"Kagome!" Inuyasha called, as he made his way to my side. In an instant, we were on the other side of the clearing. It took me a few moments to catch my breath. I was surprised at myself for still being shaken everytime he would do that. It was basically like routine. He'd snatch me up and have me away from the danger before I even knew there was any.
"Are you all right, Kagome?" I heard him say.
I shook my head meekly. "Y-yeah. Thanks, Inuyasha..." Was all I could manage. He nodded sternly, as he unleashed his sword.
"Stay behind me, Kagome. I'll finish this demon off with my Wind Scar!" He shouted brusquely as sprinted towards the demon. I couldn't help but smile at his confidence. I watched in amazement as Inuyasha raised the sword above his head, and then the Wind Scar was unleased as the sword clashed with the ground. The demon was disintegrated in a matter of seconds, leaving nothing but dust in it's wake.
Inuyasha looked towards me, a frantic look in his eyes. I smiled, and took a step towards him. "Kagome! Run!" I looked at him, confusion clearly written across my features as he started to run towards me, sword still unsheathed. Run from what? I couldn't think clearly. I turned my head slowly, fearing the worst. A searing pain shot through my backside as I was slung across the clearing, a subtle scream emerging from my throat as I was roughly caught in the arms of the silver-haired hanyou. His piercing golden eyes were the last thing I saw before the darkness took over.
oOo
I woke up to the same unbearable pain, blinking slightly, never quite opening my eyelids as far as they could go. The sun burned my eyes. Everything was blurry as I tried my hardest to adjust to the scenery around me. I saw a flash of red, and before I could even see it clearly, I knew it was Inuyasha.
"Inu...yasha...?" I felt his cool finger on my lips.
"Shh..." I heard him whisper. Inuyasha?
I felt a small smile tug at the corner of my mouth, and I struggled to get up. I remember his warm hand pushing me gently back down.
"Take it easy..."
I didn't argue. I hissed involuntarily as I reached my hand out to him. Everything hurt. What had happened to me? Realization hit at that question. The demon attack. How many days had it been since then?
"Wh... Where's... the demon?" It was obvious enough what had knocked me unconcious, you didn't need to be a rocket scientist to figure it out.
"Dead. Are you okay? Are you in any pain?" He asked urgently, worry evident in his voice.
I thought about it for a moment before I answered, deciding to lie. "No... I'm..." Then another ragged breath came out through clenched teeth, and my lie was shot.
"Only you could try to lie at a time like this. Don't speak. Just rest." I nodded, regretting it the moment I did as pain shot through my neck. It subsided after few moments and I laid perfectly still. It only seemed to take minutes before I fell into an exhausted, dreamless sleep.
oOo
It was dark when I woke up again, and I was inside of a small, secluded hut. Kaede's. My eyes darted around the room, taking in four sleeping bodies. Inuyasha? Where was Inuyasha?
Looking up, and tilting my head slightly back on the dark, warm fabric... his leg, I spotted him. His intense eyes bore into mine, and I was at a loss for words. Smiling hesitantly at him, his eyes lightened slightly, worry still etched in them as we stared silently at eachother. I frowned.
"How long have I been asleep?" I asked timidly.
"A few days." His voice was rough... almost harsh. He didn't even seem to be trying to hide the emotions behind it.
"I'm sorry." I said suddenly, barely above a whisper. He looked at me quizically, his ears twitching. "For not paying attention, I mean... I was stupid." I could barely even hear myself speak, but I knew he did, because he crossed his arms across his chest and narrowed his eyes.
"Feh. It was my fault." he argued stubbornly. Breaking eye contact as he turned towards the fire. "I couldn't protect you."
"No. Inuyasha, I-" I was cut off mid sentence, startled by the sudden sound of flesh hitting wood.
"Dammit Kagome, stop trying to take the blame!" He shouted, waking the whole hut as he turned back towards me. Everyone stayed quiet, including myself. Words failed me whenever he had that look in his eyes... The same look he gave me the night I found him with Kikyou. I couldn't bear it. I turned my eyes away, hating myself more and more by the second for having put that look there.
I shook my head, more to myself then to anybody else, and managed to sit up. I was surprised this caused me no unbearable pain. It was down to a minimum now.
"I'm fine, Inuyasha. Really." I amended, turning to smile slightly at him. He sighed, never looking towards me. I sighed then, too, resting my back against the wall beside him. I blushed when he wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer to his side. I smiled contently, as I rested my head on his muscular shoulder. I yawned, feeling myself getting tired again. That injury must have really taken a lot out of me...
oOo
The next morning, I woke up on the floor, wrapped up in my sleeping bag, with Inuyasha's haori laid lightly on top of me. Looking around the hut, I noticed everyone was still asleep. It was barely dawn, and Inuyasha was no where to be seen.
I yawned almost silently, as I unwrapped the blanket from around me. Standing up, I brought his haori with me, wrapping it securely around myself to fend off the cold breeze of the morning. The wind felt amazing against my bare legs as I walked outside of the hut. Taking a quick glance at my surroundings, I made my way towards the Bone-Eaters Well, where I knew Inuyasha would be.
I was nearly knocked on my rear in the next moment, as he landed swiftly in front of me, face only inches from mine. I paused for a moment, to let my heart restart as I regained some of my composure.
"What are you doing?" he asked, cocking his head to the side.
I supressed a giggle. "Looking for you." I answered simply. He was giving me the same look as yesterday, and I felt my heart wrench.
"I think we should talk." he said calmly, turning around briskly to walk back towards the well.
"Talk? What about?" I felt sick to my stomach as I followed him. He didn't answer, he just kept silent as he continued to walk slowly. Presumably so I could keep up. I stopped walking when the well came into sight, feeling a sudden reluctance.
"I thought we talked about this...?" I asked, barely above a whisper. His ears twitched towards my general direction, so I knew he heard me.
"What?" he asked, playing dumb, obviously, as he stopped and turned to face me.
"Me. Staying here with you..." I couldn't make myself look up. I swear, if I saw that look one more time I was going to be sick.
"Kagome... It's too dangerous now." He took a step towards me, and my hands balled into fists.
"I don't care." I could feel the tears coming now. Oh god, please don't let me start crying...
"I do."
"I'm not leaving." I argued, taking a step back as I blinked away the tears.
"Kagome -"
"No." I turned to make a dash for the hut, but his hand turned into an iron vise around my wrist. He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly, and I felt the tears fall then.
"I can't protect you the way I should, you'll be safer in your own time." He ran his fingers through my hair, patting my head soothingly with the other.
"But... Inuyasha I... I can't leave you. And what about Shippou and the others? I can't..."
"You're not making the decision." he said sternly. I hid my face in his chest, soaking his white shirt with salt water.
"But-"
"No, Kagome. I don't think I could bear it if something happened to you."
I shoved away from him. "Yeah, it would suck if something happened to your jewel detector, wouldn't it?" I knew I was being silly the moment I said it. If he still thought of me as only a jewel detector, he wouldn't be trying to send me back home. I was useless back home. He shook his head, looking up towards me with fierce eyes. I could tell that my small little accusation had hurt him, but at the moment, I didn't care. "I'm not going home." I said, failing at sounding angry, as I crossed my arms. My eyes narrowed as he started sniffing the air.
"What is it?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. He was in front me me in two long strides, back facing me.
"Stay behind me." he warned as he reached over to rest his hand on the hilt of Tessaiga. I nodded, stepping over an inch to hide myself from whatever was coming.
In a flash, Koga was standing not a foot from Inuyasha, a huge grin plastered onto his face as he glanced towards me. "Hey Dog-breath, I hope you've been taking care of my woman." he said, keeping his eyes on me as he made an attempt to walk passed Inuyasha.
"Don't even think about it, Wolf-boy." Inuyasha threatened, glaring at Koga as he stretched an arm out in front of him. Koga turned to him, glaring now.
I laughed nervously. "Come on guys... Don't fight now." I said, raising my hands up innocently.
Koga turned back towards me, raising an eyebrow as he looked at me up and down. "What's wrong with you, Kagome? You look tired." He shoved Inuyasha's arm away, taking a step towards me. He lifted my chin up between his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to look at him. I averted my eyes, looking towards Inuyasha pleadingly. This was the last thing I needed right now.
Inuyasha was already in action as he shoved Koga away and stepped in between us, unsheathing Tessaiga. He always was a little too brash when it came to Koga.
"Keep your hands off Kagome, you puny wolf!" Inuyasha said defensively.
"You put her life in danger again, didn't you?" he glared fiercely at Inuyasha, as he asked. Inuyasha glared back, ignoring the question.
"Koga, I-"
"Don't make excuses for that mutt, Kagome." He had a look of disgust written on his face as he walked towards me again, taking my arm by the wrist. Inuyasha didn't move.
"No, Koga, I-" Would no one let me talk today? I asked myself as I was interrupted for the umpteenth time that day.
"I think it's about time you came and stayed under my protection Kagome. I'd never let a thing hurt you, unlike this-" A loud slap resounded in the clearing, as flesh met flesh. Koga's face turned to the left, utter shock now marring his features.
"No, Koga. Let go of me." He looked at me quizically, and let go.
"Kagome-"
"Leave." I was surprised at the sternness in my voice.
"One thing though," he turned to Inuyasha, "Inu-trasha, I'm not giving up o-"
"Leave!" I shouted, irritation and anger clearly evident in my voice.
He nodded, "See ya Kagome!" he waved once and in a mere moment, he was a whirlwind on the other side of the clearing. I sighed in relief, glad he was gone.
"Inuyasha?" I stepped towards him, eyebrows furrowed, as I reached out and touched his shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"He's right. You don't belong here, Kagome. You don't belong with me." He turned towards me now, giving me that same look of misery and guilt.
"But this is where I want to be... I-" I didn't know what else to say. I couldn't make myself admit that I loved him.
"But you need to be in your own time. Where you're safe." He argued, though it didn't seem much like an argument... the way he sounded so calm and serene... Not like him at all... I could tell he was already set in his mind to send me back home. The tears sprang back in my eyes, I couldn't bare to leave him.
"No, Inuyasha," I continued to argue, "I need to be here with you." I reached forward and grabbed onto his sleeve, fisting my hands into the soft, red fabric that was his Robe of the Fire Rat. I looked at him pleadingly. I felt as if I was seconds from begging.
He looked at me hesitantly, as emotions washed through his eyes, too fast for me to interpret. His face became a hard mask as he opened his mouth to speak, "I don't want you." he sounded out every syllable, as if that could somehow get his point across clearer than it normally would have.
I dropped my hands from his sleeve in an instant, almost as quickly as I would have if I were being burned. My mouth wouldn't open, and I couldn't mutter a sound. I was surprisingly thankful for that, because I had absolutely no idea what I'd say if I could. I simply nodded, and looked away from him, not looking back as I walked towards the well.
I felt the tears cascading down my cheeks, cooling my hot face ever so slightly. I gave him one last parting glace, taking in his every feature, as I pushed myself off into the darkness. Before I could even grasp what this moment meant, I was already being engulfed in the blue light.
I forgot my Sacred Jewel shards...