~Chapter Seven~ ~The touch that will heal you is only able from Inu-Yasha's fingertips~

"So….is this true?" Miroku asked after Sango had explained about Inu-Yasha's new duty to take care of Kagome while the nurse was out on another case of illness.

Sango nodded briefly. "Yes. I think Inu-Yasha's taking it rather gravely too! I've never seen him so…well….how do I put it? Troubled." She stated.

Miroku knew this reason, but also knew that he shouldn't tell anyone of Inu-Yasha's talk with him the previous night before, even if it was Sango.

"Well, all I can say is that Inu-Yasha cares for Kagome a great deal! He'll do anything to protect her, even from death."

With that, Miroku went inside the hut that Shippo, Kirara, and Kaede were in preparing supper for that evenings meal.

Sango stared after Miroku for a little. *Yes. That's right. How can I keep forgetting that Inu-Yasha cares THAT much for Kagome that he would even put his own life into danger just to save her, keep her protected from that evil that always comes after her only because she's the reincarnation of Kikyo. Or…..is she?*

Sango passed this strange thought and took part in helping the little fox demon and the old priestess with a fine stew that all but Inu-Yasha would get to enjoy.

Inu-Yasha stared down at Kagome for a long while.

*God…..she's even beautiful when she's sick like this! Man…….I….I wish she knew I felt this way for her. I love everything about her…..EVERYTHING!! It's not just her beauty, but her self. This person was once the woman I fell in love with in another life, far before I met Kikyo! I know I knew her far away in another place in another time. She was with me. She always has been. I won't dare leave her either……. I'll always be by her side. I can't imagine my world without her….and so……I will stay with her and care for her and make sure she gets well again, so I can see her perfect smile and know that she is safe and unharmed once more.*

He reached down and pushed some loose strands of soft black hair away from her face gently. The way he touched her was so careful and precise that you would think that Kagome was a china doll, only meant to handle with affection.

Inu-Yasha did.

He soon found himself huddled beside her, his head near to hers, his cheek touching her cheek.

It wasn't a long lay down, but it was enough that Inu-Yasha could learn what it felt like to be so close to this woman he loved so much. Tingles went up his spine and sent his emotions on a race. His heart beat with a steady rhythm, but not too fast, so that each moment Kagome breathing in, he would as well.

He wanted to be one with her. He wanted to tell her everything and anything he could!!

Why did it have to be this way?

Was it fair that just when he was able to be this close, Kagome had to be so far from his heart at the same time!!??

He looked to her pale complexion and sighed.

"Where's my Kagome?"

~~~~In Kagome's continuing dream~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Far off, too far for him to see Kagome, Inu-Yasha stood. He looked up and stared off into the distance.

Kagome stared to him as well, hoping he'd spot her and come to her rescue!

"Inu-…Inu…Yasha!!! Inu-Yasha!! Please…..come…..please come get me. Take me away from this place!! Inu-Yasha!!!"

She tried to yell, but her voice was so weak she could barely speak, no less scream!

She began to crawl her way to him.

Suddenly, Kikyo stood looking down at her in an evil way.

"Don't waste your time, girl. He can not and will not see you! He only….sees me."

Kagome stared. "W…What? What do you mean?"

Kikyo chuckled.

"You're so clueless! You still think that you're actually worth something to ANYONE!!?? Feh! Don't make me laugh like a fool! Don't you get it? You are no one but ME! That is all you are! A simple and small piece of what one person you once were! Kikyo! Me! You still can not except the fact that I will always win….even when it comes to being with Inu-Yasha! Why waste your time anyway?? He only sees you as I, and doesn't that very thought make you wish you were me!!??" She screamed at the weak Kagome.

Kagome stared at Kikyo was anger now more then sadness.

"Inu….Yasha sees ME when he looks to me! Not you!!! He told me….he did!!!"

Kikyo smirked. "Have you ever heard of lies? Yes! Of course you have! And that's precisely what Inu-Yasha did to you! He lied! He didn't want to make you feel bad that every time he lays eyes on you, he suddenly sees me…..Kikyo…the one he truly cares for and loves!!"

Kagome shook her head. "NO!! I won't believe you!!! Inu-Yasha may not love me……but….but…."

Suddenly it hit Kagome.

"H….He doesn't love me………." She whispered as tears formed in her eyes at the sound of those words.

Kikyo's smirk grew. "That's right! Let it all soak in! Inu-Yasha doesn't love you! He hates you!! And I have your living evidence!"

Kikyo pointed to the far off Inu-Yasha.

He turned slowly and smiled.

Kagome thought he saw her and that Kikyo was just playing games with her.

But then, as Inu-Yasha drew near, Kagome saw that he didn't see her, he only saw…..Kikyo…..

"Oh…Kikyo…..How I love you…I always will……please….kiss me and tell me you love me too." He whispered into Kikyo's ear.

Kikyo snickered to Kagome as she leaned in and kissed Inu-Yasha's lips.

"I love you too, my Inu-Yasha. Forever. But…one thing Inu-Yasha! This girl here is bothering me….could you rid of her for me?"

Inu-Yasha looked down and saw Kagome suddenly.

She stared at his face for a moment. It seemed to smile, but then it frowned, then formed into anger!!!

"HOW DARE YOU EVEN THINK OF BOTHERING MY KIKYO!!! YOU LITTLE BITCH!!!"

He suddenly kicked Kagome's ribs and pain filled her body, but not from the blow, but from Inu-Yasha's harsh words.

She looked up at him in total confusion.

"Inu-Yasha!! It's me!! Kagome!!! Don't you recognize me!!!??" He cried in a soft tone, because her voice was beginning to lose itself.

He sneered. "Kagome? I've never heard of you in my life, and why would I anyway!!?? Fealty, NO GOOD WENCH!!!!!" He proceeded in kicking her again, and then pushed some dirt onto her body.

"Screw you, hag!!" He stated as he turned to Kikyo and gave her a gentle smile….one he had once given to Kagome.

Once……..

Kagome was now in complete tears. Her whole world had shattered in an instant, and only by the words of one.

She laid there with no strength or will to carry on, watching as Inu-Yasha walked away with the wrong woman.

Somehow she knew this was all wrong!! She knew it!!! She could remember a time where Kikyo had never even existed, and she had lived in happiness with Inu-Yasha…..happiness…….

Had there ever been a time like that for her? Had there even been a time that she had been one and not just part of someone else? A reincarnation of another which she could never live up to!!!??

This all had to be a dream!!! It had to!!!! But then again, why wasn't she waking up?

~~~Out of Kagome's dream~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inu-Yasha opened his eyes after a moment of resting and suddenly noticed sweat appearing over Kagome's forehead, and her breathing beginning to take harder, more horse sounds.

He sat up and saw her expression.

It looked as if she were being killed, whatever dream she was in, and in truth, she was!! But he didn't know of what her mind was playing tricks on her or not!!

He rushed over and grabbed up the wet rag from a bowl of cool water, and soaked it over Kagome's skin, wiping away the sweat and trying to calm her nerves as best he could.

He then pulled off the quilt which she was under and he dampened her arms and legs and chest.

It was somewhat embarrassing, but he knew he had to keep her cooled, and warm at the same time. If she continued to be so hot, she might get higher in fever!! So, without hesitation, he carefully took off the thin white under kimono she wore which the nurse had put on her the day before.

After this was done, she only lay in her under shirt, a thin, sleeveless white tang top, and her undergarments.

Inu-Yasha blushed a bit, but he soon realized that being self-conscious didn't matter anymore. He had to do what it took to keep her in good chance of surviving!

It didn't take him long to forget about Kagome's absent of most of her clothes, and only see her. He did think she was rather beautiful still though. How could he not? He loved her.

He ran the rag over her skin, making her cooler with every touch.

Finally, she stopped her sweating, and her body stopped heating up.

Peace was now what she was in, or at least it looked that way to Inu-Yasha.

He pulled her up to his chest and laid her there, holding her tightly.

He stared down at her still pale features and sighed.

"Kagome….please…….wake up……" He whispered.

No reply or movement came to his call to her.

He laid her back down on her futon, not wanting to let go, but having to, and took out the remedy for her.

He mixed it into some water for her, and being careful not to push it down to hard, tilted her head back and let her drink.

Amazingly, she took it herself, sipping it slightly.

He let her head rest on his lap as he set the now empty cut of water back onto the floor.

Her harsh breathing started up again.

Her expression was so sad and alone he wanted to cry.

She began to groan softly with the pain of her illness, moving herself closer to him, as if she were trying to reach him, but could not.

He again took her up to his arms. "Shhhhhh, it's okay Kagome. I'm right here. I won't leave you, ever. I'm right here." He told her in a kind and loving tone that only he could have made with his voice.

This reassuring whisper of his didn't seem to work at all though. She continued on groaning and crying through her loneliness and pain of her dream. She was too far away to hear his voice, only the fake Inu-Yasha which Kikyo had created for the purpose to hurt Kagome, and lose the will to not give up on life.

The long night continued as Inu-Yasha did all he could to calm her, and to make her comfortable.

Finally, as the morning sun peered through the top of the hut's roof, Kagome fell into a more soft slumber once again, and Inu-Yasha gave his greatest thanks to the lord that she was out of such a bad dream, which he had no clue, but she was still in it!

Sango awoke before everyone else. Miroku after her, but Kaede and Shippo stayed in their blankets and slept more.

"Miroku? How do you think Kagome is doing?" Sango questioned the monk.

Miroku shrugged. "I think I will go and take her fever again today. I haven't done that since we were out on the road. I imagine it's a lot worse then it was before. I hope Inu-Yasha will take that as best he can."

Sango sighed. "Poor Inu-Yasha. I bet he stayed up all night with her. He cares so much……I just pray that Kagome won't……." She paused and looked to Miroku's eyes.

Miroku nodded. "Me too, Sango. Me too."

It wasn't long before the monk and the demon slayer were out of the hut and headed towards the other hut to take Kagome's fever with her futuristic thermometer.

A knock on the hut door was heard and Inu-Yasha stood to go outside, looking back to make sure Kagome would be okay for the time being.

Miroku and Sango stood outside with worry in their eyes.

Inu-Yasha shut the hut door behind him and stared to his two friends.

"Yeah? Did you want to see Kagome or something?" He questioned.

Miroku nodded and held up the thermometer. "I also need to check Kagome's fever. I…just want to know how she's doing. Perhaps she's getting better and we don't know it!" He stated.

Inu-Yasha shook his head. "Stop trying to but some hope into this, Miroku. Kagome is…..not doing any better. She's probably worse. Way worse."

The look Inu-Yasha held in his eyes made Sango wish to sob.

Miroku signaled for Sango to stay outside while he and Inu-Yasha went in to do what needed to be done.

She stood outside with worry and tapped her left foot on the snowy ground impatiently.

Miroku knelt over Kagome's body and stuck the thermometer into her mouth.

"So…Miroku? Do you have any idea of what Kagome really has? Are we talken flew? What?" Inu-Yasha asked after a moment of no words passed.

Miroku looked up to Inu-Yasha with dread. "Inu-Yasha……Kagome has something WAY worse then a simple flew!! She would have been almost over it by now, and she would have woken up by now too!!!"

Inu-Yasha sighed. "Then what does she have?"

Miroku didn't speak for a while. The thermometer finally beeped.

He looked at it in the dim light of the dark hut, and his eyes widened with complete disbelief.

"Inu-Yasha……Kagome's fever is……….100.5!!! That's…..not good……"

Inu-Yasha's mind was so far from the world then. He was so stunned. Horrified that Kagome was almost at the worst temperature she could develop!!!

"Miroku……will Kagome……what does she……." He stuttered in shock.

Miroku's firm look tore at Inu-Yasha's heart too much, fearing him of this answer of the monk's.

"Kagome has……….pneumonia, Inu-Yasha." Was what came out of Miroku's mouth then.

Inu-Yasha stood in horror. "H…How bad is it? Surly it can't be……that bad!"

Miroku shook his head. "Inu-Yasha. Come here."

Inu-Yasha obeyed the monk and knelt down beside Miroku, over Kagome's body.

"Lay your head over Kagome's chest and listen to how she breathes." Miroku instructed.

Inu-Yasha nodded and did so. Kagome's breathing was wheezy and hard. The way she sounded when she coughed too was bad.

Inu-Yasha looked up to Miroku.

"Inu-Yasha." He began. "I…..Kagome is……not doing well at all. If her temperature goes up any further, then she could………die…….."

Inu-Yasha's breath caught in his throat, and his heart seemed to stop beating, although it was beating faster then normal.

Inu-Yasha's legs felt weak, and he soon fell to his knees, staring to the floor.

Miroku stood. "Inu-Yasha? You have to find a way for her to wake. I'll go find the nurse again. She should be almost done with her other case anyway."

And with that, the monk left Inu-Yasha alone to grieve.

He continued to keep eyes on the ground, until Kagome began to cough again, and he rushed over and held her tightly in his arms, holding her head to his shoulder.

"Kagome……you mustn't leave me……please…….don't go. I need you…..hang on just a little longer!! Please!!!!! PLEASE!!!!" He pleaded as tears formed in his eyes and feel down to her soft black hair, which seemed to never become dirty.

He rocked back and forth with her in his arms, not ever wanting to let go. Not ever wanting to say good-bye. Not ever wanting to let her slip away from him after so much still needed to be said and done.

"I…..I won't let you die…….."

~*sniff* Ohhhhh! I move my own self!!!! Hope you're just as sad as I am!!! *sniff again* Continue on please! Read! Read! Read! Hurray! We need to finish this! Kay! ^.^~

~chibikagome1@yahoo.com~