Disclaimer: I really really REALLY wish that I owned Inuyasha. (Of course, we're all agreed that I have first dibs on Miroku if the subject ever comes up right? OK, just as long as we're all clear on that…) Rumiko Takahashi has the rights to these lovely characters. I hope she ends this series well… or else… *cracks knuckles* Mwuhaha
*inu potty mouth ahead
Author's Note: Hmmm. There are many directions in which I could take this fic. I wonder…Actually I have o idea. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to this next chapter. I have a feeling it'll be good, I just don't know what the heck it'll be about. This chapter should be an adventure for us all. Let's see where my strange imagination will take us today…
The Reality of Things
Chapter 4
Sango slowly, and very painfully began to drag herself out of her unconscious state. She suddenly became aware of an unfamiliar, but not at all unpleasant sensation covering her face. Sensations rather, since she was conscious of multiple pressures across her temple and cheeks. She felt warm and safe in this environment, and had no desire to move. She was still painfully aware of the dreams that she felt pushing at the back of her mind. The fact that these dreams were really memories only served to make their existence all the more painful. For the moment though, she would focus on the feeling of rightness that engulfed her.
Some part of her wondered if she should open her eyes or not, simply to discover the source of these mysterious pressures. She decided against it. Much safer to just accept this temporary pleasure that was offered her as opposed to accidentally doing something to encourage its cessation. And then just as abruptly as it had begun – it stopped.
What was going on? This wasn't right! She didn't know what it was, but she wanted it back! She felt strangely deprived of something that was rightfully hers. She used what little energy she had remaining to pull herself nearer to the warmth that was so quickly drawing away from her. She was completely unaware of the small grimace her face made as she did so. Within this safety, she was not aware of pain, or of her own being. Something inside her told her that this ignorance was a refuge for the moment. She wanted more of this assurance…now.
Ah, there it was. Not quite the same fleeting caress as it had previously been, however it had now taken the form of a constant pressure against her cheek. This would have to do, she told herself. She didn't mind. She also didn't really have enough energy to encourage the attentions anymore. She slowly felt herself slip back into the nothingness of before.
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As they landed, Miroku spied his companions seated calmly on the remains of their campsite, awaiting his arrival. He saw Kagome get up from her place beside Inuyasha as she used her free hand to wave to him with a smile on her face.
Her free hand? Her right hand was free because her left was…
Held in Inuyasha's?
This truly was a world gone mad. Miroku didn't really have time to try to figure out what had happened since he had been off saving Sango. He was confused, but he quickly refocused his thoughts on the limp girl in his lap. As Kirara landed, he noticed that Sango had begun to tense up, as well as feel warmer to the touch than she had before. He didn't have long to consider this new development before he was interrupted.
"Houshi-sama!" Kagome cried happily. And then he heard from the worried tone in her voice that she had noticed what was lying in his arms. "Sango-chan!"
"Daijoubu" he answered. "She is alive, but I am going with her to Kaede-sama's village just in case. She at least needs a lot of rest. Follow when you can. Oh, and Inuyasha?"
"Hai?" Inuyasha answered, apparently unaware that his clasped hand was entirely in the monk's view. Perhaps he simply didn't care. He was still holding her hand. Tighter, in fact, in response to her tenseness at seeing her friend so hurt. Shippou looked up worriedly at Miroku from between the two of them.
"Please go back to the forest and retrieve Sango's hiraikotsu. I was unable to bring it back with me under the circumstances. You can follow the scent. I'm sure it's strong enough."
"Would you like any help with Sango-chan?" Kagome inquired tentatively.
"No!" was Miroku's sharp reply. He heard the sharp tone of his own voice, and rephrased slightly. "No, thank you Kagome-sama. I will be fine with Sango-san in my care. Please hurry back to the hut as soon as possible."
And with that, Kirara took the hint, and rose again into the night, in the direction of the aged miko's hut. Miroku did not even bother to look behind him at the stunned and worried faces of his companions. He was too busy focusing on this new fever-like symptom of Sango's.
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The small group left back at the campsite watched as Miroku headed for the village. They were actually very close to it, however Kagome had insisted they stop before they reached it, thinking privately that it would be easier to sneak back home out in an open area, rather than try to step over people in the hut. There was no chance that she would have succeeded; Inuyasha would have been sure to hear such movement. She had a better chance out in the open.
Better than no chance doesn't actually amount to much at all.
He found her after all. They went through the usual "Bitch"- "I'm going" – "No, you're not" – "Yes I am". It ended with the usual "sit" command from her, buying her enough time to get home. He followed her this time, demanding to know why she had gone home. So she told him the truth.
She couldn't miss her date with Hojo.
Oh, he hadn't liked that at all. Kagome laughed silently to herself as she, Inuyasha, and Shippou turned to head into the forest. One thing had lead to another, and though it had not gone quite according to plan, she had achieved the desired result. He was still a little skittish around her, but he was still holding her hand. That had to be a good sign right?
"Hey Inuyasha?" Shippou asked.
"Yeh, what is it runt?"
"I guess you got pretty far with Kagome, huh? I mean, the last time I asked you about her at the hot spring, you got all mad at me. And now you're holding her hand out in the open. What happened at Kagome's world anyway? It had to be something preeetty big if you smell like her and she smells like yo- Itai!! OUCH"
Inuyasha had been doing a slow burn throughout Shippou's little observation, and he finally cut the kitsune off with a large whack on the head when he couldn't take it anymore.
Shippou looked up with a pout on his face. He saw Kagome blushing furiously. Inuyasha threw her hand away and stomped off further into the woods. At that, he watched as Kagome's expression turned from a look of shock, hurt, and gradual understanding, slowly melt into one of determination. She left Shippou flat on his butt with a bump on his head as she resolutely followed Inuyasha.
Not a word passed between them as Kagome grabbed his hand and held it in hers one more time, as if it rightfully belonged there. A look of understanding and thanks was exchanged between the two as they completely forgot about Shippou behind them. He trailed behind, suspiciously watching the figures in front of him. He was deep in thought. Big people were really confusing.
The little group walked on in silence, with Shippou still hanging back. He should be happy about what he was seeing. In fact, he could not have wished for a better scenario. However he couldn't shake this strange, sneaking feeling of foreboding that nagged at him. Inuyasha was blissfully unaware of whatever it was, so Shippou tried to ignore it.
When they reached the clearing, Inuyasha gave Kagome's hand a quick squeeze before dropping it to walk towards the hiraikotsu. A hazy mist had fallen around the area, quickly forming into a light sprinkle. Kagome turned her face up to the shower, a smile forming on her face. All was well.
No, all was not well. Sango was dangerously injured. They should get back to the village soon. She called to Inuyasha, trying to hurry him slightly. He only smiled and continued at the same pace that he had originally started walking at, missing the worried undertone of her voice. Miroku was truly worried. She had always known that they had cared about one another deeply, but she had never been absolutely sure of his intensions. She had little doubt of him now, after seeing him as concerned as he was. That was good. Sango would be happy, as she deserved. She had gone through too much already to be denied what happiness the monk could offer her. Kagome wondered what had happened in this clearing only a short time ago. Miroku had neglected to tell them in his rush to get to Kaede's. The young miko closed her eyes for a moment in an attempt to envision what might have happed, when she suddenly began to feel faint, and jerked her eyes back open to orient herself.
The girl barely saw her friends around her as she began to feel dizzy and nauseous. What was going on? What exactly had happened to Sango? Why did she feel so awful? She saw brief flashes of her most horrifying moments; her various captures, the demons…Naraku…the death of her father…Inuyasha's decent into hell…
The ground began to sway and shift as all the world became darkness around her. There was an indistinct scream of her name as her legs collapsed from under her, and she saw no more. The soft rain turned to a downpour upon her small, vulnerable body.
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Miroku, in his haste, nearly stumbled into the hut of the old miko. Sango was growing ever warmer, and he did not know how to help her. Especially not when the rain had begun to pour down upon them. His worried eyes made contact with the single functional eye of Kaede.
"Onegai, help…" he gasped out. He was drenched. His robes hung clinging, heavy and dark on his tired body. Between fighting with the oni and emotional strain, his energy was absolutely spent. Kaede recognized this, and quickly began to prepare a futon for both the monk and the young girl.
"Come ye here houshi-sama. It will not do to hold Sango until you pass out" Kaede instructed.
"Arigato" he answered, while placing the feverish girl on the futon by the fire. As he kneeled beside her, he watched as the fire caused strange shadows to pass across her beautiful features, making her look even more drawn and haggard than she was. He realized that he was being watched after a moment, and pulled himself away from the sight in front of him.
At Kaede's insistence, he conceded to turn his back on the poor broken body of Sango as he related the story as it had happened. He described what had happened from the moment he had awoken in a cold sweat to the time that he arrived at her door.
"Come, ye can turn now child" Kaede said, noting that the houshi had dropped even the joking hentai expression that he often assumed when any of the girls were being treated for slight wounds, but had nonetheless required the removal of some article of clothing. 'He must realize how serious this really is' she thought.
Miroku tuned to see a semi – bandaged, but covered Sango lying motionlessly on the floor. She was frowning, and a slight sweat had broken upon her brow. Even with his back turned while he told his tale, he noticed that the old woman had had some difficulty with Sango. For some reason, she was very tense and it was making it hard for Kaede to attend to her wounds. Sango had not been so feverish before. What had caused this change? It could not be infection, since the wound had been seen to immediately. He had made sure of that. Could it be something more?
He tried to speak as he watched Keade return to the larger wound at the girl's side, but for once, the words would not come. The miko recognized this, as well as his uncharacteristic restlessness at not being able to help her.
"Come child, I am getting old. Finish cleaning Sango's injury." At seeing his wary look she said, "I am sure that she will spare you just this once. Go ahead boy, and then we shall pray."
He slowly reached for the damp cloth and herbs that she had been using, and gently applied cool water from a bowl at hand to the gash. "Keade-sama, I am afraid that since…" he trailed off, his eye suddenly caught by the now darkening bruises across Sango's middle. Kaede sighed, shook her head, and gave him a light bop on his shoulder to bring him back to his train of thought. He shook himself slightly as that and said, "I am afraid that since the oni was a mood-shaper, that this may be something more than just a few broken bones and loss of blood."
"Aye houshi-sama. Did I not also say that we would pray? Come now. Finish what ye started so that we may get to the saving of Sango."
He gave a short nod of assent to this, and completed the task at hand quickly, though no less gently than he had begun. He put the cloth down and turned just in time to see a very soaked and very pissed Inuyasha force his way though the doorway with the hiraikotsu on his back, and a sick looking Kagome cradled limply on his arms. He began to growl as soon as he was inside.
"What the fuck is going on?"
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Gah – well, that was an adventure. This fic is certainly growing. I really hadn't counted on a real plot. It definitely surprised me! I do need your input though. Should I do a side story of what happened to Inuyasha and Kagome? I purposely left it out of this chapter because it would have been even longer before I updated. Mrrr Gomen for not updating sooner. Its just that I really didn't know here to take this…but I think I have it now. It's just changed slightly from the simple fluff-fic I intended it to be. Mmmm…plots are gooood. *ahem. Your reviews were wonderful AGAIN
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Bao Blossom: Oh how you make me blush! Thank you over and over again a million and one times. You are by far my favorite and most helpful reviewer. This story is what it is because of you. And yes, you can mention my fic in yours. I'm flattered that you even put me on your favorites list let alone put me in your stories! By the way – I don't know if I ever told you, but I LOVED your story "Waiting for Your Heart" Go S/M!!! We need to strengthen our numbers ^_^ . You're right, ff.net is a co-dependant society…
Someone: Thank you for reviewing. I just wanted to let you know that I think you're e-mail address is awesome, and whoever thought it up must be a genius or hysterically funny…or both…
**I'm a little worried that this chapter wasn't quite up to par. Please review to help me out! And prepare yourself…I've got another pack o' insti-fluff in my back pocket just WAITING for me to write the next chapter.
Ja ne!