The following day was becoming a disappointment. They walked for miles with not one lead. They were beginning to wonder if they had taken the wrong path when a screaming man came barreling toward them. Hot on his tail was a cat demon that had shifted to its true form. The terrified man looked even more so, after he spotted the group he was headed towards.
Sesshomaru did not consider this any of his business. He stepped to the side to allow the man to continue his path down the lane. Kagome shot him an incredulous look. She couldn't just stand here and allow a human to be killed be a demon.
Kagome stepped out in front to the cat that skidded to a halt in front of her. She eyed the snarling feline and felt like she could overpower it if need be. The man stopped running when he looked behind to see the female youkai squaring off against the cat. He bent down with his head between his knees trying to catch his breath.
The cat youkai and Kagome circled one another as they sized each other up. Kagome had been training with Sesshomaru each day. She had learned a great deal about her own power, as well as how to size up an opponent. The cat's muscles flexed and Kagome prepared for its attack. Faintly she could hear Shippo pleading for her to get out of the way. From the corner of her eye she saw Sesshomaru standing back and observing her every move.
In a flash the cat was airborne. Kagome unsheathed her claws and swiftly ducked to the side swinging her right arm up as she moved. Her claws met fur and flesh. The cat fell to the ground and transformed back into it's humanoid form. The young male lay curled up, clutching at his side where Kagome's claws sliced through his flesh.
Kagome turned to Sesshomaru who had a pleased look in his eye. She turned back to the human who still panted for breath. "Konnichiwa. Why is this demon attacking you?"
The man finally stood and breathlessly told her how he used to be a dog demon, who lived nearby, until he was bitten by something, which took his youkai from his body. Before he was bitten his youkai self, and the cat demon, had fought on several occasions, but he always came out the victor. After learning of the dog's loss of his youkai, the cat decided to take his revenge. He stalked him as he gathered firewood. The man said he just barley escaped and was running for his life when he happened upon the lordess.
Kagome listened patiently to his tale, and was more than a bit shocked when he assumed she was a lordess. She looked to her tall demon companion, who carried a slight smirk on his face. She turned back to the man. "Suminasen, but I am just Kagome." She looked to her victim who clutched his bleeding wounds. "... and you should be ashamed of yourself. You should have not taken advantage of his weakened form. This same fate could have just as easily been yours."
She felt sorry for the cat and couldn't leave him there. The group needed a break anyway and she looked to Sesshomaru. "Lord Sesshomaru, may we take a break? I would like to tend his wounds."
Sesshomaru watched the scene as it played out before him. The miko faced her enemy bravely and was far superior in speed and skill. 'She will become a great warrior, one day,' he thought, but when she requested time to dress the cat's wounds... he almost laughed out loud. "Wench, you will be in for many long battles if you intend to stop and heal all of your fallen opponents." None-the-less, he nodded his approval and ushered the group to a spot just off the road.
The cat demon was wary of the female youkai who so easily took him down. He seemed a bit skeptical as to her sincerity to help him bandage his wounds. Of course, not really being in the position to do otherwise he allowed the young monk to assist him to the side of the road. He looked to the monk. As a man of the cloth, the cat felt that the monk would be truthful with him. "Is she really gonna bandage my wounds?"
Miroku laughed when the cat demon voiced his concern about Kagome's intent. "Do not fear, Kagome is a priestess, who does not wish to bring you harm."
"That youkai is a priestess?" he said in disbelief. "Yet she travels with Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands?"
The poor guy looked skeptically at the demon lord. Miroku found it hard to believe himself, but attempted to calm the injured man. "Kagome is a kind hearted miko. I assure you that she will bring you no harm... unless you make her angry."
Kagome took out her first aid kit and found the bandages and antiseptic. The cat demon sat watching her with interest. She looked up and met his green eyes. "I won't hurt you, I promise. This liquid may sting, but it will keep the wounds from becoming infected." He jerked at the sting, as she dabbed the gashes with a soaked cotton ball. She wrapped the bandages tight. "I would imagine with your youkai healing you will be better by tomorrow evening."
"Arigato my lady," he kissed the back of her hand.
A deep low growl came from just behind him. All eyes turned to Sesshomaru, who glared a warning at the cat. The cat jerked his hand from the hers. He knew better than to anger the demon lord. He scurried to his feet and uttered a thanks as he fled from the uncanny group of travelers.
Kagome was a little shocked at the possessive growl from Sesshomaru. He never acted like that before. 'Could he be jealous? Nain... that's silly. He was probably just being protective.' She turned her attention back to the man, who she'd heard telling Sango that his name was Daiki. Daiki confirmed their course, saying that the illusive incarnation had bitten him two days prior.
Kagome helped Sango prepare lunch for the group and Daiki accepted their invitation to dine. After all satisfied their hunger the group rose to continue the journey. They said farewell to Daiki and headed out in a northwesterly direction.
Kagura heard Nuraku throwing a tantrum from where she sat a hundred yards away. 'Humph... sounds like the miko has threw a huge kink in his plans.' Almost as if he read her mind she heard him yelling her name. With a deep sigh she flew back to the castle.
"I am here Nuraku," the wind sorceress said.
"I want her dead... NOW!" he growled for all to hear. "She is clever, and powerful. She has furthermore allied herself with Lord Sesshomaru, which was nice for bringing pain to Inuyasha, but is fast becoming something more of a pain to me! She is dangerous, but together they can not be stopped. Separate them. Then bring me the heart of the priestess!" His fury made his eyes glow red in the dimly lit room.
"As you wish," Kagura said nonchalantly as she swept out of the room. Her outward appearance was nothing but calm, but her mind was filled with panic. 'That bastard sends me to my death, and he knows it.' Quickly she tried to devise a way to separate the miko from the demon lord.