Chapter 9 – GPS

"Empathic." He murmured. "Just like her.."

He remembered back then how she tried to comfort him.

"Miko, wake up."

Kagome jerked awake and blearily looked around. Sesshoumaru was standing over Rin's resting place but he looked ready to leave. His swords were strapped to his hips already. She had fallen asleep on the dragon. Uhn curled his head around her to keep her warm. She absently patted his head in affection.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" She asked hoarsely. "Is something the matter?"

"Go back to your packmates," he commanded without looking at her. With a final look at Rin's flowers, he turned and started walking away.

"Wait for me, Sesshoumaru-sama!" She cried out with her voice cracking. "Ah-Uhn, wake up, Sesshoumaru-sama is leaving already."

The dragons sluggishly stood up, their heads swivelling towards Rin's grave. They gave a final crooning rumble to their charge and then made their way towards their master.

Kagome stumbled painfully after the dragons, doing her best not to be left behind. Her wounds were re-opening and she knew that if she didn't clean them soon, it will be infected or worse, her blood would be a beacon to youkai around.

"Miko, your presence is not wanted," Sesshoumaru's voice made its way to her.

"Forgive me Sesshoumaru-sama for imposing on you. But I would not be able to find my way back at this time of the night without guidance." She explained. "My friends are under the impression that I have gone home until the next full moon."

"You are not this Sesshoumaru's concern. Come Ah-Uhn," he commanded the dragon.

Ah-Uhn's heads looked from their master to the bleeding human. Uhn crooned to her.

"Go on, you two. Sesshoumaru-sama is calling you," she patted the heads. "I will be fine on my own." Ah snorted at her and looked at her in askance. Despite the pain in her shoulder, she swatted at Ah's head. "You doubt this great Miko, Ah? Now go on before Sesshoumaru-sama leaves you behind." Reluctantly, the dragon left her and trotted in the direction their master had gone.

Left alone, Kagome was painfully aware of all the wounds she had all over her body. She truly did not know which direction she had come. When she heard Rin's cries, she came tearing to her helter-skelter. Her backpack was lost in her haste to get to Rin.

"Now, what do I do?" She asked no one in particular. "I can't go back to Rin-chan's place, it will attract predators. I certainly can't wander aimlessly around the forest." She was starting to panic when an idea came to her.

She remembered Kaede telling her that every living thing had a 'presence' no matter how small. Being a Miko, she should be more attuned to it than most. But so far, the only things she was able to sense were the presence of the shards.

She breathed in deeply and tried to concentrate all her Miko to find Inuyasha's youki and her friends' presence. As she tentatively sent out her Miko, she was bowled over by a bright, golden light that shone not too far from her. It blinded her to everything else.

"Whose youki is this?" she muttered to herself. She tried to probe her Miko to see who had such a powerful presence but she was fast tiring out. She could only rationalize that it was Sesshoumaru. "Who else is could it be, right? He seems to be near enough to be Sesshoumaru.."

She peered toward the direction of the massive presence. Her Miko was not enough to probe further than this. If she waited for Sesshoumaru to go father out of her range, there was no guarantee that she could feel out her friends from her location. Also, if she could see how big Sesshoumaru's youki was, other youkai would too. No one would dare come close to the Taiyoukai, right?

"Well, except me, that is," she said to herself. "On the brighter side, who knew that I could use Miko powers as some sort of a Sesshoumaru GPS?"

Kagome was not certain for how long has she been walking after Sesshoumaru. It feels like she has been walking for years and years. She was beginning to feel light-headed from blood loss. But she knew that to stop walking and to take off her 'eyes' from Sesshoumaru meant certain death.

So she gritted her teeth and walked on.

But her ears were ringing now. Her vision was getting a bit fuzzy. She could still feel Sesshoumaru's youki very strongly though. It felt very potent and beckoning to her. She could also feel Ah-Uhn albeit very faintly, maybe because his youki is overshadowed by Sesshoumaru's immense presence.

"No! I can still walk on," she mentally rallied herself.

Then the next thing she knew, the ground was coming up to her very fast and then she knew no more.

At the back of his mind, Sesshoumaru could feel the miko following him. But he could care less. He was lost in the memories of Rin and his plans on vengeance. As soon as proper mourning has passed, he will hunt Naraku and kill him slowly.

He was brought out of his thoughts when Ah-Uhn rumbled to him that the miko has stopped following them. Sesshoumaru growled at the beast. The miko was not his concern. He let her live and that should be enough repayment for assisting with Rin. The miko could bleed to death for all he cared.

He frowned. A toothy grin flashed in his mind's eye and a grubby little girl handing him human food. He knew that Rin would disapprove and would try to help the miko in any way she can. After all, she did the same for him when he was wounded. Rin would be sad if he left the miko the way she was.

Irritated, Sesshoumaru scented the air. Her scent has come to a standstill though her bleeding did not. He could also feel that there were several lowly youkai that were starting to close in. Sesshoumaru turned on his heel and growled at Ah-Uhn that they were stopping for the night soon.

He continued walking with Ah-Uhn dragging behind him. He found a good resting spot and promptly settled down. As was his custom, he flared his youki to stake claim to the surrounding area. Death awaited the youkai foolish enough to approach the Taiyoukai's resting spot.

Ah-Uhn fidgeted a few meters back from his master. They knew that they shouldn't go but they wanted to help the miko. In the very short period that they have known her, they feel very protective of her though Ah would be hard-pressed to admit this. They knew that Rin was very fond of the Miko. Rin would be saddened if they did not help her friend.

Uhn was raring to go back to the miko but Ah was much more hesitant. Ah was waiting until master's breathing evened out. Though he knew that Sesshoumaru rarely slept, he wanted to at least know that the master has settled for the night before going to the miko.

"Aaaah!" Kagome screamed. Something green and scaly was licking her wounds!

A big head whipped around and snapped at her. "Eeeek!" She was about to get eaten alive.

Then she heard a familiar rumble from the green, scaly thing wrapped around her.

"Oh, it's you Ah-Uhn! I thought for sure it was a youkai that's come to eat me," she cried in relief. Uhn looked up at her but didn't raise his head from licking the gash on her thigh.

Kagome winced as his tongue hit a particularly deep spot. Uhn rumbled his apology but continued his ministrations. "Thanks guys, but what are you guys doing here?" she asked.

Ah just snorted at her like it wasn't perfectly obvious what they were doing. He moved to help lick the shoulder wound she had.

"You used to do this for Rin as well?" She asked softly. The heads paused and then continued. "I really appreciate this, Ah-Uhn. I might be very well youkai-kibble by now if it weren't for you."

The dragons continued sealing her wounds in silence. Satisfied that she wasn't bleeding away her life blood, Uhn settled across Kagome's lap to keep her warm.

"By the way, where is Sesshoumaru-sama? Won't he punish you for coming over to me?" Uhn just rumbled at her and snuffled. "I mean, I'm okay now so you can go back to him if you want to. I don't want to get you in trouble with him."

Ah just snapped at her and settled his head behind her back so she could lean on him. "Okay, whatever guys. If he asks, you can tell him that I forced you," she said as she settled in against the dragons. Uhn rumbled against her lap as if laughing at her.

It felt like it was only five minutes later that Uhn was trying to wake her up by nibbling on her hair.

"Huh? Wha..? Oh, morning Ah.. Is it time to go?"

Uhn supported her as she stood up shakily. Kagome was still dizzy from last night. The blood loss was getting to her. She needed to get some liquids and nutrition in her. Not to mention, clean her wounds. She still had some cuts left and though her bigger wounds have stopped bleeding, she still needed to clean it.

"Where are we going, Ah-Uhn?" The dragons just continued to walk beside her, supporting most of her weight.

"Oh, I hear water! Can we go there please? I need to drink and wash." She was so excited at the prospect of a bath that she almost stumbled if not for Ah who was quick to catch her at the back of her collar.

Uhn rumbled his reproach at her to be careful. "Sorry, I will be more careful."

Ah just snapped at her and settled her on her feet. The dragon raised his snout and tasted the air. They made sure that they were downwind of the master though they were sure that the master knew what they were up to.

"Oooh! What a find! There are some berries and nuts that I can eat over there," Kagome excitedly pointed to a bush. "This shrub will be a good disinfectant as well. Thank you for finding this place for me, Ah-Uhn! Now I know why Rin loves you so much!" Kagome declared with a kiss on both the dragons' snouts.

Ah rumbled grumpily but looked rather pleased with the praise. Uhn just nudged the girl towards the stream. Both of them knew that it wasn't coincidence that the master stopped at this particular area.

A/N:

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