Kagome was lightly shaking from her encounter with Sesshomaru. Her cheeks still burned and her head was painful. The pain had changed from a throbbing pain to a burning pain. It literally felt like something was being burned onto her forehead. She was beginning to think that she would be lost in the castle forever. After walking around for at least another half an hour, Rin found her.

"Miss Kagome!" The little girl yelled, happy to see her.

"Rin! Thank God!" Kagome couldn't have been happier to see that little dark haired girl.

"Where were you?" Rin scolded playfully.

"I got lost..." Kagome admitted. Rin smiled.

"Lets go get something to eat." She squealed, grabbing Kagome's hand. "Oh, I also brought you bow!" Kagome nodded, thanking her, but then stopped.

"Rin?" The girl turned around. "Is there anywhere I can get clothes?"

"Clothes?" The girl asked, tilting her head thinking. "Yes, this way." Kagome willingly followed the girl to where ever she was leading her.

The kimono Rin picked out for Kagome was gorgeous. It was dark blue with light orange clouds and an orange sash. The orange made it look like a kimono of the sunset.

"It gorgeous Rin! But whose is it?" She asked wearily.

"Doesn't matter. I'm allowed to wear them so so are you." She replied, finality in her tone. "Now lets go find some food. I'm hungry."

"Ok." With that the little girl practically dragged Kagome down numerous hallways, that Kagome would never remember, and out into the castle gardens.

When Rin continued to drag her passed the garden and towards the main gate Kagome began to grow worried. "Where are we going?" She asked.

"To get food." She answered as if it was obvious.

"Outside? Isn't that dangerous for you?" Rin tilted her head.

"Jaken usually comes with me but since your here I can go with you. Besides, not many demons are brave enough to come near Lord Sesshomaru's home." That made sense to Kagome, but she kept getting a feeling in her gut that something was out there. Shrugging, she dismissed it as she was nervous that her friends might find her. Her old friends... Shivering at her own thoughts, Kagome followed Rin as she nodded to the demons guarding the front gate and led her out of the castle grounds.

"Miss Kagome! Look what I found!" Rin ran out from the bush she had been foraging in and held out her hands for Kagome to see what was inside.

"Strawberries? They're my favourite!" Rin beamed.

"You can have them." She squealed.

"Thank you." Kagome smiled back at Rin but it turned into a wince as the pain in her forehead spiked again. It had been slowly getting more painful and when she put her hand on her head it felt like it was getting hotter.

"I'll go find some more." Rin giggled as she ran off back to the bush.

Suddenly, Kagome felt a chill run down her spine. "Rin!" She called, but it was too late. In front of Rin stood a massive snake demon. It had two legs, standing upright like a human, but it had no arms. From the waist upwards it was just the slim body of the snake. Looking directly at Rin, it hissed.

Kagome grabbed her bow from around her back. Thankful that Rin had taken it when she came to find her, she pulled an arrow from her quiver and drew back the string. Taking deep breaths, she quickly summoned her miko powers into the arrow and let it fly. To her surprise, the arrow just bounced off the demons hard skin. No miko powers at all present when the arrow fired. Desperate, she grabbed another arrow and fired it again. Still nothing, but at least the demon was looking at Kagome now and not Rin.

"Rin, run!" She called. Instead of running away, Rin ran strait for Kagome, flinging herself into her side. Frustrated, Kagome growled and pulled the girl round so that she was behind her.

The demon hissed, once again looking at Rin. Annoyed that Kagome had cost it an easy meal, the demon circled them. Kagome followed its movements, always putting herself between it and Rin.

"Miss Kagome..."

"Hush, Rin. I'll keep you safe."

The demon hissed and sprang for Rin. Kagome acted immediately and turned so that she could completely cover the little girl. She felt the sharp stab of its fangs pierce the flesh on her neck seconds before she felt the pain of its poison.

Demon venom is fast acting, and quickly Kagome began to panic. Currently, the demon was still injecting its venom into her and would stay like that until long after she was dead. It had enough venom to kill 1000 people, there would be no chance of survival. However, if she fought it off of her then it would strike Rin and she would be too weak to stop it. She had to stay where she was.

Kagome felt the pain in her head get worse. She would have screamed from the burning sensation in her head but the demons venom was starting to paralyze her.

Kagome grunted as she felt its fangs leaving her neck. 'NOOO!' she thought, not wanting the demon to attack Rin, but then she heard a noise that confused her. The demon was hissing but not in anger. The demon was in pain. It let out a horrifying screech and Kagome knew it was dying.

Fighting the pain, she tried to open her eyes to see if Rin was ok. Managing to open them a slit she saw Rin run and hide behind a large white figure. Squinting, she recognized Sesshomaru.

Glad that Rin was safe, Kaogme allowed her eyes to close. She felt bile rise in her throat. but as the venom had almost completely paralyzed her muscles, she began to chock.

Trying to catch her breath, finding it harder to breath with every passing second, she felt herself being lifted off the ground before she fell into unconsciousness.