InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Rebel Girl ❯ The Long Night pt2 ( Chapter 5 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Arme 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.28.2005 | Updated On: 02.28.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 324 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.28.2005 | Updated On: 02.28.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 324 | Status: Work In Progress
A/N - I'm doing it, whoring for reviews. Pretty please, if you are reading this and have some comments, good or bad, please leave them! And massive thanks to those who have reviewed so far, I love you all and when I start to get some writers block reading that you want more helps me to push through.
I apologize for how long this took to get out! I've been working on a new website for a (who'd a guessed?) punk band. The site is basically up now except for some cosmetic improvements I'm working on, so it's back to writing again! Sorry this chap is a bit shorter than usual but I wanted to get it out quickly because of the long break inbetween. It's also kind of a from here to there chap, moving along the story a bit.
dreamy 7_12 - I'm glad you're enjoying it and I'm really sorry this chap took so long, I promise the next one will be out sooner!
*minor editing done for continuity, only a single line removed*
This chapter is brought to you by the odd mix of more insomnia, No Doubt, Marilyn Manson, The Bouncing Souls, Lords of Acid, and Burning Down Zion.
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Inuyasha or any associated characters. Nor do I own the rights to any Dropkick Murphys songs, Black Flag songs,
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Daybreak had never seemed so far away as Kagome sat silently beside Inuyasha, listening intently for his every breath. 'Please Inuyasha, please, just make it a bit longer.'
It was 3am and Sesshomaru and Miroku sat outside the room with Sango and Rin. When picking up the girls Miroku had gone inside to explain to Kagome's mother what had happened, downplaying some of the worst injuries, and get permission for the girls to spend the night. Now Miroku and Sango were sitting on the couch while Sesshomaru sat in a chair with Rin on the armrest next to him. They were all silent, lost deep within their own thoughts. They had sat with Kagome for a bit and then left to give her privacy. As lost as they were in their own worry, they were still able to recognize her need to be alone with Inuyasha.
As the night wore on towards day the stress and worry began to take it's toll. First Rin fell asleep, her head falling to Sesshomaru's shoulder, followed by Sango and Miroku shortly after, leaning on each other on the couch. Sesshomaru had little trouble staying awake and from the sounds of breathing in the other room he knew Kagome was awake as well. Looking at the clock on the wall he saw it was about 5am now, still over an hour until sunrise came. 'Why did my brother have to be so stupid?' He shook his head in silent disgust. 'To agree to meet that thing on this of all nights...' It was easier to curse his brother than to focus solely on how shallow Inuyashas' breathing was becoming. 'You had better live out the next hour half-breed so that I can beat you for your stupidity when you wake up.'
Kagome was also aware of the change in Inuyashas' breathing, and she was starting to feel her own body's exhaustion. There was no way she would be able to fall asleep until daybreak, but that didn't mean her body wouldn't collapse under her. Standing, she walked around to the other side of the bed and laided down beside Inuyasha, doing her best not to disturb him. Laying there she began gently stroking his arm and whispering his name over and over again like a mantra to keep him alive, "Inuyasha, Inuyasha, please be okay, Inuyasha..." Something about her presence seemed to help settle the hanyou and his breathing eased a little. It wasn't by much but Kagome would take what she could in this final hour before dawn. If it continued helping she would keep talking and stroking his arm until the sun came up.
Sesshomaru allowed himself a slight smirk. He could hear Kagome talking to his brother and his brothers' improved breathing. Checking his watch for what felt like the thousandth time that night he saw it was 5:45am, only 20 mins to go. Shifting slightly in the chair, Rin let out a grunt of protest at the movement.
Kagome felt her voice growing hoarse as she kept up her gentle litany. The growing light outside helped to give her the strength to keep going, though she was starting to doubt whether she would be able to speak for the next week. "Inuyasha, Inuyasha, please be okay, Inuyasha..." His breathing was begining to grow shallow again "It's only a few more minutes Inuyasha." she whispered tenderly. "You can't give up, I just met you a few days ago, I can't lose you already, please Inuyasha keep fighting." She felt more than heard the pleading tone that had entered her voice. She thought she had cried out all her tears hours ago but the salty drops began to roll down her cheeks once again. This couldn't be happening, it just wasn't fair, it wasn't fair that he could come into her life, open her heart and then leave again so quickly. The tears began falling faster as the ranting in her mind continued and she kept up her soft words. Her eyes were shut so tight and she was so lost in her pain that she failed to notice the sun had ascended over the horizon.
"Kagome..." came the soft whisper. Her eyes flew open at the sound. She looked up and saw his silver hair and dog ears had returned, he was going to be okay! The torment of the long night was finally over. She was barely able to resist crushing him in a hug but not wanting to hurt him further she settled for gently stroking his now fast healing cheek.
"Inuyasha! You're a hanyou again, you're okay!" The tears continued rolling down her cheeks, but they had now become tears of joy.
Sesshomaru walked in just then. "I see your youkai blood has returned." Searching his brothers' face he noted the healing already taking place. "I'd suggest you go back to sleep, you were poisoned and will need rest to heal fully. We shall talk later." Without another word he turned and left the room.
"Kagome, what..." Inuyasha began to ask when he noticed she had fallen asleep. 'She must have stayed with me all night.' Bringing her hand to his mouth he kissed it lightly and decided that more sleep was probably a good idea after all. He turned his head towards Kagome and fell asleep almost immediatly listening to her soft breathing.
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Kagome awoke late that day to a song playing softly on the stereo by the bed.
All of my dreams seem to fall by the side like a discarded thought or the day's fading light
but I know that if I could just see you tonight, forever
at times we may fall like we all tend to do but I'll reach out and find that I've run into you
your strength is the power that carried me through, forever
Your kindness for weakness I never mistook. I worried you often,
yet you understood that life is so fleeting, these troubles won't last forever
inspired me truly you did from the start to not be afraid and to follow my heart
there's a piece of you with me they can't tear apart, forever
At times we may fall like we all tend to do
Your strength is the power that carried me through, forever
Forever I'll find you, forever we'll be
Forever your power and strength stays with me
Forever I'll find you, forever we'll be
Forever your power and strength stays with me
Forever I'll find you, forever we'll be
Forever your power and strength stays with me
Forever...
Forever...
Forever...
"Damn good band, huh?" Inuyasha turned to her and asked as the next song began to play.
"Um, yeah." was all Kagome could manage. The events of the previous night were still sorting themselves out in her mind. Suddenly it all snapped into focus "Hey! You didn't get up to turn that on did you?! You need to be resting!"
"Oi, woman. I'm not human anymore you know." Looking over to Inuyasha she was shocked by the change in appearance. The cuts and bruises that had covered his face seemed weeks old, already faded and barely noticeable. Seeing the look she was giving him Inuyasha thought maybe he needed to explain. "Hanyou, remember? The poison is making me heal a bit slower than I should, but I'll be fine by tomorrow."
"Um, Yeah, I know that. I was just surprised is all, I've never seen anything like it." She reached out to touch his face, to reassure herself he really was healing, when it occured to her that she was laying next to him in bed. She jumped up quickly "You want some food? I should go and get you some food." She turned off the CD player and flew out of the room to start cooking and try to regain some of her composure. Looking at the clock on the wall she noticed that it was 5pm, 'Wow, I slept for 11 hours?' She reminded herself that she had been through what was easily longest night of her life and would probably still need another nights sleep before she felt fully rested.
Rummaging around for something to cook she spotted a note on top of the kitchen table.
Hi sweetie! Sango and that nice new friend of hers', Miroku, stopped by to explain everything. I brought over some chicken soup for both of you, it's inside the fridge, you just have to heat it on the stove. Don't worry about school, I had grampa call and have you both excused, just pretend you're recovering from a bad stomach bug tomorrow, okay? I love you hun and expect to see you home soon, and that we will be having Inuyasha over for dinner when he's feeling better.
love, mom
Kagomes' face turned ten different shades of red reading the note. 'Oh. Fuck. Mom, was here?! What if she saw me sleeping next to Inuyasha?!' She took a deep breath to steady her racing heart. 'It's okay Kagome, you were fully clothed, and maybe she didn't even look in the room. Miroku must have let her in, he wouldn't have let her check on us, would he?' She sunk to her knees besides the kitchen table "UGH!"
"Hey! Woman! What the hell are you doing out there?" Inuyashas' voice snapped her back to reality.
"I'm heating up some chicken soup. Relax yourself, it'll be ready soon." Standing back up she went over to get the soup out of the fridge and start heating it up. 'Mom is cool and obviously she wasn't that freaked out, I'll deal with it later.' She smiled as she looked at the container of chicken soup, what was with parents and chicken soup anyway? Just looking at the container reminded Kagome of all the times she had been sick and the only thing she had wanted to eat, and her mother had let her eat, was homemade chicken soup. Actually, come to think of it, it wasn't all that appetizing to consider eating when she wasn't ill. 'Oh well, it'll still be good for Inuyasha, and I can deal.' Sticking the pot she had found on to the stove, she poured in the soup and turned the stove to high. It only took a couple of minutes until it was ready to eat. She poured some into two bowls and headed back to the bedroom, feeling herself begin to blush again as she did so.
Much to her relief Inuyasha had taken her absence as a chance to get dressed. She was a bit upset that he had been up and moving around again but considering the reason she didn't really feel she could complain. "My mom stopped by and brought some chicken soup."
"She did what?" 'okay' Inuyasha thought 'that's just odd.'
"Yeah well, she's a nurse, it's bred into her or something."
"Like mother, like daughter." Inuyasha mumbled.
"Hmm, you say something?" Kagome handed him the soup and sat down on the floor next to the bed with her own bowl.
"No, nothing." Inuyasha said as he swallowed a mouthful of soup. "Fuck! That's hot!" He almost dropped the bowl on himself in his hurry to fan his mouth.
Kagome couldn't help herself, at the sight of Inuyasha frantically trying to cool his mouth she burst out laughing. "You think the steam coming off the bowl might have given that away." Inuyasha was giving her the evil eye now. "Oh don't be a baby." She stood and took the spoon from him. "Just blow on it, like this..." She lifted a full spoon to her mouth and gently blew across the top, cooling the soup so he could eat it safely. Still giggling a bit "Say ahhhh." She held the spoon towards his mouth to feed him the now safe soup.
'Holy shit, does she know how beautiful she looks right now?' He couldn't take his eyes off her and the soup he was supposed to be eating was long forgotten. Though he did automatically open his mouth as she brought the spoon towards him. 'What the fuck am I doing?' "Hey! I can feed myself ya know." He grabbed the spoon back and returned to eating his soup, much more carefully this time.
Kagome had completely missed the look in his eyes and still giggling a bit sat back down to eat her own breakfast/dinner. She finished quickly, the food in her stomach reminding her that it had been almost twenty-four hours since she had eaten anything. When Inuyasha finished she gathered up both their bowls and took them out to the sink to wash. She was only out there a minute when he yelled for her again. 'Damn, he's a pain in the ass when he's laid up, isn't he.' "I'm coming." She called out as she finished up the dishes and put them in the dishrack to dry. She wiped her hands on a paper towel and headed back to the bedroom vaguely wondering where everyone else was and if she should give Sango a call.
"Keh, I'm sure they'll be back soon enough anyway." Inuyasha said when she told him her thoughts. "You could come sit next to me you know." Kagome was starting to settle herself on the floor again.
"Oh, yeah, I just didn't want to hurt you." 'and sitting next to you means being in bed with you.' She started to blush at the thought. It was a lot more comfortable on the bed though and she was still pretty tired from the night before. She settled herself next to him, her arms staying rather stiffly at her sides. "So, umm, how are you feeling? Need your bandages changed?" She was blushing to fiercly to look at him, instead she kept her eyes staring straight ahead.
"Hey, Kags, are you all right?" The way she was talking was starting to make him nervous. He reached up to her cheek and gently turned her to face him. "I'm gonna be fine, so don't worry, okay?"
Looking at him, hearing him call her by her name, his voice full of worry, it was to much for Kagome. She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed against his shoulder. "I thought I was going to lose you. I just met you and you're the first guy I've ever felt this way about and I thought you were going to leave me. I thought I was going to have to watch you slip away and not be able to do anything to help you." She pulled back from his embrace, wiping viscously at her tears, trying to pull herself back together. "What am I doing? You're the one who's hurt, I should be the taking care of you." She looked away, embarassed by her outburst.
He reached for her cheek again. "It's okay, you're allowed to be upset, it's not weakness for you to show your emotions, and it's okay to let someone take care of you once in awhile. Hell, I'm learning that part the hard way right now." He drew her face towards his and kissed her gently.
Kagome was momentarily shocked when his lips touched hers, still lost in her own world of sadness and anger. His touch became a balm to her soul, she leaned into him, using her tongue to open his mouth and deepen the kiss. She needed to feel him, she needed to know he was still alive, that he hadn't really left her and that this wasn't all just a dream. She wrapped her tongue around his hungrily, trying to memorize his taste, his feel, everything about him, she wanted to know everything. She could feel his shock at her sudden boldness but he responded with his own desire, his own desperation. He knew he had come close to never seeing her again and that hurt more than anything else. He turned to his side so that he could pull her closer, ignoring the pain from the poisoned slash. She ran her fingers up his arm and to the soft ears at the top of his head, delicately rubbing them, assuring herself that he really was okay, that he was still her Inuyasha.
"We're hoo-Oome" Miroku's voice boomed through the apartment while in the bedroom they could hear footsteps heading closer. "Are they still sleeping?" Miroku muttered.
"Oh, shit!" Kagome jumped from the bed and began to frantically straighten herself out. Inuyasha watched her attempts to avoid embarassment with a bemused smile. 'It isn't as though we were doing anything wrong' he thought. Still he decided to humor her and began smoothing the covers on the bed.
Miroku broke into the room first, his smile fading in obvious disappointment at not catching the couple doing.... something. "Glad to see you looking better considering that you looked like raw meat last night."
"Keh, some friend you are." Inuyasha saw Sango, Rin, and Sesshomaru standing in the doorway slightly behind Miroku. Sesshomaru pushed past Miroku into the bedroom that seemed to be shrinking as each new person entered.
"I think it's time you explained what happened." Sesshomaru's voice was as cold as ever. It made Inuyasha wonder for a moment if he had just dreamed seeing his brother that morning.
"Fine, but let's go into the living room, it's getting too crowded in here." Inuyasha thought he heard a snicker coming from Miroku but when he looked over the monk's face was completely innocent.
"You can't get up! You're still hurt, even you admitted with the poison it would take you longer to heal." Kagome moved towards Inuyasha to push him back into bed.
"Oi, woman, I told you it would take longer to fully heal. I'm fine to go into the livingroom." Standing up he pushed past Sesshomaru and walked out to the livingroom, taking a seat on the couch. With an exasperated sigh and a glance at Sango and Rin that screamed 'MEN!' Kagome followed him out of the room and sat beside him on the couch.
Soon the rest of the group had made themselves comfortable, Sesshomaru on the chair he had spent the night in with Rin on the armrest once again, and Sango and Miroku grabbing some pillows off Miroku's bed and making themselves a little nest on the floor. They all looked at Inuyasha expectantly, awaiting an explanation for what had happened when he had gone to see Kikyou the night before.
"Keh, it's really not all that exciting of a story you all." Inuyasha was avoiding his friend's eyes, feeling uncomfortable under the scrutiny and still angry at himself for letting Kikyou trick him. Risking a glance at the faces around him, he saw the stares of people determined to get the whole story, and who weren't going to move until they did.
"Fine, fine." He started hesitantly "So I went to see Kikyou to get my guitar back, you all know that part." Everyone nodded wanting him to get to the part that they didn't know. "Yeah, so Kikyou looked like shit and acted like a whore, no surprise at that, but she gave me my guitar back without a fight." He shook his head, "I shoulda figured out something was wrong right then." Looking down once again he continued. "I grabbed my guitar from her and walked back to the car, I wasn't staying near her a second longer that necessary. I had just put the guitar in the backseat when Kikyou called out to me, telling me to wait a minute. I turned back to her and, well, that's about all I remember clearly. They jumped me from behind and dragged me back into those small woods. I could hear them calling out to one another, 4 of them or so I think. I did recognize one name, that bastard Naraku was there, he's the one who poisoned me. Not all of that blood was mine though, I got a few hits in where I could." He balled his hands into tight fists. "I was so stupid! If I had been a youkai I could have taken them, hell they wouldn't have been able to sneak up on me in the first place. What posessed me to trust her enough to go there when I was human?"
Kagome wrapped her arms around Inuyasha's trembling form. He was so lost within his own emotions, his anger, that he didn't take any notice as she rested her head against his back and let a quiet sigh escape her lips. She was amazed. Anger, all he felt was anger. He wasn't worried, or scared, or even relieved at being okay. Miroku had been right, this was for Inuyasha to revenge, and it was a revenge he wanted. It scared Kagome that he could be hurt so badly and then want to go against those same people once again. She realized that the circumstances were different now but it would be a long time before the horror of that night had faded in her memory.
"So what do you plan to do half-breed?" Sesshomaru asked, disdain for Inuyasha's abilities within every word of the short sentence.
"What the hell are you doing here anyway? Don't you have someone else to go annoy?" Inuyasha half rose as he was speaking to his brother.
"It isn't as though I am here of my own volition. You can thank Rin for that and for asking me to help Miroku and Kagome find you last night." Sesshomaru remained seated, as calm as ever. "Though normally I wouldn't wish to fight you when you are not at your full strength I can make an exception if you'd like."
Before Kagome could step in Rin was standing between the two. "Drop it! Both of you! We have better things to do than listen to you guys bicker, like figure out why Naraku would help Kikyou, or how he even knew who the hell she was." She glared at each of them before sitting besides Sesshomaru again.
"She's right you know." Miroku spoke up. "He didn't seem to have the most generous nature when I met him."
"Well, we know he hates Kagome and I'm sure Inuyasha didn't get on his good side when he defended her at the diner." Everyone nodded along as Sango talked. "It still doesn't explain why he hates Kagome so much though."
Kagome could feel the growl that ran through Inuyasha's body, even if it no one besides Sesshomaru could hear it. "I'll make sure to ask after I'm done beating the shit out of him."
Kagome finally piped up. "Is this really the right way? Shouldn't we be going to the cops? I know Naraku started it but is beating him up really going to solve anything?" She hated violence, especially within the scene. She knew they was probably no other choice but before resorting to violence she had to know for sure that there was no other way.
"The cops would do no good. Inuyasha's wounds are mostly healed already and he did enough damage to the others that there would be blood from all of them in the woods." Miroku felt much the same way Kagome did, but he had already thought it through and had come to the conclusion that handling it personally was their only option. "Besides, from what Sango has told me the real problem seems to be that everyone around here is scared of him." Miroku looked Kagome in the eyes as he spoke "Whatever we do it will be done in public where everyone can see. Not just revenge for the sake of revenge, I promise, even if Inuyasha doesn't agree." Inuyasha rolled his eyes but didn't argue.
Sango nodded "He's right, we have to convince everyone that they shouldn't be scared of Naraku." She walked over to Kagome and put her hand on her friend's shoulder. "You know if there was any other way that's what I'd want to do, but I really don't believe that there is. Except we do have a couple of problems. Does anyone actually know anything about him? Kagome and I have only seen him at shows and at the diner that one night." She looked over to Rin. "Have you ever talked with him when your bands played together?"
Rin stared off in thought for a moment "No, I've never talked with him, but I can ask around and see if anyone knows where he's playing next. You should know the club owners Sesshomaru, so you can ask also." Sesshomaru just looked at her but Rin knew he would do it. She still hadn't been able to get more than a few words from him at a time but an unspoken understanding had begun to develop between them. "If we can find where his band is playing next that also solves the problem of it being in a public place."
"Fine, if we're all done taking about this shit for now I'm gonna order some pizza. I need real food." Inuyasha reached for the phone and began dialing while Miroku headed to the stereo to put on some music.
Jealous cowards try to control.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
They distort what we say.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
Try and stop what we do.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
When they can't do it themselves.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
We are tired of your abuse.
Try to stop us, it's no use.
Society's arms of control.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
Think they're smart, can't think for themselves.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
Laugh at us behind our backs.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
I find satisfaction in what they lack.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
We are tired of your abuse.
Try to stop us, but it's no use.
We are tired of your abuse.
Try to stop us, but it's no use.
We are born with a chance.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
I am gonna have my chance.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
We are born with a chance.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
I am gonna have my chance.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
We are tired of your abuse.
Try to stop us, it's no use.
Rise above.
Rise above.
Rise above.
We're gonna rise above.
We're gonna rise above.
We're gonna rise above.
They sat around for the next couple of hours eating and talking about everything but Naraku and all that had and could happen. It was a couple of hours later when Kagome noticed Inuyasha was begining to get tired. He wasn't paying attention to the conversation and more than once she had had to call his name repeatedly before he responded. She was actually feeling pretty tired herself and knew her mom would want her to sleep at home that night. She stood up stretching. "Miroku, could you give Sango and me a ride home?"
"Yeah, sure. Whenever you're ready." Miroku grabbed his shoes and started to get ready to leave.
"Hey, Inuyasha. Inuyasha!" He looked up when he heard his name shouted. "I think it's time you head to bed."
He just grunted and leaned over to give Kagome a quick kiss. "See ya at school tomorrow woman."
"You sure you'll be up to it?" She asked as she pointed to his side where the poisoned slash had been.
"Yep, see?" He lifted his shirt a bit to reveal that the slash was already half healed. "By morning it should just be a scar."
"If you say so." She grabbed her shoes and jacket and gave Inuyasha one last kiss before heading out the door. "See you tomorrow then."
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Co nverting /tmp/php4BvjbW to /dev/stdout
I apologize for how long this took to get out! I've been working on a new website for a (who'd a guessed?) punk band. The site is basically up now except for some cosmetic improvements I'm working on, so it's back to writing again! Sorry this chap is a bit shorter than usual but I wanted to get it out quickly because of the long break inbetween. It's also kind of a from here to there chap, moving along the story a bit.
dreamy 7_12 - I'm glad you're enjoying it and I'm really sorry this chap took so long, I promise the next one will be out sooner!
*minor editing done for continuity, only a single line removed*
This chapter is brought to you by the odd mix of more insomnia, No Doubt, Marilyn Manson, The Bouncing Souls, Lords of Acid, and Burning Down Zion.
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Inuyasha or any associated characters. Nor do I own the rights to any Dropkick Murphys songs, Black Flag songs,
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Daybreak had never seemed so far away as Kagome sat silently beside Inuyasha, listening intently for his every breath. 'Please Inuyasha, please, just make it a bit longer.'
It was 3am and Sesshomaru and Miroku sat outside the room with Sango and Rin. When picking up the girls Miroku had gone inside to explain to Kagome's mother what had happened, downplaying some of the worst injuries, and get permission for the girls to spend the night. Now Miroku and Sango were sitting on the couch while Sesshomaru sat in a chair with Rin on the armrest next to him. They were all silent, lost deep within their own thoughts. They had sat with Kagome for a bit and then left to give her privacy. As lost as they were in their own worry, they were still able to recognize her need to be alone with Inuyasha.
As the night wore on towards day the stress and worry began to take it's toll. First Rin fell asleep, her head falling to Sesshomaru's shoulder, followed by Sango and Miroku shortly after, leaning on each other on the couch. Sesshomaru had little trouble staying awake and from the sounds of breathing in the other room he knew Kagome was awake as well. Looking at the clock on the wall he saw it was about 5am now, still over an hour until sunrise came. 'Why did my brother have to be so stupid?' He shook his head in silent disgust. 'To agree to meet that thing on this of all nights...' It was easier to curse his brother than to focus solely on how shallow Inuyashas' breathing was becoming. 'You had better live out the next hour half-breed so that I can beat you for your stupidity when you wake up.'
Kagome was also aware of the change in Inuyashas' breathing, and she was starting to feel her own body's exhaustion. There was no way she would be able to fall asleep until daybreak, but that didn't mean her body wouldn't collapse under her. Standing, she walked around to the other side of the bed and laided down beside Inuyasha, doing her best not to disturb him. Laying there she began gently stroking his arm and whispering his name over and over again like a mantra to keep him alive, "Inuyasha, Inuyasha, please be okay, Inuyasha..." Something about her presence seemed to help settle the hanyou and his breathing eased a little. It wasn't by much but Kagome would take what she could in this final hour before dawn. If it continued helping she would keep talking and stroking his arm until the sun came up.
Sesshomaru allowed himself a slight smirk. He could hear Kagome talking to his brother and his brothers' improved breathing. Checking his watch for what felt like the thousandth time that night he saw it was 5:45am, only 20 mins to go. Shifting slightly in the chair, Rin let out a grunt of protest at the movement.
Kagome felt her voice growing hoarse as she kept up her gentle litany. The growing light outside helped to give her the strength to keep going, though she was starting to doubt whether she would be able to speak for the next week. "Inuyasha, Inuyasha, please be okay, Inuyasha..." His breathing was begining to grow shallow again "It's only a few more minutes Inuyasha." she whispered tenderly. "You can't give up, I just met you a few days ago, I can't lose you already, please Inuyasha keep fighting." She felt more than heard the pleading tone that had entered her voice. She thought she had cried out all her tears hours ago but the salty drops began to roll down her cheeks once again. This couldn't be happening, it just wasn't fair, it wasn't fair that he could come into her life, open her heart and then leave again so quickly. The tears began falling faster as the ranting in her mind continued and she kept up her soft words. Her eyes were shut so tight and she was so lost in her pain that she failed to notice the sun had ascended over the horizon.
"Kagome..." came the soft whisper. Her eyes flew open at the sound. She looked up and saw his silver hair and dog ears had returned, he was going to be okay! The torment of the long night was finally over. She was barely able to resist crushing him in a hug but not wanting to hurt him further she settled for gently stroking his now fast healing cheek.
"Inuyasha! You're a hanyou again, you're okay!" The tears continued rolling down her cheeks, but they had now become tears of joy.
Sesshomaru walked in just then. "I see your youkai blood has returned." Searching his brothers' face he noted the healing already taking place. "I'd suggest you go back to sleep, you were poisoned and will need rest to heal fully. We shall talk later." Without another word he turned and left the room.
"Kagome, what..." Inuyasha began to ask when he noticed she had fallen asleep. 'She must have stayed with me all night.' Bringing her hand to his mouth he kissed it lightly and decided that more sleep was probably a good idea after all. He turned his head towards Kagome and fell asleep almost immediatly listening to her soft breathing.
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Kagome awoke late that day to a song playing softly on the stereo by the bed.
All of my dreams seem to fall by the side like a discarded thought or the day's fading light
but I know that if I could just see you tonight, forever
at times we may fall like we all tend to do but I'll reach out and find that I've run into you
your strength is the power that carried me through, forever
Your kindness for weakness I never mistook. I worried you often,
yet you understood that life is so fleeting, these troubles won't last forever
inspired me truly you did from the start to not be afraid and to follow my heart
there's a piece of you with me they can't tear apart, forever
At times we may fall like we all tend to do
Your strength is the power that carried me through, forever
Forever I'll find you, forever we'll be
Forever your power and strength stays with me
Forever I'll find you, forever we'll be
Forever your power and strength stays with me
Forever I'll find you, forever we'll be
Forever your power and strength stays with me
Forever...
Forever...
Forever...
"Damn good band, huh?" Inuyasha turned to her and asked as the next song began to play.
"Um, yeah." was all Kagome could manage. The events of the previous night were still sorting themselves out in her mind. Suddenly it all snapped into focus "Hey! You didn't get up to turn that on did you?! You need to be resting!"
"Oi, woman. I'm not human anymore you know." Looking over to Inuyasha she was shocked by the change in appearance. The cuts and bruises that had covered his face seemed weeks old, already faded and barely noticeable. Seeing the look she was giving him Inuyasha thought maybe he needed to explain. "Hanyou, remember? The poison is making me heal a bit slower than I should, but I'll be fine by tomorrow."
"Um, Yeah, I know that. I was just surprised is all, I've never seen anything like it." She reached out to touch his face, to reassure herself he really was healing, when it occured to her that she was laying next to him in bed. She jumped up quickly "You want some food? I should go and get you some food." She turned off the CD player and flew out of the room to start cooking and try to regain some of her composure. Looking at the clock on the wall she noticed that it was 5pm, 'Wow, I slept for 11 hours?' She reminded herself that she had been through what was easily longest night of her life and would probably still need another nights sleep before she felt fully rested.
Rummaging around for something to cook she spotted a note on top of the kitchen table.
Hi sweetie! Sango and that nice new friend of hers', Miroku, stopped by to explain everything. I brought over some chicken soup for both of you, it's inside the fridge, you just have to heat it on the stove. Don't worry about school, I had grampa call and have you both excused, just pretend you're recovering from a bad stomach bug tomorrow, okay? I love you hun and expect to see you home soon, and that we will be having Inuyasha over for dinner when he's feeling better.
love, mom
Kagomes' face turned ten different shades of red reading the note. 'Oh. Fuck. Mom, was here?! What if she saw me sleeping next to Inuyasha?!' She took a deep breath to steady her racing heart. 'It's okay Kagome, you were fully clothed, and maybe she didn't even look in the room. Miroku must have let her in, he wouldn't have let her check on us, would he?' She sunk to her knees besides the kitchen table "UGH!"
"Hey! Woman! What the hell are you doing out there?" Inuyashas' voice snapped her back to reality.
"I'm heating up some chicken soup. Relax yourself, it'll be ready soon." Standing back up she went over to get the soup out of the fridge and start heating it up. 'Mom is cool and obviously she wasn't that freaked out, I'll deal with it later.' She smiled as she looked at the container of chicken soup, what was with parents and chicken soup anyway? Just looking at the container reminded Kagome of all the times she had been sick and the only thing she had wanted to eat, and her mother had let her eat, was homemade chicken soup. Actually, come to think of it, it wasn't all that appetizing to consider eating when she wasn't ill. 'Oh well, it'll still be good for Inuyasha, and I can deal.' Sticking the pot she had found on to the stove, she poured in the soup and turned the stove to high. It only took a couple of minutes until it was ready to eat. She poured some into two bowls and headed back to the bedroom, feeling herself begin to blush again as she did so.
Much to her relief Inuyasha had taken her absence as a chance to get dressed. She was a bit upset that he had been up and moving around again but considering the reason she didn't really feel she could complain. "My mom stopped by and brought some chicken soup."
"She did what?" 'okay' Inuyasha thought 'that's just odd.'
"Yeah well, she's a nurse, it's bred into her or something."
"Like mother, like daughter." Inuyasha mumbled.
"Hmm, you say something?" Kagome handed him the soup and sat down on the floor next to the bed with her own bowl.
"No, nothing." Inuyasha said as he swallowed a mouthful of soup. "Fuck! That's hot!" He almost dropped the bowl on himself in his hurry to fan his mouth.
Kagome couldn't help herself, at the sight of Inuyasha frantically trying to cool his mouth she burst out laughing. "You think the steam coming off the bowl might have given that away." Inuyasha was giving her the evil eye now. "Oh don't be a baby." She stood and took the spoon from him. "Just blow on it, like this..." She lifted a full spoon to her mouth and gently blew across the top, cooling the soup so he could eat it safely. Still giggling a bit "Say ahhhh." She held the spoon towards his mouth to feed him the now safe soup.
'Holy shit, does she know how beautiful she looks right now?' He couldn't take his eyes off her and the soup he was supposed to be eating was long forgotten. Though he did automatically open his mouth as she brought the spoon towards him. 'What the fuck am I doing?' "Hey! I can feed myself ya know." He grabbed the spoon back and returned to eating his soup, much more carefully this time.
Kagome had completely missed the look in his eyes and still giggling a bit sat back down to eat her own breakfast/dinner. She finished quickly, the food in her stomach reminding her that it had been almost twenty-four hours since she had eaten anything. When Inuyasha finished she gathered up both their bowls and took them out to the sink to wash. She was only out there a minute when he yelled for her again. 'Damn, he's a pain in the ass when he's laid up, isn't he.' "I'm coming." She called out as she finished up the dishes and put them in the dishrack to dry. She wiped her hands on a paper towel and headed back to the bedroom vaguely wondering where everyone else was and if she should give Sango a call.
"Keh, I'm sure they'll be back soon enough anyway." Inuyasha said when she told him her thoughts. "You could come sit next to me you know." Kagome was starting to settle herself on the floor again.
"Oh, yeah, I just didn't want to hurt you." 'and sitting next to you means being in bed with you.' She started to blush at the thought. It was a lot more comfortable on the bed though and she was still pretty tired from the night before. She settled herself next to him, her arms staying rather stiffly at her sides. "So, umm, how are you feeling? Need your bandages changed?" She was blushing to fiercly to look at him, instead she kept her eyes staring straight ahead.
"Hey, Kags, are you all right?" The way she was talking was starting to make him nervous. He reached up to her cheek and gently turned her to face him. "I'm gonna be fine, so don't worry, okay?"
Looking at him, hearing him call her by her name, his voice full of worry, it was to much for Kagome. She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed against his shoulder. "I thought I was going to lose you. I just met you and you're the first guy I've ever felt this way about and I thought you were going to leave me. I thought I was going to have to watch you slip away and not be able to do anything to help you." She pulled back from his embrace, wiping viscously at her tears, trying to pull herself back together. "What am I doing? You're the one who's hurt, I should be the taking care of you." She looked away, embarassed by her outburst.
He reached for her cheek again. "It's okay, you're allowed to be upset, it's not weakness for you to show your emotions, and it's okay to let someone take care of you once in awhile. Hell, I'm learning that part the hard way right now." He drew her face towards his and kissed her gently.
Kagome was momentarily shocked when his lips touched hers, still lost in her own world of sadness and anger. His touch became a balm to her soul, she leaned into him, using her tongue to open his mouth and deepen the kiss. She needed to feel him, she needed to know he was still alive, that he hadn't really left her and that this wasn't all just a dream. She wrapped her tongue around his hungrily, trying to memorize his taste, his feel, everything about him, she wanted to know everything. She could feel his shock at her sudden boldness but he responded with his own desire, his own desperation. He knew he had come close to never seeing her again and that hurt more than anything else. He turned to his side so that he could pull her closer, ignoring the pain from the poisoned slash. She ran her fingers up his arm and to the soft ears at the top of his head, delicately rubbing them, assuring herself that he really was okay, that he was still her Inuyasha.
"We're hoo-Oome" Miroku's voice boomed through the apartment while in the bedroom they could hear footsteps heading closer. "Are they still sleeping?" Miroku muttered.
"Oh, shit!" Kagome jumped from the bed and began to frantically straighten herself out. Inuyasha watched her attempts to avoid embarassment with a bemused smile. 'It isn't as though we were doing anything wrong' he thought. Still he decided to humor her and began smoothing the covers on the bed.
Miroku broke into the room first, his smile fading in obvious disappointment at not catching the couple doing.... something. "Glad to see you looking better considering that you looked like raw meat last night."
"Keh, some friend you are." Inuyasha saw Sango, Rin, and Sesshomaru standing in the doorway slightly behind Miroku. Sesshomaru pushed past Miroku into the bedroom that seemed to be shrinking as each new person entered.
"I think it's time you explained what happened." Sesshomaru's voice was as cold as ever. It made Inuyasha wonder for a moment if he had just dreamed seeing his brother that morning.
"Fine, but let's go into the living room, it's getting too crowded in here." Inuyasha thought he heard a snicker coming from Miroku but when he looked over the monk's face was completely innocent.
"You can't get up! You're still hurt, even you admitted with the poison it would take you longer to heal." Kagome moved towards Inuyasha to push him back into bed.
"Oi, woman, I told you it would take longer to fully heal. I'm fine to go into the livingroom." Standing up he pushed past Sesshomaru and walked out to the livingroom, taking a seat on the couch. With an exasperated sigh and a glance at Sango and Rin that screamed 'MEN!' Kagome followed him out of the room and sat beside him on the couch.
Soon the rest of the group had made themselves comfortable, Sesshomaru on the chair he had spent the night in with Rin on the armrest once again, and Sango and Miroku grabbing some pillows off Miroku's bed and making themselves a little nest on the floor. They all looked at Inuyasha expectantly, awaiting an explanation for what had happened when he had gone to see Kikyou the night before.
"Keh, it's really not all that exciting of a story you all." Inuyasha was avoiding his friend's eyes, feeling uncomfortable under the scrutiny and still angry at himself for letting Kikyou trick him. Risking a glance at the faces around him, he saw the stares of people determined to get the whole story, and who weren't going to move until they did.
"Fine, fine." He started hesitantly "So I went to see Kikyou to get my guitar back, you all know that part." Everyone nodded wanting him to get to the part that they didn't know. "Yeah, so Kikyou looked like shit and acted like a whore, no surprise at that, but she gave me my guitar back without a fight." He shook his head, "I shoulda figured out something was wrong right then." Looking down once again he continued. "I grabbed my guitar from her and walked back to the car, I wasn't staying near her a second longer that necessary. I had just put the guitar in the backseat when Kikyou called out to me, telling me to wait a minute. I turned back to her and, well, that's about all I remember clearly. They jumped me from behind and dragged me back into those small woods. I could hear them calling out to one another, 4 of them or so I think. I did recognize one name, that bastard Naraku was there, he's the one who poisoned me. Not all of that blood was mine though, I got a few hits in where I could." He balled his hands into tight fists. "I was so stupid! If I had been a youkai I could have taken them, hell they wouldn't have been able to sneak up on me in the first place. What posessed me to trust her enough to go there when I was human?"
Kagome wrapped her arms around Inuyasha's trembling form. He was so lost within his own emotions, his anger, that he didn't take any notice as she rested her head against his back and let a quiet sigh escape her lips. She was amazed. Anger, all he felt was anger. He wasn't worried, or scared, or even relieved at being okay. Miroku had been right, this was for Inuyasha to revenge, and it was a revenge he wanted. It scared Kagome that he could be hurt so badly and then want to go against those same people once again. She realized that the circumstances were different now but it would be a long time before the horror of that night had faded in her memory.
"So what do you plan to do half-breed?" Sesshomaru asked, disdain for Inuyasha's abilities within every word of the short sentence.
"What the hell are you doing here anyway? Don't you have someone else to go annoy?" Inuyasha half rose as he was speaking to his brother.
"It isn't as though I am here of my own volition. You can thank Rin for that and for asking me to help Miroku and Kagome find you last night." Sesshomaru remained seated, as calm as ever. "Though normally I wouldn't wish to fight you when you are not at your full strength I can make an exception if you'd like."
Before Kagome could step in Rin was standing between the two. "Drop it! Both of you! We have better things to do than listen to you guys bicker, like figure out why Naraku would help Kikyou, or how he even knew who the hell she was." She glared at each of them before sitting besides Sesshomaru again.
"She's right you know." Miroku spoke up. "He didn't seem to have the most generous nature when I met him."
"Well, we know he hates Kagome and I'm sure Inuyasha didn't get on his good side when he defended her at the diner." Everyone nodded along as Sango talked. "It still doesn't explain why he hates Kagome so much though."
Kagome could feel the growl that ran through Inuyasha's body, even if it no one besides Sesshomaru could hear it. "I'll make sure to ask after I'm done beating the shit out of him."
Kagome finally piped up. "Is this really the right way? Shouldn't we be going to the cops? I know Naraku started it but is beating him up really going to solve anything?" She hated violence, especially within the scene. She knew they was probably no other choice but before resorting to violence she had to know for sure that there was no other way.
"The cops would do no good. Inuyasha's wounds are mostly healed already and he did enough damage to the others that there would be blood from all of them in the woods." Miroku felt much the same way Kagome did, but he had already thought it through and had come to the conclusion that handling it personally was their only option. "Besides, from what Sango has told me the real problem seems to be that everyone around here is scared of him." Miroku looked Kagome in the eyes as he spoke "Whatever we do it will be done in public where everyone can see. Not just revenge for the sake of revenge, I promise, even if Inuyasha doesn't agree." Inuyasha rolled his eyes but didn't argue.
Sango nodded "He's right, we have to convince everyone that they shouldn't be scared of Naraku." She walked over to Kagome and put her hand on her friend's shoulder. "You know if there was any other way that's what I'd want to do, but I really don't believe that there is. Except we do have a couple of problems. Does anyone actually know anything about him? Kagome and I have only seen him at shows and at the diner that one night." She looked over to Rin. "Have you ever talked with him when your bands played together?"
Rin stared off in thought for a moment "No, I've never talked with him, but I can ask around and see if anyone knows where he's playing next. You should know the club owners Sesshomaru, so you can ask also." Sesshomaru just looked at her but Rin knew he would do it. She still hadn't been able to get more than a few words from him at a time but an unspoken understanding had begun to develop between them. "If we can find where his band is playing next that also solves the problem of it being in a public place."
"Fine, if we're all done taking about this shit for now I'm gonna order some pizza. I need real food." Inuyasha reached for the phone and began dialing while Miroku headed to the stereo to put on some music.
Jealous cowards try to control.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
They distort what we say.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
Try and stop what we do.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
When they can't do it themselves.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
We are tired of your abuse.
Try to stop us, it's no use.
Society's arms of control.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
Think they're smart, can't think for themselves.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
Laugh at us behind our backs.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
I find satisfaction in what they lack.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
We are tired of your abuse.
Try to stop us, but it's no use.
We are tired of your abuse.
Try to stop us, but it's no use.
We are born with a chance.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
I am gonna have my chance.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
We are born with a chance.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
I am gonna have my chance.
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
We are tired of your abuse.
Try to stop us, it's no use.
Rise above.
Rise above.
Rise above.
We're gonna rise above.
We're gonna rise above.
We're gonna rise above.
They sat around for the next couple of hours eating and talking about everything but Naraku and all that had and could happen. It was a couple of hours later when Kagome noticed Inuyasha was begining to get tired. He wasn't paying attention to the conversation and more than once she had had to call his name repeatedly before he responded. She was actually feeling pretty tired herself and knew her mom would want her to sleep at home that night. She stood up stretching. "Miroku, could you give Sango and me a ride home?"
"Yeah, sure. Whenever you're ready." Miroku grabbed his shoes and started to get ready to leave.
"Hey, Inuyasha. Inuyasha!" He looked up when he heard his name shouted. "I think it's time you head to bed."
He just grunted and leaned over to give Kagome a quick kiss. "See ya at school tomorrow woman."
"You sure you'll be up to it?" She asked as she pointed to his side where the poisoned slash had been.
"Yep, see?" He lifted his shirt a bit to reveal that the slash was already half healed. "By morning it should just be a scar."
"If you say so." She grabbed her shoes and jacket and gave Inuyasha one last kiss before heading out the door. "See you tomorrow then."
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