Author's note: Ok, I felt like putting a little Miroku/Sango into this chapter. But don't fret In/Kag fans....there'll be something for you later on!

Keade frowned as she watched Kagome thrash about. Whatever she is seeing must be terrifying, the old priestess thought as she wiped a cool rag over Kagome's hot skin.

"Keade?"

The old woman sat back and smiled sadly. "Yes, Sango?"

The younger woman paused, taking in the sight of her friend lying on the pallet. A small smile blossomed at the corners of her mouth when she saw the faithful Shippo, fast asleep, curled up next to the bed. "The sun will soon rise, Keade. Why don't you take a break and get some rest? I will sit with Kagome."

"Of course, child." The exhausted priestess relinquished her spot on the floor and silently walked over to her own bed.

After making sure that Keade had settled herself in, Sango knelt on the wooden floor and placed the back of her hand on Kagome's forehead. She's burning up! The demon hunter furrowed her brow in worry as she leaned back and picked up the rag that Keade had abandoned earlier.

Oh Kagome, please be all right. The girl was moaning softly as she struggled against some unseen horror, and Sango laid her hand upon Kagome's small shoulder. With a sigh of relief, Sango watched as her friend seemed to calm down and lay still once more.

"How's she doing?" Miroku, who had been missing since he and Inuyasha had stepped outside, crept noiselessly across the wooden-plank floor.

"Not good. The poison set in shortly after you and Inuyasha left. The dreams started about an hour ago, and Keade and I have been trying to fight the fever ever since," she motioned to Shippo, whose tail was twitching as he dreamed. "He fell asleep hours ago, so it's just been the two of us."

Miroku caught the unvoiced question and hurried to answer. "I tried to talk to Inuyasha earlier, but only succeeded in making him angry. After he stormed off, I went looking for these." He held out a small pouch. "These are some herbs that have survived the storm. They are very tiny plants, and hard to see in the dark. That is, unless you know where to look. Hopefully they will help reduce Kagome's fever." The monk placed the bag in Sango's hands, and the girl shivered as his skin touched hers.

"You're hands feel like ice!" She grabbed one of the extra blankets that Keade had gathered and wrapped it around the monk. "Better?"

Settling into the warm fabric, Miroku offered Sango his most brilliant smile. "Much better, thank you Sango. But I must admit that I am still a little chilly. Perhaps you could lend me some of your body's warmth to chase away the chill?"

"Miroku!"

"Perhaps some other time, then." In mock disappointment, the monk pulled the blanket closer.

A comfortable silence settled between the pair as they tended to Kagome. She had begun moaning again as another dream began, and they worked together to help her through the nightmare. After Kagome had quieted, Miroku wandered over to the fire to begin boiling the herbs he had gathered.

"Has Inuyasha returned at all?" he asked as he stirred the mixture he was working on.

"Yes. He has been wandering in at least once every hour, just to check up on her. He'll ask how she's doing, sit with her for a moment, and then stalk off." Sango exhaled; a long, tired breath that even left Miroku feeling weary. "I just don't understand why he won't admit that he cares for her."

"Sometimes men have trouble expressing feelings of love, especially when those emotions have betrayed them in the past, like Inuyasha's have. I think he's afraid to love Kagome."

"But why would he be afraid? They're nothing wrong with it."

Miroku laughed softly, mindful of his sleeping companions. "For women, there is no fault in loving someone. But to men like our friend Inuyasha, real love is considered a weakness. He's afraid to love her because he fears that those feelings will make him vulnerable." The tea that the monk was preparing whistled, and he removed the kettle from the fire.

"That makes sense, I guess." She took the small cup that Miroku offered her and motioned for him to move Kagome into a sitting position. Carefully, she held the cup to the unconscious girl's lips and made her drink the concoction. "What about you, Miroku? Are you afraid of love?"

Taken aback by the question, the monk stayed silent for a moment. Then the boyish smile that marked Miroku's mischievous nature returned. "Now, Sango, when have you ever known me to be afraid of love?"

"Not that kind of love, Miroku. The real kind, the kind of love that constantly draws you back to someone, even when you know that things could never work out." Sango never raised her eyes to meet Miroku,; instead she settled for smoothing Kagome's dark hair away from her face. Her own hair fell loose about her shoulders, blocking from view the slight blush that crept upon her cheeks.

Oh Sango, you have no idea was the thought that ran through his mind. He tried to muster the courage to tell her just how close her words came to his heart. He leaned closer to her, catching the slight scent of her hair. "Sango, I..."

"No...Inuyasha..."

"Kagome!" Sango bent over the girl, causing Miroku to lose his balance and fall to the floor behind her. "What are you doing Miroku? Quit fooling around and help me hold her! If she keeps thrashing like this, she'll hurt herself!" The pair had to struggle to keep Kagome from striking them. She seemed to have lost all control of her body as she convulsed. Her arms flailed wildly, and she cried out as though she were fighting something.

"What's going on?" Shippo blinked sleepily as he raised himself up on one small elbow. His eyes widened as he saw Kagome's hand flying toward him, and he ducked just in time to avoid being hit.

Keade had also heard the commotion and rose from her bed to see what was happening. "Sango, Miroku! Hold her down! Shippo, fetch me that satchel over there!" What on earth could that child be dreaming of to cause such action?

Everyone in the room was trying in vain to pin the girl down. She was fighting them even more, as though something in her nightmare was attacking her and she couldn't break free. Keade was afraid of the stress that was being placed on the girl's body...there was no way she could take much more of this...

Kagome's back arched suddenly and she let out a scream. Her eyes opened for a moment, but they were clouded by the fever. Her friends watched, helpless to stop the scene before them. Then, before any of them realized what was happening, Inuyasha was there. He stood silently in the doorway, watching as Kagome's body began to sink back to the floor. In one fluid motion he was by her side, catching her as she settled back onto the pallet. The others took a step backward to give him some space.

The moment that the hanyou wrapped his arms around Kagome she seemed to sense him. Instantly she fell silent, her arms falling back to her side as the spasms passed. Keade watched in amazement. Even though she can't possibly see him, his presence is still strong enough to draw her out of the nightmare and give her comfort!

"Inuyasha, how did you...?" Sango stared at the sight before her. Inuyasha knelt next to Kagome, his arms wrapped tightly about her. The girl lay peacefully in his embrace, almost as though she were simply sleeping.

"I could hear the noise from outside. Something told me that she needed me." He glanced at Miroku, then stared back down at Kagome's closed eyes. I'll do what I can for you here, Kagome. I just wish I knew how to help you in there.