Jade: Yep a new chapter for you guys…I hope you enjoy it. I tried to fix the few glitches that I had accidently missed. Oh yeah...as always I don't own any rights to Inuyasha or anything associated with it. Blah blah blah...please don't sue...yeah...that should cover my bases.

Sheltering Her For The Sake of Sanity

" Why can't I go with you? I could be of some assistance."

Sesshomaru shook his head as he turned his gaze away from his love. " It is dangerous and far too risky. Within these walls I know that you shall be safe."

" But…" She was quickly cut off as Sesshomaru's eyes fixated upon her with a narrow glare. " Do not defy my request…" His voice was low and dangerous. With that he turned away and exited the castle doors.

Kagome sighed softly as she retreated to Rin's bedroom.

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The lord of the West wandered through the woodland area, inhaling slowly.

" There…." He grumbled softly as he hastened his pace in the eastern direction. The sound of humming wasps could be heard near by. His footing stopped as he entered a clearing. There he saw a young demon in his mid teens dressed in a pair of blue pants and a white shirt with a vest atop of it. His face appeared to be almost child like due to the fact that he wore his hair in a pony tail.

' Where have I seen him before….' That's when Sesshomaru took notice of it. The large tail behind him. It was the young child that accompanied Inuyasha's group.

'Naraku must have altered him in order to increase his power.'

" Sesshomaru…" Shippo snarled, "Where is Kagome."

Sesshomaru withdrew his blade and offered him a coy smirk. " Why would I travel with such insufferable company?"

" Don't lie…I can smell her all over you from here." Shippo then rushed forward as did the wasps. Sesshomaru leapt into the sky and dispatched the wasps into oblivion with a single motion of his whip. Once he landed he surveyed the child once again who now stood a few feet from him.

" Young one…I know you are not wicked…so fight it."

" Never! I hate her!" He cried out as he released a burst of fire from his hands. The lord managed to avoid the attack, but just barely. 'Such power…'

Shippo then charged him again. Sesshomaru stood ready with his claws extended. As the boy drew within range raked his tainted nails against the boy's chest and watched him stagger. Shippo rose to the occasion again and smirked as his face began to protrude. The sound of rearranging bones could also be heard. Fur began to cover the child's body as his clothing tore away from him. After another moment a large fox demon stood before the lord. Sesshomaru wasted no time in discarding his weaponry and clothing before changing into his full form as well. Once he completed his adjustment Shippo attacked once again.

His large jaws snapped at Sesshomaru's throat, unfortunately Shippo only received a mouthful of air. In retaliation Sesshomaru thrust his tail against Shippo's side, sending him sprawling onto the ground. He then pounced upon the young demon and snarled at him as if he were giving him one last warning. Shippo managed to free himself from Sesshomaru's hold , that's when it happened. Four claw marks suddenly appeared upon Sesshomaru's belly by Shippo's hand. The great lord had underestimated the child.

Ignoring the pain Sesshomaru attacked once more, biting off the child's tail.

The fight was over…and Shippo retreated into a cloud of smoke.

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A sudden crashing sound awoke Kagome from her slumber. She then exited Rin's room just in time to see a large dog demon hurry past her and disappear into Sesshomaru's bedroom. Jaken was following closely behind screaming out question. As Kagome began to follow she suddenly yielded. A thick trail of blood tainted the tiled hallway.

" Sesshomaru!" she cried out as she ran forward.

Jaken was already scrambling for bandages and herbs in one of Sesshomaru's drawers when she arrived. The demon had transformed back into his human form. The claw marks still remained over his mid section and oozed with blood.

" Jaken…calm yourself." Sesshomaru groaned. His pained then met with Kagome's. " Are you glad that you did not go now?" He mused.

Kagome shook her head as she approached. The wound wasn't as severe as she originally anticipated . No stitching would be required. His injury, however, almost looked as if it had been burned on.

" I fought a fox demon…quite a talented one with his fire casting spells. "

Kagome's eyes filled with horror when he mentioned the type of demon. " Do not worry…he will live." Kagome nodded before turning her attention to Jaken, who was now at her side.

" I'll take care of this Jaken. Go get my backpack from my room" Kagome stated.

Jaken knew better than to protest so he simply left and returned with her requested item.

She ripped the bag open and began to sort through its contents. She pulled out some cotton balls, rubbing alcohol, and some bandages.

"This will sting…"

" I can handle it." Sesshomaru assured her while she dabbed some of the alcohol onto her cotton ball. The demon lord then shielded his nose, the scent of the medicine was repulsing. The smell was quickly forgotten about as the ball grazed his skin. It burned severely. He tried to mask his pain the best he could but the more she cleaned his wound the worse it became. Finally he released a menacing growl which Kagome managed to ignore.

" I'm sorry…I promise no more of that." She then began to bandage him up.

" What is that vile medicine?"

"Rubbing alcohol…" She replied with a weary sigh. She then tied off the bandage and smiled.

"Good as new."

" Indeed."

" You knew…didn't you. You knew that he was near…" Kagome inquired as she took a seat beside him. Sesshomaru simply nodded before releasing a quiet sigh.

" I….guess I should thank you. I think I'm almost ready."

His golden pools glanced towards her for a moment before looking away. A hand gently placed itself upon her shoulder and squeezed softly.

" You shall know when you cross that road."

Kagome nodded at the comment before letting her eyes wander about aimlessly in a desperate attempt to distract herself from such depressing thoughts.

"How many are left?"

The question caught the priestess completely off guard. " I'm sorry?"

" How many shards Kagome."

She debated the question for a moment before settling upon a decent conclusion. " I believe it is less than 10…"

"Then we don't have much time left do we?"

"No…." She hesitated, "No we don't."

Jade: Alright leave your comments for me please.