A Wounded Heart

Damn that miko! thought Sai as she again stumbled.

She gritted her teeth and dug her claws into the palms of her hands or tried to. Her left arm had long since lost all feeling, her hand unable to clench as she tried to return sensation back to the useless limb.

Sai had never been the recipient of a spiritual attack in all her long years of life, always avoiding monks and miko for that very reason. Though her encounters with those ningen gifted with such powers were limited, she knew instinctively the dead miko was more powerful than most, and she just had to get hit by one of the priestess's arrows.

They had been traveling only a few hours, but the journey felt much longer as her wound refused to heal and blood had long since coated her red kimono, coloring the scattered peddle design an ugly brown where the blood had dried, while closer to the wound, the fabric still ran a deeper crimson as her blood continued to flow.

Her vision had worsened, making the surrounding forest blur before her eyes, and her limbs felt heavy, especially her legs; though, she forced herself to keep moving. She began to forget why she had to keep running, racing to she knew not where, even though a scant few hours ago she had told her new companions they were headed towards Sesshomaru-sama's stronghold, claiming he might have taken her miko, Kagome, there.

Now she was too disoriented in mind and spirit to remember such intentions. All she could focus on was the pain in her left shoulder and the lack of feeling in her arm and fingers.

She fell.

At first, she wasn't aware she had fallen as her mind seemed to go in and out of focus. She felt herself being turned over onto her back. How had she gotten on the ground?

A blurry figure came into her line of sight. Words were being spoken, but Sai could not force herself to grasp there meaning. Her head was spinning. Her shoulder...why did her shoulder hurt?

Her vision turned black. Had she gone blind? No, her eyes had closed. No matter how hard she willed them to reopen, they would not. She had to keep moving. Why? Then she knew no more as unconsciousness stole her last shred of coherent thought.

Sango and Miroku, flying upon Kirara's back above the tree tops, trying to keep Akahana in sight on the forest floor, knew something was not right as they watched the demoness below them. Akahana again stumbled, and they were worried she was more injured then they had previously thought.

Once they had attempted to call a halt to their journey to Sesshomaru's castle, to look at Akahana's injury, but the demoness would not stop, insisting that she would heal and continued to run. There was no way they could stop her, so they followed and watched her closely.

"She's very hurt," Shippo whispered, worried. She was their only guide to Kagome.

"She is struggling, monk. Have you noticed her increasingly slowed pace?" Sango inquired.

Miroku's gaze was on Akahana, watching her labored movements. "I have," he intoned gravely. He could tell she was a powerful youkai, but she was obviously no match for Kikyo's arrow.

"I can smell blood," Shippo told them.

"It's been over three hours! How can she still be standing if she's still bleeding?" wondered Sango.

No one answered her. They could not understand Akahana's drive to reach Sesshomaru's castle. If all she wanted were answers from Kagome, why was she exuding such effort? It would be no trouble to first have her wounds checked out, even heal a little, before continuing. What did she really want with their friend? Or was it Sesshomaru she was after?

Obviously, Akahana had not won the Western Lord's favor when his barrier had protected the battlefield of combating demoness'. Did she wish for revenge on the female who took Sesshomaru from her? But that female couldn't be Kagome. She was ningen, a miko at that.

What was Kagome's role in all of this?

Miroku sighed. It seemed his futuristic friend made a habit of getting into trouble and worrying them all. He prayed that she was unharmed.

They all gasped when they saw Akahana fall then was still.

"Kirara!" cried Sango, clenching her fists in the two tail's main. Kirara let out a small roar in answer and flew to the ground, landing near the fallen female.

Miroku grabbed onto her uninjured shoulder and, as gently as he could, turned her over onto her back. Akahana's eyes were open, but they were unfocused.

"Akahana! Are you alright? Can you hear me? Akahana!" Miroku tried to call to the demoness.

"What's wrong with her? She's just lying there," asked Shippo, shaking.

"Feel her forehead. She looks flushed," Sango instructed Miroku since he was closest to the fallen youkai. Sango didn't want to crowd the demoness and agitate her. She was like a wounded animal and might strike out blindly.

"Ack! She's burning up," Miroku informed them, taking back his hand only to see her eyes had shut.

"Her eyes are closed. Is she okay?" asked Shippo.

Ignoring Shippo's question, Sango instructed him to grab a few bottles of water from Kagome's pack left on the ground next to Kirara and some rags.

Nodding his head, the little fox kit ran for the big, yellow pack.

"This isn't good, monk," intoned Sango softly.

"I know, Sango. We'll just have to take care of her. She's are best chance at finding Kagome. I've only ever heard of Sesshomaru-sama's castle but not its exact location."

Sango shook her head. "I don't either."

Shippo came running back with the necessary items and handed them over to Sango.

"I'll take care of Akahana. We might as well make camp here," Sango said.

"I'll start a fire," said Miroku.

"I'll help," added Shippo, who then started picking up kindling.

Sango turned her energies towards Akahana. She removed the blood stained kimono, trying not to jar the demoness too much even though she was unconscious. That didn't mean she wouldn't wake up and attack on instinct.

Sango used water from the water bottles to wet a rag and whipped off the excess blood before tending to the wound. It was red and inflamed, probably infected. Sango knew she'd probably have to stitch the wound so it could start to mend and stop bleeding.

Akahana may be a youkai, but she had been hit with a miko's arrow, and the healing would be much slower than normal. The demoness needed help in the healing. With that in mind, Sango did the best she could, sewed the injury closed both in the front and back, lathered it in salve, and called to Miroku to hold Akahana up while she wrapped bandages around her chest and shoulder.

"Hey guys!" called Shippo as he ran towards them, grinning. "There's a river not far from here over there," he continued, pointing.

"Well there is some good news," Miroku said with a small smile, lowering Akahana to the ground slowly and gently.

Sango handed him the top of Akahana's soiled kimono. "Could you wash this while I keep an eye on her?"

Taking the offered clothing from Sango, he smiled and said, "Of course my lovely Sango." Then was off with Shippo, who had grabbed some soap, as his guide.

Sango gazed down at Akahana's flushed face, willing the demoness to live. They needed her help in finding Kagome.

**********A Few Hours Later**********

The night was dark beneath the canopy of trees they found themselves in with only a small fire to pierce the gloom. Sango and Miroku were still awake trying to save Akahana from the fever that wracked her form.

Akahana was drenched in sweat and mumbled incoherently from time to time. She was panting as if it was hard for her to breathe. No matter how many times she was given a cooling bath, the fever would not relent.

Shippo was curled up next to Kirara for warmth, too tired to stay awake.

"I don't know if she'll make it," Sango told Miroku in a small voice, not wanting to wake the little kit.

"We can only pray her youkai blood will help aid us," answered Miroku.

"I don't understand her mumbling. She keeps saying 'Isamu' and 'why,' I think," said Sango.

"She's out of her mind with fever," reminded Miroku.

"I know, but I still wonder..."

Sango felt a hand on her shoulder and looked to her left at Miroku. She caught her breath as she watched the firelight play across his handsome features. He was looking at her with such a soft expression. She thought he might say something; instead, he was silent, gazing unwaveringly upon her face.

Sango blushed and hoped fiercely the light of the fire might hide her rise in color. Now was not the time to fantasize about the monk, she tried to chastise herself. She felt his hand tighten on her shoulder before moving to encircle them both with his arm.

She felt a new warmth lick at the place he touched her. How such a small touch could make her heart race, she did not know. She was helpless to move when she saw his face lower towards hers. She yearned for his kiss; though, she would never admit it.

Then all thought fled when his lips touched hers. His eyes were closed, and hers followed suit as he gathered her closer to his chest, wrapping both arms around her back. She clutched his robes as she felt the earth move beneath her.

His head moved back, breaking the kiss. She unconsciously followed, seeking more. There was a fire in her blood, an ache in her breasts and between her legs. Only with him had she ever felt such sensations, felt like a woman. She forgot where they were, about Akahana, and about finding Kagome.

His lips came back down on hers, and she moaned softly at the contact. Her lips opened of their own accord, and his tongue entered, devouring her. Their tongues stroked and battled for dominance for a time before she allowed him to conquer and thrust his tongue strongly into her mouth, stealing her breath and sanity.

A growl interrupted their tender moment.

Sango pulled back sharply from Miroku, confused and disoriented. His arms were still around her loosely, but she was able to turn her head to the right. What she saw made her freeze. She felt Miroku stiffen as well a moment later.

Akahana was glaring at them with red eyes, crouched low to the ground, and growling low but no less fierce.

Sango knew what those red eyes meant. The beast was close to the surface, and they had to tread carefully if they were to live through the next few minutes.

She heard Miroku clear his throat to speak but words never left his mouth. He was gaping at Akahana as was Sango, surprise clear on their faces.

Akahana was changing.

Long, black hair lightened to light brown, features shifted from white, sharp angles, turning tan and softening, and even her clothes changed color and shape. Akahana had morphed into a completely different demoness that left the couple dumb struck.

Sai was hallucinating; though, she wasn't aware of that fact. She crouched as anger and pain lanced through her heart to see Isamu in another's embrace. A male's no less!

Sango eased away from Miroku, her hand on her sword hilt, crouched and ready to defend herself if she had to.

"Akahana..." Sango tried to get the strange new demoness' attention and hopefully calm her down.

A snarl silenced her. Sango noted that the youkai wore nothing above her green hakama except for the bandages she had wrapped around the youkai earlier in the evening.

Then the fierce expression left Akahana's face only to be replaced by sorrow filled green eyes. The firelight caught a sheen of tears in her eyes. Sango blinked in surprise as a tear fell down Akahana's cheek.

Sai was lost in the past as painful memories ate at her subconscious, making her forget that she had killed Isamu and her lover months ago.

How could she? How could she let that snake touch her when she swore her love to Sai? She loved her golden female, would've done anything for her just to see her happy. So...why did she...

"Why..." a voice very different from Akahana's cold, hard tone filtered to Sango's ears. Though it was a different voice, it was Akahana who spoke directly to the demon slayer, who was caught by the anguish reflected in green, watery eyes. "Why...Isamu?"

Sai seemed to choke on her own breath, unable to continue speaking.

Sango tried to respond, not knowing who Isamu was, but Akahana wailed, "Why did you betray me, Isamu?" Tears were falling from her eyes in waves. It was hard for Sango to witness such grief.

"I'm not Isa—" Sango tried to inform this strange new Akahana, but before she could, Sango found herself in another embrace, this time it was not Miroku who held her, but Akahana.

"I love you," Akahana whispered heart wrenchingly in her ear.

Sai forgot about Kagome in her delirium. There was only Isamu, her golden female, safe in her arms once more, where she belonged.

Sango wasn't sure what Miroku was doing as her face was brought up to meet Akahana's kiss. Sango froze, their lips locked together. Never before had she kissed another woman. Their breasts were squished together, thigh to thigh, as they stood locked together.

Sango tried to gently extract herself from the unwanted embrace, but a growl had her freezing in place as she felt the sound vibrate across her closed lips. Sango's was cross eyed as she tried to keep her eyes on Akahana's face when red eyes opened to meet hers.

Sai was livid. How dare Isamu spurn her affection? Were all her words of affections and promises nothing but lies? Then a pain in her shoulder made itself known when Isamu tried to struggle out of her arms once more. Growling and tightening her hold on her golden female, Sai turned her head to see blood staining her shoulder.

Sai's mind flash backed to being attacked by Toru, Isamu's snake lover, from behind, wounding her. Isamu had not only betrayed her love...but tried to kill her. Agony pierced Sai's chest, as in her delirium, she thought she was being betrayed all over again.

Sango's hand went to her sword. It was an awkward move, unsheathing her sword with her left hand, but she managed somehow without Akahana's notice.

Before she could use her weapon, Sango was thrown back and plowed into Miroku. Both of them fell to the ground in a heap. They scrambled to their feet and took up a battle stance. Shippo ran behind them demanding, "What's going on?! Who is that? Where's Akahana?"

"That is Akahana," informed Miroku, "and she is delirious."

Sai glared at the couple and vowed she would kill them before she died.

"Die Isamu and live in hell with your lover!" Sai growled and lunged at them.

Miroku put up a hasty barrier, which Akahana hit and was thrown back.

Hissing, Akahana rose to her feet if slowly, hampered by her wound; though, it didn't seem to stop her lust for blood. Again they witnessed tears cloud Akahana's eyes still bathed in crimson they knew were signaling that the beast within her was very prominent.

"I could have loved you. I did love you!" Akahana cried. "Isamu..." she whispered in utter dejection and pain.

"Who's Isamu?" questioned Shippo softly.

"I wish I knew," returned Sango.

"Before I kill you, I want to know why," demanded Akahana.

"What do you mean?" asked Sango as the question was obviously directed towards her.

"You betrayed me."

"Look, I'm not Isamu. This is just one big—" Sango tried to reason with her, but she was cut off.

"Lies!" Akahana swiped the air in front of her with deadly claws.

"I'll silence your lies...forever," said Akahana, and she came at them.

Miroku threw a few sacred sutras at her, immobilizing her if only for a short time. A horrendous howl filled the night sky.

"We can't just kill her," said Sango. "It's not her fault. She's out of her mind with fever."

Sango had no problem killing youkai as it was her job as an exterminator, but Akahana was not in her right mind, and Sango could not, in all conscious, kill an innocent being. Even if said youkai was trying to kill them.

"I agree, Sango," answered Miroku. "We should return to Inuyasha."

Sango was already forcing Shippo on Kirara's back and jumping on with Miroku close behind.

"What about Kagome?!" the little kit wailed.

"We'll have to find her later. Right now we have to get away from Akahana before she kills one of use," Miroku explained as Kirara went air born.

Another howl was heard below them, but this time filled with anguish. The sound was painful to hear. Whoever this Isamu was, she had to have broken Akahana's heart. Miroku felt bad for the demoness, but he had no intention of sticking around waiting for her to regain her senses.

"If that's Akahana, then why does she look different? Even her scent has changed," asked Shippo, disappointed that they were not going to be finding Kagome anytime soon.

"I don't know, Shippo. She just transformed," answered Sango.

"It seems we may never know the mystery that is Akahana," Miroku said.

"But what if she continues to go after Kagome?" Shippo voiced all their fears.

No one could answer the fox kit, so they continued to fly in silence, hoping they would be able to find Inuyasha's trail, but first they had to locate a place to rest far away from Akahana in case she tried to give chase.

Little did they know that Miroku's holy powers had rendered Sai unconscious.