…Review Response: A reviewer wanted to correct my spelling of 'ohayou,' meaning good morning, saying that it was spelled 'ohio.' Also 'iie' for now was not 'lie.' I looked it up in my Japanese/English dictionary and I found that I have in fact used the correct spelling, at least according to that source. We all know that I know crap about the language, so maybe I am wrong, but perhaps you were mistaken? Onto the fic!...

"Sango, she'll be fine."

"But what if she isn't? I don't trust the police! Haven't you heard any of the rumors the media are passing around!"

"Yes, how could I not."

Sango scowled at him. Her features were darkened with her irritation and her cheeks slightly red.

"There are a lot of rumors that Naraku has been involved with the police on many occasions. He gets out of all the charges placed on him. Isn't that a bit suspicious?"

"A little, even more because it's possible that it's true."

"So…Hiten could be…"

Miroku sighed.

"Yes."

"You said he could be trusted…"

"You never know these days."

Miroku ran a hand through her hair. Sango's brow knitted and she was currently biting her bottom lip.

"Kagome's rubbing off on you."

Sango realized what she was doing, surprised at first. She sighed walking over and slumping on the couch.

"I know." She replied softly.

Miroku stood from the stool he was sitting on by the bar in Sango's kitchen. He walked over and sat down beside her. Sango's face was defeated. He'd rarely seen her this way. The first being when the hairdresser cut her bangs too short. This was ironic because Sango wasn't usually so superficial and there weren't many things that could conquer Sango so. The woman was just very protective of Kagome. Miroku wondered sometimes about their relationship. Wouldn't Kagome feel suffocated by Sango's strong maternal actions toward her? And wouldn't Sango grow weary of always having to be the strong one of the pair?

"I just don't know what to do."

Miroku pulled her against him. He laid her head against his shoulder and lifted one arm around his neck. Sango nuzzled her face into the softness of his navy ribbed turtleneck. Miroku brought her other hand into his lap and gently ran circles on its back with his thumb.

"I just don't feel comfortable sitting here with her in possible danger. She's been through so much. She doesn't deserve this."

Miroku placed a soft kiss on the top of his love's head. His violet eyes swirled navy with his seriousness. His wisdom shining though for once as he regarded the limp female who would normally be fighting tooth and nail against such intimate affections. Not that she would reject them, but she wouldn't accept them so easily. Bright blushes and much stuttering along with some awkwardness had soon become associated with Sango. It was one thing he loved about her. She didn't give in so easily and melt at a single touch.

Sango closed her eyes. She was frustrated beyond belief. Helplessness was something she found abhorrent and now she was plagued with it herself. Sango was anxious and on edge. She jumped at every little sound. Miroku had insisted on staying with her and she appreciated it because the man was her safety. She could lie in his arms and he wouldn't think her weak for it. Sango had decided that for once it was okay to be weak. With Miroku it didn't matter.

Sango always had to be strong. She had to run the store, take care of her brother, and still succeed in school so as to not lose her scholarship. She had to keep a 3.5 grade point average, which was rather high, but only a little challenging for her to keep up with. Then there was Kagome who had drama licking at her heels wherever she went. Sango loved her friend and thought of her more like the sister she never had. She didn't mind looking after the girl too, but sometimes she worried so much she made herself sick, like now.

"Oh Miroku…what can I do? I can't stand being helpless."

Miroku looked down at her. His navy orbs drank her in. His voice was soft and deep as he replied. It was hesitant as he tried to bare it carefully due to Sango's stressful feelings, but it was true nonetheless.

"This is Kagome's battle. We've done all we can. She won't go down without a fight. Her spirit is like no other I've ever met…"

Sango looked into his eyes and noticed his concern. She sighed once again, but smiled slightly.

"Well…besides you of course, my little spitfire."

Sango laughed grabbing a pillow from behind her back and swatting him once full in the face. Miroku sat stunned. Sango jumped up from the couch while he was still shocked. She grinned and wagged the pillow temptingly in his direction. Miroku's lips tugged upwards. He reached for another pillow and stalked ominously around the coffee table.

"Oh dearest Sango…I do believe this means war."

Miroku pounced barely missing his prey, but managed to sock her once in the rear as she turned tail. They both were terribly worried about their friend and behind the smiles it was still there. However, they needed to lose themselves to bliss if only for a minute of relief. Kagome was a beautiful flower that easily wilted, but one had better watch out for those thorns. Their sharpness will strike out without warning. At first it may seem just a prick, but she could be like a poison and always aimed for where it was vital, not necessarily obvious.

…At Naraku's Estate…

Sesshoumaru was a little miffed at the fact that Kagome rejected his touch. For some reason this bothered him and even struck a chord of anger through his body. The woman should feel blessed by his touch. He only wanted to keep her calm. Kagome was one to blow things out of proportion. Sesshoumaru sighed remembering a certain day at the hospital. His ears still hurt and once again he wished he decided against stepping into the epidemic ward that day.

Flashback

Sesshoumaru walked into the ward designated for the recent epidemic victims. It had been months and there were very few results and even less that were useful. As soon as he came in, he instantly regretted it. Several of the children sat in bed with blood dripping from their mouths or nose. Some were coughing the red liquid into a tissue, but others were in worse shape.

There was one in particular that he noticed with buckets in between her legs. The whites of her eyes were reddened and her lips were swollen. She was currently chewing on them. She had a white knuckle grip on the bucket. Her consciousness swayed once and he heard a swish inside the container she held so tightly close. Suddenly she coughed violently once before throwing up blood into the bucket she held. A blood speckled hand reached for a tissue from the box at her feet. Sesshoumaru at this moment was lost and it was not a feeling that appealed to him. He sidestepped from in front of the door moving to the one unused corner. He would observe the situation first before acting as was his nature.

The door slammed open and in walked a blood covered Kagome. She wore a smock, booties over her shoes, gloves, and a mask. She wore light blue hued clothes that were water resistant. It was the usual doctor's uniform when he/she went into surgery. Her hair was tied back in a low pony tail and her bangs were clipped back away from her forehead with a row of bobby pins. Her eyes were determined and a little bit angry. Behind her two nurses huddled together with something like fear in their worried expressions. Their clothes were green and of a thin, but absorbent cloth to keep any possible fluids away from their skin. They wore clothes underneath and simple running shoes since they were on their feet most of the day.

"Please Higurashi-san…there's no need for you to-"

Kagome turned giving them a hearty glare while she held a box of baby wipes in her hand.

"You left them like this…" Kagome turned to open the seal from the brand new box, "unattended!"

Her head had swiveled to look at the two harshly. Her voice was nearly a yell making Sesshoumaru shift backwards against the wall as if it would dim the blow to his sensitive ears. The two nurses cowered away as their shoulders flinched upwards unconsciously. One raised her hand out in front on them in an 'it's okay' manner.

"I was supposed to go on break. The other nurse," She pointed to the woman next to her who averted her eyes guiltily away, "was just late coming out of surgery, but I assumed she'd be here soon. So I just left."

Kagome sighed allowing some of her anger to flee her body. The tension released slowly like drops of water escaping through a cracked dam. However, another thick cough and her rage sputtered back in full.

"You assumed! Meanwhile they," She pointed to the patients, "are in pain. They're children and terribly sick. You left them alone for what!"

The nurse shuddered at the eye Kagome was giving her.

"Coffee and-"

But she never finished her sentence. Kagome hustled over and yanked hard once on her ear. She got up close to the woman and waved her hand around the room showing up Vanna White.

"Look at them." Kagome interrupted.

Her voice was almost like a growl. Her tone was dark and dangerous. Even Sesshoumaru was impressed. At this moment, the tiny female was quite intimidating even though the nurse was her senior by at least a decade or two and a little taller than her as well.

The nurse's gaze flickered around taking in every single bloody detail quickly before fixing it back on Kagome. She was afraid and her ear stung. Kagome's eyes narrowed, but she bustled away at the next cloth. Kagome approached the bed where the cough originated. She sat softly on the edge of the bed. The little boy shifted away from her uneasily. Kagome frowned at this and forcibly removed all anger from herself with a great effort.

Gently she tilted his face back towards her and pulled a baby wipe from the box still somehow in her other hand. With tender, even movements Kagome removed the dried blood from above the little boy's lip and below his chin. Her eyes were now no longer flashing and their hue lightened to mild cobalt. The grey speck always present in her irises seemed to bleed in with the blue making some parts darker than others, but the blue once nearly black was now azure. Her features were warm and the boy turned to face her entirely with a wonderingly curious look. He was still timid, but the woman was so careful and so serene at the moment that he relaxed. Kagome's smile grew steadily as she watched him. She left the bed, smoothing a hand over down his arm for comfort.

Sesshoumaru made himself present at that time. Kagome glanced over, but made nothing of it like it was often he would visit when Sesshoumaru had really only been here a few times, which was usually for meetings. The nurse who spoke moments before had rushed out of the room hastily as soon as Kagome's back was turned. The second nurse, new on duty he assumed, walked over to him. Her face lighted up knowing that now she wasn't alone with the crazy woman anymore. Sesshoumaru looked down at her coldly for a moment before watching Kagome again.

Currently she was with the little girl who held the bucket. However, right now the container was placed on a nearby side table and out of the way, but still easily reachable. It was clear she was much further along than the others. Her hair nearly the same color as his only it wasn't silver. The shade was more of an elderly white. Her eyes appeared like liquid or semi-transparent glass. There were a few spots of grey, which was most likely her natural color. She was squinting even with such little light coming in from the windows. The blinds were drawn, but the swayed as the air conditioner ran humming in the room. The girl's face twisted away from Kagome's hands. Before she had moved her mouth opened in disgust. Her words were quiet and even one with such excellent hearing like Sesshoumaru had to strain to hear her.

"How can you look at me nonetheless touch me?"

She shivered lightly; cool in the tepid warmth of the room. Kagome leaned closer and hooked a finger under her chin. Kagome ran her gaze over the girl's face searching out every detail, every flaw. Then she smiled gently. The brightness gradually growing on her features like the sun rising on the horizon outside the window.

"Beautiful."

The word was whispered between them like a precious secret no one else could know. Kagome ran a hand like it was in slow motion down the patient's cheek with the back of her knuckles. The girl's eyes narrowed with despair and sadness that radiated from her. Kagome's palm opened and the fingers delved into the hair tucked behind her ear. White strands fell over the back of Kagome's hand. The girl launched herself into Kagome's stomach with a sob. The woman responded instantly shifting one hand to the child's shoulder blades. The other rubbed soothing circles on the middle of her back.

"What's your name?"

"Shi."

Shi hiccupped and Kagome ran her fingers through the child's short hair. It was still thick. Sesshoumaru felt Kagome's gaze and lifted his own from the patient to meet it. She raised her eyebrows at him in question and he raised his in return. She smiled and shook her head.

End Flashback

Sesshoumaru frowned. That didn't seem nearly as bad as he remembered it. Actually experiencing it was worse, but his memory had dulled the effect. Kagome had been nearly screaming with anger as she was a few minutes ago. The thing was that her voice dropped a lot. The pitch always changed, morphed, or contorted into another tone. She would growl out some words, yell others and sometimes just force them through clenched teeth. It was amusing to listen to even if the situation was serious like this.

Naraku drew his attention away from the woman in front of him and his thoughts.

"Takarashi," His tone was clipped, "Choose, now."

Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth. He tightened the hard rein on his control struggling to keep his calm. Anger wouldn't defeat this man, but a crisp, cool attention to detail would find the right loop hole. This option was necessary to set them free and would perhaps let them get away without giving anything up.

"You presume to order me."

"I hold the cards."

Sesshoumaru smirked suddenly. The action making Naraku's brows weave at the middle of his forehead. A lock of hair fell over his shoulder. The man tossed it aggravatingly over again. Naraku was suddenly uneasy and for good reason. He couldn't hear what Sesshoumaru just caught with his oversensitive ears.

Hakudoushi walked in with an even, but hurried stride. He placed a hand on his master's shoulders. Naraku tensed, but turned his head. Hakudoushi spoke quietly with his mouth blocked behind his elder's shoulder. His shoulder length hair fell over his cheek as he did so. Naraku's anger had decreased into embers just minutes before now full out blazed with fury. He ordered Hakudoushi to do something, most likely to search the compound and grounds, Sesshoumaru guessed.

Naraku looked at him with hands clenched into fists. Disbelief was written clearly in his eyes and he searched Sesshoumaru's face for answers that he would not receive. Not even Sesshoumaru was exactly sure what was going on.

A hand touched his arm gently. Golden orbs met sapphire. Sesshoumaru shrugged in an off hand manner. Kagome pinched his bicep and glared up at him.

"Tell me what's going on?"

Sesshoumaru's amusement increased at her irritation, which only made it worse as he received another pinch. He frowned at her, but responded.

"Rin has disappeared. It's possible she managed to escape."

Sesshoumaru wanted to rub his arm where she pinched him, but wouldn't with so many people around. Well, that is before Kagome miraculously caught his discomfort and massaged the hurting area with a loving touch. Her smile was remorseful, but there was a twinge in her eyes that told him he deserved it. Sesshoumaru scoffed, but didn't remove his appendage from her grasp. It felt kind of good after all and it was her choice to do so. If she felt guilty, then let her, it didn't matter to him.

…Outside the Estate…

Hands fumbled with the lock. They shook slightly with the adrenaline pumping in her veins and the uneasiness of being so out in the open. The door unlocked and the small child Rin was placed inside the back seat. Rin buckled her seatbelt and looked anxious in the rear view mirror.

"Don't worry Rin. I'm going to get you to safety. Trust me, okay?"

"How do you know Takarashi-san?"

The driver shook their head at the honorary, formal use of Sesshoumaru's name. The key turned and the car started slowly down the driveway. If they squealed off, they would only draw more attention. It had been easy enough to slip through the empty hallways. There were few cameras near Naraku's bedroom and the girl was in a closet right outside. The lock was so simple to pick as well. The girl was not as trusting as she appeared though. With some people perhaps, but after being captured the girl known as Rin was much more suspicious. What could have caused the change? She was always known to be carefree and naïve. What could Naraku have done to cause such a drastic change?

"I'm a friend."

"Takarashi-san has no need for friends."

The driver cursed as they pulled onto the highway. This girl was sharp witted and knew her guardian well, as would be expected obviously. Damn Sesshoumaru and his isolated ways. It didn't matter now; the girl was safe and would be as long as she away from the estate. For now, they would go back into the city where they would remain hidden among the other millions of people and relatively concealed.

"Please…I only want to help."

A twinge of helplessness moved into the tone and the speaker sighed. This was going to be hard, but just as the thought passed into thought the little girl in the back responded.

"Okay."

Rin sat back in her seat, but wrung her hands, a nervous quirk, and hoped beyond all that her Sess-chan would come soon to save her. The next time she saw him, Rin would hug him and never let go, even if he ordered her to. She missed him that much.

…I was so tempted to leave a cliff hanger after Sesshoumaru's smirk, but I felt the chapter was too short. Review for me …