Theme 36: Precious Treasure

It was a trap.

Kagome had sensed a moving Shikon shard that the Slayer, whose name Sesshomaru had acknowledged as Sango, had exclaimed could be her brother. Sesshomaru was quickly brought up to speed on how her younger brother was dead and survived on animation by a Shikon shard, controlled by Naraku.

A long time ago, Sesshomaru would not have cared less. But having travelled and fought side by side with the slayer on numerous occasions in the past, he had developed a sort of respect for her skills. And so when the group made haste after the signal, accompanied them.

He felt a fool, had he been with them so long, he'd forgotten how to strategize. No, it wasn't that, he knew there could be so many things wrong her, but he went ahead instead.

Sesshomaru had never done such a thing before. So this was rushing ahead without thinking? It was both foolish and liberating. Sesshomaru sort of understood why his Hanyou half-brother did so.

Nonetheless, it did not help the situation. Now they were fighting against a complication of Naraku and his minions. The monks hand was sealed by the appearance of Naraku's poisonous insects, the fire cat and the Slayer were holding off the minions and the complication, a beast of a woman with a sword too long for her hands and three Shikon shards, was proving to be a challenge.

"HA" she bellowed, swiping her sword down, Sesshomaru managed to get out the way, but not before receiving a nasty cut on his arm. It seemed her sword could rip though fire rat armour.

He stood tall and ripped into the wound "Blades of Blood" he said, leaping into the hair and scattering cry sliced blood, sharp as diamonds, at the woman's back. But the Shikon shards were appropriately placed as it the offered superb protection. His blades cut, but did not kill. She roared and batted him to the side.

Sesshomaru was still unaccustomed to the limited strength of a Hanyou's body. He had grown up with poison in his veins and an Inu form. Fighting in this humanoid body was difficult.

Kagome tried to help. Her sacred arrows were welcomed, but they were weak. They barley pierced the armour. The woman seemed completely fixated on the opinion that she was a great beauty as she laughed heartily at Kagome's feeble attempts.

"So this ugly pig wants to hurt me?" she laughed.

"Ugly!" Kagome screeched "I'll show you ugly you…"

"Kagome" Sesshomaru snapped "Now is not the time!" this was proving too much. He simply did not know how to handle Inuyasha's body. "Where are they?"

"In her arms, and on the back of her neck!" Kagome called.

Sesshomaru took a deep breath. Perhaps, considering the body he was using, a change in approach was necessary. He rushed head first, his only thought to rip out the shard "Iron reaper Soul Stealer" he tried to slice her arm off, however, she moved out of the way in sufficient time. He was a moment too late as her sword cut deeply into his side.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome screeched, rushing down off the cliff she was on.

'No' he thought frantically 'Don't come here' "Stay back" he called, as the woman struck forward. Sesshomaru had no time to ready his claws to deflect the attack or to leap out of the way, so quickly he grabbed Tetsaiga and held it up as a blood, its sheath reinforced with Bokuseno's wood proved sturdy. "I don't need your help!"

She seemed hurt, but he did not care. This enemy was too strong and he wanted her nowhere near harm's way. But she shook her head and rushed forward anyway, stringing an arrow and launching it.

For once, her aim was true and it caught their enemy off guard as it sunk into her right eye. It screamed in agonising pain "My eye, my beautiful eye!"

"I…got it!" Kagome seemed surprised "It actually went where I wanted it to go…awesome!"

The hulking woman turned, mad bleeding eyes set only on Kagome who backed up mumbling "On second thought, not awesome!" She barely dodged as a hulking sword came down heavy on top her.

"Kagome!" Sesshomaru called "Get away!"

The fire-cat and the slayer were victorious in their fight, but they were exhausted and tending to the poisoned monk. Sesshomaru couldn't fully utilise Inuyasha's powers because he was not Hanyou, and these claws were useless against that armour. All he had left was a rusted sword and Kagome was too close to danger and he had no way of making it otherwise.

She dodged another blow and received a few injuries. From where he was, Sesshomaru couldn't see how bad they were.

"I'm gonna catch you little girl" the she-hulk whispered monstrously as it approached "And then I'm gonna scoop out your eyes and peel off your skin for a bracelet."

Kagome gulped "I think I made it mad."

When the sword came down again Sesshomaru couldn't explain his actions. She was going to die and an unbelievable amount of something seized his stomach with an icy grip.

Fear?

He wanted to protect her, he wanted her safe and by his side. But he was too weak, and needed more power to protect her. But even though he had none, he still ran to her side.

Sesshomaru raised the Tetsaiga in his hands up, hoping the scabbard would hold, then he felt it. The Tetsaiga pulsing in his hands.

He pulled it from his scabbard just as the blow hit. An echo of a clang filled the valley as sword met magnificent fang. It had transformed for him, the Tetsaiga. But why now?

"Inuyasha?" Kagome's eyes were wide "You did it, so does that mean you were…" she didn't get to finish as he deflected another attack effortlessly.

The might of the Tetsaiga. Compared to it, the enemy was like a mere child fumbling about with a hunting knife. Sesshomaru smiled coldly. It was in his hands, the blade that should have rightfully been his, it now answered to him.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome's voice brought him out from his admiration. He held the blade and sliced it "It almost seems unfitting that the Tetsaiga should be wasted on you, however…" he glanced at the wounds littering her body "…I'll make an exception. WIND SCAR!"

A great howling claw tor through the last and ripped into the woman until there weren't even shreds or pieces.

When it was over there was a scar on the land. Sesshomaru felt such a rush of power. He almost felt himself again.

What he did next shock not only Kagome but also himself. Later he would most likely review his actions and deem them inexcusably stupid. But he dropped the fang.

It cluttered to the ground, a rusty sword once more.

Kagome stared in shock "Inu…" before she could finish, Sesshomaru had bent down and gathered her to him, his nose in her hair he breathed in her human scent, she was so fragile, but she was alive "I told you to stay away."

"Inuyasha?" she queried, but he wasn't listening.

Never in his entire life, had he ever feared for another; not even his own parents. And yet he feared that in that one moment, she would have been taken from him.

And never, had he felt more afraid.

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