"I am not welcome anywhere. . .that is no surprise" Sesshoumarou drawled. "Now stand aside. . ." In one sudden motion, he whipped his sword out toward Kikio. There came a streak of light and the force of the sharp wind. Combined with the stroke from the sword and its impeccable power, it crashed upon Kikio's shield, promptly breaking it into pieces such as Kagome had done earlier.
Kikio blanched. She could not understand why Sesshoumarou is doing these things. What would his motive be? The demon walked toward her, his handsome face still remaining as impassive as ever. But, Kikio stayed where she was. Soon enough, the two came face to face.
"What is it that you want?" Kikio asked, her lingering gaze on Sesshoumarou's face. The latter stared back.
"Release those you had captured."
Before Kikio can reply, Sesshoumarou jutted the sword's handle into Kikio's midsection, winding the air and her consciousness out of her and hurling her toward the trees. Immediately, the eel-like creatures gathered around their fallen mistress, shrieking in their high-pitched tones. Some wrapped itself around her arms and body. Another burst of light and sparks and in the next second, Kikio disappeared.
The demon turned around and headed to where the pit lay.
Jaken darted toward his master as he saw him approach. He bowed low and told him about Kagome. "I think she just wounded her forehead and we managed to suppress the bleeding. But, we need to get her out of the hole." Sesshoumarou nodded but did not reply.
Rin huddled under the dim light of the lamp she brought. Once in a while, she caressed Kagome's face and tried to wipe the dirt off the girl's face. "Lady Kagome is very pretty, " she thought with a smile and a giggle. She and Lord Sesshoumarou would be nice together." She did not try to move her into a much more comfortable position though she was itching to do so. Jaken had told her that she might further the damage.
"Rin!" A slightly shrill voice echoed into the pit. The little girl looked up to see the familiar faces of Jaken and Sesshoumarou. "I'm here!" she replied in delight. She watched as Sesshoumarou stepped into the hole and landed deftly beside her, whisking another dose of wind about him. His face normally revealed no emotion but as he laid his gaze on Kagome, Rin thought she saw a flicker of concern in her master's eyes. She blinked and stared again but all that she could see in the amber orbs were the same aloofness. Rin frowned. She was so sure. . .
Sesshoumarou scooped Kagome gently into his arms. The miko's head lolled to the side, against Sesshoumarou's shoulder. He could sense the rise and fall of her chest and her breath as it exhaled out of her slightly parted lips. He appeared surprised for a moment when he noticed that Kagome's body seemed to fit right in his arms, as though she was molded exactly for him or him molded exactly for her. Supressing these trouble notions and returning his expression back to its impassivity, he leapt out of the hole and landed on the above ground. He gave one look at Jaken who was openly gaping at him.
"Take care of Rin. . ." Off he went further into the trees.
"Come on." Jaken managed to call out to Rin, sticking his head into the pit.
"But, Jaken! I don't know how to climb a rope. It's too hard." Rin's strained voice echoed back. The small demon sighed and then ordered Rin to grab hold of the rope. Along with their two-headed, dragon-like steed, Jaken pulled the rope, huffing and puffing until the little girl came into view.
How could master help that human? Jaken's thoughts once again swam around his head. Despite his repeated assurance that Sesshoumarou has good reasons for his actions, still, Jaken could not help but wonder again and again especially since he could not see any plausible reason for such action. And, the nearest reason he could think of was the one Rin suggested. . .
"Thanks Jaken," Rin said, patting Jaken on the back with a smile. She then walked toward their acid-greenbeast. "Let's go. . "
"What?"
"Well, we've got to follow Lord Sesshoumarou, right?"
"Oh, yes right." Jaken climbed after Rin. Sesshoumarou did not tell them anything about following but they might as well do so since it is what they have been doing all these time.