Rin was very bored.

At least when they were traveling there were new things to look at and new flowers to play with and new food, but Rin was not traveling at the moment. Sesshomaru-sama sat in the same place he had been in for the last day even though Miyuki refused to come out of her little hollow hiding place. And it was very hot, just sitting in this little place between the trees. Not even the watermelons had cooled her down like she wanted.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin got up to go and sit by her lord. Jaken was still sleeping against Ah and Un, who had decided to eat some of the nice healthy grass while they were waiting. Her lord's eyes rested on her after a moment. "Couldn't you just make her come out of there? If you wanted to?"

"It would accomplish nothing."

Rin fingered the ends of his empty sleeve. "Miyuki's scared of us, right? Maybe we shouldn't be waiting for her to not be afraid." The cup of water she'd left just outside Miyuki's hiding place hadn't been touched; neither had the berries. She was disappointed. "We should make her come out." She really didn't know if Sesshomaru-sama would do it but at least he was listening.

Milord never ignores me. Not like other adults.

Rin got up to go and peer into the hollow again where Miyuki was. Maybe if she was careful she could get Miyuki to get out of the hole. Sesshomaru-sama would be so proud if she could do that! Beaming she peered into the darkness again as she searched for Miyuki's glowing golden eyes again. "Miyuki? Are you awake? Aren't you bored in there?"

Sighing Rin reached inside when there was no flash of gold. She could feel the roughness of the blanket and then silk, and a different fabric. There was movement, followed by a pitiful mewl. "Miyuki? Are you awake?"

Another whimper, this time accompanied by what could only be described as loud breathing. Her hands finally found very warm skin. "Are you ok? Miyuki?" She had an awful feeling in her stomach. "You can answer me, don't be afraid."

Rin was more startled when Sesshomaru-sama moved to kneel behind her. She retracted her hand from the younger girl to move out of the way. "Sesshomaru-sama?"

Sesshomaru did not answer. He rose again to his feet, allowing his hand to curl underneath the exposed length of the tree where the roots had pulled away. Rin gasped as she fell back onto her behind: Sesshomaru-sama was pulling the tree out of its roots.

It didn't take very long. Half a minute later she watched as the tree fell back between the others. The hole it left in its absence wasn't very big, barely large enough to accommodate the curled inuyoukai apparently sleeping. But she wasn't. Miyuki turned slightly to peer up at them both. "Mama, wan' Mama," she moaned quietly; her chest was moving up and down rapidly.

"What's wrong?" Her Sesshomaru-sama was already on his knees again as he reached into the hole. Almost gently he lifted her up by her kimono to sit her down on the edge. Miyuki immediately leaned back onto the grass with her eyes closed. "Sesshomaru-sama? Is Miyuki ok? Why is she so pink?" The girl's white skin wasn't white, it was very flushed.

"Miyuki," Sesshomaru ordered. The girl barely moved so that she was lying on her side, breathing audibly. "Miyuki, wake up." One look up at her lord's eyes revealed an abnormally present expression: uh-oh. Something wasn't good.

Rin was very scared to see Miyuki suddenly open her eyes as she emptied her stomach onto the once-pretty grass that she was resting on. Sesshomaru-sama's eyes widened as she once again went limp, whimpering.

"Is she sick? What's happening?" She didn't understand. How was Miyuki suddenly so sick? "Sesshomaru-sama?" He pressed his long fingers to Miyuki's forehead in a startling gesture…was he worried about her too? Miyuki certainly looked sick. "What do you want me to do?" she rested her hands against his elbow. "How can Rin help?"


Everyone had collapsed in various poses of exhaustion.

Inuyasha had not allowed them to stop most of the day—except once, for about half an hour—in his anger. Which they all understood, but that didn't stop their human muscles from aching in protest at such prolonged travel.

Inuyasha had cradled her all of last night with Miyuki gone. Kagome had the odd feeling that she'd been the girl's inadequate replacement, but who was she to complain? Sleeping the way she had—even for the reasons that had caused it, had been amazing. But he was still heel-pounding furious.

I miss Miyuki, she yawned as she prepared the very last of the ramen for Inuyasha, hoping to cheer him up. Currently her hanyou was sulking up in the highest branches of the nearest tree waiting for dinner. Maybe we should just go get her already. Stupid, Kagome. You really thought that she would be happier with Sesshomaru?

Shippo was basically upside down in Sango's lap. Kilala was currently licking herself, Miroku was scratching his arm…no one was happy. There was too much silence in the air without Miyuki giggling or crawling around looking for scents or watching the food cook…she rubbed at her eyes in frustration. It's…I have to give it a chance. Like I told Inuyasha. Miyuki and Sesshomaru deserve a chance to be together. Even though it's probably a bad idea.

But I'm not happy, her heart protested. Miyuki should be here waiting for dinner. Inuyasha would be happier and not moping and nobody would feel like they'd abandoned their little friend. I know I didn't but it feels that way. I hope she doesn't hate us. What if she was crying somewhere? Would Sesshomaru know how to stop a crying girl?

But her heart knew the answer: He totally doesn't.

The guilt was nearly overwhelming with the possibility.

"Kagome?" Miroku's voice broke her out of her morose thoughts. She looked up to see the monk extending a bottle of water towards her.

"Oh, thank you." Uncapping it she took a few cool swigs of the water they'd found a little ways back.

"Are you…all right?" Miroku asked quietly in concern. She didn't dare glance up at Inuyasha. "I know how you must feel, we all do, but we will see her again in a few days."

"I bet she's miserable." There was a near-whining tone to her voice; she disliked it enough to clear her throat, meeting the monk's understanding eyes. Miroku is a good person to talk to about things. He listens, at least.

"Would you like to play sutra cards Kagome?" Sango interrupted. The taijiya was holding up a deck of playing cards that she recognized from her yellow bag. There was a small thump: Inuyasha dropping down from his tree. She knew she wasn't the only one who was surprised when everyone else's head turned in his direction as well.

"Inuyasha?" Miroku inquired.

The hanyou didn't respond. They all followed his gaze to the empty tree line. "Is something coming Inuyasha? What is it?" What is it boy? Good puppy, her mind threw at her. Bad Kagome.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Inuyasha's tone was not nearly as harsh as his words. Sesshomaru's striking white figure emerged out of the shadows to reveal both himself and his group, all looking rather strung out. Well, other than the impassive taiyoukai. Although…his eyes were strangely more alive than they usually were.

Is that an actual emotion I see? She'd never seen it before so she was unsure.

"What did you do?" At Inuyasha's striking tone her scope widened to realize that Miyuki was actually lying in Sesshomaru's arm, limp and strangely red, like she was sun-burned. She barely realized that her legs were propelling her forward as she went to touch Miyuki's too-warm skin worriedly. "Fucking asshole, what's wrong with her?"

"M-mama?" Miyuki whined quietly, turning her face away from Sesshomaru's armor.

"It's Kagome sweetie, remember?" She's confused. "Are you sick? What happened?" Looking up Kagome was very startled to realize how very close to the very scary taiyoukai that she was. "She's burning up. What happened Sesshomaru?" she repeated forcefully.

Sesshomaru didn't respond, making her angrier with him. "Whatever, I don't even—" Kagome broke off, more worried for Miyuki's health than concerned about Inuyasha's brother as she maneuvered the small girl into her own arms. "Inuyasha? I need water, my bag." Turning frantically the hanyou got the point, leading the way as she sprinted after him bag and all hanging over his red shoulder.

Kagome didn't even stop when they came towards the small river; she hurriedly dropped down to slide into the cool river that rose up to her breasts as she splashed water onto Miyuki's dangerously red face. The girl was so warm that she was ill. So not good.

"What'do I do Kagome?" Inuyasha sounded as concerned as she was.

"Get the aspirin out of my first-aid kit," she ordered. "And my thermometer. And maybe my cold compresses." I need to get her temperature down. How did Sesshomaru even let this happen? In a day? It's been a day, one stupid day!

Inuyasha dropped on the bank so that his legs hung into the water. She came closer to him, supporting Miyuki's head as she continued to splash water onto the girl's face. "Miyuki baby? I need you to stay awake for me. Can you do that?"

"Why's she breathing so hard?" Inuyasha leaned forward to peer at the pup.

"She's overheating," she said bewilderedly. "Give me that thermometer. How did this even happen?" As she tucked the thermometer underneath Miyuki's damp armpit Inuyasha snorted, brushing Miyuki's bangs away.

"Fucking asshole," Inuyasha growled.

"You're fine Miyuki," Kagome tried to soothe the whimpering girl. "You're home now. You don't have to be scared." She's got a fever, I knew it. How did Sesshomaru let this happen? One-hundred-and-one fevers don't just magically appear out of thin air.

"Here." Inuyasha dropped down into the water with a small splash as he took Miyuki from her, cradling her. "Yaya's here kid. You listenin'?"

"Yaya?" Miyuki wheezed, opening her eyes.

"Yup, I'm here pup. Don't panic," Inuyasha continued. She reached past him to open up her first aid kit where she took out two aspirin. Dropping back onto her feet she cupped some water in her hand. "What are you doing now wench?"

"You need to take these Miyuki." It'd help her fever.

"Wha'?" Miyuki obviously wanted to sleep.

"Put these in your mouth and drink some water, ok?" I hope she can understand me. She's never taken medicine before. Inuyasha seemed to understand at least as he held her so that her head was near his shoulders. "Here we go," she chimed. "And…drink." Miyuki took the aspirin with no problems. Poor baby, she's too tired to really care.

"Is she well, miko?" The voice nearly made her choke. Standing there on the bank as casually as any male model in her era was the inuyoukai that was their current source of frustration. But, to his credit, he did seem genuinely concerned about their efforts. His eyes were more alert than she usually saw them. He's not bored? That's something new.

"Fucking go," Inuyasha growled softly over his shoulder. "We've got her, you just fucking leave. No one needs you here."

"Hot," Miyuki opened her eyes finally. "Hot."

"We know," Kagome softened her tone for the girl. "It'll be all right. Your breathing's already a lot better, see?"

"What the hell did you do?" Inuyasha tossed over his shoulder at his brother.

"I believe that the miko is to blame." The…absurdity of that pompous statement made her concern for Miyuki dwindle a bit as she looked over Inuyasha's shoulder at the still taiyoukai.

"Wh-at?!" He cannot be serious.

"If that girl had not given Miyuki that ridiculous blanket this would not have occurred." Sesshomaru's elitist tone, implying that she was the one to blame for his laxness was too much for her to bear. Inuyasha stood frozen as Kagome climbed out of the water purposefully to confront the calm taiyoukai.

"Who do you think you are?" Hands-on-hips, scowling. Inuyasha could recognize Kagome's fury anywhere. It wasn't more than a few feet to the other side of the river. Ah hell, Kagome. This isn't far enough away from the crazy wench. "You are the most selfish person I have ever met! How dare you blame me for this?"

"Yaya?" Miyuki yawned, blinking her eyes. "I have water?"

"Uh, yeah." Inuyasha scooped some of the cool river water into his hand for the pup to drink while he watched the disaster unfolding in front of him. The bitch better not push him too far or I'll have to stop him. Thankfully Sesshomaru wasn't moving.

"This girl does not know her place, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru addressed him? "You have taught her no respect."

There was a definite huff of anger from Kagome.

"Shut up for once, would ya?" Kagome still looked like she wanted to strangle Sesshomaru. "Kagome, you got anything to change her into?" It wouldn't hurt to get the wench away from the bastard. The pup's skin was finally starting to return to her normal color.

"Oi, easy." It was a definite relief to actually see her aware as she turned in his arms to reach the water. He sank down into the water more, adjusting her so that she was sitting on his hip.

"I 'ungry," she squirmed slightly. "Where food?"

"We'll get you something, don't panic kid." A few feet away from Sesshomaru, Kagome—damp skirt and all, was waiting for them with another of her weird shirts in her hands. Sitting Miyuki on the grass it didn't take long to get her changed.

"I know you fin' me," Miyuki shook her head, sending water droplets everywhere—not that it really mattered. Inuyasha climbed out of the water. "We eat? Where Miku?"

"Poor baby," Kagome picked her up, turning towards camp, but Inuyasha stalled. Sesshomaru's eyes shifted from the shrinking figures of the miko and Miyuki to him. Shit, I'm never good with this bastard.

"You nearly fucking killed her." His anxiety wouldn't do him any good so he shoved it away. Anger was so much more useful. "Miyuki could've died, you bastard."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed.

Shit.

"Do not presume that I will allow you to insult me with those derisive tones, half-breed." Sesshomaru's height always gave him the advantage of intimidation but Inuyasha wasn't buying it. He knows he screwed up but he's not going to admit it. Fucking stuck-up asshole. "You and that obnoxious girl will recognize your place."

"You're threatening Kagome now?" Who does he think he is? "We're taking care of your daughter and you're going to threaten Kagome, after she saved Miyuki? Man, you've got some nerve." Just for good measure he let his hand curl around Tessaiga's hilt.

"Your mere existence is repulsive," Sesshomaru turned in the direction of the humans. "Do not provoke me, hanyou. My patience is not limitless."

Asshole!

Inuyasha growled in frustration as he hurried to catch up.