Kagome wiped the sweat from her forehead, picking her feet up high as she trudged through the dead weed and sharp rock. Although she was burning up from traveling, she still felt the need to pull together what shreds of clothing she had remaining for the sake of modesty. The simple act of looking up at the hanyou ahead made her cheeks flush. InuYasha paid no mind to her state of dress, more important things occupying his thoughts. He stopped in the middle of a barren field, glancing all directions before dropping his head. They were completely lost without a clue of how to get home. He sat down on a rock, burying his face in his hands.
"Um....InuYasha?"
The hanyou allowed his arms to fall across his knees, looking up to lock gazes with the disturbed young woman. She stood nervously still, her arms embracing around her in an attempt to hide her indecency. Sighing, he pulled off his outer kimono and threw it at her. "Wear that." Kagome looked at the fabric and back to him.
"Thank you, but..." She slipped her arms into the sleeves, pulling together the excess at her waist to make it fit, "that's not what I wanted." The kimono redrew her attention, the sleeves refusing to stay rolled up. InuYasha watched her fight with his coat up until the point of sympathy. Pushing up with a grunt, he grabbed her shoulders and delicately pulled out the thick thread that held the sleeves in place, pulling the fabric off of her arms. Placing the strings between his teeth, he tied the long sleeves together.
"So, what was it you did want to talk about?" He mumbled over the thread.
"I just..." She found her breath hitched as he leaned directly into her, reaching to tie the makeshift belt around her waist. He pulled the strings from his mouth and used it to secure the belt. He leaned back to examine his handy work, raising an eyebrow at her blushing cheeks.
"What? I would have gave you mine, but then I would have a problem. Now, what did you want?"
"Um...how are we supposed to get home?" She fingered at the clumsy bow, desperately trying to hide her apprehension. InuYasha instinctively sensed her fear.
"We'll find a way." 'If there is one...' He felt somewhat relieved, seeing the smile cross her face. Huffing a breath, he turned away. "Let's get moving."
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Sango hugged Kohaku closer, using the other hand to calm Shippo. "Don't worry, we'll get them back." She assured softly.
"Yes," Miroku agreed, "if there is any way to get to them, rest assured that we will find it." Kouga sat calmly in the corner, all oblivious to his presence. All but Kaede. Her old bones popping as she got to her feet, she placed her hands behind her back.
"Kouga, I am sure young Kagome will be fine. If she has indeed found InuYasha, he will bring her back safely." The wolf snorted, looking away defiantly. Kaede sighed, taking a seat in front of him. "Kouga, can ye not accept the implication that ye may never have Kagome's heart?"
"Whatever you say, old woman. Kagome is mine, and she knows it." He sneered, stepping into the doorway. "What makes you think she won't come around sooner or later?" The old priestess shook her head, settling her gaze back onto the Shikon Jewel.
"I think you know, dear wolf. I think you know."
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"I'm exhausted!" Kagome whined, slumping at the base of a dead stump. "And I don't think we got much of anywhere." She blew upwards to remove her hair, finally settling to tuck it behind her ears. She felt so uneasy as she surveyed the desolate area they were trapped in, the feeling doubling as InuYasha came into view. He staggered to a rotting tree, clutching his stomach with a hiss as he slid down to rest against it. He was tired. He was in pain. If he shared her feelings, he was starving. "You feel alright?"
"Just peachy." He replied with a sarcastic smile, closing his eyes and leaning his head back. His hand absently rubbed across his throbbing abdomen, his brow furrowing into a grimace of pain. "Why...why don't you get some sleep?" Kagome's mouth gaped open.
"Are you kidding me?! There is no way I'm leaving you up alone!"
"You worry too much. I'll be fine. Now, sleep." He ordered. Kagome did not argue or even reply. She bit her lip and began to crawl toward him. He watched her curiously, his muscles tensing as she lifted his arm and placed herself underneath it.
"Fine." She said, snuggling gently into his chest. "I'll go to sleep, but I'm staying right here." The hanyou watched until her eyes closed, hesitantly letting his arm relax across her shoulders.
"It'll be okay, Kagome." His hand trembled slightly as he brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Everything'll be alright."
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Kagome awoke to the sun's light piercing through her eyelids. She blinked fiercely, comforted to feel that the hanyou was still there. Moving slowly to get out of his hold, she took advantage of his fatigue and checked his injuries. The cuts and punctures seemed to be healing nicely, already closed without infection. Unable to resist temptation, she traced her fingertips across the tanned skin of his stomach, pausing of the single scar that tainted it. The scar his own brother had given him.
"What're you doing?"
"Huh?" She pulled back to find him very much awake. "I...I...um...was just...just checking you injuries." His mouth formed an 'o' as he sat up straight. He twisted from side to side to pop his back, looking around the empty vastness surrounding them. Even daylight was dim, dark clouds still flowing with lightning overhead. Lowering his gaze back to the ground, his ears twitched, unable to pick up any sound. And that's what unnerved him.
"We should go." He whispered, seriousness being his only emotion. Kagome nodded but did not move, watching him stand with little difficulty. His claws tapped against the empty sheath on his hip as he glanced over his shoulder. "Well, come on!"
"Oh...sorry." She dusted off her knees and skipped to catch up to him, but her eyes stayed on that sheath. 'What will we do if....no, Kagome! Don't even think about that! Everything will be okay...right?'
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Sango stretched, unintentionally pushing the sleeping Shippo from her lap. "Oops..." She said with a yawn. Wiping at one eye, she spotted Miroku. He was moving one hand over the dark jewel and holding the other in front of his face, his eyes closed in prayer. Biting her lip, she crawled over to where he sat, her hand inadvertently grazing over the hilt of InuYasha's sword.
'Ba-dum' (Please look over my sound effects)
The huntress paused, Miroku's attention grabbed as well. "Miroku, what do you suppose..."
'Ba-dum'
The monk edged closer, daring not to touch the pulsating weapon. His eyes narrowed then widened. "Kagome and InuYasha..."
'Ba-dum'
"....they must be in danger!"
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"Kagome, will you hurry up?!" He motioned for her hand, pulling her across the small trench before gazing at the sky. "I don't like this." The sky completely darkened within minutes, leaving only his demon sight to guide them through the rough terrain.
"Look, I can't see my hand in front of my face! It's kinda hard to move any faster!" She clutched the sleeve of his haori, depending on him to be her eyes. "Ow!" He was doing a lousy job in her opinion. Throwing an arm around his waist, she kept her balance, lifting her foot into the hanyou's view.
"Idiot, why didn't you..." Both sets of eyes peered into the clouds, an eerie light bursting through the darkness. "Hmmm...that's luck." He shrugged, looking back to her foot. Blood seeped through his fingers as he maneuvered the sharp rock from her flesh. Tossing it aside, he tore the lower sleeve of his shirt and tied it snuggly around the arch of her foot. "There."
"Thanks."
"Forget it." He smiled, helping her to stand. As they pressed on, she struggled to match his pace, stumbling to keep the weight off her injured foot. Licking his lips nervously, he stopped and leaned down to see her face. "Um...do you want me...to...um...carry you?" He stammered. Kagome smile.
"If you're up to it. It's no big deal if you're not, I mean." She squealed, his arm sweeping behind her knees, the other across her back. A flush filled her cheeks, and she immediately tried to hide it, missing the pink coating the cheeks of her hanyou warrior. "Thanks again."
"Any...anytime."
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Its wings blew gusts of wind that could outdo a tornado with ease. Its craned neck made it easy to maneuver in search of prey. Opening it mouth of spiked fangs to let its tongue flick the wind, it picked up the scent of blood. Fresh human blood. Humans were not common, but a tasty delicacy nonetheless. This one would be no exception. Swooping toward the ground, its followers close behind, its keen sight focused on the figure in the darkness. Hungry saliva dripped from its snake-like fangs to the ground as it opened it mouth a second time, preparing to attack. Silence being its most powerful ally, it wings froze to coast as it readied for the kill.
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"InuYasha, are you sure you can carry me?" Kagome asked, tightening her embrace around his neck as he leaped over another trench.
"For the hundredth time, I am absolutely..."
'Ba-dum'
He ceased moving, Kagome sitting up in his arms, both staring at the lonesome sheath. "InuYasha, what's going on?"
'Ba-dum'
The hanyou remained silent, his ears flickering at the change of wind. Turning slowly, his eyes widened and he instinctively pulled her closer, his grip absently tightening on her legs. "Oh, shit...." He whispered. The sky seemed to sway with the numerous flapping wings, shrieks echoing in the clouds. Backing up, he felt the young miko press herself to his chest with a gasp. For once, he shared her fear. Gulping, he felt a shiver run down his spine. "I think we might be in trouble."
