"Here, I thought you might need this." Sango presented a cloth sack to Kagome. On her back, Hisui slept unaware of his frosty surroundings. Still too soon for the sun to warm skin, everyone was feeling the chilling effects of dawn.
"Thank you," Kagome's breath clouded in front of her as she accepted the navy blue sack. Slinging it over her head and across her torso, she padded it's side and noticed it was packed with supplies. "I felt naked without my backpack."
"It's got ginger, a water skin, some rations. Inuyasha threw in a couple changes of clothes." Sango listed the contents, eyeing Kagome's current attire. "You're gonna need it, if you plan on traveling longer than a month or two."
"I guess so," She blushed, fiddling with the short hem of her skirt. The modern warrior priestess outfit she'd worn when she fell down the well was rather form fitting. "I hadn't really thought about it."
"You'll need warmth," Inuyasha approached. He'd been leaning against the trunk of a tree nearby while the two women said their goodbyes. "And while that may be some fancy dragon hide, Sango's right, it won't fit for much longer."
"I appreciate everything, really." She blushed, embarrassed by their staring.
"Come on, I'll take you up to him." Inuyasha unfolded his arms from his sleeves and guided Kagome onward with a hand to her back. "I can smell the asshole already, getting impatient."
"Bye everyone!" Kagome called over her shoulder as she trudged up the snowy hill. Sango and Miroku waved back, while Rin stood with Kaede further away, both still half asleep on their feet. Kohaku had volunteered to stay behind with the twins, but he had given her an extra fish the night before at dinner time to offer strength. He didn't need to know she'd gone and thrown it up a few hours later. Still, she appreciated the gesture.
"Don't get teary on me now," Inuyasha warned, bringing her attention forward again. "I need you to be alert at all times. Even with him."
"I know," Despite her words, her eyes still misted, "It just feels weird to leave without you all."
"Think of it this way," They cleared the hill and began towards the well, where they promised to meet Sesshomaru. The warm breath on her ear only reminded her why she needed to venture onward. He was warm; alive. She had to keep him that way. "You're coming back before you pop, regardless of what happens out there."
"Thanks, Inuyasha." She wouldn't take her eyes off of him. It was unsettling to Inuyasha, being this close to Sesshomaru while she behaved like he was her everything, instead of treating the sire of her unborn child with such affection. She tucked herself into his side, and he knew it wasn't for warmth. His instincts goaded him into wrapping his arm around her anyway and he chided himself mentally for it.
"You're late." Sesshomaru intruded on the moment, calling out to the pair as they made it into Kagome's human earshot.
"One second," Kagome pleaded, grasping at Inuyasha's clothing tightly. When Sesshomaru's frown deepened, she begged, "Please?"
He merely averted his gaze. Seeing as he didn't start walking off, she took that as a yes. She turned to Inuyasha in his embrace, resting both hands on his chest. Before falling asleep last night, she'd tried to think up what she wanted to say to him at this moment, but everything felt like goodbye. She was determined to save him, and saying goodbye was like admitting failure right from the get go.
"Hey," Inuyasha spoke first, sensing she was at a loss for words. His voice was low, but not quite a whisper. Whispering would've been pointless with their audience of one annoyed Lord Sesshomaru. "I'll see you again. I have to be the one to deliver you back home when the time comes, alright? You can't exactly jump down a well either pregnant or holding a baby."
"I know." She worried her lip, staring into his neckline instead of meeting his golden eyes. She wanted desperately to bury her face in his chest and just absorb everything that made him so absolutely him.
"Kagome?"
"Yes?"
"Look at me."
She did so tentatively. Their predicament was awkward and hard to navigate. How could she say goodbye to him without saying goodbye? Her heart ached at his warmth.
There was a pause between them, and while they both thought the same thing, neither was really willing to say it out loud. Inuyasha, however, still needed her to know.
"I know." He mouthed silently. Sesshomaru couldn't see his face at the moment with his eyes elsewhere. Kagome began to tear up, but she smiled through it, nodding in agreement.
"Me too." She mouthed back, and finally released her tight hold on Inuyasha to rub her eyes clear. She stepped back from his embrace, feeling better about leaving. "Okay, okay, I can do this."
"I'll see you soon enough," Inuyasha's eyes seemed glossy to Kagome, but his whole aura was clear and sunny, confirming without a doubt that he, too, was feeling better about their separation. "And if that bastard gives you any trouble, I'll make sure he doesn't live to see another sunrise." His voice grew in volume as he spoke loud enough to welcome Sesshomaru back into conversation.
He only scoffed in reply.
"Bye, Inuyasha." Kagome back peddled slowly, waving goodbye as she went.
Inuyasha nodded, folding his arms back into his sleeves. His warm smile grew into an amused grin when she stumbled into Sesshomaru's arm, and immediately blushed in embarrassment. The poor girl would always be clumsy no matter how much training she got.
When Kagome jumped back from Sesshomaru, she squeaked out an apology and began forward, walking side by side with her new companion. Glancing back after a few paces, she saw that Inuyasha had left. She felt better knowing he was off, onward into Edo to protect their friends, and very, very far from the war torn borders she was determined to infiltrate.
"Thank you." She felt it was necessary to acknowledge how gracious that had been of Sesshomaru to allow them to say goodbye. Kagome was watching her feet as they entered the forest, so she was unaware of the single nod he awarded as a response. Growing anxious in the barren silence between them, she asked, "So what's the plan?"