InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ From Beneath The Ashes ❯ Love's Return To Life ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: Welcome to Part 3 in the Travelin' Soldier Trilogy. The way this works is you need to read the series in the following order: 1.) Travelin' Soldier (id=30191) then 2.) Living In A Moment (id=34170), before you read this story. They follow each other and refer back between them.

From Beneath the Ashes

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Chapter 1 - Love's Return to Life

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Kagome stared lovingly down at the sleeping form on the bed. Inuyasha had been so exhausted from his trip that only moments after they had embraced on the tarmac, he had collapsed into her arms. Worried, she had cried out, only to find that Kouga and Sesshoumaru had stepped up behind her and together they picked up the unconscious hanyou between them. Sesshoumaru had insisted that they all return to his home, where he had Inuyasha carried up to a large room.

She reached out and pushed a lock of hair away from his forehead, noticing the strained and haggard look that had developed on his young face. He was almost twenty-one and yet he looked like he had lived a lifetime. He reacted to her touch, flinching slightly before sighing in his sleep. His head turned to nuzzle into her hand and a soft whisper escaped his lips.

"Kagome." he sighed.

Her heart leapt at his voice, tears beginning to stream relentlessly back down her cheeks again. She couldn't believe it, he was finally back home and alive.

His restlessness became more pronounced as she sat silently weeping next to him. His nostrils flaring at the salty scent in the air, Inuyasha struggled to reach out and find out who was crying. Suddenly a deep terror within him erupted and with a shout, he bolted upright in bed, knocking away Kagome's hand violently. He immediately realized what he had done and turned to the girl, who was holding her injured hand against her chest.

"Kagome, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." he said as he reached out and gathered her into his arms. She fell heavily against his chest, her sobs building in intensity. "Shh, my love. Everything is going to be all right now." he whispered in her hair as he rocked her gently back and forth.

"I. . .I. . .waited and waited, but you didn't come home to me. Then they said that you were dead and I felt as if my world had ended." she whispered hoarsely, her voice ragged from her sobbing. "I tried to go on, but it was just so hard. Then Sesshoumaru told me that you had been listed as missing in action and I began praying that you would return and still, even then, you didn't. What happened Inuyasha? Why didn't you come home to me sooner?" she accused as her eyes looked up at him, overflowing with anguish.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't come home to you sooner, Kagome." he said as a violent shudder racked through his frame. Kagome, worried, leaned back in his embrace, peering closely up into his eyes. They had suddenly gone dead, filled with an anxiety unlike anything she had seen before. Concerned, she brought her hand up to his face, cradling his cheek.

"Tell me what happened to you Inuyasha." she said quietly. She watched as he pulled away from her embrace and slid off the edge of the bed. He strode across the room and stood looking unseeingly out the window.

"I was separated from my unit," he started hesitantly. Stiffening his shoulders, he continued, "Normally this wouldn't have been a problem, but I had been wounded and was unable to get back. I hid out for several days, but complication with the wound caused me to become captured by the enemy." A sudden shudder racked through his body and he leaned forward, placing both hands on the windowsill, and rested his forehead against the cool glass of the window.

"They tried to make me talk, but I wouldn't. I was finally able to escape and was picked up by a rescue team. The rest you know." he whispered. He closed his eyes against the pictures flashing though his mind. So engrossed in his thoughts, he did not hear her approach until she slipped slim arms around his waist, hugging his body close to hers. He opened his eyes and looked down at the delicate hands encircling his waist. Reaching up, he laid his hands over hers, savoring the warmth of her body against his. She knew that he wasn't telling her something, but at this moment she didn't care, all she cared about was that he was here back in her arms.

How long they stood there giving comfort to the other, they were unsure. But the sun set and the stars began to twinkle in the heavens above when Kagome finally led Inuyasha back to the bed, where she tucked him under the covers, before curling up in his strong embrace.

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Sesshoumaru stood looking over the two sleeping figures, a slight smile gracing his otherwise stern face. Moonlight poured through the window, highlighting the pair entangled within each others arms. He was glad that Inuyasha had returned, even if he would never say anything to him about it. Turning he left the room and walked down the stairway to the living room. Sango and Miroku both jumped to their feet as he walked into the room.

"How are they?" Sango asked anxiously.

"They are both sleeping, which is what they need now more than anything." Sesshoumaru said as he strode across the room and sat down in a wing chair next to the unlit fireplace. "I fear that it is going to be a long and hard road for the both of them."

"Why?" Miroku questioned, a puzzled look flitting over his face.

"I received the report from the troop commander about Inuyasha's status when they picked him up. He had been severely beaten and tortured, as well as malnourished. The state that we saw him in today, was a result of the punishment he received. They were able to put some weight back on him, but even I can tell that he is still too thin." he said emotionlessly, pulling a tired hand across his face.

"Is he going to be all right, though?" Sango asked concerned. Kagome had only just gotten him back, she couldn't lose him again not after everything she had been through.

"I think so, with time and patience. I know that it is going to be hard for him, but he has to admit to his weakness and let himself heal. Though knowing my brother, as stubborn as he is, he won't admit that he has to take it easy." Sesshoumaru barked roughly at the idea. "Only time will tell."

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A/N: Well enough with the procrastinating and on with the show. Welcome to the final installment of the Travelin' Soldier trilogy. Even though I have not completely finished this story I have finished enough to start feeding you all bits of it. I have 1 1/2 chapter left to write and it will be done. (Whew. . .but this was a hard story). I wanted to keep it fresh and yet still follow the previous storylines. I hope you enjoy yourself and please feel free to leave me a review.

Thanks for reading ~DBZ Vegeta

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