Okay, I'm back and bringin' you chappie 5! Here's the kicker: Kagome has to heal him, NOT Kaede. I was going to have it up to Kaede, but I changed my mind. Sorry about the wait…I had writer's block (

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It wasn't until late night…around 11:30 according to Kagome's watch, that she got to Kaede's Village. She made her way through the quiet and deserted rows of dark houses, thinking that it seemed to be a ghost town almost. Kaede's hut wasn't too far, she just needed to turn a left, then right, and she'd be there. She turned to look at Inuyasha's pained face, streaked with crimson blood from when Sesshomaru clawed at him. Then, it hit her…

Sesshomaru's claws were poisonous.

"Hang in there, Inuyasha…" She whispered as she walked up to the door of Kaede's hut.

"…you're going to be alright." She drew back the cloth that served as a door leading into Kaede's hut, her eyes scanning for any trace of the village leader.

"Lady Kaede! Are you here?" She called out as she continued to make her way deeper into the room with Inuyasha still leaning on her, unconscious. The aged woman came out, her eyes still indicating she was asleep.

"Kagome…why the late visit…oh! What happened to Inuyasha?" She woke up fully and went over to inspect his wounds. Kagome gulped.

"What should we do?" Kaede shook her head.

"There's nothing I can do. You'll have to heal him on your own." She smiled sadly as Kagome's eyes grew wide.

"ME! What can I do?" Kaede walked over to a shelf filled with dust covered vials filled with healing herbs and other spices. She looked them over, and then chose about four or five certain vials and handed them over to Kagome.

"That poison aura is too strong for my lungs to handle. You will be able to heal him unharmed, however. Simply soak the herbs and spices together in water, then take a cloth and dip it into the herb water. That should help slow the bleeding and cure the poison. Just be sure not to move his head too much before healing the poison, or it will circulate throughout his body." That said, Kaede walked out of the hut to leave Kagome to heal her hanyou.

Kagome carefully laid Inuyasha's cold body on a bed, cradling his torso in her arms. She grabbed a bucket of water that Kaede had set out and pulled out a cloth, soaking it in the herbal water. Wringing it out, she began to gingerly dab it on Inuyasha's blood coated chest. He began to cringe, he seemed to be having a nightmare.

"No…stop…wretch, leave Kagome…alone…" He brought his arm up a little of the way, but then began to burn up inside. 'Oh no!' Kagome thought. 'He's got a fever. He's hallucinating…I have to make him relax!' She thought a little, then she thought…maybe if she talked to him, he'd be calm. She brought her hand with the cloth on it over his chest and rested it there, leaning her face in towards his slightly.

"Relax…I'm right here. Everything's fine." She cooed in one of his ears. His face showed serenity at the sound of her voice. He lowered his arm back to his side.

"Ka…gome…" He said softly in his sleep, his tense muscles loosening. She breathed a sigh of relief. 'He's alright. If I keep this up, he'll be healed in no time!' She softly rubbed the cloth around the areas on his chest where the blood was pouring. While he did show he was in genuine pain, he didn't say anything else. She then dipped the cloth in the water again, this time bringing it to rest on his cheek where Sesshomaru clawed him.

He cringed, moaning nothing Kagome could understand in desperation, his arms grabbing the air, his breath becoming even more ragged. Kagome caught his arms, bringing them down to his sides with no trouble.

"I'm here for you…I promise…I won't let you go, Inuyasha." She whispered. Again, he relaxed, his breathing was slow and calm. She pressed the cloth gently to the gashes in his face, letting the cloth soak up the blood and poison. Now that the blood hadn't been gushing and the poison was cured, she began to work a bandage around his chest and stomach. When that was done, she just cradled his torso in her arms, noting how his body was so hot all of a sudden. His face was drenched in sweat. She ripped a piece of her shirt and rested it on his forehead. He twitched, opening his eyes half way.

"Kagome…why the tears…?" He said in a barely there whisper. She hadn't even noticed she was crying until he pointed it out to her. She didn't care. She let her tears cascade down her face. One single tear drop landed just below his eye. He smiled weakly, bringing his hand up and wiping her tears as they fell. She smiled back, letting him caress her cheek. He'd dreamed of holding Kagome in his arms, kissing her. He'd desired it for the longest time. He didn't have the strength to do much tonight, but Sesshomaru's curse had worn off, and he could already feel his body begin to work with the herbs and spices to heal the wounds.

"Tomorrow…there's something…I want to show you." He told her in a soft voice. She was puzzled, but didn't ask questions. She smiled again, leaning in and kissing his forehead.

"I'll leave you to rest. Goodnight, Inuyasha." She began to stand, but he grabbed her hand tightly in his.

"I'd feel safer if you were here...with me." He cringed as he sat up, bringing her gently into his arms and resting her head on the area of his chest that wasn't injured. She was stunned, but then rested her hand on his opposite shoulder.

"If you say so. Are you sure? I thought for sure...you'd be...be..." She started to cry, but he held her closer, knowing full well what she was thinking.

"Shh...I'm here, Kagome." He cooed to her, stroking her dark hair.

"I'm with you."

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Well, how d'ya like them apples? The next chappie will feature some MAJOR romance, so if you're not satisfied with this chapter, you'll be glad you waited for chapter 6. R & R!