InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fateful Night ❯ Dawn of Healing ( Chapter 14 )

Disclaimer: Do you see any deeds or copyrights in here? Throws a filing cabinet at a lawyer squashing the stuffy little man.

A/N: um not too talkative today please read and NO I was not blown away by Typhoon #22 or #23 and the big quakes in the prefecture to the west of here did not hit my town very hard if anyone cares. (Well that statement really dates my lapse in writing his chapter)

I had most of this chapter written when I was hit by sever writers block. Now that I have managed to pound out the end of this chapter, I hate it along with every thing else, I have ever written. Please read and review.

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Dawn of Healing

Chapter 14

Sesshomaru watched the two of them from the shadows of the forest his face an immobile mask. Testing the breeze that blew across the clearing to him, he frowned and stepped from the shadows. Taking care to mask his scent from his dozing brother, he knew that Inuyasha would soon realize his presence. Stopping mid way to them, he peered down at the wounded pair sorting through the tangled auras that wrapped around them. The flow of energy between Inuyasha and this frail tiny woman was sluggish but blazed with strength whose equal he had never seen.

Raising his eyes, he locked golden gazes with his growling half brother and tilted his head slightly.

"Do you intend then to follow her into death yourself brother?" at the younger youkai's frown, Sesshomaru gestured at the slumbering Kagome. The red stain spreading on her sleeping kimono glistened darkly in the moon light spanning her waist and shoulder. "Hers' are not the only wounds that need tending brat." He said pulling Inuyasha up by his own wounded shoulder making the hanyou hiss in pain as he clutched the woman to him. "Come we will have you treated by that old crone in the village, both of you." Turning he strode across the night shrouded clearing his feet hardly crushing the grass beneath them. Reaching the tree line he paused, irritation skittering across his golden eyes. Truing he glared at Inuyasha who crouched half way between him and the god tree. Kagome lay draped across his knees as he panted face ashen.

Inuyasha snapped his head up ignoring the dizzying haze that hung around him when Kagome lifted out of his lap held by pale, red striped arms. Growling he surged to his feet only to fall onto his butt when Sesshomaru flicked his wrist out slapping his hand across Inuyasha's chest.

"I will carry your Miko back to the village runt unless you truly do intend to leave this world tonight."

Watching his brother turn his back on him Inuyasha bit his lip and forced himself to rise. Grabbing Tetsusaiga from the ground, he entered the dark forest behind his brother. Stalking after the taiyoukai he bit his bottom lip fighting back the dizziness that threatened to consume him.

"Stop feeding her energy you fool." His brother snapped form over his shoulder as Inuyasha nearly tripped over an invisible root. A pair of blazing golden eyes glared into his own, chasing the darkness away as a cold voice drew him back form the brink of passing out. "Block her out Inuyasha neither of you have the energy to share with the other. Right now she can't help herself so it's up to you to control it." Frowning at his brother Inuyasha reached within him and clamped down on the drain he felt in his mind. Instantly the world cleared around him but with the clarity came the feeling of cold isolation. Realizing Sesshomaru was again, walking towards the village with Kagome, Inuyasha rushed to catch up.

Sesshomaru ducked into the cramped hut wishing for the first time; that he could fold his ears down to protect them from the sound he met with. Behind him, Inuyasha was doing just that. "…the hell do you mean you don't know where she is?!" Kouga towered over the wizened form of Kaede who glared up at him her brown eye cold as ice as she regarded the raging youkai prince.

"Oyi wolf shut you trap unless you want me to shut it for you." Inuyasha mumbled stumbling up onto the platform. Turning to Sesshomaru, he held out his arms silently demanding. Frowning slightly the youkai ignored his brother and walked past the huffing hanyou to place the woman in front of the old Miko.

Assessing the woman Kaede glanced up at the glaring hanyou who stood his hackles visibly raised. Inuyasha was staring at his half brother eyes narrowed to mere slits as the silent youkai sat leaning against the wall.

"Inuyasha get over here." She snapped grinning when he jumped. "Well boy? What is the matter with thee now? First, I cannot get thee to let her out of thine arms long enough for me to look at her, and now ye act as if she is going to bite thee. Pick her up!" the startled hanyou pulled Kagome into his lap cradling her in his arms as the glared at the woman before him. Laughing to herself, she glared back at him. "Make yerself comfortable Inuyasha. I'm going to cast a healing spell over both she and thee, and I don't want either of ye moving from this spot until I give ye permission." She watched Inuyasha settle his back against the wall. Muttering as she wove the energies around them, Kaede nodded pleased when she saw the silver haired hanyou close his eyes and fall into a deep sleep. Sighing, she finally turned back to her fire and dipped a mug of zell root tea out of the pot hanging there.

"You reopened the link." It was a statement rather than a question but she answered the emotionless youkai nonetheless.

"Yes the spell will work through it combining with both of them and using their own strength to heal them. Even in this condition tis better they heal themselves rather than have me do so. Outside energy is not accepted well when ye work with powers such as theirs." As the silence lengthened after her explanation, Kaede turned to glance at the youkai lord. Not surprised to see that he had disappeared with out a word she turned to the silent Kouga. The wolf sat staring at Inuyasha and Kagome his expression unreadable. Shaking her head Kaede turned back to her tea. `The path of the heart tis truly a twisted trail.' She thought staring into her mug.

OooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooO

Miroku woke to the feel of warm arms wrapped around him. Opening his eyes slowly he prayed with all his strength that last night had not just been a dream. The world opened before him and he stared down at the brown haired beauty lying in his arms. Her silken hair draped across his chest and tumbled down her back. One of her weapons callused hands lay under cheek as she pillowed her face against his shoulder.

Heart swelling Miroku tightened his arms around the woman he had loved for so long. Memories of the previous night flickered through his head and he smiled softly. They had pored out their emotions locked in each other's embrace long into the night. As the fire of years of repression burned the last of their energy from them, they lay against Kirara timidly speaking about their hearts. Sleep had claimed them soon after, warming them with contentment neither had felt in many years.

Slowly running his hands through her hair Miroku watched Sango slowly surface into wakefulness. The fluttering of thick lashes against creamy cheeks heralded the view he was graced with as she opened her deep soft brown eyes.

Sango stared up into the lavender gaze that watched her from where she lay reclined upon Miroku's chest. Reaching up one hand she mutely cupped his cheek as she rose off him. He closed his eyes and tilted into her palm a small sigh escaping his gently smiling lips. Smiling back at him, she leaned forward and kissed his full lips lightly before she rose. Chuckling at his pouty whimper, she bent to tidy their makeshift camp.

Hand twitching Miroku fallowed her to his feet. Reaching out, his lips spread to reveal a Cheshire cat's grin. Unable to help himself he reached for Sango as her hips swayed before him.

Shock and outrage flared through Sango as a hand planted itself upon her rear. The warm spread of strong fingers moving over her in a gentle caress, caused a burning blush to spread across here cheeks. Bolting ramrod straight she spun bringing the large branch of wood she had been moving up in an arc. Catching the purple clad monk across the jaw she watched with a satisfied smirk as he flew away from her to hit the ground and slide a few feet. Hands on her hips she glared at Miroku as the sat up holding his head dazed.

"I said I loved you houshi. I never said you could grope me when every your hentai mind took the notion to." Turning she walked off towards the village Kirara riding on her shoulder.

The small cat youkai glanced over her shoulder at the rising monk and noticed the loving grin on his face. Purring happily, she swished her tails and settled down for a doze on her friend.

ooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooO

The sound of someone crashing into the hut accompanied by Sango's irritated yell snapped Inuyasha into consciousness. Cracking a golden eye open he watched a stream of dust fall from the thatched roof above him shining in the early morning light.

"Damn monk!" he heard Sango mummer as she walked into the hut grinning. Quirking an eyebrow at her he watched her blush and then pale as she got a better look at him.

"Kami, Inuyasha what the hell happened to you two?" she stammered hopping out of her shoes and over to them. Glancing down at the woman still slumbering in his arms, Inuyasha looked back at Sango a grimace on his face.

"You left her alone again didn't you?" Miroku questioned as he entered the hut.

Flinching at the silent anger in Sango's eyes, he nodded. "I found her at the god tree with Tetsusaiga, she…"

Miroku watched Inuyasha tighten his arms around Kagome unconsciously as he lowered his head.

"I was almost too late." His friend finished voice gruff.

Sango gasped and covered her mouth with her hands tears wavering in her eyes. Reaching out a hand, she gently touched Kagome's face tracing the tear marks that cut through the grime covering her pale skin. "Is she…will she be ok?"

"She's healing," croaked Kaede who entered behind the pair crouched in front of Inuyasha and Kagome. "Thou will not leave her side for the entire day Inuyasha." She continued puttering around her kettle.

"I won't leave her again." Inuyasha whispered sadness consuming him, blinking he tightened his control letting the overwhelming feeling of loss radiating slide away form him.

"Ye better not. The spell I laid on the two of ye is looping your chi together to help heal both of ye. Being youkai ye heal…"

"Half youkai," Inuyasha interrupted never looking up from Kagome as she started to stir in his arms.

"As such ye heal faster, but she will need thine energy to help mend those wounds." Kaede grumbled and turned away.

The three friends sat for several minutes all watching the sleeping Kagome as the silence stretched between them.

"What do we do now?" Miroku ventured flexing his hand around the sutra beads that crossed his glove-covered palm.

The sound of beads shifting made Inuyasha's ears twitch and he lifted his head. Locking eyes with the violet-eyed man across from him, he glanced down at Miroku's right hand and tilted his head. At the man's shrug he shifted Kagome in his arms.

"We will search for the shards as soon as Kagome's wounds heal enough for her to travel." He said.

Shaking her head Sango stoked the soft fur along Kirara's back. "How will we find them, there must be thousands if not millions of shards scattered to the winds."

"Kagome." Inuyasha stated simply shifting her once more as he felt her twinge of pain.

"Kagome? What do you mean?" Miroku asked watching the pair closely. Something was tugging at his senses as the looked at them but he could not put his finger on it.

"She can see them, the shards. She saw the jewel when it was inside the demon that tore it from her. She said she would help us find them before…" Shaking his head Inuyasha refused to think any further. "…before Naraku can find them." He finished quietly.

Frowning at Inuyasha's change of tone, "Inuyasha, what aren't you…" Miroku stopped when a pale hand reached up to cup Inuyasha's cheek.

Inuyasha's head snapped down at the feel of her cold hand on his face. Staring into her wavering blue eyes he felt himself becoming lost in their shining depths. Her words spoken in a weak thin voice snapped him back to reality and he glared down at her.

"I'm ok. We should start searching for the shards before…"

"We leave when you wounds are healed and not before." He growled pain clenching in his chest as the light in her eyes faded a little. Reaching down to mimic her pose he cupped her cheek and whispered his tone rough and low with emotion. "Are you so eager for me to fulfill my promise?"

A single tear rolled down her cheek and she lowered her hand. Burying her face in his chest, she shook her head slowly.

Clutching her to him Inuyasha let out a shuddering breath before looking back at his friends. They stared at him eyes worried, the confusion he saw shining in their eyes made him sigh again.

Miroku stood seeing the reluctance in Inuyasha's posture. "I'll find Kouga and start getting supplies together for our journey. Glancing around the hut, he turned back to Inuyasha. "Where is Kouga?"

"I sent him for water." Kaede answered from her place by the fire where she sat sipping from steaming mug.

Laughing Miroku walked out of the hut heading for the far well. Sango watched Kagome as she hid her face in Inuyasha's haori. Frowning slightly he looked back up at the hanyou. His face lined with worry he stared in front of him.

"Inuyasha," waiting for his eyes to focus on her she continued. "Inuyasha, let me take Kagome to the hot spring." Pausing at his slight frown, she pressed on. "She's still covered in blood and fitly. A good long soak in the mineral water will help speed the healing."

Kagome raised her head to look up at the silver haired man and nodded slightly. He frowned at her his hand rising unconsciously to the sutra that hug around his neck. "I won't leave your side again." He said softly.

She countered. "You can come as long as you promise not to look this time." Smiling weakly at his blush, she pushed against his chest trying to rise. Before she moved more than a few inches, she found herself up on his back.

"Let's go." His gruff voice filled the hut and then they were bounding through the village.

Landing next to the spring she had used the day before she turned and watched Sango leap from Kirara's back caring a bundle of clothing.

ooOooOooOooOooO

Kagome leaned against the rocks finally clean and watched the steam rise above her. As the sound of Sango, rinsing out her own hair met her ears she opened her eyes to see the woman wading over to her. Sango smiled down at her and then turned her gaze to the red back that sat facing them not five feet away.

"Inuyasha, Miroku isn't anywhere near is he?"

Kagome turned to glance back at Inuyasha; she watched his ears swivel back towards them at Sango's words and grinned. `They look so soft.' She thought.

"No that hentai isn't anywhere near here." He answered listening to the sounds of the women behind him move through the water. A flash of Kagome standing hip deep in that same pool blazed in his mind and he felt the heat of a deep blush slide up his face and tingle across the skin of his sensitive ears. Grateful that he had heard them turn away form him he lowered his head into his hands and sighed. `What is wrong with me?' he groaned silently thinking about the way he had been acting toward Kagome since the woman had appeared. `I do not even know her and I am acting as if she is my….' Raising his head in shock, he turned to stare at Kagome's back eyes wide. "Mate?" he whispered. As if sensing him he watched her turn her head the glistening mass of her wet hair shifting as she turned. Deep blue eyes locked with his for a moment and he saw her whisper one word. Around his neck, a heavy weight drugs him to the ground. Keeping his eyes locked with hers' he watched as red stained her face and she sank deeper into the water. Cringing when Sango surged out of the water, he clamped his eyes shut. Lying helpless on the ground the space between his shoulders itched anticipating the crash of a boulder. The sound of that boulder crashing to the earth on the far side of the spring snapped his eyes open in surprise. Standing on the edge of the hot pool Sango stood fully clothed, face suffused with anger.

"HOUSHI HENTAI!" she screamed at the legs and arms protruding from under the boulder. Peering at the bead wrapped hand that twitched on the other side of the spring Inuyasha stood finally released from the subduing spell and grabbed for Kagome's clothing. Hackles raised he plucked her from the water and wrapped her in the green kimono Sango had brought for her. Spinning her away from the monk's line of sight, he continued to growl softly.

Behind him, he could hear Sango stalking over to the houshi, laying into him about peeping on her and Kagome. "You better get out form under that boulder and run before I reach you MONK or I'll skin you alive." A hand on his arm silenced his growling and he looked down at Kagome.

"I can dress myself Inuyasha please let go." Her cheeks were tinged bright red and she clutched the kimono to her chest.

Not looking up at him Kagome concentrated on breathing as she felt Inuyasha's warm hands wrapped around her shoulders. Moments before she thought she had heard him whisper something. Turning she saw him staring at her with a look of surprise and confusion. The word `sit' slid off her lips before she could stop herself. Lifting her eyes to him now she was startled when he released her suddenly.

Falling back with an oomph Kagome glared up at Inuyasha as he spun away from her and stood blocking her view of the hot spring and the monk who was being beaten by Sango. Shivering now that she was out of the warm water Kagome quickly grabbed for a drying cloth and hurriedly wrapped herself in the loaned kimono.

Hearing Kagome fumble with the narrow obi around her waist, he turned back to the woman. Her stormy eyes met his and she smiled ruefully.

"I've never been able to tie this right." She murmured returning her attention to the length of cloth.

Kagome watched as clawed hands settled over her own. Freezing Kagome looked back at the silver haired man before her a flock of butterflies taking flight in her belly. His golden eyes shone softly as he twisted the obi around her waist. Holding her hands out to her sides, she watched his lethal hands gently manipulate the material into a simple but beautiful bow. As he slid the obi around her waist, he leaned over her shoulder to position the bow in the center of her back. Strands of silver hair slid over her cheek making her suck in her breath, shiver, and close her eyes. When his hands settled on her shoulders, her eyes sprang open to meet his.

"Are you cold?" he asked quietly

Shaking her head, she made no move away from his warm hands. "How did you learn….?"

"My mother never could tie her own obi either." He said simply before kneeling down. "Let's go."

Nodding once, she clambered stiffly onto his back after hiking up the hem of her kimono. Leaning her head against his back, she burrowed her face in his shimmering hair to hide form the chill of the morning.

"Are you tired?" his voice rumbled through his back as the question filled her ears.

"mmmmmm" she answered eyes still closed and she snuggled closer to him.

Squeezing her calf, he tried again. "I'll take you back to Kaede's hut to sleep."

"Umm…no, I don't want to stay in that stuffy hut." Kagome mumbled into his neck as she turned her head.

Shivers ran down his back as her soft lips brushed against his skin. Tightening his hold on her, he bound through the forest until he came to a large broad branched tree set along the banks of a stream. Leaping into the canopy, he strode across the wooden arm of the tree until he reached the trunk. Sliding the sleeping woman off his back, he held her in his arms and sank down on the branch. Leaning against the smooth sloping bark of the forest giant, he cradled Kagome against him. Looking through the leaves and interlaced branches of his favorite sleeping tree, he barely registered that he was gently stroking his hand through Kagome's drying mass of silken midnight hair. The morning sun filtered through the leaves in a lacey pattern of dancing emerald green casting the pair in a soothing green light. The warmth of the sun and the gentle sway of the tree quickly lulled him into a light doze.

ooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooO

I can't believe you!"

"But..."

"Don't you but me! How dare you peep on us!?"

"I was only…"

A loud crash reverberated through the village as Miroku's body was hurtled across Kaede's yard and into a storage shed.

"Hentai!" Sango yelled and spun away from the cloud of dust that use to be Kaede's shed. "Kirara!" she called to the feline who was sleeping in the sun. In a fiery flash the youkai transformed. Sango leapt onto her back and the pair flew across the village.

Miroku picked himself up out of the broken wood and shattered crockery to watch Sango and Kirara disappear over Inuyasha's forest. Sighing he slumped cross-legged onto the ground holding his bruised head in his hands.

"Tis a good thing I store my winter goods with a neighbor when I hear yer group will be staying with me." Kaede's rough voice filled the empty silence that had fallen.

Looking up with a sheepish grin Miroku shrugged helplessly and sighed. "I'm sorry Kaede. I tried to tell her I was only delivering a message from you but…"

"Aye I see the young woman failed to listen. Next time it might be wiser to wait till she retires from the bath houshi." Chuckling she walked over to the destroyed shed and started shifting through the broken mess. "Were ye able to deliver my message at all?"

Sighing deeply once again Miroku rose from the ground and started to help Kaede pull salvageable food and supplies from the ruin that once held them. "No Kaede by the time I got out from under the boulder Sango placed me under they were gone."

"No matter I rather doubt they will do much else besides sleep this day regardless."

Turning at the sound of angry mutterings, she grinned and watched Kouga slosh his way up to her. Dropping the bucket of water at her feet the wolf youkai leaned close and snapped, "That is the last bucket of water I'm drawing for you old woman!"

"Yes of course Kouga I should have plenty of water to last until yer lot has departed. Now would you please help Miroku rebuild the shed? Sango decided I needed to do a wee bit o' remodeling." Clapping the wolf on the shoulder Kaede grinned at his stunned face and headed back inside her home.

ooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooO

Muffled crying drug him out of the groggy sleep that had settled over him, opening his eyes Inuyasha looked down at the weeping woman resting on his chest. Raising his hand from her waist, he gently stroked her hair unsure what else to do. He had never been good at emotional things and even the familiar grief the woman was experiencing was something he did not know how to comfort.

"Kagome please don't cry." He whispered in frustration unable to think of anything else to say. To his dismay, his words only caused her to cling to him fiercely as her shoulders shook with sobs. Panic flooded his mind as the small woman in his arms shivered against him her voice harsh and loud in his ears as she wept. Wrapping is arms around her he flattened his ears atop his head and stared worriedly down at Kagome.

"Why?" she choked out around shuddering breaths. Gasping on her sobs Kagome looked up at Inuyasha pleading with him. "Why…why did this happen?" tears slid fast and unstoppable down her face as she pounded on his chest. "WHY!? What did I do? I never…I never meant…I should have…why?" unable to finish her thoughts around the hiccupping sobs that shook her entire body she collapsed back into Inuyasha's arms lost in her pain.

Rubbing small circles against her back, he rocked the woman in his arms as he remembered his mother doing for him so long ago. "I don't know Kagome, I don't know." He whispered as exhaustion claimed the woman who once again slept in his arms.

Raising confused golden eyes to the darkening sky, he realized they had slept most of the day. Knowing that the group would be worried about the injured Kagome he gathered her up and leapt to the ground.

The last light of the setting sun died his hair scarlet as he walked towards the group that was gathered before Kaede's hut. Guilt flushed his face making him grunt a loud Feh' at the worried looks on his friends faces. Sango rushed up to him reaching out to Kagome who still slept her fists clenched in his haori.

"Where have you been?" she hissed in an angry but soft tone. "We were about to come looking for you." Laying her fingertips on Kagome's cheek, she looked up at Inuyasha eyes dark with worry. "How is she?"

"We were in the forest. She said she felt stuffy in the hut." He said softly as he moved past the taijiya and towards the hut. Sparing a curious glance at the newly built shed that sat sagging to one side next to, Kaede's hut Inuyasha quirked an eyebrow at the weary monk and irritated Kouga who stood next to it. Ducking into the structure, he settled against the wall and silently beckoned Kaede to him.

"Kaede should she sleep this much?" he asked voice strained with is own returning fatigue.

"Aye Inuyasha tis normal when using a healing spell such as this. The two o' ye are using extra energy to heal yer selves and will need more rest than normal for the next three or four…" she was interrupted by the sound of Inuyasha's growling stomach and her eyebrow arched over a twinkling brown eye. "…days. Have ye not eaten Inuyasha?" At his negation, she scowled and glanced down at Kagome. "Wake her up. Both of thee need to eat, now." Turning from him, she started dishing out a meal for the pair. Looking up as the rest of the group moved into the hut she nodded towards the plates and turned to watch Inuyasha wake Kagome, placing the plate of food near him.

The group watched quietly as Inuyasha coaxed Kagome to eat while the woman drifted in and out of sleep. When Inuyasha promptly fell asleep as soon as the last of the food was gone, Kouga nearly jumped across the hut to check on him.

"Kouga sit down." Kaede's voice rang out freezing the tense youkai in place. "Tis normal. They will be like this until they heal. When they both wake on their own you will be ready to set out on yer journey."

"You are a tricky witch Kaede twining that into your spell." An emotionless voice wrapped around the room, causing everyone but Kaede to whip their heads to the door and stare at the Lord of the Western lands. The Demon lord strode over to the platform, sank down leanig his back against the wall, and closed his eyes.

"Kaede should Inuyasha take Kagome into the forest again tomorrow?" Kouga asked staring at the woman in the hanyou's arms. "If they are both asleep how will he detect danger?"

"None will approach my brother and the Miko while they sleep wolf." Sesshomaru stated calmly his eyes open and focused on the pair across from him. When Kouga seemed about to respond Sesshomaru turned cold golden eyes to the wolf prince. "No demon would survive to get to them." With that Sesshomaru was gone leaving the blinking group to stare at the spot he had sat.

Inuyasha and Kagome remembered very little of the next four days. They woke occasionally to eat and to move out to the giant trees of the forest to sleep only returning when the sun was low and their stomachs were empty. The morning of the fifth day dawned bright and sunny casting the pair in a golden ray of light.

Kagome sighed softly and stretched stopping when her hands tangled in a fall of silken hair. Opening her eyes, she lifted her face to meet the dancing honey colored gaze of Inuyasha who now held her wrists motionless in his hair. "Well that's one way to wake me up."

Blushing Kagome untangled her hands from his hair as he released her and stammered an apology.

"Next time a simple Good morning will do Okay? Inuyasha joked. His heart fluttered in his chest as he watched her grin briefly. "How do you feel?" he asked his tone now serious.

"Better. The pain is gone but I'm still sore across my ribs and shoulder" she said as she rotated her arm and stretched her neck to the side.

Watching the pale skin of her neck arch towards him Inuyasha's breath froze in his lungs. Licking his lips repeatedly, he reached for Kagome. Grasping her small shoulders in his, clawed hands he forced his eyes closed and slid his hands up to the arch of her neck.

"What are, are you doing Inuyasha?" Kagome asked huskily.

Rubbing small patterns into her skin he concentrated on controlling his breathing before answering. "I thought you might want a neck rub." He breathed into her ear as he started soothing the tense muscles of her neck and shoulders.

"Umm…" Kagome sighed and leaned into his hands bowing her head beneath the gentle ministrations of his hard rough hands.

Laying his cheek against the top of here head Inuyasha took in Kagome's sent. Wrapping one arm around her waist, he held her close to him as he continued to tease the kinks out of her neck. Grinning at the sound floating up to him he opened his eyes and peered down at her. "Are you purring?" he asked quietly.

Kagome tilted her head back to answer him and froze. Their lips were breaths apart and as she looked from them to the dual suns of his eyes, she felt herself sigh and relax further into his embrace.

Inuyasha watched as Kagome licked her lips for the third time. As her pink tongue darted out of her mouth he bit his own lip. Looking up at her eyes, he gathered her closer to him when he met her shining blue gaze.

Neither heard the reed-hanging rattle as someone entered the hut.

"YOU'RE AWAKE!?"

Sango's shout broke through the drifting warmth that surrounded them. With a strangled EEEEPPP they both jumped and shuffled backwards away form each other. Kagome banged into the wall and clutched at her head while Inuyasha cried out in indignation when he toppled over the edge of the fire pit and into the low burning flames.

"ARRRGGG!" he screamed as the jumped up batting the smoldering embers off his red clad legs. Spotting an ember fall to the wooden floor he kicked it into the pit and spun to glare at the door.

Trying to stifle their laughter stood a red faced giggling Sango. Beside her Miroku looked back is friend eyes dancing with barely counseled mirth.

Spinning away from them, Inuyasha stuffed his hands into the sleeves of his haori. "Feh' go get the supplies ready. We leave tomorrow." He grumbled peeking over at Kagome.

His only response was another burst of laughter as the pair disappeared out the door. He watched Kagome pick her selfup off the floor rubbing the back of her head. His heart kicked in his chest for a moment when she looked at him her eyes shining with questions. He just nodded tilting one ear to the side gaining a small smile from her.

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A/N: Ok here is the sucky chapter I made everyone wait so long for. Right now, I hate everything I have ever written and I cannot stand to look at any of my fics. I don't know how long this evil form of writers block will last and I'm sorry for the irritation. I do have this fic mapped out and as soon as I can force my way through this block I will pick up with the next chapter. From there on in the chapters should move at a brisker pace. I know I'm too nit picky about the details and blab la bla but I needed to truly introduce all that was brought out in the previous chapters so that we could move beyond the original story and into the alternate reality of my fic. I'll go now. bye