InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ After the Storm ❯ Wounded, Body and Soul ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3

 

 

"WHAT?!" Inuyasha growled angrily. Luckily, he was far enough away that even Kouga's hearing couldn't catch his outburst. Kagome looked like she was about to have a similar reaction, but she refrained herself--barely.

 

"K-Kouga?"

 

"It's just a kiss, Kagome," smiled Kouga. "For the Jewel, that's pretty cheap. You should be glad I'm not telling you to marry me."

 

"Okay, that's where I draw the line," snarled Inuyasha, leaping from the tree and knocking Kouga over. The two ieinu youkai began wrestling on the ground, and Kagome watched with widened eyes. Then she noticed that when Inuyasha had jumped him, Kouga had dropped the jewel shards. She ran up to them and grabbed them before the two men had a chance to crush them. As she tried to move, Kouga lashed out in an attempt to swipe at Inuyasha, but missed and ended up getting Kagome.

 

They all froze, Inuyasha and Kouga both about to attack the other, and Kagome stared straight ahead, her eyes wide, blank, and staring. Then she fell to her knees and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

 

"KAGOME!" yelled both demons at once. Inuyasha threw the wolf aside easily and rushed to Kagome's side. She lay in the ground, the five deep, long slashes in her back glowing with blood dully in the fading light. He picked her up and turned her over, shaking her gently. "Kagome? Kagome!"

 

Her eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, her stare was blank, as though she didn't know who he was. But then a flicker of recognition showed in her eyes, and she smiled up at him.

 

"Don't worry, Inuyasha," she murmured. "The jewel shards are safe."

 

"Goddamn it, Kagome, you think I'm worried about the damn shards?" he snapped, standing with her in his arms. "That's it, I'm never letting you near this damn wolf again." Without another word, he ran straight toward the village at top speed. Within seconds, he had reached Kaede's hut and burst inside. The others were sitting around on the floor, but when they saw Inuyasha carrying a limp, unconscious, bleeding Kagome in his arms, well, you can imagine their reactions.

 

"Inuyasha, what the hell happened?!" yelled Sango, all composure gone.

 

"The mangy wolf, that's what," growled Inuyasha, laying Kagome down gently. "But we'll talk about that later. She needs help, fast."

 

Sango withdrew a spare kimono of hers and began tearing it into long strips. When she had finished, she shooed everyone else out of the hut so she could undress her friend and wrap the wounds. They walked outside, Miroku and Shippou questioning Inuyasha about what had happened. After he had explained everything, he jumped onto the roof of the hut, fidgeting nervously.

 

This is all my fault, he thought. If I hadn't attacked Kouga, this never would have happened…why can't I seem to protect her anymore? All that ever happens to her…she keeps getting hurt more and more.

 

After about ten minutes, Sango came outside, and all the guys gathered around her, asking about Kagome. When Inuyasha appeared, she set her face in a grim expression.

 

"Inuyasha, I think she needs to go to her world," she said to him. "She's bleeding severely…she won't make it if she stays here."

 

Inuyasha swallowed and nodded, trying to fend off the tears he could feel stinging his eyes. He walked inside and nearly collapsed. All over the floor, Kagome's blood was pooling, spreading, even though the wound was wrapped tightly. He hardened himself once more, walking up to the teenage girl and picking her up. His face a mask of determination, he sped from the hut toward the Bone-eater's Well in the forest, going as fast as he could in order to prevent more blood loss. He jumped straight into the well, and when he knew he had arrived in Kagome's world, he leapt out, rushing into the house, bursting in. Kagome's mother ran in, and when she saw her daughter and Inuyasha, she dropped the soapy pot she had been carrying with a loud clatter.

 

"Inuyasha? What happened?" she asked fearfully.

 

"No time to explain. She needs to go to--whatever you people use instead of a herbalist," said Inuyasha hurriedly.

 

"Right, I'll call the paramedics," said Mrs. Higurashi, running for the phone. Inuyasha stood around impatiently, trying to keep his cool even as Kagome lay dying in his arms. Goddamn that wolf…he'd pay for this.

 

Inuyasha's ears perked up as he heard sirens in the distance. Mrs. Higurashi ran into the entrance hall, pulling on a jacket.

 

"The paramedics will be here in a moment, Inuyasha," she said hurriedly. "If you could stay here until we know how she is…"

 

Inuyasha, though reluctantly, agreed to Mrs. Higurashi's request. When the paramedics arrived (of which Inuyasha had no clue what they did), all he did was gently kiss the young girl on the forehead as they strapped her down, then disappeared from sight before anyone noticed his ears. Mrs. Higurashi hurriedly offered for the hanyou to stay in her daughter's room until she returned for him. He agreed, and walked up to Kagome's bedroom, sitting down on her bed when he got there.

 

Goddamn it, why did this shit always have to happen? Maybe…maybe it would be best if…if she…

 

He shook his head. What was he thinking? If she stayed here, he wouldn't be able to protect her…

 

Not to mention he wouldn't feel any need to live anymore…

 

Inuyasha felt his eyes droop, and he leaned against the wall. So tired…he may as well rest until Mrs. Higurashi gave him the go-ahead to see her daughter.

 

With that, Inuyasha closed his eyes and fell into an uneasy, restless, light sleep, into nightmares full of Kagome's death…

 

* * *

 

According to Kagome's alarm clock, it was ten-o'clock when Mrs. Higurashi walked into her daughter's bedroom to find Inuyasha sleeping fitfully on Kagome's bed. As soon as the door opened, though, Inuyasha woke up and sat up ramrod straight.

 

"How is she?"

 

"It's serious," answered the worried mother. "The doctor's aren't sure if she's going to make it…"

 

Inuyasha swallowed.

 

"You can come see her, if you want, but first we have to make it so you can go in public without anyone seeing your demon side," said Mrs. Higurashi matter-of-factly. "I bought you some clothes…I hope they're in the right size."

 

She handed him a bag and closed the door so he could change. Rather bemused, he changed into the black jeans and black T-shirt she had gotten him, then put on the black baseball hat she had put with the clothes. To his surprise, they fit rather well--not as comfortable as his haorihakama, of course, but still, pretty good for modern-day clothes.

 

As soon as he was ready, he walked out of the room and downstairs, where he was offered some food, which he politely declined; he didn't think he could stomach anything until he saw Kagome. Then he and Mrs. Higurashi left, walking the seven blocks to the general hospital.

 

When they got inside, they waited as Mrs. Higurashi talked to a bored-looking woman behind a desk. Inuyasha wrinkled his nose; the hospital was full of the stench of sick people. He noticed that people were giving him odd looks--after all, how often do you see a silver-haired, golden-eyed man dressed all in black in a hospital?--but then Mrs. Higurashi called him over and they took something Mrs. Higurashi identified as an "elevator" to a higher floor of the building. Following the directions of an official-looking man who met them at the elevator, they walked through the halls a bit before they stopped in front of a closed door. Mrs. Higurashi nodded and stepped aside, indicating that Inuyasha could go in and see her first. Swallowing once more, Inuyasha opened the door and walked inside, shutting the door behind him. His eyes fell on Kagome, and he had to choke back a gasp.

 

She was lying on the bed, her eyes shut, her face pale as death. Her arm was hooked up to some weird-looking machine with a bag full of clear liquid (an IV). And he could still smell the scent of blood on her…

 

Inuyasha walked silently to her side, bending over slightly to brush her bangs from her face. "Kagome?"

 

She didn't respond, and he pulled up a nearby chair and sat down beside her, clenching his hands tightly in his lap to prevent them from shaking. He remained sitting there, still as a statue.

 

He didn't like it here. This place had death written all over it. He wanted his Kagome out of here, now.

 

"C'mon, Kagome," he whispered. "Don't give in to this. They don't know you like I do. They don't know what you've been through." He turned back to her and stroked her hair again. "Don't you dare die on me."

 

As his hand made slight contact with her forehead, she stirred, and her eyes opened very slowly. Inuyasha stood, his eyes wide and hopeful. She looked at him, and a small smile lit up her face.

 

"Inu…yasha…" she murmured.

 

He knelt down beside her, taking her hand in his. "I'm here, Kagome," he said quietly. "Everything's going to be alright. You'll be okay, don't worry." He knew he was rambling, but it was the only way to stave off the tears he knew were about to overwhelm him.

 

"I'm…not worried…Inuyasha," she panted out. "You're…nearby…that's all…I need…"

 

He forced a smile and nodded. "I won't let anything else happen to you," he whispered. "I promise."

 

She smiled again. "I know…" she said, then her eyes closed again. Within moments, she was asleep once more.

 

The door opened slowly, and Inuyasha released Kagome's hand quickly as Mrs. Higurashi walked in.

 

"How is she?"

 

"She's well enough to wake up and speak a little," said Inuyasha, trying to force the lump in his throat to go away. "But she went right back to sleep."

 

Mrs. Higurashi sighed and seemed to relax slightly. "Then she has a chance," she said in relief. "It's probably due to all that fighting experience she has. You've made a fighter out of her, Inuyasha. I thank you."

 

Inuyasha nodded, even as the lump in his throat grew bigger. I may have made her a fighter, but I'm the one that let this happen…

 

"Mrs. Higurashi…if it's all right with you, I…can I stay with her until she gets out of here?" he asked almost shyly.

 

She looked a little surprised, but she smiled all the same. "Of course," she said. "I'm sure she'll be safe with you by her side. I need to get home to Souta and Grandpa…they may come by later."

 

The hanyou nodded, his gaze fixed to the face of the sleeping girl beside him. Mrs. Higurashi noticed this and began to leave the room.

 

"By the way, Inuyasha…you may want to take a shower. I don't know if you noticed, but Kagome's blood is all over you," she said gently.

 

Inuyasha blinked and stared down at himself. He didn't see any blood…but he could smell it in his hair. She was right. He hadn't noticed until she pointed it out, but he still had Kagome's blood on his hands and in his hair from running around with her. He nodded wordlessly, and watched as Kagome's mother left, closing the door behind her softly. As soon as he was sure no one was within earshot, he fell to his knees and began sobbing into the bed Kagome lay on motionlessly.

 

 

Author's note:

 

Translations:

ieinu youkai: canine demons