InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Desert Rose ❯ Awakening ( Chapter 22 )

Chapter 22: Awakening

 

 

Kagome breathed in deeply. The fragrance of trees was so much more refreshing than the scorching dust they had just come from. Turning, she saw Inuyasha stare ahead with a blank face, Silva still unconscious on his left arm.

 

Kagome couldn't help thinking what the people would say when they saw the pair of them, injured and holding a comatose child. Inuyasha's entire right arm was bleeding, the flesh from his fingers burned off. A line of crimson was leaking from his forehead to his cheek and his clothing was singed, dirty. As for Kagome, there was an open wound on her upper arm, and she appeared to have walked out of a muddy swamp with her clothes the color of dirt.

 

“Inuyasha?” Kagome asked. His eyes turned on her, tired.

 

“Kagome, go into the villages and find Jordan. Tell her it's an emergency.” He said softly.

 

Nodding, Kagome turned and disappeared into the village. It wasn't long before she returned with a panting Jordan behind her. “What happened?” She demanded as she neared, her eyes locking onto the sleeping body that was Silva. The blood drained from Jordan's beautiful face and she covered her mouth as she gasped.

 

“Kagome, run ahead and tell Sarina and Suzina to prepare an empty hut. Quickly!” Jordan urged as she bent and reached for Silva. For a moment, Kagome thought that Inuyasha would protest, but he let her take Silva anyway. Jordan gently held Silva to her chest.

 

“You need to be looked at too.” She told Inuyasha, who nodded tiredly. Kagome, meanwhile, rushed back into the village.

 

“What happened to your arm!” Jordan gasped.

 

“Poison.” Inuyasha said by way of explanation.

 

“Come with me.” She turned, guiding him back into the village where, moments later, Kagome reached them, leading them into the desired hut. Sarina and Suzuna were inside. They gave a sharp intake of breath at the sight of Inuyasha and Silva. Jordan placed Silva down on a soft bed, turning to Sarina and Suzina.

 

“Water and bandages, now!” She hissed, and within seconds the two sisters rushed to carry out their task.

 

Jordan turned to Silva, tenderly peeling away the child's clothes. “You,” She pointed to Inuyasha without turning, her voice filled with authority, “sit.” Inuyasha managed to slump into a small wooden chair that was in the corner of the small, four-walled room. Sarina and Suzuna burst in, both carrying the supplies Jordan had asked for.

 

Jordan motioned for them to set the materials down near her as she finished un-clothing Silva. Instantly and without orders, Sarina and her sister went to work cleaning the blood from Kagome and Inuyasha's wounds. Suzuna finished cleaning, applying medicine and bandaging Kagome's arm in record time. Soon, she went to help Sarina clean the wound on Inuyasha' arm and shoulder. He held still and didn't move, his eyes blank.

 

Jordan huffed, finished with clearing the dirt from Silva's frail body. She deftly covered Silva's cuts. Jordan then leaned back and Kagome watched wide-eyed, as she seemed to summon the water from the pail that rested next to her.

 

The water rose from the bucket, and Jordan swirled it around her finger till it became a glowing blue. She then spread her hands out and the water became a shining, translucent sheet in midair. Jordan lowered the water unto Silva's body, till if covered her like a thin veil of crystal snow. Silva's body glowed for a second, then the water became normal again, and dripped over her, into the bedding.

 

Silva moaned and breathed in deeply in her sleep. Kagome noticed that one of her tiny ears straightened, the yellow patches on her skin slowly faded, her swollen shoulder bent slowly into place, and her twisted leg bended itself. Jordan rose, her face was pale and her breathing, strained.

 

“I haven't healed in years. Not since that fateful accident with Giana. I forgot how tiring it was.” She puffed. “That should give her body some energy to heal.”

 

Jordan then repeated the healing process on Kagome's arm, and Kagome felt the pain fade away instantaneously. Covering Silva with a blanket, Jordan turned to Inuyasha as Sarina and Suzuna finished tending to him, covering his wounds. Using the last of the water, Jordan managed to heal some of his wounds.

 

“Thanks.” Inuyasha said as he stretched his right arm. Some of the flesh was beginning to grow back, and the cuts were healing themselves.

 

“Sarina, Suzuna, would you mind leaving us?” Jordan asked. The sisters nodded, and left the room.

 

“That girl,” Jordan said, reaching for a chair and slumping unladylike into it, “is she yours?”

 

Inuyasha nodded. “What happened?” Jordan demanded, here eyes narrowed.

 

Inuyasha took a deep breath and explained. He told them about how his own daughter, who he thought to have been dead for years, interfered with the world's natural flow. How Silva was in such a tender situation, and how they saved her from inside the floating, purple orb.

 

“Two birds with one stone. Hiten and that bastard from the band of seven, are dead. Unfortunately, if what Naraku said was true, the desert spell will soon be completed and permanent.” Inuyasha breathed.

 

Jordan had been silent, listening to their news intently. Soon though, she sighed and turned to Kagome. “Do you think you can go and find Sesshoumaru? Ask him to call for a meeting soon and please tell him about this. And about Silva too.”

 

Nervously, Kagome nodded and, with a sense of foreboding, left the room. With her gone, Jordan turned to Inuyasha.

 

“There is something you should know.” She began slowly. “I've healed most of her surface wounds, and her internal organs should be normalizing too. However, Silva carries a very potent poison in her body. I can't heal it.”

 

Inuyasha sat up. “Is it dangerous?”

 

“Only if it stays in her body. Luckily, it's only in her respiratory system. I can isolate it inside her, to keep it from harming her, but the only way for her to release the poison is if she uses her powers. That way, she will release the poison with it. I can try to connect it to her energy. The sooner she heals and the more she uses her abilities, the poison will vanish and hopefully before it does any undeviating damage.”

 

“That's good.” Inuyasha huffed.

 

“However, Inuyasha, you share the same toxic she has. It's in your bloodstream. It must have happened when you attempted to release her from her prison. If it's in your bloodstream,” Jordan's eyes became glazed, she shook her head, “there's nothing I can do to help remove it. Over a long period of time, it will circulate through you body.” A few tears fell. “It will shorten your lifespan by years. I can't say when, but…”

 

“That's enough.” Inuyasha breathed. “When I set out after Silva, I told myself that I would accept the consequences. Whatever they were, I didn't care. Just…don't tell Kagome about this.”

 

Jordan stood, her eyes blazing with tears. “She has right to know, Inuyasha!”

 

“No. I don't think her mind will be set to fight if she knows that I'm dying.”

 

“I can't promise that!”

 

“Jordan, please?” He implored.

 

Jordan breathed in deeply. “Fine.”

 

()()()()()()()

 

“I still can't believe it!” Sango breathed, her mouth covered with her hands.

 

“To think that he had twin girls, and that one of them was being used by our enemy. It's sickening.” Miroku said at Sango's side.

 

Kagome remained quiet, staring at the sky in the forest clearing the three of them were sitting in. Not long after she had found Sesshoumaru and told him the news, he called Jordan and an oddly quiet Inuyasha for a meeting. Inuyasha had asked Kagome to stay by Silva, and it had been there that Sango had found her. Soon, Kagome had explained everything to her and her husband.

 

“It's terrible! How could…It's just terrible!” Sango sobbed. Miroku placed a comforting arm around her.

 

“I wonder what they are doing in the meeting right now.” Kagome whispered.

 

Sango and Miroku joined Kagome in the long silence. It felt so hopeless. Most of the world was now desert, a place that only Naraku and his kind could survive. If they were found here, it would only result in disaster. Kagome shuddered at the thought of it.

 

“I'm heading back. I need to clear my thoughts.” Sango rose. Miroku told Kagome he should see to her and soon left too.

 

Kagome thought that the barrage of information must have burdened them. Unlike her, Sango and Miroku had not felt the pain that she had when Inuyasha had broken the barriers and told her everything about his past, but they did feel a powerful remorse. Sango had burst into tears. Miroku had never looked so pained.

 

Something rustled from behind her and Kagome stood from the log she had been sitting on. Before long, Jordan emerged from the woods. “Oh,” She said, “I didn't think I'd meet you here.” She smiled weakly.

 

“Is the meeting over?” Kagome asked.

 

“Yes. Inuyasha went back to Silva. In case you're wondering.”

 

Kagome's eyes traveled from Jordan's face to the sword in her hand. “What are you going to do with that?”

 

“This? Actually, I've been thinking a lot lately. About Levion, my people, the war, the desert, everything that's happened. I wondered what would have happened if I had never left my kingdom to stay with my mother at Lunar Oasis. So much as happed, and it's only happened in eight, short months.” Jordan lifted the sword in her hand.

 

“Jordan!” Kagome yelled, but Jordan closed her eyes and placed the sword in the back of her neck, ripping through her long, black and beautiful hair.

 

She brought the sword down, holding in her other hand, what were once her long, dazzling, wavy tresses. “It's time I cast aside my weaker self. Form this point on, I'm no longer holding anything back.”

 

“Jordan…” Kagome spoke. She looked so mush like Levion with her hair only reaching her chin. It was almost as if his handsome, blind eyes were resting on her instead of his sister's. Even with her hair short, Jordan still remained the same, stunning woman that Kagome had seen when she had first started her host training. The only difference was that Jordan now shined with a radiant determination. Kagome couldn't help being inspired.

 

Jordan pulled a pouch from inside her robes, placing the remains of her obsidian hair inside it. “Plans are being made to end this war. It will take some time. Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru and I will be very busy, so we have decided to appoint you, Sango and Miroku to watch over the citizens as we prepare everything.” Jordan spoke.

 

“Yes, ma'am.” Kagome smiled.

 

“Ma'am! Don't call me that! It makes me feel old!” Jordan huffed, and Kagome chuckled.

 

“Oh!” Jordan suddenly said. “Inuyasha asked me to tell you to keep an eye on Silva for next few weeks.”

 

“Me?”

 

Jordan nodded. “I will be coming in from time to time to make sure that she's healing properly.”

 

“I didn't know you could heal Jordan.”

 

“Why do you sound so amazed?”

 

“I've never heard of healing magic.”

 

“Only those from the north were taught it. It requires water to purify. People without hearts cannot do it. I studied as a doctor for a while, searching for a way to cure my brother's illness.” She said sadly.

 

“I'm sorry.” Kagome sighed.

 

“It's okay. I said that it was in the past now. I'm not going to be a weakling anymore. Kagome, did I ever tell that I once had a younger sister too?”

 

Kagome blinked. “Really?”

 

“Yes. She was younger then Levion. But unlike the two of us, she wasn't born with immense power. It was strong, but not too strong. One day she was spirited away. I never saw again. You remind me of her.”

 

“I do?”

 

“Yeah…it's getting late.” Jordan remarked, the sky becoming a red, orange.

 

“We should head back then.” Kagome smiled.

 

“Let's.” Jordan answered.

 

()()()()()()()

 

Light? Was that real? It felt so warm. When was the last time she was in the light? Was she dreaming? If she was, she didn't want to open her eyes, only to be welcomed back into darkness again. Her mind slowly, unfortunately, stepped away from sleepiness.

 

Slowly, her pale, brown, gold eyes opened. It was real? There was actual light here. She tried sitting. Her body didn't hurt as much? What happened? She flexed her tiny hands. Where was she? She couldn't remember.

 

“You're awake?” The voice was soft, kind. Her ear twitched in response to it. She turned her head in the direction of the voice. The room. It smelled so good! Like wood and fresh air.

 

“Where?” She asked, not knowing just who was in the room with her, but she smelled so good too. Like flowers and sugar. She heard the other girl come closer; the sound of clothes fluttered, and then the girl's presence was next to her.

 

“Silva? How do you feel?” She asked kindly.

 

Silva took a moment to answer. Her head was buzzing and her eyes, though they couldn't see, were hurting. It had been so long that she was in the light; it took longer for her eyes to adjust to it. “Dizzy…” She mumbled, holding her head.

 

“Does anything hurt?”

 

“My head hurts.” She answered weakly.

 

“Oh.” She felt the girl's hands on her shoulders. Silva gasped, and began shacking. Was she going to hurt her?

 

“Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you.” The girl's voice came, and again her soft hands shyly brushed her shoulders.

 

Silva relaxed. The girl's hands were so warm.

 

“Who are you?” She asked.

 

“I'm Kagome. It's nice to finally meet you.” The girl's voice said. Silva reached out one of her tiny hands and then she felt Kagome take it. Her hand was so soft and warm. It felt nice.

 

“Ka…go…me.” Silva tested out the name on her tongue. It was a nice name.

 

“Yes?” Kagome giggled. She had a nice laugh.

 

“Where am I?”

 

“Home.” Was Kagome's answer.

 

“Home?”

 

“Yeah, you're safe now.”

 

Silva felt her eyes water. “I'm home?” She cried. She jumped and wrapped her free arm around the girl. She smelled so clean. She felt Kagome place a soft arm around her back.

 

“They won't hurt me anymore?” She sobbed.

 

“No. I promise.” Kagome answered and Silva cried harder.

 

“I remember.” Silva whispered into Kagome's shirt.

 

“Remember what?”

 

“He said if I wanted to come home again. He said, not to give up. I miss his voice.”

 

“You'll see him again.”

 

“When?” Silva squeezed as she held on. Her voice was filled with excitement.

 

“Soon.” Silva could hear a smile in Kagome's voice.

 

“Really?” Silva demanded.

 

“Really.” Kagome laughed.

 

“I can't wait.”

 

 

Kagome stared down at the little girl in her arms. After two weeks, Silva finally woke up. Just as Inuyasha had asked, Kagome had stayed by Silva's side the entire time they were making preparations. She hadn't seen Inuyasha for a while, but she was sure she would see him soon when she told him through their link that Silva was finally awake.

 

Jordan had come in many times during the two weeks that Silva slept. Every time she came, she healed Silva's injuries. After each session, Silva's breathing became stronger and stronger. Her skin was once again peach-pink. Just like her father, her straight ears twitched at every sound. Her body had healed to a great extent. Kagome was sure that she would no longer feel much pain.

 

“So, are you hungry?” Kagome asked. As if on cue, Silva's tummy gave a low rumble.

 

Silva looked down, her face paling. “No, I don't have to eat.”

 

“But you're hungry aren't you?”

 

“Yes, but I don't need to eat. Eating is for the weak.”

 

Kagome felt anger well up in her. Just how were those monsters treating her! Kagome felt like hitting something. Maybe Inuyasha's anger was seeping into her as well as his senses.

 

“No, it's not! Don't say things like that! You want to grow up big and strong right? You have to eat something.”

 

“But they said-”

 

“Forget what they said! You and I are going to go get some breakfast!” Kagome smiled as Silva looked up at the sound of her voice, her eyes big and greedy.

 

“Breakfast!” She chirped. Kagome nodded. Now that she was closer, she noticed that Silva's eyes were not brown at all. In fact, they were a pale, brownish, gold, a mix of Inuyasha's eyes and her mother's.

 

Silva slipped out of Kagome's arms and slid to the floor. She wobbled for a moment, but then set her tiny feet firmly on the ground. Kagome noticed that she slid her feet around the floor before standing still. Was that her way of checking her surroundings?

 

Giggling as Silva jumped up and down in excitement, Kagome reached for the new clothes that Jordan had brought for Kagome. “Let's change your clothes and we will go get something to eat.”

 

Silva made a face. “No shoes!” She whined, then her eyes widened and she looked down, ashamed, pale, and shaking. “I-I'm sorry.”

 

“It's okay.” Kagome was slowly realizing what Inuyasha meant. Silva was really shy. Kagome also made a note to be extra kind to this child. It was obvious how sever her treatment was by how scared she seemed to be.

 

“You don't have to wear shoes.” Kagome said as she slipped the warm, red robes around Silva's little body. Tying the robes at her waist with a white sash, Kagome said, “There, done.” Of course, Inuyasha doesn't wear shoes either, Kagome thought with a smile as Silva walked around in her new clothes. Red was a cute color on her.

 

“So,” Kagome began as she held Silva's tiny hand, leading her outside, “what do you want to eat?”

 

Silva squinted as the sun came on her face. “Apples?” She asked.

 

“Okay. Let's go get some.” Silva beamed and Kagome could feel her heart melting. No wonder Inuyasha was so attached to her.

 

As they walked through the villages, several girls blushed when they saw Silva. It was not yet common knowledge that Silva was Inuyasha's daughter, but already, Kagome could hear whispers of people asking whether she was Inuyasha's or Sesshoumaru's. Silva's ears was twitching and moving. “Everything smells so good.” She said, her eyes wide.

 

Kagome blushed, squeezing Silva's hand. She was so cute! Kagome was beginning to wish that Silva was her daughter. Her face darkened another three shades of red at the thought. Leading her out of the village, (Kagome was sure that meeting too many people would make Silva uncomfortable) Kagome brought her to the new garden area.

 

Just like in Western Domain, there were a lot of children playing in the distance, but, luckily, they didn't approach as Kagome brought Silva closer to the apple trees.

 

“It smells yummy.” Silva's eyes widened. She let go of Kagome's hand and rushed forward.

 

“Wait, Silva!” Kagome called in worry as Silva rushed toward the tree. She was about to run into the trunk when she bumped into Jordan, who had been standing close by.

 

“Oh, are you okay, sweetie?” Jordan asked as Silva clutched her dress to keep herself from falling. Silva's eyes opened wide. She let go of Jordan and backed away, feeling Kagome come closer.

 

She ran behind Kagome, holding onto her leg and hiding herself. “Who's that?”

 

Kagome patted Silva's platinum head. “That's Jordan, Silva.”

 

“Is she mean?” She asked nervously.

 

Kagome's voice softened. “No, she's very nice. Let's go meet her.” Kagome took Silva's timid hand and led her forward.

 

Jordan kneeled so that she was level with Silva when Kagome pushed her forward. “Hi. What's your name?” She smiled.

 

“Silva, miss.” Silva said nervously.

 

“Silva. You mean like Silvana. Do you know what your name means?” Jordan asked.

 

“No.” Silva tilted her head to the side, curious.

 

“It's means starlight. It suits you.” Jordan giggled. Silva beamed.

 

“Starlight. Starlight!” She sang. Jordan stood and picked an apple from the tree, placing it in Silva's hands.

 

“There you go.” She said kindly. Silva ran her fingers along the apple's smooth surface before she bit into it. Kagome noticed the tiny fangs in her mouth. She really would be Inuyasha's mirror image had it not been for the youth and eyes.

 

“It's good.” Silva said with watery eyes, her mouth full of apple. She rushed across the garden, sitting under the sun and eating.

 

“I think I'm going to faint.” Jordan huffed.

 

“Are you okay?” Kagome tore her eyes away from Silva as she bit into the apple happily to look at Jordan's flushed face.

 

“She's adorable! Who'd have thought Inuyasha had such a sweet daughter. Still,” Jordan became serious, here eyes on Silva, “that child is really powerful.”

 

Kagome held still, listening intently. “She has so much power. It's amazing that it rests inside her body without doing harm to her. Levion's power made his body frail. It wasn't until I gave him my heart that he was able to freely move as she does. Two weeks and her power has already gotten to maximum. It's remarkable.”

 

Kagome could feel it too: the large amount of energy in Silva's body. She looked at the little girl sitting in the sun. Her eyesight was lost because of it but like Inuyasha said, she didn't have much of a problem walking.

 

Silva finished her apple and came back to Jordan, jumping up and down and pulling her dress. “I want another one!” She demanded.

 

Smiling, Jordan reached up and picked another apple from the tree, handing to Silva's awaiting hands. “Thank you!” Silva smiled.

 

“You should thank Jordan for helping you too. She was the one that made you feel better.” Kagome advised.

 

Silva blushed. “Thank you Miss Jordan.”

 

Jordan laughed. “You're very welcome. Please just call me Jordan. `Miss' makes me feel old.”

 

Silva tilted her head to the side. “Okay, Jordan.”

 

Jordan touched Silva's nose with her finger. Silva wiggled it. “Very good.” Jordan smiled.

 

“You're very good with children, Jordan.” Kagome remarked as Silva bit into her new apple.

 

“I've always wanted to have my own.”

 

“Why didn't you?”

 

Jordan's eyes filled with sadness but she still smiled weakly. “I guess I never found the right man. I've always wanted a son.”

 

“What would you have named him?”

 

“Hmm…I like Galan. It means open-sea. I've always wanted a boy that was calm and clever like the ocean, yet passionate and stormy like the waves.”

 

“Wow.” Kagome looked down at Silva. She was no longer biting her apple. In fact, she was standing really still, her ears twitching on her head, looking out into the garden.

 

“What is it?” Kagome looked about. In the distance, a few children, Kagome recognized as Shippo and Rin, were playing. Silva looked wistful, her ears tweaking at their voices.

 

“Do you want to go play?” Kagome asked. Silva shook her head shyly. Jordan reached and held Silva's hand, leading her forward, but Silva pulled back.

 

“Come on now Silva, they won't hurt you.” Jordan said kindly.

 

“O-okay.”

 

Jordan introduced Silva to Rin and Shippo. It wasn't long before the three of them were playing happily. Kagome sat with Jordan by a tree watching them as they played hide and seek. “If she keeps this up, her bodily systems should return to normal.” Jordan remarked, smiling as Silva used her nose to find Shippo.

 

“What do you mean?” Kagome asked. It was Rin's turn to count.

 

“Did you not wonder why it is that she hasn't aged at all? Silva's body was in a standstill. When one is continually using their energies, the body struggles to make more energy to make up for it. The organs and normal bodily functions are ignored. So, the body does not age as it should.”

 

“I'm glad.” Kagome smiled.

 

“That aside, when do you plan to tell Inuyasha that his daughter is awake?” Jordan asked.

 

“Straight to the point as usual.” Kagome sighed. “I plan to tell him as soon as I can. Hopefully he won't be too busy. I wish I could tell him in person, but I don't want to bother him or Sesshoumaru while they are planning. Wait, why aren't with them Jordan?”

 

“Oh, I was just taking a break. I was about to come and check on Silva's health when she came to me.” Jordan giggled. “It seems that she's doing fine, though.”

 

Jordan stood, dusting herself off. “I should head back. There's still a lot of preparing to be done. Especially if we are to protect these children.” Kagome nodded, watching as Jordan left.

 

Silva ran up to her. “Did you see!” She said excitedly. “I caught Shippo three times!” She jumped cheerfully before returning to play with her new friends. Kagome smiled, preparing her thoughts.

 

`Inuyasha?'

 

`I'm busy at the moment!' Kagome narrowed her eyes and wrinkled her nose. His voice sounded annoyed.

 

`Oh, is that more important then the news I have for you?'

 

He sighed. `…What is it?'

 

`If that's your attitude, maybe I shouldn't tell you!'

 

`Then don't bother me! I have a lot of work to do!'

 

`Wait!' Kagome called before he could shut off their link. She heard Inuyasha pause.

 

`Well?' He asked impatiently.

 

`I just thought you'd like to know, that Silva is awake.'

 

There was a long pause. Kagome wondered if he had finished their conversation before she had told him the news.

 

`Inuyasha?'

 

`Did you say that she's awake?' He asked slowly.

 

`Yes.'

 

`How is she?' His voice sounded hopeful.

 

`Fine. She's playing with Rin and Shippo.'

 

Another pause. `I'm glad.' She felt him close the link. Kagome sighed. Maybe he wasn't ready to see her just yet. At least, Kagome thought, Silva would grow more comfortable with her new lifestyle until they met again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think I made her a little TOO cute! Oh geez, I'm blushing!