Kagome's ankle was throbbing something vicious. Out of all the reasons, she was running away from a band of demons and happened to trip on one of the demon soldiers' decapitated head. Everyone was busy fighting, even her little baby Shippo. Her heart sunk, crashing and burning pain and insecurities at her own helplessness. Kagome feared she couldn't breath under the weight before her lungs cried for oxygen and she strained a gasp. Tears welled up in her eyes, she tried so hard to not drag everyone down, but damn it, it was already happening. Her throat itched to scream but she bit down hard on her hand. She can't risk drawing attention to herself, the demons might come for her.

Laughing at her own misery, Kagome leaned heavily against a nearby tree, testing her ankle. Hey… It isn't so ba- Nope! She groaned, she can't even protect the future correctly and now she was going to die at the hands of a weak demon army. Oh Kami, why me?

A dismayed yelp caught her attention and she reluctantly sprung toward that direction, all darkness plaguing her gone. For now. Limping, she notched an arrow on her trusty, surprisingly not broken, bow. The scene before her was just as expected. Inuyasha was fighting fiercely against waves of blood-thirsty demons, swinging his Tessaiga in purposeful albeit reckless movements. Sango and Kirara were the definition of a ruthless, perfect tag-team, slaying various demons left and right. They worked in perfect unison, exposing the center where Miroku was impressively holding up on his own with an injured Shippo at his side, his staff chiming against the blunt force and spiritual sutras thrown with precision. Kagome aimed, projecting a single emotion into the arrowhead, and shot straight through an enemy's heart.

The arrow flashed, burning bright and pink, burning the demons cries as the impact brought out a weak wave of pure energy. It burned a nearby evil entity, causing it to hiss and focus their attention on her. She froze, the hungry, malevolent look in its eyes was far too unnatural due to the hunger for power. She quickly notched another arrow, aiming only to miss the target rapidly approaching her. She narrowed her eyes, fear fueling her currently weakened ankle, as she grabbed another arrow and ran toward her pursuer. Another burst of her reckless courage, she guessed. The demon's bloodlust brought on more demons, all chasing after her slower-paced form. She didn't connect the shaft to the bow string though, catching the eyes of her teammates.

Inuyasha called out to her in protest but she didn't stop to listen, not this time. Her heart pounded, blood rushing and emotions flying, she already decided. She was going to bring these demons down, she will prove herself worthy of her team. Letting out a warcry, the arrow pulsated, energy multiplying magnificently as pink enveloped her hand. She quickly ducked under the dominant demon's hand and stabbed its corrupted heart, gaining deep scratch from another's claws. The effect was instantaneous, the pulsing energy from the arrow spread to the close vicinity of various demons. Cries of agony rung in her ears as she curled underneath herself, predicting another painful backlash. It didn't come.

"What…?"

Kagome heard herself utter, glancing at the protective figure in front of her. She expected the heavily saturated red of Inuyasha's robes and was suddenly shocked at the deep shades of purple instead. It was soothing.

"Miroku...sama?" He grunted against the force of a particularly nasty snake demon, quickly assessing her with his unusually swirling eyes.

"Are you alright, Kagome-sama?!"

Kagome nodded, voice too stuck in her throat to properly reply. He didn't see it, mumbling chants and smacking his golden staff against snarling mouths and vicious claws. After another whine from a nearby wounded demon, Miroku found a small opening between defense and offense and put up a quick spiritual shield. It's a bit fainter. He must have already used Kazaana when I tripped.

"You were limping when you ran, Kagome-sama. Is your ankle alright?"

She shook her head.

"It's a bit hurt right now. I… I tripped over a decapitated head, I think you could see teeth marks if you look hard enough." Miroku let a small amused look pass through his otherwise battle-ready expression before Inuyasha leaped between the monk and another wave of demons, his weapon sparking against the onslaught of claws and swords.

"Take Kagome and Shippo! We can take care of it from here."

"Inuyasha! I'm not helpless! I can help here just fin-Whoa!"

Miroku seemed to have swept Kagome up, hands at a respectable distance due to the impulsiveness of his action. She protested at first, her hand already grabbing hold of his chiming staff and prayer beads digging slightly into her lower thighs. He was fast, inhumanly so, causing her breath and her dying comment to catch in her throat. With an unconscious Shippo safely in her hold, Kagome felt blood pool at the edge of her uniform shirt. Her adrenaline made no sense of the pain, blood smearing on Miroku's staff in her hands.

"Miroku-sama."

"Yes? What is it?" His breath was oddly composured despite running a considerable distance with additional weight and fighting against a demon army just moments before.

"I think you're bleeding."

"What do you mean, Kagome-sama?"

"There's blood." Now she was the one who was breathless. Why? Miroku stopped for a second, assessing the blood that seeped into his own robes. Something must have happened, Kagome thought, watching his eyes narrow with concern before he fixed a reassuring smile on his face. It didn't look right.

"What's wrong, Miroku-sama? Forget to grope me?"

Her vision blurred and Miroku laughed with a hint of hysteria, running again. His pace was faster than before.

"Yes, Kagome-sama. I did. There's a village nearby, I'll take my chances there."

They reached a nearby village, and by that time, Kagome was feeling a bit lightheaded.

"Miroku-sama."

"Yes? what is it?" Kagome scrunched up her nose faintly, this conversation sounded familiar.

"I think I'm bleeding."

Miroku's grip was tight on her form and she couldn't focus on anything else really, the pain finally seeping into her consciousness and Miroku's prayer beads surely leaving marks on her skin.

"Hey, filthy hands off, Miroku-sama. You could corrupt Shippo."

A chuckle was her only response as his grip laxed. She laughed along too, humored by the ridiculous situation, before gazing up at him. He was close. Warm. His eyes, as lovely as they undeniable were, looked odd. In fact, he looked concerned. Oh, we can't have that.

Wasting no time, Kagome brought her unbloodied left hand and squeezed Miroku's right bicep softly. Humming appreciatively, she nodded with satisfaction, gaining the monk's attention from searching for herbs or otherwise help.

"Nice muscles, monk."

"I… Now who's groping who?" She had the strength to actually blush, retracting her hand quickly to her chest.

"Oh, just find a healer, Miroku-sama!"