No responses today. Sorry. And sorry I'm a few hours late on this, but it's 1 in the morning and I just got back from a Joey taping. I so thought I would get home in time to get this up before midnight. Oh well. Enjoy and respond everyone. I thrive on them, as most of you by now know.

Chapter 18: Tender Loving Care

"Sankontessou!" he bellowed, his claws glimmering in midair.

The dragon-youkai moved to one side, and Inuyasha claws ran through air. "Hanyou! Step aside so I may find the Shikon no Tama in that village! My patience is wearing thin! Don't think you can outsmart me as you did my brother. Goshinki may have fallen due to your transformation, but you'll find the same is not with the great Koshinki."

Inuyasha smirked and tightened his hold on his trusted sword. "Keh! My Tetsusaiga will destroy you before you can finish what your pathetic brother started. Did Naraku truly think that I wouldn't beat you too?"

"It matter not why he sent me," Koshinki replied, "I fully intend to become my own master, with the power of that jewel."

Inuyasha leaped into the air, his sword hoisted high into the air. But before he could come close, a monstrous tail struck him on the hip, and the hanyou was sent hurdling for the ground. A large puff of dust formed around him as he impacted, and he grunted hard. Scrambling to his feet, he bellowed his chant. "Kaze no Kizu!"

The dancing yellow flames met the nothingness of dirt and rock. The youkai had dodged it, yet again. Koshinki laughed, "You think that same shit will work on me? You don't stand a chance. I can still read your mind."

The hanyou used his elbows to hold his upper body up. His amber eyes glared at the youkai as he growled. It was hard to admit that this youkai was hard, but he doubted even his youkai form would be able to get past his mind-reading. 'Kso. What should I do?'

"Haha! You still don't get it? There is nothing you can do. I can read your every move before you make it. Now be a good puppy and die, so I can get the Shikon jewel!"

The youkai slammed his hand on top of Inuyasha, crushing him into the dirt hard. He lifted his paw to see Inuyasha struggled to even lift his arm. He rolled over onto his back, trying to allow himself to breathe again. But his claws closed in on him again, holding him and his sword to each other, and he was unable to move. His lungs felt like they were about ready to pop open. Koshinki grinned through his sharp teeth, "How can we make this interesting, Inuyasha? I know you fight better than this. Why don't you give me something to work with here?"

Through the grunts of pain as Inuyasha's ribs began to crack, she cried from the now distant village, "Inuyasha!"

The hanyou's eyes flashed open, and in those few moments, the truth was revealed to Koshinki. Flashing, surging through the depths of his pupils, was the key. The last path to destruction opened, and the youkai smirked. "Ah yes! I see your weakness, Inuyasha."

The irises in his eyes began to tremble, as if Inuyasha had already pieced together what the dragon was planning. Koshinki continued, "She has the Shikon shards, does she not? Haha, one so pure would be quite satisfying to my appetite."

His words were laced with blood and a craving for flesh. Inuyasha screamed, "Kagome! Run!"

He tried to scream more, but the force of Koshinki's claws forced down the voice, and he whimpered in pain. One finger clamped down on his throat, now leaving him breathless. He grimaced, hacked against the absence of air, pushed against the youkai with any remaining strength he had. Without releasing his hold, Koshinki turned to face the approaching miko, who already had an arrow hoisted in her bow. His hand shot out and plowed her to the ground, and she screamed in pain. Koshinki peered over her, and sniffed the air around her. She did not carry the jewel with her. No, the scent still came from the village. Still, this prize could not go unnoticed. "Pathetic girl! We'll see what the hanyou can do once I consume your flesh."

Koshinki opened his mouth to bite her, but before he could get close, the feel of hot metal shot through his other hand. He yelped and barely had time to register what had happened before Tetsusaiga lodged itself in his left shoulder. He screamed. Inuyasha wriggled the blade in the wound, drawing out more blood and doing as much damage as he could.. Koshinki released his hold on the miko, who crawled away as fast as she could. Then, with a fierce swing, his father's fang tore up through his neck. The dragon-youkai's eyes rolled into the back of his head, and without a word, he fell to the ground, as dead as his brother.

Inuyasha landed on the ground next to his latest victim and sheathed his bloodied sword. "Shouldn't have stopped reading my mind… baka…"

He closed his eyes and grimaced. Grasping his bloodied stomach, he stumbled to his knees. Kagome ran to him, "Inuyasha!"

She arrived at his side in seconds, brushing the hair out of his eyes and turning him to face her. He shifted to a sitting position. "Keh! I'm fine. What about you?"

She could tell by his voice that he was lying. "You are not fine, Inuyasha! You need to-."

"Answer the damn question, wench!" he demanded harshly, eyes still shut tightly.

The pain of his yell caused his lungs to cry out in pain, and he gasped slightly. She gasped for a moment at his stern attitude, but answered through clenched teeth just as harshly, "I'm fine, Inuyasha. You, however…"

"I don't need anything, Kagome," the hanyou insisted, "I'll be healed in no time."

With her help, Inuyasha got to his feet, and Kagome placed his arm over her shoulder. "We have a long way to go," Kagome said, "Oh, why did the others have to leave now?"

"Keh, we'll walk, baka. I know a short cut back to the village." Inuyasha huffed.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Ouch!" Kagome yelped as her hands went out to steady her balance, only to scrape against a sharp rock.

"Damnit, wench. What's wrong with you?" Inuyasha snarled at her carelessness.

"Urusai! It's your entire fault anyway that we're taking the 'scenic' route. Shortcut? Ha! What the hell were you thinking leading us this way? How are we supposed to get back to Kaede's hut when we can't even walk normally?" Kagome pointed an accusing finger at him.

"This is a shortcut. You're just too dense to realize it. And just because I'm doing what I've always said we needed to do, just because I need your powers to find the jewel shards, doesn't mean you have to get moody."

Kagome put her hands up in sarcastic self-defense. "Oh yes! You would know all about being moody, wouldn't you?"

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" He huffed.

The miko merely rolled her eyes and kept on walking. 'Oh, like being all sweet one minute, than becoming a complete jack-ass the next, maybe? God, he's the most impossible man I've ever met.'

Inuyasha followed closely behind her, "You know, I could carry you."

"No thank you. You're in no condition to carry anyone. Plus, I'm in too bad a mood now. And despite what you think, I can endure a little pain without your help."

His eyes narrowed and he pouted angrily through clenched teeth, "Fine."

Suddenly, his blood ran cold and his eyes went wide. His feet seemed to stop moving on his own. He turned back to the direction they had come from and glared at the emptiness of the path. Kagome noticed that he wasn't following her anymore, and turned to see what was wrong. "Inuyasha?"

He didn't answer, but narrowed his eyes and growled at the forest which now served a bigger threat than he could handle. She walked up to him and stared along with him, trying in earnest to see whatever it was he was seeing. "A youkai?"

'….No… I won't let her.'

He grabbed Kagome's hand and started walking again, now at a faster pace. Kagome wrinkled her forehead at this, "What the… Inuyasha?"

He continued without a word, without even looking at her. But she didn't need him to to know that something wasn't right. His grasp on her hand radiated fear, something she knew he would never admit in a million years. But after a few moments, he stopped and turned his gaze back where they had run from. She saw him clench his fist and narrow his eyes into the nothingness, intimidating perhaps some ghost that was pursuing them. He fought the air as if fighting with the gods, cursing them, killing them with his stare.

Eventually, he loosened again and let go of his hold on her. As if nothing had happened in the first place, he continued walking. Kagome stared after him and followed, "Inuyasha, what was that about?"

"Uh… It's nothing. Nothing."

She rolled her eyes, "Come on. I know it was something. You were so freaked out by something."

He glared at her with angry eyes, "Was not?"

"Were too?"

"Keh!"

"Just tell me, Inuyasha. You know I won't give up until you do."

He racked his brain for any excuse he could give that would work on her. It didn't take long, for she had practically given the answer to him before. "It was youkai," he lied.

One of her eyebrows cocked, "You didn't want to fight them?"

"Keh, why bother? They weren't even big enough to be worth my time. As if they would be strong enough to get the Shikon no Tama."

"Never stopped you before," she mumbled.

"Yeah? Well… I'm… feeling generous today."

She sighed and shook her head. What was the point in arguing with him? That man was far too stubborn for his own good, and someday, he would get his comeuppance for it.

When they returned to the village, Kagome went straight to the hut to rest her tired feet, but Inuyasha sat just outside the door, glaring hard at the forest. The now menacing wind blew a constant chain threw his hair, and although it was an indication that the foreboding smell was gone, he couldn't help but wonder if it had been more trickery. How could it be? He had gone so far, it didn't seem possible for this to be true. If his worry was well-founded, it meant that he risked complete exposure. He risked losing all that he had lost sleep for, all that haunted his dreams. 'Damnit… now I have that old woman Saku to worry about.'

Koshinki was the only youkai he had battled with in a week. Usually, it had been maybe four per week. The day was peaceful, too peaceful. He hadn't noticed this until he smelled her nearby. He knew it hadn't been current, but Saku had been there, who knew when. How she had managed to travel so far with such an old and weak body, he did not know. She had seemed so ready to keel over and die when he had found her in her hut. The idea of her walking surprised him, let alone facing the elements of Feudal Japan alone. The sinister air became dry, and Inuyasha could taste the saltiness of his own sweat. He wiped his brow on his sleeve, his gaze never leaving the forest. 'If she reopens the well again… if she tells Kagome what I did…'

He brought his knee up and held the Tetsusaiga closer to him in between his legs. 'She can't reverse the spell. I couldn't…'

He glanced over his shoulder at the entrance to the hut, and sighed. 'You're happy here, aren't you… Kagome…?'

The sound of her hums filled his ears, as if she knew the answer to the question he dared not ask. The hanyou got to his feet and sniffed the air one last time for the old priestess. There was nothing. Only in one part of the forest had she gone, and once the smell had passed when he had whisked Kagome away, the fear had gone with her.

Kagome walked out of the hut and sat down next to him, "The others aren't back yet?"

He stared at the horizon, "No, and I still think it was stupid to let them go like that. I mean, it's not like that village needed Kaede, Shippou, Miroku, and Sango to take care of one measly youkai, even without us."

Her gaze became mischievous, "Inuyasha, are you actually missing them?"

He caught his breath in his throat and gulped it down quickly, "Keh! Baka! Why would I miss them? I'm just thinking about the jewel shards, remember."

"Yare. Yare. I know," she replied sarcastically.

She placed her hand on the ground, and she suddenly remembered the cut she had as she yelped lightly. Inuyasha turned towards her at the sound as his ears dropped slightly. Plopping down next to her, he said, "Let me see your hand."

She held her hand out of his reach. "No, it hurts. Don't touch it."

"Stop being such a wimp, Kagome," he stated as he managed to grab a hold of her wrists.

She gasped slightly as he brought them in front of his face, concentrated very hard on them. Some of the blood wasn't dried on her hands, and he ran his thumb over the wounds that weren't yet completely closed. He grimaced as she hissed. Reaching into her backpack and pulling out her first aid kit. Kagome smirked, "You… You have no idea how to use that kit."

"How hard could it be? You've done it."

"I'm out of Band-Aids, Inuyasha. It'll be fine, really."

"Keh, you're human. Who knows what kind of infection you might get?" He sneered, and then used his free hand to rip a portion of the sleeve of his haori.

Kagome gasped, "Inuyasha… I… just fixed that. It's-."

"Just a shirt, wench. Get over it," he began wrapping her palm in her fabric.

The concentration in his eyes on her hands made her cheeks pink, but she dared not move for fear of losing the sensation. Those eyes were so stern, even now. Through them, she could see all the pent up hatred for the world that had hated him. Spite for spite. Blood for blood. Cry for painful cry. By now, his rough attitude had been engraved in his bones. This, she knew she could never change. But those hands… they worked so gently against her own. Lightly, gently, they wrapped her wound in the red cloth. It must have taken great effort, more mentally than physically, for him to be so careful in this chore. The way he cradled her fingers in his, it was like he thought she could shatter at any moment were he to squeeze too tight.

If it took him forever, he would heal every wound she would ever have. It was what he needed, what he wanted. The smell of her blood commanded it. How he hated it. A cut on her was a cut to his own heart, and he inwardly whimpered at the smell. When he was done wrapping, he took his time, a little too much, to tie the knot on top. The pleading in him was still there, that he should never let go, yet a huge part of him screamed that he had not the right to even touch her. An aching pain ran through him, a necessity for her sensations. A desire to fill in the paleness of his life. She painted over the gray picture, drawing him blue instead of his signature red.

And in it, he could see the color within the black. White doves encompassing an embrace. The waves falling and receding in constant rhythm beneath them. A sunrise that never faded from their glowing features. Kagome heard them coo her, felt their wings lightly brush her skin as he held onto her a moment too long.

Whether out of instinct, or due to some idiotic curiosity, the hanyou looked up. She caught his gaze, held to it like a rock in the rapids. The glimmer in her eyes begged him to speak the truth through his gaze. Somehow, he had to open the gate to her. He had to let her into him. He gulped, cursing the others for not being there to make him pull away out of embarrassment.

His wish was granted, but not by their dearest friends. A tornado of wind flew past them, then abruptly stopped next to the hut, only to reveal the last person Inuyasha ever wanted to see again. Kagome looked at him nervously, "Hi, Kouga-kun."

The wolf-youkai crossed his arms and looked at his 'woman' proudly. Inuyasha was instantly at his feet, his fists curled to strike. Koga just smirked at his hatred, until he caught sight of the cloth on Kagome's hand. He snarled at the hanyou, "You bastard! What the hell happened to Kagome?"

Inuyasha stepped forward, until his forehead practically pressed into Koga's. "Wimpy world, why the hell couldn't you just leave well enough alone?"

Kagome sighed and closed her eyes in dismay. Not one of her better days, she must say.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The rotten smell of dying flesh still reeked in the open field. Flies were already gathering, and the flesh still steamed, thanks to the heat of the Tetsusaiga as it slashed through Koshinki's body. Two figures leapt from the trees and onto the ground. Slowly, they rose simultaneously into a full stance. There bodies were covered by their clothes. One spoke, "So what would you say? Is it safe to be this out in the open?"

The other lifted the hood of his cloak, letting the fabric fall onto his shoulders. His black hair now fluttered menacingly in the wind, his red eyes foreboding to the world as they shined. "It is. Inuyasha has no idea we're even here, but we have to work quickly before he picks up a scent."

"Naraku, why did you bring us here?" Kokuei pulled his cloak down and looked annoyingly at his master.

Naraku looked over to the rotting body, and approached it. Making his way through the dead flesh, he came to the head. It had been ripped practically in two, and he took one half in his hand. He turned to Kokuei and showed him, "With this, I shall make you a weapon similar to that of your counterpart. Inuyasha's success is due to that damned sword of his. I will get such a sword forged from these fangs, and you will learn to use it well. Once that happens, you have no excuse to fall once you face him."

"Keh, I don't need a damn sword. These claws are enough," he flexed them to prove his point.

Naraku smirked at his naïveté, "You truly do have the mind of that hanyou. Let's just pray it won't lead to the destruction of us both."

Kokuei crossed his arms, pretending not to listen. Naraku knew the message had gotten through. With a wave of the arm, he formed a shield around himself and his apprentice. They lifted of the ground and began to fly again. He eyed the half-head in his grasp, "Tetsusaiga will fall."

To be continued…