ChosenMibhar: … … …for once I'm kinda speechless on the intro… …

Chapter 20: Poisoned from the inside out

Kagome had gotten used to hiking over long distances from traveling around the feudal era with InuYasha for over a year but she suddenly felt utterly weak. She had to rest several times as she traveled through Taji's swamp. Again Kagome dropped her backpack and slid down against a tree. She had managed to make it to the outskirts of the swamp by a flowing river when her bladder vibrated.

Kagome placed down her backpack and did her business in a nearby bush. It burned when she urinated. Not to mention her lower back was on fire! Kagome moaned as she laid against a tree for support. She had never felt so bad in her entire life. It was like her body was shutting down on her. She felt herself grow faint. She wobbled and fell over: everything turned dark.

InuYasha wandered in the shadows under the trees of his Forest. Kikyo's faint scent haunted him. It had been days since she left him right after their mating and he hasn't been the same since. He figured he deserved it. After all the way he treated Kagome still haunted him. He had no idea were she was. He assumed she went back to her time but he didn't have the balls to go check up on her in her time.

InuYasha also wondered where Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kilala were. Kaede had told him they were running an errand but they had been gone far too long in his opinion.

InuYasha drawn out of his thoughts as he felt something had bumped into his leg.

"Get off me you idiot hanyou!" a shrill voice commanded.

"Oi, you ran into me Jaken!" InuYasha snapped as he stared down at the little imp and that ran into his pant leg. InuYasha was pissed—He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't even notice the stench of Sesshomaru's pack in his forest and literally right under his nose.

"Hey, InuYasha-san"

Rin greeted kindly with a short bow as she and Ah-Un emerged from the foliage. "Down mind Jaken-sama, he's just upset because we can't find Sesshomaru-sama. Have you since him around the last couple of days?"

"Thank Kami I have not!" InuYasha answered crossing his arms. "Why do you follow the bastard anyway?" he asked.

"Don't you dare speak of Sesshomaru-sama that way you low down, lovechild hanyou—ahhh!" Jaken cried out as InuYasha stomped him into the ground as he continued to walk on pass Sesshomaru's group. "Later, I got more important things!" InuYasha called out over his shoulder. He decided to try and find his mate Kikyo while the trail was still fresh.

After InuYasha was gone Rin said, "You can come out, Kohaku he's gone"

Kohaku jumped down next to Rin from the tree above. He brushed his hands to rid them of the gritty white powder. "It's a good thing I had that incense stick but now I'm out—I need to restock at the next village we pass" Kohaku said.

"Why are you trying to avoid him anyway?" Rin asked placing her hands on her hip. "InuYasha is companion your sister travels with—"

"Exactly Rin-chan!" Kohaku said cutting Rin off. "He'll tell Sango if he saw me and then Sango would want me back"

"But isn't that a good thing?" Rin asked tilling her head slightly. "If my family was still alive I would want to be with them. Well maybe visit them—I'll never leave Sesshomaru-sama!" she said contently.

Kohaku shook his head sadly. "I can't go back to Sango until Naraku is dead so it's better if she thinks I'm dead for now"

Rin shrugged. "Anyway where do you think we should look for Lord Sesshomaru next?"

"Let's try the eastern wood" Kohaku advised. "It's wroth a shot"

"Okay, come on Ah-Un!" Rin said sweetly as she pulled the dragon horse's reins. Ah-Un moaned contentedly and followed after her. Jaken was just able to peel himself from the ground when the children were leaving. "Ungrateful whelps!" he exclaimed. "This is not how you treat your caregiver!" he screeched as he ran after them.

Kagome moaned as stirred awake. Her backside was still aching but it wasn't as bad as it was a little while ago. Kagome opened her eyes to realize she was lying by the stream. Her sleeve was rolled up and she could see little black leeches on her left arm. Kagome was repulsed. She reached to pull the slimy blood sucking creatures off.

"No, leave it on for a bit longer" a soft voice commanded.

Kagome looked up to see Sesshomaru staring down at her. "Sesshomaru?" she asked out loud.

Sesshomaru bend down and laid a cloth full of herbs next to her. "You must take these. Brew and drink this once a day, preferably in the morning" Sesshomaru ordered. "These will help cleanse the toxin in your body"

"W-what happened?" Kagome asked weakly. "How did I get poisoned?"

"You were poisoned from the inside out" Sesshomaru answered. "I figure this would happen, considering my element is poison"

"I don't understand…" Kagome said.

"The baby is a poison element inu hanyou. Your body tried to dispose of the toxin by eliminating it through your urinary track but it has become too much and almost destroyed your kidneys" Sesshomaru explained. "If you need further proof—observe"

He motioned his eyes to the bush Kagome used to release herself earlier.

"Eep!" Kagome squeaked when she saw it. It had wilted up and fallen over in a rotting heap. "No wonder I was about to kill over! Thanks Sesshomaru, I owe you one—"

"You owe me nothing" came Sesshomaru's flat reply. He knelled down beside Kagome with a steamy tea cup in his hand. "Now, drink" he insisted. He brought the cup's rim to Kagome's lips. When Kagome took a sip, she nearly gagged—the tea was bitter!

"Finish it" Sesshomaru ordered as he pressed the cup next to her lips again. 'Think of the baby, think of the baby' Kagome told herself as she forced the bitter brew down. Once she finished, Sesshomaru laid her head back down gently and moved back over to the fire he built.

"Why are you helping me?" Kagome asked as she closed her eyes.

"Are you ever silent while conscious?" Sesshomaru answered with a question. "It was simply my obligation" he answered a few moments later. Kagome's eyes snapped open. "Obligation?" she asked. "After all we've been through and I'm just an obligation!?"

"What else are you to me?" Sesshomaru asked earnestly. Kagome felt hurt at Sesshomaru's statement and tried to search his eyes for any type of affection and found an emotionless façade. She sighed. "I was hoping…well um…"

"Hoping what?" he asked stoically.

"I…" A confused look crossed Kagome's face. "I really don't know…" she admitted. Then she asked, "Does it always have to be about you?"

"If something concerns my person, yes and if does not, then no" Sesshomaru stated.

Kagome shook her head sadly. "Well thanks anyway" she said. "When I recover, I'll be along my way and you can leave" she said. Kagome rested her eyes again and fell into a light sleep.

Sesshomaru watched her as she continued to sleep well into the evening. He supposed he should at least escort her back to the human village. He didn't want any harm to befall her while he was indebted to her. As much as he hated to admit it, he owed his life to the compassion of a human miko.

It took him days to accept it. In bitterness, he slashed out at her but she returned his hate with love and kindness. It confused him. She showed the same compassion with the dark miko, Taji. She chose to stay with a complete stranger than go back to her home.

Sesshomaru had lingered around the swamp after he had left Taji's hut. When Kagome left, He had followed her trail just to make sure she would not come to harm. He grew more attentive when he noticed how fatigued she was. It's when she urinated in a nearby bush he knew her what her dilemma was.

As she fainted he used his super speed to catch her in mid-fall before she hit the ground. Immediately he had brought her to the springs where he fished out a few leeches to help drain the poison from her bloodstream. It was rational to just let her die and let all his problems vanish but it was his instinct was to save her.

Sesshomaru snapped out of his thoughts he heard the girl moan. She mumbled something under breath and turned over. She was still for a few minutes before she began to sleep talk again. "Sesshomaru…" she said. Sesshomaru glanced in her direction. "Sesshomaru…" she said again. Sesshomaru leaned over her to hear what she had to say. "Down boy…" she said.

Not expecting the command, Sesshomaru fell undignified to the ground. "Wench!" he sneered under his breath as he sat up. 'What in the seven hells could she be dreaming about?!' He grumbled mentally. Sesshomaru then rolled up Kagome's sleeves and pulled off the leeches and tossed them back into the stream. He shouldered her backpack and picked her up gently. He then turned into a sphere of light and headed northeast.

Kagome yarned as she blinked awake. It was morning. "Now how did I get back to the well?" she asked out loud. She sat up and yawned. "Sesshomaru must have dropped me off, here" she guessed. Kagome then thought for a second. "Wait I have a test tomorrow—no wait—it's today!" she shrieked.

Sesshomaru had kept watch over her all through the morning through the thickets. 'What a bizarre human. I doubt my own pup will come out sane' he thought to himself as he watched her jump down the well and back to her own dominion. He then left to find his pack; he could tell they were nearby—in the Eastern Wood to be precise. It has been several days since he had left them and he knew they had to be concerned about his whereabouts.

Even though Sesshomaru tried to get his mind on different things, his mind continually drifted back to the miko. As strange as Kagome was, she was beginning to fascinate him—in a strange way of course.

"Oh it's so good to be back!" Kagome singed as she entered her home. Her family was in the kitchen. Souta and Grandfather were stuffing their faces with breakfast. Kagome felt her stomach heave as she watched them. She usually loved pickles but since she became pregnant, the very sight of them made her queasy.

"Why hello, Kagome" Ms. Higurashi greeted her daughter warmly. "I'm glad you were able to come home on time. Do you feel up to going to school today?"

"Yes. I just need to grab some breakfast, change my clothes and I'll be on my way. I got a test today in my homeroom" Kagome reached into her pocket and pulled out the herbs and handed them to her mother. "Brew these for me and make sure to add a whole lot of sugar to it!"

Ms. Higurashi nodded. "Kagome, right after school today: can you please meet me in the front office? I took the liberty to make an appointment with Principal Ginn about concerning your absences"

"Okay, mama!" Kagome called over her shoulder as she climbed the stairs to her bedroom.

It was rather awkward walking through the halls of her middle school that morning for Kagome. Everyone took a double take of her as she passed—especially the teachers. The boys whispered among themselves and the girls giggled in hushed tones. It's obvious they knew the 'good' news. Kagome felt her cheeks heat as she picked up the pace to make it to her homeroom in time.

"Will you leave me alone already?!" Ayumi's voice shouted from the hallway. "I'm not telling you anything! If you want answers ask Kagome herself!"

Kagome groaned. The gossip girls were harassing her friends for information on her. As she entered her homeroom she was instantly surrounded by about 12 girls. Most of them were from another homeroom.

"So is it true?!"

"Are you pregnant?!"

Where the main questions that the group immediately asked Kagome. Trying to restrain her temper, Kagome told them yes. When they tried to pry information concerning the father, she told them it was none of their business and told them to in the nicest way possible to buzz off but they persisted relentlessly. Kagome knew she was so going to blow a blood vessel.

Luckily for all of them Mr. Kitsunehi stepped in. "Ladies, shouldn't you return to your own homeroom? The bell is going to ring any moment now" he suggested. "Besides, you are disturbing my classroom" he added with a hint of annoyance.

The girls muttered apologizes to him and quickly disbursed. After that was over Mr. Kitsunehi turned to Kagome and smiled softly at her—a sincere smile. "Congratulations Miss. Higurashi. May fortune smile upon you" he said.

"Thank you, sensei" Kagome said trying to surpass a blush.

Mr. Kitsunehi nodded. He turned to walk back to his desk. Kagome blinked after him. He seemed even more familiar now. Suddenly her mind flashed to Shippo. He had left with Miroku and Sango to go find the priestess Keppaku and she hasn't seen him for weeks. She missed not only Shippo but her other friends.

'I hope you guys are alright' Kagome thought to herself as she sunk down into her desk. Usually Yuka would sit behind her but she saw her ex-friend sitting on the other side of the room completely ignoring her. Kagome turned to her right. Ayumi was studying some last minute notes. She looked up when she noticed Kagome's eyes on her.

"Good morning, Kagome. I'm sorry those vultures attacked you this morning" Ayumi said referring to the girls who pestered Kagome earlier.

"It's okay. Thank you for not talking, Ayumi—you're a real pal"

Ayumi nodded. She then went back to studying. Kagome turned to her left to face her other friend, Eri. "Good morning, Eri". Eri continued to look ahead as if she didn't notice her. "Eri, I'm right here, I'm I suddenly invisible to you or something?" Kagome asked.

Eri sighed and looked Kagome straight into her eyes. "I'm sorry Kagome-chan but my parents found out about your um…about you being pregnant and they don't want me to be friends with you anymore…"

"Why?"

"They think you'll be a bad influence, I'm really sorry" Eri said sincerely. She got up and moved away to another desk leaving Kagome to gape after her.

InuYasha stared down into the darkness of the Bone Eater's well. When the scent of his lover Kikyo went cold, he decided to investigate Kagome's scent and it led him back to the well. He could smell Kagome's scent on it—along with Sesshomaru's.

"So that's where she went after she left…" InuYasha sighed. "She went off to Sesshomaru"

Even though they weren't together anymore—it still hurt a lot. Sesshomaru has always been his rival and he couldn't see Kagome with him. It was like betrayal of the worst degree. Suddenly something clicked inside InuYasha: he remembered all the times he ran after Kikyo when she was alive for the second time and left Kagome. Back then he didn't understand why Kagome would get so upset but now he knew…

Life was nothing but cruel irony to him…

Suddenly InuYasha sniffed the air. The scents of Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kilala came to his nose. "So they're finally back" InuYasha muttered to himself. He walked to Kaede's village to confront them.

Kagome sighed. This was one of the worst days of her life. For some privacy and a little alone time, Kagome went to the school's roof to be by herself. She stared out over the horizon airily until she heard someone walking up behind her.

"Hey, Kagome…" a voice said a little timidly.

Kagome turned around to see Hojo standing behind her. "Hojo?" She stood up to face him. "Hi…" There was silence between them. "Are you sure you want to be up here with me?" Kagome asked with a hint in her voice.

Hojo swallowed. He caught her drift. "That's what I wanted to ask you—are you really…um…er…"

"Pregnant?" Kagome finished for him. "Yes I am" she answered.

"…Oh" Hojo said. "The rumors were true…"

The awkwardness increased between them. Hojo's face turned a light shade of pink. He stuffed his hands into his pocket. "Well you could've just told me you had another boyfriend…I feel bad for trying to woo you this year and you already had someone else…Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because…well I don't know…There really was never another guy…It's just me and the baby now…" Kagome answered.

Hojo blinked. "You're not dating anyone right now?"

Kagome's mind flashed to Sesshomaru. She remembered his words from yesterday.

"It was simply my obligation" he answered a few moments later. Kagome's eyes snapped open. "Obligation?" she asked. "After all we've been through and I'm just an obligation!?"

"What else are you to me?" Sesshomaru asked earnestly.

"No…" Kagome answered.

"Where's the father?" Hojo asked.

"Well…um" Kagome muttered. She paused for a moment to think of a way to put the relationship between her and Sesshomaru into modern terms. "He's willing to pay child support but he doesn't want anything to do with me personally"

"That's sad" Hojo said. "If you were carrying my baby I would want to be with every part of you!" he confessed as the blush on his face deepened. Kagome felt her cheeks beginning to redden too. "Kagome, maybe this is a bit soon but will you consider dating me again? I promise I won't abandon you!"

"Hojo!" Kagome gasped in disbelief. "I'm pregnant with a baby that's not even yours! If you be seen with me—they'll think you're the father!"

"I'm willing to accept that" Hojo said. "Trust me Kagome-chan. I've been thinking about that but it doesn't matter. I've been crushing on you since I was in elementary school! But now my feelings have grown to love. I don't care what other's think as long as you love me back!"

Kagome was taken aback by his confession of love. "Hojo…" she whispered. Without even thinking Kagome hugged him. "I really don't know what to say…"

"Then don't say anything" Hojo said hugging Kagome closer to his chest.

They stayed like that for several minutes until the lunch bell ranged signaling the end of first lunch. Hojo reluctantly let Kagome out of his arms. "Just think about it, Kagome-chan" Hojo insisted. "Can I call you later this evening?"

"No" Kagome said. A worried look crossed Hojo's face. "I'll call you"

Hojo nearly sighed in relief. "Okay, later Higurashi" he said. Quickly he stole a kiss as he pricked Kagome's cheek and left. Kagome touched her cheek daintily as she stood there dazed thinking about what had just occured.

-TBC-

ChosenMibhar: I wrote this to show that Sesshy is not a complete A-hole—he's just stubborn and a bit selfish sometimes. Oh, and about Kagome 'downing' Sesshomaru in her sleep—I got that from an InuYasha episode when she did the same thing to InuYasha. It was so funny to me that I had to do it to Sesshy!