Chapter 10

October 29 (Autumn)

Kagome sighed as she got up a couple days after the festival and prepared for the day. She was harvesting the last of her crops and cleaning the fields up for the next season. There wasn't a whole lot that she could grow, but she was planning on planting a lot of buckwheat. She set up a crate by the fields and started to pull her plants, making sure to harvest any last minute produce. She sighed once she got through them all and found she had a good crate full of stuff Rowen could sell out and if he didn't think he could, she could give it to the townsfolk to see who needed food. Kento and Sanosuke were almost guaranteed to take it from her.

"Hey Kagome," Rowen said as he noticed the final crate of the season. "One last harvest for autumn?" Kagome smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, these are the last that weren't hurt by that frost last night," Kagome told him as he nodded and wrote what she had down in it.

"It did get cold last night," he replied as he wrote it all down. "I almost slipped on some ice when I was headed out the door this morning."

"Winter is most definitely moving in quickly this year," Kagome said as he handed her the money from the last time he went into town for her. She handed him back what she felt his dues were and pocketed the rest.

"Think you're ready for your first country winter?" Rowen teased as Kagome laughed a little and nodded.

"I think so," she told him. "I hope so." Rowen nodded in agreement. Between Kagome loading everyone up with produce, Kouga and Sesshomaru made sure they all had meat, and Sanosuke immediately started going for wood.

"We'll get through it, we always do," Rowen told her as Kagome smiled and nodded in agreement. "I'll be back tomorrow afternoon with the last of the money and I should have any other seeds you've ordered." Kagome nodded as she listened, she wasn't worried. As she headed back to the farm she figured today would be a good day for a walk through the woods. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were already set with the task of checking the last of the houses that were empty to make sure they were ready for the winter ahead.

Kagome changed out of her work clothes and grabbed her basket as she took her walk through the forest. It was a partially cloudy day, but she didn't think that would become an issue. She pulled some of the last flowers of the season to press for Sango. She also found herbs, mushrooms, and a few glittery rocks like what she had found with Inuyasha on their first walk together. She smiled as she thought of him, he came daily to see her and just talk.

She sighed as she sat on the mountain top and looked over the valley to see the town. She could see people moving about, though they looked like ants to her now, as they cleaned up and prepared for the winter that was coming. She smiled as she watched her home for a bit, but the darker clouds made her wary and she decided to finish her walk and head home. As she headed down the trail, the threat of rain proved to be a reality as the clouds opened up and poured on her. Sighing and hating her luck some days, Kagome moved as quickly as she could on the quickly slickening trail of mud.

An hour later she got home and immediately stripped herself of her soaking clothing. Kagome sighed as she slid into the bathroom and started to wash herself in much warmer water, though she couldn't stop shaking.

"Oh," Kagome muttered as she sneezed for the millionth time, "I hope I'm not getting sick…" She warmed up some stew from the festival, figuring it was smarter to stay home for dinner rather than risk it out in the storm, and ate it as she wrapped herself up in a blanket. She curled up in front of the fire and fell asleep as she tried to warm up her shivering body.

A few hours later found Inuyasha making his way through the rain and mud to Kagome's house. It was already getting darker earlier as winter approached. He shook off his coat and slid out of his boots before heading into her house to find her asleep on the couch in front of the fire. Kneeling down, Inuyasha smiled at how peaceful she looked and gently touched her cheek. He stopped smiling almost immediately as his hand moved to her forehead and he noticed how hot she was. Muttering a string of profanities that his mother would have beaten him with a frying pay for, Inuyasha picked her up and gently put her in bed. He wrapped her tightly with her blankets to keep her warm as he sighed and kissed her on the forehead before heading home.

"Was she asleep?" Izayoi asked Inuyasha after he rambled about how hot she was. He sighed and nodded as she smiled at him. "It's alright, she'll get some rest and she'll be better in the morning. You'll see."

"And if she's not?" Inuyasha demanded of his mother. "We don't have a doctor in town, the last time you got sick father almost destroyed the town as you got worse. It wasn't until Sesshomaru and I brought a nurse over from Fujigoko to help you that you started to get better and that took us two days." Izayoi looked at him surprised and nodded with a slight chuckle.

"Alright, Kagome is stronger and younger than I am," she told him as he sighed and looked at her seriously, "she'll be able to fight this cold better than I can. But if she's not better by Friday, I'll send your father to get a doctor to help her." Inuyasha grumbled and nodded as his mother pushed him to the table and handed him a bowl of soup. "Now eat, you wouldn't want to get sick worrying over her, would you?"

"I don't get sick," he reminded her sourly as his mother chuckled and nodded. Yes, her big, strong, hanyou son got the good graces of his youkai half being able to avoid such things as colds and flu. After dinner Inuyasha insisted in going back to Kagome's to make sure she ate and stayed warm. Izayoi sent him with a bowl of soup for her dinner and made sure he was bundled up from the rain.

Inuyasha walked into the house and started to reheat the food before going to check on Kagome. He found her right where he left her; still asleep in bed but now she was looking quite pale. Sighing he gently shook her and made her wake up some.

"Inu…yasha…?" she asked wearily. He smiled despite wanting to howl and yell at the skies for her to get better immediately. "What's up?" she sounded out of breath and exhausted. She sneezed a few times before he helped her sit up.

"Mother and I wanted to make sure you ate," he told her as she smiled at him. "I had stopped by earlier but you were asleep by the fire, I noticed you had a bit of a fever so I put you to bed." She nodded as she realized where she was. "Are you hungry?"

"A little," she replied with a slight nod. She smiled as he left the room and shortly returned with the bowl of soup for her. He helped her eat, watching closely to see if it helped her any. While some coloring did return to her cheeks, he could tell she was still quite drained.

"How are you feeling?" he asked her softly as he prepared to take the bowl and spoon away.

"Exhausted and I hurt," she replied softly. "My nose especially." He nodded as she sneezed a few times before handing her a tissue. "Thank you." He could hear she was starting to sound congested.

"You're welcome," he responded as he put the bowl down and took her hand as she smiled at him. "Do you want me to stay? That way if you need anything you won't have to get out of bed?" She placed her other hand over his and shook her head.

"I'll be fine," she assured him as he sighed and nodded. "I just need to rest."

"It's pouring outside," he informed her with a sigh as he thought. "So you should get plenty, because it looks like it's going to for a while, which means you can't work outside anyway." Kagome nodded.

"It's still raining?" she asked him depressively. "I got caught in it while walking in the forest; I didn't know it was supposed to today." Inuyasha wanted to yell at the skies for making Kagome sick. He also wanted to yell at her for not having an umbrella, though he did gruffly inform her she needed to be more careful and take one with her every time.

"Alright," he sighed as he tucked her back in, "get some rest. I'll come and check on you in the morning." She smiled and nodded as he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. He watched as Kagome laid back and sighed as she closed her eyes to go back to sleep. Inuyasha made sure everything was closed up, the dishes were all clean that he had messed up, and that her basket was put away with everything she had found on her walk. He smiled as he found the rocks from her and pocketed those.

"How's she doing?" Izayoi asked as he walked in. She was working on a puzzle with Nishi as they waited for him.

"She's still very warm," Inuyasha informed her, "but she ate everything. She's got a stuffy nose and keeps sneezing. She says she got caught in the rain while up the mountain."

"That'll do it," Izayoi said with a nod. Inuyasha sighed and nodded as he shed his coat and boots. Sesshomaru came in and repeated the same thing after a few minutes. "There are leftovers on the stove warm for you, Sesshomaru."

"Thank you," he replied before vanishing into the kitchen. "This rain is terrible; the cattle almost didn't make it into the barn."

"That bad?" Nishi asked as he put a piece into the puzzle.

"I've been looking for that piece for twenty minutes," Izayoi admonished, "and you had it the whole time?" Nishi chuckled and shrugged as she pouted at him a little with a sigh.

"The mud is getting pretty bad out there, I had two cows slip in it already," Sesshomaru informed him as Inuyasha sat down and watched their parents. "I'm going to have to put one down with Kouga tomorrow; one of her legs is pretty badly broken. She's comfortable for the night at least."

"That's a shame, a milk cow?" Sesshomaru nodded as Nishi shook his head. "A good milk cow gone to waste." Sesshomaru nodded in agreement.

"Do you have any calves yet?" Inuyasha asked curiously, he knew Kagome wanted a cow to take care of. Sesshomaru shook his head as he thought about it.

"Next lot should drop around mid to late winter," Sesshomaru told him as he ate. Inuyasha nodded as he listened. "Kagome still asking?"

"No, I figured I'd beat her to the pass," Inuyasha replied as Sesshomaru smirked and nodded.

"I'm surprised she's not here watching this entertainment," Sesshomaru muttered amused as he pointed to their parents. Inuyasha chuckled a little and nodded in agreement.

"She's not feeling very well, got caught in the rains while up the mountain," Inuyasha told him. "I took her some dinner and she's resting."

"Shame no one pushed for a doctor or healer to move out here," Sesshomaru muttered as their father looked up at the two sharply. "You know, as it was suggested a hundred times after Izayoi got sick the last time." Inuyasha nodded in agreement.

"Excuse me," Nishi snapped at both his pups, "if none want to move here."

"I'm sure now that we're growing," Inuyasha replied to his father, "a doctor might decide it's a good idea to move out here." Nishi sighed and nodded in agreement.

"I'll put ads back out there tomorrow," he grumbled as his mate laughed at him amused. The two pups headed to their own rooms for the night after cleaning up after themselves as their parents started to bicker over the puzzle, though Inuyasha's rest was anything but easy. He spent the night tossing and turning as he worried about the headstrong young woman home alone and sick on a farm.

October 30 (Autumn)

Inuyasha, as promised the next morning, was over checking on Kagome before breakfast. He found her still in bed, sneezing up a storm, and handed over the box of tissues again. It was still heavily pouring outside. She smiled weakly at him as he sighed and seemed to keep trying to tuck her further into bed.

"I think its best if you just stay put today," he told her as she sighed and nodded in agreement.

"I think you're right," she agreed, all stuffy sounding. Inuyasha touched her forehead and found her still burning up pretty badly. "I know I have a fever. I'm going to grab a bath soon to help control it."

"I'll bring you back some breakfast." He told her as she nodded with a smile. "Get some more rest." He watched as she sighed and closed her eyes again to fall back to sleep. He made sure the fire was going strongly and that the curtains were closed to keep the warmth in before heading home.

"Hey, Inuyasha!" Kouga called as he walked onto the property. Inuyasha waved as he walked up to him. "Where's the lovely Kagome this morning?"

"Sick, so let her rest," Inuyasha told him as he headed off to breakfast.

"Sick? Is she alright? You don't seem to be taking very good care of her, mutt!" Kouga demanded sharply as Inuyasha glared at him. It was well known that both liked Kagome, it was also well known that she preferred Inuyasha's company to Kouga's, but Kouga wouldn't accept that. Or just chose not to hear it…

"She got caught in the rain yesterday, it's just a cold," Inuyasha snapped at him before heading home. He felt like he was sounding like his mother for a moment there. It still didn't ease his own nerves on the idea.

"I guess no one told you, colds can kill humans," Kouga snapped at him as Inuyasha glared at him. Shaking his head, he walked into the house and slammed the door in Kouga's face as his father and half-brother looked at him mildly surprised. That surprise vanished when Kouga opened the door.

"No Kagome today?" his mother asked as she set the table.

"No," Inuyasha grumbled annoyed, "she's still burning up pretty badly."

"Alright, I'll go over and take a look at her after breakfast, I'm sure rest is all she needs," Izayoi told him as he nodded in agreement.

"Are you sure we shouldn't send for a doctor?" Inuyasha pushed as his father and half-brother just looked at him as Izayoi sighed and shook her head.

"Inuyasha, it's just a cold," Izayoi explained to him softly, "I know you're worried. But I promise you, if I go over there and I have any reason to feel it necessary I'll send your father and Sesshomaru over for one and we'll stay with her until she's better. Usually they are simply resolved with rest though." Inuyasha nodded as he and Kouga sat down, neither comfortable with the idea of Kagome being sick for this long let alone longer.

After breakfast Inuyasha watched as his mother set up a plate of breakfast foods for Kagome. He watched as she put everything together perfectly as if she were making it up for one of her own family members. She put it and a few other things into a basket before preparing to head out into the storm.

"Kouga said colds have killed people," Inuyasha blurted out as he waited. Izayoi looked at him and smiled as she thought about what he said.

"Yes, I guess that is true," she told him nodding as he paled a little, "a long, long time ago. Now days there are medicines to help the sick, but we have to be careful with those medicines because they may not work the next time." Inuyasha just looked at her and nodded as he sighed. He didn't know how his mother was so patient right now, he was going absolutely insane.

They headed to Kagome's, being careful of all the mud and muck that was coming out due to the oversaturation of the ground with the water. Inuyasha helped his mother to the house and then made sure they were shed of anything covered in mud before heading in the house. He watched as his mother gently leaned over Kagome and touched her forehead while looking her over.

"Inuyasha, go get me a wash cloth and dampen it with cool water, not cold, and then bring it here," she commanded him gently as she touched Kagome's cheeks lightly. "You are burning up, aren't you?" she muttered to the girl.

"He's been scared since yesterday," Kagome replied hoarsely. Izayoi smiled and nodded in agreement. "I'm so thirsty."

"Perfect," Izayoi said as Inuyasha came in with the rag, "now a glass of cool water please." He nodded and ran off as she gently placed it on the girl's forehead. "He must really like you; he's never this obedient at home." Izayoi chuckled as Kagome smirked with her eyes closed.

"Maybe," she murmured in response, "I really need to get outside and take care of my fields for winter." Izayoi shook her head.

"Not until this fever breaks," the older woman instructed her. "I may send him to get Makoto to help me get you bathed and changed; you shouldn't stay in the same pajamas for too long." Kagome sighed and nodded as Inuyasha brought in the water. "Thank you dear." She had him help Kagome sit up to drink the water some before helping her relax in bed again.

"I really would like a bath," Kagome croaked at Izayoi as she nodded while Inuyasha just looked at her.

"You're not strong enough yet," he told her as his mother smirked at him.

"She's plenty strong enough," Izayoi told him. "But I do believe I'll need Makoto to come help out just in case. Thank heavens we have enough women here."

"Father helped you bathe when you were sick," Inuyasha pointed out as Izayoi gave him a mildly surprised look and shook her head.

"We were mated, you are not," Izayoi said as she pointed between the two. "You are not helping me wash Kagome until you're mated to Kagome." Inuyasha flushed bright red at the thought as she laughed and used the rag gently on Kagome's cheeks. "No, Inuyasha, Makoto should help me get her washed. Please, go get her and I'll get the bath and everything ready." Inuyasha left to get Makoto as his mother instructed.

"Oh dear, she really is in bad shape," Makoto observed as she held the sick girl up. "I haven't seen a cold this bad in a while." Izayoi sighed and nodded in agreement.

"It's all in my head," Kagome whimpered a little, "my sinuses are absolutely killing me."

"Well, this hot bath will help that," Izayoi told her happily as the two walked her into the bathroom and closed the door behind them. They helped Kagome undress and slide comfortably into the tub while Inuyasha waited anxiously in the living room. He had made it quite obvious he was now not leaving her until she was fully healthy again.

"I think we should still send for a healer," Makoto told Izayoi softly as they washed Kagome. "Some antibiotics would do wonders for her right now." Izayoi sighed and nodded in agreement as she thought about it.

"Yes, but if we tell Inuyasha we do in fact need one, he'll flip out that she's worse than she is," Izayoi informed her as Makoto chuckled and nodded. "I've never seen him so love sick before."

"Well, it was bound to happen one day," Makoto told her sagely as Izayoi sighed and nodded.

"I know, my little puppy is all grown up," Izayoi announced depressive as even Kagome grew a smirk at that.

"Puppy, huh?" the sick girl croaked as Makoto laughed a little. "I'm so using that one." The women all laughed at her as they bathed her, they could see her color returning a little as they pulled her out of the tub and dried her off before putting her into new pajamas. They helped her back to bed as Inuyasha made her a nice cup of tea and warmed up breakfast for her.

"How are you feeling?" he asked her once she was situated and eating some.

"I'll be fine," Kagome told him softly before coughing. Inuyasha jumped and gave her the water again. "I just need to rest, your mom was right." He sighed and nodded as he accepted back the glass to put on the nightstand and watched over her. Makoto watched the two almost longing for the same thing.

Izayoi headed out to send Nishi for a healer, explaining it was more the fevers that she was concerned about and that she'd rather have one just look the girl over than not. She made lunch and fed the town before creating plates for Inuyasha, Makoto, and Kagome as well. She headed over to find Kagome resting again.

"Her fever returned about an hour ago," Makoto told her as she checked on Kagome. "It's just been building, we've been keeping the rag there, but I don't think it's doing much. We've had to re-wet it a few times now." Izayoi sighed and nodded as she touched the girl's forehead and sighed as she thought.

"I sent Nishi for a healer," she told the young woman softly as Inuyasha headed outside for more firewood. "I'm happy I sent him, fevers I can't control are dangerous. Hopefully he'll get through this storm quickly." Makoto nodded in agreement as Inuyasha came in with an armload of wood. "Hopefully Inuyasha won't realize it." Makoto nodded again as he built up the fire before returning to his spot by Kagome's side.

December 1 (Winter)

Izayoi and Makoto worked on Kagome as Inuyasha sat close by in case they needed him for anything. He fretted and worried as he watched Kagome cough or sneeze and as she slept. He ended up falling asleep next to her in the chair he was using to watch over her. Izayoi and Makoto at least would be able to confirm for the young hanyou, his loyalty to the human farmer was great.

Nishi didn't return until it was late in the day. He brought two women with him; one was aged and hunched over with an eye patch over her left eye. The other was younger, taller, and quite beautiful. He walked into the house with them as Inuyasha, Makoto, and Izayoi looked quite surprised.

"Izayoi, these are Takani, Kaede and Megumi," Nishi introduced them as Izayoi shook their hands. "They are healers from Fujigoko that will be moving here to town. They wanted to come immediately when I told them what you said about Kagome." Inuyasha looked at his mother suspiciously as Izayoi smiled and nodded.

"That's wonderful news," she told them as they both nodded. "Please, I'll take you to the patient." She led them to Kagome's room; Inuyasha was seated next to her as he eyed them warily. "Inuyasha, this is Kaede and Megumi, they are healers. They're going to help Kagome." He nodded silently but wouldn't remove himself from the room.

"Ah yes, the child is very sick," Kaede told Megumi sagely as she turned to face the younger woman, "I'll need a cup of boiling water and the blue sachet." Megumi obeyed and did as instructed after handing the old woman the sachet.

"What's in there?" Inuyasha asked, his mother shooting him a look to remind him to be nice. Naturally, he ignored her.

"It's a mixture of herbs that will help young Kagome's fever and cold," Kaede answered unperturbed. "Is she your mate, boy?" Inuyasha flushed and looked away as his mother fought not to laugh.

"No," he grumbled, "I'm just worried about her." Kaede nodded as she eyed the inu hanyou before her. She turned to Kagome as she started to cough some, noticing Inuyasha's ears go back as he heard her.

"When was the last time she was bathed?" Kaede asked Izayoi.

"This morning, Makoto and I washed her," Izayoi answered as the old woman nodded while listening.

"She'll need another one today," Kaede determined as Izayoi nodded in agreement.

"Another one?" Inuyasha demanded surprised.

"Ye must wash off the germs, or she'll remain sick," Kaede explained patiently, "let alone it'll help control her body's temperature from the fever. In humans, a fever for too long can be dangerous. How long has the child been sick?"

"About three days," Inuyasha answered as Kaede nodded while listening.

"Then I'd say she's been sick long enough, wouldn't ye agree?" Kaede asked him as he sighed and nodded in agreement.

"Sorry, just help her," he grumbled as he looked at the sick girl. Kaede and Megumi saw how worried he was as Izayoi wanted to fawn over her son being so in love with the farmer girl.

"Child, ye need to drink this," Kaede commanded softly as she helped Kagome sit up. She had Inuyasha sit on the bed and hold Kagome up as Kaede brought the mug to her lips. "It's going to be bitter, but it will help ye." Kagome sipped it and cringed, coughing in surprise. After a bit of drinking and coughing, Kaede set the mug down on the nightstand and helped Inuyasha situate her back in bed.

"How often should she drink that stuff?" Inuyasha asked the older woman.

"As often as she can," Kaede answered honestly. "But we'll let her rest some and then your mother, Megumi, and I will take her in for a bath and change of clothes." Inuyasha nodded as he watched Kagome sleep. "Come, let her sleep." Inuyasha followed her out as everyone relaxed in the living room.

"Thank you so much for coming so quickly," Izayoi thanked them happily.

"We were planning on leaving Fujigoko for a while," Kaede explained as Megumi sat and fiddled with a few herbs and sachets. "This village is a wonderful place to continue Megumi's education." The woman spoke as Inuyasha stoked the fire and added wood to it. "Young Kagome runs this farm all alone?"

"Kind of," Izayoi answered with a smile, "she has done very well on her own for the most part. But Inuyasha is always helping her where he can if he's not working within town in his own shop, and the other men of the village help her with the big projects." Kaede nodded as she listened and looked at Inuyasha.

"And what do ye do for this village?" Kaede asked Inuyasha curiously.

"I'm the local blacksmith," he answered gruffly as he stood back up before finding a chair to relax in. "But I try to make sure Kagome has everything she needs because it takes a lot to run a farm." Kaede nodded in agreement as she listened.

"Indeed it does," Kaede answered as she looked at the young woman with her. "I believe that Kagome is in good hands here, she seems to be flourishing despite the cold."

"Oh yes, she just completed her first season here," Izayoi told her happily. "She really does seem happy here." Kaede nodded as Megumi looked at them curiously.

"You're saying she moved here just so she could run a farm?" she asked as Inuyasha nodded. "Seems rather odd."

"She realized there is more to life than material things," Kaede told her as if it were something she's explained before. "Life is not meant to be lived within a city as a drone."

"Yes, grandmother," Megumi replied ending the rant before she really got started. "The girl should be bathed and fed soon." Kaede looked at the time and nodded in agreement as she stood up. Izayoi joined them as they moved Kagome to the bathroom and helped bathe her as Inuyasha warmed up the last of the stew from the festival for her. When they had Kagome back in bed and bundled up he brought her the food and helped her eat.

"Thank you," she whispered weakly to him. He smiled at her and shook his head before helping her drink more of the bitter tea, sighing as she cringed.

"Sorry, if I could, I'd have slipped some sugar in there," he told her softly as she smiled at him. "But that old one keeps a pretty good eye on what I'm doing."

"Are you staying tonight?" she asked him softly as he smiled at her.

"DO you want me to?" he asked her back. She nodded tiredly and he nodded in response. "Then I'll stay no need for you to get all upset and alone." Kagome just smirked at him as she started to doze. Inuyasha remained seated next to her after the three women retreated to the living room to relax again.