Chpater 7 redone 8/6/09

Chapter 7: Father Daughter bonding

"No," Sashiko answered, "I'm going to kill you." Kagura looked stunned by the words. Sashiko took that opportunity to jump at Kagura as Koichi stepped back and seemed to disappear.

Kagura barely managed to move away Sashiko's blade. She wasn't, however, able to dodge Koichi's Iron Reaver attack as well. His claws scratched down her arm. Kagura back flipped and used an attack of her own.

"The Dance of Blades" She yelled.

"Oh boy it's a fan." Sashiko muttered, dodging the attack. Koichi just moved sideways and let all it all go past him.

"That was weird." Was his reply.

Sashiko didn't answer, putting Trucizna away she held up her claws. Koichi seemed to understand and backed up a few paces.

Flicking her wrist, a lime green whip appeared. Kagura eyes widened but it was too late she didn't have time to move.

"Poison whip!" The attack cut deeply into Kagura's side, "Now."

With speed not seen before, Koichi appeared before Kagura. Smirked before letting his claws sink into her stomach. They didn't go always through but they went in deep. Koichi pulled them out and appeared back by his sister.

Kagura fell to her knees. Sashiko approached her and Kagura was sure she was going to die. Sashiko knelt down and grabbed her chin and forced Kagura to look at her.

"How did you get here? Who told you this town was here?" Kagura sneered at her. Sashiko dug her claws into Kagura's chin, drawing blood.

"I don't think you're in the position to argue with them," Sesshomaru announced walk up to them.

Kagura growled, "Nobody told me, I followed their trail," She pointed to Sesshomaru and the others, "When I lost their trail I found this village and look what I found. Fucked your brother, ah Sesshomaru."

Sashiko whacked Kagura with her claw across the cheek.

"Respect my Tosan you good for nothing bitch…" Sashiko snarled.

"Breathe Sashi," Koichi muttered from behind her. Sashiko's eyes narrowed at the nickname.

"I'm going to have to kill you now. No way am I letting you tell…what did father call him?…Oh yes this Naraku where we are." Before Sashiko could strike an arrow shot out of nowhere and nearly embedded itself in her arm. Startled, she let go of Kagura. Kagura took the opportunity to stagger away and get her feather out.

"Damn it all!" Sashiko grumbled running into the woods.

"Sashiko wait!" Sesshomaru yelled speeding after her.

The others stayed there, looking around waiting for another attack.

"It was a trap!" Koichi hissed, "They knew Sashiko was going to go after that Kagura after, who ever it was, threw the arrow. SHIT!"

"What's wrong," Inuyasha asked walking toward them. They all explained what happen. At first Inuyasha was worried before he relaxed…slightly.

"Sesshomaru is with her. He wont let anything happen to his own flesh and blood." None of them brought up how Sesshomaru use to try to kill him, once upon a time.

"What are we going to do now?" Kagome asked quietly.

"Wait. It wouldn't be smart to go look for them, especially if Kagura or others come back." Inuyasha reasoned. They all stared at him, what happen to the Inuyasha that would jump up and chase after any battle, "We have to go warn Lady Kura about the possible danger."

The others followed as Inuyasha and Koichi walked towards Kura's hut.

-In the woods-

"Sashiko wait!" Sesshomaru commanded.

"No, I can't let them get away!" Was his reply. He was definitely not use to people disobeying his orders. Why did she have to be so fast? He could keep up with her easy enough but he couldn't catch her since she got a head start.

He finally sped up enough to tackle Sashiko down.

"Why do you stop me? Now they're going to go tell their leader about our village." Sashiko screamed at Sesshomaru.

"This is not the way. If you chase them any longer you will be confronting Naraku by yourself."

"Are you saying I'm not strong enough. You are calling me weak."

"Yes I'm saying your not strong enough. I wasn't strong enough…Inuyasha was not strong enough. But no I am not calling you weak. Alone you could not possible win, but together…well it would be interesting."

Sashiko calmed down as Sesshomaru looked around them, "Sashiko, where exactly are we?" Sesshomaru finally asked.

Sashiko's eyes widened. She glanced around. This area was unfamiliar to her, "Shit…" She smelt around, "We'll follow our scent back to a familiar area."

Sesshomaru looked doubtful, " Its still wet from the rain last night. We might confuse our scent with the scent we're smelling off each other now." He began to walk towards the place they once came.

Sashiko followed, "This is the way but we took so many turns it wont stay the way for long."

"Don't you think I know that." Sesshomaru snapped. Sashiko became quiet. They walked like that for about 20 minutes.

Sesshomaru silently noted that Sashiko was becoming slower as they moved. 'She can't be getting tired,' Sesshomaru thought. He didn't want to ask her though, she didn't seem like someone who would appreciate having a weakness pointed out.

Behind him Sashiko was panting silently. It wasn't that she wasn't use to walking she was. 'I'm just lucky I'm downwind from Sesshomaru.' She thought.

Apparently one of Kagura's attacks had hit her in the lower chest/stomach region. It took awhile before it started to bleed. It wasn't bleeding heavy but the constant trickle is slowly making her dizzy. The arrow had also grazed her arm and she could tell it was laced with Miko power as well as poison.

Sesshomaru turned around to ask Sashiko what way she thought now. He turned just in time to catch her as she collapsed into his arms.

"Sashiko what's wrong?" He asked even though he knew she was unconscious. He laid her down on the ground. Looking her over he noticed the small red area around her stomach and arm. Opening her Kimono enough to look at the wound. It wasn't big but it was deep. She must have been suffering silently for probably about a half hour by now. Ripping the bottom of his clothes, he wrapped her wound to stop the bleeding. He then moved to her arm while wrapped that he could scent the light smell of poison. He growled, it wouldn't kill her but she would be out of commission for the night.

This kind of injury shouldn't have an affect on a demon like this but he remembered what Inuyasha told him. Sashiko heals herself half the speed of a demon. Sesshomaru cursed. She was getting a fever. The poison was kicking in.

Sesshomaru thought for a minute. She was like Rin when Rin was a child. He picked Sashiko up and set her on his lap, gathering her close to him so she could feel his warmth. He thought some more….Water! Listening closely he heard a spring nearby. Bring Sashiko with him he ran towards the spring. It was little but it had cold water. Ripping off another piece of clothing he put the damp rag on her forehead.

Sesshomaru cursed his luck. Out of all the times for her to get sick and injured it had to be now. He sat back down by the spring and held Sashiko to him. Constantly, he checked her wounds to make sure they didn't bleed through. Sesshomaru leaned against the tree, he had a feeling he'd be here for the rest of the day and maybe even through the night.

-Later that night in the village-

"Inuyasha, has your daughter or your mate come back?" Kura asked sitting down at the table with the rest of the group.

Inuyasha's ears drooped, "No, not yet. I'm worried, Sesshomaru would want to get back as soon as he could."

"I hope they didn't run into trouble…" Kagome said.

"Don't worry, Kagome, Sesshomaru will take care of everything," Shippo announced. He had a lot of faith in him.

"Shippo's right, Sesshomaru and Sashiko are both probably fine." Sango reassured.

"The worse thing that could happen is they got lost and Sashiko was injured during the battle with Kagura and is now unconscious with a fever fighting to live." Miroku said. Everyone looked at him, "I was kidding. Like that would happen."

"If they are not back by tomorrow's light, I'll send some people to search for them. Lady Kori would be the first out there since Sashiko is like a sister to her."

"I'm still worried." Inuyasha said after Kura left and everyone began to go to their rooms.

"Tosan and Sister are both strong, they'll be fine." Koichi said quietly. Inuyasha smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Get to bed."

Inuyasha walked into his own room and laid down. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't go to sleep. He kept tossing and turning. After 10 years of not having Sesshomaru, last night made him need him again. Without Sesshomaru, Inuyasha will not be sleeping well tonight.

-Early morning in the woods-

About an hour before daybreak, Sashiko's fever finally broke. Sesshomaru sighed in relief. Half hour later, she opened her eyes weakly. It took her a few minutes to realize she was in her Tosan's lap.

"Lo-Lord Sess-Sesshomaru…Did you take care of me the whole night?" She mumbled faintly.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"What do you mean? You are my daughter, I'd take care of you no matter what."

"After all I've said to you, you still care for me? I don't understand."

"Don't worry about it."

"What time is it?"

"Its almost morning, you slept well over 12 hours."

Alarmed, Sashiko tried to get up only to collapse back down. Sesshomaru watched her silently. Not wanting to ask for help she tried to get only to get the same results.

"You know," Sesshomaru started standing up, "Asking for help is not always a weakness." He walked to the spring and took a sip of water.

Sashiko closed her eyes and took a deep breathe, "Lord Sesshomaru, will you help me?"

"Of course." Was all he said. He knelt down in front of her and she got on his back. They began to walk. It was quiet for awhile but then Sashiko finally managed to swallow her pride and ask a few questions.

"Do you love Father?" She asked suddenly.

"Yes," Was the answer, there was no hesitation at all.

"Why?"

"You ask easy questions yet they are so hard to answer. I don't know why I love Inuyasha all I know is I love him with everything I have. I've been looking for him for 10 years because I wanted to make up for my mistake, I wanted to be a part of his and my pup's life. I never expected twins."

Sashiko smirked, "You never gave up."

"No."

"Then that is love?"

"Yes."

"Father told me you have a...human…companion, is that true?"

"Yes her name is Rin she's like a daughter to me. You will like her. I'm going to bring her to the village if I get consent from Lady Kura."

Sashiko nodded, "Do you promise I will like her?"

"I can't promise that."

Sashiko chuckled, "Fine then."

Sesshomaru smiled inwardly. He finally felt that he was getting somewhere with Sashiko. With Sashiko and Koichi…and most of all, Inuyasha.

"Sashiko what is lady Kura? She is not normal."

"She's a miko…"

"And?"

"Her great-grandmother was a goddess of some sort."

Sesshomaru nodded, that explained a lot.

"We're almost to the village." Sesshomaru could see the light of the huts. Coming through the clearing they saw the group standing there waiting for them. Inuyasha and Koichi looked stunned to see Sashiko receiving help.

Sashiko slid off of his back but before walking to her father she turned to Sesshomaru, "Thank you…Oh and Father…He loves you, too. Always has, always will." She ran to Inuyasha and allowed him to hug her.

"We were worried." Inuyasha said to Sashiko.

"You didn't need be, Tosan had it all under control." Everyone, including Sesshomaru, looked surprised at her using the name in public.

Inuyasha smiled and looked at Sesshomaru as he spoke to Sashiko, "Glad to hear it."