Neutral

The morning light warmed them as Rin and Kohaku stood beside Ah-Un waiting to leave the small youkai village. They were quite a pair, both looking like they were on death's door. The village chief, Saburou, looked nearly as pitiful as they did. Heavy bandages wrapped around the terrible wound on his abdomen, and blood covered the brown fur pelt around his shoulders. What would have killed a normal human, only slowed down the tall, brunette inuyoukai. He and a few of the guards from the night before stood before them, bowing.

Kohaku kept his good arm around Rin, supporting her as best he could. His shoulder hurt terribly, but paled in comparison to the injuries Rin had sustained, and the longer they waited the leave, the more concerned he got.

He and a few of the guards from the night before stood before them, bowing.

"We owe our lives to you. Thank you for your assistance in this battle."

Rin regarded them with her one open eye. Her left eye remained completely swollen shut. Kohaku could tell that she was trying to keep her face rather neutral, but her pain was obvious in every movement she made.

"I am glad to see you well, Sabarou-san. We'll inform Sesshoumaru-sama of the events that took place here." She said softly, her busted lip slowing her speech.

"Take the surviving villagers further into Sesshoumaru's territory. It's safer there. If you need to stay with another town, please show them this." Kohaku held out a gold coin with the western house's emblem on it. "They will give you sanctuary."

Saburou accepted the coin with a small bow of thanks. "Would you not consider staying with us until you have recovered?"

Kohaku shook his head. ""We appreciate the offer, but we must tell Sesshoumaru-sama of what has happened."

The village chief nodded. "Hn. Send our Lord my regards."

Rin turned toward Ah-Un, and began to contemplate how she would manage to get on the lumbering dragon. Given how difficult movement and breathing had become, she knew that she must have broken some ribs.

Kirara gave out a soft mew from her perch on Ah-Un's rump. Rin weakly patted her head.

Kohaku gave her a look full of understanding.

She clenched her jaw and glared at him. ""Quit looking at me like a wounded puppy."

Kohaku gave her a charming lopsided smile. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Ah-Un lowered his belly to the ground, turning its heads to watch the girl they favored.

A guard appeared to her right. "Allow me to help you." Placing his hands over her hips, he lifted her quickly, and sat her cross the saddle. She hissed as pain racked her body.

Kohaku wasted no time, and pulled himself up on the saddle behind her.

Rin leaned back against Kohaku, and his arms came around her on each side, holding the reins. He nodded to guards and pulled on the rein's urging Ah-Un on.

She held her breath as Ah-Uh ascended into the air.

Their flight back was quiet as they flew the many miles towards the western castle.

"Rin?" Kohaku asked after a while. He feared her sleeping, for given her injuries; she might not wake back up.

"Hm?" She asked dazed.

"You said you had this...illness too, right?" Kohaku asked, refering to his nightmares.

Rin was silent for a moment. Illness? What did he mean? Her mind floated aimlessly. She wished breathing wasn't such a chore. She wished he would let her exhausted body sleep.

"Rin?" He jostled her a bit, sending jolting pain down her body.

She cried out weakly.

"I'm so sorry. I just...you need to stay awake until Kagome-san can look at you."

Rin groaned.

"You said that you were haunted like me." He explained.

Her mind caught up with him. "Hm..."

"What are your dreams about?" He asked.

Rin opened her good eye. She hadn't woken up screaming from a nightmare in a while, but she would never forget what was in them.

"Wolves. It's always, wolves."

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Author's note: No worries, Sess/Kag will be back in the next chapter!