A/N: Wow! Thanks to all of you who reviewed! So glad you like my story! So here goes Chapter 8! Enjoy, and remember to read and review! This is an R rated fic due to Inu Yasha's language and Miroku's thoughts. You have been warned. Enjoy and please review! It encourages me to write the next chapter.
Well, I forgot my disclaimer last chapter, so here it is for this one! I do not own any of the Inu Yasha characters. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi!
Recap:
Kagome shook her head, clearing it of the dizziness she felt. Inu Yasha grabbed hold of her upper arm as he helped her to feet. Kagome cried out as she felt an immense pain shoot through her leg. Feeling herself falling, she closed her eyes preparing to meet the ground. Instead of the hard impact she expected, she felt strong arms wrap tightly around her, steadying her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she fought against the burning pain.
"What's wrong, Kagome?" Inu Yasha cradled her to his chest, worry etched in his handsome features.
"M-my leg. I-I think I broke it." Kagome stammered out before the darkness consumed her and she fell into unconsciousness once again.
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Chapter 8: Promises
Sango, Miroku, Shippou, and Kouga watched in concern as Kagome cried out in pain before passing out. Before they could rush to the girl's side, the hanyou swooped her up and raced off, jumping high onto the treetops. He sped across the forest canopy, leaping from tree to tree, his silver white hair flowing wildly behind him. The girl lay still in his arms as he cradled her to him, careful of her injuries. The coppery smell of Kagome's blood filled his nostrils, and he pushed harder, determined to get her back to Kaede's village before nightfall. Nothing else mattered to Inu Yasha except his miko, and he prayed to all the gods that she would be okay.
Kouga glared angrily before he sped off, chasing after Inu Yasha and the woman he considered his. Miroku held onto Sango's arm, helping the still slightly dazed taijiya stand. Looking around, the young woman spied her fire cat lying unconscious on the ground. "Kirara!" She exclaimed running to the neko youkai's side. She ran her small hand down the length of the giant cat, whispering soft words into Kirara's ear. A low growl escaped the youkai as she began shaking her head. Rising slowly, the fire cat shook more vigorously, snarling as she regained her composure.
"I think we should take Hachi back to the village." Miroku stated.
Sango looked around with confusion. "Where are they, houshi-sama?" She asked realizing the tanuke and flea were gone.
Kirara growled as she stared up into the sky. The two humans followed her gaze. "That damned coward!" Sango exclaimed as she caught the barely visible form of the tanuke flying away in the distance. "Kirara, will you be okay to take us back to the village?" The cat bobbed her head as if saying "yes."
"We might have to stay somewhere for the night, Sango-sama. Kaede's is nearly a two days journey from here."
"Aa," Sango agreed as she climbed onto Kirara's back. When Miroku climbed on behind Sango and the still crying fox child was safely curled up in her lap, they took off.
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Inu Yasha slid to halt outside the old priestess's hut. Making sure Kagome was not jostled from the sudden stop; he walked into the hut, his amber gold eyes searching for the old woman.
"What is wrong, Inu Yasha?" Kaede came through the doorway behind him. Upon seeing Kagome unconscious in the inu youkai's arms, she quickly prepared a bed for him to lay her on.
"She fell through a roof and Kirara landed on top of her. I think her leg is broken." Inu Yasha explained as he laid her gently down on the futon. One clawed hand brushed away strands of raven hair that had fallen across Kagome's face. It lingered on her cheek before he pulled it away.
Kaede examined Kagome's bared leg carefully. The young miko's right foot was twisted at an odd angle, a small gash still trickling blood revealed a protruding bone. "She needs to go back to her time. I do not think I can do better than the doctors in her era. But I will clean it to ensure infection does not set in." Gathering the necessary supplies, Kaede carefully washed away the blood and wrapped the injured ankle. Then she cleaned the dirt and blood away from the girl's face and arms. Inu Yasha laid Kagome's head in his lap, running his hand soothingly over her hair as the old woman tended to the girl's injuries.
"There is nothing more I can do for her." Kaede's wrinkled face looked sorrowfully down at the future girl. "Be off with you."
Inu Yasha lifted Kagome to him, once again cradling her against his chest as he held her bridal style. Turning to walk away, he realized that he had changed to his human form. "Kuso!" He exclaimed at his lack of youkai senses. But Kagome needed him, so without further hesitation, he ran as fast as he could to the well, never noticing Kouga worried eyes watching from a distance.
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"Kagome!" Mrs. Higurashi cried as Inu Yasha entered the house, the girl still unconscious in his arms. "What happened to her, Inu Yasha?" The woman demanded as she placed a hand to her daughter's forehead.
"She fell. She has a broken leg." He said simply, nervousness overcoming him.
"It's a good thing your human tonight, you can come with us to the hospital. Dad, could you watch Souta, please?" The old priest only nodded in response as he furrowed his brow with concern for his grand daughter. She looked so pale and lifeless lying in the human hanyou's arms.
Inu Yasha followed Mrs. Higurashi to the car, settling in the back seat with his precious cargo. He nestled Kagome in his lap, wrapping his arms securely around her. 'Please be okay, Kagome, please," He prayed, his eyes closed tightly as Mrs. Higurashi started the motor and tore out of the driveway.
"Inu Yasha, I know you aren't familiar with modern hospitals, so I want you to promise me you will behave. Just let the doctor's do what they have to and do not say or do anything that may cause suspicion. Understand?" He nodded slowly to the woman as he strained his now human ears to listen to Kagome's breathing. It was ragged and shallow. Leaning down, he kissed the top of her head lightly. "I won't leave your side, Kagome, I promise, I won't leave you." The inu youkai whispered.
Mrs. Higurashi watched silently from her rearview mirror, a small smile gracing her lips. She knew her daughter loved the hanyou and she was relieved to see the feeling was mutual, even if he didn't realize it yet. "We're here, dear." She announced as she pulled into the hospital parking lot, close to the emergency entrance.
Once inside and a hopefully believable explanation given, a gurney was brought out for the girl. Inu Yasha growled deep in his throat, refusing to relinquish his hold on his miko. After much convincing, he finally placed her gingerly on the stiff bed, following beside her as a nurse and orderly pushed her into a small examining room. Once inside, he again began to growl when the nurse told him he would have to leave so she could be stripped and seen by the doctor.
"I'm NOT leaving her!" He ground out through clenched teeth, glaring daggers at the short woman in the white uniform.
"It's alright, he's her…uh…fiancé." Mrs. Higurashi spoke up, trying to placate everyone in the stressful situation. The nurse finally nodded in agreement before closing the curtain around the bed Kagome lay in. Mrs. Higurashi sat down in the single chair provided while Inu Yasha paced restlessly outside the multi-striped curtain. When at last it was thrown open with a loud shushing sound, he rushed to Kagome's side, taking her hand in his. He had made a promise and he planned on keeping it.
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Mrs. Higurashi watched with concerned eyes as Inu Yasha paced circles around the waiting room. Kagome had been taken to surgery after x-rays had shown a compound fracture above her right ankle. The doctor had also informed them that the young girl had severely bruised ribs, a concussion, and several mild lacerations. It had taken two orderlies to restrain the now human hanyou from following Kagome into the operating room.
"Mrs. Higurashi?" A man wearing strange green clothing approached the woman.
"Hai, I'm Mrs. Higurashi." She stated, rising from her seat.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Miomatto. Your daughter is out of surgery now, they are just taking her to her room. Everything went fine. She has some pins to hold the bones together so they heal correctly. We'll keep her over night, but she should be okay to go home tomorrow. But she will have to stay off her feet for a while."
"How long?" Inu Yasha asked, worry etched in his voice.
"Six weeks without complications. Maybe more. These things take time to heal." He stated, observing the young man with the waist length black hair, strange red kimono, and – looking down with surprise- bare feet.
"Nani?!" Inu Yasha exclaimed, his deep blue eyes wide.
"It's okay, Inu Yasha. She'll be home tomorrow at least. Can we see her now, Dr. Miomatto?" Mrs. Higurashi asked relieved that her daughter was not worse than she had thought. The doctor nodded and a nurse came forward to show them to Kagome's room.
Mrs. Higurashi had returned home after spending some time with the still sleeping Kagome, leaving the distressed hanyou to stay with the young girl. She knew her daughter was safe with Inu Yasha there, but she had silently worried about the boy's behavior. "Promise you will stay in this room, Inu Yasha, and don't leave my daughter." She instructed the dog demon firmly. "Now, there are a few things you should know so you don't get upset. The nurses will probably come in often to check on her. They may give her some medicine. Don't stop them, or you'll get thrown out. They know what is best for Kagome right now. You will have to trust them. Do you understand?"
Inu Yasha nodded as he sat next to Kagome, holding her hand tightly in both of his. Smiling to herself, Mrs. Higurashi left, saying she would return in the morning, but he never heard her, only stared into the miko's beautiful face. Her paleness worried him, and even in his human form the strong smell of the hospital aggravated his senses. But he had promised his Kagome he would not leave her side. He had been forced to once when she was taken to radiology and then surgery. He would not do so again until he knew she would be okay.
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Kagome's eyes fluttered open. As her blurry vision cleared, she became aware of two things: One, her head and body felt all fuzzy and strange, and two, someone had a death grip on her hand. Looking down, she spied a dark head of hair resting on the bed, the long tresses pooled around the sleeping form. The ebon locks contrasted greatly against the white of the hospital bed sheets. 'Wait a minute.' Kagome's mind shook itself to rid it of the drug-induced haze. "Hospital sheets?" Her voice cracked as she spoke the words aloud, the sound barely above a whisper. Looking down at the sleeping figure, she realized it was Inu Yasha in his human form. Her eyes strayed to the window revealing a moonless night. Looking back at her hanyou, the young miko carefully tried to pry her hand free from the hanyou turned human's grasp, only to have his grip tighten. Sighing, she tried once again, this time successfully freeing herself of his grasp. Lifting her now freed hand, she gently brushed Inu Yasha's raven hair from his face. His nose twitched as the silky strands slid feather light against it, causing her to giggle slightly.
"Ka-gome?" Inu Yasha lifted his head, blinking several times to clear the sleep from his violet eyes.
"Hi." She said, staring into his handsome face.
Looking toward the window, the hanyou realized dawn was less than an hour away. He turned back to his miko, concern in his dark eyes. "Daijoubu?"
"Daijoubu, Inu Yasha. How long have I been here?" She asked, trying to speak through her dried throat.
"We brought you in last night. They said you could probably go home today. Here," The inu youkai reached over and filled the plastic cup beside her bed with water from the ugly green water pitcher. The nurse had brought it in sometime during the night in case he became thirsty.
Taking the offered drink Kagome smiled at him, "Arigato, Inu Yasha. Is my mom still here?"
Shaking his head, "No, she said she would return this morning." He took the now empty cup from her and set it down on the end table. Bowing his head so his shaggy bangs obscured his features from her view, Inu Yasha mumbled, "I'm sorry, Kagome. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."
"Nani?" Kagome looked at him in disbelief. "It wasn't your fault, Inu Yasha. How were you to know the kamaitachi would attack the hut like that. We both thought I was safe on the roof. It's not your fault, so stop apologizing." She had to almost laugh at her own words. Usually she was complaining that her hanyou rarely ever apologized. Now she was berating him for apologizing. But it was not his fault she got hurt. "Some things just happen. As soon as I get out of here, we can go back to the Feudal era and it'll be like it never happened."
Inu Yasha's mind suddenly snapped to awareness as he just now remembered what the doctor had said. "Ano…Kagome?" He was hesitant to tell the girl. Would she be happy, or would Kagome get upset over the news. Obviously she would not like that fact that she would not be able to walk for a few weeks, but what about not being able to return to his time? Seeing her expectant gaze upon him, he cleared his throat, gulping nervously his words came out in a rush. "You broke you leg really bad and the doctor had to do sur-ger-y and now you can't walk for six weeks." He turned away, not wanting to see the look on her face.
"Nani?!" Her eyes narrowed as she tried to absorb his hasty words. "What do you mean I can't walk for six weeks?" Throwing back the blanket she eyed the white cast that covered her mid calf to stop just before her toes. She stared at the heavy plaster in disbelief. 'I must be on some pretty good pain killers not have noticed this.' She thought as the implications sunk in.
"I can't be laid up for six weeks! What about the Shikon no Tama? What about Naraku? What about school starting again soon?" Kagome's mind raced as she thought of all the responsibilities she had and would not be able to take on.
"The jewel can wait. You need to heal." Inu Yasha snapped at her. "And I can deal with Naraku. I do have Sango and Miroku to help. I don't know about your school thing. Just don't do anything stupid like try to get up while your getting better. The doctor said something about complications could make the healing take longer."
"But I want to be there, with you, Inu Yasha." Kagome hung her head low as tears began to well up in her eyes. Six weeks away from Inu Yasha was a lifetime to her. "You will stay for a while at least, before you go back, won't you?"
"Baka! Stop crying! I'm here now ain't I? And I won't stay away the whole time. Sango and Miroku and that little twerp Shippou will want to know how you're doing." Inu Yasha didn't want Kagome to know that he wanted to be with her also. The thought of being away from her for six whole weeks made his heart ache.
"Arigato, Inu Yasha." Kagome reached her hand out and cupped his cheek tenderly. Inu Yasha gently grabbed her hand, curling his fingers around it as he removed her hand from his face. As Kagome yawned widely, she laced her fingers in his before falling asleep once again.
He stared intently at the young miko, his eyes resting on her beautiful face. His thoughts focused on her words as he waited for the rising sun and the return of his youkai blood. It was true, they needed to find the Shikon no Kakera, but without Kagome it was near impossible. And Naraku had holed himself up somewhere hiding like the coward he was. As a group, they needed Kagome, but for his peace of mind Inu Yasha needed Kagome. And there was still the issue of the reason behind the prankster kamaitachi suddenly going on a killing spree. So many things needed to be done, but he had promised Kagome when she had first arrived back in her time that he would not leave her. Then again, he hadn't known at the time that she would be stuck in her time for six weeks.
"Inu Yasha?" He jumped at the sound of a woman's soft voice behind him. Twisting his body around at the waist, Mrs. Higurashi was standing in the half opened doorway, her hand pressed against the wood to hold it open. "I thought I would come before dawn so you could leave. I wouldn't know how to explain your sudden change to the hospital staff."
Inu Yasha nodded to the woman as she approached, a large cloth bag with handles clutched tightly in one hand. "I've brought you some clothes so you can go back to the shrine. I'll call if she wakes up and before I bring her home."
"She just fell back to sleep." Inu Yasha said, turning back to gaze at the sleeping girl.
"She woke up? That's wonderful! Then the doctor will let her come home today for sure!" Mrs. Higurashi exclaimed as she passed the bag over to the hanyou. "Go change and get out of here. Oh, and I put a hat in there for you to wear to cover up your ears when they grow back."
"Thanks." Inu Yasha took the bag and went into the bathroom inside Kagome's hospital room. Several minutes later he came out wearing a baggy pair of faded jeans, and red button down short sleeve shirt, and a black baseball cap. His hair was tied into a low ponytail with a strap of leather twine he had found at the bottom of the bag.
"Oh! You look wonderful, Inu Yasha! That shirt looks great on you. And the fit is almost perfect. They were Kagome's father's clothes. I'm glad I found a use for them. Now go, you only have a few more minutes to get out of here." Mrs. Higurashi rushed him out the door eager to have the hanyou gone before he changed back to his normal self.
She sat down in the chair the inu youkai had recently vacated, smiling to herself. Her daughter would be fine. And with Inu Yasha around, there would be no need to post pone the family trip she had already paid for to visit family in Okayama. The hanyou would take very good care of Kagome while she, Souta, and her father were away for the rest of the summer, which was the next three weeks.
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A/N: I know I said I would update last week, but first FF.net was down, then I just got lazy. I am soooo sorry! And I know this chapter wasn't as interesting as the others, but it was building up to something! Hmm…I wonder how Inu Yasha will react when Mrs. H asks him to stay and take care of Kagome for the next three weeks! And before any of you get all hentai on me, THIS IS NOT A LEMON! But there will be some pretty intense emotions running rampant…won't say what they are. Could be romance, could be anger, and could be both! Could be depression! You will just have to wait until the next chapter to find out! THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed! I am so glad you like story. And don't worry, some Miroku/Sango goodness will be coming up in the next chapter! I am so evil! I have so much planned for those two!!!
As usual, please review it encourages the next chapter!