Hey! I'm back! Thanks to those who reviewed. I appreciate it alot, honestly! Okay, here's Chapter 2. R&R, please! You know you want to!

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Chapter 2

Koga cried out as he leaped through the air. His attempt to kick Sesshomaru failed and Koga fell on the ground, a deep gash on his stomach from the Youkai's claws. Kagome looked past Inuyasha, who was trying to shoo her away and screamed. As if waking from a dream, Koga sprung to his feet, only to fall again in order to dodge another of Sesshomaru's attacks.

Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's wrist as she darted out of their hiding spot.

"No, Kagome!" he cried.

"I can't let him kill Koga, Inuyasha! Now let go of me!"

"No!" He started to pull her away.

"Sit!" She was jerked to the ground with him, but was able to tear away from him as he growled and tried to get back up. She ran out of the trees as Sesshomaru raised his hand for the final attack on Koga. He stopped when the human stepped in front of him, her arms spread out protectively as if she were shielding the wolf demon under her.

"Foolish miko," she heard Sesshomaru mutter. Behind her, she heard Inuyasha yell for her.

"Kagome! Get back here!" She glanced over at them and saw Miroku help Inuyasha up(which really ticked the Hanyou off, but he ignored it for the moment) Sango leaped from Kilala's back, clutching her boomerang and taking a step toward Kagome. Kagome shook her head.

"You guys stay back, okay?" she said.

Sesshomaru took a step toward her and she squeaked in alarm.

"Why are you protecting this Koga?" he asked her quietly, his expression devoid of emotion.

She clenched her hands into fists, building up enough courage to speak to the menacing lord who stood just inches from her.

"I...I will not let you kill him. What did he ever do to you anyway?"

"My business with him is my own. But you still have not answered me." His eyes flashed red with annoyance.

She cringed away from him, looking back at her companions. Inuyasha was on the ground with a huge lump on his head and Sango was holding Tetsusaiga. She guessed that Miroku had hit him on the head with his staff again. Shippo ran out to her, crying her name.

"KAGOME!" he cried. "Kagome, I'll protect you."

"Shippo, no!" Kagome said, horrified. Shippo stood bravely between the human girl and the Youkai lord.

"Leave her alone, Sesshomaru!" squeaked Shippo. Kagome grew afraid when she saw Sesshomaru raise his hand as if to strike the kitsune. She threw herself at Sesshomaru's feet and scooped Shippo into her arms.

"Please, Sesshomaru..." she cried as tears came to her eyes. "Leave him alone. I beg you. Please!" She trembled and saw Koga stir behind her. He looked up and saw her crouching beside him.

"Kagome?" he said drearily. Inuyasha finally got free of Miroku and ran forward, only to be hit from behind by Sango's boomerang. He hit the dirt again. He was infuriated that they were stopping him.

"She said to stay back, Inuyasha." Sango said with an apologetic look.

"She's going to be killed!" he screamed as he leapt to his feet. He cried out in rage and surprise when Kilala suddenly leapt on him, pinning him to the ground. "Damn it! Get this thing off me!"

Kagome looked away, thanking Miroku and Sango inwardly for keeping Inuyasha at bay. She didn't want him to attack for some reason. But she didn't know why. She looked up at Sesshomaru hopefully, but he just glared down at her.

"Who are you to request such a thing from me, Lord Sessho..." He was cut off when a high-pitched voice rang through the air.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" A young human girl, no older than seven or eight, ran out of the trees and went to his side with tears in her eyes. Sesshomaru just looked at her.

"Rin."

Kagome looked up, surprised. Is that a human child? she asked herself.

"Lord Sesshomaru, why did you leave me all alone with Jaken? I was so scared!" She threw her arms around his leg, wailing at the same time. Kagome looked up at him and saw a hint of amusement in his eyes, but it disappeared as soon as he saw that she had noticed. She looked at Koga as he tried to get to his feet. She grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.

"No, don't get up. Stay down." He winced in pain as his knees hit the ground. He looked at her.

"Kagome," he said, his eyes getting blurry. "My mate..."

Sesshomaru looked at him when he said this. Kagome's face was red as she looked up at the lord.

"So, this is why you are protecting him. You are his mate," he said stoically.

"No, I am not!" she screamed, leaping to her feet. She glared at him with all her might. "Why do you care?"

"I don't." He stared at her, somewhat amused by her courage. She stands up to me so bravely, he thought. That can be foolish if taken lightly.

She took a step back under his gaze. Rin looked up at her and smiled. Kagome met her gaze and smiled in return. Then her attention was brought back to Sesshomaru when he suddenly leaped out of the way of a red blur. Kagome blinked. Then she realized what was happening. She turned to Inuyasha and glared. He held Tetsusaiga in front of him menacingly.

"Not before Rin," Sesshomaru said abruptly. They all suddenly realized that he had scooped the human girl up and was holding her against his chest as she held the front of him, shaking with fear. "She has seen enough in her life."

A cloud appeared beneath his feet and he rose into the air. Inuyasha stared at him in disbelief.

"You care for a filthy human, Sesshomaru?" he asked with an evil grin. "When did you stoop so low?"

Sesshomaru growled at him, but his attention turned to Kagome, who came up behind Inuyasha and tapped him on the shoulder. Inuyasha's face drained as he turned around slowly. Kagome's eyes were glazed and she looked like she would kill him if she could.

"Are we humans that bad?" she asked furiously. "If you thought we were filthy then why didn't you just say so?"

Inuyasha took a step back. "Kagome, no. I didn't..."

"Sit! Inuyasha. Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit!" Inuyasha hit the ground for the fifth time that day. She turned away and Sesshomaru's eyes followed her.

How does she do that to him? he wondered. His eyes fell upon Koga's still body.

"This is not over, wolf-demon." he said loud enough for all to hear. Kagome suddenly turned to face him, her eyes wild with anger.

"Hey! You leave him alone! If you can't tell me what he did then he obviously didn't do anything to you. So, yes, this is over!"

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed on her. "What did you say, wench?" His voice was tipped with malice and he lowered Rin slightly so he could see Kagome completely. She backed away, suddenly terrified. "How dare you tell me what to do! I am the Lord of the Western Lands! I am greater than you shall ever be! And you STILL have not answered me!" He jumped down from the cloud, leaving Rin on it as he took a few steps toward the miko. "Why are you protecting him?"

"My business is my own," she whispered harshly. She glared at him, hoping he would not kill her. He stared at her, slightly surprised that she had just made fun of him.

"YOU DARE TO MOCK ME?" he fumed. Inuyasha gasped when he grabbed Kagome's wrist and pulled her closer. She screamed and tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong. Inuyasha took a step toward them, but stopped when he saw Rin run to Sesshomaru's side.

Damn it to hell! Why'd she have to show up? His mind screamed. His gaze returned to Kagome and his brother.

All of a sudden, Kagome's scent filled Sesshomaru's senses and he almost lost his grip with the intensity of it. Sakura blossoms and jasmine made his head spin. The others noticed this moment of hesitation. Even Rin looked up at him in question. Inuyasha's lip curled in anger when he realized that Sesshomaru was breathing in her scent! That scent is for me... His eyes widened in shock when he realized what he had just told himself. He shook his head and eased his position, watching his Tetsusaiga transform back to normal and putting it back in its sheathe.

Kagome looked at the Youkai Lord's face. What is he doing? He leaned forward, his eyes closed. She heard a small intake of breath as if he were...smelling her? His grip on her wrist suddenly loosened and she took the chance to back away. Sesshomaru's eyes flew open. He looked around and saw all of them looking at him curiously. When he realized what had just happened, he turned away, knowing that Rin was following. He turned when he felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned his head and saw Kagome looking at him in question.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked.

He snorted, which he then regretted, for he received a great whiff of her scent once again. He fought the urge to smile and looked down at her again.

"It is your scent." His face was expressionless as he told her. "It is like nothing I have ever experienced before." He turned away, lifting Rin into his arms and going to the cloud. He stepped onto it. Rin looked at Kagome over Sesshomaru's shoulder. The miko had a look of bewildered curiosity on her face as she watched the Youkai lord.

The cloud suddenly lifted up into the air.

"I will see you again, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru said before rising into the air and disappearing over the treetops.

Inuyasha growled and looked at Kagome, who still stared after Sesshomaru even though he was out of sight. He went to her side.

"You okay?" he asked in a soft voice.

She suddenly turned to him. "Inuyasha, what do I smell like?" She gazed into his eyes, awaiting his answer impatiently. He took a step back.

"Why...why are you asking me?" he said in a scared voice. "I don't sniff you in my free time!"

She glared at him. "Fine, then. I'll just ask Koga." She turned away from him, but stopped when she felt him grab her arm. She looked at him in surprise.

He stared at her. He wanted to tell her that he would die before letting Koga be the one to tell her how beautiful her scent was. But, instead, he said something to change the subject.

"Shouldn't you see to his wounds first?" How he hated telling her that!

She blinked in surprise, and then cried out when she remembered Koga had been sliced open by Sesshomaru's claws.

"Oh, Koga!" she cried as she fell to her knees beside him. "Are you all right?"

He groaned and coughed, blood spattering her sleeve. His eyes opened slightly.

"Ka...Kagome..." he said. "You saved me..." He lost consciousness.

"Kilala!" Kagome cried, lifting Koga in her arms. Inuyasha felt a growl beginning to surface, so he decided it would be best to leave. He walked by Kagome and crouched beside her. She looked at him.

"We can talk when you're done," he said. She stared after him as he stood and walked into the trees. Kilala landed beside her and Sango ran to her side, along with Miroku. Shippo had appeared on Kagome's shoulder.

"Kagome?" Sango said, bringing her back to reality.

She shook her head clear and looked down at Koga. "Kilala, help me bring him back to Kaede's Hut." The neko nodded in agreement and bent down, making it easier for her. Miroku appeared at her side and helped her lift Koga onto Kilala. Kagome got on behind him and held him down as Kilala leaped into the trees toward Kaede's Hut.

Miroku looked at Sango.

"What just occurred between Sesshomaru and Kagome?" he asked softly.

She looked at him. "I'm not sure. It looked like he was...I don't know..."

"Smelling her?" he offered.

"Yeah..." She looked away and sighed. She felt Miroku's hand on her shoulder and she looked at him in surprise. He smiled.

"Let's go back." he said. She nodded and looked away and went to collect her boomerang, which she had left at their previous location. Miroku sighed and followed her.

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Sesshomaru looked down at the cloth he held in his hand. He didn't know why he had taken it, but he did. He brought the red cloth to his face and breathed in Kagome's scent once more. He sighed.

What am I doing? he asked himself.

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YAY!! It's done! As I said before, R&R!