Chapter 12: Protection
"Kagome?" Inuyasha limped quickly after them at the smell of her blood. He watched her arm swing listlessly by her side as she was carried away by his brother.
"What's wrong with her?" He asked forcefully, hobbling fast to catch up with them.
Sesshoumaru grunted and shifted her to a better position. The wound in his side was not completely healed and her foot had accidentally knocked into it when he scooped her up. It was a good thing she weighed next to nothing, or his injury and single arm would have been a great hindrance.
"She has completely over taxed herself, half-breed. She needs a healer."
Inuyasha's brow grew even more furrowed. Sesshoumaru glanced to his brother and placated him before he went into a fit.
"I know of one nearby."
Inuyasha considered his surrounding and could think of only one person in the vicinity who fit the description of a healer. He sighed in relief and knew that if they could get there quickly, she might be okay. Thankfully it didn't take long to get back to where Jaken and Ah-Un stood guard over the children. The moment Shippo and Rin saw Kagome cradled lifelessly in Sesshoumaru's arm, they rushed out of the protective barrier.
"Okasaan!"
"Oneesan!"
The children fluttered around her anxiously as Sesshoumaru lowered her to the ground.
"Rin. Fetch some water from her sack. Kit. Find something to cover her with."
They immediately did as they were told and scurried away from the weak priestess. With the children sufficiently occupied, he set to examining the miko. Her lips were dry and her breaths were far too shallow. They would need to depart soon.
Miroku and Sango arrived a moment later and hastened to her side. Miroku helped support her as they looked over their unconscious friend.
"Will she be all right?" Sango asked worriedly.
"She will survive." Sesshoumaru replied resolutely. She would not die. He would not allow it.
Rin and the kit returned a moment later, eagerly holding out the items he had requested. Sesshoumaru grabbed the proffered blanket from the fox kit and pulled it over her, then propped her up to force some of the much needed fluid down her parched throat. She was still pale, but the hydration had seemed to help. Satisfied that she was stable enough for travel, he went to scoop her up but was blocked by Inuyasha.
"Oi. I will carry her."
Inuyasha stood before his brother possessively. Sesshoumaru's face darkened at the suspicion he saw in his eyes. Even after all that had just occurred, the imbecile still doubted his intentions? He gently laid the miko back down and stretched to his full height imposingly.
"Get out of my way, half-breed. You can barely carry yourself with that leg, let alone an injured woman."
"She is my pack." Inuyasha growled. "I told you this before. I will take care of her not you. You don't give a damn about h-"
He didn't get to finish the sentence as a swift punch from Sesshoumaru hit him squarely in the face. Everyone looked on in shock as the hanyou went flying and landed on his injured leg. Inuyasha hissed in pain and grasped it as he lay on the floor, certain that any healing that had started was now thoroughly undone. His left eye was also rapidly swelling shut from the hard blow.
Sesshoumaru, stalked over to him with rage burning behind his eyes. He stood over the hanyou menacingly and in the blink of an eye had him pinned against a tree by his throat.
"If you dare impugn my honor again, half-breed, I will not hesitate to rip that treacherous tongue of yours out through your throat." He snarled viciously.
Inuyasha gripped at his hand and glared at the older demon. Sesshoumaru leaned in closer.
"Listen well, little brother." His voice rumbled ominously. "I have given the miko the privilege of an alliance with This Sesshoumaru. As such, she is under my protection. Know that I will not suffer the fool who doubts my word. Do not stand in my way again."
He released Inuyasha and let him fall into a heap at the base of the tree. The hanyou rubbed his throat and looked up from the ground feeling extremely annoyed and confused by his brother's actions. He hadn't seen Sesshoumaru this angry since they fought over Tetsusaiga. Why the hell was he so pissed now? Inuyasha frowned as the older demon walked back to Kagome. His gait was calm, but his aura pulsated irritably.
Inuyasha got up and gave his brother a shrewd look. Despite Sesshoumaru claiming it was his honor that had been offended, Inuyasha had the distinct impression that his older brother was personally offended by his accusation. Sesshoumaru actually seemed angry over the implication that he would hurt Kagome.
He looked between his brother and his unconscious friend, who was being hovered over by the stern taiyoukai. It was then that Inuyasha was struck with a sudden realization. His brother's uncharacteristic behavior had absolutely nothing to do with him or the others, but everything to do her. He couldn't quite believe it, but the bastard actually seemed concerned about her.
Inuyasha felt many things at this discovery, most of which were negative. However at the same time it also eased the inherent distrust he felt for his brother. With his mind clearer he grunted in frustration, knowing that arguing with Sesshoumaru was only wasting precious time. As much as it galled him, he was the best choice to carry Kagome to safety. Feeling extremely annoyed that his brother was right and he was wrong, Inuyasha swallowed his pride and issued his orders.
"Miroku, ride with Sango and the brats on the dragon. Make sure she doesn't fall off and get herself killed."
Miroku raised an eyebrow, surprised that he was actually relenting to his brother, but he wisely chose to not pick at the hanyou's raw nerves.
"I will do my best, Inuyasha." He gingerly led Sango over to the dragon and helped her onto the strange steed. The children clamored on in front of them, being mindful of her arm.
"The rest of us will follow on foot." He grumbled and then halted over his next statement. He glanced at his brother who stood there quietly asserting his dominance. The words were like hot coals being poured down his throat but Inuyasha knew he had to submit. "...Sesshoumaru...will carry Kagome."
Inuyasha waited for his brother to mock or belittle him in front of his pack for getting his way, but it never came. Sesshoumaru merely kneeled down and picked up the miko without a word. Perhaps the bastard did have some honor.
Sesshoumaru wasted no time forming his youki cloud and left ahead of everyone with Kagome. Inuyasha watched them go with anxiety clenching his heart. If his brother thought it urgent enough to rush off on his cloud then Kagome must be in real danger. Inuyasha felt frustratingly helpless as he watched them disappear on the horizon. They slowly faded away until they were only a white blur, a black speck and then nothing.
The hanyou did his best to quell the uneasiness of leaving her in the older demon's care. He sincerely hoped that the bastard would keep his word and protect her. Belatedly he realized that Sesshoumaru had never actually confirmed where he was taking Kagome. The arrogant prick had just left with her. Inuyasha growled, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He could only hope that the healer he knew and the one Sesshoumaru had referred to were one in the same.
Steadying himself with Tetsusaiga, he turned to the remainder of his pack. He was worried about Kagome, but he still had a responsibility to protect the rest of his friends.
"Let's get a move on before anything else tries to kill us." He said gruffly.
The group nodded and made their way out to the field that only minutes ago had almost been their grave. Injured and weary, they skirted around the large chunks of land that had been torn up by their attacks. The once smooth planes of the field now resembled a warzone.
When they came across the spot where the main battle had occurred, they looked in awe at the place Kagome's blast had hit. They had expected the ground to be scorched from her purity, blown up, or something...but instead fresh green shoots of grass sprouted up everywhere her power had touched. Their pace slowed as they marveled over the little plants covering the previously dead landscape. Her purification must have somehow prompted the area into an early spring. Despite their wonder over the phenomenon, they didn't stop. They would return later for a closer look and to see if Sango and Miroku's weapons could be salvaged. For now, it was more important to get everyone to the healer.
