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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters from the series
Chapter 1
“Good or bad…”
Kagome sat alone beside the old well looking out at nothing. Inuyasha and Kagome were in another fight. Kagome sighed. This one had been too close to home for her though. It was true she had probably started it but Inuyasha had ended it, literally. Kagome stifled a sob as it rose up to choke her. She reached for where the partially completed jewel had hung before he had ripped it from her throat. Screaming in her face; that she had no business being here.
“You’re wrong Inuyasha. I may not have come here by choice. But I came back here by It.” a tear slipped down her cheek unnoticed. But none of that mattered anymore. All that was left was for her to jump into the well never to return. As Kagome stood up and looked down into the waiting darkness a child’s scream pierced the silence of the evening. “Noooo!” With out hesitation Kagome snatched up her bow and arrows and followed the sound into the woods.
Kagome could hear Inuyasha’s mocking voice in her head as she ran “Stupid human. You never think about the danger.’ She frowned then grinned as she imagined sitting him again and again…. That was a terrible thing to think. Kagome had never used the subjugation spell for her own pleasure. At least not that she was going to admit to. Her grin fell as she found the source of the screams. A human child stood partially behind a tree watching in terror as the huge demon slowly began crushing the thrashing creature in its huge ugly claws. “OH! Lord Sesshomaru!” the child wailed.
Kagome pulled an arrow from her quiver carefully placing it on the bow string then she drew the string back. She paused for a moment searching the demons body “There!” She cried taking aim. The arrow left the bow like quick silver flashing crimson in the light of the setting sun as a bright pink aura surrounded it. The demon let out a screech of rage as the arrow hit its mark severing the arm that clutched the semi conscious demon lord. The arm hit the ground with a sickening thud as the demon turned to find the source of the arrow. Kagome’s mind screamed at her ‘Run!’ but Kagome held her ground. She readied her arrow as the creature uttered an inhuman wail and thundered towards her. Kagome silently prayed for a miracle. She loosed her arrow and it struck home sinking deep into the creature’s throat where Kagome could see the shard that glowed faintly. The force of her arrow forced the shard out. “Got it!” She said triumphantly. The demon disintegrated till there was nothing left but ash in the wind.
Kagome dropped her bow and sprinted to the crumpled figure that was lying on the ground, followed closely by the child. “Lord Sesshomaru!” The little girl wailed in panic as she knelt beside him. Kagome quickly examined his pristine white garment for any traces of blood with her eyes, when she found the wound she frowned. “That isn’t good…” Kagome mumbled wishing she’d paid more attention to her first aid class. He stirred slightly his cold amber eyes meeting her concerned gaze. His mask faltered slightly as surprise registered in his eyes. He tried to move, but his body just wouldn’t respond. “I can’t just leave you here.” Kagome said shrugging her shoulders. Sesshomaru was a very proud demon lord and she knew that he would most likely kill her for what she was about to do but she still couldn’t leave him there not defenseless as he was.
“Come on.” Kagome pulled him to a sitting position. “Take your filthy hands off of me human. This Sesshomaru does not need your help.” He winced. Kagome shook her head and continued what she was doing. “Argh! You’re heavy.” She groaned as she pulled him on to her back. “You cannot carry me human.” Sesshomaru scoffed coldly as he realized her intention. She struggled under his weight but managed to get to her feet. “I will not stand for this un-respectful behavior.” He growled in her ear definite surprise on his face. “Put me down wench. You will die for such humiliation!” Kagome smiled as he continued his verbal torrent of threats and protests of outrage. “I just couldn’t leave you there. You are just too banged up.” Kagome said as she took another slow step back towards the well where her backpack and first aid supplies were, the child followed silently carrying her bow. Curiosity finally got the better of him. “Do you not fear me human?” He asked coldly. She shook her head. “ugh, no.” Kagome grunted as she walked. Sesshomaru was taken back. No human had ever said they were unafraid of him before. Anger boiled inside him. “Why, did you refuse to obey my command when I told you to put me down wench?” Kagome was sweating under the strain now as she took yet another few steps. “Ugh, because…uh…Good or bad you’re still alive.” Sesshomaru went silent. ‘I would have healed on my own. Yet she refuses to just set me down and leave. I can feel her muscles shaking; I am far too heavy for her small body to carry.’ Sesshomaru thought as he felt her body tremble.
Kagome fell to her knees. ‘I can do this. He thinks I am weak. But I can do this.’ Kagome took a deep breath. Sesshomaru waited to be let go of expecting her to give up. ‘Humans are so weak.’ He sneered. “Give up human your effort is in vain.” He growled as he tried again to move his limbs that would not respond. Kagome reached deep inside her self for strength and pushed back up to her feet. Sheer will power was all her body had left as she crossed the edge of the trees into the clearing by the well. Her body aching under the strain she carefully lowered him to the ground. As soon as she let him go she dug into her bag. ‘This human confuses me. Why when she knows I will kill her for interfering, did she push her weak human body to the limits to carry me here?’ Kagome with drew a white box with a red cross on its top. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing now, wench?” Kagome opened the box “I have to bandage your wounds.” She helped him remove his armor and haori. A single deep gash ran along his side down past his hip bone. Kagome gulped, suddenly realizing where the cut ended in the firm flesh of his thigh. She felt her cheeks reddening as she began to clean the wound. After she had bandaged the wound that was above the waist of his hakama she looked up, discomfort written all over her face. “Um…I…Need…to…” Kagome said nervously pointing at the cut under his hakama. ‘She is embarrassed. Her pulse is faster.’ He mentally slapped himself. ‘This Sesshomaru has more dignity than to be interested in her responds.’ “Get on with it wench." He sneered. Kagome took a deep breath and untied his hakama pulling it down on the side so she could bandage the cut, but covering him decently.
The child knelt down again beside Sesshomaru. “Rin, you are unharmed?” he asked the little girl in a gentle tone. “Yes, you saved me, and the pretty lady saved you.” Rin turned to Kagome, “this fell on the ground, I found it.” she said holding the shard in her tiny hand as she offered it to Kagome. Kagome bobbed her head “Thank you Rin, my name is Kagome Higurashi.” Kagome said tucking the jewel shard into one of the small bottles she carried for that purpose. She turned her attention back to the youkai propped up against the well. After righting his hakama she stood up and shoved the box back inside her backpack. Then kneeling down she gently started to help Sesshomaru back on with his haori. She stopped “I can heal that, if you want.” She said placing her small hand on the stump of his arm. Energy coursed through her as a pale pink light emitted from her hands. The stump pulsed as the limb was reformed. “There.” She said wiping the sweat from her brow. She stood up “I’m going to find some fire wood stay here. Ok?” Rin beamed “I will stay with Lord Sesshomaru.” She plopped her self beside him. Sesshomaru watched as Kagome retreated in to the edge of the forest. His mind reeled as the places she had touched tingled. ‘Her touch was so soft and gentle almost like the caress of a lover.’ Sesshomaru gawked at him self ‘Where did that thought come from? Me take a human as a lover? Or a mate.’ He scoffed ‘Never, humans are vile, detestable, ignorant creatures who are weak and petty.’ He frowned in displeasure. ‘Kagome isn’t’ his silent heart whispered suddenly. Again he glared at himself mentally ‘This Sesshomaru only allows this human to live because she saved my life and I owe her a life debt.’
Kagome made short work of gathering wood and retuned to the well. A couple yards away she made a fire ring and started a cheerful blaze. Dragging her bag over to the makeshift campsite Kagome dug deep inside her yellow bag. “Ah ha.” She said her voice muffled by the material of the bag. She produced a strange looking kettle. “I’ll be right back.” Kagome said picking up the kettle and her bow and arrows. “Where are you going, woman?” He demanded as she turned to walk away. “To get some water.” She paused ‘on the other hand my house is much closer.’ She turned and laid her bow down on the ground, and picked up the small jar with the shard. Carefully pocketing it she climbed up to the edge of the well. Rin looked alarmed as she watched the girl. Sesshomaru growled “Get down from there you stupid wench.” His voice was warning but his features remained ever the emotionless mask. She smiled down at him and then jumped. Sesshomaru waited to hear the inevitable sound of her body connecting with the ground, but it never came. Rin ran to the edge and peeked over. “Sesshomaru sama, Kagome sama is gone.”
Kagome climbed out of the well and dashed for the house. She ran inside and began gathering supplies shoving them into a bag. “Lets see, Raman, pocky, Juice boxes, cookies, a half gallon of ice cold milk and some extra bedding. Ok I got it all.” She filled the kettle and a gallon jug with water and ran back to the well shouting a hurried farewell behind her. As she fell though the timeless blue light her thoughts drifted to Inuyasha and the rest of those she had called her friends.
Flash back
* “Kagome, were you spying on me?” Inuyasha asked as he ran into Kagome standing in shock at the edge of the clearing. Kagome didn’t answer. Tears she refused to shed filled her eyes. She had once again caught Inuyasha with Kikyo, but this time she had heard him promise that when Naraku had been defeated that he would go with her to the depths of hell. Kagome looked up straight in to the furious amber eyes that were glaring at her. “I thought you cared about me.” She said. The accusing tone in her voice pricked his conscious. His temper rose defensively “Who’d care about you? You have no business here Kagome! No body cares or wants you here. You’re just in the way! Pathetic human!” Inuyasha reached out and grasped the jewel around her neck with a jerk he ripped the shards from her throat. “Go home Kagome, and this time don’t come back.” Inuyasha turned his back on her and walked away leaving her standing there, her hand to the place where the jewel shards used to be. *
Kagome shook her head forcing down the emotions that rose. She would not let the Tai youkai see her cry. She landed softly in the well and climbed out. Rin gasped when the blue light suddenly came from the well. Sesshomaru growled unable to do anything. A familiar scent came out of the well as Kagome climbed out. “Sorry it took so long.” She said setting down another huge bag in the campsite.
“Do you like Raman?” She asked cheerfully placing the kettle over the flames to let the water boil. Sesshomaru watched her in stunned silence ‘Where did all of that come from? How can she still be moving about? I can smell her exhaustion.’ He watched her roll out her bedding and pull out some strange cups from her bag. She was humming to her self. Coming over to him she knelt down “Can you stand?” she asked holding out her small hand to him. With more effort than he expected he stood up. She grabbed his arm and helped him over to the bedding she had laid out. “Lay down.” She instructed. Sesshomaru paled as his fury bubbled to the surface, he did not attempt to hide his anger. “It was bad enough that you humiliated me now you presume to tell me what to do! Human you will die for your insolence” Kagome shook her head and sighed. “Will you please lie down?” He begrudgingly relented glaring at her the entire time. But his limbs had no strength so his threats were empty words. Kagome smiled at him, letting him know that she understood. He felt the bitterness slip away from him when she smiled. But he kept his mask firmly in place. He had already exposed too many of his emotions.
The steam curled up wards from the cups as Kagome poured hot water in to each of them. A tempting aroma wafted towards him. “What is that?” He asked with contained interest. “Raman,” Kagome said holding out a cup and a pair of chopsticks. His glare darkened as he growled “I can’t move my arms my shoulders are out of place.” Kagome sighed “I guess you’ll just have to kill me later.” She said kneeling in front of him. She picked up a few steaming noodles and blew on them to cool them a bit. “Here.” She offered putting the chopsticks close to his mouth. He opened his mouth to threaten her for even thinking such a ridiculous thought as to feed him, but before he got out a word she shoved the noodles gently into his mouth begrudgingly he chewed and swallowed. ‘It’s good?’ he thought in surprise. His eyes narrowed as she offered another bite. The struggle continued as she fed him each bite. She’d lift the noodles to blow on them and he’d growl. Opening his mouth to say something and she’d put the food in. Rin on the other hand was happily slurping down her cup of noodles. Kagome’s sat on the ground by the kettle forgotten.
After she’d fed him all he would take she set the cup down. “Can I get you anything else?” He glared at her. “No.” Kagome shook her head. “Don’t worry I won’t tell anyone.” His eyebrow rose ‘Now she thinks I am worried? I am not a child. This human is beginning to frustrate me what is her motive to help me? She carries me, feeds me and gives me her own bed to rest on. She insists on bandaging my wound and even that I must disrobe for her to do it. She must have lost her mind.’
Kagome sighed picking up her cup of noodles and a pair of chopsticks. “You know, it’s nice not being out here alone.” She sighed smiling over at him. He glared at her in surprise. “You enjoy my company?” She turned back to her noodles and nodded. Kagome remembered the cookies and the milk she had brought with her and set down her cup again. She dug out the cookies and the jug. “Would you like one Rin? I made them for…I made them.” Kagome said as the little girl took a cookie and bit into it experimentally. “Yummy! You should try one my Lord.” Rin said grabbing another in her other hand. Kagome set down the Tupperware and dug out three plastic cups. “Nothing goes with cookies like ice cold milk.” She said pouring out the beverage. Rin took a huge swallow. Kagome giggled at the milk mustache. Turning she saw Sesshomaru watching her. “Here.” Kagome said carrying the Tupperware and the two cups of milk over and setting them down carefully. “Try one, please.” Kagome said offering the cookie to the youkai. Never taking his eyes off of her he bit in to the sweet. Surprise showed in his eyes as he chewed. ‘Indeed good.’ She offered the milk holding it up to his lips. ‘How strange, I do not usually eat human food but this…I enjoy this.’
Rin sighed deeply. Kagome glanced over Rin was sleeping soundly curled up to her bag. A gentle smile graced her lips. Sesshomaru felt himself smile faintly. He schooled his features again angry with himself for such weakness. ‘She is human. Humans are weak, pathetic creatures that mean nothing to me. And yet...’ He mentally slapped himself.
Kagome set down her cup and gently picked up Rin wincing in pain as her body objected. She carried her over to the extra bed roll she had laid out and placed her on it. Covering her gently with a blanket she kissed the little girls forehead as her mother had done when she was little. “Night Rin.” She whispered. Kagome walked quietly back to her bag and dug out another couple of blankets. One she left there the other she walked over and spread over Sesshomaru. “Why do you do this?” He was flabbergasted. She had just kissed his forehead. She turned to walk back. Kagome paused, a bright red blush on her cheeks. “Because, I wanted to.” She said making eye contact with Sesshomaru. He was stunned ‘She wants to help me? I’ve been nothing but bitter to her. But she still wants to?’ He was very confused as he looked away she had flustered him. He was Sesshomaru the lord of the western lands, nothing ever made him flustered or tongue tied she had done both.
Kagome smiled as she silently ate her cold Raman and sipped her milk. Finally she picked up a cookie and began to nibble on it. She watched as the stars one by one they began to shine. Sesshomaru watched her. He heard every sigh and frowned when he caught the salty smell of tears. With his acute hearing he heard as one tear fell with a soft plop into her cup. She set down the empty cup and sat very still. Silently she cried but Sesshomaru heard every tear. ‘Why does she weep?’ He wondered and then to his surprise he growled mentally ‘I’ll make who ever is the cause of these tears suffer greatly.’ He flexed his newly re formed hand and mentally sighed now he owed her another debt.
Finally after what seemed hours her tears spent she fell into a weary sleep, lying on the cold ground, her blanket still by the bag where she left it. Sesshomaru closed his eyes his mind alert and his senses sharpened. He allowed him self to think. First he assessed his injuries; his shoulders were out of joint which he fixed with a jerk and a pop. The pain was gone instantly. He figured that he probably had several broken and cracked ribs, but they would heal over night. The internal damage would take longer. He growled low in his throat. ‘I should kill her for interfering, but she saved my life, why I’ll never understand. But I owe her a life debt.’ He growled again. ‘A life debt to a human,’ He was disgusted. Still honor was very important to him. And it would be very dishonorable to not repay her kindness. ‘She’s human what could she possibly ask me for?’ He didn’t know but her kiss on his head was unnerving. She shivered. ‘Stupid girl,’ He thought as he reached down and pulled her onto the fur of his shoulder wrap and covered her with the end of the blanket she had put over him. He felt his cheeks warm with the hint of a blush as she snuggled into the warmth of the fur and closer to him.