Once allowed inside Sesshomaru knelt down beside Kagome. Her head was supported with a pillow and she was covered from shoulders to toes with a white sheet.
"Lord Sesshomaru, Sango and I did the best that we could." Rin said tearfully. Her cheeks were feverish and hot but made no complaints.
"She is still breathing." Sesshomaru watched the rise and fall of her chest. Her face was bandaged across the left side with the injuries mostly hidden underneath them. Dark bruises covered her entire face along with the stitches where her flesh had been sewn back together.
"Yes." Rin said. "I don't think she'll die but she will be physically affected by her injuries for a long time. My lord, this could leave her mentally deficit as well."
"I will take care of her."
"My lord…"
"Kagome is my mate. That has not changed in my heart despite our separation. I will care for her, however she may need, for eternity."
"I want her to be whole and I want her to be herself. I can't imagine not having Kagome…" Rin placed her hands to her face and sobbed.
"Come to me my pup." He had not spoken those words to Rin since she had traveled with him as a small girl. She nodded moving to his lap resting against him crying against his chest.
"I'm sorry my lord, I should be…comforting you." She managed out hoarsely. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders he rested his chin against the top of her head.
"We will comfort each other the best that we can."
Sitting outside of the hut as Rin and Sango changed Kagomes bandages Sesshomaru watched a village woman and a boy, her son more than likely, approach the hut.
"Lord Sesshomaru." The woman offered. "My son is here to apologize to Lady Kagome for the harm that has come to her."
The small male hid from him behind his mother gripping at her skirts. Meeting the womans gaze Sesshomaru found it in himself to speak.
"If this one is not mistaken, Lady Kagome has spoken to you woman on more than one occasion of your son's behavior."
"True." She replied her voice wavering.
"Still you allowed him to continue his incorrigible way and now only feel guilt that the priestess has been seriously injured."
"Please, let us apologize." Standing to his full height the woman took a fearful step back and trembled. Grasping behind her for her child.
"Lady Kagome has yet to regain consciousness." He replied turning to move back into the hut.
"Oh, Lord Sesshomaru. We're not done yet." Rin said. Glancing at him Sango moved to block his view of Kagomes exposed injuries.
"She wouldn't want you to see her like this Sesshomaru."
"There is a human woman outside whose son is responsible for Kagomes current state. I suggest, Sango, that you dispatch her before I do."
"And here I thought we were doing so well with human and demon relations." Sango stood walking past him out of the hut. Walking towards Kagome he knelt down seeing the extent of her wounds.
"She does not look like Kagome."
"A lot of it is swelling and the bruising but she will never look exactly the same." Rin said. "She will have bad scars and her eye, I had to remove it. It was crushed."
"Rin, leave us." He whispered out. Rin nodded.
"I'll be right outside." Placing a light comforting hand against his shoulder before exiting. Sesshomaru placed his head against her chest taking her hands in his and sobbed silently.
Hot tears streamed down his face soaking her yukata. "I shouldn't have left that day but I couldn't face you. I wanted to talk to you, I wanted our new beginning and I walked away from it."
"Twice now, I've walked away from you when you needed me. Kagome, my dearest, this Sesshomaru swears on my fathers tomb that I will not make it a third. No matter what…I will not leave my love."
"Help." The small voice reached his ears from the corner of the hut where he had decided to lean against. Sesshomaru opened his eyes and rested them on Kagome.
Her breathing was more erratic as her hands moved to her face and she groaned. In a moment he was up and kneeling by her side. His chest tightened as he took her hands in his.
Her eye blinked and attempted to focus on him. "You were injured Kagome. Try not to move."
He saw and felt her entire body freeze at the sound of his voice. "Sesshomaru. Inu…yasha, where-where's he?" Wincing in pain as she did so.
"In the village." Taking her hands away from him with some force she placed them in a ball on her chest squeezing them together tightly.
"Did you…take me? Did you, did you hurt me?"
"Never." He affirmed feeling his heart sink into his stomach. "I would never harm you Kagome. What is the last thing that you remember?"
"I'm not telling you anything." She spat vehemently staring at the ceiling with her jaw set. Taking a step back Sesshomaru took a shaky breath.
"Lord Sesshomaru," Rin said softly entering the hut. "Oh! Kagome!" Rushing to her friends side she smiled widely.
"Are you…human?" Kagome asked her eye widening.
"Of course I am." Rin replied kneeling down next to her.
"Where's Kaede?! Where am I? Who are you?" She asked frantically fear in her tone. Placing a soft hand against hers Rin smiled gently at her.
"Kagome, I'm Rin, your friend."
"Rin? No your not." Kagome scoffed inching her hands out of hers.
"Last I checked. I have grown up, I am past my adolescent years now. How old are you?" She asked companionably although Sesshomaru could hear her undertone of immense worry.
"I'm fifteen."
"I will fetch Inuyasha." Sesshomaru said standing. Walking briskly from the hut he stopped to steady himself. The sadness that washed over him and gripped his soul it seemed was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
Separating had been one thing, living apart from one another but she had still been present. Closing his eyes before righting himself he located Inuyasha and braced himself to deliver this new revelation.