Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or its characters. I do own, however, the original characters: Alden, Cora, and Setsuko. Using my original characters in your own stories is not permitted, unless with my consent. Thank you.

Chapter 10

The Ailed Child, Setsuko

It was nightfall by the time they had reached the village. Rushing hurriedly and directed by Inuyasha's sensitive nose, they ran past a few bewildered villagers. The shard within Cora's arm began to glow and radiate.

Inuyasha led them to a somewhat small abode, in which they entered hastily. The few people that were inside became startled, swinging their heads around abruptly to meet the new strangers.

"Who are you?" a man asked demandingly.

Kaede and Miroku were among the people, who were clustered in the midst of the room.

"Huh? Inuyasha?" Miroku wondered. "Excuse me, everyone. They are with us."

"Hey, monk," Inuyasha said.

"Why Inuyasha, what is the matter?" Miroku asked, approaching them from out of the crowd with Kaede.

"What has brought ye here?" Kaede asked them.

They all had entered behind Inuyasha, and there they stood by the doorway.

"Kaede, quick! Where is the sick little girl?" Kagome asked, her eyes darting around in a dire panic.

"She is right here," Kaede told her. "Come, but be quiet."

Kaede led them over to a bed, which was concealed before by the group of people that were gathered. The people had dispersed to let them through. Lying in the bed, eyes closed, was the ill girl. Frailty and illness had shown in her ashen face.

"I'm afraid Setsuko has little time," Kaede whispered to them. "It's very unfortunate. But we tried all that we could. No herbal remedies helped her, nor Miroku's sutras and demon-warding incantations."

A lady behind them let out a slight whimper. She seemed to be holding in her tears. A man embraced her and consoled her, but to no avail, she began sobbing into his chest.

"They are her mother and father," Kaede said, referring to the man and the woman. "The poor child....."

"But, that's why we're here!" Kagome tried to whisper, unable to contain her panicking frenzy. "We can help Setsuko!"

"You've discovered another means to cure her?"

"Yes. Cora discovered her powers!"

"I see. She is able to tap into them?"

"Yes! She can heal Setsuko!"

"What do you mean, Kagome?" Miroku asked, intervening.

Cora's arm began to shine brilliantly now. The other people in the abode gasped at the light.

"Her arm shines with overwhelming purity!" someone cried.

"I can heal her," Cora said to them.

"Cora, hurry. She doesn't look like she has much time!" Kagome cried, looking back at the sickly Setsuko. "We'll explain everything later to everyone. Do it now, Cora!"

"Okay."

Cora walked over to Setsuko's bed, where she still lay motionless. The light was now strong and blinding as a great celestial light, illuminating the entire abode. Cora's palm became alit again, just as the last time with Alden's injury. The two lights shone in sync with one another, radiating with the same overwhelming rhythm.

Everyone watched in awe, as Cora held her lit palm over Setsuko. Setsuko's mother opened her tearful eyes, beholding the great spectacle.

"Setsuko....."

Cora's two lights continued to shine, as Setsuko slowly opened her eyes. She bore a dreamy expression, the light reflecting off her misty almond eyes. They glistened brightly.

"What is happening?" she whispered feebly, devastating illness holding a firm grasp on her.

Setsuko's entire body began to glow in concurrence with the lights from Cora's palm and the shard from within her arm. Cora focused determinedly, and the lights grew stronger. Setsuko's body became illuminated.

"What's happening?" Setsuko wondered again, although more aware and conscious. "I feel strange....."

The three lights now reached their zenith of power and illumination. They shone in harmony, as Setsuko felt an abrupt surge flow through her body. It felt strange to her, but unusually soothing. The illness loosened its crippling clutch, as some strength returned to her. She felt a sudden vigor, something that she had not felt in a long while. Her dreamy expression was lifted from her face, as awe and surprise took over. Setsuko's frailty and pallor were replaced with vigor and color. The disease finally released its grasp from her entirely, completely detaching itself from her body.

Setsuko's light faded, everyone still very attentive and caught in awe, as if witnessing an ethereal presence. The illness had been expelled from Setsuko's body successfully. Cora's palm returned to its normal state, along with the shard within her arm. The once lit room returned to its semi-darkness.

Setsuko's mother released herself from her husband's arms and rushed over to the bed. Everyone followed suit behind her.

"Setsuko!" she wailed. "You are well!"

"Mother!" Setsuko cried.

They embraced. Setsuko's mother had tears running down her face in salty creeks. They released their hug eventually; mother cradling the daughter's face gently. She bore a relieved expression, one that was filled with grateful joy. She kissed her.

"You are well, Setsuko," she cried.

"Yes, mother," Setsuko said.

They embraced again.

"I was so worried," Setsuko's mother mumbled into her shoulder. "I am just so glad you are well....."

They released their arms from each other once more. Setsuko's father embraced her then, praying in his mind and giving thanks that his daughter was well. After embracing and kissing, they turned to Cora.

"Thank you, young priestess," Setsuko's mother said. "Thank you, so much for healing my daughter."

After Setsuko exchanged many embraces and kisses from her family and friends, they turned to Cora again.

"Thank you, priestess," Setsuko's mother said, once more. "You are my little girl's savior."

Setsuko wiped a tear from her eye, and hugged her mother again.

"Please stay with us here at the village for the night," Setsuko's father said. "It is the least we could do. You must be tired from your travels."

"Thank you," Cora said, after turning to the others for permission to stay. "We will."

In a larger abode, everyone sat down to a great meal, prepared by Setsuko's mother. Cora told them all about her experiences with her new founded healing abilities. Miroku and Kaede listened carefully to the tales of the events that they had missed while they were gone: the acquirement of Alden and Cora's new and unusual weapons, the battle with the demon, the acquisition of another jewel shard, and Cora's healing of Alden's wound. Alden intervened occasionally to discuss how Cora had healed his devastating wound completely. He was enthralled by the experience.

"It was amazing," he said. "Just as everything was about to go black, I felt a strange sensation in my arm, and soon, it was healed. No scar or mark left."

"This is amazing indeed, yet strange," Kaede said. "Cora is able to manipulate powers of healing wounds and sickness from the unusual shard in her arm, but she is not able to ward off demons. Perhaps she doesn't wield powers of a priestess entirely."

"Exactly as I stated before," someone said.

It was Myoga. He hopped up to sit atop Inuyasha's shoulder.

"Ahem," he began, and thus ensued a longwinded explanation of perhaps why Cora had selective priestess powers, how she was not a priestess, and how the jewel shard may have become distorted during the time of traversing the well to their era. He talked continuously, pausing and pondering sporadically, but never ceasing entirely with his theories. Cora began a casual side conversation with Setsuko, and they talked about how they both liked dolls and animals. Setsuko continuously thanked Cora for ridding her of her sickness, telling her how she would have passed on soon if it wasn't for her. Cora smiled, and said it was something weird for her to do since she was new at the process of healing others. Kaede and Miroku interjected sometimes to ask Myoga questions, and they continued to converse. Eventually, everyone finished the meal. By this time, it was already late into the night.

"There is a large empty abode for you all to sleep in," Setsuko's mother told them. "It should prove to be very comfortable. You can retire whenever you're ready. And thank you, once again, young woman, for healing Setsuko. I am eternally grateful."

Cora smiled, and her eyes shone bright. She felt good inside to be able to help people like that.

They all soon took leave to the empty abode where they would sleep. Setsuko embraced Cora before she left, and they smiled in unison.

"Thank you, Cora," Setsuko said. "You're my guardian angel."

Cora beamed at her, and Setsuko smiled back once again. They smiled together.

They all entered the abode, seeing it filled with beds in the corners. Kagome and Cora shared one, with Shippo nestled atop their blanket. Sango and Kilala shared another. Alden had one to himself, and Inuyasha volunteered to sleep on the floor. It didn't bother him. Myoga accompanied him. Miroku and Kaede took the last smaller beds.

They were all exhausted. Their bodies and minds had been tense and racing that entire day. Sleep soon overtook them without any hindrances.