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Melissa walked along between the houses by the light filtering through the doors of the houses still lit and the starry sky. She looked up in time to see a shooting star. The last time she'd seen one she'd wished for a family. She made the same wish now, even though it couldn't happen. She'd tried to have a baby, but had been unable.

It had been a dark time. She'd been so happy, so full of hope when she'd gotten married. It all came crumbling down when she couldn't carry a baby. They tried and failed, then tried and failed again. It was so unbearably painful, and her husband's true colors had slowly emerged.

She felt the sting of tears in her eyes. But then her thoughts drifted to Sesshomaru and for some reason she recalled a conversation they'd had long ago, his words echoing back to her. "There are many other children who need mothers, perhaps fate wishes you to take care of them." Then she thought about Rin. He had a daughter and he'd never been with a woman. Rin had needed a daddy and fate gave her one.

Everyone said Sesshomaru loved her, even his mother. He never said it, but maybe he just couldn't. He took care of and protected her. Tolerated her even when she went out of her way to annoy him. He looked at her like no man ever had, not even her husband, and when he touched her...

She stopped as the realization washed over her, he touched her! He touched her and only her. He didn't just hold her when she fell or pick her up to move her. He had caressed her cheek the day they woke up together. She raised her hand and touched her cheek. Maybe...

"Well lookie what we have here." A cold voice said behind her. She wheeled around and came face to face with Kojo. She had been so lost in thought she hadn't heard him walk up behind her. She took a step back and he took one forward.

"What's the matter? Did your youkai not fuck you hard enough to let you sleep? I could help you with that." He grabbed his crotch suggestively.

"Maybe she's looking to make some spending money."

"Well, if that's the case I have a boner and a yin with your name on it. How about it? Want to feel a real man fill that pussy?"

"You inebriated. Go home, go sleep." She turned and walked away. She wanted to run, but she didn't want to show them she was afraid. She should have run anyway.

Kojo ran after her, he grabbed her around the throat and pulled her back against him. She tried to call out but he had her windpipe constricted so that she could barely breathe. With his other hand reached around and started groping between her legs as he ground himself against her backside.

"You dirty fucking whore! I'm going to fuck you raw, you nasty tramp, and you're going to love it." He hissed in her ear as he fondled her.

She elbowed him in the ribs, knocking the breath out of him. He loosened his grip and she was able to break free. She ran and filled her grateful lungs with air.

"SESHOMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" Her call for help turned into a scream of pain as Kojo grabbed her hair and yanked her backward. He punched her in the face, breaking her nose. She fell and he leaped on her punching her in the face again. The third blow rendered her unconscious and her tore open her kimono as his friends jeered and cheered him on.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Some one yelled as rough hands pulled him off her prone figure. He was tossed to the ground and fists and feet began raining down on him, the men of the village had heard her scream. Kojo's friends tried to run but the men who couldn't get in on the Kojo beat down didn't let them get far.

Inuyasha came running, awoken by shippo who'd heard her. His men were taking care of Kojo so he went to Melissa and felt for a pulse. To his relief her pulse was strong and steady.

"Everyone Stop!" He yelled, "Don't kill them."

"But my lord, he was going to rape.."

"I know. I saw. You, get Keade, try not to wake Rin. You, get my wife. I'll go get my brother."

"I am here." A deep voice responded, he had just landed behind Inuyasha. His back was to them, to Kojo, he was looking down at Melissa. 'I should not have left her here.'

Her face was turned the other way, but her could see bruising, could smell the blood. She had long, red marks on her body where Kojo's nails had scratched her as he pulled at her kimono. He could see saliva on her where that monster had put his mouth on her exposed breasts.

Tenseiga was not pulsing at his side, but he had to be sure, he knelt beside her and placed his palm against her chest. He could feel her heart beating. He then cupped her cheek and turned her face up to look at her. Blood trickled in new directions as he moved her, her entire face turning black and blue. His hands balled in first of rage as he pulled her kimono closed.

"Damn, I'm sorry Sesshomaru, I didn't hear her leave the house." Inuyasha told his brother. Sesshomaru didn't respond. When he stood and turned around he was truly a terrifying specter. He fought to keep from transforming fully, nothing he could do in his true form was punishment enough. His face and fangs were elongated however. His stripes were jagged and his eyes were blazing red.

Though his anger was not directed at them the men holding Kojo had no desire to be in his way. They dropped Kojo and scattered like leaves. Kojo jumped to his feet and attempted to flee. Sesshomaru grabbed him by the hair just as he'd grabbed Melissa and yanked him back off his feet.

He held him up by his hair and growled in his face. Then he dug his claws into Kojo's belly, avoiding his vital organs Sesshomaru filled Kojo's belly with his poison acid. He threw Kojo face down and the man began to scream and writhe in agony as his guts slowly dissolved. He would never hurt another woman.

Sesshomaru turned back to Melissa and cupped her cheek to turn her face to his again. "Melissa, please wake up."

She didn't respond. He repeated his request, she still didn't respond. He used his sleeve to gently wipe the blood from her face. He only stepped back so that Keade and Kagome could examine her. Once they gave the ok to move her he picked her up in his arms and held her tightly.

"Hey, don't touch that!" Inuyasha called to two men who'd been about to move Kojo's body

"But my lord, we can't leave a body to rot in the streets." One of them told him.

"I know that, but I don't want to risk you two coming in contact with my brother's poison." He then turned to Kojo's bruised and battered buddies, "You two move him."

"But what if the poison gets on us?" one of the protested.

"Not my problem. Once you've dumped him by the cemetary keep walking. I never want to see you two in this village again." Inuyasha replied sternly.

"We didn't do nothing."

"I know. You didn't do anything to help her. You were encouraging him to rape her. I'm letting you off easy because I don't want my men touching that body, but I don't want you near the women and children. Now take Kojo and get lost before I ask my brother to melt you too."

They had no desire to be melted from the inside out so the reluctantly grabbed Kojo. One took his hands and the other his feet. When they lifted him he broke in half, spilling red liquid and green foamy poison. They carefully dragged the two halves to the cemetery

"Rin would probably have a harder time seeing her like this..." Kagome told Sesshomaru, "And Shippo was the one who heard her scream in the first place. Take her to our house."

When he entered their house he did not set her down, instead he sat with her in his lap. The little fox approached cautiously, concern on his tiny face. He turned when Kagome entered after Sesshomaru and bound into her arms.

"Will Merissa be ok?"

"I don't know Shippo." Kagome replied. She and Keade sat down in front of Sesshomaru, they needed to talk to him.

"Sesshomaru, she will probably be ok, but we don't know that for sure. She's suffered a brain injury, we won't know if any permanent damage has been done until she wakes up."

They then explained to him the possible effects. He listened carefully as they explained she could suffer mental impairment or paralysis. It didn't matter to him, he would take care of her no matter what. The only thing that frightened him was the possibility she would suffer memory loss. She might even wake up with no memory or who he was.

Keade fixed her broken nose so that it would heal straight. After that there was nothing else they could do for now so she went home. Inuyasha decided to stay up with his brother but told Kagome and Shippo to go to bed.

Neither brother spoke, but Sesshomaru found it oddly comforting that his brother sat up with him through the night. In the morning Keade explained what happened to Rin, and brought her to see them. She was beside herself, she knew Sesshomaru wouldn't let Melissa die, but she was still distraught. When Jaken came looking for his lord and learned what happened he took it on himself to try and keep Rin distracted, even if it meant wearing flowers all day.

Keade and Kagome checked on her several times. Inuyasha and Shippo kept coming in the house for one thing or another. But for the most part Sesshomaru was alone with Melissa. He held her in his lap, wrought with guilt that he hadn't protected her.

About mid afternoon Inuyasha came back in the house again and watched him from the doorway for a long moment. "It's not your fault Sesshomaru."

"It is my responsibility to protect her."

"Yeah. And you came as soon as you heard her scream. You can't be with her all the time. You came as quickly as you could, that's all anyone can ask for."

"I should not have left her alone knowing she had an enemy in this village." Sesshomaru replied.

Inuyasha crossed the room and sat down across from his brother. "Fuck, Sesshomaru, you didn't know this would happen. His house was on the other side of town, she tried to avoid him, she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I lived down the road from that ass and didn't know what he was capable of. No one could have known this would happen.

"Look, Sesshomaru, why did you leave her here last night?" Inuyasha asked.

"I sensed a storm approaching." Sesshomaru replied.

"Did you know she'd still be awake when it passed?" Inuyasha asked.

"No, I did not."

"Did you know Kojo would be at his buddy's house?"

"No."

"Did you know she'd be in danger here?"

"No." Sesshomaru answered. "I thought that she'd be more comfortable in a house for the night."

"You were trying to take care of her. Kojo attacked her. This is his fault and you've made him pay." He stood and left his brother alone.

Sesshomaru looked down at the unconscious woman in his arms. His brother was right, he'd done his best to do right by her. He couldn't blame himself for another's actions, Kojo attacked Melissa.

Still, he didn't know what he'd do if she didn't know him when she awoke. He'd continue to care for her. But all the memories they'd shared, holding her after the earthquake, playing in the creek like puppies, late night conversations, he couldn't lose those moments with her.

It was late in the day when a soft noise pulled him from his thoughts. Melissa made another soft sound and stirred in his arms. She snuggled against him, then slowly opened her eyes. A look of confusion caused his heart to skip a beat, then she found his eyes and smiled.

She struggled to sit up. Sesshomaru gripped her tightly.

"Don't try to get up, just rest for a moment. Do you know who I am?"

"Why wouldn't I, Sesshomaru?"

He had to bow his head for a moment to compose himself. Then he lifted her to a sitting position and held her against him. Then he gently brushed his tongue across one of her cheeks. She gasped.

"You lick me!"

"I did."

"Why?"

"Because I am a dog." He replied, then he licked her once more.