Oh my gosh I am sooooo sorry you guys! :( this took FOREVER to update. I've been so busy with high school lately and with my new job. I hope I can update soon. I just don't want you guys to think I abandoned you people

Chapter 11

The Final Battle

The snake demons were close. I could smell them! I drove my legs on further, running straight into the snake demon camp.

Angry men with spears came rushing at me, but I dodged them easily, simply melting them with my poison saliva.

"Rin! RIN!" I called out as loud as I could, "Where are you?" The snake demons kept coming at me, but a few seconds later I heard her reply

"Help Aunt Arashi! Help me!" Rin's voice was so frightened that I couldn't help but run straight into the direction of her voice.

"Don't worry Rin! I'm coming!" I could hear her heartbeat now. She wasn't too far off. Within seconds I spotted her ahead, tied up against a tree, surrounded by snake demon guards.

I let out a roar of rage as I attacked the guards. Spears jabbed into my legs, and the men began transforming into their true forms-giant snakes.

"Aunt Arashi look out!" Rin's voice echoed, but before I could do anything more something sharp pierced my hindquarters. A howl of pain escaped my muzzle, and I jerked my head around to see a large snake-its fangs sunken deep into my flesh.

Venom coursed through my veins, and I could feel a numb sensation beginning to overtake my body. Using what strength I had left, I reared my legs into the air causing the snake to fling off into the depths of the trees.

Quickly I melted the ropes that secured Rin to the tree, and very carefully picked her up by the collar of her kimono with my sharp teeth.

I slowly walked out of the camp, walking over the various dead bodies. Rin made no sound, and by the rhythm of her heartbeat and breathing I imagined she had passed out somewhere during the fight.

"Well well well. If it isn't Lady Arashi of the Northern Lands." A high chilling voice taunted. I froze in my tracks. I didn't need any help to identify who the voice belonged to. Slowly, I turned my head towards the source of the voice.

The high voice had belonged to that of a female. Her skin was pale-so pale that it was nearly gray in color. Her hair was moving as if it was alive. It was only a few seconds later that I realized her hair was made of snakes. The woman's eyes were a piercing red, with slits instead of pupils.

"Hello Arashi. I don't believe we've met." She said in an innocent tone. The high voice only made me growl.

"Chikako!" A growl rose from my chest and my lips curled back slightly from my teeth.

"Yes, I WAS wondering when you would arrive to rescue poor little defenseless Rin." Chikako gestured to the unconscious girl in my teeth. A sharp growl escaped my muzzle.

"Stop talking!" I yelled in an impatient tone. I gently set Rin on the ground, carefully out of harm's way. And then, I leapt at Chikako.

…

The battle began. Chikako transformed into her true form-a giant snake with deadly venom. Several times, her head would strike at me, but each time I successfully dodged her.

"You will not win so easily against me Arashi!" Chikako's voice echoed in my head.

"You will die Chikako! You have attempted to harm my family. And THAT is worthy of death!" I lunged at her again, my mouth pooling with deadly poison. My teeth managed to grab hold of her tail, but as quick as lightning, her head lunged at me. Everything seemed to happen so quickly. I felt her sharp fangs pierce my hindquarters, and a heavy pain began to spread throughout my lower body.

My eyes blazed with anger, but I could feel my strength weakening. My hind legs began to shake and without warning, they buckled underneath me. My fur was wet not only with blood, but with sweat as well. I felt strangely hot, but yet the place Chikako bit me felt ice cold.

With one flick of her tail Chikako pushed me to the ground. Her large snake form towered over me, and the air resonated with her deadly laughter. "Oh Arashi! You are so naïve! You should know that a mere dog demon cannot defeat me! You were already weak from your battle with Yakunan." Chikako's face seemed to sadden for a moment, and then it lit up again with fury. "But now, I shall finish you off!"

Chikako poised her head above me, ready to strike. This was the end for me. My body was paralyzed from the venom, and the various wounds from our battle wasn't helping either. My power was slipping as well, and I found myself changing back into my humanoid form.

Tears were streaming down my face, and my eyes closed. I lost consciousness.

…

"Arashi!" Someone was yelling my name. That voice…I recognize it…

I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn't bring myself to move. My body began to feel again, and I was aware that someone was holding me; my head cradled against someone's chest.

"No! No! No! Arashi PLEASE wake up!" The same angelic voice called again.

"Alice how long?" A different voice asked.

"About 5 more minutes Carlisle." She answered, "I wouldn't doubt if she could hear us now."

"Arashi? ARASHI? Please answer me! Please!" His angelic voice was stressed, and I felt his head burry itself into my white hair.

Edward? Edward is that you?

I tried moving slightly, and I managed to move my fingers. That was good, the venom was starting to wear off slightly.

A heavy groan escaped through my lips and I tried to speak. "E-wrd." The sound was horrible. I didn't even think it was my voice!

"Arashi? Thank God!" Edward sighed in relief.

I began to hear other sounds. Hisses…screaming…roaring…and dog barking? My eyes flew open, and my senses were immediately on high alert. I tried to sit up, but the movement caused my entire body to sting and I let out a sharp yell of pain as I fell back onto the ground again.

The faces of the 7 vampires were looming over me and were exchanging concerned glances. Edward took me into his arms and rested his head on top of mine. "You're alright. You're alright." He repeated over and over again causing me to smile slightly.

"We have to get her someplace safe." Esme said to Carlisle. He nodded in recognition, and immediately Edward picked me up off of the ground.

"AAAHHH!" I yelled in pain as the movement caused my entire body to feel like it was on fire.

"Shhh," Edward soothed me, "It's going to be alright." I nodded numbly and within a matter of minutes I was set down again. My golden eyes looked frantically at my surroundings. I was in some sort of hut. But before I could register anymore, my eyes closed and I slipped into unconsciousness once again.

…..

The pain was fading. That much I could register. Sighing mentally to myself, I forced my eyes open.

From what I could remember slightly, I was still in the hut. I immediately noticed that I was lying on a soft mat, a light blanket was draped over me, and I was naked.

Instead of blushing like a normal person, I only became puzzled. As I looked down at my body, my eyes took in the view of various bandages wrapped around me. My entire stomach was wrapped up in white cloth-that was stained with blood, my left upper thigh was completely wrapped as well, the cloth stained with blood and some sort of yellow puss. The sight made me gag.

My arms were covered in scratches and bruised, and other places I wouldn't like to mention were scratched and bruised as well. The smell of smoke drifted to my nose and I glanced over towards the other end of the hut. A small fire was burning, and I longed to move closer to it-to warm my naked body further.

A groan drifted to my ears and my eyes flickered in the opposite direction of the fire. There, lying underneath a blanket-was Sesshomaru. His eyes were closed, and right away I knew he was completely under.

He was shirtless, revealing his well muscled chest, but the left half of his body was wrapped in a thick layer of cloth, along with the remainder of his left arm.

"Sesshomaru?" I whispered quietly.

No answer.

"Sesshomaru?" I whispered again.

No answer.

Tears began to form in my golden eyes, and despite the pain in my body, I moved closer to him, wrapping the blanket tightly around my naked form.

Sesshomaru still did not respond. Sobs began to break free from my chest, and I threw myself on top of him, crying into his chest.

His body was warm, and I knew he was alive-but his heart was weak, and his breathing was shallow. Is there any hope then? I thought to myself. Tears trailed down my face and landed on Sesshomaru's slightly warm chest.

"Nothing is ever accomplished with tears child." A rough and yet gentle voice said. My eyes flickered sideways to see none other than Kaede.

"K-Kaede-"

"Sesshomaru-sama will be fine Lady Arashi." The old woman cut me off. "He was bitten several times and his body has greatly been affected with venom."

I looked down at Sesshomaru's pale face. Poor Sesshomaru..

"It's my fault Sesshomaru is like this." I whispered, gently using my talons to brush away a strand of white hair in his face, and tuck it behind his ear.

"Do not blame yourself child. For ye cannot control what happens." I carefully removed myself from Sesshomaru and moved to my own mat. I winced when the wound in my side was disturbed.

"Ye need to rest Arashi-sama. The wounds have not yet healed."

I groaned slightly and fell back onto my back with a large thud. The venom was hurting greatly, but I could ignore it. I have had worse…

"What happened?" I demanded in a hoarse voice.

Kaede sighed and looked down into the fire. "The snake demon tribe was defeated, but at a great cost. Not only ye and Sesshomaru were injured-but Gennimaru as well."

"Is Gennimaru alright?" I asked in alarm.

Kaede frowned. "He is dead."

My entire body froze and I let out a shaky sigh, holding in the tears that threatened to pour out once more. No Arashi! You mustn't cry! You have already cried a great deal today, there is no need for it anymore!

"It is not wrong to cry Arashi-sama. For as ye were taught, it is not a sign of weakness-but a sign of emotion."

"Emotion is weakness." I spit out agitated slightly.

"Maybe so, in some situations. But in most cases, showing emotions is a sign that ye cares about the wellbeing of others."

I pondered Kaede's words for a moment. Was Sesshomaru wrong? Was what my family taught me about emotions-wrong?

"I want to see her Kagome!" I heard a voice yell from outside. That voice was all to familiar.

"I'm sorry Edward. But only women are allowed inside. Plus she's resting now."

I heard Edward sigh deeply, and I pictured him running his fingers through that soft bronze hair-

"Please Kagome. I'm worried about her. I REALLY need to see her."

"Edward I can't. I'm sorry. I wish I could but-"

"Kagome," I said in a hoarse voice, and I quickly cleared my throat, "let him in. It's ok."

"But-"

"Let him in Kagome." I said in a harsher voice.

Kagome sighed. "Yes Arashi-sama."

I heard the shuffling of feet and a figure slowly slid through the tent curtains. I let out a sigh of relief knowing it was Edward. Within seconds he was at my side.

"Are you alright Arashi? Oh God! Please tell me you're alright!" Edward's eyes were wide with concern and he didn't lay a hand on me.

I laughed slightly but the sound was harsh and broken. I nearly flinched at the sound. "I'm alright Edward," I gave him a weak smile before wincing slightly as a sharp heavy pain spread throughout my body.

"The poison will not leave your body so quickly Arashi-sama," Kagome warned, "ye must rest."

I groaned in protest but I found my body beginning to shut down.

"Sleep Arashi, I'll speak with you later."

"Mmmhmm…" I whispered and drifted off to sleep.