To Live Again
By Rurouni Star
A/N: Oh fine, Kagome, have it your way.
Kagome: You're cruel, you know that?
Yeah, but it's not on purpose. Well people, she didn't die, though I really, really, really wanted to kill her off.
Kagome: *glares*
SilverQuick: I'm so happy! I'm officially stalked! As I said to another reviewer, don't worry – I'm updating every day. It always gets me mad when people don't update quickly, or when they even leave a story to rot. So again, don't worry. ^_~ By the way, my favorite mutual courtesy bit is right in here. It won't be what you expect.
Dragon of Sakura: Not dead, not dead. Happy? *grumbles* Hear that Kagome? You're not dead.
Amarome: I swear the cliffhangers are unintentional. I swear. *crosses fingers behind back* As for when they next meet, I've got that all planned out in this sadistic, twisted little mind of mine. And, although I hate to ruin it, it's definitely an S/K, although I've had lots of temptations to the contrary. I wanted to challenge myself to write alternate – it wouldn't be alternate if Inu got the girl…
Chapter 8 – Courtesy
Odd. Was death supposed to hurt like hell?
Maybe she was in hell?
But what could she have done to deserve it?
"It's your fault..."
She whimpered. It was her fault, but she'd been trying to make up for it! She'd given up her home, her hope, her dignity... and now her life.
The shadows around her whispered savage things in her ears, telling her about the things she'd done. She'd nearly let herself forget some of them. Kagome cried pitifully at the smallest infraction. Her mind felt strangely clouded, and everything was magnified. The sounds, the whispers, the smell of blood...
"I DID MY BEST!"
The shadows coalesced into one solid entity, apart from the hellish place. It leapt at her, just as the spider had, and jumped down her throat, choking her. No matter how she tried, though, no matter how many times she spit it out, it kept invading her mouth.
"Would you just drink the tea?"
Kagome stopped her thrashing. Her eyes opened to slits, and she gazed up at the figure fearfully. Silver hair and golden eyes...
"Idiot human."
"Idiot..."
"No," she whispered brokenly. "No, I'm not. I'm not. It's not my fault. I did what I could..." A warm hand touched her forehead.
"It is expected that you would have a fever. Just the universe trying to get back at me, I suppose." Kagome stopped shaking and closed her eyes as the scent she associated with comfort reached her.
"I thought I'd lost you forever," she murmured quietly, grasping the hand tightly.
Those molten golden eyes stared down at her in slight surprise.
"Inu Yasha..."
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Sesshoumaru stared at the girl that clung so tenaciously to his hand. Why had
he even bothered bringing such a problem back?
True, she had defeated the monster. But she had been poisoned and grievously wounded. If she had died, he had doubts that even the Tenseiga would be able to revive her, with that poison coursing through her veins.
He should have let her die.
She was only a human.
So why had he brought her back? Tenseiga had not prompted him this time. The sword had nothing to do with his decision.
Why?
The answer came in the form of a little girl that invaded the slight tent the girl had brought with her.
"Is Kagome-nee-san going to be okay?" Rin whispered sadly. Sesshoumaru looked at her a moment before nodding slightly.
The girl's face lit up happily, and she made as if to dash to the sickened girl's side. Sesshoumaru shook his head, effectively stopping her. He couldn't quite hold her back with his arm in any case, as it was currently imprisoned with the troublesome miko.
"Stay outside, Rin. If you disturb her, it will take longer." The truth was that he was still not entirely sure that she would make it. He had been able to extract most of the poison from her blood, but it was still there. At least the tea would help with her fever. Sesshoumaru's memory was impeccable.
"White Willow root. Although I'm not sure if it grows around here..."
Jaken was currently dredging up all of the little knowledge he had of herbs to try to strengthen Kagome. She'd lost too much blood to effectively fight back against the poison.
Rin reluctantly left the tent, and he returned his gaze to the odd human. Why on earth would she mistake him for his half-brother? True, their hair was the same, but the eyes were slightly different, and his features were definitely unlike his brother's.
It must have been fever hallucinations.
The demon lord thought of prying his hand from hers, but the desire to do so was not there. Something struck him as he looked at her, something almost like pity...
"But I do not pity," the demon muttered to himself in an almost detached way.
He jerked his hand from her, and began to listen for Jaken's return.
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Kagome finally awoke in a coherent state three days later. She felt, for lack of a better word in her clouded mind, like crap.
She sat up weakly and caught sight of the one thing she remembered from her fever dreams – golden eyes.
"In-"
"Try again." Kagome's eyes widened.
"Sesshoumaru!" The demon narrowed his eyes.
"You have held me up for three days because of your foolish, masochistic bravery. I should have let you die." Kagome's mouth moved, but no words came out. He continued to glare at her.
She said the first thing that came to mind. "Why didn't you?"
Silence. She had learned that when he did not want to answer something, he did not.
"Fine. Go ahead and blame me. But did I kill the spider?"
More silence.
Kagome inhaled sharply, and pushed the blanket off of herself, ignoring the stabbing pain in her leg. All the while, her mind was chanting at her a mantra of hopes.
I hope no one died.
I hope I at least hurt it.
I hope it didn't happen.
It would all be my fault.
Again.
A clawed hand snatched her arm before she could leave. Sesshoumaru let go of it and picked up the small bottle hanging from her throat.
It had five shards in it.
Kagome sank to the ground in relief. "Thank God..." Something hit her and her eyes flashed angrily. "Why didn't you let me know sooner? It would have been my fault!"
"I don't care." The emotionless voice only angered her further.
"Maybe you should!" Sesshoumaru pretended not to hear her.
"Lay back down before you undo the hard work I spent on you, human."
The girl's hands trembled in her lap as tears streamed down her cheeks. She bit her lip and stood once more, not looking up. He had saved her only because she had saved Rin. And to say such terrible things after everything she'd been through with them…
Her hand flashed out more quickly than Sesshoumaru could have possibly anticipated.
The slap echoed through the night.
"Mutual courtesy," she whispered coldly.
Because that was all she was to him.