InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Moment of Clarity ❯ A Moment of Clarity ( Chapter 1 )

I don't own Inuyasha or any of its characters; they belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

 

This story contains a lemon (explicit description of sex). If you are too young or do not appreciate that sort of thing, do not read.

 

I know this is not an original idea; SplendentGoddess (one of my favorite authors) wrote a story with a similar premise under the title “Dying Confession.” I do believe my story is original, however, as I have done more than a few things I have never seen before. Any plagiarism is entirely unintentional. Also, this is my first fanfiction and I appreciate any reviews. Thank you.

 

“dialogue”

thoughts

 

 

A Moment of Clarity

 

 

“Please Inuyasha?”

 

Said hanyou sighed, knowing he was fighting a losing battle. He knew it was a bad idea; going into a big village always was. The shadiest people and places in human society could be found there. Humans who weren't simple farmers always had more time on their hands for leisure, and big villages always contained plenty of places that catered to those people. Lords, samurai, and bandits liked to hang around large villages, attracted by the strong aroma of alcohol and the even stronger lure of promiscuous women. Normally, none of that would have concerned Inuyasha; he was more than strong enough to deal with anything a mere mortal could throw at him. Of course, tonight was no normal night for the hanyou. It was now dusk, and he could already feel his demonic powers and senses receding as the imminent moonless night approached.

 

Unfortunately for Inuyasha, none of the humans in his group seemed particularly wary of the large—you couldn't even call it a village—before them. Instead, for the past few minutes they had ganged up on him, citing the benefit of secure lodging for the night. But Inuyasha knew the real reason they wanted to stay in the crowded hellhole: Kagome and Sango want a hot bath, and the monk…well, he just wants to drink sake and do some groping. Feh! But none of that mattered when Kagome was using that pleading tone of voice, her brown eyes shining in a way that made him feel guilty for even thinking of refusing her request. When had he become so susceptible to her charms? He scoffed inwardly. Perhaps it had been when he realized she had charms. Early on in their journey, he couldn't have cared less about her pleading and begging; he had received a great many Sits! to prove it. Then again, he hadn't cared very much about her in the beginning, he thought with a grimace. But that didn't last long; the kind and caring miko before him had made sure of that. Slowly she had worked her way past his defenses and into his trust. He could now admit, if only to himself, that she was his first true friend, and the one he held closest to his heart.

 

So when Kagome pleaded with him in that voice and batted her doe-eyes at him, Inuyasha knew he had lost. Ahh shit…

 

“Fine, already! We can stay in the fucking village!” he exclaimed, feigning exasperation.

 

Kagome's eyes lit up as she pulled Inuyasha into a quick hug, muttering a quiet thank you in the process. Upon releasing him, she grabbed Sango and proceeded to drag the demon slayer toward the village, clearly seeking a place where they could bathe. Shippo and Kirara chased after them, leaving just Inuyasha and Miroku behind. The monk, apparently sensing Inuyasha's apprehension, attempted to reassure him.

 

“Don't worry, my friend. We'll keep a low profile tonight.”

 

Inuyasha shot him an incredulous look. Miroku's gonna keep a low profile when there's women around? Bullshit! He was just about to voice his thoughts when last sliver of sun disappeared below the horizon, sparking the transformation he dreaded every month. He once again experienced the unsettling sensation of his ears, claws, and fangs shifting, not to mention the loss of his enhanced senses. Now he wanted to stay out of that village more than ever, preferring the solitude of a sturdy tree or the security of a warm campfire surrounded by his friends. The monk's voice once again broke him out of his musings.

 

“Come on, Inuyasha, you shouldn't be out here by yourself.”

 

Inuyasha sighed again. These humans are going to be the death of me…

 

 

 

 

Sometimes Inuyasha hated when he was right. Miroku had performed one of his `exorcisms,' earning free room and board for the night. No sooner had Kagome and Sango gone off to bathe then the monk had mysteriously vanished, no doubt to indulge his lecherous tendencies. He had even taken Kirara with him for added `cuteness effect.' The runt had gone inside to sleep, which left Inuyasha by himself. So there he sat, leaning up against the outer wall of the inn and trying to stay inconspicuous. Across the street sat a busy tavern, from which the sounds of rowdy male patrons reached even his weak human ears. It was almost comical to watch, he chuckled dryly; sober men go in, drunk men come out. He knew he should probably be indoors, but the fresh air appealed to him for some reason. It had nothing to do with making sure Kagome got back safely from her bath, nothing at all.

 

Speaking of the miko from the future, she and Sango chose that moment to finally emerge from the bath house. Clad in a clean school uniform, she looked refreshed and content, her appearance and happy expression bringing a small smile to Inuyasha's face. The two women sauntered toward him, Sango looking around in search of something. Or someone…

 

“If you're lookin' for the monk, he went out womanizing,” Inuyasha stated bluntly. The slayer's eyes hardened and her face flushed in annoyance before she grabbed hiraikotsu and stalked off in search of her flirtatious fiancé.

 

Now it was Kagome's turn to sigh. “You know, you could have said that better.”

 

“Feh!” was the eloquent reply.

 

“Insensitive baka,” she stated, though the smile on her face revealed that she wasn't truly angry with her hanyou. She too had sensed his discomfort with entering the village, and appreciated his willingness to give in anyway. She had really needed that bath… She was just about to sit down next to him and hopefully share one of those cherished tender moments when a strange voice sounded from behind her.

 

“Hey bitch, how much?”

 

Kagome jumped in surprise, turned around swiftly and managed a confused “Excuse me?”

 

“You heard me. How much?” said the decidedly creepy man leering at her.

 

Kagome's innocent mind still could not wrap itself around what the man was asking, but Inuyasha had no such problem. He was up in an instant, placing himself between Kagome and the pervert trying to `hire' her. Standing nose to nose he could smell the stench of booze wafting off the man, though the asshole clearly was not drunk.

 

“Listen, bastard. Get those fuckin' thoughts out of your stupid fuckin' head! Kagome ain't that kind of girl,” he managed to grind out through clenched teeth. To his ire the man actually had the gall to laugh!

 

“You expect me to believe that when she's wearing that tiny kimono? Now I'll ask you one more time. How much?” The man drew the last two words out as if he was speaking to a child. In the background, Kagome finally figured out what was going on.

 

“Wait, he thinks I'm a…”

 

“Listen, you fucking sorry excuse for a man! Kagome is MY woman, so back the FUCK off!” Inuyasha yelled, poking the man in the chest repeatedly for added emphasis. A quiet gasp from behind him made him realize what exactly he had just said, but he could deal with that later, after this bastard was gone or dead. With every passing second Inuyasha found himself more in favor of the latter option. He thought his display had worked when the man stepped back, but that belief was quickly squashed when the guy defiantly and calmly stated,

 

“Not for long.” Then the bastard raised his right hand and snapped his fingers. And suddenly there wasn't just one bastard anymore.

 

 

 

 

Shippo jolted upright, awoken by the familiar sound of Inuyasha's yelling. Scampering toward the door, he cautiously peaked out to investigate the source of the disturbance. The scene before him made his hair stand on end. Inuyasha was standing protectively in front of Kagome, shielding her from a particularly evil-looking human. But Shippo's demonic eyes could see what Inuyasha could not: several other men eagerly watching the argument from the shadows, as if waiting for a signal. Sensing the fox kit's presence, Kagome turned to him and mouthed `Go get Sango and Miroku!' He wanted to warn her of the hidden men, but it was already too late. Turning on his heal, he scurried off as fast as his little legs would carry him.

 

 

 

 

Shit…this is not good, Inuyasha thought. Four more men had suddenly appeared, surrounding him and the miko clinging fearfully to the back of his haori. They were caught in the center of a ring of death; encircled by enemies and the wall of the inn blocking the only escape route. Their attackers had already drawn their swords, strongly suggesting that besides lust they now had bloodshed on their minds as well. Bystanders fled or watched anxiously from the sidelines; no one seemed particularly interested in interfering. No wonder that asshole was so confident. He had lackeys backing him up and the whole town under his thumb! Normally five-to-one odds wouldn't scare Inuyasha in the least. Hell, he routinely faced hundreds of Naraku's demons at a time, using Tetsusaiga to butcher them by the dozen. But Tetsusaiga would not transform this night, and Inuyasha found himself gripped by the most powerful fear he had ever experienced. It wasn't fear for his own life that ailed him, however, but fear for Kagome, and what the bastards surrounding them would do to her.

 

No! I won't let that happen! They wont lay a finger on her! Protectiveness flared within him, his very soul crying out in defiance as he drew Tetsusaiga. As he expected, the sword remained in its rusty state, a fact that his enemies found very amusing.

 

“Look at that thing! Is that a katana or a waking stick?!”

 

“I'll cut through it like butter!”

 

The laughing and insults continued, and Inuyasha quickly came to a decision. He could either stand there and wait until the men decided to attack all at once, or he could go on the offensive, using aggressiveness to gain a much needed edge. And our hanyou's fighting style is nothing if not aggressive.

 

Inuyasha lunged to the right, heading for the nearest enemy. The man nearly choked on his mirth, barely managing to lift his sword in front of him in his shock. Inuyasha easily parried the man's futile stroke and sent him sprawling with a vicious left cross to the side of the head. The next man managed a fairly coordinated overhand swing…which Inuyasha deftly dodged. The man's katana planted itself in the dirt with a muffled WHUMP!, and he too fell unconscious to the ground via a blow to the back of the head from Tetsusaiga's butt end.

 

Heh, two down, Inuyasha thought as he turned toward the leader, who suddenly appeared noticeably less confident. One more solid blow would end this fight once and for all. Suddenly, an indignant shriek stilled his attack and had him spinning around toward its source. What he saw set his blood boiling in a way that he had only experienced just before his few full-demon transformations. The two lackeys who had originally been standing on his left had immediately leapt into action, not to help their comrades but to grab Kagome. They stood on either side of her, each holding her arms fast with one hand and exploring her front with the other. One man pawed at her breasts, tearing the fabric of her shirt, while the other scraped his hand up her bare thigh toward the hem of her skirt. She struggled valiantly, but the men holding her were too strong.

 

“Kagome!!” Inuyasha screamed as he charged toward her. She glanced up at hearing her name, and noticed something to her left that caused her eyes to widen in terror.

 

“Inuyasha, look out!!” He turned to his right…just in time to take the incoming katana in the gut instead of the side. Indescribable pain blossomed in his abdomen, Tetsusaiga falling from his grasp as sparks of fire lanced to every recess of his body. He once again found himself nose-to-nose with the gang leader, gazing at a visage so disturbing that it rivaled Naraku's in its malevolence. With victory in his eyes and amusement in his voice, the man spoke:

 

“So, how does it feel to be impaled? I'll make sure your bitch experiences the same thing.” Inuyasha's eyes, eyes which had been glazing over in agony, sparked back to life with the thug's last comment. The flames returned, burning with more power and passion than ever. The man's bravado once again deserted him as his grip on his sword faltered. Inuyasha took the opportunity to wrench the hand off the katana buried in his gut. He put everything he had into the final blow. With a thunderous battle cry that shook the heavens, Inuyasha heaved his fist upward, connecting squarely with his enemy's chin. He felt both the jawbone and his own fingers shatter from the impact, one that sent the man careening backward through the air until he landed with a sickening crunch ten feet away.

 

Slowly turning, Inuyasha ripped the bloody katana from his gut and let it drag on the ground beside him as he stalked toward Kagome's assailants on wobbly legs. The men, who had ceased their molestations once their leader had fallen, paled visibly. They looked at each other, took one more look at the crazed man bearing down on them, turned and fled with their tails between their legs. A cry of “Hiraikotsu!” and two thumps in rapid succession suggested they didn't get very far.

 

So they finally got here… Inuyasha thought as he sank to his knees. The adrenaline and the pure, unadulterated rage that had kept him standing had subsided quickly. The frailness of his currently mortal body was catching up to him as he struggled to keep from collapsing in a heap. He barely managed to hear someone call his name over the pounding in his ears. Looking up, he spied Kagome running towards him through blurry vision. His mouth moved of its own accord, but he could not make out the words. The world seemed to be both spinning and darkening at the same time. Finally, he could fight the battle no longer, as he collapsed forward onto something soft and warm. Even in his delirious state he knew who it was. Kagome, at least you're safe… was his final thought before he plunged into the waiting darkness.

 

 

 

 

It had all happened so fast. The whole thing, from the start of the argument to the fall of the last two bandits, had probably taken less than two minutes. It was remarkable the others had made it back to see even the end of it. For Kagome, however, time slowed to a standstill at the precise moment she tried desperately to warn Inuyasha about the oncoming blade. She watched in slow motion, horrified, as the man she loved was run through. Thankfully, the world seemed to return to its normal speed after that. Kagome watched in awe and overwhelming pride as Inuyasha sent his enemy flying and dispatched her own assailants with just a look. She winced as he wrenched the sword from his stomach.

 

Once the battle ended, a cold realization set in for the miko. A new battle was beginning: a battle against time to save Inuyasha's life. She could practically hear the blood dripping off the sword, and when Inuyasha fell to his knees he landed in a puddle of his own blood. She rushed toward him, calling out his name; he managed a broken whisper of her own name in response. Then his eyes, usually so alert, lost focus, and he toppled towards the Earth. But she was there, sliding to her own knees and catching him, supporting him with her body. The dirt, the blood, the torn shirt and violated flesh; none of that mattered now. I'll save you Inuyasha, I won't let you down!

 

“Miroku! Help me get him inside! Sango! Go get the village healer!”

 

With Kirara's help, they managed to get the now unconscious hanyou inside their room at the inn without jostling him too much. While Miroku gathered bandages from her bag, Kagome removed Inuyasha's shirts and got her first look at the wound. It's not as bad as what he's gotten in the past… But then again, he had never suffered such a severe injury when he was human. The first time she had seen him in his mortal form, he had been poisoned by the rogue spider youkai. He probably would have died back then if Myouga hadn't intervened, but the flea would be of little help tonight even if he were in the area. Inuyasha was losing blood too quickly, and Kagome used both hands to staunch the flow. When the flow of blood had slowed to a trickle, she delicately wrapped Inuyasha's entire abdomen in gauze and bandages.

 

By then Sango and the healer had arrived, but neither saw any need to intercede as Kagome was doing all anyone could for Inuyasha. The healer shook her head; her years of experience told her the man would not make it, despite the girl's competent care. He had lost too much blood, and was probably still bleeding internally. That sword could have punctured any number of internal organs as well. When she was finished, the girl looked up, glanced at the fox kit waiting nervously by the door, and then met the eyes of the monk. The monk nodded his understanding and proceeded to lead the other occupants of the room outside, leaving just the girl, herself, and the unconscious man. She sighed—this was clearly a tight-knit group. Over the years the healer had consoled many relatives of the recently deceased—husbands, wives, parents—but it was something she never got used to.

 

“How does he look?” The quiet question broke the old woman out of her musings. Really looking at the girl for the first time, she sighed again at what she saw. The girl was in rough shape, her expression consumed by worry and her eyes barely managing to contain a flood of tears. Tears the healer feared would soon fall.

 

“It doesn't look good. Tomorrow's sunrise may be his last.” She expected the girl to break down at that statement, but was surprised to see hope blossoming in her eyes.

 

“He only has to make it until morning.” Immediately the girl's expression turned fearful, as if she regretted what she had just said and was afraid of the consequences. What the…only needs to survive until morning? Putting the pieces together, the wise old healer came to the correct conclusion.

 

“Is he a demon?” she asked with no disgust in her voice.

 

The girl hesitated only a moment before replying “Half-demon.”

 

“I see…what is your name child?”

 

“Uhh…Kagome”

 

“And his name?”

 

“Inuyasha”

 

At that the old healer chuckled and broke into a toothy grin. “A fitting name wouldn't you say?” At Kagome's confused look, she said “Don't worry, child. I, too once fell in love with a demon.”

 

Kagome's face flamed as she stuttered “Wha-? How did you…?”

 

“It is written all over your face, dear.” She went on to tell the story of how a demon had rescued her when she was injured in the forest gathering herbs. She had been young then, barely a maiden, and the demon who treated her with such kindness had seemed like a Kami.

 

“It was only after I returned to the village that I realized I loved him. Of course, it may have been just a girlish infatuation, but it was the closest I ever came to loving someone. But he would not tell me his name, no matter how many times I asked, and I never saw him again.”

 

Relief washed over Kagome as she realized that the healer would not judge Inuyasha for his demonic heritage. The older woman reminded her so much of Kaede, and her story did much to calm her nerves.

 

“So do you think he'll make it until morning?” she asked hopefully.

 

The healer's smile sobered slightly, but she confidently stated “Yes, but it is not certain.”

 

Kagome nodded; that had been the best diagnosis that she could have hoped for. The healer complimented her bandaging work, and said that Inuyasha's life was in the Kami's hands before taking her leave.

 

 

 

 

“Is Inuyasha going to be ok?” Shippo asked tentatively.

 

“I don't know, Shippo. Kagome has done everything she could for him, but it's up to Inuyasha now. I'm going to go find a quiet spot to pray for his recovery; you and Sango are welcome to join me.” Not knowing what else to do, the fox kit and demon slayer followed the monk a short distance away from the inn and sat down in the grass. Miroku had just taken his first deep, meditative breath when a man's voice interrupted his concentration.

 

“Excuse me, are you with the outsider who was injured?”

 

Opening his eyes, Miroku studied the man, who appeared to be in his late forties. The man's face held no hostility; he appeared to be merely curious. At Miroku's affirmative answer, however, the man's expression morphed into one of relief and gratitude.

 

“Those thugs have been plaguing this village for months! You have our humble thanks for incapacitating them.” Miroku seethed, barely maintaining his composure. If they were such a nuisance then why didn't you get rid of them yourself! You didn't even help Inuyasha! He took another deep breath, calming himself. They would get no answers if they openly condemned the villager's behavior, no matter how justified they were in doing so. Miroku glanced back toward the inn. The villagers had finally emerged from the woodwork; four of the five bandits were gone, presumably taken for punishment, and one was being wheeled off the street in a cart. That man was covered head to toe with a sheet…

 

“Is that one dead?” The grateful man's face darkened at Miroku's question.

 

“Yes. Your friend broke his jaw and his neck snapped when he fell. We will keep this a secret as long as we can, but you and your group should leave as soon as you are able. There will eventually be trouble…” That statement prompted many questions from the three members of the Inu gang, but all went unasked. The man did not look like he was about to tell them anything more, almost as if he was ashamed. Perhaps those men were not simple bandits, after all…

 

“We can provide a cart for you to transport your wounded comrade, if you wish to leave tonight.”

 

Miroku considered the man's not-so-subtle suggestion briefly before scrapping the idea. Kagome would never consent to moving Inuyasha tonight, especially when he will recover if he can make it until morning.

 

“No thank you, if there is trouble, my friends and I will handle it.” The determination in the monk's glare was matched by Sango, Shippo, and even Kirara. We will not fail Inuyasha again…

 

A wave of guilt washed over Miroku. It's my fault Inuyasha is hurt. I should not have left them alone, not tonight. My harmless flirting was not so harmless this time, I guess. I hope Inuyasha will forgive me when he wakes…if he wakes… A soft hand on his shoulder startled Miroku out of his reflections. Looking up, he observed Sango gazing at him with concern, a light dusting of pink present on her cheeks. She would never know how much the simple fact that she was trying to offer him comfort in that moment meant to him. Feeling an unfamiliar wetness seep into his eyes, he grasped the slayer's hand in his own and squeezed gently. Managing a small smile, he declared “Now, let's pray.” Their hands never separated.

 

 

 

 

Kagome tried to be strong, she really did. As the minutes turned into hours she sat by his side, doing her best to make sure he was comfortable. She held back her tears, knowing they would do Inuyasha no good. But he kept getting paler and paler, his breathing becoming shallower and more erratic as the night went on. Finally, at what she estimated was about an hour before dawn, the worry and fatigue caught up with her. The torrential flood of salt water could be held back no longer, as the dam on her emotions burst with such force that it sent her flopping onto Inuyasha's chest. She laid there sobbing hysterically, pleading with whatever god was listening to spare the life of her hanyou, her love.

 

“Inuyasha…”

 

What's that voice? Inuyasha was floating, hovering in a sea of never-ending blackness. He knew he recognized the voice, but its owner's identity escaped him at the moment. Where am I? What the hell am I doing here? He pondered these questions for several moments before an ominous realization set in. So I'm dying, huh? Inuyasha floated there for a few more moments, gathering his senses, as bits and pieces of memory slowly filtered back into his jumbled mind. Well, Kikyou, I guess I'll be joining you in hell soon after all. He expected the thought to fill him with happiness, or at least contentment, but instead it left him only with a crushing emptiness, as if his very soul had been torn asunder. Why don't I want to go to hell with Kikyou? Don't I love her?

 

“Please, Inuyasha…”

 

Wait, that voice! Kagome! Instantly Inuyasha knew why he no longer wished to meet his first love in hell. A succession of images raced through his mind, images of Kagome caring for him, fighting at his side, crying for him, and even sitting him. All brought a smile to his face, and warmth to his heart. That's what Kagome had done for him; she slowly healed the wounds left by his hard life and Kikyou's apparent betrayal. She had brought him out of his solitude, forced him to make friends. For the first time in his life, he had companions he could count on. They would all give their lives for each other without hesitation; they had all nearly done just that on numerous occasions. It was all thanks to the strange, sometimes klutzy, and always naïve miko from the future. She continued to be the brightest light in his otherwise dreary existence.

 

“Inuyasha, please, wake up…”

 

Inuyasha returned to the world of the living slowly. The first thing he became aware of was the horrible aching pain originating from his abdomen. He gradually opened his eyes, gazing up at the ceiling passively. It seemed to be vibrating periodically, or maybe the motion was coming from him. He also noticed a weight on his chest, though it was not uncomfortable in the least. Lifting his head, a move which required a Herculean effort, he looked down his body and spied Kagome lying on his chest. She was crying, her sobs jostling his frame slightly. No matter what I do I always seem to make her cry…

 

“Kagome…” he rasped, his voice sounding foreign to his hears. She snapped her head up, hope and joy welling in her brown eyes.

 

“Inuyasha! You're awake!” He tried to respond, but lifting his head and whispering her name had sapped his last reserves of energy. He barely managed to retain consciousness as his head flopped back, mostly because it did not impact the futon. Kagome had caught his head and maneuvered herself so it rested in her lap. We've been in this situation before…

 

“Hey, Kagome, you smell nice.”

 

Chuckling, the miko replied, “I thought you said you hated my smell.”

 

“I lied.” Joke over, the pair settled into comfortable silence. Kagome could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel; after all, if Inuyasha was feeling well enough to joke around then he should be fine for another ten minutes, right? Unfortunately, while Inuyasha's mind was doing well, his body was another story. The overworked and undersupplied heart finally gave out, slowing rapidly and coming to a complete stop. The hanyou turned human felt the change, clutching desperately at his chest as the suffocating blackness once again closed in. This time, however, he knew there would be no coming back. At least Kagome is safe…

 

Why did that thought leave him feeling empty? It was like he was missing something, something he was incomplete without. But Kagome was safe, that was the most important thing, right? She would move on without him, have a normal life. I just want her to be happy. But somehow he knew that would never be enough. What am I missing? Why can't I let her go? Why do I want to LIVE so badly?! Then, in a rare moment of clarity only enjoyed by someone on their deathbed, Inuyasha experienced an amazing, earth-shattering revelation. All of his jumbled feelings, his conflicting emotions; all of that made sense now, as he realized what he should have known all along.

 

His attempts to draw in breath were failing, but he willed his lungs to function one final time, as he gazed into her eyes and finally spoke the words he held closest to his heart.

 

“I love you.”

 

WHAT!!! He loves me!! His words sent Kagome reeling, but she didn't have time to ponder them for long, as Inuyasha's lungs gave out, his eyes rolling back to stare lifelessly at the ceiling.

 

“No! Inuyasha!” I'm not gonna let you die on me! She did not hesitate for a moment before tilting his chin back and bringing her lips to his. She gave him her breath, once, twice, then began pushing rhythmically against his heart. After fifteen chest compressions she once again lowered her lips to his. This was the scene that greeted the other four members of the Inu-gang when they ran into the room, drawn by Kagome's cries. Four hearts fell in despair as they beheld what they believed to be their miko friend kissing Inuyasha goodbye. But when she sat up and began pushing on his chest in a purposeful manner, they knew their original perception had been incorrect.

 

She was breathing for him…and now she's trying to keep his heart beating! It's almost dawn; she's trying to keep his body alive until the sun rises! Miroku leapt in to action, kneeling by Kagome's side and asking if he could help.

 

“After I give him breaths, give him fifteen chest compressions…no, no, keep your arms straight and push from your shoulders…no, push harder, even if you break his bones you have to push hard…” With Kagome's instruction, Miroku got the hang of it quickly, and the pair settled into a routine. Periodically the miko would stop him and check for a heartbeat and breathing, but all they could hear was a dreadful silence. Eventually Sango took over the tiring duty of compressing Inuyasha's chest; it was truly a group effort to save the hanyou's life.

 

And for a while it was an effort that seemed destined for failure. Inuyasha showed no signs of life, and the predawn minutes seemed to stretch for hours. Finally, the hanyou's body pulsed, signaling the return of his demonic powers and strength. The CPR ceased and Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara held their collective breath as Inuyasha's hair whitened, his claws and fangs elongated, and his human ears morphed into dog ears as they journeyed to the top of his head. Some of the color returned to his ashen complexion, but his breathing did not resume. After a few agonizing seconds of watching and waiting, Kagome leaned down for one last desperate attempt to revive him. As she sent her first breath into him, his lungs expanded of their own accord, wrenching the air from her. She released his lips, gasping and coughing, as her own lips quirked in a glorious smile.

 

He's alive…he's alive…he's alive… She almost couldn't believe her own eyes. There he was, lying there, sleeping peacefully on the futon. His chest rose and fell regularly, as if he was completely back to normal. But she knew better; the fact that he was still asleep meant that his wound was still affecting him. He would need time to rest, but he would heal. He would be ok. The thought was a balm to Kagome's soul. The man she loved was not going to die in her arms after all.

 

As she sat there watching him sleep, completely oblivious to the other happy occupants of the room, the adrenaline which had kept her functioning gave way to mind-numbing fatigue. Careful of his wound, she lay herself down by Inuyasha's side, resting her head on his shoulder.

There she slipped into an exhausted, dreamless sleep, her brilliant smile never leaving her face.

 

 

A/N- Well, what do you think? No, that's not the end. I had a choice: do a really long one-shot or break it up into two chapters. I wanted to post something today, so I broke it up. Chapter two should be coming out within the next few weeks. And yes, chapter two will have that lemon I promised you. Remember, read and review! Thanks!