Chapter 16: The aftermath.
A/n: Obligatory disclaimer that I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters.
Sesshomaru started to growl as he saw Inuyasha carrying a sleeping Kagome. What's he done to her? Sesshomaru stood from his spot beside Kaede's door. He had decided to come watch over Rin and Shippo after he left Kagome.
"Wait, before you get mad, hear me out." Inuyasha said carefully coming closer. "I tried to let her walk on her own but she couldn't do it."
"And why as she lost the ability to walk?" He asked coolly.
"She got drunk at the party."
"Why did you allow her to do that?" Mate could have been hurt. Sesshomaru growled.
"I-" Inuyasha was interrupted.
"He didn' lem'me do anythin'" Kagome slurred. Sesshomaru looked at Kagome. "Leh m'down." She tried pushing Inuyasha's chest. He looked at her skeptically but did what she said anyway.
Sesshomaru watched as Inuyasha carefully let her feet down first then hesitantly let go of her arms. Kagome started to stumble and Sesshomaru and Inuyasha rushed for her. Inuyasha caught her arms a second before Sesshomaru reached her but the moment he did he growled at Inuyasha. Inuyasha got the picture and let go of her.
Sesshomaru took her in his arms and used mokomoko to help support her. Help mate now. Punish him later. He looked at Inuyasha and growled before heading to the new hut. Inuyasha shivered. Kagome giggled and whispered a 'so possessive'. Sesshomaru heard her and the corner of her mouth lifted in a half smirk.
"Yer hairs really pretty. Yer really pretty." Kagome nuzzled her face on the bit of hair that hung over his shoulder.
"This Sesshomaru is not 'pretty'." Kagome giggled.
"Wha would you purfur instead?" She slurred.
"Handsome, striking, alluring, prepossessing, captivating, any would suffice really, just not 'pretty'."
"Y'know, I should juss follow my own advice." She said changing the subject.
"What advice would that be?" Sesshomaru asked intrigued.
"I told Sango to go fer Miroku cause she likes him. I should do it too."
"You're interested in the monk?" Sesshomaru asked confused.
No! You. You make sure were fed, I saw'd you take care-a Shippo, you let me sleep with Mr. Fluffy." She snuggled into mokomoko. "You teached? Taught? Teacheded? Whatever, teached me fer our fight. But you don't talk too much. And yer not good at emotional stuff." She said pouting. So this Sesshomaru needs to prove his worth in providing comfort? He thought taking note of her loose lips. They were almost at the hut when he looked down and noticed she had fallen asleep again.
Sesshomaru sat against the back wall and placed Kagome in his lap with mokomoko. He could faintly smell another male on her but stayed put deciding not to disturb her. He'd never been drunk but could imagine because of her stumbling that she wasn't feeling well. Instead he ran mokomoko over her replacing the smell.
Not much later Miroku, Sango, Inuyasha and Kikyo entered the hut. The humans set up bedrolls and Inuyasha sat against the wall near Kikyo. They both sat quietly until the humans fell asleep.
"Who's scent is that half breed?"
"Some guy that tried to dance with Kagome." He said. "I grabbed her away before they could dance!" Inuyasha rushed to add.
"Hm." Maybe he'd need to punish his miko instead. Didn't she understand he agreed to be his intended? He looked down at her. He'd have to deal with her once she got her strength back.
All Kagome could feel was pounding in her head. What is this? Is this what a hangover feels like? She rubbed her eyes and forehead before opening her eyes. Two golden eyes were staring down at her as she squinted.
"How are you feeling?" Sesshomaru asked. Kagome groaned and squeezed her eyes shut again.
"I feel like I'm dying." She felt him tense under her. "Not literally. I mean, my heads pounding and my stomach is not doing to well either."
"I'll return." Sesshomaru said laying Kagome on the floor in his mokomoko. Fine by me. She thought trying to find sleep again. She didn't know if it was a few minutes or an hour later that he returned. He helped her sit up then handed her a hot drink.
"What is it?" She asked looking at him skeptically.
"Ginger root tea. It'll help your pain and nausea.
"Okay, thank you." She said taking a sip. He encouraged her to drink it all. She found the taste pleasant enough so his request wasn't too hard. Once the cup was empty she placed it on the ground then leaned back against him to wait for the effects to kick in.
"I like when you do that, it's relaxing." She said when he started doing his purring rumbling thing. It wasn't long before she drifted into sleep again.
This time when she woke the hut was empty aside from her and Sesshomaru. I'm so comfy I don't want to get up. She snuggled deeper into Mr. Fluffy. I need to go see my family! She sat upright quickly. She noticed her head wasn't pounding like it had been earlier; it had turned into a dull ache and her stomach wasn't doing summersaults anymore.
"What is it?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I wanted to go see my family today, what time is it?"
"The others just finished lunch." She stood up quickly making her head spin a little and her wobble. Sesshomaru steadied her with a hand on her hip. She gave him a smile before shyly changing into her clothes; she didn't have much time if she wanted to arrive and shower before they got home.
Sesshomaru rose and followed her out of the hut to the others. He watched as she hugged all of them and told them she was going to visit her family for a day or two. Sesshomaru had planned to escort her but she had told him to stay with Rin, that she'd be back before he knew it.
It had been a few hours since she had left and her aura and scent hadn't disappeared like the time she had left before. Curious, he stood and started for the well. He could hear Inuyasha explain what he had noticed and then heard as the group got up to follow. They care about her too. He tried to reason with himself.
As he approached his skin prickled in discomfort. By the forests edge the desolation in the air was suffocating. When he finally stepped into the clearing he saw her curled up against the well just staring at the ground in front of her, unblinking.
He continued the rest of the way to her slowly and was glad when everyone else stayed out of sight. He could see faint lines where tears had stained her cheeks. Taking the last steps to her she felt dispirited when her eyes remained fixed on the ground. She gave off an air of emptiness.