Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own Inuyasha - everything belongs to Rumiko Takahashi et al.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who took the time to review the last chapter! :) And apologies from me, but I think I might slow down on the update front courtesy of RL. D: Hopefully it won't last too long, but I'll try and keep posting as regularly as I can. Anyway - new chapter, new meeting. I'm hoping that the humour in this is actually humorous and not cringe-worthy (... but knowing me, it's probably the latter. x.x) and also that the characterisation is all right. So, any feedback on that earns much love from me. ^^ Un-beta'd, again, so all mistakes are my own. Enjoy, if you can!

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3. of courage

Kagome feels like screaming as she stalks through the trees, still simmering from her argument with Inuyasha. Her 'little problem with hunting shards today' wasn't exactly a matter she could simply blurt out to the group at large - unless she wanted to preside over a brother versus brother death-match at this ungodly hour of the morning, as well as dealing with any ensuing injuries with appropriate medication and sympathy.

'Er... no.'

The wind rustles through the forest, cool and dry. She sighs. There's nothing she can do about it now, anyway. Her friends think she is returning to the village to pick up the supplies they left behind and perhaps spend some time at home with her family. The quiver lying across her back and the bow clenched in her hand are the only reminders of her fumbled deceit. She tries to avoid thinking about it - because when she does, her stomach churns uncomfortably.

'I'm sorry. I couldn't ignore a direct order from the Western Lord, and he probably would've come after us if I hadn't gone along with what he wanted. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy to take no for an answer...'

Kagome rolls her eyes. That is possibly the understatement of the era.

Presumptuous daiyoukai aside, the lake is as beautiful as yesterday. The storm clouds looming on the horizon reflect in the still water, glazing it a steely silver. Remotely, she wonders if Sesshoumaru is standing somewhere beneath those clouds, a towering God of War ready to descend on a certain hapless miko if she so much as twitches in any way that would place his ward in danger.

A descending God of War would be annoying. And probably painful. She doesn't have enough arrows to deal with a full rampage. In fact, it would probably be better if she gives up now, before she even starts. That way, she can avoid all possible vengeful retribution entirely. The opportunity sounds inviting.

But... Rin is relying on her. And Sesshoumaru, if the idea can be extended that far.

The trees thin out. Before she knows it, Kagome is back on the edges of camp Daiyoukai. There is no immediate welcome, nor the usual barrage of youki that trails after the Western Lord like a sweeping cape.

She peers through the tangled branches, squinting for any sign of life. And doesn't like what she sees. At all.

The clearing is empty. No youkai lords, or annoying green toad-things, or excitable little girls. Nothing. Not even a campfire.

Her earlier anger returns with the force of a miniature typhoon.

'"If that pompous, arrogant ass has had the nerve to just leave after asking me to come back when he knows full well that we have shards to find, Lord of the West or not, I will purify him to the edge of Hell!!'

Her rant continues for some time in the same vein. Just as she starts getting into her stride, she senses a flare of malicious youki deeper in the forest. She shuts up. Very quickly.

'Oh no, is that him? Did he hear me? Hang on, it doesn't feel like him...'

She doesn't have time to dwell on the ins and outs of her being familiar enough to recognise the youki of Sesshoumaru from a distance. Fortunately, she is distracted by the high-pitched scream, coming from her left. Where the youkai is.

Rin.

Kagome runs, body moving and letting her mind catch up as she pelts through the trees. She can't feel any others present - not Sesshoumaru, or Jaken, if the toad actually has any demonic energy to pick up.

Her target blinks out for a moment, so she resorts to shouting.

"Rin!"

Her words bounce back. She tries again.

"Rin!"

"Kagome-onee-chan!"

The voice is faint and fearful, but alive. She dodges around a large tree and heads towards it, following the nagging feeling in her chest as much as the direction of Rin's shout. After a few minutes of frenzied running, Kagome tumbles into a clearing. Rin is cowering behind a large boulder, an oni leaning over with a horrible grin.

"Come here, little girly..."

She doesn't stop to think.

"Oi, ugly! Over here!"

The oni grunts and turns. She grabs for an arrow, swings her bow up and fires. The wooden shaft thuds into a tree next to its head. It doesn't look remotely bothered about the close brush with purification and keeps leering, stumbling towards her with single-minded intensity.

'Not a very clever one, is it?'

This time, the arrow buries itself into its shoulder, flaring pink with reiki. It snarls between its teeth as its flesh burns, but somehow reaches up with its other hand to pull the arrow away. The wound oozes liquid that is the colour and consistency of tar, and hisses violently where it touches the forest floor. The rest of its body stays intact.

"... huh? But... it should have-"

And then, she catches sight of the jewel shard in its side. The feeling she thought was caused by the youki resolves itself into the familiar pull of the Shikon.

'Well. That's not good.'

"Kagome-onee-chan, watch out!"

She barely throws herself out of the way in time. The oni barrels its way through the trees where she was standing only moments before.

'All right. Not a clever oni. But big. And bloody quick. And resistant to miko powers. With a shard. Wonderful.'

She circles away, holding tightly to her bow and trying to ignore the shaking in her knees. She can't afford to be afraid, not with Rin relying on her. Speaking of Rin...

"Rin, where's Sesshoumaru?"

"Sesshoumaru-sama and Jaken-sama went away this morning!" Her voice trembles and she can see the tears glistening at the corners of her eyes. "Rin came out here to pick flowers for when they got back, and then..."

She breaks off with a choked sob. Kagome wants to go and give her a hug, but there is the slight problem of the stinking, large, maddened oni. The best she can do is get her away from here.

"It's all right, Rin. I promise. We'll be fine."

'I hope...'

"But you have to do something for me, right? When I say, run back to where you were camped last night, and stay there until I get back. If Sesshoumaru gets there first, tell him what happened."

'... and get him to bring my remains back to my family? Nah, too morbid. But the arrows are running low...'

All she sees is a quick nod, and then the oni is upon her again.

"Now, Rin!"

The girl disappears. The oni turns to give chase, but an arrow in its other shoulder does a brilliant job of bringing its attention back to her. She sprints in the opposite direction, away from Rin and the abandoned camp. The jarring movement of the ground beneath her feet is indication enough that big, fat and ugly is hot on her tail.

'All right, Kagome. Come on. You can do this. ... can't you?'

She fires another awkward shot over her shoulder, but it flies wide. Now that she is alone - no friends, no Inuyasha to save her this time - fear quickly begins to overtake her. It bubbles in her lungs, stealing her breath and making her stumble.

'Oh god. I'm being chased by an oni. On my own. With three arrows left. And it's going to kill me. Oh god oh godohgod...'

The reality check isn't nice after the heady minutes of running on pure adrenaline. Even less nice, moments later she manages to fall flat on her face, courtesy of a hidden tree root. Something hard hits her in the temple, and everything blurs. She is caught almost immediately, the crushing grip of the oni as it hauls her up making her grit her teeth against the pain and the whirling forest. Her bow and quiver clatter to the ground.

It draws her level with its gleeful crimson eyes. Kagome glares back as well as she can with the world spinning like an out of control fairground ride. Her limbs are shaking. Its mouth opens, a yawning rip in an ugly face.

Kagome is about to resign herself to being eaten alive when there is a flash of green light, almost too fast for her to follow. The oni grunts. She earns herself a faceful of youkai morning breath. Which is, admittedly, disgusting. But that is nothing compared to the fate of the unfortunate oni. It topples to the ground, sans head, mouth still gaping and teeth still gleaming.

"One less trip to the dentist for him!" she snorts giddily. Her head throbs, black beginning to seep into the edge of her vision. It takes her a while to realise that she hasn't hit the ground yet, and is definitely not being crushed by a lump of dead oni.

Someone is carrying her.

"What... Inuyasha...?"

Everything shifts out of focus, and she can feel herself slipping into unconsciousness. Kagome fights to stay awake, searching for her hidden rescuer. She locks on to a pair of gold eyes. They are gazing down at her with some unreadable emotion, mingled with distaste. Ah... now she sees.

"Sesshoumaru...."

The distaste disappears, and he nods shortly.

Kagome sighs and lets the darkness take her, knowing she is safe. After all, he owes her. Big style.

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Written for Shard 20, 'courage', at LJ Comm 30shards. Cliffie-ish, y/n? Thanks for reading, and all feedback is appreciated.