Chapter 6

Kagome awoke to something soft tickling her face. Without opening her eyes, she smiled and nuzzled her face into the soft substance. Then, realizing just what she was doing, Kagome opened her eyes to see Sesshomaru smirking at her. Gasping, she immediately dropped his tail and tried to hide her deeply flushed face. It didn't help when she realized she was being held in Sesshomaru's arms.

When she tried to move, Sesshomaru held her firmly in place. "You are still too weak to move on your own. Do not forget that you are severely injured and just collapsed from standing up."

Kagome stopped struggling but continued to stare at Sesshomaru. Being so close to him, she realized just how good looking he really was. When she looked at his eyes, she thought she saw a flash of emotions for a second. Just as fast as it appeared, it vanished, but she was sure of what she saw. Kagome noticed slight happiness, comfort, and surprisingly, worry reflected in his eyes.

Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion went through her, and Kagome lost the strength to hold her head up. Laying her head on Sesshomaru's chest, Kagome sighed with comfort. He's so warm, despite his cold exterior. Still thinking about Sesshomaru, she succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep.

As Kagome fell into the world of dreams, Sesshomaru let his mask drop. He stared at the girl in his arms like he had never seen a human before. This girl was gentle, caring, compassionate, but also brave, and strong. She's also beautiful, though he would never tell her. She calmed him down by just being near. He loved the feeling of holding her in his arms.

But it was getting late and cold. Winter was coming quickly and he knew that the woman could get sick easily from cold. Sesshomaru picked Kagome up and started walking back to the hut.

As he got to the halfway mark, Kagome stirred in his arms. She gasped when she realized just where she was. Looking up at Sesshomaru, she noticed how gentle his touch was.

Feeling her stir, he glanced down at her. She took his breath away. The moonlight lit up her eyes and made her skin look almost white. She was an angel, and he couldn t hide the look on his face. Kagome saw his expression and she looked at him, confused. Thankfully, they got to the hut just then, so he didn t have to explain himself.

Everyone in the hut was already asleep, even the hanyou in the corner. He gently placed Kagome by the far wall. Quietly shuffling through her bag, Sesshomaru found a blanket to cover her in. After covering her, he stayed next to her until she feel back asleep.

After a few days, Kagome's wounds were completely healed, although her skin was still slightly green. Everything had gone back to normal, but Sesshomaru had stuck around, though no one knew why. They had been staying at Kaede's while Kagome healed, but now that she was healed, they were planning to set out to look for jewel shards that day. It didn't seem like Sesshomaru was leaving, but no one said anything.

Departing on the dirt road, everyone was being themselves. Miroku was up to his usual antics, and Sango was braining him with all her might. Inuyasha was reprimanding Kagome for her most recent clumsy act, and Sesshomaru was skeptically watching.

Suddenly, the ground in front of them erupted and a demon was in front of them.

"Wench! Give me the jewel shards you possess!" The large lizard youkai spit acid at the woman, causing the ground where she once was to disintegrate. Landing a few feet away, Kagome climbed out of Sesshomaru s arms and got a good look at the youkai. It already had one jewel shard in it's forehead.

"Inuyasha! The shard is in it's forehead!"

Inuyasha made quick work of the demon and Kagome hurried over to purify the shard. After she had put the shard into her pouch with the rest of the shards, she noticed how dark it was getting.

"We should set up camp here." Moving slightly away and into the forest, Kagome quickly began to set up camp, as the darkness was growing. "Sesshomaru, would you please go get some firewood for us?" Lately, Sesshomaru seemed to be a bit less cold to Kagome, and it confused her. He simply nodded and headed off.

By the time he got back, everything was set up and ready. All that was left of the fire. Using a small amount of his youkai power, Sesshomaru quickly started the fire. Kagome began to boil water for ramen, and Inuyasha sat in a tree, looking impatient. He had been watching his brother s and Kagome s interaction the whole time, and he did not like it.

"Inuyasha! Your ramen is ready!" Inuyasha practically flew down for his share of ramen and what was almost Shippo's share too!

Because it was getting dark, everyone turned in a little early except Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. As the half demon was settling in on a tree to overlook the campsite, he noticed a familiar light in the distance. As if on cue, a familiar scent also wafted to his nose.

Kikyo.

Glancing down at his companions to make sure they were asleep, he ran off in the direction of the souls. No one saw him, except Sesshomaru. Having no interest in the half-breed's affairs, he disappeared into the forest on his own business.

Suddenly awakening, Kagome lifted her head to look around. She did not know what had woken her, but there was a foreboding sense. After having a clear look around, she noticed that Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were gone. Focusing more on Inuyasha, Kagome guessed what had happened, but ignored her nagging feeling. Getting up, she saw an eerie light in the distance. She quickly ran toward the light.

As she reached there, she started to hear voices. One of them she recognized as Inuyasha s, and the other she guessed before coming to a conclusion. Finally, she caught sight of them and tuned into what they were saying.

"Inuyasha, do not lie to me. I know that you love my reincarnation." Kikyo looked cold, but also a little jealous.

"No, Kikyo." Inuyasha stepped closer to her, their bodies almost touching. I don't love Kagome. Maybe I thought I did because she had such a strong resemblance to you! But now I know my true feelings. I do not love her, I love you!" Inuyasha still did not know of the audience he held.

Kikyo was well aware, however. "So you are saying that if I asked you to, you would abandon the girl?"

Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably. "If I must, then I will, for you."

Kagome's heart broke into smaller pieces with every word he said. How could you? Inuyasha, you trample over my heart repeatedly, and now you just rip it out to show to the world. I can't stand it! Kagome, unable to hold back her tears, ran away from the scene, earning a smirk from Kikyo.

That will teach the wench to mess with my Inuyasha!

After running until her legs could not hold her up anymore, Kagome slowed to halt at the bank of a small river. Shivering from the freezing winter air, Kagome let all her tears pour out of her. By the time she dried out of tears, she had a massive headache, her legs had almost given out, and it was beginning to snow.

Chilled to the bone, Kagome began to lose consciousness. Just before falling into the blackness, Kagome screamed to the wind. "I HATE YOU, INUYASHA!" Then she collapsed into the ice cold river just as Sesshomaru strode into the clearing.