Wounded
"Kagome?"
Karappo stood, her back facing Shippo. She sighed heavily before looking over her shoulder and through her bangs to see him while she spoke.
"Shippo, I want you to go back to Sango and Miroku for a couple of days. Naraku is still alive, I need to think on what my next move is and for that I need solitude. Do you understand?"
"Yes but, will you be ok Kagome?"
"I'll be fine Shippo, I promise."
"How will I find you?"
"I'll come to you because when I have a plan, I will inform Sango and Miroku too."
"Ok, Ja Ne Kagome."
"Ja Ne Shippo-Chan."
Karappo turned and continued to walk though the forest. She stopped when she reached her destination. She stepped up to the hot spring and tested the water. Finding it was perfect, she stripped herself of her cloths and weapons and went in. She sighed as the warm water washed away all of her worries and relaxed all her tense muscles. She laid her head against the rocks as she closed her eyes and felt sure bliss.
SesshoMaru stood upon the top of a tall oak tree, surveying the area for any possible dangers. It was past nightfall and they needed to set camp for Rin. He looked down below him to see Rin had gathered firewood and Jaken fried himself upon starting one. He rolled his eyes at the toads stupidity. He looked over the area once more. Before he could jump down to his companions below, a strong scent hit his nose.
Blood, and lots of it. Usually, SesshoMaru would pay no attention but this blood smelled familiar. He called down to Jaken, informing him to watch Rin while he was away. The toad agreed, reluctantly. He jumped from tree top to tree top, following the scent, until he came to a clearing. He dropped down to the ground just outside of the clearing and walked cautiously toward it. He pulled back the foliage to reveal a hot spring. He almost dismissed it until he saw that the water was red with blood and someone was still in it.
SesshoMaru walked over to see a woman with paler than white skin and long ebony hair. She had a Celtic symbol under her eye and the other was covered with her bangs. One of her hands was resting upon a rock and from what he could see, the wrist was slit open. He looked at the woman a moment longer before he realized who she was. Lying before him, near death, soaking in her own blood was Karappo. His eyes widened in shock. He checked for a pulse and found a faint one.
Thinking fast, SesshoMaru took off his outer harori. He pulled Karappo from the hot spring, the blood water staining her ivory skin. He then wrapped her with his harori. Once that was done, he took out his spare obi and tied it around her wrists to stop her from losing anymore blood. He took a deep breath before he picked her up and carried her, slowly walking back to his camp.
As SesshoMaru walked, he felt Karappo move in his arm and tail. Looking down, he saw she had moved toward him in an attempt to stay warm. He smirked at this until he felt her tail wrap around his. He was shocked for a moment but that soon faded when she started to shiver. He smirked again as he shifted her so she was laying against his chest.
When SesshoMaru returned to the camp, he was greeted by a happy Rin and an aggravated Jaken. Rin ran up and hugged his leg and yelled in glee. Then, a long, furry, black thing fell in front of her face. Before she had a chance to scream, Jaken covered her mouth. Both Rin and Jaken looked at their lord with questioning looks as the saw a half dead woman, in his arm, wearing his harori. He merely glared at Jaken while he asked Rin to help him.
"Who is that SesshoMaru Sama?"
"You know her as Kagome."
"Kagome-Chan!"
"Yes Rin, but you must be quiet."
"Ok, what happened to Kagome-Chan?"
"She was injured. She was near death when I found her."
SesshoMaru looked to Rin as he set Karappo down next to the fire.
"Rin, I want you to take care of Kagome when she wakes up in the morning. More than likely I will be hunting when she comes around. You need to make sure she's alright and make sure she gets plenty of water. Don't let her move too much and make sure Jaken doesn't try to help. Do you understand?"
"Yes SesshoMaru Sama, Rin understands. "
"Good, now go to bed, I'll have to wake you before I go hunting."
"Ok SesshoMaru Sama. Goodnight!"
"Goodnight Rin."
SesshoMaru sat himself against the tree that was near the fire and Karappo. This moment was a dream come true, she was back with him. He thanked any god that would listen. He stared at her silhouetted form. She was still as beautiful. What he didn't understand was why would she try to kill herself? As he gazed at her, her legs turned from ivory to ebony. He watched in amazement as her cloths slowly regenerated themselves. He knew that she wouldn't be back to full strength till around noon the next day. He could suffer one more cold night. With that thought, he fell asleep.