Inuyasha POV

I am tying the bag of fish and kettle to tessaiga when I feel or rather smell a demon approaching. I start jumping from tree to tree toward the cave when I hear it, loud and clear. "INUYASHA" my heart stopped, that's kagome, why does she sound in pain?! The adrenaline and dread rush that cruised thru me made me run so fast the water in the kettle was splashing vigorously. I finally arrived besides the cave, just in time to see the demon rams its head into the barrier. From the angle I was I could see the inside of the cave, and my heart sank, kagome was on the floor unmoving, something wasn't right! My rage fueled my veins completely and I feel my nail elongate, my fangs bite into my lip, and I howl, a deep menacing warning. I jump right behind the beast as the barrier breaks. The demon tries to pounce on kagome as I dash towards him and dig my nails onto his back legs. "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MY MATE!" I swing him out of the cave, and the demon is down, startled. I take a quick glance back and the sight completely freezes my heart, kagome is on the floor, her arms limp around her, a huge gash of the demon's paw on the floor just mere inches from her head, and a pool of blood coming from kagome mouth. 'No...' I turn around and wield my sword toward the demon. "You are dead mother fucker" I growl at him, and he growls back snarling, then strikes towards me. I didn't let him come close. "Wind Scar!" I whispered swinging tessaiga, the demon turning into dust. Something falls into the ashes, but I paid no mind. I turned around quickly and fell on my knees besides kagome.

"Kagome! I'm here, dammit I shouldn't have left..." I caress her face as I pick her up and lay her down on the 'bed' I made. I notice she is wearing my haori, and I pull my undershirt off to cover her with it. I inspect her body, looking for any other types of injuries, yet I find none. Her lips and chin are covered in a dry trace of blood. "Kagome?" I shake her softly praying for her to wake up. She groans softly and my ear perk up.

"Kagome. Hey open your eyes." I need to know she is alright. She looks pale, and I don't like the fact that she had blood on her mouth. I move towards the exit of the cave, and grab the discarded kettle, which surprisingly has enough water to make breakfast. I walk back to the cave and notice the shikon jewel shard in the ashes of the dead demon, and I take it in my hand, throwing it inside Kagome's bag.

I sigh and set the kettle on the fire kagome started, I'm surprised it didn't falter with the attack. I grab a cloth from her bag and dip it in the water, so I can clean her mouth. I walk back towards her, and dab the cloth on her neck, chin, and lips, cleaning the blood from her skin. She sighs softly and opens her eyes slowly. "Inu..." her voice sounds so rough, and strained. "Hey, I'm here, you're safe. I shouldn't have left." she smiles with her eyes closed and raises her hand to lays it on my chest. I lay my hand on top of hers and she smiled softly, although her hand is extremely cold and clammy. "Not your fault, we can't predict the future so we couldn't have known that would happen. I'm just grateful you got here." She opens her eyes and looks up at my face. For a second, I swear I see a flash of fear pass her blue eyes then they widen. "Inuyasha?" I look behind me and see nothing, then I look down at her and frown. "What is it kagome?" her hand moves to my face, and gently cup my cheek "your demon marks..." and that's when I feel them, my demon marks, the demon attack must have triggered my demon blood, but how am I in complete control?! My eyes widen as I stare at my hands, they look normal. "Inu... calm down…" I look at her and she tries to sit up, groaning. I pull her towards me slowly, hugging her against my chest, breathing into her hair, as she soothingly caresses the arm around her, whispering sweet nothings to me. And slowly I feel myself relax, but I still feel the slight buzz from the marks. "It's okay kagome, can you sit up? You need to eat" she nods her head slowly and leans away from me, as I get up and go to the kettle. I pour the water on the ramen just like she taught me and go back to her, sitting behind her with my legs around hers so she can lay back on my chest. She does so and I hand her a bowl, so we both start eating slowly.

I notice she drinks the broth and eat the noodles slowly, maybe she isn't hungry? Or could it be that it hurts her to eat? I put my empty bowl down and wrap my arms softly around her. She sighs contently and leans back on me, her head on my shoulder as I lower my head to kiss her hair.

"You're in pain, aren't you?" I say softly into her hair, as she finishes the broth of her bowl, leaving a small portion of noodles. She turns her head slightly toward me and smiles "Just a bit of pain, I am fine Inu" she says softly, laying her hand on my thigh and giving it a weak squeeze. 'Damn it, she is weaker than I thought' involuntarily, I give a pathetic whine, I don't know what to do. I let her rest on me, thinking how to help her when it hits me, there is a village not so far from here, we could go there.

"Kagome, we are maybe 3 days from Kaede's village, we could start moving now to her village, and stop on a small village on the way there. They can check your wounds, and maybe we could take some clothing for you…" I tell her softly as she hums and starts trying to stand "yeah let's do it, I can walk" stubborn wench!

"As if I was going to let you walk on the state you are in." I gently help her to sit as I gather all our stuff in her pack, and I put my undershirt on, and with tessaiga on my side I move towards kagome, who is tying my haori tightly around her. 'Feh, as if I'd let anyone look at my woman' I put her pack on my back and kneel beside her. "Ready kagome?" I say softly to her, watching her tie her hair up in a 'ponytail' as she calls it and nods. I pick her up in my arms, holding her close to my chest as she rests her head on my shoulder and her arm comes around my neck. I stand up and walk out of the cave, I kiss her head and I start leaping from tree to tree, careful to not make any rough movement. Some minutes into our journey and I feel Kagome's small and warm hand on my cheek, and I stop in one of the trees. She traces my demon mark with a warm smile on her face and says "they suit you. You look really handsome Inuyasha" I smirk and kiss her sweet lips. "Then I think I don't mind them, if you like them so much" she giggles softly and I start jumping from tree to tree again, kagome playing with my hair, and me with a stupid grin in my face.

4 hours later-

I feel Kagome's slack hold on me, and I slow down, jumping down onto the ground and look down at her. Her face, although pale, is completely calm as if she weren't in pain at all. I hold her closer, moving her head softly to rest in the crook of my neck, my hair hiding her face from the harsh sunlight, and start walking. I can already smell the wood fires of a village. Even if I hate to stop in these types of villages, I need to have someone check on kagome and find her some clothes. I walk into the village quietly and some of the woman nearby scream. "A Demon!" I roll my eyes 'no shit' and walk holding kagome tightly. An old man with a bow and arrow points his weapon at me. "You vile beast! What have you done to that girl!?" he shoots the arrow which I dodge without effort. "Look I am not here looking for trouble. I just need to see a healer, this girl here is my partner, and she was hurt badly in a fight." The men who had gathered lower their weapons, and some woman gasp. I see an old woman approach me, and I take a step back

"Easy demon, I'm the healer here, bring her over, let's see what we can do for her." I follow her, still watchful of my surroundings as I feel kagome stir. I look down, just in time to see her face twist in pain as she lets out a small whimper. I kiss her head and whisper to her low "hey, we are at a village, they are going to check you okay. I'm right here." she snuggles into me and the whispers from the other villagers start. "Dear kami, that's a dog demon, why have a human with him?" "Maybe she is his toy, you know like a sex slave" "oh my, he looks powerful" I ignore their shit-chat, I don't need to hear it. I follow the healer into her hut and lay kagome where she tells me to lay her. "You can get out now boy, I need to see her wound" 'hell no'

"No, I was the one who patched her up, and I am not leaving her side" she looks shocked and is about to say something when kagome reaches her hand out and I instinctively grab it. "Inuyasha…" I kiss her hand and run my nails softly thru her hair. "I am here kags, don't worry, I'm not going anywhere" the woman looks at us and shakes her head slowly. "You could have told me you two were together from the beginning boy" she kneels and starts undressing kagome, covering her breast with a towel 'although I have already seen her completely' and from her waist down with a blanket. "Not everyone is happy about demons and human being together" she smiles and seems to inspect Kagome's wound, touching her ribs. Kagome hisses in pain, and I hold her hand tightly, fighting my instinct to rip this woman away from her.

"She seems to be alright; you did a fine job closing the wound. I have some ointments for the pain, but the poison in her will hurt her until it disappears completely, she is a Miko isn't she?" she looks at me softly. "Yes, she is" how would she know? "Ah, you are Inuyasha the half demon, and this must be Kagome, I almost didn't recognize her without her weird outfit." I frown at her, and she smiles taking a few pair of clothing's and putting them on Kagome's lap. "You don't remember me, but some months ago you came by with her and saved our children from a demon who used children for rituals" 'oh I remember now' "oh yeah, all of you were completely scared and we came in and beat that serpent demon. Your kid was a small girl, right?" I asked her, that day kagome nagged and nagged about following a trail we saw on our way, and when we beat the demon, it turned out to have two shards. "Yes, I almost did not recognize you with does marks, you seem like a full demon." she says, standing up. "You can help her change; I'll bring some water for her to drink." and with that she is gone. 'Wait a second, I help her... WHAT?!' I looked down at kagome, as she was starting to wake up, and I started to blush. "Inuyasha?" she asks softly, sitting up. And the towel on her breast fell off her. I looked away and held my hand out to her "y-yeah, I-I'm here kagome, but could you...umm...cover your breast?" I'm a stuttering mess, trying to not tremble. 'If she doesn't sit me, I swear I will become a pervert like Miroku. But dear kami, so beautiful and soft…' she gives a surprised squeak and I hear her move. "I'm decent, sorry" I look at her and smile nervously. "No, it's okay, don't worry" she grabs the clothes the old healer left and slowly puts the white undershirt on, painfully slow. I kneel besides her and help her onto her pants, both of us blushing furiously. I help her stand and turn around, just like in the hot spring, she holds onto my shoulder, my hand resting on top of hers as she finishes fixing herself. "You can turn around Inu" I turn around and she places her hands on my chest, and I bring her close, kissing the top of her head and wrapping my arms around her. "How do you feel?" I breath into her soft hair, feeling how she wraps her arms around my neck, leaning her head on my chest. She sighs into my neck "a little better thanks to you, but the pain comes and goes" she looks up at me, kissing my jaw tenderly making me groan. "Woman, you'll be the death of me." she giggles softly and kisses my lips which I kiss back slowly. "I love you, Inuyasha" she whispers into my lips, and it makes me smile. "And I love you, Kagome. Now let's get you some water and rest for a while, so we can continue to Kaede's." I hold her hand, extending my arm for her to hold onto, which she does, leaning into me to help her walk out of the hut. Outside are a lot of people waiting and my blood freezes, making me instinctively get in front of Kagome, shielding her from whoever attacks first. She slides her arm around me, laying it on my collarbone. 'Even when you can't protect me, you try to' my hand flies to tessaiga hilt, as one of the men that pointed his weapon at me earlier steps forward, raising his weapon.