Chapter 10

The Crack Before the Break

Sesshomaru flipped the page in the book, a sigh escaping him as he looked over another pointless page. They had been looking for some time now, and even his eyes were beginning to cross. He could only imagine how Kagome was beginning to feel.

He looked up at the human, and grimaced. It appears her bandages needed to be changed again. Now, if only she would let him help. He knew that she would still be burned this day, and decided to take precautions.

His father decided to, to be more exact.

In his bag that he carried full of notebooks and writing utensils, was a jar of salve. It contained many herbs that Izayoi had taught father about, plus a good amount of his saliva. Of course Kagome didn't need to know of that part.

Sesshomaru was just glad that his father was trying to help, even from a distance.

Watching as the woman attempted to scratch at her arm, but failed to do so with a flinch, Sesshomaru sighed. She would never ask for help, and he was going to have to force her.

"Let us rest." He called out, folding the book in his hands closed and leaning back against the wall.

Kagome looked up at him and gave a small tired smile before nodding. She was trying not to cry from the pain she was currently in, and it was taking a lot of energy. Taking this break would help.

The seal over her reiki was beginning to fluctuate, and she needed to be sure she kept it intact. The last thing she wanted was to be rejected by another Taisho, even though he already knew. Another flinch as she rubbed at the itching skin, and she sighed.

She really needed to go to the doctor, but she couldn't afford it. Any insurance they had, she saved for Souta just in case. She could handle the pain, and eventually it would heal. She would probably be left scared, but at least she would be better.

She jumped, startled, when Sesshomaru was suddenly sitting in front of her. She opened her mouth to say something, but hissed in pain instead as he grabbed a burned hand and brought it to his face for inspection.

"Don't." She whispered, knowing that he would make her go to the hospital the moment he saw.

Sesshomaru looked up at the woman, silently telling her to be quite. He grabbed her water bottle and dumped some of the contents over her arm. She flinched at the soothing sensation, but hissed as his claws began to carefully cut away the fabric.

His claws definitely came in handy at this moment, however, his eyes grew wide in size as he was finally able to see the burns for the first time. They were highly infected, swollen, and very painful.

The fabric had dried to her arm, and while the water helped to loosen it, it wasn't perfect. So as he pulled the clothe away, a few of the burns were popping, sending pus flowing down her arm, over his hands, and to the floor.

"I'm fine, Sesshomaru." Kagome said, attempting to pull her arm away. She had never been more embarrassed in her life.

"You are far from fine woman. You will either let me treat your wounds, or I will call Sango and let her handle you." Sesshomaru threatened, and Kagome's eyes widen in surprise.

He really would pull a stunt like that, and she knew it. He wasn't very surprised when she nodded her head, finally agreeing to let him help her.

He sighed as he turned back to his patient. His father better thank him for taking such good care of this woman. Turning his thoughts back to the task at hand, he removed the rest of the bandage, and grimaced as he saw the full extent.

It was clear her wounds went farther up, as they disappeared under her sleeve. Her other arm was bandaged, and his respect for her grew slightly. He was surprised at her pain tolerance, and he knew she must be strong. However, her stubborn pride, took away some of those points, because she should have had this treated immediately.

He shook his head in disappointment, noticing the way she looked away from him when he did so. Ignoring her reaction he reached for his pack, grabbing the large jar and placing it on the ground beside him.

"So, you just carry a jar of burn salve around with you?" Kagome asked, her tone sarcastic.

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, looking at the woman before opening said jar. "The last time I saw you, I noticed your burns. If you don't remember, you decided to reprimanded me like a pup." Sesshomaru still held a grudge over that, but he was slowly letting it go.

"You shouldn't have been butting into my business. Your definitely old enough to know better." She teased. It wasn't hard to see how he felt about her yelling at him, and she was going to use it to her advantage.

She nearly lost it as his eyebrow twitched in annoyance. She couldn't keep the smirk from her face, and it wasn't until he tugged painfully on her arm that she dropped the smile. Perhaps, teasing him wasn't the best option when he was trying to help her.

"How far up do your burns go?" Sesshomaru asked, scooping the salve in his hand and beginning to gently rub the thick substance on her arm gently.

Kagome breathed a sigh of relief as the pain began to subside instantly. She wished she would have had this along time ago. She was also surprised at how gentle of a hand Sesshomaru had. She expected with his cold demeanor to be rough, but she was certainly seeing what Rin saw in him. It was be easy to see the male as a friend.

Then she blushed as she realized what question he had just asked.

"Over my chest." She answered, turning to look away.

"I will let you have the jar, and you can treat yourself once you get home." Sesshomaru replied, not really wanting to see that much of the woman. This is why his father should be taking care of her and not him.

"Thank you." Kagome said, gasping as her eyes turned to look at her arm. The welts were shrinking before her eyes, and she was amazed. She would need a few more treatments, but soon the burns would be gone. "Sesshomaru, what is in that salve."

Sesshomaru moved his eyes to look at her, before looking back down to his task. He wasn't going to tell her, but since she decided to tease him earlier…. "Father's saliva. Us inu, our saliva carries healing properties."

"You went to your father about this?" Kagome asked her anger beginning to rise. She never noticed the way Sesshomaru tensed or the fact the her seal had failed.

It took everything sesshomaru had not to make any noise as her reiki flowed over him. It burned like hell, and while he knew she couldn't kill him, he had been unprepared for how strong she was.

The scent of her reached his nose, and he could smell black cherries, the power she was throwing at him, and the infection that coursed through her body. It was then that her reiki did something that surprised him.

It flickered before fading out, completely disappearing. He looked up surprised just to see Kagome falling towards him, unconscious. He caught her out of reflex and set her to the ground easily. Her scent was still detectable and he placed a barrier over her, knowing she for some reason liked to keep it hidden.

He had no idea what to do at this point. He had never dealt with miko's before. While the last one was gone before he was born, but he knew that it was uncommon for their reiki to disappear.

So he did what he normally did in this situation. He called his Father. He barely had the words out of his mouth before his father hung up, and he waited, knowing that it wouldn't take long before he should himself.

As expected, it only took seven minutes before Touga landed outside the shed, pushing his way through the door. Immediately he knelt down beside Kagome, breaking his sons barrier and pushing a piece of unruly hair from her face.

Touga was shocked and mortified. The last he saw Kagome, she was vibrant and healthy, even if emotional. Now though, now he hardly recognized the woman. Sesshomaru hadn't been exaggerating about her health, and Touga felt horrible for not taking notice before.

"Where is her home?" Touga asked, never taking his eyes from the female.

"About an hour away, however, I do not recommend taking her there." Sesshomaru answered, finally getting his father to look towards him.

"Explain." Touga growled, knowing Sesshomaru was most likely playing one of his games.

"Her apartment is unsanitary, part of the reason her burns became infected. Not only that, but she has no heat. It is frigid were she sleeps, and the cold will not help her to heal." Sesshomaru explained, glad he was finally able to help Kagome see just what was wrong with Kagome. Now his father would know the truth

"The apartment is required by law to offer heat." Touga growled, his eyes beginning to bleed red. He was such a fool.

"Yes, but it is not required to be provided through the entire apartment. Only the bedroom has a heating unit, and she gave it to Souta. Knowing the way the boy treats her, it is of no surprise that he refuses to share." Sesshomaru continued, noticing some salve on his hand and whipped it on his pristine pants.

Touga bowed his head, shame filling him. Sesshomaru had tried to tell him, tried to warn him that Kagome needed help, but he had ignored his son. He had wanted to stay away from the female to keep her safe, but she wasn't safe even when he was away.

Touga picked up the miko gently, her head coming to lay on his chest, and he failed at fighting the urge to bury his nose in her hair and sniff. He smelled the scent he had become addicted to, but it was being tainted by the infection currently flowing through her system.

"We will return home. She will be tended to there." Touga ordered, walking towards the two cars parked outside the shed. He waited as Sesshomaru cleaned up, and grabbed the left over salve before joining his father outside the building.

"Send someone to retrieve her car. I will be flying home. Find a sitter for Souta." Touga stated, waiting for his sons nod before he summoned his cloud and begin his journey home.

Touga could only look at the female in his arms. At the moment she looked so peaceful, but he knew she wasn't't. The dark circles under her eyes spoke of how exhausted she was. The infection on her arms and torso said how much pain she was in.

And she suffered alone. She refused to ask for help and that was her downfall.

"Touga." She whispered, and he felt his heart both soar and constrict. He was ecstatic that she dreamed of him, but the longing she held in his voice was enough to freeze his heart in guilt.

How long had she been missing him? She had declared him a friend, and in that same day he ran like a dog with his tail between its legs. He had been a coward, a fool. And she suffered for it.

What did she think of him now? What reason did she assume he left for? Could she ever forgive him? Could they go back to what they were, or become something stronger? Or did he ruin everything?

No, he still refused to make her his. While she has suffered because of his absence, he would not kill her by taking her. But he would do what was necessary to earn her forgiveness. He would be the friend she had wanted him to be.

This time, he would not fail.

He would get her to his home, settled into a guest room, and treated. Once he finished treating her wounds, he would allow her to rest, and the moment she awoke, they would be having a long over due conversation.

He had some explaining to do, which would be a feat in itself. He wouldn't tell her what his beast wanted from her, but he had to come up with a reason as to why he left like he did. And it had to be believable.

With a sigh, he buried his nose in her hair again before pressing his lips to her temple. He wanted so much more from her, but he wouldn't give in to temptation. He wouldn't hurt her farther than he already had.

She meant too much to him.

-sSs-

Touga is really starting to annoy me, how about y'all. He's so stubborn and not thinking straight. Its going to take something drastic to make him realize what he is doing wrong. This chapter wasn't supposed to go like this at all, but my muse got away from me, and this is what you all got. I'll just have to make it work. The title to this is also a little hint as well. Can you guess it? Lol. Sorry I'm late posting. I've been sick. I hope you all enjoy.

Shout outs:

Redrake323: I am glad you have liked everything so far.

Rashel12345: If you ever need any encouragement, just let me know. I have no problem with dishing it out. Lol. I'm always looking for new stories to read.

Zizi08: I'll try my hardest to keep you entertained.

Quercy: Maybe it's genetic. Lol. I'm glad you like it so far and are willing to make an exception to the time period. It always make me happy when people like my writing so much that they read what they normally wouldn't. I didn't really see that many mistakes. Do you live in Germany? I ask, because it would be cool to know that someone in a different country was reading my story.

Amaya Rosanguard: I am glad that you are so captivated. Hopefully you continue to stay that way.

Yaoi4adollar: I am glad you are enjoying it so far.

Wren210: I'll have to see if I can think of something for him. I'm not sure I want him as a stalker because shes already going to have one of those. Sesshomaru is manipulative, and always will be. Lol.

Mikitsukami: He will be in a few chapters. I've been thinking about having him and Souta becoming friends. Yes, stress is a factor in why Kagome is breaking. However, you are partially correct about the aura's bit. It will be about two more chapters before we find out about that. So you will have to be patient. Kagome won't go to live with Touga anytime soon. Touga doesn't want to put more temptation in front of them, and their relationship is to rocky as it is. Yes, eventually she will move in, but it will be because she has no choice. Kagome will eventually lose one of her jobs, but I will not say which. You will just have to be patient. Cliffy's make a person think, and they also make someone stick around. I don't do them all them time, but occasionally I will. Most of the time I dream about my stories, then when I wake up I make an outline of it on my phone. That way, it will always be there.

Decadenceofmysoul: He bad time is just going to continue to get worse.

Queen-of-Nemisol: I do like this pairing, though I normally don't write it. I find myself reading it quite often. Its okay if you don't know everything about InuYasha, because I don't either. Yes, own every single episode and movie, but I've only watched the entire thing through once. Its why I've only got one story that is set during the anime. Lol. I hope this chapter was everything you hoped it to be.

I do not own InuYasha.