Chapter 25

Time seemed to move slowly as Kagome's barrier slowly dimmed to disappear as it became apparent the threat left the area. Slowly... achingly slow... she could feel herself regaining use of her limbs. She soon was able to turn her head where Sesshoumaru was thrown. He was laying at the base of a large tree that had a rather telling dented crack in it. Shippo, who had been closer to the blast, lay in an awkward position on the other side of the clearing. Poor Ah-Un had been blown clear through the trees and was currently out of sight.

As soon as she could move her legs with any amount of coordination, she stumbled over to Shippo. She turned him over, laying him flat. Gingerly, she touched the blackened hand that had been wounded. "Forgive me." She whispered with tears in her eyes.

"Not your fault." A hoarse voice said. Kagome's eyes flew up. It only took a moment of blue meeting green before Kagome threw herself onto the weakened boy, earning a grunt from him.

"I'm sorry. I should have protected you all better. Now you, Sesshoumaru and Ah-Un are badly injured, Takeshi's been taken and I don't even know where Jaken is." She backed up, sniffling lightly.

"Don't..." Shippo started. "Don't cry. You didn't know what to expect. None of us did. Let's all get moving again and we'll find Takeshi." He said as he tried to push himself up with his good hand.

Kagome sniffled again and went to help him. "You're right. Tears later."

Slowly the two made their way over to where Sesshoumaru was laying. Gently, she helped Shippo to sit against a tree and went to lay Sesshoumaru out and check his wounds. She found many like she did the night he came into camp in a feral state, but nothing that needed immediate attention. Turning back to Shippo, she noticed he was holding his hand close to his stomach. She reached for it and could have started to cry again when she looked closer at it. She wondered if he would ever regain use of it again. "If it was only stabbed, that would have been one thing." she started quietly. "But with the purity burns... this will take much longer to heal." If it does at all, went the unfinished statement. She looked around for her saddle bags with the extra cloth and first aid supplies. Not seeing them immediately, she ripped the bottom of her hakama and used the strip to gently wrap the damaged appendage. "This will have to do til we can get to water and clean it." She said. A loud crash echoed around them, and she looked up to see Ah-Un stumbling through the trees, a groggy Jaken walking behind him.

She only stumbled a little this time as she made her way over to the pair. Jaken stood staring at the unconscious Sesshoumaru as she quickly made sure that Ah-Un was okay. A soft snort in her direction from them told her that their bruises weren't severe. She, then, crouched in front of the little toad demon. "Jaken." she said softly. The small demon turned to look at her, as if only just noticing her presence.

"Lady Kagome." He took a breath.

"He's fine, Jaken. Some bruises, mostly tired."

The little demon seemed to take comfort in this. "They bound my lord's energies." he started. "The foul human, Yoichi, told my lord all that happens would be his fault. If he would only have given over to the goal of ultimate rule, that together, nothing would stop them. He laughed and kicked my lord as he lay frozen on the ground. He said he wanted my lord to suffer, but then he left... I don't understand."

Kagome took a deep breath. "I do." Jaken gave her a questioning look. "He took Takeshi." She looked the little demon in the eye when she heard him gasp. They looked at each other for a moment, before she lowered her head. "I only hope Sesshoumaru can forgive me long enough for me to redeem myself... I let Takeshi be possessed, then taken away."

Jaken gave a reassuring pat on her head. "It seems we have all underestimated this human and his tricks."

Raising her head quickly, she narrowed her eyes, glaring at a stalk of bamboo. "I don't think he's human... not entirely." She thought for a moment. "Get some rest. I'll tell both you and Sesshoumaru what happened when he wakes."

Jaken went to object, but quickly closed his mouth. Slowly he made his way over to the being he was so devoted to, and sat near his head. With one more sad look at his master's face, he then closed his eyes.

Dusk was falling as the group started moving about, one by one. While the rest slept, Kagome set about making a fire and preparing some meats that they had stored in one of their travel bags she managed to find. As each one woke, she kept a close eye on Sesshoumaru, whom seemed to be fighting an inner battle with his instincts. The red color never completely leaving his eyes. She offered each individual some meat then went to Shippo. Some searching around the area produced her medical bag, so she could finally treat his hand and all their wounds properly.

"Where is this Sesshoumaru's heir?" The strong demon finally growled out as Kagome handed him a cup of tea.

She bowed her head to the ground as she started to speak. "Yoichi took him." she said softly, her heart breaking. She had grown to care for the stubborn little boy so much. It was all she could do to just not go running in a random direction to hunt down the being that took him.

"Explain." He growled, drawing her away from her thoughts. She went into detail, explaining everything Yoichi, or whatever it was that possessed him, did and said. "The thing is... I'd swear I've heard about this demon from somewhere... I just can't remember where." She said with some thought.

When she was done, Sesshoumaru stood abruptly and started to walk out of the camp. "Where are you going?" she asked, almost panicked. She saw the determination in his eyes.

He stopped, but didn't take his eyes from the trees in front of him. "To take back what is mine."

She quickly jumped up and grabbed his sleeve. "You can't." She said. The look on his face had her backpedaling a bit. "We can all work together to get him back. Takeshi was taken from me as well. This creature took my nephew while he was with me, under my watch... he also injured my kit... I won't stand around doing nothing." She noticed he didn't move. "What will happen when you find him?" She noticed his shoulders tensed, but he made no reply. "Let's go to Keade's, see if she may know or have heard something. She may know of a way we can separate this thing from Takeshi without hurting him." She walked in front of him. "Please Sesshoumaru. It couldn't hurt to seek some information. We can also make sure Rin is well hidden. Takeshi knew about Rin, so it is likely that Legion will as well."

They stood, no one moved or said a word for what felt like hours, but was likely only moments. "We leave at dawn." Sesshoumaru finally said, and with that he stepped into the shadows of the trees.

Kagome looked to the others of their little group as they all let out a collective breath. Throwing some more wood on the fire, they bedded down for the night, knowing they would be traveling quickly in the morning.

Sesshoumaru patrolled the area around the little group. He dispatched several weak demons and one very aggressive boar. Still, he could do little but pace. His instincts called to him to find the demon that stole his heir, his son. He cared little for the boy's mother. Their mating was arranged by their parents and she was raised to be the perfect lady of the west for him. She was often foul to her subjects and though she said nothing to his face that could get her killed, he knew she often spoke ill of him to her ladies. She was a convenience to fill the gap a female would need to fill in his life, but that was it. She did little to ignite a fire in him, to challenge him. The only thing she did right was provide him Takeshi, and even that she messed up by spoiling and softening the boy too much. She let her household raise him and they would not give him the firm hand he needed. He may not be an excellent parent, but even he knew you could not let a child run rampant.

He wanted his son back. The boy belonged to him. He was pack. He didn't blame the priestess for his capture. He fought the being known as Legion as well. He was aware of the strength this creature had. The foul thing fought with too many tricks and dark magics. He would find his son and show this demon that, he, Lord Sesshoumaru has already achieved what that creature will never be able to.

Sesshoumaru returned to the sleeping group in the early morning hours and roused them from their sleep. He wanted to be planning and getting his son back and he wanted to be working on it now.