InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Seven Day Revelation ❯ Day One ( Chapter 1 )

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

A/N: Yay, my second Inuyasha fic. Man oh man, this show's easy to get inspired by! Here's the rundown on this one:

Title: Seven Day Revelation, Part 1/7

Couple: Inuyasha/Kagome

Rating/Warnings: NC-17 (Sex and stuff-NO KIDDIES ALLOWED!)

Summary: Inuyasha and Kagome already spend most of their time together, gathering shards of the Shikon no Tama around feudal Japan, but Inuyasha hasn't been able to come to a true resolution about his feelings or their relationship. Will one week stuck in Kagome's time, without youkai to hunt or jewel shards to collect, make him see what he couldn't before?

<center>Seven Day Revelation

Day One</center>

"He's doing it again," Sango muttered discreetly, receiving a very quick and even more cautious nod of agreement from Miroku.

"Hai, but you know how he gets when he thinks she's taking too long to come back."

The monk nearly fell over when he felt a sudden brush of wind before being grabbed by the collar and hoisted up to look into narrowed golden eyes.

Inuyasha growled warningly as his pseudo-captive stammered. "What is that supposed to mean? I'm just tired of waiting for that girl when we've got more shards to find."

In truth, his unease had nothing to do with the jewel shards. Aside from one in a mask a while back, there hadn't been any sign of one in Kagome's time, and they didn't have any new leads on where to find the missing ones in his era, either. What bothered him was that it had been three days since Kagome left, and with nightfall fast approaching, she hadn't shown back up yet.

"It's your fault she hasn't come back!" Shippo accused from his spot, a safe distance away. "You keep making her mad!"

"I didn't do anything!" the demi-demon shot back, dropping Miroku and chasing after Shippo instead.

Shippo stopped running and folded his arms over his chest before attempting to copy Inuyasha's scowl. "You were flirting with Kouga again, Kagome," he mocked. "Why do you keep leading him on, Kagome? Why don't you flirt with me like that, Kagome?"

"Brat, I never said that!" He attempted another unsuccessful grab. "But for the record, she was flirting with that wimpy wolf again," he declared, "so I think she owes me an apology."

This time, it was Sango who spoke up. "First of all, Kagome-chan hasn't done anything to lead Kouga on," she began firmly. "And even if she had, why would it matter? You've made your choice, haven't you? So, as I see it, she's free to pursue whomever she wants." She turned and gave her balking companion a meaningful look. "Wouldn't you agree, Inuyasha? I mean, you don't want her to keep pining away for someone who doesn't want her, hurting her more and more every day, do you?"

"Feh, that stubborn girl doesn't pine," he stated flatly, trying to mask his concern. Unfortunately, he couldn't help it when his voice wavered, and he glanced back over reluctantly. "Does she?"

Sango shrugged. "The point is, she hasn't done anything to make Kouga believe she will return his feelings for her. And considering what you've said, if I were her, I'd be looking for a man in my own time."

In the moments Inuyasha was trying to restart his panicking heart, Miroku nodded in agreement. "Hai, I imagine a beautiful woman like Kagome-sama has many men who desire her in her world. Perhaps she has already found one, and that's why she hasn't returned yet," he added.

"But..." Inuyasha stammered weakly, "I...we...she..."

She's only in her time a few days a month, so she wouldn't have time for something like that, he told himself. Plus she's never mentioned a boyfriend, so she must not have one, or she would've said something by now. Wouldn't she?

Like a rush, several images flashed through his mind in rapid succession. The first time he saw her, flung onto the ground below where he was hanging by the enchanted arrow which had sealed with fifty years earlier. The moment she'd pulled his sword, Tetsusaiga, from its resting place and handed it to him with complete confidence in his ability to wield it. The moment her soul had been stolen by the witch who'd created a new body for Kikyo, and the moment she'd fought back to reclaim the part of it which rightfully belonged to her. The day he realized he cared for Kagome, realizing she truly was the reincarnation of the woman he'd fallen for so many years earlier.

Most importantly, he remembered the day he admitted to himself that she wasn't Kikyo. She was Kagome, unique and gifted in her own right, and he cared for her even more, knowing that.

But Sango was right, he realized. He'd made his decision to live for, protect, and eventually travel to hell, all for Kikyo. Kagome knew it better than anyone, as she'd seen the two of them together when he'd made that promise to her. She also understood why he felt responsible for what had happened to the first guardian of the Shikon no Tama, and knew he'd promised to save the woman somehow.

At first, he'd thought she'd leave for good after that. Instead, she'd come back. He knew it hurt her, but she came back anyway. She'd wanted to stay, to be with him. Despite the danger, and despite his decision.

She said she'd stay with me. I wasn't going to be alone anymore.

But it didn't mean she couldn't fall in love with someone else, from either of their worlds. And the thought made his guts turn inside out.

"Damn it," he swore under his breath, peering into the well. "Where are you?"

He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, and froze.

Blood. It was faint, but it was definitely blood he smelled. No matter how long he lived, or how long they were apart, he knew he'd never be able to forget that scent.

Kagome's blood. And it was coming from the other side.

Kagome!

Before anyone else knew what was happening, Inuyasha was soaring downward, vanishing from sight as he passed through the barrier into Kagome's dimension.

"I guess he decided to go after her," Miroku observed calmly.

Sango grinned. "It's about time. All that stalking around was driving me nuts."

"If he'd waited any longer," Shippo added, "I was going to push him over the edge." He looked over the ledge for a moment. "But he did leave suddenly. I hope Kagome's okay."

"Don't worry yourself. I'm sure she's fine," Miroku comforted, though inwardly, Inuyasha's instant change of heart bother him too. Normally, the hard-headed man would've waited until he'd bitched enough to make everyone leave. Then, once he was alone and no longer needing to defend his pride, he'd have gone after her.

The anxious look on Sango's face confirmed his suspicion. Something had happened, and he could only hope Inuyasha would take care of whatever it may be that had worried him so badly.

Unfortunately, none of the friends had time to ponder on it, as a blast came from the woods and headed straight for the opening of the well--the only gateway between Kagome's world and their own.

"KAGOME!!!"

Inuyasha jumped high into the air, his heart thundering and claws leading the charge against the unfortunate bastard who dared draw Kagome's blood.

A shrill shriek that sounded like his name, then...

"SIT!"

He barely had time to cry out before the unnatural gravity took hold around his neck and slammed him face-first onto the ground. He laid still for a moment to stop the painful throbbing in his head before leveling a glare on the wide-eyed woman ducking on the ground a few feet away.

"What the hell was that for?" he hissed as he began dragging himself to his feet.

"Baka, you nearly sliced me to pieces!" Kagome snapped, standing up as well and dusting her skirt off. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"I thought..." I thought you were in danger. Well, he'd apparently been wrong, he decided. He growled indignantly. "You were late, so I'm here to bring you back," he answered, slinging her enormous yellow bag over his shoulder. "Come on."

Kagome had different ideas, and she dug her heels in, stopping Inuyasha in his tracks.

"I'm not going back," she declared.

Inuyasha blinked. Twice. "Nani? Of course you're coming back," he argued as he gave her arm a rough tug. He dropped it when she gasped sharply; she pulled her arm protectively against her chest. At that angle, he noticed her sleeve was torn, and the skin on her elbow and upper forearm was bleeding.

"Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?" he demanded, scanning the area.

"You didn't give me much of a chance."

Okay, he had to give her that one. Not that he'd tell her, of course. Besides, there were more important things to worry about. "Who did this to you? Where are they?" he asked, spreading his arms out to shield her while trying to catch the scent of the culprit.

"Oh, for Kami's sake, what are you doing?" she sighed. "No one did anything to me." She shrugged when he spun around and gave her a suspicious look. "I lost my balance carrying the bag, and I fell and skinned my elbow. It's no big deal."

He watched her for a moment, then let himself relax. No one would have to die after all, which was always good, considering it was a real bitch to get human blood out of his clothes. He took a calming breath, and choked when he realized Kagome was staring at him.

And he knew that look. That sweet, beautiful, you-were-trying-to-protect-me-weren't-you? look.

He forced his heart back into his chest and the blush to leave his face. "Feh, humans. You can't even carry your bag by yourself. I guess it's good I came after all."

Another beautiful moment, sabataged by Inuyasha the jerk.

She knew he was looking for a way to cover up for his attempted heroics, but she wasn't going to fight with him this time. "Actually, I'm glad you're here," she stated matter-of-factly. "I was hoping you'd show up."

"You mean...you were waiting for me?" he ventured tentatively, this time not trying to mask his expression nearly as much as before.

"Hai. Like you said, I need you to carry this bag back for me." She rolled it until it was at his feet, the turned on her heel. "There. And don't eat all the chips in one sitting this time," she added over her shoulder.

"But...you..." he stammered, then shook his head roughly and jumped into the air, landing right in front of her. "What're you doing? The well's that way," he said, pointing behind her.

"I'm going inside," she explained impatiently. "I need to clean this cut. Besides, I already told you I'm not going back tonight."

She stalked past the stunned hanyou, and continued to ignore him when he starting following her a moment later.

"Oh, I know what this is about! You're still mad at me, eh?"

Kagome counted to ten in her head before trusting herself to answer, all the while clenching her fists so she wouldn't try to wring his obnoxious, immature, unreasonable neck. Honestly, she wasn't too upset about their fight; they'd been together long enough now that she was used to them, and she rarely let them bother her very long these days.

"I'm not going back because there was a surprise quiz last week in one of my classes, and I have to take a make-up test tomorrow," she responded evenly.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "Oh."

So she wasn't mad, or didn't seem to be, anyway. And it bugged him. She should be angry. He'd been a total jackass, telling her they didn't need her if all she was gonna do was screw with that Kouga guy. He'd known it the moment the words had come out of his mouth. The fact she'd slammed him down with her damned subduing spell immediately afterward had proven it too.

"Well...I'll wait here then," he decided.

Kagome opened the front door, spun around, and blocked Inuyasha's path. "No, you're not." She cut off his imminent protest with a wave of her hand. "I can't concentrate when you're here, and I have to study, or I'm gonna fail for sure." Her features softened, making him take a step back. "Onegai, I'm so behind from not being in school most of the time, I can't afford to miss this. I just need one...more...day. I promise, I'll be back before nightfall. Please, Inuyasha?"

He absolutely despised when she laid on the guilt by begging; it was so un-Kagome-like. And he really hated the fact that she got him nearly every time by doing it.

He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. "If you're not back by sunset tomorrow, I'm gonna drag you down that well by the collar of that freaky outfit you wear," he conceded.

"Then we're agreed. You'll take the supplies back to the group, and I'll see you guys tomorrow." And with that, she closed the door, leaving Inuyasha cursing under his breath as he trudged back toward the well.

Kagome ran upstairs and into her bedroom, slammed the door, and leaned heavily against it. She didn't know if she'd ever get used to the way her heart raced every time Inuyasha sprung up unexpectedly like that. Not that she minded all that much.

She smiled wistfully as she remembered the expression on his face when he'd seen she was hurt.

He must have been standing by the well and smelled my blood, so he came after me, thinking I was in danger. And that means he's been waiting for me.

Sure, it was stupid to be so enamored after he'd nearly beheaded her, but she knew his heart had been in the right place.

Sighing softly, she pushed off the door and began unbuttoning her blouse so she could dress the cut on her arm. She stopped midway when she heard the phone ring, and her mother's voice a moment later, calling, "Kagome! Telephone!"

"Hai!" She shrugged the hair off her shoulder and picked up the phone while her fingers fiddled with the next button. "Moshi, moshi, Higurashi Kagome speaking."

"Ah, Higurashi!"

"H-Hojo-kun?" Kagome clamped her shirt shut, even though she knew he couldn't see her.

"Hai," came the cheerful reply. "I hope you don't mind, but your friends told me you were taking a make-up test tomorrow, so I made copies of my notes for you. Would it be alright if I brought them to the shrine?"

"I...uh..." she stammered weakly. She didn't feel like seeing anyone, but she had to admit, having a complete set of notes would definitely improve her chances of scraping out a passing grade. "O-okay. Sure, that'd be great. Arigato, Hojo-kun."

"Great! I'll come by right now. See you in a few minutes!"

Kagome hung up the phone, shaking her head. He really was very sweet to her. Too bad she didn't have the slightest interest in him. He'd figure it out eventually, she decided with a mental shrug before turning her attention back to her arm.

That's when she noticed her window was open, with Inuyasha balanced like a statue on the sill. For an instant, they just stared at one another-Kagome, realizing Inuyasha had been watching her take her shirt off, and Inuyasha, for being caught red-handed.

Her mortification wore off quickly, and she spun around so her back was to him. "Sit!"

"What the hell are you doing, spying on me?" she demanded as she fumbled to make herself decent.

Inuyasha peeled himself off the floor and growled. "I wasn't spying on you! You were talking to somebody on that...thing." He pointed to the phone on her dresser. "I was just waiting for you to get done."

"Well, you could've knocked," she grumbled, turning back to him once she was covered again. "And you're supposed to be taking my stuff to the other side, not watching me take my clothes off!"

The red in his cheeks went up a notch. "I told you, I wasn't watching you. And I tried to go back, but I can't get through."

"Nani?" Her eyes narrowed, and she put a hand on her hip.

"I jumped down the well, got to the bottom, came back up, and I was still here," he explained.

She had a bad feeling about this. "You...you must've done something wrong," she suggested as she felt her stomach sink into her feet.

"It's kinda hard to mess up diving down a well, but if you think so, then you try it."

Why didn't she think of that? "Alright, I'll take you back, but I'm coming straight home afterward."

"It's not gonna work," he warned.

"Of course it will!" she snapped back. "It has to. I still have to study for this test, and..."

Inuyasha shrugged, cutting her off. "If you say so." He snorted when she made her way to the door, pulling her back around and bending down so she could climb onto his back.

"My way's faster."

She couldn't argue with that.

Ten minutes later, she and Inuyasha were both gasping for air in front of a hole they'd dug at the bottom of the shaft, covered from head to toe in the dirt they'd sent flying everywhere.

"Give it up already. We can't get through," Inuyasha stated with a huff.

Kagome shook her head frantically and looked at him with wide-eyes. She gaped when he sat down and folded his arms over his chest. "What are you doing? Keep digging!"

"It's not gonna work," he repeated. "Why do you wanna get rid of me so bad?" he asked, his brassy eyes narrowing.

"I already told you, I...have...to...study!"

"You weren't studying when I was in your room," he pointed out.

"That's because-" She froze. Oh Kami, Hojo-kun! He's gonna be here any minute!

Okay, Kagome, think fast. "You know what?" she squeaked, scrambling to her feet. "This isn't working, so why don't we go inside, and you can try again tomorrow morning."

Inuyasha blinked as he was drug to his feet. "But...hey, wait a minute!" It wasn't his imagination; her heart was pounding so loud and fast, he could hear it easily. "What's going on? Why'd you change your mind all the sudden?"

"I...um..." she began.

"You're hiding something from me!" he declared. "Spill it!"

She took a deep breath. "Okay, here's the deal. Someone's coming over to bring me some notes, and I can't let h-them see you."

He raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Because they don't know I spend most of my time five hundred years in the past! My friends think I've been home sick when I'm not at school. It'll be kinda hard to explain why a half-demon with ancient clothes and dog ears is at my house."

He watched her critically for a minute. "So, this friend of yours is coming over tonight?" he asked.

She nodded. "Hai, any minute now, so after you get me back up the shaft, you gotta stay out of sight."

"Fine," he agreed, grabbing her around the waist and taking the leap up like it was a hop over a crack on the ground. He put her back on her feet at the door. "I'll be right here."

"But...wouldn't you rather go inside?"

"What for? Besides, someone's coming up the front steps," he stated.

The footsteps were too heavy for a human female, he noted suddenly, and the smell was all wrong too. He grabbed Kagome, careful not to hold the wrong arm. "Wait a sec! That's not a girl!"

Kagome jerked away. "I know that!"

"Nani?" he choked in disbelief. "You invited a guy over to your house...at night?"

Kagome heard Hojo walking across the courtyard and rolled her eyes. "Just stay put," she whispered, sliding the door open just enough to slink through before closing it, very nearly clipping the end of Inuyasha's nose.

He growled angrily as he peeked through the crack in the doors. He saw Kagome brushing herself off and fiddling with her hair, while some skinny weakling spun around and smiled brightly.

"Higurashi!" Hojo greeted, though the smile turned to a confused frown when he noticed how dirty Kagome was.

"Gomen, I know I look awful. I was sweeping out the well shrine," she lied. "It was dustier than I thought!" Oh boy, if he buys that one...

"Oh, okay! You really shouldn't push yourself like that, especially since you just got over hemoplitosis."

Oh, great. Sounds like Ojiisan's making up diseases again...

"Anyway," he went on cluelessly, "here are the notes. I hope they help."

"Ah, arigato!" She took the folder and beamed. "I'll pass for sure with these!"

He returned the smile. "I'm glad to help."

"You did more than help. You're a lifesaver!" she amended with sincere glee. "Thanks for bringing them."

"Well, I wanted to talk to you anyway, so the notes were a good excuse," he replied.

Kagome's smile faltered slightly. "You did?"

"Yeah, I wanted to see if you've got any plans this weekend."

Oh no, not now! "Actually, I-"

"I know you've had to cancel a few times, and since you weren't feeling well and had to cut our last date short, I wondered if maybe we could try again this Saturday," he finished. "So, what do you say? Will you come to the movies with me?"

Kagome wanted to sink into the ground. Why did he keep asking her out? And why the hell did he have to do it when Inuyasha was just a few feet away, listening to every word?

"Listen, you're really nice, and I'm flattered that you want to go out with me, but my life's...unbelievably complicated right now," Kagome offered apologetically. "Between school and spending so much time...at the hospital, I wouldn't feel right making any plans with you." She brightened and winked. "Besides, you're a great guy. I'm sure there are plenty of girls who'd like to go out with you!"

She nearly fainted when she heard a soft growl coming from the well.

Thankfully, Hojo didn't seem to notice. "I've already told you, the only girl I want to go out with is you. I'll just wait until you're not so busy," he declared matter-of-factly.

How was she supposed to argue that logic? Especially when Hojo seemed incapable of taking a hint. "Um...okay, I guess..."

She jumped when the sound of nails grinding against the wood of the door met her ears, and this time, Hojo heard it too.

"What was that?" he asked, twisting around and craning his neck to get a better look.

"Nothing!" she cried, grabbing his hand and spinning him around. "Just...erm...my dog!"

The growling got a lot louder, and Hojo cast her a concerned look. "Are you sure he's not dangerous?"

"No, he just doesn't like strangers," she explained before stepping away and turning her attention straight to where she knew Inuyasha was hiding. "But there's an easy way to take care of that."

"Sit!"

She turned back, smiling smugly to herself as a crash, followed by a soft groan floated from behind the doors.

"Well, I better go, but I'll see you in school tomorrow," Hojo said as he walked away. "And if you change your mind about the movie, let me know."

"So I'm your dog now?"

Kagome glared. "What was I supposed to tell him? `Oh yeah, that's just this hanyou I know from feudal Japan.' Like he'd believe that!"

"That's about as believable as, `I got covered in dirt from sweeping the shrine.'" Inuyasha snorted derisively. "He seemed pretty gullible to me, and he's even weaker than Kouga."

"Get over it, Inuyasha! He's just a friend!" Kagome cried.

"He's a guy!" Inuyasha screamed back.

"So? So's Miroku," she pointed out, then faltered when Inuyasha's eyes widened. Using the lecherous monk probably wasn't a good basis of comparison, she realized. "Okay, bad example."

And she couldn't say Kouga, and Shippo was just a kid... "You! You're a boy, and we're friends, aren't we?"

Inuyasha opened his mouth to protest, then snapped it shut. Sure they were friends, but that was different.

Then it hit him. "He's in one of the pictures in that photo-book-thing in your room."

Kagome blinked. "You mean my photo album? Wait, when did you-"

"And he said you've gone out with him!" he accused heatedly, cutting her off. This time, he knew he'd struck gold when Kagome's face flushed, and she looked away. He sneered predatorily, but only for as long as it took for what her facial expression meant to hit home.

As soon as it did, he knew he'd have traded a thousand times of being right, if she'd have only denied it.

"I can't believe you!"

"Me?" Kagome didn't bother to hide her indignation, and she threw the folder she'd been clutching in her hand down. "Me? What about you, huh?"

"N-nani?" He was starting to get the feeling he should've shut up when he had the chance.

"Yeah, you," Kagome seethed as tears began building in her eyes, blurring her vision. "You're not my boyfriend, so I'm free to go on a date if I want to! And how many times have I caught you and Kikyo during one of your little meetings, huh? You two usually do more than just talk about going on a date. I know my personal favorite is when she tried to kill me while you two were kissing."

She was beyond grace or tact, and seemingly unaware of Inuyasha's suddenly stony features. "Believe me, you don't have the corner of the market on seeing someone you care about with someone else, but I guess that doesn't even apply to you, does it?" she croaked. "I mean, you've decided to be with Kikyo in the long run, so it doesn't even matter what I do, or who I go out with. You said it yourself, remember? I'm just your Tama detector."

Her anger and her energy were both spent, and Kagome sighed in defeat. "I'm going inside," she stated flatly. "I'll tell `kaasan you'll be staying here tonight."

Inuyasha didn't move when Kagome walked away, didn't even look up. He simply stood there, letting her scathing words echo in tandem with what Sango had mentioned earlier that day.

"My personal favorite is when she tried to kill me while you two were kissing..."

But he'd been under some kind of spell, and he'd rescued her in the end.

"You said it yourself, remember? I'm just your Tama detector..."

He'd only said that because, when they'd first met Miroku, the monk had said he was in love with her, just because he'd told the groping priest to back off about the whole `have my child' thing. He'd never really meant what he'd said back then. Stupid girl, she knew that. Everyone knew that.

"If I were her, I'd be looking for someone in my own time."

But that guy? He didn't look like he could protect a fly, let alone Kagome. Not to mention he seemed pretty short in the brains department. She didn't need another boy anyway. She had him; no matter how much they fought, he wasn't planning on going anywhere anytime soon.

She sure as hell wasn't going to any movie-whatever a movie was, it sounded dangerous to him-with that Hojo guy on Saturday. So he'd apologize for nearly busting out and ripping the guy apart, and he'd make sure she knew she meant more to him than just someone who could find jewel shards.

If he did that, she was a lot less likely to sit him to death when he told her she wasn't going to anywhere unless he was with her.

With that decided, Inuyasha nodded inwardly. It would work. They'd never stayed mad at each other before.

"Flowers."

Inuyasha jumped, cursing himself for being so distracted, he didn't notice Kagome's grandfather standing beside him. "What are you talking about, old man?"

"We could hear you and Kagome yelling all the way in the house. I'd say she was pretty upset, considering she ran straight to her room and hasn't come down to eat yet," he answered diplomatically. Then he leaned closer, a knowing smile on his thin lips. "You were about to go and apologize, neh?"

Inuyasha huffed, unwilling to admit anything to the weird old geezer.

"Mark my words. When you've really screwed up, flowers are the ticket," the old man declared over his shoulder as he made his way back to the house. "Works every time."

Inuyasha waited until the man was out of sight before relaxing once again. Then he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. When it came to spells and sutras, the old man was a joke, but he figured taking his advice about women couldn't hurt. He had a daughter and two grandkids, after all, so he must have done something right.

Nearly half an hour and a nasty battle with a rosebush later, Inuyasha perched himself on the ledge of Kagome's window with the sole survivor in his hand. Who'd have thought something so delicate could be such a bitch to get? His hands were still stinging from all the scratches the plant had given him.

This had better work.

The room was dark, so it took him a minute of listening to the slow and steady rhythm of her breathing to realize Kagome was fast asleep, still fully dressed and sprawled, uncovered, on her bed. He would have left her, except he could still smell old, dried blood, which meant she'd forgotten about her arm.

He knew he'd never be able to get any rest with such a disconcerting scent in the air.

He tossed the flower onto an open book on her desk. "Baka, I should let it get infected and rot off," he scolded under his breath as he leaned over as inconspicuously as possible to see if he was right, which he was. Luckily, the tear in her sleeve was wide enough that he wouldn't have to wake her up to patch it up, he reasoned, searching for something to use as a makeshift bandage.

He finally settled for a folded up, flimsy paper sheet from a cardboard box on her dresser. He licked it and placed it on her arm, wiping as gently as possible while still getting it clean. He frowned; the gash was deeper than he'd thought, though she'd had worse. It took a little while, but he finally finished, satisfied his nursing would work for a few hours.

He yawned and looked out the window, letting his eyes linger on the waning moon. He only had a few more nights before the moon's cycle started again.

Inuyasha pushed the disturbing thought aside. He'd make it through the next one, just like he'd survived all the others. Plus, he'd have Kagome to keep him company while he waited for his human blood to run its course.

Without another thought, he seated himself against the wall next to Kagome's bed. He unhooked the sword from his sash and placed it over his chest before allowing himself fall into a light sleep, his mind switching into protective mode.

If anything stirred within ten feet of Kagome, he'd know it.

Hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading, and I'll see you next time, minna. Ja!