sorry for the delay
A few days went by from when Kagome had let InuYasha go find Kikyo and she hadn't left her hut since then. Even though Sesshomaru really didn't care about her, he was getting a little worried about her not acting correctly. She usually seemed to bounce back at a decent rate, at least from what he had seen before. Kaede had said she was still healing from the wounds and really shouldn't have taken her journey up to the cave because of the extent of her injuries. Sesshomaru wasn't really 'worried' about Kagome but he was… slightly concerned.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken asked, peeking around the corner of the hut.
Sesshomaru turned to him slowly. "What?"
"I beg your pardon in advance, Lord Sesshomaru, but why are you out here… again?"
Sesshomaru blinked slowly at the imp.
"How do you mean?"
"Well, it's quite odd that you're sitting outside of Ms. Kagome's hut. It's almost like you are guarding her or… worried for her."
"You must be making your own assumptions again, Jaken." He said, narrowing his eyes.
Jaken jumped. "I-I-I- I mean OF COURSE NOT!" he practically shouted in aghast. "I'm just observing that you are unusually attentive to Ms. Kagome! Please don't take it as disrespect!"
Sesshomaru didn't want to admit that the imp was right, but he wasn't sure how to convey his feelings or the odd sense of loyalty he was feeling towards her to his friend. Jaken knew of Sesshomaru's battle prowess, dignity, and distinct dislike to humans and InuYasha. But, since InuYasha was half human and now Sesshomaru had that body and mindset, the emotional nuances of humanity seemed to be slowly seeping from the daiyokai.
"Again, I believe you are making your own assumptions. Do not mention this to me again."
Jaken bowed multiple times. "Of course, of course. My apologies, Lord Sesshomaru."
He walked away and Sesshomaru sighed, still wondering why he really was sitting out here. He figured he should at least see if Kagome was alright…
"I see ye are here yet again, Sesshomaru?" Kaede said, looking down at him.
"It seems I have begun to develop a sense of loyalty… or something. This Sesshomaru is actually quite confused."
Kaede smiled a little. "I'm sure it would be quite unusual for ye. Would ye like to help me make an herbal paste to help with Kagome's wounds? I'm sure she would appreciate knowing that ye helped."
"Knowing that I helped? If not for me, InuYasha would be normal."
"Aye, that be true, but she'll be happy knowing that ye want to help. Kagome is pretty forgiving about the other stuff."
Sesshomaru debated it but decided to maybe help out a little.
Kagome hadn't been really responsive to anything Kaede did or anyone who tried to talk to her. She was worried about InuYasha and worried about what Kikyo was going to do to him. He had been so aggressive as of late… he even did all the wounds she was nursing now. She just wanted him to be safe and it turned out that she was the one causing most of the damage. She heard the flap of the hut open up and Kaede walk across the floor.
"I'll be making the herbal paste for ye wounds now. I also have a special guest with me."
Kagome turned just a little and was surprised to find Sesshomaru there, making his way to the floor to help Kaede. She didn't say anything and just turned back to looking at the wall.
Sesshomaru sniffed in her direction and made a face.
"She has an infection."
Kaede made a face. "She does?"
"I can smell it."
He got up and walked over to Kagome, lifting the covers. She turned quickly to glare at him as he stared at her.
"Please allow me to examine your body. You have an infection."
"I think I'd rather let Kaede, the herbalist, deal with that."
"Your unusual temperament confirms the fact."
Kagome mumbled under her breath but let Sesshomaru remove her blanket to look over her. He sniffed over her body and then stopped at her midsection. He pulled her shirt up and sniffed again, coming to one of the tooth marks on the side.
"This wound is infected." He said, pointing.
Kaede hobbled over to Kagome and looked at the tiny puncture wound. It must have been one of the canines. The small almost scabbed over hole had some redness around it and Kaede pressed on it. Kagome let out a yelp and Kaede grabbed a hold of the wound and squeezed. Puss came pouring out as Kagome squirmed in discomfort.
"Well I'll be…"
"There is not just infection but also poison within your wound. I was unaware that InuYasha had some of the same attributes as me in his full yokai form."
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked.
"He is able to produce poison, just like me. But it seems to be something he can only do on a minute level in his full form. The infection revealed it to me when the herbalist extracted it. Since it has been cultivating in your body, I'm sure it has spread." He got up. "I will have to find the herbs to keep you from dying."
"D-dying?!"
"Although minute, our poison is very powerful. Since it has been in your body since he attacked you, it is most likely spreading. We will need to rectify that."
He left the hut immediately.
As Sesshomaru sought out the herbs he needed to keep the poison at bay, he smelled something on the wind and stopped by the Bone Eater's Well. He waited patiently when InuYasha walked out of the trees.
"I thought you were with Kikyo."
"I am. I came to check on Kagome… How is she?"
"You seem to have the ability to produce poison saliva in your yokai form. That does not surprise me… but you have infected your human."
InuYasha's eyes widened. "Will she be alright?"
"If I had not gone into the hut, then I would have never discovered it. Due to that, I am here to find herbs to help her… What does it matter to you? Do you not have satisfaction with your other miko?"
InuYasha's eyes narrowed again. "Well it's a lot less painful to be around her."
"Have you found anything that will help us change back? Your frail hanyou body is quite cumbersome."
InuYasha looked at the sky for a minute and smiled a little.
"You'll find out how even more annoying it is in a night or two."
Sesshomaru lifted an eyebrow. "How is that?"
"You'll see. I don't want to ruin the surprise." He suddenly pointed at his older brother. "Don't get attached to her."
"Whatever are you babbling about?" he said, finding the herb he had needed.
He bent down and began to pick when InuYasha was right in front of him.
"I mean it. She's different and strong, despite what you think of her. You'll begin to like her. Don't get yourself too involved with my woman."
Sesshomaru smirked a little. "How unusually territorial you are. What will you do if I don't?"
"I will kill you."
"What if she likes me better?"
"That is highly doubtful, you stuck up asshole."
Sesshomaru stood up and watched his brother playfully, deciding to have a little fun with his less than bridled emotions.
"From what I understand, I'm a much more appealing hanyou than you ever were. I do not find dead mikos the object of my affection and have no other lovers that could keep me from pursuing Kagome… if I so choose. She would be my exclusive devotion and since I also hold land in the West, I am financially sound. What could you ever give her?"
"Happiness."
"My, is that all? Jaken gives me happiness but I do not get pleasure from his presence. Your wishy-washy ways with the dead miko were only adding fuel to the fire within her heart. She was getting very tired of your jumping around. What kind of person cannot set their heart on what they want? Kikyo is dead, gone. Her body is a zombie, a shell of a woman you used to love. Kagome is flesh and blood, alive, and sadly willing to do anything you want of her so she can be with you. But you ignore her. So… until you can provide us with a way to change our bodies back, then I will be able to show her what a true man can do for her."
"You wouldn't dare." InuYasha snarled.
"What will you do about it?" Sesshomaru challenged.
He walked away and then smiled to himself. I have become more cunning with this new form. InuYasha's brash personality can be of use at times…
A couple more days passed and Sesshomaru noticed his sense of smell was getting duller and his eyesight was as well. He also noticed his claws weren't as sharp. He didn't understand and so he went to ask Kagome about it.
Kagome was getting better thanks to Sesshomaru's help. He was oddly knowledgeable in herbs and she regretted yelling at him when he had told her she had an infection. Rin giggled and held out her flower wreath.
"Look, Ms. Kagome!" she said happily.
Kagome smiled. "That's beautiful, Rin."
"I'm going to put it on Lord Sesshomaru's head! Red flowers are so pretty in his hair." Her smile faded for a second. "Ms. Kagome, do you think Lord Sesshomaru will ever turn back to normal?"
"I don't know. Everything seems to have gone so out of control. InuYasha is with Kikyo now and actually hurt me… I just want him back the way he was."
"That's how I feel about Lord Sesshomaru!"
"Rin."
Rin turned and smiled as Sesshomaru walked up.
"Look what I made, Lord Sesshomaru! I want to put it on your head."
"If it pleases you." He said with a sigh as he sat down on the other side of Kagome.
"May I braid your hair?" Rin asked excitedly.
"If it pleases you."
She grinned and started on his hair as he looked at Kagome.
"Miko, my eyesight is not as sharp as it was and my sense of smell is waning. Why?"
Kagome thought for a second. "Oh, it must be the new moon."
"What happens on the new moon?"
"You'll be a full human."
Sesshomaru seemed very upset about that fact.
"I see… how long does this last?"
"Until sunrise. It's just for the night."
"Do you know how many things can happen in a night?" he said, sliding his gaze to her.
"True but InuYasha seemed to deal with it alright."
"InuYasha was born with the issue."
"True… um… by the way, I never got to thank you about finding the infection the other day. I misjudged you."
"You are welcome."
"Finished!" Rin said, coming around. "You look so pretty!"
Kagome looked over at him and laughed. "Very nice."
"I do not want to know what she has done."
"It looks nice on you." Kagome said, stifling a laugh.
"I am the Daiyokai of the Western Lands, I do not look pretty nor do I look nice while there are flowers on my head."
"But you do." Kagome said, finally laughing. She pulled out her bag and found her compact. "Here, take a look."
Sesshomaru took the compact and held it up, seeing his reflection. He frowned.
"I am not amused."
"When are you ever?" Kagome said with a roll of her eyes.
InuYasha growled from the tree line and turned, finding Kikyo there.
"What?"
"You still pine after her even though she hurt you?"
"Anything is better than sitting around with you watching your soul collectors bring souls for you to live off of."
"You're right. We've been idle for too long. I think tonight would be a wonderful night to show how powerful you can be in your new body. Isn't that right, InuYasha?"
The beads glowed and InuYasha's mind lost focus. Kikyo smiled.
"Come, my love, let us show them how much you love me."
oh no, it looks like kikyo is finally taking action! and the sessh is taking advantage of those free roaming emotions huh? he just like seeing inuyasha in a tizzy. what will happen now?