Kikyo awoke to the sound of running water. Her eyes fluttered open but the light from the sun forced her eyes shut. Where am I?

"Priestess you're finally awake." Kikyo opened her eyes slowly to see a figure standing over her, his body blocking the path of the sunlight.

"Sesshomaru?" she whispered frowning up at him. Why on earth was he with her she wondered? She tried to sit up but pain shot through her body and straight to her head forcing a loud cry to escape her lips. Her head fell back against the ground but instead of the rock she had been embracing herself to hit, there was something soft cushioning her head. She looked up at Sesshomaru and noticed that he was no longer wearing his obi. He had folded his obi and placed it under her head so that she would be comfortable. That Sesshomaru…She smiled weakly up at him before once again passing out.

Sesshomaru walked over and sat down next to her. He placed his hand over her forehead and started checking her out. She's warm…He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small water jug and a cloth. He wet the cloth and placed it on her forehead. For a while he just sat there and watched her sleep, something that he had a hard time justifying with an excuse. Sesshomaru was not one for caring about another individual especially when it came to mere humans, but there was something about the priestess that couldn't be ignored. She was no ordinary priestess and the fact that she was in love with his pathetic half-demon of a brother Inuyasha was another thing that just didn't sit right with him. Inuyasha had Kagome so why on earth did Kikyo care so much? Sesshomaru glanced up at the sky. It was starting to get dark and the cool night air was coming in fast. He took off his kimono and draped it over the priestess before leaving to get up in a tree. It will be easier to watch her from high up he thought as he climbed the tree and made himself comfortable.

--------------------------------------------

"Wow. Things sure are tense around here," Shippo grumbled. They were all sitting inside Kaede's hut but the sustained silence was gut wrenching. No one dared say anything about the events of the day for fear their heads might be snapped off. Shippo was young and had no clue why everyone was so silent.

"Well now Shippo everyone is just tired," Kaede said calmly. "Today was a trying day for everyone especially Inuyasha so it's best you just let everything be alright?"

"Yes maam."

"Maybe if you'd learn to shut up sometimes the silence wouldn't bother you so," Inuyasha mumbled.

"Inuyasha that wasn't very nice," Kagome muttered.

"No one asked you." Inuyasha stood to his feet and headed outside the cabin. Hmpf. Who needs them? They just don't understand. He walked a little ways before sitting down on the ground. The night was young and the air was nice and cool. Inuyasha stared up at the sky, laying flat on his back so that he could see the stars more clearly.My Kikyo…I'm so sorry…I let you down again and I'm sorry. Why couldn't I have been there for you? He hadn't realized it, but he had started crying again. The tears streamed down the sides of his face and onto the ground.

"Kikyo."

"Inuyasha, you might wanna be careful. Someone might hear you," Miroku said softly. He sat down on the ground next to his friend and stared off in the distance. "Everyone is worried about you."

"Oh really now? Why is that? Afraid I might bite their heads off or something?" he grumbled.

"That and the fact that you haven't said anything to anyone since…"

"Yeah…I know and I'm sorry," he whispered. "It's just I can't understand why I'm so weak," he said frustrated. He punched the ground with his fist and then sat up sitting next to his friend.

"You're not weak Inuyasha but you have to realize that you can't do everything on your own."

"Yeah but I was supposed to save her this time Miroku. I promised her that day on Mt. Hakurei that I would protect her no matter what…even if it cost me my life."

"And I know that you would have done everything that you could have to keep your promise but Inuyasha you must understand that since she did not travel with us there was just no way you could have watched over her the way you wanted to."

"But it's still my fault Miroku. I should have made her travel with us."

"And that would have been just as bad. Did you really want to make her suffer like that? I know you say that you and Kagome are finished but don't you think that it would have been awkward and painful for her to see you and Kagome together?"

"Not if I was paying more attention to her than Kagome."

"Inuyasha, that's not what I mean. Kagome is Kikyo's reincarnation which means I'm sure Kikyo would have felt funny traveling next to her…self…her live self," he said thoughtfully.

"I…well maybe but still. I should have been there."

"You can make this right you know."

"Huh? How?"

"By protecting her." Inuyasha's face dropped and he glared at Miroku curiously.

"I would 'cept she's already DEAD!" he yelled.

"No but I mean you can make up for it by protecting her reincarnation." Inuyasha's face softened and he stared at the ground.

"I…forgot about her," he said softly.

"It's okay Inuyasha. I know…it will take some time for you to completely get over Kikyo but remember who Kagome is. She may not be Kikyo but a part of Kikyo rests inside of her. If I knew Kikyo like I thought I did, I'm sure she'd want you to look after Kagome. Without her, we won't be able to defeat Naraku."

"I…you're right Miroku. She would want me to protect Kagome and I will. I will protect her with my life. Thank you…Miroku…for talking to me. I…I needed that. You're the only one who understands me…next to Kikyo who's…gone."

"I think someone else understands you too but he'd never admit it." They both laughed as they stood to leave and journeyed back towards the cabin.

------------------------------------------------------

Kikyo woke up again in the middle of the night and was surprisingly warmer than she thought she would be. She sat up and was pleasantly surprised that her head was no longer hurting. She was still a bit dazed and her head seemed to be spinning but it wasn't as bad as earlier. This time she decided to try and stand up on her own but her legs were still very weak and she plopped back down to the ground. Oh well…

"How are you feeling priestess?" Sesshomaru had come down from the tree and was walking towards her. Kikyo had no idea why she was smiling but she couldn't help it. Maybe it was because it was Sesshomaru taking care of her or maybe it was because she had always been curious about Inuyasha's brother. At any rate she brushed the thought and lay back down onto the ground.

"I am feeling a little bit better," she replied. "My legs are still weak so I am incapable of walking anywhere for now. You know Sesshomaru you do not have to stay here. If destiny wishes for me to die then it will happen anyway," she replied sadly.

"That's a copout coming from you and to think I always thought somewhat highly of you priestess," he said softly.

"Oh really? You thought highly of me?"

"As high as to be expected of a mere human. Destiny…Destiny is a funny thing priestess. I'm sure you're well aware of that."

"Yes, I suppose."

"Would you say that it was destiny for you to end up on that mountaintop earlier today with Naraku?"

"I…yes," she answered slowly.

"I see. So would you say that destiny meant for you to die up there today?"

"Well…I…I don't know but as you can see," she chuckled, "I am not doing so well right now. I'd be surprised if I made it through the night."

"You're taking this all so well."

"I've already died once and completely alone. Death is nothing new to me. In fact, I think I'd welcome it with open arms." She turned away and stared up at the sky. Such a lovely night to die she thought. At least I won't be alone…

"You will not die," Sesshomaru said calmly.

"Oh?" Kikyo watched as the silver haired demon approached her and sat on the ground next to her. A strong wind blew and Kikyo's body started to shudder violently again. Not again…Without thinking, Sesshomaru grabbed Kikyo and held onto her, pressing her body against his chest until she stopped shaking.

"The poison from Naraku," he whispered. Her body is fighting it…They stayed like that for several minutes until Kikyo's body finally stopped shaking and she was no longer moving. He looked down at the top of her head which was still buried deeply into his chest and frowned.

"Kikyo?"She can't be dead…can she? She looked up at him and smiled but it was a forced one. He lifted her chin with his hand and saw that she had been crying.

"I'm…I'm sorry. It…it hurt that time," she whispered.

"No doubt in my mind that it did priestess. Despite what you say however, crying does not become you at all." Kikyo glared at him but only for a moment as a small smile formed across her face.

"You're right. It doesn't become me at all. Thank you…Lord Sesshomaru." She pushed away from him and folded her arms across her chest. It was chilly out and she wondered why she was feeling so cold all of a sudden.

"Lie down priestess." Kikyo did as she was told by lying back down onto the ground. To her surprise Sesshomaru laid down next to her, wrapping his Kimono around the both of them before throwing an arm around her. She snuggled up next to him resting her head near his chest. "You'll be warmer this way now sleep priestess. I do not believe for one second that destiny meant for you to die today. If that were the case, then you would not be here with me."

"You'll make a believer out of me," she whispered before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep. Sesshomaru smirked, lying his head down next to her. No wonder Inuyasha is crazy about you. Get better soon priestess or who knows what might happen.

AN:Well, I am so sorry about the long delay but you know how that goes. I hope you guys aren't too upset about the Kik/Ses. No, they are not together because I am determined to make Inu and Kik be together, but you have to admit Ses and Kik could make an interesting couple. At the moment though, we are seeing the side of Sesshy that he tries to hide all of the time. I believe he honestly cares for his brother but just doesn't want to admit it. My mind is just….funny that way. Anyway review because we love reviews. (We as in my multiple moods and personalities). O.o