Authoress here.

Wow. I didn't know people would be so angry if I killed Akina.

Haru: She's the main character in your story, moron!

Fear not, for I have a plan!

START CHAPTER

When Sesshomaru awoke, he was startled to see Akina's face only a short distance away. He got off her quickly when he realized that her body was beneath his, and waited for her to say something. When she stayed silent, he leaned in towards her to learn why. He thought that she would reprimand him for laying on her, as she did not seem to like being close to him.

As he looked closer, he could see it in her eyes, glazed and empty, that she was dead.

But how did this happen? Sesshomaru could remember a fight between himself and Inuyasha. They had stopped when Kagome sensed a Jewel Shard nearby and Inuyasha had run off to find it. Sesshomaru had walked through the woods, following Akina's scent, and fallen on her when he finally reached her. He could remember the ground rushing towards him and her body hitting his before his memories went dark.

Placing a hand to his chest, Sesshomaru felt no pain. He could distinctly remember the sound of bones breaking during his fight, and they were now repaired.

"She used her life energy to heal me," he muttered, his eyes unable to leave the dead girl's face. He was shaken from the inside. "Why would she do something like that for me? I never did anything of equal kindness for her."

Jaken staggered into view carrying a makeshift canteen full of water. He smiled when he saw Sesshomaru was awake. "You have awoken, My Lord! I am so relieved!"

Sesshomaru did not look at his impish servant. "Was she dead when you found us here?"

"Yes." He seemed solemn then, his eyes closing briefly. He did not care much for the human girl, but it seemed to distress his demon lord.

Silence followed his reply. Jaken wondered for a moment if Sesshomaru would consider burying her body before moving on, but his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a sword being tugged from the scabbard.

Sesshomaru stood beside Akina's lifeless form, the point of the Tensuiga lightly touching her collarbone. The demons there to take her soul to the afterlife were quickly vaporized, and there was a brief glow before Akina's eyes shot open and she drew in a deep, shuddering breath.

Jaken let his staff fall from his scaled hand, his mouth dropping open the tiniest bit. In a small part of his mind, he had considered the possibility of Sesshomaru bringing the human back to life, but in all honesty had not expected it.

Akina let her gaze fall to the ground as she rubbed a bit of dirt between her thumb and forefinger. "Should I explain, or do you want to go first?"

He waited, giving her his patient silence as an answer to her question.

"I healed your wounds after you fainted and knocked both of us to the ground...and tapped my life energy in the process," she replied quietly.

"Fool," he said, crouching beside her and pressing a hand to her forehead.

Akina, unused to anyone being concerned for her well-being, turned her head away so his hand was resting amidst her wavy brown locks. He let his hand fall, fingers running through her hair, until his hand rested on her shoulder.

"Do not attempt to do something that stupid again," he reprimanded firmly. She looked at him, a little suspicious of his concern, but did not brush his hand away. He glanced away momentarily. "You have a fever."

She stood up abruptly. "I'm fine," she replied, obviously upset by his remark. Dusting off her hands on her pants, she didn't bother to look at his as she asked bluntly, "What happened?"

"What do you mean?"

Her movements ceased momentarily, and her bottomless hazel eyes met his. "I'm accustomed to dead people staying that way."

Sesshomaru's lips parted, revealing a sharp canine tooth. "The sword you recoiled from earlier is the Tensuiga, a sword of healing."

Her expression was incredulous. "You brought me back to life? Why?"

Sesshomaru looked at her without expression. "I thought that would be obvious."

"Then I'm oblivious," she replied calmly. "Care to fill me in?"

"You are my traveling companion, fool. Do you think with the power of resurrection at my disposal, that I would let you die? I have repaid my life debt to you."

Without warning, Akina's eyes filled with tears and she had to turn away from the demon before her. "I thought you didn't like me."

Sesshomaru shrugged. "I never said I did."

"That's not a nice thing to say!"

"I never said I was nice, either."

"That doesn't matter. You brought me back to life. Simple healing spells can never repay my debt to you." She tuned to face him, her eyes on his. "I hope you won't mind someone following you around, because you'll find it's rather hard to get away from me if I owe you something."

"Charming," he replied, his tone sarcastic. "Now sit down. You have a fever." Placing a hand on her shoulder, he pushed her to the ground.

Akina swatted his hand, even after she was on the ground. "I told you, I'm fine!"

"Shut up," he replied quietly, crouching beside her on the ground and sweeping an arm around her shoulders. He was carefully not meeting her eyes, and thus couldn't see her cheeks turning pink in embarrassment. "Just relax. You're still weak right now, so you shouldn't walk. A fever does not help right now."

Akina frowned at a leaf on the ground, her front teeth pressing gently on her lower lip in a nervous gesture. She was silent for a few seconds as she mused about her current position. "So what am I supposed to do?" she questioned softly, shifting her gaze to her folded hands.

Sesshomaru sighed. "Get some rest."

Akina closed her eyes for several heartbeats, the feeling of dizziness causing her vision to slip out of focus for a moment. "I don't need rest," she replied, opening her eyes and focusing on her hands again.

"Obviously you do. You're talking to your hands."

Akina shut her eyes again. "You aren't helping."

"Am I supposed to be helping?" he asked lightly, the smallest of smiles playing at his lips.

"I guess not."

What is happening to me? Sesshomaru wondered as Akina surrendered to her dizziness and leaned back against him. This was supposed to be a charade to get the Tetsuiga. What is happening to me?

Akina yawned widely, her eyes closing as she settled her head comfortably on his chest. Temporarily startled, his thoughts were interrupted momentarily.

Could it be that I have become truly concerned with this human girl?

Though he would not admit it, even to himself in the safety of his own mind, Sesshomaru longed to see her smile.

Akina allowed her eyes to close, too tired to be concerned that she was leaning against a demon. He confused her quite a bit. He was rude, violent, ungrateful, arrogant, handsome...

Akina smiled, wondering where the last adjective had come from. Surely her mind had not generated that.

Of course not.

END CHAPTER

I promise that I will not kill Akina again. I'm sorry to all those that who cried themselves to sleep when they read the last chapter, screaming, "Why!"

Haru: (muffles a snort)

Do you need a glass of water?

Haru: I think I do.

Authoress out.