After the Battle
Kagome turned back to Inuyasha. He was lying up against Kilala, breathing somewhat evenly. He was still covered in wolves' blood… and his own.
"It appears he's fallen asleep," Miroku said.
"Well, even someone like Inuyasha needs to rest after a battle like that," Sango commented.
"Did you see? Kagura had the same spider scar as Naraku."
"Do you think there's some kind of connection between them?"
Kagome barely heard them talking. She was fixated on the exhausted hanyou on the ground before her. She felt awful now, for rushing to Koga's aid… why did Inuyasha never understand? He could be so impossible sometimes…
"We should be getting some sleep ourselves," Miroku said finally, turning and heading off in another direction.
Sango followed after a few seconds. She turned, about to tell Kagome to come on, but there was a look in the other girl's eyes that said she wasn't coming just yet. "Come on, Shippo," Sango called softly. With this Kagome gave her a small thank-you-for-understanding smile.
Shippo obediently left Kagome and followed Sango, not knowing exactly why. He turned to see if she was coming and stumbled.
"Shippo," Sango whispered to him, picking him up. "Don't worry… just give Kagome some time."
"Okay," he said quietly.
Kagome knelt down finally when she was sure the others were far enough away. Miroku had stopped not too far up ahead, but clever Sango--Kagome couldn't thank her enough--had asked him to move ahead some more.
"Inuyasha," she said quietly, brushing his hair from his eyes. "You're probably angry that I helped Koga first… but really, I never forgot you for one second. I almost cried, but I didn't want to frighten Shippo. Also, I knew you would survive. You're so strong… and… I… I don't know what I'm trying to say. It's just… I trusted that you would be okay. Koga was infected with that poisoned fragment. I felt obligated to help him first, since he's so much weaker. I've already had this discussion with you--I don't love Koga. And I never did."
Inuyasha still appeared asleep. Kagome knew he couldn't hear her, but things were probably best that way. "But, like I said, I feel obligated to help him, like I help Sango or Miroku or Shippo or Kaede or Jinenji or Nazuna or anyone we've helped."
She reached for his hand, careful not to move it too much. She had a feeling his arm was broken, and if she moved it too much he might wake up. "You understand, don't you? I care about others, but I…" she lowered her voice to the quietest whisper. "I care about you the most." Gently she released his hand and brushed the hair from his eyes again.
Kilala's head moved, and Kagome jumped in fright. Turning her own head, she realized Kilala was awake.
"I… I um… I was just…"
Kilala closed her eyes again and put her head between her paws, apparently going back to sleep.
Kagome waited a second, then turned back to Inuyasha. She smiled sadly at his beautiful sleeping form. Then, deciding it was bedtime, she turned to grab her pack and head for the new campsite.
Something stopped her. She turned back to Inuyasha, then quickly--before she realized what she was doing, bent and kissed his cheek. She felt her face get hot, burning from the blush creeping to her cheeks.
She snatched the pack now, and took off for where Sango, Miroku, and Shippo had settled down.
Inuyasha's left hand slowly rose from the ground and traveled to his right cheek. He touched it gently, then allowed his hand to drop back into place. Slowly, slightly, the corners of his mouth turned up, and he settled back into Kilala.
Owari~