A/N Yeah I know, late again. But seriously, when am I ever not late? Anyways, the plan is to have the next chapter done before Christmas, if I don't get too busy. Wish me luck!

CHAPTER 9

Sesshomaru's POV

I ran. I knew it was a cowardly thing to do, and, as everyone knows, this Sesshomaru is anything but cowardly, yet I still did it. If asked why I wouldn't be able to tell you. I just knew I had to.

I quickly made my way back to the cave where II knew Rin and Jaken would be waiting for me. As I approached I noticed the shadow of Ah-Un looming over the entrance of the cave, protecting my charge and the toad from whatever demons lurk within the mountains.

As soon as I stepped into the cave Rin, who was bouncing on the balls of her bare feet, greeted me.

"Lord Sesshomaru! You came back again!"

"Rin. You should be in bed."

"Of course Lord Sesshomaru, I was just waiting for you to come home."

She promptly went over to Ah-Un and patted his haunches. The two-headed dragon held my gaze as he lowered himself to the ground, where the girl curled up beside him. I would never admit it to anyone, not even under the threat of death and torture, but the sight made me. . . less . . . me.

Jaken was across the glowing embers of the dying fire, snoring loudly and twitching ever once and a while, and I had no wish to know what he was dreaming of. I felt myself grew tired and was caught off-guard by the sudden realization that I was. I haven't been this tired in over a century! Shifting my body so I was against a wall yet still could easily see the whole entrance of the cave with my peripheral vision. I shifted until I could also completely see all of my companions as well, and with everything in my sight I finally succumb to the darkness.

I was running again, except this time I was running towards something very important. I didn't know what I was running towards, or why, I just knew I had to. I came into a clearing and was almost knocked over by the scent of rotting flesh. A huge pile of corpses sat in the middle of the clearing, all of them had their insides ripped out of their bodies. I turned to go the other way only to catch the familiar scent of someone I knew. I slowly turned my head back to pile, searching it for one person; surely I had imagined the scent. But no, there on the top of the pile she was, the youngest one. I easily hopped to the top of the pile to retrieve her. I set her down, bringing out my sword, only to find it not there. The little girl turned out to be less dead, despite the fact that her organs were strewn around her.* She was trying to talk. I moved closer, so she wouldn't have to raise her voice.

"Lord-d Sess-s-shomaru," she got out painfully. "P-please, no more," she begged, her own blood coating her chapped lips. She let out a shuddering breath as I tried to think of something to say. And just like that she was gone. I got up stiffly, my eyes bleeding red as I swore revenge on whoever dare cross this Sesshomaru. I sniffed the air to find their scent, only to find solely mine. Except, it covered everything, every single body was coated in my scent. That's when I noticed the huge dog paw prints covering the ground and the long and jagged claw marks that were on everyone. The world spun as I realized just who had wrecked this distraught. Me.

I was woken out of my slumber by a familiar scent. My sleep addled mind couldn't seem to place it though as I slowly came into consciousness. I heard a dripping noise, and my stomach dropped as I realized what the smell was.

Blood.

I quickly bolted up, searching for the threat. I was surprised to not only find no threat, but that all of my companions were completely unharmed. I frowned lightly, only to feel a throb from my torso. I looked down and saw the blood soaking through my hakim from a gash that I had forgotten in the heat of the battle. It had been healing before, yet now it was now profusely. I rose quickly and walked into the still dark morning. I ran quickly to the nearby stream, I didn't want to deal with any demons who wouldn't know the difference between one of the most powerful demon lords and an injured weakling. Besides, I really didn't want to ruin anymore clothes, as they did get quite expensive to replace, being made out of pure silk.

Unfortunately for me, today did not seem like my day as I caught the wind of a rather powerful demon being headed this way. I slanted my eyes in irritation, the blood was going to stain soon, and then I would have to get a new one again.

He appeared just as I reached the edge of the forest, which, if I was correct, was the border to the Eastern Lands. I had opted on waiting when another familiar scent assaulted my senses. My stomach dropped as I realized that it was Kagome's scent, and, even though I tried to tell myself that I didn't care, I did, even if it was just a little bit.

Kagome's POV

I had been travelling non-stop every since I had woken up at dawn, a total of 3 hours, and it was still pitch black out! I had yet to change or wash, and as a consequence I had encountered many mindless demons. During the fights I found out just how much my powers have increased. I knew they were no longer sealed, but besides that they felt . . . different. I brushed it off; they worked, so why complain?

I had been following a shallow stream for a little over an hour and I quickened my step when I saw it widen and deepen not too far ahead. I reached the river and placed my worn yellow backpack on the bank, bending over it to get the necessary toiletries. I froze down on my knees when I felt to auras both heading my way very rapidly. I knew Sesshomaru was one, and the other I was guessing was from the nearby wolf tribe, especially since I had traces of Kouga's blood on me. I sighed, wanting to have washed before I had to tell any of them what had transpired.

I straightened up, ready to explain myself, only to recoil slightly at the bleak aura that was coming from the east. It held an air of grief and a lust for blood, not to mention the anger that coloured the aura in a blood red. I quickly grabbed my nearby sword and bow and arrows.

Stepping over to a nearby tree I put my sword in its sheath and loosely hung onto my bow, hoping to appear as less threatening as possible. I sigh in relief when I realized that the wolf was coming alone, I don't think that I could deal with the pack like this. I braced myself as both of the demons rapidly approached where I was standing, I took a few deep breathes, hoping to calm the frantic beatings of my heart.

The first lights of dawn were breaking over the eastern horizon, illuminating the dense forest in a bright light. I cursed when I realized that if it came to a fight the light would be a disadvantage to both her and Sesshomaru, but would not affect the incoming demon.

The forest was completely silent, the whole forest seemed to be holding its breath, and Kagome's thumping heart seemed painfully loud in her own ears. That's when she picked up the sound of lithe feet running, and less than a second later all hell broke loose. She was aware of Sesshomaru appearing first, quickly followed by the wolf demon. He was only a little taller than me, with a lithe body and wide shoulders and hands. Whereas Sesshomaru looked slightly feminine, this wolf appeared the exact opposite, with a heavy brow, short hair that was an average brown with wolf ears on top and eyes that appeared almost black. He carried no sword, but an axe and wore almost nothing at all.

As soon as they both arrived in the clearing they paused for a fraction of a second sizing each other up. The wolf then scoffed and without warning he pounced at me. I yelped in surprise and looked down to get my sword out. I looked up in shock when a heard a snarl followed by a clash of Sesshomaru's claws on metal. Sesshomaru had thrown himself in front of me, colliding with the wolf demon, easily pushing him back. The wolf's eyes flashed in annoyance, as he attempted to get past Sesshomaru to me. The wolf swung his axe around like a maniac, just trying to hit any part of Sesshomaru, who easily ducked and then took out his opponent's feet right from under him, throwing away his weapon with ease.

The wolf bared his fangs at Sesshomaru, growling deep in his throat, Sesshomaru's eyes bled red as he snarled back, his fangs elongating. The wolf's ears flattened onto his skull, finally realizing that Sesshomaru was his superior. I relaxed when Sesshomaru eased up, thinking that he had won until the wolf's eyes flashed down to Sesshomaru's abdomen. Before either Sesshomaru or I could do anything the wolf had elbowed what appeared to be a critical wound that Sesshomaru had obtained. Sesshomaru grunted in pain and momentarily lost his grip; the wolf took his chance and ran towards me at full force.

I gripped my sword tightly, my aura cackling around me as I prepared for the attack. I faintly heard Sesshomaru run at the wolf again, but I knew that he would be too late to reach me in time. But this time I wouldn't need saving, because I was no damn princess, I didn't get a happy ending and I didn't get to always be saved. I saw the wolf pounce and I quickly reacted accordingly, moving a step forward and to the right, and swinging my sword in an upwards motion, under his outstretched hands to the soft flesh of his stomach. His eyes momentarily widened in surprise, and he didn't react in time as he impaled himself on my sword, making a gasping sound as it pierced his flesh. I laid him down on the ground, and tugged my sword out of his flesh. I watched him as he lay there dying, and the thing that was scaring my most is that I didn't feel as sad or conflicted as I usually did. This wolf wasn't like the evil demons that I usually killed; he was merely grief stricken by the loss of his comrade and leader. I sat there, watching him struggle for breath and I did nothing.

"You, you killed my brother," he said, his weak voice held so much contempt.

A few tears escaped my eyes as I knelt down next to him, "I didn't kill Kouga. He was killed by a half-demon named Naraku."

His eyes lit up in understanding, and he asked, "Are you Kagome?"

"Yes," I gasped out, tears flowing freely from my eyes now. I was almost glad for their presence, because it meant that I was saddened.

"Ah. Kouga talked about you," he says finally, and I smile because I can only imagine. "I'm Satsujinsha-," he starts but couldn't seem to finish his sentence, and I gape as I remember him, the second in command of Kouga's tribe. With renewed tears in my eyes I hold him as he dies and I sob into his chest. After I could no longer cry I stiffly got up, surprised to find Sesshomaru still standing nearby, as if waiting. I started to walk towards him only to feel suddenly light headed, and before I knew it, darkness had covered everything.

A/N Did you know that you can actually live with your intestines outside of your body for about 4 hours?* I'll try to get another chapter up within the next 24 hours! XD Thanks for putting up with me!