Time Enough (Chapter 2)
by Iron Raven

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and company aren't mine. They are the property of Rumiko Takahashi-sama.

Thanks to Shadowspinner to pointing out a major oops on my part. I must have been really tired when I read this to miss that screw up. So, revised.

When we last checked our patient, Kaede was so feverish that she could not be roused, and it nearly sunset.

---

Sitting on the steps to Keade's hut, Miroku stared hard into the woods, looking for an answer, when he heard a naturally near silent footstep behind him. "Is she awake, Inuyasha?"

"Feh."

That one means 'no'. "And tonight is the new moon."

"Thanks for reminding me, monk."

"I didn't mean it like that. You've got enough time to take Kagome and Kaede to the well." Turning his head slightly, looking the hanyou over through the corner of his eye Miroku watched the white ears twitching in thought. He was about to make a comment about having to pump the information from one side to the other, when Inuyasha turned, walking back into the hut's warmth.

Inside, Sango was tending to a pot of stew that no one was interested in eating, while Kirara and Shippou were curled in a ball, sleeping, both exhausted by worry. Kagome looked up when she felt the clawed hand on her shoulder, pulling her hand from her mentor's.

Kneeling, Inuyasha pushed Kagome aside, and lifted Kaede in his arms. "Get on, wench, you're going home and your ride is about to leave!"

"What?! Where are you taking Kaede? You can't send me home!"

"I can and I am taking you home. You said that this is common in your time. Fine, that means that your people know how to deal with this. Now get on my back and hold on!"

Mouth working silently, Kagome paused long enough to shrug on her jacket before putting her arms around Inuyasha's neck, careful not to strangle him when he stood. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because the old bag put the spell on these beads. If she dies, I'm stuck." Legs and back straining slightly, Inuyasha paused long enough to nudge Shippou awake with a foot. "Don't eat my ramen, runt."

Shouldering his way through the door, Inuyasha stepped out into the dieing sunlight, the sun now a fingerwidth from the horizon. Leaping towards the sun, chasing it, his feet found the first of many treetops.

"Inuyasha, slow down!"

"Shut up. The sun will be down about the same time we reach the well!"

---

Blinking from his nap, Shippou looked around, just in time to watch Inuyasha leave, Kagome on his back, and a bundle in his arms. "Huh?"

Standing from the fire, Sango moved to watch the others leave, standing in the doorway. She nodded to herself, then yelped, shooting her elbow to the side, catching the local pervert square in the chest. Looking down, a hint of malicious humor in her eyes, she watched Miroku rub his sternum painfully. "Are they going where I think they are?"

Still catching his breath, the dark haired man could only nod.

"Was that your idea, Houshi-sama?"

"Yes" At least, Sango and Shippou thought that's what the gurgle meant.

Looking between them, Shippou's face reflected the confusion and questions in his mind. "Gone where?"

"To Kagome's time, Shippou. Houshi-sama, when your mind isn't rolling in filth, it is quite wise." Leaning to offer the hentai a hand up, she continued speaking, "We should eat, our bodies need food, and there is nothing we can do. Inuyasha will make it before he become human."

---

Burying her face into Inuyasha's silvery-white mane for warmth, Kagome clung to him, silent with her worries. She knew just how short time was, and was trying to ignore the sunset around her. Inuyasha, you are the hero, the hero always arrives just in the nick of time. Don't let me down.

Lips pulled back in a fixed, silent snarl, Inuyasha ran towards the setting sun. He could feel himself drawing strength from Kagome's weight, and her fear-laced scent drove him on, pushing his legs harder than he had in years. He could feel the sunset as much as he could feel it. Already, his ears were itching. I'm not going to make it, am I? Feh, I'm not a weakling human yet!

Holding Keade's firey form tighter to his chest, the half demon ran into the nearly gone sun, it's rays bathing the land in pinks and reds, casting a warmthless fire over the snow. He heard Kagome's tiny gasp in his ears, and knew what she was seeing.

Are his ears are starting to shrink! I can see black in his hair! "Faster, Inuyasha!"

"You think I don't know that, bitch? Shut up and hold on!"

The last light in the valley touched the top of the Go-Shimboku in time with Inuyasha's foot. With a howl of frustration, he launched himself towards the well as his clawless hands clutched Kaede to his chest. "Kagome, hang on!"

"Inuyasha!"

---

Author's notes:
The shrine is the Sunset Shrine. That would tell me that it would be one of the last places in the valley (seems like a valley to me, anyway) that would see the sun.

hmmm... Think Inuyasha can make the shot? Dog-boy, off the tree, nothing but well... *starts taking bets*

Major side note: Does ANYONE know the date that Highlander was released to theatres in Japan? A thanks in the appropriate fic to the person who can answer that question. *Imagines a very lonely Inuyasha sitting by the well waiting for it to allow Kagome to return after finishing the Jewel. "Who wants to live forever...."*