Chapter 8: Numb

Megan's POV

When I woke up the next morning I was surprised to find Rin lying next to me, watching me.

"You sleep a long time," she smiled and rolled off the bed.

"What time is it?" I moaned.

"The sun has already risen Megan! Lets go pick flowers!"

I looked at my watch…6 am…Argh.

I crawled out of bed and put my hair up in a sloppy bun and changed quickly into a plain blue kimono.

The Rin and I ran down the halls and into the garden.

Well actually she ran, but she dragged me along for the ride.

When we got into the garden I was surprised to see Sesshomaru at the archery range, shooting arrow after arrow.

While Rin went to pick flowers I watched him from behind. I hadn't forgotten last night though, so I kept my distance.

He hit just off the center of the target.

He was pretty good.

As I watched he let go of the bow and the string came back and hit him across the arm, causing it to redden.

Ouch, that would a bruise later.

"Keep your elbow tucked in, then the bow won't hit your arm when you let go," I said softly but I knew he heard me.

He turned around quickly to look at me.

"What do you know about archery?" he asked.

I smiled softly.

"I have been doing archery for the past three years back in my time," I said.

He walked up to me.

Right into my personal space I might add.

I guess he thinks that its intimidating.

Ha, so not.

He smelled good though. Like rain.

Ahh! SHUT UP!

He handed me the bow and two arrows.

"Shoot," he ordered.

I raised an eyebrow, "and if I don't want to?"

He leaned in close to me so that our faces were only inches apart, "Shoot. Then I will shoot. Whoever gets closest to the center wins and gets to choose lunch."

I tried not to laugh. Lunch? What the hell was that?

Oh well, it was a competition that I wasn't about to turn down.

"You got yourself a deal," I said and held out my hand for him to shake.

He stared at it as if he had never seen a hand before.

I felt my face flush with irritation, "Oh right I forgot. Wouldn't want you precious hands to come into contact with a disgusting human now would we?"

I started to walk by him when he suddenly grasped my hand in a firm shake.

This time it was my turn to stare.

He was touching me…

His hands were a lot bigger then mine but they were surprisingly soft, for a guys I mean.

I looked up at him and he was looking down at me with a smug smirk on his face. After a few more seconds he pulled away and I went to the line to take my first shot.

Making sure that I was calm I lined up my shot, and released. It hit a few inches away from the center.

Sesshomaru took aim and when he released his arrow struck about an inch from the middle.

Shit, I was losing.

I noticed that Rin was watching from the sidelines. So I called her over and whispered something into her ear. Then I took my last shot. It hit dead center.

I smirked.

Let's see him beat that!

Sesshomaru seemed unfazed by my bull's-eye and lined up to take the shot.

The second he released Rin screamed in her high pitched voice, causing Sesshomaru to lose concentration and his arrow to go off course and miss the target completely.

Sesshomaru's POV

That wench cheated.

I turned around and glared at her.

"You cheated," I stated, "that's against the rules."

She smiled innocently up at me.

"Well you didn't exactly set up any rules, so technically I didn't cheat at all!" she smiled and handed me the bow.

"We want ramen for lunch please," she smiled.

The she and Rin grasped hands and continued to pick flowers.

And I couldn't help but actually smile a little.

Megan's POV

Am I crazy or did I just see Sesshomaru smile out of the corner of my eye?

I must be delusional.

I felt a small tickle in the back of my throat and I sneezed.

"Bless you!" Rin smiled.

I smiled back at her.

Suddenly a horn sounded from the south tower and Rin looked at Sesshomaru with a scared look in her eyes.

"What's going on?" I asked him.

He sniffed the air for a moment, "Demons from the North. They having been trying to take over my land for years. This is just another weak attempt."

"You mean that we are under attack?" I felt my heart rate start to rise.

He simply nodded.

"Rin," Sesshomaru said, "go to your room and get what ever supplies you need. Then go and hide with Megan until I come to get you."

She nodded and set the flowers she had picked on the ground.

How the hell could she be so calm? I was freaking out here!

I felt something rest on my shoulder and when I looked I was surprised to see Sesshomaru's hand resting there. In his other hand was a bow and a quiver of arrows. He handed then to me.

"Protect her," he said softly.

Then he went to greet the intrusion.

I grabbed Rin's hand and we quickly went to her room. She grabbed a few toys, a blanket, and an extra kimono.

When we went into my room I grabbed my backpack full of my stuff and a blanket.

I could hear screaming from the village and I couldn't help but go to my window and look.

The whole village was under attack. I could see hideous demons chasing and killing the women and children while the men tried to fight the demon off.

I noticed close to the castle wall a small child about Rin's age was crying and running from a large creature. It looked like a cat.

Ignoring Rin's cries for me to come quickly I took my bow and arrow. Aiming for the cat demon I took aim and shot. It hit it in the leg and it fell to the ground screaming. When it realized what hit it, it looked straight up at me.

Oh shit.

It started to yell to some other demons who staring running toward the castle.

Once again. Oh shit.

"Rin hurry!" I yelled.

She knew the way a lot better then I did so she ran ahead of me.

Suddenly I heard one of the maids screaming and the sound other large footsteps running toward us.

They had gotten in.

Where the hell was Sesshomaru?

Rin stopped in front of a small tapestry and lifted it up to reveal a door. She climbed inside. It was a small place, there was no way that the both of us were going to fit.

Ignoring her screams for me to get in I kissed her cheek and then sealed the little door.

I had to protect her.

One demon came around the corner sniffing the air. When it saw me it smirked and charged.

I shot an arrow at it and got it between the eyes. It fell to the floor dead.

After killing off a few more I started to relax a bit. Maybe that was it?

Ha so not.

A snake like demon slithered around the corner and hissed at me. I went for another arrow, but I felt nothing in the quiver.

Oh crap!

The demon saw the panic in my eyes and charged at me.

Seeing a sword hung on the wall I grabbed it. Wow it was heavy!

I had never used a sword before but I knew the basic idea of it. Swing and hope to hit something.

I swung at the demon as it went at me and caught the edge of its hide with the blade. It hissed as its black blood began to drip onto the floor.

I apologize in advance to the care taking staff.

It came at me again, knocking the sword from my hand.

That cannot be good…

I didn't even have a chance to blink before it came at me once last time. I screamed as it bit into my side. My whole body went numb as I crumpled to the floor.

Everything started to blur.

But I saw a figure running toward me with blood red eyes. It grabbed the snaked by the neck and tore it to pieces before my very eyes. The blood from the demon left specks on the figures pale face.

I noticed a purple crescent moon on his forehead.

Sesshomaru.

And then all I saw was black.

Sesshomaru's POV

The village had been easy enough to clear out. The demons from the north were weak, but persistent. I could hear one of the maids screaming inside.

How dare those fools even think to enter my home.

Running into the castle I killed a dozen of them off but missed a few that ran down a corner were Rin and Megan were hiding.

I felt my eyes turn red as I ran after them.

Just as I turned the corner I heard a scream the made my blood run cold.

It was Megan. She was screaming in pain…

I growled as I turned the corner to see her fall to the floor, a snake demon's teeth sinking into her side. Her bow and quiver had fallen from her hands and a sword lay a few meters away.

Grabbing the snake and making it release her I clenched it around the neck, watching it squirm.

How dare it touch her.

How dare it hurt her.

I tore it to pieces, ignoring the blood that fell on my face.

I caught her right before her head hit the floor and I cradled her in my arms.

Why did I feel so numb when she was hurt?

Was I falling for this human? Or had I been poisoned by the snaked venom as well?

I could hear Rin's little hands beating on the door, begging to be let out. I opened it and she jumped out, dried tears on her cheeks. When she saw Megan fresh ones form in her eyes.

"What happened to my sister?" she whimpered, "is she dead?"

I shook my head, "No. she just needs to rest."

At least I hope that's all she needs.