Disc: Don't own 'em...but the quote IS MINE!

A/N: Okay, this is hard b/c I have a friend of mine (who I play cat and mouse with, he's my Miroku (snickers)) who's IMing me at the same time b/c he's bored...and I mean REALLY bored, he put my name into the Google search engine just to see what'd pop up...and then IMed me the results...Okay, Namaru is here in this one, shows us hisparticulary ugly grosscolors (wonder if I have to up the rating for it...hmm...probably...(sighs)) Kagome is still weak (next chapter she's fully recovered mentally.) Inuyasha's visit feels strange to me, but I think it's okay...I'm nervous about this ending, not sure how to do it...(sighs) oh well...here it is...I trust you guys will review to tell me if I did well? THANK YOU!

Inuyasha's Blunder

"And then the darkness lifts

The sunshine fills my heart

And you are there beside me…"

The darkness was thick and oppressive; the girl woke to it feeling as if she were being strangled in her sleep. Between the gasps of panic and abrupt claustrophobia that had overwhelmed her she moaned, searching for something, for comfort, for another's touch…confusion and longing swept through her at once.

Her distress was answered gently, sweetly. She felt a hand grasp hers, strong but at once soft. Warm breath tickled her ears. The voice that spoke was masculine but so gentle that she would've blinked in confusion had she had all of her wits about her.

"Sakana…are you all right? Bad dreams?" she sensed the other drawing nearer, struggled to understand deep within her whether that was something she wanted or not… "Don't worry any longer—you're safe, the Red Demon can't get you while I'm here." She felt the heat of his skin against her damp, feverish cheek, took in the calm, almost chalky odor he had about him.

It wasn't familiar.

She turned away, moaning, drawing once more inward. The shards at her chest seemed to freeze her skin now, like icicles digging into her flesh. Yet, despite the discomfort, she didn't force their touch away like she had the other person's touch. The shards, she instinctively understood, were all that had kept her alive, all that had protected her from death's freezing grip. And now, still, they hadn't left her to fend for herself. They seemed to keep her strong, seemed to heal her fragile body and mind. The shards kept her tied to reality.

The freezing, biting cold of the shards vanished then and the girl felt a strange, sickening sweat break out over her entire body. She flinched and cringed against it, suddenly feeling ridiculously hot and restless…

She opened her eyes in the dark, her teeth clenching down on her tongue, biting back the sounds she wanted to scream, afraid of what would happen to her if she did…the words were things in her dreams and her memories. Mysterious things that she innately knew were important to her past self. Words like Inuyasha, Sango, Shippo, Kilala, Shikon Jewel…Naraku, Kohaku, Sesshomaru, Souta, and Kagura. And yet she hardly comprehended what they meant at all, and something whispered to her that she must feign more weakness than she actually felt, silencing those words…those names.

At least for now…but how log would that be?

Despite herself another moan escaped her and she sat up, pawing at her throat convulsively as if she might be able to physically intimidate the words, names, and memories that lurked within her, trying to burst out. In the dark her eyes worked only weakly, not as they really should at all, not as they had when she was well, she recalled dimly. Yet even so she saw someone move swiftly to her and a second person—already crouched at her side—move to embrace her.

"Sakana, is everything all ri—" his arms slid around her body and she sensed his foreignness again and reacted on instinct. Hissing, she pushed and slapped weakly at him. His touch withdrew, and she sensed that he hesitated now, confused. Had she been in her right mind she would've easily understood that he was deeply hurt by her rejection. But it was too dark for her to see his features and even if it had been light she wouldn't have been able to care about him…

The other person moved to hold her instead, and she tensed, ready to push them away as well—and realized with a jolt that this wasn't a stranger after all!

"Kagome…" the soft, gentle voice whispered in her ear, warm breath sweet and calming. She shivered, her tension and anxiety melting away like butter on a hot skillet. Exhaustedly, and filled with relief, she slumped into the other woman's arms.

Unbidden one of the names that she had thought of only a short time ago sprung to her lips again, and straight out without her thinking about it: "Sango."

The demon slayer nodded against her head, shushing and comforting her gently. "It's all right, Kagome…" she looked to Koshi nervously through the dark, praying that he couldn't see the fear in her face. Kagome's skin was hot and clammy against her own; the girl was shivering weakly. But it wasn't Kagome's illness and delirious state that bothered her; it was a question that'd been hovering heavily in her mind for hours now, where is Inuyasha? What is he up to?

Miroku was out searching for the hanyou along the river, where he was sure that Inuyasha would be lurking, looking for Kagome's scent. The monk had taken Kilala and Shippo with him as trackers. She hadn't heard from him in several hours, and could only hope that that meant they'd found and restrained the hanyou…but somehow she doubted it. Her instincts said that the only way they'd ever really stop Inuyasha from coming for Kagome was if Miroku sucked him up into his wind tunnel. Even then Sango wondered if perhaps Inuyasha might crawl right back out again, though that was impossible…

Kagome stirred against her, moving closer, wrapping her arms around the slayer's waist. Apparently the schoolgirl was well enough—and mentally intact enough—to know that Sango was a friend. This was comforting—if, or rather, when Inuyasha came, she might remember how to subdue him.

Koshi reached through the darkness and touched her elbow, drawing her attention to him, or rather, to what little she could see of him in the dim light. His eyes were shining and moist. "Um, Lady Sango," he murmured, suddenly timid, likely because of Kagome's instinctual rejection of him and acceptance of Sango, "I'm going to rejoin the samurais for now…my absence has likely been noticed by now…you'll be all right with Saka—I mean, Lady Kagome?"

She nodded, "Yes, and Koshi," she tried to smile at him although she doubted that he could see it, "Get some sleep, would you?"

He moved through the room, his shape vaguely clear in the dark, but only because it was moving. When she was sure he was gone, Sango pushed Kagome's face from where it rested on her shoulder and felt the girl's face, running her thumbs over her lips gently, her index fingers over her closed eyes.

"Kagome?" she whispered, her voice shaking.

"Sango?" Kagome muttered, trying to pull away from her grip, from her probing touch, "What?" Sango felt the girl's eyebrows lower, clenching in her forehead; she was frowning.

"Are you all right? Are you in pain?" she asked, gently but with urgency.

"It…" she whimpered weakly, "My head hurts…"

Sango nodded even though she knew by touch that Kagome's eyes were still closed, "Do you remember everything…?" she asked, tightly.

"What?" it was murmured in pain, and Sango sighed realizing that this wouldn't get her very far. Kagome was confused and in pain, and the question she'd asked was far too vague for anyone to answer, let alone a weak, feverish and confused girl like the one she was holding upright.

"Do you remember me? Do you remember Miroku? Do you remember Shippo and Kilala? And…what about Inuyasha…do you remember how to sit him?"

Sango felt the girl turn her head, and she removed the probing fingers from her face, watching as Kagome opened her eyes, they shone with surprising brightness, despite her illness. The shine moved and Sango could tell her friend from the future was focusing on her now, concentrating.

"I remember…" she paused her breathing steady but slow and rough with her pain, "…the mountains. I remember a giant pig attacking us…" the girl cried out then, suddenly shivering in Sango's arms, weeping.

"What is it? What is it Kagome, are you all right? Do you want me to lie you down?" Sango stroked her hair, messy and tangled as it was, trying to comfort her friend, and after a moment it worked. Kagome stopped shivering and her breathing straightened out slightly, but it remained heavy and pained. Eventually she must've found the strength to answer Sango, but instead of answer the questions that had been thrown at her while she'd been so distressed she answered the question of much earlier.

"I remember falling…falling into the cold…" it was dark then too… her mind started trying to panic, looking for a way to escape, reeling. She gasped as if for air, "Is there light!" she pleaded, clutching Sango's arms desperately.

"I—" but Sango didn't wait long enough to finish her own sentence. Instead she laid Kagome down and moved, searching by touch around the room until she found what she was looking for: a candle. Grasping it firmly she walked out of the dark room where Kagome was resting, breathing harshly, into the outer room where Mijai was sleeping, snoring loudly, and out the door. The fire outside made an excellent, if not massive match by which she lit the candle…

As she stood up her gaze landed on the gates to the village, closed tightly. Miroku had flown over them using Kilala. His departure had created quite a ruckus. The dogs a few of the villagers kept had barked and yapped at the nekoyoukai as she'd passed overhead. Now she wished that the gates were transparent so that she might just catch a glimpse of what was happening—if anything—down at the river…

A flash of movement and light attracted her attention then and she looked toward the walls beside the gate, suddenly noticing that there was a form there, a shape. It was blacker than the rest of the wall, blacker than the spaces between the stars at night. The light didn't even shine off the eyes of this form…

For a moment her heart constricted and she stared, stunned, and realizing that she had changed back into her non-threatening green and purple robes and hiraikotsu was inside, leaning against the wall near Kagome's futon. She was weaponless…but what could this thing be? Or rather, who? She was certain it wasn't Inuyasha. The hanyou wasn't nearly as bulky, and she saw no flowing length of hair…

The realization hit her suddenly, and she cursed herself inwardly as the figure started to walk forward. Why did I stare so rudely for so long! Armor clanked metallically. The footsteps were loud, threatening, and incautious. In a moment the wide, looming figure had reached the circle of illuminating light from the fire, and she saw clearly that her gut had been right all along—it was one of the samurais.

She recognized that this one was called Namaru. She'd seen his huge frame and the squinty-eyed arrogant sneer that was permanently etched in his ugly face when she'd first come to visit Mijai and see Kagome. From the moment she'd first seen him lounging about like a slug, but a dangerous one at any rate, she'd known that she wouldn't forget that ugly face easily. And here she was wishing that she could forget, because he was just so unfortunate looking that she wanted to stare and stare…and now she was likely to pay for it.

"Hey bitch!" he growled, and she realized with something between horror and relief that he was drunk…if he was drunk his balance and aim would all be off, making him easier to escape or to fight. But being drunk also made him vicious and wildly unpredictable. She was caught, frozen, and unsure what to do…

"Ya whore, waddaya starin' at?" the armor clanked, he'd reached the fire and, swaying dangerously, put out his arms, warming his hands. "I could make ya warm as da fire if ya would jus' come an' keep me comp'ny by da wall…" he slurred and growled suggestively, and even from so far away Sango could smell his stench, stale beer and vomit. She scowled and turned without a word to walk back into Mijai's healing hut, hoping that in his drunken stupor the samurai wouldn't really care one way or another…but he did.

"Ya whore! Where ya goin' off ta? I din't say ya could go!" she felt and heard his clumsy, thudding footsteps coming behind her with surprising speed. The candle she was still holding in her hand shook, the flame flickering with the movement. Should I just keep going, or should I kick his balls now?

But her thoughts came too late—a hand landed on her shoulder just as she reached Mijai's doorway, jerked her backward. Her balance tottered dangerously. Sango squeaked with fear, only to have a big, stinky, meaty hand clamp itself over her lips. The candle in her hands was forgotten, dropped to the ground in a flicker of light and flame.

Sick, hot, and rotten breath reached her ear, and Sango's stomach clenched with desperate nausea at it, "I'm gonna make ya scream bitch!" he cackled.

Sango let her training take over. One fist shot backward to the source of the breath on her ear and connected straight with his nose, slimy against her smooth skin. Despite her inward cringing at that, and the spurt of hot blood she felt land on her from his nose, Sango whirled as the drunk let go of her to clutch his nose. Her leg came up and hit him squarely in the side of his big; ugly block head.

Namaru stumbled backward, cursing under his breath in barely comprehensible speech. When he looked up from the dribbling blood of his nose to see Sango, crouched and ready anew for the fight to continue, rage awoke in his eyes. A mere woman attack and win a fist fight with a samurai! It was unheard of…had he seen her in the light, and without the alcohol in his blood, obscuring the truth, he might've recognized her as the black body-suited, pink-armored demon slayer. Then he'd have remembered that demon slayers were always especially dangerous foe—some whispered that they were slightly more than human themselves. What else could specialize in killing demons after all? But Namaru didn't see that, he saw a woman, and women weren't supposed to act as this one did…

He lunged for her, growling like an animal, and Sango tensed, ready to dodge the rushing attack and drop to trip him instead…but a blur of motion caught the samurai before he reached her, startling Sango into falling against Mijai's hut. Blinking she looked toward the wall where she'd first noticed Namaru and saw a second black shape, heard gasping noises, grunts and growls of struggle…then the larger, bulkier form fell to the ground in a slump. Namaru had been eliminated, whether dead or unconscious Sango couldn't know…but one thing she did know was that the new attacker was this village's dreaded enemy known as the Red Demon.

Sure enough, just as she'd thought, the slimmer, lithe, long-haired form that'd brought down Namaru turned back toward her and she saw the flashing of feral, utterly wild gold-colored eyes. It was Inuyasha. Her breath caught in her throat and she looked around, trying to make sure that they were alone…no sounds stirred, only the wind and the fire, crackling steadily.

And then: "I didn't kill him, Sango."

She frowned, "If you had I don't honestly think anyone would've minded."

"That's what I keep trying to tell you about the other ones…" came the answering growl. The hanyou's shadowy form ducked to all fours. She could almost make out the swiveling of his ears…almost.

"Some of those were good men, Koshi—" she stopped herself, uncertain of whether it was wise to tell the hanyou about the boy yet, "I was told that some of those that you did kill were good, kind-hearted men…they are missed."

She thought that maybe his ears turned backward. "Feh." After a pause, through which she wished she could see his expression, Inuyasha looked back at her, she caught the sharp movement of his head, and announced, "I'm going to check in on Kagome…"

She suspected that he was looking for her to challenge him, but what could she do? If they fought with one another it'd attract attention, it'd wake up the villagers…but what if Mijai walked into the room while Inuyasha was there? Had the noise woken him up?

She turned and looked into the hut to see the plump, round, happy little healer still snoring peacefully. Relieved she turned back to face Inuyasha only to gasp as she realized that Inuyasha was now right beside her, his face, ears, and clothing all illuminated and revealed by the light of the fire.

"I'm going in there, Sango." He muttered, tense.

"I know I can't stop you…" he nodded at her, his lips tightened, and started to step past her, only to pause as Sango's hand caught his forearm, redirecting his attention to her face.

"What?"

"She's sick, Inuyasha…she's weak. Don't stress her…and she might not remember you still…"

"I know that, stupid!" Inuyasha jerked his arm from her grasp, scowling.

"And—Inuyasha—don't you dare get caught with her…"

He blinked, ears swiveling, "What are you talking about?" he growled.

"I mean that if the healer wakes up, if you hear someone coming—you have to leave immediately…do you understand?"

"I'll do whatever the hell I want!" he snarled, trying to push past her, but she caught him again.

"Just say that you will Inuyasha. She's still sick, she needs rest and treatment…"

"I'll treat her, Kaede will treat her, hell, I'd even rather have her go through the well if it'd get her away from these stupid people!" his voice was rising and Sango shushed him worriedly, glancing around fearfully. Inuyasha wasn't so cautious, his senses were far more acute, and he was sure that no one was coming, "Stop it Sango, there's no one coming, and that old guy inside that's snoring isn't about to wake up—he stinks like drool."

Sango sighed and let go of his arm, nodding that he should go in. Inuyasha ducked through the opening, walking with no particular stealth across Mijai's outer room, but the moment he reached Kagome's doorway his feet slowed, and then stopped. He could hear her breathing, smell her scent, and with his eyes he easily saw her form, crumpled and thin through the furs.

His ears turned backward. Gods, I hate when she's sick…I hate that scent marring her…I wish I could make her stronger… the inuyoukai's instinct to protect battled with his higher senses, demanding action on his part. Would she accept him if he joined her in the futon, shared her body heat? Was she cold? Taking a breath he could smell the stress hormones in her scent that signified pain, and he almost growled, as if he could frighten her physical ailments away.

Fists clenched with sudden determination, he strode over to her futon, knelt as close as he could, and whispered, gently, "Kagome..?"

She moaned and he saw her move, trying to roll towards him. Instinctively he reached for her cheek, feeling her skin timidly. Clammy and chilled…had Sango said she'd had a fever? He could smell the elements of a fever but her skin was cold, not hot…it must've broken and now she was cold, her body exhausted from having worked to keep her temperature elevated.

The girl, in the midst of her furs, took in this new male's scent without thinking, and recognized it. A new and sudden comfort reached her through the fog of her mind…she wanted this new, familiar, friendly, and powerful presence closer to her. She moaned again and reached one hand for his shadowy form above her. Her hand closed around surprisingly soft hair that she sensed somehow was an inhuman color of silver.

Inuyasha took her signals and immediately moved to help, moving cautiously into the depths of the futon, shifting the weak girl and the furs until she was lying with her back against him, shivering. He tried to ignore the hidden, but still powerful scent that she wore, which drove him crazy, that he'd missed so much… his heart fought him for a moment, clenching in pain. How many times had he failed her? How many times had he nearly lost her? Instinctually he nuzzled into her neck, taking in the scent where it seemed the strongest, ignoring the scent of the river that lingered in her hair. Her ear was close to him here too…he debated letting her simply sleep against him, or speaking out a few of his thoughts…

Worriedly he lifted his head slightly, ears swinging this way and that, seeking Sango's presence. He scented her lingering presence in the room, but she hadn't followed him in, apparently she was standing watch and trusting Inuyasha to escape by his own means if someone else came…

He faintly noted several other scents hanging about the room: the healer's, Miroku's, Shippo's, Kilala's, some young girl…and…he frowned. A boy, or rather, a young man. He could easily pick out the testosterone levels that lingered in it, revealing that the youth was mature enough to likely father pups but immature enough that no bitch would take him as a mate…alarm touched him when he noticed that this boy's scent lingered over Kagome's face…the boy had touched her…

But no matter, as much as the thought made him bristle, Inuyasha pushed it away, focusing on Kagome instead. He knew she was dozing and still very weak, but in spite of that he knew she was recovering fast. The fever was gone, though it had left her exhausted, and he could scent that she was hungry and thirsty…could he escape with her tonight? Round the others up and steal away into the dark of the night, Kagome clinging to his back?

He frowned, realizing that she was likely still too fragile.

Protectively, possessively, he snuggled closer; nuzzling her neck once more to be rewarded with her scent…he was something like an addict for it now that he'd nearly lost her.

"Kagome?" he whispered, right behind her ear. The girl shifted slightly in his arms, acknowledging his words, telling him that she really was still awake, even though her breathing and heartbeat revealed that to him easily enough, "Do you…" he paused, fear suddenly, against his better judgment, blossoming inside his gut, "Do you remember me?"

She made a small noise, it could've been anything, "Yes," "No," or even as stupid as, "Maybe." Frustrated, but knowing that she was likely too weak to comprehend, he leaned close again, "What did you say?" he chuckled nervously, "Are you a fish or are you Kagome…?"

"Kagome…" that time he heard her answer clearly, and after a moment, much to his surprise, the girl fumbled through the furs, reached one of his hands where they rested on her shoulders, and squeezed weakly.

Surrendering to her touch, her scent, and her fatigue, Inuyasha closed his eyes and sighed. "Is it all right with you, wench, if I just stay and keep you warm a while?" he smiled against the smooth flesh on the back of her neck.

"Not a wench…" she muttered, "But stay…"

He nodded, making sure she could feel his slow, gentle movements. "Then I will…" but just as he'd closed his, relishing the quiet peace he and Kagome were getting to share, he heard Sango fairly shout, "Koshi! Well, good to see you coming to check in on Kagome!"

It wasn't hard for him to realize that she was signaling him to leave…he'd be lucky if she didn't wake the healer too with her loud, obnoxious, woman warrior's voice. He sighed, breathing against Kagome's neck, smiling warmly when he noticed that she shivered slightly, and not, he scented, because she was cold anymore.

"I gotta go Kagome…"

She moaned and he felt her grip on his hand tighten, but he pulled his own away, sighing regretfully. "I'll come back for you tomorrow night…" he whispered in her ear, hesitating as another thought occurred to him: would she remember any of this? Would she be different tomorrow night? He didn't have time to contemplate any longer, he heard Sango and the other person, named Koshi, jabbering loudly, the snores from the healer had quieted, Inuyasha suspected that he was waking…and Sango sounded as if she were fast running out of excuses and stall tactics.

Inuyasha rose hurriedly, but gently, from the furs and the futon. Kagome moaned when he left, and he saw the shine of her eyes on him, following his movements as he worked to tuck the furs close to her before he left…one ear swiveled toward the doorway, hearing footsteps, scenting the air…it's him…

Suddenly growling Inuyasha whirled away from Kagome and moved to the foot of her futon to stand at one side of the doorway, his body taut, his muscles contracted like springs, ready to pounce and snap the boy's scrawny little neck…there was no way that such a little pup could lay hands on his Kagome!

"Koshi, please come and look at Namaru with me, I saw him pass out earlier when I came out for air, and I didn't have the courage to look for myself but—" Sango's voice droned on tightly, desperately.

Koshi's answered, and Inuyasha had to restrain his growl at how young it sounded, a light, melodious thing. It wasn't a strong, deep; proud voice like a man should have…it wasn't worthy of challenging Inuyasha's hold on Kagome, his object of desire…

"Lady Sango! You left Kagome alone?"

Mijai had awoken and stuttered in a sleepy snarl, "What's going on here! Koshi, demon slayer…?"

"Nothing Mijai-sama." Sango answered, passively.

"I hardly think leaving your charge alone is nothing!" Koshi shouted, he was so close to the door that Inuyasha could almost feel his body heat through the thin walls, "I mean, while you were away the Red Demon could've snuck in and—" at that moment he crossed the threshold into the soothing darkness of Kagome's sleeping room and the thing of his nightmares pounced, pinning him against the wall.

Koshi screamed.

Mijai stared.

Sango covered her face in her hands and tried to fight back the urge that nearly overwhelmed her to go and throw up. This is awful!

"Listen to me you little pup," Inuyasha snarled, ears turned backward, fangs bared in sparkling white brilliance, eyes alight with an inner fire of rage and an inuyoukai's obsessive, blind protective instinct, "You stay the hell away from my Kagome…do you understand me, pup?"

Pinned above him Koshi could only gawk in terror, praying for rescue or release by death, whichever came first…and then Inuyasha dropped him and charged toward the door, bowling the round Mijai and Sango over as he went. And then he was gone, as if he was nothing more than a dream…

But the marks on Koshi's neck were far from dreams…and as he tried to stand with Sango and Mijai's help, he forced his young body to cease its nervous shivering. I'll kill that demon before the end, I swear it, a creature as terrible as that deserves to burn in the depths of hell for all eternity… the sneer that he turned toward Mijai's doorway was like nothing that had ever bloomed over the boy's face before, and both the healer and the demon slayer were stunned to see it.

"Are you all right, Koshi?" Mijai asked, still panting over the experience.

"Yes," he frowned, his eyes were still dark and hard, gleaming with hatred, "But I don't matter. The only thing that does is killing that damn monster…"

Sango felt as if she'd be sick all over again. Inuyasha you idiot!

Endnote: I'm only going to answer questions this time, SO many reviewed (or maybe I'm confusing them, GAH! I don't know) that in order to get this posted, b/c I AM late, I'm doing a short cut, that and I've got my dear buddy MYMiroku IMing me at the same time...so here goes: MadMood which names? The ones in this story? Let's see, Mijai I made up as well as Shisuki, but Namaru is a combination of words (Na from Naraku and Maru from Sesshomaru), and Koshi is a REAL name, means something like "Knows his own mind." Sakana I chose from a lineup of water related Japanese words...hmm...a lot of others I made up (and someone who knows far more about Japanese than I do told me they could tell(sheepish look)... Pyrinsomniac wow! On Shisuki and Koshi:You're one of fewwho caught that...and thank you for commenting about my description (beams proudly)...I had thought to do that with those two...but I think I edited out the more obvious thoughts before posting it. So it's still in debate...Lena17I'm SO sorry! Sorry! My email is cluttered and I'm stupid, do you forgive me? (sniffles)

Gotta go, MY Miroku just found someone on Google with his same name that looks a little like him...I have to go take up a position saying he IS related to her b/c he's saying he isn't and if he ever gets near her chances are they'll slink off to a corner and do something bad...and by the look of this girl she's even worse than HE is! gotta go! See ya!