A/N - O.O Wow. I got 38 reviews for that last chapter. sniff sniff I love you guys!

Garden (2)

Burn your empty rain down on me
Whisper your deathbeat so softly
We bend our knees
At the altar of my ego
Marilyn Manson

The world was awash in splotches of blurred green and blue, only to be drawn back into blackness when she fell back into unconsciousness.

In one of the few moments when she was partially aware, she felt a strong grip on her hand. She was too weak to turn her head, but she was sure of whom it was.

She felt cold compresses sticking to her forehead. Her whole body was thick with the hot fever, but she felt herself shivering.

Whenever she tried to open her eyes, the world swayed and turned, urging them closed again.

More than once she tried to open her mouth. Tell them what she was thinking. 'I'm dying!'

XoXoXoX

Sesshoumaru could feel the hot fury drifting off of his brother in waves. They sat in his throne room, Sesshoumaru taking his usual position in the high-backed chair, and Inuyasha sitting on the floor a little ways in front of him. The stubborn hanyou had refused any chair that he was offered, mumbling under his breath. Jaken had been wise, for once, and had asked to take both of their swords. Inuyasha was hesitant at first, but a glance at Sesshoumaru proved that his brother had no intention of taking the sword any more. There were more pressing matters at hand. Now they sat in tense silence, wondering who was going to break and speak first. Sesshoumaru grew tired of this game and broke the stillness.

"Naraku will challenge us any minute." he said, trying to shove the voice of reason into his brother's head. It didn't seem to help. Inuyasha sat stubbornly still, refusing to look at his brother.

"You're pathetic." Inuyasha said, almost so silent that Sesshoumaru couldn't hear him. His words silenced anything that the older brother was about to say. Sesshoumaru looked at him, debating or whether or not to question him or kill him for his insolence. He took the former option.

"And why is that, dear brother?"

"You don't even care about her." Inuyasha snorted. He stood up from his position on the floor and walked closer to his brother. Sesshoumaru gripped the armrests, trying to keep his temper down. Inuyasha knew nothing of how he felt about Kagome. He wasn't even sure himself. "You slept with her and you don't even care one bit about her. Why did you do it?" he asked. Sesshoumaru turned his face so he could better look into the gold globes of his brothers eyes, so like his own but so different as well. He stood up, making Inuyasha have to look up at him. It made him more comfortable to be dominant. He began to walk away, wanting nothing more than to be out of the room. He didn't like all of this moral judgement. "Well, are you gonna answer me?" he heard his brother demand. He turned and looked at Inuyasha.

"I don't think you really want the answer." he said softly, turning again to walk to the door and leave the room.

"We're leaving." Inuyasha said. Sesshoumaru tensed, his body still with disbelief. He let himself take a deep breath and then turned around, making his face change back into the cool mask that he always displayed.

"What do you mean? Naraku-"

"Can go to hell for all I care. I'm taking Kagome, going to find Miroku and Sango, and we're leaving. Deal with him on your own. A powerful demon 'lord' like yourself should have no problem with him." he said, obvious disgust leaking into his voice. Sesshoumaru was stunned. Not by his brother's sudden plot to leave the whole problem on his shoulders, but because he didn't want Kagome to leave…until she was well, of course.

"I don't think the girl is in any position to travel." he reasoned, turning around once again, trying to act nonchalant about the situation.

"I'll carry her and then she can ride on Kirara."

"Fine. When she dies from infection from the road, don't dare come back here." Sesshoumaru spat, reaching for the door handle.

"What did she do to you, Sesshoumaru, to deserve such treatment?" Inuyasha asked. Sesshoumaru, his door on the handle, made sure that Inuyasha couldn't hear him before he said,

"She made my heart beat faster."

XoXoXoX

"If you want to stop, just say so."

"I'm fine, really." Sango said. Her fever had long been broken and her wound was beginning to itch, telling her it was healing. She walked next to Miroku, leaning heavily on Kirara. The road was bumpy and whenever she stepped on a rock or a root, pain would shoot up and down her body, but she was determined to get to Sesshoumaru's palace, determined to help Inuyasha and Kagome. "Do you think they're alright?" she asked. Miroku sighed and shrugged.

"I don't know. If Naraku hasn't gotten to them yet, I think they'll be okay." he said trying to reassure her.

"I guess so. But let's try to get there as soon as possible."

XoXoXoX

Her skin was cool and clammy. He picked up her hand and held it, rubbing it lightly to urge warmth back into her flesh. His eyes glanced over to the figure of Rin. The girl had broken into hysterics when she thought that her new 'lady-friend' had died and she hadn't left her side since. Now she was huddled by the edge of the bed, exhaustion finally taking her over.

Sesshoumaru stood and leaned over Kagome. He reached a hand down and pushed sweaty hair out of her face. He straightened and then picked up Rin, ready to give her to Jaken so that she could go and sleep in her own bed.

When he turned around he saw that his brother had appeared behind him, confusion evident on his face.

"You don't really care…do you?" he asked. Sesshoumaru's only answer was a light sigh. The older brother walked out the door, Rin still in his arms.

Inuyasha walked over to Kagome, the heavy weight of the Tetsusaiga attached to his side giving him comfort. Jaken had given him back his sword after he said that he was leaving. The toad seemed very happy about his sudden departure.

Inuyasha made sure that her purple kimono was tied tight. When he got closer to her his nose crinkled. He could smell Sesshoumaru all over her. His scent clung to her hair and flesh and overpowered him with jealousy for a few moments. He shook the feeling off and gently pulled the silk sheet off of her, careful not to disturb her too much. When the sheet came off he reached his arms under her neck and under her knees. He lifted her up slowly. She muttered a few noises of protest, but he was soon standing with her in his arms.

Sesshoumaru watched from the balcony as Inuyasha walked out the back door, stealing away in the night to hide from Naraku.

He had to grab onto the banister to keep from breaking something.

XoXoXoX

"Sango hide, there's something out there!" Miroku whispered to Sango, she refused to hide, but she did step back, letting herself be sandwiched between Miroku and Kirara.

Miroku let his hand fiddle with the rosary around his wrist, all but ready to unleash the Wind Tunnel should they find themselves under attack.

"Who are you?" he called. He could see the faint form out in the distance, but the night had reduced it to nothing more than a shadow.

"It's just us." he heard a gruff voice. He let out a sigh and walked forward. When he got close enough the moonlight shone on the figure of Inuyasha walking forward with Kagome in his arms.

"Kagome!" Sango called, catching up with Miroku. She stopped when she saw the bandage wrapped around her chest, visible through the loose fitting kimono. "What happened? Did Sesshoumaru…" she trailed off, anger coursing through her. She couldn't believe that Sesshoumaru could do such a thing.

"No it wasn't him. I did it. It was an accident." Inuyasha said, walking into the clearing he had used only days ago to make camp. He sat Kagome down sat beside her. The rest of the group followed suit and sat down.

"So, what happened?" Miroku asked. It was obvious that he really meant 'How could you possibly maim the girl you went to save?'. Inuyasha looked at him, debating on whether or not to tell him the whole story.

"I got angry. I was sloppy and she got hurt because of it." he said quietly, hoping that would be enough to satiate them. But of course Shippo had no intention of letting that comment go unquestioned.

"Well why were you angry?" he asked. Inuyasha growled at him, but figured that since the question was out there, he may as well tell them the whole story.

"When I got there, they were in bed…together." he said. Miroku looked at him wide-eyed and Sango's jaw dropped. Shippo, who wasn't exactly sure what that meant, feigned shock since he knew that Inuyasha probably wouldn't want to repeat himself. He would get Miroku to explain to him later.

"Wow. I never would have believed she would do that…" Sango said, still shocked. She looked over at her friend, thin tendrils of disgust creeping into her, even though she hated them. She didn't like the idea of her friend sleeping with the enemy.

Inuyasha was about to speak again, but Kagome stirred against him. She was still in the throes of the fever, but she began to mumble under her breath, so softly it was almost impossible to hear.

"What is she saying?" Shippo asked. They listened intently. Finally she began to get a little louder.

"Se…Sess…Sesshoumaru." she called, then she fell quiet again. Sango felt sadness wash over her when she saw the hurt on Inuyasha's face.

XoXoXoX

"Naraku."

"Hold on."

"Naraku!" Kagura said again. The man in question was kicking at dead bodies, victims of some bloodthirsty demon that was too hasty to eat them all. "You may want to hear this." she said, tired of having to wait for him to find what he was looking for. They had been standing amongst dead bodies much longer than she wanted, and she wanted to just tell him her news and then leave.

"Found it." he said, bending down. He reached into some dead person's mouth and pulled out a jewel shard. "Now what did you wish to tell me, Kagura?" he asked.

"Inuyasha just left Sesshoumaru's palace." she said, ready to jump out of the way in case he should decide to take his anger out on her.

"What?" he asked, unbelieving.

"Inuyasha just left. With that human girl. Sesshoumaru let them go." was all she had a chance to say before Naraku had vanished, no doubt to go and fight with Sesshoumaru. Kagura sighed and began to walk out of the field, choosing not to fly since she needed to think. Walking always helped her think. 'I know that Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru, teamed up, can beat Naraku.' she thought, 'And then I'll be free.' She couldn't help the thought from seeping into her head. She wanted nothing more than to be free, to be able to live her own life away from Naraku.

And she knew that the brothers could help her in that plan.

She smiled as she plotted.

"I'll be free."

XoXoXoX

A/N - I already have part of the next chapter written out so you can expect that one up within the next day or so. Now go and review! Oh and don't worry, this story isn't ending any time soon. I have way too many ideas for it. Lol. Thanks for reading…………………..now………….review!

Oh and if any of you guys out there like the anime 'Fullmetal Alchemist' then watch out for my new fic soon! Any ideas for it?