Kagome opened her eyes to darkness. Silence. Eerie silence. Nothing. No one. Holding her hand in front of her face, it was not even visible.
'Where am I? What happened?'
Seemingly out of nowhere, a light began to flicker, pulling her fear into her throat. Squinting her eyes, she leaned forward slightly as an image began to accelerate. There, under the beam, lay the hanyou.
"InuYasha!"
He did not move. He did not respond. Kagome reached a tentative hand to him, yelping as a red field of some sort jolted her fingertips.
"InuYasha! Answer me!"
The hanyou raised his head from the ground, unveiling the bruises and bleeding cuts on his face. Seeming to have noticed her, he rose to his knees, clutching something close to his heart. Kagome tried to reach for him a second time, only for the same reaction.
"InuYasha! I can't get to you! What's happening!"
She could barely see him now, as if he had drifted further away. His mouth moved, but no sound could be heard as he opened his hand, the jewel lying in his palm.
"I don't understand! What are you trying to tell me!"
As quickly as the image came, it was gone. Kagome was left in the blackness, nothing left but a scream of utter pain filling her ears. Searching around desperately, she could find no escape. No refuge. Resting her hands on the dark ground beneath her, she felt a warm, wet substance engulfing her small palms. Her stomach rolled as she looked to the rising river of blood surrounding her.
"What is this? InuYasha! Where are you!"
Then realization hit, the scream she had heard...was InuYasha.
Kagome awoke with a jerk, her eyes darting frantically around the room. She searched the sleeping faces of her friends, except the one she was intrigued to find. "InuYasha! InuYasha!" Rising with a grunt, she pushed herself onto her feet. Sango was the only one to awaken in the midst of the young miko's panic.
"Kagome! You shouldn't be up! You wanna tear that wound open?" The slayer clasped her friend's arm, gently pulling her back to the mat.
"Where's InuYasha?" Before Sango could answer, the hanyou in question strode through the door.
"I'm right here! Gees, can't leave you for a second!"
Kagome let out a horrendous sigh of relief before crashing back to the mat. Pulling an arm up across her forehead, she watched the hanyou limp over to where she lay. He plopped down beside her, immediately rubbing his ankle.
"Still hurts?"
"Don't worry about me. I'm the tough one here. What about you?" Kagome looked up to lock gazes with the hanyou. He let his cocky demeanor fall, leaving his emotions to flood through his eyes. Worry, pain, sympathy,...guilt.
"I'm okay. It doesn't really hurt that bad." She put on a smile over the pain that threatened to break through. His head lowered, hiding his eyes from her view. "Hey..."
"What?"
"Wanna do me a favor?"
He watched that normal mischievous smile drift onto her pained face as she tried to sit up. "Depends..." He answered, turning his head to the side, but keeping his eyes on her. "What is it?"
"Why don't you walk me to a spring, so I can take a bath?"
"Why don't you let Sango take you?"
"Because, I want you to." She had to make him feel better. He couldn't think this was his fault. She leaned her head to wink at the exterminator before speaking again. "I would feel safer with you."
Raising a skeptical eyebrow, he put a hand to her forehead. "Maybe that arrow was poisoned after all."
"Oh, you!" She smacked his hand away harshly, attempting to get up on her own. "I'll take myself!"
"Kagome!" Hanyou and slayer screamed in unison.
"I'm fine. Ow!" Kagome leaned heavily against the wall, white dots beginning to dance in front of her eyes. This wasn't the first time she had been shot, probably not the last, but it hurt like hell. Feeling her world become light, she reeled back, unable to catch herself. Sensing the hard floor getting closer, she squeezed her eyes shut and prepared for the pain of impact. Her eyes snapped open as two arms pulled her away from the impact point and into their owner.
"Stupid wench! We warned you, but do you listen! No!" Kagome crushed herself against his chest, holding fistfuls of his kimono. She felt so safe in those arms. Like nothing could touch her. No one could harm her. But then, he let go. Lowering her legs slowly, he kept a hand behind her to steady her on her feet. "Think you can stand?"
"Uh...yeah."
"If he doesn't want to take you..." Kagome's head snapped up, her eyes locking with Kouga's.
"...I will. Everyone needs a good bath. It'll probably make you feel better."
"Never mind. I don't wanna go anymore."
"Nonsense! I'll carry you."
"Kouga, I said..."
"Come on, Kagome!" Kouga stepped persistently toward the young woman, stopping abruptly as Tetsusaiga's blade threatened to impale him.
"Touch her and die." No growl. No snarl. No insults. Just four simple words into one direct threat. Sensing the hanyou's agitation, the wolf reluctantly complied. He cautiously stepped back, holding his hands defensively in front of him.
"What's wrong with wanting to take my woman for a bath?" Kouga sneered, crossing his arms defiantly across his chest. InuYasha's eyebrow twitched wildly, his sword never leaving it's position toward the prince.
"She's not your woman! When in the blue Hell are you going to gather enough brains to figure that out!"
"Well, she's certainly not yours! You can't even protect her!"
'Uh-oh...' Kagome's eyes widened and she bit her lip, feeling InuYasha's arm tremble behind her.
"Why you..." The hanyou kept his head lowered, biting back all temptation to slaughter the wolf on the spot.
"Kouga, Kagome really wants InuYasha to take her. They have a lot of catching up to do, and just want some alone time. You understand, right?" Sango tilted her head, awaiting an answer.
"Fine, whatever! But I'll be here when you get back and then we have some catching up to do of our own." His gaze never left the young woman as he strutted nonchalantly back outside. InuYasha cocked his head, eyeing the exterminator.
"Go..." She pushed her hands toward them, urging them to go while peace was secured. InuYasha shook his head in defeat before sheathing Tetsusaiga and lifting Kagome back into his arms. She smiled sharply at Sango, who returned the wink from earlier as she threw a towel just within Kagome's reach.
"So, what happened back there? In the forest, I mean?" Kagome raised her head from his chest, watching his eyes constantly search the area around them for threats. He grunted with a laugh, pulling her closer as he stepped over a tree root.
"You got hit, I warded 'em off, the others came in to help. That's about it."
"How did we get to a village?"
"The village elder offered us refuge seeing as how their village was ravaged a few days ago. So, we moved everyone here."
"Oh..." Comfortable with his answers, she allowed herself to rest in his arms, that secure feeling returning. Her mind sifted through both thoughts and memories, good and bad, from their previous days before her departure. She felt as if she had betrayed him by leaving. Maybe he felt betrayed. Maybe that's why some of his aggression had returned. But he still protected her. That soft side was still there, shining through to her alone. He had been willing to leave Kikyo to fight on her own against Naraku just to stay by her side. Could it be because he knew Kikyo was stronger? Or was there another reason?
"Wake up. We're here." His gruff tone severed her from her remembrance, pulling her attention toward the alluring hot spring just calling her name.
"Thank you." She smiled simply, weaning herself from his grasp to edge toward the luscious water. 'Oh, man, it'll feel good to be clean!' Hearing a twig snap behind her, she turned to his departing form. "Hey, where ya goin'?" He turned with a perturbed glare.
"You said 'walk you', you never said anything about staying with you."
"You would leave me out here? Alone...and injured?"
"Yep." And he was gone. Kagome stood, mouth gaping.
"Pig." She huffed, allowing herself to collapse on the chilled ground. 'I've been in worse situations than this...I'll just take a bath...' She jumped at a rustle behind her, 'and get the hell outta here!'
"Idiot." InuYasha reclined in a nearby tree, turning his head as she undressed. "Did you really think I would leave you?" He waited until he heard the movement of water before relocking his eyes on the girl. She was so beautiful. The way the water glistened off her skin. The way her hair fell around her face and neck. The silhouette of her body outlined with winter moonlight. He thought he could never see such beauty, especially in someone attracted to him. He knew she was. Why? He couldn't answer. She had admitted it freely countless times. He just couldn't bring himself to let her know how he felt. How he adored her. How he worshiped her. How he loved her. There was always something standing in his way. Someone. His daze was interrupted by an angelic humming filling his ears. Redrawing his full attention to her, he cocked his head and realized she was singing.
"I never knew how long a day could be
It was winter and the sun was shining
Beyond the shadows I could see
It was winter and the wind was blowing,"
Creeping quietly to a lower branch, he pushed a limb from his view and listened.
"Love never dies
I Know that true love never dies
The seasons end and time moves on
But true love never dies"
His ears leaning toward her, he remembered what she had told him. She had written a
song. Could this be the song?
"I look at a picture I took of you
Now it's winter and the color's fading
I just sit here while the wind blows through me
No matter how hard I try, can't stop this feeling"
He silently stared, taking in every note and every movement. The burning of guilt
seized his entire subconscious. She had written this for him.
"Love never dies
I know that true love never dies
A day comes to an end and time moves on
But true love never dies...never dies"
Then he smelled it...the saltiness of her tears. She was crying. Raising her head, the
water trickled down her face, mixing with her silent tears.
"Now, I don't want to be wanting you
It's been three winters and my heart's still crying
Love never dies
I know that true love never dies
A day comes to an end and time moves on
But true love never dies
But true love never dies
True love never dies!
Oh, I loved you and love never dies
...but now it's time to say goodbye,
but I'll be in your dreams and you in mine"
Unconsciously leaning a little too far, the hanyou tumbled from the tree, hitting the ground with a 'thud'. Kagome screamed and instinctively picked up a rock, ready to crack the intruder's head open.
"Damn!"
"InuYasha?"
The Song used in this chapter was 'Love Never Dies' by Belinda Carlisle. I just thought it fit Kagome's feelings perfectly, so voila!