Hi everyone!! First of all, I have made a small change to chapter 4, The Scent of Blood, that will be very important later. If you don't feel like going back and reading it, here's the excerpt:
Then, an impact. My feet, already not firmly planted, slipped from under me as a huge dark shape hit me from my left side. I felt huge claws slide into me and rip my flesh. I screamed in pain as both I and my mysterious attacker hit the ground. Hot blood soaked into my clothes as I flailed at my attacker with outstretched claws. I tried desperately to reach my sword, 氷猫の爪(ice cat claw), but it was trapped under my body.
(A/N) I can't find a translator that will translate this into words instead of characters. I know that "cat" is "necko," but... This sword and name are entirely my creations, and play no role in the actual InuYasha anime or manga.
Yah, I needed Chi to have some sort of weapon, so I decided on that sword. I hope that was the right choice!! Thanks to my reviewers, sangoscourage, myInuYasha15, and Lily-chan818! I actually typed a reply to everyone this time!!
Anyway, I'm going to a physic fair today, to hopefully get in touch with my dead cat!! (wow, when you put it that way, I sound like a total freak, don't I? ^^) hmm, there's an idea for a fanfic brewing here…
I hope you enjoy chapter 7 of The Hanyou's Heart!
Kagome's head snapped up, hope glinting faintly in her dull eyes.
"What?" she asked, a bit breathlessly.
"You." I said simply. "The night of the new moon, of all nights, he was completely at ease. There could be no better drug for him than you."
I saw hope begin to flare in her, as well as the others. InuYasha, oblivious to this, continued to writhe against his bonds. I didn't think the others noticed, but I noted that his struggles were getting weaker, his wounds not only reopening but getting deeper. The poison still foamed around the edges of the bite wounds. I was surprised he didn't pass out again.
"Tell me what I have to do." Kagome's command caught me off guard.
"How should I know?!" I asked her. "Just do what you think will reach him and calm him down, like you did on the night of the new moon!"
"Tell you what," Kagome put her hand on my shoulder. "If this works, I'll forget I heard that. If it doesn't, I'll flay you for spying. Prey it works." Her voice broke on the last word as she got up and walked slowly toward InuYasha. He writhed and snarled at her, his eyes on fire.
Kagome knelt down beside him, tears flowing down her face. She reached forward, and for some reason InuYasha didn't snap at her. We all watched as she dragged him closer, holding him against her chest. His growling and squirming began to quiet as she began to murmur softly and melodically. The sky seemed to flash a brilliant red as the sun vanished behind the horizon.
InuYasha's body began to twitch and he began to howl. Kagome held him tighter and closer. His blue pupils contracted, and his hair began to ripple. Suddenly, black color surged though his hair. His fangs shrunk and his claws rounded into nails. His deranged howl turned to a softer, human whine.
I was confused. There had already been a new moon this month. Why had InuYasha turned human? Shippo answered my silent question without even meaning to.
"The black moon!" he murmured in amazement.
(A/N) Thank you Lily-chan!!! The black moon is a name for the second new moon in a month, like the blue moon is the second full moon in a month.
Kagome gingerly untied InuYasha's bonds and continued to cradle him against her chest, murmuring gently. He cringed into her and whimpered, unconscious with the pain her could suddenly feel. Sango and Miroku sunk to the ground with relief, and Shippo dashed off to retrieve the bandages. He passed them to Kagome, who began to re-bandage the wounds he had opened.
I noticed that InuYasha's breathing was slow and shallow. Kagome noticed, too. He might have a chance to recover in hanyou form, but he would have to survive the night as a human, first. His fully human blood flowed out faster than Kagome could bandage, and pooled in the grass. His whimpers grew softer, too.
"Is he gonna die?" Shippo asked me softly.
"I hope not, sweetie, I really hope not." I laid my head on Shippo's head and drew him close.
Kagome started to cry again, and so did I. little Shippo sobbed into me, soaking the front of my shirt.
That was the longest night of my life. It seemed to stretch on and on. All our eyes were glued to InuYasha. His breathing grew shallower and slower. I honestly felt like I was sitting vigil for the dead and soon-to-be dead. We all knew that if he could make it to dawn, he might have a chance, but in my mind, he was already too far gone. In my mind, there was no hope.
The sky began to lighten. Somehow, InuYasha still clung to life. He hadn't regained consciousness. We were all wide awake when he opened his eyes.
"Ka… go…" his voice was so faint I could barely hear it.
"InuYasha!" Kagome gripped him tighter. "Hang on, just HAND ON!!! It's almost dawn!" her voice got quieter. "Hang on, InuYasha, please hang on."
"Ka… gome… if… I die…"
"Don't say that!!" Kagome said urgently. "That's not going to happen!!"
"If… I do…" InuYasha struggled for breath, his chest heaving convulsively. "I… want you… to know…" his voice faded. My heart throbbed as I saw him struggle to raise his voice again. He finally succeeded.
"I want… I want you… to… know… I love you. I… always… have. I… always will. No matter… where… I… go…………" his voice trailed off into oblivion, and his body gave one violent shutter and lay still as the sky became light.
"InuYasha!!" cried Kagome, clutching his blood-soaked robes. "I love you!! I love you to!!! So much!! Please don't die! Please… please don't go…"
Suddenly, as the dawn light struck his still form, InuYasha's body convulsed and he took one, long breath. A golden light dance on the edges of his wounds, which gradually and then rapidly shrunk and closed. His golden eyes flew open. They had a strange light in them, some combination of pain and bliss. His muscles jumped and shuddered as his hair turned silver again; his nails grew into claws, and his teeth tapered into fangs.
Then, his body went limp, his breathing deep and even. Kagome clutched him to her and wept, this time with relief. I didn't know what had just happened, but I wasn't about to questions it.
InuYasha's eyes opened slowly, as though her were waking from a deep sleep.
"Kagome," he asked softly, "Why the tears?"
She couldn't even talk, only held him tighter and sobbed. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her toward him and into a sudden, fierce, and unexpected kiss. Kagome froze and released him for a moment, then gripped him tightly, her hands knotting in his long, silver hair. Tears now poured down both faces, mixing in a salty torrent. A few golden sparks still played on the hanyou's body, adding to the magical aura of the whole scene. Lightning charged the air; the dawn light bathed the bloody clearing, and the scene of ultimate beauty in the center.
(A/N) Wow, how was that!?! One of my friends, who gets to read everything before I publish it (she's not really an official beta…), thought this might be the end, but there is still more to come!! Please tell me what you think!
