Authors note: Ugh. Sorry this has taken so long to get up. Real life was fighting me but I came out victorious as usual. It took me a WEEK to type this up after it had already been written. I hate waiting long periods to update; I find it very very annoying. But maybe that's just me. Anyways, enough babble. As always, special thanks to my fabulous betas ladyhawk89 and Silver Wolf Pups. Here's hoping you guys have better weeks and aren't as swamped.

It felt like hours had passed since Sesshomaru had cut down the underworld creatures with Tenseiga. Inuyasha was still sweating profusely, his muscles tight and tense, holding Kagome gently against his body, willing her to take a breath. Shippo was cautiously edging closer to the half demon and the young girl, sniffing the air gently for a sign that Kagome was alive again. The young demon wanted the decaying stench of death gone room the hut; he wanted Kagome's warm comforting smell wrapped around him; he wanted her gentle arms to embrace him, promising him security and protection. He just wanted Kagome.

Inuyasha sensed Shippo creeping towards them and he growled out a warning. When Kagome awoke, he wanted to make sure she was no longer hurt. He wasn't going to allow Kagome's young ward to launch himself at her until he knew for sure she was okay. And then I'm going to apologize for killing her, he though mournfully.

"Does it normally take so damn long?" Inuyasha said impatiently through clenched teeth.

Sesshomaru was still deadly calm and he remarked scathingly, "You show no patience, half demon."

Inuyasha was about to throw yet another insult at his half brother when he felt it. He froze in place, eyes wide, willing it to be real and not just his imagination. He could feel Kagome's heart beating lightly against her chest. And then he could feel her chest rise and fall as she took careful, shallow breaths. Inuyasha gently pulled her shoulders away from his body, where he had been clinging to her desperately and was amazed as a rush of color swept away that disgusting ashen hue that had covered her skin. She lifted one arm slowly and then the other as she instinctively grabbed Inuyasha's arms to hold herself steady. He watched the changes come over her body and inhaled deeply. It was Kagome's scent.

The priestess eyes fluttered awkwardly before they opened carefully, squinting against what little light there was in the hut. She opened her mouth to say something and found it horribly dry. She cringed at the disgusting taste in her mouth. What had happened that had made her feel so…weak?

Kagome's hazel eyes finally came into focus as she stared into the curiously happy golden eyes that were directly in front of her.

"Inu…yasha?" she managed to croak out.

The half demon surprised her by pulling her tightly to him in a bone crushing hug. She could feel his shoulders shaking as he tried to suppress a sob.

She's alive! She's breathing and her hearts beating and she said my name and she's normal! Inuyasha thought elatedly. He felt his knees shake and he sank to the ground in shock, still clutching the confused girl and burying his face in her hair. He was inhaling her scent as though he needed it to survive. He didn't care that everyone, including his half brother, was staring at them. He was just so relieved.

Kagome was amazed to feel Inuyasha's strong arms squeezing her tightly to his body. His hands were running up and down her back in smooth, cautious strokes, as though making sure she was unhurt and comfortable. She could feel him breathing in her scent as though he would like nothing more than to inhale her.

As she moved her head slowly to the right, she found Shippo beaming at her through watery eyes. Sang was actually leaning into Miroku, silently asking for support as she cried in happiness. Kaede and Miroku seemed stunned, eyes staring at her in wonder and awe.

She didn't have a clue as to why they were all so relieved. She searched her mind, trying to recall what had happened that had made her feel so terribly sore; her mind however was black and she found it hard to focus on anything except the feel of Inuyasha's hands on her skin.

My skin! What? Am I…naked? Kagome's eyes were wide and she tried to push away from Inuyasha, embarrassed to feel her naked breasts pressed tightly to his chest. Inuyasha however, only held her tighter.

She wanted to ask him what had happened, why he was embracing her when she was naked and why couldn't she remember what had happened. Her brown eyes narrowed in frustration. She needed answers.

"Inu…" Kagome tried to speak but it felt as if she hadn't spoken in days. Her throat constricted, refusing to let her speak unless she had water first.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha breathed in her ear, his warm breath making her shudder. "I'm sorry."

She turned to look at him properly and found his eyes full of guilt and unshed tears. Never before had she seen him so upset. And only once had he ever apologized to her and that was for breaking her alarm clock.

Kagome shook her head and pointed to her throat and then her mouth, trying to signify that she couldn't speak to him. To her dismay, the half demon barely seemed to register her movements. His eyes were glazed over, sparkling with tears that were still threatening to fall. Miroku, however, noticed her gestures and rushed to get the canteen of water she kept in her overstuffed backpack. As he moved towards her, canteen held in front of him, he was stopped in his tracks by Inuyasha growling loudly at him. Instinctively, he clutched Kagome tighter against his chest.

She could hear his heart beating wildly against his chest and her confusion grew. He's always protective of me but not like this. Is it because I'm naked?

Miroku focused his gaze on Inuyasha and said steadily, "I am merely getting Kagome some water Inuyasha. She wants to speak to you but her throat is dry."

"Then give it to me monk and I'll give her some. I don't want any of you coming near her until I know she's fine. You don't need to come near at all until she's dressed," Inuyasha snapped, one arm held out to retrieve the canteen.

Miroku handed it over wordlessly, his eyes sad. Before he returned to his place in the corner he muttered, "How could you even believe I would think such a thing at a time like this?"

Kagome had never heard Miroku sound so dejected and her heart sank into her stomach. Obviously something terrible had happened to her if she wasn't even getting stared at by the lecherous monk while she was in such a compromising position.

Inuyasha handed her the water and she gripped it in her shaking hands, brining it to her dry, chapped lips. "Drink it slowly." Inuyasha was still firmly hanging onto the canteen, steadying it with his own hands.

Kagome gave a slight nod and then the deliciously cool water was running into her mouth and trailing down her parched throat. Never before had water tasted as good to her as it did at that moment. She wanted to drink the entire thing and even then she knew her thirst wouldn't be satisfied. But as she began greedily swallowing, she felt Inuyasha gently remove the canteen from her hands. A few droplets of water fell on her chin and as Inuyasha's finger wiped them away he said, "Not so fast. You'll get sick."

Kagome felt dizzy and breathless and her head was pounding ferociously in her head. She wanted nothing more than to lay her head down and sleep but she had to find out what had happened.

"Inuyasha? What's going on? Why do I feel so terrible?"

"Kagome…do you remember anything about what happened?"

She thought back, trying desperately to recall something…anything. "I remember that there was a demon with a shard. But that's it."

Inuyasha cleared his throat hesitantly. "Well, when we were fighting the demon you were injured."

Her eyes grew wide at his hesitation. She had been hurt before but not so badly that she was unable to recall what happened. "How bad?"

Inuyasha looked at their companions who were sitting patiently in the corner. She doesn't remember. She doesn't need to know. I apologized. Why should I tell her? It will just upset her… "Pretty…pretty badly. We were um...wondering if you were going tomake it for while."

Kagome heard Sango gasp and Miroku, Kaede, and Shippo squirmed uncomfortably where they sat but the sounds barely registered in her mind. I almost died! She could barely wrap her mind around that one simple fact. No wonder I feel so terrible!

Inuyasha was watching her closely, judging her reaction and looking for any outward signs of distress. Her eyes were large and frightened and her hands were unconsciously clenching his arms.

"Kagome?"

"Hmm?" she muttered in a daze.

"How do you feel? I mean, are you still hurt?" Inuyasha asked this question quietly, silently hoping that everything was fine.

She shrugged her shoulders and replied, "My muscles are sore, my head wants to explode, and I feel like I could sleep for two days. But other than that I think I'm okay." She yawned widely.

Inuyasha stroked her hair and asked, "Do you want Kaede to help you bathe?"

"Are you implying I smell Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, a small hint of a playful smile on her lips.

He blushed and shook his head. "It's just…you haven't had one in a few days and you still have a little blood on you is all."

Kagome yawned again and shook her head. "I think I just want to sleep."

He nodded and motioned for Kaede. "Do you have those clothes old hag?"

"Aye Inuyasha. Here ye go Kagome." The elderly priestess placed one of Kagome's sweaters over her head and helped her into it when the girl's stiff muscles protested at the movements. Inuyasha and Miroku discreetly averted their eyes, trying to ignore the girl's enticing body that was in plain view of them all. "If ye want, I can find ye more blankets."

"This is fine Kaede, thank you." Kagome nestled into Inuyasha, figuring there was no point in moving since she was already there, and closed her eyes. "Thank you Inuyasha."

His eyes widened in surprise and he looked down at the girl resting her head on his lap. He brushed a hand lightly over her hair, until her breathing evened out, signifying she was in a deep sleep.

She never noticed Sesshomaru's presence.

---

Sango watched wide eyed as Inuyasha stroked Kagome's raven tresses in an almost…loving fashion. The girl's deep steady breathing was soothing the ache everyone had been feeling; the rise and fall of her chest told everyone that Kagome was alive again. But now they had something else to worry about.

"Inuyasha, why didn't you tell Kagome what really happened?" she asked cautiously, afraid her friend would turn on her as he had Miroku.

The half demon sighed, not taking his eyes off of Kagome's sleeping face. "She doesn't remember. Why should she know the truth?"

Miroku looked shocked at his answer. "But Inuyasha! Lying to Kagome about something so serious…don't you think she deserves the truth?"

"Aye, I agree with Miroku. Ye should tell the child everything Inuyasha, lest something terrible comes out of this," Kaede replied solemnly.

"We're not tellin' her and that's all there is to it!" Inuyasha snapped. "Why can't you just trust me on this okay?"

A low chuckle snapped his attention to his right, away from the argument with his companions. "What are you still doing here, you bastard?"

Sesshomaru's cold eyes appraised Inuyasha and the girl that was cradled in his lap. "She will find out you know. You will not be able to keep it from her."

"Get out and go to hell. You got what you came for," Inuyasha snarled, scarlet once again flashing into his eyes.

"We'll meet again Inuyasha. And when we do, it will be the end of you." Sesshomaru left the hut as silently as he had come in, leaving a stunned silence behind him and bewildered looks on everyone's faces.

"What did he mean by that?" Shippo asked nervously.

"Keh. He's full of it as usual," Inuyasha replied, taking deep breaths and focusing on controlling his demon side. He was disgusted to find out hard it was without Tetsusaiga. Miroku, Sango, and Kaede were sharing uncomfortable looks that plainly said, 'This isn't over yet'.

Kagome turned slightly in Inuyasha's lap and sighed. She burrowed her head deeper into the fabric of his fire rat cloak and then stilled.

Inuyasha looked at his companions. "You need to trust me. Kagome is better off not knowing. She's go back through the well and never come back if she knew."

Shippo jumped up and down agitatedly and nearly shouted, "No! We just got her back, we can't lose Kagome again!"

"Exactly. I know you don't believe me but…just trust me okay?"

Miroku, Sango, and Kaede exchanged glances. What choice did they have? They didn't want Kagome to leave anymore than Shippo and Inuyasha did.

"Fine Inuyasha, we will keep this from her. But we still think you should tell her," Miroku agreed reluctantly.

"No," came Inuyasha's firm reply. "It's better for her not know. She'll be better off. Trust me."