Disclaimer: I do not own any Inuyasha characters.

Healing Sesshomaru

He was floating in a dark void. He could fell nothing, see nothing and all he could hear was a muffled voice. The voice calmed him, even soothed him when his inner beast was prepared to rise. He followed the voices instructions and slipped back into unconsciousness.

Kagome sat on her knees looking at the taiyoukai wondering what he would say when he found out what she was going to do to him. Oh well. He took care of me and saw me when I was sick. So, he will just have to deal with this. Kagome pulled the tangled mass of red stained hair off of Sesshomaru's chest. She had just begun to untie his obi and remove his haori when Miroku's astonished voice called out to her.

"KAGOME-SAMA! You cannot mean to strip him of his clothes. It is improper." The normally perverted monk could not contain his unusual amount of modesty. "If you will but wait outside Kagome, I will remove Sesshomaru-sama's clothes and ensure he is properly covered so you may treat his wounds." Miroku looked hopefully at the miko and was greatly relieved when he received a nod. Kagome made her way to the door of the hut.

Standing outside of the small hut, Kagome patiently waited for Miroku to finish undressing Sesshomaru. Inuyasha was not being any help. Kagome glared at the angry hanyou and received a glare in return. She did not understand why he was being so obstinate. She only wanted to return the favor Sesshomaru had done for her. He was wounded because he was protecting her. She would not turn her back on him.

"Kagome, I am done. He is ready for you. Is there anything I can get for you?" Miroku understood he would not be welcome in the hut by the youkai lord. Sesshomaru seemed to trust Kagome and Miroku knew he would not be among the list of people Sesshomaru trusted. At the shake of Kagome's head, Miroku stepped down into the bright new spring grass and walked away from Kagome. He hoped he was making the right choice in leaving her alone with the taiyoukai.

Kagome entered the hut once more and settled beside Sesshomaru. She lifted a warm towel and began to clean the blood from his wounds. As the blood was wiped away, Kagome saw his wounds were beginning to heal on their own. There would be no need for her to heal the youkai but she would keep the wounds clean and sterilized while he healed himself. Kagome continued cleaning the chiseled chest, dragging her warm towel across the sculpted plane of his pectoral muscles and down over the well toned muscles that completed a perfect six pack on Sesshomaru's abdomen. A warm rosy blush rose up from her collarbone to her high cheekbones. Sesshomaru would put many men to shame if he ever felt the need to show off his perfect body. Once she had cleaned the blood from his upper extremities, Kagome applied an antiseptic to his wounds and wrapped the taiyoukais chest in clean white linen strips. Kagome next wiped the blood from his arm and shoulders.

Her heart nearly stopped at the sight of his missing arm. He was left with nothing more then a stump the day Inuyasha had severed it in battle but there before Kagome's astonished eyes was Sesshomaru's arm regenerated down to the elbow. She knew youkai could regenerate themselves but it was taking a long time for him to regenerate his lost arm. She continued wiping the blood from his body moving up to his neck and across his pale face. Wiping the blood from his demonic markings, Kagome faintly wondered what they meant. She sighing deeply she wondered if she would ever have the courage to ask him. She applied her medicine as she went hoping to stop the spread of any infection. Once all of the blood was wiped from his body, Kagome set herself to the task of removing the blood from his once silver locks. She wiped the blood from his hair merely because she knew Sesshomaru would not like the blood there. He was always so immaculate and seeing blood in his hair only made him look like a fallen angel. Kagome sat back on her knees and observed her work. Every wound was medicated and bandaged and every drop of blood had been cleaned from his pale skin. He was indeed the most beautiful man she had ever seen. Kagome believed Inuyasha was cute and good looking and he had been her model for male perfection for so long but now looking down on Sesshomaru Kagome knew she would never use Inuyasha as her model anymore. Kagome stood and gathered his clothes to her chest. She stepped out into the dying light of the day and took a deep breathe of the clean pure air.

Not sparing the sulking hanyou a glance, Kagome walked towards the small winding river to wash the battle stains from Sesshomaru's hoari. As she neared the tree occupied by the annoyed hanyou, Inuyasha leapt into her path.

"You are absolutely pathetic. Taking care of him, washing his clothes, and protecting him. It's not like you're his mate or his concubine. Fluffy wouldn't even think about taking you as either of those. So what do you hope to be his slave?" The hanyou was hurt. The woman he loved was showing kindness and affection to the one person in the world he would always be at odds with. Since she was taking care of HIM she wasn't fawning over Inuyasha and he was extremely jealous.

Kagome raised angry eyes Inuyasha's face and let him know her feelings with one simple word spoken with an iciness Sesshomaru would be proud of. "Sit." The hanyou instantly complied and found his face buried in the dirt. He had to admit to himself that he deserved that. Kagome merely stepped around Inuyasha and continued on her way to the river. Miroku and Sango just shook their heads at the foolish boy and wondered when he would out grow his adolescent phase.

Sango quickly followed after Kagome. The miko looked like she would need some help. After all she was carrying all of Sesshomaru's silk clothing, his pelt, and his two swords.

"Kagome! May I help you with these things?" Kagome turned at the first friendly voice she had heard all day.

"If you don't mind helping Sesshomaru, Sango." Acceptance of rejection flowed into the miko's voice. So many of the villagers had refused to help with her self appointed task and had even refused to look at her lately.

"I don't mind helping him Kagome. He protected you so he must not be all bad." Sango smiled at Kagome telling the young miko she would stand by her through this troubling time.

The two females continued on their way to the river to wash Sesshomaru's clothes, pelt, and swords. Unaware of the chaos they would come back too.

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Miroku had went into the hut to check on the taiyoukai for Kagome and soon wished he had not even dared to enter the hut. Sesshomaru was awake and not very happy.

Sesshomaru had opened his eyes expecting to see a bright sky above him and youkai approaching him to seize his lands and title while he was weak. Instead he looked up into the thatched roof of a human hut. He turned his head trying to find someone to blame this on. He was attempting to sit up. With his arm across his chest holding onto his wounds, Sesshomaru meet the monk for the first time outside of battle.

Miroku entered the hut and came face to face with a red eyed hissing taiyoukai. Thinking to save his own life, Miroku ran out of the hut calling Kagome's name as loudly as he could. Inuyasha watched the monk run from the hut in a state of panic and smirked to himself. Approaching a wounded youkai was never a good idea; the monk should have left Sesshomaru alone.

Inuyasha watched as Kagome ran at full tilt towards the hut, concern billowing off of her form for Sesshomaru. Inuyasha was disgusted and felt the wave of jealous seep through his soul.

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Sesshomaru turned red rimmed eyes towards the opening of the hut as Kagome rushed in. The human was panting heavily and her face was flushed from the exertion of running. Red eyes met blue eyes. Kagome came to a stop and began to approach the youkai cautiously. She had no desire to annoy him into lashing out at her.

It was strange. As soon as the miko began to approach him slowly, Sesshomaru calmed down and lost his anger. Sesshomaru lay back down with a low pain induced hiss. He was wondering at his own sanity, wondering why he would begin to feel calmer when the miko was around. He had deduced it was she who had taken care of him and calmed him during the painful hours of darkness. He did not understand but the girl was harmless she could cause him no harm. The taiyoukai had no idea how much harm Kagome could bring to him but he was soon to learn the girl was slightly more obstinate then she appeared.

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Two days had past and the silver haired youkai had not left the dank hut in all of those long hours. He was more then ready now. The miko had hovered over him the last forty-eight hours and had made sure he did not move or cause himself any distress. She did every little thing for him. She had even brushed his hair to keep it from tangling and becoming a mess. Sesshomaru was very annoyed at the little miko, she never seemed to leave. All he wanted was a little peace and fresh air, he finally got it when he looked at her and made her angry.

It was rather amusing how he had obtained his freedom. Sesshomaru chuckled to himself deep within his chest. Who could have imagined one little sniff, an arched silver brow, and one little statement could have gotten the miko to give him some freedom from her presence. She acted as if he had hurt her feelings. He did not understand why she was so angry. He had only been truthful which is honorable. Perhaps he should have used a different approach. Perhaps asking the miko outright if she had taken a bath recently because she smelled like a filthy ningen was not the correct path to take. Oh well. The youkai shrugged elegant shoulders and walked stiffly to the door of the hut. A little air was all he needed and his head would stop spinning and he would be able to walk easily.

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Inuyasha watched as his icy brother came stumbling out of the hut. Inuyasha snorted to himself it looked like his perfect brother was not completely healed by the way he was walking. This was proving to be interesting to Inuyasha, so he merely watched. Unfortunately for him, Kagome bathed quickly so she could return to Sesshomaru's side quickly. He knew the instant she walked up behind him, knew the instant she saw he was merely standing there watching Sesshomaru weaken, and knew with out a doubt his brother was going to get quite a kick out of his little trick.

Sesshomaru watched as Inuyasha laid his ears back flat on his skull and bared his fangs in a feral growl. Sesshomaru was slightly perplexed at his strange behavior. Why would the half breed feel the need to assert himself to Sesshomaru now? Sesshomaru sniffed the air and caught the sent of chamomile and lavender. Kagome was standing behind Inuyasha. Sesshomaru knew what was coming and smirked at the hanyou, who only growled at him all the more.

"Inuyasha! SIT BOY! How could you just stand there and let him wonder around? He needs our help! Sesshomaru let me help you back to the hut. You must be very tired."

Sesshomaru was no fool and realized why Inuyasha was angry. The half breed did not like the miko caring for him and lavishing her attentions on him. Sesshomaru was not one to ignore a chance to twist the proverbial knife in his half brothers heart. Looking rather innocent, he glanced at the miko and allowed a slightly exhausted look to fade into his amber eyes.

"Yes, Kagome. I am very tired. I feel that I need to rest. However, I would like to rest outside beneath the tree over there. If it is not to much trouble to you of course." Sesshomaru had been trained at being nice to females by his mother and though he rarely used the information he still remembered all of the little phrases she had taught him. Add that to the shimmering amber eyes, turned beseechingly onto Kagome and the little miko could deny Sesshomaru nothing.

"Of course Sesshomaru. I will help you to the tree and I will bring you anything you need to make it comfortable for you." Kagome responded to his words just as he imagined she would. Sesshomaru put his arm around the girls waist, Inuyasha growled low in his throat. Sesshomaru splayed his hand just along the mikos ribcage just under her breast, Inuyasha growled louder. Sesshomaru put his head near the mikos to lean more of his weight upon her and bring their bodies into closer contact; Inusyasha cracked his knuckles at the older youkai. Kagome helped Sesshomaru walk towards the tree. As the older brother walked past the younger brother, Sesshomaru turned to cast a last look at his brother and smirked at the hanyou. Inuyasha could not believe his eyes. It looked like the damn idiot was rubbing Inuyashas face in the fact that he, Sesshomaru, was touching Kagome and she was taking care of him.

This could not go one. Inuyasha was going to lose what little bit of sanity he had left. Sesshomaru was getting to much satisfaction from his pain and Inuyasha could not stand being a source of amusement for his brother.

Authors Note

To all of my reviewers, thank you so much for your words! I know it has been some time since my last update, so I put this chapter up even though I am not completely happy with it.

Lady Morganna