Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha ideas or characters

Child Of The Demon Sword

Ch.10

Shessomaru quickly rose to his feet. "What is it? I believe that I told you to never come into my room!" His face was red for the first time he could remember.

Rin and Ryoko just stared, because Kagome was still on the floor. She was laughing. Shessomaru looked down at her, and his redness went away. He was utterly confused. Ryoko started to giggle and then she was laughing as loud as Kagome. Both Rin and Shessomaru still didn't get it.

Kagome leaned on her elbows and caught her breath. "It's okay Rin. We just tripped over each other." Kagome looked up at Shessomaru, "now if you don't mind I would like to get up now.

Shessomaru, who was completely unaware of the fact that he was standing over Kagome, preventing her from getting up. "Oh!" He stepped to the side and offered Kagome his hand. "Here let me help you."

Kagome smiled and accepted his hand and strength. Once on her feet again she looked at the children, "I would really like to rest now, and Lord Shessomaru has offered to let me use his room while mine is being cleaned. If you two will excuse us…"

Ryoko looked at Kagome oddly. "Us?"

"Yes, Shessomaru is keeping me company until I fall asleep. Isn't that right?" She looked at Shessomaru with a raised eyebrow.

He sighed, "it looks like I have no choice in the matter, so why bother asking."

Kagome smiled once more as Shessomaru led her back to the bed and pulled up a seat beside it. He took a book out of the nightstand and opened it.

"What is that?" Kagome asked looking at the strange cover of the book.

"It's a book of poems my mother wrote."

"Really? I would like to hear some. What kind of poems are they?"

"They are very sad. One of the few things that can actually make me cry- Uh-" Shessomaru's eyes went wide. "I- I-"

Kagome laughed. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Just… read to me a little, so I fall asleep."

And so he did.

--- WITH INUYASHA ---

Shippo sighed, "we've been traveling for hours, can't we stop for a break?"

"Inuyasha… Shippo is right, we need to stop for a while." Miroku agreed. Songo was reluctant to say anything, but the look in her eyes said she was tired as well.

"What is with you guys? Kagome might be bleeding to death right in front of my brother, or even worse, already dead!" Inuyasha cried.

It didn't change their minds though. Everyone had already found a cool place to sit underneath a tree. Inuyasha sighed and gave in, perching himself in a low branch. "Damn it all! They couldn't have gone far with Kagome being in the condition that she was."

"I know, it really it rather strange…" Songo agreed.

"What are you doing here, Inuyasha?"

"Huh? What was that?" Inuyasha jumped down from the branch and landed next to Miroku. "Did you guys hear that?"

"Yes!" they all said in unison.

"Haven't you caused enough pain and suffering for us. Must you hunt us down like rabbits to finish us off. You make me sick!"

"And just who are you?" Inuyasha clenched his fists, looking around for the owner of the familiar voice.

"So I am forgotten already… just like before…" A strange yellow light suddenly started coming towards the group. They dodged it just in time. "I warn you, keep away or else the next time I won't miss."

"Ryoko… Is that you?" Songo called out, but the voice was gone.

"Well I've had enough! If she's attacking us, then that means we must be getting close, but I still don't see what my brother has to do with any of this." Gritting his teeth, Inuyasha turned to the rest of the group to make sure they were okay.

"Maybe Ryoko has joined sides with him. Do you think?" Songo turned to Miroku.

"It's possible, but for what purpose?" Miroku fell silent, thinking to himself.

--- At The Castle ---

Kagome had fallen asleep some time ago, but Shessomaru remained by her side incase she needed anything. Her room had been finished moments before, but he deemed it unnecessary to wake her up and move her. He continued reading to himself, and sipping his tea.

Occasionally, Kagome would mutter in her sleep, and piece-by-piece he was getting to know more about her.

For the first time in a while, he felt completely at… peace?