Previously on Great Dog's Devotion:

(Then the night was slowly being chased away by the day which meant that their journey continues...together.)

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Nikko P.O.V.

At first, I heard the birds chirping above in the trees, as the cicadas buzzing and warmth of the sun across my face as my eyes were still closed. I shifted a little to get comfortable but then I felt something soft tickle my face.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and I saw soft white fluff in obscuring my vision. I slightly moved my head up a bit and saw that Sesshomaru was still asleep.

I took a deep breath in his mokomoko, it was of rich dark earth and lotus blossoms, it was his scent. The scent had soothed me as I ingrained it into my mind.

His chest lightly rising and falling as his heart was beating slowly. A ray of sunlight beamed down from the trees and loomed over Sesshomaru.

He looked more beautiful than before and quite peaceful. His features showed more clearly as his long lashes shadowed across his sharp cheeks, his markings more vivid across his face and his hair shining glowing white like a halo.

I have always appreciated beauty in it's rawest form, so I had the urge to touch to see if it was real. Slowly, I lifted my hand up to his face and lightly stroked his marking on his cheek, it was soft and warm to the touch.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed my wrist as I gasped in shock. I noticed the hand that grabbed me, had a magenta marking on it.

"You should know not to do that, while I'm asleep." Sesshomaru said softly as he opened his eyes and looked at me with a light scowl on his face. I sighed in relief as he held my hand for a moment and then released my hand.

"Good morning to you too." I said quietly, smiling as I shifted a bit. I noticed that Rin and Jaken were still asleep next to Ah-Un who was awake.

I started to move to get up but then he put his hand lightly on my shoulder, I looked at him in confusion as he was looking at Ah-Un. Then I realized that he wanted me to stay be his side for a little longer, softly I smiled.

"Alright... I'll stay a little longer." I whispered as I leaned against him. We stayed like that for awhile until Rin started awaking up.

She rubbed her eyes getting rid of crust in them as she stretched out with a groan. She opened her eyes and looked around her surroundings.

Then those brown orbs landed on me and Sesshomaru. She smiled as she got up and walked towards us.

"Nikko?..." She said as she got close. "Yes...I'm okay...I feel better now Rin...Come here." I said as I opened my arms to her and she jumped into them.

She giggled as she snuggled close to my chest. I smiled as she got comfortable and fell asleep once more.

I noticed Sesshomaru's hand was on Rin's head, lightly petting it. I looked up to him as he was admiring her like a father caring for his daughter.

I was glad of that I was here to see this, being here with them... Was something I wouldn't miss for the world...

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

It's been about a week and a half ago since I confessed my feelings to Sesshomaru. He may not have told me how he feels but he has been more attentive, such as making sure we would rest when needed and eating.

Also when we would start to sleep, he would be up in the tree and when I started to stir in a form of a nightmare. He would quietly come down and settled next to me as he draped his Mokomoko over me.

We were walking to Mount Hakurei by following Sesshomaru from he was catching something in the air. I felt a sense of pureness of Mount Hakurei, as if all of the weight I had within me was falling off my shoulders.

But I noticed that the closer we got to Mount Hakurei, Jaken and Ah-Un were visibly getting sick from it. It seems that the Mountain had an effect on demons, but since it seem so pure around here, but has no effect on humans.

Though, Sesshomaru hadn't show any signs of the effects of the Mountain, but I could sense he was in discomfort being on this Mountain. Then we stopped at mid-base of the Mountain as I was confused why we were.

"Stay here." Sesshomaru said as he went further into the Mountain to look for something. I sat down on small plateau as Ah-Un laid down on the ground, groaning in pain as Jaken was as well.

Rin was mildly curious of the Mountain as she looked at it peaks. "Wow, it such a large mountain, isn't Master Jaken?" Rin said in awe.

Jaken was on the ground, laying on his belly groaning, as I felt bad for him and Ah-Un for suffering like this. "I feel awful, why did I come to a wretched place like this." Jaken said groaning.

Rin turned to look at Jaken with slight confusion. "What's the matter, Master Jaken?" Rin asked. "I'm in pain!" Jaken shouted in irritation.

She turned all the way to him. "How come?" Rin ask with mild curiosity as she went to approach him.

Slowly, Jaken pull himself up by his staff of Two Heads, stood up and walked towards Ah-Un. "Don't you get it, Mount Hakurei is a sacred, Demons like me have a difficult time, even approaching it, you probably don't feel anything Rin, or even you Nikko because you both are innocent humans."

As Jake was explaining the purification of the Mountain. I watched Rin dragging Jaken with her to wanting to look around the Mountain.

I almost started to laugh but then I realized what would happen if he got any closer. I started to get concerned as I was about to shout to Rin to stop and go after them until I heard Jaken screaming in a panic, running back to us and sat by Ah-Un.

He panted as if he ran a marathon, as he was laid limp against Ah-Un with a pained strain look on his face "(Groan)...I swear that girl never listens to a word I say." Jaken said with terror.

He looked at the Mountain with a grimace look on his face. "There is no way that a massive evil like Naraku could exist here, so why would Lord Sesshomaru want to..."Jaken stopped mid sentence as he was curious of why Sesshomaru was here if any, as it seems there are no demons that can be here.

"Are you okay Jaken?" I asked as I went to him. "Agh...I'll be fine...Thank you for asking.." Jaken said as I looked to the Mountain itself with worry.

It had been quite some time as Sesshomaru hasn't returned yet and I was starting to get worried, the longer we stayed here. Rin was sitting down patiently as she was looking at the Mountain, as she was also getting concerned for him at well.

"Lord Sesshomaru...Where are you?" Rin said, then she noticed something in the thick mist. As I was trying to comfort Jaken and Ah-Un as they were still not feeling so well.

Then at the corner of my eyes I saw quick moment, I turned my head and saw Rin running towards something quickly as if trying to catch up to it. Jaken saw this as well, turned to look at what I saw and his face turned into pure terror

We looked to her she was still running away from us. "Rin!" Jake and I said in unison as he started to run to go after her as I followed him.

I ran past him as moments later, I heard squawking thud. I stopped for a second and turn around to see Jaken hitting the barrier as his clothes were singhed from the contact.

"If I got any closer to that barrier I would have been purified." Jaken said in terror as he was looking at his clothes. "Jaken!" I said with concern. "I'm alright, I can't go any further, to get Rin, otherwise Sesshomaru will have my head if something happens to her or you. Just come back here until I figure out something." Jaken said as he paced in a panic.

I looked in the direction of where Rin went for a moment, then back to him. "I'm going after her." I said. "What!?...Wait!...but you can't!" Jaken shouted in a high pitched voice, about a full panic.

"I can get her, I've made it past the barrier. I'm not going to wait, I'll be back soon." I said as ran in the direction I saw her. "Nikko...Please come back...Sesshomaru will have my hide for this!" Jaken shouted in fear.

As there was nothing he could do but watch as he saw my figure turn into a misty shadow. "Rin!" I shouted as I ran in the direction she went to.

It took a few moments until I caught up with her and I notice that she was following a figure. I couldn't tell what it was from the mist that covered them as I continued to follow at a distance.

For a time, I kept getting closer and closer, until I got a good look at the figure...It was Kohaku.

I noticed that he was in his demon slayer outfit and seemed to be heading somewhere as if he knew where to go. Then, I saw that they were heading into a hidden cave and I had to get closer before I lost them.

Rin was getting closer to approach Kohaku and I was getting right behind her. "Kohaku! Kohaku!." Rin shouted to him as she went him.

Kohaku was in a stance ready to attack as he turned to Rin's voice as she ran to him. He was surprised once he saw who it was.

"Ah..it you and Nikko!." Kohaku said in surprise as he moved his hand away from his sword. Rin was a foot away from him, she stopped as she was confused for a moment.

"Rin!" I said as I put my hand on her shoulder, she turned to look a me in shock and realized what she did, putting her head down for a moment. "I'm sorry Nikko, I didn't mean to run away like that." Rin said as she turned back to Kohaku.

"I was so glad that I got to see you again Kohaku!" Rin said, as I smiled of seeing the forming bond she had for Kohaku even after the incident. He seemed to be normal as he was before being possessed.

But from the looks of things he didn't seem to be happy of us being here, like as if we weren't suppose to be here. "Rin, Nikko.. what are you doing here?" Kohaku said.

"We didn't part on good terms last and it kind of bothered me." Rin said as she want things settled between and become friends. "Go back!, this is no a place for the likes of of you both." Kohaku said in desperation.

Suddenly, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rising up and a chill going down my spine...Something didn't feel right.

Apparently, Kohaku felt it as well, as he turned his head to the further in of the tunnel and shushed us to be quiet. I gently grabbed Rin's arm and put her behind me as Kohaku put me behind him.

"What is it?" Rin asked in fear as I felt her shaking a bit. "Be quiet Rin and Nikko crouch down." Kohaku quietly.

Then, I felt the massive presence of demonic aura. Seconds later I heard hissing and growling from further into the cave.

The sounds were coming closer to us. I peaked over Kohaku side and couldn't believe what I was seeing... a fifty feet into the tunnel...Were hundreds of red glowing eyes staring back.

Those malicious eyes were of many demons, ready to devour anything in sight.