She jumped and spun to face the source of the voice purring behind her and found a cat demon with many more standing behind him. "Oh…very bad." She backed away, watching Miroku and Sango vanish behind a horde of the creatures and several more rush at Inuyasha.

"I had thought you would be brighter human." Bright green eyes flashed at her, "No matter. You will die for killing my sister."

"Your sister?" It had to be the cat demon that had been planning to kill Sesshomaru.

"Yes my sister." With a small hand signal he sent several cats at Kagome. She squeaked and fell back, managing to barely move out of the way before hitting the ground. The air above her popped and sizzled. Kagome held her breath as a ribbon of yellow light soared over her, cutting easily into and through both cats. She pushed herself back into a sitting position, staring at the white clad figure standing over her.

"You are unharmed?" He didn't look away from the cats' leader as he spoke.

"I'm fine." Was he really standing there, or was she imagining it? She began to climb to her feet, froze halfway as a metal frame holding thick cloth floated past her face to land upside down in the dirt. For what seemed like an eternity she stared at the fan. Then with a determined look and shockingly steady hand she grabbed the end and climbed to her feet. "Why…"

"No questions." He glanced at her for a fraction of a second, then back to the cat.

Kagome stared at the fan. He wanted her to fight. Somehow she wasn't afraid, though she probably should have been. It was because he was there. She had no reason to be afraid when Sesshomaru was with her, if she got into trouble he would protect her. That was why he was here, wasn't it?

"Dog." The cat's nose wrinkled and its claws lengthened as he glared at Sesshomaru, "You dare to interfere."

"You talk entire too much." He focused on the creatures moving around him, those jumping on his brother and attacking the other humans. The girl moved a fraction closer to him.

"This only saves us the time and effort of hunting you down." The lead cat only nodded once toward them and the entire wall of his followers rushed at them. Tokijin caught the weak light as Sesshomaru swung the blade and the first few cats fell dead before him. There were more to take their places. He saw the girl out of the corner of his eye. She was not the best fighter, but was managing to hold her own. Still, he would have to stay close to her. If she was captured it would be an added complication.

Kagome ducked swinging claws and came up to stab into the cat coming at her, quickly she spun around, letting the fan fall open as she slashed at her newest attacker. There were so many of them, too many for her to keep track of. She looked for her friends in the confusion. Sesshomaru was nearest to her, and fighting more cats than any of them. She wanted to help him, but knew it wouldn't be appreciated, and that he didn't need her to. She would only be in his way. She was forced to abandon the search for the others, and give her attention back to the cats coming at her, determined to help herself this time. Sesshomaru wanted her to fight. She would not disappoint him.

"Where are they all coming from?" Sango pulled, the cats were coming too close for her other weapon to be entirely effective.

"Where's Kagome?" Inuyasha had reached them, breathing hard, covered in blood, eyes searching almost franticly for Kagome among the rushing figures. All three sets of eyes found the taller figure first, his silver hair swinging behind him, his sword cutting deftly through the bodies as if they were air. "Sesshomaru." The name left him a growl as he moved toward the other dog demon, cutting through the cats between them; still he could not find Kagome.

She whirled around again, dodged another set of claws, heard the cat scream as she cut off a piece of it and cringed at the sound. Several cats had moved between her and Sesshomaru. Kagome swallowed her fear; she would have to hold on for a little longer. The cats looked from her to the demon and back, deciding which they would attack. Some came at her and others chose him. All fell with one sweep of Tokijin. For a second she met his eyes, reading the silent questions there. Almost imperceptivity she nodded turned to continue the fight.

"Kagome what are you…" He'd never seen that look in her eyes, never seen her move quite that way or the weapon in her hand that became a blur as she spun, surrounded by enemies that fled from her, many into Sesshomaru's blade. Inuyasha stood frozen, watching the strange scene with Sango and Miroku in shock beside him.

Kagome turned in time to see the last cat demon crumple to the ground in front of Sesshomaru. His golden-amber eyes left the cat to sweep to hers as he returned Tokijin to its sheath. For a moment she was paralyzed as she battled the overwhelming urge to hug him. Why did it have to hurt so much to see him again? Without a word she held out the fan, offering it to him.

"I have no use for it." He could not banish a small bit of pride as he looked down at her. His human, who was so much stronger than his father's ever had been. Twice she had faced these cats and survived, even risen victorious. He wanted to smile at the bravery she had shown by accepting his silent demand that she fight. Again she could have fled, but had stayed by his side. He watched her hand curl around the base of the fan, remembering those hands combing through his hair, gripping his shoulders. He forced himself to turn away.

"Sesshomaru," She said his name as if it was a prayer and he stiffened to keep from looking back, "thank you, for coming to help me again."

"It changes nothing."

"I know." But it proved something. It proved that on some level he did care, "But thank you."

"It will not happen again."

"I know." Kagome looked hopefully at his back, trying not to smile at his continuing denial, but the warm feeling was stolen by a sudden fear, "Other cats will come after me won't they, like this?"

He scoffed quietly, the sound nearly a chuckle escaping him, "There will be no others." He promised quietly. Sesshomaru would make sure of that.

She knew instantly what he meant, what he was going to do. "Sesshomaru, please, enough of them have died over this."

"They will pay for their crimes." No one attacked him or what was his and lived. The words reminded him though, that while his human was strong, she was still human, and given to tenderness. He started walking and this time she did not stop him.

"Kagome, what was that back there?"

"Hmmm?" She looked up from the flames of the campfire to four pairs of curious and demanding eyes, "What was what?"

"We've never seen you fight in that way Kagome, we would like to know what caused such a change." None of the anxiousness in Miroku's eyes was in his voice.

"Oh… I don't know really." Sesshomaru, she knew it to the bottom of her heart. She'd been fighting for his approval, for him. It made all the difference.

"So, what's with the fan?" Inuyasha demanded, eyeing the weapon next to her suspiciously.

"What do you mean?" Reflexively she lifted it.

"Where'd Sesshomaru get it and why'd he give it to you?"

"You heard him; he doesn't want it so he gave it to me."

"Sesshomaru doesn't give presents. The only time he's generous is when he decides not to kill someone."

"Inuyasha," She rolled her eyes and was cut off by Miroku.

"Inuyasha has a point Kagome. Our past experiences with Sesshomaru have not been exactly pleasant."

She wanted to rush to his defense, but held her tongue. They had a point, even if she didn't like it. Sesshomaru had a tendency to be, for lack of a better word, mean.

"Why did he give you that?" Sango asked, her tone a little more friendly than the other two's had been.

"Well, I was looking at it before…" How much should she tell them? Most likely as little as possible.

"You should get rid of it. That thing is probably dangerous."

"It's just a fan…"

"That Sesshomaru gave you. What are you an idiot?" Inuyasha snapped, glaring at her.

"You know, I'm getting really tired of you name calling." Kagome stood, "I'm keeping it, so get used to the idea." Turning from them she marched away without another word.

"Maybe it isn't such a bad idea for her to keep it." Sango stood, watching Kagome vanish, "I mean it's clear that she can use it."

"It's a bad idea. Anything Sesshomaru gives to anyone has to be dangerous."
"He seemed to be…protecting her though." Sango glanced back to the trees Kagome had disappeared into after looking at them.

"Not likely."

"Either way Inuyasha, Kagome being able to protect herself can not be a bad thing." Miroku was sensing another fight.

Silently Inuyasha glared away from where she'd gone.

*

A sudden shiver rushed over her, the same uneasy feeling coming back, making her jump at any sound or sign of movement. Kagome tried to snake it off again, sure that there was no reason for her to be afraid, and if anything did attack her she had the fan. Her fingers tightened reflexively around the weapon Sesshomaru had given her. Kagome's eyes rose from the ground as she rounded a corner, and stopped in her tracks.

His back was to her, but before Kagome could move away the demon turned to her, his face betraying a mild surprise. It passed quickly.

"I thought you would be gone…" Her eyes shied away from his calm golden ones, trying to hide the mix of joy and surprise seeing him caused. When he was silent she swallowed nervously and turned away, "Sorry, I'll go now." It was hard to make herself turn away from him, even more difficult to begin walking in that direction, still away from camp, but also away from him.

"You should not be wandering alone." She froze again; sure that she had imagined it, that he hadn't really spoken, but when she looked over her shoulder he was walking toward, then past her.

"You don't have to go with me, I'll be fine."

"You could survive another attack on your own." He did not say it as a question, only a skeptical statement.

"If I had to."

"You do not have to." He stopped, realizing that she was not moving, only staring at his back. He glanced at her over his shoulder, "I am well aware that you can walk, I refuse to carry you."

"I wouldn't expect you to." She bit back a smile and moved to walk beside him, content to just be in his presence again. She wanted to grab his hand, move closer to him, be near him, but Kagome restrained herself. "Can I ask you something?"

Silence.

"Why did you come here?" She waited for a response, and received none, "Sesshomaru, did you come to help me or was there another reason?"

"Such questions serve no purpose."

"You could still answer."

Why did she have to make him talk? Couldn't she just be silent and dutiful? He knew he wouldn't have found her nearly as fascinating if she had been. His tormented sanity would have been thankful for that.

"Sesshomaru." There was patience in her voice, but it was close to breaking.

"Disrespect such as was shown to me can not be allowed."

"Disrespect. This is all because they attacked you?"

"I will answer no more of your questions." He stopped suddenly, but would not look at her, "You would be wise to return now."

"So you're just going to send me away again? Just because I asked a question?"

"It is best."

"If I cared what was best I wouldn't have fallen for you to begin with." She murmured, both wanting and not wanting to leave, but unable to decide on either.

"Fallen?" He looked at and away from her.

For a second she was amused by how offended he was, but it quickly passed. "It's just a term. I didn't mean anything by it." When he didn't acknowledge that she had spoken and continued refusing to so much as look at her. Kagome moved to stand in front of him. She reached up, tried to tip his face down to hers. She whispered his name when he resisted, and slowly he looked down to her, "I would never do anything to upset you. You know that right?"

"Human, you are by your very nature upsetting."

"I have a name Sessh, one I know for a fact you know." Her hand fell away from his face, "I won't respond to human anymore."

He almost smiled. His human, trying so desperately to be brave even facing him when he could see her strength failing in her eyes, hear it in her voice. Being near her was like being pulled in too many directions to count. His senses were attempting to tear themselves apart, each more aware of her that the others. Sesshomaru forced himself to look away.

"Why won't you look at me?" Was it possible she disgusted him? Sesshomaru had always hated the human race. Maybe the fact that she was human mad her monstrous to him. "Is it…do you hate me?" For once Sesshomaru responded to her immediately, but not with words. His face snapped back to hers, as composed as ever, but his eyes were smoldering down at her, burning into hers. Something inside of her shivered.

"Leave me now." His voice was somewhere between a growl and a whisper as he fought desperately to keep herself in check, remain in control. It would be easy if she weren't so close.

"Why? I'm not afraid, not of you." She whispered.

"You should be." Of its own will his hand rose to her cheek. Her eyes closed and she turned into his palm.

"I love you too much for that." She murmured, looking up at him with eyes that nearly glowed.

Sesshomaru stared down at her, helpless against the spell she cast. There was no defense for him to use against her and himself. He could feel his control fracturing, his will bending to forces he could not battle. There was no escape; maybe he'd know that from the beginning. With one more look he surrendered himself.

The trembling nervous feeling in her stomach only grew as he leaned toward her. Hey eyes fluttered closed, she held her breath. Then his lips touched hers and nothing else mattered.

He had to be loosing his mind. There was no explanation for this behavior other than insanity. Her lips were full, soft against his, her smell familiar and achingly sweet. Carefully he put his arm around her, held her closer than he had ever imagined holding anyone.

"Kagome, where are you?" The female voice echoed down the path to them and his human stiffened in his embrace, reluctantly looked away from him.

"I…I should go." She whispered, but couldn't pull away from him.

With tremendous effort he release her, looked back down the path, toward where her friend was looking for her.

For another few seconds she stared at him, trying to make himself move when what she wanted was to spend an eternity alone with him. Why had Sango come looking for her? "Sorry I'm upsetting. I don't do it on purpose."

He watched her silently melt into the shadows cursing his weakness for her. If he hadn't known differently he would have sworn she was a witch. As it stood Sesshomaru was starting to wonder if he would ever be himself again. He had to do something to regain himself, his sanity. He nearly sighed. He needed to kill something.

*

Kagome, there you are. Where'd you go?"

"I was just walking." The cheerfulness in her voice sounded false, forced even to her, but Kagome tried to make it seem real.

"You would never have taken off on your own after something like that before, is something bothering you?"

"No Sango, there's nothing wrong." She couldn't help glancing over her shoulder, smiling a little to herself, "Absolutely nothing."

"Then you aren't mad at Inuyasha? I thought…"

"Oh that? I'm not mad about that silly little argument. Why waist the energy?"

"You must be a saint Kagome. How can you love him after everything he's put you through?"

"What are you talking about?" Panic surged so strongly through her that Kagome could taste it. Had Sango seen them? How could she know? Did the others?

"Well running off after Kikyo every chance he gets, and the last time while you were in trouble. Not to mention how often he picks fights."

"Inuyasha?" She nearly laughed with the relief washing over her like water , "It's not like that Sango, not for a long time."

"I know you're trying to be brave Kagome, but I know…"

"I'm not trying to be brave. I'm just not in love with Inuyasha."

"Then who?"

"It's… it's complicated. Maybe I'll try explaining it some other time." Her smile dropped suddenly and Kagome was having trouble meeting Sango's eye. She felt bad for keeping secrets from her, from them all. It was best though. How could they understand? How could she ask them to? It was a depressing thought, stealing the joy of seeing Sesshomaru again.

"Sometimes I just don't understand you."

"It's all right. I'm confusing to someone else too." She smiled again as she moved ahead of Sango and back into the light of the campfire.

"Ahh, there you are." Miroku was smiling, but Inuyasha was looking away pointedly, feigning disinterest. His ears twitched and flattened to his head as he spun around sniffing the air.

"Inuyasha is something…" Kagome jumped back as he landed in front of her, his eyes narrowed and glaring at her.

"It's you."

"Of course it's me. What's wrong with you?"

"Why do you smell like Sesshomaru?"

"There is obviously something wrong with your nose Inuyasha." She was careful to hide her returning panic as she started forward.

Sango's eyes widened as her gaze landed on a long strand of silver hair dangling down Kagome's back. It was far too long to be one of Inuyasha's, and Kagome hadn't been near enough to him to collect one in days. Before she realized what it meant or what she was doing Sango discreetly plucked the hair away, hiding it carefully. With a quick glance around she made sure that no one had seen her. She would have to talk to Kagome about this another time if she was going to keep it quiet.

*

His frustration growing Sesshomaru realized that no cat demons were lingering in the forest around him. There was nothing here that he could rightfully kill and no easy relief. He had to find a way to clear his mind, and banish the traces of her that clung relentlessly to him. Would he never be free of her tormenting presence? Or this maddening need to have her? A need that was far more than just physical.

Quickly and mercilessly he bent his will into staying away from her, refusing to submit to this weakness. The great and terrifying Lord Sesshomaru was stronger than that. No weakness had dared to taint him in the past. He would defeat this one's attempt to grow inside of him.