InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Consciousness ❯ Unconscious ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Unconscious

Kagome lay on the floor of Kaede’s hut; Inuyasha lay next to her. His dark hair was fanned out against the soft blankets that they had laid him on upon their return. Sango was stirring stew as Kaede was mixing herbs; Shippo sat near Kagome’s head, running his paws through her hair, waiting for her to wake up.

“Shippo, please go help Miroku get some more herbs for me and bring some water, too,” Kaede asked quietly.

As soon as Shippo and Miroku were out of the hut, Kaede and Sango moved toward Kagome; working quickly they stripped the remaining clothes off her and finished cleaning and bandaging her wounds.

“Sango, was she injured in some other way? Was she struck in her head?” Kaede asked.

“No, Kaede, not that we saw,” Sango answered.

“I do not yet understand why she has not yet awoken,” Kaede stated with concern.

“Kaede, there were some pretty powerful dark waves in Inuyasha’s attack,” Sango noted, “Do you think that may have something to do with it?”

“Child, I do not know; however, something is preventing her from waking up.”

“Kaede, it has been three days; she should have stirred by now”

“I know, child, I know.”

Miroku and Shippo returned with water and more herbs for Kaede. Shippo ran anxiously back to Kagome and Inuyasha, and he slipped in between the two, settling back down laying one paw on each head.

“Gome, you have to wake up. I need you,” Shippo whispered.

“Sango, come, you need some fresh air; let’s go for a walk,” Miroku pleaded, trying once again to get her to leave Kagome’s bedside for a few minutes.

Looking toward Kaede, Sango sighed. Kaede nodded her assent and sent Sango outside.

“Sango, I think one of us needs to seek out assistance with the two lying in there.”

“Miroku, who are you going to ask?” Sango asked quizzically.

True, he wasn’t quite sure of that. They had not seen Kagura since Kanna had walked up to them on the battlefield with their hearts in her hand and the Shikon No Tama. Kanna had laid the Shikon in Kagome’s palm moments before she lost consciousness. Kagome had wrapped her fingers around it and had laid her head down on Inuyasha’s chest, losing her battle to stay awake.

They had not seen Sesshomaru since then either.

Kirara was following along behind them. Miroku shifted his gaze toward her. “I think she and I should seek out Sesshomaru,” Miroku stated.

“Do you think he would help?” Sango asked.

“We have nothing to lose; we need to try something.”

“Ok, let’s go talk to Kaede and get you ready to go.”Side by side, they headed back toward the hut.

Miroku explained to Kaede that he was going to seek out Sesshomaru to see if he had any ideas about the two sleeping companions. While he talked to Kaede, Sango fixed a bag with some of the instant food that Kagome always brought from her time.

“Hurry back, Hoshi!” Sango said as they walked from the hut.

“If you’re afraid to be without me, dearest Sango, you are welcome to come with me,” the monk said as one hand slipped lower on her waist.

SLAP!

“Never learn, do you? Uh, no, you’re taking my fire cat! I want her back quickly!” Sango yelled as the pair took to the sky.

*****

Off to the West. Sesshomaru was out patrolling his lands. He was staying away from his castle for the time being; Jaken, Rin and that damned Wind Witch were there and now there was no peace. He had agreed to give sanctuary and protection to Kagura and Kanna. They were staying at his castle. Rin adored the wind witch and couldn’t leave her alone for a minute. He grimaced, remembering the interruption. He had Kagura off the ground by her throat, explaining that any signs of deception or talk of betrayal would cause the immediate end of her existence. Rin had run in, demanding why her Lord had the pretty lady by the throat. She had stated innocently that she liked the pretty lady and did not want her Lord to injure the pretty lady. Rin and Kagura had been inseparable since. Jaken was constantly squawking about the houseguests. Evidently, Kagura had done some pretty good shredding of the toad with her fan when he walked in on her in the bath.

Kanna was the only sane one, quiet and studious. She spent most of her time in the study, reading his scrolls. She had even volunteered to take some of his paperwork duties over; she seemed to enjoy the study and all of the paperwork as well as the tasks that come along with it. He did find her quiet challenging and actually enjoyed debating with her. When they settled in, he would offer her a position at his court. He could use a strong mind that displayed no emotion.

Raising his head slightly, he caught the scent of one of his brother’s traveling companions, headed this way and fast. Rather than stand idly and wait, he headed out to meet him.

“Speak, Monk.”

“Sesshomaru-sama, we are in need of your assistance,” Miroku stated as he lowered his head.

“The half-breed, I presume?” He sneered.

“Well, actually,” Miroku snickered, “he’s still human.”

Sesshomaru quirked an eyebrow at him while wondering what they would want with him.

“Sorry, I was sent because neither he nor Kagome have awoken since the battle; we were hoping you may have some insight?”

“Hmmm,” was his only response to the monk.

“Head back to the village; I will join you shortly, Monk.”

*****

Miroku arrived at the village and told Sango, Shippo and Kaede that the Taiyoukai would be visiting soon.

*****

Sesshomaru swept into his study, picked up a few scrolls, and told Jaken to prepare Ah-Un and Rin for travel. He then went in search of Kagura.

“Kagura, I am headed to the Village in Inuyasha’s Forest; if you would like to accompany me, you may. Kanna will be going with me.” He then headed in search of the Void.

He found her outside with a pile of scrolls sitting in the gardens reading. “Kanna, prepare yourself for travel; we leave within the hour.”

“Where to, my Lord?” she asked.

“It seems that my fool brother and his Miko have yet to awaken from their slumber since the battle. I have several scrolls that I wish for you to review and may require some assistance from you when we get there. Bring your mirror with you and meet me at the gates in one hour.”

Soon the eclectic group was headed toward the forest. Rin and Kanna were astride Ah-Un with Jaken. Kagura was above on her feather, and Sesshomaru was leading the way on his energy cloud.

*****

In Kaede’s hut, the pair was still completely dead to the world. Sango and Kaede moved about cleaning and preparing the next meal. Shippo still sat between the two. Miroku was out gathering firewood and water. Kirara was curled up at the feet of the sleeping pair.

Kagome could hear him. She heard Inuyasha cry out to her. He was looking for her. She knew this; she just couldn’t get to him. She set out in search of him; yet, as soon as she started to look for him there was a flare of light.

“Kagome,” a soft quiet voice called out to her. “Kagome, you are not done; I am sorry, my child. There is more for you to do.”

“Midoriko, is that you?”

“Yes, my dear, it is,” the said the voice in the light. “I have more for you to do; the battle still rages. I know that there is a belief that a pure wish will finish this battle. That is not so,” Midoriko stated sadly.

“Your hanyou friend has protected you fiercely. It is my hope that he continues to do so. I have another task for you. You must destroy the evil that continues to taint the jewel.”

“What evil is that, Midoriko? I thought Naraku was that biggest risk to the jewel? I thought we could keep the jewel pure and allow it to disappear once more?”

“Disappear? No, that won’t happen,” Midoriko chuckled sadly. “I am short on time here. Call to your hanyou and ask him to join us here.”

“How?” Kagome asked, more confused now than she was before.

“In your mind, call him.”

Kagome concentrated, calling out to Inuyasha. Amazingly, he materialized next to her.

“Kagome, I thought I had lost you! Midoriko?” he questioned, looking at the figure in front of Kagome.

“Yes, Inuyasha, it is me. I have a task for you; I need your help.”

“What is it?”

“I need you to continue to protect Kagome as you have done in the past, and I need you to watch over her and make sure that she can complete the task before her.”

“Midoriko, what task is before her? I thought we had destroyed Naraku?”

“Yes, Naraku is destroyed, but he was only one part of the evil. The battle in the jewel still rages. Until that battle is silent, the jewel can not be quieted.”

“Quieted? I thought it would disappear!”

“No, apparently that is only a myth, Inuyasha,” Kagome stated, turning her attention to Midoriko. “So, what happens to the jewel? If a pure wish won’t allow the jewel to disappear, then what will?”

“That remains to be seen, Kagome; as for quieting the jewel, the evil that forced the jewel into existence in the first place was re-incarnated, just as part of my spirit was. You must find that evil and destroy it. It was responsible for the rise of Naraku.”

“So the battle still rages?” Inuyasha inquired. “Why, Kagome? If you couldn’t stop the battle; how can a weak human like her hope to do it?”

*****

“So, the half-breed has not awoken?” Sesshomaru sneered.

“Nay, Lord Sesshomaru, nor has Kagome,” Kaede responded.

“Move the half-breed to the next room, so that I may examine his wounds while Kanna and Kagura examine the Miko and her wounds. Kaede, I am sure you will help them? I want to look for anything that may indicate poisons or other injury that may not be detectable to humans.”

Sesshomaru picked Inuyasha up and motioned for the Monk to follow.

As he crossed the threshold into the back room, he noted that Inuyasha’s heart rate slowed.

Hmmm, curious he thought. Looking over his shoulder, he noted that Kagura had quickly moved closer to the Miko. Raising an eyebrow, he inquired, “Kagura?”

“Sesshomaru, bring him back this way,” Kagura requested. As Sesshomaru approached, Kagome’s heart rate increased, and the beats became stronger. She looked into Sesshomaru’s arched eyes, a question of her own in hers as she shrugged.

He turned and stepped away again; as he did so, he noted that his brother’s heartbeat slowed and faded. The further he walked, the quieter it became. As he moved into the other room, Kagura called out to him.

“Sesshomaru, please, bring him in here quickly!” Kaede moved closer to Kagome and gasped, “Hurry!”
Kagome’s heartbeat was barely notable even to the wind demon bowing across her.

“Oh, Hell!” Sesshomaru muttered, as he came in and threw his brother down next to the Miko.

*****

“MIDORIKO! What is that? Why do I keep fading in and out?” Kagome asked panic rising in her voice.

Midoriko glanced at Inuyasha and Kagome. “We are in the spirit world, and you are still weak from the battle; Inuyasha is still human. Apparently the link between the two of you is being interrupted. I must let you go back to your own bodies!” Midoriko said as she started to fade away from the pair.

“Oi! Midoriko, come back, you wench! You haven’t answered my question! What are we looking for? How do we destroy the jewel?” Inuyasha bellowed into the darkness.

“Inuyasha?” asked Kagome turning toward him. “Have you ever sensed an evil stronger than Naraku?”

“Hmmm, years ago, before I was sealed to the tree and before Onigumo turned Kikyo against me, there was a presence. I remember feeling it once before, when I was a child.”

“So, you will stay by my side while we try to figure out what to do with the jewel?”

“Of course, wench! You are too weak to leave alone!” Inuyasha spat out.

Hmmm, Kagome wondered as she smiled at him. I wonder if it works in this realm?

Surely, she wouldn’t? Inuyasha thought as he eyed the smile Kagome was giving him. Surely, it wouldn’t work in the realm of the mind? Surely if they were in the spirit dimension, it couldn’t hurt.

“Oi, fuck!” he was wrong. “What the hell was that for?”

*****

“What the hell?” Miroku asked as Inuyasha thrashed and mumbled incoherently. Inuyasha’s face was twisted in pain. Glancing at Kagome, he noted that she appeared quiet and serene while she was resting. Inuyasha, on the other hand, looked uncomfortable and angry. That was the first time they had noted anything odd about their unconscious friends since the battle.

“Kaede?” Sango inquired.

“Actually, I believe they are in the spirit world,” answered Sesshomaru. “I believe they are linked to one another for I do not smell the scent of lingering or awaiting death. Kagura?” Sesshomaru asked.

“No, Sesshomaru, I don’t smell anything either. I do not smell toxins or spells? I can smell the purity of the Shikon. Kagome still holds it in her hand,” Kagura responded.

Sesshomaru and the monk finished their exam of the unconscious Inuyasha, while Sango and Kaede assisted Kagura and Kanna with their exam of Kagome. After a through exam, none of the injuries noted were severe enough to warrant the pair still being unconscious.

Sesshomaru stepped away and nodded to Kaede. ‘I don’t find anything unusual, other than the fact that he is still human. It will take longer for him to recover because of this.” Bowing his head in deference to Kaede’s age, Sesshomaru stepped out of the hut. Everyone except Kaede followed. Kaede stayed and watched over her charges.

Picking up the sack of scrolls, Sesshomaru led the group into the clearing outside of the hut and taking a seat against the tree. He waited until everyone had assembled around them.

“Kanna, take these two scrolls and please review them. You are looking for anything relating to Midoriko, the Shikon No Tama, and the demons that are locked inside,” he sighed. “I suspect that the Miko still being unconscious has something to do with the jewel. Inuyasha’s state of mind appears to be linked to hers. When we separated them, it appears that their life force is joined. I suspect that has something to do with that jewel clasped in her hand.”

“So what do we do?” Sango asked. “They can’t stay like that forever.”

“I suspect they are that way only while he finishes healing. The arrow that the Dead Miko shot at him, purified the demon side of him. The wounds in his shoulder, while not life threatening, are very serious to a human.”

“Yes, but, we have all suffered injuries that severe and have woken up quicker than he is,” Miroku stated.

“However, you were not also trying to heal a demon side that was purified as well.”

“Oh,” Sango’s face lit up, “he’s still out because the demon is trying to recover! What about Kagome?”

“The dark winds that wound around that final blow, I fear, may have affected the Miko and the jewel, and they are either draining her energy or were severe enough for her to continue to need time to mend.”

“Sesshomaru-sama! Sesshomaru-sama!” Rin cried happily. “Look, my Lord! I picked flowers for the pretty Lady Kagome! May I take them to her?”

Sesshomaru looked up to see Jaken and Shippo standing behind Rin. Rin was smiling and holding a handful of flowers, and both Jaken and Shippo’s arms were full of flowers, too.

Sighing lightly as a lighter expression crossed the Lord’s face momentarily, he said, “Yes, Rin.”

Rin darted off with Shippo and Jaken following closely.

Rin and Shippo slipped quietly into the hut and greeted Kaede, Shippo slipped over between Kagome and Inuyasha. He set the flowers down and lightly placed a paw on each of them. “Gome, Inuyasha, Rin and I brought you some flowers; you have to wake up and see the flowers we brought you. I miss you!” He sniffled as Rin made her way over.

“Rin brought you flowers! Jaken and Shippo helped Rin pick flowers for you!” Rin chatted away at the sleeping couple as if they could hear her and were awake. She talked about the sky, the sun, and the various flowers; she also told them about Jaken and a trick that Shippo had played on him.

Kaede went about making the next meal while Shippo and Rin talked to the sleeping pair. She just smiled as they played games and continued to talk. She occasionally walked over and checked on the pair. After a while, Sesshomaru stepped into the hut alone. “Rin, Shippo a moment please,” he ordered.

Rin leapt up and smiled, “Yes, my Lord,” she said as she danced out the door followed by Shippo.

“Kaede, we will be staying until the half-breed wakes; I would ask if Rin may stay in the hut at night with you.” It was a statement phrased as a question. Sesshomaru then glanced around the room. “Have you seen the jewel?”

“Yes, I have Lord Sesshomaru, although I have not been able to remove it from Kagome’s hand; I moved her fingers around it when I was bathing her; she won’t let go of it though.’

“And,” he asked. He did not need to explain himself. The Old Miko knew what he was asking.

“It appears to be pure; I don’t feel any taint coming from it. I have not noticed any pulsing or any abnormal auras,” Kaede stated.

“Kanna is looking for any other references to the jewel in several of my scrolls. I am suspicious that we may not know everything that we need to know regarding the jewel. I can still feel its active power, as I am sure you can. I do worry that other youkai will feel it as well. Until Inuyasha awakes, I believe someone should stay with them at all times. I will set a schedule with the slayer and the monk,” Sesshomaru inclined his head toward the miko and stepped out.

“Rin, you will sleep in the hut. I expect you to mind your manners.”

“Yes, my Lord,” Rin said as she smiled up at him.

Day passed into night and into day again. The group attended to regular chores and assisted Kaede with the two unconscious friends. Kanna continued to pour over the scrolls that Sesshomaru had brought with him.
On the fifth day, Rin came running out of the hut.

“Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru!” The girl yelled, an urgent edge to her voice.

“Yes, Rin?” he sighed quietly exhaustion evident in his voice. He had not slept since coming to the little village.

The others came running at the sound of her voice.

“His hair, my Lord! His hair has changed color! It is same color as yours my Lord!”

The group started into the hut.

There on the mat lay Inuyasha with his silver hair spread out around him. Sometime in the night, he had rolled over toward Kagome and lay with one arm flung over her.

Sesshomaru lightly sniffed the air.

Moving with lightening speed, he slipped over to Inuyasha and pulled him upright.

The group standing behind him only caught a glimpse of faint purple marks on Inuyasha’s face before Sesshomaru let him slip back to the mat.

Ok, so here is the disclaimer again:
I don’t own Inuyasha, its characters, or its story line.
That is the joyful honor of Rumiko Takahashi