Chapter 10: Fight for Life

Inuyasha watched over Kagome as she lay on the futon in Keade's hut and the old woman cleaned the blood from her face. Looking away as she began to remove Kagome's bloodied clothes and dress her into a dry miko outfit, Inuyasha gazed at the afternoon light that seeped underneath the doorway. "It's all my fault." He whispered sadly. His breath began to tremble with the realization.

Sango looked up from folding Kagome's dirty uniform and felt her heart split in two. "Oh Inuyasha…" She whispered, holding her hand out to comfort the demon but was stopped as he rose to his feet and left the hut in silence. She wanted to go after him, to tell him things would be ok but no one knew if they really were going to be in the end.

Taking the demon slayer's hand into his own and placing it on his lap, Miroku rubbed her back and stared out the doorway where the demon had left. "We can't do anything for him." He said in a low, sympathetic voice.

Slowly nodding her head, holding back the tears in her eyes, Sango squeezed his hand gently to show she understood. "I know." But trying not to help was very difficult. Inuyasha had a lost look to his face that she'd never seen before and knew that only Kagome could fix it. Looking down to her friend she began to pray in her mind for her to open her eyes and for everything to be ok again.

Inuyasha dragged his feet along the ground as he entered the forest entitled under his own name. "I couldn't control myself…I couldn't make the demon stop." He told himself in a very empty tone of voice. He clenched his hands into tight fists as he remembered the painful look upon her face when he had attempted to kill her. She never gave up on him and risked her life because of it. Stopping in his tracks, he held his face in his hands to hide the tears that were gathering in his eyes. The smell of her blood was all over his skin and seeped through his nostrils. It brought him so much pain that he held his breath and pulled them away. "I nearly killed her…with my own two hands…All because I couldn't fucking control myself!" He shouted, slamming his knuckles into the nearest tree before running deeper into the forest. His mind cursed as he ran faster until he came to a dead stop at the clearing in the forest. Lowering his shoulders he gazed at the well that connected his era to Kagome's. What would her family think of him now if they found out he was the one responsible for harming her? Not being able to bear the thought, he looked away and slowly made his way around. The Tree of Ages grew closer and his sorrow only sank deeper. Approaching the tree, he hopped up on one of the overgrown roots and pressed his hand against the bark.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome started after he had set her down from riding on his back to take her back to the well to go home. He made a small grunt which she had grown to know was her cue to continue. "I was thinking…maybe instead of becoming a full-fledged demon you could stay just the way you are." She suggested with a small smile.

He huffed and took his haori off her shoulders. "That's stupid. Why would I do something as dumb as that." He spat, having no consideration what so ever to her feelings. Putting his haori over himself he propped his foot up against the ledge of the old well and glared off in the distance, trying to avoid making eye contact with her.

Kagome's smile dropped and she put the tiny jar containing the jewel's shards back into her pocket. "I guess it was kind of stupid." Climbing over the edge of the well she dropped herself down without saying goodbye.

Inuyasha sighed and ran his hand across where he was pinned for fifty years before being released by Kagome. 'I want to stay this way for you Kagome but when I transform I can't stop myself from hurting the people I love. And if I turn into a human I won't be able to protect you the way I want to.' It was troubling and it frustrated him because of his lack of options. He couldn't be anything if it meant something else would happen. Lowering his forehead into his hand his mind began calling up more memories from the past.

Inuyasha pressed his hand over Kagome's mouth, the other around her waist, holding her close to his body. He could smell the demon's circling around them. They were hungry, hungry for the flesh of the human girl and hanyou boy hiding from their eyes. As the demons passed by their hidden place, Inuyasha flung Kagome over onto his back and leapt to the sky.

Hearing the roars and curses of thousands of demons, Kagome looked over her shoulder and gasped when she saw that they were quickly closing the gap between them. "Inuyasha they're getting close." She warned him in panic, gripping his haori into her fists.

He frowned as they soared down towards land again. "Will you shut-up! You're not going to get hurt! I won't let them or anyone hurt you, you got that!"

His words were harsh but they were the truth. But he had broken that promise. He was unaware that the only person he needed to protect her from was himself. Hanging his head, he looked to the ground below him and kept silent, still deep in his thoughts. He could smell Kagome but then seconds later her scent would fade away and disappear before returning again. Stepping down from the root of the ancient tree, he kept his head lowered to his chest and slowly made his way back to Keade's hut.

"How's she doing?" Miroku asked as he entered the hut, a basin of warm water in his arms. He placed it down beside Sango who immediately began soaking a cloth in it and took a seat to her side. Looking over Kagome's pale face he wished that there were something more he could do.

The old miko shook her head slowly and placed her hands in her lap. "I am unsure. At times I can sense her life and then she seems to disappear again." She sighed lightly and gazed over the young woman's still body.

Sango wrung out the wet cloth till it was only damp and gently dabbed the sides of Kagome's face and neck. "It's almost as if she's fighting death." She said softly, not lifting her eyes from her friend.

"Aye." Keade started, observing the Shikon Jewel that lay rested across Kagome's collarbone. "It is because of the Shikon no Tama. Only that is keeping this child alive. Without it…" She paused and clasped her hand tightly together, fearing what could easily happen if the jewel were to be taken away. "…Kagome would have been dead by now."

Both Sango and Miroku lowered their heads with the truthful realization. Taking Kagome's hand into his own, Miroku squeezed it gently to let their companion know that they were right by her side as Sango continued to keep her cool.

Leaning up against the wall outside Keade's hut, Inuyasha listened to their conversation and hated himself even more for what he had done. 'She would already be dead because of me if it wasn't for the jewel.' He curled his fingers into a fist and hung his head, his silver bangs shadowing his tear filled eyes. As a light breeze blew past his body, an ugly and unbearable scent filled his nostrils. Turning his head in the direction it had come, he snaked his hand around the hilt of the Tetseiga and frowned heavily. "Sesshomaru." He muttered in a low voice under his breath. 'I'll make him pay for what he did.' Leaping high into the sky, he raced through the forest on a hunt for his older brother whom he loathed so much. His hair whipped around with the wind blowing past his face as his pace quickened. This would be it. He'd kill Sesshomaru as soon as he laid eyes on him. His scent grew nearer and he unsheathed the Tetseiga, ready to make the crucial blow.

Sesshomaru paused in a small clearing of the forest and sniffed the air. Kagome's scent was completely gone and he smirked to himself in satisfaction. Now only one task remained that he had to obtain to: to kill Inuyasha. Only then would he be totally pleased with himself. His younger brother's scent suddenly surrounded him and he grinned. "So foolish." He hissed. Unsheathing his sword, he watched carefully over his shoulder and awaited the arrival of the hanyou.

Thrashing his way through the bushes to where the demon stood, Inuyasha swung the Tetseiga over his shoulder and came down on his enemy. "Sesshomaru you bastard!" He hollered, slicing his sword down at the demon's head.

Lifting his sword, Sesshomaru blocked Inuyasha's attack and stared into his eyes so full of hate, a smug smirk across his lips. "So glad you could make it. Now we can settle our little battle in peace. No more interruptions I hope." He said, shoving the hanyou away.

Inuyasha balanced his body and attacked again at full throttle. "What are you talking about!" He shouted through clenched teeth, swiping his sword at the demon's side.

The attack was blocked again just as easily as the first and Sesshomaru chuckled deep in his chest. "You know exactly what I mean. With Kagome now dead and out of the way, we can fight the way we want to till one of us, preferably you is dead." He stated simply, without any care or regard to the hanyou's feelings.

"She ain't fucking dead!" He shouted in anger, pushing heavily against his sword and making the demon have to take a step backwards. "You'll pay for hurting her!" Taking the Tetseiga away, he sliced it down to cut through the demon's leg and was half surprised to see him dash away.

Sesshomaru slid to a stop and faced the hanyou, a fake confused look upon his face. "What's that you say Inuyasha? If I remember correctly, she was hurt in your hands not mine. I don't have a spec of her blood on me. But you," He stopped and ran at the hanyou with the Tokijin readied in hand. "you wreak of her blood." His sword clashed against Inuyasha's and he chuckled when the hanyou stumbled with his footing.

Inuyasha went to speak to deny the truth but his throat swelled with the lie in which he wanted to scream. Knocking the demon away, he tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword and glared into the demon's cold eyes. His shoulders rose and fell with his quick breaths for air as he recalled seeing Kagome with her eyes open last.

Kagome looked into his evil blood filled eyes as tears began to run down her cheeks. She was gasping for air and he knew she wouldn't be able to hang on much longer.

"Inuyasha…please let…go."

She had begged him to stop but he couldn't control himself at all. Not in the state he was in. Her blood began to glide down his stiffened fingers where his claws had punctured her skin. He begged himself to stop as well but the demon inside just wouldn't listen. The Tetseiga fell from her hands and clattered at his feet but still he wouldn't wake.

"Inu…yasha."

He could see the blood inside her mouth as she spoke and knew time was running out. He shouted at the demon holding onto her to let go but still, it wouldn't obey. Her eyes closed and he panicked when her lips parted and no immediate sound came out.

"…sit."

It was all so clear to him now and the memory would forever stain his mind. The tip of the Tetseiga pierced the ground at his feet as his thoughts wandered away from the battle.

"You hurt her, not me." Sesshomaru started, frowning and keeping a close eye on the distant hanyou. "She's gone because you were unable to keep her safe." He raised his sword a little and waited for an attack.

Inuyasha looked back at Sesshomaru and glared at him, lifting his sword from the ground. 'She's not gone. The Shikon jewel's keeping her alive.' Tightening his grip, he dug his feet into the ground and pounced at the demon. "She wouldn't be in the state she is now if you had stayed far away from us!" He yelled, slashing his sword against his enemy's sword as he blocked every move he made. "I couldn't stop myself because of what you turned me into!"

Sesshomaru leapt over Inuyasha's head and attacked him from behind. Much to his surprise the hanyou stopped it as quickly as he delivered and kept that icy glare in his eyes. "If you weren't so clumsy with the sword father entrusted to you then that wouldn't have happened." He strained to say through gritted fangs.

"Shut-up!" Inuyasha snapped, heaving his shoulder into the youkai, forcing him to move and lose his balance. "You're still just mad because he gave me the better sword!" He said, knowing that he hit a nerve when the demon's scent shifted and his facial expression fell slightly. "He gave me the Tetseiga and you the Tenseiga because he knew I could kill you and you needed all the protection you could get!"

He knew it was true but that was only partially the reason. "Father entrusted me with the Tenseiga because he knew I was strong and could easily kill you with such a powerful sword. He only gave you the Tetseiga out of pity since you were so weak and needed a strong sword to keep you alive." He said with slight anger as he slapped the blade of the Tokijin against the Tetseiga's. "Speaking of the Tenseiga, I know you and your little friends took it and I'd like it back."

The sound of his voice and the look of his smile told Inuyasha just how serious he was being and that if he didn't get it back there would be trouble. Inuyasha bit his bottom lip and fought against the weight of Sesshomaru's sword. He noticed that his brother's strength had increased and he had a deep feeling that it was only because of Kagome's fatal injury she was fighting against. There was no way he could tell Sesshomaru that they had destroyed the Tenseiga back when they thought he was really dead. "I don't know what you're talking about." He strained to say as he used all his strength to match the demon's. "Maybe that sorceress had it since she did seem to have your other one." Maybe that lie would go past him.

Sesshomaru frowned heavily and leapt away from the hanyou. "If you say so." He paused and shifted his grip on the hilt of his sword. "Tell me Inuyasha, do you still wish to become a full demon using the Shikon no Tama?" He questioned in a somewhat amused tone of voice.

His body flinched at the question and he could feel the sweat start to gather at the back of his neck. He didn't really know anymore and even if he did, he would certainty never tell Sesshomaru the truth. "Why the hell do you think I'd tell the likes of you!" Inuyasha shouted to the demon who had stopped their battle.

Chuckling at the hostility of the hanyou, Sesshomaru lifted his sword just below his waist and tightened his grip. "That's fine Inuyasha. You don't have to tell me what you want. I guess it's obvious. You just want to be like me…a demon. Every worthless half-breed would want the same." He smirked and waited for the curses that would slip through his brother's mouth.

Inuyasha twisted his grip around the hilt of the Tetseiga and gritted his teeth tightly together. "Why the fuck would anyone want to be like you!" He shouted. Kicking off from where he stood, he lunged at the demon at full speed. "I would never want to be a despicable and disgusting demon like you!"

Taking a slight step back, Sesshomaru stopped the blow Inuyasha sent and stared into his angered eyes, which he knew he had caused to turn so evil. He was insulted by the remark of being despicable and disgusting and unfortunately for him, he had nothing to say in his defense. All he could do was stop the hanyou from hacking him limb to limb.

"Kagome may be hurt because of me but," He paused to take a deep breath and slash his sword at the youkai again. "but that's because I was just like you! If being a demon means to lose control of yourself and kill innocent people's lives than I want nothing to do with it!" Pushing off the demon, Inuyasha slid to his side and slashed his giant sword at the demon.

Sesshomaru swung his sword blindly around as he spun on his heels and caught his breath when the Tetseiga stopped inches from his neck, his own stopped in the same place and same distance from Inuyasha.

Both brothers gasped for breaths of air, their chest rising and falling roughly under their clothing. Sweat dripped down the sides of their faces and soaked into their hairline. Neither made a sound as they stared into each other's eyes, daring the other to make a move and risk dying.