Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Enjoy!

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Amaryllis

Pride

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He remembered the war. All around him, the roar and stench of battle raged. Thin slivers of light sprayed red with blood. Shadows in the shapes of men sliced into halves, screams echoing from every direction. He could practically taste the iron in the air. At his back, the castle tower cracked and burned.

Somewhere off to his left, he heard his father's shout. Surrounded and separated, the Echizen lord clashed blade upon blade. Red liberally streaked the white pelt on his shoulders and through his trailing silver hair. A snarl distorted his features. Ryukotsusei's men pressed, closing in ranks around him.

"Father!" He hadn't recalled crying out.

Suddenly, like molten iron, pain lashed up his spine, a gasp tearing from his throat.

"Ronin-san."

A voice he didn't recognize called out. It echoed distantly from beyond the battlefield. Blood thundered in his ears, muffling the sound.

Lying prone in the dirt, he watched as the two lords came to blows. Steel sung with each connection. A sharpened edge streaked across his father's pauldrons. And he felt no small amount of pride as he father sliced along the Dragon of the East's flank.

And with each passing strike, it grew harder to breathe.

"Ronin-san!"

The katana plunged belly deep. A silent cry pulling on his father's face, Tessaiga dropped from his fingers.

"Ronin!"

He gasped, eyes flaring wide. The visions of war replaced by a blur of forested mountains. Hands delved into silken cloth as he frantically took in his surroundings.

"You're awake. Thank goodness!" Glancing over her shoulder, the miko smiled wearily. Clutching the reins firmly in one hand, she patted his tight fist that clung to her haori. The pair bounced as the horse cantered onward. "I was worried."

"Where are we?" he panted, grip loosening. He still felt disoriented.

"We're headed to the next village," Kagome began. "We need to get you to a Medicine man. You were poisoned. Do you remember?"

No, he didn't. He recalled the fight in the temple, the whip… "Goshinki's daggers."

"Yes, I suspected as much."

He hummed, resting his forehead on her shoulder. "You could have fled."

She huffed. "And leave behind my rescuer? How ungrateful do you think I am!"

He grunted, gaze half-lidded. He was not accustomed to depending on others. At least, not as of late. He'd been on his own for so long now, he had forgotten what it was like. A sigh slipped between his teeth. Trees and mountains passed in a haze, and the ground seemed to spin before his eyes.

"Ronin-san," Kagome started, drawing him from another dizzy spell. "I never got your name. I can't go calling you 'ronin' in front of others."

He hesitated. His clan's name was not an option. And a name was special; his name was special. He wasn't sure how much people remembered, but it hadn't been so long ago that the people would forget. For now, he would trust. "... Sesshoumaru."

The young woman nodded. "Sesshoumaru-san, hold on a little longer. I can see the village."

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Situated in the shadow of Mt. Norikura, they arrived at the village by sundown. Kagome helped him dismount and stagger into the Medicine man's hut. Watered and remedied, the elderly man took the remainder of the evening to bandage Sesshoumaru's wounds. He made no mention of the blood staining their clothing or the strangeness of the travelling pair. All the while, Kagome quietly waited by the entryway.

"Get him something to drink. Water is best," the elder started, scooping the coins paid into a bag. He summoned his apprentice, ordering the teen to assist the samurai back onto the horse. "When his color returns, rice should be a good start."

Kagome bowed deeply. "Thank you, sir."

He waved it off. "If you follow the river, there's a gentleman who rents out his storage room. Tell him I sent you. This village doesn't have any inns, and it's best your guard not weather the elements."

"Of course. Thank you."

Outside, apprentice and Sesshoumaru waited. Astride the horse, strips of white cloth peaked between the half-open lapels of his han-juban. Kagome, opting to walk, gathered the reins with a hushed utterance of gratitude.

"Where are you taking me?" The medicine was starting to take effect.

"There's a place we can stay so you can heal," she explained. Taking a moment, she fully looked him over. Even covered in dust, his skin was much too pale. Sweat beaded at his temples. Despite his haggard appearance, he attempted to maintain a warrior's composure.

It didn't take long to find the man. And parting with the necessary amount of funds, the pair found the storage room to be just enough. Shrugging off her aid, Sesshoumaru settled on one of the straw pallets. It wasn't the most comfortable, but it was better than what he'd grown accustomed to. Swords at his side, his gaze never left the miko.

The young woman shuffled. "I'm going to bury the saddle."

"Oh?"

"Yes. It belongs to Ryukotsusei's men, and it's much too fancy." She frowned, plucking at her bloodied sleeve. "I can't have them looking for me just yet."

Sesshoumaru stifled a groan, eyes growing heavier by the minute. "I never learned your name, miko," he sighed. The inside of his mouth felt fuzzy, and the contents if his stomach roiled in protest. His thoughts clouded with each breath. Sleep wouldn't be far off, but he dared not drop his guard in the presence of a stranger - not even one who had done so much for him. "Or why Ryukotsusei is after you."

At the door, she paused. Shoulders tensed, she gnawed at her bottom lip with obvious apprehension.

He could tell she was nervous - as wary as he had been - and while he understood secrets, in this he would not budge. "Trust."

She blinked, puzzled. "Pardon?"

"Trust me, as I trusted you," he supplied. Golden eyes held hers steadily, glinting in the darkness.

Somewhere, she found courage. She stood a little straighter - chin, a little higher. "My name is Kagome." Pulling aside the sliding door, she smiled faintly. "I'll be back shortly. Rest up."

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Throughout the night and early morning, Sesshoumaru drifted in and out of consciousness. Sometimes he would rouse to have the woman press cold water to his lips. Most often, he dreamt of sprawling castles, gap-toothed grins, and silver hair. In those dizzying moments, part of him wished the poison had taken hold. That the miko hadn't rescued him.

Damp cloth touched his forehead, and Sesshoumaru groaned, blinking away the haze. The air felt cold.

Kagome shuffled closer. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," he murmured. It tasted like a lie.

"Good." She nodded, touching his forehead. "Your fever broke during the night. Give me a moment to finish changing your bandages. Then, we'll see if you can keep some food down."

He took a moment to mutedly examine the square room and its other occupant. It was no surprise he was cold. Bare from the waist up, Kagome had stripped him of his jinbaori, kimono and han-juban. An immediate look about located his swords neatly to his left. Out of reach. Clean lengths of cloth lay at her side, while the bloodied ones were strewn in a heap by the door.

"I'm not so injured," he grouched, hissing at the touch of a warm compress against the cut.

"Lucky for you," she retorted. "Otherwise, it would take longer to heal." Kagome dipped the square of cloth into a steaming pot, wrung it out, and continued cleaning the wound.

She watched Sesshoumaru warily. He hadn't been awake from her previous tendings. When she'd first realized that his wound may need cleaning, she had hesitated. It's not like I haven't taken care of injured samurai before. Still, alone with a strange man stripped half-bare, she had been reluctant to the task. But after he'd spilled blood to save her life, taking care of his wounds was the least she could do. It took a few minutes, but soon he was rebandaged and shrugging into the last of his clothing. Purposefully meeting her gaze, he dared her to comment as he placed his blades within reach.

Kagome frowned, setting a bowl of steaming rice to his other side.

"For me?"

"Yes, I managed to get some when I was in the village."

He made no comment; instead, he inspected the white hem of her sleeves. The blood was gone. Gradually he drew his gaze to her face, and blue eyes met his from behind the dark curl of her bangs. "For someone who is on the run, you certainly wander into public often," he admonished, nibbling on a morsel of rice. It was about time she come clean. "Why are you fleeing from Ryukotsusei?"

She grimaced. Kneeling beside him, her fidgeting intensified. She hadn't been sure how to broach the subject. Now he's not giving me much choice!

"Miko." He glared. Annoyed.

A palm upraised, she plead for patience. "I have… an offer for you, Sesshoumaru-san."

"No."

Kagome blinked. "But you haven't heard it yet."

He sniffed. "I'm not interested in getting involved with Ryukotsusei's men."

Cheeks puffed, Kagome smacked her hand against the floor. "But you just asked! The least you can do is listen."

He walked into that one. In his pursuit of answers, he shouldn't have been surprised that the girl would ask more of him. Still, he had his pride; he wasn't a sellsword. Propping his back against a bag of rice, Sesshoumaru flicked his fingers. "Proceed."

Sitting in seiza, closed fists rested on her thighs. Back straight, she began. "My name is Kagome, miko and second apprentice to Midoriko, Head Priestess of Oshio Hachiman Shrine. My duty is to reach the Higurashi Shrine on Mt. Tsukuba on the night of the full moon." Reaching into the folds of her haori, she withdrew a necklace of fangs and beads. A single, iridescent orb - nearly the size of a kumquat - dangled from the center. "My burden, the Shikon no Tama, was entrusted to me by Midoriko. It must be destroyed."

Its eerie shimmering unnerved him. "Why?"

"Because" - fists clenching against the red fabric, she tucked the jewel back into her clothing - "Because it is rumored that the Shikon no Tama can grant a wish - any wish - to the one who claims it. Before, it was Lord Kirishma's plan and promise to take it to Mt. Tsukuba so it could be destroyed. But the Kirishima clan fell. Now, Ryukotsusei controls the region… that's why his men attacked my home!"

Sesshoumaru sneered. "And Ryukotsusei wants this jewel for himself? You're sure?"

"What other reason can there be?" she fussed, leaning towards him. Narrowed blue eyes seemed to burn, their ferocity taking him by surprise. "What purpose is there in attacking shrines? No one knew where the Shikon was until recently." Gulping, Kagome shifted back before placing her palms flat, forehead nearly pressed to the ground. "Please, Sesshoumaru-san. Will you be my guard to Mt. Tsukuba? I have no one else to turn to."

Lips squeezed into a thin line. "No."

"Please!"

"No," he applied more firmly.

Eyes raised, the young woman looked desperate. Casting about, Kagome dove into her satchel and hastily withdrew a cloth-wrapped bundle. "W-What if I could pay you? You're a ronin… you don't have a master or a lord. Would this be good enough?"

He nearly snarled at her insolence, but the item she revealed stole his words.

In her palm rested a golden statuette of a komainu nearly length of his own hand. A pair of ruby eyes glimmered in the dawning light. Ball under one paw, its luxurious tails wrapped around the base. The crest of a six-petaled flower within a hexagon was stamped on the bottom.

He reached, but she pulled it away.

Sesshoumaru glared. "Where did you get that?"

"It was given to the shrine by Lord Kirishima. It's worth at least 15 ryō," Kagome cajoled, returning it to her satchel. "Please. I can't make this journey on my own."

His snort managed to sound derisive. "There's no such thing as travelling easily with a woman. I'll have no part of it."

She fumed. "You've got some nerve! Considering I just saved your life!" She was tired of begging. If he wouldn't help…

"I did not ask you to."

"But I did!"

Grunting, Sesshoumaru pushed onto his knees and stood. Fighting back a wave of nausea, he glared down his nose at the woman. Even injured and bedraggled, he still managed to ignite a spark of fear in her gaze. "You'll not lord over me, girl," he spat. Baring flat teeth, his withering stare promised pain. "Perhaps next time you'll think before you act."

Properly cowed, Kagome sputtered, rose, and stormed out. "Fine! So much for samurai and their legendary honor!"


End Note: Thank you, Kaity, for being a wonderful beta-reader!

I'm mapping their journey as they travel across Japan. Mt. Norikura is one of several prominent peaks, and potentially active volcano, in the Hida Mountain Range.

I've also moved a few of the story locales for plot reasons.