AN: First off, I just want to apologize for the long wait. Thank you for being patient, and for the encouraging reviews. This story is something I really want to finish, and it helps to have readers who actually care if it gets done or not. So again, sorry for the wait, and enjoy!

---I---

Chapter 5: A Promise Made

Golden fire

That was the first thought that Kagome Higurashi had when the demon awoke, turned, and laid eyes on her sitting next to his once sleeping form. As she gazed into his molten orbs, she thought back on how she'd come to be in this abandoned hut nursing an injured demon.

She'd ran into the woods, heart bursting, with such a mixture of curiosity and fright and excitement that she couldn't put her feelings into words. She heard the battle before she saw it. Demons were seemingly flying through the air. The human soldiers were shooting arrows, throwing spears. Shouts of victory were heard, but the cries of pain outweighed these. Kagome watched in cold fascination as the battle raged. She sat crouched under the brush, seeing demons with magnificent speed and grace. And power. She was torn. Her army was seemingly out-classed, but as she continued to watch, she realized the demons were growing weaker. Soon, the battle looked to be a victory for the Northern Lands. Kagome wasn't sure how to feel, but nevertheless, she was glad the bloodshed had ceased, at least for the time being.

She'd turned to sneak back, running along through the familiar woods, when she stumbled and fell, landing hard on the ground.

Turning to look at what ever it was that had tripped her, she saw the shape of a body. Her senses were on edge, but she collected herself and quickly went to see if the person—or demon—was alive or dead.

And that's when she first saw him. He lay on his side, his smooth tan cheek pressed against the dirt. She gasped in surprise at seeing his hair. It was so long, so soft, and so gray. But she could bet that in the sunlight it shone like silver. Her eyes came to rest on his mid-section, and her heart stopped.

A huge line of red soaked through his shirt, the marks of a terrible wound hidden underneath. She didn't stop to think that it was wrong to help a demon. She didn't even have to ask what her mother would have done. She knew.

With what took all of her strength, Kagome took him upon her shoulders and carried him bow-legged through the woods, scanning the trees for a save haven. She came across the abandoned hut deep in a thicket and placed him on a dirty mat inside.

After this she wasted no time in running back to the palace, ignoring the shouts of the guards and anyone else who saw her, and went to Kaede. The old woman was distraught, but Kagome didn't have time to explain. She grabbed as many herbs and clean sheets as she could, then told Kaede to come with her. The woman agreed, but her eyes were wide, and she trembled at her ward's silent excitement.

And so now, here she was, watching over a freshly bandaged demon man, her keeper already gone back to the palace, at her asking.

"Please, Kaede, I will be fine. He is injured and cannot harm me." Kagome had explained after trying once to send her elder away.

"My Lady—

"No, Kaede. You are tired. Go back, and I will be there shortly after. I promise."

She tried to keep her face as calm as possible when the demon's eyes widened at the sight of her, but her heart was beating faster than when she'd ran through the woods. He was so handsome. His darker skin and manly face contrasted beautifully with his exotic eyes and long flowing hair. And something she hadn't noticed before…Ears, fuzzy dog ears. She felt the urge to touch them, but squashed the idea as his eyes narrowed into something akin to hate.

"Where am I?" His voice sounded like a low growl, masculine and harsh.

Kagome smiled softly, leaning closer. "You're safe. I've treated your wound with some of my herbs." She tried to keep her voice steady, but she knew her tone betrayed her nervousness.

His eyes darted around the hut, scanning the walls, the floor, and the screen flap waving in front of the door. Finally, his eyes circled back to her, and he seemed less angry than a moment ago.

He seemed to pause before considering his next words. Kagome continued to smile, believing a kind expression to be the best one.

"Why?"

Kagome's smile faltered at his sudden question. She knew what he meant, but she didn't know how to respond. Why did she save him? She realized her smile was quickly becoming a frown, and tried to hide it by saying,

"Just rest. I'll be here with food and fresh dressings when you wake up in the morning." When he started to protest, she put a hand upon his arm, feeling a shock spiral up her fingers into her heart at the contact.

"Please," she whispered, her voice stolen by the warmth of his skin. "Rest. I promise I'll be back."

He looked at her with an amazed, and slightly confused, expression. He didn't seem to know what to say. Finally, he shifted a little and turned his head away from her gaze, his dark brows furrowed. He didn't seem happy, but at least he wasn't trying to kill her.

She sighed softly, glad that he wasn't fighting her on the subject.

She got up to leave, gathering her herbs into her bag, along with her sheets that she'd used as bandages. The whole time she collected her belongings she felt his eyes on her, watching her silently. She felt self-conscious and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Well," she said, standing at the doorway, looking at his helpless form. "I will return. Good night…" she paused, remembering she did not know his name. She wanted so badly to know, but decided not to ask, and instead gave him a curt nod before hurrying out into the night.

She felt a strain on her chest as she walked briskly through the woods. He looked so sad, so angry lying there. Not knowing why, but feeling it in her heart, she knew she had to help him. She just had to bring him back to health.

But at what cost? She thought. If it is known that I'm harboring an enemy, saving him, he could be killed. She'd sworn Kaede to secrecy, but she had to be careful even so. His life was on the line, and hers with it. Squaring her shoulders, Lady Higurashi walked back toward the palace, but with each step, her heart kept going back to that lone hut.

---I---

Lord Sesshomaru sat at his table, his head bowed over a scroll of paper just brought to him from a messenger in the field. It was a report of the night's battle, and as his golden eyes flicked across the page, a slight crease of brow belied the hidden frustration he felt at what it told.

His troops had fought bravely, but the human's poisonous gases that seemed to affect only demons had been a problem ever since the start of the war, as it had been that night. He'd tried in the past to find out how they produced it, and if there was some way of deflecting it's power, but he hadn't been able to do either.

And not being able to do something was what Sesshomaru hated the most of all things.

He stood up, throwing the tattered scroll onto the table with a look of disdain. How could those filthy weaklings have beaten his soldiers? He closed his eyes, feeling a wave of anger wash over him at the memory of his father's death. Those bastards, he thought. They were cowards. He opened his eyes to look out into the growing dawn.

But cowards with poison are more dangerous opponents. His clawed hands curled into fists at the thought.

And also, he remembered, turning back to the scroll on the table, the report had said that his half-brother was presumed dead. Presumed, because his body was never found. He frowned and crossed over to the porch, where the view overlooked vast mountains. He squinted into the rising sun.

Inuyasha…he thought. Where are you?

---I---

The birds sounded from the woods outside of the isolated hut. The sun was just creeping over the hills, slicing through the treetops and casting a shaft of light onto a young man's sleeping face. He frowned and groaned, lifting an eyelid ever so gently into the morning sunrise.

He shifted slightly, seemingly asleep once more, but with a start he sat up, his back stiff, his eyes wide. Everything that had happened seem to come rushing back to him. The battle. His injury…

The girl.

He made to get up, but only winced at the acute pain coming from his abdomen. He looked down and cursed silently. Why had he been so careless in the fight? He sighed in frustration, but instead of trying to stand, he scooted closer to the doorway, and once he got there, he lifted the flap, and sat against the frame, staring off into the sunrise.

His mind wandered, first to the battle, and then to the mysterious young woman who had saved him. He didn't know what to think of her. She seemed nice, and smart…but both of these qualities alarmed him in women. She was obviously human…which only served to confuse him more. Why would a human save a demon? There didn't seem to be an answer. But as he looked at the dressings over his wound, he couldn't help but feel a tad grateful.

"Oh, so you're awake!"

The voice was light and sweet, catching him off guard. He turned sharply to see the girl, the dark-haired, ivory-skinned woman, coming through the trees, an elderly woman following close behind. The younger was looking at him, all smiles and cheer. The elder was eyeing him warily with a suspicious gleam.

He had remained silent throughout their approach, but as they came closer, he responded,

"I've been awake a while now." Just as he spoke, a scent caught his attention. It was warm, and smelled delicious. She seemed to sense his reaction, for she reached into a bag at her hip and produced a smaller pouch containing three warm rice balls.

"I've brought you some food." She extended the bag to him. "I hope it's enough."

He took it eagerly, emptying the contents into his mouth without much care for the ladies standing in front of him, gaping. He went through the first and second with ease, but on the third rice ball, he caught the girl staring at him with unashamed surprise.

He frowned, speaking through a full mouth. "What?"

She blinked, and then exploded into fresh peals of laughter that made his stomach flip over with some unknown feeling. He blushed slightly, but tried to pretend it didn't bother him, and finished the last of his breakfast.

All the while the two of them had stood just outside the hut, the girl in her simple white and blue kimono, and the elderly woman in a darker brown color.

"So how are you feeling?" The girl spoke first, genuine concern in her hazel eyes.

He was taken aback at first, but quickly shot back, "Fine."

She only smiled and shook her head. "Come on. Let's get inside so I can re-dress your wounds and apply more salve." She came up and made a gesture to reach out and help him, but he avoided her touch and scooted back over to his sleeping mat on his own.

He overhead the older one saying, "Please, lady, we must hurry."

"We have plenty of time. Trust me."

They both entered and the conversation ended. The girl came over to him and knelt down, producing fresh bandages and medicine. He sat there next to her, feeling much like an injured puppy, and wishing he didn't have to be awake to feel her hands, see her face…

"May I?" Her voice brought him back to reality. She was pointing to his shirt. He quickly caught on, but only nodded slowly.

She reached down and un-tucked his shirt, revealing his chest and stomach, along with his bandaged middle. She slowly undid the linens, and sucked in a breath. He wasn't sure if that was because of the sight of his injury, or something else.

"You should be fully recovered in about a week." Her voice was confident and reassuring, and he felt better for hearing those words.

Instead of giving thanks though, he fired back, "I could easily heal in three days!"

A playful sparkle came into her eyes. "Well then, maybe I should have left you in that ditch where I found you."

He could only grumble in reply. She laughed, making him feel that strange sensation yet another time.

She reached into her pouch and picked out a tiny glass jar with a strange colored liquid in it. He watched as she reached into the tiny jar and got a smudge of the stuff on her fingers. He realized this was the salve.

"This might sting a little…" she whispered as she applied the liquid to his wound. It seared like fire and made him want to shake off her hand, but he remained calm and merely replied, "It doesn't hurt."

She looked over with a smirk. "You don't have to pretend."

He grimaced and turned away, the hint of pink on his cheeks. "Keh!" he murmured.

"I'm sorry if it does hurt," she went on, "You've already been through so much…in the battle…" She stopped, her fingers just grazing his stomach, above the wound. He felt a shiver go down his spine. Her hands were soft, like flower petals.

She seemed lost in thought, but suddenly she was moving quickly, avoiding his gaze, a burst of color on her face. She wound the bandages expertly, but fast, and all to soon she was standing to leave.

He turned around to face the door. "Wait."

He didn't know why he'd spoken out. He just…he just knew that she had to stay. He…he liked having her around.

"What's your name?" He finally asked, as she was staring at him with growing curiosity.

She hesitated, but finally replied, "Kaede. I live in the palace just north of here…I'm a lady in the court."

The old woman stood behind her, a menacing frown on her lips. "Come, lady, we must leave now."

Kaede rolled her eyes at the woman, but smiled to him. "I'll be back again tonight. You can try to walk around a bit, get some fresh air, regain your strength." She shouldered her pack higher, as she turned to go. "Until tonight!"

He watched the screen slap against the doorframe, his thoughts only of Kaede, a human girl with more kindness and laughter than any person he'd ever known...

AN: Sorry it's been so long! I know you all probably hate me…but I've finally written another chapter. Yay me! And also, please tell me how you think it's going. Thank you!

&Niiroke&