Yeah! Much love to all those who reviewed, you help me to put forth the effort to update sooner. Though might I add, it is either longer chapters and less updates, or shorter chapters and quicker updates. I cannot do both! XD

I will do my best though to make them longer and out quicker. This is really only my second story, my first one I never finished because I jumped into it with no plot in mind and no idea where IO was going. This one, I have it all though out, how things will go and such, just need filler dialogue and scenes, which is easy.

Disclaimer: Do I have to even say it? I mean really…

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Her body felt broken, more so on the inside than on the outside. She was falling apart and felt there was no one left to pick up the pieces.

Her whole body ached from the battle before, the wounds on her sides having been re-opened from the running, and stress she had placed upon her body. Upon her cheek rested a large gash, dried-up blood resting upon the wound and a trail of it flowing down her cheek, just barley reaching her neck.

Thick black eyes lashes fluttered open, as if not wanting to do so but the light seeping in from the window saying other wise. Black tips brushed against the tops of her pale cheeks until finally opening to find herself in an alien environment.

She did not panic, nor sit up for the pain said to do so differently. She was too tired to care for the moment as the bed beneath her was rather comfortable and she would rather not leave it until maybe just a bit more rest.

While she lay back still, propping herself up just a bit with a pillow behind her, letting a slight groan escape between her lips through the process of getting her self situated, she was very rather sore.

The room it's self was very large with cream-colored walls and brown oak framing. There was a vanity just to the right of her bed, which the bed as well seemed to be huge, sparing enough room for at least three people.

The vanity matched the framing in a brown oak color as well as a small trunk next to it that was maybe half it's size. Just to her front, across the room, rested two folding doors, she guessed to be a closet of some sort. There was a nightstand just to her left that matched the vanity and trunk, nothing too fancy.

What made her smile though, was the small vase resting on the night stand, inside it rested all sorts of flowers, seeming to have been shoved into the vase, all the stems squeezed tightly together and a few of the flowers buds looking as though about to pop off the stem and shoot across the room.

The room was pleasant, and gave her a sense of ease as she let her body seep into the pillows, letting them swallow her up as she let her eyes drift closed.

But it seemed as though Kami vowed her no rest as the door opened and a tall figured stepped into the room and over to the bed where the young miko rest.

She kept her eyes closed, as if to give the false impression of sleep, she new who it was, it was all coming back to her, the night before and him brining her back to his home one the wishes of a young girl, no doubt the one responsible for the flowers just to her left.

Staring down to the girl before him, Sesshomaru remained impassive as he could easily see, she was not very well asleep. "Sit up miko, this Sesshomaru is not here for games."

With a light roll of her eyes, she complied and sat up with much effort, straining to hold herself up until reaching a sitting position did she slouch a bit. "Kagome, my name is Kagome."

"This Sesshomaru will address you as he pleases, he has no need to comply to the wishes of a filthy ningen."

She really was not in the mood at all for any kind of fight. Any other time, she would be yelling, but she had not the voice, something so simple will cause herself to break down, and she could not explain why, how the simplest things hurt because it reminded her she was not with Inuyasha, that he did not want her.

"What about Rin?" The question was simple, took little effort and should not start up any sort of argument.

"This Sesshomaru has no reason to explain himself to you."

Deciding to let the whole issue drop for now, she let her eyes drifted closed again before feeling a pair of hands being to lift her blouse a bit. (the hands thing, will be explained in later chapters.) "Hey, hey HEY!" Kagome quickly shoved his hands away not really registering the whole hands fact but the fact that he was lifting her shirt.

"Unless you wish to sleep in blood stained bandages, I suggest you let me replace them." Sesshomaru remained emotionless, his face bearing a mask concealing any feelings he may have.

"Oh… sorry."

He made no move to reply but merely grabbed the bottom of her blouse again and rolled it up to the bottom of her bra line before beginning to unravel the bandaging. They stuck to her skin somewhat from the blood, causing her to wince lightly but made no move to slow down for her own comfort. He was doing this because he made a promise to Rin to take care of her and get her back to health, he was not a man to go back on any kind of promise or agreement, he had honor, something most demons or men these days did not have.

Upon removing the blood-stained bandages, he began to wrap the fresh ones upon her waist, covering the gashes along her sides before tying it somewhat too tight and pulling her shirt back down to her skirt.

As for her… strange kimono. He had Jaken out getting her a few seat of decent kimonos, he would not have any his half-brothers miko running around in such attire.

Without a word, the man left the room, closing the door behind him, only for it to be burst back open as a raven-haired girl ran into the room and jumped onto the bed.

"Kagome-san! Is Kagome-san well?!" The girl stared intently down to Kagome as she smiled back up to the girl.

"Been better, but yes, I am doing just fine."

"Rin. Leave Kagome to rest, you may visit later."

Turning to the doorway, Kagome noticed Sesshomaru once more in the doorway, standing stoic with his usual mask.

With a light pout and a cross of her arms, Rin 'Hmphed,' before hopping off the bed and exiting the room, Sesshomaru closing the door behind her.

Kagome, now glad to have the peace and quiet, laid herself back down and let her eyes close as she drifted back to sleep.

- - - - - - - -

Sitting in his study, Sesshomaru found himself surrounded by shelves full of books lining the walls around him but the one in front of him where the double doors rested. He sat in a somewhat large chair, while one hand rested lightly atop the corner of parchment in front of him while the other held a quill, though the hand not moving as he stared to the blank paper, simply thinking.

It had been somewhat of a shock when he had removed the miko's bandaging, to see her varies wounds covered her sides. They were not too deep, but enough to make one die from blood loss. They were dirty and could very well have gotten infected if he had not changed the bandages out.

She was quiet and did not ask all too many questions, he was especially glad she had not asked why he was helping her, though it was obvious Rin liked the girl.

There seemed to have been something different about her, something he could not explain, her aura had something to it that was far different that what it had been from battles with his half-brother. Something was troubling the girl.

He as well could not deny for himself, she carried an intoxicating scent, he had not smelled anyone with such a scent before, and she smelled pure, she was of innocence.

What really confused him was her attire, something seemed to be of clothing that one of the town geishas would where, but her scent spoke other wise, she was untouched, she was pure.

As well, he had seen some of the strange things she carried in that yellow sack of hers, as well as her personality issues. She spoke out when most women would be raised to not, she really was not all that proper and was obviously from not around. Something as such he would surely investigate before she left, to find the out the strange heritage of the young girl.

For now though, he was more concerned on trying to rid his thoughts her scent, as it seemed to linger within his memory.

- - - - - - - - - -

Sitting up in the high branches up a tree, He felt the guilt of what he had done very overwhelming. She would surely never forgive him, and he did not deserve to be forgiven.

He had saved her from getting hurt. From getting hurt from all the battles and shard hunting and from all the nights he left her crying as he went to another that was not of the living.

He could not count the number of times he had come back to smell salt in the air, the salt of Kagome's tears as he would always find her curled up in her sleeping bag, Shippo clutched to her chest.

He did not deserve one such as Kagome and he had save her in more than one way when he told her to leave, so then just why did it hurt so bad?

- - - - - - - -

Okay, so… things are moving along, slowly, but it is getting there, ne?

I am not sure on how fast things will move for feelings yet… but I will just probably let it figure it's self out as the story goes.

So, yeah, gimmie some of them reviews cause they rock.

Lub

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