Disclaimer: me no own Inuyasha
Inuyasha had watched as Kagome had packed what few things they would need. "Aringatu." Kagome paused and turned to him with a puzzled look on her face. "You saved me. That poison would have killed me. You saved me, and for that you have my gratitude." Inuyasha's head moved in the form of a curt nod. Kagome also nodded before returning to packing their provisions.
The next morning Kirara sailed through Kagome's window. Inuyasha was the first to notice her. He raised off of the cushion upon which he had sat through out the night. Kagome was still lying on her bed in a deep sleep. Kirara (now in smaller form) ran to Kagome, sniffing her to verify that she was ok. As Inuyasha moved toward the Neko she turned on him and gave a small growl of warning. "Kirara, it's me, Inuyasha." Kirara smelt the air and glared at him for a minute before jumping on his shoulder and purring in contentment.
Usumi was aware of the Neko's presence. He wasn't concerned in the least. He would let them escape, then he would leave for the hunt.
Inuyasha and Kirara were sailing through the air. Kagome was now awake and fully enjoying the feel of the wind on her face. She glanced to her right to see Inuyasha also glad to be out of the palace. Kagome blushed when she realized that she had been staring. Get a grip Kagome! Inuyasha was floating on his cloud deep in his thoughts. (It would seem that even though she and Midoriko shared a soul, they were still separated. Sometimes Kagome lost all emotion to her voice and became dead serious, that had to be Midoriko. Then there were those times that he would catch her gawking at him and blush when his eyes would meet hers that was definitely Kagome. I'm almost positive that Midoriko causes this sudden surge in her miko powers. But what will Kagome do when Midoriko isn't there to help her? There has to be someway to protect her, or at least give her own sort of defense other than her arrows. I wonder if that servant of mine would know, Myoga was it? I'll have to be sure to call for him when Kagome is out of earshot.) "Hmm?"
"Inuyasha! I asked you what you were thinking about."
"Oh, nothing important." "Ok, well, it's getting dark. We should probably stop for the night." To emphasize this she stretched her arms and yawned. "If I'm this tired then Kirara must be exhausted." Inuyasha glanced down at the Neko's face; it was true she was tiring. "Indeed. Stay here Kirara, I'll be back in a few minutes." Kirara stopped in mid-air and hovered while Inuyasha lowered down to the forest floor.
"There is a hot spring not far from here, we will camp here tonight." Inuyasha had returned to them and directed them to follow him to a nearby clearing of trees. He turned to see Kagome leaping down from Kirara's back. "Which way is the hot spring in?'' "I'll take you there after we set up camp." Kagome nodded and began to unroll her pack of provisions.
"Okay Inuyasha, I'm ready to go!
Inuyasha had led Kagome to the Hot Springs but was reluctant to leave her alone and unprotected. " Inuyasha you may be youkai but that doesn't mean it won't hurt if I decide to practice my powers on you! Now if you wouldn't mind, I would very much like to enjoy a bath!" Inuyasha covered his ears to soften the tone of Kagome's irritated voice. "Lady Kagome, it isn't safe, not with Usumi in such close proximity. I must insist that Kirara stay as your guard." By now Kagome was beginning to tug at the clip holding her hair and was beginning to get extremely irritated. " Fine, great, now get out of here so I can take a bath." Inuyasha smirked and nodded, "As you wish Kagome."
Kagome slid into the water and instantly felt her stress melt away. (Kagome's thoughts) Finally! Now I can talk to Midoriko. "Midoriko? Midoriko, I need to speak with you for a moment." "Yes Kagome?" "What's going on with Inuyasha? Why has he not returned to his hanyou form?" "Inuyasha is fulfilling his destiny. He worries about you Kagome. He seeks a way to protect you." "Protect me? Protect me from what?" "Your destiny." "Midoriko, what are you not telling me? Midoriko? Midoriko!" (End of Kagome's thoughts) Kagome looked down at her now wrinkled hands, "Well, I guess I should get out now." Kirara lifted her head and glided over to Kagome, dropping her towel by the spring's edge. "Thank you Kirara."
"Master Inuyasha! I must insist you to reconsider! Lady Kagome will be most displeased." "Myoga I understand. But it's the only way. I won't always be there to protect her. I couldn't stand it if something happened to her. Not knowing that I could have saved her. The only other option is to take her as my mate, but I don't want it to be like this. I want her to become my mate when we both want it to be, not because we need it to be. End of discussion Myoga." Sigh "Yes mi Lord." As Kagome and Kirara made their way back from the Hot Springs Kagome began to glow a soft pink. Kagome looked down at her hands and then to Kirara. "Kirara, I don't sense any youkai, do you?" The Neko glanced around before transforming. "Kirara? What is it?" Kirara growled in the direction away from camp and ran off into the forest. "Kirara!" Kagome was a little shocked. Kirara had left her, why had Kirara run away with out waiting for her? Maybe she thought I'd be safer here.
As Kagome was pondering these questions in her head, a pair of red eyes began to follow her movement as she continued on her path from the hot springs. Kagome was deep in thought when she heard a twig snap behind her. She turned her head to see an enormous white Inu-youkai dog raising its paw off what appeared to have been a tree. (Kagome's thoughts: He snapped it with one paw! I've got to get out of here and find InuyashaThe inu-dog licked his lips and growled menacingly; Kagome was terrified, 'why isn't Inuyasha here?' His youkai senses should have picked up my calls minutes ago. Oh well, here goes nothing, Kagome's face set, 'I won't cry!' She would not let Sesshoumaru have that power over her. Drawing her hands in front of her, her delicate fingers began to close around the bow that seemed to have formed out of thin air. " I suggest you leave." Kagome's voice held a tone that screamed power. To increase her point, the bow's color began to fade from a luminescent pink to an electrifying shade of purple.
The dog growled but did not retreat. He had a job to complete. He had to knock the miko out in order to save her. He obviously had to change his strategy. He eyed the miko cautiously. Then as sudden as he had come, he turned around and began to lope off into the forest. After watching the demon retreat Kagome allowed her bow to disappear. As soon as she did, the demon was in front of her. That was the last she remembered before everything had gone black.
R & R