Kagome didn't know where she was. All that she could think about was the slow, painful throbbing in her head. She was being carried, and yet she was unable to find the will to raise her head and look at the person who supported her on their back. All that she could focus on was the firm yet soft, warm skin beneath her hands and cheek. She snuggled closer to the warmth and closed her eyes again, the warmth and throbbing in her head lulling her back to sleep.

-;-

Who is she?

I don't know.

So you just carry to us a strange woman?

She was bloody and bruised, and she looked so innocent. I had to help her.

Well, you will take care of her then, Ken. She will be your burden.

I understand that, father. I will take care of her.

Good. She can eat from your rations. Someone laughs, the sound rich and jovial to ones ears.

A sigh. A movement under her fingers. I understand this, father. I will have to hunt better, so that she may fill herself with rich meat. She is so tiny…

Well, quit talking, son. Take her to the healer. She does not look too good. Whatever got her, got her good.

The voice fades even as the words are coming. More walking. Then she's descending. Falling. Her back touches something soft and warm. She sighs, willing her eyes to open. She sees fingers, which disappear to touch her forehead. Black hair surrounds most of her face. A warm smile. For a moment, she forgets where she is, and then with a pang of pain in her chest, she realizes it is not who she thinks it is, her father.

She forces herself to sit up, pushing down her pain into its designated box, ignoring it like she always does. She shivers slightly, the room spinning in her slowly adjusting eyes.

"Careful, little one. Do not rise too quickly."

Kagome ignores the voice, shaking her head. She holds her head in her hands, remembering herself. Her duty. Her invariably annoying Lord Ice-shoved-up-his-arse. How utterly pissed said lord would be when he realizes that she is gone. A groan of pain and annoyance escapes her lips.

"Where am I?"

"You are on a small island off of the mainland. Our tribe resides here, little woman." Came the voice of both her savior and her damnation.

"Oh, that's perfect. Just great. I'm dead!" She cries out, rocking from side to side, her head pounding. It was bad enough that Sesshomaru was insufferable. Now he was never going to get over this.

The man tilts his head curiously, looking at her strangely. "You were badly injured. I brought you to my village so that you could heal, for there was no one who came to get you. I even waited for a day, hoping that I could return you to your kin." He says slowly, as if she might explode if he said a wrong word.

"Oh, hell! Sesshomaru was probably so blinded by rage that he flew off in any direction and tore through a few innocent bystanders, trying to find me. He's gonna kill me. I can see it now." Kagome shuddered, rubbing her head, trying to block out the image:

"Vile woman! You destroyed my cave and denied me touchy-feely! Die!"

"But Sesshomaru, it was an accident! I merely meant to escape!"

"Bah! Stupid woman! Pay with your life!" And then he cuts Kagome up into little tiny pieces and enjoys her flesh slow roasted over an open fire, honey glazed, with a side of small child.

Kagome sighed, holding her hand up. She forced her energy into her hand, hoping to heal her major injuries. A gasp broke her concentration.

"What is it that you are doing? Why is your hand glowing!" The young man shouted, stepping back. It was then that Kagome noticed his pointed ears, fangs, claws and markings. His hair hung in all directions in a choppy but attractive cut, bound back by a few leather straps, a portion of it falling as a long braid over his left shoulder, hanging down to his waist. He had two black slashes, one on each eye. Where Sesshomaru's ears were only slightly pointed, his ears were more elfin, and there were many piercings in each ear. His eyes were black as night. Where Sesshomaru was pristine and light, this man was darkened with the rays of the sun. He wore a sleeveless tunic made of fir (which at some point must have been torn, for it only covered the right side of his chest) and a loin-cloth, a heavy looking bag hanging off of his back, secured by a leather strap with a decorative handle pressing into his semi-exposed chest. Blushing at her unintentional appraisal of the frightened man's features, Kagome cleared her throat.

"Relax. It is healing energy. It will not hurt you. I just want my arm to stop hurting. I think I fractured a bone or seven in my hand and arm.

He nods warily, stepping closer to her, his outstretched hand touching hers. A tingle of electricity ran up her hand, causing her to blush ever brighter and look away as he poked and prodded her fingers, seeming quite content in examining her hand.

"This is extraordinary! This energy that you possess is warm and beautiful. It is quite amazing. I feel healthier just touching it" He smiles, holding her hand closely.

Kagome looked away, pulling her hand out of his grip. She hovered her hand over her arm, sighing in relief as the dull ache went away.

After she finished her task, she turned her attention back to this strange man.

"Um, look… Thanks for rescuing me and all, but I really need to be getting back to the main land."

"Oh, that is impossible, at least for two weeks or so. It was a three day run in my true form, and I cannot leave my village until the hunting party and the scavenging party return. It is my responsibility as heir to keep my tribe's best interests in mind, yet I also have ties to you. I will return you to your home as soon as possible."

"Look here, mister-"

"My name is Ken."

"Okay. Look here, Ken, you don't seem to understand the importance of me getting back to where I come from. I" Kagome made a face, "Belong to a powerful lord. And I know that he is angry at me and will take this anger out on anyone and everyone, including your tribe. Please. It is better for everyone if I just go back to the mainland. Today… No, ten minutes ago." Kagome got up, looking around. She felt all but naked, in her thin summer kimono, and without her bag.

And she felt empty, because Sesshomaru had not come to find her, even if it would have resulted in her imminent death.

"I can give you a pelt. You look cold, and I doubt that your lord wouldn't want you to catch chill and die."

Kagome smiles in thanks, accepting the thicker pelt made from a large animal that she didn't recognize. She shooed him out of the hut that she stood in, pulling on the pelt that smelt of lavender and seemed well worn and well kept. Finding that the pelt resembled Kouga's, Kagome wrapped it around herself, covering her chest and back, before tying it in place with its small leather strings.

Coming out of the hut, the first words that she heard were from Ken.

"Little woman, I doubt that anyone is able to own you, but I am sure your owner will understand. He sounds honorable. He will understand that I am honor bound to stay in my village and protect the remaining villagers until the rest of my tribe returns.

Damn. Good point. Logical point. Why can't I ever find someone that doesn't have logic?

So, begrudgingly, Kagome consented that she would stay until he was able to take her back.