Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or his cute ears.

Chapter 6: Kagome Awakens, Inuyasha's Disappearance

Inuyasha sat sleeping against the hut next to the door. He awaited for news from Kaede about Kagome's condition. He slept lightly as always, but in his dreams were memories of him and Kagome. All of them were pleasant, but some tore his heart in two.

"Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha opened one eye and looked down into Shippou's face.

"What do you want, kid?" He murmured.

"Can I sleep with you? I used to sleep with Kagome, but Kaede won't let me. And…" By now tears were welling up in the young kitsune's eyes.

"Sure." Inuyasha mumbled, pretending not to care when in reality his heart went out to his young friend. Kagome was after all, his surrogate mother.

Shippou climbed into his lap and curled up into a ball.

"Thank you Inuyasha." Shippou sniffed.

"Don't mention it…ever." Inuyasha retorted, but he was too late. All he got in return were the snores of a kitsune in a deep slumber.

His dream still fresh in his mind. That day, Kagome and I sat in the cherry tree, we were watching the sun rise. I took her there because I wanted to see her smile, it was because… "What did I do?" Inuyasha thought out loud. I remember! Kagome saw me with Kikyou! Kikyou and I kissed!…Why am I happy about this?

Inuyasha's heart felt heavy. Will I ever see her smile again? Will I ever be able to hold her hand or look into her eyes or kiss her soft lips ever again? Will I ever get the chance to tell her how I feel?

Kagome opened her eyes. Kaede slept in the corner.She felt a sharp pain in her chest as she sat up andlooked down. Instead of her shirt, bandages were wrapped around her chest, completely covering her so she was given modesty.

Thank you Kaede.

She paused. What's that noise? It sounds like…like someone crying.

She slowly got up as the sobbing continued. She bit her lip to keep from crying out in pain, drawing blood from her lip. She gasped for air and clutched her chest, looking down she saw her bandages turn from white to crimson as the stain grew. A groan escaped her lips. Kagome slapped a hand over her mouth, but it was too late. Thecrying stopped.

"Kagome?"

Inuyasha tensed up when he heard the groan from inside the hut. He carefully set Shippou down on the ground. He didn't even bother to wipe the tears off his face. He started sniffing the air.

That smell…that's Kagome's blood!

She pressed her hand against the stain as another stab of pain was produced.

"Kagome!"

Kagome looked up and there he was, looking at her with sparkling amber eyes. Kagome swayed unsteadily on her legs and pitched forward. Inuyasha lurched forward, catching her before she hit the floor. He held her in his arms as if he were going to lose her and the only way not to was to never let her go.

"Kagome, I-I thought I'd lost you that time," Inuyasha whispered, his lips close to her ear sending chills down her spine asa warm sensation filled her senses.

"Inuyasha!" She gasped for air.

The pain is getting worse and it's getting harder to breath!

"Inuyasha…please, I can't breath."

Inuyasha remembered what had brought him into the hut in the first place.

Kagome's blood! Inuyasha jumped back.

Kagome looked down at her hand only to find it covered in blood. She shivered and Inuyasha practically tore off his crimson haori. He wrapped her up in it and carried her out of the hut and ran to the sacred tree, where he found herbs to stop the bleeding and ease the pain for Kagome. He then jumped to the highest branch possible and gave her the herbs. Then he rested against the trunk, holding her all the while in his arms.

"Kagome, there's something I have to tell you, but I don't know how…" his mouth had gone dry and his palms became sweaty, he was so nervous it felt like he had an entire field of butterflies in his stomach. He looked down at her peaceful face and realized that she was asleep. So he sat there cradling his love in his arms watching the sun rise.

"We're going to get through this Kagome, I promise," He whispered gently kissing her temple. Just being able to hold her in his arms was enough to make him feel completely at ease.

"Kaede!" Shippou shrieked.

Kaede woke with a jolt, "Have ye no respect for your elders young master Shippou?"

"Kaede! Kagome is gone! And so is Inuyasha! And look! There's fresh blood everywhere!"

"Kaede! Shippou! Whatin the name of buddhais going on?" Miroku demanded storming into the hut with Sango and Kirara close at his heels.

"It seems Inuyasha and Kagome are gone. Either she woke up and tried to go to Inuyasha and her wound opened up, or-"

"Kaede! I don't think Inuyasha would ever let that happen to her, especially since Kouga has been lurking around a lot lately," Sango pointed out.

"Ye must go and find them! I fear Kagome's wound will only get worse!"

"Inuyasha!" yelled Miroku. "We've been at this for hours! I don't think we're ever going to find them!"