Name of Story: Misa

Summary: Now that I have been freed from the geisha house, I can continue my journey with the fearsome Sesshomaru. However, it's no picnic. Demons are after me because of my abilities I have just recently discovered. Including Hisao, a demon I thought was dead.

Author's Note: Yes, I am updating. Things are going to change once again for Misa from now on. I hope you love! R&R

Name of Chapter: Hokori o motsu
...

I was beginning to wake up. My senses were coming back to me. Including my sense of smell. The first thing I smelled was something burning. Not wood fire burning but something flesh like.

Then I became aware of my burning white hot pains. I bit my lip to keep from screaming. After a while, the pain died down and I was able to be aware of my other senses. My mouth was dry. I heard water. I felt grass underneath my finger tips. Opening my eyes, I saw the lush green leaves and parts of the blue sky.

"Are you all right, Misa?" I blink to clear my vision and in confusion, looking at Sesshomaru as he knelt next to me. It seemed like the first time he openly showed concern for me and used my name tenderly.

My lips moved but no sound came out. Sesshomaru lifts a bowl full of water to my lips and I drank the familiar sweet water. Almost instantaneously, my pains faded.

I sigh in relief then smile at him.

"Thank you." I say, my voice hoarse. I cough a few times, tasting ash. It hurt my lungs.

Sesshomaru nods and sets the bowl on the ground next to him.

I bit my lip, struggling into a sitting position. Sesshomaru's hand was on my back supporting me. Once I was sitting upright, I surveyed our surroundings. We were by a large stream that led into a small pond. Jaken was no where in sight...for once.

Looking down at myself, I gasp, seeing small burn holes in my kimono. My shoulders were free of fabric; red and blistered, burned by Ryuu's flames. There was a small brown stain near my hip, reminding me my wound had opened. I mentally curse myself for being foolish.

"Misa," Sesshomaru says with a gentle, caring tone. I look at him, my eyes and nose smarting. I gasp, seeing the bare skin of his forearms, torso, and legs. His skin was red and blistered. The ends of his sleeves were singed, along with his silver hair.

"Y-y-you are w-wounded," I say in a worried tone. Guilt weighed on me immensely. Why didn't I just ask Sesshomaru for his help, I thought, my head bowed in shame. Then I wouldn't more maimed that I all ready am and he wouldn't be hurt. This is all my fault. "I'm sorry you got hurt because of me and my stupid pride."

"Hokori o motsu," Sesshomaru answers. I look at him, my eyes wide. "Hold onto yourpride, Misa. Do not let it go."

I blink, trying to clear my tears. It was to no avail.

"You should be angry with me. It is all my fault you are injured." I breathe. "I could have asked you for help but my stupid pride wouldn't let me. I thought I could handle Ryuu." I bow my head again, letting two tears drip from my eyes. "But I couldn't."

I let a soft gasp escape my lips as Sesshomaru put his clawed index finger under my chin and tilted my head up. My hazel eyes locked with his golden ones.

"I will heal in a day. Forget Ryuu. Forget what has transpired. It not important anymore." It was so strange to hear Sesshomaru speak those words of wisdom when he seemed so cold and stoic. I thought he would rather ignore you than acknowledge you.

"O-o-okay." I stutter, under his immense intimidating gaze.

The corners of Sesshomaru's mouth twitch, as if in a smile.

The next day, I noticed the burns had not healed. If that, they were worse. More red and festered. I was concerned.

I remembered an herb my mother used to put on me whenever I had gotten a sunburn and it burned badly. It was called Aloe Vera. All one had to do was break the leaf then one could lather it on a burn to cool it and let it heal faster.

"Why haven't your burns healed yet," I ask Sesshomaru as we continued our journey. We stopped occasionally so I had time to rest. Although he did not admit it, that is what Sesshomaru wanted to let my wounds have a chance to heal. "You said they would heal in a day. It has been a day."

Sesshomaru narrowed his golden eyes at me. That's when I realized, Sesshomaru wasn't telling me something. He was keeping a secret from me.

I place my left hand on my hip and match his stare.

"What aren't you telling me?" I demand. "You keeping something from me. What is it?"

"It is nothing." Sesshomaru replied stoically.

I stare at him, reading his expression. It was the same as ever; cold, stoic, emotionless, hard. But his ice golden eyes were a different story. They were like a open scroll, easy to read, if you knew how to read it.

He was worried.

The burns, they can't heal, I realize. Impossible. Or if they can heal, it would be slow, even for a demon.

A large grin split across my face, an idea formulating in my mind. If the burns couldn't heal on their own, I would help them.

I began to search for the plant.

Sesshomaru looks at me curiously but I ignore him.

I soon find it. A green leafy prickly plant that resembles a lily but grew on soil, not water.

"Oooh, what is that?" Jaken asks, his nose scrunched at the smell. I didn't blame him. The smell was stronger in his nose than it was in mine. To me, it smelled sweet with a hint of bitterness.

"It's Aloe Vera." I reply, breaking a leaf and examining its juices. It was perfect. Out of my peripheral, I glanced at Sesshomaru.

I couldn't help it but a grin split across my face again.

He narrowed his eyes at me, wondering what my plans were.

"Jaken, fetch firewood." Sesshomaru commands Jaken.

"Uh, yes, my lord." Jaken bows low to the ground then leaves. For once, he doesn't complain about stopping for the day. Sesshomaru and I stare at each other for a while, unmoving.

Finally, Sesshomaru moves. He sits down at the base of a tree, one knee propped up.

And begins to take of his kimono.

I feel my face heat up at the sight of his muscular chisled chest. I have never seen a man with out his kimono on, especially demons. Especially handsome dog demons. It was not proper for a young woman to see a man with his clothing off, unless they were married.

I shake my head slightly, clearing away images. I couldn't think like that.

I kneel next to his left arm, deciding to work on his more serious burns first. I applied the substance to his forearm, his shoulder, and part of his peck. I blush the entire time while hiding my face behind my singed hair.

Next, I move on to his other arm. I repeat what I did on left arm.

Finally, I got to his torso. I hoped he didn't see my blush. I knew he heard my racing heart. I couldn't hide that.

I shiver slightly as I felt Sesshomaru's clawed finger tuck a strand of my hair behind my ears. I look at him. In a instant, I melt underneath the gaze of his golden eyes.

My mouth parts slightly, feeling his lips on mine.

To Be Continued...

YAY! I'm done. This would have been up sooner if I didn't have so much going on. School, I'm trying to find a job, babysitting. My life has changed. Well, I got to start on my history project thats due on the 25th.

R&R Kindly please!

Drama Kagome