Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine; they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. The following story is for entertainment and not profit.

Chapter 6: To Heal

Sesshomaru watched as Ah-Un and his passengers melted into the setting sun. Once out of sight, he turned his attention back to the woman who had sacrificed herself for his ward. The blood from her wound shimmered in the fading light as it continued to trickle over her back. Her clothing lay about her, torn in two by the force of the blow that she had received. He stood listening to her shallow pained breathing. As he watched, her abused form began to shudder as she struggled to straighten her arms and lift herself. He was impressed by her strength of will and waited patently while she pulled herself to her knees.

"Tell me, wench, why I should not leave you here to die?" He watched her, scanning her scent for a change, hoping to smell her fear, but was disappointed.

Naosu remained still, unwilling to look him in the eye. It was not out of shame, even though she sat bared before a Great Lord, or out of respect for his power and position, but out of the sadness that washed over her at the sound of his proud, commanding voice. She didn't even notice the tears that had rose in her eyes as her hand moved to touch the single stripe of silver hair that had fallen over her shoulder.

"My Lord." The words slipped from her lips without her consent.

Sesshomaru caught the salty scent of tears, saw them glimmer in the remaining light, and heard the whisper that escaped her.

"Then I shall tell you." He said before lowering his voice so as to ensure that only she would be able to hear the following words. "The young girl;…I care for her."

His inner demon let out a scream at him for admitting such a weakness, and to a human. Why was he admitting this to her when he wasn't even willing to admit it to himself?

Her hands slid toward her lap as Naosu finally lifted her gaze to meet his cold golden eyes. Sensing his hidden panic at his own words, she opened her mouth to assure him that he had her confidence. All words escaped her as fresh waves of pain crashed over her. Shrugging off his boa, Sesshomaru slipped out of his armor and moved to kneel by her side. Taking half of her discarded garment, he began tearing it into long strips. She watched him intently as he held the soiled fabric in his teeth and pull with his only hand. Naosu knew better than to offer assistance, acknowledging his disability.

Once finished, he thrust the torn strips at her. Her hand shot out to accept them without hesitation. Picking up the remainder of her clothing, Sesshomaru moved to crouch behind her. Blood was still sweeping from her wound although it had slowed. Naosu inhaled sharply as he pressed the fabric to the wounded flesh only to have her breath catch in her throat as she felt his body lean into her. It took her a moment to realize that he was reaching for one of the cloth strips that he had handed her. As his warmth receded she exhaled silently. She grasped what he meant to do as the soft fabric tie pulled around her upper back. Quickly she accepted the end as it was handed back to her and knotted it securely to hold the make-shift bandage. With his help they repeated the process with the two remaining strips.

"I shall return you to your village."

Naosu shifted uncomfortably at his statement. "But…"

Her voice lowered as her eyes dropped. A blush rose in her cheeks as she thought of the looks she would receive from the men, and the women, of the village in her current state of undress. The movement of the youki lord drew her attention from the bloodied grass before her. He had removed his haori and, with an artfully flip, draped it over her naked shoulders. It was far more than she expected from the seemingly cold demon. Gingerly, she slipped her arms into the sleeves and pulled the fabric more tightly around herself.

As Sesshomaru stood, Naosu attempted to do the same, but without the same success. Pain and fatigue caused her legs to buckle and sent her toppling forward and into the chest of her savior. As her eyes focused on the plainer fabric of his remaining clothes, her hands began to move over the muscular torso. She knew she was on dangerous ground, daring to touch him so intimately, but found that she could not control herself. What surprised her even more was that he had not moved to stop her.

Her hands slid over his shoulders and down his arms. As her fingers reached the end of his left arm she turned to look at what was left of the severed limb. Her left hand flitted across his chest to join the right. The cloth that separated her hands from his skin seemed to melt away. Slowly she lost all sense of her surroundings leaving only him clear in her mind. Her heartbeat seemed to grow louder, drowning out all else, and her hand felt as though she held them too close to a fire and could not pull away. Her vision began to darken as all her strength seemed to fade. Her heartbeat fell silent in her ears before unconsciousness claimed her.

Sesshomaru wanted to pull away when her touch moved to his missing arm. He wanted to punish her for her boldness, but found himself unable to move. His senses focused in on only her. Her face went blank as if she had entered a deep trance and her breathing began to slow. He felt warmth flowing from her hands. What remained of his limb tingled at the sensation. As he watched, the fabric of his sleeve began to move. He found it difficult to believe what he was seeing; his arm was…growing back. This woman was returning that which his hanyou half-brother had taken from him. Somehow she possessed the power to make him whole again, but how…and why?

He felt her body fell against him, her heart no longer beating. He looked at her with confusion. Why would she restore him at such a price to herself? The warmth of her hands had receded and the tingling had ceased. His left arm was complete. Sesshomaru flexed the regenerated arm, becoming aware of every muscle and sinew he had regained. His eyes drifted back to the woman slumped over his right arm. Her chest beginning to rise and fall as her heartbeat resumed a steady pace.

Still limp and unconscious, Sesshomaru scooped her injured body into his arms, along with his armor and boa, and took to the air to fulfill his word.