Cruel Awakening

Kagome began to slip under. Sleep was drawing her in.

Kagome's hand finally fell still on Inu-Yasha's face.

Startled, Inu-Yasha whipped his head around and clamped his sharp teeth down into her soft skin. Warm sweet blood filled his mouth.

Kagome gasped with her eyes shooting open. She clamped her teeth down hard to withhold an agonizing scream.

Inu-Yasha unconsciously released his grip on her hand then sniffed the air. Interested in the scent, he tenderly licked her bleeding hand.

Inu-Yasha's eyes shot open.

He shifted his weight off her trying to catch his breath. He grabbed her bloody right hand with his left and forced it in front of his face.

A trickle of blood ran down from the left corner of his mouth.

He wiped the warm liquid away with his free hand. He curiously sniffed the liquid once. Guilt consumed his fearful eyes.

He couldn't believe he'd just bitten her. Horrible images of what could have happened flashed through his mind. I could have killed her. Inu-Yasha thought. What the hell was she thinking?

Kagome sighed relieved that Inu-Yasha had finally awoken from his nightmare. It had been a long night and the sun was now rising. "I'm alright, Inu-Yasha." Kagome reassured him softly.

"Then why are you bleeding?" Inu-Yasha asked ashamed of the answer. He had meant for the question to remain unanswered, but in the back of his mind he knew Kagome wouldn't leave it at that.

"You bit me!" She yelled at him.

Inu-Yasha diverted his face away from her hiding his eyes behind his angelic-colored bangs.

That was when she noticed Inu-Yasha's diverted gaze. He had meant his question to be rhetorical and she understood that now.

"Come here." Inu-Yasha stated tonelessly not giving her another option. The scent of her blood filled the air. He was determined to repair the damage he had done.

He took her hand in his then pulled the scarf from her bedside stand. He held the scarf against her hand while looking for the first aid kit she always had.

Kagome tried to apologize only to be cut short by Inu-Yasha. "…I'm sorry."

"You're so stupid you know that. I could have killed you." He dug in her first aid kit till he saw the items she always used to bandage him. He used them in the same way she always did.

"You were talking in your sleep. …Inu-Yasha, I'm sorry I can't change your past, but…"

"You're not coming back, are you?" Inu-Yasha asked under his breath.

"Inu-Yasha?" Kagome asked somewhat surprised.

Inu-Yasha sullenly bound her hand. "I've been thinking …maybe you shouldn't …shouldn't return…" At least then you'll be safe.

Tears filled Kagome's eyes. "Inu-Yasha?" She was now curious if Inu-Yasha was telling her not to come back. He had retrieved her so many times. It was almost painful to think that he was now telling her to stay behind.

Inu-Yasha didn't respond. He didn't need to. When he tied off her hand, she cringed and instinctively pulled back her hand.

Inu-Yasha turned away from her and stood up to leave. He couldn't bare to face her anymore.

"Inu-Yasha…" She knew he still wasn't listening. "Sit!" Kagome stated determined not to let him leave so upset. "Listen to me Inu-Yasha."

Inu-Yasha lay very still on the floor waiting for the effects of the rosary to wear off.