DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: This author has no financial or non-financial relation nor do they possess any right to "Inuyasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale" franchise. Full ownership of all characters is the sole intellectual property of Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter 9
Social Distancing
A silver beam of moonlight illuminated the small, abandoned shack, entering in pristine silence, igniting every crevice of what was allegedly the original ink wielder's hut. The moonlight wasn't enough to devour the darkness that had fallen and yet was enough for her eyes to bathe in it and momentarily expand her perception of her surroundings.
Miroku was positioned by the entryway – guarding his vulnerable friend. Sango was occupying herself by sharpening her weapons while Shippo held up a tiny blue flame to help her see what she was doing. Kagome wanted to say it looked like it was going to a uneventful evening which was something sorely lacking recently.
Unfortunately, however, it was didn't seem like an uneventful evening was in the cards.
Dried blood, congealed and cracked, adorned the bottom of Inuyasha's nose and along the side of his cheek where it had drizzled down his face like so much rain down a windowpane. His sore body curled up in a fetal position – one arm curled around her outstretched leg while the other curled inward towards his chest. His normally silver hair - now jet black - was still damp from the meticulous washing of the mangled, vomit covered and ink-soaked mess. An alarmingly high fever made his body feel like a furnace and the harsh painful sounds of his breathing grated against Kagome's nerves. Of course the sun set before he'd fully healed because it would. She honestly hadn't realized how late it had gotten until Inuyasha transitioned to his human state when they were half-way to the nearest body of water...
And along with his youkai, any strength Inuyasha had summoned to move instantly vanished. His legs buckled and his condition went from bad to worse quicker than Kagome could blink.
And while all that hurt her, the muttered apologies and terrified glazed look in his expressive eyes as she fixed him up hurt so much more. She knew why he was so afraid or, at a minimum, she had an inkling. That small encounter had exposed a weakness. All Naraku had to do, in theory, was find a way to essentially drown him and Inuyasha would be reduced to a vomiting, weak mess. An easily defeated foe who wouldn't stand a chance.
One mumbled almost incoherent comment in particular- uttered as Kagome had him lay on his back to soak his hair in the small stream - was excruciating to hear. Hesitant and quiet but also resigned. Accepting even.
"If I die you'd be okay, right?"
It was obviously spoken in the midst of a fever state – slurred and somewhat detached - so Kagome tried not to take it too seriously and yet her soft reassurances that they both would live were shaky and worried. Not because she believed or was even the least bit concerned that what he was saying might be true but because…
Because Inuyasha clearly still believed the finale of their journey wasn't going to change from last time.
"Has his fever gone down at all Kagome-chan?" Sango whispered into the tense silence that had fallen over the hut and the miko slowly shook her head as she continued fondling Inuyasha's human ear lobe – the action seeming to calm him and bring him some relief. Or at least that's what she assumed based on the way his toes curled and the little pleased moans escaping his lips in his sleep.
"He'll be alright in the morning," the miko finally offered quietly as Inuyasha shifted and his hand flexed against her leg, "Right now he just needs to sleep."
Sango nodded in agreement as she ran the stone over her sword.
"It seems cruel," the slayer offered vaguely after a long moment, "The jewel I mean. It seems to thrive off of suffering."
Agreeing completely with that assessment, Kagome let out a shaky sigh as she lightly scratched Inuyasha's scalp.
"Seems like it," Kagome agreed, "It'd be better for everyone if it just disappeared."
"Well, if we ever complete it, that's what we need to wish for so no one is ever harmed by it again," Sango hummed thoughtfully as she inspected her work, "Don't you think?"
"I seriously doubt it'd follow that instruction," the miko snorted once before wrinkling her nose, "Its like telling someone to kill themselves. They aren't going to listen to you."
"Worth a try though," Sango argued gently before glancing at the doorframe and frowning almost imperceptibly, "I…"
"Can you both shut up? I'm tryin' to sleep," Inuyasha suddenly groaned hoarsely as he buried his face into Kagome's thigh, "Like clucking chickens I swear…'
"Rude," Kagome chided gently – feeling his lips twitch upwards against her skin in silent reply. It was times like this when she wondered what Inuyasha had been like the first go around. Probably the same as he'd been up until his sudden shift in personality. Obnoxious, constantly rude, and hell bent on keeping her at arm's length. The way he'd demanded she trust him before launching into the whole he had always loved her speech. So desperate to make sure she understood that point. Like there was an actual possibility that she'd think otherwise based on her experience. Todays misadventure had been taxing on all of them. Miroku and Sango hadn't said much when they came back after telling the lord they'd been successful and received quite a handsome reward from the lord who'd hired them. Despite the amount which would set them up all month, both had been lost in their own thoughts whatever they might be.
What was especially heartbreaking was the way Miroku kept glancing at Sango all evening– clearly wanting comfort but afraid to ask for it. A few times he'd opened his mouth or started to get up before sagging in defeat and opting for stroking one finger over his palm. It was clear he was as desperate as Inuyasha had been when he'd first been sent back. Miroku must have loved Sango very much and the slayer…the slayer wasn't reciprocating. When Kagome asked her about it, she'd changed the subject and avoided answering. Perhaps she was weirded out by it all.
"S'not rude if its true," Inuyasha finally teased back earning a light smack on his shoulder that had him chuckling until said chuckle launched a coughing fit that sent spackles of blood across her skin. The raw rasping interludes in between his hacks making everyone's skin crawl. As Kagome tried patting his back to loosen whatever was stuck, she bit her lip and sighed.
"You're okay. You're okay," she whispered encouragingly when she felt something drip onto her skin and slide down. The shuddering breath that accompanied made it clear that the liquid was most likely a tear – of pain, of defeat, of resignation. His fingertips began gliding up and down as a faint almost inaubible sniffle escaped him. And then he tried to sit up.
"You have a towel, don't you?" he muttered as swallowed convulsively and turned watery eyes towards her face, "To clean…to clean that up?"
"I do," Kagome hummed, "But, um, why don't you stay here. I'll get that and my sleeping bag, okay?"
Inuyasha's face crumpled slightly as he nodded and averted his eyes. This was pathetic. Utterly pathetic. He'd literally been impaled and shot up with acid before but still had the energy to get up and pound things. Sure, he was human right now but that wasn't an excuse. What if Naraku attacked on his human night? They'd all lose. He would fail them. He'd be right back. All alone. Everyone he loved dead.
His already hoarse painful breathing began hitching as he struggled to keep his composure and not devolve into a full blown hysterical fit. Judging by everyone's reactions, however, it seemed like he was doing a piss poor job acting like a normal mortally injured person. Both the kit and slayer were exchanging nervous glances with visible cringes playing on their lips. While he normally wasn't great at reading people, Inuyasha knew, just knew, they could tell a meltdown was incoming which did nothing to help his nerves.
"I'll give you some privacy," Sango offered awkwardly as she set down her weapon in favor of scooping up Shippo and leaving, "To get settled."
"I don't need fucking privacy!" Inuyasha spat hatefully - his nerves getting the best of him as he whipped his anguished gaze towards the slayer who had frozen, "Stay right the hell there! I'm fine!"
"Inuyasha she was just trying to..."
"I know what she was trying to do!" Inuyasha snapped as he tried and failed to get to his feet - his leg folding the instant he put pressure on it, "I'm fine dammit! I get injured all the time! I know my limits!"
Kagome rolled her eyes as she easily pushed him down onto his butt.
"Stay," she ordered firmly earning a withering glare but he did as he was told with no lack of attitude. Humming in approval, the miko then did something that offended every sense of pride Inuyasha had left in him. The bitch patted his head tenderly and cooed an affectionate 'good boy.'
"Go fuck yourself Kagome."
"Watch your language," Kagome clipped as she grabbed her sleeping bag and began laying it out, "Now you're going to get in here and you're going to let me hold you and then you're going to sleep."
"I'm not tired," Inuyasha hissed angrily as he folded his arms across his chest, "Besides I don't sleep on my human night. You know I don't."
Unzipping the sleeping bag, Kagome threw back the flap and stood - her finger forcefully pointing at the soft, comfy interior.
"Well you were sleeping on your human night so save it," the miko clipped back as she lost all patience, "It's okay to be weak sometimes Inuyasha! That's not a crime! Now. Get. In."
"Make me," Inuyasha snarled and Kagome snorted.
"Is that a challenge? Because we all just saw you couldn't even stand!"
Kagome instantly regretted that comment when Inuyasha paled - his eyes wavering slightly as he sagged in defeat.
"I'm fine," he insisted miserably, "I could fight if I needed to."
"But you don't need to right now. Worst case scenario we're all staying up to protect you," Kagome reminded him gently. That didn't have the effect she wanted as Inuyasha somehow got paler, nostrils flaring as he clearly struggled to keep his composure. Ten years had probably, no definitely, changed him. Broken him in many ways. His face in her lingering nightmares – lifeless and flat in every new scene that danced behind her eyelids broke her heart. More and more he'd been seeking her out at night. Wanting to snuggle up and hold her close. It was the only time he seemed to sleep honestly. Even then she'd feel his startled gasp and subtle jerk as he woke up from a nightmare or memory - unfortunately waking her up in the process. His heart beating heavily against her back as his arm flexed and twitched. Eventually he'd fall back asleep – usually enveloping her a little closer and she was glad she was able to soothe at least some of his anxiety away just by existing.
More and more though, she'd gotten unwanted glimpses of those ten years he'd spent alone while slept. Images of his sunken eyes staring blankly into the horizon - completely void of emotion. Lifeless. Doll like. The most disturbing image she'd been given was him breathing heavily before digging his claws into his wrist. Kagome couldn't bring herself to ask about any of them but that one especially she kept to herself. It didn't surprise her that he'd tried that option. His face, his body, seemed to have aged dramatically in that momentary glimpse. He'd been so thin. Skin grey and sunken…
"I told you I'm fine..."
Kagome winced as a tear slid down his cheek before he quickly wiped it away and sniffled.
"Stupid human night," he muttered before glancing over at the others who were all dutifully averting their eyes. Well, almost everyone. From his place in the doorframe, the monk glance over his shoulder and locked eyes with his defeated friend. Reassuring him with a meaningful expression and a purposeful glance at the sleeping bag.
"Rest while you can. You need to recover your strength," Miroku offered gently.
Narrowing his eyes, Inuyasha gave the monk a hate filled glare before it faded for a look of defeat. Honestly, his lungs felt like they were on fire. His stomach raw and tender. The crusted blood on his face hard to ignore. Sniffing once, Inuyasha held out his hand and sent a withering glare Kagome's way.
"Wench, you going to help me up or not?"
"Rin does not mean that she is ungrateful," the little girl quickly backpedaled when Sesshomaru merely stared at her with his usual passive expression, "She does not. She is very grateful. Its just that…that Rin is confused why my Lord choose her. Rin is not useful. She cannot fight."
It took everything in the daiyoukai not to sigh or immediately rush to comfort the girl. Which was strange in a way. Never in his life had he loved anyone but he knew he would do anything for her. Die for her. Kill for her. Relinquish all his titles. His land. Anything. Why he had absolutely no idea. It confounded him immeasurably. And worst of all, he had no idea what to say to her quandary that didn't sound insane. After all, Rin was correct. She wasn't useful but children hardly ever were. And honestly, he didn't know why he cared for her as he did. Perhaps it was some dormant instinct he'd buried away. A paternal instinct. After all, in his lifetime he'd witnessed – from a distance – many a parent who had lost a child. Their grief which bordered on insanity, in retrospect was very relatable. Especially when it had been their own actions that had led to such a loss.
"Rin is very sorry to ask," the child added quickly – anxiety and fear radiating off her in waves, "It was not her place to question…"
"Don't ask such ridiculous things," the daiyoukai finally replied quietly, "Whether you are able to assist in battle is not the measure of your worth."
Rin looked even more confused and upset by this response while Jakken looked like he was about to have a stroke. Clearly the kappa was still coming to terms with the sudden change in his lord's behavior which bordered dangerously on warmth and affection.
"Rin…Rin does not understand," she finally murmured worriedly, "What is Rin's worth my Lord?"
The daiyoukai struggled to maintain his calm façade at her intense gaze filled to the brim with the need for reassurance. This random line of questioning most likely Jakken's fault. There had been moments where the kappa had been left with her under his protection. Foolish moments in retrospect. While she had not been physically injured, there was undoubtedly damage done. Sending a terrifying glare the kappa's way, Jakken seemed to realize that this uncomfortable exchange was being blamed upon him. His little body quaking with fear as his small hands gripped his staff so tightly it threatened to snap clean in half.
"Do not speak of such things. You are Rin and that alone has value," Sesshomaru finally supplied after a long tense moment – his cold serious gaze still fixed upon the kappa who looked like he might pass out from nerves.
"Yes m'lord," she replied quietly – his entire posture relaxing before she took a deep breath and extended her arms, "May Rin apologize?"
Nodding once, Sesshomaru knelt down and allowed the small girl to give him a brief, very awkward hug before standing gracefully and taking her hand much to the utter horror of his subject.
"Tell this Sesshomaru who gave you such ideas," he asked quietly and the immediate squeak Jakken emitted proved the girl's ideas were planted by none other than himself.
"They were Rin's," the child quickly reassured her father figure as they began walking, "She can be very silly."
Another week, another scenario where something familiar happened that turned out to be something different. An unpleasant experience with some dark priestess who, for some unfathomable reason, decided that she had a bone to pick with them. Had her weird snake thing bite Kagome's ankle, maybe to get the jewel or maybe to hurt Inuyasha, but the whole encounter seemed pointless. Of course, that was only the opinion of those who didn't know who Tsubaki was or the background that had led to the attack - although the details were a little fuzzy on the catalyst for her sudden appearance. Last time, if memory served, Naraku had been the instigator. Either assisted during the battle or admitted as much or something. Honestly, it all kind of ran together into one big blur. All Tsubaki had said this go around was that she had possession of one shard and wanted more to keep her eternal youth.
Made sense. Seemed suicidal to challenge a group of battle hardened warriors alone but honestly, the encounter was no different than any other they experienced this far. Regardless of the lack of intelligence behind the attack that led to her demise, the whole thing did a good job of scaring the shit out of the half-demon and now he'd turned into the world's strictest physician. He'd been the one who'd bandaged Kagome up. The one who was forcing her to rest and drink some putrid concoction from hell that Inuyasha spent the greater part of the morning making with ingredients he refused to disclose. The smell alone was heinous and the taste worse.
"Keep still," Inuyasha hissed angrily as he pressed one hand firmly down on Kagome's chest, "You're still recovering."
"It wasn't that bad. Just a little curse," Kagome huffed as she gave up her struggles, "And I feel fine."
"You're neck still looks like shit so until I say you can get up, you're going to stay put," Inuyasha snapped angrily, "And you smell off so don't tell me you're fine you dumb bitch. I can tell you're not."
"Stop calling me names," the miko argued exasperatedly, "You've only let me up to pee. Shouldn't I exercise or something?"
"Stay. Put."
"You're not the boss of me Inuyasha."
"Wanna bet?"
Miroku chuckled softly as Inuyasha and Kagome did another round of pointless arguing. Inuyasha was indeed giving over-protective a new definition and honestly, the monk understood his strictness. The encounter with the ink demon had ended rather poorly and there was no reason to believe that the encounter with Tsubaki would wind up leading to unexpected consequences. Everything had been so different thus far…
And it concerned the monk enormously what would happen if the battle with Naraku ended the same way. Not for himself. He'd accepted an untimely and unexpected death long ago. Inuyasha, however, seemed more in love with the miko than ever. He'd even confessed as much when it was just them while the ladies went off to bathe. The tenor of fear in the poor man's voice as he offered up that tidbit. The shuddering breath Inuyasha had released. It had been clear to anyone with eyes that Inuyasha had loved Kagome back then. Masking as best he could by still being reserved and controlled. When Kagome had died, it was clear the half-demon had died with her. His normal fire extinguished. His power diminished. Inuyasha simply wouldn't survive losing Kagome a second time. He'd most likely die of a broken heart. Just waste away and…
"I know how to knock out a human and I will do it unless you follow directions," Inuyasha threatened suddenly and Miroku winced. While the half-demon had changed, he still managed to find a way to say exactly the wrong thing.
"I'm sorry, what?! Did you just threaten me?!"
And Inuyasha quick as lightning suddenly moved onto all fours above the miko.
"Yeah. I did. Go ahead and sit me but all it'll do is keep you right where you are."
Kagome glared as her mind raced to find a solution. Honestly, he was just being way too overbearing and paranoid. The tainted jewel shard hadn't even bruised her skin and the bite from the Shikigami didn't even draw blood. She was perfectly and completely fine.
"Get. Off."
Inuyasha scoffed and lowered his face until they were nose to nose.
"You're such a hypocrite," he accused acidly, "Made me rest over a stupid bloody nose but I'm the bad guy when you get cursed and I make you do that same."
Sango suddenly let out a choked laugh at the scene unfolding earning a hateful glare.
"You got a problem?"
"Not a problem just a correction," Sango teased as a bemused grin bloomed on her lips, "I believe you were vomiting and coughing up blood. That was a little different."
Ignoring the observation, Inuyasha set his jaw and whipped his head back towards Kagome who had begun trying to move out from under him.
"Stay. Put," he ground out angrily as he grabbed her wrists and held them above her head, "You don't get to tell me what to do and then not give me the same courtesy. I've earned the right to take care of you dammit."
Sighing heavily, Kagome nodded earning a satisfied huff as Inuyasha slowly released her wrists and swung his leg off her.
"So, when I say you smell off and you need to stay put, you need to," he added as he crouched beside the miko and gave her an irritated glare, "And that's the end of it. No arguing. No…"
"Okay, okay, okay," Kagome sighed heavily as she settled back down with her arms folded across her chest, "See? I'm resting."
"Thank you," Inuyasha hummed approvingly before his lips twitched upwards and he dipped down to kiss her forehead earning a somewhat disapproving growl.
"You're impossible," Kagome chided gently and Inuyasha shrugged as he scooted back to settle against the wall. For a moment there was a companionable silence, everyone setting about random tasks. Sango sorting the various politices she carried. Shippo coloring his usual depictions of a dog and cat. Inuyasha taking the opportunity to doze light as Kagome lay on her side trying to read her textbook. Miroku using his elegant hand to restock his sutras.
As his brush lifted off the final sheet, however, Miroku cleared his throat.
"It would seem Naraku wasn't involved. Don't you think that odd?"
The effect was instant – Inuyasha literally jumped in his seat while the girls exchanged confused glances.
"Was Naraku involved with Tsubaki last time?" Sango asked curiously - that tidbit having been suspiciously omitted during the hastily given summary they'd all been given by the men.
"Yes he was along with, um, other parties," Miroku admitted and Inuyasha suddenly looked like a man condemned to death. Which Kagome knew could only could mean one thing. Kikyo must have been involved as well somehow. Despite so many reassurances, it was clear Inuyasha still expected Kagome to be upset by the mere mention of the dead miko which clearly had been an issue last go around. But Kagome had no reason - this time - to doubt the depth of Inuyasha's love. No reason to get jealous. The fact that the half-demon kept making Kikyo an issue was only troublesome because it meant he believed, on some level, that Kagome would randomly stop loving him or something over his ex-fiancé. That was the only aspect of her predecessor Kagome had an issue with and it was getting old.
"How is that a bad thing? That Naraku was involved last time I mean. The fact he wasn't should be a good thing, right?" Kagome asked curiously as she pushed herself into a sitting position, "We got two shards out of Tsubaki. Sure she got one good..."
"As far as we know, Naraku has not been involved in any encounter we've had," Miroku interrupted casually like he was commenting on the weather, "And aside from Sango's one sighting, we haven't seen hide or tail of him."
Sango furrowed her brow slightly before making a noise of understanding.
"You think he might remember," the slayer stated more than asked, "That's he waiting for the right moment to attack."
"A completed jewel is far less work," Miroku hummed darkly – confirming her suspicion as Inuyasha visibly bristled, "And he knows who possesses it."
Kagome let out a long slow breath as she watched Inuyasha's horror-stricken face. She could almost see the cogs whirling in his mind as he tried to find a counter argument that would make this theory go away.
"That's…" the half-demon began hoarsely as he tried to feign indifference, "That's stupid. Why wait for us to get it all? We could just destroy it and then he'd have nothing."
"Unless he already possesses the final fragments," Miroku pointed out and Kagome groaned when Inuyasha looked a little sick.
"Or maybe he's just dead or not around," Kagome piped up earning a nervous but hopeful glance from a set of amber eyes, "Sango saw him, sure, but when the slayers sent someone to decline, the village straight up wasn't there. Couldn't find it. Maybe…oh I don't know. Maybe it was just…just a…"
Trailing off, Kagome sighed and gave the crestfallen Inuyasha an apologetic shrug.
"Maybe we don't have to worry about him this time is what I'm trying to say. Maybe Naraku just doesn't care. Could be that he was the one who sent you two back."
For a moment a silence so thick it could be cut with a knife filled the hut before Inuyasha abruptly stood and left the hut without another word.
"Why would you say that?" Kagome hissed angrily as she pointed at the door, "You know that's a sensitive subject."
"Inuyasha cannot avoid the topic indefinitely," the monk huffed defensively, "You do not understand. Constant encounters pervaded our original quest. Every other day Naraku appeared in some form or another albeit more commonly by proxy. Some incarnation he'd created solely for the purpose of destroying us. Not once have we met him or anyone affiliated with him since I joined you. Not once."
"Okay, I get that," Kagome huffed as she folded her arms across her chest, "But mentioning it does not help. Just because things go different doesn't mean its some evil masterplan. Whoever or whatever did this meant to change things. That's all there is to it. Maybe it did us all a favor and just killed off Naraku or, I don't know, crippled him or something. Speculating doesn't do anything except drive Inuyasha crazy."
Huffing again, the miko began to get to her feet in clear defiance of the command to stay put.
"Now I'm going to go find him and when I come back, I don't want to hear anything other than polite small talk, got it?"
Holding his hands up in surrender, the monk watched the miko go before turning to Sango with a somewhat nervous look in his eyes.
"What is your opinion on the matter?" the monk asked hesitantly, and the slayer sighed heavily as she focused her attention on the small piles she'd made.
"You're probably right. Naraku probably is waiting," Sango opined begrudgingly, "Which means we need to be prepared. Take precautions. Be vigilant."
"Excellent suggestion," Miroku praised earning an eye twitch, "Which precautions do you suggest?"
"Moving at night for starters. Less visible. Harder to track," Sango sighed heavily as she moved one of the shells into a different pile with a single finger, "Alter our scent so its harder to track. You know, mud. Vinegar. That type of thing."
"Very smart," the monk compliment with a little too much enthusiasm and the slayer's jaw jumped. He was just going to agree with everything she said, wasn't he? Well, there was a way to test whether he was just being a brown noser.
"We'll need to cover our tracks. For every step we take, we need to brush them over," Sango added as she cast the monk a side-eyed glance and he nodded although she could tell he disagreed with her proposal by his strained smile.
"We'll discuss these options with the others, shall we?" Miroku offered hopefully and Sango rolled her eyes. It was infuriating that he never took her seriously. Only asking her opinion to agree with whatever she said no matter how asinine. It was obvious he didn't hold her expertise in high regard. Treating her like a child who needed constant affirmation. Or in battle acting like she was some porcelain doll who couldn't hold her own. Every time something threw her, instead of trusting that she was fully capable of defending herself, the monk flew to her rescue. Acting like she hadn't trained her entire life for her profession and her aptitude in battle arose from a hobby. With the proper motivation, Sango knew in her heart she'd be able to keep fighting even if she had arrows lodged in her back but did the monk realize that? No. She was just some fragile creature who needed protecting.
Glancing up at the door, Sango prayed Inuyasha's latest panic attack didn't take too long. She wasn't sure how much longer she could go without literally beating it into the monk that she was not some delicate flower.
"Inuyasha," Kagome sing-songed as she walked into the tree line with her hands behind her back, "I'm up and out of bed. Just wandering around. In the cold. Not following instructions."
The watery sounding laugh that sounded from the canopy ahead had her gaze traveling upwards and soon her eyes found him. Looking down at her affectionately with a bemusedly chiding smirk.
"You just love pissing me off," Inuyasha replied a little hoarsely as he quickly ran his hand over his face a few times and rolled off the branch to land before her, "Not scared of my wrath at all."
"Nope," Kagome cooed as she shifted her weight playfully and Inuyasha gave her an affectionately disapproving look.
"You need to go back and rest. I'm just watching the perimeter," he chided as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her hair then moved to press his palm against her forehead. Feeling his own forehead a few moments later, he let out a long disapproving sigh.
"You still have a fever so get," he ordered gently as he nodded towards the abandoned hut, "I'll be back when the sun sets."
"But I'll miss you," Kagome pouted prettily and Inuyasha snorted – revealing the large amount of mucus that was present in his nose. Blushing slightly, the half-demon cleared his throat and resigned himself to ignoring the clear evidence that he'd been almost in tears a few moments ago.
"It's only a few hours Kagome. You'll manage," Inuyasha chided thickly before sighing in defeat. Honestly, he needed her nearby. Needed to know she was alright – albeit a little sickly at the moment. It had been around now that she'd gotten that cold or whatever the hell she'd gotten the first time around which was the entire reason he'd been forcing the tea of many horrors down her throat. Take precautionary measures so she didn't get as bad as she did the last time. Her family had told him she'd be fine. That modern medicine was more than sufficient but he'd smelled that illness before and seen it wipe out entire villages. And five hundred years in the future that particular illness might not even be around so modern medicine wouldn't know what to do. It was fine in the end, of course, and Inuyasha took full credit for Kagome's rapid recovery even if he never said as much out loud.
"Its too cold outside. It'll make you worse," he argued and Kagome's adorable pout intensified wearing down his resolve.
"Well come inside with me then," she countered. For a moment, she thought he'd disagree and send her back alone and then he sighed.
"Fine. You're too stupid to take care of yourself so guess you need a babysitter," he huffed in frustration as he scooped her up and carried her bridal style back towards the hut, "But you need to take it easy. I'm serious. You smell off."
"I feel fine Inuyasha."
"Why do you make it so hard to help you?" he groaned as he jolted her a little on purpose, "You feel fine now but I guarantee you'll have your ass kicked by tonight. Starts with a fever. You'll develop this god-awful cough and…"
"Let me guess. Past life me got a cold and it upset the big bad demon," Kagome teased and Inuyasha snorted.
"You got something but it wasn't a cold," he chided gently, "Its common here. Gets bad sometimes. We're a good two day's journey to the well so your modern medicine isn't available this time. We've got to make do and..."
Kagome's eyes widened as she searched his face.
"Do I have the plague or something?" she asked in a scared tone and Inuyasha shook his head with a frustrated sigh.
"I think your mom called it influence," he tried as a faint blush appeared on his cheeks knowing he'd probably mispronounced the term, "And she said you got shot to prevent it, which why, but it didn't matter. You got influence anyway. You got it here. So…so it was probably some type of it most people in your time don't get so…"
Kagome's heart absolutely melted at his concern and at his very cute explanation of the time she must've gotten the flu despite being vaccinated.
"Anyway, I think…I think the thing with Tsubaki might've made you vulnerable and…and I just need you to take it easy until you smell right again," Inuyasha finished lamely as his arms flexed to hold her a little closer.
"Well, if I do have the flu Miroku and Sango should probably stay away from me then," Kagome hummed thoughtfully, "It's contagious you know. They could get it just from being close by."
Inuyasha paused mid-step and frowned.
"You serious?"
"Yup."
"Shit. And they haven't been shot so…so…I guess…I guess you and me need to stay away, huh?" he offered awkwardly as he set her down before making an executive decision, "Stay here. I'll go get your bag and we'll figure out something."
As he hurried off to gather the things he deemed necessary for her comfort and safety, Kagome felt her heart burst with affection and love. And also concern. Was he expecting both of them to share the sleeping bag while perched in the tree or was he just going to hold her or…what? A soft laugh escaped as she heard him order the others to take a bath and heard various objections given the very chill weather outside. A short argument ensued, which Inuyasha lost apparently given his harsh 'die then'- a surprising retort given everything but Kagome was not about to point that out.
A few moments later, he came back with her sleeping bag and backpack, Kagome bit her lip to keep from laughing as he mumbled to himself and cast a concerned look back at the hut. Even if she did have the flu, at least it gave him something other than Miroku's insensitive question to focus on.
And Inuyasha sorely needed a distraction.
"Okay so…so I've got things," he began as he dumped all of it onto the ground and began sorting through it, "I think…I think you'll need this."
The first aid kit was removed.
"And…and this."
A small washrag and a bottle of water.
"And, um, I guess this but I doubt it."
A snack bar. Kagome snickered a little at that one.
"And…and I guess your matches and stuff and then I'll leave this here. In case you need something else."
Yes, this was serving as an excellent distraction although Kagome didn't exactly look forward to having the flu if Inuyasha's paranoia was right on the money. But...having the flue was worth it if it meant he didn't dwell on worst case scenarios. Morbidly, he needed this. Needed to feel like he was being helpful. Have a task to occupy his mind.
"And I'll just hold you until sundown so you don't get cold then we'll use the sleeping bag," Inuyasha continued distracted as he collected the things and nudged her to move with his elbow, "How far can that shit spread anyway?"
"Aren't you concerned you'll get it?" Kagome giggled as she complied.
"Nah woman, I'll be fine. You know I don't catch shit like you weak humans," Inuyasha groused as he nudged her to go faster, "Now tell me how far we've gotta go."