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Heat of Battle

'Sesshoumaru held me in his arms… He asked me out even though he doesn't know me… That feeling when he hugged me, what was it? Was it just embarrassment or was it actually a feeling of… I doubt it. That's unlikely, since I don't really trust him.' I thought as I ran towards the park where I had been earlier.

There weren't very many people in that park so it was easy to make it to the small forest without really being seen.

"Now, where's that hat?" I grumbled to myself as I looked around the ground, "Some luck it gives me if I drop it all the time."

Then I saw it beside a dead branch; the blue fabric made it easy to spot. Picking it up, I placed it backward on my head. I pictured the event that happened earlier and leaned against a tree trunk. 'I don't understand it…. Why would Sesshoumaru ask me out? If he's a human, then he knows what it's like to have a crush. But if he's not a human… then maybe he's never felt the true power of love before.'

A fast sound was running through the trees.

"Damn that brother of mine! I know I smelt him somewhere!" a voice growled as it came closer.

'Someone's cursing at no one… I thought that I was the only one that did that.'

A red and white flash went by and then something hit a tree.

"Well that was smart," I mocked slightly before walking toward the sound.

There was a guy that had long silver hair and wore a red outfit lying on the ground with swirly eyes. 'Now I'm really weirded out! This guy has dog ears!'

I stared down at the dazed boy who looked to only be a year older than myself.

"Dude, you alright?"

"No touchy my monkey."

"News flash, you've run into a tree. What are your feelings on the matter?" I asked him with a laugh.

A few moments passed before I got annoyed and started kicking him with my foot.

"Dude, get up!"

The boy snapped out of his daze before looking at me.

"You!" he growled, getting to his feet.

"Hey, don't go blaming me for you running into that tree. I get enough of that at home and from Mr. Po at school," I growled as I turned to walk away.

"You smell like Sesshoumaru! By the scent it was two days ago. Kagome's stupid Saturday thing!" the boy hissed while pointing a finger at me.

'How does this guy know Sesshoumaru? Wait… why do I care?'

"He's my brother's friend so leave me alone. Why the hell do you have dog ears?"

"Where did Sesshoumaru go?"

"He went home. If he's all you care about, dog ear guy then I'm out of here."

Leaving the strange guy behind, I ran toward the road that I could follow to get home. 'That guy was weird… He had the same silver hair and golden eyes as Sesshoumaru. Maybe he's the brother Sesshoumaru had been talking about on Saturday.'

"Wait, that guy didn't even know what Saturday was!" I laughed as I stopped running for a minute.

There was an alleyway not too far ahead of me and it sounded like something was going on there. 'What's that sound? It sounds like someone is fighting with someone else…' Silently, I went to the alley and stayed behind the corner to peek to see what was happening.

"Why don't you do anything about us?" a guy asked with a laugh and mockery.

"I think she did," another guy's voice mused "She went to that freaky tomboy at school."

"We should do something about that, now don't you think?" a familiar voice said from some shadow.

My green eyes widened with realization at the voice. 'That's one of the mules who beat me up in grade six. I guess what goes around comes around.' The two guys in front of the victim stepped out of the way and gave me a glance of who it was. There… against the wall with weak limbs and blood on their clothing… was Yuki. 'It's Yuki! Now those guys are really gunna pay for this!' Taking a few steps out behind the wall, I showed myself to the fools who were standing in the dark alley.

"If you three were smart, you'd leave her alone!" I threatened.

'A promise is a promise… and this is one I'm swearing to keep!'

There was a loud crack of thunder in the distance as clouds covered the sky. It started to rain slightly and the wind started to howl violently.

"Speak of the devil," the familiar voice said with a laugh, "Here I thought I would never get to see your face this up close again."

"This time, it's your turn to get the crap beaten out of you. Step away from Yuki, and come after me instead."

I walked toward them and stood in front of Yuki to protect her. 'I may not really know Yuki… but she's my friend. Probably the only one I've ever had.' Taking my hat off, I dropped it onto Yuki's backpack.

"I've waited three years to have the chance to face you again. This time that guy friend of yours won't be here to rescue you."

"Are we gunna fight or are you just gunna stand there and talk like a girl?" I asked with mockery.

Getting the guy angry, he ran at me with his fist ready. 'That's kind of stupid…' I blocked his punch with my left hand and then punched him across the face. At my actions, one of the guy's friends punched me in the side.

"Teach you to mess with us!"

"Don't forget that you're the ones who started this!" I growled as I kicked the guy in the ribs.

Then the third guy decided to get a hit in as well by elbowing me in the back. Wincing, I spun around and kicked him in the side of the head. 'Three on one… Just like the good old days. Too bad for them that I've taught myself how to fight.'

The rain started to pour and it pounded off the ground along with every other object as it fell. I was pushed face forward into a brick walled building and then pulled backwards into another one. Then I was tripped before one of them started kicking me in the sides. The familiar guy's two friends merely laughed as they watched. Getting tired and annoyed, I rolled away from the guy and got to my feet.

"Pigs like you live in sties…" I muttered with a smirk, "So I'll put you out of your misery."

'I won't give up… and I won't run away. Those days are long over.' I lunged at the guy who sounded familiar and kicked him down as hard as I could. When he didn't get up, the other two ran at me. One punched me across the face and then the other threw me against a wall. My legs had given out when I had hit the wall and I slid to the ground from the force. My left arm had a gash from an old pipe and it made me wince again.

"Tomboys think they're all that."

"But all they really are is nothing. They are low and sneaky."

"Right. That's why guys like the three of you and whores who are looking for nothing but a good screw make the top of the list, right?" I laughed slightly as I unsteadily got to my feet.

Before they could move, I ran at them and punched both of them in the nose. Then I kicked one where it counts and the other in the stomach, knocking them both out.

"Yuki, you alright?" I asked her almost immediately.

"Jayden, y-you found me. You protected me…" she whispered, looking up at me weakly.

"I promised you, didn't I?" I said with a small grin, "Can you get to your feet for a minute? I'll take you home."

Nodding, Yuki slowly got to her feet and I grabbed her bag along with my hat. I placed my wet hat on my head so the beak was forward and gave Yuki her bag. When she got it on her back, I got her to hop onto my back so I could carry her home.

"Where do you live Yuki?"

"Thirty-four… twenty-six, 3rd Street," she replied quietly before passing out with her head against my shoulder.

The rain pounded hard against my head. Lightning flashed a bright blue before a loud crash of thunder followed. Everything started to become blurry… but only for a few moments. 'Thirty-four twenty-six 3rd Street. That's right up the road from here. Those guys must have jumped her before she had the chance to get home.' I thought as I slowly started to walk back the way I had come.

"Hang in there Yuki," I assured her in a whisper, "Don't worry, I'll get you home."

When I reached her house, I went straight to the door and knocked on it with my right hand. About a minute passed before anyone answered the door.

"Hello?" a woman wondered.

"Hello. Are you Yuki's mom?" I wondered tiredly.

She nodded slowly before catching sight of her daughter on my back.

"Oh dear, what happened?!" she asked with extreme worry.

"Three guys from school wanted to pick on her. When I saw her on the way home I fought them. I just thought it'd be best if I brought her home."

"Thank you! Oh thank you so much. I'll take her now!"

I nodded my head and turned back around.

"You must stay here until it stops raining. It's the least I can do for you helping my daughter," the woman said, tone grateful and relieved.

"No thank you. I don't wish to trouble you. I need to get home anyway."

"Very well. Please be careful on your way home."

I left the house and started to walk back to my own home. Again everything started to become blurry and my body started to become really weak. 'I need to get home if anything… No one will come looking for me if I just stay in town.' I winced from the pain I felt and stopped for a moment. Someone was not too far ahead of me. They were just standing there; watching me. I could barely see their silver figure before passing out and collapsing to the ground.


Sesshoumaru had been watching. He had seen the fight… seen how Yuki had gotten home… and he now stood before her unconscious body with serious eyes. He was surprised that she had fought for Yuki; that she risked myself to protect a friend that she hardly knew. The rain pounded hard against the ground… making a small mist around everything. Sesshoumaru walked towards her soaking wet body and picked it up in his arms.

"So fragile," he whispered solemnly at the sight.

A crash of thunder was heard as he started walking towards my home. The rain was cold and chilling as it fell but it didn't matter to Sesshoumaru.

"I must get you home. A frail mortal body can get ill in this weather," Sesshoumaru whispered as he started to run.


'Is that Sesshoumaru? …Did he find me even though I told him to go home?' I wondered as I could feel someone holding me tightly in their arms.

"S…Sesshoumaru?" I whispered quietly, not too sure on who it was.

"I will protect you Jayden… I will take you to your home," Sesshoumaru assured me with a calm tone.

I smiled slightly with gratefulness towards him and then let my body become less tense. 'He did come after me… Sesshoumaru cares about what happens to me.'

"Thank you, Sesshoumaru. At least someone… cares…" I whispered before passing out again.


When Sesshoumaru came to the house, everything was foggy from the rain and the rain had stopped pouring ,but continued to drizzle. He knocked on the door with his foot since his hands were occupied.

Seth opened the door slowly and saw his friend standing, soaking wet in the rain.

"Sesshoumaru… what's going on?"

Slowly his eyes wandered to her unconscious body and he smiled slightly.

"So she got in another fight. I hope those guys learned their lesson this time."

Sesshoumaru walked inside the house and looked down at her unconscious form with worry.

"You should care for her," Sesshoumaru said as he gestured to hand her unconscious form to Seth, "She fought for someone important to her… someone who she barely knew. Be grateful that your sibling would risk herself for another."

Seth took a step away from the gesture and shook his head with a small smile on his face.

"You found her Sesshoumaru. I'm sure that Jay trusts you enough now that she would like you to care for her," her brother said, hiding his eyes with his bangs, "Take her to her room and have a shower if you want. I'll clean her arm up and if you want you can stay over."

There was something about how Seth was talking that made Sesshoumaru feel rather guilty. He didn't like the feeling of guilt just as much as he hated the feeling of fear.

"Very well. Remember that it was you who asked me to protect Jayden. Do not be upset with me once I take her away from here," Sesshoumaru said quietly as he took off his shoes and went up the stairs to her room.

Placing her wounded body on her bed, Sesshoumaru gazed down at it. Clothes and hair were soaked through… hat was on the floor since it had fallen off once again. Footsteps were heard from the stairway and Sesshoumaru turned to look at Seth who was now standing in the doorway.

"I am grateful for both her and you, Sesshoumaru. I was glad when I heard you liked her… not many guys do. You dared to go after her; dared to have feelings for her…" Seth explained with a small smile on his face, "If you hadn't found her tonight… I'm sure that I would never have found her."

Sesshoumaru walked past him and smiled slightly.

"I must thank you, Seth. If it was not for your scent, I would not have found what I was searching for," he said as he went to the washroom to have a shower.

With a small laugh, Seth went to the kitchen and dug through a bottom cupboard for the first aid kit. When he found it a few minutes later, he ran back up the stairs in such a rush that he ran into the wall.


There was a loud rumble that brought me from unconscious to awake. 'What happened? …Where am I? I feel like I'm on a bed… my bed… but I can barely move. My arm is stinging worse than hell right now… and I don't really remember why.'

Once I had thought about it for a moment, it all came back to me. The fight made my entire body to become sore. I heard Seth come into my room and I opened my eyes slightly with confusion.

"…Seth," I whispered, seeing his face.

"Jay, you're awake? How are you feeling?"

I closed my eyes and turned my head to the side with a small smile on my face.

"Like I've been hit by a bus," I admitted with a laughed.

Seth laughed at my words.

He sounded worried and it made me feel bad for making him that way.

"Where are mom and dad?" I wondered in a quiet voice.

"They both went away on that business trip remember? They won't be back for a few days."

'I don't think they told me that… Wait… wait… oh yeah I was playing Soul Calibur 3 when they were talking to me. Haha, my bad.' I thought with a small smile.

"Can you sit up so I can bandage your arm? Or are you going to be difficult and make me do it while you're lying down?" Seth asked as he raised the first aid kit.

Using my right arm, I slowly pushed myself to a sitting position so my brother could clean my wound. 'I wonder if Yuki is alright… She was pretty beat up by the time I found her and her body was pretty weak.'

Seth pulled out a wet cloth to wipe the dry blood off my arm and my bed.

"So what happened this time?" he asked me, curiously.

"My friend Yuki told me she was being picked on by some jerks, so I said I would protect her. We went out for lunch, she went home, Sesshoumaru and I went to a park, and Higurashi Shrine," I explained with a yawn as I started to become tired, "By the time I was on my way home… I saw her being beat up and fought to protect her. That's all I remember."

Seth smiled when he heard my words. He was proud that I had gone out to find a friend and protected them.

"Can you hurry up please?" I yawned.

"Whatever," ha laughed pleasantly, "When I'm done you might want to put some dry clothes on. There's no point in soaking your bed if you have to sleep in it!"

Before Seth could finish bandaging my arm, I heard the water pump kick in from downstairs. '…The pump's on? Was Seth in the bathroom before he came in here or is someone else here? It better not be a girl or he's in trouble!'

"Seth… why is the pump running? Do you have a girl here?" I asked suspiciously.

"Don't be stupid Jay. I would only bring a girl here if I hated her more than anything."

'Then who is it?' I thought about it for a few minutes before hearing something.

"I will protect you Jayden… I will take you home."

Seth finished with my arm and then wrapped both of his arms around me protectively.

"Promise me that you won't pick fights anymore," he whispered.

"I promise I won't fight with anyone anymore, Seth. That is… unless it's you," I laughed as I gave him a small shove.

After he fell off my bed, Seth gathered all the things he used and went to leave the room.

"Get some rest Jayden. I'll tell the school you won't be in tomorrow."

I nodded and got to my feet to change clothes.

With a quick change of clothes from my dark blue t-shirt, pants, and socks, to my pajamas, I hopped into the bed and covered myself with the sheets. 'Sesshoumaru stayed here… He brought me home but didn't leave. Why would he do that when he could have just left and wait till I got better? Does he really care about me? …Or is he just trying to turn me into a sap?' I thought with some suspicion.

Whatever Sesshoumaru was doing, was getting me to trust him and I didn't really like it. 'I'll just have to wait for him to get out of the shower. Until then… I'm passing out for a few hours.' I closed my eyes and fell asleep almost in an instant despite the noise of the shower and Seth trying to put the first aid kit away.


Sesshoumaru came out of the washroom wearing different attire than he had been. Seth came out of the kitchen and saw Sesshoumaru. He was wearing a white hoari with red flowers, black armor across his chest, a spiky piece of metal around his left arm, a large fluffy thing down his back, and white baggy pants. On Sesshoumaru's face were four raspberry marks, two on each side of his face, a blue crescent moon on his forehead, and raspberry on his eyelids.

"Sesshoumaru, where'd you get all those clothes?" Seth asked with some confusion and a small laugh.

Sesshoumaru's golden eyes looked straight at Seth with their cold look and he stopped walking.

"My home is different from yours. I am a demon - a lord of the western plains. I took your sister to the shrine where I get here, though she does not know that it is a passageway," Sesshoumaru explained calmly, going to the living room.

It took a few minutes for Sesshoumaru's words to sink into Seth. Then he, too, went into the living room and sat in the chair.

"So, you're telling me that you're a demon and you're here just to find someone to fall in love with when there're other demons in your world?"

Sesshoumaru's eyes looked at Seth with a cold stare. He didn't like that it sounded as if Seth was mocking him.

"I plan to take your sister with me on this night. If I take her with me, then she will heal more than she would here."

"That's what you meant by not being able to see her again!" Seth realized immediately, "As long as you make her happy Sesshoumaru… it doesn't matter to me. Though, my parents will wonder where she went, but that's alright."

It was agreed between them that Sesshoumaru would go back to his home with one more in his company.


Seth came up the stairs and went into my room. He nudged my arm gently to wake me up. 'What does he want now?'

"What," I whined tiredly.

"Jay, you're going with Sesshoumaru. I don't know when or if we're going to see each other again. So I'm taking you downstairs to him," Seth explained while he helped me sit up.

"Whatever, just let me get dressed first," I groaned with a yawn as I unsteadily got to my feet.

'Why wouldn't he know if we would see each other again? It's not like I'm going anywhere else… He does live around here!' I thought dully as I pulled out my dark navy shirt and my favorite pair of jeans.

Seth turned around and faced the doorway as I changed my clothes. 'Why am I going with Sesshoumaru anyway? I'm at home and was in my bed and was warm, so why am I going somewhere?' After changing, I went to the doorway and pushed Seth over before I fell over myself. 'That wasn't so smart… I think I'm just gunna go back to sleep now…' I rolled over onto my back and fell asleep.


Seth laughed at how she had also hurt herself in the process of pushing him… and how she was trying to act the same as she would have if everything were fine.

"Stupid," he whispered to himself as he picked up her sleeping form.

Sesshoumaru stood waiting at the doorway. It wasn't all that odd for him to see someone give up a family member. In his time, he had seen women given up as whores to make money for their families or to help their families survive.

"She will return to you in a few years. I will bring her back when I have pupped her."

Seth handed her sleeping form over to Sesshoumaru and then laughed slightly to Sesshoumaru's words.

"Pupped her? Do you really think she'll let you do that to her so soon?" he chuckled slightly.

"Whenever she is ready," he stated gently, looking tenderly at her sleeping face, "I will only claim her if she agrees to it."

Seth said his goodbye and Sesshoumaru left the house. It had stopped raining, but the foggy mist remained in the air. The smell that hung around was that of a fish. It was an unpleasant stench that would make someone want to vomit.

Sesshoumaru ran as fast as he could toward the Higurashi shrine. When he reached the top of the stairs, another scent filled his nose.

"Little brother, you are here as well," he said calmly, stopping and looking toward the house.

"Sesshoumaru, how the hell did you get here?" a growl came from the darkness.

"Do not challenge me here Inuyasha. I am not in the mood to fight to with you," Sesshoumaru stated with a threatening growl.

Inuyasha walked out of the darkness and fog so he could see his brother.

"Leave the girl here Sesshoumaru. She doesn't belong with you."

"I have won her heart, little brother. What I do with her is nothing to concern you," he growled back resentfully.

A girl came out of the house and ran out into the fog.

"Inuyasha, what's going on?" she wondered.

When Inuyasha was distracted, Sesshoumaru disappeared faster than the eye could see and went to the well.

"Stay here Kagome! Sesshoumaru has a human girl with him and I'm not going to let him get away!" Inuyasha growled.

"But how'd he get through the well in the first place?" Kagome asked with worry.

"I don't know, but that bastard isn't gunna get away!"

Sesshoumaru jumped through the well in a rush to get away from Inuyasha. He was in a hurry and didn't want to have to waste his time fighting.

"Get back here Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha growled from the well.

There was a small imp, a girl who looked around ten, and a two headed dragon waiting in the forest.

"Lord Sesshoumaru!" the girl and the imp called happily.

"Rin, take this girl to the castle on Ah-Un. Jaken come with me," Sesshoumaru demanded as he placed the unconscious girl on the dragon's back.

"Yes sir lord Sesshoumaru! You can count on me!" Rin said as she looked up at Sesshoumaru.

"Stay here. If Inuyasha's friends come past here, keep them from following Rin."

"What do you intend to do?"

"I intend to keep Inuyasha away from the castle."

Rin smiled and took off on Ah-Un towards the west. Jaken stayed where he was as he had been told. Sesshoumaru took off back toward the well.

The stars were out and the moon held its place high in the sky, lighting the way for all of them. Sesshoumaru quickly ran into Inuyasha since he had been running as well.

"Where is she Sesshoumaru? Where did you take that girl?" Inuyasha growled as he unsheathed his sword.

"As I have said, little brother, I have won her heart. This matter does not concern you," Sesshoumaru growled back, raising his claws.

This action interested Inuyasha when he realized that his brother had both of his arms.

"Tell me Sesshoumaru, why did you go after that girl?"

"You have your mate, Inuyasha. If you have forgotten, she too comes from that place. You cannot say that I have no right."

"But she's a human! You're a demon! How do you think she's going to react when she finds that out?" Inuyasha growled again.

His words were true and Sesshoumaru knew that it was true.

"…It is a chance I am willing to take."

End of Chapter 4

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