Kikyo re-entered the small hut after she knew Sango had fallen asleep. She watched as the girl as she slept. 'You should bring him...' She thought to herself. Kikyo could she feel pain when she thought of Inu-Yasha. But her thoughts were interrupted by her young messenger boy.

"Lady Kikyo...a demon!" He huffed. Kikyo stood up in one swift movement, rather like a geisha. On her way out, she grabbed her bow and quiver of arrows. The noise woke the sleeping slayer, who naturally could feel the danger in the air.

Lord Sesshomaru stood at the edge of the village. He glanced at the warriors who had raised weapons and pointed them at him.

"Pathetic." Was the only word issued from his mouth as he used his poison claw attack to kill the weak mortals who blocked his path.

"Good job, milord!" Jaken cried, jumping up and down. In his glee he hadn't noticed his Master's sudden stillness.

"Leave my village." Kikyo's stone-cold voice whispered as she pointed her sacred arrow at his heart, or where his heart would be if he was human.

"Why should I?" No emotion was present in his voice...as if there ever was!

"Demons aren't welcome here." She hissed at him.

"I don't care," he said, "She's sick...and I need medicine." A low feral growl was issued as his voice. Kikyo hesitated a moment before speaking again.

"Who's sick?"

"Rin." He replied shortly, "Jaken..."

"Y-yes master?" The little green imp stammered.

"Show her Rin." His voice was steady as his frozen body. Jaken ran to the edge of the forest, pulling a demon out by some leather reins. On the back of this horse-like demon was a small girl. Her face was red and sweat-covered. She was obviously ill with a high fever. It was only natural that Kikyo was suspicious.

"Why should a demon care about a human, mortal child?" She asked.

"Because it's my fault." He answered quietly in a very un-Sesshomaruish way.

"I will heal her if you do not harm anyone in the village. Ever." She said though her arrow was still nocked and aimed.

"I agree to this term." Sesshomaru said after a second of pause. Kikyo finally lowered her arrow, though she refused to relax fully yet.

"Follow me then." She turned on her heel and walked into the village, not bothering to look back to see if he followed. He did, but only after another pause. Jaken followed as well, pulling the horse-demon along.

Miroku had been awake when the commotion in the village started. He got up, not even bothering the others as he ran to the village. Of course he ran...what if Sango was in danger!

He rushed into the hut to find Sango struggling to stand. "Sango!" He yelped, rushing to her side.

"I don't need help!" She spat at him. She didn't want to be mean, but she felt that if she accepted his help, it'd be a sign of weakness.

Miroku was taken aback slightly. He hadn't meant to offend her. "Sango! I'm not trying to hurt your pride or anything but you're still weak! Lady Kikyo would demand you lay down again if she knew you were up and about!"

Sango gave Miroku the most scathing glare she could manage at the moment. "I'm not being proud," she answered coldly. "There is a demon nearby and I am a demon slayer. I'm just trying to do my duty!"

"Your duty?" Miroku repeated, confused at the changed in Sango's mood from earlier. "What good is doing your duty if you die!"

"Isn't that a risk we take everyday?" She asked haughtily. "Death?"

"Yes," Miroku replied trying to be calm. "But normally you aren't weak from almost dying the day before. You need to recover your strength before you rush back out there to fight!"

"I do not! I am fine!" Sango retorted angrily and managed to stalk several more steps before crumpling unceremoniously to the ground.

"Sango!" Miroku cried, rushing to her side. He scooped her up into his arms and laid her gently onto her futon. He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. "Sleep well," he whispered as he covered her with the coverlet.

As Miroku turned to leave a man entered carrying another futon followed by another man with the other end. They set it down along the wall opposite Sango's. So much for leaving. "What's going on?" Miroku asked, confused.

The first man shrugged, "Ask Lady Kikyo; we're just following orders." With that, the man and his partner left.

Miroku made to follow and find Kikyo but she walked in before he could. "Lay her there," Kikyo instructed dispassionately.

Miroku furrowed his brows but before he could voice his question Sesshomaru entered the small hut followed by Jaken who was carrying...a human child! Miroku's confusion grew. What was Sesshomaru doing with a human child?

Miroku revised his plan of leaving Sango to her sleep and sat near the head of her futon. Sesshomaru looked at Miroku and Sango dispassionately. "Does this mean the half-breed is here as well?" Sesshomaru queried.

"If by 'half-breed' you mean Inu-Yasha, yes," Miroku answered.

"I thought I smelled his stench," Sesshomaru's voice was filled with ineffable loathing. "Jaken, go see to the beast. I will remain here with Rin."

"Yes my lord!" Jaken cried and ran from the hut.