Tumblr Ask - Catching the other before they fall
"I'm not crossing that", said Kagome determinedly, digging her heels into the soft moss covered earth in front of the vine bridge. She shuddered as she looked at the jagged rocks and swiftly flowing water churning below.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes at her, thrusting his hands into the billowing sleeves of his suikan. "C'mon woman, it's not like it's unsafe or anythin' - it's been here for hundreds of years."
"Exactly", said Kagome, thrusting her chin out and scowling at the half demon tapping his foot impatiently. "It's hundreds of years old, and it's built out of flimsy vines and half rotten wood. I just know I'm gonna fall."
"You're not gonna fall Kagome. Look, I'll prove how sturdy it is." Inuyasha marched out to the centre of the bridge and turned to face Kagome. "See, perfectly safe."
Kagome shook her head violently, tightening her grip on her bulky yellow backpack. "Nu uh. I'll just walk around."
Inuyasha growled. "Of all the pig-headed… that's a three day journey Kagome! I thought you were in a hurry to get home for a stupid test or somethin'!"
"Not in that much of a hurry. I'd rather walk three days and be alive than cross over that death trap. You can't make me." She crossed her arms defiantly.
"Oh yes I can, stubborn wench! Gah! Look, it's so safe I can even jump on it." Inuyasha bounced up and down on the bridge, making Kagome feel vaguely seasick as she watched it sway from side to side.
"That's making it even worse!" she yelled out, then shrieked as they both heard a loud cracking noise. "Inuyasha!"
Before she knew it she was running towards the hanyou as he disappeared from view below the broken rung. She flung herself forwards, her hands desperately grabbing as he plunged downwards, managing to grab his wrist. She screamed as his weight dragged her forwards, until she managed to hook her ankles into the vines either side of the bridge.
"Kagome, let me go, I'll be fine", hollered Inuyasha, as he dangled below the bridge. "I'm too heavy, you're gonna hurt yourself!"
"No!", shouted Kagome stubbornly. "You wouldn't let me fall, so I'm not going to let you fall either!" Reaching down, she grabbed at his other hand, holding on tight, then realised she didn't have the strength to pull him up. Her back felt like it was creaking under the strain of holding Inuyasha's weight, and one of her ankles started slipping out of the ropes. Inuyasha might look lean and wiry, but with all that densely packed muscle he was heavy! She whimpered in pain, the bones in her wrists clicking at the strain.
"Kagome, let me go, I'll be fine!", Inuyasha repeated firmly.
"You don't know that", muttered Kagome through gritted teeth. Suddenly coming up with an idea, she swung Inuyasha a little, grunting as her shoulders took the strain. Realising what she was trying to do, Inuyasha swung his legs, gaining enough momentum to be able to hook a foot around one of the vines at the side of the bridge, and then levered himself upwards, to roll next to her on the wooden boards.
"Ow", moaned Kagome, unhooking her feet and rolling onto her side. With a deep sigh, Inuyasha picked her up, backpack and all, and marched across the remainder of the bridge to the forest on the other side.
"Of all the stupid, idiotic things you've done Kagome, this is… is… feh!" sputtered Inuyasha as he gently placed her down on the ground and leaned her against a tree. There were rubbed marks like rope burns on her legs were she'd hooked them into the vines, and she was cradling one of her wrists against her chest. He helped her shrug off the backpack, and started pulling out the medical kit, looking for bandages and antiseptic.
"But I didn't let you fall", smiled Kagome, watching him as he muttered obscenities, dabbing cream on her legs and wrapping her sore wrist in a bandage. He sighed, his gaze softening as he looked at the serene expression on her face.
"Yeah, you didn't let me fall Kagome. You never do."