Disclaimer: Shade, Raze, Skye, Hart, and Umbra are my own characters. All others do not belong to me.

Friendly Rivalry

Chapter 9

'Thoughts'

"Talking"

-----Kagome-----

After bringing Shade back to the cabin, I called for Skye. When she appeared, I gave a shaky smile.

"What happened to Shade...?" she whispered and I looked at his pained face on the bed.

"I don't know... I found him like this... I'm really worried, though..."

"Why don't you stay here and take care of him while I go and buy some supplies?"

"I can't let you do that" I said and she looked at me, confused.

"Why not?"

"I have to go to work and get more money. I"m broke and I can't afford anything. I have to go to work and earn us some money so we can buy some bandages for Shade... possibly even hire a doctor..."

"...okay, okay... you do that... go to work, just make sure that you don't get hurt in the process, okay?"

"Yeah... but I'll be home late. I'm thinking about going shopping for the supplies right after work."

"Don't, Kagome. It'll be too dark out if you do that."

"But-"

"Don't worry. I'll take care of Shade, and he'll be fine. You go to work today, and I'll buy the supplies tomorrow while you're earning some more money, okay?"

"...fine..." I mumbled and walked out of the cabin. After I got out, I ran as fast as I could to the pub and saw Sango.

"Kagome!" she exclaimed. "Where have you been?!"

"I've been home sick. Sorry if I worried you. I'm going to go back and change, check in, and I'll be working in a little bit."

She nodded and I walked into the backroom. Pulling my work uniform off of the hanger, I began to change. After I got into the uncomfortable attire, I began to put my hair up. I was about to put the ribbon on when a sharp pain shot through my entire boddy, ending at my heart and staying there. Stifling a yelp and whimper, I collapsed to the ground, panting. A flash of color out of the corner of my eye caught my attention and I glanced at the once gold bracelet. It was silver. Worry and panic washed over me. It only turned silver when Shade was taking my time to survive. That meant that Shade would have died right now, but the bond was what kept him alive. Ignoring the pain, I struggled to my feet and took a deep breath. Finishing up, I walked back to the restaurant and began my job.

--------Shade---------

I woke up to the sound of angry shouts and I cracked my eye open. Turning my head, I saw Skye arguing with Kagome.

"What do you mean you can't find any store that has medical supplies?! There has to be one!" Kagome shouted and Skye shook her head.

"I can't find any!"

"But what are we going to do! We're out of bandages, and we don't have any money so we can't bring him to a hospital to get checked!"

"I don't know! I'm just as worried as you are!"

"Are you arguing over me...?" I mumbled and they both looked at me.

"Shade..." Kagome whispered, relieved. She looked tired for some reason...

"Are you okay, Kagome...?" I asked and she walked over to me.

"I'm just fine, Shade. Don't worry about me" she repled softly, placing the palm of her hand on my forehead. "Good, your fever seems to have gone down."

"But you look so tired, Kagome..." I murmured and she gave a small smile.

"Don't worry about me... I've just been stressed because of the condition you're in... It'll be okay now that your fever is fading."

"Why don't you just tell him?" Skye grumbled and Kagome flinched.

"What aren't you telling me...?" I asked and Kagome looked down sadly at me.

"I'm still paying off the debt I owe Kouga for breaking his mug, and the little money that I get to keep isn't enough for a doctor. I gave the money to Skye and she went out to look for some medical supplies but she can't find any... I don't know what to do anymore...! I"ve been going to the pub earlier and coming back later to get us some more money but we still don't have nearly enough!"

"...It's fine, Kagome... I won't die... yet..."

She gave a small smile and nodded. "I know... that's why I'm trying to calm down... but you've been sleeping for a week with a burning hot fever... now that you're up, I don't know how to react..."

"Its all okay, right Kagome? That's what you said. Everything is going to work out so don't worry, okay?"

She nodded again and stood up. "Do you want to see if you can stand?" she asked and I took her hand. She tried to lift me to my feet but I was still too weak. I fell to my knees and she kneeled down beside me. Setting me back down on the bed, she sighed. "Rest some more, Shade... you'll be better in no time..."

Obeying, I shut my eyes as she left. After hearing the door click shut behind her, however, I opened my eyes and forced my arm in front of my face so that I could see the bracelet. My heart dropped when I saw that it was silver. Letting my arm drop, I glanced at the door.

"...why, Kagome...?"

-----Kagome------

The next day after I came back home from work, I saw Shade staring up at the dark ceiling of the cabin. When the door clicked open, he looked at me with a slight look of disappointment.

"Why are you doing this? Why don't you just break the bond and use me as a sacrafice? I won't live..." he asked and I lowered my gaze.

"You're status has been improving, Shade... I still have hope, I still think that you'll make it through this..."

"At the cost of your own life!" he argued.

"But I want you to live!"

"It doesn't matter if I go! If I disappear! Nobody will miss me!"

"I'll miss you, Shade! Have you ever thought about that?! I l-" I stopped myself midsentence, throwing my gaze to the floor... I had almost said it... I had almost said the three forbidden words...

"...Kagome...?" Shade called softly and I looked at him. He weakly motioned me over and I sat down beside him. "Why did you make the bond with me?" he asked and I stared out the window as I began to answer.

"I made the bond with you because I was desparate to get out of the cell after being stuck in there for three days... that was the only reason back then..."

"And now?" he asked quietly and I looked at him.

"I keep the bond now because I don't want to live a life where you aren't by my side..."

"And you expect me to do the same?" he asked and I once again moved my gaze elsewhere. "Kagome..." he said quietly and I glanced at him.

"Yeah, Shade...?" I asked.

"Kagome!" a voice suddenly shouted and I turned my head towards the noise.

"Skye?" I whispered as I got up. "I'll be right back, Shade."

"But-"

I was out the door before he could finish the sentence. I raced towards the noise, my heart still pounding from the shock that I almost said the words... the words that would break the bond and end either my or Shade's life in the process... I felt like I was running forever when I finally saw Skye. She ran over to me, excited.

"I found a doctor, Kagome! He said that he would look at Shade for free and that-"

Gasping in the middle of her sentence, I gripped my chest above my heart. It felt so empty... Skye took it as a sign of excitement, however, and continued.

"-he'll be here in a few days!"

A tear rolled down my cheek. What was wrong with me? I never cried... I never cried once... not since...

"I know! Isn't it great?!"

I dropped to my knees and began to tremble. Holding myself, I felt a sudden chill wash over me.

"...Kagome...? are you okay...?"

A small 'clink' was heard and I looked at the ground, spotting what had made the noise. The bracelet was shattered, and on the ground in a million pieces. My heart dropped and I felt more tears rolling down my cheeks. I felt so... shocked... so empty... so terrified... I got to my feet and raced back to the cabin. It had taken me 3 minutes to get to where Skye was, so it would take me about three minutes to get back. When I saw the small brown house in front of me, I pushed myself more. Slamming the door open, I saw that the bed was empty.

"No!" I gasped and scanned the area around me. There was a slow movement to my right. It was clumsy and stiff. Running out of the house, I flew towards the direction I saw the movement in. Seeing Shade in front of me, I picked up my pace and skidded to a halt in front of him. He gazed at me with his dull eyes and I shook my head.

"Why...?" I whispered.

"...you need to live..." he replied weakly, falling to his knees. I fell to mine in front of him and he collapsed on top of me, his head resting on my shoulder. Slowly turning his head, I felt his breath on my neck. He nuzzled it and I leaned my head against his.

"Please don't leave me..." I whispered and he I felt him breathe in, taking a deep breath. "What are you doing...?" I asked.

"Memorizing your scent... smelling you one last time... so that I can find you when you also leave this world..."

"...Shade... don't say that..."

Struggling to push away, he looked at me with his piercing gold eyes. Taking my hand in his, he placed it against my heart.

"Guard it well, Kagome... the breaking of the bond that we had created is a harsh thing to go through... if you don't guard yourself... you'll end up like a demon in bloodlust..."

"I wouldn't have to guard it if you didn't break the bond..."

He gave a weak laugh and bumped his forehead against mine. He leaned closer, his lips nearing mine.

"Well... since this is my fault..." he began, the next part he whispered against my lips. "I'll have to guard it for you, won't I? Afterall... I love you..." He weakly pressed his lips against mine and I felt my eyes widen in shock. I began to kiss him back and felt a tear rolling down my cheek. I wrapped my arms around his neck in a hug and pulled away. I rested my head on his shoulder as he did the same to me and I felt him weakly grasp one of my hands. I let go of his neck with that hand and held his in mine. He began to tremble and I heard his ragged breathing. Moisture soaked through my clothing and I hugged him closer with one arm as my other hand held his hand tighter.

"I'm scared..." he whimpered and I felt myself beginning to tremble, tears rolling down my cheeks. His trembling suddenly stopped. "...but for some reason... I'm happy..." he whispered. "...I'll wait for you, Kagome... I promise you that..."

I felt his breathing stop and I slowly let go of his hand, wrapping it around his neck again. I hugged him tighter and felt my tears streaming down my face as I let out helpless sobs. I felt so empty... his warmth was gone... I couldn't feel him anymore... when he was still alive, his pulse was inside my heart, I could feel his heart beating alongside mine. I had gotten used to the feeling, and now it was gone. I felt... alone...

It had been so long since I felt this way... the last time I had felt like this was when my father had killed the only thing I ever cared for when I was a child... my friend was a demon... to be exact... he had killed Raze... Yes... my father was the one that had sent Kuroi to kill Raze and Shade. I had mourned for Raze as if I were of his own family... and his death was what caused my hatred towards Wilgar... and now... now Shade was gone too. I couldn't take it... I wouldn't take it... I felt myself losing myself to the side-effects of the broken bond and forced myself to stop thinking like that.

'No! I have to live normally for Shade... I have to guard my heart... I have to protect myself...' A vision of a person fighting Shade appeared in my mind and I immediately knew who had caused the injury Shade had recieved.

'I have to kill Creed.'

To Be Continued...