"You're awake, I was beginning to worry." She didn't move over to him, she couldn't. It had been a difficult feat to simply sit up and clean her wounds, she had been lucky to have the herbs she needed already with her because searching for them was out of the question.

He turned to the weak voice and strong scent of blood. The girl was sitting at the base of a tree, leaning back against the trunk. He could see two scratches on her left cheek and red stains on her clothes. "What has happened?" He asked, hating that he did not know.

"We…you were attacked. They used something to knock you out so they could kill you…well she really." She saw Sesshomaru nod for her to continue, "I took your sword, I'm sorry, but I didn't have much of a choice."

"You fought?" Sesshomaru asked, surprised.

"I couldn't just let her kill you." Kagome leaned her head back against the tree. She wasn't sure she could hold her own head up any longer, "Not by cheating."

"Where is she?" He stood, looking around his new surroundings.

"Gone…dead… I killed her. I didn't have a choice." The volume of her voice dropped as she spoke. She tried not to cry, but could not stop a few of the tears from escaping.

"You have been injured." He noticed that she wasn't sitting up, she looked even paler that normal.

"It's not much, I'll be okay." She tried to smile, but it became more of a nervous twitch.

He looked away from her, "I can smell your blood. This is not where I was."

"It wasn't safe to stay there. I had to drag you, I know it isn't very… dignified, but there wasn't any other way." Her eyelids fluttered closed, "I know you probably want to move on, but… I need to rest just a little longer…please."

She was in no condition to be moved. Realizing that Sesshomaru nodded his head once, "You and I will remain here. You will live?"

"Yeah, I'll live." Kagome breathed, "I think I'm going to sleep now… Don't leave without me?" She felt groggy, like her head was spinning. She slumped slightly, not able to remain awake any longer.

Sesshomaru looked down at her. There was nothing understandable about this girl. Why would she risk her own life to save his? He could tell she had been badly injured, but instead of focusing on her own survival she had pulled him to safety. He hadn't decided if she was brave and selfless or just foolish. He owed her something now either way. With a swift mental shake he reminded himself that he did not owe her anything. He had saved her twice already, hadn't he? Still, he felt indebted. He hated the feeling.

He wanted to go see who had been foolish enough to attack him and punish them for their crime. His gaze landed on the girl as she slumped sideways, her hair falling to cover all of her face except her closed eyes. He sighed inwardly. If he left her alone she would be dead in a batter of hours if not minutes. Finding his attacker would have to wait until she could be left alone.

"What are these?" Kagome accepted the plants he'd dropped on her.

"They will heal you. I tire of this forest."

"Thank you, but I told you I can walk now, I'm fine." Kagome had lost count of the number of times she had attempted this, but tried to push herself up. As he had several times before Sesshomaru put his hand on the top of his head and forced her to remain seated.

"You can not even stand on your own and it is a readily apparent fact." He pulled his arm away from her; "I will not be forced to stay here any extra length of time because you injured yourself further." He tried to speak harshly, but found his own voice disobeying him as the word emerged softly from his lips.

"But it can't be safe to stay here long… She said there were others. What if they find…"

"It was me they were after. You were merely a complication."

"Somehow, I doubt the cats will let me get away with being a complication." Kagome murmured, thinking of the body she'd nearly cut in two.

"Then it was a cat. I had assumed, but I was not yet certain." He should have killed the lot years ago. Then he would not have been in this current situation or indebted to a human.

"Let's …Let's just go. Really I'm fine to move." Kagome began struggling to stand again. She blinked and jumped a little when she found Sesshomaru's face level with her own, only a few inches from her. He used his thumb and index finger to hold her still his eyes like golden drills boring into her own, "Wha…"

"You truly are stubborn and obstinate. Do as I say huma… Kagome." He fractionally tightened his hold on her, "Am I understood."

Her eyes were beginning to sting as she tried not to blink while holding his gaze, "Yes Sesshomaru." Her eyelids fell and her chin dropped as he released her.

"Very well. Are you hungry?" He was standing well away from her again, turned to one side so she could see his profile.

"What?" She stared at him, blinked several times.

"Human's require food, are you hungry?" He tried and nearly succeeded in sounding patient.

The first beam of morning light played over silver hair. The shadow themselves seemed to flee from his presence. He stood calmly, waiting.

They were inside, most of them still asleep. Their watch was lax; so far he hadn't been noticed. These flea-infested balls of fluff would soon learn of their mistake. They would pay for their arrogance and foolish attempt on his life.

"Tokijin seemed to shiver in his hand as he drew it, thirsty for the feline blood it knew was coming. The energy blast escaped in a shimmering ball of light, aimed exactly at the gate barring his path. There was a trembling crash and a groan of bending wood, and then the gate was torn apart, sending splinters to the sky.

He entered the cat's walled village, his golden eyes moving over low one level buildings, made of flimsy materials, with drooping roofs and crumbling walls. Sesshomaru could not understand how anything could bear to live in this filth. He did not want to understand.

The first came at him and his whip made short work of him, stopping the cat demon's advance with a single lash. He did not break stride as he followed a small slightly curving road into the town. The continued to rush at him, but their attacks were to no avail. The yellow whip cracked left and right, directly in front of him. The scent of death tickled his nose, and rivers of blood ran past his feet as body after body fell in his wake.

A small square had been left in the center of their village. Sesshomaru stood still and silent in the center of that square, waiting patiently. They would come to him, save him the time and effort of tracking them. There would still be a few to hunt, but he couldn't' leave the girl alone much longer. He could see the luminous neon eyes flashing at him out of the shadows. Soon they would come.

The cats rushed forward as one, claws stretched out to him. He rose onto his toes, whirling easily to one side. Silver and white blurred under crossing yellow lines. Even at this speed he could see the weak sunlight flashing in their eyes and the talons still foolishly eager to tear his flesh. They would find him a far more difficult mark than the girl. His sharp eyes picked out every piece of lesh, every drop of blood flying through the air as they swarmed around him and were ripped apart. In waves they fell around him, bodies piling and scattering, until only a single pair of amber eyes flashed in the morning light.

She looked up from the ground as he reentered the clearing. He was looking at the trees directly in front of him, and didn't spare her a glance. "Sesshomaru…?" She watched as he walked past her through the clearing, still not looking at her, not acknowledging that she had spoken. "Sesshomaru, where did you just come from?" Her eyes landed on the red stained tip of his finger. He seemed to pause for a moment, less than a second, then began forward again. He didn't have to answer, she knew what he had done. The cat demon's weren't a danger anymore.

*

The warm afternoon sun backed down on him, and he would have had it no other way while he hunted. He could follow Kagome's scent, but there was another scent that he partly recognized, but couldn't place. That had to be who had taken Kagome, the kidnapper. Koga smiled, he was getting close.

*

She forced herself to her feet, trying to walk into the trees after Sesshomaru. He'd been gone for several hours now and her concern was pricked. She made her way along the path he'd taken earlier, but there was no trace of the demon.

Walking was starting to become difficult, and she only managed to continue by stopping to rest at short intervals, leaning against the nearest tree until she could move on. The wounds on her side were beginning to ache, but something wouldn't let Kagome stop. It made her continue down the path in search of Sesshomaru. She wondered what he could be doing. Was it possible that he had gone off and left her? He had to be annoyed by how slowly she was healing, but would he really just leave her lost and helpless with no way of defending herself or finding a way back? The logical person would has said yes, but Kagome couldn't believe such a thing of anyone, even Sesshomaru.

The path curved sharply to the right revealing a calm pool of water almost completely surrounded by the trees that reached the bank. Beams of yellow sunlight crossed the clearing, visible against the shadows. Particles of dust sparkled in the beams that soared through the still air, none of them landing in the water or on the ground around it. She searched the surrounding area and found no other path leaving the clearing.

She leaned back against the rough bark of a tree trunk, and watched the glass smooth surface of the pond. She should not have come. All the effort had been a waist. If Sesshomaru came back and found out she had moved, he would be furious. That was if he came back at all. Ripples formed in the center of the pond, spiraling out toward the banks. More came in quick succession, closer and closer together until at last a silver head rose slowly out of the water.

Kagome knew she should turn away, but the thing that had led her here wouldn't allow it. She moved into the brush around her, hiding her presence instinctively. Still her eyes were pulled to him. He was standing fully now, his shoulders and torso above his waist exposed above the water's surface. There was an inexplicable glow surrounding him in the dim light. His hair caught the light, shining wetly as he pushed it back from his face, plastering the strands back with his graceful, long fingers. She hadn't expected him to look like this under all those layers of white silk and fur. He seemed to be made of solid muscle, each well defined. Even with a missing arm he was impressive. She stared, realizing for the first time how beautiful he really was.

He turned slowly toward her, looking at the path. Kagome threw herself behind the tree in front of her, hoping he didn't know she was there. How would she explain standing there watching him? He would kill her for sure. She waited for something to happen. For him to say something or appear next to her. He didn't. She heard a splash and after a second of hesitation was brave enough to peak around the tree. Sesshomaru had disappeared beneath the water again. Taking her chance, Kagome rushed back down the path as quickly as she could without hurting herself again. She could feel herself blushing fiercely, and could only hope it would pass before he returned.

She nearly collapsed as she reached the tree she'd been leaning against since being injured. Sesshomaru had been right to tell her to stay seated. The effort of moving made her feel sick. At least she hadn't started bleeding again.

He surfaced again, enjoying the almost tickling sensation of water drops sliding across his scalp. Hours of bathing and he'd finally managed to scrub the stench of cat from his skin. His eyes flicked around the bank, he smelled the air, making sure he was alone before exiting the pond and dressing. The simple act of dressing himself had been difficult with one arm once. Now he found the process exceedingly simple. Studying his reflection in the smooth surface of the water, he easily put his hair back into place.

A scream pierced the air, bringing his head around to the path, the clearing where he had left the human. Already a growl was escaping him. Sesshomaru shot down the path, with no hesitation, no pause for thought. It was a shame. He'd just gotten rid of the scent of blood, and now there was more to spill.

"No, put me down!" Kagome struggled against the arms lifting her, but she was in no condition to be much of a fight, "Let me go!"

"Kagome it's me, I've come for you."

"Ko…Koga? What are you doing?" She asked weakly, unable to escape the bone crushing hug he bestowed upon her.

"Making a final mistake. Release her, wolf." There was a new degree of sharpness to his voice. Kagome looked over Koga's shoulder and found Sesshomaru standing a few feet away, his eyes narrowed into what was nearly a glare.

"So it was you that did it. What are you thinking kidnapping my woman?" He steadied her before turning to Sesshomaru.

"Your woman?" Now there was an amused smirk on his face, "If she was your woman you should have been watching her better. Someone such as myself should not have gotten near to her, or been forced to rescue her, if she was your woman."

Was he berating Koga for not looking after her? Kagome stared for a moment, certain she was hearing him wrong, or at least getting the wrong impression.

"I left her with mutt face, should have know better than to trust a half demon dog."

"Mutt face, such an undignified term, yet it suits my brother. I assume you though of it on your own, or did you require the assistance of your pack?"

"What?" Koga's eyes narrowed, and the single word was nearly a snarl.

"My words seem to have confused you, do you need the aid of a translator?" He glanced pointedly at Kagome, who shot him a look that said very clearly, 'please don't make me do this'.

"I understood you perfectly, dog. You and your brother are both thorns in my side, I'll show you not to mess with…" Koga's dust storm had barely started when it was stopped. The wolf dangled helplessly from Sesshomaru's hand, his feet blurs in the air as he struggled.

"You dare not only to attack me, but to group me with scum as well?" He tightened his hold on the wolf's neck, more than prepared to rip it out, "I only need one finger defeat you, it almost seems a waist to use an entire arm."

"Sesshomaru let him go, please." She nearly fell forward to grab his arm, aware that she wouldn't be able to stop him, but hoping that by attempting he would humor her, "Please." She found him looking down at her, her eyes locked on his. Silently she pleaded.

"Leave now wolf, next time I see you, I will kill you." He hurled Koga to one side, watching the wolf smash against a tree. "You are going to start bleeding again."

"I'll try not to." Kagome stepped back from him, moving toward the tree she had claimed as her own. The bark was smoother that others and a bed of moss and leaves had formed at the base. She was nearly there when a cry stopped her. By the time she'd turned back Koga was flying through the air, followed by Sesshomaru's bored gaze.

"You are not entertaining."

The wolf jumped to his feet, moving to stand next to Kagome, "I'm taking my woman back." He snapped, ready to charge Sesshomaru again.

"Koga stop this!" Kagome tried to sound assertive. Her voice was too weak to be successful, but the wolf looked at her, "Just go please." She didn't love koga, that wasn't why she was concerned, she just didn't want her friend to die, even if he was still entertaining notions of a deeper relationship between them.

"I can't just leave you with him Kagome, you're my woman."

"No Koga, I don't want anymore fighting." She pushed him, "Now go."

She'd fallen asleep again. When Kagome awoke she was being carried by something large, solid beneath her. She jerked up and stared in awe at the two headed dragon carrying her. "What?"

"I have decided to continue on. You can not walk on you own obviously." Sesshomaru did not look at her, too annoyed that he was justifying himself at all, let alone to a human girl.

"Oh…" She didn't ask anymore questions, she doubted he would answer anymore. Sesshomaru wasn't exactly the type to put up with being questioned.

*

"Inuyasha, what is it?" Miroku asked quietly, coming up to stand next to him. He gasped a little as his eyes landed on a body that had nearly been cut in two.

"It's a dead cat demon. I can smell Sesshomaru, but there's something I don't…" He froze as another familiar scent rose to his nose, so strong he wondered how he'd missed it at first, "Kagome's blood, she's hurt." He looked around, concerned that her body would be laying near him. He nearly sighed in relief when he realized she wasn't.

"Something isn't right about this. If Sesshomaru had been fighting it would be more…I don't know, torn up." Sango stopped next to them, "It looks like something was dragged here."

"No… Kagome did this." There was a collective gasp from the people next to him. Inuyasha continued, "This other smell is really strong, but it's faded. If it was as bad as I think even Sesshomaru would go down." He smiled, "He walked right into a trap."

"Then where's Kagome?" Miroku asked, his eyes following the same circle Inuyasha's had taken moments before.

"There's blood next to the drag marks, she must have pulled him out of here." Sango stood from studying the tracks to turn back to them.

"Only Kagome would save someone who'd kidnapped her."

"From the looks of it, he's saved her twice already." Miroku reminded them.

"Sesshomaru may be a bastard, but he prides himself on being proper. He'd protect Kagome just because she's with him and it would be a slight on his character if she was killed." Inuyasha looked around, "We can't be too far behind, let's move." He went to go forward, but froze.

The soul collector drifted to him, circling him before crumbling into nothing. The creatures presence meant Kikyo couldn't be far. His heart leapt. Sesshomaru hadn't killed her. "I'll be back." He spun to the side and darted away.

"Inuyasha, what about Kagome?" Sango nearly screamed after him, but it didn't stop him.

"We can't face Sesshomaru without him." Miroku murmured, "I guess we have to wait until he comes back." They moved back from the body, settling into place. There was no telling how long this would take.