(A/N:) Hello, hello! Yes, I am back with yet another InuYasha tale! And of course, it features our favorite little lovebirds Kagome and InuYasha :) I've had this idea for months...and then finally decided halfway through a lecture in my boring-as-hell AP Economics class that I should start writing it. Yes, I am an excellent role model for other high school students (Okay, that was sarcastic, but...really. I am. Just not when it comes to paying attention to lectures haha.) Anyway, you know the drill! Please read and PLEASE review :D You have no idea how important and meaningful reviews are to us authors. They make our day (at least, they always make my day). And if you have the chance or interest, please check out my other InuYasha stories: Innocence, and Between Best Friends. Shameless advertising, I know. I'm an actress, what can I say? Enjoy! Oh! And Merry early Christmas to those that celebrate it! I'm stoked; three days left!
STORY DESCRIPTION: (PLEASE READ, if you didn't read the above. It's okay, just a bunch of my rambling). When Kagome catches a nasty cold and fever, Sango and Miroku send InuYasha back to the present with her to help nurse her back to health. There's only one problem; he doesn't know the first thing about being a gentle and caring nurse! Not to mention that he doesn't understand nearly everything from her era. Hot baths? Stove? Laundry? And, it certainly doesn't help that he's stuck figuring this out on his own, as Kagome's family isn't home. And just when he starts to get the hang of things...he gets struck down by her virus, himself. Hilarity ensues, as does much Inu/Kag fluffiness and some occasional smut. Rated M for language and possible sexual content. POSSIBLE, because I'm trying to keep this as in-character and canon as possible. I'd place it about where Innocence is...maybe a few weeks/a month after, so a good six or seven months after the InuYasha story begins. So, since it's post-Innocence, InuYasha and Kagome are kind of together; they've kissed and know that they are in love with each other…but they're not completely a couple. Basically, they're just in-canon as they are the entire manga; unofficially together.
The Cure to All Ailments
Chapter 1: Strike Down
"H-hey InuYasha, wait for me!" Kagome called after the half-demon as he sprinted ahead with the others. She'd been having a difficult time keeping up with them the past couple of days, which didn't surprise her as she was still extremely exhausted from the sleep she'd lost studying for last week's midterms. That, plus the fact that they'd just escaped from another near-death encounter with Naraku, and she was so not a runner, was enough to max out her energy scale.
"Come on, Kagome!" InuYasha simply yelled back, gesturing over his shoulder with an impatient wave that he wasn't impressed by her frailty.
"I'm trying," she huffed, pushing herself to run even faster. Her breaths were growing short and ragged, and her throat was beginning to hurt as she gasped for air. She tried desperately to suck in a deep breath, and her throat constricted, a painful cough forcing free instead. She abruptly stopped running as the coughing worsened, but her inertia was too great and she tripped at the sudden halt, falling hard on her side into the rough dirt path. There was the nauseating sound of a body being dragged across a jagged surface as she skidded a few feet down the rocky path, and one set of animalistic ears twitched frantically as they heard each sickening movement.
"Kagome!"
InuYasha instantly rushed to her side, carefully but hastily pulling her back to her feet. She grimaced at the pain and collapsed against him, whatever energy that was left in her instantly extinguished.
"Fuck, Kagome," he exclaimed in surprise as her fiery skin pressed against him. "You're burning up!"
"I am?" she asked deliriously, another rough cough breaking free.
"Aww hell, you're sick," he said, growing panic in his voice. "You're really sick! Why didn't you say anything?"
She gave him a mild glare, but that was all she could manage. "Because you wouldn't listen to me."
"Oh, so this is my fault, is it?" he snapped, still sounding frenzied. "Well then, what do I do?"
"Kagome, what's wrong?" Sango asked breathlessly as she and Miroku came running up to the pair.
"She's sick," InuYasha answered for her, giving Miroku a sharp look as he placed his palm on Kagome's forehead. "And injured."
"My, my," the monk said, pity in his voice as he shook his head. "That's quite a fever you have."
"A fever?" Sango repeated. "Oh my. I've had those before. They're dreadful. Once I was sick for nearly three months." She shuddered at the memory. "Father and Kohaku had to remain at my bedside every day to care for me."
"Three months?" InuYasha's voice cracked as it reached a much higher octave.
"InuYasha," Kagome murmured between coughs. "Calm down, please. I'm fine."
"Like hell you are."
"I've had fevers before, too. I'll be back to normal in a couple of days," she tried to assure him. "Remember, the medicine in my era is much more advanced."
"That is very true," Sango agreed with a nod. "The cures you always bring back are quite remarkable. I'm sure I would have recovered much more quickly had I been able to use some of your medicines."
"Still," Miroku said solemnly, "you are very sick. You need to rest. We can afford to stop for several days once we reach the village."
"What? Are you fucking insane?" InuYasha snapped. "Where is all this extra time you always mention? We have to keep moving before Naraku strikes again."
"Sango was able to manage a substantial blow against him," Miroku continued evenly, keeping his voice low. "I doubt he'll be on the hunt for at least a week or two. Besides, Lady Kagome's health is our primary concern. Or do you not agree?"
"Of course I do," he growled lividly. "Her safety is my responsibility, and that includes her health."
"Well then, what are we standing around for?" Miroku questioned. "We must reach the village without delay."
"Thank you, Miroku," Kagome said with sincerity. "I didn't know you cared so much."
"Yeah, almost too much," InuYasha agreed, his voice suddenly menacingly low. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were in love with her or something."
"Oh no, not at all!" the lecherous monk laughed nervously. "Lady Kagome certainly is a beautiful young flower, but…well…as that goes…"
He was abruptly cut off from his stammering by a swift blow from Sango's boomerang bone. "Don't hurt yourself trying so hard," she snapped, hitting him again when he resumed his laughter.
"I don't have time for this," InuYasha grumbled, crouching down and glancing back at Kagome. "Get on, Kagome. Let's go."
"Wait," Sango said, shifting her attention to the pair. "Kirara can carry us all. We'd get to the village must faster."
"And listen to you two bicker the entire flight? I don't think so," InuYasha retorted, standing up once Kagome was securely on his back, her arms wrapped around his neck for extra support. "Besides, the skies are far too dangerous right now, and we're only a few hours away. We can make it to the village by nightfall if we move fast."
Sango gave a curt nod and slung her boomerang bone across her back as Kirara jumped up into her arms. "Very well. Then let's go."
"Wait for me!" Miroku called as they began to run off without him. "C'mon you guys, you need to learn to lighten up."
"Only when you learn to be serious," InuYasha sniped. "Now get a move on. Our time is limited."
"InuYasha…" Kagome mumbled faintly.
"Try to sleep, Kagome," he told her. "It'll be a few hours. I'll protect you."
Kagome had no idea how she was supposed to sleep on InuYasha's back as he ran at high speeds, but her body was exhausted, and her subconscious seemed to trust him even more fully than her raging mind, because she was fast asleep within minutes.
"Now what?"
Kagome's eyes fluttered open at InuYasha's angry voice. She blinked, her head clouded and heavy, as she broke free from her slumber and tried to gain her bearings. She was very warm, and the world was no longer racing by as it had when she fell asleep. She was laying down, on the wooden floor of Kaede's hut in the village, and the soft material of a kimono was stretched over her. No, not a kimono, she realized upon closer inspection. It was InuYasha's haori. The familiar scent and feel of it were comforting as she lay there, remembering her sickness as it suddenly came back full force.
"Kagome needs rest," Kaede could be heard, her subdued voice sharp. "And stop that yelling. You'll wake her up."
"Too late." InuYasha had noticed Kagome begin to stir, and as she opened her eyes and met his gaze he frowned.
"H-how long have I been out?" she mumbled, her voice sounding exhausted and pitifully congested.
"We got here almost an hour ago," he told her, going over to her and crouching down to her level. He let out a sigh as he pressed his palm to her forehead. "You're even warmer than before."
"How are you feeling, Kagome?" Kaede asked her quietly.
"I've definitely been better," she tried to reply good-humoredly. After a moment's pause, she sat up, instantly releasing a gasp of pain. "Ouch."
"What's wrong?" InuYasha demanded, watching her anxiously as she pressed a hand to her side.
"It's her wound," Kaede answered, also watching as Kagome lifted her shirt enough to reveal the thick gauze wrapped around her lower ribcage. "You must have taken quite a vicious fall, Kagome. I washed and wrapped it best as I could, and you slept through it all, bless you. I would suggest washing it again soon, though."
"Ouch," Kagome repeated, running her fingers along the gauze. "I don't remember it hurting that much when it happened." She looked around the room, suddenly recognizing something. "Where are the others?"
"Outside," InuYasha answered, shrugging his haori back on as she handed it to him. "The old hag told them to keep their distance."
"The last thing any of us need is more sickness," Kaede chided, and InuYasha snorted.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
"She's right, InuYasha," Kagome said weakly. "I would hate to get anyone else sick. You should probably stay away from me, too."
"Feh. Don't insult me," he retorted, ignoring her when she gave him an exasperated look. "I have demon blood, remember? I don't get sick like you fragile humans."
"I wouldn't be too sure of that, InuYasha," Kaede corrected. "After all, you are only half demon."
"Shut up."
Kaede sighed deeply. "In any case, Kagome should go home where she can be properly cared for. And I would suggest as soon as possible."
"And we think you should go with her, InuYasha," Miroku said, suddenly appearing in the doorway with Sango. "It's for the best."
"What in hell's name are you talking about?" he snapped.
"Well you yourself just announced that it's impossible for you to get sick," the monk reminded him smugly. "Besides, we can't do much fighting or shard hunting without Lady Kagome, so we could all use this time as that break I suggested earlier."
"And like I said before, you're out of your fucking mind."
"Besides, isn't the new moon approaching?" he added, ignoring the hanyou's angry comment. "If my calculations are correct, it should be tomorrow night. Best to stay out of danger's way, don't you agree?"
"Now you're really pushing it," InuYasha growled. "Do you need a reminder of how much damage I can do, new moon or not?"
"InuYasha, we know you're tired like the rest of us, so you don't need to try to deny it," Sango inputted. "It isn't showing weakness. The past two weeks have been absolutely nonstop. I think Miroku is right, for once."
"Should I be flattered or hurt, Sango?" the monk replied in response to the last part of her statement.
"Neither," she said sharply, giving him a glare that warned him that this was not the time for his games.
Miroku sighed but then turned his attention to Kagome. "Lady Kagome, would you mind terribly if we sent InuYasha back with you? He's of absolutely no use to us here."
"What's that supposed to mean?" InuYasha barked before she could answer, flexing his claws threateningly.
"Only that you'd bring nothing but negative energy to us all, which is true," Miroku shrugged. "Whenever Lady Kagome isn't around you only sulk and snap at anything that dares to breathe. We know you love her, InuYasha, but you could choose a much more pleasant way of showing it."
"Why I ought to—"
"InuYasha, sit!" Kagome yelled before he could take a slash at Miroku. The hanyou slammed against the floor with a deafening crash, followed by an angry groan.
"What the hell was that for?" InuYasha demanded as he pulled himself up from the ground, giving Kagome a frustrated look.
"You need to learn to control your temper!" she scolded him, trying to sound serious despite how congested her voice was.
"Only if he learns to control his tongue," he retorted, shifting his glower to the monk.
"Oh, InuYasha, will you ever learn?" Miroku simply sighed.
"He's right, you know," Kagome agreed. "You're far too sensitive, InuYasha."
"I am not!"
"Children, please," Sango interjected at last, elbowing her unofficially official significant other in the ribs and shooting the hanyou a disapproving stare. "Can't you two blockheads see that you're putting extra strain on Kagome? You want her to feel better, right?"
"Oh, no, Sango," Kagome said frantically. "I'm fine. I'm used to them."
"But that shouldn't excuse their stupidity," the demon slayer said in exasperation. "And you sound terrible. Go home. Now."
Kagome gave her a small smile of resignation. "Only if it won't put us in a dangerous position."
"We can afford to lose a few days," Miroku reaffirmed. "Never mind what InuYasha says. He doesn't know what he's talking about."
"Feh," InuYasha sulked, tossing his long silver hair back over his shoulder. Kagome was pleased to see that he didn't try to fight back, though.
"Okay…" she agreed finally, giving up as another coughing fit overcame her.
"InuYasha, you take her," Sango commanded him. "Make sure she gets home alright."
"And stay with her until she's better," the monk added, giving him a pleading look. "Please."
"I too believe that it would be wise for you to go with her, InuYasha," Kaede said with finality.
"Fine, I'll go!" he snapped, jumping to his feet. "Damn it! Since you're all so desperate to be rid of me."
"Are you not happy to have all this time to spend alone with Lady Kagome?" Miroku questioned, eyebrows raised. "How unusual."
"Shut up!" InuYasha barked, helping Kagome up and throwing her backpack on. "Let's go, Kagome."
He picked her up the moment they were outside and began running towards the forest where the Bone-Eaters Well resided, ignoring the final remarks Miroku had continued to shout after him and pushing past Shippo and Kirara where they were playing in the yard.
"That damn monk had better learn to watch his mouth," InuYasha grumbled to no one in particular as he ran, Kagome tucked securely into his chest. He'd recognized that she was too weak to hang onto his back now, so he hadn't even considered it.
"He only teases you because he cares about you," she told him now, her voice showing her current weakness.
"Well I care about keeping him in line," the hanyou growled before releasing an angry breath. The well came into sight and he slowed down, coming to a stop before it. He glanced down at the girl in his arms and his face softened. "But right now, the only thing I care about is making you healthy again."
Kagome smiled up at him in gratitude, nodding before a small coughing fit overcame her. Making sure she was safe in his grasp, InuYasha jumped up and into the well without a moment's hesitation, and they were abruptly swallowed into the dark nothingness of the portal as they left the feudal era behind.
"You'll feel better soon, Kagome. I promise."