Chapter 22 - Flushed

The wind blew softly now, gentle instead of violent. High above, the suns glowed warm and bright, radiating through cloth, flesh and foliage. It was almost as if Hyoga had never existed. All that had remained was the smoldering stump of the tree of ages, and a crater where his body had burned and disintegrated. Sesshomaru had gone down into the valley to be certain. Once satisfied that Hyoga was well and truly destroyed, Sesshomaru was ready to move on.

The group climbed back up the mountain, and headed back toward the plains on the other side. Several times, Sesshomaru scented InuYasha and Kagome, but never close enough for an encounter. They were, after all, traveling through the province InuYasha frequented and protected.

"Lord Sesshomaru? Where are we going next?" Rin asked as night passed over the sky, casting its wide blanket of sparkling stars across the heavens.

"Don't ask such questions you silly girl! Whatever Lord Sesshomaru plans to do, we must follow him blindly in silence and awe of his great majesty!" Sesshomaru pressed his lips together as Jaken squawked, wishing the imp would take his own advice and be silent.

"Lord Sesshomaru likes it when I ask questions." Rin insisted, though he could not see her face, he heard the glare she must have shot Jaken, by the tone of her voice.

Jaken spat, "you know nothing!"

Sesshomaru glanced back, to see Jaken turned away with his arms crossed over his chest, clearly in a huff. Rin clearly ignored all that the imp had said, because she had moved to collect some flowers that grew along the grassy knoll.

"Uhh… but where are we going exactly my Lord?" Jaken said, his voice high and squeaky as he posed his question.

There was no forthcoming reply, because Sesshomaru had no response. As he was considering the question, a scent teased his nose. Sharply his eyes cut to the left, the direction that the wind was blowing from.

I know that scent.

Though the sky remained empty and cloudless, he was certain. Kagura was shadowing them. Clearly she did not know that he was aware of her. Suspicion aroused, he remained highly alert, but did not turn his head again. They walked through a wide open field, that led to the foothills of the next mountain range and away from the Musashi province.

Was Naraku suddenly interested in this Sesshomaru's movements? Or was this interest purely her own?

Surely he had made his distain toward her rather wanton behavior, known, at their last meeting. She could not still be trying to gain his favor — could she? If this was Naraku's doing, why? What could he possibly gain by following this Sesshomaru in his travels?

There was a rather thick forest beside a lake approaching. They could stop there for the night. It would give them some shelter from prying eyes. Continuing as if unaware of her presence, Sesshomaru led his companions directly toward the lake. It was bordered on three sides by thick woods, the grass hill they traversed connected with the remaining side. When they arrived at the lake a short time later, Rin stooped to get a fresh drink of water, and removed A-un's muzzle to give him water as well. Sesshomaru stood near, silent and watchful until her self assigned chore of caring for the dragon, was completed.

"Come, Rin." He instructed, as he turned and moved toward the copse of thick trees nearby. Jaken had already found a suitable resting spot beneath the trees, and was busying himself starting a small fire.

"Yes my Lord!" Came her cheerful reply. "Come along A-un!"

Unbridled, the dragon followed her like a giant puppy, making happy-dragon sounds. Sesshomaru briefly wondered if she didn't have some power to bewitch demons to her will. The thought was rather amusing actually. Such a small frail human wielding such power over demons.

Rin happily made a place to rest under a large tree, A-un choosing a place near her. Smiling, she lightly petted the dragon's mane, humming a soft tune to the beast. Jaken removed the dragon's saddle, and occupied himself sorting through the contents of the saddlebags while muttering his thoughts aloud.

Sesshomaru watched the young girl as her eyes drifted closed, for a moment, before turning back to the lake. Watchful. Anticipating. If the wind sorceress had something to say, surely she would approach. If she did not, it would only further arouse his suspicions of her intentions.

For hours, the great yokai stood, silent as a statue at the lakeside. The only movement was of his hair and clothing in the breeze, and his eyes as they shifted across the surface of the water. At one point, he smelled Kagura's scent strongly, and suspected she may be considering a confrontation. But just as quickly, it vanished. He did not smell her again that night.

Not long after, a cold wind blew in over the lake, chilling the air. Sesshomaru didn't think much of it, it was not a freezing chill. It was not yet the freezing season.

Daylight broke with no direct contact from Kagura, or anyone else. Since Sesshomaru had not caught any further scent of the demon again, he concluded that she had been on errand from Naraku, which made him wary.

In the copse of trees, Rin awakened without her usual perky talkativeness. Standing, she folded her blanket and began her usual care for A-un without comment or morning greeting. Sesshomaru noted her sluggishness, and watched her for a time, eventually he dismissed her dullness as sleepiness from the late night travel.

Finally, they began moving again. Jaken was rambling about something, Rin followed behind the imp on foot with A-un bringing up the rear. Sesshomaru was no longer really listening to Jakens monotonous droning, his thoughts far beyond, considering the potential threat of Naraku as a foe. Though he did not trust the demon, he had no direct quarrel with him.

"Are you quite alright Rin? You've hardly said two words to me all morning!" Jaken rasped, obviously feeling the lack of playful banter that they usually shared.

Rin made a soft sound of assent. "I'm fine master Jaken."

Briefly, Sesshomaru glanced back, assessing her again. She looked well enough. There were no visible injuries. The only strangeness was that her eyes were half lidded, as though she struggled to stay awake.

Rin, are you having nightmares again? Are your memories disturbing your sleep?

"Perhaps you should ride A-un, Rin." Sesshomaru suggested.

"Oh… no. Thank you Lord Sesshomaru. I would like to walk." For the first time that day, she lifted her brown eyes to meet his inquisitive gold gaze. Which itself was odd. She usually always looked to him for reassurance, whenever it would be had. "I'm alright." Briefly she cast him a smile, though it was not as bright as usual.

Nodding, accepting her answer, they continued. Though her silence began to bother Sesshomaru. Jaken too, fell silent. They walked for another hour or so, moving deftly through the thick woods along the path that had already been well traveled by demons and humans. Sesshomaru heard the faint sound of a rushing river near, and turned to glance at his companions. Jaken was walking just behind him, but Rin was several yards back, her footsteps stumbling.

Concern shot through his body like a cold blade. It was at that moment, that she raised her eyes to his. Her voice was a whisper on the wind, but he heard every syllable.

"Lord Sesshomaru… I don't feel so good…" as if in slow motion, he saw her tip to the side. Jaken made a wheezing sort of sound of alarm. Before he could even consciously think, Sesshomaru realized he had already moved. With his right arm, he caught her as she fell, preventing her from hitting the ground.

"Lord Sesshomaru —- I've never seen you move so fast! What's the matter with her?!" Jaken cried as he raced over and peered around his master's sleeve.

Sesshomaru didn't respond, his entire focus was on Rin. She was completely limp, as if her body had suddenly gone boneless. His eyes narrowed as he leaned closer, his hand lightly grasped her arm as she sank against his chest armor. Her skin was blazing hot, and now up close, he could see her face was flushed.

"She's burning to touch."

Jaken gasped. "I-it must be some sort of human fever!!l What do we do my Lord?!"

Sesshomaru had no idea what to do for a human fever. Demon's didn't get fevers. The most logical course of action, would be to find a way to bring the fever down. For a moment he remained crouched, half holding her, supporting her with one knee. Uncertainty filled him. A strange, unfamiliar and frankly uncomfortable sensation.

"What do we do, Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken repeated, leaning over his master's bent leg to get a better view of Rin's face.

Irritated, Sesshomaru shifted his arm to scoop up the Rin's limp form, and rose to his feet in one motion. Jaken fell backwards, squabbling and blubbering.

"She needs human medicine." Sesshomaru sounded more certain than he felt. "Jaken."

"Wanhhhh…." The imp yipped, dancing out of range of his lord's boots. "Y-yes my Lord?!"

"Take A-un, go find a village and get medicine that heals fevers."

Jaken stared at Sesshomaru for a moment, as if he had heard wrong. "You want ME to go to a human village!?"

Turning, Sesshomaru pinned him with a look that rivaled Rin's fever in temperature. "Go."

Blubbering and running in a circle, Jaken dropped, then grabbed his staff and raced to the dragon's leg. "Bbajnhjdj!! Yesss my Lord! I'm going!" He scrambled onto the dragon's back with frantic difficulty and grabbed the reins. "Go!" A-un leapt into the air, wind washing over Sesshomaru and Rin as it parted the trees above and vanished with a roar.

Sesshomaru took a breath, attempting to subdue the strangely tight sensations in his chest.

Rin will be fine.

He assured himself as he glanced down at her face again. Her lips were parted with shallow strained breaths, eyes squeezed shut as if she was in pain. With deliberate steps, Sesshomaru walked toward the river he had heard earlier, somewhere beyond the trees. Surely water would cool her fever.