Hello once again! See how fast a few reviews can make me update? It's only Tuesday, and I was shooting for Thursday! So thank you all for reviewing! Your reviews make me feel... appreciated. They mean a lot to mean.

:Review Responses:

ohiowriter: Very happy! And my deadline is always Thursday/Friday. And I'm actually very good at keeping promises! Not to myself so much as to my readers! And I really hope you like the ideas in this chapter! Thank youfor reviewing!
fluffywuffers: lmao! Thank you for the hilarious review!
Kagamoesiun: I did! Here you go!
Moon Star2005: Really? Then thank you so much for reviewing! Here's the update you wanted!
zadeon: Got it right here! Enjoy!

:End Review Responses:

Thank you all! You have spurred me on to write this chapter sooner than planned! Now, here's my disclaimer.

:Disclaimer:

Akana: Hi, we don't own anyone.
Leiko: Even more hyper-less than last chapter... BECAUSE SESSHY'S RIGHT ON OUR TAIL!
Akana: W-Wait a minute! Lord Sesshoumaru, sir! I have to tell you something! If you read this chapter, then at the end, you'll really really like it! Promise!
Sesshoumaru: 'says nothing, but stops the chasing'
Leiko: 'sighs in relief' Good thing we decided to write the chapter like we did!
Akana: Definitely! 'whispers' At least we get a little rest before we have to start running again... Oh, stupid muse! Why must you make us write this?
Leiko: ... Because it's a semi-decent story with Sesshoumaru and Kagome in it, yet they're not together?
Akana: That's a good reason, I guess...

:End Disclaimer:

Okay, now you may read! Enjoy!

Chapter 7, A good person?

"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted, struggling to get away from Sesshoumaru. "Let me go! I have to see if he's okay!"

"The half breed will be fine," Sesshoumaru said coolly and calmly without even looking at her. She just ignored him and kept trying to escape, wanting desperately to be by Inuyasha's side now and to get back to her friends, who were already gone from her view.

Eventually Kagome gave up her kicking and screaming, realizing that it was futile to do so. Her shoulders sagged slightly as she resigned herself to whatever plans fate had in store for her. Or maybe not... A plan was forming in her head. This plan required much patience and time, but it was worth it, she felt, to be back with Inuyasha. Why she would want to go back to him when she could just as easily stay with the lord of hotness, I'll never know.

It was then that she realized he was actually injured. Perhaps he didn't act as fast as everyone thought. Perhaps Tenseiga stalled for a moment or two, just long enough for Inuyasha's attack to sneak in and do a little harm to Sesshoumaru.

The wounds weren't too serious to him, of course, but Kagome could tell that he was at least hurting a little. Living with a stubborn half demon taught her to look for the small, subtle differences in one's behavior that told they were in pain. She couldn't help but be a little worried, even though he'd kidnapped her. "Um... Sesshoumaru... You're hurt, aren't you?"

"No," he said flatly.

Kagome knew he was lying. "Yes you are and you know it! You should rest! It'll help!" Why do I even care? she wondered vaguely. She couldn't help it, though. She was just the kind of person who couldn't resist helping someone unless they were evil. Sesshoumaru, she knew, wasn't all bad. He had Rin in his care, didn't he?

"Mind your own business," he responded.

"I'm just trying to help!" Kagome shouted. She felt like she was arguing with Inuyasha; a much colder, quieter Inuyasha. She quickly bit her tongue, though, when she realized that it wasn't Inuyasha she was dealing with. This was Sesshoumaru; someone who could quite easily kill her, and most likely with no regrets. Her earlier assumption of him not being all bad fled from her when he gave her the cold-as-ice glare of his.

"You would be wise to say nothing more," he said with a simple yet threatening tone.

She nodded vaguely, feeling a shiver run down her spine. She'd come face-to-face with danger, danger that quite possibly and quite probably would've claimed her life, yet she'd never felt more afraid than she did now.

Jaken was confused as to his lord's behavior. Why did he not teach the girl a lesson? Rin, however, was too busy making flower rings of the flowers she'd collected to notice.

When Inuyasha finally opened his eyes hours later, his first word was "damn". He jumped up, ready to chase after Sesshoumaru, but immediately had to lie back down against the tree he'd been propped up against. He panted slightly, clutching his chest. It felt like a rib or two had cracked. Nothing for him to worry about... He tried to get back up, but two pairs of hands held him down.

"Just rest for now," Sango said kindly but firmly. She wanted to set out after Sesshoumaru too, but she knew that Inuyasha wouldn't be able to fight in his current condition.

"But, he has--"

"We know his intentions," Miroku interrupted, "and we know that Kagome is in no danger for now. Sesshoumaru's goal is to get Tetsusaiga, and he needs Kagome for that. He won't harm her, Inuyasha."

"We can't just give up!" he protested in anger. "I can't believe you two!" He tried to get up again, but the hands remained firmly in place to keep him from doing it.

"No one's giving up," Sango replied. "We all need sleep for now, Inuyasha. It's getting close to night right now. As soon as dawn comes, we'll start again."

He growled, but said nothing. He couldn't argue with that simple and truthful logic, especially when he knew he needed that sleep. He couldn't get guilt out of his head, though... If he hadn't fallen asleep that night, he could've stopped Sesshoumaru before he even got close to Kagome! He could've prevented everything by just staying awake for one night! It tore him up, and he knew he wouldn't be able to get any sleep for that night, no matter what.

Shippou came running up with one of Kagome's water bottles. "I got water from the -- Oh, you're awake." He sighed disappointedly, and Sango and Miroku cast nervous glances at each other.

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. "And just what were you planning on doing with that?" he asked in a low, dangerous voice.

"We were just going to --" Shippou was interrupted as Sango and Miroku clamped their hands over his mouth, nervous looks on their faces. Shippou dangled in the air, trying to get free.

"It's for you to drink!" Miroku hurriedly said.

"Oh, really?" Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, obviously not buying their story at all. "Then why didn't you want Shippou telling me?"

"Because!" Sango said, wracking her brain for an excuse. "We... uh... knew you wouldn't believe him! After all, you two fight all the time, and you might've thought he was lying or something!"

"That makes no sense at all." His eyes narrowed further as he glared at the monk and demon exterminator. "Tell me the truth, or I'll pound it out of you!"

Reluctantly, they let go of Shippou. "You see," Sango said, laughing nervously. "We really wanted you to wake up because we were very, very worried about your well-being, so..."

"We honestly wanted to know if you were hurt badly," Miroku put in, "so we'd decided that we would... Well..."

Shippou sighed. "We were going to pour water on you!" he finished.

Inuyasha balled his fist and sat up straight, ready to bop a few people in the head, but his chest started hurting and he lay back against the tree instead. "Keh," he said simply, disguising his hurt with an "I-don't-care" attitude. He'd rest for now, he decided. I'll sleep for now, but as soon as dawn breaks, we're leaving to find her, he promised to himself.

Kagome sighed, leaning against a tree. She occasionally glanced at Sesshoumaru, who was leaning against a tree on the other side of the clearing they all were in and had his eyes closed. Ah-Un was near a fire that Kagome had made, and Rin was leaning against him. Jaken was sitting on a short log next to the fire. Kagome sighed and looked up at the sky, watching the sun sink slowly in the west. When she looked back, the three by the fire were asleep. She couldn't tell about Sesshoumaru, though...

She looked around, noticing how different things appeared at night, even with the light from the fire illuminating everything. The woods all around seemed dark and foreboding. Unconsciously, Kagome inched towards the fire and away from the creepy forest at her back.

When she glanced at Sesshoumaru again, though, those thoughts were put aside. She couldn't help but worry about him, like she'd worry about any of her friends. Quietly, she stood started walking towards him, being careful not to step on any leaves or branches that would wake the others.

She kneeled by him cautiously. "I know you're awake," she whispered, feeling a little afraid. She grew bolder at the sound of her own voice, however, and repeated the statement firmly.

He opened his eyes slowly and stared at her. "What?" he asked, the coldness never leaving his voice.

"You got hurt earlier," Kagome said, "and... Well, I can't help but wonder if you're okay."

He closed his eyes again. "Why do you care?"

"I don't really know," she admitted, looking at the ground, hoping it held some answers for her. "I just know that I don't want you to be hurt." She raised her gaze to him. He hadn't moved an inch. "Maybe... Maybe I just know that you're a good person deep down inside, no matter how hard you try and hide it." She waited for a response, but none came. "Well? Don't you have anything to say?" She slightly huffed and stood up again. "Fine. I'm going to sleep now. Good night." She stomped back to her tree and lay against it, crossing her arms grumpily.

Long after she was asleep, long after midnight, Sesshoumaru still sat awake, Kagome's words echoed in his mind. Hmph. She doesn't know what she's saying. I, Sesshoumaru, am not a good person.

Maybe if you all review, I will update in a few days like I did with this chapter! If not, then expect the update next Tuesday/Wednesday. I changed it so will be a week at maximum that you have to wait for it. So, please review!