InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A New Friend; Or A New Foe? ❯ The First Encounter ( Chapter 1 )

Author's Note: Okay, this is my first posted fanfic, so please bear with me!

Disclaimer: As much as I hate to admit it, I do not own Inu Yasha. But, someday, I swear, Inu Yasha will be mine. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha! Okay, I'm done now.

Disclaimer No. 2: Yes! I own it! I own Inu Yasha! I am the queen! I rule! I rule! I-- *Pop!* Uhh… *looks around* Oh. It was a dream. Damn. (sorry, I just wanted to put that in there!!!)

"Well, I don't know about you, but I don't ever want to face another weasel youkai again!" Kagome sat back with a groan as the old miko Kaede nursed a wound in her shoulder.

"Hai. With three Shikon shards, that weasel was particularly vicious." Miroku commented from his spot by the fire. "However, our efforts were not in the least wasted." He gestured towards the three new shards and the weasel pelt that lay on a low wooden table in the center of the room.

Kagome picked up the shards, watching the moonlight play across the jagged surfaces before dropping them into a small glass vial. She shook the vial gently. "Even with the new shards, we have only four, with many more to go."

"On the bright side, that's four shards that Naraku cannot have." Sango said as she bandaged Kirara's front paw, which had gotten wounded in battle.

Kagome visibly brightened. "You're right, Sango," she said cheerfully.

"There ye go. Ye be all set now, child." Kaede gave Kagome's bandage a final pat before going off to help Sango with Kirara.

Kagome pulled her shirt back down over her shoulder (causing Miroku to groan in disappointment, earning him a resounding slap from Sango) and crawled over to where Inu Yasha was sleeping. Out of all of them, Inu Yasha was the worst hurt. A deep wound in his stomach bled sluggishly through his bandages, dying them a deep crimson. Kagome fetched a bowl of water and began the tedious task of removing the blood-soaked linen, wincing at the mess underneath. She pressed a damp cloth to his skin, gently dabbing the wound clean. She frowned at the amount of blood Inu Yasha had lost. Even if he was a hanyou, this much blood loss would surely take its toll on him. Kagome carefully replaced the bandages with fresh ones and went back to the fire.

"How be Inu Yasha?" Kaede asked.

"Not good," Kagome replied. "He hasn't stopped bleeding, and I'm pretty sure he has a fever. With his youkai blood, he should have started healing at least half an hour ago."

"That weasel youkai must have secreted venom," Sango mused. "The poison must have been injected when the youkai clawed through Inu Yasha."

"If it be youkai poisoning that plagues Inu Yasha, I have just the thing." Kaede opened a small clay pot and brought forth a handful of dried herbs. "Press these into the mouth of Inu Yasha's wound and the poison shall exit his body." Kaede pressed the herbs into Kagome's hand before hurrying off to make stew.

Kagome went back over to Inu Yasha, the herbs still in her hand. She looked at him and sighed. Already he had bled through the bandages, his warm blood blooming into a terrible crimson flower against the stark white linen. Again she peeled off the cloth and cleaned underneath. This time, however, she placed the herbs against his wound. There was a flash of bright green light, and a thin white paste bubbled to the top. The poison, Kagome realized. She wiped up the poison, smiling as she saw his bleeding slow to a stop.

When she was done, she wrapped a blanket around Inu Yasha and went back over to the fire. "Mmmm, Kaede-san, that stew smells good!" Kagome exclaimed, taking a wooden bowl off a stack and filling it.

"Thank ye, child." Kaede smiled at the praise.

"Oi! What about me?!"

Everyone turned to look at the corner where the irritable voice came from. Two amber eyes stared back, occasionally twitching in irritation.

"Inu Yasha! You're awake!" Shippou dropped his bowl and bounded over to the hanyou. "We thought you would sleep forever!"

*Wham!* Inu Yasha punched the little kitsune youkai in the head. "Oww! Inu Yasha, whadja do that for?!" Shippou cried, clutching the lump on his head.

"I felt like it." Inu Yasha smirked, noisily cracking his knuckles.

"Inu Yasha, how are you feeling?" Kagome asked, concern evident in her eyes. "I was so worried about you."

"Kagome…" Inu Yasha whispered. In his more usual tone, he said, "Feh. You needn't have bothered. As if a weak youkai like that could do me in." He sniffed and turned his head.

Kagome stood up, her hands in fists at her sides. "Well, excuse me for being concerned! Maybe next time you're laying there, half-dead with a gaping hole through your stomach I'll just leave you for the buzzards, you ungrateful jerk!"

Kagome's voice was strangled; Inu Yasha looked up to see why. A drop of water fell on his cheek, and a salty smell stung his sensitive dog nose. She's crying, he realized. "K-Kagome, I-" he began.

Kagome held up a hand. "It's okay, Inu Yasha. I'd rather we didn't fight right now. We're all tired; let's just eat and go to sleep." She went over to the fire and filled a bowl of stew for Inu Yasha. He grabbed the bowl and started eating.

"Thanks," he said when the bowl was clean. He leaned back against his pillow, wincing as his stomach muscles stretched.

"Here, swallow this, Inu Yasha. It will take care of any pain." Kagome reached into a small bottle and pulled out a large red tablet. She held it out to him. "It's an Advil."

Inu Yasha took the pill and swallowed it. He felt better almost immediately. He stretched out and yawned, baring two long canine fangs. Then he curled up and fell asleep.

"Good thing I got the fast-acting pills with the sleeping medication." Kagome smiled as she congratulated herself on thinking ahead. "He needs his rest."

"So do we all." Miroku said as he settled down. He kept his staff nearby, just in case a youkai attacked. "Good night." His head dropped onto his chest and soon the others could hear light snoring.

"Miroku's right." Sango said. "Let's go to bed. Good night, Kagome."

"Good night, Sango. Come on, Shippou. Let's go to bed."

When the young kitsune did not respond, Kagome turned to look at him. Shippou was already asleep, his tail curled around him, his thumb in his mouth. Awww, thought Kagome. Kawaii!! She gently picked the kit up. He struggled for a moment, then relaxed and curled up again.

Kagome carried him over to her sleeping bag and tucked him in. She stood there for a moment, just watching the young kitsune sleep. "Good night, Shippou," she whispered before climbing in herself. As she fell asleep, she mumbled, "Good night, Inu Yasha."

Over in the corner, a lone pair of white dog ears twitched as their owner slept.