Story from November DDN. Prompts in bold.
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A sharp howl in the distance made the young miko pause, a sense of fright passing down her spine. Demons she could handle, but how the heck would she fight off wolves? She took a calming breath before continuing her path. The night was still young, and she could still find Inuyasha. She knew she probably should have waited for him, but she was too excited to share the news. A jewel shard had been found, and she had retrieved it herself. Something had called her back from the well, and when she returned it had been waiting for her.
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The wolves howled again. The sound had been much closer, and they sounded hungry. She felt her fear begin again. A grey face broke through the edges of the woods, and Kagome stumbled back. These were definitely not Kouga's companions.
"Nice wolf," she tried, shuffling back as others emerged behind the first. A savage snarl sent her running. She ran blindly, too terrified to even call Inuyasha's name. Her foot caught, and she fell upon the unforgiving ground. She turned just in time to see the lunge of the pack. Then, she saw a flicker of amber in the distance.
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A growl more savage than the last ripped through the air, though she knew it was not from the wolves. Without pausing, Kagome stood and ran. Panic gave swiftness to her feet, she only prayed it was enough. She was too young to meet an early grave! Tears fell, and blurred her vision. She could hear one behind her, one that had escaped her demonic savior. And he was closing in. A claw sliced at her right leg, and with a pained cry she fell to the ground. The beast wasted not a moment, and moved in for the kill.
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She closed her eyes, willing her end to be quick. Yet it did not come. Instead she heard a yelp of pain, and felt a slight breeze sail over her. She opened her eyes quickly to see the wolf cowering off to the side, a wound upon it's furry head. Above her, a vision in white stood protectively. His one remaining arm was tipped in blood. He issued a small growl, and the wolf scurried away. Kagome pushed herself up, wincing as the pain throbbed in her leg. Her savior turned to her, and Kagome gasped. He saved her?
"Sesshomaru-sama?"
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"Miko." Kagome moved further back, this time crying out as her injured calf scrapped against the rock filled soil. Before she could, blink, he was kneeling in front of her.
"Sesshomaru-sama, why did you..." She could not finish the sentence, wondering if perhaps she were dreaming.
"You are injured."
"Oh it's not so bad." Kagome tried lamely.
"You will bleed out."
"Oh, I guess it is bad." She said as the normal pink hue drained from her face.
"This will hurt." He warned. She tensed, but was unprepared for the intense wave of pain. Within moments, her consciousness slipped away.
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Kagome awoke feeling groggy. She tried to sit up, yet the world started spinning and she feel back with a groan.
"Souta, stop rocking the boat!" She muttered under her breath.
"Miko." The cool tenor of a male's voice, a familiar male's voice, made her stiffen. Her eyes snapped open. A blur of white began to come into focus, and her brows furrowed.
"Sesshomaru-sama? What...?" A throbbing pain made itself known in her leg, and her memory came flooding back.
"Hey!" She suddenly snapped, looking at him with narrowed eyes. "You burned me!" Sesshomaru let out a very un-Sesshomaruish snort.
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"How dare you shout at the great and all powerful Sesshomaru-sama you filthy..."
"Ugh my head! Stupid kappa..." Kagome grumbled. Jaken turned an odd shade of purple, but a look from his master stilled any other comments. Said master turned to the woman, his golden eyes scrutinizing the leg that was currently wrapped in large leaves. He knelt down and began removing them one at a time.
"Oh that is gross." Kagome said softly as the leaves peeled away, leaving behind a sticky residue.
"It heals." Sesshomaru remarked dryly.
"I am going to have a scar." The miko whimpered softly.
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Kagome felt an immediate sense of shame wash over her. Here she was complaining about a scar that saved her life to a demon who had only one arm.
"Sorry." She whispered. He did not respond, merely continued removing the leaves. "Thank you, Sesshomaru-sama. You saved my life, a couple times really." Still he did not respond, but she thought for the tiniest moment his features had softened. Perhaps Sesshomaru did not have as black of a heart as they thought.
'Yes, there is more to him." She decided as she watched his gentle fingers clean around her tender flesh.
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Kagome sucked in a breath as his claw scrapped against a particularly sensitive piece of flesh. He stilled for a moment before continuing his work. Kagome closed her eyes to stop the onslaught of tears. She hoped she could keep her silence, calling out for her mother would probably annoy Sesshomaru.
"The half-breed is ill-suited to guard the Shikon miko." His sudden decision to speak caught her off guard.
"Huh?" She asked, intelligent as always. "Oh, Inuyasha. He didn't know I was back. I was looking for him." She muttered lamely.
"Pathetic. " For some reason, Sesshomaru seemed rather angry.
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The pain was a dull throbbing sensation now, and Sesshomaru was carefully wrapping the leg with new sticky leaves.
"You know, he usually doesn't let me get hurt."
"I am familiar with the scent of your blood, miko." He remarked dryly, his eyes slanting towards her.
"It's my fault. I am always in the way." Her depression weighed in the air like chains around her form.
"Foolish words of a half-breed hold no merit." His piece said, Sesshomaru shifted and took a protective stance over the injured miko. She smiled softly at his unsaid message. He would keep her safe.
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A crescent moon hung in the night sky , casting a soft glow upon the sleeping miko. Her injury would take weeks to heal, a fact that annoyed Sesshomaru. She should never have been injured, the half-breed had failed. He would allow the charade with his brother to continue no longer. Her life was too important to be left in his incapable hands. The miko needed someone who would always protect her. Someone like him. He would make sure no harm befell his miko again. Sesshomaru was the Lord of the West, and he always protected what was his.