CHAPTER 10 – Choices

The young kit body was warm, not hot as usual, but warm. He was not breathing and had an awful cut in his abdomen where blood drenched his clothes. He died only a few hours ago, while Kagome played so innocently with Rin and Jaken, laughing while climbing trees. He probably tried to call for her but she did not hear him. He died alone watching the one he loved most being cheerful with another child.

Kagome tried to call on her miko power in a last attempt to save his life. Her powers were great at purifying evil but she never tried to heal anyone with them. In her frantic state, she mustered a small amount of aura in the palm of her hand, making it glow a nice faded pink, and placed it on Shippo's fragile body. She concentrated, trying to visualise the cut being healed slowly. Her senses were heighten, her smell, her ears, her taste, everything became clearer. She thanked her meditation training which got her to feel more accustomed with this sensation of clarity. She felt connected to the world around her and more especially to Shippo.

The wound sewed itself back together, leaving a scar across his belly. Bones were put back together and pushed back to their rightful place. His organs were repaired, only life did not return to the young Kitsune.

Kagome was exhausted. She never pushed herself that much before. Her head was pounding, and her vision became blurry really fast. Not knowing if it was because she was crying or because she was about to pass out, Kagome took a moment to inspect Shippo's body. Without the scar, Shippo just looked like he was sleeping, well in a bloody puddle that is. She smiled weakly while tears rolled down on her cheeks. You look so peaceful. I'm so sorry I was not there for you when you needed me. I love you my son. Her vision became black all the sudden just before she collapsed under the panicked screams of Rin.

Something caught Sesshomaru's attention, the change in Kagome's aura, an enormous spike of her yoki and the faint scream of Rin. Something had happened to the rest of his pack and he did not like the look of it. Could Kagome have hurt his ward? Could she had lost control of herself? His powerful sense of smell pick up the sent of blood coming from their direction.

Lowering his sword, Sesshomaru summoned his yoki under his feet and raced out of the clearing, leaving his opponent unconscious on the ground. Putting back his sword Tokijin to his side, Sesshomaru breathed in deeply. The sent of fear and sadness reached his nostrils even before he arrived at the orchard.

When he arrived, Rin was shaking Kagome's shoulder in an effort to wake her up. Jaken was agitated, holding his staff closely.

"Rin…" Sesshomaru said, expecting the little child to explain the situation. But looking down at her face, he could see that Rin would only give him an incomprehensible story between tears.

"Sesshomaru-sama, allow me to explain the situation" Jaken said while bowing down low. "As we waited for you to come back, Lord Sesshomaru, Rin and the miko decided to go get some apples. A very stupid idea if you want my opinion," he said still hurt by the women laugh at his attempt to climb the trees. "The miko took a bite of an apple and then her aura increased rapidly. That's when she saw the young yokai's body hanging on a branch above her head. Well it seems she used too much of her energy trying to bring him back to life. Obviously only you, Lord Sesshomaru and the legendary Tenseiga, can achieve this deed."

Kneeling next to Rin, Sesshomaru looked at Kagome still lying unconscious on the ground. Pain was still readable on her face. Sweat on her forehead told him that she used every inch of power she had for the dead child lying next to her. Her hands were bloody and looking closely to her face Sesshomaru saw that drips of blood were coming out of her mouth. None of it is hers. He pondered; memories of the village he saw earlier came back to his mind and wondered if the child had been there as well. Really… one day I will really kill you… Inu Yasha.

Kagome opened her eyes slowly. Her eyelids seemed to her to have been shut for days and to weight tons. She felt tired… and sore all over. Every muscles were screaming at her not to move. Her memories were still fogy, the details that is, but still remembered why she was in so much pain.

Her eyes crossed his. He was looking at her, but then not really. He had the same kind of eyes Inu Yasha used to have when he was thinking about Kykio. She pushed that thought aside, not wanting to think about it, not wanting the sadness to settle in again.

"Sesshomaru…sama." Her voice was coarse and her throat was tight. She did not want to ask him a favour, not just now. They just made peace with each other, and it took some arguing to come to term with her new living situation. She really did not want to owe him anything. But then…. Isn't Shippo more important than my pride? She looked at Rin who was sitting next to her. She looked very happy to see that Kagome was safe although she was still crying her heart out. Surely he will understand… he would do the same for Rin.

"Sesshomaru-sama, please…" she started, not knowing how to ask him to save her son. "I tried… I can't do it myself…" the words were hard to pronounce, closing her eyes she decided that the best way was to go right to the goal, ripping off the bandage. "Please save him, I beg you Sesshomaru-sama!"

Sesshomaru, looked surprised at the woman. Those were words he did not expect coming from her. Considering her plea, the daiyokai rose to his feet, placing his hand on the hilt of Tenseiga. The sword was not pulsing as it usually would when it wanted him to save someone. The decision would be his, and his alone.

In a swift movement Sesshomaru cut down the little body lying on the ground. Kagome's eyes widened, not understanding why he would cut down Shippo's body. Jumping to her feet, she remembered that she used all her miko ability mending her friend's body back together. Don't hurt him! She thought as she tried for the first time to use her yoki. Letting the foreign energy flow in her body, she felt as if her body weighted nothing. Moving around was easy, and so Kagome sprung forward, gripping Sesshomaru's armor with one of her hand and with a scream, she punched the daiyokai in the face.

"WHAT THE HELL YOU THINK YOUR DOING!?" she yelled.

In a growl, Sesshomaru gripped her wrist and pushed her to the ground, knocking the air out of her lungs. Sitting on top of her to restrict her movement, he kept his grip on her wrist not wanting to be punched again.

"This Sesshomaru is only doing what you asked him to." He said nodding in Shippo's direction.

Following his gaze, Kagome watched as Shippo's chest rose up and down with every breath he took. She breathed a sigh of relief, letting go of her yoki. Tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks. Turning back to Sessomahu to thank him she could not help to feel he was staring at her. A chill ran down her back as she saw that the Lord was smiling, a thin stream of blood running in the corner of his mouth.

"Umm… Sesshomaru… about the punch…." Kagome started.

To her surprise, Sesshomaru did not wait for her to apologise and got up. Leaving her lying on the ground and confused, Sesshomaru started walking away. Rin threw herself in Kagome's arms, happy to see the woman unharmed but quickly ended the embrace to run behind the daiyokai. Kagome pulled herself together and took Shippo in her arms, feeling his warmth returning to him. She smiled and started running towards Rin, not wanting to be left behind.

AN: Alright guys, I'm really sorry about almost killing Shippo. I'm not a monster after all so please guys, relax. That said, now that he is part of team Sesshomaru I cant promess I wont torture him like Kagome.

Please let me know if you like the chapter. And until next time... Enjoy.