Act Eight
'Going Under', by Evanescent
'I dive again…I'm going under'
'Drowning you…I'm falling forever.'
"Why do you want this to happen so bad? Why do you want to destroy that pup so bad?"
Inuyasha's eyes were soft, yet burned with intensity as he awaited Kagome's answer. She shivered again as a light breeze glanced across the river. Inuyasha noticed it and finally became aware of her naked state. Slipping off his haori, he placed it over her shoulders before hugging her closer, giving her a feeling of security.
"Because…Its not yours…"
Inuyasha's heart skipped a beat.
"I don't want this baby…Because its not from the one I love."
Inuyasha placed his head on top of hers. "But still…Kagome…I don't know if I could stand the thought that I hurt you."
Kagome pulled away from the hanyou. Her gaze was painful, sad, determined, frightening. "If you don't do it Inuyasha, you'll be hurting me even worse than if you didn't."
"Kagome-"
"Please…"
Against his own will, Inuyasha pulled back his arm. In one swift movement, and against his better judgment, Inuyasha jabbed his fist into Kagome's midsection. He felt her body wrap around his fist, her stomach spasm in retaliation. She gave a small squeak as her wind left her before collapsing into Inuyasha's arms.
Carefully Inuyasha picked up the fragile girl. Taking off at a run, Inuyasha darted through the tees before entering the main village. He quickly and quietly made his way to Kaede's hut, entering without asking and deposited the miko onto Kaede's pallet.
The older woman looked up from her cooking pot to watch Inuyasha enter her hut. She was confused until she saw Kagome's limp form in his arms. Instinctively she got up and grabbed her medical supplies before moving to Inuyasha' s side.
"What ails ye?" She asked in concern as she stared upon the half-naked girl. Carefully she started to remove Inuyasha' s haori and undershirt. Inuyasha, reluctant to move, held Kagome' s hand as his eyes stared somewhere other than the girls body.
"She was raped by a demon the other night."
Kaede paused, waiting for Inuyasha to continue.
"It was Shitsuren. He claimed her. He made her pregnant."
Kaede nodded, slowly digesting this new information. Satisfied at this temporary answer, Kaede resumed her work. "I see. So it is Shitsuren. Up to ye's old tricks again. He was never one to relent in his revenge."
Inuyasha nodded. He went on to explain Shitsuren's attack upon Kagome in the hot spring, and of Kagome's decision to have Inuyasha punch her. Kaede merely listened in silence, offering her understanding.
"Well, she shall be well soon enough. However, several days of rest and special herbs would heal she much faster." From behind her, Kaede produced a set of Miko's clothing. She carefully set to dressing the girl in the white blouse and red hakama.
"So, what's wrong with her." Inuyasha's eyes were still avoiding Kagome's face as he spoke as Kaede leaned back to examine her handy work.
"Ye are required to change the bandages every day. I should give you some herbs and poultice to place upon her wounds. She has a badly bruised stomach and a torn stomach muscle. Ye is suffering from exaughstion and has a nasty infection on the back of ye's neck."
Her gaze fell on the hanyou as he finally looked back into the sleeping face of Kagome.
"Other than his, simply offer her ye's love and affection, should it prove to be the best medicine of all."
Inuyasha looked at Kaede with a glazed over expression. He nodded once before pulling back the blanket and gathering Kagome in his arms. He paused at the door flap, turning back to face Kaede.
"Can you tell if she miscarried?" He asked in a small voice.
The older miko shook her head. Inuyasha nodded before turning around and walking out the door.
As he approached his own hut, Kagome stirred.
"Inu…Yasha…"
The hanyou nuzzled Kagome affectionately, his silver bangs tickling across her face. "Shhh. Go back to sleep. You need your rest."
The girl shivered. "But… I'm so cold."
Inuyasha nodded. "We'll be in the hut in a minute. Then I'll wrap you in a big warm blanket and build a big, warm fire. Then I'll hold you close and keep you warm."
Kagome nodded and a small smile graced her features. But as soon as it had appeared, it disappeared. "I hurt." She moaned.
Inuyasha carefully pushed aside the door flap as he entered the dark hut. "Where do you hurt?" He asked as he placed her on the pallet.
Kagome shivered again. "Everywhere." She complained. Carefully Inuyasha rolled her in a blanket and kissed her forehead. Her skin burnt his lips.
'She's burning up. It had to be all that cold water.' he thought. Quickly he whispered words of comfort to Kagome before starting for the forest to gather wood.
As he whacked down a couple of trees with his claws, he sighed with his own exaughstion.
"It's gonna be a long night."
Two hours and three trees later, Inuyasha finally returned to the hut with a bowl of water. Inside, he had neatly piled wood in the far corner and built a large fire, which Kagome laid next to.
Setting the bowl down next to her body, Inuyasha gently kneeled beside Kagome. Gently shaking her shoulder, he beckoned the girl awake,
"Kagome, how are you feeling?"
The groggy girl shook her head and rubbed her eyes. "Mmm tired. 'nd I hurt."
Inuyasha offered a small smile. Carefully he helped Kagome into a sitting position before holding up a bowl of stewed herbs for her to drink. Still rummy from sleep, Kagome barely managed to down the bowl before drifting off to sleep.
Carefully Inuyasha set aside the bowl and exchanged it for a damp wash rag. Maneuvering the sleeping miko to the side, Inuyasha settled down beside her before pulling her head back into his lap. Carefully he pushed back her bangs and placed the damp rag onto her forehead.
Moaning softly, Kagome smiled softly in her sleep. Moving over her, Inuyasha placed a gentle kiss on Kagome's lips. Leaning back against the wall, Inuyasha gently rubbed Kagome's head with one hand and holding her right hand with his own. Slowly the soft warmth of the fire and the sound of Kagome's steady breathing lulled him into a light sleep.
'Always confusing the thoughts in my head…'
'…So I cant trust myself any longer…'
A/N: I got some reviews that asked why I just don't have Kagome have a spontaneous miscarriage. Well, I think that having Kagome so desperate for something like this would add some flavor. And, to show how much Kagome means to Inuyasha, to have him do something like that. Besides, the way I look at it, youkai are strong, even as babies, fetuses, etc. So unless there was a hard blow to the womb, it really wouldn't miscarry. AND I'm not even sure if I'm gonna have her miscarry right here and now, so THERE! But that's just my opinion. I value yours, and I do like your opinion, but for those of you who did flame me over this, if you have a problem with it, go write your own FF.
PS I have my own Email now! And, if you want a response, I can respond. Plus, I do check my email way more than I check my account.
