Hello, my dear readers

I apologize for the delay but life is life and you need to do what you need to do :)
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Enjoy reading,

Yours E

Kagome was rocking from side to side, tightly hugging her shivering form. Heart wrenching sobs shook her body and soul. She was disgusted with herself. It was hard to believe that they called her a pure being with no darkness in her enormous, kind heart. When in reality she was feeble and shallow creature, which gripped the opportunity to be tainted so hard that it lost itself in bittersweet darkness.

It took several tears of her mother and ocean of selfishness to create a monster from the once innocent girl. In retrospect Kagome could not find any reason to harm Sesshomaru that way and even less reasons to desire his death. However reality was harsh. She lost the battle with herself and now she must face the consequences.

- What am I? - she whispered to the wind that soothingly caressed her skin, indifferent to her epic failure.

There was no answer. The sky was still. Stars gazed at her, as if she was another passing moment in their lives. Since Kagome did not matter for them. They did not judge her or even noticed the tears strained face. They just looked and she found comfort in it.

The little Miko could not face the reality. She wanted to escape. Shame burnt her entire being and Kagome did not really know where she could go. Miko was afraid to go home, as there she would be forced to tell about her crimes and even worse the reasons behind them. How could she tell her mother that she decided to abandon her family? How could she tell her that she was so weak that she couldn't face her pain?

Kagome could not go to her friends either, as she betrayed their believe in her. They trusted her to be the one who would always find a light in pitch black darkness. They entrusted her with the Shikon deeming her worthy and pure enough not to be swayed by its sinful whispers and she failed miserably. How she supposed to tell them that she tried to kill an innocent girl for selfish reasons? How she could explain her case when was clearly seen that she was the one to blame and not to be trusted anymore?

Moreover, she could not face herself. Her mind tried desperately to forget; to tell itself that it was just a bad dream. In a minute she would wake up in her sleeping bag and laugh it off. Hours went by and she was still lying on the blood soaked ground, dirty and beaten. It wasn't a nightmare, it was hell.

Sesshomaru could not shake an uneasy feeling that crept under his skin. The broken Miko was constantly on his mind and it slightly irritated him. Despite the fact that he recognized her as an object of interest, he did not welcome sensations that came along with it. He should be angry with her and craving her blood, as she attacked his pup and threatened his own life; yet he felt only sadness and compassion for her. Miko's reasons for attacking was understandable to him. In her place he would do the same, only he would definitely succeed, where she stopped. That only proved her power and purity. Sesshomaru never met a demon or human, for that matter, who could resist Shikon while under its spell. Miko did resist. It was fascinating.

The demon dog wanted to see her again. He was curious to know how would she deal with the situation. Sesshomaru knew from the gossips and his own experience that Miko was innocent of violence and murder. Her hands were not tainted by blood and she never confronted her opponent in arm-to-arm combat under such questionable circumstances. It must be hard for her to comprehend and accept the situation. She must be in torture.

Sesshomaru sighed. Onna was stupid enough to blame herself for the situation. The Daiyokai did not doubt for a second her ability to berate herself till the point of self-destruction and that would not do. The dog demon was interested in her and until he would decide otherwise Miko should be sane.

- Where are you going, Sesshomaru-sama?

Rin asked him when he went to her to wish good night.

- To patrol the land, Rin.

Sesshomaru dropped the formal talk long ago with her, as it was only natural to talk informally with the ones that he cared about. Not that there were many of them. Truth to be told, there was only one. Plus,Rin started to talk in third person and it was not acceptable, as she did not feel the line between formal and informal; and when he asked why she spoke in this way in every situation Rin told that she mimics him, as he is a Lord and does know how people should speak. That was a ring for him to stop being so careless, as he became a role model.

- Then would you check on the pretty-scary-Lady, Sesshomaru-sama?

That was an unexpected request from Rin. Since that night she refused to talk about Miko and situation in general. Rin only said that she pities her and hopes that she never be hurt like that. Sesshomaru tried to pray information out of her but she proved that it was near to impossible to do if she did not want to share.

- Why should I, Rin?

- You hurt her, Sesshomaru-sama, - she said sleepily, missing shocked face of her Lord. - It would be fair to see how she is doing...- she said closing her eyes and snuggling into furs.

- Did you forget that she tried to kill you, pup? - he purred, gently stroking her hair.

It was chilly outside but Kagome did not notice it. She dozed off, giving in to the exhaustion. However, her mind kept running in circles, creating nightmares, so she tossed and moaned in her sleep.

Sesshomaru saw her exactly like that; beaten, defeated, hurting. The picture did not please him one bit, as her pale, beautiful skin was now smeared with dirt and dried blood. Her glorious hair was tangled and her sweet voice was hoarse, from all the screaming and wailing. He came closer, wrinkling his nose, as the scent of sickness invaded it. Her body was too worn out to fight with injuries and Autumn coldness. Miko needed a healer. She would die if not treated immediately. The dog demon did not think twice. He picked up the shivering woman and went back to his castle. After all it was only fair to do so.