Chapter Six

His anger boiled ruthlessly. His eyes weren't opening and, quite frankly, it was pissing him off. His body felt slightly weak, but no match to what state it had been in earlier. Though that didn't stop the black scowl from crossing his features, however good the news was. A muscle in his cheek twitched angrily, invisible to the naked eye, as his jaw clenched.

His face felt damp to the touch, making the air about him seem far more chilled than it normally would to him. Sesshoumaru started to become furious with whatever it was, for the wetness didn't stop at his face. Instead it continued down his body, first his one arm, then his chest. He was somewhat thankful it didn't continue past his well toned stomach, for his anger would be beyond control if it had.

No one dared to touch him.

After a time of being still, he started to squirm under the cool dampness, though barely. He became uncomfortable, though he hated to admit, and he was…cold. The demon lord stiffened. He was never cold, only when he was extremely vulnerable. That made him all the more eager to awaken.

His ears suddenly became alive and useful once more as a sound swept gently around the air. Sesshoumaru felt slightly relieved, though more cautious now than ever. It vibrated softly in his keen ears as his wit started to reform within his mind. At last, his sleepy senses was no longer so dull and the demon finally identified the noise.

Humming and the sound of water somewhere.

The strange wetness finally left his skin and it was then that Sesshoumaru chose to open his amber hardened eyes. The demon lord stilled his body instantly, tensed and taunt as a bow's string. Jaw once again clenched, he stared with growing hatred for the girl he had threatened never to touch him.

Kagome sat cross legged to his left side as he lay on a hard wood floor, his kimono pulled open so his chest lay bare to her. His right and only arm was pulled out of its resting spot in his sleeve, the appendage lying delicately on the young human's lap. She sat close to him, her shins pressed lightly against his side.

Sesshoumaru felt absolutely violated by the wench, though he didn't move from his resting place. He watched her like a hawk, observing that she had a clay vase next to her filled with clean water. She was dipping a red cloth into the liquid at the moment, completely oblivious to the demonic eyes that glowered her.

She started to turn back to him and he quickly closed his eyes again, allowing himself to feign sleep. Kagome continued with her treatment, brushing the cool cloth against his brow and then traveled south down his body. The water, the lord suddenly realized, was cooling him down, though he felt cooled enough as it was.

Once he was certain she was turned away again, he once again gazed at his surroundings. His gold kissed orbs caught sight of Rin easily in the corner of what he assumed was a broken down human hut. The place was dank and dim, though Sesshoumaru could see perfectly well within the darkness.

He silently examined his ward, realizing she lay awake staring at the ceiling. Her hands lifted above her and waved through the icy air, her child's mind probably making up some imaginary game to keep herself occupied. Next to her lay leafs of what he identified as Aloe Vera, the plant holding some bite marks that looked like human teeth.

A gasp above him brought his gaze back to regard the woman coldly. The red cloth was back in her hand, freshly cleaned and ready for more treatment. For the first time, Sesshoumaru noticed that the red scarf attached to her garments was missing. His bright eyes took in the cloth's appearance in the girl's hand and quickly identified it as that same scarf.

Brown eyes looked into the demon's golden orbs as she froze. Kagome swallowed hard as the intensity of his leer did not waver, but instead stared at her red scarf she held within her cold grasp. Kagome felt tempted to start moving her hand around, almost expecting his eyes to follow.

His eyes slowly started to darken into a scowl, his lips pressing tightly together as his jaw clenched and unclenched. 'Crap,' Kagome thought desperately. 'He's really mad.' As if to justify her assumption, the angered stare sharply turned to glare at her. Kagome quickly tried to say something, but his hoarse words cut her off.

"Wench," he growled weakly. "What do you think you're doing?" Kagome could tell by his tone he desired no answer, but an action. Though, as smart as she was, Kagome dared not guess what it was he wanted. Instead she remained still, waiting for his command.

Fangs suddenly gleaming in the darkness, Sesshoumaru's claws struck the ground and pierced into the old warped wood with a fit of rage. "Back away from me girl, least you lose your head." She eagerly complied as he raised himself shakily up onto his only elbow. Kagome almost succeeded in fully backing away from him, but the wall stopped her. In a panic, Kagome made a mad dash around the demon lord to the corner Rin occupied, farthest away from his being.

Rage tore at him with razors, his pride suffering the blunt of the blows. 'Disgusting,' he snarled within his mind. A human had touched him. His hardened gaze fell to look down at his chest and arm. Makeshift bandages adorned him almost everywhere and he had to wonder how long he was unconscious.

'Far too long,' he grumbled to himself.

Slowly, unsure of his waning strength, Sesshoumaru started to push himself up into a sitting position. Once he was seated, he tried immediately to control his harsh breathing, thoroughly grateful it was silent. With the same speed, he scooted himself weakly into the darkest corner of the small hut. Thankfully, still far away from the girl.

Kagome watched in fear and awe as he faded into the shadows, completely out of view. Had she not known he was there, she would have believed only her and Rin were the only ones in the shelter. She was suddenly reminded of all the times Sesshoumaru had appeared out of the forest, completely unseen until he stepped into the light.

She had no doubt that if Sesshoumaru wished not to be seen, then he would not be.

With darkness Sesshoumaru was greatly eased of the tension in his body. He could feel the girl's eyes searching for him in the shadows, smirking when she could not find him. With a sneer he leaned against the wall, arm on his propped up knee. No, she never would find him here. Her vision was too poor to be able to fulfill her hunt of him.

With practiced patience, making sure the girl still could not see him; he placed the back of his hand on his forehead. His amber eyes widened slightly as he found the skin hot and smothered in a light sweat. Sesshoumaru looked down as he laid his hand on his chest, finding the same perspiration coating it.

Thoughtfully he turned his head to watch the girl with a new light, though still slightly ruffled by her attention upon his person. Gold steel flamed with curiosity as he regarded the younger human with slightly more respect and wariness. She was smarter than he would care to admit to, but he was slightly doubtful of her judgment. Who would save their enemy?

Kagome could almost feel Sesshoumaru's gaze as she tried to bring Rin back into sanity. Her control and concentration was sorely tested under his sharp vigilance, and she was failing miserably to steady her hands as she stroked the child's head. Her brown iris glinted in the faint light from outside as she gazed out of the corner of her eye, trying to catch sight of the demon lord.

Within the silence of the broken hut, the tension between human and demon drew. Little Rin dozed in Kagome's lap, unaware that tempers and fears grew as the clouds darkened with fading light. Kagome tried desperately to find some excuse to leave them, to find Inuyasha, or to just escape to the outside world for a moment's peace.

Her chocolate orbs glinted as she looked at her supplies. It wasn't much, but it was enough for her and the little girl. Some fruit and fresh water, some blankets, and makeshift bandages were all present beside the Aloe Vera. Kagome could find no way Sesshoumaru could be convinced of her departure as to get supplies and even then there was always the threat of him simply refusing to let her go.

Absently, Kagome rubbed a deep gash in her arm as she stared at the food on the floor, blissfully unaware of the pain the wound still suffered. She barely noticed when her demon companion moved from his dank sanctuary to once again reside within the light. Amber eyes aglow with pride and honor, he waited for her undivided attention.

"What are you intending?"

Kagome nearly leapt out of her skin when his deep voice shot through her thoughts. Whirling to face the dark corner, Kagome gasped when she found him in the opposite side of the hut, bathed in gray light from the clouds overhead. He sat casually across from the corner he had occupied, unaffected by her startled manner, and stared at her with cold eyes as he waited for an answer.

Kagome stuttered to comply, but found her tongue caught by the cat. He was as handsome as anyone could ever be, and Kagome tried to look away from his golden eyes. His pale skin looked gray in the bland rays, his hair more white and his eyes only seemed to pierce through the space between them with even more intensity than she could comprehend. With the blood washed away from his body, he looked all the more godly in the pathetic shelter. It was like a black and white movie, everything one shade or the other, but Sesshoumaru's golden eyes failed to dim within the boring background. They stared and calculated with yellow fire in their depths and snared her absolute attention.

With deliberate slowness, his demonic eyes traveled to her wounded arm, staring at the red blood that marred the pale flesh. In the weak brightness of the world around them, the life giving liquid seemed almost black. Kagome suddenly understood what he was asking about, but didn't understand what he meant by 'intending'.

"Huh?"

His furiously bright eyes slid up to gaze boldly into her own, the amber laced with boredom and indifference. "By leaving your wounds unattended, you reveal yourself vulnerable to infection and illness. I was merely curious as to why you would care so little for your own state of health when you cared so much for mine," he said simply. His right shoulder lifted in a small, incoherent shrug.

"Humans seem so willing to do anything for their own self-preservation."

Kagome could only stare at him. She blinked once. Twice. "I guess I was just worried, was all." She limited her answer to the lord, afraid to say more. Her self-created image of Sesshoumaru was drastically changing because of what he had said. Kagome had never heard him speak so much at one time, to her, no less. It must have been a mouthful for him, and it startled her.

The demon's head slowly tilted to one side, as if to ask 'Why?'. Again, she was shocked. It was obvious that Sesshoumaru did not intend to say more, yet his curiosity and caution seemed to be getting the better of him. Yet, Kagome said no more to the stoic lord.

She was genuinely surprised by the man -demon- and quickly turned away before it showed on her face. Kagome calmly reached for the bandages, hoping to heal her own wounds before much longer. She felt his eyes follow her hand, keeping a deadly eye on her every move. It was apparent that he did not trust her, did not like her, so Kagome decided not to move toward him for the vase of water and her scarf.

Sesshoumaru watched her as she started bandaging her own wounds, he felt suddenly disgusted and amused. She was not washing her injures, which meant they were most likely to get tainted. The water was right before him, almost touching his shoed foot, but it seemed as though the girl was reluctant to come nearer. He didn't blame her.

Sesshoumaru smirked as Kagome concentrated on herself, amused that he had shaken her so badly with his small display of temper. The human had seen up-close and personal what he could still do in his time of weakness and she seemed to fear for her own safety. The only way for her to be safe in his presence would be farther away, and she wasn't going to risk that safety by coming any closer to him.

"You are going to get infected," he taunted smugly, though his face and tone remained carefully blank. Brown eyes looked up to glare heatedly back at him, the lord's eyes glowing with suppressed mirth.

'Butthead.'Kagome seethed with anger at his arrogance, feeling scathed by his light and hidden insult. He knew she was afraid to come near him and was making fun of her for it. With sudden determination to prove him wrong, Kagome started unwrapping her just applied bandages. He quirked a fine eyebrow at her antics, further amused by them.

As Kagome was once again free of her wrapping, she gently lifted Rin's little head from her lap. Carefully, she set the child's head down on the ground, patting the slightly matted hair. Looking up to the demon lord once more, Kagome gulped.

He seemed closer to the water and cloth now, as if taunting her further. His eyes read 'Come and get it', mischief flashing in the golden depths. Did she really want to go near him? 'For all I know, he could still be really mad. He could just want me to come closer to him so he can get me but…I really need that water. I don't want to get an infection; Inuyasha will kill me if I do…'

Taking a deep breath, Kagome started to slowly crawl toward the demon lord and her water, as speedy as a snail. She watched his face for any movement, any emotion, but so far none had crossed his face. His body language didn't change, didn't tell her of his anger or threat to hurt her, so she continued forward. More sure of herself, Kagome quickened her pace.

Taking one last look at Sesshoumaru, she reached for the water vase.

Inuyasha started when a shriek suddenly pierced the forest air. Ears twitching, he winced at the sharpness of the sound, trying to identify who or what it came from. Sango walked up to him quickly, waiting for his answer to the scream, what they should do. Her dark hair stuck to her face in wisps, the humidity in the damp air making them feel wet and sweaty.

They had been at it almost all day, searching for Kagome. When Inuyasha realized that she hadn't gone to the well, he had gone into a panic. They had left immediately to hunt for their young friend, but to no avail. They still had not found Kagome.

The tension between the group seemed to have grown without the accompaniment of either Kagome or Shippo. Shippo and Kirara had stayed with Kaede this time, weak and sick form the last time they had left the village. Inuyasha had refused to take the kitsune with them, if only for the reason that he would slow their search down, and Kirara merely chose to stay with him.

Miroku suddenly walked up beside her, making Sango cautious of his actions. She had no intention of letting him grope her again, what he had been doing often lately, and couldn't help but try and keep her shapely backside away from his unholy hands. Miroku didn't seem to notice and with eagerness asked the hanyou.

"Inuyasha, what was that-"

"KAGOME!"

Miroku's mouth snapped shut, his staff jingling as he turned to watch the red and white figure bound off in the direction of the scream. He quickly looked at Sango but she, too, was already sprinting after Inuyasha. With a sigh of exhaustion, the monk quickly followed.

Kagome quickly cut off anymore sound that threatened to escape her mouth. Her hand started to shake violently as it grasped the vase's edge, the tips of her fingers barely touching the cool water within. Silent, hyperventilating gasps escaped the confines of her mouth and she tried desperately not to show her sudden fear.

Sesshoumaru's claws bit warningly into the skin of her chest, right over her thudding heart, as he pulled her closer to him. When he had lashed out at her, Kagome had expected him to slice her head off or grasp onto her shirt for leverage, but he had done neither. Instead, his claws had come up under her body, paralyzing her and annihilating anyway for her to move away without her heart becoming impaled by one of his natural blades.

Like an obedient slave, Kagome leaned forward as he did the same, coming uncomfortably close to her person. Silver hair fell from his broad, muscular shoulders as he bent so his lips were by her ear.

His hair glinted in the light, catching and holding her gaze much like the lord himself had done earlier. It was so weightless, looked so silky even in its slightly bloody state that Kagome suddenly ached to touch it, to touch him. In all her life, she had never seen a more godly being than Sesshoumaru. His power and relationship with his brother kept her away from him, but mere his presence seemed to beckon her undivided attention.

It hadn't taken Kagome long to realize that Sesshoumaru was almost unreal. He was beautiful, and though he walked this Earth, was all the more unattainable. He was a being that wasn't supposed to be touched, to be marred, though his personality had done much to stain his reputation in her eyes.

At battles when he fought with Inuyasha, Kagome believed that the only thing she craved was to reach out and touch him, to make him seem that, yes, you can touch him, and he is real. Yet at other times he was so scary, so ungodly that he was the Devil himself in her vision.

This exactly was what she felt toward him now.

Hot breath caressed the shell of her ear and Kagome shuddered because of it. Her nerves were on edge and buzzing with anxiety, the lord's mere proximity shooting her heart into a nervous frenzy. With one last gasp of air, she held her breath, awaiting her utter demise.

"I had warned you before, human, that I do not wish to be touched. I grow tired of reminding you of your place within my presence," he whispered. "The next time you lay your hands on my person, I will kill you."

Kagome gasped as her breath ran short, fear shooting up her spine. Her eyes darted to the hole he had made in the wood flooring. Though warped it was, he still had broken it. If he could do that to wood, he would definitely be able to hurt her. "B-But you had a fever and-"

"No," he quickly interrupted. "My body was merely pressured with healing my wounds. I was unusually warm because the lack of my body's attention upon my temperature." He jerked her forward slightly, his claws pinching painfully into her chest. "Your intentions might have been for good, girl, but I will not have you touching me again."

Suddenly, he tensed. Kagome waited for pain to come, afraid she had upset him too much to keep his word on not killing her. He said he wouldn't kill her…but he never said he wouldn't hurt her.

With strength Kagome hadn't known he had recovered, he tossed her easily to the other side of the hut. Away from him, Rin, and the water. "Get out of my site," he suddenly growled. "My brother comes and I have no desire to fight more today."

It took a moment for Kagome's mind to register what he was saying, but as he started to glare at her, her mind clicked. 'Inuyasha!' With a start, she quickly got to her feet, wobbling slightly as she became slightly dizzy. 'Easy,' her mind chided, 'don't want to faint. Just take baby steps…baby steps…'

Before long, Kagome was out of the broken down hut, though still slow. She was slightly surprised that Sesshoumaru hadn't yelled at her to hurry, but that wouldn't be right for him. Sesshoumaru rarely yelled and he wasn't afraid of Inuyasha, so there was no reason for him to bark out orders and insults. Though…he had said that he didn't want to fight…

Before Kagome could stop herself, she was suddenly sliding. With a distressed wail, her feet slipped on the sloppy mud and Kagome tumbled into the freezing water of the creek close to the broken hut. A loud gasp issued forth as the cold water splashed against her torn skin, her whole body flopping into the wetness.

Like a startled hen, Kagome squawked in her rush to reach the other side of the small stream, seeming to fly up the shore. Once on slightly dry ground, as dry as rain soaked ground could get, she didn't stop her flight. Anxious to be with her friends again, to be safe and warm and bandaged, she rushed forward.

Wet grass swished and squeaked against the pressure of her weight, but she took little heed. Kagome suddenly wanted to be as far away from Sesshoumaru as she possibly could be. To escape those molten eyes that she could still feel watching her, to get away from his dangerous and suffocating essence.

She now understood why many people and demons alike feared the Great Lord of the West. If he didn't kill you with his Toukijin, claws, or anything else, then surely he would kill your will if you remained in his company. He had such power, such inhuman qualities that screamed of menace and lack of mercy. It was almost impossible to fight against his wishes, let alone fight for your own. The fear was too great.

'Then,' Kagome continued, 'if that didn't get to you, then his attitude will kill any cheerful mood.' With adrenalin pulsing through Kagome's tired body, she continued to tread forward, unaware of where she was going. All that mattered to her at the moment was getting out of Sesshoumaru's view, for she was sure he could still see her through the large missing part of the hut. She could feel it.

"Kagome!"

Inuyasha bounded toward the soaking girl, relief flooding his senses. Kagome looked up, fear flashing in her eyes for a moment, before a grin spread across her tired face. "Inuyasha!"

Kagome turned swiftly to the hanyou, running to him and throwing her arms around his heated neck. He was so warm; she couldn't help but take great delight in his strong, hesitant embrace. She was so cold that Kagome swore she was going to freeze into ice if she hadn't wrapped her arms around Inuyasha.

Inuyasha suddenly drew back from her chilled body, looking at her sternly. "Where the hell have you been? You should know better than to run off like that!" Kagome merely smiled at him, unscathed by his lecturing as Sango and Miroku burst from the shrubs in a full, exhausted sprint.

"Sango! Miroku!"

Miroku looked up, startled as he tried to catch his breath, however cold it was. His hands on his knees, hair sticking to the sides of his face, eyes wide, he gapped at her appearance in great concern. "Kagome! Are you all right?"

Sango was already walking to the girl in great haste, worry etched onto her young features. "Kagome, what happened to you? Your clothes are all torn and bloody-"

"Damn it, Kagome! You're bleeding all over the place," Inuyasha interrupted with a shout of irritation. By then, Miroku and weakly walked to the circle that was starting to form around Kagome. The monk was clearly burdened with great fatigue, though he held on nonetheless.

Kagome lowered her head, still feeling Sesshoumaru's gaze on her back. It seemed to sear her flesh with its intense distrust and loathing, causing Kagome to shudder. With a look of major discomfort, she looked up pleadingly at all of her friends.

"Please…can we just get out of here for a sec? I really don't feel good…" Kagome inwardly winced at her statement. Though it was the truth, she couldn't seem to be able to banish the dishonest feeling she got within her belly. "I got hurt pretty badly back there."

Before Inuyasha could open his mouth and demand his answers now, Miroku interrupted. "Of course, Kagome. I'm sure you will tell us what happened to you as soon as you are able to rest." Kagome smiled at him. 'Thanks Miroku.'

With a huff and few complaints, mostly from Inuyasha, the little group started back toward Kaede's village, which was farther away than Kagome had come to believe. Still, as they walked away from Kagome's temporary sanctuary, she couldn't shake the distinct feeling of golden eyes watching her.

Note: FINALLY! I LIIIIIIVE! Okay, anyway, I'm SO sorry! I didn't mean to take THAT long to update! I have predicted that this story is going to have about 22 or 23 chapters. It's just a guess, but that's what I shooting for. WHATEVER! Somewhere in the twenties hopefully. I tried to make Sesshoumaru as Sesshoumaru as he could possibly be, but when I think about it, it's really hard to portray his icy character. I'm happy and goofy and warm-hearted, so he's like the exact opposite of me. Anyway, thanks for not coming after me in a mob! I appreciate it!

'Thoughts'

"Talking"

Loves to all,

Frozen