Chapter 3

Taking Care of Kagome

A protesting pain in her right shoulder assured Kagome that she had been lying in the same position for an extremely long time. She did not even bother opening her eyes all she wanted to do was turn over, find a warm spot, and go back to sleep. Turning over seemed to be a difficult project though, her illness was draining her strength and making her weak. The skin on the back of her neck began to crawl and she felt as if she were being watched.

"Could you please stop staring at me? It is very uncomfortable." The miko's voice sounded strained like her throat was burning.

He said nothing and continued to stare. She began to talk wondering if he was even listening.

"I don't know why YOU would want to stare at ME. It's not like I am very interesting. Jeez! Since you're a taiyoukai, I assumed you had some manners!" She was getting very upset at his refusal to say anything and the continuous staring.

She very nearly jumped into the fire when a pale hand was laid on her shoulder. She turned questioning eyes to him as he lifted her into a sitting position and handed her a cup of herbal tea.

"Thank you, Sesshomaru-samma. Why are you helping me?" She blushed a deep crimson color at her own audacity. Yep she was defiantly going to die now. Surprisingly, he looked past Kagome to the rear of the cave. Kagome turned her head and saw the sweet face of a slumbering child. Glancing back at the youkai's face she saw a slight softing of his features. He really cared about his ward.

But in the customary Sesshomaru way he did not answer Kagome's question. She, instead, answered for him. "Rin asked you to take care of me. You aren't doing this for me; you're doing it for her. That is very sweet, Sesshomaru-samma!" Kagome smiled at him. She lay back down and snuggled into his outer kimono "Goodnight Sesshomaru." With a slight smile the girl slipped back into an herbal induced slumber.

Sesshomaru did not miss the fact that she had not put the honor title on the end of his name. Now because she knew he was doing something because Rin had asked him to she was not afraid of him. He eyed her with cold distant eyes. Women! Especially human women, he would never understand them. Rin was not afraid of him. She constantly hugged his legs or brought him flowers. And now the miko was not afraid of him. Soon the two of them would be leading him around like a puppy on a leash. Perhaps he was becoming too soft with the two human females. He needed to be sterner with them and not allow them so many leniencies.

Sesshomaru stood and made his rounds around the cave. He tucked Rins blanket more firmly around her and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, added more wood to the fire, and put his hand to the miko's forehead. Her fever was still present but was not as high as before. Walking to the opening of the cave he sniffed the air scanning it for any sign of danger. Finding none he began a walk around the perimeter of the cave to ensure no youkai or other vile creatures disturbed those he protected. Near dawn he returned. Upon entering the cave, he once again made the herbal tea for the miko and forced it down her throat when she woke up even though she did not want to drink the medicine and assured him she did not need it. Inside he was very pleased with himself he was making sure they obeyed him and knew he was in charge.

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"Kagome-chan will you play with Rin?" Rin looked at her with hope. How could she say no to those huge brown eyes? Four days had passed and Kagome was feeling much better and she was becoming very restless.

"The miko is to sick to play with you Rin." A calm cool voice told a now downcast girl.

"It's alright Sesshomaru-samma. I feel well enough to play with her for awhile. Pleeeease!" Sesshomaru looked at two pleading faces and was slowly losing the battle with himself inside his head. Attempting to glare them into submissiveness was not working they were still looking at him with pleading eyes. Ignoring them did not work either because he could still feel them looking at him.

"Very well, Miko. For a short time." He consented with his usual I really don't care what you do attitude.

"Thank you Sesshomaru." He bristled when the miko did not put the honorary title on his name. Sesshomaru mentally slapped himself. He had just let them get the better of him once again. Growling low in his throat, Sesshomaru turned his head to look out the cave entrance.

The two girls were giggling and playing a game Kagome called hop scotch. Sesshomaru watched and decided the miko had tired herself enough for the day.

"Miko, Rin. You will cease this game and rest. I am going to hunt. You will not step foot outside of this cave while I am gone. Understood?" The two giggling girls looked to the cold youkai and nodded their heads. Sesshomaru walked out into the sunlight believing his every order would be carried out.

As soon as he was gone, Kagome and Rin looked at each and went back to their game with a conspiratorial wink.

Sesshomaru was gone for quite some time. Rin had fallen asleep and Kagome was becoming restless. She desperately wanted to go for a walk but she remembered Sesshomarus orders. Shrugging her shoulders she thought to herself what could possibly happen right outside the cave. She would not go far. Kagome walked to the entrance and stepped into the bright sunshine for the first time in days. She briefly wondered where Ah Un and Jaken were. She had not seen them in days.

The snow that still covered the ground made the scene even more peaceful to the young miko. A big serene smile graced her lips and she was preparing to step towards the woods when the bushes in front of her rustled. Kagome did not sense a youkai aura. Wondering what was spying on her she took one step towards the bushes and stopped dead in her tracks.

There before her stood a very angry looking mountain cat. Kagome stood perfectly still. Maybe if I don't move it will just go away and leave me in peace. Luck was defiantly not with her today because the animal prepared to pounce. She was frozen on the spot watching in horror as the animal came within feet of her position. She was very unsure what to do. This was not a youkai. She could not purify it with her chaotic powers. Closing her eyes she prayed the animal would be swift. She felt a rush of air and then heard a feral scream as the cat hit the ground at her feet. Opening one eye at a time she looked at the ground and found two things the cat had been killed and Sesshomaru was standing there. Uh Oh. I am in sooooo much trouble for disobeying direct orders. Better make the sweet pleading face.

"Hi Sesshomaru. Back so soon?" Looking at him with the most endearing face she could, Kagome hoped he would spare her life. Finally looking him in the eye, she realized there was only one way she was going to survive certain doom. So, she did what she had to do to survive.

"RIN! Sesshomaru is back!" Yelling at the top of her lungs to the sleeping girl in the cave, ensured she would wake up and come to greet her wonderful Sesshomaru-samma and ensure that Sesshomaru would not kill her while Rin was around.

The little girl came running out and wrapped herself around Sesshomarus leg. The youkai looked at Kagome with a glare in his cold amber eyes. The girl was proving to be quite devious. She had just gotten around Sesshomaru in his annoyed state, not many people were able to do that.

Author's Note

Okay there's chapter three. I hope you enjoy it.

To my wonderful reviewers: sataness-ov-desire, gothic-ember, golden-eyed-girl, and simpledream thank you very much for all of your support. Please keep reading and reviewing.