-On Guard-

Sesshomaru glowers at Inukimi when she smiles at him, she holds up a bundle of bandages saying: rewrap time, he turns away and she sighs.

"You're bleeding again."

Inukimi sighs saying: I miss that feeling, Sesshomaru glances back at her, she drops the bandages saying: I miss love, Sesshomaru scoffs saying: you don't know what I'm feeling. She smiles saying: you know you might be right…you can't love her if this is what you're doing…allowing yourself to bleed to death. Sesshomaru sneers turning away again, she laughs saying: oh how sad it will be…my son dead and his love lost in la-la land.

"P-please Mi'lord," Jaken pleads from Inukimi's side, Sesshomaru narrows his eyes saying: be quiet, Jaken backs away nodding his head.

"Sesshomaru-"

"Stop."

He turns to her saying: I am no fool…I know when to stop and it is not now…I am trying to figure something out, he turns away again looking at the sky. Inukimi looks down at Jaken saying: are you thinking what I'm thinking, Jaken shrugs and she nods saying: he's gone mad.

"It's sunset, you said that Shadow Demon's prefer to travel at night, this is where we usually find them…I am not interested in your bandages or your conversation."

Inukimi shakes her head looking at the sky, Sesshomaru frowns when he catches a familiar scent, one that smelled strongly of Vanilla. Sesshomaru turns in the direction of the scent as it fades into the cold air, he frowns when Rin and Ah-un come through the trees.

"Lord Sesshomaru we found you!"

Inukimi smiles saying: oh look your human, Rin smiles saying: Lady Inukimi…Jaken, Sesshomaru glares at her saying: what are you doing out here, she rubs the back of her head saying: Lana sent me…Lady Ay is there and she's really sick or something…she wanted me to come and find you.

"Well won't you look at that?"

Sesshomaru looks at Inukimi saying: make sure Rin gets back safely, Inukimi nods saying: yes-yes, Sesshomaru takes off into the trees.

"I wonder…."

Mio wipes her red eyes leaning down on the tree branch she sat on, Aya's teetering walk as she made it to Yurime had once amused Mio but now that she was out cold Mio wondered if she should get Kize already or go to get Aya herself.

She licks her lips when she sees another girl around her size, everything on the girl looked fleshy and plump.

"Mm."

She throws one leg of the branch saying: I should just go down…what will they do I'm just a child.

She moans looking at the girl next to Aya again, but she was really hungry.

"Maybe I can snatch her and run…and then come back and get Aya?"

Mio shakes her head, Kize wouldn't like that.

"What is wrong with her? Is she dying?"

Mio quietly ponders this while eyeing the plump arms of the girl through the window of what Mio assumed was her home, she turns herself on the branch when a strong gust of wind hits her back nearly sending her off the branch. She catches herself mid-fall and when she does she notices the demon lord walking through the doors of the house. She grunts.

"Well snatching Aya is out of the question now…. That dog is pretty strong and pretty angry with me."

Mio smirks, would Kize even try it at this point?

"I would love to watch and perhaps clean the battlefield after," she whispers huskily rubbing her hands together, she moans thinking of all of the blood.

"Delicious dog's blood, sweet and rich."

Mio climbs to stand on the tree, she leans against the bark saying: let's see how this goes, she disappears into the air.

Lana looks up when Sesshomaru walks into the house, she shrugs saying: I don't know what's wrong with her, Sesshomaru bends down next to Aya bringing his hand to hers. He lifts it looking at the stone that had implanted itself into her body.

"Are you ok with blood?"

Lana frowns saying: what…why, Mio cocks her head saying: yes why, Sesshomaru looks at them saying: this has to come out, Lana grimaces saying: uh ok…ew…. Mio pokes out her tongue in a disgusted way, the way the stone looked in Aya's hand was strange.

"What is it anyway?"

"The Uryen Stone."

Sesshomaru looks up when Inukimi, Rin, and Jaken enter the house, Lana stands saying: uh Rin…, Inukimi puts her hand to her chest saying: of course I need no introduction; she walks past them sitting next to Aya. Lana raises a brow and Rin smiles saying: Lord Sesshomaru's mother, Lana nods saying: ah…, she glares at Jaken now before turning back to Aya. Rin runs over saying: what have you come up with Lord Sesshomaru, he looks at Rin who shrinks away slightly.

"That is none of your concern…I will deal with you later."

Rin gulps scurrying away from him, Inukimi waves her hand at Sesshomaru saying: sure…if his precious is awake by then Rin you will be ok.

Sesshomaru glares at her saying: I need a knife, Lana nods running into the kitchen, she returns shortly holding a small kitchen knife. Rin gasps when Sesshomaru takes it and presses it against the middle of Aya's hand.

"Lord Sesshomaru!"

He pauses to look at her, she shakes her head saying: whatever you're feeling…can't we fix it, Lana smiles saying: how about I take the children somewhere else. Inukimi nods saying: this is not for your eyes, Lana gasps and Inukimi smiles saying: you are a child after all. Sesshomaru glares at them saying: you all can leave, Inukimi waves her hand at him again.

Lana grabs Rin's and Mio's hands saying: well let us go, she leads the girls outside of the house and to the outside, Sesshomaru places the sword at the edge of the stone before pushing the blade into the wounds edge. Aya moans lightly and Inukimi frowns saying: better do it before she wakes up, Sesshomaru pushes the knife under the stone and this makes Aya writhe on the floor, Sesshomaru grips her wrist tightly lifting the knife under the stone and pushing forward, the skin around the stone stretches as he pulls it outward, Aya screams and Inukimi frowns.

"The stone does not want out…the evil influence had begun to take her body."

She takes the Meido stone from her neck holding it above Aya's body, the stone glows pale blue and it's light covers Aya, Sesshomaru yanks at the stone and it rips from Aya's body falling onto the floor, Sesshomaru looks at the hand, it's gaping hole was already beginning to close due to the Meido stone's influence.

Aya sighs calming almost immediately but she doesn't awaken, Inukimi touches her forehead saying: she's running a fever, she places the Meido stone back at her neck.

"The tainted energy is gone…but it still wore on her body…when she will awaken or even if she will is now up to her will."

Sesshomaru frowns when Aya's breathing picks up and her cheeks turn red, he touches the side of her face and she flinches against his hand. Inukimi stands saying: she's exhausted and badly malnourished…but how will we get food into her body, Sesshomaru turns when he hears a light tapping at the door, Mio peeks her head in saying: we heard screaming so-, Lana rushes over pulling her away.

"Sorry Lord Sesshomaru she's just…not very smart."

"Hey!"

"Mio this isn't smart!"

Inukimi waves her hand at the girls.

"It's alright I was just coming to fetch you anyway."

Lana's lip twitches and Inukimi frowns, Lana sighs saying: sorry it's just kind of…never mind, Inukimi folds her arms saying: she's sick but…I think she can be saved…but…she must eat and soon. Lana walks over to Aya saying: how do we get her to eat, Mio rushes over saying: she does love Ryu's moon cakes, Inukimi smirks saying: she's needs something a little more nutritious like…meat…. Lana grimaces saying: well Ay likes her food very fresh…um….

"Once she ate an entire bird demon…not sure what kind of bird but she polished it off in no time."

Lana nods looking down at Mio, Inukimi turns to Sesshomaru saying: well…into the woods we go, she goes to leave the house but Sesshomaru moves in front of her, she folds her arms saying: what are you doing.

"You stay here, I will go."

Inukimi nods turning back to Aya had now turned over on her side still breathing heavily, as Sesshomaru steps out of the house Rin runs in.

"Lady Ay…is she…ok?"

Sesshomaru looks back at Aya saying: she's…, Inukimi nods saying: she will be fine especially with you helping to take care of her, Rin clasps her hands together saying: of course.

The girls fall around Aya chattering over what they could do, Jaken leans against against his staff glaring down at the lady demon.

"I hope she stays this way…humph," he whispers turning away, Inukimi looks up saying: what a nasty thing to say, Jaken gasps jumping away.

"Uh-L….I…I…."

Inukimi shakes her head looking down at Aya again, Lana touches Aya's arm saying: we should change her, Inukimi nods saying: something warm…and let's bathe her as well because she smells horrible. Mio raises a brow at Inukimi who laughs saying: so protective over a demon how strange….

Mio walks into Kize's siting room, he sat in his chair with one leg over the other and his eyes blazing, Mio bows to him saying: I am so disappointed Kize…Aya ha-.

"I know already!"

Mio gasps backing away, he glares at her saying: I felt it…how could you allow this to happen, Mio shrugs saying: the demon lord interrupted. Kize stands saying: everything I've worked on for these past years has been destroyed…I still don't have the Hikari no Ishi, he growls and his body begins to shake.

"Well K-."

"You can stop pretending now you fool!"

Mio flips her hair saying: I rather like this persona…cute but slightly deadly…but if you want to wear your old name then fine.

Uryen glares at her and she giggles into her hands.

"What will you do Master Uryen?"

He glares at her saying: I cannot fight the three dogs at once…and once Aya awakens…she will no longer be under my hold nor will I be able to track her as easily.

He falls back into his seat saying: she's become a nuisance now.

"Well Master the demon lord seems rather taken with her…he's always near…and she will put up a fight now."

Uryen nods saying: and she will see you for what you truly are, Mio gasps saying: and what's that, Uryen scowls saying: a lowly Shadow, Mio grins rubbing the back of her head.

"I want you to follow her."

Mio sighs saying: but their so boring, Uryen glares at the little shadow, she nods saying: oh ok.

"While you keep close to her I will be thinking on what to do…we must get her back. Perhaps I should have acted sooner in my forcing the damned stone out of her."

"Where do you think she hides it?"

Uryen shakes his head saying: pfft…cannot say.

He stands saying: her father…what an idiot, Uryen grins saying: I told him that I would be coming for him…but he didn't believe me…and now that he's gone…his precious daughter is all alone in the world holding onto a secret that could get her killed.

Mio nods saying: yeah she should just spill it, Uryen walks over to a window at the far side of the room.

"It's a wonder she's even still alive at this point."

He shakes his head looking down.

"Go to her, watch her from afar. If you get caught I will not save you, Mio curtsies saying: as you wish Master Uryen."

Sesshomaru glares up at the sky his eyes darting here and there, he swings his sword at a flying Demon but it dodges cawing at him before flying forward.

Sesshomaru growls.

Sesshomaru glares at the ground, dogs weren't meant to fly but still….

He suddenly hears a thud before him, he looks up to see the demon at his feet, Inukimi shakes her head saying: you must learn patience, Sesshomaru glares at her before turning away and watching the sky again.

"You have to be the one huh?"

Sesshomaru turns to her saying: what, she nods saying: you want to find her something to eat…how sweet, she picks up the demon saying: but that won't save her life.

"That pride is what will end you."

She touches his back saying: and your back is coated with blood, she growls now.

"You're so foolish! In your need to safe and protect Aya you're trying to kill yourself. What good will it do if while she's waking up your dying?"

"I will take care of it."

"You're not listening to me!"

"I said that I will take care of it!"

Inukimi frowns when he turns on her his eyes red with anger.

"I can still fight…I can still walk…she cannot. Her needs are above mine at the moment."

Inukimi looks down saying: this is so strange, she smiles covering her mouth with her hand, Sesshomaru raises a brow and she shakes her head saying: it's nothing. He turns back to the sky ignoring her now, she nods saying: keep at it son. She carries the demon back to Yurime, Sesshomaru clenches his hand around the hilt of his sword waiting for the next demon.

Lana brushes Aya's hair gently away from her face as Rin places a cool rag at her forehead, Mio sat at her feet bandaging them.

"How does Aya always manage to get herself into trouble?"

Lana nods saying: she's a trouble magnet.

Inukimi comes from the kitchen with mashed demon in a bowl, Jaken grimaces when she sits next to him holding the bowl out to him. He shakes his head saying: disgusting, she laughs crawling over to Aya.

"Let's hope she eats it."

Inukimi sets the bowl aside pulling Aya's head onto her lap, she tilts the bowl to her lips saying: mm, Lana turns away gagging against her hands. Rin grimaces looking at Mio who looked ready to puke, Inukimi places his fingers at Aya's nose squeezing it shut, Aya moans before opening her mouth, the mash falls into her mouth. Inukimi leans down blowing lightly into Aya's nose, Aya gulps the mash down trying to get oxygen into her lungs. Mio and Rin clap their hands but Lana groans saying: yuck. Inukimi nods saying: I knew that this would work…such a good girl. Jaken walks over saying: at least she smells better, Mio glares at Jaken and he frowns saying: what have you to say girl!

"Be quiet."

Jaken freezes in place at the sound of Sesshomaru's voice, Sesshomaru steps into the house holding a stack of Crow Demon's, Inukimi smiles saying: had to outdo me?

Sesshomaru looks down at Aya saying: is she eating, Inukimi nods saying: like a good girl, she laughs when Sesshomaru frowns at her.

"Now that she's eating don't you think that you should take care of yourself?"

Sesshomaru glares at her saying: don't.

He sits down next to Aya placing the birds at her head, Lana pinches her nose saying: I should take those into the kitchen, Rin goes to help her. Sesshomaru touches his neck saying: she's still hot, Inukimi nods saying: and your castle wasn't built in a day…trust me I know, Sesshomaru sighs. He was growing tired of her constant attention. The front door opens and an older man steps inside, Mio smiles saying: Mr. Ugo, he smiles at the young girl saying: hello Mio…, he looks over the group saying: Lord and Lady, Sesshomaru raises a brow when the man walks over to Aya saying: so she's still out. He bends down next to her saying: she's eaten that is good, he places his hand to her neck saying: but that fever has not let up.

"Mr. Ugo what does she have?"

He sighs saying: she is a demon so whatever it is would probably destroy a human…, he goes to open her kimono but Sesshomaru growls at him, Inukimi sighs and Mio gasps saying: w-what. Mr. Ugo raises a brow saying: uh Lord Sesshomaru…what…what's wrong, Inukimi shakes her head saying: he's a jealous man go on, Mr. Ugo smiles saying: oh…Aya is…ok….

"Let me explain the procedure…well it's not really a procedure at all. I will check her heart, she does not have to be naked I just need her Kimono top off and from previous experience I know that Aya wears badages under her clothing…so I will not be seeing anything more than her shoulders and stomach."

"Let the medicine man do his job Sesshomaru," Inukimi mutters in slight annoyance, Sesshomaru glares at the ceiling saying: go on. Mr. Ugo gently pulls the Kimono top away revealing midnight blue bandages at Aya's breast, he grunts saying: that bruise, he traces his hand along a long slit at Aya's stomach, Sesshomaru looks at him from the corner of his eye now. Mr. Ugo shakes his head saying: surprising…it's the only scar that remains on her body. Sesshomaru looks at it now, he frowns thinking back to the blood at the Yuta home, perhaps that was where Uryen had hurt her.

"That is where she bled from when she came to Yurime," Mio says nodding, nods saying: I know. He then brings his hand her chest, Sesshomaru looks at the ceiling again and Inukimi sniggers, Mr. Ugo nods to Sesshomaru before leaning down to place his ear to her chest, Sesshomaru growls and Inukimi bursts into laughter.

"Boy is he jealous," Mio whispers to Jaken who glares at her.