Chapter 7: Helpless

SESSHOMARU'S POV

Why did I agree to let them come?

I could have rescued Megan and gotten home in time for dinner if it wasn't for these clowns.

The only one of them that wasn't talking was surprisingly enough my half breed brother. He seemed to be deep in thought. I fell back and walked beside him.

"You are falling behind brother," I pointed out.

He glared at me, but kept his slow pace.

"Why do you wish to save this human girl?" I asked out of the blue.

Inuyasha seemed to think and then his face flushed.

"I want to kill Naraku," he said quickly, too quickly.

"Do not lie to me Inuyasha," I said.

He sighed, "I guess that's its for the same reasons you are going, not that it's any of your business."

"So you love this Kagome." I stated.

"I never said that! I just…care about her…a little," he mumbled.

"You said that you were going for the same reasons as I. So, by saying that, you made it sound like you love her," I said smugly.

Inuyasha ignored me and we walked in silence for a while.

It amazed me how much my brother had change over the years. He had once been a bitter half demon who wanted nothing to do with any human, and now he had fallen in love with one.

In a way…he resembles me more then I would feel comfortable admitting.

"So you love Megan then?" Inuyasha asked.

I glared at him.

"What? You asked me the same thing about Kagome!" he insisted.

I looked up at the sky, "Yes. I do love her."

Inuyasha just walked in silence, pondering my response.

He was about to say something else when I stopped him.

"Do you smell that?" I asked.

He sniffed the air and his ears perked up, "It Kagome!"

Off in the distance I could see Kagome's small form walking slowly toward us. She looked as though she had been running a great deal.

Inuyasha took off in her direction, me right behind him.

He got to her just as she fainted and Inuyasha caught her around her waist. Picking her up bridal style he looked at her, worry evident on his face.

"Kagome?" he whispered, "Kagome, are you ok?"

Her eyes fluttered open, "Inu…Inuyasha? Naraku…he has…have to…fine…Sesshomaru."

"I am right here," I said.

She tried to turn her head in my direction but was unable to.

"Naraku…has her," she said softly.

And then she fell asleep in Inuyasha's arms. He looked up at me with sympathy on his face.

"We'll make camp here and let her rest," he said.

I nodded. I wanted to continue looking, but with no idea where to go, I would probably not find Megan in time. Perhaps Kagome had more information…

Following the group to a small clearing between some trees, I watched as they began to set up camp.

"Would you like something to eat Sesshomaru?" Sango asked.

I looked at her, "No thank you. I will find my own food."

"There is no need," she insisted, "we have plenty."

I nodded, "Very well then."

I turned and started to walked through the trees. I would do a quick scan of the area to make sure that there was no immediate danger.

It felt strange…

To be in the company of others.

I was use to Megan, Rin and Jaken's company, but that had always been it. Now I find myself surrounded by people who I normally would seek only to fight. They weren't as bad as I thought they would be…

Miroku was a rather wise human and was very talented in battle. Not to mention the wind tunnel in his right palm. Although, he was rather out spoken and lecherous. I had caught him attempting to grope the human woman Sango during our journeys.

Sango, when I saw her in battle, seemed very fierce and a strong warrior. I had admired her for that. But watching her lately I had seen how kind and gentle she is.

The child Shippo reminds me of Jaken. Very loud, and annoying at times. He seems to look up to Inuyasha, and sees Kagome as a mother figure.

Kagome, in a way, reminds me of Rin. Always smiling, her emotions shining clearly through her eyes.

In a way I missed having Rin and Jaken accompany me…

And then there is my half demon brother Inuyasha. When he was a child and I found out he was a half demon, I hated him. To me, he was weak and worthless. But now…he has changed so much. He is still as stubborn as usual, but he has grown strong. He is, of course, not as strong as I, but he is passionate about what he fights for. Many times I have fought him, claiming I would kill him, but in truth I guess I have just been testing his strength…

Suddenly there was a rustle in the bushes and I was jolted out of my thoughts.

I placed my hand on the hilt of my sword and sniffed the air.

"Come out Jaken," I said softly, "you to Rin."

There was a sigh and then Jaken and Rin came quietly out of the bushes.

"What are you two doing here?" I asked, "Jaken, I told you to keep Rin home and protect her."

Jaken quaked in fear that I might harm him, "Forgive my Lord, but we were worried about you and Rin insisted on coming! Please forgive me!"

I nodded softly and turned back towards the camp, "Come."

They both followed.

"My Lord," Rin tugged on my sleeve, "when we approached you, you were deep in thought! What is it that you were thinking about?"

"My mind was merely wandering Rin, do not bother yourself with it," I answered.

When we entered the campsite, everyone looked up.

"I thought you told them to stay home?" Miroku asked.

"Well, it would appear that they ignored my request," I shot a glance at him.

Him smiled at Rin, "You look tired young one, would you like something to eat and drink?"

Rin nodded vigorously, "Yes please monk. My name is Rin."

"Very nice to meet you Rin," he said and led her to the fire where the food was being prepared.

I looked around and noticed Inuyasha sitting next to Kagome, who was lying on the ground with a cloth on her forehead.

I approached them and sat across from Inuyasha.

"Has she awoken yet?" I asked.

He sighed, "Once for a few minutes, but then she fell back to sleep."

"Did she say anything?"

"Just that the two of them had escaped from Naraku, she said something about the jewel but then she passed out."

I nodded, "alert me when she wakes up again brother."

He nodded and looked at Kagome, worried evident in his features.

I sat down beside Rin and Jaken who were both eating some kind of strange long white thing from a bowl. Sango handed me one.

"What is this?" I asked.

"It is from Kagome's time," she said, "its called ramen. It's Inuyasha's favorite."

I nodded, "Thank you,"

Sniffing it, a pleasant aroma filled my nose.

I took a small bite…

It was delicious!

I finished it off quickly.

"Sesshomaru, she's awake," Inuyasha called out.

I quickly went over and sat beside Kagome. I noticed that Inuyasha hadn't touched his ramen.

"I was told that ramen was your favorite brother," I said, "Eat it, Kagome is safe."

He flushed slightly and took a small bite, not taking his gold eyes off Kagome. It was like he expected her to disappear if he didn't watch her.

Kagome turned her head towards me.

"Tell me what happened," I said softly.

"We escaped from a prison cell where he kept us. We found the jewel and took it, thinking it would help us to get away from Naraku, but he still came after us," she coughed and Inuyasha made her drink some water before she spoke again, "we ran out into the court yard and Naraku grabbed Megan. I tried to get to her to help her, but she used the jewel to make me escape."

"She used the power of the sacred jewel?" Inuyasha asked.

Kagome nodded softly, "She formed a wind that lifted me over the walls and carried me away. I was over the walls when I heard her scream…and then…the wind stopped and I fell to the ground."

I clenched my fists. Naraku must have hurt her to make her break her concentration…

I felt a tug on my sleeve and I turned to see Rin standing there, rubbing her eyes.

"I wanted to say good night Lord Sesshomaru," she yawned.

"Good night Rin," I said softly and patted her head.

She smiled and turned to go and sleep in a strange looking cloth thing that I had heard Sango call a sleeping bag.

"That girl," Kagome whispered.

When I turned to look at her I saw that her eyes were large and tears threatened to spill from them.

"What is it Kagome" Inuyasha grasped her hand tightly in his.

"Her name is Rin Isn't it?"

I nodded.

"Megan told me that Naraku had killed her. There was blood all over the front of her kimono," she whispered.

"Naraku did kill her," I said, "but I brought her back to life with my Tensaiga."

"Thank god," she said, "Megan was so devastated. She cried for hours…"

I immediately stood up and walked into the forest, ignoring the sound of Inuyasha calling me back.

I hated feeling so helpless…

I couldn't stand to think about it…

I just couldn't stand the thought of Megan sitting alone and cold in a cell, crying. I hated that she was in pain when I couldn't comfort her. When I couldn't protect her…

I had to get her back…