Relieving the Pain

Kagome dashed through the forest, one foot wearing its shoe and the other had none, the sock had become soiled from the muddy earth from the rain of the previous night. She didn't know when she had lost her shoe but she really didn't care. She tripped and fell, her hand receiving a shallow gash and her knees suffering from small and large cuts. Tears fell down her face; soaking the earth she gripped, the sky dark and forbidding, resembling the mood of the raven-haired beauty. Or, that's what she used to be. She knew it was coming but she didn't know it would be so soon. Or that she had to witness such a heart-breaking scene. As soon as she closed her eyes, images flashed back. The overly pale woman under her half-demon's red haori, the demon beside her, both looking sated and tired. From what, she could guess for herself. Her mind scoffed at her foolishness. Her hanyou? What a crock of shit.
Her forehead touched the ground. Her small fist rose, hitting the earth violently. Why!!! Why!? Why InuYasha did you do this to me!? Nothing would come. Over the last few days, they had fought little, InuYasha even becoming at ease. With Naraku gone for good, there were few jewel shards that needed collecting. She winced and stopped hitting the ground as a disgusting crack came from her hand. She cradled her hand to her chest, the almost completed jewel lightly brushing her hands. She growled and looked down at the shiny pink gem. "This stupid thing has cost me more tears then anything!?" she yelled, sure no one could hear her. Her voice became lost amongst the brush. Though she had never so much as uttered a curse word, this came out with sheer force. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!" she screamed, amazed that it echoed in the clearing she laid in. She fell onto her side, rolling onto her back finally and looking up at the sky. Her heart had broken for the last time.
Exhaustion finally hit her along with pain and nausea. She dragged herself a few meters and retched in a shrub at the edge of the clearing. She doubled over as soon as she attempted to stand, her back hitting the ground hard. For a long moment, she merely lay there, a light drizzle having started lightly saturated her hair. She seriously considered just lying there and dying. Right there, right now. She sobbed softly, spasms that came with it rattling her tired, cold, wet, and injured body. She dared not close her eyes and attempted not to even blink. The memory was so clear. "Sorry Kikyo. I didn't wish for this intrusion." InuYasha had said, referring to her. She saw InuYasha's eyes slightly glazed over, obviously one of Kikyo's tricks but she didn't deny that InuYasha desired Kikyo. Not her. Never her. Show yourself out. InuYasha's words echoed in her mind, not forgetting the venom that dripped from each word. How could he? After everything, he didn't even stand to show her out. "How could he pick that damned pottery piece over me?" she growled, her pain and exhaustion, disappearing. She stood, her legs slightly unsteady.
Earlier that night, she was as giddy as the schoolgirl she was. She turned eighteen not one week ago and just loved everything people had gotten her. Tonight was that night however. The only reason she was there at all. That night, she would go to InuYasha and beg him to make love to her, expressing her feelings afterward. Her stomach knotted and lurching, a wave of nausea hit her but she held it in. Her right hand came up, lightly placed over the place her delicate heart had been before tonight. When only an hour earlier, her chest was tight and warm. Now, she could feel the chill coming off her body making her feel clammy. Kagome wiped her face with a lithe, pale hand, falling to her knees then lying down on her side, her eyes closed, and her body trembling from the cold. "I hate you InuYasha. How dare you look at me, touch me, even think about me. You are disgusting." She whispered. She hated him now.

Human colored ears twitched slightly at the sounds he was hearing. Definitely not of animals. It was not his concern but still, he sauntered to the area, closing his eyes as the resonating curse word was screamed. The young woman was lying on the ground now, and then she stood, her hair waving slightly behind her. He recognized her immediately as his brother's companion, Kagome. Half brother! his mind reminded him fiercely. Brushing long silver hair from his shoulder, Sesshomaru watched in amusement and in worry, an odd emotion for him indeed. The scent of her tears and blood rose up, his eyes flashing from molten gold to crimson and back to they're gold. He stood there for several minutes, listening to her gently curses his hanyou brother under her breath. He smirked and remained, watching her back as she fell to sleep. Only then did he leave his post. Since Jaken died from poison ingestion and Rin had been passed off to a human family, he finally had the peace he wanted.
He kneeled slightly, not allowing his white kimono to be soiled by the ground, a stoic expression held in place as he examined her. Her face was wet and dirty, her hands, arms and knees were scraped up pretty bad. Her clothes, the odd revealing clothes that confused him since the first time he saw her, were dirty and ripped. Her sock were caked in mud as was the shoe on her other foot and her skirt was frayed, small pieces of fabric around the hem missing. Unconsciously, a clawed hand curled into a fist, the demon lord not noticing until he drew blood. He sighed almost silently as the wound closed up. He brought that same hand up, removing a stray lock of hair from her delicate features. Only then did he actually see the tears. Her eyes were puffy and red and large streaks of clean skin from the tears frequented her cheeks. He muttered a silent oath and something warmed in his chest before freezing over again. In one swift movement, he picked her up, maneuvering her so she would be hurt by the armor he wore. His left arm carried her legs as his right kept her head up. Now, he was happy grateful for having his arm back. The dirt she had been lying on had begun to rub off but he didn't care.
He smelt the oncoming rain and swiftly sought shelter, surprisingly not disturbing the sleeping body in his arms. Every stray glance down at the beauty he had stumbled upon sent a rush of adrenaline through his veins. He found a roadhouse. It was extremely late, which was one of the reasons he was surprised when he found her. He walked to the door, forgetting he was a demon. A stout man with squinty eyes and barely any hair looked up at him. He was obviously hard of sight. "I need a room." Sesshomaru murmured gruffly. "We are all filled up. It's traveling season." The man said, squinting to see the two forms. "My apologies young man." The innkeeper said with honesty ringing in his voice. Sesshomaru walked away with the girl in his arms. He looked up around him in the forest and found a large tree. Moving from a saunter to a brisk walk, he reached it, sitting down in a groove of roots. He sat her down directly in front of him between his legs and leaned her back to his front. He noticed her goose bumps as it began to rain quite heavily. He removed his armor swiftly, moving her only when necessary and then his out kimono. He turned her towards him and allowed her rest against his skin, her cold body chilling him to the bone. He swung the kimono around her shoulders and held her close to him, her body becoming warmer. For some odd reason, as she got warmer, so did he.
The rain ended only minutes after it started, the moon becoming unveiled and shining down on them as a heavenly light. Some drizzle and run off had reached them, his hair becoming wet as she cleaned off her face, revealing a gorgeous angel. He felt unworthy all of a sudden but forced the thought away. She was a blasted human! His body grew very tight as her hand lightly touched his chest in rest, her hair and hand caressing him. His eyes closed tightly, willing everything away. He held her closer, the moon accenting her. His eyes opened, flashing red, his naturally golden eyes fighting off the blood red. He remembered her words as he listened to her gentle breathing. 'InuYasha. I will tear out your eyes just for looking at her. I will sever your hands from your despicable body for laying a hand on her. I will crush your head in my hands for thinking about her.' He thought, muttering something softly. All night he would keep watch. He would question her tomorrow on what happened. Somewhere in the night, he fell asleep, unable to stay awake any longer. For very long days, he had not slept (Not four as in the number. I meant what I wrote) at all and that exhaustion swept over him.

Kagome groaned softly, moving around a little before her almost black eyes opened. True, she had beautiful chocolate orbs but that was before last night. Her eyes squinted slightly, seeing white, silver, gold and a peach color. "Am I dead?" she asked quietly, her hand running along the hard surface. Her face felt lighter than it was when she had fallen asleep. Her other hand felt her soft skin. "You're not dead." Her gruff voice said. She paused and felt strong muscles leaping and tightening under her touch. Her eyes opened and looked up into his golden orbs, not thinking for a second it was InuYasha. "Sesshomaru?" she said softly, her voice slightly cracked from crying and yelling. Looking up into his face, she saw how the sun beating down on the made shadows appear on his too-handsome face. His eyes were colder than the half demon she loved but his face was more defined and utterly devastating. She understood why Lady Sarah loved him. "What are you?" she murmured, looking around. He was naked to the waist and she was draped in his kimono, her clothes dirty and slightly damp. "You saved me didn't you?" she asked, sitting up a little straighter. Before she could get up, he was standing with her in his arms. He swung the kimono around his shoulders and made his way into it then reattached his armor without even have to drop her. "We need to go and get your legs cleaned up. What help will you be to my disgrace of a brother without one leg." He said. She force and went pale at the idea that she would be a cripple. "I have no intention of returning to your witless, pathetic, and idiotic half brother!" she announced, venom dipping off her words. She shocked Sesshomaru and it was obvious. After an aggravating conversation they had, both were silent for the walk through the forest.

Her words surprised him and his fine silver brows shot up, almost disappearing into his hair line. He was surprised that she wouldn't return, more so when those names came spewing out her mouth, and even more so when she corrected him about InuYasha being his half brother. He smirked. "But of course you are. You love him." He said, his voice mocking her slightly. "I despise him." He heard her and remained silent, walking quickly, wanting to rid himself of this temperamental female but at the same time, not.
For several silent, anxious, tense minutes, Sesshomaru moved from the brush onto the heavily used road. Some travelers moved on the road, some too engulfed on trying to find out where they are than be wary of the demon. After a little, he began to notice some men were looking at her, hunger in their eyes. More and more began as she had fallen asleep once more. He held onto her tighter, glaring at the men with a look that could freeze the blood. The men scurried along, less and less looking at her as they looked at him first now. Some women in a group started whispering unsavory comments about the angel in his arms. 'Sleeping with a demon.' 'Poor girl is going to be ripped apart.' 'Poor girl! I say the little slut deserves it!' All of it was whispered but the fact that they were saying it boiled his blood. Had it been like this whenever she was out with InuYasha? Yes. Humans less accept Hanyous than full demons. Kagome would have to listen to wagging tongues whenever she was out. Pain ripped through his chest as if he had been stabbed but it was different as if it came from the inside out. He felt for her. The raven-haired beauty in his arms suffered for being with any man. He started to ponder. Should he just take her with him? Should he leave her here? Should he make her go back to her country of origin? The latter looked very good. All he would have to do is escort her to a boat dock or wherever and she would be happy. Then, out of nowhere, his mind swung to the first option. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the thought. He was happy alone! He thought about that word. Alone. Last night he wasn't. The evening leading to it he wasn't. He was blessed by an angel's presence and he felt good though he didn't show it. He slept easily with her in his arms though he wouldn't admit any reason to himself. She felt her struggle a bit, a nightmare befalling her, breaking him from his thoughts. His face turned up in a disgusted look. He wanted to punch himself. Instead, he pressed her sleeping form closer to him, silencing her movements. Her hand returned to its prior position when they were sleeping. Heat shot through his limb and he shook his head again. What the hell was this woman doing to him?
About thirty minutes of walking passed and Sesshomaru didn't think one second of them except about a place to get her bandaged up. Finally he came upon one little building and gave up Kagome to the woman who was hesitant to help.
"Bad scratches on her arms and legs." She said, looking at him with conviction.
"She fell while running."
"From you?"
"From someone else."
"Anyone you know?"
"No. He'd be dead." He lied. He knew InuYasha. And he was going to die. Not only for Kagome. But for Tetsusaiga as well. Surprisingly, he didn't leave. He walked over and sat on a chair as people moved away from him. His face remained stoic as Kagome walked out of the room on unsteady legs. In a flash, he was beside her, helping her walking. The nurse explained how they put a disinfectant on her knees. As soon as they were outside, Kagome stopped him from picking her up once more.

Kagome sat down and patted beside her. From beneath her ebony lashes, she watched him sit beside her. Digging into her pocket, she pulled out some bandages from her time and started to put them on her knees until a deep, resonant voice spoke to her. "What in the seven Hells are those?" She smiled softly at his words and looked up at him, the sunlight reflecting off his beautiful silver hair. She began to wonder what it felt like. She shook her head and went back to her task. "These are bandages. I'll explain when there are not so many people around. As soon as she finished, she was back up in his arms. "First, I want to know what the hell my brother did. From what I could tell, you had run a good four miles away. Perhaps more." She looked shocked. "Four miles? More?"
She sighed and looked up at him. Instead of asking him why and, of course, leaving out the embarrassing parts, she explained the whole affair. How she had went to his little cottage. How Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara had left after her birthday to go live in the Demon Slayer's village. How she was shocked to see InuYasha and Kikyo naked in each other's arms. How he had been so cold to her. How she didn't know when she started running or when she started crying or how she lost her shoe. By the end, she was crying into his chest. It shocked her when he didn't move away. Instead, after being some distance into the forest, he allowed her to stand on her feet. Her tear stained face looked up into his saddened features with confusion. All she felt was strong arms around her and his soft kimono touching her cheek. Her eyes closed as he held her fast, her head fitting under his chin perfectly. "It's ok, Kagome." he whispered to her, the first time he used her name. She smiled softly. Don't make me return. She pleaded.

Well, I don't own InuYasha and I must say, this is a pleasure to be writing. For a while, I only accepted Kagome and InuYasha together but it's time I expanded my horizons. I must, however state my encouragements to write this so here it goes:
Just For - Nickelback
I Wish I Had an Angel - Nightwish
Superman - 3 Doors Down
Just a little Crush - Jennifer Paige
I Will Carry You - Clay Aiken
Kissed by a Rose - Seal
Tainted Love - Marilyn Manson
and
Wounded - Good Charlotte