Hair pulled back into a high bun there was sweat dripping down the sides of her face as Akiko breathed in and out deeply. Her muscles were tense, arms pulled back at an angle so to hold the sword close to a cheek. The opponent? An ice sculpture she had created that resembled Naraku at one point in time. The fact that it was hacked into in some areas showed the young woman had been at it for hours. It wasn't melting though, the whole back of the dungeon having turned into an icy prison with her aura leaking out.

Nearly a week had passed since last seeing Sesshomaru. There was barely any news from the outside now. Whether the pack was trying to protect her from what was out there when they came to rest, or they were merely too weary to recall everything it was beginning to worry Akiko. The only thing she was aware of was that the lords were beginning to feel the affects of Naraku's army. But still not to the same extent as the West. It was clear that the enemy was determined to break through their defenses and was probably trying to still gain confirmation on the reincarnation's demise. Either way, the young woman wasn't keen about being left in the dark as the days went on and it left her restless. Books were no longer a distraction she could become involved in, rereading paragraphs so many times when the information didn't retain it gave her a headache. So the only option, when Rin wasn't around, to help pass the time was to train.

With sure footsteps and body movements Akiko maneuvered around as if engaged in an actual fight, acting on defensive and offensive positions. She was so focused and determined that when the young woman turned the blade sliced across the face carved into the ice allowing half of it to slide away and go crashing to the ground. But the reincarnation wasn't done, flipping around the weapon and wishing to drive it straight through 'Naraku' chest as if wanting to cut out half-demon's heart. Something distracted her though before that could happen.

Pausing, Akiko lowered her arms and stood straight. Turning around she looked down the long hall thinking she had heard something, ears straining against the quiet dungeon. There was a brief shout that had the young woman leaving the sculpture behind her and walking towards the entrance. The noise had one of the Hunters and Delta that had been resting in her 'room' coming to the cell doorway, looking up towards the staircase with narrowed brows. "What was that?" Akiko asked as she drew closer.

"It sounded like Aisu," one stated.

Before the reincarnation could ask anything else there were more shouts that followed and running footsteps that caused alarm to shoot through them. One of the wolves rushed up the staircase transformation along the way. Akiko went to follow when the other blocked her path. "You can't go up there," the fighter stated.

"Something is happening–"

"And if the enemy has managed to break through our defenses you need to stay here, hidden."

"If we're under attack we can't worry about that right now! The estate could fall and they would find out about me anyway. We need to go up there to see what's wrong."

The demon thought for a brief moment before finally relenting, "Very well. But we will not go outside." For now the reincarnation could work with that as the two rushed up the stairs.

All of the commotion was coming from the front of the household as they maneuvered through the halls and Akiko gripped her weapon tightly in case they were under attack. Some of the maids were running in the opposite direction in fear and when they rounded the last corner the young woman's eyes widened at the sight. Aisu and Tobi were present with half of the pack. They were all drenched in blood and were completely on edge by the way their eyes were narrowed examining the area around them, while their hair stood on end. The tense atmosphere even had Akiko worried seeing their coiled muscles ready to pounce on their next target should there be any sudden movement. But it was what the pack was guarding that had the Ice Blade disappearing from her grasp and the reincarnation was running forward. The wolves' heads snapped towards the approaching footsteps and only slightly relaxed at the sight of her, Tobi shifting out of the way for her to pass as Akiko fell to her knees beside the limp body on the ground.

Taking Sesshomaru's head between both hands he didn't even twitch at the contact, eyes remaining shut as she stared at his pale complexion. "Sesshomaru?" she tired to rouse him with a slight shake. "Sesshomaru?" Still no response and the young woman glanced down, nearly blanching at the sight. There was next to nothing left of his armor, while the kimono top was completely torn into with blood everywhere. There was so much that it was beginning to form a puddle underneath him. Four wide, long cuts completely stretched across the demon's chest, some areas being so deep that bone was beginning to show. "What happened?"

"Another one of Naraku's spawn," Tobi snarled. "A disgusting mutated, vial creature that went on a rampage through our forces slaughtering everything in sight."

"Is everyone else all right?" Akiko asked with worry. "How many were killed?"

"Nearly a fifth on the field," Aisu answered.

"Reo is dead. Ripped him open like a damn chew toy."

Akiko felt her stomach drop at the news. Clearly the death of one of their own was affecting the rest of them and she wanted to start crying. But that wasn't going to help their current situation, trying to push away those building emotions and think straight. "Does this situation need to be handled?" the young woman questioned. If that thing was still out there everyone was in danger.

"It was, and at a price," Aisu pointed out, looking to lord. "By the time the creature was killed it had already left its mark."

Looking around the open area the few maids that had been brave enough to remain behind were peeking out from behind corners as Akiko shouted, "Get Haruna, now!" Some scurried off to complete the request. The young woman's attention then went back to the demon. "We need to stop the bleeding. Why hasn't his regeneration process kicked in yet?"

"That's what worries us. His demonic form retreated once the reincarnation was destroyed and then lost consciousness."

"What about the moral on the field?"

"The army is growing worried after what they witnessed," Hatsui said. "They are still fighting though."

But not for long if this kept up. They needed help, as much as the Lord of the West would never admit and Akiko was certain none would allow her to go outside in his place. As a group they needed to think fast and effectively before it was too late for them. "Sumire." A female Delta came trotting up through the chaos, snout completely covered in purple blood from a demon she had ripped through. "Are you tired?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"I need you to run as fast as you can to Lord Seiichi's estate." Sumire was the second smallest wolf next to Tobi, but she wasn't as broad as the male. Her nimble stature made her the fastest out of the pack and they were in a state of emergency. "Tell him what happened and to launch a counterattack to draw off Naraku's horde. Anything to give us some relief for a few hours."

"Only way around it is to sneak out the back and try to travel around it," Aisu said.

"We don't have time." The enemy could hit them again at any moment and with another reincarnation.

"Three of us can escort her," Hatsui said. "Cut through a thinner section of the horde by ripping through them so Sumire can get through."

"We shouldn't separate," Tatara said.

"We don't really have a choice," Akiko said. "Find that section and show no mercy."

"I know where we can find it," Hatsui spoke up. He was followed by Sumire, and the two wolves that had been resting earlier towards the back of the estate to find their desired path.

Turning her attention back to the demon lord Akiko was starting to detect a fever beginning to form, cooling her palms to try and ward it off as best she could in the situation. "We need to move him upstairs," she stated.

"We will get the maids to help us with that," Tobi said. "You need to head back downstairs." Akiko gave him an incredulous look at that comment. "You're not supposed to be out of the dungeon. You can't be seen."

"I'm not leaving him if I can be of help–"

"You're lucky the door is closed and there are no places here where someone could sneak a glance of you from the outside. His room has a window. What do you plan on doing if you're seen?"

The young woman answered without hesitation. "I'll blend in." That statement confused the pack as to what she was talking about, when the reincarnation looked to a servant standing at a distance. "Give me a maid's kimono."

As the lord was dragged up to his quarters Akiko began to strip in the main hall having no time to be decent and handing over her kimono to a demon servant. Tobi stayed by her side to give her some covering till another reappeared with a plain looking kimono for her to slip on. Removing the sandals she swapped out for socks worn around the estate to clean the many rooms so to not track dirt through the household. Once dressed, she swiftly began walking up the stairs to the second floor with Tobi by her side. Along the way she began to twist her hair into two braids so the strands were out of the way. The door was open to the lord's room, Haruna already at work trying to remove whatever scraps were left of the kimono top and breaking away the rest of the armor. The maid that had been present when helping Akiko weeks ago was standing just behind her shoulder watching carefully and preforming tasks that were asked without hesitation. Meanwhile, two more stood on the edge of the room unsure if they would be of help or not. But Akiko brushed by and strode towards the nearest side of the bed, causing Haruna to look up briefly at her appearance. "I'm surprised to see you here," the healer commented. Neither had seen each other since the young woman's last check up on her condition.

"How can I help?" Akiko questioned.

"I need ice to calm his growing fever."

"I could lower the temperature of the room around us so my hands can be free."

Nodding in approval, her aura began to leak out as the area began to grow cooler. "We need to clean out the gashes. I would not be surprised if there was poison laced in this attack, but am still trying to determine that." Being passed a clean bucket of water and many cloths that had been shredded into strips, Akiko glanced over a shoulder at the pack that remained in the hall as acting guards and the few that stood in the room.

"You should go back to the front lines," the reincarnation stated.

"And leave you unguarded up here?" Tobi questioned in disapproval.

"I don't completely look like myself in this get up, and the windows have been closed. If you stay here without your support on the front lines Naraku could gain ground. The troops need to see all of you in Sesshomaru's absence to promote moral."

"And if something should slip in?"

"Tatara is still here acting as guard. I'm sure he won't be trailing far." The wolf shook his head from outside the door. "I know you feel like you're leaving me exposed up here, but we have to hold out till reinforcements come."

Tobi huffed, not liking this decision. But Aisu wasn't speaking against it, listening silently off to the side and watching the exchange. Head bowing the half-demon rubbed his cheek against her own and muttered a, "Fine," in answer.

"They need you out there, Tobi," Akiko continued. Her arms wrapped around his neck in a tight hug. "You're a general. The most experienced one on the field at this moment. It's you that has to lead them to counter the attacks alongside the rest of the pack. You're wasted here." And pulling away she looked him in the eye with a determined look. "Make them pay for what they did to Reo. Find a way to make those demons run back to their master with their tails between their legs."

"Gladly," he answered in a dominant tone. Turning to the rest of the pack they awaited orders. "We return to the front lines." The pack began to leave until all that was left was Tatara, who stood guard outside the door. Turning back to the bed Akiko reached into the bucket for an already submerged cloth and pulled it free. Squeezing out the excess water the young woman began to clean away the blood to properly see how deep the cuts were. Once enough was gone and before more of the red liquid could come to the surface a dry pad was pressed against the opening to try and stanch the flow.

"You were right to send them away," Haruna said. The reincarnation's eyes flickered up towards the healer for a brief moment before looking back to the demon's chest. "They would be a distraction here, and though you wish to be selfish and keep them safe after seeing this..." True, it wasn't a pretty sight. But something had to be done. Tossing away another bloody rag Akiko cursed under her breath that one section would not stop bleeding. "Press harder in that area. You won't hurt him." Doing as told Akiko looked at Sesshomaru's face to see it had gone paler. "Go to my quarters," Haruna spoke to the maid. As the demon listed off the jars needed the young woman touched the forehead, feeling the sweat collecting there. Taking one of the cloths she made it damp before freezing it slightly in hand so ice began to collect. It was the best 'ice pack' Akiko could make as it was draped over Sesshomaru's forehead.

It took hours for them to finally control the situation. A few times the young woman would grow increasingly worried with his labored breathing and that he was loosing too much blood. Granted in her world any human that would have sustained this injury would have been dead, yet even for a demon this looked bad. Haruna had managed to find some poison had been laced into the wound and quickly began to treat it. Night had fallen by the time Akiko finished applying the last wrap of the white bandages to Sesshomaru's form. With the help of the maid that had been aiding the healer the three of them managed to lift his dead weight off the bed in order to perform the task. Finally stepping away the reincarnation let out a heavy breath. There was blood all over her hands and arms, along with a few stains that managed to get on her outfit. But it was all worth it as the young woman began to wash away the red on her skin in a basin. The maid had retired for the evening leaving the two alone as the demon monitored the resting lord when Akiko spoke up, "Can I ask you a question?"

"That depends on what it is," Haruna answered.

"When was the last time you've seen him this injured?"

The demon's silence was a bit unsettling as she began to apply another wet washcloth to his forehead. The room temperature had balanced out so it was more comfortable for all of them. It had helped ward off the fever for the time being, but had to keep on it so it didn't come back. "Not since his earlier years," she finally said. "He is very much his father in a sense that he gained similar powers. When either lord was injured in the past they manage to heal on their own without my help. Something I never understood is why they decided to keep me in their estate if they were strong enough to survive on their own. But I guess every now and then we are faced with situations such as this when I am needed and without me they would probably perish."

"Was the last time when he lost his arm?"

"It was before that. Lord Sesshomaru doesn't like to admit he needs help. Most demons don't. Him loosing his arm was not under my watch. He came back after being gone for weeks and was followed by a child and was missing a limb. But it didn't take long for me to discover how it was lost."

"If you had been able to reach him–"

"It still would have been beyond my power to reattach it. There are only so many things as demons we are capable of. If Lord Sesshomaru were of reptilian blood... maybe there would have been a chance. But if his regeneration capabilities didn't take affect and reform the limb then it is not possible." Moving to her supplies Haruna began to mix more ingredients together. "You should be escorted back to your quarters." Tatara was still outside the door standing guard and had not bothered either of them the entire time. "It's late."

"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather stay." That caused the demon to cock her brow in the mortal's direction. "I can sleep on the floor. If his condition gets worse you'll need help and I'd be too far away if I went underground again."

For a moment she thought this over before answering, "Very well."

Dragging a mattress pad from a guest room along with blankets and pillows she set up a makeshift bed. Tatara helped carry a few items in by the teeth, speaking lowly to the young woman as they interacted. "Rin came by a few times asking what was going on," he relayed.

"And what did you say?"

"That something happened, but she should not worry. Jaken managed to lead her away."

That's good. Akiko would hate to have the child witness the lord in this manner. "Thank you," she said, running a hand through his fur. "You should go and check on her."

"I'm supposed to guard you."

"She's a child." Pulling away the outer part of the kimono it left her in the kosode, folding up the bloodied fabric and setting it aside.

"And you are to be our leader and are at risk being on the surface."

"Have you heard anything? From the others?"

"Nothing. But it doesn't seem that the line is pulling back in our direction." That was nice to hear; yet it didn't put all of her fears to rest. "Get some rest. In case you do have to get up for an emergency."

Nodding, Akiko laid down to get comfortable. The wolf then paced around her before lying down as well, side pressed up against her form in a protective manner. He almost completely covered her from view if any eyes wandered, head resting on a section of the pillow that was free. Haruna began to blow out a few candles in the room to make it darker. "I will wake you if I need you," the healer reassured. And with a small smile the young woman's eyes began to close. She thought it would be difficult to relax with everything that had happened, but within a few minutes the mortal was under completely.

A loud squealing noise awoke Akiko from her deep slumber. She sat up halfway with a jolt, reaching out and instantly grasping Tatara's fur tightly. But the young woman didn't startle the wolf, who was already awake and listening to what was going on beyond the walls. "We're not under attack," he reassured.

"What was that noise?" she asked a bit breathlessly. Being awoken so harshly had made her heart jump into her throat as it pounded against the ribs.