Chapter 11

"How much longer to Kaede's? My feet hurt. Kagome always carried be." Shippou whined. Miroku winced.

"I never realized how annoying your voice really is." he teased. Sango shot him a look that shut him up fairly quickly. She smiled at Shippou.

"It's about another two day's travel. We travelled a long ways from the hut, Shippou." Sango reminded. Shippou kicked at the ground.

"Why can't we ride Kirara?" he complained. Sango was now ready to strangle the tiny kitsune.

"Because, Shippou, don't you remember? Kirara's hurt. That snake demon bit her; she's still recovering from its venom." Sango looked at the little Kirara in her arms. "We're just lucky Myoga was there to suck out the poison. Otherwise i'd have made Miroku do it." she teased. Miroku just stared.

"Well she's your cat." he pointed out. Sango laughed.

"Yup! I'd do anything for her. She's my best friend." Miroku put on a sad face and began to pout.

"I thought I was your best friend." Miroku provoked. Sango rolled her eyes.

"You are, Miroku- but just remember your promise to me... you know... about how we'd be married after the wind tunnel was gone." she said shyly.

"Of course I remember! How could I not?" Miroku cried. "That would be like forgetting it was cold in the middle of winter!" Sango laughed quietly, though her smile soon faded. What if he still doesn't want to settle down... Miroku noticed the look on her face, and he knew exactly what she was thinking. "Don't worry! I want to settle down and have a family, Sango." he said. Sango's smile returned.

"Good answer, houshi." she retorted. Miroku grinned and walked up behind Sango.

"HIRAKOTSU!" she cried. "AH! I'm so sorry!" she cried. "It's a reflex! I didn't realize you were going to carry it for me!" Miroku's poor body twitched on the ground.

"That's okay, Lady Sango... i'm fine... really..." Miroku dusted himself off and carried Sango's boomerang for the rest of the day.

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"Kagome... Kagome? Kagome... please wake up! I brought you a fruit basket and I also brought your mom some epson salt sticks for when you pass out! Come on, Kagome. Wake up!" Hojo pleaded. The boy had been by her bedside for three hours. His gifts sat on the nightstand, and Mrs. Higurashi had gone home to check on Jii-Chan and Souta, especially Buyo- she didn't want Souta to overfeed the fat cat again. Hojo had volunteered to stay for the night, and Mrs. Higurashi reluctantly agreed. Hojo promised to call every hour with updates. At the moment he was gripping her hand and brushing her hair out of her face.

"Please, Kagome. We still have to go to a movie, right? You owe me a date since you had to cancel the last one." he smiled. He'd been trying to get a response for the entire time, but still nothing happened. Hojo simply sat there, holding her hand and running his hand through her hair.

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Inuyasha looked at the Shikon no Tama. You'd better work! Inuyasha scolded himself for being to flustered, and kept brushing it off as worry. She's a friend. A friend. A friend. He repeated those words over and over again, but for some reason the meaning behind the word was not enough to describe his feelings and he couldn't understand why. Inuyasha took a deep breath and climbed out of the well; the Shikon no Tama was clutched tightly in his right hand. I guess it's now or never. He took another deep breath and held the jewel to his chest. I wish for the well to open up again as the portal to Kagome's world... 500 years into the future. Inuyasha's eyes closed as he jumped forward and into the well. He clenched his eyes shut as he fell. I... i'm not hitting the ground! Inuyasha opened his eyes cautiously, only to be awestruck at what he saw- blue and purple lights swirling around him. I did it! I got through!

Inuyasha couldn't explain this feeling of overwhelming happiness that he was experiencing. As he landed on the ground 500 years later, he put the jewel back into his haori and climbed out. He looked around at the old well house that he'd come to know so well over the time that he knew Kagome. He closed his eyes and smiled. I'm back. He pulled out his rosary from inside his haori and looked at it. I... I hate this thing... so why do I keep it? Is it because it reminds me of Kagome? Keh! Can't be! It's probably something to do with my stupid human blood and his sentimental emotions. Inuyasha was about to toss the rosary when he was struck with a strange feeling. Something inside was telling him to keep it. Keh, fine. He placed the rosary back inside of his haori and made a low growl. Stupid human blood. Inuyasha exited the well house and immediately went to Kagome's bedroom window. She wasn't in her room, but he went inside anyways. He sat down on her bed with Tetsaiga at his side. She always comes in here after and before her 'school' thing, so i'll just wait here. He sniffed the air and immediately knew something wasn't right. Her scent was there, but it wasn't very strong- she hadn't been in her room for quite a while! If she's sick she should be resting! Inuyasha began to whine and whimper, thinking that this was all his fault. He should have come sooner.

"What is that noise? Souta, watch the stove so that the food doesn't burn, i'm going to go check something out." Mrs. Higurashi said. I heard whining... She ran up the stairs as fast as she could. She could hear the faint whining coming from Kagome's room. Is that... could that be him? Mrs. Higurashi threw open the door to Kagome's room and saw the lonely hanyou whining on her bed. "Inuyasha?" Inuyasha looked up at her with pained eyes.

"Where's Kagome?" he asked. Mrs. Higurashi's eyes began to well up with tears. She let a few fall to the floor, and immediately Inuyasha could smell the salty water."What's wrong? What's wrong with her?" Inuyasha stood up and faced Mrs. Higurashi, only inches from her face. Worry and fear were written all over his face. Mrs. Higurashi smiled.

"Nothing is wrong with her, not as long as you are here." she replied. Inuyasha cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"She's in a coma and hasn't been responsive yet... the doctors are worried that she hasn't been responsive yet... but I know in my heart that you can help! She cares a lot about you. Without you, all she did was lock herself in her room and cry. I know she'll wake up if you're here." she said happily. Inuyasha looked at her with eyes the size of dinner plates.

"She... she cried?" he whimpered. Kagome's mother nodded softly.

"She's miserable without you. She told me why she left... and I understand why she left... but she still misses you."

"Wait! If you know why she left for good then CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME!" Inuyasha cried.

"I... I cannot, Inuyasha. I think it would be best if you visited Kagome, and learn it for yourself when she awakes."

"...alright, but where is she and why aren't you with her?" Inuyasha questioned.

"She's at the hospital, it's that building with the big red cross on it, remember? And Hojo is with her, he was kind enough to let me have some rest." Inuyasha's eyes twitched with fury.

"THAT FREAKING HOBO IS THERE!" he growled. Mrs. Higurashi laughed.

"I take it you don't like my Kagome with other men." she teased.

"Th-that's not why! She- she's just a friend, and I don't like that Hobo guy! He smells funny and he's a big fake." Inuyasha ranted.

"Alright, whatever you say. Just be sure not to fight at all while you're here! Remember, this is a civilized era! And don't insult Hojo... too badly. A little bit might help to bring his ego down." Mrs. Higurashi winked. Inuyasha nodded and sprinted off to the big building that Kagome had showed him before. The one with the big red cross.

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"Kagome... Kagome... wake up please... everyone misses you! Come on, Kagome! Wake up, please! We still need to go on that date when you're feeling better!" Hojo pushed. There seemed to be no way to help Kagome. Hojo frowned. What can I do? He heard some nurses laughing just outside in the hallway.

"What is he doing?"

"Is he smelling the ground?"

"What a strange boy."

"Can I help you?"

"Keh! I can find Kagome on my own." the boy snarled.

"Oh, my! She has a lot of handsome... yet strange... admirers!"

"Yes! What a lucky girl!"

"Really, can I help you?"

"I can find her on my own! I always find her." he yelped.

"Oh, how cute!"

"He's so devoted!"

"I wish someone cared for me like that."

"Um, sir? Are you absolutely sure I can't help you?"

"I said i'm fine! AHA! Got it! She's in that room, right?" he sniffed.

"Ooooh, you're good!"

"No kidding!"

"Keh. I'm used to it. I do it all the time when I protect her." Inuyasha puffed out his chest proudly.

Inuyasha opened the door to room 326, only to find a slightly shocked Hojo staring at him while still holding onto Kagome's hand.

"Can I help you?" he asked flatly. He didn't like to think that this guy knew Kagome. He looks dangerous... and what's with the ball cap?

"Get out..." Inuyasha spat. "...and I won't have to hurt you."