I do not own the rights to Inuyasha.

Opening her eyes, Kagome saw stars. "Huh. So this is what it's like to be dead," the miko thought to herself. "It's not that bad. Great view, really." She took a breath and a spasm of pain shot through her body. "Ahh," she cried out in agony. "I didn't think being dead was supposed to hurt this much!"

"I assure you, despite what seemed to be your best attempt, you are not dead, Miko." A low voice rumbled out.

"If I didn't know any better, I would swear that sounded like Sesshomaru. Of course, that's ridiculous. Why would Sesshomaru be dead? But...he said I'm not dead. So why would Sesshomaru be with me?" Kagome shot up on that last thought. Or at least, she attempted to — getting part way up before pain ripped through her again. Suddenly, she felt herself being carefully lowered back to the ground. She peeked through her tightly shut eyes to see the great Lord of the West bending over her and delicately repositioning her in the grass.

"Sess...Sesshomaru!?"

"Hn, Miko?"

"But...why are you here? Where am I? I thought I was dead, there was an Ogre and — "

"Calm yourself. If you continue to writhe about you will only further injure yourself."

Kagome stilled as she fully realized for the first time since opening her eyes that she was lying there in the grass with Lord Sesshomaru watching over her.

"What happened?" She asked in a small voice.

The Great Lord leaned back, seemingly satisfied with his repositioning of her. His eyes scanned up her body. Eventually, gold met brown and his soft thunder voice began.

"You were attacked by an Ogre. It seems you remember that part. I smelled fear and your blood in my lands and found you. The Ogre was thoroughly focused on forcing the last of your life from you, thus he did not sense me coming. I disposed of him and brought you here. You have been sleeping for a few hours."

"Oh. Thank you. You know … for saving me."

"Hn."

She could not tear her eyes away from his gaze. There was something there in his eyes she had never seen before. Was it concern? Surely not. The great Sesshomaru concerned over a human who isn't Rin? Particularly over herself? Definitely not. She was part of Inuyasha's pack...with that thought she flinched slightly. Sesshomaru moved quickly to her side.

"Are you hurt elsewhere, Miko?"

There was that look again. She could think of nothing else to call that slight gleam in his eyes. For some reason, he was concerned for her. He hated anything that had to do with the hanyou, though at the moment so did she. "Perhaps we have more in common than I'd previously thought." At that thought she began to smile a bit, and then a small giggle worked its way from her body. In that moment, however, pain tore through her once again. Sesshomaru's brow furrowed ever so slightly.

"I do not understand what you find comical, Miko. And if you continue to move yourself, your ribs will not heal."

"My ribs?"

"Hn. The Ogre broke one and cracked two others. It should not take too long to heal, but you will need to rest and refrain from moving."

He hadn't broken eye contact with her the entire explanation and she wasn't able to tear hers from his. She could see the concern now in his eyes, and she attempted a smile to reassure him she would be alright. "I just tried to reassure Lord Sesshomaru. What is going on here? And why can't I look away? In the past I would have been terrified to look him in the eye or be stuck alone with him. But there's something about him right now. Something so calm and reassuring."

"Miko — "

"Please, you've saved me. Please, call me Kagome."

He nodded and began again.

"Kagome, along with your ribs, you are covered in cuts and a few places where the Ogre's nails dug in to you. Though I cannot help with your ribs, I can help with the healing of your cuts — if you would allow me to."

She flushed slightly at his sincerity and desire to help her heal. He was behaving in such an odd manner and she began wondering if she was dreaming. "Well, if I'm dreaming, what's the harm in letting him help heal me. Though, how he would do that, I have no idea…"

"I would greatly appreciate your help. Although...I know you've already done so much to help me. I hope I'm not being a burden," she managed to stammer out.

With that the demon's eyes gained a new depth as he slowly moved closer to her. His hand carefully lifted her arm and keeping eye contact, he brought her arm to his lips.

"Sessho —" she began to protest when his next action surprised her so much that her ability to speak was stripped from her. Slowly and softly his tongue lapped at her arm. Her eyes grew wide as he trailed his tongue along one of her cuts. The warmth of his tongue soothing the skin, followed by the cold night air. Languidly, he traced his tongue over the deepest cut on her arm. Once satisfied with his work on that cut, he moved to one on her wrist. She found his ministrations soothing and almost hypnotic. Her head became foggy as her body completely relaxed into his touch. Far too soon, his face left her arm and she almost let out a sound of protest when she felt his breath on her neck. He nuzzled her slightly and she tilted her head with the nudge, exposing her neck to him. He let out a low hum of approval. His tongue gently made its way up her neck and she found herself struggling to not moan out. "His tongue...just feels so good," she thought to herself as he trailed his tongue up and down her neck. He continued down to her collar bone and then to her side. She hadn't even realized she had a cut on her side, but the warmth of his tongue kept her from even caring if she was really injured there or not.

Soon his mouth found its way to her legs that she knew were thoroughly beaten up. As he licked at her leg she couldn't help but blush. No man had ever paid this kind of attention to her injuries. It was as though his tongue itself was paying homage to her body. The thought caused her to flush again. She felt him pause for a moment. She was about to thank him for taking care of her when she felt his tongue lap against the inside of her leg. She couldn't help it as a moan slipped through her lips. She could swear she felt him smirk against her inner thigh at her sound.

She could feel her entire body flush with the intimate contact and she silently prayed that the powerful demon between her legs would be too focused on his task at hand to notice her arousal.