Chapter 26

Kagome had a small smile on her face, eyes on the ground as she and InuYasha walked through the forest. InuYasha had been training with Sesshomaru for an entire week now. He was learning well, but it would take years before he mastered the sword.

It hadn't taken long for InuYasha to realize that he wanted to do more than just fighting. He wanted to learn how to heal as well. He had seen the things Kagome could do, and he wanted to take part in it. So, Kagome offered to take him on as an apprentice.

Now they were in the forest, looking for specific herbs. This was how she and Miroku learned, and she firmly believed that learning in the moment was easier than reading boring books over and over again. She knew InuYasha would agree. He wasn't one to be stuck inside with his nose in a book.

"You know why we are out here?" Kagome stopped walking, looking down at InuYasha. He looked up at her, thinking of his answer.

"Because we are looking for herbs."

"Correct. There are several different kinds of herbs that can be found in this forest alone. Just a few minutes from your home. Before we start learning herbs, you need to know how to use them. There are several different ways to prepare an herb. Some herbs will need to be dried before they are used. Others can be ground into a paste that would be applied to the skin. Some will be boiled for tea, and others left to soak in the tub while you cleanse yourself. The way we prepare the herbs depends on what the herb will be used for. Are you following so far?" She paused, seeing his mind working to process the information.

"This isn't going to be easy, is it?" InuYasha asked, his little ears going back on his head.

"Not at all. If you have changed your mind about learning this, we can go back. I won't be angry." She kept her voice light and easy, making sure he knew she meant it. Healing wasn't for everyone. She had met several people who chose to stop learning when they realized how much work went into it.

"No. I want to learn. I want to be able to protect everyone with both my sword and my hands." InuYasha looked at his claws, his ears still back as he furrowed his brows. "Right now, everyone is protecting me. I want to protect everyone when I'm older."

"You will." Placing a hand on his head, Kagome smiled down at him. "You will protect everyone, especially Sakura." She pointed to InuYasha's wrist, where the name of his soul bonded was. "You're going to be so strong when you grow, InuYasha. I just know it."

"Thanks, Gome." He blushed, looking down to the ground to keep his embarrassment hidden.

Chuckling, Kagome decided to get to work. "Now, your father and brother will be meeting us soon. We need to get as much done as possible before they show up." Kneeling on the ground, Kagome pointed out the plant just in front of her feet. It was the reason she had stopped in the first place. "This is a Perilla herb. There are several ways to identify a plant. For human's, sight is the biggest one. I see the purple color, the texture of the leaves, and I know what it is. However, for demons, you have another sense that will help with identifying. Your nose. I can smell this herb, but only when I'm right on top of it. If you memorize the name and medicinal properties to the scent, you won't ever forget what this plant is."

Plucking the plant, she handed it to InuYasha, motioning for him to smell it. "The Perilla Herb's use is mostly cosmetic. There are people that are born with itchy and flaky rashes over their skin. It's not contagious and there is no cure. It's something they have to live with for their entire lives. This herb is topical. It would be dried, then ground down into a powder. Once a powder, you would add Aloe and honey. That will make it into a paste. It will get rubbed into the skin. There is also a recipe for making a bath. However, it requires more herbs, so we will come back to that later. You think you can remember all of this?"

"I will. I promise." InuYasha opened his mouth, biting down on the leaf of the herb. He snorted, shaking his head as he spit out the leaf. Kagome laughed at his antics, taking it from him and biting off her own leaf before she chewed and swallowed.

"It's an acquired taste. Most of the herbs we pick can be used for cooking. Some taste good, some don't." Kagome shrugged, standing up. Quickly looking around, she spotted the next target. "This one is a good one. Especially if you want to prank someone." Picking the yellow flower, she made sure it had several leaves still attached. "This is senna. The leaves are used in tea. Dry the leaf, then steep it in the tea. It's a laxative. Five leaves of this, and you will be running to the bathroom in less than an hour. It's potent, so any more than that, and you won't be leaving the bathroom."

"Can I put this in Miroku's tea?" InuYasha grabbed the flower, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Just warn me before you do." Kagome chuckled, wondering if InuYasha would be trying to prank anyone else. Knowing the little hanyou, he probably would.

"Kay." InuYasha ran off then, his nose in the air as he smelled something. With a growl, he stopped at a flowering plant, it's pink petals full and blooming. The moment Kagome saw it, she knew what it was. She had encountered that flower before, but one had never caught her off guard like this.

"InuYasha!" She screamed, hands surging forward just as InuYasha grabbed the flower and yanked it up. Kagome was too late, and before she could react the ground beneath their feet began to stir, shaking violently as the dirt broke apart beneath them.

InuYasha jumped back, growling fiercely as he hunched down in front of Kagome protectively. Kagome looked around, taking note of all the pink flowers she had seen. There were dozens, and somehow, she hadn't noticed. This demon was stronger than normal, able to cloak itself in a way it's kind couldn't.

"Run, InuYasha!" Kagome grabbed his shoulder, shoving him back just as a demon surged forward out of the ground. Its body was huge and green like a vine but covered in spikes that dripped poison readily. The top of it was the head, a blooming pink flower, a larger version of what had been scattered around the forest floor. Its mouth opened, right in the middle of the petals, a roar reverberating around them.

Kagome lifted her hands, her energy pulsing beneath her skin. A bow appeared in her hands, an arrow notched and drawn back. It was pink and glittering, a weapon made of her pure reiki. As strong as she was, she was forced to keep her reiki chained. InuYasha was behind her, and if she let it go, he could get caught in the crossfire. Letting out enough of her energy to buy them time, Kagome released her arrow, watching as it slammed into the demon. It roared, its skin burning into a black crisp before falling away into ash.

"Go!" Kagome pushed InuYasha, spurring him into running. Together they took off, leaving the demon behind as it yelled out in pain. They weren't far from the shiro, but Kagome knew InuYasha had more of a chance making it back before she did. She refused to teleport and leave InuYasha behind.

They made it out of the forest before Kagome began to feel rumbling beneath her feet again. The shiro was in their sight, so close, and yet so far. InuYasha looked behind him, eyes wide, and she knew the demon was right behind her. "Go, InuYasha! I'm right behind you!"

Only when InuYasha had run ahead, did she skid to a stop, turning herself to face the demon. The ground was being torn up from beneath as the demon burrowed its way to her. Calling on her bow again, she held it out, waiting until the demon surfaced to try and deal the final blow.

However, the demon did something she didn't expect. It went deeper. She could no longer see where it was or feel it through the ground. She wasn't sure where it was going to come up, and that left her in a vulnerable state. The demon had the upper hand. Switching to the defensive, Kagome surged out a barrier around her. Breathing heavily, she waited, debating on what to do.

If she took off running, she would draw the attention of the demon. However, if she stayed where she was, she was vulnerable, a waiting target. She had to think fast, to find a way out of this mess. Taking a deep breath, she pushed out her senses, trying to feel for the demon.

She was too slow. The moment her senses touched the demon, it shot out from the ground, slamming into her barrier. She had no control over the scream that left her throat as she was thrown into the air, higher than the trees. The demon surged forward, its tail whipping around until it slammed into Kagome so hard her barrier broke. Agonizing pain flared through her when her energy shattered. Her energy was an extension of her. It's almost like breaking a bone. Her vision blurred and darkened, even as she shot through the air, and towards the ground.

…

Sesshomaru felt InuYasha rushing towards him and Touga, noted that InuYasha was alone, and every nerve of Sesshomaru's lit up. Sesshomaru and Kagome were not mated. The farther apart they were the more muted their feelings to one another were. Because of this, Sesshomaru hadn't felt the danger, hadn't realized they were in trouble until InuYasha came running.

Surging past InuYasha, he followed InuYasha's trail, moving as fast as he could. In seconds he arrived at the battle, his eyes taking in everything he was seeing. Heart dropping, he pinpointed Kagome flying through the air, saw her heading for the ground from a height and with a speed that would guarantee her death. Eyes bleeding red and fangs elongating, Sesshomaru snarled, shooting through the sky and catching Kagome in midair.

Looking down at her, he saw the blood leaking from her ears and nose, scented it as clear as day. Fury slammed into his gut, spreading through him like a wildfire. It was a rage Sesshomaru had never felt before. His beast forced its way to the forefront, taking control.

Breathing heavily, his fangs so long he couldn't close his mouth, Sesshomaru narrowed his red eyes at the demon. Kagome was limp in his arms, unconscious because of the fool who attacked her. This demon was more animal than anything, but Sesshomaru didn't care. It would die for touching what was his.

"Sesshomaru!" Touga's voice caught the attention of Sesshomaru, making Sesshomaru look down at him. It took half a second to reach his father. Sesshomaru trusted Kagome with him. Even his beast knew Kagome would be protected by Touga. So, he passed her over.

Touga was careful not to touch Sesshomaru, knowing that Sesshomaru was volatile. One little thing would set Sesshomaru off. The demon roaring just so happened to be that little thing. A snarl left Sesshomaru's throat before he turned around and attacked.

He held nothing back, letting his claws tear through plant flesh. His fangs ripped into the vine, his poison melted it away. He made sure it was as painful as possible. He made sure he tasted the blood, savored it as the demon cried in pain. Even when the demon tried to retreat, Sesshomaru didn't let it. He toyed with it, moving faster than the demon's eyes could see. He made the fool who attacked his mate regret ever touching her. And when he finally killed the demon, he did so by ripping out it's throat with his own fangs.

When the demon fell to the ground dead, Sesshomaru floated in the air, breathing heavily. The heady and metallic scent of blood was heavy in the air, filling his nostrils and his mind. His thoughts were clouded, his beast needing more, his rage not yet subdued. He needed to kill more, he needed revenge for his hurt mate.

"Sesshomaru." Touga called warily. He could see the blood lust in Sesshomaru, knew his son was seconds from going on a rampage. The beast that lingered inside could not be stopped easily, and Touga knew he would be no match for his son. "She needs a healer. You have to gain control."

Sesshomaru looked at his father with red eyes, regarding him. InuYasha was hiding behind Touga's legs, Kagome still in his father's arms. The sound of footsteps brought a snarl from Sesshomaru's throat. Miroku and Sango had been running to the scene, wanting to help. A crowd had formed, many having been there from the moment Sesshomaru and Touga rushed to the fight. They had seen everything, seen how Sesshomaru had destroyed and played with the demon before killing it. Sesshomaru did not care.

"Let me look at my sister!" Miroku shouted, hands clenched at his side. This was a testy situation. Sesshomaru was normally in complete control, but not now. Right now, this was the monster that resided in every demon.

Moving faster than the human's can see, Sesshomaru shot back down to his father, snatching Kagome away again. He held her tenderly, gently, made sure not to hurt her farther. "Mine." It was a growl, guttural, and barely understandable.

"We know." Touga held out a hand, keeping Miroku and Sango from coming any closer. Swallowing, he stepped towards Sesshomaru, letting his own beast begin to seep out. He kept it locked away, but he would speak to Sesshomaru beast to beast. "We know she is yours. None of us are trying to take her from you. We just want to help. She is injured, Sesshomaru. Who better to care for her than her brother? He will give her right back. Right Miroku?"

Touga looked at Miroku expectantly, and Miroku gave a curt nod. "She is yours by her own choice. I will not fight that. However, if her reiki was shattered, there could be more damage done than what we can physically see. I am the only one that can help her. Time is of the essence."

Sesshoamru looked at Miroku, then his father, and the crowd refusing to step any closer to the scene. The beast inside of him seemed to let go of its anger, and Sesshomaru slowly reverted back to his normal humanoid state. Stumbling forward, he let Miroku take Kagome and then fell to a knee, his energy drained. His beast had never taken control before, and his body wasn't used to it.

"Get this mess cleaned up." Touga ordered, helping Sesshomaru back to his feet. "The beast is a powerful tool, Sesshomaru, but it can consume you. Don't ever let it out when your emotional state is not secure. You know this." Sesshomaru could only mutter a pitiful growl as Touga wrapped Sesshomaru's arm around his shoulders. One arm snaked around Sesshomaru's waist, and slowly they made their way back to the shiro. If they moved any faster, Sesshomaru would pass out himself. He needed to take things slowly.

"I'll help." InuYasha grabbed Sesshomaru's limp arm, wrapping it around his neck. It did no good, but he wanted to help, and somehow Sesshomaru mustered up enough energy to give him a smile.

"We are going to get you cleaned up and then resting. When we get news of Kagome, you will be the first to know." Touga promised, and while Sesshomaru wanted to go straight to Kagome, he knew that he couldn't. He could barely walk. If this was what happened when he used his beast, he would never resort to that tactic again.

...

I have had a horrible past week, and am not in the best of moods, so no drawn out authors note. Challenge is still going. Send in those reviews and at twenty-five, you will get the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed.