Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
As Nami-sama fretted, Ryuukotsusei wallowed and Touga attempted to reassure them both. It really hadn't been Ryuukotsusei's fault, the young dragonling wasn't as aware of his surroundings as Touga.
"Hush, Nami-sama," Touga cajoled, grabbing her small hand and pulling her to sit on the zabuton next to him. "It's just a scratch."
Nami curled her fingers at the hem of his haori sleeve. "Are you sure?"
Touga smiled winningly. "It'll be healed up by tomorrow," he assured her, smiling through the piercing pain in his left shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Ryuukotsusei mumbled, head lowered in shame, "you protected me and now..."
Touga cut his friend off, shaking his head resolutely. "Nobody knew that there was a centipede demon in the forest. I'm just glad I got to you before something really bad happened."
Ryuukotsusei didn't look up, heart clenching at Touga's cheerful words. Touga had become strong and sure, stood taller now, at roughly 195 years, Touga held the outward appearance of a thirteen year old human. The best in his classes, Touga excelled in swordsmanship and had come to their rescue today, protecting the young Lord Ryuukotsusei and the future Lady of the West, Nami, from the rouge demon.
Even though the youngster boasted a wound now, he'd taken down a demon nearly twenty times his size.
"It is my fault, Nami-sama isn't safe with me..."
Touga frowned and scrambled to his feet, moving towards the dragonling. When he got to his side, he leant his good shoulder against the dark haired lord and grinned.
"So, then, all you have to do is get strong, right? Strong enough to protect Nami-sama."
Ryuukotsusei glanced at his friend, shocked at his simple-mindedness.
"Eh?"
Golden eyes were astute. "I protect you and Nami-sama 'cause you're my friends. And that's why we have power."
A/N: This is the expanded version of a drabble originally written for iy_unsung_heros prompt Pierce and was first posted on February 24th 2011. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this enough to offer a review!