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Chapter 10 – Aftermath

Inuyasha sat in silence at the base of a worn tree with Kagome laid carefully across his lap in his arms. He had set aside the first aid kit and was slowly assessing her wounds. He brushed his fingertips lightly over the purpling bruise at her temple, worried that she wasn't waking yet. There were similar bruises on the inside of her forearms where she'd tried to block the tengu's staff. She was going to be hurting for awhile, of that he was certain. He glanced over to Sango who was worrying equally over Miroku. It looked as though the houshi had finally awoken and was trying, in vain, to dissuade the taijiya from inspecting what he was calling a 'bump'. Inuyasha shook his head and returned his attention to Kagome.

He had smelled blood when he'd lifted Kagome, but the strength of the scent or rather lack thereof, told him that it wasn't a deep wound. Finding no discernable area on her front, he carefully lifted and turned her to inspect her back. His eyes widened in shock and worry when he saw what remained of the sleeveless shirt she'd been wearing. Sliding as far as she had in the field, the rocks had torn through her shirt and flesh. He shifted her further, cradling her head in the crook of his left elbow; her right arm thrown over his left arm and leg while his left hand lay lightly on her side to keep her from shifting further. Once he had her in a secure position, he took a better look at the wounds, frowning when pulling at the shirt to get a better look caused Kagome to make a noise that he instantly registered as one of pain.

Most of the scratches had stopped bleeding, but he knew from experience that allowing the blood to dry to the shirt would worsen the pain in removing it. He would most likely get an earful from Kagome when she woke up, but that was the least of his worries. At least two wounds still bled. Shippou came into his line of sight with two of Kagome's bottles of water, setting them down with a hesitant smile by the first aid kit. Inuyasha eyed the kitsune for a moment, realizing he would need an extra set of hands to clean Kagome's wounds.

"Oi, Shippou," he said softly. "Think you can find some cloth to clean her scratches?"

Eyes widen briefly at being asked to assist, Shippou nodded and raced off for Kagome's bag. There were little scraps of cloth he remembered her calling 'wash cloths' that she used for bathing. He had to dig almost to the bottom, but he finally found one and raced back. He wasn't too worried about Kagome's scratches since she didn't smell like death, but her lack of response when Inuyasha started lifting her shirt bothered him. She must have been hit pretty hard to stay 'asleep' through Inuyasha's touch.

"Soak it in water, then come hold her shirt so I can clean off the blood."

Inuyasha's voice brought Shippou out of his silent worry and he did as told. Standing by Kagome's head, he held her shirt near the back of her neck while Inuyasha slowly and softly wiped the blood from the wounds. With the exception of two deep lines down either side of her spine, the scratches were nothing. Setting aside the cloth, Inuyasha dug into the white box of medicine and pulled out the bottles he recognized from Kagome's previous ministrations to their own wounds. One he remembered her calling an 'ant-ee-sep-tick' that kept the wounds from getting 'in-fek-tid', but it stung too. He sprayed all the wounds, leaving the smaller ones open because he knew they would heal within a couple of days on a human. For the two large ones he simply bandaged, knowing the bandages would need to be changed frequently until the bleeding stopped.

Throughout it all, Kagome remained unconscious and still as though she were in a deep sleep. Inuyasha fought hard against the urge to whimper his distress as he returned her to her previous position while Shippou took the cloth to rinse in the river and refill the water bottle they'd emptied. What he really wanted was for her to wake up and change into a clean shirt. Dry or not, the blood was starting to bother him. Salvation arrived in the form of Sango who held one of Kagome's shirts; this one in a shade of green similar to her school uniform, but with shorter sleeves and buttons up the front.

"I'm sure Kagome wouldn't want to stay in that shirt," Sango said softly.

Inuyasha let out a sigh of frustration and relief; he hadn't figured out how he was going to get her out of the ruined shirt. Under Sango's direction, he carefully used his claws to cut through the fabric so it would be easily removed. Sango held onto the shirt until he was finished and closed his eyes, even turning his head as an added precaution should Kagome wake. Miroku, thankfully, was out of their line of sight or else Inuyasha wouldn't have agreed; or at least waited until the houshi was sleeping. Once Kagome was changed, Inuyasha gathered her as close as he dared. Her breathing was evening out, telling him that she had fallen into true sleep and not a state of unawareness.

He watched the rest of his pack go through the motions of setting up camp. It was late afternoon, but with Miroku and Kagome injured they would be going no further until they were better which was fine by him. Shippou was laying out Kagome's bedding while Sango started a fire. Miroku was propped against Kirara, who was curled around the houshi protectively. Inuyasha had to smile at that. While the relationship between the taijiya and houshi hadn't changed much in public, Inuyasha suspected that it had changed enough in private to cause the fire-neko to bring Miroku under her 'wing'. Similar to the way he'd taken Shippou under his own these past few months. He couldn't see the kit as a son, nor would he treat him as such, but Inuyasha did regard Shippou as a pup in need of a male figure to protect him and show him how to survive. Shippou was pack and relation or not, pack was not left behind, in any way.

He regarded the sleeping woman in his arms and briefly hugged her close. It's no easier to leave you behind either.

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"You can't keep running."

"My task is not completed."

"At least listen to."

"I know why you search for me."

Kagome sighed with frustration. "Then why are you running, Kikyou?"

Kikyou frowned, "Because I cannot leave until I deal with Naraku."

"For all that we are linked, you don't know everything."

"I know that you are the one that blocks the paths between myself, Inuyasha, and Naraku. You are our bane."

Kagome awoke with a start, blinking slowly in the morning sunlight. Her mind registered several things at once. It was morning. Sango was cooking. Miroku was awake but resting against Kirara. Shippou was wrapped in her bedding. Closing her eyes she turned her mind towards herself. She was propped up against something with, presumably, her pack for a pillow. Her head was throbbing, as were her arms. She was lying slightly on her side and her back felt sticky. She decided that moving was probably a good idea, but before she could do anything more than take a deep breath in preparation for sitting up, her 'pillow' moved and she found herself wrapped up in the large sleeves of Inuyasha's haori.

"Lay still or you'll open the wounds."

Kagome stiffened at the sound of his voice; or rather at the soft tone he was using. It was a tone she'd often wanted to hear, but fate was cruel if he'd start using it now; she didn't want him to start caring, not when she'd finally made her choice. She closed her eyes and concentrated on just lying still and quelling the ache in her chest. Little by little she withdrew into herself, attempting to avoid the situation she was now in. And to avoid the pain, both physically and emotional.

"Don't you ignore me, wench." Inuyasha shook her gently once.

"How is everyone?"

Inuyasha suddenly growled and moved out from behind her, letting her drop to the ground as he stalked out of the camp flattening his ears as he went at her gasp of slight pain at the sudden movement. Damn it! I try to be nice and she ignores me! How can I tell her if she won't let me in? The moment he was out of the camp's sight he let loose a snarl and cut down the closest tree with his claws. He fell to his knees as the tree fell to the ground, the anger gone as swiftly as it came. Is this like what I've done to Kagome? This helplessness. I'm running out of options. She probably won't listen to me unless I corner her.

He smirked as he ran the idea through his head. Granted it would probably really piss her off, but he was getting tired of his efforts being dismissed or outright disregarded by her.

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Kagome sighed softly as she watched the scenery pass with disinterest, thankful that her moving 'bed' in the form of Kirara didn't jostle her and aggravate her wounds. She had tried, repeatedly, to get them to let her walk the next morning. Even Sango had agreed with Inuyasha about making her stay still. They had actually wanted to refrain from breaking camp for at least another day, but Kagome wouldn't hear of it. She had already been out of it for a day and a half, all the while cursing her inability to defend herself after spending so much time on the techniques. The very thing she'd been trying to prevent, Inuyasha saving her, had happened anyway. She truly was just a weak, pathetic human and her actions with the tengu had only reinforced his words.

Pathetic human, having to rescue you all the time; make me sick.

Kagome closed her eyes against the image his words brought up, but it wouldn't fade. Her incarnation, Kikyou. And as soon as she thought of Kikyou, she found herself in contact with the undead miko. Not so much in words, but rather in feelings, they communicated. How long they 'spoke' she didn't know, but in the end she was left with the knowledge that Kikyou would not be easily found. Kikyou had no intention of letting Kagome near enough to actually speak in words. She had conveyed quite clearly that she felt it was Kagome who prevented her from completing her tasks. Kagome sighed once more, this one born of frustration, as she opened her eyes. She jerked into an upright position as her eyes connected with Inuyasha's.

Inuyasha frowned at Kagome's reaction to his proximity. That had not been his intention when he'd heard her sighs and decided to inquire about her health. They'd been traveling all morning and part of the afternoon. Lunch was eaten as they'd walked because the black clouds in the distance had grown closer and darker with each hour. He didn't want to be caught in the downpour without adequate shelter for Kagome. While the wounds on her back were healing well, there were a couple that would take longer than the rest due to how deep they'd gone.

He'd been grateful for once that Kagome always carried her box of medicines. At the edge of camp he'd carefully cut away the back of her shirt to allow Sango to administer the wounds and bandaged them. If Kagome had been conscious he would have been yelling at her for her recklessness. But as fate would have it, Kagome remained blissfully unaware even throughout Sango putting a new shirt on her. And she remained that way for the rest of the day and all of the following day. When she'd awoken he'd wanted to stay an extra day, but before he could really argue with her decision to break camp he'd smelled Sesshoumaru. That alone had been enough to 'give in' and head out. With Kagome injured and Miroku still sporting a headache, Inuyasha was not inclined to wait and see if his bastard brother would put in an appearance or pass them by.

It was as though the very thought of him had called, because the Inuyoukai appeared on the road before them. The dragonet, Ah-Un, landed off to the right with the girl, Rin, and Jaken upon it's back. Only their presence kept Inuyasha from drawing Tessaiga and confronting Sesshoumaru. His brother may be an arrogant asshole bent on taking him out, but Inuyasha knew the youkai wouldn't fight with Rin nearby. The group came to a halt, each member eyeing the lord with equal parts of apprehension and speculation.

"What do you want, bastard?"

"This Sesshoumaru will speak with your miko." He paused. "Alone."

"The hell you will!" Inuyasha snarled, his hand halfway to Tessaiga when Kagome's voice froze him in place.

"You aren't my keeper, Inuyasha. I'm a big girl. I can handle my own."

"Keh. Like you handled the tengu?"

The momentary hurt look in her eyes had him instantly kicking himself for stooping so low. Damnit, he couldn't help it. No matter what training she'd done, to him, she would always need saving; or so he had hoped. The attack by the tengu had reaffirmed it for him. And now she wanted to question his authority... in front of Sesshoumaru no less? The wench needed to learn when to let him handle things.

"If you are finished." came the flat voice that had started the argument.

Kagome slid from Kirara's back, wincing slightly as the motion pulled at her lower back muscles; namely on the muscles bruised the most. She waved off Sango's motion to assist her and eyed the Inuyoukai for a long moment before looking to Inuyasha. The need to assure Inuyasha that she was safe and would return was another habit she learned she could not erase.

"I don't think he's here to fight or else he'd have left Rin behind. I'll be right back."

He didn't look satisfied, but he did release his grip on Tessaiga. Taking it to be her cue, Kagome approached Sesshoumaru with caution, wrapping her aura tightly about her. She could have sworn she saw the youkai's eye twitch at her actions, but before she could make sure, he had turned on his heel and headed into the trees.

"Why is the undead miko suddenly afraid of you?"

Kagome froze in place and blinked slowly. That was the last thing she figured he, of all people, would ask. But it was also a question she couldn't answer without telling him everything. And if she wouldn't tell Inuyasha, the she sure as hell wasn't telling his brother! Why did he suddenly need to know about a woman who was usually beneath his notice? Unless he was tracking her… but Kikyou knew no more of Naraku's location than she did… Kagome frowned slightly as her gaze flickered over Tenseiga… Or was his sudden interest brought on by something else?

Sesshoumaru frowned at the lack of response and pinned the miko with a glare. Either the woman didn't know or she was refusing to speak. Whichever it was, she must have gained a new power to strike fear into her predecessor. The undead miko had given him a clue, but the true answers, he knew, would come from the reincarnation. A woman who was fiercely loyal and protective of his hanyou brother. If the information he sought involved Inuyasha, he was certain the woman would never speak. Given how Inuyasha reacted around Kikyou, he was certain that whatever this woman knew would most likely involve Inuyasha in some form or another.

"I didn't know she was running from me." It wasn't a complete lie. Kagome knew that Kikyou would most likely avoid her, but she didn't think Kikyou would actively fear her. From the look on Sesshoumaru's face he wasn't buying it.

"You reek of Inuyasha."

Any thought to defend her statement about Kikyou went flying at his words. Not usually one to curse, she was silently cursing now; afraid that Sesshoumaru might now attack her as well since he despised Inuyasha. When the youkai made no move towards her, she tamped down on her fear and forced herself to think.

"We travel together," she replied in a tone that said it should be obvious why she smelled like Inuyasha. Never mind that she'd have to actually touch Inuyasha for an extend time in order to 'reek' of him. He didn't need to know that that wasn't why she smelled of him. Of course, Inuyasha probably didn't know why either and both brothers could remain clueless in her opinion.

"You lie badly, miko." Without warning he was suddenly inches from her, his eyes raking over her form briefly before leaning slightly down and sniffing. He straightened before Kagome had a chance to react, but made no move to step away. If anything, his gaze only grew colder.

"You make a false claim, miko. Remove it."

Kagome stiffened at the accusation and frowned. "I make no claims, Sesshoumaru."

"Remove it before he finds it. Regardless of his feelings for you, such a claim on his life will anger him."

"How would you know? What of Kikyou's 'claim'?"

Sesshoumaru snorted. "Her claim is insignificant to the one you make."

"Argh! I'm not claiming anything, baka!" She immediately gasped and covered her mouth, shocked that she'd treated him as if he were Inuyasha. Before he could do anything more than lift an eyebrow, she felt Inuyasha's youki. She frowned as she whipped her head in his direction and glared at the treeline.

Sesshoumaru took it as a good time to leave, silently departing while the miko's attention was elsewhere. No fight could compare to the woman's ire when she caught Inuyasha doing wrong.

"Are you spying again, Inuyasha? Can't you trust me?" A small squeak escaped her lips as Inuyasha dropped from the trees right in front of her.

"It's him I don't trust, Kagome." He tucked his arms into the sleeves of his haori as he regarded her thoughtfully. He had come upon them just as Sesshoumaru was accusing her of some kind of claim. He wasn't quite sure what it meant, but he had an idea or two. Whatever it was, Sesshoumaru implied that the claim held more weight than Kikyou's claim on his life. What kind of claim could Kagome make that was more important than his life? Or rather his death since Kikyou sought to end his once she ended Naraku's. If Kikyou's claim meant dying…. could Kagome's claim….

"He wasn't after anything except information." Kagome's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

"Like what? We don't know where Naraku is anymore than he does."

Kagome bit the inside of her cheek as she tried to figure out what to tell him without making him demand further explanation.

"I think he met Kikyou because he asked me what she was running from. And no, I don't know." She looked away as she spoke, afraid she might somehow give something away if she kept eye contact. She wasn't quite lying; she had an idea or two, but she didn't know for certain why Kikyou was avoiding her and thus avoiding Inuyasha as well, not to mention that she was really afraid that he might hate her if she were a possible reason for his beloved miko, undead or no, refused to see him. The ensuing silence was slowly beginning to unnerve her resolve to keep her secrets. Left alone with Inuyasha, she felt her defenses weakening. She knew he had the right to know.

"Kagome, I…"

The moment he spoke she snapped, knowing she had to get away quickly before she came completely undone.

"We should get back. The others are probably wondering what happened." Her cheerful tone sounded hollow even to herself as she made to turn around and leave.

Inuyasha frowned at Kagome's sudden change and the scent of fear on her. He'd finally, finally, gotten her alone and now she was running, again. Except now she was running from him. What had he done to make her suddenly so afraid to be alone with him? Reacting quickly before she could leave the clearing, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards him. When she gasped and tensed up, poised to fight free, he swung her onto his back and took off, giving her no choice but to cling to him or fall. The latter, of course, he'd never allow.

"I sent them on ahead. Hopefully they'll reach the village before this storm comes."

Kagome clenched her eyes closed tightly, refusing to allow herself to enjoy the sudden closeness of him. Which was easily done as she focused on the tiny spark of anger at being yanked around and him sending the group on without them. Before she could begin to argue with him, her chest throbbed painfully. She barely contained a hiss of pain as her hands clutched his haori while she buried her face in his back, attempting to ride out the pain as silently as possible. But, unlike before, this pain refused to diminish quickly. Her last thought as she drifted into unconsciousness was that now Inuyasha would not allow his questions to go unanswered.

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A/N:

The delay for this chapter would be another email fiasco. I think the servers must have it out for me and my beta.

I return to work (finally) after maternity leave, so please be patient. I try to update as fast as possible.

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Standard Disclaimer: Inuyasha is property of Rumiko Takahashi.

All other characters are mine unless otherwise mentioned.