I hope you all like this chapter! It has lots of sess/kag!

Chapter 8

Kagome

I was surprised to find Sesshomaru by the well when I climbed out. For a split second we were both just staring wide eyed at each other, and then he pulled me into a warm embrace. It was warm, sweet, bliss. I missed him, and it was a relief to see him again. It felt like I had already hugged him a million times. Everything about the hug was familiar.

It was Sesshomaru, Jaken, Rin, Kohaku, and I. I was walking beside Sesshomaru, Jaken trailing behind us. Rin and Kohaku were sitting on A-un's back, chatting. It was sunny, slightly cold, and peaceful. The leaves twirled in the wind. They were shades of bright red, yellow, orange, and light brown. The forest floor looked like a blanket. It had been a month since I returned. Fall had settled and set everything in warm colors.

Sesshomaru and I were talking when Sesshomaru stopped. I immediately tensed. My hand went to grab my bow, but it wasn't there. I realized that I didn't have a bow. I went over by Rin. She and Kohaku were still on A-un. Kohaku had his weapon out, ready to strike anything. Rin held on to A-un, glancing around nervously. Jaken stood near A-un as well, guarding them all.

My eye barely caught the blade that went straight to Sesshomaru. Before it could hit him, he caught it in the air. He dropped it on the ground, and out came a young boy. He had short, spiky, dark red hair and pure black eyes. He looked right at me, and grinned. Sesshomaru flexed his hands and slowly pulled out his sword.

"It seems that I've found what I've been searching for." The boy's voice was silky smooth.

What happened next went by fast. The young boy was in front of Sesshomaru, then behind me. Jaken stepped between us and blocked the blade from going into my back, but going into him. I turned around and saw the blade through Jaken. Sesshomaru jumped over me and swung at the boy, who pulled the sword out of Jaken while parrying the attack. Jaken fell to the ground, and I sat by him.

"Jaken, why?" I asked him. "You didn't have to do that." Tears pricked my eyes.

"Listen Kagome, you are the one that she spoke of. You are the one to help Lord Sesshomaru. At first I thought it was Rin, but it's you. He denied it, but it's obvious. He needs you, and you need him."

"Who is she?" I asked, confused.

"She is my lord's mother. She told him that which he seeks is dangerous, and he denies it. They seek power, just as Sesshomaru. They seek you, for power through blood. Sesshomaru seeks the sword, for power through might. I have tried to stop him, but you will have to help him."

"What sword?" but before he could answer, he was gone. I stood up, and checked on Sesshomaru. He had just finished killing the boy. He was splattered with blood, making him look dangerous. I was still trying to figure out what Jaken meant.

Sesshomaru pulled out Tenseiga, and I backed away. When he cut, nothing happened. He tried again but nothing happened. Jaken still lie limp on the ground. Rin was crying into Kohaku's shoulder. He hugged her soothingly. I wiped my eyes, and closed Jaken's. I picked a flower that was near the edge of the clearing and laid it on Jaken's chest.

Sesshomaru turned abruptly and started walking. A-un, with Rin and Kohaku still on his back, followed Sesshomaru. I walked behind them all, trying to figure out what Jaken meant. His words ran through my head continually.

Demons wanted me dead, so that they could do something with my blood. Sesshomaru wanted a sword, for power. I have to stop him from getting the sword, but help him with what? It was all so confusing. I kept thinking about, but I never could figure it out. It was dark, and getting colder.

When we stopped for the night, I immediately sat down. My head was starting to hurt, and I was slightly cold. Leaning against a tree, I tried to relax. I sighed and closed my eyes. Today was the most eventful day since I got back. Kohaku went into the forest to gather sticks, and Rin followed him. Sesshomaru sat next to me, and stared at the sky.

Before I could stop, I started talking. The words just flew out of my mouth.

"Why do you seek power? Is it not enough to be as strong as you already are?" Sesshomaru looked at me, and then back at the sky.

"My father was the most powerful demon. I want to be greater than my father, to surpass him."

I looked at his face, which wasn't harsh. He looked content, and slightly wistful. "What is this sword that you're looking for? Is it one of your fathers?" He seemed slightly surprised that I mentioned it. As quickly as the surprise came, it was gone.

"This sword was my mother's fang. My father stole it and sealed it away, because it was only used for calamity." I remembered this story from history class. Of course it never mentioned that they were demons.

"If your father didn't want it, why do you?"

"My mother intended it to be mine. It has power beyond measure."

I let it be. This sword is powerful and dangerous. Then I realized what Jaken said at the beginning. I need to help Sesshomaru. He needs my help, and I need his. I probably need his help with the demons that wanted my blood. What did he need my help with?

I fell asleep, Jaken's words echoing in my head. In my dreams, giant swords slashed at me. I was being chased by demons, and blood was everywhere. Sesshomaru was in the distance; fighting something only I could see. He needed to help me, and I need to help him. It was impossible though, one of us would have to be harmed beyond the healing point. Before I could save Sesshomaru, I woke up. I was clutching his sleeve, but he didn't seem to care. He sat staring at the fire. It felt hot, and not because of the fire, but fever hot.

Rin and Kohaku were asleep by A-un. I sat up, rubbing my eyes. The sun was just peaking up over the horizon. I stood up, and stretched. I noticed the eyes that were watching us from the woods. They were bright red. I glanced at Sesshomaru, he wasn't worried about them. Instead he was staring behind me, where another set of eyes stared.

I stepped back, right into a pair of claws. They dug into my arm, making me bleed. Sesshomaru immediately went into action. Kohaku leapt to try to help me, but was knocked against a tree. Rin ran to where Kohaku fell. I felt my body growing warm, and then hot. The demon jumped back, and smiled.

"Good, that means you have the blood we're searching for." My skin tingled were his claws were. When I looked at the claw marks, black ooze was mixed with the blood. I tried to stop the bleeding, but it kept coming. The demon who poisoned me just watched, a grin on his face. He licked his fingers that held my blood, and I almost gagged. I held out my hand, and his smile faltered. I shot out a blast of energy, but he moved.

Everything started blurring together and spinning. Black dots danced across my vision. I took a step towards Sesshomaru, who just finished killing the demon that was behind me. Obviously the demon who poisoned me never expected it to end so quickly between the two, because he stared disbelieving at Sesshomaru. I fell to the floor, unable to move. Sesshomaru looked at me, and then attacked the demon. Everything went black, and I entered a nightmare.

I was chained so I couldn't move. Giant demons were taking turns stabbing me, each had an evil grin. My blood soaked the floor where I lay. I screamed, but nothing came out. My whole body ached and shook uncontrollably. The room was hot, and I was sweating and crying.

Sesshomaru

I dispatched the first demon quickly, but it was too late. The other one had already poisoned Kagome. I looked over at her, but I had to eliminate the threat. I went to attack, and heard the thud as she hit the ground. Rin was holding Kohaku, who was thrown into a tree. The demon had been slightly singed by Kagome.

When that one was dealt with I went and kneeled by Kagome. Her arms were bleeding where the poison went in. She was shaking with fever and fear. This was a sleep poison, where the person has nightmares. He was familiar with it, because his father made him immune to it by overexposure. Gently he picked her up, and carried her to the nearest river. Not after telling Rin to take A-un and Kohaku to Kaede, the old lady that Rin often visited.

The river wasn't very wide, more like a stream, but it will do. He washed off her arms, and tried to stop the bleeding. He tore his kimono, making a bandage. He tied this around her arms, careful not to cut off circulation. His father had taught him the basics of first aid, as a requirement in training. That way, if he did get injured he could patch himself up. He healed fast, but when it gushed out like it was on Kagome then it was good to know the basics. Sesshomaru was starting to appreciate the things his father taught him that seemed useless.

When her arms were bandaged, he took a rag and got it wet. He put it on her forehead. Then he just sat by her. She was still shaking, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She was starting to sweat now. Her mouth was twisted in a scream, but nothing came out. Her eyes were squeezed shut; the nightmare must truly be terrible.

Her hand then reached out, and clutched my sleeve. It was like the other night. It seemed to calm her down, so I didn't remove her hand. Her mouth wasn't in a scream, but in a tight line. Her eyes were still squeezed shut, and she still was sweating, but tears no longer ran down her soft cheeks. I gently stroked her silky soft hair, which stopped the shaking.

Kagome

I was still in the room, chained. They dug into my skin, but the demons disappeared. Only one stayed, but he didn't hurt me, he just stared. It was still unbearably hot, but my blood started to disappear into the ground. My hand was holding a piece of cloth, and I didn't let go. The tears and screams stopped. The demon pressed a button and the floor dropped, I was falling. The cloth was still in my hand, and I screamed. It came out, and hurt my throat. I held on to the cloth harder, but I still fell. I called out for my mom, then for my father, then for Sota, and finally for Sesshomaru. When I heard his voice, it was like setting off a bomb. The dream shattered, and suddenly I was looking into his amber eyes.

Sesshomaru

She stayed like that, clutching my sleeve. Hours later, she started screaming. Her body was shaking worse than it did before. She screamed for her mother, then her father, for Sota, and finally for me. I panicked slightly; what do you do when someone screams your name in their dreams? I just said her name, and that seemed to do it.

Her eyes opened, and were filled with desperation. They held mine, and the desperation was replaced with relief. I pulled her up into my lap and stroked her hair. She cuddled closer and hugged me.

Kagome

I was in his arms, feeling completely safe. The sun was about to set, how long was I in that nightmare? He gently stroked my hair, and I snuggled closer. His body was warm, but not too warm. It was then that Midoriko's words came into my head. Right there is your happiness. I knew she was right, I never felt this way with Inuyasha. I was always worried that he would run away, to find Kikyo. It was always a fight for him. I could never tear him away from Kikyo. With Sesshomaru I don't have to fight to have him. It was comforting to realize that he was mine.

He seemed relaxed, and so I just sat there. No words were spoken, they weren't needed. Before I knew it, it was morning. I was still in his lap, and he was asleep. I got up, trying not to wake him. He noticed, and helped me. He got up and stretched. My arms ached, but other than that I felt fine. That's when I noticed the bandages. They were tied neatly and made out of Sesshomaru's kimono. I looked at his sleeves, and saw where he tore them from.

I walked over to him, and grabbed them. He noticed and gently removed my hand. "It's ok, I'll be fine. It's better than the alternative." I nodded and glanced around. Except my blood by the stream, there were no visible traces that we were here. He motioned for us to go, and I followed him.

I don't know where we're heading, I trust Sesshomaru to lead me. I walk next to him, and look at his face. He seems happy, even if his face shows boredom. As we walk I start talking. He chats with me, completely comfortable. I get the feeling that something has changed. Something's going to happen. When the time comes I will be there, ready and willing to help.