Sorry this took me so long! :( :( Plus...you guys will hate me for this chapter. Sorry again...
Sesshomaru and Kagome ran into the forest, trying to put as much distance between them and the burning palace. Kagome was covered in soot and smoke, her face smudged and lightly burned. Sesshomaru was somehow not even dirty, let alone burned and Kagome could only trudge after him in envy hoping he would stop soon not only for her sake but for Asami's too. She hoped he had some idea of where they were going.
Finally, he stopped and set the little princess lightly on the forest floor. She was still unconscious but because of her demon stamina, the deep wound was only dribbling blood. Sesshomaru sat down next to her, peeling away the layers of clothing to inspect the bloody lesion. He lightly touched the area around it watching her reaction to see if she would react. Kagome noticed the girl didn't flinch when Sesshomaru prodded girl's rib cage.
Sesshomaru began rubbing at the deep gash, removing dirt and dried blood. Without the grunge, the impalement was red with infection though a lot less than Kagome expected. Sesshomaru paused a minute, sniffed and liked the dried blood off his finger.
"Look, Sesshomaru!" said Kagome absolutely thrilled. "It doesn't even look that bad and she didn't flinch when you touched it!"
Sesshomaru didn't look at relieved as Kagome did, despite the stone face he usually wore, something like disappointment crossed his eyes. "Kagome…" he said drawing her up and away from the still comatose girl. "She is not alright."
Kagome stopped, very confused. "But it's already healing!"
"Her body fights infection and stops the bleeding but the spear was poisoned," he said watching the princess. "If she were this Sesshomaru, she might have a chance but she doesn't have resistance to it. She won't last, Kagome."
Kagome reeled backwards and stared in horror at the little girl. "You- you can't be serious," she whispered. "Sesshomaru, you have to do something!"
"I cannot, Kagome," the large youkai said. "This Sesshomaru is not magic."
Kagome started to interrupt but a soft moan from Asami drew her mind away from arguing with Sesshomaru. She rushed over to the princess who was coming to. Asami's faced was so pale, it was transparent. Kagome could nearly see the blood pumping across her cheeks.
"Kagome," Asami whispered with a faint smile. "I'm so glad that you are alright." She gasped and coughed.
"Oh, Asami!" Kagome said, tears dripping from her eyes.
"My stomach…it feels different," the girlsaid "What happened?"
"You were hurt," was all Kagome could say.
"My mother and sister?" Asami asked, worry filling her yellow eyes.
"They-" Kagome couldn't bring herself to say anything. Even after everything the girl had been through, she was still worried about her abusive family.
"They were killed," Sesshomaru finished for Kagome.
Asami dropped her lantern eyes but said nothing. Kagome figured she'd already known. She glanced up at Sesshomaru who gave her an empty stare. Was he upset? Was he upset that the girl who had given everything up her whole life for them was dying? That he could do nothing for her? Or did he just want to leave? Did he not even care?
"I am very sleepy," Asami muttered, her eyelids falling. "Can I sleep?"
"N-" Kagome started to tell her. If she slept she might not wake up!
"Yes," Sesshomaru told her. "You should rest." Asami sleepily smiled and closed her eyes, falling asleep nearly immediately.
"What if she doesn't wake up?" Kagome whispered furiously at the inu.
"Kagome," Sesshomaru said slowly. "She is dying, whether now or in an hour. Let her go peacefully."
"Just because it's easy for you doesn't mean it's easy for me or her!" She said throwing her hands in the air. "She saved our lives, Sesshomaru!"
"Then be a good friend and let her go without making her feel guilty. It will only be worse for you both," he argued.
"I won't let her die!" Kagome shouted.
"What could you possibly do?" Sesshomaru said with a note of smug condescending.
Kagome pursed her lips angrily at him. "I'll use my miko powers!" Her hand began glowing a faint purple as she reached out to touch the ailing girls.
"No!" Sesshomaru shouted as he grabbed her wrist. A muscle jumped in his neck at the sharp zap that went through him. "That won't help anything! She's a demon."
Kagome lowered her hand and her face dropped with it. "What can I do then?" she asked.
"Nothing," he replied letting her go of her hand. "Be there for her when it's time."
"Alright," she choked.
"You should also sleep," he told her. "It has been a trying day."
"Alright," she said repeatedly. Kagome forced herself to lie down. Blinking back tears, she slept.
"Kagome," Sesshomaru muttered, shaking her awake. "It is time."
It took a moment for the meaning to register in her mind. Then she remembered Asami and she hastily stood up, her vision blurring from standing too quickly. Sesshomaru caught her arm saying something about being careful. Kagome hurried over to her friend.
Asami's pale skin made her look like a ghost. Her yellow eyes were also fading and glazing over. Every so often, she'd tremble in a fit of shivers.
"Kagome," she whispered. There was blood on her teeth and lips and more dribbled out of her mouth as she spoke.
"Asami, I'm so sorry," was all she could say.
"Kagome, don't apologize," she said. "I'm so glad I met you."
"Asami, is there anything- anything I can do?" Kagome struggled.
"Kagome…" she thought for a moment. "When I die, where will I go? Where do your people believe I'll go? Mama always said we turned to crystals but I wanna know where you believe I'll go."
The words formed before Kagome could even tell Asami her true beliefs. "You'll go up into the sky and turn into a star," she blurted.
"A star, huh?" she whispered smiling. "I'd like that. That's much better than what mama said. Then, when you go home, I can see you all the time. I'll watch you."
"I'd like that too, Asami," Kagome gasped through tears.
Asami smiled and laid her head back. She sighed contently, her eyes closing. She did not draw another breath.