More Than Anyone Deserves

II.

All four of Kagome's friends could do nothing but stare down uselessly. Their eyes were wide, their mouths agape with astonishment.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha choked out, wanting to hurl upon seeing her dull brown eyes holding unnaturally small pupils. She didn't move when he said her name, causing him to swallow loudly and shake her gently, "Kagome, can you see me?"

Slowly, her head went up so she was looking straight ahead, but seeing past everything, not focusing on one thing. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Inuyasha felt her stiffen again and knew she was about to panic.

Her head jerked back when reality began to set in. Her hands shook as she put them in front of her face. She knew they were there. She could feel them right there. But she couldn't see them. She knew her eyes were open, she could feel it when she blinked.

"Kagome?" Among hearing Inuyasha say her name, she looked forward where he was, though slightly off to the right. When she tried to speak again, nothing but an unnatural throaty sound emitted. She closed her mouth quickly when she found it hurt to make such noises.

"Stay calm, Kagome, please…" She told herself, knowing that would be the best thing to do, "Losing control isn't going to help anyone…"

Though she told herself this, it didn't stop the tears from pouring over her cheeks, a dry sob causing her throat to ache more.

"What's happening to her?!" Inuyasha screamed as he held onto her shoulders. He was pointing the question more at Miroku, hoping he knew what might have been wrong.

Miroku quickly kneeled down in front of Kagome, brushing her bangs aside to see her eyes better. Though the answer was almost obvious, he had to ask her to make sure.

"Kagome-sama, can you hear me?" They were all somewhat relieved to see her nod. "Can you see me?" She shook her head, her lower lip quivering. "Can you talk?" All their hopes were thrown away when she again shook her head, dropping her face into Inuyasha's chest to hide her shame.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha choked out, smelling a lot more of her tears flowing. Her wrapped his arms tightly around her, surprised how blank his mind was.

All the while, Sango stood behind Miroku, her eyes wide with shock. How could this be happening? Why weren't they able to prevent this from happening? Why was Kagome the target of this misery? Looking over her quickly, Sango saw that Kagome had no visible marks or scars, literally seeming untouched.

That's when she remembered: "Kirara!" Sango turned quickly in the direction the woman threw Kirara, her heavy boomerang still over her shoulder.

"Sango, I'll come with you!" Miroku yelled for her to wait, standing up quickly. Before he turned to follow her, he looked down sadly at Kagome, already missing her eyes full of joy and hope. Sighing silently, he ran after Sango.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha whispered, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her toward him. Hiding his face in her hair, he felt like crying right along with her, but knew he had to be strong, "At least you can still hear my voice…"

"Kirara!" Sango looked around the forest area, "Kirara! Where are you?" Her voice became worried. She looked to her right, seeing that Miroku wasn't having any luck, either.

Cupping her hands around her mouth, Sango was about to call out again when she something lying on the ground in a pile of leaves. Narrowing her eyes, she tried to make out what it was. She knew it to be too big for Kirara's small size, but too small for her large size. Taking a few steps closer, she soon realized that it was a person.

Her eyes widened in alarm, "Houshi-sama! I think someone's injured over here!"

Miroku rushed over to Sango's side as they cautiously approached the fallen person, trying not to alarm them. Sango's heart skipped a beat, causing her to pause in her motions. Miroku noticed this, but took the last steps, kneeling down to get a better look.

"It's a girl," he stated, no doubt lecherous thoughts beginning to swirl around in that mind of his. The fact that she was naked wasn't helping any. She had a nice, slim body, but Miroku couldn't help but notice the black stripes that marked her legs and arms in certain areas. Slowly, he reached out to run a finger over a black streak that crossed her shin.

"They're definitely not scars…they don't rise off her skin. Must be some kind of marking…" he mumbled to himself. Her hair that was so blonde it almost seemed white was long and hid her face. Without thinking, he reached out a hand, his fingers barely touching the strands.

"Houshi-sama…" Sango called lowly from behind him, causing him to pause. He looked over his shoulder and saw how worried she looked.

"We have to help her, Sango. She's still alive," he replied. But her anxiousness rubbed off on him, a couple sweat beads rolling down the side of his face. Again, he reached down to push her hair from her face. And there, right in the middle of the girl's forehead, was a black diamond-shaped marking.

His eyes widened, "That's…"

"That's Kirara's marking…" Sango finished for him. Her legs became wobbly when her brain was beginning to register what her heart already knew. She lowered herself until her knees hit the ground, Hiraikotsu falling beside her.

"Miroku! Sango!" They heard Shippou calling them now. Miroku stood up and saw Inuyasha leaping towards them, Kagome on his back and Shippou on his shoulder. He stopped when he landed perfectly beside Sango, looking at Miroku with worry.

"We better get Kagome back to Kaede's village…maybe she'll be able to help her," he added, looking sadly over his shoulder where Kagome rested her cheek. He turned back to the others, "She passed out a couple minutes ago."

Tears came to Shippou's eyes as he looked into her sleeping face, "Poor Kagome…"

Inuyasha finally noticed the girl on the ground, "Who's that?"

Sighing, Miroku looked from Sango to the girl, "Well…"

"It's Kirara," Sango finished again. Finally reclaiming herself, she got up quickly and went to Kirara's side. Gently, handling her as though she was porcelain, she slid Kirara's upper half onto her lap. Her hair fell out of her face, revealing her human ears.

"Nani-wa?" Inuyasha questioned, scrunching his face up in confusion, "Are you blind, Sango?" He asked, instantly regretting it. His ears lowered and shame flashed across his eyes. He looked back at Kagome, wanting to apologize for the outburst over and over, even if she didn't hear him say it.

Sango glared at him, but her anger was only run by her sorrow. What had that witch done to her poor Kirara? Sure, the youkai didn't look like she was in pain, but she wasn't meant to be like this. This wasn't who she was.

Looking back down at her, she ran her fingers over the diamond, "Kirara? Kirara, can you hear me? Please wake up…" Though she said this, Sango was almost hoping they would be able to find a cure for Kirara, and Kagome, and they would both basically sleep right through the whole ordeal.

"She's a very beautiful human," Miroku commented suddenly, leaning down by Kirara's side. His eyes roamed up and down her body, his head nodding.

With fire in her eyes now, Sango shot daggers silently. She tried her best to ignore him as she looked up at Inuyasha, "Inuyasha, do you mind if I borrow your haori?"

"Uh?" Inuyasha asked, snapping out of his look of distaste, "H-hai." He kneeled down and carefully lowered Kagome to a patch of leaves. He took his red haori off, handing it over to Sango. She quickly lifted Kirara's shoulders, trying to put it on her as fast as she could and away from the prying eyes of the Houshi.

"Mm…hm?" Kirara mumbled as Sango shifted her around. Her body felt strange, not really pained, but awkward. It felt like Sango was trying to put something on her that wasn't meant to fit.

"Kirara?" the youkai turned ningen heard Miroku call her. Automatically, her instincts kicked in. She heard the uneasiness in his voice and thought he needed help. Her eyes snapped open, Miroku the only thing in her sight.

"Mir—," she began to say but stopped quickly when she noticed something different with her voice.

"Your eyes…they're so beautiful," Miroku said sincerely, taking both of her hands into his. This shocked her even more. Looking down, she saw that they were actually holding hands. Her eyes widened as she jumped to her feet smoothly. Out of habit, she bent forward as she waited for her front paws to hit the ground. When she got into this position, she quickly stood back up straight. Her body went with whatever felt the most comfortable, and standing on two legs was easier than four.

"Do something, Sango, before he rapes her senseless with his eyes," Inuyasha fired, finding it hard to focus on Kirara's problem when Miroku wanted to be all over her.

Sango nodded and stepped in front of Kirara. Since the haori was already on her arms, she just needed to pull it forward and tie it around the front to hide Kirara's now obviously naked body.

Her hands shook as she did this, tears also coming to her eyes as she spoke, "Gomen ne, Kirara…I never meant to have this happen. I should have protected you better." She sniffed when she was done adjusting the haori, looking into her fire-cat eyes; the one thing that didn't change.

Cocking her head to the side, Kirara blinked then looked down at herself. Though she was standing strong and firm before, just seeing human legs beneath her was making them go weak. Her knees locked as she wobbled and fell forward clumsily into Sango's arms.

"Kirara!" Sango cried out, holding onto Kirara's shoulders. Miroku came from the side and put his hands on her waist. He tried to help ease her up, smiling when he saw that Kirara's eyes weren't full of fear, but of wonder.

"Don't think too much about standing," he told her. His smile grew when she looked at him, "Just do it and you'll be fine."

"Houshi-sama!" Sango cried, swatting his hands away from her, "Don't talk like she has to know how to do this for the rest of her life!"

Miroku held up his hands in defense, "I'm not, Sango…but until we find a way to change her back, she might as well get used to her form now."

Getting curious and tired of being in the background, Shippou came forward and jumped on Kirara's shoulder. He studied her closely, wanting to laugh when she stared at him in amazement. His big eyes blinked, finding her just as interesting, "I guess I'm the smallest now…"

Kirara closed her eyes and smiled, tilting her head to the side. She gave a small, close-mouthed laugh.

"I told you, she's not staying this way," Sango retorted, her fists clenched.

"Relax…you'll make her upset if you keep acting like that, Sango. She doesn't seem alarmed, so don't make her that way," Miroku warned gently, glad Sango was already calming down.

She nodded, "You're right, but…" She turned around, only to see Inuyasha and Kagome not there. "Huh? Where'd they go?"

"I think Inuyasha got tired of waiting for you guys, so he took Kagome to Kaede's himself." Shippou explained, remembering how Inuyasha was gone too fast for little him to catch up easily.

Miroku tapped his staff on the ground twice, "I think we had better follow after him. He has the right idea going to Kaede. Even if she doesn't know what to do, surely she knows someone that does." He paused when Sango and Shippou nodded, then turned toward Kirara, "Can you run or would you like me to carry you?"

Kirara's mouth formed a small "o" shape, catching Sango's annoyed expression. Of course, Kirara knew Miroku well enough to not take up his offer. She looked down at her legs again as she tried to take a step, her legs still wobbly. Finding that she was thinking too much about it, she followed Miroku's advice and just did it. Looking straight ahead, she took a few more steps, surprised at how easy it actually was in this body.

Without warning, she broke into a fast run, her bare toes the only part of her feet hitting the ground. Shippou screamed when he almost fell off her shoulder, just barely wrapping his paws around Inuyasha's haori. Kirara's long off-white hair flew behind her as she tested out her new body. Though there was an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach, knowing this whole thing was very wrong, she couldn't help but feel excited. The youkai always did enjoy new and different things.

"Kirara!" Sango called out to her, but Miroku put a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him, almost expecting some sort of speech to just let her run. Instead, he just shook his head. Though Kirara didn't seem hurt or worried about what happened to her, Sango couldn't help but feel that something was misplaced. Wrapping her arms around herself before she followed after Kirara, she shivered.

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"Is there anything that can be done?" Inuyasha asked Kaede desperately as she worked. She was crushing some ingredients up into a little pot as Kagome rested under a blanket. She was still asleep, her breathing almost too slow for Inuyasha's liking. Every once in awhile he would see her eyeballs moving frantically underneath her eyelids, then watch her squeeze her eyes shut tighter. He couldn't even imagine the pain her eyes were in.

"Isn't there even some way to make the pain in her eyes go away?" he asked, even though she didn't answer his first question.

"I'm making the remedy right now, Inuyasha. I don't know what can cure her quandary, but until I figure it out, this should help calm down her nerves." The old woman explained simply, crunching and then stirring whatever was in the pot until it was a thick liquid. Crawling closer to her, Kaede dipped two fingers into the pot before pressing them to Kagome's eyes, smearing the green substance until it was hardly noticeable.

"That is all I can do for her now," she declared, groaning when she stood up. "I'm going to have to look more into this. Are you sure you didn't see what this woman threw into her eyes?"

Inuyasha shook his head, keeping his eyes locked on Kagome, "Iie. It was…nothing."

Instead of insisting that it had to be something, Kaede let it be at that. She looked down at the couple in sympathy before exiting the hut.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha scooted closer to her, feeling relieved that her eyes were holding still now. He jumped in surprise when she made the same throaty sound she made earlier. Her voice sounded tormented, but Inuyasha could tell she was trying to make out the first syllable in his name.

She winced when her throat hurt again.

"Don't strain yourself," Inuyasha told her sensitively, running his claws through her hair. As if just hearing his voice made all her pain go away, she gave a small smile and breathed out his name. Almost inaudible, however, Inuyasha caught it and held onto it for deal life.

Her hand came out from under the blanket and felt for his hand. She pulled it gently toward her, suggesting she wanted Inuyasha to lay with her. Without hesitation, he did what she wanted. Though he wouldn't even think about doing it any other time, he wrapped his arm around her. She needed to know he was there more than ever.

Before he knew it, Kagome was asleep again.

'Kagome…do you even realize what's happened to you? Do you still think it's all a dream?' He silently asked her, resting his head next to hers.

'Maybe it is only a dream…' and with that, he closed his eyes, also.