I am sooooooo sorry that it took so long!!! I had really bad writer's block, plus I was working on another story that I'm working on.(Yu Yu Hakusho). Well, as an apology, I tried to make this chapter a bit longer.

Anyway, thanks, as always, for the reviews. They are very inspiring.

Chapter Six

"Where is he, Kira?"

"The main hall. Just so you know, he has absolutely no idea who you are, other than the fact that you are of regal blood."

He nodded. "Watch the hanyou and his companions. Make sure that they do not cause any trouble or disturb the girl."

"Hai, Sessh." She smiled at his scowl at his childhood nickname before returning to the dining room.

Once at the entrance to the Great Hall, the Taiyoukai sensed his unannounced visitor. 'Hm. This demon had power, yet it feels almostfalsely exaggerated.' He surmised that he was in possession of at least two jewel shards.

"What business do you have with me at such a late hour?" he asked as he entered.

The guest in question turned quickly to observe his host before bowing.

"I apologize for arriving as late as I did. I am here in search of my woman. I have been told that she may be here."

"I do not have your mate. You may take your leave."

He jumped to his feet. "I can smell her in this room. I am not leaving until I see my woman!"

The demon's eyes narrowed. "You dare to speak in such a manner to the Lord of the lands on which you now stand?"

His azure ayes doubled in size. "Y-you are the Western Taiyoukai?!"

"I am."

'Quite the turn,' the guest thought.

"What is your name, so that I may carve it into your gravestone?"

The group, along with Kira, was passing by the hall when a scent halted Inuyasha in his tracks.

"What is it?" Miroku asked.

"Kir, take them back to the rooms."

"Um, sure." When they were gone, the half-demon turned back toward the doors.

'What the hell is he doing here?' Throwing caution to the wind, he shoved the doors open.

He was met by a pair of golden eyes as well as a set of blue orbs.

"What the hell are you doing here, you mangy pest?!"

"I could ask you the same question, you damn mutt! I came here because I heard that my woman is in here somewhere!"

"She isn't your woman, you idiot!"

"Look, you fleabag-"He was cut off by the Demon Lord, who now held Tokijin dangerously close to his throat.

"No one speaks to my kin in such a way, but me."

"Kin?! You mean that you two are related?!"

"Inuyasha is my brother."

"Half-brother, you jerk," he muttered.

Sheathing the demonic weapon, Sesshoumaru again spoke. "What is your name and who is this mate you are looking for?"

"She's not his mate!"

"I am Kouga of the demon wolf tribe and my woman's name is Kagome."

"For the last time, Kagome is not your woman, you stupid wolf!"

Sesshoumaru simply sat at the table and watched his idiot brother verbally spar with the half-witted wolf.

'This human is quite interesting indeed. Not only is Inuyasha in love with her, but she has also captured the heart of the wolf as well.'

Sighing, Sesshoumaru attempted to rise in order to put an end to the demons' bickering only to be seized by the feeling of some force squeezing his heart.

'Perfect timing, as always.' "Leave," the Taiyoukai forced out, drawing his brother's and Kouga's attention.

"What?" they asked.

"I could care less where you go, or whether or not the two of you kill each other. Just leave." Slowly, the pair left. "Kira, bring the girl and Rojin to me," he called, knowing full well that the demoness had followed Inuyasha and was currently outside the room.

She poked her head in. "I'll return shortly, Sessh."

Kagome, at that moment, was inexplicably drawn from her deep slumber by her powers, oddly enough.

'This is new. What could it mean?'

As if answering her mental question, an image appeared in her mind. Sesshoumaru was on one knee, one arm on the ground maintaining his balance, the other gripping his chest, as though he were attempting to rip it open. Eyes shut and teeth clenched, the demon was sweating profusely as well as shaking from the pain.

Now full awake, the young miko grabbed a few things from her bag before running toward the Great Hall, her instincts being her only guide.

"Inuyasha, why did you take off like that," Sango wondered as he entered the room.

"Kouga's here," he replied.

"Well, where is he now?" Miroku asked.

"In the South Wing looking for Kagome like I told him to do."

"Are you crazy?! You're just sending your rival to her?"

"There's nothing to worry about."

"Why not?"

"Kagome's in the North Wing."

"So you lied," Sango stated.

"Feh. Like I'd actually tell that fleabag where Kagome was."

The monk watched the hanyou for a moment before speaking. "Is something bothering you, Inuyasha?"

He nodded. "It's something minor, but it just doesn't feel right."

"What is it?"

"Me and Kouga were fighting like usual when Sesshoumaru told us to leave. He said that he didn't care where we went or if we killed each other."

"That sounds like him to me," the Taijiya said.

"You don't understand. It's normal for him to speak to me like that, because he can't stand me, but Kouga's a different story. Sesshoumaru would never speak to a possible ally like that. Remember guys, Kouga's a lord too, in a way."

"That's true, but what do you think may be wrong?"

"I don't think that the little girl is the one that needs Kagome's help, I think it's Sesshoumaru."

"But I thought that demon immune systems prevent sickness," Sango said.

"They do, but there are types of illnesses that that strike only demons, right, Inuyasha?" He nodded. "Plus, maybe someone placed a spell or curse on him. He does have many enemies, after all," Miroku explained. He then turned to Inuyasha. "If I may, why the sudden concern? If memory serves, don't you hate him?"

He blinked in surprise. "Well I-"he began, caught off-guard by the question before regaining his composure. "Ha! Like I'd ever care about that arrogant jerk. I'm just worried about Kagome, is all."

"Don't worry, Inuyasha, we get it. You may not get along with each other, but he is the only family you have left." Miroku nodded in agreement. "Well, I'm going to go and visit Kagome."

"Would you mind if I accompany you, Sango?"

"So long as you swear to keep your hands to yourself."

"Why Sango, I'm wounded. I would never."

"Whatever. Let's just go."

Shortly after they had left the room, Inuyasha heard a shriek, a slap, then Miroku say something about merely brushing a speck of dirt from her kimono.

'He'll never learn.' Another thought came to mind. 'Are they right?'

Kagome had just rounded the final corner when she saw Kira and Rojin head toward her.

"Ah, Miss Kagome, there you are. You weren't in either your room, or nephew's."

"My powers woke me and told me that Sesshoumaru was in pain."

"Um, Kagome? I think you forgot something," Kira said, pointing.

Kagome looked down and cried, "Argh!! Not again! He's gonna think that I'm trying to seduce him, or something!"

Once again, the miko would stand before the Great Demon in nothing but a T-shirt and underwear. Luckily, they were plain purple rather than emblazoned with any humiliating pictures or phrases.

The elder demon opened the door to see his nephew hardly able to breathe as he clutched his chest.

"What is wrong with him?!" Kira asked, quite distressed.

"We don't know yet. We only know that he needs help," Kagome stated. "We need to get him back to his room quickly. I'll put up an invisibility shield so that no one sees or senses us."

Kira and Rojin helped the Western Lord to his feet and brought him to his room, followed by Kagome.

"Damn that stupid mutt!" Kouga yelled startling the servants in the vicinity. 'I'm only lost because he decided that it would be fun to deliberately screw with me!'

Inuyasha had informed him that Kagome would most likely be in the South Wing, so he went, though he probably shouldn't have, knowing both how protective Inuyasha was of Kagome as well as how much the two hated each other.

He slapped himself in the forehead and groaned. "I can't believe that I listened to him!" He looked around and saw a young servant, calling him over. "Hey kid, I'm lost. Can you please direct me toward the wing housing the Lord's special guests?"

"Um, I suppose so. That would be the north wing."

"Thanks, Kid. You're a life saver." The wolf demon promptly turned and left. 'Oh, I'm gonna get you for this, Inuyasha.'

Kagome opened the door as the two demons helped Sesshoumaru into the room and to the bed. His breathing had become even more labored as his lungs hungered for the air that they desperately needed.

'What do I do?!' she cried mentally. 'Why the hell couldn't respirators exist in feudal Japan? Why? It's because I need one, that's why!'

Suddenly, a thought popped into her head. She tried her damnedest to rid herself of the preposterous idea, due to its complete and utter absurdity, yet relented, knowing that it was all she could do.

"If either of you tell anyone, especially Inuyasha, about what I'm about to do, I swear that I'll purify you both a thousand times over."

"And what, exactly, will you be doing, Lady Kagome?"

"Oooooooh, he's gonna kill me when he finds out," she whined. Realizing the urgency, Kagome slowly climbed onto the bed and knelt right next to him.

Placing her hand on his forehead, she again used the relaxation technique to calm him as well as ease his pain.

"Well, here goes nothing." Absently tracing the indigo crescent, Kagome took a deep breath, leaned closer, and placed her lips upon his.

Kira covered her mouth as a squeak escaped, while Rojin just stood there, eyes wide, and mouth agape. After a moment, the Inuyoukai realized what she was doing.

"Well, this young girl is a lot smarter than even I have given her credit for," he murmured, drawing the Kitsune from her stunned stupor.

"What?"

"Look closer. She's forcing air into his lungs."

Kira watched as Kagome pulled away from his slightly, took another deep breath, and repeated her earlier action. 'He's right. I can see his breathing improving slightly.'

Indeed, her master's breathing was becoming a bit more regulated with every offering of air. The sudden coughing fit that followed snapped her from her thoughts.

Kagome sat up and pulled Sesshoumaru into a sitting position until the fit passed. He was breathing rapidly, yet much more regularly.

"What happened?" he gasped, still quite short of breath.

"You couldn't breath, Sessh, so Kagome-"

"Helped!" the girl shrieked as she slapped her hand over the demoness' mouth, effectively silencing her. "I just helped. Now, what happened?"

"It, was as, if someone, was squeezing my, heart," he slowly replied between breaths. After a moment, he was able to continue. "How, exactly, did you help, Miko?"

"She blushed furiously. "Oh, would you look at the time! I should go make sure that Rin and Shippo are okay." She turned and headed for the door.

"Two things, Kagome," he said, knowing the use of her name would stop her, which it did.

"Uh, yes?"

"It seems that we have another admirer of yours in the castle."

"Huh?" 'Another?'

"A pesky wolf accusing me of stealing his mate."

"Kouga's here?!" He nodded. "And the second thing?"

"We really need to work on your choice of sleeping attire."

Fighting the oncoming blush, she explained, "I'm used to sleeping like this at home, and since I have an actual room with privacy and everything, I guess I just got comfortable."

Suddenly, Sesshoumaru removed his haori and draped it over the petite girl's shoulders. "Your human companions are outside your room. I wish not for the monk and the Taijiya to tell Inuyasha that I took advantage of you."

"Um, thank you. I'll see you in the morning, I guess." Bowing, the girl left the room.

As soon as the door closed, Sesshoumaru asked, back to the pair, "What did she do, Uncle?"

"She saved your life, Pup, by forcing air into your lungs."

"How?"

"She breathed it into you," Kira finished.

'That would explain the sweet taste in my mouth.' "I have work to do, so could you both leave?" They left, leaving him alone with his paperwork as well as his thoughts.

Sitting at his desk, he began reading a few documents, but soon realized that he was thinking about other things.

'What does she want? Why is she helping me like this?'

She is a genuinely good person.

'Most would have just let me die.'

The miko is not like most are.

'No, she isn't,' he realized.

The girl cares, even going as far as to breathe air directly into you.

'If that is what she really did, then why am I not angry at such intimate contact? She's a human miko, after all.'

Do you really even care anymore?