Inuyasha: Chapter 3

IN: This is the first chapter 3, and it happens the morning after it all. Hope you enjoy!

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"Geez... what's with all this light..." I groaned quietly after saying this, feeling the pain seep into me once more; but the realization hit that I was alive, and that was all that mattered right now. I slowly opened my eyes, letting the bright blue of the sky and the white of the sun blind me. I blinked a few times, and turned my head so I could see my injury. I still had a pretty big hole in my stomach; but being me, it was starting to heal a bit. I sighed and tried to stretch; winced and gave up that idea pretty quick. "Huh. S'pose I'll have to get up at some point..."

I closed my eyes and tried to envision Kagome; her raven black hair, brown eyes sparkling with laughter or a smile. She was so pretty... not that I'd ever tell her that. And of course, that wasn't what made me care about her and want to protect her, anyway. She was so kind to me... she had accepted me as I was; a hanyou, or as other people saw me... a freak. And she had taken care of me and treated me like a person, anyway.

I sighed deeply again. "I'll make it back to you, Kagome... I promise." I murmured. I pushed my hand against the ground, trying to get a good grip so I could push myself to my knees, or something... slipped in all the blood. I'd forgotten about it. I wheezed in pain and tried again, but first found a drier patch of ground, not that it didn't take me a while to find one of those; the ground was pretty wet. I hoisted myself up, but slipped again and fell. Tried again. I finally made it to my knees, leaning on a rock for support; this wasn't going to be easy...

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About an our later I was on my feet, and I had walked about a mile. I was dead tired; every single second I wanted to lay down and just die... just get it over with... I could finally rest... but the stubbornness that was my nature wouldn't let me. "Ka...go...me..." I muttered, taking a step with each syllable. I was going to make it back to her. To her, and to Shippo, the little brat; and Miroku, even if he was a letch; and Sango, and Kirara... they'd see, I'd make it... I would...

I took one more step and collapsed, slipping on a rock or something, I don't really remember. I tried to keep my eyes open... but it was so hard... I decided I'd just... just rest... for a bit...

"Hey, Inuyasha?" I looked up from where I lay on the ground. And there she was, leaning over with her hands on her knees and her head tilted with confusion. "Kagome...?" "Um, why are you lying on the ground like that?" "I'm hurt, remember? I fell..." "Oh! Here, let me help you..." Kagome reached over and carefully pulled me up, and let me lean on her, my arm across her shoulder. My breathing was heavy, so I guess she was concerned... her forehead furrowed with worry. "Look, do you want to wait a little while?" "No, no I'm fine." I managed to gasp out. "Come on, lets go..."