AN: Chapter 2 here we go!
A mass of bright red emerged from the river, holding two figures in each arm. Racing towards the hanyou, he helped Inuyasha lay them down against the grass. Both girls were limp and clammy, almost sporting blue tinges on their lips. Biting back a sob, Miroku began to quickly thump Himari's upper back, hoping to see any signs of life. Inuyasha did the same with Rin. The seconds ticked by with tense silence and quick thumps and soon enough, Rin sputtered out a vast amount of water, coughing heavily. She gasped repeatedly as she looked around weakly, trying to make sense of what had happened.
"Take it easy kid. Sesshomaru might kill me for thumping you so much. How ya feeling?" Inuyasha questioned, as he looked her over; So far, no physical injuries.
"Rin is fine, why is Himari not coughing as well?" Rin choked out as she looked to her right; the three-year old was looking really pale…Dread settled into her stomach as she looked at the distraught monk. She needed to get Lady Kaede, she always knew what to do.
"Inuyasha, let me get Lady Kaede, I'm sure she can help us!" Rin said, as she stood up shakily. She failed to keep Himari afloat, she needed to do something at least. Inuyasha nodded quickly as he joined Miroku's side.
"Make sure Sango and Hana are alright, they're further upstream. Ask Kaede if she can bring us calming draughts; this panic can't be good for Sango" Inuyasha shouted after the retreating figure. Hopefully they weren't too late for Himari…
Miroku's movements were soon growing choppy, erratic, and random, much like the river behind them. His nerves were getting the better of him and panic was setting in. Gasping helplessly, he looked at the small, muddy figure in front of him. He bit back a sob and looked down. Himari couldn't leave him yet…
"Inuyasha! She's not breathing! Can you hear a heartbeat?" Miroku asked shakily, as he looked up at the hanyou.
Scooting towards the toddler, he lowered his head towards her chest. His grim expression met Miroku's: "I'm sorry…I can hardly hear a heartbeat." Inuyasha whispered.
Miroku hung his head as he began to mourn for his daughter…he knew her chances of life were nonexistent. After a few moments of not breathing, it has been known that people pass onto the next life…Death is next for his little girl.
He would fail Sango.
He would fail Himari.
Hot, burning tears clouded his vision as he cursed Buddha, his lack of power, and the river that took his daughters life. Heavy cries filled his throat as he began to heave in agony, cursing the universe and Himari's fate.
—
Seeing the strewn body in front of him had him biting back tears. His eyes felt heavy and hot, welling up with despair. Inuyasha never cared for children until his friends had these rowdy girls. They immediately took hold of his heart with an iron grip and made his world a less lonely one. They took residence where Kagome had left behind…Kagome, the woman full of revolutionary inventions and ideas…
Gulping heavily, he screwed his eyes shut and tried to recall the unfamiliar, high-pitched, chanting that had an infectious beat. Cursing himself for not paying complete attention, he quickly prayed to Kagome, hoping that her knowledge would somehow join him right now. Vaguely, the instructions of the balding instructor floated to him:
"Alright class, make sure that the patient is lying on his or her back on a firm surface, before you do anything else. Make sure that airway is clear of blockage!"
Tilting Himari's head back, Inuyasha pinched her nose and administered two breaths onto the child's water-laden lungs. Taking a resolute breath, he interlocked his fingers and began to press against her chest, hopeful that he would bring Himari back to the land of the living:
"Excellent Kagome and Yash! Now, when you press into this dummy, you compress to 100 beats per minute, or hum to the tune "Stayin' Alive." Everyone, sing along!"
"Ah-ah-ah-ah, Sta-yin' Alive, Sta-yin' Alive.
Ah-ah-ah-ah, Sta-yin' Alive, Sta-yin' Alive."
Humming grimly, he pumped at the speed of the song he vaguely remembered from the miko's lesson. This seemed surreal, he conceded, as he continued pumping. His life was filled with regrets; not admitting his feelings for his wench earlier, searching after an ominous jewel, and most currently, sitting back and not paying his upmost attention to the CP-something class he was dragged to.
"Inuyasha! Position your hands this way; Mr. Yagami already corrected you. Pay attention! We might need to use this back home" Kagome whispered fervently, trying to emphasize the importance of this medical practice.
Shame he didn't. It might cost his niece her life.
"Inuyasha, please stop this! My Himari is gone, please…let her rest!" Miroku begged as he tried stopping the pushing Inuyasha was administering. Seeing her child flopping weakly on the grass like a dying fish was harboring torture. Sobbing against Inuyasha's shoulder, he weakly tried pulling the tanned hands off his child. She has had enough…
Inuyasha's iron-clad strength made it impossible to move him from Miroku's daughter. Unrelenting, Inuyasha continued, ignoring his best friend's cries.
"Shut your mouth Miroku! Himari will wake up!" Inuyasha replied determinedly, continuing his compressions.
"C'mon kid, your family needs you, we need you. Wake up…" Inuyasha mumbled as he administered two more breaths. A responding, feeble gurgle answered his plea. Fiery hope ignited behind those tawny eyes.
"Hi-Himari?" Miroku looked over Inuyasha's working hands.
Impossible…how did Inuyasha…how?
Sitting her up, Inuyasha lightly thumped her upper back, hoping to use the leverage for her to cough up the water. Feeling the hot water vomit trickle down Inuyasha's supporting hand felt like a weight that had been lifted from his heart. Immediately after, the hacking coughs filled the afternoon and Inuyasha sagged against the monk, relieved to hear the weak cries of the small child.
"Miroku, grab her; she needs her father right now…" Inuyasha murmured, as he passed the crying child off to the slackened figure to his right. Automatically, Miroku opened his arms as he swaddled the child against his chest. Both men sat in silence while Himari's cries lost momentum. Eventually, Himari sagged against her father's shoulder and gave in to his quiet, yet soothing whispers that she was so familiar with.
"I don't know how you did it, but you did the impossible. I am indebted to you for the rest of my life…thank you for not listening to me and not giving up on my baby girl." Miroku whispered hoarsely, as he kissed his daughters hair. Turning to his right, Miroku studied Inuyasha, who was taking in slow lungfuls of air. The hanyou's face had paled, sporting a dewy, clammy complexion.
Grunting in acknowledgement, he answered, "As if I'd ever listen to you. Let's go; your wife and children need you right now." Inuyasha murmured as he pulled them to their feet.
As they slowly walked upstream, Inuyasha looked at his hands. They were tanned, clawed, and sported callouses in various areas. They fought, clawed, and murdered many times; every day had been a fight for survival, which had resulted in pain or loss. And today…Today of all days, his hands healed. These hands saved a life, without a sword, without a demonic power, and without violence. Precision, hope, and determination fueled these hands, something completely foreign to him.
In essence, he had become the miko he so desperately missed.
Closing his eyes, he sent out a mental prayer to the woman who traveled through time and space. Thanks to her, Himari had another chance at life.
Thank you Kagome.
