CHAPTER TEN

*

"Kikyo," Kagome whispered.

Her stomach felt like she had swallowed a rock. The undead priestess's dark eyes were staring right at her. Inuyasha's dirty, completely immobile body lay beside her, still as a corpse. Kagome glanced down at him; her elbow was blocking the view of his sleeping face.

But if she found out about this... what was she going to do? Kagome had run into Kikyo before. She had tried to kill Inuyasha at least twice, and her own reincarnation -- Kagome -- once. Somehow, she was even scarier than demons like Sesshoumaru... because nobody knew exactly what Kikyo thought and planned. If she sees Inuyasha like this, Kagome thought wildly, she might kill him. He can't even run, and he's too weak to stop her if she decided....

She would have to try to get Kikyo to just go away... somehow. If she didn't know that this boy was Inuyasha, maybe she would just leave.

The leaves rustled in the breeze, blowing Kikyo's long straight hair over her face. The silence hung heavily on Kagome, fraying her nerves. Her sore arm was starting to shake.

"Why are you here?" Kikyo said finally.

Kagome struggled to speak calmly. "I could ask you the same thing!" she said. "Can't we hide without being disturbed?"

Kikyo didn't bat an eye. For a moment, Kagome thought that she was not going to reply. Then she said in a low voice, "This cave was mine, fifty years ago. I stored herbs and tools here." She paused, tangling her fingers in the vines. "Why would you be here?"

Kagome opened her mouth, but couldn't find the words to answer. She felt Kikyo's gaze shifting to the still, red-clad form beside her. "Where is Inuyasha?" Kikyo said quietly.

Kagome didn't say anything.

"Move your arm."

Kagome stared at her for a moment, not sure whether to do it. But the jig was probably already up. Slowly Kagome lifted her arm, revealing Inuyasha's face in the dim electric light. There was a smudge on his cheek, a leaf tangled in his dark hair. He was still, like a marble statue, with only the barest of movement in his chest.

Kikyo just stared at him. Kagome crouched protectively at his side, watching the priestess's face. To her astonishment, a softness seemed to creep into Kikyo's cold features; something unnamed crept into her dark eyes. She kept silent, still watching Inuyasha's peaceful features.

She's remembering how... Inuyasha was going to turn into a human, Kagome realized. She's seeing how he would have looked...

She felt a pang at the thought, at the look on Kikyo's face. A part of it was pity. Sharp and unexpected pity. And a part of it was sadness. Inuyasha was willing to be like this forever, for Kikyo, Kagome thought sadly, looking down at his face. His eyes flickered softly, as if he were dreaming. He hated -- still hates -- being human. But he was willing to be that way forever...

"What happened?" Kikyo said finally.

Kagome hesitated, still watching Inuyasha's pale features. "We're being chased by a demon snake," she said in a small voice. "Inuyasha... he got bitten, and he can't move at all." She started to say something about Inuyasha's obvious transformation, but stopped herself in time. She didn't want to speak of Inuyasha's deepest secrets to Kikyo. Although... she had probably already known, Kagome thought bitterly.

"And this is his time to become a human," Kikyo finished.

"Yeah..."

She tensed as Kikyo took another step into the cave. In the dim light, she looked strange and inhuman, with her shadowed eyes and expressionless face. But that softness from before was still lurking in her features. Without a word, she reached into her sleeve and pulled out a handful of fresh herbs. "Take these."

Kagome stared blankly as the herbs landed in her lap. Fuzzy leaves, little yellow flowers. "What are these?"

"A plant that blooms only in the full and new moons," Kikyo said quietly. "Crush the leaves and press them to Inuyasha's wounds."

With the rustle of cloth and leaves, she turned and stepped out of the cave. But Kagome's voice called faintly, "But you -- you've tried to kill Inuyasha. How do I know you're telling the truth?"

The priestess moved her head to the side. "You don't. But if you don't do as I say, Inuyasha will die when this snake reappears." A gust of wind blew past Kikyo as she silently moved away, with shadows falling around her and envloping her form. A swarm of glowing soul skimmers floated around her, until their light faded away.

Kagome's breath caught. Did she just.... help Inuyasha? she thought. She looked down at the plants clutched in her hand. But why? Was it just... because of how he looked when he was human, and what it reminded her of?

Inuyasha inhaled sharply, and his eyes fluttered again. The sound brought Kagome back to the present. She looked over the herbs, thinking about what Kaede had said to her. These were probably the herbs in question, but... the old woman had never told her what they could do. Well, she thought, glancing at the tangle of vines and creepers, it's either this, or wait to be eaten... I know what Inuyasha would pick.

As gently as possible, Kagome slipped her hands into the front of his clothes and parted them. The skin of his chest was cold still, except for the fang marks. They stood out against his pale chest, swollen and slightly bloody. Kagome winced and gently touched them, feeling the slightest tensing under her fingers. "Sorry," she whispered.

A flicker of pain crossed his sleeping face. Kagome fumbled for the herbs, and crushed a sprig in each hand. A minty smell came from her fingers as she opened them. "I just hope this works," she whispered.

Inuyasha didn't wake as she pressed the broken leaves to the fang marks and wrapped a handkerchief over them, as a makeshift bandage. But as she pulled his clothing shut again, she thought that his face looked a little more peaceful.

Yawning, Kagome curled up at his side. I hope morning comes soon, she thought.

TO BE CONTINUED