InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The World Through His Eyes ❯ Someday ( Chapter 7 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: Lets see…if I owned Inuyasha…*gets evil grin* Oh, the things I would do! But alas, I own him not…neither do I own the song that is used below.

::RECAP::

“No, I will not tell you anything! How dare you! How dare you use my feelings about you to your advantage! Don't you care about how that makes me feel?” She was beating her fist against his chest and sobbing in anger. Inuyasha was completely surprised at her words. He hadn't meant to use her feelings to his advantage nor had he meant to cause her to start crying such gut wrenching sobs.

Inuyasha finally managed to shake himself out of his trance and look down at the girl who was weakly punching him and sobbing into his chest. Slowly he raised his arms to encircle her slim waist, but as soon as Kagome felt him touch her she jerked away.

“NO! Don't you dare touch me.” Suddenly her eyes widened and she grabbed her head. There were no words she could find to describe what happened next. It was as if she were seeing through her eyes and Inuyasha's at the same time. For a brief moment her vision cleared and she looked up into his golden eyes that were so full of confusion and worry, then pain came crashing in on her.

“Kagome!” Inuyasha caught her easily as she fell forward. For a moment there he hadn't been able to feel her through their connection, and it had shaken him badly. For the second time that day he was left holding an unconscious Kagome tightly to his chest.

“What happened to her Inuyasha?” The others had rushed over when the young miko collapsed. Inuyasha tightened his grip on Kagome's body and sent a warning growl Sango's way when she looked as if she'd try to take Kagome from him.

“I think it has something to do with that fucking spell. I'm going to take her to Kaede-baba's village right now. You can all follow in the morning it you want.” He took a great leap into the air and then disappeared into the darkness. Sango held Shippou a bit closer and looked over at Miroku. His troubled expression did nothing to help her feel better.

::END RECAP::

Chapter 7: Someday

How the hell did we wind up like this?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kagome awoke to the sounds of birds singing and the rustle of fabric. She remained still and pretended that she hasn't woken up as she listened to the other person in the room move around. The steps were slow, and Kagome could hear the slight creak of old bones. She allowed herself a small smile. Somehow, although she couldn't quite remember how, she had been brought back to the closest thing to home she had on this side of the well…Kaede's hut.

“I know you're awake child, no need to hide it.” Kaede's voice was guff, but Kagome could tell her mentor was happy to see her finally conscious. Kagome smiled and sat up, she tried to stretch, but her muscles protested painfully.

“Oh, Kaede-baachan, what happened to me this time?” She opened her eyes expecting to see leaves and blue sky, or the interior of the hut's front room, or whatever Inuyasha was seeing at the moment, but instead she was met with darkness. She automatically reached for the jewel hanging around her neck, fingers seeking the small piece of cloth that kept her connected to the hanyou. The cloth was still securely knotted at the top of the almost finished Shikon.

`Why would Inuyasha remove his tie? I can't really remember what happened yesterday…if the last thing I remember even happened yesterday…I wonder how long I've been sleeping. All I remember is that there was something I didn't want to tell Inuyasha…something…about…Oh, I remember now. Kikyou.' The smile that had been on Kagome's lips slowly faded as she remembered her conversation with the undead miko and most of what had followed with Inuyasha.

“I see that you've remembered `what happened to you this time'. Inuyasha brought you back in the wee hours of the morning yesterday, demanding that I explain the spell to him. I managed to put him off until you woke up, but it was no easy task.” The futon shifted a bit as Kaede seated herself beside Kagome. The girl caught a whiff of the elder miko's trade mark herbal tea right before a cup of it pressed into her hand.

“I also convinced him to untie his link to you so that we'd have a few moments alone to see to your health before he came barging in.” Kagome nodded her understanding as she took a sip of her tea. There was a moment of silence before the other miko spoke up again.

“Do you remember what happened to you before you collapsed, Kagome-chan? Inuyasha was quite certain it had something to do with the binding spell, but since he couldn't tell me what happened beyond that you disappeared from his senses for a moment I really couldn't judge the cause of your ailment.” Kagome frowned at the question. She remembered yelling at Inuyasha, telling him not to touch her, and pulling away from him. Then…pain…and being able to see for a moment. She sat her tea down on the floor beside her absentmindedly.

“I think I'm going to have to agree with Inuyasha on this one Kaede-baachan, what happened was strange…hard to explain. I was yelling at Inuyasha for being a baka when he reached out to grab me. I told him not to touch me and jerked away. At that moment it felt like something in my head popped out of place, or shifted. Then I could see, but it was like I was seeing double. I think for a brief moment I was seeing through both his eyes and mine. For a second my vision cleared, and I remember looking into his eyes. The last thing I remember is pain that can only be described as my chest being ripped apart and then nothing. I must have collapsed after that.” The raven haired girl reached up to rub the spot on her chest that had given her so much trouble recently.

`I survived for two years with a part of my soul gone, you'd think after all this time that things like this wouldn't happen to me. No, what am I saying? I've been possessed, kidnapped, and almost eaten more times than I can count, why not have the over protective soul of Inuyasha try to move into mine? Baka Inuyasha…baka binding spell!'

“I see…this doesn't sound good to me child. I think you and Inuyasha might be right about the spell. Has there been anything else that you've not told me?” Kagome thought for a moment then sighed.

“Oh gosh, there's so much that seems to have happened since the spell was cast. I don't know where to begin.” She worried her bottom lip with her teeth as she thought of all of the strange things that had happened in the last three weeks since the spell was cast.

“I understand, perhaps before you get started with the tale we should call in Inuyasha. It would be helpful to hear his side in this as well.” Kaede stood up slowly from the floor, her old bones creaking in protest of the action. Kagome thought she heard the other miko mumble something about rain and her old joints, but the teen really wasn't paying any attention. All she was thinking of was the look she'd seen in Inuyasha's golden gaze before he'd blacked out.

`As sappy and as stupid as it sounds, I miss being able to see into his eyes the most.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kaede found Inuyasha sitting outside the hut with his back pressed up against its strong outer stone wall. She wasn't fooled by his faked nonchalant stance, after all, she'd been the one he'd awoke before dawn yesterday yelling for her to `fix Kagome.' Kaede knew that the inu-hanyou sitting before her would give his very life and more, if possible, to protect the young girl from the future, and that thought made her smile

“She's awake and I don't think there's anything you should worry about…” The last of her words faded off because Inuyasha was already gone.

“He didn't even pretend to be unconcerned; this only confirms to me that this binding spell is changing both of them for the better.” Her smile grew wider as she thought of this, but then disappeared. “I guess I can no longer hide the truth of the spell from them, although I expected to be having this conversation much later.” Kaede waved to some passing villagers as she made herself comfortable in the warm mid-day sun. She would just wait out here for a little while and give those two some time alone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Inuyasha slowed his mad dash through Kaede's hut just before he reached the door to the spare room where the raven haired teen sat hidden from his view. He took a deep breath to settle his run-away heart beat and reached into the inner pocket of his haori and pulled out the small wrinkled piece of bloodstained green cloth. Quickly he knotted the strip onto his rosary and waited to feel the rush of her feelings into his mind. He griped the wall in a moment of dizziness as their link was reestablished. She was feeling sad, and to his surprise, a little lonely. Quietly he pushed passed the woven curtain that Kaede used as a door and entered the room. His eyes found Kagome sitting in the corner and even though he knew she would probably be mad at him, he couldn't help but stair. She was a little pale, and he had rarely seen worse dark circles under her eyes, but to him she was beautiful.

“Inuyasha?” Kagome asked when he still hadn't moved any closer to her futon. She was beginning to feel uncertain with him just staring at her like that. Her voice seemed to break him out of what ever spell he'd been under because he moved toward her futon and sat down. Kagome shifted, uncomfortable at his nearness, but his greater weight on the bed only caused her to slide closer to his side. Inuyasha smirked at her attempt to put some space between them, until he remembered what she had said two days ago.

“Did you really mean it?” He asked her suddenly. Kagome felt confused at his question but before she could ask him to clarify he sensed that she wasn't sure of how to answer him so he continued.

“What I mean is did you really not want me to touch you? Do you really believe that I don't care about your feelings?” His hand rose to hover over her check but he couldn't bring himself to touch the softness of her skin. Kagome frowned when she heard the hurt in his voice, and then she sighed.

“Inuyasha, you have a bad habit of just plowing forward. When there isn't a quick clear path from point A to point B you just shrug and make your own way through with force of will alone. Most of the time I admire this quality in you, but not that night, I felt that you were using your ability to sense my feeling against me. You know how much your nearness affects me, and you just plowed forward trying to get what you wanted out of me.” She turned her head away from him and Inuyasha felt as if he was lower than dirt.

“Kagome, I'm sorry. I just was worried about you, and the thought of you keeping something back that could potentially hurt you was driving me crazy. I could feel your guilt and fear and I couldn't help you.” He was desperate for her to understand what he was trying to say. For a long moment silence filled the little room as Kagome digested the meaning of his words. She'd had no idea that her emotions could affect him so strongly.

“I'm sorry for keeping this secret Inuyasha, I never thought about how my emotions would make you feel. I just can't tell you yet.” Her voice held a pleading quality that broke his heart. At this moment he didn't care if she ever told him what she was holding back, he just never wanted to feel the way he had when she'd pulled away two days ago again. When her presence in the back of his mind had suddenly disappeared, Inuyasha had felt as if something precious to him had been ripped out of his clutching fingers. If he never had to feel like that again it would still be too soon for him.

“I don't care about that anymore Kagome; I just want you to be okay.” He whispered. Kagome turned her face back toward him and raised an eyebrow. She wondered if he was feeling okay because normally Inuyasha never gave up on something he wanted that easily.

“You're not going to try and get it out of me?” She asked.

“No, I'm not going to force you to tell me anything, but I'd like you to answer my first question.” He ignored the surprise that flashed across her hazy eyes. His hand itched to touch the skin of her check, and he had to fight every instinct he had not to pull her into his arms. But before he touched her he had to know.

“What was the first question?” Kagome was beginning to feel tired again, but for Inuyasha's sake she fought to stay awake.

`You'd think after sleeping for over 24 hours straight I wouldn't feel tired, but instead of feeling energized I feel like I've been running a marathon.'

“Do you really not want me to touch you?” He could see and feel that he'd surprised her again with his question and sighed, “You said not to touch you right before you screamed and blacked out…I don't want to---“He was cut off when the girl beside him reached out a searching hand and felt around for his arm, then she moved closer and leaned into his side.

“I didn't mean it like that, Inuyasha. I was just angry when I said that.” She informed him as she snuggled closer. Inuyasha didn't need anymore encouragement. He gentle pulled her into his lap and then moved so that his back rested against the wall. He looked down at Kagome and saw that her eyes were already closed.

“Are you going to take another nap?” Inuyasha felt a strange sense of contentment holding her like this, as if the world made since again.

“Um hmm.”

“Even though Kaede's waiting just outside the hut to explain what the fucks wrong with this stupid spell?”

“Um hmm.”

Inuyasha smiled softly as she snuggled closer to his chest. For the first time in more than a week he felt his body relax. Kagome was safe and healthy; for the most part anyway, surly it would be okay for him to sleep a little?

It didn't take him long to join Kagome in dreaming.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It took Miroku, Sango, and Shippou much longer to get back to the village even though Kirara was traveling at a steady ground eating pace. They were all worried about Kagome, but tried valiantly to hide their fears and remain cheerful. It showed through though in the form of nervous glances and fretting sighs. Shippou was by far the most despondent, becoming quieter and more withdrawn from the two adults the closer they got to the village. Sango questioned the kit about his moodiness more than once, but the little fox demon only shrugged his small shoulders and looked off into the distance.

On the afternoon of the second day after Inuyasha had taken Kagome, the weary group spotted the village fields in the distance. Miroku heaved a sigh of relief as the outer laying huts came into view. Maybe now they would all get some answers as to why Inuyasha had taken Kagome away so fast.

“Do you think their at Kaede-sama's house or down the well?” Sango asked, almost to herself.

“I don't know—“

“They're at Kaede-baachan's!” Shippou interrupted suddenly, “And she doesn't smell like she's hurt!” Both adults watched as tears welled up in the small kits eyes. Miroku reached down to pick him up, but the child shrugged off his hand.

“I'm gonna' go find her now.” He informed them right before he took off running toward the hut they all had come to call home. Sango couldn't help but giggle at the little dust clouds he kicked up. Her laughter broke the last remnants of tension and they both felt their shoulders relax.

“I think one day our little Shippou-chan may give even Kouga a run for his money if he keeps racing around at that speed.” Miroku smirked.

“He's just worried about Kagome-chan. The poor little guy is so afraid that something will happen to her just like his first mother. I don't think she understands just what she means to Shippou-chan.”

“I agree with you partially, I believe that she knows he thinks of her as a mother, but I don't think she understands the weight of what that means to Shippou.” Miroku noticed that Sango was staring off into the distance, deep in thought as they walked the well worn path to Kaede's hut. His eyes caught the tantalizing sway of her backside and he felt his palm itch. He had held back from touching her the whole time they had traveled, mainly because he was a little afraid of what Kirara could do to him while they were twenty feet above the ground, but now that they were almost home he couldn't seem to help himself.

“Don't even think about it.” Sango didn't even turn around.

“What? How did you know?” Miroku was surprised and a little disappointed that she'd caught him in the act.

“Call it a sixth sense I've developed about when I'm about to be groped. I thing it's a gift from the Gods.” Miroku felt his heart plummet. Now even the Gods were against him? Oh, Buddha, but this wasn't fair!

“I must have done something really bad in my past life to deserve this kind of karma!” He mumbled under his breath. To have Sango's backside so close and not be able to delight in the feel of its softness!

“Did you say anything back there Houshi-sama?”

“Of course not, Sango, I was only whispering a prayer to the Buddha in thankfulness of our safe journey.” He covered for himself quickly.

“Have you ever thought that maybe all that bad karma isn't from your last life time, but it's punishment in advance for all the shady thinks you've done in this one? Like lying about praying to your God?” She raised her eyebrows and looked at him pointedly over her shoulder.

“You heard me? How?”

“Call it a sixth sense…”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Shippou could feel his breath coming in short pants as he ran through the village. He was beginning to get a stitch in his side, but he couldn't seem to stop his break-neck pace. All he knew was that he had to get to Kagome. It was a need that went deeper than simple worry for the mother-figure in his life; his very instincts were telling him that he had to see her. Nothing would be okay until Kagome held him and he was surrounded by her comforting mother-sent.

He rounded the corner of the hut and skidded to a halt. Kaede woke up from her light doze and noticed the little kitsune trying to catch his breath in front of her.

“Well, child, I see that you are back. I take it that Miroku-sama and Sango-san aren't far behind you?” Shippou only shrugged his shoulders. He wanted to see Kagome, but now that he was this close he could also smell Inuyasha's sent mixed up with hers and it was making him uneasy.

“I bet you want to see Kagome, hmm? I think both she and Inuyasha are asleep right now, but if you're quiet I'm sure he'll let you see her.” The old miko took pity on the little fox, knowing that he wanted nothing more than to rush into the hut and find his surrogate mother.

Shippou only hesitated for a moment before he quickly moved into the dwelling. Once inside he paused for a moment to sniff the air so that he'd know which room Kagome and Inuyasha were in. With a feeling of dread weighing heavy in the pit of his stomach he crept toward the door way.

`I have to be quiet and keep calm if I want Inuyasha to let me stay.' He told himself as he eased the woven mat that blocked the room from his view away. Shippou wasn't prepared at the feelings that rushed through him when he caught sight of the pale girl resting in the hanyou's lap. His breath caught in his throat and he could feel the tears he'd been fighting hard prick the back of his eyes.

“Okka-chan!” He chocked out, completely missing that he'd called her mother for the first time. He launched himself into her lap and held on for dear life.

“Shippou-chan?” Kagome awoke to the feeling of a small bundle of fur slamming into her chest.

`I've got to teach him a better way to say hello.' Her smile was quickly whipped away though, when she realized that the kit was crying…and calling her mother. She felt Inuyasha stirring behind her, but she paid him little attention. Kagome focused everything she had on calming the weeping child down.

“Shippou-chan, it's okay! I'm not hurt I promise.” She soothed his soft hair away from his tear dampened face and kissed his forehead. Inuyasha had yet to say anything, but Kagome knew he was awake.

“But you told me that nothing was going to happen to you! You-you lied to me! And then Inuyasha took you away from me. I-I-I” and then his little body was racked with sobs again, “I just wanted my okka-chan!” The child buried his head into Kagome's neck and folded himself in to her as close as he could.

“I'm so sorry, baby. So very sorry that I scared you like that, but I'm here now.” Kagome was shaken badly by the kit's hysterics. Somehow, it seemed different than the last time Shippou had been upset.

This time he'd called her mother.

Even if Shippou hadn't done it on purpose it changed everything for Kagome. A part of her had always known that Shippou saw her as a replacement parent, but until this moment she'd been able to ignore it. In fact she'd almost convinced herself subconsciously that she saw him as a little brother. Like Souta. That was, of course, until he'd called her mother, and all the maternal feelings she'd pushed away came rushing forward full force.

She placed her arms around his little, shaking body and rocked him back and forth until his sobs quieted and his trembling stopped. His slightly uneven breathing told her the kitsune kit had drifted into an uneasy sleep. She leaned her head back onto Inuyasha shoulder and sighed wearily.

“I had no clue.” Her words were soft and told him that she was still trying to process what had just happened. Inuyasha, himself, although he'd never admit it, was a little shaken too. Shippou's broken cried brought back too many unpleasant memories of what it was like to lose his own mother. He shifted slightly so that he could pull Kagome closer to his chest and rested his cheek against the top of her head.

“He'll be okay when he wakes up.”

“But he called me—“

“I know.”

“What do I do?”

“Do you love him like a son?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation in her answer.

“Then I don't see the problem.” Shippou sighed in his sleep and shifted around and pulled Inuyasha's haori sleeve over himself like it was a blanket. Inuyasha growled lightly under his breath, and Kagome was amused when Shippou made a sleepy little yipping sound in response.

“I guess you're right. I just…don't know how to be a mother….” She absently retied Shippou's blue hair tie then tucked Inuyasha's red sleeve more securely around the boy.

“Feh, don't worry about it right now. I bet Miroku and Sango won't be too far behind the brat, and we'll have a lot of explaining to do soon.” He shifted again, and this time Kagome could feel his leg muscles tensing beneath her right before he lifted both her and Shippou up in his arms.

“I can't not worry about it! I'm only 17, I don't know how to be a mother. What if I scar him for life? Or worse, what if--- “ Kagome's voice was bordering on panic when Inuyasha cut her off.

“Being a mother has nothing to do with age and you know it. If fact you've been just fine at it without realizing up until now. Just continue taking care of Shippou and everything will be okay.” Inuyasha didn't know where all that had come from, but he blamed it on the sheer panic he'd been feeling from her. Kagome took a few deep breaths and focused on pushing her panicky thoughts away.

`Inuyasha's right. I've been Shippou's mother for two years without really knowing it. All Shippou calling me mother does is concrete the deal, so to speak. I can do this! I can raise a youkai son even if I have no idea about things like that. Okay panicking again. Well, I might not know anything about raising a youkai, but Inuyasha has to know at least a little bit…' Inuyasha felt her relax a little bit in his arms and he sighed with relief. Kagome's feelings in the back of his head were no longer colored with panic. Maybe she'd decided to take his advice and not worry about it.

“Thanks Inuyasha. I'm glad someone has faith in my parenting abilities.” Her voice was almost cheerful again and that made him smile, “Hey, just where are we going anyway?” She asked as she pulled aside the woven mat so that he could carry them all out of the little sleeping room.

“Outside. We both need some fresh air.”

“Fresh air…that does sound nice now that you mention it.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Okay, now that we're all finally here we can discuss what's been going wrong in Inuyasha's and Kagome's binding spell.” Kaede looked over the small group of people who were gathered around her. The sun was just sitting in the west and the smell of dinner still hung heavy in the air. She heard Kagome heave a sigh as Inuyasha hoped out of a near-by shade tree and pulled the raven haired girl back into his lap. It was clear that the young girl was getting tired of being put in that position, but the older miko noticed that she didn't protest.

Shippou sat a few feet away, playing in the dirt with wooden top he'd made himself, but when Kaede spoke he quickly put his toy away. He scooted over to Kagome and crawled into her lap. Kagome absently shifted the kit around so that she could stroke his hair away from his face. She reached into the pocket of her jeans and pulled out the candy sucker she'd been saving for him. Inuyasha feh'd and mumbled something about the younger miko spoiling the kit. Of course Kagome ignored the inu-hanyou in favor of asking Shippou if he felt better after his nap. Their other three companions couldn't help but stare silently at them. Apparently, Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippou had no idea just how much like a family they looked at that moment. With Inuyasha's arms wrapped protectively around both of them and Kagome reaching out to tap the end of Shippou's nose with the sweet she'd fished from her pocket for him, it was quite an eye opener.

“This just keeps on getting stranger and stranger.” Miroku commented. Sango glared and elbowed him in the side. He opened his mouth to ask her why she saw fit to always inflict bodily harm to his person, but Kaede cut him off.

“Inuyasha, Kagome, please tell me exactly how the spell has changed since I cast it 3 weeks ago.” She sat back against the hut and closed her eyes. Inuyasha found that annoying. He wasn't about to tell that old hag anything if she wasn't even going to listen.

“Oi, baba! Don't think I'm going to let you sleep until you've told me exactly what I want to know.”

“Inuyasha, I am merely closing my eyes so that I might meditate upon the things you're about to tell me. If you would only learn to curb that impatiens of yours…Now, Kagome why don't you start off?” Kaede folded her hands in her lap and waited for the young girl to gather her thoughts. Inuyasha huffed under his breath, but remain quiet. For a little while the only sounds that could be heard was the popping of the fire and the occasional candy crunch from Shippou.

“I guess…the first time I noticed that something was wrong was when I went to the Doctor in my time…I made Inuyasha stay at home…I was fine at first…but I noticed that the longer I was gone the more…pain…I felt. It felt like another piece of my soul was being torn away. I ended up collapsing…. When Inuyasha---“

“I thought you left him at your house?” Miroku interrupted. Inuyasha sent him a glare and a growl and the monk managed to pull off a sheepish look that didn't reach his eyes.

“I was at her house, but I had this bad feeling that she needed me. Still not so sure how I managed to pick her sent out and follow it. When I found her these people were putting her on the bed thing with wheels---“

“Stretcher.”

“Oh thanks. So they were putting her on this `stretcher' and they were taking her away. This old guy acted like he was going to keep me from her---“

“He acted like he was going to bite the doctor. If I hadn't been in so much pain I'd have laughed.”

“He tried to push me away from you!” Inuyasha felt his hackles rise just thinking about it.

“Hey, he was just trying to do his job.” Kagome felt the need to defend her family doctor to Inuyasha.

“Well, he wasn't doing it so good was he? You could barley breath for fucks sake!”

“That wasn't his fault!”

“YES---“

“Can you both get back to the story? If I'm ever going to figure out this spell you're going to have to stay on track.” Kaede interrupted the arguing pair before their screaming match could get out of hand. Both teens pouted for a moment before Kagome drew in a breath to continue.

“Anyway, I was in a lot of pain, but when Inuyasha touched me it almost all went away. And the longer I was with him the better I felt until I wasn't hurting anymore. After that we figured out that I couldn't get very far away from him without feeling some kind of discomfort.” Kagome frowned for a moment before continuing.

“And when Inuyasha fought that last youkai we went up against all his wounds mirrored on me.” Kaede opened her eyes and looked at Kagome sharply.

“What did you say child?” Her tone was calm, but Inuyasha caught the glint of worry in her old eyes. He tightened his grip on Kagome's waist a fraction.

“Well, every time that centaur kicked him I got a nasty bruise until he untied his binding cloth, then when he reconnected us, every time he slammed up against that barrier that Kikyou put up it felt like my ribs were going to break.”

“Inuyasha, did you and Kagome share the pain, or was she totally absorbing it from you?” The way Kaede looked at him made Inuyasha uncomfortable. He nervously began to pleat the material of Kagome's shirt with his fingers, until she stopped him with a gentle touch.

“I think at first she was only absorbing a little bit of my pain, but in the end she was feeling the full force of it.” Inuyasha finally replied quietly.

`I feel as if it's my fault that Kagome got hurt. It's almost like I can't win for losing. I try to protect her by fighting the things that want to kill her, but that won't matter because what ever they do to me will be done to her. Why don't I just hand her over to them in the first place? It'd probably save her some pain.'

“Inuyasha, don't blame yourself for what happened. It's not your fault the spells going wacko.” Well, actually it was, but Kagome wasn't ready to tell him that.

“I wasn't blaming myself bitch. Keh.” Inuyasha was glad that Kagome couldn't see his face right then because he would have hated for her to see him blushing. She sighed and continued the account before the others could prompt her. She really didn't want to talk about this part, but she figured it was bound to come up any way.

“The subdue spell has also changed.” That got Kaede's attention more than anything else that had been said.

“Oi, I forgot about that! It was right before you decided to go off on me.” Inuyasha's lips turned up in a smug smile.

“I went off on you?!? If I remember right you were trying to bully me into telling you why Kikyou took me!”

“Well, I wouldn't have had to resort of bullying if you'd been honest!”

“I wouldn't have had to lie if you'd have respected my privacy!”

“PRIVACY! Let me tell you a thing or two about privacy little girl—“Inuyasha's angry tirade was cut off by something that sounded curiously like a snicker. His ears swiveled in the direction of the sound as it grew from a snicker into an out right laugh.

“What do you all find so funny?” Kagome demanded, beating him to the question. By now even Kaede was hard pressed not to smile. Sango finally gained enough control to point out to the couple what they had found so hilarious.

“You two are fighting as if you hate each other, but the whole time you're yelling Inuyasha's holding you in his lap and you're playing with a strand of his hair. It's just funny how the two of you act.” Both Inuyasha and Kagome turned a deep scarlet. Kagome dropped the silver strand she'd been wrapping around her finger and tried to squirm off Inuyasha's lap at the same time. He sent a warning growl at her and tightened his hold. Then he turned to the still giggling group and snapped at them.

“Stop laughing and figure out how to fix this stupid spell!” It took a few more minutes, but eventually everyone was calm enough to continue. Kagome finally won the battle for freedom and now sat next to Inuyasha in the grass, but he had a firm grip on her hand.

“So the subdue spell has been affected. Can you tell me exactly what happened?” Kagome pulled her knees up and rested her chin on them before answering.

“I'm sure Inuyasha can tell you about it better than I can. It was like Inuyasha was supposed to go splat but instead just kind of tripped…”

“Feh, all I know is she screamed that fucking word and it felt like someone was lightly pushing me down. If you ask me it's a good thing too--”

“You would say that.”

“—because with the way being slammed into the ground hurts me, Kagome wouldn't have been able to walk.” He purposely ignored her jab. Kagome was feeling tired and a little cagy from all the questions their friends were asking. He could also feel that she was afraid that someone would ask about her secret. Inuyasha couldn't bring himself to get angry at her again when he could feel her so acutely in his head.

“Maybe the spell changed because Inuyasha isn't supposed to be able to hurt Kagome-chan, and since she's now feeling his pain the spell lightened its force to protect her?” Miroku suggested.

“You may be right Miroku-sama. This is all very troubling, is there anything else you'd like to tell me Kagome?”

`Um, how about that Inuyasha's soul is trying to move into the blank spot in mine and because of that your sister is dying…for the second time?' Kagome thought, but she didn't have the strength to say it out loud. Instead she just shook her head. Kaede turned her eyes to Inuyasha who had a far away look in his eyes.

“And you Inuyasha?” the older miko prodded him.

“Me what?” He asked distractedly.

“Do you have anything to add to Kagome's account?” Kaede answered in her most patient voice.

`Maybe the fact that if I listen hard enough I can hear what Kagome's thinking, or the fact that I feel this growing urge to bury my nose in her hair and just sniff…whoa let's not go there…not too good for my mental health to think about stuff like that.'

“Nope, can't think of anything baba.”

“Kagome-chan smells like Inuyasha.” Shippou spoke up from where he'd been playing quietly a few feet away. Kagome was so focused on the fact that Shippou hadn't called her mother this time that she almost missed the meaning behind his words.

“What do you mean, I smell like him?” She questioned the kit who left castle he'd been building out of rocks and came over to lean against her side.

“Oi, I told you brat, she smells like me because I've been carting her around since she passed out—“

“Baka! Don't you think I know the difference! You carry Kagome-chan around all the time and she's never smelled like this before!” Shippou seethed with anger at having been questioned by Inuyasha. The kitsune looked ready to launch himself at Inuyasha's ears but Kaede's question stopped him.

“How does it smell different, Shippou-chan?”

“Well,” He replied glad that at least one of the adults was listening to him, “I know it was a long time ago, but I sorta remember my other mother smelling kinda like that. It was like her sent had just a little bit of dad's mixed into it. Not on top of it like when Inuyasha carried Kagome on his back.” There was silence for a beat before Miroku spoke up.

“So they smell as if their mated? Inuyasha, have you been holding out on us?” Before he could finished the last word three good sized rocks and a giant boomerang conked the leering monk in the head.

“Hey! What was that for?”

“As if you have to ask!”

“Can we just get back on topic here? Why in the fucking hell is my sent mixing with Kagome's?”

“Patients Inuyasha. I'm sure the answer to all these riddles lies at the root of the problem.” Inuyasha was getting ready to give the elder woman a piece of his mind for being so vague when Sango suddenly spoke up.

“That would explain it, you know.”

“Explain what, Sango-chan?” Kagome asked wearily as she reached up to rub an aching spot between her eyes. Inuyasha could feel her exhaustion like crashing flood waves against his mind. Ignoring the others gathered around the dying embers of the fire he gentle tugged on Kagome's hand until he was able to pull her into his lap. She protested half-heartily but snuggled closer when he wrapped his oversized sleeves around her.

“Sleep.” He whispered softly in her ear.

“I will just as soon as Sango explains.” She whispered back before turning her attention back to what their friends had to say.

“If the spell is some how turning you into mates it would explain the way you've both been so…” Sango paused, not sure how to put it delicately. Miroku took over for her when he saw that she was floundering.

“What Sango-sama is trying to point out is that your behavior toward each other has changed…somewhat…since the spell was cast.” At the look of confusion mirrored on both their faced Miroku sighed.

“I'm not following ya'.” Inuyasha told them bluntly.

“Okay, let me ask you a question then. Six weeks ago before any of this happened would you have considered holding Kagome in your lap? Or even holding her hand for longer than a few seconds on rare occasions?” Inuyasha's blush was all the answer Miroku needed.

“You've both been more affectionate lately without even knowing it, so I think Sango's right about the spell being the cause of that too.” Inuyasha growled in frustration and instinctively tightened his grip on Kagome only to realize belatedly what he was doing. It was all getting to be too much for his mind to process, especially when he could feel Kagome's even heartbeat against his chest.

“But it's not possible what you're suggesting!” Inuyasha tried to reason.

“Why not? I remember my father telling me that there were two parts to a youkai mating. The first was of course sexual, but the second had to do with the fusing of the intended mates souls. As I see it you and Kagome have the second part, so you're about half way there.” Some time during Sango's little speech both Inuyasha and Kagome had grown very uncomfortable. Inuyasha was sitting so stiffly that Kagome was sure he'd break into hundreds of tiny pieces if someone so much as bumped into him. She gently reached up and clasped her hand over the hand he had resting at her waist. He let her fingers intertwine with his before he squeezed her hand.

“But the spell was only supposed to bind our souls together just enough to let me borrow Inuyasha's sight.” Kagome pointed out, trying to remain the voice of logic.

“Yes, but it's safe to assume that that has changed. I don't know what went wrong but I think it is time we all rested for the night. I have much to consider before I can figure out what's going wrong with the binding spell, and I know that you've all had a stress filled past week. I suggest that we postpone the rest of this meeting until tomorrow morn.”

No one argued with her as they moved into the hut, after all sometimes the only way to figure out a problem was to sleep on it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next morning Kagome was awaken by insistent poking in her side. She groaned and rolled over; hoping that whoever it was would keep his sharp little claws to himself.

“Kagome-chan wake up! The sun's been up for a loooooong time! Miroku took me fishing again and I caught you a fish! Sango is cooking it for you and it's almost done! But if you don't come soon that stupid jerk Inuyasha will eat it!” When she didn't respond the little kit started to chant, “Get up! Get up! Get up!” Finally Kagome could take no more of his poking and chanting.

“Okay! I'm getting up right now, and I promise I'll go eat your fish just as soon I get dressed.” She gently nudged him off her sleeping bag so that she could sit up. While she was stretching Shippou ran out singing happily to himself.

“Urg…I feel like I've been ran over by a noodle chart.” Kagome scrubbed at her eyes with the backs of her hands. Even the mental image of a chibi-version of herself getting hit by a runaway noodle cart wasn't enough to make her smile.

“The next time I see Inuyasha I'm going to have to thank him for all of these wonderful bruises.” Kagome spoke dryly to no one in particular.

“Hurts, huh?” Kagome didn't even look up as Inuyasha came to stand beside her.

“Like hell.” She croaked, “Why couldn't I have been given your healing powers too?”

“I'm sorry.” His voice was filled with such genuine remorse that Kagome managed to force a small smile past her taunt lips.

“Don't worry about it; just help me outside before Shippou comes back.” She held out her hand for him to pull her up, but Inuyasha ignored it and pulled her carefully into his arms.

“Keh, he's been guarding that fish for you since an hour after sun up. Kaede wouldn't let anyone wake you up before now.” Kagome thought she detected a bit of a pout in his voice, but she wasn't sure if it was from not getting any fish or because Kaede had kept him from waking her up as well.

“Has she mentioned whether or not she's figured out this spell yet.” She absently wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her through the hut.

“Nope, but right after sunrise she left for the temple saying something about needing to meditate or so shit like that. To tell you the truth I wasn't paying much attention.” Kagome could hear the sheepishness in his voice and she managed to smile a bit more genuine this time.

“Well, I guess you'd better get me outside to my fish. Kaede will come home when she's found the answers, and until then we shouldn't worry much.”

Inuyasha didn't bother to acknowledge what she'd said. He just concentrated on not hurting her as he sat her down on the ground outside the hut. Immediately Shippou bound over with a small blackened fish on a stick. Inuyasha grimaced at the strong fishy smell and was glad it was Kagome that had to choke the thing down and not him.

“See Kagome! Sango cooked it a loooong time ago and it was nice and brown, but then it got cold while you were sleeping so I put it back on the fire…it turned this funny black color but I think it's still good.” The piece of charcoal shaped like a fish was thrust into Kagome's face. She tenitivly took the stick from the small demon and tried to mentally prepare herself for the bitter taste of the burnt trout. Just as she was about to take a bite, though, a few of the village children ran by yelling for Shippou to come play ball. He gave her a big smile before racing off to join in their fun. As soon as he was out of sight Inuyasha plucked the brunt offering out of her hand and threw it into the near-by fire pit.

“Inuyasha! Why'd you do that?” Kagome asked angrily as through his eyes she saw Shippou's gift turn to ashes.

“Feh, I was saving you from having to eat that shit!”

“But—“

“Listen, he'll never know. Instead of making yourself sick by forcing that down, pretend that you ate it and loved it. This way no one gets hurt.” He folded his arms and sat back with an arrogant smirk on his face. Kagome huffed but had to admit to herself that he was right. Next time she'd have to ask Sango to keep Shippou from `warming' it up for her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I think I have finally figured out what went wrong with the spell.” Kaede announced to the group over lunch. All eyes turned to the elder miko in anticipation, but when after a full five minutes she hadn't continued Inuyasha became impatient.

“Baba! Don't just leave us hanging like this! Tell us what you know!” He demanded. Kagome cringed at the harshness of his tone. She was about to apologize to Kaede for him when the older woman sighed.

“I think we might have made an error in judgment when we failed to account for Kagome-chan's missing piece of soul—“

“You think!”

“Inuyasha! Be. Quiet.”

“As I was saying…when we opened up the window between Inuyasha's and Kagome-chan's souls we gave Inuyasha's soul the opportunity to fill in the gap for Kagome. Their souls are now trying to change the simple binding spell into a more permanent mating spell---“

“Wait, don't blame my soul for this! It's all his doing!”

“ME! Why is it MY fault!?”

“Because you're soul is taking over mine!”

“It's not my fault your soul is so needy!”

“Why you---“

“Interesting, Kaede-sama,” Miroku spoke over the fighting pair, “Is there any way to reverse this?”

“No.” A thick silence fell over the group at Kaede's answer.

“What do you mean `No'?” Kagome whispered.

“As far as I can tell the spell is far too twisted for me to fix. Doing so could kill one or both or you at this point.” The seriousness of Kaede's voice was Kagome's undoing. Everything Kikyou had told her about the bond came rushing back to her. She was seized by a panicky desperation. She would not be held responsible for killing her incarnation the second time.

“We have to be unbound or Kikyou will die!”

TBC