AmbertheCat: Haha. I hate them myself but I like to tease XD

BatmanForPresident: No problem ^-^ Happy to do it. It was a good request. You are about to find out soon!

: Yay! My story is cool! XD

sianfaythe: Yeah. I like the switch too. It's a lot more fun to write this way. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's dad?

Thank you all for your support! Sorry for the delay. Lots going on ^-^'

Also, I would like to know your opinions on whether I should change the rating to M for my detailed affections between the two later on or keep it T and just briefly say that it happened. Let me know! If you're too shy to say in a review, you can PM me.

Chapter 10

Blood

(3rd POV)

Rage sipped to his very core, yet he was able to keep it contained. How dare Naraku try to manipulate he, Sesshomaru, by endangering Rin's life and even so much as threaten the woman. Did he honestly believe he would get away with it? Surely not. It had been a foolish gamble on his part. Something he was going to pay dearly for. Sesshomaru would continue to deny it. He would continue to deny his concern for the young girl's life. He would continue to deny that the girl and the woman's lives were, to some extent, important to him. But he couldn't deny that Naraku had overstepped and should pay for trying to manipulate him into doing his bidding.

Sesshomaru fought beautifully against Naraku's attempts of causing harm. He was about to deal the final blow before his younger brother could take this opportunity from him. Naraku's life was for him to take, no one else. Naraku's demise was nearing as Sesshomaru swung the powerful Toukijin. But alas, miasma surfaced, pushing the Inu brother's to stand back. A whirlwind of black smoke formed into the sky. Sesshomaru's rage surfacing, his body beginning to morph into something grander in size. Golden eyes turning red.

"You fool," he growled out, "Don't think that you could ever escape my grasp."

Naraku's sinister laughter was heard from the skies above, "Lord Sesshomaru, rather than transforming and hunting me down, shouldn't you be rushing to the side of that young mortal girl? Or perhaps to the woman that is now fighting to keep the child alive."

Sesshomaru's transformation ceased at the mention of the woman fighting. He could now feel his fang calling to him, signally that the woman was in danger. He had told her to stay behind. He could not permit her to enter inside the castle walls because of the danger of the miasma. She was human and it would have easily killed her. And she was meant to wait for him. Yet, she had wandered off on her own to search for Rin, endangering her own life in the process.

"Heh. He's gone. His scent and every trace of his whereabouts are gone. He was badly injured too. Where could he be?" Inuyasha turned to his older brother, "Hey, Sesshomaru. Did Naraku take someone as a hostage? Was it Hayami?" He could recall vaguely meeting the mortal woman. She had seemed nice. He still wondered why she would choose to be with his brother.

Sesshomaru ignored him, his hand tightening into a fist, So, that's why he abducted her. In order to buy himself time to escape. Naraku. He thinks he's so cunning. He couldn't waste another second. He could feel his fang calling to him. He could now smell the scent of the woman's blood. His eyes narrowed at the thought that she had been injured. He glided in the air in her direction.

His eyes widened at the powerful burst of demonic energy, some trees breaking from the sheer force of it. He recognized this energy. The woman had released the energy of the Hikage in a power pulse but he could feel some of his own demonic energy mixed in. How was this possible? Had his fang given her the ability to use his energy like how she could with the Hikage? The youkai he had sensed in the vicinity had all been neutralized. He, himself, was pushed back slightly. Amazing, he thought, This woman is able to withstand that much demonic energy within her body? How was this possible? This energy was rapidly becoming more powerful. If she continued on this path, she may very well be able to withstand demonic energy like his own rather than just a small amount like tonight. He pressed on. His thoughts would have to wait. The woman was injured. That took priority.

XXX

(Hayami's POV)

"Rin!" I yelled out her name as my fist went to punch the figure looming over her body. I landed on the grass beside her, my back to her as my eyes glanced at the boy with a sickle and chain in his hand. I wasn't about to draw my sword at a kid. I glanced back to see if Rin was harmed but couldn't see any visible injuries. The boy took a stance, earning my full attention. I moved to go and disarm him but he moved with expert motions. This surprised me. This boy knew how to fight. Yet, there was something about him that threw me off. It was almost as if he were being controlled.

My eyes narrowed in realization. Naraku must be controlling him somehow. I was even more motivated not to harm him. I would disarm him and maybe knock him unconscious before he hurt anyone. He was faster than I anticipated though. My focus was taken by the sound of youkai fast approaching. I went to unsheath my sword but a chain wrapped around my wrist preventing me from doing so. I looked at the boy who held the chain, pulling at it and effectively rendering me defenseless.

I clenched my teeth together as teeth pierced the flesh of my left shoulder. My right hand was incapacitated, leaving me no other choice but to unsheath my sword with my left arm. This was difficult to do as pain shot through my arm. But I managed to get the blade out and plunge it through the youkai that bit me. Its teeth retracted. I shifted the sword in the palm of my hand to deal it a final blow. It was at that time that I realized I was surrounded by countless youkai that were ready to devour me.

Feeling the adrenaline coursing through my veins, I felt the demonic energy of the Hikage give a powerful pulse but also an unfamiliar energy giving me more strength as if providing me better protection as it flew through my body. The youkai were quickly killed by the waves of energy. I moved to be in front of Rin's body in an effort to protect her if the boy were to try to kill her. I felt my body drained of energy after releasing so much of it at once. I knew that I wouldn't be able to use the Hikage, much less raise my arms to defend myself. The chain was still wrapped around my right wrist. My sword gripped in my left hand while my wound burned. I could attempt to drive the blade into the boy's body if he were to get close enough.

I watched as the boy took steps towards me, raising the sickle in his hand. So, kill a kid or let him kill me. Those are my options, huh? They suck. My teeth were clenched. With the slack of the chain, I managed to untangle my arm and brought it to cover my gushing wound. Blood was pooling down around me. My shoulder was throbbing.

My eyes remained on his balcony eyes as he continued to decrease the distance between us. I can't kill him. I just couldn't live with myself if I took a child's life even if he was threatening my own. I could tell this wasn't even his doing. I felt for this boy. I wanted to cry for this boy. I wanted to save him.

His sickle was raised up, ready to strike me down. Just as he was about to bring in down and end my life, he stopped. I was frozen, wondering why he would stop. I watched him turn his body. My eyes widened in surprise as I spotted Sesshomaru a few feet away from the boy. The boy seemed to be ready to attack Sesshomaru.

"Oh?" Sesshomaru started, bringing his clawed hand up, "You turn your blade toward me?"

The boy's body moved to his stance. Would Sesshomaru kill this boy? I looked back to see that Rin was still unconscious behind me. My hand tightened against my shoulder. I couldn't watch this if Sesshomaru were to kill him. I turned my gaze back to look at him. I felt my whole body relax. Somehow, I knew that everything was going to be alright.

"Kohaku!" a familiar voice yelled. In the next moment, Kohaku was on the ground having been knocked to the ground by Sesshomaru's younger brother with his fist. "What are you doing, you fool?"

I heard footsteps nearing me. I turned my head to see that it was Kagome. She leaned down to Rin to check on her, "She's alright. She's just unconscious that's all." Even though, I knew that Rin wasn't injured it was still a relief to hear that. Kagome turned her eyes to me. She gasped, "Your shoulder!"

"Youkai bit me," I informed her.

"You heard her. Kohaku didn't hurt either of them so let him go free," Inuyasha said to his brother, his body fully facing him. My attention went back to the scene.

"Stay out of this, Inuyasha. It's useless to try to interfere," Sesshomaru replied. Judging by his tone, he was not going to let his brother get in his way. His eyes moved to the boy that was now standing on his two feet, "This boy seems compelled beyond reason to die by my hands." Without a moment's notice, Kohaku threw his sickle in Sesshomaru's direction. Inuyasha moved with his sword drawn and disarmed the boy. I watched as Sesshomaru lunged forward, his hand wrapped around the boy's neck. "How generous of you. Disarming the boy for me. I had no idea you had such strong feelings for me, Inuyasha." I nearly sighed as he seemed to tease his brother. I already knew that if Sesshomaru was truly serious about wanting the boy dead then he would already be dead.

"Let's get one thing straight, Sesshomaru," Inuyasha spat as his sword moved in a threatening show, "I'll kill you if you don't let the boy go."

"Can't you do something?" Kagome questioned me, whispering in my ear from her spot next to me.

I turned to her for a brief second before looking back at the scene, "I don't have to. Just watch." She seemed confused but did not ask. I could tell that she was watching with worried eyes as the scene unfolded before our eyes.

"Set the boy down," Inuyasha ordered his brother.

Sesshomaru ignored him as he stared at the boy, in deep thought. He was weighing what he should do like he didn't already know what he would do. After a few batted breaths from the others, Sesshomaru unclenched his hand from the boy's throat, letting him fall to the ground.

"Huh?" I heard Inuyasha and Kagome let out, confused at Sesshomaru's actions. My lips twisted into a smile. Perhaps they were finally seeing it now. That they shouldn't judge him based on his words but rather by his actions. After all, actions speak louder than words. And his actions spoke a great deal. To me at least. Although, I had to admit that his actions were rather difficult to decipher sometimes.

The boy grabbed his sickle and ran off into the forest. No one made any attempt to go after him. I took this as a win. Rin was safe. The boy was alive. Overall, everything was going to be just fine.

"Aren't you going after him?" Inuyasha questioned his brother, seemingly shocked that he would let the child go free.

Of course, Sesshomaru ignored him as he turned his gaze to me. Oh crap, was I going to get lectured now for going off on my own? I looked away from his gaze. I was not looking forward to this confrontation. I wanted to curl up in a ball or disappear entirely. I already knew that he was upset with me for not listening to his orders.

"Oh!" I jumped slightly as Kagome exclaimed, "Your shoulder!" I turned to look at her with furrowed brows. She was rummaging through a small yellow backpack. I blinked at the modern day accessory. "There it is," she said, fishing out a box.

"A first aid kit?" I asked as I stared at it, "Huh. That's handy." I had forgotten the small things that the modern day held. Especially the wonders of modern day medicine.

She turned to me with a smile, "It sure is. Let me look at your shoulder." I hesitantly moved my hand from my wound that still bled down to the stained grass below me. Together, we managed to pull my arm out of its sleeve. "Oh, wow. That's a nasty bite," she said as she examined it, her eyes wide. I couldn't blame her for reacting that way. The wound did look rather awful but I could feel it already healing even though it was too quickly.

"Let me see," Inuyasha said with curiosity and interest, stepping forward to look at the bite mark. I wasn't particularly thrilled with this idea.

"What am I? A freakshow? Get loss," I said to him with a glare. Did he really think that being in my bubble while I was bleeding was a good idea? The answer was no. I did not care that he was not a threat. I did not want him anywhere near me while I was being treated. For whatever reason, the pent up anger I was suppressing since hearing of Rin's abduction had surfaced and Inuyasha had the miss fortune to be the one to have it directed at.

He blinked at me, perplexed at my harsh words, "What the hell?! Shouldn't you be grateful? Kagome is in the process of bandaging your arm."

"Yeah. Kagome is but your just in the way," I told him, rolling my eyes at him. I turned my gaze to watch as Kagome began to clean my wound with antiseptic wipes. I opt to ignore him and his hotheadedness.

I did not get to see his angrily twitching eye as he spoke, "You don't have to be such a bi-"

"Sit boy," Kagome said before he could finish his sentence. I heard a thud. I turned my gaze to see Inuyasha face first in the ground, eating dirt.

"Pfft," I started before bursting out laughing, "Aw, shit! I want to see that again!" I had to hold my right hand to my mouth as my body shook with laughter. This scene was hilarious I just couldn't hold it in. I felt my eyes sting at the corners from laughter. My sides aching. I had forgotten where I sat and was filled with amusement.

"It's not that damn funny!" Inuyasha roared at me with his face still on the ground.

"Says you," I said as I pointed at him, "I bet she says it often too. Or am I wrong?" He looked away in a huff, affirming my assumption. Oh, yeah. She tells him to sit a lot. Somehow, this amused me even more.

"Don't you feel anything?" I turned to look at Kagome as she treated my injury.

"Huh?" I tilted my head to the side, not understanding what she was asking me.

"You didn't even flinch once since I applied the medicine. It should have stung, at least a little." She seemed worried as she looked at me.

"Um. I'm pretty sure if I can take the pain of being bitten by a youkai than I can take the pain of alcohol disinfecting my wound," I said to her, trying to sound like I was making a joke. I heard a pair of footsteps coming our way. I turned my head to see that the man and woman I had met before were on the way to us. The kitsune on the monk's shoulder and a cat youkai on the woman's. "Well, hello again," I greeted with a smile as they got closer. They were taking in the scene.

"What did we miss?" Miroku asked as he looked around. He looked rather confused.

"Are you alright?" Sango asked as she kneeled to look at me, "That looks like a serious injury." Her face held worry as she looked at my shoulder. I was touched that they seemed to care about my wellbeing without actually knowing me.

I smiled at her, "I'm fine." I looked at my shoulder where Kagome was done cleaning and now was wrapping it in bandages, "See? It's already stopped bleeding."

"What the hell? Why is she nice to everyone but me?" Inuyasha questioned, seemingly pissed and annoyed. He was once again, standing on his feet a few paces back. Hands crossed over his chest, looking irritated. I kind of found pleasure in his reaction. Poor him. He was my verbal punching bag and my distraction.

"Maybe she just doesn't like you, Inuyasha. You aren't that likable," the kitsune spoke up.

This caused Inuyasha to become angry, punching the kitsune on the head, "What was that? You want to try that again?"

"You want me to do that to you?" I spat at him with a look of fire in my eyes not at all liking the way he treated the child. He turned to look at me as if he were wondering if I was speaking to him. My eyes narrowed further as I looked at him, "Hurt him again and I won't care how injured I am, I will beat you."

"Hah," he let a laugh, puffing his chest, "I'd like to see you try. You wouldn't even land one hit on me even if you weren't injured."

Kagome had finally finished bandaging my shoulder and I could already feel that my energy was coming back. I rolled my shoulder to see that I could easily move it without too much discomfort. I was growing more tolerant of pain since I started to train. I stood, sheathing the sword back in its scabbard. I looked down at the sleeping Rin. I still felt relief in knowing that she was safe again.

"Are you sure you're alright to move? You lost a lot of blood," Kagome asked me as she stood up. I looked at her worried expression before looking down at my feet. Sure enough, the rather large patch of grass was stained with my blood. It was not the only area that was stained. The spot I was bitten was bloodied as well, leaving a trail to where I had been just moments ago.

My eyes fixed on hers as my lips twisted in a smile, "I like you. We don't even know each other but you worry about me. It's kind of nice." I brought my hand up for a shake, "Let's do this properly this time. My name is Hayami. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Her worried expression softened in a smile, "I'm Kagome. It's a pleasure to meet you too." I turned to Sango and did the same thing.

Miroku waited and took my hand in his, "My name is Miroku. Would you do me the honor of be-" His sentence was cut short by Sango's large weapon hitting him on the head, leaving a bump. I blinked at the scene, feeling as though I had missed something.

"What?"

With her eyes twitching, she replied, "It's best that you don't know."

"Yeah," the little kitsune, who I now knew to be called Shippo, nodded his head, "He can be such a pervert."

Pervert? I asked myself. Maybe they were right. I did not want to know. I turned to the only person I hadn't properly introduced myself to. Inuyasha was looking at me as if expecting me to come to him and offer him my hand to shake. I did walk to towards him with an amused smile. He was about to take his hand out to grab mine but I slammed my fist square in the centre of his face. He went flying backwards and landed a few feet away on his back. I heard a sickening crack when my fist made contact with his face. I knew that I had broken his nose.

"Ouch. That looked like it hurt," I heard Miroku said from behind me.

"It sounded like it hurt," Sango added.

"Serves him right," Shippo concluded.

I was amused by this group. There was a sort of lively, relaxed atmosphere filled with ease. I could tell that they had made moments of ridiculous situations. With Kagome being able to command Inuyasha to sit. And the bond I felt they had for each other. Now that I had the time to actually talk to them, I felt like I could actually be friends with this group.

"W-what… the… hell…" Inuyasha breathed out as he struggled to sit straight, blood dripping from his nose, "That's a cheap trick."

"Not really. I did warn you in advance that I would beat you. Not my fault you let your guard down. And you literally did ask for it," I wore an amused smile on my lips as I watched his reactions. Now I understood why Sesshomaru would toy with him. Inuyasha made it far too easy.

He managed to stand up off the ground, he sent me a confident smirk, "Bet you can't land a second punch."

"Inuyasha," Kagome started, coming in front of me, "Did you forget that she's injured? What if you made her wounds worse? You can't just pick fights with everyone you meet." It was nice that she came to my defense but I didn't really need it. A few months ago, he would have easily been able to defeat me. But after training with Sesshomaru, I doubted that he could. It would be a fun battle for sure.

"What? Me? She's the one who started it!" he yelled, obviously miffed that he was being blamed for it all. I was having a hard time not to laugh. I felt something hop on my right uninjured shoulder.

"Thanks for sticking up for me," Shippo said to me from on top of my shoulder with a smiling face. He was so adorable. I wanted to hug him.

"Why don't you come travel with us?" I heard Sango's voice as she walked to stand beside me. She had a welcoming smile on her lips. The bickering voices of Kagome and Inuyasha forgotten in the background.

"Yes. We could always use another member. Especially one as beautiful as yourself," Sango sent Miroku a warning glare to shut him up, which he did.

She turned back to me, "You could bring along the girl with you."

With the mention of Rin, I looked back at her sleeping form. I had been wasting a lot of Sesshomaru's time. He had been silently watching all of this happening without so much as a complaint. I was wondering what was going through his mind as he waited for us to join him. Why hadn't he interrupted by now? The sun was already rising off in the distance.

I turned back to Sango, with a smile as I shook my head, "Thanks for the offer but I'm happy with where I am." I felt it in my heart that this was the right decision. As inviting as their group was, I felt like my place was with Sesshomaru.

"Hayami!" I heard an excited voice call my name before a happy bundle came crashing into me, arms wrapped around my waist, "You came!" I looked down at her bright smiling face and couldn't help but to return a warm smile of my own.

"Of course," I said to her, bringing her closer to my body, "I'd never leave you." I could truly say that I loved this child. Rin was a very special person to me. Nothing could keep me away from her.

She pulled away, tugging on my hand, "Come on. We have to go with Lord Sesshomaru. We don't want to keep him waiting any longer." I let the small girl pull me along with her with a smile on my face.

"You're really leaving with him?" I heard Inuyasha question as if he were disgusted by the idea.

I turned my head to look at him over my shoulder with a smirk finding its way to my lips, "He is a lot better than you, Mr. Hot Headed Child Beater." I could see that I had struck a nerve. He looked like he was ready to come at me but the others held him back. I snickered before turning my head back to where I was heading. What an eventful day.

"Hayami?"

"Hm?"

"What happened to your shoulder? Why is there blood on your kimono?" Rin questioned me. She was looking up at me with a curious expression before the expression turned to worry, "You didn't get hurt saving me did you?"

"No. I got hurt because I got careless," I told her. I hadn't been paying much attention to my surroundings, being too caught up in figuring out how to defeat the kid without hurting or killing him. I didn't regret my decision though. "And anyway, it's all patched up and will heal so there's nothing to worry about."

The worried expression lifted as she smiled, "Okay!"