Chapter Fourteen: The Cave and the Demon

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Helen's eyes adjusted to the dimness of the cave. Sesshoumaru was sitting against the cave wall, scowling heavily at her. He was, much to Helen's amusement, a big mess. Inuyasha's Kongosouha had totally destroyed the armor that he usually wore; his hoari was slightly open, revealing a bloody wound on his chest. The sleeves of his clothes were torn and there were streaks of blood on his arms.

He growled at her and she stared at him. "You're a mess," she remarked.

"Leave."

She scowled at him. "It's raining heavily outside."

"Are you afraid of water…like a worthless neko?"

"I hate cats," she said calmly. She slowly approached him and he looked wearily up at her.

"Why won't you leave?" he asked.

"I told you, it's raining."

He growled in warning at her and she stepped back. She looked at him. She had always known him to be imposing, overconfident, arrogant at times and powerful, but now he looked…pitiful.

She continued to look at him and she felt sorry for him, despite the fact that he had tried to kill her before.

"You're a mess," she finally said. He looked coolly up at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Leave."

"Did Inuyasha's Kongosouha do this to you?" she wanted to know.

"Isn't it obvious, wench?"

She glared at him. "When will you stop calling me wench? I have a name, you know!"

"I am quite aware of that."

He suddenly flinched and his eyes roamed to a wound on his right arm; it was deep and it was bleeding profusely. He felt Helen's gaze on his wound his eyes snapped to hers.

"Leave now," he ordered. "I do not care if you get wet."

To his mild surprise, she knelt beside him. "That's a pretty nasty cut," she said. "It hurts, I suppose?"

He ignored her. Helen sighed. She pulled a handkerchief out of the sleeve of her haori-she never left home without a handkerchief-and offered it to him, the way someone offers something to someone as a peace offering.

He ignored it.

She inwardly sighed. He suddenly felt her hand lift the sleeve of his haori and she pressed the cloth to his bleeding wound. He pulled his arm away from her and glared at the young woman.

"Do not touch me," he said coldly.

"But that-it will be infected!" she said. He looked at her. There was concern in her eyes.

"Why do you choose to help me," he suddenly asked, "after what I did to you the other day?"

She looked calmly at him. "Because…I'm not like you…"

He looked at her. Such a simple answer…with a big meaning…

She pressed the cloth to the wound and he flinched, but his face didn't register pain at all. She silently marveled at his ability to keep his emotions locked up.

"The wounds on your neck are gone," he said quietly.

She bent her head. "Kagome said that since the seal was tampered, a bit of my demonic powers leaked out."

"Perhaps."

They were silent for a moment. Helen finished mopping up the wound and found, to her dismay, that her handkerchief was bloody. She stood and turned to the entrance of the cave, the rain had now stopped. She glanced at the youkai behind her and walked towards the cave entrance, intent on leaving him and returning to Kaede's village.

Sesshoumaru looked at her retreating back and asked, "Why did Kagura attack you?"

She stopped and glanced at him from over her shoulder, "Why did you attack me?"

He watched as she left the cave.

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Helen glanced back at the cave from over her shoulder and truly felt sorry for the demon resting within the cave, but she knew perfectly well that demons healed quite fast…

She walked into the forest and glanced at the blood soaked handkerchief in her hands. She had to get rid of it. She also had to get rid of the bloody smell-though she couldn't smell it, Inuyasha could.

She turned into a bunch of trees that hid a creek from review. She dipped the handkerchief into the water and squeezed out the blood, turning the water a slight shade of red. She washed her hands and looked at her reflection.

Why did I help him? She thought as she looked at the water.

A strong breeze blew against the forest and Helen looked up; Kagura was looking down at her from her feather.

"You again?" Helen asked as she stood up. Kagura looked dangerously at her.

"So you're still alive." Kagura held Tokijin in her hands, Helen observed.

"Sorry to disappoint you," Helen said as she stood up. "Yeah, I'm still pretty much alive."

"Why are you dressing up as a priestess?" the wind witch asked. "Pretending to be a wolf in sheep's clothing?"

Helen gritted her teeth. "None of your business witch."

Kagura narrowed her eyes dangerously at Helen. "There are blood stains on your sleeves, have you been slaying demons?"

"You're quite nosy aren't you?"

Kagura smirked. She opened her fan and pointed it at Helen, she frowned then closed it.

"Afraid?" Helen taunted.

"I have more important matters to take care of." Her grip on Tokijin tightened. Helen frowned as she watched Kagura fly off. She was going to look for Sesshoumaru, no doubt.

I hope Naraku finds out about them, she thought angrily. Her eyes widened. I shouldn't think like that…It's…not like me…

She looked at the blood stains on her sleeves and sighed. She knelt down near the creek and dipped her sleeves in the cold water. She squeezed the blood and water from them and inwardly frowned.

Presently, she felt a presence behind her. Thinking that it was Kagura, she stood up and spun around.

"What do you want now, Kagura?" she snarled. She blinked. It wasn't Kagura who was staring at her…

It was Toshimaru.

The youkai lord grinned at her. "Hello, Lady Helen."

She smiled at him. "Hi…What are you doing here?"

"I was merely passing by when I caught your scent…What are you doing here? It is dangerous for mortals to travel the forests alone."

"I was…Taking a walk," she said blandly. The young youkai took a step towards her and narrowed his eyes.

"You smell of"-he sniffed her-"Sesshoumaru? His blood?"

Helen blushed. "You could smell…?"

He nodded curtly. "Has anything happened to my cousin? Is he injured?"

Helen hesitated before answering. She knew that Sesshoumaru wouldn't want his cousin to see him so weakened, which would be humiliating, but maybe Toshimaru could help Sesshoumaru.

"Yes…he is injured," Helen said slowly. Helen looked at Toshimaru, his eyes were sparkling.

"Did you perhaps…injure him?" he teased.

Helen looked annoyed. "No…someone else did…But maybe you could help him? He's a real mess."

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Kagura flew over the trees, looking for Sesshoumaru. Were could he be? She thought. She saw a cave in meadow. They were tracks leading to it.

Thinking that he was there, she flew down. She jumped off her feather and walked into the cave. Her eyes adjusted to the dimness of the cave and she saw-her heart, if she felt it-skipped a beat. Sesshoumaru was sitting against the cave wall.

"Sesshoumaru," Kagura said softly. The youkai lord looked coolly up at her.

"Why are you here?" he asked coldly, though deep down, he was quite glad to see her.

"You're injured!" Kagura ran to him and hurriedly knelt down beside him. "Who did this to you?"

"It is none of your business; now leave before I lop off your head."

Kagura blinked. She lowered her head and presented him Tokijin. "Your sword…" she whispered. He regarded her coolly for a moment. He wanted to tell her that he wanted to be with her again, but his pride-his foolish pride-forbade him from doing so.

"I have no further need of it," he said. "It is weak compared to Tessaiga."

Kagura looked taken aback. "Then if you won't accept your sword…please accept my help. Let me tend to your wounds-"

"Not necessary."

"But…"

"I told you it is not necessary, you may leave."

"Just let me clean them up."

"Someone already has."

Kagura blinked. "Who?" she asked feeling jealousy rise rapidly in her bosom.

"You needn't know."

A bloody handkerchief flashed in Kaagura's mind. The wind witch stood up and regarded him closely; she tightened her grasp on the Tokijin.

"It was Helen, wasn't it?" her voice was devoid of emotion.

"Yes, now you may leave."

Kagura turned and left the cave, but before she went out, she turned to him and asked. "Did you even…did you…love me?"

Sesshoumaru looked coldly at her and didn't bother to reply. He wanted to get back together with her, wanted to hear her laugh and feel her embrace, but the problem was his pride-his cursed pride.

Kagura mistook his silence for a 'no.'

"Goodbye, Sesshoumaru…" she whispered, knowing he could hear her. Sighing heavily, she left the cave.

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Helen and Toshimaru walked until they both reached the meadow. "Are you sure you want to help him?" Helen asked, turning to him.

Toshimaru smiled. "I am quite aware that my dear cousin, Sesshoumaru, harbors extreme animosity towards me…Besides, if I help him, his pride won't stand it."

Helen smiled. He was so different from Sesshoumaru…if only she were betrothed to him rather than Sesshoumaru…

"Oh? It seems that we have company," he suddenly said. Helen looked to the entrance of the cave. Kagura came out, looking dejected and sad. The moment she saw Helen and Toshimary, though, her eyes sparkled with malice. She looked Toshimaru over and said, "Do you have a knack for taking all the good ones?"

Helen blinked. "What?"

Toshimaru glared at Kagura. "Who are you?" his voice became as devoid of emotion as Sesshoumaru's. His clawed hand rested on the hilt of a sword at his waist. Kagura noticed this, took out her feather and flew off.

"Who was she?" Toshimaru asked Helen.

The young woman frowned. "Her name is Kagura, she's one of Naraku's incarnations."

"Naraku…That worthless hanyou who tried to absorb you?"

"How did you know that?"

"Lady Takeida told me."

They made their way into the cave and were greeted by a low growl.

"What are you doing here?" Sesshoumaru asked his cousin. He felt humiliation rise within him; Toshimaru seeing him so weak felt like murder.

"I've come to help you." Was the reply.

"I don't need your help…I am healing already."

Toshimaru gave his cousin a cool look. "What was that woman doing in here?"

Sesshoumaru looked wearily at him; his eyes flickered to Helen's for a moment before returning to his cousin's.

"None of your business; now leave, both of you."

"Do you always say that?" it was Helen who asked the question. Sesshoumaru eyed her wearily and didn't bother to open his mouth.

"Come, Lady Helen, it seems that my cousin wishes to be left alone." Toshimaru placed a hand on her shoulder-something which made Helen blush and Sesshoumaru raise an eyebrow-and steered her out of the cave.

Once they were back in the forest, Toshimaru removed his hand from her shoulder and looked back at the cave. "He is quite stubborn…My advisers say that he inherited that trait from Lady Takeida."

Helen sighed and stared up at the setting sun. "I should get going."

"Where?"

"Back to the human village, not far from here."

"Ah…well that reminds me. Lady Shinsuke wishes to see you immediately," he said. Helen bit her lower lip.

"I should go see Kagome first…She's the priestess who travels with Inuyasha," Helen said. Toshimaru raised his eyebrows in interest.

"Inuyasha? The younger hanyou brother of Sesshoumaru?" he asked.

Helen looked coolly at him. "Do you have a grudge against half-demons?" her tone was slightly cold.

Toshimaru shook his head. "No, I shall come with you. I wish to meet this Inuyasha fellow."

Helen gave him a small smile. So he doesn't despise hanyous…He is different from Sesshoumaru, alright.

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Kagome stared at the setting sun and frowned. "I wonder where Helen could be," she murmured as Sango came over to her.

"Do you want me to go look for her?" the taijiya offered. "It is getting dark."

Kagome shook her head just as Inuyasha came over to them accompanied by Miroku and Shippou. "Sango's right," the hanyou said. "Helen's been gone for too long."

"Maybe demons accosted her," Shippou said.

Kagome groaned. "Don't say that, Shippou-chan."

"Sorry."

"Over there!" Miroku pointed to two figures headed towards the village.

"Who's the guy with Helen?" Sango asked. Inuyasha growled.

"An inu daiyoukai," he said through gritted teeth.

A few minutes later, Helen and the unknown youkai were with them.

"Kagome! Sorry if I took so long," Helen said apologetically.

"So who's your friend?" Inuyasha asked, narrowing his amber eyes at the young woman's companion.

"Oh, this is Toshimaru, the Lord of the Northern Lands and Sesshoumaru's cousin by his mother's side," Helen explained.

"So you're the infamous Inuyasha," Toshimaru said blandly.

Inuyasha growled while Sango and Miroku looked tense.

"You needn't worry, unlike my dear cousin, I do not have a grudge against hanyous," Toshimaru said idly.

Inuyasha blinked then turned away, muttering something about, "Darned relatives."

Shippou laughed. "That's the first time I've seen Inuyasha walk away like that!"

Toshimaru smiled at Shippou. "Hello, young kitsune."

"Hey! Most people and demons that I meet say that I'm a raccoon dog."

"Then most demons you've met are stupid," Toshimaru said blandly.

"I kind of like this guy," Sango whispered to Miroku. "He's not like Sesshoumaru at all."

Miroku nodded his head in agreement.

"Well anyway," Helen said. "I've got to go…Lady Shinsuke is expecting me."

Kagome nodded her head in agreement. "Take care then."

They watched as Toshimaru and Helen walked out of the village.

"Helen…she'd be better off with Toshimaru rather than Sesshoumaru," Sango said softly. Kagome sighed and looked up at the darkening sky.

"I just wish she and Sesshoumaru would get along, though."

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Well I'm done.

What did you think?

Review please!