Authoress here.

My feet are cold. Really, really cold. I should probably be wearing socks. ...No one cares. Okay, on with the chapter. My hands are cold too.

Haru: Start the chapter already!

For future reference, Haru is my failure of a censor demon. He swears a lot more than I do-

Haru: Go to hell.

-But he's okay. On with the chapter!

START CHAPTER

"What are you clinging to me like that for?" Sesshomaru shook his elbow a bit. "Get off of me."

"I told you already," Akina said, not relinquishing her grip on him. "The people in this place hate me!"

Akina had been hanging on to Sesshomaru since they had crossed the border into Nishi, dodging away from people's eyes by hiding behind him.

"Get off," he repeated, a bit annoyed, as he shifted his eyes to look at her. "It doesn't matter if people recognize you. If you are in my company, they won't touch you."

"Except for maybe that guy," Akina said, gesturing down the dirt road to a half demon with silver hair and dog ears that had just noticed them

"Inuyasha," breathed Sesshomaru, sweeping Akina behind him with one arm. It was a motion that was more for effect than anything else, it seemed, as Inuyasha's eyes had already met hers, and his eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Who is that with Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked, exchanging looks with those around her.

"I don't know," Miroku replied quietly. "But she's a human."

"A human?" Shippo repeated.

Sango put a hand to the cord on her boomerang. "Why would he have a human girl with him when he hates humans?"

"I don't plan on him living long enough to tell me!" Inuyasha shouted, unsheathing the Tetsuiga and rushing towards his brother.

Kagome sighed. "He always attacks without thinking."

Sesshomaru did not hesitate. "Get out of the way, Akina," he said, unsheathing his sword and assuming a battle stance. Seconds later, he had jumped forward and his blade had met with Inuyasha's.

Stepping back, Akina followed Sesshomaru's movements carefully with curious eyes. She didn't even notice Miroku rushing towards her until he had closed his hand around her wrist.

"What are you doing standing over here?" he said hurriedly, pulling her towards where his friends were standing. "Come on!"

Sesshomaru's eyes flickered over in time to see Miroku pulling her away, and he was beside her in a second. With a slash of his sword, Miroku was on the ground. He seized Akina around the waist and leapt out of the way of Inuyasha's sword just in time. When he landed, he set her down and said quickly, "Run into the woods. I'll find you after this fight is over."

"No! I'm staying here to help you! I can fight!"

Blocking a swing of Inuyasha's sword, Sesshomaru snapped, "Get out of here, fool!"

Jumping back and landing in a perfectly balanced crouch, Inuyasha grinned at Akina. "I get it. I should aim at that human you're trying to protect."

Sesshomaru had forgotten about Miroku lying on the ground only feet from Akina, and when he stepped in front of her, was unaware that it looked like he was defending both. "You will not harm any of my companions."

Akina took a step back as Sesshomaru cast a fleeting glance over his shoulder at her. Words were not needed.

Hesitating a moment, Akina lowered her eyes to the ground. It was only when she turned around that she remembered Miroku. He was bleeding from a wound across his arm. If he had not turned in time, it could have been his stomach. Letting out a small gasp, she dashed to his side and pulled him to the edge of the woods.

"Look! She's got Miroku!" Sango was ready to throw her weapon in a second's notice, and would have if she had not noticed something strange. She lowered her arm. "What the...?"

Akina's hands were on the monk's bare forearm, glowing the same soft violet that they had when she healed Sesshomaru. Miroku had lost a substantial amount of blood, but was not unconscious. His eyes were focused on her. With his uninjured arm, he seized hers.

"What are you doing? We are not allies if you are friends with Sesshomaru," he whispered. "Why are you healing me?"

Akina looked at him for a moment. "I don't care who you are," she answered quietly. "I won't stand by while you die of blood loss."

Miroku chuckled and turned his head to the side so his cheek was resting on the grass. "I don't understand your logic." Looking back at her, "Will you tell me your name?"

Akina watched the skin shift back into place as the wound closed. "Akina."

"That's a nice name. By the way, would you consider bearing my children?"

Her eyebrows angled downward. "You worthless lecher! Maybe I should have let you die."

Miroku smiled. "It was worth a try."

Akina frowned at him. "Who are you?"

"Miroku, a humble monk."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "I can believe that you're a monk. Humble isn't the word I would use to describe someone like you."

"You ought to smile more," Miroku remarked. Akina's eyes widened a bit and she fell backwards, startled by the suggestion. Truthfully, she had not smiled since her parents had been murdered.

"Don't move around too much," Akina said curtly, standing up and brushing herself off. "You'll open the wound again. You can bandage it later if you want."

"Wait!" Miroku cried out as she walked away, sitting up and reaching out his arm towards her. She ignored him, and he let his arm fall.

Casting a glance back at the fight between Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, Akina managed to catch his eye before turning and running into the woods.

Miroku watched her go, appearing curious. Akina. Why is she traveling with Sesshomaru?

Akina stopped running after she was sure she had gone at least a mile. Then, she fell on the ground on her stomach and did not move for a moment. She crawled to a rock that she could lean against a few minutes later. "Shit," she panted, closing her eyes. "Why the hell did I do that?"

Sighing, Akina reached a hand up to her forehead. Air moved along her hand, and she felt coldness. Opening her eyes, she saw it was blood. "Miroku," she muttered. Something about him, now that he wasn't sitting in front of her, seemed oddly familiar.

"That doesn't matter," she muttered dully. "Sesshomaru's going to kill me!"

"Not today."

Sesshomaru stood before her, looking a little worse for wear. He took a step towards her, and blood dripped from his clawed hand onto the ground below.

Despite her weariness, Akina sprang up from where she was sitting. "Sesshomaru! You're hurt again!"

Sesshomaru was able to take one more step before his eyes closed and he fell forward. Moving without thinking, Akina jumped to break his fall and found herself on her back on the ground with the unconscious demon lying on top of her. His head was on its side on her left shoulder, tilted up slightly so she could feel his breath on her chin.

Akina closed her eyes and used her healing magic to look into his body. His ribs were out of line again, moved by a punch. There was a slash across his upper arm, and a thin cut on his cheek.

"Idiot," Akina muttered, moving her arm to blot his cheek with her sleeve. She shifted, her mind still connected to his, and felt a spasm of pain rushing through Sesshomaru's body.

"If I move, he'll be in pain. I have to heal him," she decided aloud.

Sesshomaru was on top of one of her arms, and she did not want to risk hurting him by moving it again. Both hands much touch flesh. Her hand twitched, and she felt a claw poke her palm. His hand!

With one hand entwined in Sesshomaru's and the other on his cheek, Akina shut her eyes and began healing him. She mended the cut on his arm first, then moved on to his ribs. Almost as soon as she moved the first rib, she felt a jab of pain. She was startled when she realized that it was her own.

It...hurts. But I have to help Sesshomaru.

Determined, Akina ignored the pain and pushed all Sesshomaru's ribs into place. Moments later, she let out a soft gasp. Her hand became limp in his, and the other slipped from his cheek. Her breath came in shallow gasps.

When Sesshomaru awoke, Akina was dead.

END CHAPTER

I'm morbid. Sorry.

Authoress out.