WOW This has definitely been a challenge. I would say that I have had this idea for at least two years. This first scene has been excruciatingly difficult to write. Forgive me if it is not particularly clear or wordy. I tried my best. Thank you for reading! And don't forget to review and tell me what you think
DISCLAIMER: I do not own InuYasha
Love; In the Heartbeat of a Day
Prelude
By Lady Persephone
/You know when you give your love away
It opens your heart
Everything is new
And you know time will always find a way
To let your heart believe its true\
"Shippou! The needle, NOW!" A small pale hand darted into the basin of steaming water grasping the small thin piece of metal tightly, ignoring the blisters that would undoubtedly follow. The small, rigid pin was passed hastily to a pair of shaking, withered hands.
The wound was extraordinary. Wide, hungry lips ate away at the skin surrounding the yawning gash. Like water released from a dam, thick vermillion blood coursed steadily onto the woven mat covering the dirt floor of the small medicinal hut.
"Push harder Sango! Too much blood has been lost already!" Commanded an unsteady yet firm voice. The woman named Sango glared fiercely at the wound with new determination as she added pressure to the blood-soaked cloth covering the injury. "Better! Yes much better! Now, I need you to remove the cloth slightly so that I may try and close the wound. But that cloth will not do…" A grey, beady eye hurriedly scanned the hut until it rested on a small copper haired youth. "Shippou! Fetch a clean rag for Sango! We do not want to risk infection." The youth nodded with wide glassy eyes, not daring to disobey. He immediately snatched a new rag and shoved it into the steaming basin. Tears stung at his eyes are the scorching water scalded his tiny hands. Ignoring the pain, he passed the hot rag to Sango who stared at him with great sympathy as he proceeded to wash the used cloth.
The hut was silent, save the heavy, raspy breathing of the victim lying unconscious on the floor. The tension hung on everyone's shoulder's as the quivering creased hands of the medicinal witch clenched the hot needle threaded with a thin string above the gaping injury. Slowly, the needle was lowered and pierced the lips of the wound. The needle was pulled clean through the skin and then proceeded to force the edges of the injury together.
The cool midnight breeze was cool and calming as Kaede ducked under the woven flap of the hut and out into the night. She closed her eye and breathed the clean air deep then let out a long, mournful sigh. She opened her eyes and gazed sadly at the young man pacing back and forth in front of the hut, obviously unaware of her presence. She sighed once more and walked slowly to the clean basin of fresh rainwater that had collected in the early evening. She cupped her aged hands together and slowly slid them under the glassy surface, Carefully; she lifted her hands out of the water and observed halfheartedly how the water spilled beautifully over her hands and back into the basin. She brought the water to her face and treasured how cool the water was as it fell over the deep erosions on her aged face.
"I know what you are going to ask me." She told the night simply. The young hanyou waiting behind her flinched as he noted the tiredness and exhaustion in her tone.
"Is she going to be alright?" He demanded, not caring that she had anticipated the fact that he would abandon his pride to ask her, His amber eyes glowed with such intensity that it made Kaede want to ignore his question all together if the answer meant extinguishing the fire in his eyes. She sighed heavily once more and noticed the blood that was caked underneath her fingernails. He would have to realize the truth eventually.
"She is going to die tomorrow." She told him, meeting his eyes humble truth. "Maybe even tonight…There was nothing I could do even to ease her pain." His eyes were unchanging; not processing properly what she had just revealed. She continued, "Perhaps if I was younger, and more powerful there might be something that I could do." His expression still did not waver. "There is no changing things that are inevitable. I'm sorry InuYasha."
It was impossible. Simply inconceivable. There was no way that Kagome was dying. That she would disappear from his life like Kikyo had. He would simply not allow it. He turned away from Kaede and vanished inside the hut.
To mere human senses she looked dead. Like the pale and unforgiving hand of death had already stolen her soul to the black lands. But to the keen senses of a demon, her labored, raspy breathing was easily noticeable. Like the beads of sweat on her forehead that slid down her face and into her already sweat matted hair. The wound was covered by several bandages that worked to put pressure on the wound and to keep the ties that held the wound together in place. The blood was leading through. Her tattered uniform was removed and replaced with a thick grey robe and numerous blankets to help prevent an inescapable rising fever.
To the sharp and peerless senses of a demon, it was clear that she was dying.
"Could you leave for a moment Sango, Shippou, Miroku?" For a second he saw refusal on their faces, but then it was gone, and the left the hut one by one, sparing one last glance at Kagome. Once he was sure that they were gone, he smiled sadly at his best friend as he watched her fight for his life. "Shhh" he murmured softly as she moaned in her sleep, her face contorting in pain. "It's alright," he whispered softly, I'm here." He traced his finger from her forehead to her jaw line. "I'm going to save you." There was no doubt in his mind. She was going to live. He was going to make that possible, His pride abandoned and forgotten; he smiled once more at her and then lifted her into his arms. She let out a strangled yell as her wound tore at her abdomen. He knew the others would not hear for he knew that they had taken Shippou off to the temples to pray. He continued to murmur comfort into her ear as he stood and left. The hut.
He leapt into the air as smoothly as he could manage. He knew that he could not survive without her. He knew that there was no way on Earth that she could die. He knew exactly where he had to go.
He landed softly on the soft autumn ground, barely noticing the crisp of brittle leaves beneath his bare feet. He stared at the God tree and then at Kagome. There was no doubt in his mind. His gaze turned to a woman in traditional miko garb bearing a striking resemblance to the girl cradled in his arms. Silver soul dragons swam in the air around her. She eyed his with cold, stony eyes. He met stare with an equally unyielding gaze, "Fix her."
Well There is the prelude for you. I know this is short and I promise that the others will be longer. Its just I needed you to get a feel for the story and give you a little taste of what's to come. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review and let me know what you thought. If I get enough positive feedback I can get started on the first chapter immediately. Thank you for reading!
Persephone