CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
x.
Kagome flinched as she rubbed salve on Inuyasha's bare back. The wound had stopped bleeding, but there was still a vicious gash on his stomach and back. To make it worse, the fight had torn him further, as well as getting dirt and leaves all over him. She had had to carefully wipe away all the blood and dirt before even trying to bandage him up.
He kept tensing up as she started bandaging his abdomen. But he didn't make a sound. In fact, he had hardly spoken since they had reached the campsite. "I'm almost done, Inuyasha," Kagome said quietly.
He sighed.
"Inuyasha," Kagome said quietly, putting a hand on his arm. "Thank you so much..."
"Huh?" Inuyasha finally looked back over his shoulder. "What for?"
"For coming to save me." Kagome felt a little tug at her heart as she saw all the injuries he had gotten from Naku. His face and arms were covered in cuts and scratches. "Inuyasha... I'm so sorry this happened to you. If you hadn't had to come get me-"
"Hold on there," Inuyasha said sharply. "No way would I let that bastard have you for a moment more than I had to."
Kagome tried to smile. "I... I'm sorry about what happened."
"Feh. Hardly hurts at all," Inuyasha said.
Then he stiffened. Kagome's arms were wrapped around his upper chest, with her dark head resting on his bare shoulder. A tear trickled down her cheek, and seeped along one of the cuts in his skin. "I was really scared, Inuyasha," she whispered.
"Hey, no need for that," Inuyasha said a little gruffly. "I got there as fast as I could."
"Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed, grabbing his shoulders and holding him at arm's length. "You never understand what I mean! I meant that I was scared for YOU!" A tremor came into her voice. "I was afraid you were gonna die."
Inuyasha looked startled and ill at ease. His golden eyes flickered to the side, and froze. Miroku was sitting there with his back to them. "I'm not listening to any of this," the monk announced loudly. "So just go on."
Kagome could feel herself blushing. "I-Inuyasha," she said quickly. "You better lie down so you'll heal faster."
Inuyasha reluctantly stayed still as she taped off the end of the bandages. Then he stretched out on a bed of straw, keeping Tetsusaiga close by his body. Kagome sat by him as he drifted off to sleep. As his eyes were closing, he mumbled, "I should've seen it coming, Kagome... should have smelled it in him... that bastard... ain't all human..."
Miroku crept over and peered at the sleeping half-demon. "Is he asleep?"
"Yes," Kagome said. She drew a blanket over Inuyasha, making sure he was completely covered. "Don't wake him up later. He almost died out in the woods, thanks to that stupid Naku."
"What about you, Kagome?" Miroku asked soberly. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, for the hundredth time. I feel fine." She followed Miroku outside, glancing over her shoulder. "Except... I think Naku left me alone because he said... I wasn't supposed to be harmed. But he said that he was supposed to... kill Inuyasha."
Sango stood up from a bench by the door. "If that's true, then Naku won't stay away for long. Especially if Naraku is the one who hired him."
"I'm sure of it," Miroku said grimly. "I saw Kagura flying him away. And besides, that barrier was set up around the forest to keep us out. What better way to make sure that Sango and I wouldn't interfere with the murder of Inuyasha?"
Kagome hugged herself. "So what are we going to do?"
No one answered.
TO BE CONTINUED