Disclaimer: I do not own any part of InuYasha, only my own character Kakiya.

Chapter 10

Rin heard the sound of shifting blankets. She wiped away Kakiya's sweat with a damp cloth before looking to where the sound came from. It was only her imagination. Letting out a long sigh, and soaked the cloth into the bucket of water. Rin wrung it out and neatly folded it on top of Kakiya's for head. She looked towards the figure sitting in the shadow of the room, "I'm going to bed now, please call me when she awakens." Rin said before leaving the room.

...

"Kagura," Naraku's deep voice echoed, "Where is Kakiya? The jewel shards? I thought I told you to bring them here..." he growled.

"I'm sorry, My Lord, but they escaped from the grasp. InuYasha and his friends came and got Kagome before I could talk her shards."

"What of Kakiya?

"That bastard Sesshomaru -"

"Sesshomaru?" There was a touch of shock in his tone.

"Yes, My Lord. He came into the cave and took Kakiya away with him just as I was about to fly away."

"So the great Lord Sesshomaru saved someone... and a half demon at that..." he trailed off, deep in thoughts, 'and not just any half demon; she is the same that he saved from Onigumo many years ago. Interesting.' He mused, "Go and bring her. Do not fail me, Kagura." He ordered.

"Yes, My Lord." She left the castle.

"I may be able to use this to my advantage... Kakiya, what a fine specimen you will be."

Kagura cursed, she hated Naraku with all her being. She hated the fact that he could control her and could kill her ay any time that he so desired. All Kagura wanted was Naraku dead, she did not care how he died or who killed him, she just wanted to be free; free like the wind. She didn't even care if it was InuYasha who killed him, or his older brother Sesshomaru, or even that girl that Naraku was ordering her to capture: Kakiya.

'I will get this Kakiya to kill Naraku, if she fails, well, good riddance for me.' She thought bitterly.

Kagura soon arrived at Sesshomaru's castle and was now wondering what to do next, 'Should I just barge in? Or sneak in?' She noticed the opened door on the top floor and noticed Kakiya's faint aura coming from it. 'Bingo.'

She drifted down towards the room and jumped off her feather. She landed neatly on the balcony and entered the room. Kagura noticed Kakiya's sleeping form on the futon and walked towards her. She knelt down beside her and examined the sleeping girl. Not a moment later that the hard point of a sword poking at her back.

"Lord Sesshomaru." Kagura stated, still staring at Kakiya's body.

"You dare enter my castle."

She slowly got up, cautious of his blade, "It's a pleasure to see you too."

His face remained passive, "What are you doing here?"

"Naraku wants to see her." Kagura said as she slowly walked towards the balcony.

"He wants to see her." He stated, doubting her words.

Kagura sighed, "No, I lied; Naraku wants her." She pulled a feather from her hair, "But obviously, he won't be getting what he wants this night. I shall leave you now." She lifted up into the air and quickly flew away.

Sesshomaru sheathed his sword and turned back towards Kakiya. He knelt down beside her and gazed at her sleeping form, 'That Naraku is only begging for death.' he bitterly thought.

A small movement brought his attention back to the girl; she was beginning to wake. Her eyes slowly opened, trying to adjust to the moon's light. When her eyes finally adjusted, she was surprised to find herself looking into the golden eyes of the dog demon.

"Sesshomaru...?" she sat up, but that movement caused a rush of pain to flow through her head. 'Why does my body hurt so much?' she wondered. Memories of Sesshomaru repeatedly attacking her and sending her crashing into things returned. "Ah." She murmured.

Sesshomaru was still watching her, "You shouldn't be pushing yourself." He said simply, "You have not woken up for almost a week."

'It's been that long?' Kakiya noticed the damp cloth at her side, it fell when she sat up. Kakiya took it in her hands and looked at Sesshomaru with a questioning gaze.

"Rin." He answered her unspoken question, "She should be sleeping now."

She set the piece of cloth back down beside her and moved to get up. Sesshomaru stopped her movement by touching her forehead with his finger, "She can wait until morning, rest." He slightly pushed her head back with his finger and pulled away.

"I am fine."

"Don't lie. You are ill when you fought me, I could smell it." Sesshomaru leaned on the wall nearest to her futon, "Go back to sleep."

Kakiya ignored his advice and crawled towards him. She brought her blanket with her and sat beside him, "You are the first demon that had not tried to kill me when I am weak." She whispered.

"I would take no pleasure from killing you." Sesshomaru regretted his words instantly.

She giggled, "That's certainly true, our match today was... exhilarating, I hope that we can repeat it again soon." Kakiya fell sideways and leaned on his boa, "I wonder what happened to that bandit... What was his name? Ah, yes, Onigumo. I'd assume that he died already."

Sesshomaru looked down at her, "He's still alive." He let out a breath, "Although not quite the same as he was then."

"He's an old man now?" Kakiya drew the blanket in closer, "Well, I suppose that's a change."

He almost laughed, "He's now become a man known as Naraku."

"Oh? Naraku is that same bandit?" Kakiya looked at the demon beside her, "It's funny how much people can change..."

Sesshomaru didn't say a word, only returning her look. He felt that same attraction towards her that he felt many years ago.

"I'm glad that I found you this time." She whispered.

Her quiet thought reached his sensitive ears, 'And until I find out what this... feeling is, I will not allow you to leave my sight.' He thought as he looked out at the sky.

Sesshomaru heard her sigh, then move away from him and he too reluctantly got up when he sensed the incoming presence. Kakiya crawled back into her futon at the same time Sesshomaru walked towards the balcony just as the sound of footsteps now echoed in the inside hallway. The door opened to reveal Rin, with a worried look on her face.

Rin ran up to Kakiya, who did not have time to lie back down and so was just sitting on the futon, and flung herself onto her. "Mommy! You're awake!"

Kakiya pried Rin from her body and sat her upon her lap, "How did you know I was awake?"

"I heard you talking," she smiled, and then turned to Sesshomaru, "How come you didn't tell me she was awake?" she pouted.

Kakiya glanced at Sesshomaru, and saw that he avoided the question by leaping off the balcony, and had left the room. Patting the child's head, Kakiya turned Rin's attention back to herself, "I planned on waking you up myself tomorrow morning." Kakiya felt fatigue coming to her and the heat from her fever was rapidly increasing, "Perhaps you should go back to sleep." Kakiya gently pushed Rin off of her and felt her headache increase.

"Will I see you tomorrow?"

Kakiya forced a pained smile, "Maybe not tomorrow." A sad look grew on Rin's face, "We will play again soon, just not tomorrow."

Rin did not budge from her spot.

Kakiya put a hand on her head, "Rin, will you be a good girl, and go back to sleep now?"

Rin beamed at Kakiya's use of her name, "Okay!" and with that she ran off, swiftly closing the door behind her. Rin stood in the hallway, behind the closed door and touched her head, 'Her hand was really hot...' she softly sighed before returning to her own room and slept.

Looking out at the sky, she noticed that the moon was almost full, "Tomorrow night will be the night of the full moon," she whispered, 'No wonder my fever isn't going away.' A bloody memory flashed in her mind, 'I must get away from Rin.' She thought.

Kakiya remembered Sesshomaru was right below the room and slugged her way towards the balcony, hoisting herself over it, trying to fly to the ground, but her [invisible] wings ached and could not hold her weight. She collapsed with the effort and landed on the ground not too softly. Sesshomaru was watching this scene; he was leaning by the trees and did not come to her aid, thinking that she could handle that much. He watched her try to get up but then hopelessly fall back down again a few times before he decided that he should help. Sesshomaru walked over to where Kakiya lay, he knelt down beside her and picked her up; her body was still hot and she was breathing heavily. The strange, yet sweet scent rolled off her body and filled his mind as he continued to gaze at the helpless creature he held in his arm.

"Sesshomaru?" she whispered slowly, "Could you tell Ah-Un... to bring me somewhere... far away?" she said in between deep breaths.

Sesshomaru gave her a questioning glance, "Why?"

Kakiya looked up at the moon again, "It's better if you didn't know..."

He carried her towards Ah-Un, which he knew rested at the back of the castle. Ah-Un immediately woke from his slumber when Sesshomaru neared him. He gently sat her atop of Ah-Un, in a sidesaddle position. Kakiya wrapped her arms around one of the dragon's neck and rested her head on his warm mane. Sesshomaru jumped up and took a seat behind Kakiya.

"Wha...?" Kakiya started, but was cut off by Sesshomaru.

"I am going to accompany you." He took the reins in front of Kakiya and pull making Ah-Un lift off to the sky.

"Why?" she asked, but he didn't answer. Kakiya loosened her arms around the dragon neck, "Rin will worry if we are both gone."

Sesshomaru raised an unseen brow behind her, "You've grown so attached to her in such a short time."

Kakiya smiled into the mane, "That's certainly true."

They flew along for a while until Sesshomaru suddenly made Ah-Un stop. This made Kakiya lose her soft grip on the mane and slammed back, hitting Sesshomaru's hard chest armour. Sesshomaru quickly braced Kakiya's head with his hand to make sure she didn't slam her head onto his sharp armour. He gently moved her to the side, avoiding his armour and let her lean against his fluffy boa.

"Why did you-"

A familiar voice cut her off, "Sesshomaru!"

Kakiya recognized the voice, "InuYasha?" she gave a long sigh, "What are the chances of us meeting up again..."

Sesshomaru quietly growled and Kakiya shifted her position so that she could see InuYasha, who had Kagome standing beside him. Ah-Un landed in front of him, as instructed by Sesshomaru with a tug of his reins. Kakiya instantly missed the warmth from Sesshomaru when he jumped off.

"Take care of her for me..." he murmured to the demon, who snorted in return.

He quickly took a blanket from one of Ah-Un's sack and draped it over Kakiya's body. One of Ah-Un's head turned back to face Kakiya and let a puff of smoke over her as if he was telling her that he would do a good job of protecting her.

Kakiya reached out and pat Ah-Un on his head, "Thank you, Ah-Un."

"Kakiya?" InuYasha whispered and turned his attention towards Ah-Un. He sniffed the air and breathed in her scent, "You still carry that girl's illness." He stated.

Kagome looked at InuYasha, "What are you talking about?"

InuYasha walked over towards Kakiya, "Just before Kagura came, Kakiya took a human girl's sickness on herself, and she still hasn't recovered yet."

Sesshomaru shot Kakiya a rebuking look. He stood beside Ah-Un's head and watched as InuYasha approach her. Kakiya sighed and looked down at his red coat.

"Are you alright? You were pretty battered last time I saw you." InuYasha gave Sesshomaru a dirty glare, "Would you like to come back with us?"

"InuYasha..." Kakiya struggled and moved down towards him. She cupped his cheek with her right hand, "I will not return, but we will talk... after the full moon." Kakiya sent a short electric shock towards him and he collapsed to the ground, unmoving.

Kagome ran towards him and knelt down beside InuYasha, cradling his hands in her arms, "What did you do to him?"

Kakiya sat straight up on the saddle, both her legs facing Kagome, "He is merely sleeping." She waved her arm in front of her and a red bow with a full quiver of arrows appeared in front of Kagome, "Kagome, he will wake in an hour or so. Until then, protect him."

"I will..."

Satisfied, Kakiya took to the skies and Sesshomaru quickly jumped up behind her. Sesshomaru took the reins once again and guided Ah-Un away from InuYasha. Once they left the vicinity, Kakiya collapsed onto Sesshomaru's boa and her aura of authority that she had just a few moments ago faded. She happily soaked in the warmth of his boa and the blanket.

"You took in... an illness?" he questioned her.

Kakiya felt his chest vibrate through the armour as he spoke, "That girl would have died if she still had it."

"Why." It was more of a statement then a question.

"I think it's because I didn't want that mother to lose a young child, like my own mother did." She giggled, "Well, my adoptive mother that is... I still have not met my real mother yet." Kakiya gripped the blanket around her, trying to pull it closer.

Sesshomaru let go of the rein and pulled his boa over Kakiya, so that it now covered her body instead of just flying in the wind. He wrapped his arm around her so the boa would stay in place and took hold of the rein again, while cursing to himself about his lost arm.

Kakiya looked up at him with a questioning glance.

"You are cold, are you not?"

She smiled, 'Not anymore, I'm not.' She thought before falling asleep within the clouds.

XXX

"Free to run around all day,

Free to do it all my way!"