CHAPTER 9 The Lie

Naraku was a little surprised to see Aijou return so soon. When she handed him the shards he asked. "How did you get them so fast?"

She was totally serious as she replied. "I told you I'd do anything to get them. Now my part is done. Time for you to do yours."

Naraku pocket the shards and handed her a plant. "Here you go," he said. "A deal's a deal."

Mearle bowed respectfully. "Thank you," she said.

Then she turned and left. When she was gone Kagura came into Naraku's room and said. "She doesn't know does she?"

The toher demon shrugged. "What she doesn't know won't hurt her." he turned from the woman. "What her friend doesn't know will!"

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By the time Mearle reached her little house it was starting to get dark. She quickly unlocked the door and ran inside, fearing the worst. She sighed in relief when she saw Sesshoumaru still sleeping where she'd left him. I'm so glad nothing happened, she thought, a purr in her throat.

Mearle sat down beside him and began to unwrap the bandage. At the sensation of her touch the dog demon opened his eyes and looked at her. "Where have you been all day?" he asked, in a calm voice.

"Trying to find an herb that will get rid of the infection in your shoulder," she replied, setting the bloody bandage on the floor. "I finally found one."

"How?"

"Somebody gave it to me."

"Oh."

Mearle ground up the plant on a stone then mixed it with water, creating a salve which she applied to the cut. Her face grimaced as green puss ran down his chest. She used her sleave to wipe it off. When she was finished she rewrapped his wound and stood up, holding the bloody bandage in her hand. "I don't know how long it will take to work," she said. "Hopefully not too long."

Sesshoumaru closed his eyess and sighed. "Hopefully," he said.

She smiled down at him. "If you're tired why don't you go back to sleep?" she offered. "It will help that infection to heal."

He didn't answer. He was already alseep.

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Mearle heard Sesshoumaru let out a pained yelp, sometime later. She ran into the other room and found the dog demon sitting up grasping his shoulder in a death grip. She noticed he looked deathly pale and was sweating severly.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

He looked up at her with glazed eyes. She took a step back. "My wound," he breathed. "It's worse. That herb didn't help..."

"It didn't?" she exclaimed, coming up to him and grabbing his hand. "What do you mean?"

"That herb made it worse!" he shouted at her like she was stupid.

Mearle suddenly felt very cold. That person I gave the shards to gave me the wrong herb!

"If you don't do something I'm going to die!" he shouted.

"Die..." her puples shrunk to tiny slits.

He tried to say something else but couldn't. He fell back onto the bed. Mearle looked him over. He was unconcious.

I have to find someone who can help him! she thought. She remembered the town nearby had a priestess. Maybe she can help me.

Mearle stood up. "Don't worry," she said to thw dog demon. "I'll get someone to help you!"

She opened the door and ran outside. She ran though the fields without slowing or looking back.

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Kikyo and Inuyasha had been in the middle of a discussin. The Priestess had told him about her strange encounter in the woods and they both agreed it might be that cat. Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door. They both heard a voice shouting. "Open up! Please open up!"

"I wonder who that is," Kikyo said, standing up and heading to the door.

Whewn she opened it she saw a younge woman in orange with black cat ears standing in the doorway, looking frantic.

"Yes?" Kikyo said.

"Are you Kikyo?" the cat girl asked.

The woman nodded.

The cat girl grabbed the woman's arms.

"Hey!" Inuysahsa exclaimed, staring to get up.

"I need your help, Kikyo!" the cat exclaimed, her eyes frantic. "I have a friend with an infection. If you don't come with me right away he'll die!"

"How did you know to come to me?" Kikyo questioned.

"I was told about you," was the reply. The cat girl fell to her knees. "Please come! I beg of you!"

"All right," Kikyo said giving in.

The cat stood up and bowed. "Thank you," she said.

Kikyo quickly collected some stuff she would need then started to follow the cat girl out of the house.

"Wait!" Inuyasha called.

The women looked at him.

"I want to come too," he said. "You might need protection."

"Okay," Kikyo agreed. "But you'll have to ask her." she nodded toward the cat girl who was eyeing Inuyasha wearily.

"May I come with?" he asked, turning to her.

The cat girl shrugged. "I don't care," she said.

They left.

When they arrived at Mearle's house the cat girl said. "He's inside."

Kikyo headed toward the door. Inuyasha started to follow but Mearle bolcked his way. "I want you to wait outside."

"Why?" he asked.

"I just do," was her answer. "Now please."

Inuyasha started to argue but Kikyo gave him a look, telling him he'd better not. He said nothing but his face said he was unhappy at the way things were going. Kikyo and Mearle went inside.

Once inside Kiyo knelt down beside Sesshouamru and began to examine the wound carefully. "It looks bad," she said. "Very bad."

"I know," Mearle said.

Kikyo picked an herb up off the floor. "Where did you get this?" she asked.

"Somebody gave it to me."

"Do you know what this is?"

"No. What is it?"

"A poisonous plant," the woman replied. "If you use this on a wound it will make an infection worse and eventually kill the patient."

"Is he going to die? Can you help him?"

Kikyo nodded. "You're lucky you got to me when you did. I will be able to save him but his right arm will be useless for awhile."

Mearle wasn't listening anymore. She was thinking. That man tricked me! He didn't want to help me. He just wanted those jewel shards! Mearles rage grew with every thought. I am so foolish! Her's not going to get away with this! The cat demon ran to the door, opened it, ran outside, and dashed through the filed and into the forest. I'm going to kill him!

A/N

That's it for now. Behold the OOCness.