Disclaimer: R-U-M-I-K-O! T-A-K-A-H-A-S-H-I! Now! What does that spell? RUMIKO TAKAHASHI!!!!!! And she owns the show Inuyasha…Not me…Arigatou.

Love Me as I Am

Chapter 51- Love Overcomes All

The night dragged on as Yasuo's fever climbed to dangerous heights. It was morning now and Kagome and Inuyasha were home doing everything they could. Suki replaced the cool washcloth on his forehead with another one and wrung it out.

"Suki?" said Kagome as she rebandaged his wounds for the third time.

She looked up.

"Yes?"

"I know you don't remember much…but do you know how he got these gashes?" asked Kagome, removing the last of the soiled bandages.

Suki cringed. They had turned an awful shade of purple and looked even worse than before.

"A dragon…that's what I remember."

Hearing that, Inuyasha lifted his head and waited for her to continue, but when she didn't he butted it.

"A dragon. What exactly did it look like."

Suki closed her eyes.

"I should know…I slayed it."

"You slayed it?"

"Hai, but I have the strongest feeling that Yasuo did too. After all, his daggers were on the ground when I found them. But…I don't know how he would have failed. He's really very strong and the dragon was not all that powerful.

"Was there anyone else but the dragon there?"

Suki shook her head and Kagome sent Inuyasha a concerned look.

'She was controlled.'

Inuyasha nodded back at her, seemingly understanding the look. How often did they have to break news to Suki? Did EVERYTHING wrong have to happen to her? Was she destined to live in a world of misery FOREVER?

"And you don't remember seeing him get hurt."

"No."

Inuyasha sighed and decided to be blunt and upfront.

"She controlled you."

"What?"

Kagome scooted over next to Suki.

"Do you remember hearing a woman's voice inside your head, egging you on to do something? Did you fight it?"

Suki gasped.

"Y-you don't think."

Kagome nodded and Suki covered her hand with her mouth, gazing at Yasuo with her tragic eyes. The eyes that matched Inuyasha's.

At that moment, Inuyasha and Kagome knew they were in for another long night, and even more tears.

~*~*~

Yasuo's fever had continued to climb and was now at an even more dangerous level. He was sweating so uncontrollably it seemed no matter how many times they dabbed at his forehead the beads of sweat just came back.

'He's going to end up getting dehydrated.' Suki thought.

She and Yasuo were alone now. Inuyasha and Kagome had gone to bed in the other room on the other side of the house earlier that night. Suki sighed and fixed some water for Yasuo.

'I hope he drinks it. I don't know how much longer he'll be able to go on without it.'

Gently she lifted Yasuo off the ground and into her arms, tilting hie head up and pouring some water into his mouth. She waited to hear coughing or something but none came as the much needed water flowed down his throat. Suki put the cup down and gathered him more into her arms, running her fingers gently through his hair.

"We'll make it…won't we?" She asked the air, knowing her question would go unheard.

"God will take care of us…and I just KNOW everything will be okay…right?"

~*~*~

During the night Yasuo's fever broke and his temperature had started to lower, though not without plenty of gentle coaxing on Suki's part. She had started to give him water regularly to keep him hydrated and it was working quite well. The color had returned to his cheeks and he no longer looked like an undead invalid. The only thing left for Suki to worry about was the gashes. They remained purple no matter how many times she cleaned them. Inuyasha had warned her that it was poison and that only one person he knew could suck it out. He had told her it wasn't fatal and that it would disappear eventually even if it WASN'T sucked out. But that if it was it would heal faster.

"Where's that damn blasted flea?" Inuyasha had muttered earlier, wishing he had remembered to tie him up again before he had the chance to get away.

'He's been gone for 5 years. Now that I find myself wishing he were here…I realize I kind of took him for granted.'

"Stupid old flea. You probably went and got yourself killed. Well thanks." She said, lifting Yasuo from the futon again to give him some more water.

'And I wish now…that Kaede were still alive. She liked to pick on me and play with me when I was young. I just wish…she had taken the time to teach me about all the medicinal herbs.'

"Then maybe I wouldn't have had to go running to mom."

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got at herself. Pointing out all her weaknesses and flaws, as if Yasuo could hear her. She realized it was stupid but it was the only thing she could do to stop herself from crying; talk to Yasuo. She would hold his hand and tell him about all the things they were going to do when he got better. She fantasized about their wedding, imagining enormous bouquets hanging from the shrine ceiling and all the women in magnificent dresses. She told him about how she had always wanted to be a priestess and how that had all been taken away from her with the birth of her son. She told him everything, as well as saying over and over how much she loved him.

Inuyasha and Kagome listened from the other room sometimes, hearing her repeat herself.

"Where did we go wrong Kagome?" Inuyasha asked as Kagome snuggled closer to his bare chest.

"We didn't do anything wrong. Life is life and if Yasuo is going to survive he'll need to do it on his own, even if he DOES need a little help from Suki along the way."

"No…I mean. Everything went wrong. Kanaye is blind. Did you forget?"

"Him being blind is a scar that he'll have for the rest of his life maybe. It's a reminder of his courage and strength, and of the night he saved his sister."

"Why couldn't it be me?" wondered Inuyasha as Kagome laughed.

"Because silly. You were with me. Kuneau was being born…remember?"

"Oh yeah."

"Besides, you shouldn't make yourself feel bad. My mother once told me…that every parent wishes they could take on some of their children's pain to make their child's life just a little bit easier. I know you feel that way…and so do I. But that's not how it works. Life moves on no matter how much you try to stop it. Just like Kanaye, Suki and Kuneau will always be our children, even after they all move away."

Inuyasha heaved a big sigh and held Kagome closer.

"I get the feeling though that for some reason…it's my fault. The demon blood in me. Maybe it's bad luck."

Kagome shook her head and grasped his hand firmly, though her fingers could barely wrap around his large hand.

"I remember once, you told me that when you're a hanyou…everything's your fault. Right?"

Inuyasha nodded slightly.

"Alright then. Really Inuyasha, you should stop worrying. It's not like you to be so depressed."

Kagome smiled sincerely and turned her face up to look at him. She looked so innocent Inuyasha couldn't help but feel better.

"There now. That's the Inuyasha I know and love. Not to mention the one I married." Toyed Kagome, knocking Inuyasha over and onto the pillow as she pressed her lips against his.

Everything seemed so much brighter with Kagome around.

~*~*~

"Miroku…I'm worried."

"I know Sango." Responded Miroku earnestly as they got ready for bed.

"What if she worries herself to death. Suki I mean."

"Don't worry about Suki. She's a strong girl. She'll make it through and I'm sure Yasuo will too. But, have you talked to Kagome lately? She wouldn't tell me how it all happened."

Sango nodded.

"I wiggled it out of her."

"Well what is it?"

Sango sighed.

"She told me Suki and Yasuo went after something that Suki sensed. Suki recognized its chi as the same chi she felt the night Kagome was controlled."

"And?"

"Suki doesn't remember much after. She just remembers the dragon because she told Kagome and Inuyasha she slayed it. That's what caused Yasuo's wounds."

"She doesn't remember? How can she not--"

"Miroku, after they found the demon, she doesn't remember anything. But when she did wake up, Yasuo was hurt and the dragon was not. Neither was she. She said she landed about 10 ft away from him. She said everything else is blank."

"But that means…"

"Hai, she was controlled just as Kagome was."

"So…she's the one that caused Yasuo to get the wounds…"

"Hai…sort of. Miroku…Inuyasha's family has been through so much. What if something like that happens to us?"

"It wont."

"But how do you know?"

"I'm right here taking care of you."

"I know love. But…Inuyasha was taking care of Kagome that day…and that didn't make her arrow any slower. It still hit him just as fast. Something like that could--"

"You know Sango. All that worrying's bad for the baby. Maybe your New Year's resolution should be to stop worrying."

"Alright then. What's your New Year's resolution?"

"To be a better father."

"Oh…but you're so good already…"

"There are always things one can improve upon."

"I suppose you're right."

"Of course I am…because I'm ALWAYS right."

'Oh now. I wouldn't go THAT far."

Miroku laughed as Sango made her merry way over to the futon.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Um…uh…no reason."

"Sure sure. What if I told you no more groping in a million years if you don't tell me now?"

Miroku looked like he would cry and Sango felt bad…until a rather large grin spread across his face.

"What?"

"You know you could never do it."

"I could too!"

"You like it just as much as I do and you know it."

"I could TOO do it!"

"She you could. That's like saying 'Miroku, I'm never going to have sex with you ever again.' And you know it just AIN'T gonna happen."

"Miroku!"

"It's true!"

"Is not!"

"Is too."

"Is not!"

"Is too."

"Is--" but she didn't have the chance to finish her sentence before she was pulled down onto the futon.

"You know…you're cute when you're mad."

"Am I?"

"Well…you're cute all the time…But that's not the point!"

Sango smiled.

"I love you Miroku. Even if you do grow to be a dirty old man someday." Sango cooed.

Miroku blinked as she reached her hand up and kissed his cheek.

"Dirty? What do you mean by that?"

"No, don't you go getting me started again." She teased.

"No no. It's time for a much-needed sleep. We'll have to wait till tomorrow."

Sango nodded as he blew out the candle beside them.

"And by the way Miroku…you were right about one thing. I wouldn't be able to say 'no.'"

~*~*~ I had lotsa fun writing this one and I hope you guys enjoyed it. I'll have to get writing again cause I've been awfully busy with school (sigh…big test coming up soon) so yeah. Please review…I think the reviews have been slipping lately (though I thank you people that did review VERY much. Arigatou all!) Well anyway. Arigatou again for being the best people ever! I love you all!!!!!~*~*~ Miyu