"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled out as a tremendous demon nearly clawed her in half from where she stood taking aim with her bow. She had just notched another arrow when it came from seemingly nowhere.

The threat had begun the night before. Lesser demons had been scouting the perimeter of the village. Even though the sacred jewel was long since gone its awful legacy lived on.

Humans and demons a like still sought out the jewel not believing it be truly gone. An attack on the village generally wasn't anything to be concerned about however this was exceptional.

Both Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had sensed the impending danger days before and had arrived at relatively the same time to warn Kagome and the others of it.

The demon slayers were able to evacuate the village with Kohaku escorting the humans to safety until this incident was over.

Kagome had felt her heart wrench as Sango and Miroku surrendered their children to Rin as she prepared them to leave.

"I wish it didn't have to come to this." Kagome had said feeling the eeriness of the near empty village.

"The outcome with the humans still present would not have been pleasant." Sesshomaru stated.

"I know."

"Prepare yourself for battle Kagome. It will be a long one."

Now nearly a full day in Kagome was exhausted. The never ending demons just kept coming. She felt her spiritual powers begin to wane. Shaking her head she notched another arrow never seeing the demon so close to her until it was nearly too late.

She hadn't even realized she had yelled for Inuyasha. It was ingrained in her from all of their years fighting alongside one another and he taking on the role as her protector.

Similarly he didn't miss a beat immediately saving her from the danger. "Kagome!" He scooped her into his arms and deposited her down away from the demon. "Iron reaver soul stealer!"

"Stop screwing around Inuyasha and use your Tessaiga. Be rid of these vermin." Sesshomaru commanded.

"Ha! Why? This is the most fun I've had in years." He called out running back into the fray. Kagome groaned feeling the weight of the battle lay heavily on her shoulders.

A few more hours in and even Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were starting to feel the heaviness of the situation.

"They just keep coming! There's no end!" Miroku shouted panting as the group formed a circle with their backs to one another and weapons drawn.

"There is a nest close by." Sesshomaru stated. "Kagome, Sango, monk; hold your ground. Inuyasha, with me."

"Right." Kagome gave an affirmative nod as the two hurried off into the direction that Sesshomaru had sensed.

"I think that's the first time he's ever said my name." Sango said impressed.

"Yeah, he's trying." Kagome replied with a smile.

"There." Sesshomaru said pointing with his sword to an odd area. Inuyasha put his nose to his sleeve and gagged.

A hole had been burrowed into a grassy knoll. The scent that wafted from it burned his eyes and twisted his stomach. He could nearly see the air wave and shift with the stench.

"Ugh. That's just putrid."

"Do not tell me, brother, that you have never come across a demons nest before?"

"Sure I have but this, it's just pungent."

"You need to learn better control over your senses. Now, eradicate it."

"Sure thing." Inuyasha held Tessaiga out in front of him feeling it pulse. In a single stroke he crushed the area that a few more demons were trying to scamper out of. "Now's all we have to do is get rid of the few demons remaining and...hey!"

Sesshomaru had grabbed him by his collar and thrown him down to the ground. "What the hell Sesshomaru?!"

He clamored to his feet and took a defensive stance. "What's your problem?" Inuyasha demanded.

"My problem is my intended calling out for you when in harms way." He replied.

"Sesshomaru, I completely get where you're coming from. Believe me, I do, but you gotta understand, Kagome and I, we were together a long time." Inuyasha began. "And we went through a lot of fights together. It's just force of habit at this point. You can't blame her."

"There is no blame to place on either of you. I understand your history all too well." Sesshomaru responded. "The fact of the matter is that in her moment of distress she searched out you and you responded."

"Well what the hell did you want me to do? Let her get killed?"

"This one, I, Sesshomaru, her chosen intended would have, had you not intervened."

"I'm sorry." Inuyasha said sincerely. Sesshomaru sighed bringing his attention to the tree line. "Talk with her about it. If somethings bothering you, hash it out. One of my biggest mistakes with Kagome was not taking the time to just express myself to her. I automatically thought she'd just know but she didn't and it led to a lot of fights."

Sesshomaru shifted his gaze down to Inuyasha. He saw the regret weigh upon him as his eyes took a on a certain sheen, as if he were reliving past events. "The other thing I never did was to just show her some affection, I mean yeah we did...stuff and eventually started mating but all she ever wanted was for me to just hold her hand and I barely even did that."

"Don't make the same mistakes I did." He said finally after a few minutes had passed and he came back to reality.

A few years prior and Sesshomaru would have openly mocked Inuyasha, berating him for his weakness and inability to retain his mate.

Now as he found himself by his half-brothers former mates side he found it to his advantage to listen. If nothing else he could at least learn from Inuyashas past mistakes with Kagome as he continued his own relationship with her.

"Tell me Inuyasha, these transgressions that you erred with in the past, have you made up for them with your current mate?"

"I try." He said softly. "That's all we can do Sesshomaru, is try."

"Hm."

"Hey, we were getting worried about you two." Kagome said as they approached the group.

"The lesser demons have been wiped out." Sango said her hand still on Hiraikotsu on her back.

"It may still be a few days before the villagers should return." Miroku stated. "Just in case any more threats pop up."

"Yeah, figure I'll stick around for a while. Yukime all but tossed me aside when I told her that you guys needed help."

"Kagome, Sesshomaru; are you coming back?" Sango asked.

"We'll catch up." Kagome said. She waved her friends off before turning towards him. "Seriously, what took you guys so long? How big was the nest?"

"You called for Inuyasha when you were in danger." Sesshomaru said bluntly.

"No I didn't." Kagome said with a small giggle. He could tell that she hadn't even realized that she did it. "Did I?" Her brow furrowed as she thought on it before she covered her mouth. "Sesshomaru...I..."

He held his hand out to her and as she accepted it he pulled her closer to him. "What was it you said once about past habits and being rid of them?"

"Um, old habits die hard?" She asked. He gave a nod. Kagome wrapped her arms around his middle and rested her head just below his armor. "Sorry."

Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around her and buried his face into her hair. "As your mate, this Sesshomaru will always protect you." He said softly. "Regardless of who's name you may call out."

Sesshomaru smirked as he felt Kagomes body tense and knew she was blushing.