Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inuyasha. I sincerely wish I did, though. All rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Media.
A/N: I tried to make the main focus of this story Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship and I plan to not emphasize the jewel or the ongoing struggle with Naraku as much as some other fics out there. I hope you enjoy!
Reiki Storm
Oh, no! How could this have happened? Kami, help me please!
Kagome could feel what was happening to her even as she thought the word. COLD. She was catching a cold for the first time in the Feudal Era. Every other time she felt any type of physical sickness descending upon her, she begged Inuyasha to let her return home. More often than not, the begging turned into an argument, which turned into Kagome sitting Inuyasha and her being grudgingly allowed to return to her own time.
And every single time, Inuyasha only had the patience to wait a day and a half at most, and came after her. This allowed her enough time to drug herself with cold pills, drink plenty of her favorite orange juice, and sleep until she felt normal again. She did not think that Kaede was incapable of taking care of her; in fact she thought the opposite. She had seen Kaede's herbal remedies do some amazing things. No, Kagome had a secret—a secret that could potentially kill Inuyasha if she let him in on it.
It was far too late for Kagome to beg to go home. She was past the point of no return; it was time to fess up. It was late afternoon and she was currently lagging behind her rag tag group of friends she had come to love so vehemently over the past couple of years. For the past couple of weeks, they had been battling almost non-stop with various youkai for the remaining jewel shards not in Naraku's possession. Not two days had passed between any of their recent battles with bear, snake, and several other types of youkai.
If they can sense my declining strength, why can't Inuyasha?
Kagome took a deep breath and steeled herself to make the announcement.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome didn't mean for her voice to come out so frail sounding, but she was on the edge of catching a cold and she didn't care anymore.
Everyone in the group stopped and turned to Kagome.
"Oi, wench, what is it now?" Despite his words, Inuyasha was intensely curious and his ears twitched just slightly.
"We need to go back to Kaede's village. I know we are getting so close to completing our half of the jewel shard, but I think it would be in everyone's best interest to go back for a couple of days." Maybe a week, she silently added.
"We ain't goin' nowhere." He said immediately.
"If we don't go, we could all die."
As soon as Inuyasha stopped in front of Kaede's hut, Kagome jumped down and asked that everyone remain outside while she talked to Kaede. The atmosphere was tense outside. Sango began to pace with Shippo in her arms and Miroku began to make assurances that everything would be okay, if only to calm everyone down a bit. Inuyasha was close to running in after Kagome when she came out.
She wore a sheepish smile upon her face and said, "I have some explaining to do."
"Damn right you do!" Inuyasha shouted. He continued, "You tell us we could all die if we didn't come back right away and then you give us the silent treatment for more than a day! Start talkin', wench!"
Kagome glared at him, but at the moment she couldn't really blame him for his irritation. "I'm about to explain, unless you want to have a better seat, Inuyasha?" She emphasized the seat part, letting him know she would not hesitate to sit him before her big announcement. He went still and she continued with another deep breath.
"I'm getting sick. We call it a cold in my time, and it's nothing life threatening but since I am a miko, my powers will be acting strange until I am better. We had to come back because the other youkai are not only sensing my jewel shards but my sickness and the fighting would have gotten more intense until something bad happened. I'm sorry I had to scare you all, but I was afraid you wouldn't take me seriously unless I was as blunt as possible." She felt the headache she had developed during the day's travel to Kaede's village pounding behind her eyes. She hoped this Q and A session would be over soon so she could go lie down.
Sango breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Oh Kagome! You had us worried! I'm sure you'll be better in no time with Kaede taking care of you." She walked forward with Shippo and offered Kagome a small hug.
Inuyasha had been uncharacteristically quiet. He spoke up when Sango released the miko. "We could have protected you until you were better, Kagome. Keh, do you think we ain't good enough or somethin'?" His temper was flaring and Kagome was not in the mood for an argument.
"I didn't want to risk purifying you or Shippo." She said flatly.
Shippo hopped back as far as his legs could take him and both youkai stared at her with horror etched into their faces. Inuyasha quickly caught himself and changed his expression to one of agitation. "You didn't mention that part, wench!"
Exasperated she began, "Well, I said my powers would be acting strangely… What happens is, the power crackles over my hands until I feel better. Also, whenever I cough or sneeze, reiki goes flying like everywhere. You see the danger now?"
"Keh." Was the hanyou's only response as he folded his arms over his chest and began to wander off.
Shippo walked gingerly back toward Kagome, as if he were afraid she'd purify him right on the spot. Kagome chuckled as she said, "Everything will be okay, Shippo, as long as I get some rest soon and let Kaede take care of me. You won't have anything to worry about as long as you stay away for a couple of days." Shippo began to pout a little but his expression changed as if he came up with a brilliant idea. "I can help, Kagome!" He ran off toward the forest before Kagome could stop him.
What's he up to? She smiled as the thought passed through her mind.
Miroku offered her a sympathy- pat on the shoulder and as surprised as she was, Kagome thanked him before he moved away to talk to Sango about finding the mischievous little kitsune before he got into trouble.
Kaede came to the door at that moment, beckoning Kagome to come inside. "Ye won't be any better soon if ye insist on not resting." Kagome nodded in agreement and went to her yellow bag to find some pajamas as Kaede boiled a kettle of water over the fire pit. She decided on an oversized t-shirt, flannel pants, and a clean pair of socks. She also unrolled her sleeping bag in Kaede's back room, knowing that's where she would be staying. She changed, and left her jeans and sweater out to wash later. She returned to the main room before going to bed for the day and Kaede handed her a cup of tea. "It's herbal tea, Kagome. It will help you feel better." The miko didn't protest, relishing the hot liquid because her throat that was becoming more raw by the minute. As she drank, she realized it was chamomile tea and it reminded her of when she was sick during her childhood. Her mother always made her chamomile tea, it was her favorite.
Why didn't I just ask to go home?
She already knew the answer. Inuyasha. She had just been home three weeks ago; he would never spring for another trip so soon, even if she was sick. Now that the hanyou knew she was sick, he would be guarding the hut and village ferociously.
It's just easier this way, I suppose.
Kagome looked down to see that she had drained her cup and all that remained were leaves. "I'm going to lie down, Kaede. Thank you so much." The old woman nodded and continued crushing herbs with her mortar and pestle. She went back to her room and snuggled deep into her sleeping bag. Although the sun was still up, she had never been more tired. She was quickly pulled under the waves of exhaustion that had been threatening to drown her since they arrived at the village.
Inuyasha sat on the roof of Kaede's hut. Whether he knew it or not, he had moved closer to the hut every night since they got to the village four days ago. He managed to peek in on Kagome through the small window in Kaede's back room during the night and every time it was the same. She was asleep, tossing and turning, and she had a sheen of sweat upon her brow. He could only see her face, for the rest of her was huddled in her sleeping bag.
Keh, she can't be that cold! It's the middle of spring! Despite his thoughts, he had the urge to find more blankets for her. He was concerned for her, after all.
Since they arrived, he asked the old woman about Kagome's progress every day. "She's doing well, Inuyasha. She just seems to be unnaturally tired." Kaede told him the first time he asked. Every day since, the reports where just variations on the first. He could hear whenever she had awoken for more than a few minutes. He knew she was eating and doing everything humans needed to do, but he never dared to sneak a peek while she was awake. He heard the coughing fits she had at night and could only imagine the reiki flying everywhere. He did NOT want to be in the middle of a reiki storm.
Tonight was no different and the coughing fits began about an hour after Kagome last went back to bed. Inuyasha's ears flattened against his head. The coughs were ringing in his ears and he could tell they were coming from deep in her chest. The pink light could be seen from the window indicating that reiki was indeed bouncing off the walls.
On the other side of the hut, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo all sat around a fire talking and eating some of Kaede's stew. The taijiya and monk decided to stay outside the hut with Shippo to keep him company, knowing that the hanyou would not be companionable. Shippo had been keeping his promise to help Kagome get better. He snuck in during the day, leaving honey for Kagome's tea and wild flowers he found in the forest hoping they would lift her spirits whenever she awoke.
Inuyasha thought about the kitsune's deeds and felt a pang of jealousy. He wished he could do nice things like that for Kagome without looking like a puppy. He had to admit to himself that he did have feelings for Kagome, and listening to her in so much obvious pain and discomfort made him miserable. He had barely spoken to anyone besides Kaede since they arrived and he was terribly lonely.
Before he ever met Kagome and the others, he had many nights to himself but he never seemed to have the feeling that was haunting him now. He always pretended that Kagome and the others' talking was nonsense, that he rather everyone be quite, but the truth was, he had let them all into his heart, even the annoying little kitsune. He finally had friends. Friends that cared about what he thought, about what he said, about whether he lived or died; and it seemed to matter to no one that he was a hanyou. He could easily go and sit with his friends, but it wasn't the same without Kagome. He knew that Kagome only thought of him as a friend but he secretly wished for so much more. He knew he was terrible to her with all the insults, the arguments, and the sneaking away to see Kikyou.
Kagome could never imagine that he was only going to see her to try to make peace with Kikyou. She had definitely changed since her return to the mortal world. She was not the same Kikyou he had loved so many years ago. He promised to take revenge for her upon Naraku but that's where the promises ended. He would always love the thought of Kikyou; but he had someone warm, breathing, and beautiful to love in the present.
If only…
Stop thinking those things, idiot! She don't like you that way! You're only gonna get hurt!
Inuyasha hung his head and silently prayed to the kami for Kagome's health.
Two days later found Kagome in near perfect health. She had an occasional sneeze or cough here or there, but the reiki had safely sealed itself away. She was awake early in the morning, unable to stay in bed any longer. She wanted to breathe fresh air, to see her friends, and to see Inuyasha. She was not sure of what had been dream and what had been real, but she had to tell him about her dreams and what she had been feeling for years now. The sickness, though mild, gave her a new lease on life. She tip- toed quietly to Kaede's main room only to see that everyone was still fast asleep. Kagome had heard Kaede invite everyone to sleep inside last night since she was no longer a danger but she didn't see Inuyasha anywhere. She decided to go for a walk until everyone was awake.
She always found herself wandering to the well and the Goshinboku. It was peaceful and fresh—exactly what Kagome needed right now. She sat at the base of the Goshinboku. She was so glad to be rid of her breath rattling in her chest and the burning in her throat that she inhaled a big breath of air. The air tasted clean and slightly sweet; it was so much better than the air of her time. She could smell flowers and overall, this time smelled of life. This reminded her that she needed to thank Shippo for the honey and flowers when he woke up. The more Kagome thought about it, the more she liked the Feudal Era more than her era. Sure, she would always appreciate the convenience her era provided along with her family and her rights as a woman, but the Feudal Era was simpler, cleaner, and she had found love and friendship here. She had been through so much with her friends here; she couldn't even imagine her life without them.
She broke out of her reverie when she heard rustling above her. She tilted her head back to see Inuyasha staring down at her with a surly look on his face.
"Good morning, Inuyasha." She said quietly. He jumped down, landing in front of her without making so much as a sound. It still impressed her that he could do that. He looked at her intently before speaking.
"You look better," he started "you certainly smell better." He gently sniffed the air around her. He plopped down unceremoniously.
"Ummm, thanks?" She didn't know what to say in response to that statement, but she gathered her courage for the talk that was coming. "Hey, Inuyasha, listen. I wanted to talk to you about some stuff." She had a nervous smile on her face.
"Great, more talkin'." He grumbled. He was more irritated than usual due to his long thought discussion with himself two nights ago.
Kagome took that a sign to begin, but she was lost for a moment. "I had some interesting dreams while I was sick." She was looking down, dragging her right index finger through the dirt to make small circles.
"Yeah." Was all he said in response, but his interested had been piqued.
"Some were about normal things like us running through the forest with me on your back or you staring at me through the window." She looked up then just in time to see Inuyasha's eyes widen and his body go still. She smirked and then continued, "And then some were about things like you telling me you love me." She glanced up at him only to see him completely freeze.
Was I talking aloud that night! Could she have heard me! Oh, kami! She's about to laugh at the whole idea!
He prepared himself for the hurt that never came.
She blushed and looked back down to make more circles in the dirt. "I was just sitting here thinking about how I wouldn't trade coming here to the Feudal Era for anything in the world. I have unbelievable friends, I have people like Kaede to take care of me, and then I have you." At this, the hanyou tilted his head in confusion. Surely, she doesn't mean… "While I was sick, I felt so horrible not seeing you at all. It made me think about what would have happened if I never came back here after I shattered the jewel or if I never fell in love with you." This completely threw Inuyasha for a loop. She went on still, "I know you still have feelings for Kikyou and maybe you only think of me as a friend, but do you think you could love me someday?" She looked up then, cheeks blazing and waited for his reply.
Minutes went by without either of the pair saying anything. Inuyasha could smell the tears gathering in Kagome's eyes and it wasn't until she made a move to leave that he said anything. "I already do love you, Kagome." With that said, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his chest to embrace her. She immediately melted into the hug, trying to make her intense emotions of love tangible. She never wanted this moment to end.
"I don't have feelings for Kikyou anymore. I will always care about her memory, but you are the woman that matters to me now and for the rest of time, Kagome." She lifted her head to look into his eyes and she saw nothing but molten gold. That was the most eloquent he had ever been during their travels together. She leaned up into him and just barely brushed her lips against his. They spent many minutes cuddled together and saying tender and meaningful things they knew would only stay between them. Contentment was making both hearts swell.
Kagome didn't know exactly when she fell asleep but she was aware that she was in Inuyasha's arms when she awoke. She moved against him, taking in his smell and the feel of his muscles surrounding her. She felt safer than she had ever felt in her life. Suddenly she felt the hanyou tense and she opened her eyes. It was Shippo wearing the biggest grin she had ever seen. The kitsune began to dance and sing, "Wait til' Sango and Miroku hear about this!"
Inuyasha sprang to his feet, standing Kagome on her own feet gently. Shippo squealed and began to run back toward the hut. "Get back here you brat!" Inuyasha yelled as he took off after the little kitsune. Kagome laughed as she heard popping noises that told her Shippo was trying to trick his way out of getting caught. "Don't hurt him, Inuyasha!" She shouted as she shook her head.
Some things never change. She smiled and began to run after the boys.