Chapter 17

Stepping off the ship, Sesshomaru took in his surroundings. It had taken over a week to travel the seas, and finally they had struck land in China. Because of who Sesshomaru was, they were allowed to leave the ship first. Kagome hadn't wanted to accept his help, but Alastar had been ready to get off the ship, literally shoving past Sesshomaru to get his hooves on land again.

Breathing in the air, Sesshomaru winced. He remembered this smell from his childhood. China was his mother's favorite place to visit. She came any chance she could get, and often Sesshomaru would go with her. It had been nearly five decades before she died since he had visited with her.

In that time, he could see the small changes. The land was being pushed back, trees cut down and removed for new homes and shops to be built. Humans were destructive as always, tearing down anything in their path with a greed for more and more.

Tilting his head, he noticed Kagome standing a few feet away, speaking to a traveling merchant. She pulled coin out of her robes, passing out over and accepting a small yellow bird, trapped in a wooden cage. It had no room to move, was squawking in both fear and agitation. It was wild caught, not used to being surrounded by so many people. Again, a human destroys the life around them just to make a few coins. Even innocent lives were ruined for greed.

Stepping up to Kagome, Sesshomaru looked down at her, curious at what she would do. She paid him no mind, speaking softly to the scared animal. It seemed to calm at her words, settling down and looking at her from its eye. Kagome raised her head, blue eyes meeting his amber. "We are going to meet Sango at the edge of town. Do what you want."

She turned again, walking away from him. The bird seemed to look at Sesshomaru, then back towards Kagome, almost as if it was waiting on her to speak again. Looking up towards the sky, Sesshomaru sighed. The bird got kind Kagome while he was left with the cold one. He caused this, he knew, but after nearly two weeks, he wasn't sure how much more of this Kagome he could handle.

Looking at Kagome again, he noted she wasn't waiting on him. Alastar was right behind her, muzzle nudging at the bird's cage curiously. Nakoa butted her head into his arm, and he reached out, petting her. "I won't give up, Nakoa." She lifted her head, nodding with it raised high and letting out a soft nicker. At least Nakoa believed in him.

Turning back to Kagome, he quickly caught up with her. His eyes remained on her, watching her. It was the only way he could learn who she was. She didn't open up to him, refusing to even acknowledge him. If he was going to learn about her, he was going to have to be observant.

She would be surprised at how much he had learned in only two week's time. He knew she was fond of sweets, though not candy. She liked the natural sweetness of fruit. Her favorite color was red. It was what she gravitated towards anytime she was choosing something. That was something they had in common. She was an excellent judge of character. She could spot someone unworthy a mile away. It was amazing for him to see how she interacted with people differently. One minute she was friendly and caring, the next she was civil, only saying what she needed. Sesshomaru wondered how she could do it but didn't dare ask. He knew better at this point. She still needed time before she was ready to accept him even following her around.

The other thing he noticed, which he didn't like, was how much attention she attracted. Some good, others bad. Some men found her attractive and desired her. Sesshomaru had been able to smell it on them. Keeping his claws sheathed had been nearly impossible the first time he had smelt a male's attraction to her.

The other type of attention infuriated him even more. Many, male and female, reacted harshly to the scar on her face. Kagome barely reacted to it, and that told Sesshomaru that she was used to the reaction of others. She was used to the comments and stares, she was used to people making fun of her for her deformity, and it was all his fault. If he could take back what he did, everything he had done, he would in a heartbeat. If he could take that scar upon his face so it was off of hers, he wouldn't hesitate.

The first person that had said something to Kagome, Sesshomaru had hunted down. When Kagome wasn't aware, he went back to the fool, slammed him against the wall, and threatened him. The fool had pissed himself in front of everyone that had seen. Sesshomaru let him go, knowing that killing him wouldn't teach the male any lessons. The next morning, no one looked at Kagome harshly. If anything, they feared and respected her. As it should be. Sesshomaru would do anything to protect Kagome.

Reaching the edge of town, Sesshomaru spotted the demon slayer on the back of her paint. She smiled when she saw Kagome, waving happily. That smile faded when Sesshomaru was noticed, and his eyes narrowed, wondering how this reunion was going to go.

"Kagome?" Sango questioned looking back at her sister in law.

"Alastar got Nakoa pregnant." Kagome rolled her eyes, flicking them at Alastar who lifted his head up in pride. He was unashamed. Kagome may be annoyed, but Sesshomaru could only thank the horse. Kagome flicked her eyes back towards Sesshomaru, then towards Sango again. "He is following me until Nakoa has the foal."

"It will be longer than that, Kagome. After all, you will not take Alastar from his foal, would you?" Sesshomaru raised a brow as Kagome whipped around to look at him. She opened her mouth to say something but stopped. There was no point in arguing. He was right.

Spinning around suddenly, she gave Sesshomaru her back, lifting the birdcage. "I'm sorry you went through what you did. Some people are cruel and hurt others for their own gain. It's not a fair world we live in." Fingers pinching at the twine holding the bird in, Kagome opened the little door with a smile. "But you're free now. Go make a new home."

The bird flew out of the cage, chirping excitedly. It hovered in front of Kagome's face for a second, before flying off, disappearing into the sky. Sesshomaru looked back at Kagome, surprised. He shouldn't be. Kagome had always been kind hearted, but when she bought the bird, he had expected that she was going to keep it as a pet. Instead, she spent her coin, and let the bird go. She sacrificed the little bit of money she had to help the life of another. Human's were destructive, but Kagome did not fall in that category.

"How are things Sango?" Kagome asked, rubbing at the front of Alastar's chest after smashing the cage into pieces.. The horse lowered himself to his front knees, allowing Kagome to climb on his back before he stood up once again. She patted his neck in thanks, then gripped a handful of his mane in each hand.

"Miroku has been able to isolate who has the disease and who doesn't. It is no longer spreading, but he hasn't been able to find the right combination of herbs." Sango let out a tired sigh, then rubbed the back of her neck. "He's hoping you will know something more than him."

"I got blood from Izayoi. And Alastar. I'll get some from you too. All of your blood has my reiki in it. Putting that in the correct herbs will help cure the disease without changing their life span." Kagome lifted a hand, looking at her palm. "I can't give that many people my reiki."

"You can't give anyone else your reiki, Kagome. Look what happened when you gave it to Izayoi." Sango walked Yumi over to Kagome so she could grab her sister's hand. "You've given too much of yourself. If you do it anymore, you risk your own life."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at everything he had learned. Izayoi was not going to age. Sesshomaru had only seen her once in the past thirty five years, and he hadn't paid very much attention to her. How long ago did Kagome give Izayoi her reiki? Why was Kagome's life in danger because she was giving her reiki? He had questions, but ones that he couldn't answer. There was one question he would ask, though, and he would demand an answer. "The disease is spreadable? You are human, Kagome. Are you not susceptible to catching this disease?"

"I know I'm human, Lord Sesshomaru. You've made sure I'll never forget that." Kagome snapped, head tilting to glare at him. "Unfortunately for you, I won't die of disease, sickness, or age. None of them affect me. Any that have my reiki are the same. They will not die by any natural cause." Turning back towards Sango, Kagome began to ignore Sesshomaru once more.

He wasn't going to allow that. "I do not wish for your death, Kagome. I have made that clear. To continue to say otherwise serves no purpose. I simply asked out of concern for your safety." He stepped up to her, ignoring the surprised Sango as she looked between them. Grabbing Kagome's hand, he forced her to look at him. "I was trying to protect you."

"I don't need your protection. I don't want it." Snatching her hand from his, she clicked her tongue, taking off on the back of Alastar. Sango looked back at Sesshomaru, as if trying to read him, to understand him, and then she was following Kagome. Sesshomaru could only watch as they left. He was going to give Kagome as much time as she needed, but he hadn't expected how much pain that would bring him. Every time she rejected him, his heart hurt. He deserved it, he knew. He had put Kagome through so much more, but that didn't mean he didn't feel the pain of her stinging words.

Needing time to gather his emotions, Sesshomaru hung back. He was close enough that he would be there if the girls got into any trouble, but far enough back that he was alone. Nakoa had run ahead with Alastar, though she had tried to stay by Sesshomaru. He sent her away to be with her chosen.

When they arrived at the village, Sesshoamru caught up with them, his thoughts still in turmoil. The smell of death and sickness was overwhelming. There was a fire at the edge of town, bodies burning. The sick that had died. Out of fear of decaying bodies spreading the sickness through the soil, the sick were burned. It was less likely to leave any trace of the disease behind.

Sesshomaru stared at the burning bodies, unable to help but to picture Kagome in that pile. His entire body surged with panic, and he snapped his head towards her, reminding himself that she was alive. She was human, but she would not fall to disease or age. He would have to make sure the things that could hurt her, never laid a grimy finger on her.

"Why is he here?" Miroku's voice brought Sesshomaru out of his thoughts. He was helping Sango off of Yumi, glaring at Sesshomaru with pure hatred.

"It's a long story. I'll explain it later." Kagome reached into her robes, pulling out the vials of blood she had mentioned. Miroku nodded, taking them from her. Ignoring Sesshomaru, the three began to walk towards the barn where all of the sick were being kept. When Sesshomaru tried to enter, Miroku turned around, placing a hand on Sesshomaru's chest and pushing him back.

"Stay away from my sister." His voice was low so no one else would hear. "Is this your way to earn her forgiveness? By forcing yourself on her? I know she wouldn't have agreed to let you travel with her unless you gave her no choice. Do yourself a favor, and forget she exists. I can assure you, she did the same for you." Pulling out a sutra, Miroku slapped it on the side of the barn. He looked back at Sesshomaru, eyes narrowed. "Stop wasting your time with her. You will never be good enough."

Eyes narrowed, Sesshomaru watched him go into the barn, slamming the door behind him. Sesshomaru tried to enter but snarled when a barrier stopped him. Miroku had blocked out all demons. The fact that Sesshomaru couldn't overpower it, told Sesshomaru how strong Miroku was. Miroku won this round, but Sesshomaru would win the war. Kagome would be his, and she would love him. He would do whatever it took.

...

Miroku is just a tad bit angry. But can you blame him. He was there to pick up the pieces with Touga every time Sesshomaru hurt her. Sango is just watching for now, seeing for herself how Sesshomaru has changed. Tension is high between everyone, and now they are having to fight an illness. You will be surprised who is the one who ends up healing the village. See ya'll Monday. Thanks to Didithereaper for editing.