CHAPTER TWO
x.
"Go through the well?" Inuyasha asked incredulously. "So I can lie around?"
"So you can get better," Kagome said firmly, pushing him back down. "It'll just be until you're back to normal, okay? There isn't anything dangerous over there so you'll be able to relax and recover. And I'll be able to catch up on some of my schoolwork, so it works for us both. Right?"
Inuyasha coughed. "I ain't going."
"Why not? I thought you liked it there."
Inuyasha rolled over and mumbled something incoherent. Kagome poked him in the shoulder, saying, "Is this because you're afraid my mom is mad at you? Well, she isn't, for your information. She was a little upset when she found out what you did to her favorite chair, but she understood once I told her that you were just beating up a burglar."
Inuyasha peered over at her. "Really?"
"Sure. Now get your butt out of bed and get ready to go."
As she packed her backpack, Kagome sighed heavily. What had happened when Inuyasha stayed over for a week was the subject of many of Kagome's nightmares. He had managed to flood the house, break the bathroom faucet, frighten the mailman, and knock himself senseless with paint thinner. Not to mention demolish the living room when a burglar broke in. The house was a ruin by the time Kagome's mother and grandfather returned.
But then again.... he had been very nice to her during that time. They had watched romantic old movies with Sota, he had helped her clean up his messes, and he had even carried her through the house during a blackout. And when they were heading home, he had confided that he liked staying there with her, because he had never had a home of his own as a child.
Ah well, things would be easier this time. He could lie around, take it easy, and recover from his injuries. And she'd make sure Mom kept an eye on him at all times, just so he didn't get into any more trouble.
Kagome zipped her bag shut. "Come on, Inuyasha!"
x.
Inuyasha peered blearily into the well. "You sure she ain't going to send that old man after me?" he asked.
"I'm sure," Kagome said. "Hop in."
Inuyasha put an arm across her shoulders, and they leaped in together. It was a weird feeling, going through time and space -- and landing lightly on a dirt floor on the other side. Inuyasha coughed and leaned against the side of the wall for a moment, then grabbed Kagome and leapt out of the well.
Kagome let her backpack fall with a thud. "Mom? Grandpa? Sota?" she called. "We're back!"
There was no answer.
Kagome sighed and headed into the house, with Inuyasha dragging himself very slowly behind her. Her mother was cooking something in the kitchen. "Kagome!" she said, smiling. "I didn't hear you come in. Is something wrong?"
"Sort of." Kagome explained the problem with Inuyasha, and how he was still sick and weakened. And, of course, that he needed to relax and recover his strength before he could go back. Kagome left out the details, as she usually did -- the last thing she wanted was for her mother to worry too much about the dangers of the past era. But she did tell her mother that with all the dangers around them, Inuyasha couldn't bring himself to relax in the past.
Her mother looked horrified. "That's terrible, Kagome! Of course he can stay here. You should go back and fetch him now."
There was a loud, retching cough from outside.
"Actually," Kagome said, "he's right outside, listening."
Kagome's mother opened the door, and a rather sickly-looking Inuyasha walked in. "Oh dear," Kagome's mother fretted, studying his face. "You really do look sick. For that matter, you shouldn't be standing right now. Come into the living room and lie down, and I'll fix you some tea."
To Kagome's surprise, Inuyasha meekly obeyed. Either the maternal attitude had softened his resistance to being coddled, or he simply felt too ill to disobey. Kagome's mother led him into the living room, with one of her arms over his shoulders. Kagome smiled a little. Apparently it was going to be easier than she had thought.
Sota scampered in, glancing in the living room. "Hey Kagome! How come you and Inuyasha are back?" he asked.
"Inuyasha's sick," Kagome said. "He's come here to rest up for awhile."
"Cool!" Sota said. "It's just like when he came that other time!"
A racking cough was all the comment Inuyasha would give.
TO BE CONTINUED