InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Enigma of Power ❯ Healing ( Chapter 11 )

Sesshomaru awoke to find the pain in his chest reduced to a dull ache that was fast fading to a distant memory. Hands, warm and soft, slid over the skin of his chest and he opened his eyes to find Kagome leaning over him, examining his wound. She tried on a tentative smile and stood. She had just finished removing the last of the stitches and the wound was holding together fine on its own. She opened the curtains to reveal the afternoon sun and sat down on the bed next to him. He felt his stomach twist at the sight of her outfit. She wore a fine lace top that hugged her body and stopped at her waist, while the tiny bottoms started well below her hips and left her legs completely exposed. The deep violet of her clothes brought matching tones in her eyes and hair.

"Good afternoon. I'm glad you're up, you gave me a scare last night."

He blinked in confusion. "Where am I?"

"You don't know?" He shook his head. "You were wounded, you know that, right?" He nodded. "You must have found your way through the well, because your presence here woke me a little after midnight. You're bandaged up, and I just finished removing the stitches."

He nodded for her to continue. "You should be able to get up now, the way youkai heal, but I think you ought to stay in bed for the rest of the day, just to make sure. I don't relish the thought of having to sew you back together after you tear that wound open again."

He did not like that idea very much either. "I think I will have to agree with you."

"Good." She grinned suddenly. "You're a much better patient than Inuyasha."

There was a soft knock and she rose to answer the door. A woman that could only have been Kagome's mother came in bearing a tray and smiled at him. "I'm glad to see you are awake." To her daughter she said, "I brought the water you asked for, and the herbs from your bag."

"Thanks."

"Don't you think you ought to get dressed, I know you only just awoke, but it is afternoon."

Her eyes darted significantly toward Sesshomaru and Kagome pasted a placating smile on her face. "Once I get some of this tea in the both of us, I'll change. Did the blood stains come out?"

Her mother set the tray down on a desk and shook her head. "No, I've been telling everyone your hemophilia got out of control."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "I could kill Ojiisan for that one."

Her mother giggled softly. "You know it's like a great game to him. Besides you know that one was your own fault."

"I know."

"I'm going to Kyoto with Grandpa until tomorrow then we're going to Osaka to visit your aunt. Souta will be staying with a friend. You have all the phone numbers, so call if there's a problem." She kissed Kagome on the cheek. "Be good."

"Always."

Her mother left and he watched as she brewed the tea. "What is that?"

"It's a magic herb. It flushes out poisons, prevents infection…wound rot, dulls pain, and speeds healing."

She helped him sit up, arranging the pillows so that he would be comfortable. Sesshomaru felt his breath catch at her nearness. Her chest was only an inch from his face. A pert breast, the nipple taught from the chill in the air, seemed to beckon him. All he had to do was lean forward…he stopped himself, biting this inside of his cheek. He had to maintain control. She handed him his tea and sat down with a cup of her own, watching him as he drank. She took a sip then set it down.

"I want you to let me try to heal your arm."

His hand froze with the tea cup against his lips. Carefully he lowered it until it rested in his lap. Unwilling to meet her eyes, terrified the hope and the fear he felt boiling up in him might show.

"Could you?"

She heard it, hope, fear, and a forlorn want that made her insides ache. "I would like to give it a try."

Her soft replay gave him a moment of pause then he slowly nodded. He felt her move closer, sitting on the edge of the bed and taking the cup from his nerveless hand. He couldn't look at her. She rested her hands on the stump of an arm.

It was slow at first. She had to remove all the scar tissue that had formed. Then carefully, she rebuilt the bones, using his other arm as a road map. Next came cartilage and tendons, followed by muscle and blood vessels and nerves. She set the poison for his claws then finally she grew the skin, careful to include the red stripes identical to the ones on his other arm. She released him and slumped slightly, tired beyond words. She glanced at him and was caught by the intensity of his gaze. She knew he would never thank her, it was not in his nature, but the level of emotion that shown from his golden eyes was more than enough for her.

"You're welcome," she whispered softly as the blood roared in her ears and the world went black.