Author's Warning: There are some readers worried about OOC. You're right. There might be a tad OOC behavior here, but that is because I'm writing this story more for fun, not perfect accuracy. If you want more accuracy to how characters behave and change over time, please read my other stories. However, they're much more adult-rated and may not be appropriate for some people. I am writing this story to get away from those darker tones from my other stories, so please just enjoy the read.

Chapter Three: Recovery

After the sad realization on Kagome's part, both Sesshomaru and Kagome fell silent. Sesshomaru ate the rest of the jerky she provided and then chose to relax. For a short while, Sesshomaru found himself observing her. He could tell her thoughts were jumbled as she tried to figure things out. There was a tiny feeling of guilt weighing on him because he was the one who asked her those questions.

"How long until you've recovered?" Kagome suddenly spoke up.

Kagome wanted out of her own head. She kept talking to Sesshomaru, not only to get to know him, but to stop the negative thoughts from continuously running unhindered through her mind. A person alone with dark thoughts can be very dangerous, especially to themselves.

"The fever has broken. A few of the cuts of healed." Sesshomaru explained. "However, the bones are still broken."

"Recovery will take some time. You'll probably still heal faster than us humans, so that's good." Kagome reassured him.

"If it takes too long, Rin will believe I've abandoned her." Sesshomaru said, irritated.

"If you go in too early and are still hurt, you could die and then she's lost forever." Kagome said.

"Fair enough." Sesshomaru said, sighing.

Sesshomaru began to understand that his situation was more problematic than he thought. Though the area seemed safe, if a demon were to stumble upon them, he would not be able to fight at his normal strength. Kagome was unarmed and likely useless without a weapon. A-Un was here, but he could only do so much if the strength of the opponent was substantial. They were in the West, so that was good, but that didn't mean he had no enemies here.

"We should move." Sesshomaru said and forced himself to sit up.

"What? Why?" Kagome asked, trying to help balance him.

"If someone attacks us here, it won't be good." Sesshomaru explained. "My castle is only a couple hours off. I'm sure I could make the flight there."

"Are you sure? It could be a risk." Kagome asked.

"It is a bigger risk to stay in the open and do nothing." Sesshomaru said.

Kagome couldn't disagree with that, so the two got ready and flew further west on A-Un. This time, Kagome insisted on sitting behind him just in case he fell unconscious again. Sesshomaru was adamant that he wouldn't, but her stubbornness outweighed his willingness to argue. Kagome's sitting behind him turned into a slightly uncomfortable ride for the Demon Lord. She wrapped her arms around his waist to hold on and often laid her head against his back. It was more contact than he liked. It made him wonder whether this "I'm sitting behind you" crap was real or whether she was picking on him. If she was picking on him, he chose to say nothing. If he mentioned it, she'd win that battle and he wasn't willing to lose. For the next couple of hours, the two flew like that. They came to Sesshomaru's castle and landed in a stone courtyard inside tall walls that surrounded the palace.

"Wow, it's beautiful." Kagome said as she slid of A-Un.

"This is my family home." Sesshomaru said.

Sesshomaru moved to get off A-Un as well, but was having some trouble. Kagome instantly moved to help him once she realized it and he was back on his own two feet. He nodded in thanks. A moment later, four demons approached them from inside the castle: two men and two women.

"Good afternoon, milord." One of the women spoke and then mild shock showed on her face when she saw his condition.

"Lord Sesshomaru, are you alright?" One of the men asked.

The first man was very large. His body was covered in fur. His shoulders were broad and his muscles were bulging. He had the head of a lion and wore armor with the Crescent Moon of Sesshomaru's palace on it. On his back was a large great-sword that was taller and wider than Kagome. While he was intimidating in size, there was a caring and kind look in his eyes that made Kagome feel safe with him around. He was the head of the palace guard and named Kai.

The second man was more normal in his stature, though he wore a strange black mask over the lower half of his face. His eyes were piercing and the pupils similar to a cat. His black hair was long of enough to reach his ears, but not beyond his shoulders. He wore a black skin tight, full-body suit with very little armor over the knees and shoulders. Kagome thought he looked like an assassin, and the belt of finely crafted daggers on his waist confirmed her theory. His name was Cain.

The first woman was taller than Kagome, but shorter than Sesshomaru. She had hair as long as his, though it was a lavender color. She wore a tight, black in color outfit that reminded Kagome of ninjas and thigh-high boots. She had a strong, feminine demeanor. With large breasts and an hourglass figure, she was easily described as beautiful. There were two black markings on her forehead in the shape of thick lines. Her name was Asuka and Kagome was instantly intimidated by her.

The second woman was shorter that Kagome and probably considered younger, though demon ages were always off to Kagome. The young girl had light brown hair, purple eyes, and a flat chest. She seemed really childlike and glowed with excitement when she saw Sesshomaru. Her name was Misa. Something told Kagome that this young demon girl and Rin likely got along, but she soon realized that she was wrong when the child quickly stepped forward and spoke up.

"The brat is gone. Did she die?" Misa asked with too much excitement for Kagome's liking.

"Misa!" Asuka spat at the young demon and grabbed her by the hair, yanking Misa back behind her.

"I've dealt with that child long enough." Sesshomaru said, looking Asuka in the eyes. "Get her under control."

"I will, milord. I apologize deeply." Asuka said and wrapped her hand around Misa's neck, squeezing it.

"M-Mom… It h-hurts." Misa tried pulling at the hand around her neck, but was obviously not strong enough due to her age and inexperience. After a few moments, Asuka let go of her by dropping her in front of Sesshomaru. Misa coughed and caught her breath before looking up to Sesshomaru, tears in the demon child's eyes. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"For your sake, it better not." Sesshomaru replied and took in a deep breath.

"Uh… Well, again, are you okay, Lord Sesshomaru?" Kai spoke up with concern.

"Naraku has developed something that prevents the natural healing of demons." Sesshomaru explained, shocking all the others there. "I have no interest in going into detail, but I do need rest. This human with me is named Kagome. She will be treated as our honored guest. She will be protected, cared for, and respected during her stay here, as she is the only reason that I am alive. Understood?"

"You saved our Lord?" Kai said and walked up to Kagome.

"Well, I, uh…" Kagome hesitated, looking visibly nervous.

"Don't be afraid, Little Human Woman Kagome." Kai reassured her, kneeled down, and took one of her hands into his giant one. His hand was like eight of her own. "As long as you are here, in Lord Sesshomaru's good favor, you have nothing to worry about. Though personalities vary in this castle, as I'm sure you've quickly figured out, absolutely everyone who lives here has respect and admiration for Lord Sesshomaru. Knowing you helped him means the world to many of us."

"I would note that he said those who live here." Cain spoke up, his low raspy voice leaking out from behind his mask. "We have a few temporary guests that may not enjoy the presence of a human. While you won't be required to, I do recommend being escorted while in the castle."

"Cain is right, young lady Kagome." Kai spoke up, a big smile on his face. "I am normally busy with training our guards, but if I am available, do not be afraid to ask. Cain is scary to some, but nicer than he likes to let on. He is also one of the most capable fighters in these walls."

"O-Oh, well thank you." Kagome smiled softly. "I'll make sure to be cautious."

"We will inform the rest of the castle of your returning and your guest." Asuka spoke up, once again grabbing Misa, but more gently, and dragging her off.

From then, Kagome helped Kai and Cain get Sesshomaru to his room. Sesshomaru wanted to change into more comfortable casual clothing, so Kagome made sure to turn her back while he changed. To her, it was a form of respect, but both Cain and Kai were confused by the notion. They were ready to ask her a few questions, but Sesshomaru needed his wounds taken care of. She asked for a few supplies to help clean his wounds and made sure to redress them with much more care this time. These bandages would last longer, and now that Sesshomaru was in a comfortable bed, he was in much less pain.

"So, that question I wanted to ask…" Kai came over to Kagome and sat on the wood floor next to Sesshomaru's bed.

"Yes?" Kagome replied, following suit. Cain sat down behind Kai.

"Why do humans shy away from the naked form?" Kai asked.

"…What?" Kagome said, stunned. She blinked. Once.

Cain facepalmed.

"Every time I am near a human, especially a woman, if I dare take off my armor, they turn away or blush or hide their faces. Why is this?" Kai clarified as he asked with genuine curiosity.

"Well, humans often see the naked body as sacred." Kagome explained the best she could. "It is something only to be seen by someone that loves you and that you love. There are exceptions to this, which is why women will bathe with wo-… I'm sorry, do demons just run around naked sometimes?"

"Well, sometimes." Kai asked, nodding powerfully.

"Wrong." Cain said and sighed.

"I am not! This shyness happens often!" Kai said insistently.

"Yes, with women, Kai." Cain said and looked to Kagome. "I am sorry. I believe my friend doesn't entirely understand the differences between males and females, whether demon or human. He comes from a clan of lion demons, where the strongest rules the rest and they are not shy in showing off whatever assets they have. Even to other lion clans, his clan is often seen as, and please excuse my wording, barbaric."

"Oh, it's a cultural difference." Kagome said and nodded in realization. "I understand that."

"Please. No more." Sesshomaru spoke up and caught their attention. "I cannot handle any more of these talks."

"Lord Sesshomaru, what do you mea-…" Kai stopped as he realized soemthing and looked to Kagome, his jaw dropped in shock. "Did you get Lord Sesshomaru to… converse with you?"

"I, um… Well, a little." Kagome said and then smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. "I think I did most of the talking."

"What was it like?" Cain asked, his cat eyes shining with awe.

"Yes, please tell us." Kai asked excitedly.

Kagome was stuck. Both of these demon men looked excited to hear about this, but she didn't know what to say. She looked back to Sesshomaru, who was just staring at her to see how she'd reply to them, but he looked utterly exhausted. After a moment, she just sighed and shook her head.

"I believe it is best if we talk about this later. Let's let Sesshomaru rest." Kagome said.

Kai and Cain agreed, but only after she promised to tell them something at a later date. After some coercing, Kagome got the two to leave the room and closed the door behind them. She walked back over to Sesshomaru's bed and sat down beside him. She watched him and then just smiled.

"You're more loved than you think, Sesshomaru." Kagome said.

"Meaning?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Those two do care very much for you. It seems more like a brotherly and admiration-based love, but it's a type of love nonetheless." Kagome explained as she took another cool cloth wiped Sesshomaru's forehead down. It seemed those two being in there was stressing him out because he broke out into a sweat. "Why do you have such a hard time talking to people? It's really not that hard."

"I prefer peace and quiet." Sesshomaru explained.

"You mean that you prefer not having to open up to anyone because if they find out more about the real you, it's possible that you'll be rejected, betrayed, or abandoned, so not opening up to them in the first place is the best way of protecting yourself from having anything bad happen to you…right?" Kagome stared directly in his eyes, getting an angry glare in return. "I'll take that as a yes."

"You're wrong." Sesshomaru said and winced as he forced himself into a sitting position. "I do not fear being rejected or betrayed or abandoned. I merely have no wish to get close to anyone."

"How could you blatantly lie to me like that?" Kagome asked, annoyed.

"Excuse me?" Sesshomaru said.

"We just had a conversation about you wanting the person you're with to actually love you, Sesshomaru." Kagome said, calling him out on his bullshit. "You can't get someone to love you if you're refusing to open your heart to them. So, you're lying. You obviously want to get close to someone, bu-."

"When I actually meet the person that possibly will fill that role, that is when I'll be interested in getting close to someone." Sesshomaru interrupted her. "Right now, that person does not exist, so neither does that interest. I was not lying to you, so is that easier to understand?"

"Oh, right." Kagome nodded as he made things clearer. "That does make more sense."

"Now, please, Kagome… Just. Be Quiet." Sesshomaru demanded as politely as he could.

Kagome watched him for a moment and then nodded. She said nothing more and let the demon lay back into his bed and rest in the silence. She hadn't really stopped talking since she got here. She was always someone to talk a lot, but even she knew this was too much, especially since the one she was talking to was Sesshomaru. As she sat in the silence, she looked around his room. It was a beautiful place, but her mind was elsewhere, so she couldn't enjoy it. Kagome stood up and walked over to two sliding doors that led onto the balcony. She slowly opened them up and walked outside, closing them behind her and trying to be as quiet as possible. Sitting her hands on the railing, Kagome stared off over the valley that surrounded Sesshomaru's palace. The sun was setting, a tinge of orange and pink washed over the sky, and as Kagome was left alone with her thoughts, the tears began to fall.

A couple of hours later, Sesshomaru woke from a decent nap. He was still in pain, but he felt slightly rejuvenated from a comfortable sleep. He looked around the room, expecting to see Kagome at his side like the last time he woke up, but she wasn't there. However, he could tell that she wasn't far because her scent was in the air, along with something he preferred not smelling. He could smell the salt again; she was crying. Sesshomaru struggled to push himself to his feet, getting up and following her scent toward the balcony he often relaxed on. When he opened the door, he found Kagome sitting in his chair, curled up, and sleeping with the markings of dried tears down her cheeks. He watched her for a brief moment and a breeze picked up. He found himself inhaling deeply, the sweeter scent she carried was pleasing to smell in comparison to the filth of the humans of his time. Turning back into his room, he grabbed a blanket and covered her up, like he often covered Rin when she'd fall asleep in the cold.

Sesshomaru went back inside and to his bed. He laid back down, wincing with every move he made. It was clear that the wounds he had were not going to heal soon. Thoughts of Rin in Naraku's clutches began plaguing his mind. He needed to speed up his recovery, but was not sure how. At the moment, all he could do was rest, so he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before falling back to sleep.

When Sesshomaru woke up again, it was the next day and in the late afternoon. He shifted in his bed and was pleased to feel that many of his wounds began closing up and healing. The night before, the amount of pain he was in made him believe it would take longer. Some of his bones were whole again, though not all of them. There were still slight bits of pain scattered throughout his body. He would need another day. The poison Naraku gave him must be subsiding quicker than originally thought.

"You're finally awake." Kagome spoke up and Sesshomaru looked over to her. She was still wrapped in the blanket that he had covered her in. She smiled and tugged at the blanket. "Thank you for this. I thought Cain or Kai had done it, but they insist that it wasn't them, so thank you."

"I've seen Rin after long nights out in cold weather. I'd prefer you not get ill." Sesshomaru said.

"You could also just say 'you're welcome' and we could move on from the subject." Kagome said.

"You're welcome." Sesshomaru said after a moment of hesitation.

"There. That's so much easier than trying to feign indifference." Kagome said, giggling. "I was told to let everyone know when you wake up, but something tells me I should ask you first. I doubt you want a parade of people rushing in here to bother you the moment you wake up."

"Correct. I appreciate that." Sesshomaru said with mild panic, as if telling people immediately would have been seen as a personal attack on his very core. It caused Kagome to laugh again.

"Also, Sesshomaru, I need to apologize." Kagome said and Sesshomaru's eyes shot over to her, with both curiosity and apprehension. "I didn't do anything more. I want to apologize for the talking. I know I'm talking a lot, more than I normally do, but I'm having a hard time being alone with my thoughts. Any time it's silent, everything bad comes back to my head and I don't really know how to handle it. I don't have Sango to talk to and Shippo, who normally plays games with me to keep me distracted isn't here. I just wanted you to know that I don't want to make you mad. I'm just scared of being alone."

"Is that why you cried yourself asleep?" Sesshomaru asked and Kagome looked away embarrassed.

"Yeah… I realized a lot while talking to you." Kagome said, hugging herself. "Now, I have some decisions to make. I need to realize that my life and my happiness matter too. Always sacrificing myself for Inuyasha isn't fair to me and now that I know that he hurts me too much to stay, I want to find a way to do my job without relying on him. I need to get stronger, reform the jewel, and go home."

"You plan on leaving this time?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Yes. My future is in my time, not here." Kagome nodded, though the sadness in her eyes spoke louder.

"This is after you help me with Rin, correct?" Sesshomaru asked, eyebrow raised.

"Yes. I keep my word." Kagome reassured him. "I'm going to keep my word to everyone, even Inuyasha, but I'm not bowing down to anyone else's commands and wishes anymore. I am going to work on caring about myself first and then taking other people into consideration."

"Understood." Sesshomaru said and nodded to her. He was actually impressed with the decision she made. Now, he was just interested if she could actually keep it up. She was human and humans had a habit of breaking their own word and falling victim to their vices.

"Are you feeling well enough to travel?" Kagome asked.

"Not yet. I will by tomorrow. Right now, I need something to eat." Sesshomaru said.

"I'll go tell someone." Kagome said and went to stand up, but Sesshomaru stopped her. He glanced to her bag. At first, she was confused, but remembered the jerky and began laughing. "No. We eat that while we're traveling. It doesn't go bad, so it's a good camping food."

"Fine." Sesshomaru said.

Less than an hour later, Sesshomaru was met with a feast, one he chose to share with Kagome when he heard her stomach growl and realized they made nothing specifically for her. It wasn't their fault, but Kagome now knew to tell them when she was hungry as well. They will do exactly as they are told and are not mind readers, so if she needs something, she's going to have to learn to ask.

After they ate, Kagome found herself back out on the balcony and looking up to the night sky. A soft breeze blew through the valley still. The night air was relaxing and she was enjoying the view.

"Kagome." Sesshomaru called her.

"Yes?" Kagome replied, walking back through the sliding doors.

"You will sleep inside the room tonight, not outside." Sesshomaru commanded.

"Uh." Kagome looked around the room. It was large and decorated beautifully, from the small sitting area to the carvings in the wood walls, but there wasn't a place she could actually sleep. "Where?"

"This bed is meant for two." Sesshomaru said casually.

"You want me… to sleep in the same bed as you?" Kagome questioned.

"I do not have a free guest room ready at this time, so yes." Sesshomaru said, looking her dead in the eyes, which was making her feel uncomfortable. Her cheeks ended up red and she had a hard time keeping eye contact. "Is there a problem with this?"

"Is this a culture difference thing?" Kagome asked.

"No. I just don't care." Sesshomaru said honestly. "I'm well aware of the common implications since they are similar in demon culture as they are in human culture. Right now, Rin is my focus and if you're tired or ill, you cannot help me like you promised. You will sleep here tonight. Understood?"

"Uh, y-yes. I guess so." Kagome nodded sheepishly.

When that time came and the castle was settling to sleep, Kagome sat on the opposite side of the bed as Sesshomaru. He was already ready for bed. His bandages had been changed, his cloth cooled, and his hair braided to keep out of his way. Kagome would have been mostly fine with this, but he wasn't wearing a damn shirt. She had her back to him, trying to gain the confidence to just lay down.

"How long are you going to sit there?" Sesshomaru suddenly spoke up, causing her to jump.

"I, uh, well…" Kagome looked over her shoulder at him and blushed again.

"This is almost entertaining." Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, smirking at her.

"I'm glad it's fun for you." Kagome said, sticking out her tongue. "What do you expect? I've never slept in the same bed as a guy before and to do it with the older brother of the guy I thought I loved? Come on, Sesshomaru. How would you feel in this situation? How is this not awkward?"

"Hm." Sesshomaru took a moment to think about it. "Inuyasha should not matter here. You're more important. Your comfort, your sleep, and your health are more important that Inuyasha, right? This is what you were telling me before. Your life is what is important, so why is he holding you back now?"

"It's not just him. It's you too." Kagome said.

"I've given you permission." Sesshomaru stated.

"Permission isn't the problem." Kagome said, turning on the bed to face him. "It's the lack of… of… well, love. You don't love me. I don't love you. I don't think you'd ever consider me a friend. I just never thought I'd lay in bed with a man that… well, to be frank, doesn't give a damn about me."

"Well, if you put it that way, it does make you sound like a prostitute." Sesshomaru said bluntly.

"That… That did not help." Kagome pinched the bridge of her nose.

"It wasn't meant to help." Sesshomaru sat up and watched her for a moment, his expression annoyed. "I thought you more mature than this. I'm not asking you to mate with me. I'm asking you to lay down and get some sleep, so we can begin our travels tomorrow."

"Y-Y-Yes, um…" Kagome started, but was taken aback by the rather blunt message and the mental image that came with "mating" with him. "You're right. Okay. Goodnight."

Kagome didn't hesitate again. She slid into bed and covered herself up. Sesshomaru had given each of them a separate blanket so she would feel more comfortable, which helped. He laid down and blew out the candle on his side table before falling asleep. Kagome laid quietly and motionless for a while. Every little sound that was made caught her attention. And when Sesshomaru fell asleep, his breathing leveled out and she found herself focusing on the even rhythm of his breath. Soon, she fell asleep.