InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Proposition ❯ A Devious Plot: Crimson and Crystal Tears ( Chapter 8 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A Devious Plot: Crimson Eyes and Crystal Tears



Lounging in opulence, the dark haired demon absently stared out the door of his castle. His red eyes were empty and laconic but his hand tightly held a sizable lump of a pink jewel. The grass at the edge of the building was starting to rot and the nearby trees held a sickly color. He smiled.

"My lord?" Came a tentative if slightly resentful female voice.
"What did you learn?"
"It is as you suspected, in times when his life is in danger, Inu Yasha transforms into a true demon." Naraku's jaw tightened. "However, I have also discovered that the transformation robs him of his own self awareness and humanity. He is little more than a beast living only to kill. If my source is correct, then with every transformation, a little more of his soul dies." His jaw relaxed and the corner of his lips tipped up revealing the tips of his fangs.
"I see. Perhaps we should test this theory for ourselves."
"Would that be wise? I thought that you wished to torture Inu Yasha more. If he loses his awareness then the revenge will be futile."
"It is the process I'm interested in. I will be sure to stop him so that he will have time to reflect on the consequences. How amusing it will be to watch Inu Yasha agonize over a process he cannot stop. His pain will be excruciating as he watches himself slowly loss that which he holds most dear."
"I see." Her tone was bored.
"Kagura, go help Inu Yasha begin his downward spiral."
"As you wish." A gust of wind swept through the room and he was alone again. Naraku glanced at the jewel in his hand and his smile widened.
"I'm sure Kikyo will enjoy it as well."


********


"Hey, Inu Yasha, where did you get that bump from?" Shippo asked as they strolled through a grassy plain. The yellow grass was changing to the color of gold in the fading light. Soon they would have to stop to make camp. Sango was well ahead of the group scouting on Kirara and Miroku was well behind nursing a red and bruised cheek.
"None of your business shrimp." Inu Yasha's mood had not lightened since his and Kagome's return from her era. Neither had the sizable lump on the back of his head.
"Did Kagome 'sit' you again?" Shippo persisted leaning closer from his perch on Kagome's shoulder.
"No so get off it."
"Kagome?" Shippo tugged at her cheek.
"Uh..." Kagome twiddled a lock of her hair and bit her lip.
"Don't you dare tell." Inu Yasha shifted his glare to her.
"Don't make it such a big deal. It was all just a misunderstanding."
"Yea, right. That old goat knew exactly what he was doing."
"He just got a little overexcited. I told you that he could be a little eccentric."
"A little?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, a lot. Still, that's no reason to get all testy.
"There's plenty reason, your lovable old grandfather is out to kill me."
"Really?" Shippo hopped onto his shoulder. "What did you do?"
"Nothing so lay of it!" Inu Yasha raised a fist. Shippo hurriedly hopped back onto Kagome's shoulder.
"Uh, let's talk about this later okay?"
"Doesn't bother me. Just don't get mad if I accidentally hurt the old bastard."
Kagome sighed and rolled her eyes but remained silent.
"Look, Sango's back!" Shippo leapt to the ground and ran up to the exterminator as Kirara delicately reached the ground. The wind changed bringing with it the first hint of dark clouds on the late afternoon sky. Inu Yasha froze.

"I don't like this." Miroku whispered mimicing Inu Yasha's pose.
"What is it?" Kagome asked drawing nearer to Inu Yasha.
"I know this wind..." Bright flashes of light clawed through the air bringing with them a fierce gale. Grabbing Kagome by the waist, Inu Yasha sprung away narrowly dodging the blades that seared the earth where they had stood.

"Kagura." Miroku grasped the prayer beads encircling his wrist.

"My master bade me to bring you a gift." Kagura's smile was as chill as the wind dancing around her. She stood a fair distance away, as usual, and raised her fan and made a sweeping gesture. But no wind blades came forth nor any souless villagers bound to her like puppets. Instead, the sky erupted sending down countless fine darts to rain upon Inu Yasha's head. Inu Yasha flung up one arm and used the other to push Kagome away. He threw himself backwards but still managed to receive several darts in his skin.
"What is this, Kagura?" Inu Yasha ripped the tiny blades away.
"Your death sentence." She folded her arms neatly across her chest.
"What?"
"Each of those darts were filled with a very condensed form of Naraku's poison. I imagine that even with your healing capabilities you will only last a few more minutes." Inu Yasha ran a few steps forward gripping the hilt of Tetsaiga but things grew blurry and his hands and legs had no feeling. He stumbled blinking rapidly managing to pull free Tetsaiga but unable to transform it.
"Oh no, we can't have that." Kagura swept her fan again sending forth her wind blades. Inu Yasha clumsily shifted to his right but the blade made contact all the same scoring him deeply on the side and knocking the Tetaiga from his nerveless grasp.

"Damn you, Kagura!" Miroku held out his hand, one tug would be all it took to release the beads that bound his hand.
"I don't think so." Her wind died down and was replaced with the dull hum of insect wings.
"Give us the antedate or I will pull you in even if it kills me!" Kirara growled, to Kagura's right Sango held her boomerang poised and to her left Kagome held her sacred arrow tight in the bow.
"Kill me and Inu Yasha will die anyway."
"Not necessarily." Kagome dropped the bow and raced across the thrashing grass with her arrow in her hand. The light was all but gone making finding Inu Yasha amongst the thick grass a difficult task.
"Not so fast priestess." More blades struck randomly through the battlefield. The ground shivered as it was torn by them sending Kagome flying to land face first in the dirt, her arrow lost.
"Kagura!" Sango's boomerang sang as it sliced through the air.
"Fool." Kagura held up a hand and stole the air from its flight. The boomerang stopped and fell heavily.

A faint groan filtered through the noise of battle. Kagome looked up, Inu Yasha was not moving but she could sense a change. His eyes were shifting colors wavering from gold to crimson.
"No!" Glancing about she spotted the Tetsaiga nearby. With a grim set of her jaw, Kagome half ran, half crawled over to the decreped sword and took hold of it.
"Inu Yasha, hold on!" Kagome darted into the chaos clutching the Tetsaiga tightly.
"Ah ah ah." A flash of her sharp wind blade cut across Kagome's path. "We can't have you stopping the transformation after all of the hard work we've put into it." Kagura pulled a small dagger from her sleeve. Kagome backed up a pace holding the Tetsaiga out. Kagura made a sweeping motion with her fan kicking up a wave of wind that violently ripped through the space that separated them. Kagome fell heavily on her back, her breaths coming in short gasps and the Tetsaiga laying beyond her reach. Kagura swiftly made her way to the fallen priestess and grabbed a fistful of her hair heaving her to her feet. She pinned Kagome's arms to her sides with a surprisingly strong arm around her chest holding her with her back to Kagura's front. A smirk played on the wind demon's lips as she held the blade to Kagome's throat.
The dust began to settle and from its murky depths crimson red appeared growling lowly. His lips were curled back exposing lengthened fangs.
"At last, the mindless beast has emerged." Kagura chuckled coldly. "It is just as he described it. Now we shall see Inu Yasha's true nature and watch his soul die."
"No, you can't!" Kagome squirmed fiercely against her grasp and tried to pry Kagura's arm away but the grip did not falter.

"You dare touch her?" Inu Yasha's blood red eyes locked with Kagura's. A tremor rippled through his muscles. Unimpressed, Kagura pulled the blade a little tighter against Kagome's throat drawing a thin red line.
"Careful now, you don't want your precious human to die now, do you?"
"Inu Yasha." Kagome hoarsely cried. Inu Yasha shifted his gaze to meet her eyes. She found herself locked in their intensity and suddenly it was hard to breathe. Something unidentifiable passed within those fiery depths that somehow made her stomach lurch with an unknown emotion.
"You will die." His gaze shifted back to Kagura and was filled with blood lust.
"Not quite yet. First I will destroy your last restraint." Kagura shifted the blade slightly so that it was parallel with the jugular vein.

As with Kikyo, that moment when death seemed inevitable arrived, her mind cleared and again she could feel the well of spiritual power pulsing within her veins. More familiar with it now, Kagome heaved internally sending the wave of power out, this time focusing on the arm trapping her.
Pink light errupted from her abdomen scortching Kagura's flesh. Kagura screamed and threw Kagome to the ground, her face transformed into a grotesque mask of rage.
"How dare you?!" She raised her hand but then Inu Yasha was there with his sharp claws swiping. Kagura sprang back then unleashed a wild array of wind blades sending them haphazardly at Inu Yasha. He easily dodged them but one blade strayed from its intended path shifting widely to the right.
Kagome watched in stunned fascination as the blade approached her at a speed too swift to dodge. There was no time even to scream. The blade hit Kagome soundly ripping through her shoulder. For one stunned moment, nothing happened, not even a spark of pain. The battle stopped, all sound ceased except for the uncertain beating of her heart. A quick breath, then another...Warmth poured down her numb arm splashing heavily to the earth. Kagome shifted her eyes to the wound seeing with horror the tissue and severed muscle peeking out from the torn skin. It was then that the pain hit her with the force of a hurricane. A weak moan was the only verbalization of her agony that her torn body could produce. A bitter coldness began to consume her as well a swirling mass before her eyes. All went dark allowing her the bliss of sleep to save her from her torment. The ground rushed up to meet her but she was too far-gone to care.


"Kagome!" Sango and Miroku cried in unison.
Inu Yasha froze, his crimson eyes going to his fallen mate. The scent of her blood consumed his senses filling his eyes with insanity. He bared his fangs letting loose a harsh snarl, his hands shook.
"You will die!" He lunged at her striking with attacks too swift to follow, his claws raked against her flesh time and again. True terror finally registered on the wind sorceress's face as she could do little more than prevent him from tearing anything vital. The wind blades did little to stop him as they scored him on his arms and legs. "Now you shall suffer her pain!" His claws scored a brutal hit on her side. Kagura bit back a cry jumping back sending droplets of her own blood to dance in the air. She unleashed a wave of air to kick up some sizable boulders to deter him from further attack. Inu Yasha, enraged, swiped at the rocks smashing them to dust fighting wildly against the wall. Kagura backed up slowly never letting her eyes leave his crazed face. Once she had achieved distance, she hastily drew a feather from her hair tossing it to the air to make a speedy retreat. Howling with fury Inu Yasha finally broke through the wall of rocks and gave chase. No one got away with hurting his mate...no one.


For a moment the others stood frozen watching his pursuit locked in their shock. However, the scent of blood soon pulled them from their stupor. Miroku raced to Kagome's side falling to his knees in a growing puddle of her thick blood. He gently pulled back the torn fabric wincing at the sight before him.
"How bad is it?" Sango crouched at his side looking nearly as pale as Kagome.
"Bad. I don't think she will make it." His voice shook slightly.
"What? No, that can't be!" Shippo grasped Kagome's immobile hand with his two small ones. "She'll be alright. She has to be! You can save her Miroku I know you can! You have too." He sniffled.
"We must hurry, then." Miroku removed his purple, outer robe and ripped it into strips. "Her only hope is to be taken back to her own time. We can do little for her injuries here. Sango, will you hold her up for me?" Sango quickly complied positioning herself at Kagome's head. She held up Kagome's torso while Miroku tightly wound the strips around her shoulder. Kagome whimpered from deep within her unconscious state.

"Get away from her." Inu Yasha's raspy voice demanded. Blood was dripping from his claws and his eyes were blazing.
"We're just trying to help her." Sango slowly rose gripping her boomerang.
"I said get away!" He charged with the same intent speed that he used with Kagura. They had no choice but to abandon Kagome fleeing several yards.

Inu Yasha panted watching them for a few moments then kneeled next to Kagome and gathered her into his arms, his eyes darting.
"Inu Yasha, we have to get her to a doctor." Miroku took a few steps forward but halted at his feral snarl.
"No! No one takes her, she is mine!"
"Inu Yasha, she will die if she isn't taken back to her own time. She told us that medicine is greatly advanced in her era. They may be able to save her. You have to let her go." Inu Yasha held her even tighter against his body, her blood painting his skin.
"You can go with her, but please, take her back! You don't want her to die do you?" Inu Yasha's eyes glimmered in the moonlight, they were as empty as a wild beast. Kagome whimpered again somewhere from the depths of unconsciousness as his tight hold pressed on her wound. Gold flickered in his pupils then faded back into fierce turquoise. Without preamble, he took to the trees hopping from limb to limb in distance devouring leaps.

"We should follow him." Kirara paced over to her mistress.
"We must go slowly." Miroku put a hand on her shoulder. "Inu Yasha is very unstable right now. It would be dangerous to get too near."
"What if he hurts her?" Shippo wailed as he jumped up into Sango's arms with tears streaming down his young face. Sango hugged him tightly fighting to keep her impassive mask.
"He would never hurt her no matter what state he is in." Miroku climbed onto Kirara and held a hand out for Sango. "The question is whether he will allow others to help her." Sango took his hand and climbed onto Kirara's back as well. "All we can do is pray that he will do what is best for Kagome."

********


Fortunately, they hadn't traveled far from the village so the trip only took a few hours. For Inu Yasha, though, every moment ticked away like a small eternity. He could feel her heartbeat waning and her skin cooling even as her hot blood streamed down his hands and forearms. The trees raced by in a blur unnoticed. All of his senses were focused on the well.
Upon reaching it, he jumped in without hesitation or conscious thought. Every other instinct had been suppressed in favor of the driving need to save his mate. Somewhere, deep within the blood lust and animalistic drive, tears flowed. That part of him whispered about the well and the family waiting on the other side. It goaded him pressing him on while trying to suppress the rage.

Inu Yasha sprang from the well and leapt from the lip of it to the top stair. He then kicked open the door shattering it in the process. As he approached the house Kagome's mother, grandfather, and brother all spilled out in their nightclothes, their eyes wide. Kagome's mother froze; terror filled her gaze as her eyes locked with his burning red ones. Then her eyes dropped to his burden and her terror intensified. The one thing that every mother dreads was there before her leaving a quiet puddle of blood on the ground to nurture the ancient tree.
"Quick, Souta, call an ambulance." Her grandfather numbly called to her brother who looked to be on the verge of tears. "GO!" He roared when the boy didn't respond. Souta dashed to the house sobbing as he went. Kagome's mother held a trembling hand to her lips as she watched her only daughter dangle limply in Inu Yasha's arms.
"Inu...Yasha..." She held out her arms but he only jerked back, distrust in his eyes.
"You have to let her go if you want to save her." Grandpa's voice was calm and even, his eyes hard. "We can save her life but only if you let us."
"I go with her." He ground out harshly.
"But-" Her protest was cut off by Grandpa placing a firm hand on her shoulder. He shook his head slowly at her questioning look.
Souta reappeared looking nearly as white as Kagome.
"They said... they would be...be here in a few minutes. They said until they...they got here to apply pressure to the... wound." He said between sniffles and hiccups. Inu Yasha knelt down and carefully laid her on the ground he then clamped his hands forcefully on her shoulder where the blood continued to ooze out. Flecks of gold dotted the turquoise of his pupils.
"He can't go with her. The paramedics..." She gestured helplessly at his obvious demonic appearance.
"That can't be helped. He'll kill anyone who tries to take her away from him. The only thing we can do is try to compromise with him." Grandpa said. The telltale siren wailed mournfully as it rolled up to the base of the shrine. The urgent footsteps laboriously dashing up the stairs grew louder and louder.
"That's the paramedics...uh...doctors. They will help Kagome then take her to a hospital where they will give her what she needs to get better." Grandpa said carefully never taking his eyes off of Inu Yasha's violent orbs. Inu Yasha's eyes narrowed as a faint growl trailed from his throat, a potent warning.
"They'll have to take her from you in order to help her. You'll have to trust us, you know we would never let anything bad happen to her." Inu Yasha's face darkened, his demon instincts quite clearly insisted that no one touched his mate especially when she was vulnerable and wounded.
A strangled cry of surprise cut short Grandpa's persuasion. The paramedics had reached the scene and looked ready to pass out. Their faces were frozen in disbelief, their eyes locked on the savage demon before them. The scent of fear and determination had Inu Yasha recoiling protectively around his mate preparing for assault.
"Hey, what are you gawking at? Can't you see that there's a very badly injured woman there who desperately needs your help?" Grandpa waved his hands in front of the immobile paramedics. One blinked then shifted his confused eyes to the surly priest.
"Wha-what the hell is that?" His arm shook as it gestured.
"Who cares what that is, go help my Granddaughter!" Grandpa waved his arms agitatedly. The braver of the two took a tentative step forward then jumped back at Inu Yasha's growl. The paramedic sighed in frustration,
"How can I help her if that thing won't let me near?"
"Inu Yasha let these men help her!" Grandpa ordered in the best authoritative voice he could muster. A murderous gleam sparked in Inu Yasha's eyes at the lowly human daring to order him. 'No one touches her! I won't let them hurt her!' His hold on her tightened.
"Inu...Yasha..." Kagome's voice was faint and followed by a gasp. Inu Yasha eased her back to look into her eyes. They were cloudy with pain and weakness. Her very life essence was pouring out of her and there was nothing he could do to stop it. "It's...okay." She tried to smile reassuringly. "I'll be...alright...let them take me to...the hospital. "I-" Kagome grimaced against another wave of pain. Her face was so white he could almost see the blue trail of veins. She reached up her shaky hand to touch his face with her fingertips. His eyes flashed gold briefly at the contact. He nodded sharply, his eyes sparkling with the treat of tears, then released his hold and inched back a few paces. He then looked up at the paramedics expectantly; this was the most space that he would give them.
Kagome's state had the men rushing up to her the moment Inu Yasha indicated that he would let them near, their concern overriding their terror of the strange beast. It was all a blur of action from there. They immediately shifted her onto the gurney. One occupied himself with her vitals while the other ripped open his box pulling out a wide variety of things. A compression bandage was secured around her shoulder and an IV lodged within her arm.

Then they lifted her up and dashed down the stairs just as quickly as they had come. Once she was safely loaded in the wailing van, they took off to the hospital, lights flashing their urgency.

"I'll go get my keys." Her mother muttered numbly as the flashing lights faded. "Inu Yasha, we'll give you a ride to-" her offer was cut short when she turned to address him. Inu Yasha was gone.
"We'd better hurry before he scares the doctors." Grandpa said.


********


The frigid room offered little comfort. Aptly called a 'waiting room' it carried within its stoic walls the oppressive air of anxious waiting. Sadness and worry lined the faded wallpaper just as surely as the worn roses. The chairs were as hard and cold as the white linoleum beneath their feet. All they could do in the midst of such a crisis was to sit in those unyielding chairs waiting for someone, anyone, to rescue them from their fear.

"Mrs. Higurashi?" A man in blue scrubs approached them. He smelled faintly of soap.
"Yes?" She slowly rose to her feet.
"Your daughter sustained a deep laceration to her left shoulder. Unfortunately, it severely damaged her artery which explains the excessive blood loss." She visibly braced herself for his next sentence, the dreaded words that every mother feared and worked their whole lives to avoid. The doctor smiled at her with his professional sympathy, "We were able to repair the artery and close the wound but the blood loss has put her in a very critical state. She's slipped into a coma. We've given her a transfusion and as it stands, if she is able to survive the night, then there will be a good chance that she will recover."
"Can..." her voice quivered, "...can I see her?"
"Yes ma'am, right this way." The doctor solemnly led her away leaving Souta and Grandpa to wait in the plastic chairs with their worry.

Twenty minutes later, Mrs. Higurashi returned to the waiting room alone. Her face was rigid and ashen, her eyes dull. Grandpa stood and met her half way, an arm going around her shoulders.
"How does she look?" She looked at him, her eyes glimmering.
"I..." she took in a shuddering breath, "...I need a moment." She dashed from the room covering her mouth with her hand.
"Mom?" Souta ran over to Grandpa and hugged his arm. Grandpa wrapped his free arm around him pulling the trembling child to his body.
"She'll be okay." His voice was uneven.
"What about Kagome?" He began to sniffle again.
"Only time will tell, but we must have faith in her and Inu Yasha."
"Inu Yasha?" Souta turned his red eyes to met Grandpa's weathered ones.
"Yes. You can bet all the money in the world that he will not let her die. If the doctors can't find a way, he will."


********

Grandpa wearily leaned against the cool cement of the hospital wall taking in deep breaths of the evening air. Hours of quiet sitting in the stale air of the waiting room had been stifling only serving to remind him of the purgatory he found himself in. Leaving Souta curled in his mother's arms, Grandpa went outside to feel again.
"Where is she?" A harsh voice said. Grandpa visibly jumped but there lacked any true alarm in his eyes. He looked about the area but there was only darkness, no telling where the demon might be lurking.
"She's in room 308. Up there," he gestured. A faint light still shone in a small rectangular square from the massive building; a bright light against the fading gloom. The faint rustle of foliage was his only indication that he was alone again.

********


His back pressed securely against the unyielding brick Inu Yasha waited on the ledge for the quiet murmuring to cease. The wind mercilessly whipped his hair but he paid no mind to the discomfort. His patience had been tried beyond endurance and the only thing keeping his anger in check was the knowledge that those humans were necessary to save his mate's life. The human in him held enough sway to keep that fact in mind and to suppress the desire to slaughter those who had taken her away from him and were doing God knows what to her in her vulnerable state. Kagome always did have that affect on him.

Once the room fell silent and the over-bright lights doused, the window eased open to admit the red clad demon. For a moment he paused on the sill, the moon setting his hair a sparkling silver and casting an unearthly light to his turquoise pupils. Inu Yasha scanned the room briefly before descending noiselessly to the floor. The darkness did not hinder him in the least; he could smell her clearly despite the masking odor of sterility. Wasting no time, he stole over to her side but hesitated once he caught sight of her pale face. He could barely hear her pulse echoed mechanically from a device nearby. It was faint and sluggish, as if at any moment it would lose the will to continue. The irritating beep of the machine reminded him of her alarm clock but he didn't dare touch anything in the room. All he knew was that everything was vital to her life and thus was to be left alone
"Kagome..." His hands found her face cupping her cheeks; her skin was cold. He trailed his fingers down her neck following the flair of her shoulders then down her icy arms. Too damn cold. 'Why aren't these stupid humans helping her?' His fingers recoiled at the tubing taped to her hand; her hand was the coldest of all, he could practically feel the frigid substance seeping into her veins. This was no good; she was too cold for his liking. Wordlessly he climbed onto the bed next to her carefully wrapping his arms around her torso. Gently, he drew her up against his body resting his head on her chest. He found the combined rhythms of her breathing and heartbeat reassuring to the point of lulling. Her body began to warm slightly with the aid of his heat but she still remained chill. He hugged her tightly willing some of his strength into her fragile human body. The demon's control slipped as it was soothed by her presence. His human side rallied, struggling against the deeper desires of his demon nature. With little struggle, the demon was finally subdued, the crisis was past and his mate's safety was a little more stable. However, with the human blood circulating through his body came the intense fear and heartache of what had happened, or worse, what might happen next. Tears slipped from his clenched eyelids trailing their way down to dampen the thin fabric of Kagome's hospital gown. Inu Yasha impatiently scrubbed at his eyes, the wetness would only make her colder, but the gesture was futile. The harder he fought, the more that came bathing her in his sorrow.
"Kagome." He pleaded. "You promised..." He raised his head to look down on her face; she looked dead in the cold moonlight, with her pale and ashen skin. "You can't give up...you promised me!" The heart monitor droned on oblivious to his pain. Was it getting slower? Unable to watch her expressionless features so corpse-like any longer, he lowered his head back to her chest where her heartbeat could be heard reaffirming that life still pulsed through her veins. The tears now fell unheeded until even his nose was too stopped up to catch her scent. He lay there broken and helpless shivering.

"Please."

********



Inu Yasha had taken to, thankfully, fleeing the room whenever a doctor or nurse entered to examine Kagome. However, there was little doubt that he was always lurking just outside of the window waiting for the intruders to leave him to his mate.
As far as they could tell, he never left her side. He stayed close to her scent, faded as it was, to be reassured that death had not yet touched her. At least one of them was always with her in her room in the hopes of catching her awake and Inu Yasha sat with them. He would either sit listlessly at the window lost in his thoughts or he would pace the room animalisticly pausing every so often to touch Kagome's hand.
Each night that Kagome remained asleep, the terror loomed heavier and heavier that she would never wake up again. The doctors were growing concerned by the length of the coma-like state wondering if perhaps something more severe was damaged. More x-rays were taken and more tests conducted but they could find nothing else wrong.



Today found Inu Yasha the same as the previous day, if not more haggard. He sullenly leaned against the window paine letting the cold glass numb him. His stomach grumbled but he couldn't muster the will to care. A faint noise at the door had one ear swiveling but the light scent that accompanied it kept him from taking refuge outside. The door opened and with it wafted in the scent of food. Inu Yasha turned from the window.

"Hello, Inu Yasha." Mrs. Higurashi smiled closing the door behind her. Inu Yasha nodded, some joy lighting his eyes. Inu Yasha refused to return to the feudal era without Kagome in perfect health so he had become dependent on her mother for meals. The aroma wafting from the large paper bag she was carrying was particularly mouth watering. Inu Yasha pushed away from the windowsill approaching her wearily. He slept in short snatches and only when he was next to Kagome.
Her mother, bright smile in place, set out the meal she brought on the room's small table.
"I'll bet you haven't had a good home-cooked meal in a while so I thought I'd make you something really good with lots of protein and carbohydrates to keep your strength up."
"Carbo-whats?"
"Things that your body needs to stay strong and healthy." She replied with a faint laugh. Fatigue and depression kept him from precisely falling on his food but he certainly polished off every scrap. She watched him eat in silence seating herself in the chair next to Kagome's bed. She shifted her attention from her daughter to the boy before her.
"Thanks." He said quietly into the uneasy silence putting down his chopsticks.
"I should be thanking you. I know how hard you work to protect Kagome." His expression darkened,
"Not hard enough." She rose from her seat moving over to the small table and began to stack the dishes, her face thoughtful.
"You know, I don't think I've ever seen Kagome as happy as I have in the last couple of months." She smiled softly as his confusion at the sudden change of subject, "For a while I was worried about her because she went through periods when she was really sad, like her heart was breaking. But now..." Her eyes traveled over to her daughter and her smile grew warm. "...now she is happy. You've made her so happy and that's all I really want for her."
"It was because of me that she was hurt."
"I really don't know the circumstances of how she was hurt. What happened?"
"It was Kagura, a demon born from Naraku." His voice was hard, "One of her attacks went astray."
"I see. So you had no idea that it would hit Kagome?"
"I wasn't exactly myself but I'm sure that I would have stopped it if I could have." Even within the haze of his full demon impulses, the desire to protect his mate had been strong.
"Then I really don't understand why you're blaming yourself. What happened was terrible but it wasn't your fault. If you had known, then I'm sure that you would have done everything in your power to save her."
"It doesn't matter if it's an accident, her safety is my responsibility." She took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. The pain in her eyes reminded him of his mother.
"You really are a good person." Inu Yasha shook his head opening his mouth but she held up a hand. "I won't listen to any arguments. I say you are and that's that. You can't argue with a mother's intuition. And my mother's intuition also tells me that she'll be alright. Kagome is very strong willed and if she isn't ready to die, she won't." Inu Yasha looked down, his brows drawing into a frown.
"But what if she doesn't I-" his voice tremored.
"She will. We have to have faith in her. Everything will be fine, I know it. Kagome won't leave us." Her voice trembled and she bit her lip to keep it from trembling too.
"How can you be so certain?"
"It's the only thing I can do right now. I have to have hope and faith because that's all there is for me to do." She peered at him with firm brown eyes that strongly reminded him of Kagome.
"I-" Inu Yasha's ears twitched, footsteps stopped outside the closed door. Inu Yasha sighed softly then quickly hopped out the window.

"Mrs. Higurashi?" The door swung open. A doctor in a stiff white lab coat peeked in.
"Yes?"
"I'd like to discuss the latest lab results with you." She nodded sharply casting a glance out the window then let her eyes stray to her daughter. Mrs. Higurashi sighed softly then quietly exited the room shutting the door behind her.


********

Crouched on the cold brick of the window ledge Inu Yasha watched the pigeons coo softly to each other. They paid him only cursory attention for they were far too used to his presence to be alarmed.
"I can't leave her life to chance. Faith isn't enough." Inu Yasha's eyes narrowed. "I'm not going to sit by and watch her fade away." He leapt from the ledge landing gracefully on the ground. "Kagome won't die." He sped off keeping to the shadows. 'No matter what I have to do, I will not lose another woman I love to Naraku. I swear it."


********

Sango methodically sharpened her katana with firm even strokes amidst the relative comfort of Kaede's cozy hut. Her eyes lacked focus and on the occasion her stroke would falter. Miroku sat nearby cross-legged with his eyes closed. They were soon jolted from their melancholy by the blind at the door being thrust aside. Inu Yasha entered, his eyes shifting restlessly.
"Inu Yasha?" Sango rose slowly, her lips pursed. His face was set and determined and otherwise completely unreadable.
"How is Kagome?" Miroku's voice was painfully even. He rose as well surripitiously gripping his staff.
"Do you have the jewel shards?" Inu Yasha's tone matched Miroku's.
"Kaede has them, why?"
"I need them." Inu Yasha turned to the door only to be barred by Miroku's staff.
"Why do you need them?" Inu Yasha's head drooped so that his bangs covered his eyes.
"Kagome won't wake up."
"What do you mean?" Sango held a hand to her heart.
"She lost too much blood and now she won't wake up...it's been days."
"So you wish to use the power of the jewel to revive her?" Miroku's staff lowered a few inches.
"Yes."
"Do you think that wise? Look at how the jewel as corrupted everyone who has come in contact with it."
"I don't care."
"Kagome will."
"That won't matter as long as she is alive." Miroku sighed removing his staff.
"Speak with Kaede about it first. She may have other, less dangerous, ideas." Inu Yasha grunted then swept out of the room.

"Do you think she will be alright?" Sango sounded so young.
"I don't know. I can only hope..." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and smiled reassuringly at her. Sango nodded slowly, her eyes downcast. "Right now, I'm more worried about Inu Yasha. This could break him for good." He continued. "If she is even beyond the help of the jewel, then we should prepare for the worst."
"Do you have so little hope in her recovery?" Sango's eyes glimmered.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't bury her until she is dead. I've lost too many friends to Naraku, I'm not going to lose her too." A tear slid down her cheek. Miroku looked down at her troubled features, his own mirroring her worry. Wordlessly, he drew her against him wrapping his arms tightly around her. Sango stiffened making a small sound of protest.
"I know," he rested his chin on top of her head, "I'm sure everything will be alright. I don't know what this world has in store for her but I don't think that it's through with her yet." Sango relaxed marginally. "And I don't think that she is through with it either. Kagome is too strong willed to go so easily." Sango rested her forehead on his shoulder.
"I hope so."


***

Ignoring the inquiring stares of the villagers, Inu Yasha marched up to the herb garden where Kaede was quietly tending to the small plants. She looked up at the sound of his heavy steps and her eyes widened slightly.
"Inu Yasha, ye have returned." She rose slowly, her bones creaked with the strain.
"I need the jewel shards." Both his tone and his face were expressionless.
"How fares Kagome?" Her voice grew hard, her old eyes narrowing.
"Bad." The lines of suspicion on her face eased into those of worry.
"Miroku's description of her wound was grave indeed but Kagome always spoke highly of the advanced medicine of her era. Does even that fail her?"
"The doctors said that they mended the wound but she hasn't woken up yet."
"The loss of blood can be dire indeed. Even with the wound sealed, one may yet still die."
"That's why I need the jewel shards."
"Do you think that wise Inu Yasha?" Inu Yasha's hands clenched into fists at his sides.
"I don't have time to be lectured about the Shikon no Tama by you! Kagome could die and all those lousy human doctors can do is shake their heads! I don't care about the nature of the jewel or all of your speculation. The jewel can heal so Kagome needs it end of story!" Tiny droplets of blood slid free of his palm and landed dully on the ground.
"Is that the choice Kagome would make?"
"I don't care if she yells at me just so long as she's alive to do it!" Kaede reached into her gi and pulled out a small glass bottle where several pink shards glistened in the sun.
"I can understand your feelings, Inu Yasha and I know that none other cares so much for her welfare as you." She held out the bottle. "So I will leave the decision up to you for you know better her condition than I. It is possible that her priestess blood will protect her from the evil that is trapped within just as Kikyo is unaffected by the jewel." Inu Yasha took the bottle from her leaving a smear of red on the clear glass. "I trust your judgment. Do what ye must to bring Kagome back to us."
"Thank you, Kaede." He spun away and retreated into the woods.


"Ah Kagome, you cannot leave us yet for you are still at the heart of many things and many people." Kaede rubbed her stiff neck watching Inu Yasha become a red blur amongst the thick trees of the forest.



********


On the tenth night since Kagome had been brought to the hospital, Inu Yasha returned. He climbed in through the window, stealthy as ever, and padded across the cold tile. Her mother lay slumped over the edge of the bed with her head resting on folded arms. Dark smudges marred her eyes and the fine lines of age stood out prominently in the cold moonlight. Inu Yasha lightly touched her back jolting her out of her light slumber.
"Inu Yasha?" She rubbed her eyes and looked up at him. "You're back." Her voice was hoarse and her skin bore the ruthless mark of excessive tears.
"Why don't you go home and get some rest?" Her eyes drifted back to her daughter. Some machine kicked on with a dull thrum and clear fluid slid through a tube into her arm. "You need the rest. If you keep up at this pace then you'll have to be a patient here instead of a visitor." She sighed and stood up rubbing the back of her neck.
"I just can't leave her. What if-"
"Then I'll come and get you." Her entire body was drooping as she rubbed her eyes again.
"Just for a few hours." Her joints popped mercilessly.
"Okay." He handed her purse and coat to her. She took a few staggering steps forward then stopped and smiled tiredly over her shoulder at him. "I'm glad you're back." She left the room closing the door softly behind her.

Inu Yasha's eyes trailed over Kagome skirting over the offensive tubing and mechanical monstrosities. Everything remained the same as he left it; his face fell in disappointment. Inu Yasha eased himself onto the bed next to her, his eyes never leaving her.
"Kagome," he whispered settling next to her prone form. Still no response. In the past, no matter how deep asleep she was, she would respond to him. He need only say her name and she would sleepily wrap her arms around him or kiss him softly. But now nothing could reach her. She made no response to his whispered pleas nor to his tears.
"Kagome, you promised. You have to wake up because you promised me that you would never leave me." He managed to contain his sob but his hands clenched the thin hospital gown to the point of tearing. "Damn it, Kagome, open your eyes." He gritted his teeth against the ache in his throat and the despair welling up in his chest. "I...can't live without you." Tears betrayed his earnest desire to conceal his agony falling freely down well-worn tracks. "Don't you dare die on me you stupid girl." He rose himself on shaky arms to hover over her. Her face was still and empty tearing at his heart. "Come back to me, Koishii." He kissed her softly willing her to respond. The heart monitor droned on unsympathetically into the grave-like stillness of the room. His hand tightened around the pink shard. Inu Yasha leaned back and grasped her cold hand. He then tucked the shard in her hand and closed her fingers around it. He smoothed the hair from her forehead and gently caressed her cheek.
"Get better." The jewel shimmered faintly in the pale hospital light. Inu Yasha lay down at her side and carefully wrapped his arms around her, his head resting on her chest.


********


Blackness...only blackness all around pressing in on her, suffocating her with pain. Every nerve screamed but she could make no sound. She felt so cold but there was no kind warmth in the cruel darkness she found herself in. Sometimes Inu Yasha's strained voice would find its way in through the haze of pain but it was too faint to hold on to. Then there would be nothingness...a kind of detached numb state in which nothing mattered. Those moments scared her the most, as though she could already feel the hand of death touch her despite the dull thud of her heavy heart.

Light...a bright, pink light surrounded her, pierced her. It hurt...it felt wonderful...she felt so light...too light. Her consciousness swam shifting from near clarity to near nothingness. She felt warm, so blissfully warm...the light filled, became a part of her...and then...nothing.


Kagome's eyes slowly opened, every part of her body was heavy and numb despite the lingering sensation of pain walled off by heavy narcotics. She looked around the strange room, her immediate memory useless. Flowers of varied color graced the shelves as well as a sentimental teddy bear in bandages. Indifferent machines beeped and thrummed around her sending vital fluids into her body. The door was closed muffling the chaos of the hospital from her giving the room a strange sense of isolation. Too drugged to be confused, she continued to casually examine her surroundings, her eyes falling upon the window. A boy taking his ease on the sill blocked the bright light from the sunny day. His face was lined with worry and dark circles marred his eyes. Her heart twisted painfully.
"Inu...Yasha..." She croaked. Inu Yasha started violently then swung around so quickly that he almost lost his balance. He stared at her; his ears trained forward, mouth slightly agape. She tried to smile but her muscles felt so sluggish and dulled that she wasn't certain how successful the attempt was. Inu Yasha jumped from his perch and advanced on her. His first few steps were tentative and uncertain but his gaze was unwavering. Kagome managed to coax her heavy hand to stretch out along the sheets and her fingers to uncurl. He dashed to her side and grasped her hand tightly, his eyes delving into hers. Kagome smiled, this time successfully, at him weakly curling her fingers around his. "You look terrible." Something half way between a laugh and a sob broke free from his throat.
"What kind of greeting is that?" He said. Some of her memories filtered back into her brain as she looked up at his careworn expression.
"I was...worried..." She swallowed to ease the hoarseness of her parched throat, "I saw you get hurt and I thought..." Inu Yasha shook his head.
"Don't..." he crawled up onto the bed, "just don't." His eyes shimmered as he wrapped his arms around her pulling her up into his embrace. He hugged her as tightly as he dared holding her head to his chest. He desperately fought back the urge to cry as her sweet scent, now rich with consciousness, resounded through his senses.
"How do you feel? Do you have any pain?"
"I don't know, I feel really sleepy. I think it's the pain medicine."
"That's fine, just rest." He lay down taking her with him still holding her close.
"You're okay, right?" She snuggled up against him.
"I'm a demon, remember? It takes a lot to hurt me."
"Of course, what was I thinking?" Her voice trailed off losing the intended wry humor of the statement. 'There's only one thing that can hurt me.' Her breathing and heart rate slowed. 'And that almost happened.' He rested his chin on her head; she was starting to feel warmer. 'I won't ever let it happen again.' He pulled her tighter against him, his eyes flashing crimson for a moment.

'Never.'


********


"Inu Yasha, you have to go back and tell the others. I'm going to be stuck in the hospital for a few more days so I don't want them to worry for so long." Kagome was sitting up in bed with her arms crossed over her chest and a stubborn glint in her eye. She was still pale and too fatigued for anything more than the ten-foot journey to the bathroom but there was still enough fire in those eyes to defy the devil himself. Inu Yasha sighed heavily as he looked down warily at her.
"I'm not leaving until you are well enough to come with me."
"But the others-" she clenched the sheets in her fists.
"The others can wait! I'm not leaving!"
"It would only take a few minutes." He crossed his arms and lifted his chin obstinately.
"Nothin' doin'."
"Please?" She batted her lashes at him.
"No."
"Fine, then I'll just go and tell them myself." Kagome pulled back the covers and threw her legs over the side of the bed.
"You can't even make it to the bathroom without help. How do you plan to make it all the way back to the well?"
"I can manage just fine on my own." She pushed herself off of the bed and took a step but the ground heaved underneath her and the walls began to whirl. Kagome's vision faded and she briefly had the sensation of falling but when her vision cleared again she found herself cradled in Inu Yasha's arms.
"Idiot. You need to take better care of yourself." He gently laid her back in the bed.
"If you would just do as I ask..." her voice was sleepy.
"Don't worry about the others. You'll see them soon enough. Just rest for now." Kagome sighed but her eyelids were feeling too heavy for arguments.
"You're...so...stubborn." Her head fell to the side. Inu Yasha smiled wryly as he pulled the blankets back over her.
"Look who's talking." He kissed her forehead then returned to his sentry position at the window.


********


One blessed week later, Kagome was finally released of her imprisonment with a clean bill of health. Her sudden recovery had left the doctors shaking their heads but they released her without a word just wishing her the best with vague smiles. The greatest wonder, however, was that Inu Yasha actually joined her on the car ride home. The sentiment was touching but the poor guy looked noticeably uncomfortable in the strange device and a little green around the gills. He had given up on scanning for enemies out the window as that made the car sickness worse so he occupied himself with fiercely clutching her hand and scowling at various parts of the car with his ears flattened against his scalp. Kagome only smiled and leaned against his shoulder.
It almost made up for his infuriating refusal to return to the feudal times to reassure their friends.
Little did Inu Yasha know realize that she fully intended to make good on her threat the second her body was capable of doing so.

*******


"Why won't you just let me carry you?" Inu Yasha anxiously trailed Kagome to the well. Pale but determined; Kagome slowly walked across the shrine on wobbly legs.
"Because I need to build my muscles back up. The doctor said that short walks would be good for me."
"Yea, short walks; not long strolls through the countryside." He opened the door for her.
"Kaede's village is not that far." She carefully eased herself down the stairs and walked up to the well. Already her muscles began to feel lethargic and shaky.
"You've only walked this far and look how tired you are. You won't make it that far without collapsing." Kagome braced herself on the edge of the well. "The doctor also told you not to overdo it." He wrapped an arm around her back. "I'm not overdoing it." She scowled. "I wish everyone would stop babying me." Inu Yasha hooked an arm underneath her knees sweeping her off her feet.
"You almost died Kagome." He said quietly looking her dead in the eye.
"You know, if you would have just gone back and told the others like I asked you to, I wouldn't be trying to do it myself."
"Yes you would." He hopped up on the edge. "Besides, I'm never leaving your side." He jumped down and they were swallowed by the darkness.



********

They found the group loitering at the well with downcast expressions. The moment Inu Yasha set her down again Kagome was bombarded with enthusastic greetings.
"Kagome! Kagome!!" Shippo launched himself at her with enough force to knock her back a few steps. Shippo snuggled up against her abdomen hugging her as tightly as his little arms could.
"Take it easy, she's still wounded." Inu Yasha bopped Shippo on the head.
"It's alright." She whispered hugging the sobbing kitsune.
"What a relief, we were so worried." Sango said. "We hadn't heard anything in weeks and we were beginning to think..."
"I tried to get Inu Yasha to come back to tell you but he wouldn't leave."
"I can understand his reluctance to leave you. Given the state we saw him in last, I'm just glad that he gave you over to the doctors at all." Miroku said.
"The state he was in?" Kagome looked to Inu Yasha but his eyes were hidden beneath the shadows of his bangs. Miroku glanced at Inu Yasha with his head tilted then smiled and closed his eyes.
"Perhaps I will tell you another time."
"No, tell me now. What's going on?" Kagome put a hand on her hip.

"Kagome, how wonderful it is to see you here." An elderly voice spared Miroku Kagome's interogation. Old Kaede slowly made her way through the trees to the well. "I had come to fetch the others for lunch and now I'm glad that I took the time to do so myself." Kaede walked up to them with a firm stride. "It had been so long that we feared for the worst especially when Inu Yasha came for the jewel shards."
"So that's how it got in my hand." Kagome's hand trembled as she held it up and her legs were faring little better.
"For now you should go back home, you still look weak from your injury." Miroku hastily said.
"I guess you're right." She sighed yet her eyes remained skeptically fixed on Inu Yasha but her battered body would take no refusal.
"Try not to think of it. Right now you should focus only on healing. We shall worry about the rest." Miroku pasted on a placid smile.
"Okay, but you're not off the hook." She wagged a finger at him. By the time I come back I want some answers."
"I promise."
"I'll see you guys later!" She smiled weakly then suffered Inu Yasha to pick her up and swoop her back to the well were she would spend the next few weeks all but nailed to the bed. It would be a very boring recovery but she was sure Inu Yasha would make it worth her while.


________________________________________________________________________


First off, sorry about the excruciatingly long wait. That said, secondly, sorry for the jumpy transitions and huge time shifts. Inufan reminded me of how long this was taking so I just sat down and decided that I was finishing this chapter tonight come hell or high-water! So, as one am rolled around I just said screw it and decided to submit it. dispite the choppy style. After all, it is eighteen pages. If the shifts really bother you guys let me know and I'll keep on working on this chapter and try to even them out. Although, who knows how long that will take!
Thanks Inufan, don't worry, I'm always working on this thing and if I do discontinue then I'll be sure to tell you guys. I just finished finals today (lost my last brain cell) so I won't have anymore excuses to be lazy for the next month.

This chapter come curtsey of Miss_Marilyn69. Thanks for the great suggestion!
Now, for the next installment, you all get to decide!! I'm going to list several options and you can either email me or submit your vote for the subject of the next chapter. Yay, polls are fun!

A. - Grandpa and Inu Yasha's duel
B. - Inu Yasha's impossible task of keeping wounded Kagome in bed
C. - Miroku and Sango finally get together (the gropings finally pay off)
D. - Other (submit your own original idea)

Thanks as always for sticking with me and for putting up with long chapter delays and bad grammer and time shifts!
Lady Eclipse

P.S. - if you are of the RelenaxHero (GW) bent, then please visit my fledgling sight at http://lady_skyshard.tripod.com/slowburn/
thanks!!!