Disclaimer: See my bio.

Here's the chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 13 - Fear

Kamihana

I gaped at the guy, feeling the blood rush to my face. Next to me, I heard Sesshoumaru growl, and in the corner of my eye, red anger streaked across his aura. I wondered vaguely why he would be angry, but couldn't come up with an answer. Then again, that may have just been my fear clouding my mind.

My lessons were forgotten as I tried to pull away. The man was obviously drunk. He was so close I could smell his breath even with my dull senses. I didn't even want to know what he would smell like if I had Sesshoumaru's senses. Hell, I didn't even want to know what he would smell like with Jaken's senses!

His breath caressed my cheek. His aura was a sickly maroon mixed with forest green. There was dark haze covering most of it, signifying the man's complete drunkenness. I wanted to hurl as I looked at him. My ruby eyes narrowed and I growled softly. Surprisingly, the growl magnified, due to the fact that Sesshoumaru had done it with me.

The man took no notice. He merely smiled crookedly, showing off his bad cavity-ridden teeth. I recoiled, but with his hand still holding my wrist firmly, there wasn't much I could do. I backed up against the alley wall, noticing that we were out of sight from the main street.

My eyes widened and terror started to grip me and my thoughts started to become hazy. The man smirked at me.

"Now, now, this won't hurt a bit," he cooed. One arm still holding onto my wrist, he placed his other hand next to my head on the wall behind me. A sneer flitted across his features as Sesshoumaru snarled again, this time more viciously.

I pressed against the wall, wanting to just sink into it. My body wouldn't obey me. I knew I was radiating terror and I could tell Sesshoumaru could smell it. His snarls grew more and more menacing. His lips curled back and rows of sharp teeth caught the light. He looked more like a wolf than the domestic puppy he was supposed to be.

The man finally grew tired of the noise. I could tell when his face, bare inches from mine, drew back and scowled at Sesshoumaru. His hand flew to his hip and drew out a small metal machine that I was all too familiar with.

He had pulled out a gun. And the barrel was set on Sesshoumaru's heart.

Sesshoumaru

I had been startled when the strange man had come out of nowhere. From the scent coming from Kamia, I could tell she was too. I frowned mentally when the man grabbed her hand. Bad enough that idiot boy had been fawning all over her, though I really had no idea why I acting so possessive. I just was.

Slight fear spiked through her scent and I growled softly. Due to Kamia's wishes, though I did think they were rather stupid, I would not attack, but if he went to far…

I watched as she backed away, each step leading her farther and farther from the relative safety of the open street. I tried to get through to her mind, but found the way blocked by her terror and, surprisingly, my own anger.

She had bumped against a wall. Now, terror and fear were dominating her scent. The sweet rose had disappeared. The smell made my nose itch and I wanted to banish it badly, mainly for the sake of my sense of smell.

The man pushed his face closer to hers. I snarled again, but he took no notice. Kamia was practically radiating terror now. I could smell it. My lips pulled back from my teeth, my eyes tinged slightly red. My hackles were raised and my fur was bristling.

The man finally turned around, expression annoyed. He reached to his hip for something and pulled out what looked like a black tube attached to a handle with some sort of trigger. I saw her eyes widen with recognition.

What happened next was nothing I'd ever like to repeat. There was a loud bang. Coupled with Kamia's scream of horror, my senses were overloaded and I experienced some disorientation.

That's when the thing hit.

Kamihana

I screamed.

My mind screamed.

No! This can't be happening!

But it was.

The man turned back to me, a triumphant, sick smile twisting his lips. "There," he said. "No more interruptions now."

I stared at Sesshoumaru's body. It didn't move. My face contorted my rage. My eyes were partly covered by my bangs.

No one… No one… hurt my friends and got away with it.

The man backed away a little, surprised at my sudden change. My eyes lifted and locked with his. I felt my blood boil and my fingernails sharpen slightly. I knew what was happening and I didn't care. My eyes were now purged of their ruby essence, painted over with blood. My senses sharpened. My teeth lengthened into fangs and I felt power course through my veins.

With a guttural snarl I launched myself, at him, hand raised. I brought it down on his head.

Landing a good two feet away, I heard the impact his body made on the ground. Looking at my now sullied hands my rage faded. I trembled. What had I done?

"I killed him…" I whispered. Trying to justify my actions, I said, "But he killed Sesshoumaru first…"

Sesshoumaru…

I whirled and raced back to his side. Landing on my knees, not caring about the mud, I surveyed the situation, trying to battle my inner fear.

Red mixed my brown as his blood seeped slowly from the wound. I sighed with relief when I felt a pulse and saw that the bullet had hit below the heart.

He had a chance.

I shed my outer jacket, ignoring the sudden chill. I picked him up gently. He was Taiyoukai with much strength and power, along with amazing self-healing abilities, but I knew he'd never seen a gun before. Much less been hit with one. Plus lead poisoning…

I pushed people aside with a hurried apology as I raced back home. Back to that closet.

Reaching my house, my jacket was already completely soaked in Sesshoumaru's blood. I raced upstairs, and threw the closet doors open.

If Kagome can't heal him, I vowed grimly as I climbed up the side of the well, then I'll ask Kaede. If she can't then I'll ask Kikyo. And if she can't… I'll travel to Hell to find someone who can.

But no matter what, I won't let him die.

Cliffie again! (grins) Review please!

Thanks to Risika Tziporah, oblivionknight7, Lelyn Black, Sesshy-chansbestpal, zaleone.

Thank you for your reviews.