The Scent of Despair
Written by Catrina Winner
Author's Notes: Sorry that this chapter took so long to come out. I finally finished finals, though I had some seriously not-so-good grades when the whole thing was said and done. I don't know why 'cause I studied! Really, I did! That's why there was no new posting! Anyway, no more complaining from me. Anyway, I wish to thank every wonderful person out there that has reviewed my fanfic, because every time I see a new one, my whole day gets better! So, please, keep reviewing and here's the next chapter!
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Chapter Eight
For the first time in many weeks, the traveling companions had settled down to a comfortably large meal. They surrounded Kaede's enormous table, joined by Kaede herself, a few young assistants, and the two of patients that were able to walk.
Everyone tore into the food as soon as the servant's placed it down. For most of them, this was the first warm meal they had eaten for weeks. The rain that had plagued their travels prevented them from starting a fire, forcing any food eaten to be cold and damp. The feast that was prepared for them here was devoured as if none would ever eat something so delicious again.
Far into the meal, Sango tilted her head in Kagome's direction to see how she was doing. The demons were very competitive and did not leave much room for a tired, sick woman to get in. When she saw Kagome kneeling uncomfortably on the mats laid out for them, holding her stomach in pain, she could not hold back a small gasp. Miroku, who had somehow managed to seat himself next to Sango, looked up at her stifled outburst in surprise.
"Is there something wrong, Sango?" he asked, pausing in the frenzied feeding of his starvation. Her black hair caught the light as she looked up abruptly, noting the concerned tone in the monk's voice.
Trying not to alarm anyone else around the table, Sango gestured in Kagome's general direction. Miroku's eye slipped over everyone within the circle of Sango's wave, finally coming to rest on Kagome's doubled over figure. Using his monk-like calm, Miroku leapt up with a loud yelp, bringing everyone's attention onto him and pointed a shaky finger at the girl.
"Kagome's dying!!" shrieked Shippo, and promptly began jumping up and down on a shocked Inuyasha's head, crying.
With what little willpower Kagome still obtained, she forced herself to sit up normally and give them all a weak smile. She rested her hands in her lap, reaching carefully for the chopsticks, which she held over the small amount of rice before dropping them back on the table and glancing over at the rest of her companions, who were, apparently, still waiting to hear if she was about to die or not.
With another thin smile, Kagome rested all their fears for a moment, "I'm not going to die, Shippo." The fox kitsune let out a loud, happy squeal and clambered over to curl up in her lap. This caused the girl obvious pain, though she tried desperately to hide it from the others. Inuyasha heaved Shippo off her lap by his tail and snarled at him. The dark look in the hanyou's eyes shocked the small demon into silence.
"Leave Kagome alone," Inuyasha snapped. Shippo nodded and was dropped mercifully into a large bowl of soup. This action angered Shippo, but he was intelligent enough not to challenge the larger dog demon, simply crawling from the food and dripping his way out of the room. As long as Kagome was safe, there was no reason for him to stay and get thrown against any more walls.
No one noticed Shippo's quick retreat. Their eyes were still lying heavily on Kagome, and now Inuyasha, who had quickly rushed to her side. He could smell her scent, stronger then usual, mingled with his blood-scent, though it was already half gone. He immediately knew what was going on by her smell alone. Standing tiredly, Inuyasha looked towards the rest of the worried group.
"It's the final stage of the Sacred Blood Rite. She's losing the blood I gave her," he flexed his arm slightly, noticing his power was returning to him. "I'll bring Kagome back to her room. By morning she should be fine," he said, lifting the pained girl in his arms.
"There is no danger in losing the blood?" Kaede questioned, curious of the rite that was so shrouded in mystery.
"There is danger in anything that has to do with a demon," Inuyasha stated darkly, and turned away.
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Kagome's eyes fluttered open and were quickly assaulted by dancing sunbeams. Hunger announced itself loudly from her stomach, and she forced her eyes open, against the light. She was back in the room she had first awoken in with Inuyasha. Recalling that day, those moments, a light blush spilled across her cheeks. Kagome pulled her knees up against her chest and looked out around the room. There was nothing changed, save the herbs that had rested on the low table were gone. A small noise came from behind her, and Kagome turned around, only slightly surprised to see Inuyasha asleep, leaning against the wall, his head resting on the Tetsusaiga.
The light played across his features, lighting on his hair and a single fang that had slipped from his lips. Even with the fang exposed as it was, Kagome couldn't help but think how innocent Inuyasha appeared. He must have slept the entire night there, watching over her. The soft ears adorning the top of his head swiveled towards her, listening, and Kagome giggled. Even at rest, those ears never stopped moving.
Pushing away the several blankets that were twisted around her, Kagome moved closer to Inuyasha, smiling still as she watched his ears. She reached up a hand and touched one of them softly. Inuyasha's lips curved up into a smile. Kagome positioned herself directly in front of his slumped figure so she could rub both his ears at one time. Not bothering to worry about what he would do when he awoke, Kagome continued her massage.
Somewhere is his half dream state, Inuyasha could feel Kagome there with him, rubbing his ears and smiled. His eyes opened for a single moment before the glaring sun burned into them. Slowly, wishing to see Kagome, Inuyasha carefully tried to reopen his eyes with less damage to them that they had received before. When he became adjusted to the light, Inuyasha saw Kagome's face, very close to his, looking at him questioningly. He rewarded her with a large, toothy grin before realizing what he did. Kagome was startled by the rather warm welcome when she had been expecting quite the opposite.
"Do you feel better?" Inuyasha asked gruffly. Kagome looked at him, again shocked by the kind glimmer in his eyes.
"I... Yes, I feel fine. Thank you for saving me, Inuyasha," Kagome replied, backing up slightly. She knew that this conversation would get them nowhere, so she quickly changed the subject. "Is there any food around here?"
The mention of food brightened the dog hanyou and he began slamming his fist against the wall. At Kagome's shocked look he gave her another lopsided grin and said, "Kaede's room."
"Oh..." Kagome nodded. Like that was supposed to explain anything at all. A moment later the door swung open, and an angry Miroku stomped in.
"What do you thin - Oh hello, Kagome. It is nice to see you up again. Feeling better I presume?" Miroku asked kindly.
"Why, yes, actually I'm-" Kagome began before she was very rudely interrupted.
"Of course she's fine. We're hungry. Go fetch us something to eat and hurry up!" Inuyasha snarled. Miroku held onto whatever amazing amount of patience he had and smiled thinly.
"Inuyasha, perhaps you should bring in your own food or have a more qualified servant do so. Please do not believe that I will stoop to that level. I'm sure a great half demon such as yourself would find no shame in walking to the kitchens and bringing food for his mate," Miroku stated.
Inuyasha was not at all pleased in this turn of power. "No more than you would yourself, monk. Besides, isn't it a monk's duty to serve the people? Well, these people are hungry!" he snapped.
Miroku sighed wearily. "You mean, 'This person is hungry.' One of our conversationalists seems to have given up on your horrid manners and left us to fight our own battles."
"What?" Inuyasha glanced around the room, vexed to discover Kagome was no longer there. She must have gone to the kitchens by herself! he thought. Miroku simply stared at the hanyou, waiting for the inevitable.
"This is your fault!" Inuyasha said, turning, once again, on Miroku. The monk wondered what he had even done to deserve such strange companions.
"It is no fault of mine that the lady tired of our trivial word battles and left. She made up her mind on her own."
"If you hadn't started the argument and just brought in our food like I ordered, she wouldn't have had to listen to "word battles" or anything like that!"
Miroku retaliated, and soon the entire house was filled with their voices, one calm and reasonable, the other loud and demanding. Kagome ate a small breakfast and left to find Sango. Instead, she ran into Kaede, who had some rather disheartening news for her.
"Ah, Kagome. You are well?"
Kagome wished people would stop asking her that. She twisted a strand of her hair around a finger. "I'm fine," she stated quietly.
Kaede looked around the dirt-encrusted village, where peasants worked to rebuild everything the floods had damaged. It would be years for the entire area to be in the working order it had been before. Perhaps they would never again achieve the comfortable homes the people had once lived and worked in. It was a hard consequence of living, but the rains were merciless and unforgiving.
"Kagome, I cannot hide the truth from you. We do not have much time. Demons everywhere are massing to attack our village and steal the completed Shikon Jewel. Apparently none of them realize that our homes were so badly damaged, or they would have already made their attack, knowing we could not put up enough of a fight to save the Jewel. It must be purified, and you must do it. I can only give you three days to rest, and then you must give it your wish. And, may I remind you Kagome, no one has ever heard of a happy ending from this Jewel. You must tell me, what are you going to ask of it?"
Kagome shrugged. "Kaede... I'm not quite sure yet, but I promise it will make things better in this world. I'm sure I can make the right wish since our time ended up so well off. It will come to me when I need it the most," she said, quietly.
Kaede looked over at her. "Yes, perhaps you are correct. Are you going to return to your world when your wishes are completed? Or, perhaps, will you remain here with us? There are no guarantees that the purified Shikon Jewel will be able to transport you between worlds as this one can," Kaede warned.
A dusty wind blew across the area, making Kagome cough lightly. "I'm going back to live with my family. I already discussed it with the others, and they think it's for the best. There is no way I could live here in this strange world. I'm far too used to my modern life..." she paused. "Though I will miss you all... I hope I'll still be able to travel back and forth. Otherwise..." I'll never see Inuyasha again! He'll be trapped in this time, and I'll have to stay in mine... But he'll be a full demon then and probably won't even remember who I am... she sniffled.
"I suggest you say your goodbyes, Kagome. You only have three days before the purification must be completed," Kaede reminded her. Kagome blinked back tears.
My... goodbyes?
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Well, another chapter completed! I'm typing in the dark right now... On a really old "laptop" that takes ten minutes and eleven seconds to save. I timed it. It's 1:58 in the morning. Please, PLEASE review. I'm very sorry this chapter took so long to come out, but there SHOULD be one more out before Thursday of this very week, since I'll be gone for a whole week after that. Actually, we're helping my grandparents move, so I MAY have time to write, and I may not. But no access to a computer either way. Anyway, I would love to have your input on my story, so review, review!!! Also, I have the entire rest of story thought out, and the next chapter will contain Kagome saying her goodbyes to everyone. Chapter Preview: A day spent with all her greatest friends before she must lose them forever. And a single day spent wholly with Inuyasha. But, will she be able to tell him what he really means to her?! {Yeah, I know, I suck at gripping chapter previews...} Hey, does anyone read these long authors notes??