Chapter 14 - Compassion

As Sesshomaru flew through the air Kagome clung to him as if her life depended on it. Sesshomaru had decided he would speak to her about her little escape attempt into the well, once she had gotten over his brother's rejection. They landed at the edge of the barrier and Sesshomaru drew open a place for her to enter. She crossed through without a word.

Kagome couldn't help but feel devastated. InuYasha, of all people failed her. He had promised he would always come for her, always save her. Kagome's eyes flooded once again with tears as she rushed to her room, closing the door behind her. Once in privacy, tears streamed down her face. She had been betrayed by the one person she had always trusted. Betrayed for Kikyo, for the first time Kagome was overwhelmed by anger towards the other miko. Rage and sadness filled Kagome's heart. That bastard had left her at the mercy of Sesshomaru, for Kikyo. How many lives did she have, that life sucking wench? Kagome's hatred flowed forth as never before. Her aura glowed bright around her, purifying the very room that she was in.

Sesshomaru felt the overwhelmingly strong aura on the other side of his door. It was filled with anger that he never thought the miko capable of. It was strong enough to purify any weaker demon crazy enough to walk into that room. Sesshomaru, himself hesitated at the thought of checking on her, but decided it must be done. He pulled the door open to see the girl sitting on her bed, weeping.

"What do you want, now?" Isn't it enough, you have me back and InuYasha won't be coming for me. Once you get what you want I can go home and you, and your brother, never have to set eyes on me again." What else could you possibly want?" Her last words came out in a big sob. She couldn't stop herself, she was too far gone.

Sesshomaru felt the aura that filled the room, it was almost painful, but still he crossed the space between them. "Who ever said that I never wished to lay eyes on you again?" He said reaching down and pulling her up to him by the wrist. Kagome collapsed into his arms, letting him support her weight as she wept. She felt comforted by his embrace; she let loose her fear of letting him see her weakness. She felt totally abandoned, but he was here. It was odd that she felt like she was standing on the edge of the world and the only person who could keep her from falling into the black oblivion was Sesshomaru, not InuYasha.

Sesshomaru held the weeping miko in his arms. Her aura was strong around him. He felt an empathy that he couldn't control or explain. This girl's sadness was infectious, as no other had been. Only had Rin, ever made him feel sadness before. He pulled her closer, wishing for her to stop crying. That damned InuYasha. Even Sesshomaru had been stunned not to see him come for her. It was a brutal way for Kagome to find out his true nature. The coward hadn't even tried to reclaim the girl that he claimed to be his. Instead he allowed his friends to face certain death, alone. Sesshomaru's rage grew deep in the pit of his stomach. Filthy, pathetic, half-bred dog was what he was. So stupid as to let a human woman tell him what to do, a DEAD human woman. Sesshomaru felt the urge to murder and thank him all in one moment.

Kagome had been able to see what InuYasha was really worth. She had been brutally reminded of her second place stature in InuYasha's heart. Sesshomaru would have never wished that she found out this way, but it still led to the same outcome. InuYasha made his choice and that left Sesshomaru the perfect opportunity to prove that he was more than just Killing Perfection.

Kagome let herself cry in the demon's arms until her tears ran dry. She looked up at him, eyes swollen and red. "Thank you. I'm sorry I know that this isn't your problem." She said pulling away and turning her back to him.

"I am sorry that he didn't come for you." Sesshomaru wretched the words from the bottom of his very soul. He wasn't sorry that InuYasha hadn't come. He wasn't sorry that the pathetic hanyou had proven himself a lowly dog. What he was sorry for was that he didn't have InuYasha's throat at the tip of his sword. "I'll let you be for a while, you should rest. You are barely over being sick." He said turning to leave.

"Sesshomaru wait." Kagome heard a voice that she recognized as her own. "Stay with me, please. Just until I fall asleep." Kagome knew the request was insane, but she simply couldn't bear to be left alone when the life she had known was crashing down around her. Sesshomaru froze in his tracks and stared straight ahead for a long moment. Kagome was sure that he was going to say no when he suddenly turned and began to walk back to her.

Kagome backed up onto the bed and the demon lay down next to her. He pulled her onto his chest and she wrapped her arms around him. Kagome allowed herself to relax into his embrace. Never had she thought he could be so kind. His arms, so full of strength, were gentle. She felt safe in a way she had never known.

Sesshomaru's heart pounded within him. Having her this close was driving him mad. He wanted to kiss away her tears, to tell her that he would take care of her, if she would have him. He wanted to claim her as his forever, but he laid there quietly consoling her. He desperately held onto his patience. He knew that to try to reach her now would be futile. She needed time to mourn the worthless hanyou, no matter how much Sesshomaru hated him. He would be there to catch her when she fell, prove to her that he was nothing like his brother. That his word was as strong as his steel.

Kagome inhaled his sweet scent. Enjoying these great gifts of comfort and closeness to the taiyoukai. Before long, stress and strain took their toll on her and she drifted off. Sesshomaru had no desire to move, he was simply taking in every second that he had with this girl in his arms. He soon drifted off into the world of dreams. They lay there in each other's arms. The great evil and the great good of the world. So close, but still a million miles apart.

Kagome awoke surprised to still be in Sesshomaru's arms. It was early evening and she was hungry, but she didn't dare move. This was the first time that she had ever seen Sesshomaru sleep and she didn't want to disturb him, or their embrace. She snuggled in closer. "Sesshomaru, I am glad that I am here with you. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." Her whisper was so low it was almost a thought, but Sesshomaru heard it. His eyes still closed he had awoke the instant he heard her voice. He decided it would be better to pretend as though he were still sleeping.

Sesshomaru didn't stir until he felt the girl getting up. Kagome was sliding away from him. He began to rise. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, but I heard something." Sesshomaru had heard it too, but chosen to ignore it.

"It's Jaken and Rin," He said rising to his feet. Kagome looked at him, he knew everything. How could she ever keep up with someone who was always 10 steps ahead of her?

She turned to follow him out of the room. The girl came bounding down the hallway. "Lord Sesshomaru!" She squealed in excitement. "We're back early."

"I see that Rin. Where is Jaken?" Sesshomaru questioned.

"Master Jaken is outside. He is worried that you will be mad at him for coming back so early." Rin offered.

"Is he now?" Sesshomaru said irritated with his servant to no end.

"Don't be mad, Lord Sesshomaru." Rin pleaded. "There were so many demons that we had to leave. Master Jaken couldn't fight them all."

Sesshomaru looked concerned for a moment before walking off to find Jaken.

"Kagome, you are still here." Rin noticed the miko that had been eclipsed by Sesshomaru.

"Yep, and I brought you a present." Kagome said turning to go back to her room and get the candy from her bag. She thought it better to give Sesshomaru and Jaken their time.

Sesshomaru walked out of the house to find the imp nervously pacing and grumbling to himself. "Jaken!" Sesshomaru demanded his attention.

"Oh, Lord Sesshomaru. I didn't want to return so early, but the western valley is being overrun by demons. I didn't want anything to happen to Rin so I decided to come back with her." Jaken was shaking, waiting the impending blow, but it didn't come.

"Where were they coming from?" Sesshomaru questioned.

"They were coming in from the North Woods." Jaken offered. "One minute the valley was peaceful, and the next a cloud of demons began closing in from the north."

Sesshomaru knew it had to be cast offs from Naraku. No demons of any consequence, but where there were traces of Naraku, he would undoubtedly find InuYasha, and InuYasha just happened to be the person that he was looking for at the moment. He smirked at the thought of the opportunity to finally crush the hanyou. Jaken cowered at the site of his Lord smiling, it surely never meant that anything good was about to happen. Sesshomaru walked back into the house to find Kagome.

"I will have to leave for a while with Jaken. Rin behave for Kagome." The taiyoukai said from the entrance to Kagome's room.

"I will Lord Sesshomaru, hurry back please." Rin replied to him.

"Is something wrong?" Kagome questioned.

"Nothing that can't be handled quickly. I shall be back before long." With those words he turned to leave. "Jaken, let's go." The imp dashed off after him, afraid to be left behind.