InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dangerous Adventures ❯ A Return to Where We Met ( Chapter 11 )

A/N: Sorry for another very long delay in updates. If you’ve read my LJ you know what’s been going on. Thank you everyone that has reviewed, its what keeps me writing. I’m going to try and get the next chapter out quickly. I hope you enjoy this one.

The Dangerous Adventures

Chapter 11

A Return to Where We Met

Inuyasha paused for moment, and winced slightly as his wounds pulled painfully. Blood had already began to slowly soak through his red haori, turning the tough fabric a shade darker. He scanned the area before continuing through the shaded forest, his senses in constant use to alert him to any youkai presence.

Kagome followed a short distance behind the hanyou, unknowing of his current state and leading Kage, while Shippou rode perched on the horse’s saddle. The young woman glanced at their surroundings as well, noticing the slightly familiar area. “Inuyasha, where are we headed,” Kagome asked, before glancing around again.

“Why,” he asked, turning his head so that he could glance back at the miko. “ Don’t you trust me?”

“I trust you,” Kagome answered honestly, knowing that she really did trust the hanyou now. “But you still haven’t told me where we are going….. Besides, trusting you doesn’t mean that I want to be lead around blindly. I just wanted to know where we are headed because, this area seems familiar.”

“We’re about a half of a day away from that village you stayed at,” Inuyasha answered with a sigh, and turning his attention back to the game trail in front of him. “And, we're headed to a village in the Western Lands.”

“Really? If we’re that close, why don’t we stay at Asumi-san’s until you are completely healed?”

“I told you that it will be closed by tonight,” Inuyasha replied, not mentioning the fact that he was currently bleeding through his haori.

“But it won’t hurt to stop, and rest for a couple of days,” Kagome said coming to a stop on the trail and looking at him pleadingly.

Inuyasha paused, and half turned again to glance back at Kagome and the little kitsune. He tried to hide the blood from the miko, while he decided what to do. ‘Kagome, and the brat should be fine there for a couple of nights. That old woman didn’t seem to have a problem with youkai from what I could tell when I was watching them.’ Inuyasha turned back around, and started walking again; now headed straight for Asumi’s village. “Fine, lets just hurry up and get there.”

Kagome smiled at the hanyou’s retreating back, and hurried after him.

Late that afternoon, the small group of travelers arrived at the outskirts of the village. Inuyasha lead them over to a small hut on the edge of town before stopping. Kagome walked up to the door and paused, calling out the elder’s name. “Asumi-san, are you home?” Kagome waited a few moments, before calling again. “Asumi-san? …” She lifted the straw matt, and peered inside the darkened interior “She must still be at her shop," the young woman said, half to herself as she dropped the mat and, turned back to the waiting group.

Kagome glanced at Inuyasha, about to tell him to follow her, when she gasped. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the blood soaking through the front of his red haori. The miko rushed over to the hanyou’s side; quickly glancing at the amount of blood, and checking the color of his skin. “Why didn’t you say something,” the young woman demanded. She furiously glared at him as she reached up to place her palm against his forehead. “Is this what you call closed by tonight?”

“Keh, its no big deal,” Inuyasha replied, leaning back, and avoiding her hand.

Kagome dropped her hand, and continued to glare at him. “It is a big deal! Hanyou or not, you can’t keep reopening you wounds and bleeding like this. Sit down over there,” She said pointing to the side of the hut, before continuing. “And, take off your haori and inner kimono so that I can check your wounds.”

“No.”

“Stop being stubborn. You need to be re-bandaged.”

“There's no point. We still have to find the old woman first.”

“Fine. But, when we get settled, I am re-bandaging you.” Kagome declared, poking his shoulder with a finger, and leaving no room for an argument. She then turned, and quickly stomped off towards the marketplace; leaving the others behind. Inuyasha growled lowly, but picked up the horse’s reigns, and followed after the young woman.

Kagome continued her march down the dirt road, heading for the center of town. She faltered slightly, when she noticed the hateful looks being thrown in her direction. The miko paused, and glanced around; not understanding why the villagers would act this way. Seeing nothing that would cause such a reaction, she half turned back, and noticed Inuyasha following her. Her eyes widened in surprise, when she realized that the looks where not so much at her, but at her hanyou companion, and the fact that she was with him.

The miko watched his expression harden, as he continued toward her. ‘He seems to be trying to ignore everyone… Does this happen everywhere he goes? How can these people act this way, he hasn't done anything to them.’ Kagome mentally shook her head, and waited for Inuyasha to catch up to her. When he stopped beside her, she hesitated for a second not knowing what his reaction would be to her small gesture of acceptance.

Inuyasha curiously watched the young woman, as her different emotions flickered across her face. The miko took a deep breath, and reached out to the hanyou; taking his hand in hers. She smiled at him while she linked her fingers with his, before starting out again toward Asumi’s stall.

Inuyasha’s eyes widened in surprise, while Kagome pulled him along. Both wanting to get away from the rest of the villagers before anything happened. They ignored the contemptuous looks thrown in their direction for her allowing a hanyou to touch her. ‘I know she trusts me, but I didn’t think she would reach out to me and walk beside me as an equal... Like a mate.’

Kagome found the old woman sitting in the shade of her shop, and quickly walked over to her, still pulling Inuyasha with her. “Hello child, I did not expect to see you again so soon,” Asumi greeted, when she caught sight of the miko.

"Its good to see you again Asumi-san. How have you been doing?”

“I'm fine child, the burdock you gave me has been helping so far,” Asumi replied, before noticing the injured silver haired hanyou standing near the young woman, their hands linked. She glanced back to Kagome before continuing, “Although your handsome young friend seems to be really in need of some help.”

“I'm sorry Asumi-san, this is Inuyasha,” Kagome said, glancing towards the hanyou before turning right back to the old woman and continuing. “And, yes he does. I was hoping that we can stay with you for a couple of days, until he is fully healed.”

“You are more than welcome to.”

“Thank you so much Asumi-san. I‘m sorry to be a nuisance again.”

“No such thing, child. I enjoyed having you stay with me, you know that. And if you remember, I tried to get you to stay longer,” she chided gently.

“Hai,” Kagome said, slightly embarrassed. “Thank you again, Elder.”

“I won’t be closing the shop for awhile, so go on now, and get that young man seen about; you know where my house is.”

“Hai, thank you again," Kagome said, releasing Inuyasha’s hand before turning around, and hurriedly leading the small group back the way they had come. This time everyone completely ignored the hateful looks sent in their direction by most of the villagers.

When the young woman neared the well in the center of the market-square, she changed direction and headed over to it. "Now, what are you doing." Inuyasha asked annoyed, as he followed her. Shippou glanced between the pair, but said nothing as he watched them.

Kagome didn't answer, as she removed the water containers from their bag of supplies and carried them over to the well. The Miko placed them on the lip of the well, and quickly drew up a bucket of water. She then transferred the water to their containers, before emptying the rest of the bucket in to the trough beside the well.

Without a word, Inuyasha lead Kage over to the trough and let the horse drink, while Kagome repacked the containers. When she was finished, the group then headed back toward Asumi's hut.

When they arrived at Asumi‘s, Kagome led Kage around to the back of the house, and in to the old barn that was barely standing. Inuyasha followed the miko, but stopped just inside the building. He leaned against the wall, while he waited on her. Shippou hopped down from the saddle, and quietly padded over to the hanyou’s side to wait out of the way.

The young woman quickly led the horse in to the only stall, and tied the reigns off. She then removed the water containers from their supplies, and placed them on the ground, before taking out her largest cooking pot. Inuyasha pushed away from the wall, and walked over to the horse. He quickly removed their supplies, before returning to where he was standing, the bag slung over his shoulder. “You really shouldn’t be carrying that,” Kagome called over to him, while she filled the cooking pot with water.

“Keh.”

Kagome sighed at the stubborn hanyou’s response as she placed the water within Kage’s reach. She removed the horse’s saddle and blanket. She carried them over to a corner of the stall, and set them down out of the way. The young woman walked back over to Kage, and finally removed his bridle and reigns, letting him move about freely in the stall. She then picked up the water containers, and headed over to the hanyou. The young woman gabbed the sleeve of his haori with her free hand when she passed, hauling Inuyasha with her, as she headed for the hut.

“Hey wench, you don’t have to drag me.”

“I’m just making sure you don’t decide to wonder off.” Shippou covered his mouth to stifle his giggles, as he followed behind the pair.

Inuyasha shot the amused kitsune a glare before replying, “Keh, where do I have to go at the moment?”

Kagome didn’t answer him, but a smile graced her lips as she led him through the door of the hut. “Sit here,” Kagome told her pouting patient, pointing to a spot near the fire-pit. She then dropped to her knees herself, and placed the water containers next to the fire. She waited for Inuyasha to sit down, before dragging the bag of supplies closer to her, and beginning to remove everything she would need to treat the hanyou.

The miko placed several bowls, strips of linen, the left over Agrimony leaves, a cooking pot, and the last of the yarrow leaves around her, then set to work. Kagome quickly started a fire, poured water in to the cooking pot, and set the pot over the fire. She turned her attention to the herbs, crushing a small handful of the Agrimony leaves in to a bowl before she turned to Inuyasha. “Take off your haori, and inner kimono.”

Inuyasha growled lowly, but did as he was told, and removed his upper clothing. He tossed the items in to a heap beside the fire pit. His now loosely tied hakama slipped dangerously lower on his hips. He paused for a moment, debating with himself before he slipped the jewel from around his neck, and held it out to the miko. “Here, hide it somewhere.”

“Are you sure,” Kagome asked hesitantly, reaching for it.

“Yeah.”

“Um, okay.” Kagome gently took the jewel from him, then paused not knowing where to put it. She glanced at their supplies, then looked back at the hanyou beside her before she slipped the necklace over her head. A small gasp escaped her, when the jewel touched her skin as she tucked it inside her yukata. The young woman could feel a soft comforting warmth spreading over her, originating from the jewel and causing an almost familiar feeling in her. She held her hand still, hovering it over the jewel as sense of rightness flowed over her; surprising the young woman.

“Kagome,” Inuyasha quietly spoke her name, watching her reaction to the jewel. “As if I needed more proof,” he mumbled to himself, catching the young Kitsune’s attention, before calling the miko’s name again. “Kagome?”

The young woman mentally shook her head, and cleared her throat as she scooted closer to the hanyou, not even realizing that he had called her by name twice. Inuyasha glanced to the kitsune to find him avidly watching them. He mentally called the child a brat, before turning his attention back to the miko He raised an eyebrow, curious about her reactions. But he said nothing as she began removing the tightly wrapped bindings from his torso.

Inuyasha shifted, his ears flatted against his head in irritation as he tried to keep his arms out of the young woman's way. The inu-hanyou swore under his breath, when he caught himself leaning down to take in more of the miko’s warm enticing scent. He growled lowly and shifted again, trying to ignore her scent as she brushed against him in the act of reaching around his back to pass the bindings from one hand to the other.

Kagome glanced up when she heard his growl, thinking that she had brushed against his wounds; but she found him wearing a frown and not really looking at her. The miko quickly went back to work, and finished removing the blood soaked bindings. Next she gently peeled the saturated dressings from the wounds.

“Here, let me spread out a blanket,” Kagome said, reaching for their supplies. Inuyasha stood up and moved to the side, having to keep a grip on his hakama, as it had started to slide down. The miko immediately pulled out a blanket and began spreading it out next to her, placing herself between Inuyasha and the fire pit. “Lie down,” Kagome said, glancing up to him, and patting the blankets.

Inuyasha didn’t comment as he stretched out on the floor beside the Miko, making himself as comfortable as he could. He tucked his arms under his head, using them as a pillow and crossed his ankles. Kagome waited until the hanyou was settled before picking up a clean piece of linen. She gently wiped all of the blood from his chest then added it to the pile of things that would need washing.

The young woman picked up the last of the yarrow and placed the leaves along the deepest wound. She lightly pressed down as she went so that the herb would have greater contact with the injury. When the gash was completely covered, she turned her attention to the now boiling pot of water, and removed it from the fire. Kagome carefully poured water over the crushed Agrimony leaves, and filling up the small bowl. She set the pot to the side, and left the herbs to steep.

Kagome pulled their supplies closer to her and began pulling out her dirty yukatas, and adding them to the wash pile, when Asumi entered the hut. “Did you find everything you needed,” she asked, glancing at the half naked hanyou lying on her floor with his eyes closed. She noticed the wounds that ran across his chest and stomach, before turning back to the young woman.

“Hai Elder,” Kagome answered looking up at her. “I had most of what I needed with me, though I did have to borrow one of your cooking pots.”

“That’s fine child, you’re welcome to use whatever I have. Are you hungry,” the older woman asked, not commenting on the inu-hanyou. She sat down next to Shippou, across the fire pit from Kagome and Inuyasha.

“Hai,” Shippou answered hopping to his feet and nearly climbing in to Asumi‘s lap.

“We haven’t ate since this morning,” Kagome replied, as she checked the temperature of the astringent wash, and finding it still too hot to use.

“Well then, I should get started.”

“Do you need any help?”

“No, its fine child. You just tend to your patient.” Asumi said, giving the young woman a sly smile as she carefully climbed to her feet, before hobbling her way in to her storage room.

Kagome shook her head at the old woman not knowing what she was getting at. But when she turned back to the hanyou, she glanced over him, not looking at him as her patient; and finally noticing how he looked stretched out on the blanket and blushed. She quickly averted her face, and carefully avoided looking at him further, while she finished gathering everything that needed washing, not wanting to blush more.

Inuyasha cracked his eyes open when he smelled a slight change in the young woman’s scent. He watched her as she moved, noticing her aversion to him, and causing the hanyou to smirk as he relaxed and closed his eyes again. Kagome stood up a moment later, and headed to the storage room, sliding the door open and just sticking her head in. “Asumi-san. Do you have a very large pot that I can borrow?”

“Hai, check to you right,” the older woman answered, walking toward the miko, her arms laden down with a basket of vegetables, a bowl of rice, and a small mound of cured pork.

“Here, let me help you.”

“Its fine. Just go on, and get what you need.” Kagome nodded her head, and quickly stepped to the side, so that the elder could pass. She then glanced around a moment, before finally spotting what she was looking for. The young woman removed the various other items stored inside, and set them to the side. She then picked the heavy thing up, and carried it in to the main room.

The miko smiled at a cooking Asumi as she passed her, and continued on, carrying the pot outside. She returned a few seconds later, collected the blood stained linens, and her water containers, before walking back out. Shippou glanced at Asumi, before hopping to his feet and following the young woman. “Kagome?”

“Hai, Shippou-chan,” she answered, as she placed Inuyasha’s kimono, and haori in the pot before looking up.

“Do you need any help?”

“Actually, yes. Do you think you can check on Kage for me?”

“Hai!”

“Thank you, Shippou,” Kagome called, smiling at the quickly retreating kitsune. The young woman turned back to what she was doing and added the bloodied bandages and wrappings to the pot. She picked up the water containers and emptied them in to the large pot, before heading around back, leaving the items to soak. The miko rounded the back corner of the hut, to see Shippou exiting the barn, and heading toward her. “Is he ok?”

“Hai, Kage is eating the hay that is left in there.”

“Ok, lets head back inside then.” Shippou followed the raven-haired young woman, as she turned around and headed to the hut.

Kagome entered the room, and dropped back down in her place between Inuyasha and the fire. The hanyou’s ears swiveling in her direction, was the only hint that he was very much aware of what was going on around him. Shippou entered just behind the miko, and sat back down beside Asumi, who greeted the kitsune with a warm smile.

The young woman reached over, and tested the temperature of the astringent wash of Agrimony leaves, finding that it was now cool enough to use. She quickly selected another bowl from their supplies and placed it beside the extra linen that she removed earlier. She then lightly touched the hanyou’s arm to get his attention.

Inuyasha cracked opened his eyes, and glanced at the miko sitting next to him. “What?”

“I just wanted you to know that the wash is ready.” Inuyasha said nothing, but nodded before he closed his eyes again. A small smile tugged at Kagome lips, as she slightly leaned over the hanyou, and carefully began removing the yarrow leaves, placing them in the extra bowl, and examining the gash as she went.

After the yarrow was removed, Kagome picked up a square of clean linen, and dipped it in to the bowl of astringent wash. She wrung most of the of the liquid out, and gently began washing his wounds. A few moments later, the miko dipped the cloth in the wash again. She then wrung it out over the bowl of used yarrow, and continued to clean the reopened gash. She repeated the process until she felt that the wound was clean, then picked up a clean dry cloth and gently patted his chest dry.

“Okay, you can sit up now,” Kagome said, sitting back from the hanyou. Inuyasha opened his eyes, and nodded at the Miko. He pushed himself up to a sitting position, keeping a hand on his hakama so that it moved with him, instead of against him.

Kagome selected a large clean square of linen, and folded it in to a thick pad, she then held it gently in place against the gash. She picked up the long linen bindings with her free hand, and turned back to the inu-hanyou. “Can you hold this?”

“Yeah,” Inuyasha said, sliding his hand over hers on the pad.

“Thanks.” Kagome slipped her hand from under his, scooted even closer to the hanyou, and began wrapping his chest with the bindings. She pressed slightly against him every time she reached around his back to pass the binding from one hand to the other.

The miko’s scent once again invaded his senses, teasing him as she continuously pressed against him and retreated. Inuyasha grumbled to himself as he kept his arms out of the way, while trying to still keep the pad in place. The inu-hanyou inhaled deeply and caught himself again leaning down towards her hair, trying to get closer to her and take in more of her warm scent.

Inuyasha mentally shook his head, and leaned back slightly, glancing over Kagome’s head and across the fire. He noticed that the old woman had removed the cooking pots from the fire and was quietly playing a game of chopsticks with the kitsune, as he had just tapped Asumi’s hand and broke out in a smile.

Inuyasha glanced back down at the miko as she made another pass around him, noticing that his hand was no longer needed and moved it out of her way. She gave him a quick small as she looked up at him before making another pass.

“Kagome,” Inuyasha said quietly, so that the others wouldn’t over hear.

“Yes?” The young woman paused in her work, glancing up to him, and giving the hanyou her full attention.

“I’ve never said anything to you about treating me…”

“Oh? Tha- ”

Inuyasha reached up and lightly caressed her cheek, before tucking a few strands of her raven hair behind her ear. He effectively silenced the Miko and sent a pink tinge to her cheeks “Thanks, I really do appreciate it.”.

“Its -”

Inuyasha silenced her again by placing a clawed finger against her soft full lips. The young woman’s eyes widened in surprise, and she could do nothing but stare at the him, her cheeks now a shade darker. He smirked at the young woman as he removed his finger and sat back. The inu-hanyou raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue in her task.

Kagome mentally shook herself then set back to wrapping Inuyasha’s chest, carefully not looking up in to his eyes. The young woman sat up a couple of minutes later, back to normal. She was finally finished with wrapping his chest after having tied the ends off securely.

“Well, now that you are finished with your patient, lets eat,” Asumi said, breaking the silence that had settled over the group.

“Hai,” Kagome replied turning to Asumi. The elder quickly served dinner, and everyone set back enjoying the wonderful taste of Asumi’s cooking.

A/N: I hope everyone liked this chapter and thanks for reading. Please review and let me know what you think.

By the way, in case anyone is wondering ‘chopsticks’ is a traditional Japanese game played by children. Although I don’t know how far back the game goes, it is complicated to explain how it is played. If anyone is interested in the details, I found a page on Wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chopsticks_%28Hand_game%29