my hands as not to cause your wounds to fester," she explained as best she could. "I will wash thoroughly when I am done treating you so the scent does not continue to pester you Sesshoumaru sama." She tenderly laid gauze on each wound, then wrapped his chest with the gauze roll to hold them in place. She did the same for his shoulder. Then she assisted him to remove his hakama, and dress in the sleeping robe. Once he was dressed, she pulled his hair behind him and began brushing it, careful to miss his ears.

He thoroughly relaxed as his hair was being brushed. The Great Lord of the West had a weakness for hairbrushing?'This is just too precious. It would only assist more if he started thumping his foot' she gave herself an inward giggle.

"Why are you assisting this Sesshoumaru?" he inquired.

"Because after tonight, this Sesshoumaru will not require any further assistance from This Kagome. And this Kagome, likes being able to bring you some small comfort from your torturus ordeal. I know you are still shaken, but your men need not see it," she said softly and tied his hair back in three leather ties. She pulled gently under his arms to signal him to lay down. And he did.

"I will have breakfast for you in the morning," she said softly. And moved away from him to allow him to sleep. She moved from the room taking her bag with her into his war room space and found her Miko robes. She pulled it out and washed in the basin here. Thoroughly cleansing the scent of the sick Sesshoumaru off of her body before dressing in the clean clothing. She pulled a bunch of the seating pillows together, and curled up on them to go to sleep. It wasn't comfortable, but it would have to do.