The Scent of Despair
Written by Catrina Winner
Author's Notes: Thank you very much to Sofy-chan for giving me my 50th review and Kaen for the 51st! Fifty reviews… I want to hug every single one of you that reviewed for me! THANK YOU!
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Chapter Six
It's… warm…
A soft chortle of a bird tickled the early morning's light. Three weary looking travelers wandered into the town, greeted by smiling faces.
So… warm…
Kaede led Miroku, Sango, and Shippo to her temporary residence. They all expressed sorrow at the damage the rain had inflicted upon the area. So many houses had fallen into newly-formed rivers that almost half the village had become homeless.
Where… am… I?
The villagers had banded together and assisted each other. Those who still had a place to live in, no matter how small it may be, brought the others into their huts for shelter. They were all working to rebuild their village, even so soon after the destruction the storm had bestowed.
It's… nice here… Warm…
Kaede fed her three guests. Sango's forehead had creased into a line of worry and she finally begged for news of Inuyasha and Kagome. Kaede gently explained Kagome's rather dire predicament. She conveniently left out any mention of Inuyasha's surprising outburst, or the sacred blood rite. Something in her tone reassured Sango and the others. Kaede refused their requests to see either of them, claiming they needed rest. She had to tactically avoid any questions pertaining to where they both slept. Kaede thought it would be better if they did not have to worry about the blood rite going wrong. Her wish to keep everything silent and under control did not last for long, however…
My wrist… It… hurts… Where did… the warmth go? It… It hurts… It h-hurts! Kagome's eyes flew open as waves of pain slashed through her. She could dimly feel her body fly upward from the sleeping position it had previously resided in and she shrieked. Her entire figure was wracked with convulsions. A sudden movement to her right couldn't even catch her attention. The only things that registered were her own voice, screaming in pain, and her body, crying out in anguish.
Inuyasha sat up with a start, but he did not acknowledge the shouting girl next to him. He could feel the agony in his wrist, burning through him. His eyes were glazed over, and strikingly clear. There was no recognition of anything in his mind, just of the pain and the realization of his blood leaving him to mingle with the blood of another.
As quickly as it began, Kagome's violet eyes rolled up into her head. She fell backwards onto the pillows again, silent, though still in unbroken agony. The pain faded in a moment and she slept again, broken in the very heart of her spirit. Inuyasha's head turned towards her and he stared with blank, unseeing eyes, before slowly allowing them to close and his body to relax next to this strange being.
In the room down the hall, where the other companions rested, Sango heard Kagome's screaming and leapt from her place at the low table.
"That was Kagome!" she stated. Everyone had, of course, already realized this voice belonged to their reincarnated Miko, and they, too, jumped to their feet, ready to rush to her side. Kaede stood and followed them.
Sango was able to reach the room first. She threw open the door and stared in amazement. Inuyasha and Kagome were lying side by side on the same futon, both with their eyes tightly closed and their breath coming slowly. She almost instantly noticed the tied wrists, and looked questioningly over at Miroku.
He slowly approached them, pushing a crazed Shippo into Kaede's arms. She held onto him with all her strength, wishing to hear his shriek rather than to have him leap upon a sickened Kagome.
Miroku bent next to the figures. He touched Kagome's forehead and frowned, then looked at Inuyasha. He did not move for a moment, then turned and lifted their bond wrists. He spent a long period of time staring at the crudely tied blanket that kept them together. Gently, Miroku moved the wrists apart ever so slightly, examining whatever had been done behind the cloth that guarded it.
His eyes trailed up to meet first Sango's, where they rested for but a moment, then to Kaede's, where they stayed. He stood, uttering a sigh.
"The Sacred Blood Rite…" he muttered, half under his breath.
"What's wrong with Kagome?" Shippo wailed.
"Shippo, please… We need you to go back to the room where we were eating and get some sleep. I'll tell you everything tomorrow, alright? Kagome is going to be fine," Sango said to the kitsune, looking towards Miroku and Kaede for their agreement. Both nodded, and Shippo, somewhat reluctantly, left. He realized it was not the proper time to argue.
Miroku settled himself on a futon, motioning the others to join him. It was apparent that he intended to remain in the room until some things came out into the open. Sango settled down next to him, but Kaede chose to set herself down on a separate futon, across from the two of them.
For several minutes, everyone just sat in their places and absorbed the current surroundings. The day was still early, but the room was dark with the help of roughly made curtains covering the single window. Herbs were present on a low table behind them, so the entire area smelled comfortably sweet. The wooden floor was warm to the touch, and the entire surroundings lent a protective sense. Its effect was only slightly removed by the two silent individuals tied together in the corner.
"What happened, Kaede?" Miroku finally asked. "Why has Inuyasha…?" he trailed off slowly and let his gaze wander back to the sleeping companions.
"I don't know. When Inuyasha arrived with Kagome in the village, he collapsed and I had him brought here. Kagome… has a very slim chance of survival… When I told him she may die, he overreacted and rushed in. Did you notice the broken doors on your way in? That was him, searching for Kagome… I don't know if this rite will save her, but I am worried it will only make things worse," she finished.
Miroku nodded. "I cannot believe he even knew about the Sacred Blood Rite. Not many demons know about it, and to think a half demon knew enough to go through with it…" he shook his head. "Amazing. Absolutely amazing…"
Sango snorted. "Would someone please tell me what you're talking about?" As she spoke, the sun glinted off her hair and lit onto the floor. She shifted on the futon and frowned. "Demons don't know what it is, and yet you expect me to understand… Where do you find out these things, anyway? You're a wandering monk!"
"Yes, and wandering monk's hear things of rituals lost to time and those that could perform them," Miroku replied. "It's quite simple, really. There was a time when the Sacred Blood Rite was a fairly common occurrence among demons, and-"
"I don't care if it was "common" or if demons ever used it! I want to know what it is and what it does! I want to know if Kagome will be alright!" she snapped.
"I was getting to that…" Miroku muttered. "The Sacred Blood Rite is a way to purge sicknesses. It is done when a mortal has fallen ill and cannot survive without it, for the rite is dangerous to perform. The demon will cut the veins of both himself and the victim, then tie them together so the blood will become shared, and the wound will not heal. The demon's blood will purge the sickness from the mortal's system, because, as you know, demons cannot fall ill. This will also heal any other wounds that the individual may have sustained somewhere. For a short period of time, the mortal will also become stronger, but the effect wears off quickly and will not even last an entire night. With a half demon, it probably isn't even worth speaking of," he said.
"But you didn't explain how any of this may hurt Kagome. From everything you said, it sounds as if she can only get better!" Sango pointed out.
"Yes, well… The Sacred Blood Rite is a very dangerous technique, though only for the mortal. If the mortal's blood rejects the blood of the demon, they will not be healed – they will be destroyed by the demon's blood… In essence, they will die because their bodies are not strong enough to accept the strange blood and fast healing process," Miroku stated. Sango looked towards Kagome, half horrified.
"You mean… She was screaming because her blood was rejecting his… And… she isn't… she won't…"
"No, I didn't mean to imply any of that!" Miroku repented quickly. "Nothing should happen to Kagome. It makes more sense that her body is healing, the sickness is being purged, but the rite will hold pain for the mortal, and that is why she was calling out. There is nothing to be afraid of. If anyone, Kagome has more of a chance to survive this then anyone."
At the moment he uttered these words, Kagome's body again convulsed and she began coughing violently. It was no normal cough, and blood splattered across the once clean white sheets. Her eyes remained closed as she lay there gasping raggedly. Then, with a horrible shudder she became still and her breathing became normal.
"Of course," Miroku whispered quietly, sadly, "I may be wrong."
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Well, that's it for the sixth chapter. I'll start work on the next one as soon as I can. And I know I promised fluff for this one, but… uh… Hey, we can't forget about Sango, Miroku, and Shippo, can I? I couldn't just leave them in the woods, could I? Next chapter is the determining one that will set the mood for the rest of the fic, which isn't THAT long… In other words, you all get to find out if Kagome dies or lives, and what Inuyasha does about it, either way. Review, please!