Kagome was furious.
"Inuyasha, how could you just let Sango take off by herself? She can't face Naraku alone, she'll be killed!" The young miko coughed, doubling over.
Inuyasha sighed. "Well it's not exactly like she wanted me to follow her, and you know I couldn't stop her! She would have hurt me!" He got up from where he had been sitting next to Kagome's mat and began pacing around the room. "Don't you think I'm worried about her too? But you were calling me, you needed me, and Sango is a big girl, she can take care of herself."
Kagome managed to catch her breath and glared at him. "Do I look like I'm going anywhere? No, I'm not! I am not the one who really needed you, Sango is! Do you have any idea what she must be going through right now, after losing Miroku like that? You and I were all she had left, and now we've let her down too!" She pushed the blanket off of her body and sat up, every movement taking great effort.
"What do you think you're doing? You can't go anywhere, you need to rest!" he yelled at her, grabbing her shoulders.
She shrugged him off, and struggled to her feet. "I'm FINE! We can't leave Sango out there alone, and you're obviously not going to do anything. I'm going after my best friend, and there isn't anythin you can do to stop me!" She wavered a little, trying to get her balance, and took two steps. Then she fell over, Inuyasha easily catching her in his arms.
"Dammit, Kagome, you can't even stand up!" he said, lifting her onto his back. "I'll go after Sango if you lie back down, OK? It's not like I want her out there alone with everything that has been going on lately. Naraku is stronger than he's ever been."
She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "No, I'm going with you. I don't want you out there alone, either. You can just carry me, and I'll be fine. Kaede said it would only be a few days before I was well enough to continue anyway."
The hanyou opened his mouth to say something, but then thought better of it. She probably wouldn't sit him while she was on his back, but he wasn't going to take the chance. "Fine, fine, you can come with me, OK? But if we run into trouble I want you to stay out of sight, got it?"
"Thank you," she whispered, and reached one of her hands up to rub his ear gently.
"Keh, don't thank me yet. And don't do that!" he said, growling under his breath. What was it with her and his ears, anyway? "We still don't know where she went, or what we're going to run into."
She nodded against his back, putting her arm around his neck again. "Come on, let's go. You should be able to track her, shouldn't you?"
He started to walk, nodding to her. "Yeah, I can pick up her scent easily," he said, and started to sniff the air outside. He was glad she was on his back and couldn't see his face, because he had caught the scent of blood, Sango's blood, and couldn't keep an uneasy expression for forming across his features. Suddenly, he took off running, and Kagome had to grab hold of the front of his haori to keep from falling off his back. Kami, Sango, what the hell did you get yourself into? Please be alright, I don't think I could forgive myself if anything happened to you...
Sango felt like she was floating. She forced her eyes open, and only saw a blur. She blinked a few times, trying to get the scenery to come into focus, but it didn't work. She lifted her head slightly, and realized there was a pair of strong arms holding her. Looking up, she came face to face with Sesshoumaru, and panic began to rise in her soul. What was she doing with him? She gasped, and began to struggle, trying to get away, but then became very still when she realized they were quite a ways off the ground.
He had felt her movement, and looked down to meet her eyes. "You are afraid, taijiya. Why?"
She didn't know what to say. She wanted to snap back at him, remind him that he had told her that she should fear him, but in her current situation she didn't think that would be wise. "I haven't exactly been having a good time lately, have I?" she answered, more sorrow than malice in her voice.
"Hn," was his only response.
She shifted around against his chest and stared at the ground below them. "Where are we going?"
"To find Jaken and Rin. I asked them to set up a camp. We will stay there for the night, and continue after Naraku in the morning."
Before she had a chance to answer, the ground suddenly began getting closer to them at a rapid pace, and she squeezer her eyes shut. She was used to flying on Kirara, but at least them she was in control. With Sesshoumaru...
And then they were on the ground. He immediately began walking, without missing a stride, and she opened her eyes. She could see a small fire in the distance, and then spotted two small figures, one lying on the ground, the other sitting on the other side of the fire. The taijiya felt tears prickling at her eyes again. Even Sesshoumaru had "friends." She was now alone.
As they approached, Rin awoke, almost as if she could sence the taiyoukai's presense. She squealed with delight and got to her feet, running towards him. When she spotted Sango, and saw all the blood caked to her body, she stopped in her tracks. "Sesshoumaru-sama, who is this?" she asked with childlike innocence.
"She will be travelling with us for awhile, Rin. That is all you need to know."
The little girl nodded, and proceeded to tug at his kimono. She looked up at Sango. "You're hurt," she whispered.
Sango felt a pang of guilt run through her. She didn't want this little girl to worry about her. "I'll be fine," she said, forcing a smile.
Rin smiled too. "You're a human, aren't you?" she asked.
Sesshoumaru set the taijiya down on the ground, easing her into a sitting position. She turned her head to smile at him in thanks before answering the little girl. "Yes, I am. I am a demon slayer, and Sesshoumaru-sama saved my life. I owe him a lot," she said.
Rin nodded. "Sesshoumaru-sama saved Rin too."
"Rin, that is enough questions for tonight. You and the taiiya both need to rest, and I need to speak with Jaken."
The tone of the taiyoukai's voice caused the little imp's head to whip around, his eyes filled with fear. "Y...Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama," he said, walking over to stand beside his master.
Rin went and sat down next to Sango, a worried look on her small, innocent face. Once again, Sango tried to smile, and laid down on the dew covered grass. The little girl sprawled out next to her, careful not to bump the other woman's damaged body. She gently laid her arm across the taijiya's neck and closed her eyes. Sango turned her head, watching as Sesshoumaru and Jaken disappeared into the dark night, and then within minutes was asleep herself.