Kat: Alright, I'd better get some reviews fast! Thank you, Sesshomaru77, for motivating me to add onto Demotion. God knows I'd never have gotten around to it otherwise! Also, should I start making up names for every chapter I write? I know few people read these parts—I do on most peoples' fics cuz I'm just weird—so I probably won't get an answer. REVIEWS! *glares at everyone*
Everyone who reads this: *hurry up and start reviewing fast before Kat kills them*
Kat: ^-^
Chapter Five
A Hurt Kagome and an Injured Inuyasha
Inuyasha had seen the worried look on Kagome's face when he was injured. Her wide, frightened eyes, her raven hair flying behind her has she rushed towards him. She'd been so scared…
Kikyo, the woman he'd loved for so long, hadn't even checked up on him. She'd just ordered the others around calmly. As calmly as if he'd stubbed his toe or something.
Why, he wondered, grimacing in pain as Kirara carried him off. Why did Kagome, who had every reason to hate him, feel more obliged to help him—to even cry for him—than Kikyo, who hated him now for no reason?
He opened his golden-yellow eyes and as an image flashed through his mind again of Kagome's tears. Then he saw the beads snap in his mind. The spell beads, the only thing that had protected her from his wrath…were gone. How frightened she must have been. Maybe she'd even LOVED him before, but every chance of that was ruined. Too much had happened between him and Kikyo, though he hated admitting it even in his own mind.
The beads snapped again and he saw Kagome fall painfully to the ground. He'd usually have helped her up, but he'd become overtaken by his new power—by freedom.
Freedom wasn't good for those who caused damage to others. That's why Kaede had put the beads on him…to protect Kagome. Kagome could've "sat" him back then until he couldn't moved, before he knew about the well. She could have refused to help him look for the Shikon shards, but she'd helped him then. On occasion, she'd had to use the spell—quite frequently, actually—but it was for her own safety most of the time. She knew his temper better than he himself.
Baka, he thought, wincing slightly again. She'd done it because she loved him. She had no personal use for the jewel. If she'd have left at her first chance, she wouldn't have realized that it caused so much damage and then…he couldn't imagine.
Inuyasha sat up straight, gasping. "Where's Kagome?"
"Inuyasha, you must lie down!" Sango exclaimed, pushing him back. "We're almost to the village. You can rest there. Kagome and the others are fine."
He sat up again and stared at the demon exterminator. She must have been wondering why he asked for Kagome and not for Kikyo. He could see a somewhat puzzled expression on her face. But Sango wasn't likely to tell anyone about this. He knew that for a fact. "Feel…so tired…and so weak…" He fell back again.
"Damn it, Inuyasha, give it a rest!" Sango sighed.
Under more normal circumstances, Inuyasha would have protested profusely. But now he was much too exhausted.
Drained of all his energy, the half-demon nodded quietly off to sleep.
***
Kagome, Miroku, Kikyo, and Shippo walked into the hut where Inuyasha was resting. Kagome immediately blurted out to the village doctor, "How is he?!"
"Fine, fine," the doctor muttered. "Just resting." He looked very annoyed to be called to the assistance of a part-demon. "Leave him be until he wakes up on his own."
Inuyasha's bare chest rose and fell steadily as he slept peacefully. He looked normal enough. You couldn't even tell that he'd been so badly injured just an hour or two before.
Seeing that he was fine, everyone filed out, but Kagome stayed a second or two, her eyes resting on his face.
He really was good-looking. His muscles weren't tensed up into a scowl as usual, and his face showed no emotion. His mouth was open just a bit, and though she could see his fangs, he didn't look threatening. His long, silvery-white hair was tousled around his head on the pillow.
She considered for a moment reaching out to touch one of his cute doggie ears, but her hand moved towards them slowly, then moved away. "Sleep well," she whispered, then walked away.
Inuyasha's eyes opened slowly, sadly gazing at Kagome's retreating form. Was she that scared of him now, that she felt she couldn't even touch him anymore?
His eyes burned. He couldn't stop. It'd be too big a blow to his pride to admit he was wrong. Kagome knew his arrogance as well as he did.
Perhaps she'd figure it out on her own, that he didn't hate her at all.
"Please forgive me, Kagome," he whispered softly to no one.
Did she hear him? He felt his pulse quicken, then his heart sank. No. Of course not. She was either in her own hut or off talking with Sango.
Inuyasha sniffed the air. Kagome's fragrant scent still lingered in the noon air. He still loved that smell despite himself. He just never got over the fact that she smelled so good.
Suddenly Kikyo didn't seem so great. She was so serious, emotionless. Not only did she hate him, but she didn't seem to care for anything anymore. Though she was probably a bit prettier than Kagome, the other girl's high spirits made up for it. She was much more passionate than Kikyo had ever been about anything. Plus, Inuyasha thought, with the hint of a smile, she smelled much better than Kikyo, too. It seemed the "shampoo" and soaps of her time really did make a difference of some sort. But he was sure she'd smell better than Kikyo anyway.
He was still smiling when he really did fall asleep.
Kat: Alright, I'd better get some reviews fast! Thank you, Sesshomaru77, for motivating me to add onto Demotion. God knows I'd never have gotten around to it otherwise! REVIEWS! *glares at everyone*
Everyone who reads this: *hurry up and start reviewing before Kat kills them*