The Sickness 2 Ch. 2
InuYasha sighed, and leaned against the tree, thinking about that night so long ago. Two whole years ago, he had fought his heart out, and at the time he didn't even know if he would survive to see the end of the battle. He wondered what had happened that night, sometimes, and today was like that. He wished that he could understand what went on, and why. All he knew was that he had taken part in the biggest battle of his life, and killed more demons than he could count. He had wondered what would happen to Death, and as people around him had kept dying long after the battle had been over, he assumed that Death had gone on living normally for the last two years. He had long ago expected Kaede to croak, she was so damn old, but now as he sat stood here thinking about his gang, he found himself fearing the time when he would have to bury her beneath the ground. He sighed again, and thought about Kagome. She was perfect, everything he had ever wanted, but there was something nagging him. When, not If, Kaede died, would that mean that InuYasha would cease to be able to travel through the well to Kagome's time? He had thought deeply about it, and on the surface, the two events seemed to have nothing in common with each other. But he knew.
Very rarely did a Miko's spell continue to exist after the Miko that had cast it had died. InuYasha played with the beads around his neck, and wondered if Kagome would be able to recast the spell that would be undone after Kaede died. He and Kagome didn't visit Kagome's time very often, but they still did every once in a while. He had a bad feeling that his necklace was also connected to Kagome being able to travel through the well and reach her own time. Kagome was planning to go home for a few days, and Kaede wasn't looking too healthy. His mind wandered as he wondered if Kagome would be able to get back through the well if Kaede died. InuYasha shook his head, and wondered what had put him in such a worried mood. He knew that too.
There was something coming.
InuYasha looked to the sky, and although it looked peaceful, with the sun shining, and the puffy white clouds drifting lazily across the sky, pushed along by the gentle cooling breezes that floated on the air. He knew otherwise. He didn't know why he knew, or how, but he knew. For two years, he had thought that his battle was over, but here was that feeling again, that feeling that something was going down, and it was going to happen soon. He turned his head as he heard someone approaching, and a light breeze carried Kagome's scent to his nose. He smiled softly at her, not telling her of his worries, lest she get troubled by them.
"Hi Kagome." InuYasha said, turning around. Kagome hugged him, and InuYasha found the world inside her embrace. She was his world, and he was willing to do anything for her.
"What are you doing way out here?" She asked, brushing her rebellious hair out of her face. InuYasha smiled, and carressed her cheek.
"Just thinking, babe, just thinking." He said. He noticed that his voice had long ago lost its rough edge, an edge produced by a broken heart and a long winded distrust of humans. Both his broken heart and the distrust were long gone, to be replaced by a heart filled with love for the girl in front of him, and a trust for certain humans that stretched to the edges of the earth. Kagome turned her chocolate brown eyes upon her loving hanyou and silently questioned herself why anybody would hate this boy in front of her. She smiled at that, and had to correct herself. He had proven his manhood two years ago, in the fight of his life. And proven his manhood to her many times after that, she thought, her mind going slightly dirty on her. She laughed at the thoughts swirling around inside her head, and leaned into him, kissing him on the lips. He was no longer a boy, but was a man. Her man. But he would always be her sexy boy, the one that she thought about at night. Not thinking about him killing demons, and fighting so hard to protect the ones he loved, but as the boy he was the first night they had done it. He was so nervous, and scared, and Kagome laughed again at the thought. He had needed more assurance than she had that night.
"What are you thinking about?" She asked. By the look on his face, she already knew. It wasn't an angry look, or a tired one that showed the stresses of his unmentionable age, but the look of wonderment and curiosity of a mortal who had witnessed an unnatural event. Not only had he witnessed it, he had lived it, fought against it for everything that he valued, his life, and the lives of his friends.
"Just thinking about that fight." He said slowly, softly, gazing at her. He loved how she could look up at him with such a cute look that he had trouble evading her questions. But the look in her eyes told him that she knew the answer long before she had asked. He smiled down at her. That was okay, she was always welcome to intrude on his thinking time, for he would rather talk to her then think about the past. He shook his head, and gripped her hand, walking her back to Kaede's village. He didn't know why he was so fixated on the past, and everything that happened in it. First it was Kikyo, even when the girl that loved him more than life itself was standing right in front of him. Kikyo was after him to take the jewel and turn human with it. Nothing else. For Kikyo, it was a win-win situation. She got rid of a demon she knew she couldn't kill without being guilty about it for a long time afterwards, thus corrupting the jewel, and she got rid of the jewel. It would have been absorbed inside his body, and that would have been the end of it. Kikyo could have returned to living a normal life, not always protecting the jewel, and she would have had her way. He shook his head, and wondered where she was. He didn't care about her anymore, but he sure wasn't going to wish pain and suffering upon her just because he was in love with another woman now. He wished that wherever she was, she was doing well. He sighed, and looked at Kagome.
"I'm glad your there with me through everything I face." He said softly, and Kagome smiled up at him, tightening her hold on his hand. By the way his face looked, she could tell that he was putting on his uncaring attitude, and blocking off his deeper emotions, for he wouldn't want to get teased by Miroku and Sango. Kagome knew that was the last compliment she would be getting from him until they were alone again, but that was okay. She aleady knew what he thought of her, although it didn't hurt to hear it every now and then. She squeezed his hand again, as they stepped into the village.
Shippou had grown a bit, and his fox-fire was something to be reckoned with, even InuYasha was careful now when it came to teasing the young fox demon. It was now that Shippou met them half-way to the hut they were sharing, a grave look on his face.
"Kaede-baba is sicker now." He said flatly, the reality of what might soon happen dawning on him. Kagome shook her head worriedly, and glanced at InuYasha, who shook his head also. Their thoughts were along the same lines; they knew what was happening.
"Please, Kagome, go to her." Shippou said softly. "Everyone knows she likes your company best, and right now, I think she needs you."
Kagome nodded at Shippou, and patted his head out of habit. Shippou didn't mind the touch, but he no longer got anything out of it. He understood that it was Kagome's way of showing affection, so he put up with it. InuYasha, Shippou, and Kagome walked slowly toward the cabin, but only Kagome entered, leaving Shippou to talk to InuYasha.
"Kaede, how are you?" Kagome asked, kneeling down next to the old woman. Kaede slowly turned her head, as she was lying on the floor, and squinted at Kagome.
"I'm doing fine, child." She said, with more strength in her voice than Kagome had expected.
"I'm doing fine, just fine, but everyone around here is convinced that I'm going to die any second now." She said. "I might be headed for the grave, but I'm not buried yet."
Kagome nodded. "How are you feeling today?"
Kaede placed a hand on her head.
"I'm feeling fine." She said. "I still haven't managed to get sick, what with this old body and all, and all the aches and pains have left this body, so I feel just fine." Kaede said. She peered at Kagome with her one good eye.
"Please, child, don't ye let InuYasha out of your sight for the next few days." Kaede said, drawing in a rattling breath. "Stay with him, and never leave his side, he's going to need you."
Kagome nodded, and was going to ask her to explain, when a knock at the side of the house made her think otherwise, as InuYasha pushed aside the rags covering the doorway.
Kagome looked up at her boy as he stared down at her. He silently held up Shippou, and his other hand, which was bleeding from two spots located close together. He wordlessly pointed at the snarling Shippou, and Kagome noticed that the marks appeared to be bite marks. And Shippou had a spot of blood on his chin. She took Shippou from InuYasha, and silently thanked him for keeping Shippou busy while she talked to Kaede. Kagome looked down at the apologetic fox demon in her arms, and asked him what had happened.
"Well, I waited for you to come out so you could play with me, but then I got bored. InuYasha told me to wait, and normally I don't mind listening to him, but today he used his old voice, the one he uses sometimes when he gets into fights, or when he's worried. He was rude to me and reached toward me to make me sit down, so I bit him." Shippou told the truth without hesitating. Kagome glared down at him.
"What have we said about biting?" She asked firmly.
Shippou wriggled out of her arms and stood in front of her with his tiny fists on his waist.
"Hey, it wasn't like I did it on purpose!" He exclaimed. "It just happened before I could think about what I was doing!"
InuYasha nodded. "Yeah, right, I believe that." He said, his voice laden with sarcasm. He swiftly grabbed Shippou by the tail again, and hoisted him up in front of his face. He hit the kitsune upside his head, and pretended to apologize.
"Aw, sorry Shippou, it happened before I knew what had happened."
Shippou glared at him, then abruptly, his facial expression changed. "Can you please put me down now, InuYasha?" He asked, his voice no longer angry and insulted.
InuYasha's eyes narrowed and he wondered what the kitsune was up to. He complied when he saw the look on Kagome's face though, setting the young fox demon down on the floor of the cabin.
Shippou promptly walked over to Kagome and hugged her. When he pulled away, Kagome could see no sign of any mischevious plans inside his head, and all was explained when Shippou spoke.
"Instead of fighting, I'm gonna be the mature one and back down." He explained. "I want to prove that I've grown up during these last few years."
Kagome grinned, and InuYasha growled.
"Wow, Shippou, great idea!" She said. She hugged Shippou, and winked at InuYasha over Shippou's shoulder, calming him down.
"I think thats a great idea, show us how mature you are." She said. Shippou nodded happily, then turned and ran by InuYasha, stopping at the door.
"Bye bye Kagome, I'm going to go play now!" He said, running out the door. Kagome giggled at him, and turned to InuYasha.
"Don't worry, InuYasha, you know how long that phase will last?" She asked. "About ten minutes, a day and a half if he's strong willed." She said. "Then he'll get bored."
InuYasha nodded, and flopped down on the floor, next to Kaede.
"How ya feeling, you old wench?" He asked, snorting indecisively as if he didn't care. Kaede sighed patiently, and told InuYasha that she was feeling fine.
InuYasha nodded, and rolled over, facing Kagome. He stared at her for a few minutes, neither smiling, not glaring, just looking at the one he loved. After a few minutes, he closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
Kagome smiled down at her sleeping lover, and silently said a prayer for whatever was coming his way. It was obvious that something was coming, but nobody was sure if it was something good, or something beyond evil, another Naraku, or something cataclyismic.
Kagome sighed, and laid down also. No one was asking her to make food or anything, so she decided to go to sleep. She was tired out from worrying about Kaede, and InuYasha, even though he insisted that he was okay and that she didn't need to worry about him. She sighed, and rolled over, to face InuYasha. She was surprised to see that his eyes were wide open and alert, staring at her. She smiled, and slid a little closer, kissing him on the nose. He bared his teeth in a grin, and kissed her on the lips, gently catching her bottom lip between his teeth, nibbling and pulling at it gently, before kissing her again. Kagome giggled, and kissed her cute dog boy back harder, sliding her hands over his chest and shoulders.
Suddenly, they heard a cough from behind them, and both InuYasha and Kagome sat up, worried about Kaede. Her coughing got harder, and when they looked at her, her face was bright red from the lack of oxygen. She was rubbing her chest, and Kagome ran up to her, patting her on the back, hoping that she would stop coughing.
"What's wrong, Kaede?!" She asked, worried that it might be her time. Between her coughing fits, Kaede expressed what was wrong.
"Getting--" Cough. "Too-" Cough, cough, gasp, wheeze. "Sexual!" Coughcough.
Kagome blushed, and realized that surely an old sick woman wouldn't want to see her and InuYasha kiss and carry on, so she apologized. They made sure that she was okay, and moved back to the middle of the cabin, sitting side by side. They leaned on each other, and were silent for a while, content with just feeling each others bodies next to them.
A while later Sango and Miroku walked back into the camp, each carrying a bag with various herbs, plants, and medicinal ingredients that were vital to keep an angry, impulsive, battle-hungry hanyou alive. Sango and Miroku dorpped their bags, and one by one inquired into Kaede's health. Kaede, now quite irritated by the ceaseless questions, finally snapped.
"For the love of all that is holy and pure, would you stop asking me how I am! I'm fine! I'm hardly going to die in the next few days, but ye all are convinced that I am!"
Now out of breath, she laid back down and preceded to catch her breath. Her heavy, labored breathing could be heard throughout the hut, and after a few minutes, she calmed down. Sango and Miroku retreated to the corner of the hut, and discussed on what should be done tomorrow. They agreed that the best course would be to continue hunting down Kouga, and try to convince him to give up his jewel shards. They were pretty much the only ones remaining, besides the one in Kohaku's back.
The night wore on, and everyone was getting sleepy, when suddenly, it happened. Everyone was rocked from their sleepy stupor into full wakefulness, by the largest earth shattering slam they had ever felt. It rocked the cabin that they were in, but the weird thing was, it seemed that the impact had happened very far away. The vibrations were felt, but the noise was heard as if it were leagues away, like the distant firing of a cannon. All eyes turned to InuYasha, the unofficial leader in times like this. But something was wrong with their leader. He was shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. He was bent over, on his hands and knees, and was shaking uncontrollably. Everyone was immediately concerned. Kagome tentatively placed her hand on InuYasha's back, and timidly asked if he was alright.
InuYasha slowly looked up, and although he appeared to be scared, he wore an angry expression. He stood up, and gripped his sword tightly.
"I thought it was over!" He said angrily. "I thought I killed that thing two years ago!"
He stood up and motioned for everyone to stay behind. Nobody did, and they followed him out the door as he drew his sword, feet pounding against the earth in an angry rebellion against the monster that threatened to destroy his life all over again. He looked to the sky and saw that it was rapidly clouding over, blocking off the once prominent sun. InuYasha glanced behind him, and saw Miroku and Sango running behind him. For a second, his heart skipped a beat, and he wondered where Kagome was. He looked directly above him, and saw that Kagome was riding on Kirara. For a second, he was caught in indecision. He wanted to keep Kagome with him, so he would always know where she was, but part of him wanted her as far away from him and the fight as possible, just incase he couldn't protect her, like last time. He shook his head, and knew that he was stronger than ever before, and he wasn't about to send her away now. She was his source of strength, the only reason he fought so hard. And he would to anything to protect her.
He glared straight ahead as thunder slammed through his ears and lightning scarred the sky, rain torrenting down in sheets, soaking everything in seconds. InuYasha felt the dirt beneath his running feet turn slowly to mud, and he wondered what he would find as the source of the trembling earth. He glanced once more above him, to see Kagome glance down reassuringly down at him. He smiled up at her, before picking up the pace, eager to start a fight, now that he was excited.
