A/N – Sorry it took so long and sorry that this chapter is a little shorter than my previous ones. But I had to end it where it is now only because the next chapter needs to be separate in order for it to flow well.

Thanks so much for the reviews! They're really encouraging and keep my writing going strong.

Beta-reader: DarkSacredJewelXoX

My beta is so awesome, she helps me learn how to write better =P

The History Book

Chapter Ten – Into the Castle

Last Time:

"KAGOME!" Inuyasha screamed. With a final pull, Inuyasha was able to break free from the vines as they began to loosen its hold on him.

"Kagome!" Sango shouted to her friend.

"Lady Kagome!" Miroku yelled.

Shippou was starting to cry.

Why is everyone yelling at me? Kagome thought in confusion. Then without warning she felt pain rip throughout her entire body, and she clenched her eyes shut at the discomfort. Kagome noticed as she looked down at herself.

Three daggers managed to lodge itself into her left arm, lower abdomen and right thigh.

Oh…

Kagome started to fall forward from her pain and blood loss as darkness started to claim her. All she saw before she fell was Inuyasha running towards her.

My purification powers…didn't work.

"I don't understand…my Lord, why are you leaving us?"

"I have to leave this place. I need to be with my love."

The young servant looked at the retreating form of his master. His long years of servant hood did not mentally prepare him for the moment that his master would leave.

"But why can't she come live here in the castle? If you go, who will take over the property you've worked so hard to keep?"

The Lord turned around and gave a kind smile to his servant. It was a genuine smile that no one in the castle has ever seen cast upon his face. His brown orbs glowed in what could only be known as peace while his short black hard shined against the flame's light. He gently rested his hand on his servant's shoulder in reassurance.

"Hideaki, I want you to take care of this place for me. You have always been my most trusted servant and loyal advisor. I believe you will take good care of the castle in replace of me."

Tears tempted to fall from the servant's eyes, but he held them back in the presence of his Lord.

"I still don't understand. Why do you wish to stay in that country?"

The Lord reached into his kimono and managed to pull out a shiny piece of paper. He took his servant's hands and placed it in his palms. The servant took a moment to analyze the strange piece of paper. It was something he had never seen before and his eyes widened in wonder. He wanted to ask his Lord how he had possessed such an exquisite treasure, but he knew it was from the other country.

"This is my girl. That country is safe, and I wish to bring up my child in a world free of war and famine."

Hideaki nodded in understanding. The reason for his Lord's change in demeanor, the reason why he stopped fighting in all those wars, was because of this one tiny baby.

With a quick bow and a quiet goodbye, the Lord left his servant to the castle.

Leaving him the photograph of his daughter.

Everything was dark and peaceful here. It felt like an eternal sleep. In this state of mind, she wished she could stay here forever. Free from the outside world, free from the evil likes of Kishami, but…what about Inuyasha?

She willed her body to move, but no matter how hard she tried, she was pinned to the darkness. After time and time again of trying to shift even a little, she grew tired and gave up. "It's not so bad here," she thought, "at least there's no more pain."

In that moment she felt a hot sensation rip across her body. Something cold and wet was placed on her forehead, and slowly, reality started to shift into view as Kagome started to regain consciousness. The pain came back too.

Her breath started to come out in rasps and she tried to control the heat that racked her body. Memories of what happened before she fell unconscious came back to her, and then she realized how bad her situation was. Her eyes tried to focus on whoever was trying to talk to her, but it was such a tiring task and she wanted to close them shut.

"Kagome, Kagome!" someone yelled. "Keep your eyes open. Don't you dare fall unconscious on me again!"

"Inuyasha, try to keep her conscious," Sango ordered. "The wounds in her arm and leg already stopped bleeding, but we need to close up her wound to her abdomen fast! She's already lost so much blood."

Inuyasha took out the water bottle from Kagome's backpack and started to splash some on her face. Her eyes started to roll back again, but he refused to let her fall into darkness and started to gently slap her face until her eyes refocused on him.

"Inuyasha," Kagome spoke in between heavy breaths. Sweat started to pour from her head more fervently now.

Inuyasha took away the washcloth from her forehead and placed the back of his hand against it. His eyes widened when he realized how hot it was. "We need her body to cool down faster. She's starting to get a heavy fever."

Miroku stood up from his crouched position over the bleeding girl and stood to look around the forest. From where they encountered Daiki he could see a clearing up ahead. He squinted his eyes, and in the distance he saw the castle they were searching for.

"Inuyasha," Miroku called. "Kagome won't recover here. We need to take her to the castle. There should be some medical supplies in there."

Inuyasha stood to see what Miroku was talking about. In the distance he managed to see a castle on top of a cliff not too far away.

"We can't move her. Kagome will bleed out to death!" Shippou cried.

Inuyasha removed his haori and moved beside Kagome. Ever so gently, he shifted Kagome's body to wrap the cloth tightly around her abdomen. He winced when he heard Kagome moan in pain.

"Don't worry Shippou," Sango cooed. "The book never said anyone would. It said that we would reach the castle. I'm sure Inuyasha realized this, or else he wouldn't move her."

"We should get going," Inuyasha said as he started to carefully pick up Kagome. With the help of Sango, he managed to get Kagome on his back.

Making sure they took Kagome's backpack with the book inside, Miroku, Sango, and Shippou hopped onto Kirara's back.

Inuyasha started to run toward the forest clearing, being mindful of Kagome's injuries. His stomach churned when he felt warm thick liquid ooze down his arms. The smell of Kagome's blood thickened. Cursing at himself for being careless he started to run faster hoping that Kagome's body will hold up until then. "I should have protected her. I'm such an idiot," he internally yelled at himself.

The rushing wind felt nice against her hot skin. Kagome took in the cool air as it comforted her. Kagome's hold on Inuyasha's shoulder tightened when she felt another wave of pain from her stomach. She moaned out, "Inuyasha…"

While still running, Inuyasha turned back to face her. "Don't worry Kagome. Just bear with it a little longer, we're almost at the castle."

Kagome nodded and rested her head further into Inuyasha's back, her eyes fluttered to a close. "I just want to sleep."

"Damn it Kagome! Please stay awake!" Inuyasha yelled. When he didn't get a response from her, he cursed under his breath and started to run faster. If faster was even possible. He didn't want Kagome to endure any more pain, but he needed her to keep her eyes open and will her body to fight against the blood loss. If she closed her eyes to rest, he was afraid that she would never open them again.

The gang reached the end of the forest and a narrow path winded to the top of the cliff where the castle sat.

Miroku called out from his position on Kirara, "Inuyasha, we're almost there. How is Kagome?"

Inuyasha turned his head to check on her sleeping form. Although her eyes were closed, her face still cringed from the pain and sweat continued to pour.

"She's not looking good. She fell unconscious again," Inuyasha yelled back.

Sango's face filled with worry when she heard this and asked for Kirara to fly faster.

When they reached the bottom of the cliff, instead of running along the path. Inuyasha managed to jump to the top in two bounds. They were expecting a few people guarding the castle, however they were surprised when they saw a whole army of guards out front.

"What the…" Inuyasha started.

The many guards took out their spears and surrounded the strange travelers. Clearly, some of them were demons and they were immediately suspicious.

"Who are you lot?" One of the guards asked. "What is your business with this castle?"

Miroku jumped off Kirara. "Please, we are just travelers," Miroku spoke calmly and raising his hands in submission. "Our friend has been severely injured and we are in need of assistance. Please, we mean no harm."

The same guard yelled, "Why then are you with demons?!"

Inuyasha was getting impatient. Kagome was losing more blood every second they argued with the idiot man. He wasn't going to take this shit. "Bastard, just let us the fuck inside so we help her!"

The guard pointed his spear at the strange boy in red. "We can not let you pass. You demons have possessed these humans!"

Right then, Inuyasha wanted to punch the man for being so stupid, but he feared from moving Kagome too much unnecessarily. His arms were already coated in her blood. Why were these people so suspicious? They've never had this problem before.

Without warning, the guard ordered his comrade to take down the strangers. With a war cry the soldiers ran forward with their spears.

Inuyasha swore and jumped out of the way trying to protect the girl on his back.

Miroku and Sango took out their weapons to defend themselves making sure not to hurt the humans too much. Although the people at the castle were being total assholes, they were only human.

Miroku and Sango stood back to back in defense while Inuyasha stayed near Kirara, getting the demon cat to help him protect Kagome's back while he fought whoever was in front of him.

"What should we do?" Miroku asked.

Sango punched a man out of her way before responding. "I don't know Miroku. We need to get Kagome help."

"Didn't the book say that we would end up spending the night here?" Inuyasha asked as knocked a man aside pretty roughly.

"Yes," Sango replied, "but how long will it take before they let us through? We don't have the time."

Inuyasha was contemplating the situation. Right now he just wanted to rip the damn book to shreds. Even following every word it said they would be doing, it still wasn't helping their situation at the moment. Couldn't the damn thing have told them that Kagome was going to get injured before reaching the castle? He was about to yell to the others that they should leave, when a man shouted.

"Enough!"

All fighting stopped and everyone turned to the front entrance to see an elderly man with his hands folded into his haori sleeves.

"What is the meaning of this?" he asked looking pointedly at the head guard.

"These travelers are asking for a pass into the castle claiming that they need medical assistance. But as you can see, there are demons among them," the guard replied as he pointed to the three demons.

The elderly figure turned to look at the strange group. It was then that he noticed the unconscious and strangely dressed girl on the demon's back. He also noted the amount of blood that dripped from her form and unto the demon's arms.

"Why are you humans with demons?" he questioned.

Miroku spoke up. "These demons do not harm humans. They are our friends. Please, we need your help. Our friend is seriously injured."

The man continued to contemplate what to do and took a closer look at the young girl, making sure that this was no trick. He looked at her pale face and noticed that her eyes were fluttering open from unconsciousness. He looked closer into the girl's face and noticed the excruciating pain emitting from her brown orbs. "Those eyes," he thought, "I've seen those eyes before…"

"Kagome," Inuyasha said when he noticed Kagome awakening.

"Kagome?" the old man said out loud to himself. He realized who this girl was and barked orders at the guards. "Stand down men. These people are not our enemies." He turned to look at his accompanied assistant. "Prepare a room and get a healer to help this young girl!" he commanded.

The young servant bowed in understanding and hastened when he realized how urgent his master sounded.

"Make way for them," he ordered the head guard when he didn't move.

The guard unwillingly bowed down and moved aside. Why did his master allow these demons into the castle?

"Quickly now, please come inside. We have great healers at this castle," the old man said as he pointed inside.

The group had no time to question the Lord's sudden change of heart and sheathed their weapons to run through the gate.

Kagome moaned in pain and Inuyasha turned to look at her as he ran towards one of the castle's rooms. "The pain will be over soon Kagome. We're here now, we're inside the castle."

A/N – I hope the little dialogue at the beginning of this chapter keeps you in suspense. Although, I think it was pretty obvious who the Lord was. I like to keep people guessing, but not too much in the dark so you don't strangle me haha.