Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
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A week had passed since the battle with Naraku. The group buried Makia's body in Kaede's village and rested for a few days. Shippo and Kaede had been delighted at the news of Naraku's death, as well as the fact that they had all come back safely.
The battle had taken a toll on everyone, and Kagome still needed to regain her strength. Everyone encouraged her to go to her time, where she could get better faster. She refused, though, saying that she wanted to stay with them for now. Needless to say, all of them had been sleeping most of the week, and the village had no attacks from demons.
The next day morning came, Kagome woke up first and walked out silently out of the hut so as to not wake anyone up. She giggled as she saw that Miroku and Sango were snuggled close together. What did I miss when I was gone? Hmmmm...
She walked outside to the crisp morning air and stretched her arms over her head. She could really use a bath.
There were hot springs a little distance from where she was, and she didn't think that anything would attack her. Wanting to be better safe than sorry, she went back to the hut to get her stuff as well as her bow and arrows. "All ready."
As she started walking away from the hut, Inuyasha jumped down from the tree he was sleeping in. "Where do you think you're going?"
She looked at him and flashed him a shy smile; he had been this way ever since the battle, protective and concerned, but not mean as he seemed before. She could see that behind his eyes was the fear that he could loose her again.
"Don't worry Inuyasha. I'm going to the hot springs."
"Why?"
"To bathe! What else would I do there? Anyways, I really feel like I need this, I feel icky..."
He still looked worried, "Sango's not going with you? Are you sure about going by yourself?"
"I have my arrows with me, and I doubt that we'll be attacked anytime soon."
"The jewel shards are still out there."
"I know, but we got a lot from the battle, now we need to figure out how to get the few that are left. But don't worry, I won't take that long, we'll go and search for them later in the day."
He looked mad.
"That's not what I'm talking about! Now that we have most of the jewel, demons are even more likely to attack you now! You shouldn't go anywhere by yourself!"
"It'll just take a minute, and I'll be nearby. Don't worry!"
She flashed him a smile and turned around, "Besides, if you don't let me go, I'll be forced to say the word that has not been uttered this whole week..."
Inuyasha didn't seem fazed; a week without sits had already made him forget how truly painful they were.
"Feh, those don't scare me!"
She started walking away but looked back for a moment, "Really...?"
She let out a laugh and ran away. When she felt him start to follow her, she let out the words that had been unused for a time. "SIT boy!"
Inuyasha felt himself being pulled towards the ground as the familiar purple grow surrounded him. And yes, now he could definitely remember the pain of Kagome's sits.
From the distance he heard her scream out a hasty apology. He lifted his head from the ground, "wench..."
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Sango and Miroku had woken up just in time to see Inuyasha leave after he had been sat by Kagome. The stifled giggles that they suffered at the site were barely contained, so they decided to go outside for some fresh air.
They walked a little ways off towards a stream and sat down near the water. Miroku put his arms around Sango's shoulders. She leaned into his embrace and looked out upon the green fields that could be seen past the crystal blue water.
Sango lifted her head and moved so that she could clearly se his eyes, "Do you think it's really over?"
"We killed Naraku didn't we?" He kept his face straight.
"But it seemed too easy to beat him, even though we had help from Makia."She brought one of her hands to grasp his that was cursed with the wind tunnel.
"Your wind tunnel has not disappeared."
"It might be a matter of time before it does, although it does seem strange that it's still there. Technically it should have vanished the moment we killed Naraku."
"Everything's not all that it seems, right?" She brought her head back to its previous position, as she looked at the sky it no longer seemed as welcoming as it did when they had come after the battle.
"Have you told Inuyasha?"
Miroku shook his head, "I would rather all of us rest for now."
"They all need to know. And soon."
"We'll tell them when they come back, they probably already figured out the same thing. But lets talk about less depressing news, shall we?"
His hand slowly moved down to her butt and gave it a slight squeeze. Her eyes widened, but her hand didn't move to punish him. He smiled and brought his face closer to hers.
He whispered her name as she closed her eyes, he could feel her breath on his lips as well as a furry patch of hair.
A furry patch of hair...
Miroku looked up to see Shippo standing very, very close to the almost kissing couple. Shippo smiled at the monk.
"Trying to get a head start on that 'bearing my child' idea Miroku?"
The monk, for once, showed signs of being flustered, and Sango looked like she was about to chop his head off.
She directed her look to Shippo, this time with a much more sweet demeanor, "Hey, how do you know al this?" She sweetened her tone, "Did Miroku tell you this?"
Shippo just laughed, "This doesn't begin to cover what he's told me. Hehehe. If I told you now, he probably wouldn't survive the night."
Hastingly she told Shippo to go back to the hut to see if Kaede had woken up or needed her. Once he was out of listening range she turned to the monk beside her.
"How much exactly did you tell him?"
She made sure her voice made it clear to him to choose his answers with care.
"Just what a boy like him should know. He should have bountiful knowledge. On all subjects..."
Sango stood up and brought him with her, her eyes looked devilishly at the fields in the horizon. She stood up and whispered in his ear, "I need to hear the entire explanation."
She took his hand in her own and started running away from the hut, she turned back happily, "You should take Shippo's advice, otherwise you might not survive the night!"
He let himself be led by the demon exterminator, "My, my Sango. What is the brutal punishment you have awaiting me..."
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Kagome sank into the hot water of the hot springs. Once her body was surrounded by the warm water she could feel her tense muscles relax, and all the cares in the world fade away.
She knew Inuyasha was not far away; he had followed her ever since the last sit, and gave her just enough privacy to be comfortable. He hadn't said anything so far, maybe to give the illusion that he wasn't there, but in fact she liked the idea of him being there. She knew she was safe when he was around.
As she too out her bathing salts she wondered where Sango was, it was weird having no one to talk to at the springs. And if she talked to Inuyasha, she'd feel as if he could see her.
She closer her eyes in relaxation, an act only done when she knew the dog demon was near. The things she couldn't see, he would sense much earlier than her.
Her mind started revolving around memories of her family.
Mom, Sota, Gramps...
I miss you...
She had mourned before, and the sadness was still in her heart. Those visions were so terrifying, will they come again?
No. Naraku is dead.
He is gone, so are the dreams.
But Miroku hasn't been healed yet.
And we haven't been able to find Kohaku.
He was at the battle, I could sense a jewel shard that was near.
It had to be him.
Was Naraku truly dead? He had to be.
Right?
She opened her eyes and dipped her head into the water. Don't think about this now. This is a time to relax, and a short one at that. I don't want to have a grumpy hanyou on my butt for the rest of the day.
The thought of him made her smile.
She lifted her body a bit against a boulder to see if he was anywhere in her reach. At first look there was nothing, but when she concentrated, she managed to see a patch of red and white on a tree branch nearby. He wasn't far, it was only that the trees hid his form.
Once again she went back to her sitting position in the hot spring. She closed her eyes again and she sat back comfortably. Only five minutes... Only five... He'll be mad if I take more...
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Inuyasha looked over his shoulder to where Kagome was. He blushed at the fact that he could see part of her body, but she was in the spring, so he couldn't get a good look
Five more minutes... Five more...
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Kagome swam.
The water was cold and dark.
She couldn't see her feet.
The waves tumbled her around, but she was a good swimmer.
The sea would be no rival for her.
She could see Sota. He was laying on the sand trying to go to sleep. Mom was always too fusy and told him to get under the umbrella.
You'll get burned.
Gramps was off chasing some unknown creature; probably for some potion that would bring health to the family.
NOT.
She swam towards the shore and as she got nearer her foot got caught in some seaweed.
She tried to force her foot with no luck. About to call mom, she stopped when she saw a boy swimming over to her. He dived underwater and set her foot free. As she pulled her foot out he surfaced with a smile.
He had the most incredible smile.
He had dog ears on his head.
His long white hair was longer than hers.
"Kagome! Come to eat lunch." Her mother yelled from the shore. Kagome could see that all had been set up in a matter of seconds. Sota even looked fully awake.
She stole a glance back to her savior only to find him gone.
Where?
He was nowhere to be seen. Was it all her imagination?
A boy with dog ears.
She was foolish to think he was real.
She swam to shore and sat down on the beach towel that lay atop the sand. As she reached for some food she felt the sting of a slap hit her cheek.
Her mother stood above her, furious, "How dare you even think of eating at this time! You brother is drowning and all you can see fit to do is eat!"
She directed her gaze to the sea. The waves had gotten harsher, but not much different from when she had been in the water. A head suddenly bobbed from the water.
Sota.
He was struggling.
No.
No!
She looked around. Why is no one saving him!
The decision was before her before she could blink, and her body moved without command from her mind. She ran towards the waves. They seemed to grow taller as she neared the water.
She dove.
Swam...
Swam..
She reached him.
Sota was still alive, he opened his eyes full of fear and started crying in shock.
A strong wave knocked them underwater and separated them. Her brother was being taken away by the current and she could barely breathe.
The harder she tried to reach him, the farther he seemed to be carried away.
She couldn't breathe.
The scenario seemed all to familiar...
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Inuyasha flew towards Kagome as he heard her struggle in the water.
The spring was shallow enough, but she seemed to be underwater.
He plunged into the water and brought her body out of the spring. He jumped and laid her on the grass. He shook her, "Wake up Kagome! Wake up!"
He didn't want it to happen again. He couldn't let it happen again.
Luckily, after a few seconds she started to cough and he helped her sit up. He took off his outer clothing and put it on top of her.
She was safe.
She was still there.
But there was a lot of things still left unexplained...
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Well, that's the end of the chapter.
Personally, the beach scene was a little creepy to me, I just wrote it at one in the morning with my house being all dark and making weird noises.
I now know to write these in the day.
I promise things will look up in the story, it just needs to be like this for now.
Any ideas or comments are much appreciated.
Thanks for all who reviewed.
: Lo Lo-Koi :I'm glad you liked it!
: Silverontherose: sorry for scaring you.
: Agent-doo: you might be on to something there...
: Princess-of-the-wolfs: thanks for the support!
especially: to Amanda You review made me want to update faster. Your review was so totally awsome!
Remember!
R&R