Chapter 10

Congratulations to DuchessAvalon for winning the Starbucks gift card contest; unfortunately I couldn't reach TourmalineBlue, so DuchessAvalon was the runner-up.

I think that I will do another bigger contest around the holidays. Also, if you are interested in any of my original content as a writer check out my Wattpad account under SeregonSilivren.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and story belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, this is just a fan fic.

The day was just starting but it would have been better if it were immediately ending. Rubbing her hand over her face, Elish realized that her arm was killing her and she needed drugs. Two more pills went into the void, followed by the last drop of the root beer. She had been holding on to that last sip of soda for the weeks that she had been stuck in the past as if it were a fine wine. There was no telling when she would see root beer again. If she couldn't make it back through the well, she had made Kagome promise that she would bring her back a six-pack. A girl could only deal with so much loss, but she was determined that she could not live without her root beer.

The night before had been a dream that ended in panting and breathless kisses before Sesshoumaru had forced her to return to camp, as a slight fever had started to develop in her arm. Time was needed for the group to heal and Kouga was returning that day with news of the Southern Lord. Camp was quiet except for the occasional cough from the monk. Both Kagome and Elish were playing nurse with Sango and Rin helping out fetching water for the injured.

Sesshoumaru had not moved from camp, and was continually watching Elish's movements to the point that she had to stop searching for his eyes because she knew they were following her. Flushed and nervous, she didn't know where to put her hands at times and had to take a second to remember what she doing. It was just so unreal that such a magnificent being was focusing his attention of her. This was almost like one of her romance novels that she had on her iPad about vampires falling in love with mortals. Elish snickered to herself as she thought of Sesshoumaru biting her on the neck; she had to immediately put that thought out of her mind as it conjured up other images of where he could bite her.

Sesshoumaru noticed that the little human was distracted and disoriented and this worried him at first; until he realized that he was the cause. A slight smirk graced his marble face as he thought about the way she melded against his body the night before as she lay helpless in his embrace. He grunted and the smirk vanished from his visage as the ripe smell of dusty wolf entered his nostrils. That damn wolf prince was on his way back to camp and he did not want him hovering over the woman.

Kagome's head shot up and she nervously glanced at Inuyasha and caught his eye, and both of their eyes turned to the futuristic girl telling Rin a story about a magical land called Disney. Jewel shards gently tugged at Kagome as Kouga made his way closer to the camp, and she couldn't help but wonder what would happen with the blooming relationship between Kouga and Elish.

"Elish, I think that Kouga will be here in a minute," Kagome whispered.

A pretty, light blush crept across Elish's cheeks at the mention of Kouga. Citrine eyes narrowed in a possessive gleam at the blush that tainted her cheeks, but then green orbs landed on his face and widen in a deep blush. It seemed that a silent plea traveled across the distance and Sesshoumaru immediately rose and walked to the sitting maiden.

"Come."

An outstretched, striped hand hovered in front of Elish's face just as Kouga made it into camp.

Kouga had been depressed that his uncle was still under the spell of the spider hanyou. The mighty, wolf lord was raving and had desecrated one of the holy grounds of a temple and was feeding on the bodies of the priests that inhabited the grounds. It was disgusting and Kouga was afraid of the reaction that Elish and Kagome would have. He vividly remembered Kagome's horror at learning that Kouga use to eat humans: he had vowed that he and his tribe would never eat human again.

Surprised would have been an understatement of the feeling that coursed through Kouga's veins when he entered the clearing and saw the woman of his dreams holding the hand of the daiyoukai. His blood pounded like battle drums in his ears, and he saw the way the daiyoukai looked at her like she was his to possess. It took Kouga another minute to realized that Elish's arm was bandaged and the dog demon was forgotten as he rushed to her side.

"Elish are you feeling better? I'm sorry that you got hurt yesterday. I should have been quicker; the battlefield is no place for you." Kouga scratched his head and flashed a toothy grin.

Elish released Sesshoumaru's hand as she rose and turned to Kouga with a smile. The action was not lost to the demon lord, nor to the demon prince that now held her attention.

"Thank you Kouga for your concern, but I managed alright. I'm just glad that I was here to help with Miroku's wounds," the lass said as her eyes fell on the immobile monk.

For some reason the closeness of the wolf put Sesshoumaru off and he wanted to carry Elish away from Kouga's presence. However, if he stayed on topic, Sesshoumaru felt no need to press his issue of commanding Elish's attention.

"What is the report on the Southern Lord?"

Kouga glanced at Sesshoumaru and saw the open challenge in his eyes and straightened his back. This was not happening again where Kouga would lose out to another dog.

"My uncle is still possessed by Naraku and he is feeding on…," Kouga glanced at Elish's face before returning his eyes to Sesshoumaru, "on human priests in a temple about four miles away."

All the humans that were awake in the clearing audibly gasped and Rin looked like she was going to vomit. Elish quickly went to the little girl, lifted her up, and rubbed her back before turning back to Kouga.

"We have to stop him. We can't sit around waiting." She turned to Sesshoumaru. "You, Inuyasha, and Kagome have got to go and help Kouga stop this," she pleaded.

"This Sesshoumaru will not leave you unprotected."

"Sango is still here and Jaken and Ah-Un; we'll be fine."

Inuyasha came to stand with Kagome and Kouga. "The wench is right. We can't let him keep eating the priests. And Sango can handle things on her own for awhile."

"I'll watch over camp; just hurry back you guys," Sango said from the sick bed of the monk.

Sesshoumaru knew that he had to go, but he had a bad feeling about leaving the girl behind. Yet the idea of taking Rin anywhere near the possessed wolf was out the question. He quickly turned to Jaken, who had been standing near Elish looking worried at Rin.

"Jaken, watch over them both and if anything happens you are completely responsible."

Sesshoumaru turned to Inuyasha and Kouga. "We leave now!"

Kagome grabbed her bow and arrows and clambered onto Inuyasha back and the small party headed out. Just before they left Sesshoumaru glanced back at Elish and saw the small, sad smile on her face as she held Rin tightly. Both girls stared at him with a grim expression and Elish mouthed the words "be careful." He raised an eyebrow her caution and Elish immediately smiled a genuine smile at his arrogant reassurance.

Kouga watched the silent interaction between the two and buried the seeds of discord deep in his soul. He wasn't about to let the dog have this bone as well. There would be time to press his suit when they finished dealing with his crazed uncle.

Camp was quiet after the rescue party had left and Elish tried to entertain Rin to take her mind off the idea that humans were being eating not too far away. Rin had explained that Sesshoumaru had saved her life from a wolf attack, and Elish figured she was still suffering from some trauma and found that keeping the child's mind off the events would be the best thing for the moment. Shippo and Rin colored and Sango kept watch over camp and did perimeter checks. Jaken was faithfully standing guard and everyone settled in to wait.

After about two hours everyone was impatiently waiting for their friends to return when Elish thought that she heard a buzzing sound. Sure enough after a minute or two, a giant wasp flew by and made its way to the sleeping monk. Elish rose and quickly swatted at the insect trying to shoo it away from Miroku. Sango was immediately on her feet swinging her boomerang and Kilala had transformed. Jaken had his Staff of Two Heads spitting fire at the swarm of bees that had entered the camp.

"What's going on?" Elish cried out.

"They're Naraku's spies and their sting is poisonous. Keep out of their way and kill anything that gets close," puffed Sango as she swung again at the main group.

Elish panicked and quickly threw a blanket over Rin and Shippo and moved to get Miroku covered as well. She was just tucking the ends around Miroku's feet when she heard Rin scream.

"Look out Elish! There's one by your shoulder!"

Elish quickly spun around and whipped her hoodie at the bee hovering by her head. It fell to the ground and she quickly smashed and smeared its carcass with her shoe. Another swarm could be seen moving closer on the horizon and Elish panicked as she thought about Rin and Shippo.

A loud yelp drew Elish's attention to Sango, who had been stung and was flying lower to be closer to the group. She hopped off Kilala and ran over to Miroku.

"I can't throw my boomerang; they stung my arm and I'm losing feeling," Sango panted.

Elish quickly moved to the center of the camp and raised her eyes to the heavens. The wasps were hovering over the clearing as if waiting for a command to attack.

Four miles away, Sesshoumaru stood over the body of the Southern Lord that he had just beat to a bloody pulp. He flicked his poison whip into the wolf's chest and cut him deep to the point that a gleaming, dark-purple, jewel shard could be seen. It was quite a large piece and Sesshoumaru pulled the shard from the unconscious body of the wolf and tossed it back to Kagome. This fight had lasted longer than he had wanted and he was in a rush to return to Elish's side. Inuyasha landed next to his brother.

"Something still feels wrong. I have a bad feeling."

"Yeah me too," Kagome huffed as she caught her breath. "I think we need to head back quickly; I'm worried."

"Hn."

Sesshoumaru turned toward camp and then in an instant the earth pulsed beneath his feet and he could fill raw power radiating from the direction of their camp. His youkai flared. Sesshoumaru felt the call of power and he felt fear again for little Rin and his little onna. Before Inuyasha could grab Kagome, Sesshoumaru formed a ball of light and sped back to camp; Kouga followed close behind on his heels.

Elish stared at the angry looking insects waiting to see what would happen and it seemed that whatever signal they had been waiting for had sounded. She saw them move into formations if they were going to strike. Her eyes widen and she screamed out Sesshoumaru's name as she watched in horror the bees begin to dive at the camp. They were all going to be poisoned and killed before the guys got back and Elish panicked. Rin screamed for her to run and Elish turned her head and watched in slow motion the horror dawn on Rin's face. Sango was weeping and holding on to Miroku and Elish could hear her feverish prayers.

Turning her eyes back to the dark cloud descending on the small group, Elish felt her heart breaking that she couldn't save them from this terror and she raised her palm to the sky and cried out.

"Please don't let this happen! Please!" she screamed in anger and pain.

Light erupted from the center of the camp and Rin's eyes widened in awe as she had to shield her eyes from the dazzling display. Elish was glowing and sparkling like raindrops after a thunder storm. Rin looked pass her outstretched hand. The light engulfed the poisonous wasps and Rin's eyes widen even further as she saw the wasps transform into a multitude of colorful butterflies. Sango couldn't believe the sight before her eyes and as the light died down the butterflies gently floated away on the wind.

Elish was standing in the middle of the clearing with her eyes closed and her arm still dangling in the air. She didn't move and Rin quickly kicked the blanket off and ran to her side. Before she could touch her, Elish's limp body crumbled to the ground into a mangled heap. Jaken immediately ran to Rin's side and gently helped Rin lift the girl into a more comfortable position. A deadly daiyokai entered the camp just as Rin had put Elish's head into her lap and started crying.

Sesshoumaru eyed the situation and found the camp in complete chaos. Elish was unconscious; Sango was feverish and gripping her arm; Shippo and Rin were both crying. He turned red-rimmed eyes to Jaken.

"Jaken explain, now!"

Jaken swallowed and quickly ran to his Lord and bowed. "Milady saved us all, Milord," Jaken squawked with tears of admiration streaming down his face.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the prone sleeping girl in Rin's lap. She did not appear to be hurt and Jaken was using an honorific when addressing her. He could taste the power in the air, and he moved closer to her body and reached out a clawed hand to her face. Power drummed through her body and with contact he felt his youkai suppressed into his skin and quickly removed his hand. His eyes roamed over her body and he watched in fascination as she took a deep gasp of breath and the power vanished. Deep, emerald eyes opened to watery brown eyes hovering about her head and piercing, blood-rimmed, golden orbs staring at her from above.

"Oh Sesshoumaru, thank goodness you came and saved us," Elish groggily murmured before she passed out again.

Author's Note: Thanks again for reading. If you are interested in any of my original content (hahaha I sound like a Netflix ad) check me out on wattpad under this same pen name.