Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha! Now leave me alone! -cries harder-
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It was turning midnight when she woke up. "Uh..." she put a hand to her head and felt her surface burning up. She sighed.
"So..." came a voice from the corner of her room. "You're finally awake?" Kayame recognized Sesshoumaru's voice.
"Yes..." she replied. "But when did I go to sleep?"
"Around five hours ago. You sort of passed out on the porch after talking to Inuyasha and I carried you inside. Kagome put you in bed and I've been watching over you ever since." came Sesshoumaru's deep voice.
"Wow..." Kayame was a little surprised. "I don't usually get sick that easily."
"They have many questions to ask you," he said. "But before you answer, Kagome had some ramen made for you. Would you like some? At least before my brother eats all of it." He was uneasy saying this, for he had never been so casual in his life. He relaxed when Kayame laughed.
"Ramen would be great," she replied, smiling. "I'll be out in a couple of minutes, so you don't have to go through the trouble to bring it to me." Sesshoumaru nodded and stood up, walking towards the door.
"Sesshoumaru?"
"Yes."
"Thank you."
There was a short pause and Sesshoumaru walked out of the room, leaving Kayame to dwell in her own thoughts.
In the living room, everyone was talking quietly with each other. Except Shippo, who was really worried, being the kind-hearted kitsune he is. But one particular person was not enjoying his presence.
"Is she going to be ok?" asked Shippo.
"You keep asking that, runt," said Inuyasha harshly. "And I'll pull that tail of yours right out of its socket."
"Inuyasha!" Kagome said. "Sit!" Inuyasha's face slammed into the ground, practically shaking the whole house. "He's just worried. Stop being such a sore- ass."
"Since when am I a sore- ass!" he yelled.
"Since you lost the 'ramen battle' with Kayame!" yelled Shippo. "You've been moping around! You don't take well to losing." Everyone stopped as Sesshoumaru walked out of Kayame's room.
"How is she! Is she ok! What did you do to her!" asked Shippo.
"Calm down, kitsune. I did nothing to her," said Sesshoumaru in his usual cold tone of voice. "Go in and check if you don't believe me."
"No need to check up on me, I'm here." Kayame stepped out of her room wearing a light blue shirt with a white collar, blue jeans, a silver locket around her neck, and tennis shoes.
"Kayame!" Shippo yelled excitedly. He ran up to her but stopped when she held up her hand. Using the wall for a little support, she said, "Please wait until I sit down, Shippo." He nodded, and helped her to the couch. When she was comfortable, she let Shippo jump into her arms as she held him like a child.
"Kayame?" asked Kagome nervously. "Shouldn't you be resting?"
"Oh, I'm fine," she said. "I'm not going to let a mere fever stop me. But thanks for worrying."
Everyone looked at each other. Kayame sighed.
"I can see you have a lot of questions to ask me," she said.
"How did you find us in the first place?" Inuyasha bursted out.
"Inuyasha, don't push her too hard!" said Shippo from Kayame's arms. "She still doesn't feel well!"
"It's alright Shippo," she said before continuing. "Well, this led me to you." She pulled at the locket, opened it, andshowed it to everyone. Inside was a large portion of the Shikon Jewel. They gasped.
"What? How come I didn't sense it?" asked Kagome. "It's huge! Almost 1/3 of the whole jewel!"
"Calm down Kagome. You couldn't sense it because I was shielding it with my aura." Kayame closed the locket and put the chain down. "But I'm surprised. I thought that at least one of you would have sensed my protective aura."
Everyone shifted slightly.
"Kagome, I can alsosee that you still have things to learn." said Kayame. Kagome looked at her oddly.
"Kayame, are you saying that..." Inuyasha didn't finish his sentence.
"Yes, I am saying that I understand Kagome's powers. And for one to understand such powers, one must experience them. Here, I'll show you what I mean." Kayame stood up, Shippo still in her arms, and walked outside. The others followed.
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They stood, watching, unsure of what Kayame was doing.
"Ok, Kagome, try to hit the bulls-eye on that target." Kayame pointed to the target she had set up moments ago. "Use a purifying arrow."
Kagome nodded and noched an arrow. She took aim and fired the arrow, which lit up with a hot pink flame, and it glided toward the target. It wasn't her best, for it hit the ring outside of the bulls-eye.
Kayame was silent for a split second. "Hm. You still have a lot to work on, but that was pretty good. If you build up emotions to backan arrow, it will hit the target dead center no matter what. Unless you have a terrible, terrible aim." Kayame smiled, and Kagome returned it. Then Kayame turned and walked over to a shed in the corner of the yard. She shifted through things until she pulled out a very elegant and graceful bow. Then she grabbed a quiver of arrows and walked back over.
"Don't be fooled by this bow's beautiful appearance. It is very deadly because it was specially made for me." she said. "Here, Inuyasha, try to pull the string back." She handed the bow to Inuyasha.
"No problem," he said. He took hold of the bow and tried to pull the bowstring back, but failed. He let go of it, took a deep breath, and tried to pull it back again, but to no prevail.
"You can't pull it back can you?" asked Kagome, almost laughing. There was a pause, then Inuyasha feh'd and handed the bow back to Kayame.
"Thank you," said Kayame, taking her bow back. Then, without warning, she noched an arrow, aimed, and fired in one smooth movement. The moment the arrow was released, it sprang forward and flared with a nimbus of baby blue-colored flames. As it whiplashed through the air, the flames gradually turned to a dark royal blue and it's speed increased until it hit the bulls-eye dead center. Suddenly, the target burst into flames that matched that of the arrow and turned to dust. Everyone stared at the ashes of the target with awe. Kayame looked at it too, and turned back to them with an almost nervous look on her face. "Oops." she said sheepishly. "I guess I had too much emotion backing that arrow." She sweatdropped at everyone's awkward expressions. "Ehehe..."
Kagome recovered from her shock the fastest and said, "That was AMAZING! Where did you learn to do that!" Kayame blushed a little and replied, "I trained myself. But I've had these powers before I had the Jewel."
"Huh?" came Inuyasha confused question.
"Yes, well-" Kayame suddenly coughed and shivers ran down her spine.
"You need to get inside. This weather is bad for your vulnerable health." said Sesshoumaru immediatly. He walked up to her and grabbed her wrist, careful not to jab her with his claws."Come on."
Kayame looked up at him and smiled. "Ok..."
Inuyasha, Shippo and Kagome looked at each other and smiled silently to themselves as they followed them.
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The dew of morning sunlight seeped in through the window, brightening Kayame's face. She was dreaming, but was soon woken up by a slight nudging in her shoulder. As she sat up, she groaned in pain. "Ohh... I feel terrible...uh...oh! Shippo!" She suddenly realized that it was the little kitsune who had been her alarm clock.
"Hello Kayame!" he said cheerily. "I woke up last night and I was worried about you so I couldn't sleep the rest of the night so I finally decided to wake you up and--
"Alright Shippo," said Kayame wearily. "I get it. I'm just not feeling well."
"Oh, I'm sorry," said Shippo, putting his head down guiltily. "I forgot."
"It's ok, Shippo. I might as well get up anyway." she said. Even though I really don't want to.
"Yay!"
Kayame moved her tired legs over to the edge of the bed and stood up. But after a moment, she fell to her knees and started coughing up blood. Oh god...
"Kayame!" Shippo was uncertain what to do, so he ran out of the room and came back a second later with Sesshoumaru, who quickly ran to Kayame. "Kitsune!" he said angrily. "What did you do?"
"I only woke her up!" came Shippo's frightenedreply. A few moments later, Inuyasha and Kagome appeared in the doorway and ran to Kayame as well. "What happened?" asked Kagome worriedly. Shippo explained.
"My only guess is that this in notan ordinary cold." said Inuyasha. Kagome nodded, looked at Kayame helplessly, and then gasped.
"What is it, Kagome?" asked Inuyasha.
"She's coughing up bright red blood! We need to call an ambulance! Kagome ran to find a phone. Sesshoumaru looked up after Kagome, then looked back at Kayame. She looked very pale and frightened as she coughed up more blood and her pupils were large, even though sunlight filled the room. Her locket started to glow, and she passed out. Sesshoumaru caught her from falling and stood up with her in his arms.
Kagome ran back in, out of breath. "I called 911. An ambulance is on the way."
"Too bad. They will have to face disappointment." Sesshoumaru said with a gleam in his eye. He dashed out of the room with an unconscious Kayame stillin his arms, with Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippo trying to keep up.