Chapter II.
It had been three days since Kagome had awakened from her dream and she was still too weak to do any heavy traveling. In all, she had been away from home for two weeks. Kagome always went back home each week to catch up in school and to let her family know that she was alright-presuming Inuyasha and she hadn't gotten into an argument which meant that she would be back sooner.
Kagome lay down on the floor of the inn in her bedding with a blanket pulled up to her chin while Sango, Shippou and Kiara sat beside her. Inuyasha and Miroku had gone to talk to some of the people in another neighboring village that had been attacked by demons as well.
"My mom must be very worried," said Kagome in a voice no more than a whisper.
"Yes, I'm sure she is, but you still haven't recovered much of your strength to continue traveling," said Sango.
Kagome was becoming restless and she wanted to get moving. She felt a little of her strength returning and she wanted to get home or do anything at all that would get her mind off of Inuyasha. Her mind kept wandering back to how happy she had felt when Inuyasha had told her how much he loved her. To know it was only a dream and to know that he had himself only said those words to bring her out of it hurt her even more.
Kagome got up slowly and threw the blankets off of her and tried to stand.
"No Kagome!!" yelled Shippou.
"You are still too weak!"
"Shippou's right Kagome, your too weak to travel, now PLEASE lie down," said Sango with much sympathy.
Sango knew her friend not only suffered weakness of body but pain of heart as well. She sympathized with Kagome and wanted to beat Inuyasha up until he realized that Kagome was the one for him.
"No!" said Kagome determined.
"I can't stay here! I need to go home, if I don't, I won't." Kagome broke off her sentence verbally as she finished it in her head. "I won't be able to stop crying if I see Inuyasha again.
Inuyasha had been considerate. He had given Kagome her space and she thanked him for that. She couldn't bear to lay eyes on him because every time she did she felt an ache in her soul.
Kagome felt tears come back again. She couldn't bear to see Inuyasha right now. Every time she did she felt her heart break.
"Please Sango," pleaded Kagome.
Sango saw the pain and anguish in her friend's eyes and conceded.
"Ok Kagome," she said.
"Just let me tell the others-"
"No!" Said Kagome as she stopped Sango from finishing her sentence.
"I don't want them to know. I just want to leave," said Kagome.
"Ok," said Sango as she smiled sadly.
Sango knew that Kagome did not want to see Inuyasha just yet. Sango helped Kagome up on Kiara and told Shippou to wait there until Miroku and Inuyasha returned to inform them of where they had gone and then she and Kagome left for the Bone Eater's Well.
Inuyasha and Miroku arrived back at the Inn thirty minutes after Kagome, Sango and Kiara had left. Inuyasha knew something was wrong because Kagome's sweet scent was faint and not as strong as it would have been if she were still there. Shippou immediately told them where Kagome had gone and Inuyasha immediately left the Inn and broke into a samurai run to catch up with them. He had to make sure that Kagome was ok and that she made it back safe to the well. He knew that Sango could take care of herself and Kagome but in the weak state that she was in she would not be able to make it safety back down and up the well again. Inuyasha also needed to see her face and her beautiful dark brown eyes once again.
Kagome, Sango and Kiara had made it to well and landed when Kiara turned around quickly towards the forest and growled. Sango had just helped Kagome to the ground and took her place beside Kiara and scanned the forest.
"What is it Kiara? Asked Sango as she placed her hand on her Hiraikotsu and prepared for an attack.
Just then Kouga emerged from the forest and stopped beside Kagome who was sitting down in the lush green grasses beside the well. Kagome rested her back against the well for support and knew instantly that it was Kouga before she saw him. She felt his presence and the Shikon shards he possessed in his legs.
"Kagome? Are you alright?" He asked as he checked her with his cerulean eyes that held nothing but concern.
"I'm fine Kouga," said Kagome as she sighed heavily. The ride to the well had worn her out.
"Hello to you too Kouga," said Sango as she turned to address Kouga.
"Oh, Sango. I forgot you were there," said Kouga as he glanced up at her for a second and then back to Kagome.
"Obviously," said Sango as she saw the way the wolf demon fretted over Kagome.
Sango knew that Kouga loved Kagome. Sango was sure her friend was thinking why couldn't she fall in love with Kouga instead of Inuyasha but love was funny like that sometimes. If you could choose whom you fell in love with, then would it still be called love?
"That dog turd did this didn't he?" Asked Kouga.
Kagome was curious as to how Kouga knew about her condition.
"How did you know that I was.sick?" Asked Kagome.
She didn't want to reveal to Kouga why she was really in the state that she was in. It was really none of his business.
"I have ears all over and one of my wolves told me about a village being attacked by demons and that they saw Mutt face there. I followed your scent and sensed that something was wrong."
Kagome was touched. Even though she had repeatedly told Kouga that there would never be anything between them like he hoped, he never gave up. He was persistent, Kagome would give him that. But wasn't that exactly what she was? Persistent? When Inuyasha had told her that he had chosen Kikiyo over her, she still would not give him up without a fight. She kept telling herself that she would make Inuyasha see how much she loved him and that one day he would realize that he and she were meant to be.
"I thank you for your concern Kouga," said Kagome as she tried to stand.
Kouga helped Kagome stand and then supported her in his arms. Sango and Kiara had gone off and stood some distance away in the forest to let Kouga and Kagome have some privacy.
"Kagome, let me take you away back to my den and take care of you," Kouga stated rather than asked. "Kouga, I'm fine I promise. I need to go back home so that my mom can take care of me," said Kagome.
Kouga stared into Kagome's eyes with such intensely that Kagome had to look away.
"Alright Kagome. I will let you get away from me this time," he said.
Kagome smiled sadly and then turned towards the well. She was just about to ask Kouga to help her down when she heard Kouga growl menacingly.
Kagome turned around and saw that Inuyasha stood some feet away from them in the clearing growling at Kouga in return. They both stared at each other as if they could kill one another with looks alone.
Kagome felt her breathe catch in her chest at the sight of Inuyasha. Every time Kagome saw him it was as if she were seeing him for the first time. He was so handsome, valiant, and strong. Kagome felt her heart skip beats and she felt her face become hot. Then Inuyasha looked from Kouga to her and Kagome knew she would surly faint. His gaze was so intense that Kagome could not break contact. She returned his stare and thought she saw hurt. Was Inuyasha hurt? Surly he wasn't hurt that she was there with Kouga? He had chosen whom he wanted regardless of what she felt.
"Hey Dogturd!" growled Kouga.
"You let my woman get sick?"
Inuyasha growled.
"She ain't your woman!" He screamed at Kouga.
"Well she certainly ain't yours. You like that dead chick!" Yelled Kouga.
"I swear dogturd you are stupider than I thought to let someone like Kagome get away, but that's fine. It just leaves the door open for me to come in," said Kouga smiling.
How dare Kouga come and take advantage of Kagome while she was weak. Inuyasha wanted to cry out so bad to Kouga that Kagome was HIS but he could not chance it because Naraku always had his minions around eavesdropping.
"Let's go Kouga. I've been waiting for this for a long time," said Inuyasha as he drew out his sword.
Kouga laughed and then sat Kagome back down gently on the ground and took her hand, stared into her eyes lovingly and placed a soft sweet kiss on the inside of her palm. Kagome was genuinely touched. She smiled at the sweetness of his gesture.
Inuyasha fumed. How dare Kouga make moves on HIS Kagome!! Inuyasha took in a sharp intake of breath when he saw Kagome smile. She hadn't smiled like that in a while. There was no sadness in her smile. It was happy. Inuyasha felt his heart stop.
Kouga stood up and turned to Inuyasha and smiled cockily. Just when Inuyasha charged for an attack Kouga turned to run away and his retreating voice was carried by the wind to Inuyasha ears only. Inuyasha growled once again and cursed.
Sango waited with Kiara some distance away and smiled. She saw the look on Inuyasha's face when he first saw Kouga with Kagome and then when Kouga had kissed Kagome's hand. Who was Inuyasha kidding? Any fool could see that he was desperately in love with Kagome. Too bad Inuyasha hadn't realized it yet. Or had he?
Kagome looked down at the ground afraid to meet Inuyasha eyes. Inuyasha sheathed his sword and hesitated before he walked over to Kagome. He stood in front of her and then knelt down on the ground and tried to get her to look at him.
She didn't. Kagome tried to force sound to come out of her mouth but Inuyasha being so close to her made her excited. She prayed that he did not pull her into one of his nice warm strong hugs as he so often did. She couldn't take a hug right now from him. She wouldn't let go.
"Kagome, I will take you home if you want me to?" Inuyasha asked with uncertainty.
"Yeah sure," said Kagome. She would still not meet his eyes.
Inuyasha then moved towards her and picked her up in his arms gently and stood up. Kagome wrapped her arms around his shoulders and rested her head against his chest and heard his heart beat rapidly. She sighed and closed her eyes. This was worst than him giving her a hug. She felt so secure and safe in his arms. She knew that once he left her in her time and came back to his that she would not want him to leave.
Inuyasha sighed as well. It felt so right to have Kagome in his arms. It was like he was meant to hold her and protect her. Inuyasha knew that once he took her back home that he himself would not want to leave her side.
Inuyasha secured Kagome in his arms and leapt down the well.
Sango and Kiara both walked towards the well and looked down.
"See you later guys. I'm fine with making it back to the inn by myself. Thanks for asking," yelled Sango as she smiled.
Sango looked at Kiara who seemed as if she was smiling as well.
"Love," said Sango as she and Kiara headed back towards the Inn.
It had been three days since Kagome had awakened from her dream and she was still too weak to do any heavy traveling. In all, she had been away from home for two weeks. Kagome always went back home each week to catch up in school and to let her family know that she was alright-presuming Inuyasha and she hadn't gotten into an argument which meant that she would be back sooner.
Kagome lay down on the floor of the inn in her bedding with a blanket pulled up to her chin while Sango, Shippou and Kiara sat beside her. Inuyasha and Miroku had gone to talk to some of the people in another neighboring village that had been attacked by demons as well.
"My mom must be very worried," said Kagome in a voice no more than a whisper.
"Yes, I'm sure she is, but you still haven't recovered much of your strength to continue traveling," said Sango.
Kagome was becoming restless and she wanted to get moving. She felt a little of her strength returning and she wanted to get home or do anything at all that would get her mind off of Inuyasha. Her mind kept wandering back to how happy she had felt when Inuyasha had told her how much he loved her. To know it was only a dream and to know that he had himself only said those words to bring her out of it hurt her even more.
Kagome got up slowly and threw the blankets off of her and tried to stand.
"No Kagome!!" yelled Shippou.
"You are still too weak!"
"Shippou's right Kagome, your too weak to travel, now PLEASE lie down," said Sango with much sympathy.
Sango knew her friend not only suffered weakness of body but pain of heart as well. She sympathized with Kagome and wanted to beat Inuyasha up until he realized that Kagome was the one for him.
"No!" said Kagome determined.
"I can't stay here! I need to go home, if I don't, I won't." Kagome broke off her sentence verbally as she finished it in her head. "I won't be able to stop crying if I see Inuyasha again.
Inuyasha had been considerate. He had given Kagome her space and she thanked him for that. She couldn't bear to lay eyes on him because every time she did she felt an ache in her soul.
Kagome felt tears come back again. She couldn't bear to see Inuyasha right now. Every time she did she felt her heart break.
"Please Sango," pleaded Kagome.
Sango saw the pain and anguish in her friend's eyes and conceded.
"Ok Kagome," she said.
"Just let me tell the others-"
"No!" Said Kagome as she stopped Sango from finishing her sentence.
"I don't want them to know. I just want to leave," said Kagome.
"Ok," said Sango as she smiled sadly.
Sango knew that Kagome did not want to see Inuyasha just yet. Sango helped Kagome up on Kiara and told Shippou to wait there until Miroku and Inuyasha returned to inform them of where they had gone and then she and Kagome left for the Bone Eater's Well.
Inuyasha and Miroku arrived back at the Inn thirty minutes after Kagome, Sango and Kiara had left. Inuyasha knew something was wrong because Kagome's sweet scent was faint and not as strong as it would have been if she were still there. Shippou immediately told them where Kagome had gone and Inuyasha immediately left the Inn and broke into a samurai run to catch up with them. He had to make sure that Kagome was ok and that she made it back safe to the well. He knew that Sango could take care of herself and Kagome but in the weak state that she was in she would not be able to make it safety back down and up the well again. Inuyasha also needed to see her face and her beautiful dark brown eyes once again.
Kagome, Sango and Kiara had made it to well and landed when Kiara turned around quickly towards the forest and growled. Sango had just helped Kagome to the ground and took her place beside Kiara and scanned the forest.
"What is it Kiara? Asked Sango as she placed her hand on her Hiraikotsu and prepared for an attack.
Just then Kouga emerged from the forest and stopped beside Kagome who was sitting down in the lush green grasses beside the well. Kagome rested her back against the well for support and knew instantly that it was Kouga before she saw him. She felt his presence and the Shikon shards he possessed in his legs.
"Kagome? Are you alright?" He asked as he checked her with his cerulean eyes that held nothing but concern.
"I'm fine Kouga," said Kagome as she sighed heavily. The ride to the well had worn her out.
"Hello to you too Kouga," said Sango as she turned to address Kouga.
"Oh, Sango. I forgot you were there," said Kouga as he glanced up at her for a second and then back to Kagome.
"Obviously," said Sango as she saw the way the wolf demon fretted over Kagome.
Sango knew that Kouga loved Kagome. Sango was sure her friend was thinking why couldn't she fall in love with Kouga instead of Inuyasha but love was funny like that sometimes. If you could choose whom you fell in love with, then would it still be called love?
"That dog turd did this didn't he?" Asked Kouga.
Kagome was curious as to how Kouga knew about her condition.
"How did you know that I was.sick?" Asked Kagome.
She didn't want to reveal to Kouga why she was really in the state that she was in. It was really none of his business.
"I have ears all over and one of my wolves told me about a village being attacked by demons and that they saw Mutt face there. I followed your scent and sensed that something was wrong."
Kagome was touched. Even though she had repeatedly told Kouga that there would never be anything between them like he hoped, he never gave up. He was persistent, Kagome would give him that. But wasn't that exactly what she was? Persistent? When Inuyasha had told her that he had chosen Kikiyo over her, she still would not give him up without a fight. She kept telling herself that she would make Inuyasha see how much she loved him and that one day he would realize that he and she were meant to be.
"I thank you for your concern Kouga," said Kagome as she tried to stand.
Kouga helped Kagome stand and then supported her in his arms. Sango and Kiara had gone off and stood some distance away in the forest to let Kouga and Kagome have some privacy.
"Kagome, let me take you away back to my den and take care of you," Kouga stated rather than asked. "Kouga, I'm fine I promise. I need to go back home so that my mom can take care of me," said Kagome.
Kouga stared into Kagome's eyes with such intensely that Kagome had to look away.
"Alright Kagome. I will let you get away from me this time," he said.
Kagome smiled sadly and then turned towards the well. She was just about to ask Kouga to help her down when she heard Kouga growl menacingly.
Kagome turned around and saw that Inuyasha stood some feet away from them in the clearing growling at Kouga in return. They both stared at each other as if they could kill one another with looks alone.
Kagome felt her breathe catch in her chest at the sight of Inuyasha. Every time Kagome saw him it was as if she were seeing him for the first time. He was so handsome, valiant, and strong. Kagome felt her heart skip beats and she felt her face become hot. Then Inuyasha looked from Kouga to her and Kagome knew she would surly faint. His gaze was so intense that Kagome could not break contact. She returned his stare and thought she saw hurt. Was Inuyasha hurt? Surly he wasn't hurt that she was there with Kouga? He had chosen whom he wanted regardless of what she felt.
"Hey Dogturd!" growled Kouga.
"You let my woman get sick?"
Inuyasha growled.
"She ain't your woman!" He screamed at Kouga.
"Well she certainly ain't yours. You like that dead chick!" Yelled Kouga.
"I swear dogturd you are stupider than I thought to let someone like Kagome get away, but that's fine. It just leaves the door open for me to come in," said Kouga smiling.
How dare Kouga come and take advantage of Kagome while she was weak. Inuyasha wanted to cry out so bad to Kouga that Kagome was HIS but he could not chance it because Naraku always had his minions around eavesdropping.
"Let's go Kouga. I've been waiting for this for a long time," said Inuyasha as he drew out his sword.
Kouga laughed and then sat Kagome back down gently on the ground and took her hand, stared into her eyes lovingly and placed a soft sweet kiss on the inside of her palm. Kagome was genuinely touched. She smiled at the sweetness of his gesture.
Inuyasha fumed. How dare Kouga make moves on HIS Kagome!! Inuyasha took in a sharp intake of breath when he saw Kagome smile. She hadn't smiled like that in a while. There was no sadness in her smile. It was happy. Inuyasha felt his heart stop.
Kouga stood up and turned to Inuyasha and smiled cockily. Just when Inuyasha charged for an attack Kouga turned to run away and his retreating voice was carried by the wind to Inuyasha ears only. Inuyasha growled once again and cursed.
Sango waited with Kiara some distance away and smiled. She saw the look on Inuyasha's face when he first saw Kouga with Kagome and then when Kouga had kissed Kagome's hand. Who was Inuyasha kidding? Any fool could see that he was desperately in love with Kagome. Too bad Inuyasha hadn't realized it yet. Or had he?
Kagome looked down at the ground afraid to meet Inuyasha eyes. Inuyasha sheathed his sword and hesitated before he walked over to Kagome. He stood in front of her and then knelt down on the ground and tried to get her to look at him.
She didn't. Kagome tried to force sound to come out of her mouth but Inuyasha being so close to her made her excited. She prayed that he did not pull her into one of his nice warm strong hugs as he so often did. She couldn't take a hug right now from him. She wouldn't let go.
"Kagome, I will take you home if you want me to?" Inuyasha asked with uncertainty.
"Yeah sure," said Kagome. She would still not meet his eyes.
Inuyasha then moved towards her and picked her up in his arms gently and stood up. Kagome wrapped her arms around his shoulders and rested her head against his chest and heard his heart beat rapidly. She sighed and closed her eyes. This was worst than him giving her a hug. She felt so secure and safe in his arms. She knew that once he left her in her time and came back to his that she would not want him to leave.
Inuyasha sighed as well. It felt so right to have Kagome in his arms. It was like he was meant to hold her and protect her. Inuyasha knew that once he took her back home that he himself would not want to leave her side.
Inuyasha secured Kagome in his arms and leapt down the well.
Sango and Kiara both walked towards the well and looked down.
"See you later guys. I'm fine with making it back to the inn by myself. Thanks for asking," yelled Sango as she smiled.
Sango looked at Kiara who seemed as if she was smiling as well.
"Love," said Sango as she and Kiara headed back towards the Inn.