A Taste of Humanity

Disclaimer: Sesshomaru and all characters from Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, not me. This story is for entertainment purposes only; I make no profit from it.

A/N: Reviews are appreciated. Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Illness

Sesshomaru rolled over for the umpteenth time, struggling to find a position that did not have a rock or root digging into him. The increasing volume of the approaching storm was not helping him fall asleep either. As he sat up, Ah-Un huffed and sniffed the air. He looked up at the heavy clouds that blocked out the dim light given off by the moon and stars. Just then a large wet droplet landed on his nose. It was quite cold and he decided it would be best not to be out in such weather. Untying Ah-Un and packing up his meager supplies, he mounted the dragon and went searching for shelter. The rain began to splatter him in earnest and soon he was completely drenched. 'I need to get out of this rain,' he mused, 'Rin would get sick if she was caught in such weather.' Finally finding a small cave, Ah-Un flew down and landed just under the entrance's rocky overhang. Giving the two-headed beast a pat of thanks, Sesshomaru slid off and took the supplies off the dragon's back. He felt his body shake involuntarily. 'Great,' he thought sarcastically, 'this human body needs warmth quickly.' He managed to find some semi-dry wood at the cave entrance and was mildly surprised when Ah-Un lit the firewood without being asked this time. Stripping his sodden clothing off, he wrapped one of the blankets around him. He used the other to dry his hair as he draped his clothing near the fire to dry. Feeling cold and miserable, he curled himself by the fire. He shivered, clutching the thin blanket closer to him. Exhaustion soon got the better of him and he fell asleep, Ah-Un curled behind him. The great beast shielding his fragile human body from the wind and cold outside as the storm raged on.

Sesshomaru awoke to his body heaving and coughing. He felt weak. He felt his head, noting it felt far too warm even as he felt chill. 'Fever,' he concluded from the times Rin had experienced similar symptoms. 'Perhaps I should have stayed at that human village…' He tried digging in the bag for a remedy, but his vision was blurry and he was too weak from coughing. Too tired to move, he curled into a ball with the blanket and slipped into a fitful slumber. Twisted versions of memories flitted into his dreams as he fought against the illness griping him.

A strange voice flitted around him and he did not know if he was awake or still dreaming. Barely opening his eyes, he noticed a hazy silhouette in the predawn light, his vision still unfocused from the fever. A wet coolness was felt on his brow and gentle hands guided him to drink something that tasted as foul as it smelled. The woman, as far as he could tell, was elderly, but still seemed strong despite her years. Her voice was soft and a bit reedy to his impaired senses.

"Your father tried…but…" he found it hard to focus on her words, trying not to slip back into unconsciousness. 'Something in the drink, it is making me sleepy.' "wasn't... enough….compassion not enough. I promised…him ...Izayoi…." he registered Inuyasha's mother's name and realized 'him' must mean his father. 'Who is this woman? What had she promised?'

"I would teach…. not weak…bound…blood…seven days...not harm…only teach… you must learn… must learn …my nephew." This caused a chill to run through him. 'This was the witch who cursed me! Yet she knows my father and…' he struggled to keep his thoughts together as she gently changed the cloth on his head. 'She calls me nephew? How can this human be an aunt to me?' His mind reeling with this information, he slipped into a dreamless sleep.

When he awoke again, his vision was much clearer. He noticed he was no longer in the cave, but a hut. Struggling to sit up he glanced around the familiar room. As if aware he was awake, Kagome came in with some herbs in hand. Preparing the kettle for tea, she glanced at him.

"How long?" it hurt to talk, his voice sounding weak and hoarse. He hated it. He was not weak.

"You've been asleep for two days since you were brought here," she replied softly. "You still need rest though." Her tiny hand forced him to lie back down. "You're lucky Aimi found you, you know."

"That woman…" he struggled to sit back up, "she did this to me!" Just then the elderly woman strode inside the hut. She checked the tea and poured a small cup. Feeling cornered, he tried to growl at her, but only ended up coughing painfully.

"Now, now," she chided, "if I wished you harm would you be back here?" Defeated, he settled for glaring at her, but drank the tea she held out to him. He noticed the miko had left, leaving him alone with the witch. It seemed his head would burst from all the questions buzzing in his head.

"Why?" it was the easiest to start with, considering the pain in his throat. He studied her as she sat down beside him. Gazing into her brown eyes, he waited as she collected her thoughts.

"I made a promise," she said finally, her voice soft. "Do you remember the day your father introduced you to your brother?" He nodded, recalling the dreams he had his first night as a human. "He and Izayoi were saddened greatly by your rejection of the boy." Sesshomaru remembered the sad look in his father's eyes that day. "He made the swords you both carry, each with a purpose. You learned the lesson he tried to teach you?"

"Compassion," he whispered, remembering the pain losing Rin had caused him. She nodded and continued.

"Yet you did not try to aid me that day," she stated calmly. "I told your father it would not be enough. I promised him and my sister that I would teach you… give you a taste of humanity, if it was not enough." He grew angry at the woman. 'How dare she?' he seethed, 'I am not some pup to be lectured and by a human no less!' She seemed to not notice, or perhaps ignored, his shift in mood. Taking his hands in her wrinkled ones, she smiled sadly. "You can not truly understand something unless you experience it. You are free to hate me nephew, but I made a promise. Killing me will not remove the spell. Your demon blood will remain bound for the seven days. You have two more to learn what you must."

"I am not your nephew witch!" he spat, but she was unfazed. She gently squeezed his hands and rose.

"As you wish, Sesshomaru," she sighed, "but I want you to know one last thing before I go." He met her eyes once more, noting the sadness there. "Your father loved you. No matter what you may think of him, remember that." Without another word, she left the hut. Sitting alone in the darkness, he pondered her words.