The northern lands were unforgiving. The deeper they traveled, the colder and more hostile the terrain became. The once vibrant greenery had given way to barren trees and snow-dusted mountains. The wind was biting, carrying with it the ominous scent of decay and something far darker—something that made even Kagome's spiritual senses flare in warning.
They had encountered several demons along the way, all of them blighted. The disease had stripped them of their sanity, leaving them crazed and violent, attacking anything in sight. Kagome's arrows had proven effective in purifying them, but the battles had been relentless, and the strain was beginning to wear on her.
Kagome had been pushing herself harder than usual, determined to keep pace with Sesshoumaru. The demon lord, as always, moved with inhuman speed and precision, his eyes ever-watchful for threats. He never seemed to tire, his youki constant and unwavering despite the harsh conditions. Kagome, on the other hand, was only human—even with her immense spiritual power, she was feeling the cold seep into her bones, and the exhaustion from days of travel and battle was starting to take its toll.
She tried to ignore the signs—tried to brush off the way her head felt heavier, the way her breath came in shorter gasps, the occasional shiver that ran through her body. She was fine. She could handle this. Sesshoumaru hadn't said anything, and she wasn't about to complain.
But after their latest fight—a group of blighted demons that had ambushed them in the dead of night—Kagome could no longer deny it. She was sick. Her head throbbed, her throat was raw, and the cold, biting air seemed to claw at her lungs with every breath.
She glanced at Sesshoumaru, who stood a short distance away, surveying the area with his usual stoic expression. There was no way she was going to admit she was struggling, not to him. He would never say it aloud, but she could feel his unspoken expectations: keep up, don't falter, don't be a liability.
With a deep breath, she squared her shoulders, fighting the urge to cough. The last thing she needed was for him to notice. She could take care of herself, just like she always had.
But Sesshoumaru wasn't blind. He hadn't missed the subtle shifts in her posture, the way her breathing had become labored, or the way her hands trembled slightly when she reached for her bow. He had allowed her to push herself for now, silently observing, but it was clear to him that her human body was reaching its limit.
The cold didn't bother him, but he knew it would eventually break her.
"Let's keep moving," Kagome said suddenly, her voice hoarse, though she tried to mask it with nonchalance. She adjusted the strap of her bow over her shoulder and began walking, determined to ignore the pounding in her head and the heaviness in her limbs.
Sesshoumaru didn't move. "You're ill."
Kagome stiffened, but she didn't stop. "I'm fine."
His gaze was unrelenting, and without warning, Sesshoumaru was in front of her, blocking her path. Kagome blinked, caught off guard by how quickly he'd closed the distance.
"You are not fine, miko." His voice was calm, but there was a cold authority behind it that left no room for argument. "You're slowing us down."
Kagome bristled at his words, her pride flaring. "I'm not slowing anyone down. I'm perfectly capable of continuing."
She tried to step around him, but Sesshoumaru's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist with surprising gentleness. His touch was firm, but not painful, and his golden eyes bored into hers, making her pause.
"This journey requires strength, and you are weakening." His grip tightened just slightly, and Kagome could feel the heat radiating from his skin—a stark contrast to the icy air around them. "I will not allow you to become a burden."
The word "burden" sent a sharp sting through her chest, and she yanked her wrist free from his grasp, taking a step back. "I'm not a burden. I can take care of myself, Sesshoumaru."
His eyes narrowed slightly, and the weight of his presence seemed to grow heavier, more oppressive. Kagome swallowed, refusing to let him intimidate her. But there was something in the way he was looking at her—something possessive, something commanding—that made her stomach twist in a way she wasn't prepared to admit.
"I take care of what is mine," Sesshoumaru said, his voice low and deliberate.
Kagome's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. She stared at him, searching his expression for some hint of what he meant, but his face was unreadable.
Mine? she thought, her mind racing. What did he mean by that?
Before she could respond, Sesshoumaru stepped closer, his aura brushing against hers in a way that sent a shiver down her spine. He was standing too close—closer than he'd ever stood before—and for the first time, Kagome felt truly dwarfed by his presence.
"You've pushed yourself beyond your limits," he continued, his voice quieter now, but no less commanding. "I will not allow you to weaken further."
Kagome's jaw clenched. "I don't need you to take care of me."
"Do not mistake this for an offer," Sesshoumaru replied smoothly. "You are under my protection, whether you wish it or not."
His words sent a rush of heat through Kagome, and she wasn't sure if it was from anger or something else. She took a step back, trying to put some distance between them, but Sesshoumaru's gaze remained locked on hers, his intensity unwavering.
"I can take care of myself," she repeated, her voice firmer this time, though it was clear her body was betraying her. She could feel the weight of exhaustion pressing down on her, the cold making it harder to breathe.
Sesshoumaru's eyes softened, just a fraction, and for a brief moment, Kagome thought she saw a flicker of something… almost tender. But it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared.
"You are human," he said finally, as though that explained everything. "Your body is not built for this. Rest."
Kagome bristled again, her pride refusing to back down. "I don't need—"
But before she could finish, Sesshoumaru's arms wrapped around her, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. Kagome's eyes widened in shock, her words dying in her throat as she found herself pressed against his chest, his armor cool against her cheek.
"What are you doing?!" she demanded, trying to wriggle free, but Sesshoumaru's hold was firm, his grip unyielding.
"Putting you in your place, miko," he said calmly, his voice laced with that same cold authority. "You will rest."
Kagome's face burned with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. She hated how easily he had overpowered her, how easily he had decided what was best for her without even asking. But more than that, she hated the way her body seemed to react to him—the way her heart raced when his arms tightened around her, the way her skin tingled where his hands touched her.
She clenched her fists, trying to fight the rush of heat that was spreading through her body. "I don't need your help."
Sesshoumaru didn't respond. He carried her toward a nearby cave, his expression unreadable, but Kagome could feel the subtle tension in his aura, as though he was barely holding something back.
They entered the cave, and Sesshoumaru set her down gently on a smooth patch of stone. Kagome immediately pushed herself up, but before she could stand, Sesshoumaru knelt beside her, his gaze steady and commanding.
"You will stay here," he said quietly, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Rest."
Kagome's pride flared again, but before she could protest, a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her to lean back against the wall of the cave. Her body was betraying her, and she hated it.
Sesshoumaru watched her for a moment, his expression softening just slightly. "You are strong, miko," he said, almost grudgingly. "But even the strong have limits."
Kagome closed her eyes, her frustration warring with her exhaustion. She hated that he was right. She had been pushing herself too hard, trying to keep up with him, trying to prove that she was just as capable. But now, her body was forcing her to slow down.
Sesshoumaru stood, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before he turned and walked toward the entrance of the cave. "I will stand guard," he said simply, his back to her. "Sleep."
Kagome opened her eyes, watching him in silence. Despite her stubbornness, despite her pride, there was something strangely comforting about knowing he was there, watching over her. She hated to admit it, but the weight of his presence, his aura, made her feel… safe.
With a soft sigh, she let her head rest against the stone wall, her body finally relaxing as the exhaustion took over. But even as she drifted off to sleep, her thoughts lingered on Sesshoumaru—on the way his arms had felt around her, the way his voice had commanded her, the way his presence seemed to fill every corner of the cave.
And for the first time in a long time, Kagome allowed herself to let go, if only for a little while.