InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The End of Innocence ❯ Complications ( Chapter 7 )

A/N: Sorry that this is so late!!! I was moving to a new house and couldn't work on this during the last two weeks. I wish you great viewing pleasure in the great angstiness of this fanfic. Without further ado, I have another chapter for you! Please read and review! (rhymes not intended)

 

Disclaimer: InuYasha and all related characters, settings, and cheesy attack names belong to Rumiko Takahashi - I am merely the dark puppet master who makes them do crazier things than usual.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

With the arrival of morning, it became clear that none of the members of the group had had a very pleasant night's sleep.

 

Shippo was curled in a tight ball at Sango's side, but his tail drooped, and his ragged breathing could be heard from across the room. He looked utterly exhausted.

 

Sango's head leaned against her Hirakotsu, and one of her arms was wrapped tightly around the weapon, as if, even in her sleep, she needed it for moral support.

 

Miroku had obviously succumbed to drowsiness during his evening meditation - his back was pushed straight against the wall, and his legs were folded, but his head was tilted awkwardly forward so that his chin touched his chest.

 

Kaede had not wavered in her vigil over Kagome. Her eyes had never closed, and she greeted the dawn with the forbearance born of many years as a healer.

 

InuYasha had not returned . . .

 

And Kagome was still unconscious.

 

Kaede was worried. The young miko's eyes remained closed, and she was no longer convulsed by seizures, but her skin had become sweaty and flushed over the course of the night.

 

By morning, it was obvious that the girl had developed a fever due to her exposure the previous day.

 

She began to shiver, although Kaede had covered her with several blankets and kept a fire burning throughout the night. The aged priestess had managed to give Kagome water and a little bit of miso broth, but it was not enough sustenance to keep her alive for long.

 

Unless the fever breaks, she will die within three days, thought Kaede, and was immediately struck by the finality of the statement. It was the first time that she had admitted the dire possibility, even to herself, and she wondered whether she should wake the others.

 

She could not bear the thought of disturbing them - they all looked so tired, and Kaede knew that only complete exhaustion could keep them from awakening to inquire about their friend.

 

No, more than a friend. Kagome is the power and strength that allows them to continue on their quest. They are all burdened by so much fear and guilt. What can they do without her?

 

Kaede gently raised a bowl with water to Kagome's lips, for what seemed like the hundredth time, but her hand trembled with age and tiredness. She could not care for the girl if she herself collapsed . . . something must be done.

 

Kaede turned her head as Sango stirred, taking barely a moment to open her eyes before she was standing upright beside Kaede, muscles tensed in agitation. “What has happened? How is Kagome?”

 

“She lives, child, but I fear that she has developed a fever. It may be best if she is taken though the well to her own people - if the fever does not break, she will be in true danger. Ye must find InuYasha and bring him here, or . . . ,” she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence, but Sango nodded.

 

“I'll go now,” she said simply, and Kaede saw that she has slipped into her emotionless demon-hunter personality, and only the tightening of Sango's knuckles as her hands gripped her Hiraikotsu betrayed her real feelings. The demon-huntress stood and loped quickly out of the room, leaving nothing but the swinging doorflap to show that she had been there.

 

A moment later, Miroku groaned and rubbed his eyes. “Aaah, I overslept. Where's Sango?” He glanced over at Kagome's prone form. “Has there been any improvement?” Kaede slowly shook her head, and the monk frowned, attempting to disguise his worry.

 

He stood and paced once around the room, stopping to glance at Shippo as he came back to where he had started. “Kaede . . . what should be done about Shippo? It may be better if he doesn't see Kagome when she's like this.”

 

Kaede had nearly forgotten about the little fox demon. “The child must not know of her condition. Sango has gone to get InuYasha so that he can take Kagome through the well to her own time. Maybe the miracle healers in her era can help her - but if she stays here, she may not live.” She said this with the firm and level tone of a doctor speaking of a patient, but even so, the words carried a certain weight with them, and the temperature in the room suddenly seemed to drop a couple degrees.

 

Miroku paled and opened his mouth, but before he could speak, a screech rent the air. “Whaaaat?! Not live?! Kagome can't dieeeeeeeeee!!! You're lying!!!”

 

A pair of tear-filled green eyes suddenly filled Kaede's vision, and a blur of bluish smoke and a popping noise announced that Shippo had, in fact, been very much awake during the conversation. The tiny demon launched himself at Kaede and buried his head in her lap, sobbing loudly.

 

Watching him made Kaede feel wearier than ever. What must be done will be done. “Shush, Shippo. Kagome must have quiet so that she can rest and get better. She is not going to die, little one. We will take her to her own people, and she will be safe.” Her words of comfort had little effect, and Shippo merely seemed to sob harder. She awkwardly patted his head, but he turned angrily towards her.

 

“You can't take Kagome away from me!!! I won't leave her!!! If you put her though that well she'll never come BACK!!!,” he cried, and launched himself toward Kagome, clutching her hand.

 

Kagome, who had been lying quietly throughout the argument, let out a low moan. “Mother . . . please . . . InuYasha . . . InuYasha!,” she said, releasing the last word with a little gasp and arching her back as she fell back onto the straw pallet.

 

Miroku spoke. “Shippo, Kagome has a mother and a family who care about her as much as you do. Don't they deserve to see her? Don't they deserve to know if their daughter is ill?” He turned accusatory eyes on the little fox demon, who cowered and hung his head. “Only InuYasha can take her through the well, se we have to be patient and wait for Sango to bring him. There is nothing that we can do except be patient and let Kagome rest,” he said, and with that, he seated himself and shut his eyes to pray.

 

Kaede was impressed by the Monk's show of calm acceptance, but she knew that he, like herself, was merely attempting to make Shippo feel better, and that there was no more true assurance behind his actions than her own. She knew that he was aware of the nature of spiritual power, and realized, like herself, that Kagome's chances of ever completely regaining her power were practically none.

 

They sat there in near silence for a couple of minutes, Miroku pretending to meditate as Kaede continued to needlessly bustle around Kagome, wiping her forehead free of imaginary sweat and checking her pulse far more often than was necessary. What else can be done? Shippo continued to muffle his sobs in the corner of the room, refusing to look at any of the others. It seemed to Kaede that the air in the room was growing so thick with the tension that it must burst.

 

When the silence was finally broken, the sound of running footsteps outside the door caused Kaede to raise her eyes in sudden relief. Miroku immediately snapped his head towards the door and opening his eyes (this proved the utter insincerity of his meditation, but considering the situation, Kaede could hardly blame him).

 

Sango came flying through the doorflap, breathing hard and clutching at a stitch in her side. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could begin, the doorflap was pushed aside and InuYasha walked through the opening, morning sunlight glinting fiercely off his silver hair and nearly blinding the people inside.

 

At first, Kaede could barely make out his face for the light, but as her eyes grew accustomed to the brightness, she breathed a sigh of relief. InuYasha did not appear crazed, and his eyes had not taken on the dangerous reddish tint that presaged a transformation into his demonic state.

 

But a second glance told her that InuYasha was far from his normal state. Rather than appearing angry, he looked - there was no other word for it - depressed. And on InuYasha, the face of defeat was infinitely more disturbing than that of anger.

 

His face was downcast, his bangs hanging down to cover his eyes. His hair completely disheveled, and leaves and bits of twig were twisted between the strands. There were cuts and scratches across his face, as though branches had whipped back and cruelly slapped him, and although most of them were already partially healed, enough were still bleeding to coat his chin with gore.

 

InuYasha wouldn't allow himself to be injured by branches that he could easily avoid. He would NEVER enter a room without inquiring about Kagome if she was injured - Has he lost his mind?? Kaede braced herself for an attack, expecting at any second a spring from InuYasha and a return of the demonic insanity to his eyes. What followed instead was the last thing she could have expected.

 

Hoarsely, he cleared his throat and dropped heavily to his knees. “I've failed her,” he croaked, and a moaning sob broke from his throat. InuYasha's tears had finally been released.

 

~*~*~*~*~