Chapter 6 Infection

Sesshoumaru stared after her, startled at the way she'd acted. What's wrong with her? he tried to get up. I should find out.

It was slow work just trying to stand. He had to stop to breathe over ten times in the process. When he was finally able it took great effort for him to stumble out of the house. As soon as he was outside he had to rest against the house. He panted heavily and couldn't seem to catch his breath.

Maybe I shouldn't have come out here, he realized. I don't think I'll be able to get any further. I'll have to wait for her to come back.

He tried to walk back inside the house but fell to his knees. He wound up crawling back inside.

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Inuyasha and Kikyo had just lay down to sleep when they heard a loud shriek, like a wild cat's, outside of the house.

"What was that?" Inuyasha asked, sitting up straight.

Kikyo had heard that sound before and knew what it was. She stook and grabbed her bow and arrows. "I think I know," she said sliding the door open. "Let's go."

Inuyasha stood up and grabbed Tetsesaiga. He followed the miko out of the house. One outside the two were greeted with chaos. People ran past them with panic filled eyes. Inuyasha grabbed a little boy as he went by and demanded. "What's going on?"

The child pointed a shaking finger toward a group of burning houses. Inuyasha looked in that direction and let the boy go. He and Kikyo headed in that direction. When they reached the cluster of houses they were greeted by a huge white and brown monster that was tearing a house apart with it's teeth.

"What is that?" Inuyasha gasped staring at the feline.

"I think," Kikyo said as she took an arrow out of her quiver and put it against her bow. "That's our cat." Then she aimed the purity arrow and shot it at the cat.

The arrow went into the cat's shoulder. The feline cried out and glared down at Kikyo. It raised a paw. Kikyo tried to avoid that swat but couldn't. She was stuck hard by the paw and sent flying into the wall of another house.

"Kikyo!" Inuyasha shouted. He angrily turned on the cat. He raised his sword over his head and ran toward it. "YAH!" he roared, jumping into the air.

The cat swatted him away. He tumbled over the ground, righted himself, and came at it again. The cat jumped out of his way and smacked him down with its tail.

Inuyasha instantly stood up and came at the cat again. "You won't beat me this time!" he yelled.

The cat arched its back and poofed its gigantic tail. "I'd like to see you try it, half breed!" it snarled in a low voice.

"Wind Scar!" Inuyasha shouted, throwing the blade to the ground.

The cat dodged it. "Your sword is powerful, half demon," it said. "It must get its power from your blood." The cat raised its paw, claws out, as he came at it again. "Let's see how powerful it is without that blood!" It scratched at him.

Suddenly Inuyasha felt the cat's claws cut through his body. As pain shot trough every fiber he felt something leave his body. Something he needed. He smashed to the ground and slid across the ground until the wall of a house stopped him. Then he blacked out.

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As Kikyo got back up, shaking stars from her eyes she heard Inuyasha screamed and looked up in time to see him go flying past her. "Inuyasha!" she screamed.

The cat growled then made a sad sound. Kikyo looked over at the cat. The Miko was suddenly filled with rage. Threading an arrow in her bow she aimed it at the cat and fired. The arrow hit the cat in the thigh. The cat demon shrieked in pain then ran off, it's body getting smaller as it went.

When the giant feline ws gone Kikyo ran over to Inuyasha and knelt down beside him. "Inuyasha," she said, leaning over him.

That's when she noticed something about his features. What in the world? What happened? She looked in the direction the cat had gone. What kind of abilities does that cat possess?

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Mearle still hadn't returned.

Sesshoumaru wasn't worried. He didn't know her or care about her. The only thing that bothered him about her was the nagging question on why she'd run off like she had. Just as he was beginning to doze off the door burst open. He opened his eyes and saw Mearle limp in, holding a bleeding shoulder.

What happened to her?

"Are you all right?" he asked.

She limped past him after she had slid the door shut. "I'm fine," she said sitting down on the floor near the table.

"Then why are you limping like that?" he presisted.

She looked over at him. He could see a pained look in her eyes. As if she were tortured by something. "I can't tell you," she said slowly. "Sorry."

He looked away from her. "I don't really care," he informed her. "I was just curious."

"Oh."

He lay on his side facing away from her. Mearle watched him kick the blanket off of him. A few minutes later she saw him pull if back on. She leaned forward and watched him more carefully. He looked like he was shivering under that thick blanket. I wonder what's wrong?

She got up and walked over to him. She knelt down and looked at the side of his face. She saw he was sweating. A cold sweat?

He sensed her staring and opened one eye. "Can you not do that?" he demanded.

"Oh!" she gasped. "Sorry." she bowed her head. She moved away from him. "Better?"

"Yes." she heard him sigh then saw his breathing start to slow. Within minutes he was asleep.

She suddenly felt content and started purring. Her eyes glistened with tears. I hope I don't hurt you. she thought. I don't want to hurt anymore people.

She stood up and walked outside of her house. She sighed and looked at the sky. The clouds had gone and the moon was out as well as a few stars. The night was peaceful except in a village in the distance. She could see fires in that village even from this far away. The fire illuminated the few low hanging clouds staining them orange and yellow.

She closed her eyes and looked away from the scene. I can't believe I did that! she thought, feeling like a sinner. That priestess could have killed me. That's how my whole family died. I can't let it happen to me! I have to over power this curse before I hurt someone else...

She heard a cry inside her home and instantly ran back inside. The intasatnt she closed the door behind her Sesshy pounced at her. "Open that door!" he screamed in her face.

Mearle put her hands on his shoulders and forced him back. "Why?" she asked.

He clawed at her with his right hand. "I'm burning up!" he yelled.

Mearle felt how warm he was through her hands on his shoulders. He felt like a hot water bottle. He's burning up! she realized in panic.

"Please just lie down," she said slowly and gently pushing back back onto the bed. "I'll get you some water. That will cool you down." I hope.

He seemed to calm down. He lay back down but was still sweating and now breathing heavily. She ran into the other room and came back with some water. She knelt down and helped him sit up so her could drink it. When he was doneen he laaly back down and went right to sleep.

Mearle stared at him with fear in her eyes. She knew whaaht the warmness ment. She didn't want to believe it but what could she do? That word was even painful.

Infection.

A/N

It's been awhile since I've updated this. I don't really like how this story turned out but I'm going to finish it anyway Since I already have five chapters up. I don't care if I get no reviews or anyone tells me it sucks. I know that already. So yeah read or don't read leave a review or don't leave a review I don't care.