Chapter 7: Off to Totosai's

After an hour of traveling, Avalon can tell Jaken can't keep up anymore. He lags too far behind. "Lord Sesshomaru, are we near any water? I would really like to rest and bathe."

"There is a stream nearby, come."

Sesshomaru heads off to the right. Avalon and Jaken follow behind. She hears the water. "Jaken why don't you stay here, I'll be back shortly."

"Yeah," the poor guy does not have the heart to argue.

Avalon truly hopes he will be better in the morning. She continues to follow Sesshomaru to the stream. It looks beautiful to her. She sees the sunlight glistening off the surface and jogs to the water. As she passes Sesshomaru she calls back, "arigatou Sesshomaru-sama."

She feels it would be really nice to cool off and knows the water will soothe her aches. She doesn't like how she sweats and feels gross because of it. Once Avalon makes it to the water she pulls her katana from her obi and places it against a tree, stripping off her clothing. She steps in and feels the cool water rush over her feet and calves. As she goes deeper in she can feel the coolness start to soothe her aches. She keeps stepping deeper until her breasts slip below the water. She closes her eyes and dunks her head under. She holds her breath and lets the truth of where she is and what she has been doing slip away. She exhales slowly under the water letting the turmoil go. She lets her head rise above the water with her eyes closed and takes a much needed deep breath of fresh air and opens her eyes. She meets golden orbs. Sesshomaru has joined her in the water. She looks into his eyes unsure of what his motives are at the moment but she feels calm. She lifts her head and looks at the clear blue sky.

Sesshomaru reaches his hand around the back of her head and brings it back down to look into his eyes. He leans forward and brushes his lips against Avalon's. She kisses him back, liking the feel of his lips on hers. It feels natural to her. Sesshomaru's kiss becomes more insistent and she responds in kind. He brushes his tongue along her lips and she parts them to allow his entrance. Their tongues dance with one another. Without thinking she wraps her arms around Sesshomaru and pulls their bodies closer together. Her mind is in a happy daze. She isn't even thinking of the fact that she is naked and he probably is as well.

Sesshomaru's hand snakes down her back and grabs her lower thigh, trying to raise her leg to allow him to enter. Reality hits Avalon in an instant. She pushes herself away from Sesshomaru as images come flooding back to her of her rapes. She looks at Sesshomaru with horror filled eyes and whispers, "I can't."

Sesshomaru smells the bitter scent of fear on her, when before all he smelled was arousal. He is confused as to what had changed. Avalon quickly exits the water and reaches for her juban. She can feel the tears pricking at the sides of her eyes threatening to fall. She blinks to keep them back. Sesshomaru joins her in an instant, holding her with his arm wrapped around her chest under her breasts pulling her against his naked chest. She can feel his hard member against her back. He whispers in her ear, "you seemed most eager."

She responds disheartened, "kissing, holding, but not that. Please understand I can't."

Sesshomaru does not release her. He moves his right hand down her abdomen and brushes it along her hip, pushing his hand between her legs. He caresses her inner thigh, trying to coax her to spread her legs. He bends his head, kissing and nipping at her neck. He whispers into the side of her neck, "Why?"

She shivers involuntarily. "Please, stop Sesshomaru."

"Tell me why?"

"I..I...I can't while we are in this position."

Sesshomaru smelling that her fear has not diminished, even with his coaxing, finally relents. He slowly releases her, allowing her to grab her juban.

She slips it on and grabs a himo and uses it as a robe. She is too shaky from everything else and lets herself sit down. She takes several deep breaths trying to calm herself as Sesshomaru stands in front of her in all his naked glory. He looks down at her waiting for her answer. "Come sit with me and I will tell you."

Avalon feels intimidated by him standing naked in front of her. She hopes that he will put something on when he sits.

Sesshomaru grabs his hakama and slips them on and sits next to her.

She is grateful that he is now clothed at least. "I will try... It's difficult since... well... I am attracted to you Sesshomaru. But I'm not ready for sex. I enjoy when we kiss and when we are close. I feel myself being drawn to you. Do you know why I feel so drawn to you?"

With his head held high and puffed out chest says, "this Sesshomaru is flawless perfection." He notices that her scent no longer holds fear but anger. 'Why would she be angry'

Avalon nearly balks at his response. Her breath hitches and she wants to yell at him. She thought there might be pheromones at work or something along those lines but the arrogance of 'flawless perfect'? She closes her eyes and takes several breaths counting; 1, 1000, 2, 1000, 3, 1000, 4, 1000… till she gets to 10, 1000. By the time she is done she is calm enough to talk again.

"Look I was raped Sesshomaru. Fear courses through my veins and I don't see or feel you there I see him, so I do not want to and it would take a hell of a lot more time and coaxing to get me to be open to it." With a defeated sigh she confesses, "also when I was raped, I was injured down there and it hurts."

"Is that why I can smell blood on you?"

"Yeah."

"That I can help with."

"What do you mean?"

"Lay on your back."

"Excuse me?"

"I do not repeat myself."

"No, I mean what are you intending to do?"

"Trust me."

Avalon is still unsure of it, but lays on her back as Sesshomaru asked her. Sesshomaru leans over her and gentle pulls at her legs to part them.

Avalon's eyes widen in fear.

"I am looking at the injury."

Avalon nods and allows him to pull her legs apart. Sesshomaru moves to place himself between her legs. Sesshomaru brings his head closer to her womanhood. "Avalon close your eyes and trust me."

Avalon closes her eyes and trembles in a fear that she cannot shake.

Sesshomaru grasps her hips with his hands and places his mouth near her opening. He pushes his tongue into her.

When Avalon feels soft wet flesh enter her, her eyes snap open and she looks down and sees Sesshomaru's head between her legs. She feels a sudden burning sensation that is unlike any she has felt before. She goes to shoot up but Sesshomaru holds her in place, using his hands to push on the top of her pelvic bone.

He growls as she continues to struggle, trying to free herself. Even though Sesshomaru is penetrating her to heal the abrasions, he finds himself enjoying it as she tastes divine.

"Let me go, what the hell Sesshomaru? Let me go!"

He plunges his tongue into her core several more times penetrating her as far as he can licking her walls. Each time Avalon can feel the same burn until it finally stops. Avalon stills when Sesshomaru pulls his head away, releasing his hold and sitting up. He licks his lips savoring the taste. He can smell salt.

"What in the seven hells did you do?"

"I healed you. You should be grateful."

Avalon glares at Sesshomaru with tears in her eyes and fixes her juban back closed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Sesshomaru you can't do that. You can't just take someone like that."

"I did not. I healed you. Why are you crying?"

"I….. uh…" tears stream down her cheeks

"Avalon?"

Avalon looks down in shame. "The only sexual experiences I've had, have been forced on me. I was raped when I was 15 and you know of…." she trails off. She can't seem to finish talking. She feels like she can't breathe.

Sesshomaru is caught off guard. "You were taken twice against your will?"

Avalon nods her head.

Sesshomaru reaches out and holds her arm shaking it gently to get her attention. "Look at me."

Avalon looks at him with watery eyes.

"I will never force you but I would be happy to show you what it should be like."

Avalon whispers, "Sesshomaru...ie."

"The offer still stands."

Sesshomaru gets up and dresses quickly. Avalon is still sitting on the ground crying softly.

"Avalon it is time to go."

Avalon looks up, shaking her head.

Sesshomaru bends down to be at her level. "If we do not leave soon, it will be dark before we find Jaken, come." He holds his hand out for Avalon to take.

After several minutes of her refusing he gets up and goes to sit next to a nearby tree.

Avalon sits quietly, crying for some time before she can get herself to get up.

Sesshomaru comes over to help her dress.

Avalon is despondent as she follows Sesshomaru back.'What in the hell was he thinking? He tortures me, nearly killing me. All I'm doing is trying to help him. Then this "I healed you, you should be grateful." and then "...I would be happy to show you what it should be like." like I want that.' She shakes her head.

Looking around, she starts gathering branches as they walk. Jaken was still hurt and she can help him by gathering the wood. When they find Jaken, he is asleep laying against a tree. She sets to work arranging the wood. After she finishes she decides to climb a tree. She climbs as high as she can go and settles in a group of branches that make a nice cradle. She closes her eyes and relaxes as the wind gently rocks her. She feels her attention being drawn below her. She looks down and sees Sesshomaru below her sitting at the base. She looks back up and starts to run her fingers through her damp black tresses. 'I wish I had a comb. Hmm I have no money. I wonder if Mr. Puppy guard would get me one.' Looking down she speaks, "Lord Sesshomaru?"

He looks up to acknowledge her.

"Do you think I could get a comb for my hair?"

He nods his head in agreement.

"Arigato."

Avalon eventually falls asleep in the tree. Sesshomaru pushes out his yoki checking the surrounding area for threats, waking Avalon in the process. When he cannot find any he resolves to visit a nearby village. He gets up. "Jaken!"

"Hai, milord"

"Start the fire when the sun sets and watch Avalon. Make sure nothing happens to her. If something befalls her, you will suffer for it."

"Hai."

He quickly leaves the camp. Avalon sits quietly in the tree feeling his aura fade. 'Why do I even stay? I could leave, maybe find someone else to help me. Miroku is around somewhere. Then there are the demon slayers. I know they are in the mountains somewhere. There are options.' Avalon looks down and sees Jaken resting against a tree. 'I wonder if he is awake or if her went back to sleep?' Avalon climbs down the tree slowly and quietly. Once she reaches the bottom she steps on a twig that snaps. She holds her breath. Jaken doesn't stir, so she starts to sneak away towards the woods. Just as she is about to step into the woods she hears Jaken, "Onna, where are you going?"

"Who, me?"

"Hai, is there another onna here."

"Ha,ha I suppose not. I was just going to oshikko." (pee)

"Be quick about it. It will be dark soon."

"Hai I know Jaken, arigato."

Avalon steps further into the woods and keeps going back the way they came. 'Just have to go along those berry patches turn at that weird tree. Head towards that one lake and back over those hills. It shouldn't be too hard. Back to the tree maybe Kaede would still take me.'

Avalon is backtracking quickly to the village, when she senses a powerful aura. 'Has Sesshomaru already caught up to me?' She turns in a circle, looking around her in the last light of the sun's rays but sees nothing. When strong arms wrap around her mouth and arms, her eyes widen in fear. The assailant jumps with Avalon in their arms.

"Now now my pretty, don't worry. Soon you won't worry about Sesshomaru." His sleazy voice says in her ear.

Avalon tries to shake her head but he keeps his hand firmly on her mouth, using his thumb and index finger to pinch her nose, suffocating her as he leaps from tree to tree. Avalon struggles but soon passes out from the lack of oxygen. The male demon releases her mouth when he feels her go limp. "There, there. Rest for now ha, ha, ha, ha."

The demon continues his journey well into the night until he comes to a distant cave. He jumps and lands at the entrance walking in with a limp Avalon slung over his shoulder. He throws her down on the ground. He sees the katana at her hip and takes it away before tying her up. 'Now to just wait for her to wake,' an evil grin spreads across his face.

Sesshomaru makes his way to a village market center. The sun will be setting soon and the ningen would be packing up soon. Sesshomaru swiftly locates a comb. He lifts it off the table. The merchant is distracted by putting away his wares. "This comb, how much?"

The merchant looks up and sees Sesshomaru for the first time, freezing. Sesshomaru smells the fear radiating off of him. He does not answer but starts to stammer.

"I do not repeat myself."

"Free. Please just don't hurt me." The merchant flings himself on the ground and bows low to the ground.

'Pathetic ningen.' Sesshomaru leaves with the comb, tucking it into his kimono not looking back. When he gets back to camp things are not as he left them. Avalon is not in the tree and Jaken is asleep.

"Jaken."

Jaken jumps at his name."Milord?"

"Where is Avalon?"

"Avalon?" Jaken sweeps his eyes across the campsite but she is nowhere to be seen.

"She went to oshikko. She should be back any moment milord."

Sesshomaru takes a large sniff of the air and finds only trace amounts of her scent. He tracks Avalons scent till he gets to the spot of her abduction. He growls when her scent ends and another one comes into focus. "Yōgan. (溶岩)" the name makes his blood boil. He forms his yoki cloud to get a better view and to sniff the air higher up.

Avalon wakes with her arms tied behind her back and her legs bound. She blinks her eyes in the dark but she can't see anything except 2 orange lights. Suddenly several candles are lit, bringing light to the room, revealing a demon sitting not far from her. His hair is bright orange and his eyes are like molten lava. Avalon gasps at his appearance.

"You're awake." a cruel smile graces his lips. Avalon finds herself shaking. "Good. You fear me. I will be kind to you, if you cooperate," he flexes his claws. "Or not. My name is Yōgan and yours?"

Avalon eyes him warily considering her options. Does she have what it takes to keep from cracking. Taking a steady breath she decides to use her middle name. "Lillian," being brave she continues, "What do you want with me?"

"Oh Rirrian, such a lovely name." He reaches out to brush her cheek while she flinches away from him.

"Don't touch me."

Yōgan pulls his hand back. "I won't if you tell me what I want."

"Well, what do you want to know?"

Sesshomaru arrives to hear Avalon ask Yōgan "Well, what do you want to know?" He stops to listen, 'does she mean to betray me?' perhaps he will kill her and Yōgan at the same time.

"Why are you traveling with Sesshomaru?"

"Sesshomaru?"

"Don't deny it, you reek of him and don't lie, I will know."

"I'm just his slave, I mean nothing to him."

Yōgan slaps her across the face digging his claws in and leaves 3 gashes dripping blood, "I don't believe you. Sesshomaru hates ningen. He would never keep a slave. Try again."

Avalon's resolve hardens, "I have nothing more to say to you."

"Is that so?" Yōgan moves closer to her. His finger nails start to glow bright orange. "Last chance, before I get serious."

"Do what you must."Avalon closes her eyes waiting for the pain she knows will be coming.

Yōgan thrusts his nails into her shoulder burning her. She screams in agony. The burn stops any bleeding. He pulls his nails back out. Tears streak Avalons face as she whimpers. "Shall we try again? Why are you traveling with Sesshomaru"

Avalon yells, "WHAT DO YOU CARE!?"

"Wrong answer." He pushes his burning nails into her other shoulder.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" Avalon pants at the pain.

"Why are you traveling with Sesshomaru?"

"GO TO HELL!"

"Foolish onna." He purrs as he grabs her by the neck picking her up and tossing her body against a stalactite. She crashes to the floor as the stalactite breaks and fall on her sending several sharp rocks cutting through her body.

"Come on my dear you can talk to me I won't tell him."

Avalon lays on her side gasping, catching her breath, "You're the foolish one. I'm already dead either way. If I tell you, you kill me, if I don't, you kill me."

Yōgan rushes to her side cupping her face, smearing the blood on her cheek. "Ie, ie deary. You have it all wrong. I'm saving you. If you tell me what I want to know you will be mine and I will protect you. You are quite the stunning onna. I would love to fill you with my seed."

"Get your hands off me!" She spits at him.

"My, my so feisty." He pulls his hand away, bringing his fingers to his lips licking her blood. "Mmm so tasty. Is that why the dog keeps you?"

"You're sick. Serious just go die already."

"Not happening my dear."

"I'm not your dear."

Yōgan finds he is angered by that and grabs her shoulder pushing his thumb into the wound. "Not yet but we will see."

Avalon gasps in pain.

"I want to hear you scream." Yōgan picks her up by her wound and punches her in the stomach sending her flying across the cave. She falls down coughing trying to catch her breath.

"You're not screaming! Why won't you scream?" He kicks her against the wall and hears a pop. Avalon grits her teeth biting her tongue in the process to stop the scream that wants to escape. Her left arm has been dislocated. Leaning down to look at her face that is contorted by pain, he sees blood drips from her mouth. Yōgan says in a mocking tone "Oh no. I think I broke something. Well, are you ready to talk."

Avalon heaves a breath, trying to ignore the searing pain. "I would never betray Sesshomaru-sama. So you may as well kill me."

"How disappointing, but as you wish." Yōgan grabs her throat and starts choking her. Avalon struggles against her ropes as the searing pain of his burning fingers burn her neck. "You better talk while you can. I won't give you another chance." Avalon resolves to die before telling this Yōgan anything. Her vision starts to blur and then blackens.

Suddenly Yōgan's hand leaves her neck as he rises and turns around as Sesshomaru makes his presence known. Avalon glimpses Sesshomaru though Yōgan's legs, whispering his name as she passes out.

"Ah Sesshomaru? Coming to save your dear Rirrian?"

Confusion crosses his face. He can't help but speak, "Rirrian?"

"Hai she has been quite a spitfire." Yōgan brings his hand up and allows his claws to glow bright orange. Then his face softens "But alas you were too late." He shakes his head.

Sesshomaru looks over at Avalon bleeding shallowly from her mouth and can hear her heart slowing.

"It won't be that much longer until she joins the dead. Too bad, too, she would have made a fine wife for me."

Sesshomaru sets his raging gaze on Yōgan and his aura flares out. "She will never be your wife." Sesshomaru moves with lightning speed. His right hand extends, claws ready to rip Yōgan's throat out. Yōgan dodges and slashes at Sesshomaru with his glowing claws. Sesshomaru catches him by the wrist and thrusts his other hand throw his chest grasping his heart and ripping it out. He drops Yōgan's body and heart and rushes to Avalon's side.

"Avalon."

Avalon makes no move to respond.

Sesshomaru goes to untie her and notices the odd angle of her left arm is in. He hesitantly removes the ropes. He speaks in a more demanding tone, "Avalon get up." When she still does not respond her shakes her. "Get up." Still she does not wake. 'Did I wait too long? Perhaps she is losing too much blood?' Sesshomaru licks along the three gashes on her cheek until they are healed. He moves to her mouth seeing the blood dripping. 'Is she bleeding internally?' he thinks in alarm. He gently opens her mouth with his hand and sees the large gashes on both sides of her tongue. He plunges his tongue into her mouth and swirls it around her it healing it. Seeing the glaring red scorch marks on her neck he licks them. He starts to strip her off her clothing, taking care not to move her weirdly angled arm too much. As he looks sees the 4 finger sized holes in each of her shoulders that have been burned shut. He growls seeing the wounds. He pushes his tongue into each wound several times till the holes start to close.

He looks closer at her weirdly angled arm. He moves it around and hears no crunching sound but feels how it moves without fluidity. 'Dislocated.' He recognises it from his time fighting in battles with his father. He rolls her on her back and positions himself by her side. He grabs her wrist with both his hands keeping her arm straight and level with her body with the palm facing down. He slowly moves her arm towards her head while using small circular movements until the arm was at a 90 degree angle from her body. He moves her arm to be in the proper position rotating it into place. He knew the steps as he watched it many times but a yokai would recover within a day. A human he was unsure of. He carefully scans her body for any other external injuries. Seeing the other lacerations along her body, he sets to work licking and healing each one. Once he is satisfied there are no more he moves to dress her again careful of her arm. He walks over to Yōgan's body and rips a large strip of clothing to use as a sling for her arm. He wraps the sling around her. Finding her katana laying on the floor, he grabs it and places it in her obi. Lifting her up he walks outside the cave. He forms his cloud of yoki and flies back to Jaken. He sets her gently down next to the dying fire.

"Jaken."

Jakes stirs from his sleep blinking seeing Avalon laying next to the fire.

"Oh you found her milord!"

"Jaken go and find some food for her and bring more wood."

"Hai."

Jaken scurries off into the forest to look for food and wood. Sesshomaru pulls his pelt from his side and lays it on top of Avalon.. He sits beside her and listens to her heart and breathing. The heart beats stronger and the breaths are not as shallow. He's pleased until he notices she starts to shiver. 'Is she cold?' He pulls off his armor and lays down on his back pulling Avalon up onto his chest and wraps his pelt around her along with his arms. Slowly the quivering slows and then stops and her heart beats normally and her breathing is what he knew it to be when she slept.

Jaken comes back with berries and mushrooms. Jaken is in shock when he sees Sesshomaru on his back with Avalon on his chest.

"Sesshomaru-sama?"

Sesshomaru's gaze flicks over to Jaken. Jaken's mouth hangs slightly opened as he stands there.

"The wood." Sesshomaru reminds him in a stern tone

"Oh right away!" Jaken turns and runs back to the trees but just as he is about to enter Sesshomaru calls him, "Jaken, leave the food." Jaken turns back, runs to place the food next to Avalon and his master then runs back towards the woods. Sesshomaru looks down at the woman he holds in his arms. He finds himself admiring her tenaciousness. 'She would rather die than betray me and here I thought I would have to kill her.' His mood sours as a hardly felt emotion consumes him, guilt. 'She nearly died because I waited too long.'

He whispers into her hair, "I will protect you from now on." He closes his eyes and listens to her steady breathing grateful that she is alive. Jaken comes back with wood and adds it to the fire but says nothing about Sesshomaru and Avalon laying together. He finds himself a comfortable spot and falls asleep.

Avalon wakes as the sun rises and goes to move when she finds she is trapped by strong arms. Her heart rate skyrockets and she thinks Yōgan still has her. She starts struggling in his grasp. Sesshomaru releases her immediately when he realizes what she wants but he does not understand why she reeks of fear. He sits up watching her with a critical eye. Avalon sits up and scoots away.

Looking around she soon realizes it is only Sesshomaru who held her. She instantly calms down and then remembers her last moments before blacking out. She thought he was only an illusion but he was real. He saved her. She springs up and jumps into his lap embracing him, even though the movement hurt, it was worth it. With joy in her voice she exclaims, "You saved me!"

Sesshomaru returns the embrace and Avalon holds onto him as tears begin to fall from her eyes. She was so scared and she is so happy to be alive and it is all thanks to this man.

Sesshomaru can smell the range of emotions coming off of her and is bewildered by them but says nothing as he holds her and lets her cry on his shoulder. After a while her tears begin to dry as she starts to pull herself back together. She whispers in a most heartfelt tone, "Thank you."

Though Sesshomaru appeared unfazed his heart clenched in a most painful way at her words. 'She shouldn't be thanking me. I let her be tortured just to test her loyalty.' He felt very lowly at that moment but none would know.

She soon releases him from her embrace and drops her arms. Looking him in the eyes, she says, "Sesshomaru, I nearly died because I didn't have a way to protect myself. I don't want that to happen again. A human blade is no match for a demon like Yōgan."

The mention of Yōgan's name infuriates him but he remains calm on the outside, "Yōgan is dead. You will not have to worry about him."

"Yōgan isn't the only demon who has set his sights on me. There was Ojike too and I am sure there will be more to come. You can't always be there." She looks down and in a soft down trodden voice she adds ,"You weren't there."

Sesshomaru finds it agonizing hearing her dismal words. 'I was, I just didn't stop it.' Sesshomaru for some reason feels like he should reach out and hug her and pull her close to him but refrains. He wonders if it is to comfort himself more than comfort her. He chastises himself. 'I do not deserve comfort.' Abruptly Sesshomaru stands grabbing his armor and putting it on.

"You will stay here today Avalon. You need to rest and recover."

"Yeah, I guess you're right, but what about.. ."

"We will discuss that once you are recovered." The finality in Sesshomaru's voice gives her pause. Avalon knew he was right about her recovering but she still wanted a way to protect herself 'Maybe Totosai could help with that, he specialized in demon blades."

"Jaken I need you to retrieve my dragon."

"Hai, right away." Jaken leaves camp to go find Sesshomaru's wandering beast. They were never too far from their master but did not come unless they were summoned.

The day passes slowly for Avalon. Sesshomaru is hovering over her constantly and he won't let her do anything by herself. She needs to oshikko and Sesshomaru follows her into the woods. He turns his back but still it's just weird. Eventually Jaken returns with the two headed dragon. Avalon slowly walks over to the dragon offering her hand to the heads. They each take a sniff and nuzzle into her hand. "Awww, aren't you guys sweet. Hey would you like some berries?" Avalon moves to pick up a handful of berries for the dragon when Sesshomaru tells her, "Stop."

"What, why?"

"You need nourishment, they do not. Eat and heal."

"Sesshomaru-sama, it doesn't quite work that way. I will heal but eating more than I normally would doesn't make me heal faster."

Sesshomaru eyes her studiously and then nods his head. "Very well, you may feed the dragon."

Avalon feels like rolling her eyes but refrains and offers the berries to the two heads each taking several berries and eating them. "Hey, they're good aren't they?" the dragon heads groan in agreement. Avalon smiles. She sits down in front of the dragon and pets their heads with her right hand. "I wish I could use my left hand so I could pet you both at the same time but I need to let it heal." One of the heads nuzzles her cheek.

Jaken and Sesshomaru watch the exchange both surprised at how calm Avalon is and how quickly the dragon seems to take to her. Sesshomaru decides to send Jaken away so he can talk to Avalon alone. "Jaken, go catch Avalon some fish to eat."

Jaken looks at Sesshomaru with dread in his eyes but responds with a forlorn, "Hai." 'He knows I'm no good at catching fish.' Jaken leaves to go fish. Once Sesshomaru is sure Jaken is out of hearing range he looks to Avalon who is currently petting his dragon.

"Avalon"

"Oh?"

"You recognize my dragon."

It is more of a statement but Avalon answers nonetheless "Well, of course I do."

"Why did you not ask to have him join us when you were injured?"

"Well…I didn't know if I should."

"Hmm?"

Avalon shrugs her shoulders then groans and feels the pain the movement causes.

Sesshomaru tsks, dismissing the conversation.

A/N Elohiniar is wonderful. I cannot thank her enough for her hard work and dedication. Please write a review or message me so I know I'm doing okay. If you have any questions feel free to message me with them. Thank you for reading :D