Previously on Great Dog's Devotion:

("I...I...Lo-" I tried to say but suddenly things around me started to fade to a murky black background on the outline of my vision until I look to the sky and the last thing I saw was a crow flying over head of me.)

_..._..._..._..._

Sesshomaru P.O.V.

I watch her look to the sky as she took her last breath and her heart not far behind in taking its last beats. Her body went limp as her skin began to pale and her hands fell onto the stone, I stood there, staring at her, unsure what to do as my heart started to ache with sadness and grief.

The beast within me started to howl with grief and heartache as it reverberated in my soul. "NO..NO! She can not die, Bring her back! She is our mate we can not let this happen!" The beast roared but I wasn't listening, everything around me sounded muffled, as the connection between us started to dwindle as if it never existed and I felt numb inside for a moment.

I couldn't feel my legs as they gave out and I knelt down to her level with a heavy thud on the grass. It felt like a part of me was torn away from my soul and I could never get back.

As if my body was working faster than my brain was, I put my arm under her shoulders, placed her on my lap and brought her close to my chest. She felt perfect against me like a puzzle pieces fitted well to each other, but she was started to get cold.

I miss her warmth as of the time when she held me to her before she left, it was without hesitation or being in fear of me. "I should have never let her go back. I want her back...I should of showed her how much I-" I thought.

Unconsciously, I leaned my head down until I touched her forehead to mine as I held her tightly to me. I bared my teeth in frustration and anguish, trying to figure out why I was feeling like this...for a mortal...a human...a woman.

Then something came to mind...

"What was she trying to say?" I thought as I recalled the last feelings she had: Courage, relief, adoration and ... something else that I couldn't describe. However, it felt warm, inviting, and something I would do anything for to keep it for as long as I can especially with her...together...but what is it?

...-...-...-...

A single crow cawed as it was flying over the forest until it spotted something unusual. As it came closer, it saw Sesshomaru holding something, the crow was far away from it's group but it had a mission with a little pest passenger on it's back, who apparently wanted the crow to get close to the power yokai even though it's instinct were screaming for the crow to fly away and as far as possible but it followed the little passenger's request regardless.

Then the little passenger on the crow's back jump off and landed on the stone slab as the passenger couldn't believe his eyes on what he was seeing. "Oh my word...Lord Sesshomaru is caring for a mortal girl, perhaps even a little more than that? It seems that he may have compassion after all, if only his father were here to see it." Myoga thought as he got closer and realized the situation.

He can sense that the girl was poisoned and losing her life fast...He knew what he had to do but it would be risky on his account. If he saves her life it might put him in good favor of Lord Sesshomaru also honor his father's wishes.

"(Sigh)...Um...L-Lord S-Sesshomaru?" Myoga said in a quiet voice as sweat started to pour from his body, unsure what would next. Sesshomaru quickly lifted up his head, looked at the slab of stone and saw that it was Myoga.

"What are you doing here? pest" Sesshomaru said as his voice was strained. "Sesshomaru, Forgive me for intruding but you care for this girl...yes?" Myoga asked.

Sesshomaru said nothing to Myoga as he held the girl closer to him . "That will suffice..for now but the girl has been poisoned with a nasty concoction... I know how to get rid of poison in her body...in my special way...but we must do it quickly before it is too late!" Myoga said with the little courage that he had.

Sesshomaru thought about it for a moment but Myoga intrude with urgency. "Lord Sesshomaru!, please place her back on the rock so I can save her" Myoga said as he jumped franticly. Out of Sesshomaru's mind numbly experience, he did as he was told.

Myoga hopped onto Nikko and Sesshomaru growled as Myoga got close to her neck. Myoga turned a little with a shudder as his needle-like nose was close to her skin.

"Lord Sesshomaru, this is the only way that it can to be done, I know you haven't claimed her yet but please..bare with it." Myoga said as he struck his nose to a blood vessel and started to suck out the blood.

Sesshomaru went deadly still as Myoga was draining poison out of Nikko's still body. Myoga got larger and larger until he was the size of a softball, then he took his nose out of Nikko's skin and roll off to the ground.

"I took out the poison from her system...now...the rest is up to her." Myoga said as he continued rolling around until he was back to his normal size. Sesshomaru leaned closer trying to hear something...anything...for signs of life from Nikko.

For a minute he heard nothing but then he sense a familiar pulling sensation in his chest as he immediately knew what it was. An almost unheard gasp came from Sesshomaru as he heard it...the most beautiful sound to him right now...a heartbeat.

Suddenly, Nikko loudly gasped for air and had coughing fit, Seshhomaru used his arm and pushed her to her side to catch her breath. Once that was settled he gently laid her on her back.

Then she slightly opened her eyes as she turned her head to look at Sesshomaru and smiled. "Hey...Sesshomaru." Nikko said dazed and fatigue as she put her hand out to him.

He lets out a breath that he didn't realized that he was holding as he heard her voice once again and it seem that the connection came back to normal. He vaguely smiled as he put his hand over hers as they interlocked their fingers together and they looked at each other in silence.

No words could ever express what he felt right now, but he was grateful for the way it turned out.

"(Deep sigh)...Watashi no hasu (My lotus)." Sesshomaru whispered to her. Their moment was interrupted as Myoga made his presence well known.

"Forgive me for ruining your moment together...My Lord but she needs to rest for awhile before you can move her, she lost a lot of blood from me getting the poison out of her. However I know a potion that will get her back to normal in no time and make her resistant to harsh poisons." Myoga said.

Nikko dazedly looked to Myoga, who was on the stone slab next to her hand as a worried expression came to her face. "What...about the...others? They were...poisoned...as well." Nikko said softly.

Myoga stiffened in fear as he heard this terrible news. "The ones with Inuyasha are poisoned too?...Then I must hurry to get them as well! Tell me which direction?" Myoga asked in a hurry as the crow cawed as it swoops close to them.

Sesshomaru had vaguely caught Inuyasha scent in the wind as he pointed in the direction of it. He remind himself to get the information from Inuyasha later once he got Nikko back to his group.

Quickly, Myoga jumped on the crow and flew away. "I'll come back later with the potion after I get the others cleared of the poison!" Myoga shouted to them. Sesshomaru looked as the crow disappeared and looked back at Nikko.

She was already asleep as her chest rose up and down at a steady pace. He smiled lightly as she was sleeping peacefully as he carefully moved his hand from hers and started to stroked her hair from her face.

He secretly enjoys petting her hair and wondered if in the later future...would she let him do this gesture again. Right now...It just him devoted to her while she slept.