Chapter Four:

"What do you mean she hasn't come back yet!?" Inuyasha yelled, smashing his fists into the tree beside him, leaving a splintered dint.

"See?" Miroku murmured. "That's why I said to do this outside. Kaede would have cursed us all if Inuyasha had destroyed her home"

"Inuyasha," said Sango. "You've been looking for her for three days now. Let's put this of a little longer. Maybe she'll show up in an hour or two. Why don't you come in and rest, eat something, and maybe take a bit of a..."

He cut her off. "I'm not tired; I'm sure as hell not hungry. I just want to know where Kagome is. Now." He said it through gritted teeth.

"How are we gonna do that?" Shippo asked, his voice a tilting toward 'almost-cheerful'.

Inuyasha glared back at him, claws out, teeth barred, and a subtle hint of red seeping through the whites of his eyes. A low growl permeated the hillside.

Shippo sank back.

"Could she still be so angry?" Sango thought out loud. "She's not one to hold a grudge for so long. And Kirara would have come back by now."

"What an idiot!" Inuyasha yelled, smacking the tree again. This time it cracked through, sending splinters of wood flying. "Running off like that, what was she thinking?"

"She was upset because of you. It was your fault she left. You're such an idiot." Shippo mumbled from Miroku's shoulder. Very gently the young monk lifted the fox demon off him and to the ground, and then subtly went to stand on the other side of Sango.

The hanyou contemplating ripping out the young fox yokai's internal organs with his teeth.

"I'm going to look for her again." He muttered, turning away from them.

"You just finished looking for her!" Sango called after him. "You need to rest!

"Inuyasha!" Miroku yelled, his brow slightly creased in agitation.

"Idiot." Shippo scoffed.

"I'm still sick?" Kagome said it in a disbelieving tone. Well for once, Grandpa wouldn't have to lie if I were home. She took a deep breath and then cringed as it agitated the large, yellow-blotched bruise on her chest.

"You're still sick." nodded Rin, dipping cloth into the bowl from before. She had mentioned that the cool water came from the spring at the mountain summit. How she got up there so many times a day was a mystery to Kagome.

"How long has it been?" Time seemed immeasurable. She slept all day, and coughed all night. Her fever peaked and simmered low, the darkness of the cave not letting her see the passing of the days. The only hint of the outside world was the faint glow of day that hinted at the cave's mouth.

Rin looked up, her mouth twisted to the side. "Um, it's night now. Five days? Maybe?"

Five days. The thought hung over her head like an ominous cloud. The others must be so worried about me. What am I gonna do?

"Here." Rin smiled, laying the cool cloth on Kagome's fevered head. "A good heat suits you. The blush is very pretty." She stood and walked back over toward the fire. "Are you hungry?"

"No."

"You need to eat. I'll go find something."

"Master Jaken?" Rin called, stepping out from limestone and into soft grass. "Master Jaken?

"What s it Rin? He squawked back in his habitually impatient tone of voice. "I'm sleeping." His minuscule little body slumped down against the roots of a large tree, staff lain across his small lap.

"Sorry," She whispered. "I was just going to say I'm going to try to find something to eat."

"That's all that you woke me up for?" He piped. She ignored him.

"Maybe some fish. Does Kagome like fish?" Her finger tapped against her chin as she wandered into the woods. "Ah-Un!" She called back. The twin-headed yokai woke and followed her. Her small hand hung on its scaled hide.

"Jaken." A heady voice called. Eyes wide, Jaken looked to Sesshomaru standing to the side of the tree he slumped against.

"Y-yes, my lord?"

"Go with Rin." He said simply, turning and walking away.

"Y-yes, my lord." He repeated, rumbling to his feet and scurrying off.

"Wake up."

Kagome's eyes flashed open. "Who's there?" She voice into the shadowed darkness that the flame light seemed unwilling to purge.

"Tell me something." The voice commanded.

She stared into the darkness, the faint silhouette of a tall figure was all she could make out.

"What is it about you?" The voice asked. "What makes other want to guard your life?"

Kagome stopped for a moment, her mind not comprehending the question.

"Will you not tell me?"

"I-I do not understand the question." She gave back.

"You share this trait with young Rin. She too is prone to vexing ward. So tell me why you both can invoke such protection from others?"

"I don't know."

"You do not?" Sesshomaru walked into the dim light. "That's not an answer."

"Kagome swallowed against her dry throat. "That's because I do not have one." She coughed twice in to her hand, each time her body convulsed at the attempt.

Sesshomaru looked into the fire. "Then answer me this."

Kagome looked up at him, watching the fire dance in his amber eyes. "Yes?"

"Are you Inuyasha's mate or not?"

Kagome sat up, the effort sapping her of all strength. She leaned against the cave wall, its coolness seeping into her. She felt beads of moisture seep into her clothes, helping to wash away the overwhelming heat inside of her.

She thought back to the first time she had ever fallen into the Bone-Eater's well. The first time she had met Inuyasha and the ache of her heart since then.

"No."

Sesshomaru looked at her out of the side of his eye. "I say this now. I have no intention of waiting here until you die, though the prospect may surely be coming. I offer you a simple choice here and now. Get well, or die alone."