InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome's Realization ❯ Chapter 19 ( Chapter 24 )

Trees passed as green blur's as Inuyasha ran with all his might. He just knew he could get there faster than three days. Even though it had only been a few hours, Inuyasha felt like it had been days. He was doing a fine job in his belief that Kagome would come back to him, but he was very anxious for it to happen already. He didn't like looking at her and not seeing her bright eyes look at him in return. He didn't like that she was cold to the touch. Inuyasha ignored the sweat that was making his hair and the back of his shirt damp. He ignored the slight signs of stress that his arms where feeling from carrying Kagome in this manner.

"Please don't push yourself." A soft voice said.

Inuyasha stopped dead in his tracks, looking this way and that. There was no one. Inuyasha looked down at Kagome. "Did you say something?" He whispered. He wasn't surprised when no answer came. "I'm hearing things." He decided. Inuyasha felt a burning in the back of his shoulders and looked around safe place to rest. His sensitive ears picked up the soft sounds of water, knowing how much Kagome loved to be near the springs he followed the sound. Using his shoulder and elbow to move branches, Inuyasha easily made his way through the woods till he found what he was looking for. A very small hot spring, it was perfect really. Huge boulders surrounded it so if you weren't looking for it you might not find it.

"I found a hot spring, Kagome?" Inuyasha said looking down at her. Then his brow furrowed. He hadn't noticed it before but Kagome smelled like blood. Not surprised since her shirt was covered in her dry blood. Inuyasha looked at the hot spring then back at Kagome. Should he dare? Deciding it would be for the best he easily jumped onto the flattest of the boulders and gently set Kagome down. He eased her up into a sitting position and removed his haori laying her back down again with a thoughtful look on his face.

"If Sango were here I would have her do this, Kagome, but she isn't and I need to clean the smell of blood off of you. I'm not Miroku so you have nothing to worry about." He said with a smile and eased her bloody shirt off of her, leaving her only in her undergarments and skirt. Being a complete gentleman, Inuyasha covered her with his haori as he turned to the spring to scrub out what he could of the stain and smell, laying it out on the boulder to dry. Having decided against stripping her completely, Inuyasha removed her shoes, socks and skirt. Removing his yukata so he could put it on her later, he climbed into the hot spring with Kagome. Kagome floated weightlessly in the warm water. With one arm under her back for support, Inuyasha ran his free hand through her hair and over her chest to wipe off as much of the blood as possible. "It's a shame we don't have your soap and shampoo, you'll have to settle for a cleaner feeling." A soft smile playing on his lips.

Inuyasha concentrated mostly on her hair, even though Kagome might never be told of this, he didn't want to feel like he was violating her privacy. As it was he knew he needed to clean Kagome's undergarments or at least the one that held her breasts. Looking up towards the stars he used his nails to feel for Kagome's breasts and then pull up her clothes as much as he could without ripping them and using his fingertips, he did what he could to remove the blood. The thought of being caught in such a position made Inuyasha blush and quickly pull his hand away. "Well, I would say you're clean enough."

Inuyasha lifted Kagome's wet body back onto the boulder. Using her skirt, he dried her off and rang the water out of her hair and put his yukata and haori on her. "It's long enough to be decent. Good enough till your clothes dry, at least. I'm gonna soak in this water for a few minutes and then I'll build us a campfire. A short break then we're on the road again. I'm not pushing myself, I'm just ready to see this guy and do this already." Inuyasha said half to Kagome and half to whomever as he relaxed in the water. He wanted to believe that it was Kagome but he preferred to think of her as in a coma. The thought of her possibly speaking to him from beyond the grave scared him. He didn't want Kagome to be just a voice of reasoning. He wanted her understanding looks, he soft touches, her warm hugs, her sweet smiles and her seductive kisses. He wanted her. There was nothing about her that he didn't love, didn't desire. He didn't want to think about what he would do if he has truly lost her.

ELSEWHERE

Sango watched the last of the burning ambers from her sleeping position. They had stopped to eat and make camp for the rest of the night. Sango had wanted to continue on, without stopping in order to catch up with Inuyasha but Miroku told her it would be unwise to force the horses any more than was necessary. And also it was safer to travel during the day only.

"You should get some sleep, Sango." Miroku said softly. The sudden sound of his voice made her jump.

"I can't sleep. Laying here, at rest, will just have to do." Sango replied, rolling over onto her back.

Miroku laughed softly at her comment. "That is what I thought you would say."

"Have you slept any?" Sango asked turning her head to face him.

"Very little. I'm just resting. As soon as the sun starts to creep upon us we are off."

"Agreed." Sango said with a thoughtful look. "I wonder how Inuyasha is doing."

"Probably wearing himself out without even realizing it. Her death is not acceptable to him and he is determined that he can fix it. I hope he's right." Miroku said looking at a sleeping Shippo. He had tried to sleep with Sango but not being able to get comfortable he curled up in a ball in front of the fire.

"Do you think the wizard will help?" Sango asked worry laced her voice.

"I honestly don't know, Sango. I hope so. Try and get some sleep." Miroku rolled over, turning his back to Sango.

Sango on the other hand moved her arm underneath her head for a pillow and closed her eyes, letting the silence engulf her. Too many people that she loved died and there was nothing she could do about it. If Kagome was indeed gone from them forever, she wasn't sure she would ever sleep the same again.

"Sesshomaru-sama?" Said a half-asleep Rin.

Sesshomaru turned from his position on a rock and looked down at Rin, who was rubbing her tired eyes. "What is it?"

"Rin had a bad dream." Without asking permission she climbed up onto his lap, resting her head against his chest. He was thankful that he decided to remove his armor or she would have found the effort painful.

"Did you?" Was all Sesshomaru said. He had little experience with children, let alone nightmares, so he wasn't what do say or do.

"Rin dreamed about mother and father being killed. Rin took them to see the wizard but he wouldn't help Rin. He was mean to Rin. `It's time you learned to fend for yourself.' He said. He shoved me out of his sight." Rin didn't say any more as she busted into tears. Heartfelt tears, almost as if she had truly tried to bring her parents back only to be meet with hatred.

"What did you do?" Sesshomaru questioned.

"Rin left. But coming down the mountain Rin meet Inuyasha-sama who was carrying Kagome-chan in his arms. Rin warned him that the wizard was really just a mean man and wouldn't help but Inuyasha didn't see Rin nor hear Rin. He…he just walked past without even blinking. Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin said, tears streaming down her face.

"Yes?"

"The wizard isn't going to help Inuyasha-sama, is he?" Rin asked big, innocent eyes looking up at him.

Sesshomaru, never in the habit of lying to Rin, told her the truth. "No."

"How do you know?" Rin asked with a sad and pathetic little voice.

"He made an oath of never again and he has never broken it. It's been nearly eighty years since then and no one has been able to make him break his oath."

"Have many people looked for him?" Rin asked with curiosity.

"I do not know. I only know that some have tried and failed." Sesshomaru said looking straight ahead of him, no expression on his face.

"So Kagome-chan won't be saved?" Fresh tears filled her eyes.

Sesshomaru found himself at a loss for words at the look on Rin's face.

"You have to help her." Rin cried, burying her face in Sesshomaru's chest.

"There is nothing this Sesshomaru can do, Rin." His words only made Rin cry harder.

"You….. ke him." Came a muffled Rin's voice.

"What?" Sesshomaru said placing his index finger under her chin he lifted her face up.

"You could make him." She repeated.

Sesshomaru stared in wonder at the child. She really believed that he could do anything and make anybody do anything, didn't she? "I shall consider it, now go back to bed." Sesshomaru left no room for argument and Rin immediately listened.

"Goodnight, Sesshomaru-sama." Walking with a small skip in her step, Rin went back to where she had been sleeping, leaving Sesshomaru lost in his thoughts.