Heart of Tensaiga
While they Sleep
The humans had long since fallen asleep and Shippo resided in the arms of Katsumi, the stroking effectively calming him to the point of sleep. Inuyasha and Katsumi were in the middle of a stare down, neither willing to fall asleep before the other.
"I can go days without sleep," he stated quietly so he would not disturb his slumbering companions.
"I can go a week," she quickly replied.
He was silent for some time, staring at her, before asking, "Why do you want to help us anyways?"
She looked up at the sky then, instead of him, and spoke quietly, "I partially do it for Shippo. He seems so lost without the girl…it's heartbreaking to see. Another reason is I want Naraku gone as much as the next person. Without the priestess, it will be very hard to do so."
He could not argue with her reasoning. "Just don't get in the way," he commanded.
Katsumi sent a true glare in his direction, "First off, do not tell me what to do. I am commanded by no one. Secondly, it is you that will most likely get in the way. I can smell the exhaustion coming from the humans. You overwork them far past their limits and it is a small miracle that they have not collapsed before now."
Inuyasha growled, "Don't tell me how to do my job."
Her response was a small huff of air as she glanced at the sky, "I was merely making a suggestion."