"So you two have finally discontinued this ridiculous contest." Sango looked down as Inuyasha and Miroku who lay sprawled out on the floor, soaked and dripping. "It's about time."
"Are the flowers finished yet?" Miroku asked breathlessly.
Kaede nodded from where she sat on the floor. "Aye. It will only take another day for them to stew then the potion will be ready."
"I really hope you two have learned your lesson." Sango said without sympathy.
"I frankly could have won if not for this rain." Miroku said.
"I doubt that. All you were was a pet." Shippou said, arm crossed.
"Why you little..." Miroku snatched up his staff and managed to wobble the thing around till it smacked Shippou right over the head.
Shippou blinked then burst into tears and dashed over to Sango. "Sango Miroku hit me!"
"You get away from Sango." Miroku warned, eye twitching.
Shippou stick his tongue out at Miroku. "Ooooh." And while Sango watched in surprise Shippou dipped her backwards and gaze down at her romantically. "Dear Sango. How I love thee. Come and we will ride away together."
Sango stared in surprise and a blush rose up in her cheeks. 'Too bad Miroku could say such things like that.'
Miroku growled. "Get of her!" and launched himself at Shippou and the pair of them went down fighting and scambling with each other. Sango fell and landed hard on the floor. She winced then glared in annoyance.
"That's it." She whipped out her weapon and brought it down on both of their heads then put it away as the pair fell out unconscious. "Much better. That potion is almost done isn't it Kaede."
The woman nodded. "Aye." She glanced over at Miroku and Shippou dryly. "Pity we didn't think of that earlier."
"Are you ready Inuyasha?" Inuyasha looked up as Taisrika entered the room and nodded.
Taisrika did as well then gestured towards the wall lightly and it faded till it was transparent once more. Kagome sat on the small cot in the room looking at an unlit candle that sat infront of her. Taisrika walked over to him and laid hands on his heart.
"I'm sorry Inuyasha." She said then looked towards Kagome and sighed softly as Kagome lit the candle without hesitation.
Taisrika's hands suddenly started to glow with a soft silver light and Inuyasha felt nothing but his attention shifted to see Kagome writhing in pain, tears falling down her cheeks thickly, lips parted in a scream he couldn't hear. He tried to move to get away from Taisrika to stop the pain Kagome was taking for him but he couldn't and when he looked up Taisrika's eyes were fixed on his face, hard and cold.
"You will not undo what she has done for you. Not as long as I have breath. Be still." And she went on healing and Kagome went on screaming without sand and Inuyasha's heart broke.
Kikyou died for you...but Kagome is living for you.
Inuyasha didn't look away from Kagome. He wouldn't belittle what she was doing for him that way. So he watched her and held still as Kagome rocked herself and cried. The soft blue dress she wore torn from where she had ripped at it with the pain.
Kikyou died for you...but Kagome is living for you.
Kagome threw herself back against the cot and shut her eyes and her lips move. Though Inuyasha couldn't hear he had seen her lips move that way enough times to know what she said. His name. His name over and over as she cried. As she hurt.
Kikyou died for you...but Kagome is living for you.
"Kagome." He murmured softly. Could he? Could he take her life from her? Wouldn't it be better for her to return to her own time? To forget about him. To live her life safe and loved by this faceless stranger she would marry. Could he bind her here? He would let her go.
Kikyou died for you...but Kagome is living for you.
But he wanted to live to. He wanted to live and live with someone. Kikyou was lost. Her time had come and gone and sooner or later she must return to the afterlife. Could he turn from her? Leave her to walk that path back by herself? Make her walk back alone?
The hours ticked by slowly as he watched Kagome in pain.