Lady Sanjou was beginning to grow worried, even if she didn't express it. Lord Kira had arrived on schedule allowing the remaining wolves to help in the search for the item they sought. But there had been no word from the hunting parties as to their progress. Haruna did everything in her power to slow the poison, as Tobi attempted to keep Akiko's body temperature down. It was becoming evident that their methods were slowly beginning to stop working. The color of the young woman's arm was turning blue and purple around the bite wound when they would uncover the punctures to redress the injury. It was even beginning to ooze puss, which was another bad sign.

"She's not going to last another day," Haruna stated. Her expression was grave, wiping away the sweat from the young woman's face. "If Lord Sesshomaru or the wolves do not make it before dawn..." They would have run out of time. And it was already nearing midday.

"So what do we do?" Tobi asked.

"There's nothing more we can do, honestly." That wasn't good enough for the Beta, wishing to lash out in anger for her to try something else. Anything. But he held his tongue, hairs standing on end from his fury, while his ears were pressed flat against his head.

"She speaks the truth," Lady Sanjou agreed. "You can smell it on her. Her body is giving out. My mate shared a similar scent when found." She was aware of the restless lords lingering about the estate, not straying too far from the room so to keep an eye on their ally. They were wise enough to not bother any of them once inside, but the moment the hawk demon stepped outside the door they were waiting for the latest news. Maids would come and go with clean cloths, cool water buckets, and dry clothing since the young woman was sweating through kosodes being provided.

"Go to the gardens and fetch me this plant," Haruna finally said to one demon maid. Nodding, she quickly rushed off with the set of instructions.

"What are you planning on doing?" Lady Sanjou questioned. She was currently changing the young woman into clean clothing as Tobi helped prop her up.

"It's our last line of defense," the healer answered. "A bit dangerous, but we're out of options. There's an herbal remedy I can make that once spread on the chest of a patient helps them breathe a bit easier due to the smell it gives off."

"Why is it dangerous?" Tobi asked.

"With all of the medicinal herbs that have been used on her to give us more time it could work against us by reacting to any of the other properties still lingering in her system."

"An allergic reaction." That's what they referred it to in the modern world when mixing too many medications at once.

"If that's the name of it, then yes."

The maid came rushing back into the room with the needed planet, handing it over before lingering a few steps away in case anything else was needed. Lying Akiko back on the bed, Lady Sanjou watched as Haruna began quickly crushing the plant. Immediately there was a smell that nearly burned the inside of the lady's nose from the sensitivity. Tobi nuzzled against the side of the young woman's head before covering nearly half of her body again with his own trying to cool the fever. But by now it was growing so hot the Beta was beginning to feel it through his demonic state.

Lady Sanjou was about to comment on something when she paused. There was something in the air that was approaching. It was dark and demonic in nature that had her brows narrowing. Were they under attack? Tobi and Haruna had yet to notice anything, but wondered if the lords in the household knew what was approaching the estate. Now that Lord Sesshomaru and many of their stronger forces had vacated the land in the search of the Gekka Bijin they were vulnerable. If Naraku or Lord Orochi were moving, they could be in serious trouble. Suddenly, whatever it was rushed towards them at an unnatural speed. Tobi's head picked up from where it was resting, a low growling forming in his throat as the demon reached towards her weapon leaning against the end of the bed. Haruna had stopped what she was doing, looking to the windows and the three wondered if the enemy would come breaking through them at any moment.

The maid's scream had their attention snapping towards the doorway that had opened so violently it ripped the door off, scattering the contents across the floor. Instantly, Tobi was hovering over Akiko's form and crouching low with bared teeth out of protection, while the lady drew her sword, and the healer gripped the cloth in hand tightly. But it wasn't an enemy that had entered; causing them to calm slightly, yet the maid had reason to scream. Sesshomaru stood in the doorway with glowing red eyes and narrowed brows. And his normal pristine attire was drenched in blood, guts, and bits of skin from his enemies that he had cut through. Obviously, the lord had encountered something during his search, and it had been demonic based on smell alone.

"Do you have it?" Lady Sanjou dared to ask in the tense silence.

His eyes left the young woman lying on the bed, looking the hawk demon in the eye. The lady rarely felt intimidated in the presence of other lords and ladies, but she knew they were on thin ice with the Western Lord. With him this close to fully transforming anything could set him off, lowering the weapon in her grasp.

Reaching inside the sleeve of his kimono, Sesshomaru presented the item they desired. Surprisingly there wasn't a drop of blood on it, though one petal was a bit wrinkled from the travel. Still, it was enough for them to work with as Lady Sanjou slowly approached and took it from his grasp. "Haruna–"

"It's ready," the healer answered hastily. Being handed the flower, she quickly set to work on the table beside the bed without the maid's help. The lower demon was still too terrified, and cowering further away against the wall. And Tobi, he had yet to pull away from his defensive position. The Beta had stopped growling though his glare was ever present staring down the lord. Sesshomaru had no issue with returning the expression, claws slightly flexing at his side.

This was not good, Lady Sanjou observed. With both males in the room a fight would break out for dominance regarding the reincarnation. While on any other day the hawk demon would be amused based on the way the dog demon was acting, now was not the time. "Lord Sesshomaru." He did not look in her direction. "Please leave us." The atmosphere in the room grew darker at the request, and air seeming to crackle with demonic energy. "Lord Sesshomaru," she spoke with more force. Now it was her turn to fight for dominance over the situation so a scuffle didn't break out. Her pupils began glowing gold, the corners of the eyes thinning further to a fine point as feathers began sprouting from the hairline and cascading over the strands. And then there were her nails beneath the long sleeves of her kimono that were sharpening into dangerous black claws. Sensing the growing demonic presence Sesshomaru's attention was on her. "You are a distraction and need to leave. If you do not the Queen could die. She has mere hours for her condition to turn around. And while you are at it get rid of the blood." The smell nearly overpowered the one of death growing from the mortal. "You are wasting precious time," she pressed when he still did not move.

Begrudgingly, the Lord of the West finally turned to leave, moving down the hall towards his quarters. Lord Kira and Seiichi stood further away, a few maids peeking or hiding behind corners wondering what was going on. Sesshomaru had a very forceful entrance, nearly destroying the front doorway and had a few unfortunate maids scurrying out of the way for safety so not to cross his path. The lords were wary of his appearance, sharing a look as the dog demon grew closer without a word.

"It seems that we missed out on a fierce battle," Lord Kira commented. "Was it that snake?" He hoped so and that Sesshomaru had ripped his head from his body.

"A reincarnation," the demon snarled in response. It was so hostile a few of the maids ran, not wishing to be in his presence any longer.

"Naraku," Lord Seiichi muttered. "Should have guessed he would intervene. Is it dead?"

"No, but the horde is." Sesshomaru had watched as Kagura ran away to save herself when it was clear the battle was lost for them. He wished to rush after the wind sorceress to kill her once and for all. Or to be led to Naraku. But he had a mission and was wasting precious time. Coming upon the flower, it was just as Lady Sanjou had illustrated it and quickly plucked the item from its place. The dog demon met no further resistance from the enemy upon his return.

He didn't pause in his walk through the household, passing between the two lords and not sparing them another glance as they continued to stare at the back of his blood soaked armor. "How intriguing," Lord Kira mused lowly to himself. The boar demon looked to his comrade with a cocked brow, but was waved off. He would not express his words so freely where the Western Lord could possibly hear.

"Help Lord Sesshomaru prepare a bath and then leave him be," Lord Seiichi instructed a handful of maids that were so brave to not run. They paled instantly at the command, but nodded. "When he is gone you may clean up after him." None of the maids deserved to feel the wrath coursing through the lord. In his unstable state, Sesshomaru could kill again without hesitation.

"Tip her head back," they heard Haruna instruct in the room down the hall. "Quickly!" The sun was setting outside as the two refused to move from where they stood, listening to Akiko's labored breathing before they began forcing the remedy down her throat. There was a choking noise for a few moments as the liquid was consumed. "Rub that extra paste on the arm." There was more shuffling.

"Was there enough?" Lady Sanjou questioned.

"Yes, and it is out of our hands now," Haruna answered. The terrified maid swiftly left, no longer needed as the male demons watched her scurry off. "The Gekka Bijin will take effect, but it's up to Akiko's body to accept the antidote and fight back."

All they could do was wait, Lady Sanjou, Tobi, and Haruna in the room, while the lords stayed where they were in the hall. In case Sesshomaru came back for whatever reason and still wasn't in the right state of mind. Together they could possiblyhold the dog demon back, yet hoped the situation wouldn't present itself.

Sesshomaru was submerged up to his nose in his private bath, glaring at the opposite wall with distaste. He could still feel his claws ripping through the horde of demons and recalled the fear in Kagura's eyes as the wind sorceress swiftly made her escape. Even though the fight was over and the Gekka Bijin had been thankfully found the lord still felt his demon clawing at the surface wishing to be released. The blood in the bath with him did nothing to help calm his behavior, wishing to kill more of Naraku's forces. The red hue was affecting him so much he was forced to leave the water and finish wiping himself down to try and keep the beast at bay. Redressing in a clean kimono, Sesshomaru wasted no time in leaving his quarters and walking back down the same hallway as before. Lord Kira and Seiichi were still in the hall, but now leaned against opposite walls. Though their postures were rather relaxed it was clear that they were tense and on guard. Not just because of Akiko's condition, but of his returning approach. Neither made a comment as he went to pass when Lady Sanjou exited the room.

"Well?" Lord Seiichi questioned lowly.

Studying the three lords, she took a moment before saying anything, "The antidote has been administered. Her body seems to be accepting it for now. But we must wait and see if the mortal will hold out."

"I don't understand," Lord Kira spoke up. His brows were pinched in confusion. "We have the Gekka Bijin, we made the deadline. Why is her life still in danger?"

"Because we barely made it. Akiko is a mortal, not a demon like us. The fact that she's managed to hold on for this long is astonishing. The venom that ran through her did take its toll so there is still a chance of death. It may have spread too far."

Sesshomaru wasn't pleased to hear that at all, feeling the red trying to creep back into the whites around his pupils that had finally receded only minutes ago. "So we are left waiting again," the boar demon concluded.

"That is correct. I know this isn't the answer we want at the moment, but there's nothing more we can do at this time." Her eyes were trained on the dog demon, waiting for him to say something or lash out. But when neither happened the hawk demon found herself silently praising the lord for his control. "I have already dispatched my hawks to call back the search. If you will excuse me, I will be in my room." Leaving towards a guest room, the other two lords followed after to their own. But Sesshomaru stayed rooted in place, staring at the open doorway only a few feet away. He could hear Haruna shuffling about inside, along with the steady heartbeat of the Beta guarding her, and the weak heartbeat of Akiko. Normally, the demon would have taken the information the hawk demon had relayed and been on his way until there were changes. But the lord found himself approaching the room where the door still lay broken on the ground, eyes immediately darting towards the bed.

The reincarnation's skin was still ashen, the bandage wrapped around the bitten arm nearly bending in. The sheet covers too. Then there was the hulking wolf form lying flush against the young woman's side, no longer draped over her body protectively. His eyes studied the Beta carefully, waiting for his head to rise at the lord's entrance and begin growling again till they were at a stand off like before. Tobi's deep breathing was a dead give away that the half-demon was sleeping and not pretending.

"He fell asleep minutes ago," Haruna spoke up. The healer was moving about the other side of the bed, cleaning up her supplies and preparing a few other things they would need in the coming hours should there be improvement. "I am surprised he didn't do so sooner with the amount of demonic energy he has been using to cool her down these last few days." Sesshomaru then realized that Tobi's involvement had probably been the biggest factor that managed to give them time to find the Gekka Bijin. Otherwise, Akiko would have succumbed to the poison quicker due to fever. "I will make my rounds throughout the night to make sure she continues to be stable. For now, I will leave you." Haruna departed without another word.

The dog demon traveled to the side of the bed the healer had been on, steering clear of the Beta so not to disturb him. Sesshomaru wanted to view the reincarnation's condition up close without interruption. The color of her normally pink lips were completely gone, sounding a bit breathless with each inhale she took. Death was still lingering in the air. But it wasn't as stifling when arriving. The minute the lord stepped inside the front doors there had been an odor due to the infected skin. Even when Rin would become sick there was always a shift in her scent. Akiko's had been overwhelming the closer he drew towards the room it only pushed him to move faster through the halls and break down the door without question. The dark circles under the eyes clearly showed the reincarnation was fighting against the venom, exhausting her even in an unconscious state. Reaching out his hand rested against the young woman's cheek feeling the heated skin. There was a slight dampness from the sweat of her body trying to expel the poison, something he didn't pay mind to or recoil from. Just the sight of the young woman breathing and alive stirred something inside the demon. Something he hadn't felt since bringing back Rin from death. But this was slightly different. His heart pounded a bit abnormally in his chest, the beast rumbling lowly from the contact and seeming to calm a bit more. Quickly, the lord drew away, continuing to stare at the mortal's face. Sesshomaru couldn't understand this pull to stay in the room and watch over her. There had been a sense of protection towards the reincarnation that seemed to grow each day he was in her presence. And failing to kill Lord Orochi's assassin before reaching the future Queen he constantly began looking back at his miscalculations more so angered with himself and hoping that Akiko survived.

Tobi shifted on the bed, drawing the lord out of his thoughts, as the half-demon's form settled once more, eyes remaining closed. Though Sesshomaru wasn't particularly fond of the Beta, the animal was doing its job protecting its master from harm even while he slept. In turn, the dog demon needed to patrol his boarders to ensure none entered to try and finish what they started. Instead of resting like his visitors, Sesshomaru moved towards the front doors again, ignoring Jaken's squawk when seeing his master and trying to catch up to his pace. But the imp was left behind as the lord made his way out the semi standing main doors and towards the forest. The beast hummed in his chest, Sesshomaru no longer trying to control it as the corners of his lips pulled back unnaturally along the cheeks, white fur spouting from the skin, as the whites of his eyes glowed red. With a low snarl the demon began to break free, falling forward onto his arm as he grew in height nearly dwarfing the surrounding trees. With a loud howl it carried over the vast stretch of land warding any away that would be so bold as to step onto his land without permission. Sesshomaru wouldn't tolerate trespassers, claws digging into the dirt and propelling himself forward into a run.