Blood and Magic

"Inu-Yasha," Kagome questioned. "You haven't said a word since Sesshoumaru left with Naiya. Are you okay?"

"Of course." Inu-Yasha denied while thinking of the girl.

Inu-Yasha entered the river. The flow of water turned deep red with his blood.

Kagome placed her hand over her mouth. He's never bled like this before. Kagome thought staring at the crimson river.

Inu-Yasha stepped out of the river sitting upon the rocks that lined the banks.

He must be feeling the loss over his niece. I feel so sorry for him. "Sesshoumaru will take good care of her." Kagome tried to reassure Inu-Yasha. "He proved just how much he cares today, when he fought us both to take her back. After all, she was covered in blood… from yesterday."

Inu-Yasha snorted at her comment. He really didn't feel like having this conversation now.

"I'm curious…the other day, Naiya's and Houseki's fight in the woods, why didn't you yell at Naiya for starting it."

"It doesn't matter how it started just that it ended …and I did threaten them. As for why I didn't yell at her for starting it, I've told you once before…as a hanyou…'Nobody trusts you, you're the first to be blamed, and it is always, always your fault.'"

…He's so close to her because she's a hanyou too, I get it. Kagome sat down next to him leaning her head against his shoulder. "It's not your fault. It's mine." Kagome told him.

Kagome's comment startled Inu-Yasha.

"We went back to my time because of me. We found the book, which I checked out and took through the well. It's my fault. I'm sorry."

She's taking the blame? "It's not your fault, Kagome. You could never have predicted this."

They sat silently in the newly darkened air. Night had come.

Inu-Yasha spoke first. "Let's try the well again, this time with the book."

Kagome hesitantly responded to Inu-Yasha's comment. "Inu-Yasha, maybe, I should see to your wounds first."

Inu-Yasha accepted her offer trying futilely to remove his robe. The pain from his wounds overwhelmed his face.

Kagome had been so tentative with his reactions that without speaking a word she helped him to remove his clothing.

Kagome could barely see Inu-Yasha's chiseled pecks through the thick and sticky blood that covered his chest.

Inu-Yasha closed his eyes trying to suppress the pain as Kagome examined his wounds.

She tried to remember the last time she'd seen Inu-Yasha this hurt.

Inu-Yasha hasn't been this hurt since Sesshoumaru first took Tetsusaiga from him and she attempted to hit the jewel shard in Sesshoumaru's fake arm that allowed him to hold the sword. She missed the shard and broke Sesshoumaru's armor. Needless to say, Sesshoumaru retaliated. She had been hurt and Sesshoumaru would have destroyed her, Miroku, Shippo, and Inu-Yasha except Inu-Yasha stood in the way of Sesshoumaru's swing, trying to retrieve his lost sword. Stopping Sesshoumaru's swing of the sword, Inu-Yasha had saved them all consequently almost killing himself. Inu-Yasha's macho attitude toward the situation left Inu-Yasha wide open for Sesshoumaru to attack. Sesshoumaru hadn't pushed the issue when Inu-Yasha took his sword back. After all, Inu-Yasha was hurt so badly by Sesshoumaru, he could hardly stand. At the time, Kagome had other worries besides Inu-Yasha. That was also the first time Miroku had encountered Naraku's poisonous bees. She would never forget that day because later Inu-Yasha told her she was becoming stronger, he told her that he cared for her, he took the jewel shards from her, and he shunned her to her world. That day was also the first time the well had refused her travel.

Inu-Yasha was hurt worse now than he had been then. Now Inu-Yasha had lost his urge to fight, he could hardly stand, and wasn't arguing with her. He must be in such pain. What had the others done to help him after that battle? What could she do? She needed to stop his bleeding and gather herbs to help him heal. With Inu-Yasha's stubborn warrior nature, she couldn't leave him alone. What was she to do?

"UH" Inu-Yasha grunted as he stood up.

"Inu-Yasha, please take it easy. You're hurt badly. Let me get some herbs…"

"Kagome…Haven't you noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"You're hurt as well."

Kagome looked at herself. She was soaked in just as much blood as he was. Her stomach hurt, she was limping with every step she took, she was a tad bit dizzy, and blood covered her outfit, but her injuries were minor compared to his.

"This is your blood." She lied.

Inu-Yasha was troubled at her comment. She couldn't possibly believe that he would not accept that comment when he could smell her blood so clearly. "Don't lie to me Kagome. I know your hurt. I can smell your blood."

"Please. Take it easy, Inu-Yasha. I'm okay, really."

Inu-Yasha sighed at her stubbornness. She was as stubborn as he was, but she was much more caring. How is it that could she be so open to others and so strong about it when she was so hurt? How could she put aside herself like this?

"I'll be right back." She reassured him walking up the bank of the river.

Inu-Yasha tried to relax as she had asked him to because she was ignoring her own injuries to care for his; even though, he was a faster healer due to his demon bloodline.

Kagome traveled a good distance up the river. Her injuries were more severe than she first believed them to be. Her vision began to blur. She shook her head trying to shake off the dizziness of her head. Then she spotted the herbs she was searching for.

"HA." Kagome cried with joy gathering the herbs as fast as she could.

Kagome stood to leave staring at the herbs now in her possession.

Turning around to start back to Inu-Yasha, Kagome bumped into something. She fell over backwards.

She shook her head then looked up to see Inu-Yasha standing over her.

"I thought you were going to relax and let me gather herbs." Kagome yelled at him.

Standing casually with his arms crossed, Inu-Yasha spoke, "I heard you scream."

"Oh…" Kagome said scratching her head. She remembered her yelp of joy when she found the herbs. "I was excited." She explained to him "I found the herbs that Kiada showed me." She said holding them out in front of her.

Inu-Yasha simply waited for her to get up and continue back.

He wasn't pushy or in a hurry; he was worried. She could see it in his face. He was worried about her since he was also hurt and at the moment couldn't protect her very well. Kagome stood next to Inu-Yasha smiling at him.

Then Inu-Yasha led Kagome back to the place they had started at down river.

Inu-Yasha gathered wood for a fire while Kagome ground the herbs into a medicine for Inu-Yasha's wounds.

Inu-Yasha built the fire with time to spare for another bath. He was covered in blood again. The smell of his own blood was hindering his sense of smell.

Kagome made the medicine then called Inu-Yasha out of stream to receive his treatment. "Inu-Yasha, the medicine is ready."

Inu-Yasha came to her calling. He figured she would allow him to treat her injuries if he allowed her to treat his.

Inu-Yasha sat back down on the rock he started on.

She sat behind him moving his hair from his back.

His mane was caught in the blood already clotting on his back.

Removing his hair from the blood caused Inu-Yasha to yell out in pain.

"Kagome!" He warned her standing up and showing her his fists.

"Sorry." She confessed waiting for Inu-Yasha to calm down enough to sit back down.

Once he did, she applied her homemade medicine to his back.

His skin flinched as she ran her hands over his wounds.

"Does it hurt?" She asked curiously rubbing her hands over the strong muscular curves in his back.

"Course it does, Kagome."

"I'm really sorry."

"For what?"

Kagome would have answered him but her actions spoke louder than words. At the moment he asked her the question, she ran more medicine over his wounds.

He flinched away from her with sheer pain.

"Sorry." She replied almost in tears.

"Kagome, what are you so upset for?"

Kagome didn't answer him; instead, she simply massaged the medicine into his back.

"Kagome?" Inu-Yasha questioned turning around.

"You're so hurt." She replied trailing off starting on applying the medicine to his chest. She could feel his defined chest muscles underneath the thick layers of blood that the baths couldn't remove. Kagome couldn't understand how he was still conscious with the amount of blood he lost. She hadn't lost nearly as much and was having troubles keeping her head long enough to care for Inu-Yasha.

Kagome ripped Inu-Yasha's shirt into strips of cloth that would serve as temporary bandages for Inu-Yasha's wounds.

She returned to the stream to wash the blood away from her hands before she started bandaging his wounds.

It didn't take long for Kagome to bandage Inu-Yasha. His entire chest and back were majorly and uniformly damaged so there were no special wounds to bandage. His arms and legs were nicked but nothing serious; they didn't need her assistance.

Kagome smiled at him when she completed her simple task.

"Your turn." Inu-Yasha said. "Take off those clothes."

"What?" Kagome yelled back.

"Those clothes are soaked in blood. Take them off. I can't treat your wounds if I can't see them."

Kagome reluctantly took off her shirt leaving her bra on.

"Kagome… now is not the time to be stubborn." Inu-Yasha inquired.

"IF YOU THINK I'M TAKING ANYTHING MORE OFF, THEN YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMING."

If she's got that much fire then she's fire for now. "Fine." Inu-Yasha gave in. "Sit down."

Inu-Yasha reached for the medicine that Kagome had made. That's when he noticed that it too was covered in blood. He sniffed the medicine. It was Kagome's blood. She had lost a lot. Most of her wounds were superficial in comparison to his, but there was no mistaking the fact that she was hurt very badly for a human. "Clean yourself up in the river." Inu-Yasha told her as he took off up the river for more of the herbs that Kagome had made the medicine out of.

He returned shortly with more of the same medicine. "Come here Kagome." He requested.

Kagome staggered out of the stream over to him.

She can hardly stand. Shit! Has she really lost that much blood? "Lie down Kagome." Inu-Yasha told her, holding the medicine. I should have insisted on caring for her first. Why didn't I see this before now?

She lay down on the rocks staring up to the sky. Her mind was on how much her head hurt. Inu-Yasha slowly rubbed the medicine into her stomach then ordered her to turn over and give him access to her back. She rolled over without question.

"I've never seen you this quiet before." Inu-Yasha antagonized Kagome.

She didn't speak.

Shit, he thought while starting to rub the medicine onto her back. She's not talking. That means it's going to be a very long night.

Kagome rolled back over onto her back when Inu-Yasha finished applying the medicine and bandages from her blood soaked shirt. This was where she fell asleep.

Later Inu-Yasha checked on Kagome and her injuries. Tomorrow will be a long day as well. She's colder than usual, probably due to the severity of her injuries. He then covered her with his blood-soaked robe to keep her warm. Against the rocks next to where Kagome slept was where Inu-Yasha fell asleep.

Morning came as it always did.

Inu-Yasha wanted to jump in the river to wash the blood from himself, but he was healing and washing away the blood would wash away the medicine that Kagome had applied.

Kagome slept but she groaned in pain as she tossed and turned in her sleep.

Something fuzzy poked out from under his robe. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" He said rhetorically grabbing a hold of the critter.

It was Koinu so Inu-Yasha warned him in a growl. "Kagome's hurt. Stay away from her."

Kagome groaned again as she turned over onto her side.

Koinu used this distraction to break free of Inu-Yasha's grasp. Koinu returned to Kagome's side.

She embraced him immediately upon his return.

Inu-Yasha couldn't do anything about Koinu now because Kagome guarded him like she use to do with Shippo. Inu-Yasha decided that getting Koinu away from Kagome wasn't worth waking her so he sat atop the rocks meditating. He would be ready if an attack came.

Kagome awoke a few hours later.

Inu-Yasha's ears twitched in response to her movements.

"Inu-Yasha." Kagome called to him. "Wake up. It's morning."

Inu-Yasha opened his eyes to see Kagome playing in the stream with Koinu.

Inu-Yasha jumped down onto the bank next to her. "You feeling all right?" He asked.

"Course I am" Kagome answered him. "Kiada's medicine really works."

Inu-Yasha entered the river. Pain struck him. His wounds weren't completely healed yet and he knew pushing his body would reopen the wounds. How is it that Kagome is healed? She didn't have the Shikon Jewel any longer to draw energy off of; Koinu had it…well that explained a lot.

Inu-Yasha bathed in the river then asked Kagome to make more of that medicine.

When Kagome was applying the medicine she asked for Koinu's help…like he could help Inu-Yasha's wounds. "Koinu, Inu-Yasha was hurt a lot worse than I was. Can you help him?"

Koinu barked happily circling Inu-Yasha.

Inu-Yasha closed his eyes. He could feel his wounds healing. It was a strange sensation.

Koinu fell into Kagome's arms a minute later.

Inu-Yasha felt his injuries. They were completely healed.

"Thank you Koinu." Kagome whispered hugging the little creature.

Inu-Yasha was speechless. How the hell did that little creature do that?

Kagome sat next to the rocks where all their stuff had been stashed for the night.

Koinu lay curled in her arms, asleep.

"Inu-Yasha," Kagome spoke again. "I've been thinking. When we get back… nothing will be the same, will it?"

"Guess not." Inu-Yasha told her standing up putting his jacket back on.

"I'm going to get us food." Inu-Yasha said grabbing Tetsusaiga.

"Wait up" Kagome called to him as she ran to catch up. She still wore bra since her shirt had been used for her bandages.

Inu-Yasha removed his robe placing it around her shoulders. He knew Kagome too well. She would be embarrassed to walk into a town wearing this little clothing especially with all of it covered in blood. His robe may have been bloody, but it was more than what she was wearing.

She climbed on his back.

"Look who has neighbors" Inu-Yasha stated traveling back towards Kouga's wolf den. Out amongst the tree line, Inu-Yasha noticed a small village.

"Where are we?" Kagome asked.

"I don't know." Inu-Yasha admitted. "Let's just worry about getting a meal then traveling back to our time. OKAY?"

"Okay" Kagome answered him.

"Hello" A voice came from behind them.

Inu-Yasha spun around to see a woman in an orange and yellow plaid dress with straight black hair. He knew he had seen her before but couldn't place where.

"Hello" Kagome answered her dismounting from Inu-Yasha's back to formally meet this woman.

The woman looked Kagome over very critically before speaking.

"Come. Enjoy a meal, a bath, clean clothes then be on your way."

"Thank you." Kagome responded to her.

In the village, they took a bath, changed clothes then sat down together in the woman's hut to eat breakfast.

"Mom" a little voice called.

"Yes dear" The woman answered.

"Tell Jueru to leave me alone."

"Jueru, please leave her alone." The woman said from without turning her view from them.

"You're not the only ones who've been to battle lately." The woman said.

"MOM"

"Darling, we have guests."

"Really who?" The little voice called entering the room.

The child slid across the floor to a sudden halt. Kagome about died. The little voice belonged to Naiya.

All cleaned up with only a few bandages, Naiya was back to her pristine angelic white coloration with lavender ribbons tied around her ears and pretty little dress. In her arms lay the little dragon creature with teal wings that they had only seen once before.

"Rin" a familiar voice called. A soft growl began to emanate from Inu-Yasha's chest. Kagome knew what set Inu-Yasha off. That voice belonged to Sesshoumaru.

The woman left the hut.

Inu-Yasha jumped up and followed her out.

Kagome was hot on his heels.

They were in Sesshoumaru's little village.

Inu-Yasha didn't think they traveled this close to Sesshoumaru's territory.

With both of them there, Sesshoumaru would surely kill them both and Koinu too for trespassing.

Sesshoumaru was startled by Inu-Yasha's emergence from the hut.

The two stood in a stand off position.

Inu-Yasha growled at Sesshoumaru.

"Stop it." The woman yelled at them both.

Stepping in front of Sesshoumaru the woman spoke to him. "This demon, this hanyou, and this human are my guests. They will be gone in a little while."

Naiya poked her head out from the hut.

Sesshoumaru turned around to leave.

"Very well." He replied.

Inu-Yasha was amazed that Sesshoumaru had backed down.

Naiya ran up to Kagome throwing her arms around her. "I missed you," She said.

Kagome hugged the girl back.

The girl quickly let go, grabbing a hold of Inu-Yasha.

Inu-Yasha jumped in shock, but soon realized that Naiya wasn't letting go of him this time.

"Come," the woman told them passing them and reentering the hut.

Kagome looked at Inu-Yasha before following the woman inside.

"Lord Sesshoumaru doesn't like visitors. Since you, young mutt, are family to him, I don't think he'll mind."

Both Kagome and Inu-Yasha froze in their tracks. How did she know they two were family? Did Sesshoumaru tell her or did she guess? How did she know? A better question is: How much more does she know?

"How…?" Kagome tried to ask.

"You may not realize this, but I was there for most of the battles with Naraku. I got a chance to meet that Kohaku that your friend named her hanyou daughter after. No matter what Sesshoumaru thinks, that boy did protect me. I was a little girl then and my village was completely destroyed by that wolf pack you're so friendly with."

Kagome inhaled a short breath then covered her mouth with her eyes as wide as they'd ever been. She uttered, "Kouga."

"Lord Sesshoumaru saved me as I saved him. We have been traveling together for a while now. I settled in this village right before it was destroyed. Lord Sesshoumaru and I transformed this town into what you see today, a town of warriors. And yes, to answer your next question, Naiya is my daughter. She is more hard-headed than even you Inu-Yasha."

Kagome was both delighted and appalled by the woman's assumptions. How does she know so much about us? Sesshoumaru surely wouldn't have told her anything.

"Here. Eat. You must be starved."

Naiya sat on the floor dragging Inu-Yasha down with her.

Kagome sat on the floor not to far from Inu-Yasha and Naiya.

"Naiya is very stubborn. I've never seen her to take to anyone like she has taken to you."

Kagome decided to intervene in this one-sided conversation that this woman was having with herself. "Have you considered…I mean since Sesshoumaru brought our other selves back to life…have you considered allowing her to spend time with us…I mean our other selves? Inu-Yasha and Sango could train her to be a demon warrior while Miroku and I help her learn to control her magic."

"She can train here."

"Yes but here, this training…it isn't worth it. She's a child. Let her be one while she's learning to fight."

"That's enough." A strong voice echoed through the hut.

Sesshoumaru moved the beads out of the way from the entrance.

"You think you can train her?" Sesshoumaru stared at Kagome for an answer.

"Yes." She answered confidently staring right back at him.

"Then she is yours." He concluded.

Rin's mouth dropped in disbelief. "Lord Sesshoumaru…" She uttered.

He left the hut without acknowledging her objection.

She dropped her head in disappointment.

"We'll take good care of her." Kagome reassured the woman.

This child meant a lot to the woman and for this child to be given to Kagome and Inu-Yasha must be hard to bare.

Later on Naiya was playing with Kagome and Inu-Yasha using a little magic, which gave Rin the perfect opportunity to challenge Sesshoumaru's decision.

"Lord Sesshoumaru." She stated strongly.

"Yes Rin." Sesshoumaru answered turning to face her.

"This is wrong. I can train her."

"Give them a chance." Sesshoumaru responded.

"Lord Sesshoumaru." Rin objected.

"I have made my decision." He ended the conversation.

"But Lord Sesshoumaru…"

"Rin, are you challenging my decision?" Peering at her coldly over his shoulder.

"No" Rin complied in defeat.

"Rin, remember I told you that to Naiya, this place is a prison?"

"Yes" She admitted.

"Then let her go. She will be well cared for by Inu-Yasha."

Rin's mouth dropped in all the time she knew him he had never trusted that mutt for a brother for his weakness towards humans. She couldn't believe he was going to give them that kind of a chance.

"We're ready to depart." Kagome said walking up behind the woman.

The woman stared coldly at Sesshoumaru before responding to Kagome's comment. "Take care." She pleasantly replied.

Inu-Yasha stood behind Kagome with Naiya at his side. He knew there was mutiny brewing underneath all these pleasantries. Sesshoumaru hadn't asked Rin for her opinion before making his decision.

"Come." Inu-Yasha commanded the young pup as he turned and walked away.

Kagome bowed with a smile before chasing Inu-Yasha down.

"Where are we going?" Kagome asked him.

Inu-Yasha froze; he hadn't thought about where they'd go, but something foul filled the air. Is it possible to destroy his body and leave a mist with its same evil? Inu-Yasha growled loudly at the thought.

Sesshoumaru stood a good distance behind them staring in the same direction as Inu-Yasha.

"What is it, Inu-Yasha?" Kagome asked looking back and forth between the two brothers.

Inu-Yasha growled, "NARAKU!"