Silver Moon: Chapter 19: Found You

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, nor do I make any monetary profit from this.

Claimer: Sheba and Sasha are mine!

…

"Wolf!" Sesshomaru snarled.

There in the middle of their common room was the blue eyed wolf prince. He stood bravely, and growled back at the raging inu-youkai.

"Kouga?" Sheba gaped, and rushed between them with her arms outstretched.

"Wait! Let's just calm down for a moment", she tried to sooth them.

However, Sesshomaru was stalking toward Kouga with his eyes bleeding over.

"You filthy traitor! How could you betray your friends? For nothing more than power and wealth!" Kouga barked, but found himself against the wall, and facing dripping claws.

"No!" Sheba threw herself over the wolf watching the blue eyes turn from hateful to bewildered.

'Why would she save me?' Kouga wondered as the Lady of the West plastered herself to his frame to prevent his impending doom.

"Step aside, so that this Sesshomaru can be rid of this vermin", he seethed at her.

"Kouga what are you doing?" she forced the lower lord to look at her.

"I was trying to see if you were under his control by force, but now I know you are nothing but a treacherous wench!" he seethed at her.

A resounding *slap* filled the room crisply. Kouga snarled at the female who was still preventing his death with a red cheek and a strong ringing in his ears.

"What are you talking about?" Sheba took hold of the leather across his chest, and hauled him down to her level. Her mate watched with interest, but as he waited for her to finish with the mongrel so he could end it.

"Are you not willingly Sesshomaru's bride, and already holder of the title Lady of the West while your friends lay fighting for their lives?" Kouga spoke menacingly, and the room went still.

Tears gathered in Sheba's vision, and she took a shaky breath before collapsing forward on the wolf. "…"

"You will explain what danger they are in if you wish to keep your life mongrel", Sesshomaru took the wolf by the neck.

"The battle is over, but while the two of you are in the lap of luxury her friends are barely able to move", Kouga was braver than Sesshomaru remembered.

The room filled with the scent of Sheba's tears and anguish making the wolf perplexed.

"How?" Sheba whispered brokenly.

Sesshomaru relaxed his grip so the wolf could answer. "Naraku…" he struggled for breath, "Were you not aware? The injuries occurred on the eastern lands?" The wolf boldly face the Taiyoukai.

Sesshomaru closed his eyes, and released his prey. He disappeared into the bed chamber.

Sheba crawled to the wolf, which was rubbing his neck, and already charred from the poison. "Where are they? Who is injured?" her eyes made him question his theory.

"They are back near the village in Inuyasha's forest. The monk and slayer took the brunt of it. If you care so much they why are you mating their enemy?" he cocked his head to the side.

"I love him", Sheba's tears increased.

Kouga could have been knocked over by a feather. She loved Sesshomaru? How could that be if she still considered herself an ally of Inuyasha? He shook his head, and could not bare to look into the somber eyes that poured tears, so he offered a bit of comfort, "They are healing, but from what Kagome said they were not out of the woods yet."

"How old is your news wolf?" Sesshomaru's baritone voice reminded Kouga of his predicament. He was carrying a rich looking coat over to the crumpled female.

Kouga could feel the rage the inu-youkai was holding back, "I passed through the village three days ago…"

Sesshomaru wrapped Sheba into her coat, and turned to the wolf, "This Sesshomaru will discipline your insolence very soon…" The rancor in the inu-youkai's voice was almost visible.

Kouga looked to the woman who was curled into her groom as he lifted her to his chest. He wanted to apologize, but the couple was gone in the blink of even his keen eyes. The room swirled with energy, and he could feel the scent of her lamentation turning into guilt within his chest… 'What have I done?' he thought as he wandered out of the chambers, and called out to his tribe members to signal their leave. They would find him with bewildered eyes mumbling about the Lady of the West.

…

Sheba's mind was reeling, and only stopped when she felt the cold winter air whip her tears. She realized they were flying, she was held in a bridal fashion to her beloved's chest. His cloud that Kagome had mentioned beneath them was propelling them at high speeds.

"Stay to me", he commanded softly as he pulled her hood over her head before re-tucking her to his chest. The speed increased, and she felt his yuki expand. Now, the world around her was whizzing by, and the only hint to their form of travel was the occasional crackle of energy around them.

Only moments passed before they landed on soft snow at the top of the hill before Kaede's hut. He slowly allowed Sheba to stand, and realization hit her. However, she felt paralyzed by fear. Fear that her friends would not forgive her, that they would not give her a chance, that she could not help them… she swallowed hard when Inuyasha charged out of the hut brandishing Tetsusaiga.

"Sessho…" his battle call fell short when his eyes fell on Sheba form before the lord.

"Inuyasha… you're ok", she whispered, stepping carefully toward the hanyou.

Kagome was next to run out to meet them on the hill top with her bow drawn, but it fell to the snow covered ground when she saw her lost friend… to be truthful the Miko had begun to accept that Sheba might be lost forever.

"Kagome!" Sheba cried as they both rushed to embrace each other between the brothers who kept their distance.

"What have you done Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha seethed stepping in front of the now sobbing women.

"Sheba", Sesshomaru said in his normal stoic voice while completely ignoring the hanyou.

Sheba pulled herself from Kagome, and silently returned to his side. Sesshomaru brought her hand to his chest. Sheba nodded in understanding, and brushed her fingers to his skin to connect to him. Sheba held his gaze as his voice lulled through her mind, "I will leave this to you, and attend court. I will return after dawn."

His amber gaze and deep tone told her he was not commanding, but confirming it with her.

She nodded, and threw her arms around his neck completely ignorant of her friend's flabbergasted expressions. Sesshomaru gently pulled away from her, and traced her cheek before disappearing.

"Sheba…" Kagome's voice was shaky as it called from behind her. For a moment though, Sheba was absorbed by the sudden feeling of loss. She could not feel him at all for the first time in months, and she had never expected it to… hurt so much. However, her inner turmoil was interrupted by Kagome's gentle hug from behind.

Sheba turned to embrace her again, and held on to the petite Miko as tightly as she could.

"What happened Sheba?" Kagome looked up at her with tear filled eyes.

Sheba took a deep breath, but Inuyasha with a now sheathed Tetsusaiga approached, "Did that ass hole hurt you?"

"It is a very long story. It would take me days to explain, but it can wait. How can I help Sango and Miroku?" Sheba turned her gaze to the small home at the top of the hill.

"How did you know they were hurt?" Inuyasha asked, and Sheba noticed it. The hanyou's gaze was wary and guarded. He did not trust her…

"We received word through Kouga moments ago", she said softly as the hanyou's gaze hardened. He cautiously sniffed her, and she waited for him to go into a rage… however, instead the wary gaze earned a hint of sadness, and he remained silent.

Kagome watched the two's interactions as she still held fast to her friend. Sheba seemed to not want to talk about it yet, "Well, I don't know if you can help them because they have already begun to heal…" Kagome attempted to turn it back to their friends.

"Do you still have the jewel shard you took?" Inuyasha asked in harsh tone.

"It's under guard at the Western Palace", Sheba said softly.

"Now is no time to think about the jewel", Kagome said sharply leading Sheba up the hill to the small home.

Within it Sheba found the two humans on separate cots. Both stirred to see her, but she did not miss their pained expressions.

"Lady Sheba you have returned", Miroku smiled at her as she knelt to see the large wound across his chest. The flesh appeared to be having trouble growing back considering how long it had been healing.

"It's the venom", the monk said softly covering her hand with his.

"Back at the palace there are healers who might be able to help…" Sheba said mostly to herself.

"So, you were taken by Sesshomaru?" his calf eyes softened.

"He made a deal with me that he would never attack any of you again if I helped him regain his arm, but I learned so much… I am sure that he will help", Sheba spoke softly, and for a moment in Miroku's warm and un-judging gaze she felt free to give up that little piece of what happened.

"Feh", Inuyasha bit his tongue and left the hut. He couldn't bare the scent of his brother's mark any longer.

"You really think he would help?" Sango said from her place on her stomach as Kagome placed a salve on her own wounded back.

Sheba nodded, but found it difficult not to stare at the door in a vain attempt to will Inuyasha back.

"He feels guilty you know", Shippo said from the bowl of ramen he was eating. "Inuyoukai are weird about their pack, and a member was taken on his watch… he will get over it soon."

Sheba ruffled the kit's hair before standing, "You are wise, but I still think I should try to talk to him."

Sheba stepped out of the hut, and was pleased to find the hanyou on a low branch of a nearby tree. He was lying on his back with a leg dangling, and making a great effort to ignore her. Dawn was approaching, and she knew she should speak to him before Sesshomaru returned.

She cleared her throat, and when he didn't bat and eyelash, she sighed, "You can't ignore me forever!"

He grunted, and jumped down. "I know", was all the hanyou said.

"I know you do", Sheba looked down at his sharp tone.

Inuyasha began to walk into the forest named after him, but pause when she remained. After a huff Sheba got the hint and followed him closely in the darkness. He stopped when they reach the tree he had once been pinned to. The hanyou seemed to relax.

"Is he forcing you to do all of this?" he asked turning to her again.

"He did for his arm, but… over time things changed, and now I am happy to be by his side so long as he is tolerant of my relationship with my original pack", Sheba leaned against the tree wishing she had thought to put the comfortable boots that were meant to be worn with the coat.

"So, he let you come here to try to help them?" he sighed.

"Their wounds are too far along and it would be very painful to reopen them especially since venom could have any reaction to my blood. So, for now I am worthless unless Sesshomaru will lend his healers…"

"Does he treat you well?" Inuyasha interrupted.

"… yes. When it is just us he is kind and almost bothersome with how attentive he can be…" Sheba giggled as she thought about it.

"He is an inuyoukai", the younger male mumbled.

"Yes, I can't wait till Kagome goes through all this. Pesky dogs, and none of you are decently trained", Sheba teased with a smile.

For a moment, Inuyasha couldn't help but smile. Despite his blush and her comment he was happy. Because as dawn filtered into forest in that little moment the old Sheba was back, or perhaps a new Sheba. The thought of his brother taking one of his and Kagome's few and trusted friends away was unsettling, but her joke and playful teases reassured him that she was not lost yet.

"You are not funny", he attempted to grumble leading her back to the home.

…

I know it is short, but I felt the need to get something up after how hectic the holidays were. I hope everyone likes it, and please as always R&R cause I have so much in store for everyone.

Thanx for reading!

Suki