InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beast ❯ Sickness and Recuperation ( Chapter 19 )

Disclaimer: I'm not gaining anything from my use of these characters except reviews and loss of sleep. Mmmmm. Cherry Blow-Pop. (Which is not mine, either...my friend gave a bag of 'em to me.)

A/N: Hidey-ho, more-than-3 loyal readers. I be back again with another chapter, as you probably have figured out by now. Right. I'm going to start now before I alienate anyone else...

Beast

Chapter 19

Gentle premonition prodded Kagome out of sleep very early the next morning. It was nothing like the really bad feelings she'd had before certain really bad things happened; in fact, it was almost like detached anticipation. Maybe it's because I have to go to the bathroom... She burrowed deeper under the covers, shifting the thick layers around to get comfortable. Aside from a very slight headache and a weird stiffness around her midsection, she felt much better, and it occurred to her as she sat up gingerly and rubbed one eye that Inuyasha must be, too. It's barely even cool any more, and it was about to snow last night...

The feeling returned again, a little stronger, and Kagome glanced around reflexively. "Inuyasha?" Her voice was a bit unsteady, but as long as she didn't push it, she judged, the cough might not come back. "Inuyasha?" she called, louder, suppressing the itchiness that rose in her throat. Damn. Spoke too soon. Literally.

Where was he? The room was empty, and the light around the edges of the window covering was very weak. Crap. She couldn't go to sleep with that sense of anticipation nagging at her. Maybe... "Miroku-sama?"

No answer from the next room. Kagome scowled and sank back into the futon, pulling the covers up just over her nose and wondering idly if Inuyasha was getting breakfast. He's always up before me, so I dunno. Why hasn't Sango come up yet? She's always up at the butt-crack of dawn.

A single piercing scream from the floorboards beneath the futon had Kagome up and stumbling to her feet instantly; violent dizziness sent her back to the futon on her rear as gravity got the best of her. "Hello?" she called feebly, knowing she was about as helpful as a blind, deaf and lame guard dog in her current state, but determined to do something as the scream continued, rose and abruptly died.

"Kagome-sama?" A light appeared through the shoji to her right. Miroku came in with a small covered lantern and bowed awkwardly, blinking with fatigue and smoothing the front of his white sleeping kimono. "Are you all right? Do you sense anything?"

"I'm fine, Miroku-sama," she replied, grateful that he was too sleepy to make any sideways remarks about her presence. "And...this might sound funny, but..." Kagome smiled and half-shrugged. "I don't think anything's wrong, for once. Why don't you go check on it?"

"Not while Inuyasha's out. He 'requested' I stay and make sure you didn't wake before he came back." Miroku yawned into his cursed hand.

"Let me guess-those were his exact words?" He nodded, and Kagome couldn't stifle a giggle despite her voice's scratchiness. "What are you supposed to do now that I have? Knock me out?"

The monk chuckled and settled down at a polite distance from the futon, back to the door. "No more talking at the very least lest you get sick again and Inuyasha takes my head off."

Kagome nodded obediently, and Miroku's eyes lit up mid-yawn. "Oh! Saki - one of the servants - is with child. That might have been her just now."

Kagome started to speak, but closed her jaws at his warning look. She made a scribbling motion on her palm, and the monk quickly retrieved a small scroll, brush and ink from his room. Kagome smiled her thanks and, dipping the brush carefully into the ink lest she waste what was probably a limited supply, began to write neatly in the lantern's flickering light.

"'Not her first?'...No, she has three other children. Have you seen them?"

More writing. "'No, just had a feeling.'" Miroku quirked an eyebrow. "Even after slaying that demon, your senses seem quite sharp. Many priestesses have acute instincts when it comes to others, especially expectant women.... 'No'? And why not? Your normal senses work without any apparent effort on your part, do they not? Why not, say, your sense of empathy?" He smiled as she considered it and then bobbed her head in dubious agreement. "Tell me, do you expect a boy or a girl?" He watched the brush, eyebrows rising again. "...Twins, you think? Good heavens...and what genders? ...I know you're not a performing monkey, Kagome-sama. I merely wish to see if you're accurate, and if not, I swear no word of it will escape me.... Two girls? There's trouble enough for four mothers there..."

Another scream made the brush jerk across the page and onto the floor, and Kagome forced herself to relax as Miroku dabbed at it and the noise rose, unending. "Almost done," she whispered, Miroku nodding as he read her lips.

Idly, as Miroku excused himself and opened the window covering to let in a pleasantly cool breeze, Kagome wondered if Inuyasha knew what was happening downstairs. He can hear well enough...can probably smell it, too. He's probably seen enough of them around the place before not to freak out. I'll give him the benefit of a doubt for now.

"Inuyasha, calm down."

"It sounds like someone's murdering her!" Inuyasha shot back, glaring over Sango's shoulder towards the servants' wing on the ground floor. "Are you sure everything's normal?"

"Saki-san just went into labor late last night, and her last birth took less than twelve hours," Sango repeated, moving to block him lest he decide to go investigate and make a huge mess of things. "If you just let them take care of her, it'll be over soon, most likely."

"How soon?" Inuyasha crossed his arms.

"I don't know! Not even Kaede does." The old priestess was acting as midwife, and Sango knew Inuyasha would have no compunction about going in to interrogate her about what was happening right that minute. "Weren't you here the last time, when Yoko-san gave birth?"

"Mom always made me stay away when someone was about to whelp," he snapped. "And now I know why." He craned his neck around for another look. "It sounds like she's being tortured in there. What the hell is that smell? Are you sure we shouldn't-hey!"

Sango had asked herself what Kagome would do in this situation and accordingly grabbed his sleeve, dragging him down the hall and away. "Come down to the kitchens and we'll talk, you ignorant clod," she griped, praying he wouldn't try to free himself. Several other servants were hurrying back and forth with fresh linens and water, and she'd never forgive herself if Inuyasha managed to get in anyone's way with his questions. Impossible as many of the castle's other residents were, she liked Saki and pitied her timing: the woman had arrived at the castle with her children, widowed and seven months pregnant, less than two weeks before Kikyou died.

Mercifully, Inuyasha only offered token resistance as she herded him into a small dining room near the kitchens and made him stay before bringing some miso and rice back. "Just how much food do we have left?" Sango asked as it occurred to her.

"Enough, and it's kept fresh enough." Inuyasha barely waited for her to finish pouring his tea before he grabbed the cup and sipped impatiently. "So, why the hell does she have to do that now?"

"Women don't choose when they go into labor," Sango said with equal impatience, taking a small portion of miso and dunking small chunks of rice into it for each bite.

"I know that. But couldn't she wait till everyone's awake, at least?" Inuyasha drummed his claws on the tatami.

"Awake?" Sango paused mid-dunk. "Don't tell me you're posturing because you're angry with her for disturbing Kagome-ch-"

"Keh! Don't be stupid." Inuyasha did not look up. "I know a little about women, but I never figured out why they have to yell so much, or why they always have to give birth in the morning."

"They can't help the pain, and they can't help when it happens." Sango willed herself not to strangle him with his own hair. How does Kagome-chan put up with him? "Can you help being hungry, or yawning when you're tired? It's much the same."

Inuyasha grunted, and Sango went back to eating with a shrug.

"Does it always happen like that? Nothing to do for the pain or the stink?" he asked a few minutes later, out of the blue.

"Yes, and no. I'm not much of an expert like Kaede..." Sango refilled her miso. "But as far as I know, with some variation from woman to woman, the pain and the...process...tend to be fairly universal. There's not much to be done for it."

"Glad I don't have to worry about that," Inuyasha mumbled into his bowl.

"As well you should be," Sango mumbled back.

There was another brief pause, and Inuyasha caught himself wondering if Kagome was awake yet. Maybe I'd better make Sango take her some...nah, I'll take her some breakfast later. If she can keep it down. He wrinkled his nose at the thought of her being sick again. No fun for her, or for my nose.

"Do you mind if I ask you something?"

Inuyasha was instantly on his guard. "What?"

"Do you..." Sango stared at her hands. "Do you...never mind."

"Does this have something to do with the bouzu?" He rolled his eyes as she flushed and shook her head. "Don't give me that. Kagome told me what happened."

"She told you?" Sango sounded hurt. "I thought she would've had more respect for us than that."

"She was worried about you, and it looks like she was right," Inuyasha said curtly. "If it makes you happy, she was probably more upset about it than you were."

"What do you care?" Sango shot back, stung.

"Don't give me that crap!" They glared at each other across the little table. It was rather like being at dinner...except that arguing with this woman was just annoying. Not that Sango was stupid, he had to admit, but somehow, Kagome just kept him on his toes better. Much better.

"Look," he said irritably, "even I noticed something was going on, whether you like it or not, and watching you guys is like being at a sumo match where no one ever makes a move. It's boring and frustrating as hell."

"He moved, all right," she snapped, nearly doing the same to her chopsticks. "What am I supposed to do now, shove him out of the ring and sit on him?"

"Why not?" Inuyasha smirked at her sudden flush. "Not like he'd object."

"But he already told me he-"

"Look, Sango, this isn't a big, complicated decision. Either you do, or you don't." Inuyasha returned his attention to his food.

"It isn't complicated?! Are you even remotely serious?" Sango looked ready to throw the bowl, or possibly the table, right at his head.

"You do, or you don't. If you wanna get into a big, complicated, drawn-out whine-fest about his hand and his perversion and blah blah blah, go talk to Kagome. Just not till she's better," Inuyasha added as an afterthought.

"Better...? Then she really did spend the night...?" Sango blinked owlishly. "My. No wonder you're giving me that kind of advice now."

Damn the servants! "Shut up! She just slept up there 'cause she was too busy turning inside out to move. It was disgusting, but if I'd tried to kick her out, she probably woulda just puked on me and then stayed anyway." Inuyasha shoveled the last of his rice down. "'Sides, I'd have told you the same thing no matter what happened. It pisses me off, seeing you and him moping around like a couple of kids who think they can't have any candy and forgot they just have to take it."

"Aren't you full of wisdom all of a sudden." Sango set her dishes down. "I'll think about it. In the meantime, I'm going to go see Kagome-chan."

"Don't bother. She's probably not awake yet, and if she is, she needs to eat and go back to sleep." Inuyasha brushed a stray grain of rice off his sleeve and got up.

Sango resisted a Kagome-like urge to make a clucking noise. He's turned into quite the mother hen already. I'll have to remember to tell her about it later. "I'm coming up to see her anyway," she said firmly. "I should apologize for the way I treated her yesterday. I thought she seemed unwell, but it didn't occur to me that she was really sick."

"You humans and your crappy senses." He regretted it almost the instant it came out, for various reasons, and thought it best not to elaborate as Sango, glowering, cleaned up the rest of their dishes and went back to the kitchens.

Despite his injunction, Inuyasha made no protest when Sango asked him to wait, and not just because she brought food back with her. Both of 'em'll bug me if they don't get to talk. Plus it'll keep the bouzu happy. He made a face as they walked towards the stairs, ignoring servants' bows and murmured greetings. Only Sango noticed a few of them smirking or trading disgusted looks in their wake.

"Girls!"

The shout from down the hall brought both their heads around. A boy of about twelve or thirteen skidded around the corner and nearly barreled straight into Inuyasha. "What was that?" he asked coldly as the boy flailed his arms, skidding to a stop and dropping to his knees.

"My mother, Inuyasha-sama," the boy panted, too excited to be afraid. "Two girls, a little apart but alive and well!"

"That's wonderful," Sango said warmly, and he nodded, happily flushed.

"Well, if you have to run around, do it outside, and no yelling." Inuyasha jerked his head towards the door. The boy hesitated only a moment before nodding again, mumbling his thanks and running for the doors, bellowing the good news at the top of his cracking voice.

"Idiot," Inuyasha muttered as they ascended the first flight.

"He has two new sisters, Inuyasha," Sango pointed out. "A birth is very exciting, especially when your siblings are concerned. I was thrilled when my mother had Kohaku." She grimaced. Of course, we were less than thrilled when she died of milk fever two days later. But Sango had never held it against her little brother; as a trained fighter, she'd learned very early and very thoroughly that death was part of life. Though she still missed their mother acutely, she was grateful Kohaku was still with her, at least.

The sudden recollection that their father and the rest of the village must be centuries dead by now...well, she would gain nothing by dwelling on that.

"I wouldn't know." Inuyasha stopped at the top of the stairs. "...Mind if I ask you something kinda personal?"

"Personal? Such as...?" Sango's curiosity was aroused: she'd never heard Inuyasha ask if he could do anything before, much less if he could ask for an opinion.

"...Well, you're a woman...close enough...d'you really think it's worth all the pain and screaming and stinking? To have kids, I mean."

The slayer blinked at him. She hadn't been expecting that. "Well, I wouldn't do it for just anyone, but with...the right person, I suppose it could be worth it." She shrugged uneasily, forcing her voice - and thoughts - to stay level. "I wasn't raised just to have children like most women, but my father always told me that going through with it was more trouble than fighting a dragon, and if I ever did, I'd need to make sure I had a worthy partner."

"Makes sense, I guess." Inuyasha set off again abruptly.

What was that all about? Sango wondered. Curiosity from the birth? She shrugged and followed him. I'll ask Kagome-chan later. She would know.

Inuyasha hid it fairly well, but the thought of anyone he cared about going through what he'd just heard and smelled made him feel downright ill. To think Kikyou would've done that if we'd had kids... He frowned slightly. I guess there's a silver lining right there. I never would've touched her if I knew what would come of it.

He almost stopped at that thought. ...Well, maybe not. Damn, I don't know. But that's not a decision I have to make anymore, at least...

"I hope Kagome-chan isn't up yet." Sango's voice shattered his uneasy reverie.

"What? Oh, yeah." He shook himself. "Yeah, she needs to sleep. She's been through a lot of crap the past coupla days."

"Not anymore," Sango said firmly as they crossed the second floor landing and made their way to the stairs. "Kagome-chan has been brave enough already, and it's not fair to put any more stress on her than necessary."

"What, you think I like making her suffer?" Sango started at the edge to his voice. "Just keep your voice down, don't make her talk, and remember she's sick and doesn't need any..." A sound from overhead brought him up short. "Was that what I thought it was?"

"It sounded like Kagome-chan yelling." They looked at each other blankly, then, as one, charged up the long staircase, Sango only a breath behind the hanyou as he sped down the hall, ripped open the shoji and flung open the last one to his room.

Kagome was alternately coughing and trying to give Miroku a noogie, leaning over precariously as he easily dodged her assaults. "Cheater!" she panted, brandishing a torn scroll with odd lines drawn on it and symbols scattered within the lines.

"What the hell are you guys doing?" Inuyasha stalked over and snatched at the paper, getting ink on his claws and glaring as the monk freed himself and gently supported Kagome back to the futon.

"Taught...tic-tac-toe," she wheezed, gasping for breath and pawing the covers aside.

"What in the world...?" Sango set the food down and knelt next to her friend. "You're sweating, Kagome-chan."

"Kagome-sama was kind enough to instruct me in this era's recreation to pass the time," Miroku said with utmost dignity, snatching the half-scroll from Inuyasha and placing it carefully on the floor. Sango scowled at him and began unpacking the box.

"How the hell does some retarded, pointless line game turn into a wrestling match? And what were you doing letting her crawl all over you?" Inuyasha snarled at the monk.

"Excuse you!" Kagome propped herself on one elbow and spoke in an angry, raspy whisper. "He cheated, and I had to pay him back. It's a rule my brothers and I always followed, and I was not crawling on him, you jealous freak!"

"I did not cheat," Miroku protested.

"I am not jealous!" Inuyasha snarled.

"You're not well," Sango said worriedly.

Kagome rolled her eyes and melodramatically flopped onto her back, yanking the top cover over her face. Then she pulled it down to her chin thoughtfully. "How's Saki doing?"

Slayer and hanyou stared at her. "How'd you know?" Sango asked.

"Tell us," Miroku interjected as Kagome began to speak, "did she have twins?"

"Yeah," Inuyasha said cautiously. "What, did you hear the dumbass yelling?"

"The boy wasn't shouting loudly enough to be heard up here, even from outside," Sango pointed out.

"I see." Miroku smiled at Kagome, who pulled the covers up to her eyes and crossed them. "Charming. Now, Sango-sama, do the twins happen to be both female?"

"That's correct," she said slowly. Kagome promptly flipped the blankets over her head entirely.

"Now, now, Kagome-sama. There's nothing wrong at all. In fact, you know now that your senses are working correctly again already. Very impressive." Miroku smiled reassurance at the head-lump under the covers.

"You mean she...?" Sango trailed off as Miroku produced the other half of the scroll for her and Inuyasha to read. "She knew already?"

"Before the second girl was even born." Miroku nodded. "She seems reluctant to acknowledge the ability."

"Don't need more superpowers," they heard her croak from under the covers.

"It's a gift, Kagome-chan. You should be happy to be able to sense things so easily." Sango tugged lightly at the cover. "Now, come out and eat."

Kagome made a face but obediently came out and accepted a small cup. "Thanks."

"No talking." Inuyasha settled down next to the futon. "So, you well enough to move? As in, out of here? Sango, how's her room?"

"The smoke seems to have cleared out, though it still smells," she answered, frowning as Kagome began to cough lightly. "Are you all right, Kagome-chan?"

Kagome nodded and picked up her chopsticks, eating a few careful bites of rice, then putting it down and shaking her head.

"You're not hungry, Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked solicitously. "Perhaps something thinner, less difficult to eat?"

"She needs to eat actual food, bouzu," Inuyasha snapped. "If you baby her, she's just gonna stay sick longer."

"But if she can't eat at all, there's no point trying to force her, is there?" Sango indicated the heaped rice bowl. "Fluids are better anyway. I'll go get some-"

"She'll eat it when she gets hungry enough. Don't bother," Inuyasha interrupted carelessly.

Kagome glared at him. What am I, a disobedient cat?! Just starve me long enough and I'll stop being picky? You...!

"You don't have to be cruel about it, Inuyasha. We're trying to help her, remember?" Sango said pointedly.

"Why not compromise? Soup for now, and she can have rice when some of her strength has returned," Miroku suggested, and Kagome seriously began to consider making a sign on one of the scroll halves: I'M STILL HERE!

"I think that's the best idea," Sango agreed. "Don't give me that look, Inuyasha. You were dead set on taking care of her before we came up, and now you're acting like she's doing it to annoy you!"

"Shut up!"

They all waited expectantly, but Inuyasha's mouth seemed to be out of ideas, and he glared at them defiantly as the silence lengthened. "What?"

Kagome made an angry noise and grabbed the less scribbled-upon half-scroll. Sango read aloud as she and Miroku watched the small, violent strokes. " 'Sango-chan, could you give me a lift downstairs?'...Are you sure, Kagome-chan?... 'Anything to get out of His Majesty's idiot presence'..."

As one the three looked at Inuyasha, who snorted and moved closer to the futon. "Fine, wench, if you want out of here that much, I can-"

Kagome actually managed to growl at him, and he stopped mid-sentence, shrinking as she threw the covers off and shakily got to her feet.

"Be careful, Kagome-chan!" Sango leapt to her assistance and turned around, crouching. "Here, let me carry you down to our room. Inuyasha won't bother you in there. Isn't that right, houshi-sama?"

"Of course," Miroku said loudly, rapping Inuyasha smartly on the head with his knuckles as he started to protest. "I shall ensure that he remains on his best behavior for the duration of your illness, Kagome-sama."

"Thanks," Kagome whispered, linking her arms carefully around her friend's shoulders. Sango picked her up and took a few steps with no difficulty.

"I'll come alone later to make sure you're comfortable." Miroku bowed; Sango bowed back for both of them and left the room.

"What the hell was that for?" Inuyasha complained.

"You seem intent upon destroying everything that might possibly do you some good." Miroku picked up the papers, brush and ink. "You meant well, I know, as Kagome-sama likely does, but your ways of showing it are less than satisfactory. Now, the way you behaved last night-"

"I can't keep that mushy crap up forever. Besides, she's a lot better now, and I don't want her to think..."

"What? That you care for her? And why not?" The monk returned to his room and slid the shoji closed, but continued speaking as he changed. "Kagome-sama worries about you quite a bit, and for you to be always on your guard around her is unnecessary and abrasive."

"Well, what am I supposed to do? I was just trying to help." Inuyasha straightened the covers absently. For once, Kagome's scent - all over the futon as well as his haori now - only seemed to rebuke him for driving her away.

"You have odd ways of showing it. Simply be more honest with yourself, and permit it to show." Miroku came in, fully dressed, staff clinking gently, and began repacking the box.

"You're a fine one to give me advice about women," Inuyasha sniped. A thought hit him suddenly, and he smirked. "Tell you what, Miroku. If you can solve your own problems first, then I'll take your advice."

"My...?" Miroku paused with one foot out of the room. Inuyasha couldn't see his face, but he noted the monk's back straighten, almost defiantly, before Miroku answered. "May I hold you to that?"

"Be my guest."

Inuyasha didn't quite feel up to going to see Kagome yet by the time the sun was almost directly overhead, and the monk still hadn't come back. Dammit. Fine, I'll go outside and run around. Might as well get some exercise.

He bypassed the stairs, opting instead for his shortcut, landing on one foot and nearly squashing a woman laden with soiled linens. "Pardon me, Inuyasha-sama," she said coolly, bowing her head. "I did not see you." Her scent changed subtly, indicating disgust and slight fear.

Inuyasha ignored her and made his way through little clumps of women standing around in the wide corridor, gossiping as fast as their lips would move. The ones nearest fell silent and bowed as he passed, but his ears caught even the faintest whispers behind his back, picking up where they'd left off as he walked away. They obviously thought the thin wails coming from Saki's room down at the end of the wing would drown them out.

"...shame, of course, but she's two boys already..."

"True, but it's not as if it really matters if nothing changes in two months, does it?"

Gasps and murmurs of shock. "Be silent! You don't know that we won't escape it!"

"Kagome-sama has far too much sense to do it, not to mention good taste. Not like other women he keeps near him..."

Snide laughter. "True. I'd almost say we should send Kagome-sama on her way and let her try to fill in for it. She's enough of a head start. Of course, the one to do it actually has to be female, though, that could be a problem-"

More laughter. "I was curious when they disappeared two nights ago, but the houshi-sama assured my mother's cousin's daughter's niece that it was just because a demon cornered them-and Kagome-sama was the one who got them out of it!"

Impressed murmurs. "Poor Kagome-sama couldn't have been very happy, stuck with him all night. And now she's ill, I hear?"

"Well, I hear Kagome-sama refused to let Inuyasha near her, and even wanted to be taken back to her own room despite her illness. One hardly knows whether to be distressed or applaud..."

"If you've nothing better to do with your time," Inuyasha said loudly, and the women froze: he'd stopped just around the other corner, out of sight, but well within hearing. "Kagome-sama is ill and needs as much quiet as she can get." Fear twinged at his nostrils, and he balled his fists very carefully as the knots dispersed, some women passing him and murmuring apologies. He would never get used to that heavy, sour stench. I've put up with their crap about Sango, but just let them say one more word about Kagome and me, and I'll...

Miroku had advised him that there was nothing he could do to remedy their jealous gossip about Sango, and he'd seen the point: defending the slayer - to whom he was not attracted, no matter if she was one of the most beautiful women in the castle, but he saw no reason she should have to put up with the same crap he did - would only reinforce their supposed relationship. It pissed him off, but he and Sango had gotten used to it.

But now, trying to convince each other that Kagome despised him, setting her up as a potential savior and heroine to cheer on against the monstrous, ill-mannered, tainted half-breed whose sins they were all being made to pay for...he found himself grasping Tetsusaiga's hilt a little too hard, and the sword seemed to throb warningly. Relax. I'm not gonna kill the idiots. They're lying, anyway...

Doubt prickled his scalp and down the back of his neck. Right? She said I should sleep inside...not like she refuses to be around me...right?

That line of thought was no fun. Growling, Inuyasha stamped to the nearest side entrance and paused outside to test the air. The only noteworthy scents nearby were Kirara, patrolling the grounds in her larger form, and old Kaede hobbling back to her shrine.

"Oi!" Inuyasha leapt gracefully over the side and was beside the old priestess in two great bounds. "I need to talk to you."

"I suspected as much. Come." She beckoned him to follow her into her hut, close enough to the shrine to make his ears twitch uncomfortably.

"So the brats are okay?" Inuyasha ignored the cup she set in front of him, scowling to hide his concern as she very slowly sank onto her cushion.

"Aye, and Saki as well. All are in excellent health. The babes were rather quiet for newborns, I might add."

"Good. I like quiet." He fiddled with Tetsusaiga's sheath. "And, uh..."

"Kagome will be fine, so long as she receives proper rest. The toll on her energies was great, but not life-threatening, as it would be for many others...myself included." Kaede blew at the steam rising from her tea. "Ye will know better upon seeing her. So long as she acts herself, there is little to worry about."

"Mmph." Inuyasha stared down at the cup.

Kaede glanced up. "Was there anything else ye wished to ask?"

"...This is gonna sound screwy, I know, but..." Inuyasha raised his crimson eyes. "Is that really your sister out there in the Tree?"

Neither of them imagined a thin, marrow-chilling gust that seethed through the open doorway and faded deftly back into pleasant warmth as Kaede composed herself. "What is it that brings ye to ask?"

Inuyasha studied the floor, one shoulder raised in a listless shrug. "It...doesn't act like her. It's saying something I know isn't true."

The air grew heavier, and both raised their heads, waiting, breath held. Gradually the atmosphere relaxed enough for Kaede to speak, albeit very cautiously. "I do not know what happened beyond reports made by servants who deserted and made their way to my village, and thus I only know that she died badly. Perhaps the nature of her death tainted-"

"Is it her, or not?!" Inuyasha slammed a fist through the raised wooden floor. "I can't take this shit any more! If it's not her, then I know to ignore it! If it is, then...then..." Then I better think of something...I know it's her.

"My sister is dead, Inuyasha," Kaede said severely. "Ye must ask Kagome to be certain, but by all I hear, I do believe that that is truly her spirit-" She raised one withered hand to silence him. "But not her soul. Ye must realize that she is not the same woman we knew. She has become embittered, angry, sorrowful, and not inclined to listen to reason. For your sake and for Kagome's, leave her alone."

"I can't." Pain sliced through his chest steadily, as if Sesshoumaru had taken his favorite light-whip to his flesh. "Some things I know I deserve, but I'm not letting her get away with screwing with Kagome and calling me a m...liar. I could go to the Tree and make her listen to me..."

"If she has made up her mind, ye are powerless to change it. I thought ye knew her that well in life, at least, to know that much." Kaede sighed heavily and struggled to her feet. "I must go and attend Saki again to make sure the babes are receiving sufficient nourishment. If ye must persist, seek Kagome's advice. She may have knowledge I do not."

Like hell I'm bringing Kikyou up to her after what happened at the Tree. He scowled and also got up. "Yeah, yeah. You got anything that might make her get better sooner?"

Inuyasha stopped outside Kagome's room and took a deep breath. None of the servants had seen anyone leave there since Miroku came in early that morning, left shortly after and returned with one of the strange sacks the wolves had brought.

This was ridiculous; why should he be afraid to enter a room in his own castle, when the girl inside had no right to be angry with him......well, not much, that he could see...? And why would he be afraid even if she was? She was sick, after all.

And I brought her some tea and everything. Hope she's grateful, dammit.

Inuyasha gulped, reached for the shoji...hesitated...and slid it open carefully to the room next to hers.

Silence. No noise except the barest scuffling, the light creak of the top layer of Kagome's bed thing, and a faint mix of familiar scents, none of which were fresh within the hour. They've been just sitting in there the whole time? What the...? Napping? Brows knitted in confusion, he reached for the next shoji.

"YOU CHEATING BASTARD!"

The stack of tea cups and small jugs in his hand went flying and shattered against the wall as Inuyasha nearly tripped head-first through the shoji; he wrenched it out of its slot and leapt into the room. "Kagome! What's wrong?!"

No one moved as everyone readjusted to their now-mutual environment: Sango, who was inexplicably wearing a pink flower headband with matching streamers, had backed up against the bed corner on the floor so as to have more lunging distance at Miroku, whose head was locked between her shoulder and forearm; Kagome, bedecked with several layers of odd, ruffly blue-green things and beads around her neck and a bizarrely shaped frog-patterned plastic thing covering her eyes, had one pillow raised and ready to whack the monk, but at Inuyasha's entrance stopped and began to slowly overbalance, sliding off the bed and toppling onto her belly next to Kohaku, whose head was draped in a sparkling blue-fringed net, while Shippou munched on a candy bar on the TV box and, despite the fact that his little face had numerous things drawn upon it - whiskers, tiny hiragana faces, nonsensical phrases like "I like cheese" - still managed to watch the whole thing with an air of good-natured maturity.

"Nice timing," the kit told Inuyasha calmly, licking his minute fingers and hopping down to examine the broken sliding door. "You're gonna fix this, right?"

"What..."

"Hi," Kagome said weakly, pushing the odd face device onto her forehead.

"...the..."

"May I be permitted a word in my defense before my untimely demise?" Miroku wheezed, clawing at Sango's arm.

"...fu..."

"I suppose, houshi-sama, but you had better explain how you went out in only four rounds!" She released him, and he promptly began gasping for breath.

"...ck..."

"Um..." Kohaku was clearly very embarrassed; in his haste, he spoke first and waited till Inuyasha's utterly disbelieving gaze was on him to whip off the hair net. "W-we were just p-playing a g-game."

"...game?!..."

"Yeah," Kagome said brightly, only huffing a bit as she pulled herself up to a sitting position. "S'called Rich Man, Poor Man. It's really pretty fun."

"...What...the hell kind of game..." Inuyasha eyed the adornments around her neck and on Sango's head. "...Do I even want to know?"

"It's a card game. See?" Everyone but Miroku obligingly held up varying amounts of cards; Shippou and Kagome had three or four each, while Kohaku and Sango had about a dozen. "The object is to get rid of your cards by the rules each round. Whoever does that first, down to the last person, gets a certain rank from Rich Man down to Poor Man. These," Kagome removed two leis from her neck and tossed them to Inuyasha. "Those belong to the Melon. That's the second highest rank. We just make 'em up in between."

"And this cheating person has been the Rich Man for twelve rounds in a row," Sango said grimly, nudging Miroku sharply with her bare foot. "It's enough to drive you insane with the rules he makes up!"

"My rule was clearly that the Rich Man is permitted to play in a manner befitting his position," Miroku said faintly, holding up his hands in defeat as the three other human players rounded on him. "...In addition, of course, to my requirement that the Poor Man wear that charming flower circlet." He speedily ducked two blows.

Inuyasha felt an unfamiliar twinge in his chest. "You...made all this up?"

"Not all of it. The rules are always the same. But the Rich Man changes...or is supposed to...and he or she can make up one rule a round. Of course, a lot of the titles and rank-appropriate items are open to interpretation..." Kagome faltered as Inuyasha's face began to twitch. "I know it's weird, and I'm sorry we scared you. We were just having fun."

The twitching increased, and his voice took on an odd cast. "I...see. So if the bouzu loses and gets the same rank as Sango, he has to wear that thing." Before Kagome could finish nodding, Inuyasha had suddenly taken a keen interest in gnawing at one of his claws and turning his back, shoulders shaking.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome got up and threaded her way to the destruction the hanyou had caused, and tried to peer into his face. "Are you...are you laughing?"

With great effort Inuyasha straightened his features and looked down at her. "'Course not." His efforts proved futile as Kagome flipped the frog sunglasses back onto her face, and the infamous half-breed Lord of the Western Lands let out a bark of laughter that quickly developed into a full-blown case of the giggles. "You...you...aaaugh!"

Kagome gaped at him, wondering whether to be indignant or proud of herself, and eventually settled on one. As Inuyasha finally began to calm down and glanced around for her, he found that he'd missed a hurried, whispered conference and turned around to see the women proudly displaying Miroku, who was resignedly wearing the headband, the glasses and all the jewelry, sparkling net draped over his cursed hand.

Fifteen minutes, two relapses and one very bad case of side-soreness later, Inuyasha had chased everyone but Kagome out of the room with strict orders that no one was to breathe a word of what had happened to anyone else under pain of slow and lingering death.

"Ow," Inuyasha muttered, sprawled on Kagome's bed and massaging his face. "No one ever told me it hurt so much to do that."

"Some things are worth it," she said primly, tugging at his hair and settling into a crouch at the bed's side. Seeing him laugh had been a stranger and much more enjoyable experience than she would've thought. "You're gonna fix the shoji, right?"

A grunt and a careless hand wave. Kagome blinked, and the next second, the door was back to normal. "Oh. Thanks."

"Man..." Inuyasha shifted onto his aching stomach and stretched out with a sigh. "You guys are gonna be the death of me, one way or 'nother."

"One hopes not." Kagome pulled a lock of hair over his shoulder and began to braid it idly. "So you've never laughed like that before?"

"Nope. Never got much of a chance to see Miroku dressed up like a demented prostitute before. And what the hell is that thing you wear over your eyes?"

"They're sunglasses." Kagome held them up and slid them on and off for his benefit. "They're designed to keep the sun's rays from hurting your eyes. This is a kids' pair. I don't know why it's here."

"Me neither, wench." There was no bite to it, though, and he permitted her to keep braiding the lock up to where human ears would be.

Kagome began humming softly as she worked, a strange, swinging melody that was oddly appealing in his decreasingly lucid state. The soft sound, the smell surrounding him and the light, rhythmic tug on his scalp conspired against his mind's belated attempt to remember something important it had been going to do, and his eyes closed before his brain knew what they were doing.

He was only vaguely aware of the humming ceasing, but his ears pricked up as she began crooning the words under her breath, sweet, strange sounds in yet another language he'd never heard. "...Meme si je ne te vois pas, je peux retrouver ce que l'on cherche dans la nuit..."

His ear flicked as she paused, dropped the now-heavier lock and hopped lightly onto the bed. Unfortunately, the fact she'd been ignoring since she came downstairs - namely, that she was still sick - caught up with her as she started to maneuver herself over to his other side to braid the other lock, and her adrenaline abruptly gave out.

A sudden addition of warmth, weight and smell across his back woke Inuyasha quite effectively; he twisted around in wide-eyed confusion. "Kagome, what the hell...?"

"Sorry. Pushed it." She dragged herself across his lower back, unaware of how much twitching he was going through thanks to that small action, and settled into the hollow between him and the wall. "M'really sorry. Got tired all of a sudden."

"That's right, you're still sick..." He wrestled various feelings down, propped himself up and as far away from her as the bed would permit (not very much) and felt her forehead with the side of his hand. "Not too bad, but if you keep jumping around, you're gonna get sicker."

"Mmmm. Sorry." Kagome also stretched out on her stomach and sighed, burying her head in her folded arms. She'd changed into a long, light green PJ set earlier, perfect for the air's gentle warmth. "I never let my family know whenever I got sick. Dad wouldn't stop fussing and everyone else didn't care."

"...Well, if you die, I'm in trouble, so don't even think about it."

She smiled at his attempt to sound callous. "It was good to see you laugh. You seem really unhappy lately."

Inuyasha copied her head-arm configuration and rested his right cheek on his forearm so that he was facing her. "Yeah, tell me about..."

Shit. Kikyou. That was it. He had been about to ask her about Kikyou, for any insights as to why the dead priestess was...

"Inuyasha?"

"It...nothing. It's nothing." Inuyasha pushed himself up and slid off the bed.

"Wait!" Kagome summoned enough strength to lunge for his sleeve and hang on. "Where are you going?"

Inuyasha didn't turn around. "Let go. I'll send Sango in. We can eat in here later if you want."

"Don't go."

Kagome hadn't quite meant that to come out on such an entreating note, but out that way it came, and Inuyasha looked around, blinking in confusion. "What? What do you , I guess." Kagome's hand was starting to tremble from the simple exertion of holding his sleeve loosely. "Please?" Don't shake me off...

"Feh." She fell back against the wall in a flood of relief as he grudgingly sat down, arms folded and head held high to conceal the embarrassment tinting his cheekbones. "You're nuts."

"I'm a sick person, yep." She smiled feebly. "Get it?"

"Go to sleep." A trace of...something not unlike affection threaded itself through the acid words, and Inuyasha stretched out again, cautiously, watching her as if she might fall on him again.

Kagome shook her head slowly. "Nuh-uh. I have to even up."

"Even...? Oh." Inuyasha rolled his eyes as she rolled onto her side, freed his other hanging lock and slowly began to separate it into threes for a braid. "So that's why you made me stick around."

He didn't realize he'd spoken aloud till her hands faltered. "You think I just wanted you here to play with your hair?"

"Well, yeah. Why else would you ask?"

"For your company, idjit." She tugged gently a couple of times. "Some of us actually enjoy talking to cranky, stubborn jerks."

Inuyasha grunted, but his mind was racing to disassemble the remark and interpret the pieces. Did she...did she just say she likes...

"So you just want someone to spar with, is that it?" he grumped, turning his face away with a show of sulkiness.

He could still hear the smile in her voice, though. "'Course. Who else can I fight with and actually have fun?" Tug tug. "And you've failed to prove yourself an incorrigible jerk, too. Not to say you haven't put up a damn good fight..."

"Keh." Inuyasha hoped that would shut her up. The backhanded compliments were making him feel funny. Knew I should've left.

But even he knew when some things were at stake, and he'd sensed, almost subconsciously, that brushing her hand off would've had consequences he really didn't want to think about. She obviously wasn't still thinking along the same lines he was, if she wanted him there - his heart felt funny again for a second - but that was her problem.

As he let his mind wander and heard the humming start back up, he had to admit that he hadn't been so relaxed, so calm, so...well, not unhappy...for the longest time he could remember. Even his discovery that Kikyou shared his feelings had terrified him as much as it made his heart want to burst...

"Meme si, c'est tres difficile..." The words were sufficient to snap him out of it again, even though her voice gave out and she had to resort to humming the last few bars.

"What language is that?" he asked, more for distraction than out of actual interest.

"French. You've heard some of it before..." Kagome half-smiled awkwardly and rushed on before he could remember that she'd told him to go to hell at the end of their first meeting. Seems like years ago, and no time at all, at the same time... "I don't know as much French as I do English, but that last line was, 'Even if it's very difficult,' I think." No need to tell him the next line is about wolves.

"S'better than that other language. I don't like that one."

She laughed and let her hands rest for a minute, staring at the half-braided lock against the salmon color of her comforter. "English is the language to know if you want to be successful these days. The most powerful country in the world speaks it and not much else except maybe Spanish."

"Keh! We have the biggest demons of anywhere. We could take over if we wanted." He scratched his head carefully, and the slight noise let her recover her composure before she laughed at him and ruined the mood.

"Only humans exist now, as far as humans are concerned. I didn't know about demons till I came here...well, till Kirara came to pick me up, anyway." Kagome started braiding again, a little more slowly now.

"Idiot humans. Demons must be really pathetic now not to bother taking control like they used to." Inuyasha let out an earsplitting yawn, and Kagome involuntarily glanced up at the top of his head. Both ears were half-turned towards her.

"Anyway," she went on, braiding and glancing at his ears every so often, "my oldest brother's best friend's family hosted an American exchange student for a while, and she got him interested in learning it. He started teaching me when I was little, and we spoke it around the house to help Dad improve his."

"Mmmm." Inuyasha yawned again.

Kagome laughed quietly and finished braiding almost to the scalp. "Hmmmm..." She examined it critically. "I like this one better." She tapped him gently on the shoulder. "Hey, dog-boy. Roll over so I can finish."

Grumbling, eyes still closed, Inuyasha obediently turned onto his back. Kagome carefully picked up the lock and tugged it free from underneath his shoulder. He really is like an overgrown dog. Wonder if he'll kick his hind leg if I scratch his stomach? For just a second, the temptation was overwhelming.

"Hurry it up," he mumbled without opening his eyes. "I'm 'bout to...fall..." And his head fell to the side, taking a deep, involuntary breath and letting it out in a soft sigh.

Perfect. Deciding reluctantly that she was already taking as many liberties as she was probably going to be permitted, Kagome skipped the tummy rub and started braiding again, slowly, enjoying the simple task immensely.

But, within seconds, she was done. Great. Now what? He was down for the count, it looked like; Kagome wondered that he trusted her enough to fall asleep right here like that. Guess he knows I'm sick, no powers, no threat, plus I let a sterling Dead Inu opportunity slip by. ...Idiot. As if I'd just let him die with me right there!

Slowly, to avoid waking him, she unbraided the lock and smoothed it out, marveling at how soft the inner strands felt, as if they hadn't been in a tight braid for several minutes just now. Too bad he was lying on most of his hair: there went her chance to play with it complaint-free.

Kagome lifted the other braided lock, but her arms suddenly went spaghetti on her again, and she had to drop it, frustrated. Nuts. Better wake him up anyway... She checked his ears out of habit: unmoving. Wow, he's really out. His face was calmer and smoother in sleep than it ever was awake; she had to reiterate her idly formed opinion of however long ago that, minus the fangs, stripes and blood red, he could actually be fairly cute. Nice jaw lines, high cheekbones, nice...well...everything below the neck...and-

She stopped when she caught herself staring at his lips. Good God! What'm I gonna do now, try to kiss him and wind up in a comically compromising position?! Nuh-uh! Kagome mentally slapped herself, willing her face to cool off. Get a grip and wake him up!

"Inuyasha?" He didn't stir at her first soft attempt. "Inuyasha." Without thinking, she tapped his cheek gently...and started. What? Had his face stripe just...?

The air grew still as she leaned in closer. Swallowing, she placed a fingertip at the apex of his right stripe and traced it with a feather's touch down to the hinge of his jaw...and watched in disbelief as it rippled and faded under her finger.

What the...?! Kagome pulled her hand away. No, there it was, jagged and purple and actually kind of cool-looking now that she was used to it. O...kay...what about the other one?

But as she reached for his chin to gently turn his head, a shock ten times as violent as any static electricity jolted her hand, and she shrieked involuntarily, snatching the hand back.

"What? What?" Inuyasha sprang up to all fours, instantly alert. "Kagome? What's wrong?"

"I...I don't know!" Face still red, Kagome blew on her stinging fingers and surveyed the damage: three blisters and painfully red, angry skin. Disappearing stripe or not, I didn't imagine whatever the hell this was, that's for sure!

"What'd you do to get that?" Inuyasha gently snatched it from her and held it up close to his eyes. "This some kinda burn? How'd you get it?"

"I don't know," she mumbled, trying halfheartedly to tug out of his loose but iron grip. Stupid as she knew she was being, their proximity was still suddenly rather embarrassing. "It just kind of...ow!" Kagome glared as he very lightly touched one of the blisters. "What was that for?"

"I've never seen this kind of burn before. Wait here. I'm gonna go get some water." He swiftly disappeared out of the room, leaving Kagome to contemplate various new mysteries on her own.

When he returned several minutes later, deterred by the need to keep the servants in the dark, he was annoyed and amused to find her asleep. "Took you long enough," he muttered, setting the jug down and pulling a clean rag from his sleeve. She didn't wake as he examined the hand again in the rapidly waning light and began dabbing cold water on it. "I'm not babying you any more after today, you got that, wench?"

No answer. He finished wrapping the three middle fingers together clumsily and fiddled with the dressing-if it could even be called one. Mom would laugh at me...His hand tightened involuntarily, and he stopped, appalled: he'd squeezed her fingers. She's gonna wake up and kill me...!

To his dumbfounded relief, there was no response. Good, got off easy this t-

Inuyasha started as she stirred, and suddenly he felt gentle, unmistakable pressure: she'd squeezed his hand back. Wide-eyed, he searched her face, but she was deeply asleep. Kagome...

Neither of them told their friends about it the next day, which was just as well, because otherwise the servants would undoubtedly have picked up the story - through either telepathy, lucky invention of facts or osmosis, no one was ever sure exactly how - and spread it rapidly to explain why Shippou ambled in a few minutes later, dropped his half-eaten lollipop and gaped at Inuyasha, who was leaning against the bed, eyes almost closed, arms resting on the mattress next to Kagome's.

As the kit began to back away, one ruby eye opened fully and pinned him. "Oi. Runt." Shippou relaxed as Inuyasha spoke in a harsh whisper, obviously taking care to keep Kagome asleep. "Tell Sango to be quiet if she comes in. I'm eating alone tonight. And if you wake her up, I'll turn you into a very small rug. Got it?"

A/N: One week, wheeee...sorry about slight delay, but Life is funny and annoying. And my 'Net is not working...BUT I have another computer with which to work here, at home, NOT in a crappy little dorm room and at the mercy of a single crappy dial-up connection! Mwa ha ha ha haaaaa! edits and uploads from parents' sexy new-ish comp

I was going to end on a wicked cliffhanger, but I'm not that cruel: I have way too much stuff to do tomorrow (later today, that is...pulled another all-nighter for you people, 'tis 6 a.m. already), and we're out of town for the weekend, where I would not wish to be hounded by fic-reading relatives for leaving off on a bad note. So expect some actual plot movement very soon in the story...just not till I get back and do some homework. Stupid homework!

One more vital message, or two: A shout-out to anyone who gets the song (which I don't own, legal people) aside from Sis, who got it just from hearing me recall its description. But then again, we listen to it constantly (and yes, this is set in 2004, a few years off canon if you wanna be picky). And driving standards i sucks /i . That is all. See you whenever...