Chapter Twenty One

Inuyasha woke with his head tucked against Kagome's chest. He smiled with he opened his eyes and was greeted with one of her nipples directly in front of him. He stuck his tongue out and flicked the soft flesh slowly, watching it harden before his eyes as his tongue danced around it. He turned his head over and started to lick at the other one. Disappointed, Inuyasha realized she wouldn't wake like this. He had to step up how game. So his lips found her and he sucked gently at her right nipple, earning a moan as her fingers laced sleepily in his hair.

"Oh Inuyasha..."

"Mmmmm," he relished in the sweet taste of her, switching nipples and keeping up his ministrations until he saw her eyes flutter open.

"Well good morning to you too," she smiled and whimpered when he grazed her with his teeth.

"And what a good morning it is," he growled softly. "Are you sore? You bled again last night."

"Yeah a little. It's weird though. The first time I didn't even really notice being sore. But today I'm more sore than the first time."

"Well my uhm...you know...gets smaller when I turn into a human. And last night I was my normal size so uh..."

"That explains it." She tilted her head back as his claws scraped lightly against her.

"Say...Kagome..."

"Hmm?"

"If you're sore maybe I could kiss it and make it better..."

"Maybe I could let you," she grinned against his lips. And giggled as he drug his tongue down her body, tickling her in the process.

...

Inuyasha scoffed as they drew closer to the village. 'Sesshomaru is still hanging around,' he thought.

"Hey Kagome, when we see Sesshomaru don't talk to him okay? He'll know what we did last night as soon as he lays eyes on us. Whatever he says, don't listen to him. He'll only upset you."

"Gotcha."

As they neared Kaede's hut, his scent got stronger. Inuyasha almost fell over when he stepped inside and found his older brother sitting in the back corner with Rin curled up on his lap.

"Kaede! What the hell is he doing here? Damn, you'll let any old riff raff in here won't you?"

"Quiet Inuyasha, I am treating the girl."

"Why couldn't you just leave her here a couple days and come back?" He groaned in the direction of Sesshomaru.

"Leave her under your protection? Unlikely. Inuyasha, don't even get me started on riff raff, filthy half breed. And respect the hand that feeds you. I realize the priestess has an open door policy, but I can't believe she'd tolerate the likes of you. Her reasoning is beyond me. I've tolerated your miserable existence for two hundred years. Surely you can tolerate my presence for two days. Grant me your silence if not your absence, brother."

"Two days. That's it. I don't trust you around all these humans."

"I have no reason to harm anyone in this village, unless you cross me that is." Sesshomaru closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. Yeah, demons didn't need much sleep. But he hadn't slept in two days. That's if you count the two hours he got of sleep before Rin woke him in a fit of coughing the other night. In all reality he'd slept two hours in the past week. Last night she'd gotten even hotter so he rushed her down the mountain to Kaede who used a strange device from Kagome's time to measure her fever. She gave Rin some sweet smelling medicine also from the future and that seemed to keep her cooled off. Now she was curled against his chest sleeping more peacefully than she had in days. Sesshomaru has taken his armor off and had it in a neat pile beside him. She stirred in her sleep and he raised a hand to the back of her head instinctively, running it down her hair to sooth her.

"Rin, I know you're awake."

"Mhm."

"I'm going to put you down and get some air. I'm going for a run and afterward I will be on the roof alright?"

"Promise you won't go far?"

"Yes. Inuyasha is back and he reeks, thats all." This earned a giggle from her as he laid her on the straw pallet and covering her up. He got up silently and left, leaving Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara gaping at what had just occurred. Kaede on the other hand seemed completely unphased.

"Why are you guys staring at me?" Rin opened her eyes, feeling self conscious.

"Sorry for staring. Is Sesshomaru always that kind to you?" Miroku questioned.

"Yes, most of the time." She smiled weakly.

"You must be very close," Sango suggested.

"Yeah I guess we are. I've never really had any friends. Lord Sesshomaru said he doesn't like friends either. So now we're each others friends."

"Aww that's sweet, right Inuyasha?" Kagome tried to get him to relax.

"Sweet as it may be, I'm keeping an eye on him."

"Lord Sesshomaru won't attack this village. He told me most of the humans here are the tolerable kind and I'm sure he wouldn't have brought me along if he were going to attack a bunch of people. I always stay behind when he goes for a battle."

"That is for your protection, child."

"I know."

"Hey kid, we've all been wondering something."

"Oh yeah...what's that?"

"Why does Sesshomaru keep you? You've heard yourself that he doesn't like humans. So what gives?"

"He's never told me why he lets me follow him. But I'm glad he does. I lost my whole family to bandits and then I was attacked by wolves. I know I was dead for some time before lord Sesshomaru found me. But he brought me back to life with his sword."

"So Sesshomaru is like a father to you?" Kagome asked.

"Kind of. But not really."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well Lord Sesshomaru says he is my lord and master first and foremost. But he told me that we are friends and friends take care of each other. So he does take care of me kind of like my papa used to."

"Well that's a good thing at least," Kagome said.

"Tell me child; why do you choose to stay with such a dangerous demon?"

"Because he protects me," she shrugged. "And I don't like humans. Humans are much scarier than demons."

"Rin," Sesshomaru had appeared silently in the doorway.

"Lord Sesshomaru! You came back!" Rin jumped up and ran to him, throwing her arms around his legs.

"I told you I would, didn't I?"

"Yes!" She grinned and he bent to pick her up.

"Back to bed, here I brought you something." He sat her down before digging in his robe and pulling out two apples.

"Oh! Apples! My favorite! Where did you find them in the winter?"

"I'll tell you when we aren't in a room full of monguls," he winked and she giggled. As she was eating, he reached out to feel her head.

"Kaede. I believe she needs some more of that fever medicine."

"Yes it's getting about time, one moment."

"Sesshomaru?" Kagome said quietly.

"What?"

"If it's okay with you, I'd like to check her lungs."

"How?"

"I can listen to them with this," she pulled a stethoscope out of her bag that she keeps at Kaede's.

"I can hear her breathing just fine, thanks. Rin does not like being touched by you humans."

"Lord Sesshomaru..." she peered up at him. "It's okay..."

"Very well...make it fast."

"She sounds like she may be coming down with pneumonia."

"How to you treat it?"

"I'll have to go back to my time and get her an antibiotic. If you want to, I can try and take her through the well to see a doctor on my side. But I'm not sure that it'll work."

"No, I'm not going." She shrunk back and hid behind Sesshomaru.

"Calm down, I wasn't going to make you go without Sesshomaru. He can't go to the doctor with you because there's no way to disguise him. But he can wait for you at my house. Don't worry it's right down the road. Not far at all."

"But nobody else can pass through the well," Shippo chimed in.

"We've never even tried passing through together before. I think it might work. If I have the jewel shards and I open the portal surely they can come through while it's open."

"Wait just one second! Kagome, I realize she's sick and you want to help her. But we can't take him to your house! He's way too dangerous! You really want him with your mother? What about your grandfather and Sōta huh? I don't like it. She can just come with us and he can wait by the well."

"No! Lord Sesshomaru don't let them take me what if something happens and we're attacked?"

"Inuyasha will protect you," Kagome offered.

"What's he gonna do? Swing that sword around, yell like a bafoon, and get his ass kicked?" She scoffed and looked to Sesshomaru for approval. Inuyasha almost fell over.

"Rin," Sesshomaru scolded "quiet."

"But you say it all the time, my lord."

"Enough," he smiled in amusement.

"Yes," she nodded and giggled.

"Nonetheless, I will not allow Rin to cross over with you. However, I will go with her. I cannot promise to stay behind and allow you to take her to the doctor without seeing your world first."

"Okay that'll work," Kagome said.

"Kagome!" He protested.

"Inuyasha, sit."

Rin devolved into a fit of giggles but then started coughing.

"Okay Rin, enough fun, back to sleep with you."

"Okay!" She said in a sing song voice and laid back down on her bed, taking Sesshomaru's fur in one hand and curling it around herself. Nobody spoke to either of them again for a long while. In all honesty, they were trying to pretend he wasn't there to keep it less awkward. They all just went about their day as if a monster wasn't watching them. Or so Sesshomaru thought. He knew that's exactly what every person in this room thought of him. Except for Rin. He sat and idly watched them throughout the day. It was truly entertaining. Inuyasha was in a particularly bad mood, which Shippo enjoyed thoroughly. He would pick on him when Kagome wasn't looking. And as soon as Inuyasha would jerk him up by the scruff of the neck, the brat would scream bloody murder for Kagome. Earning Inuyasha a swift 'sir' command. Miroku kept making passes at Sango, for which he earned several bumps to the head. Nobody except for Kaede spoke to them until dinner time. That was when Sango turned and offered them food.

"Rin, do you feel up to eating? And Sesshomaru you must be hungry, I haven't seen you touch a bite since you've been here. There's tea as well."

"You're wasting your breath with him, Sango. He doesn't eat human food."

"I will take some tea, thank you. Rin, are you hungry?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Rin will have food." Sango nodded and passed Sesshomaru a cup of tea and Rin's bowl of stew. Inuyasha, despite his bad mood, had went out and hunted for the old woman. He brought her back enough to last her at least a month. Granted, he *did* bitch the entire time. Soon after cleaning up from dinner, everyone settled into their respective spots to sleep. Miroku moved his mat to the doma to make room for everyone else to sleep comfortably. Sango and Kirara were curled up on the edge of the raised wood floor with Kaede opposite her. Sesshomaru sat up against one corner with Rin curled in his lap. Kagome was laying in the other corner, cuddling Shippo to her chest, her head in Inuyasha's lap. Once he was sure the others were asleep, Sesshomaru spoke to his half brother.

"So Inuyasha...congratulations are in order, are they not?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"The girls scent has mixed with yours now. Before they were distinguishable. Now they are almost entertained and you smell exactly the same. Interesting. You should be ashamed of yourself. Further tainting fathers bloodline when the stench of human."

"You're one to talk about getting involved with humans! I have OUR fathers nose too. And I know you've imprinted on that kid. Geeze even when you were gone the whole damn hut smelled like you were sitting right there."

"Fool. Of course I imprinted on her. What other way can I make sure she is not harmed running around in the woods unattended. She'd be a sitting duck if I hadn't. And how would I be able to track her down everytime Naraku snatches her up just to kiss me off? I swear sometimes I believe you were born without a brain. Even your human mother could have figured that one out."

"Keh, you're still a hypocrite. You claim to hate humans but you protect one. Even marked her. So which is it Sesshomaru?"

"I despise the vast majority of human kind, yes. But this girl is no ordinary human. That's all you need to know."

"Whatever."

"I'm not the one mating with a human. I simply care for one. I have simply taken in an orphan. I'm not marrying my fathers bloodline, unlike you."

"You're so full of it."

"Do shut up. Did I not just congratulate you? I do commend that your act was successful. It takes a great deal of self control to not rip your partner to shreds. I've done it a time or twenty." Inuyasha shivered at his words.

"You mean..."

"It's normal. Our father suffered the same affliction. One of two things have happened. Either you've developed the self control to not rip a woman limb from limb or you've found your true mate. You can choose which to believe."

"Humph," Inuyasha stretched out behind Kagome with his arm slung around her waist.

'Finally, some peace and quiet,' Sesshomaru thought.

...

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