Chapter 24: weakness
The first lonely night had passed. She'd woken up feeling like she hadn't eaten in a year. It was a perfect opportunity, she thought, to make a large breakfast. She always felt terribly lonely in the morning, but getting to work in the kitchen always seemed to cheer her up a bit.
She began with the tea she'd taken every morning to calm her morning sickness, and it once again proved invaluable. After that she wandered outside to collect some fresh eggs and feed the chickens, choosing to use them to make an omelette with a little rice on the side. She finished the meal quickly, then going to get dressed. She paused only briefly, her kosode open down the front, to smooth her hand over her stomach. She wondered if the slight swell was really there or if she only wanted it to be, finding herself missing him already.
She made her way through the village later, stopping off at a few homes to check if people she'd treated were healing up nicely, finding comfort in the community. She spent the day rather dully, and feeling strangely like something was off about her. Her arms and legs felt heavy, making her sluggish and apathetic. A lunch with Kaede and some garden work didn't snap her out of it, so she let the older woman know she'd be at the well, practicing. She stopped off at home to grab a sword, something to amuse herself, sure that the light exercise would help her focus.
She wasn't sure how long she'd been going through the slow and controlled movements, almost like a simple tai-chi exercise, more for relaxation than anything. She felt the blade, like an extension of her body, cutting through the air with precision. She was right, and it did clear her head, but only for a few minutes. She held her arm outstretched, an action that had been easy only a moment ago, but now was frustrated to find her hand shaking. She spun fast, swinging the blade harder, going through the movements with a speed she could only achieve thanks to her borrowed demonic strength. The sun was setting, laying below the hills as she continued, feeling the power behind the movements, even as her own power drained.
She finished the final twist, letting the point of the blade drop into the soil, leaning on it a bit for support as she huffed. Something was wrong, and she could feel it more plainly now. The shaking in her arms, the weakness in her legs, and the hollow feeling in her chest. She was just about to return and ask Kaede for advice when a voice made her jump.
"Is a Miko not better served with an arrow?" Asked Sesshomaru, waiting calmly near the edge of the trees.
"Sesshomaru!" She cried, a bit surprised he was able to get so close without her noticing. She must be worse than she thought to have missed something like his powerful aura. She cursed in her head, sure that such a slip hadn't gone unnoticed by him.
"Lord." He said cooly, pacing forward as his claws pushed his hair back from his shoulder. "If you're going to ask me for favors, you should at least show the proper respect." She was speechless for a moment, already thrown off by being alone with him for the first time since her return and the weakness she was battling. She stood straighter, determined not to let it show.
"Yes, of course. I apologise, Lord Sesshomaru." She said, bowing her head respectfully. He didn't react at all, simply scanning the empty clearing.
"Where is your mate?" He asked, having not sensed him in the village either.
"Called away. He should return shortly. Would you rather speak to him?" He considered it briefly, deciding it really didn't matter to him. They were both equally inferior in his eyes. The half-breed and the miko who'd allowed him to corrupt her. What a match.
"Do you think he could better explain why it is any of my concern whether you live or die?" She couldn't help but smile a little, knowing he truly wouldn't mourn her at all. It was all a bit morbidly amusing to her.
"No, I suppose not." She said softly, raising her sword into the sheath. He watched her carefully as she did, still wondering about who may have taught her that particular style, but more concentrated on the way something seemed off about her. He'd assumed at first that he'd startled her, but her heartbeat remained too fast, and her breathing too shallow, even though she outwardly seemed calm. It was a bit puzzling. "The truth is, it isn't any of your concern." Her eyes flicked up to his, finding him unmoved by her words. She was feeling the lightheadedness returning, making her feel wobbly on her feet. She glanced back at the well, deciding sitting would be better than fainting as she perched lightly on the edge, gazing up at Sesshomaru with a calm smile. "There is no reason at all for you to help us, except that you are the only one who can." She said wistfully. Her tone held no trace of desperation, surprising Sesshomaru. She wasn't the first to need to borrow Tenseiga's powers, but the others who seeked it had begged, falling at his feet pathetically, trying to appeal to his humanity and failing, as he had none. He had to admit he was impressed with how she seemed to have already made peace with her fate either way.
"And if I do not?" He asked, testing her resolve.
"Then I will most likely die." She said plainly with a shrug, surprising him again with her nonchalance.
"That doesn't seem to concern you." He said, wondering why that would be. An expectant mother should want to live more than most, in his mind.
"I worry for Inuyasha, if that's the case, but-" She trailed off with a sigh, shifting her gaze to the well, her hand lightly tracing a vine that had grown over the edge. "He will have our child to live for when I'm gone. He'll never be alone again, no matter what." A smile returned to her lips at that thought. Their daughter really would be a beautiful gift to him.
She lost her train of thought as she suddenly began to see bright stars in her vision, her eyes fluttering as gravity shifted around her. She felt weightless, as though she were floating, and then nothing. Sesshomaru reached out without a thought as she fainted, her body falling back over the empty well, his hand clutching her wrist at the last second. He cursed her for being stupid enough to wander this far from the village if she was feeling faint, pulling her away from the danger of falling and into his chest, letting her limp body rest there as he listened to her heart. After a few moments of silence he was satisfied that she wasn't in immediate danger of dying. He weighed his options as he glared down at her peacefully relaxed face, deciding the only course of action would be to carry her back. He swept up her legs as he left the ground, taking to the skies.
Inuyasha returned to the village just after sundown, Miroku in tow, lying unconscious across his back. Inuyasha had been monitoring his breathing, listening carefully as it continued to become more laboured even hours after he'd stopped walking. He'd been in and out of consciousness, occasionally coughing, but doing little else as Inuyasha bounded on, pushing for home where he could be helped. Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief as their village came into view, setting course for Kaede's hut. "Hang in there, Miroku!" He growled, setting off on another high leap.
He was thankful to see Kaede pushing aside the reed mat as he descended, glad she could always sense him far before she could see him. He landed lightly before her, trying not to jostle his injured friend.
"Inuyasha? What has happened?" She asked, her eye falling on the unconscious monk as Inuyasha carefully let him down, keeping one of Miroku's arms around his shoulder to hold him up.
"I'm not exactly sure- something went wrong back in the other village. Where's Rin?" His tone was serious but calm as he carried the monk inside the healer's hut.
"I'm here!" Said Rin, her voice full of worry when she saw Miroku's injured state. Inuyasha kneeled down to lay Miroku flat on his back as the girl ran to his side.
"Run and get Sango and Kagome. Tell them to leave the girls with the Shippo and get here, fast." He commanded. Rin nodded, running for the door before pausing to turn back.
"But… Kagome has not yet returned!" She said, having forgotten all about it with their arrival. Inuyasha turned to the panicked girl and furrowed his brows.
"Returned? Where did she go?" He asked evenly, though his heart clenched with worry. She never left the village when he was away. It was the promise she made to him each time he had to go anywhere without her.
"She- She was speaking with Lord Sesshomaru, like you said!" She replied shakily, seeming to sense the weight of the situation, clearly a bit overwhelmed.
"How long ago?" He asked, his eyes darting to Kaede, who was already on her knees beside Miroku. The old woman didn't look up as she answered him.
"She went to the well about two hours ago to practice with her sword." She muttered.
"But Lord Sesshomaru only left here just before sunset." Rin added. Inuyasha clenched his teeth as he considered the information. It was only just after sunset now. He tried not to panic unnecessarily. He knew she was plenty able to destroy Sesshomaru any time she needed. He also tried his best to believe Sesshomaru was no longer a threat to them. Rin and Kagome herself had been insistent that he wouldn't harm any of them, but he couldn't help the feeling of dread. There had been too many battles. There was too much bad blood between them to forget at a moment's notice. He tried though, for Rin, and Kagome, and most urgently, for Miroku.
"Okay. Go now, Rin." He answered. The young girl nodded and disappeared through the reed mat.
"Tell me what happened, Inuyasha." Commanded Kaede, her fingers testing the monk's wrist to count his heartbeats. She was perfectly aware of how desperate Inuyasha was to rush off, but she needed to know what manner of injury she was treating before she could let him go. She could tell just by looking that the situation was not good, and his information may be vital to saving Miroku. "Do not worry about Kagome, for now. She is capable of fending for herself." She reminded, watching him set his jaw and nod in agreement. He seemed to understand, pained though he was to remain when his mate was unaccounted for. He explained everything to Kaede as she worked. She worried as she listened to his tale, having seen the way the smoke of a burning building could kill just as quickly as the flames. Once she knew what she was looking for, the signs were all there. He was suffering from an injury to his lungs, a most difficult thing to treat, because there was no way to see the true extent of the damage. Inuyasha paused mid sentence when they both sensed a demonic aura approaching, fast. Inuyasha's gaze met Kaede's, who gave him a small nod, having all the information she needed. He wasted no time, dodging past the reed mat and scanning the skies. His heart seized at the sight he was met with. Sesshomaru, his silver hair and long fur shining in the moonlight as he approached, and in his arms…
"Kagome…" he breathed, his wide eyes locked on her limp body as Sesshomaru landed before him. He ran forward, panic overwhelming him as he caught sight of her pale face, almost matching the white fur she was cradled in. "Kagome!" He yelled, immediately pulling her into his arms, his heart sinking when she didn't respond to the movement at all. He dropped down to his knees, releasing her legs and shaking her shoulder to try and get any kind of reaction, calling for her with each shake, to no avail. His eyes darted back up to Sesshomaru. "What happened to her?" He asked desperately, looking back down to scan every visible inch of her for injury.
"She fainted." He replied, his unnervingly calm voice a stark contrast to Inuyasha's panic.
"Kagome, open your eyes!" He yelled, listening for a moment to her heart. He could hear it, but only faintly over the pounding of his own. "Kagome! Come on!" He continued. He shook her shoulder again, finally watching her eyes flutter open with a gasp. He cupped her face as she blinked absently a few times, as though she was trying to wake up and finding it difficult. "Can you hear me?" He begged, sighing in relief as she finally focused on him.
"Inu… yasha?" She whispered, seeming only half awake. He still focused on her with deep concern, running his thumb back over her cheek, but felt the utter relief slowly begin returning him to his senses.
"Yeah… yeah I'm here…" he replied softly. "You're okay." he assured, speaking both to her and himself. She was clearly dazed, but he could tell she would recover. She let her eyes close as she leaned into his chest, resting her head.
"I'm… so glad… you're home." She whispered weakly, sounding half asleep. He sighed in agreement, happy to have been here to take care of her, although he hadn't been the one to bring her back to safety. He looked up at Sesshomaru, who seemed deeply disinterested in the two on the ground, instead looking far along the street at the quickly approaching Rin. Inuyasha focused back on Kagome for a moment, pulling her legs back under his arm as he lifted her again.
"Sesshomaru." He muttered, waiting for his half-brother's cold eyes to slide back to his before continuing. He hesitated for a moment on his words, having trouble believing he was really going to say them. "Thank you, for bringing her back safely." He said simply. Sesshomaru didn't respond except for a nearly imperceptible narrowing of his eyes, as though he'd been insulted, rather than thanked.
"My assistance would not have been needed if you kept her adequately nourished." He admonished. Inuyasha bit back his urge to tell him to fuck off, instead considering what he was saying.
"She fainted… because she's malnourished." He said skeptically. It was true that he'd been away, so he didn't know for sure that she'd eaten, but Kagome was never one to miss a meal. The woman loved food. Kagome groaned softly against his chest.
"I… think he's right, Inuyasha… my blood sugar must be low…" she said softly.
"Blood-sugar?" They both asked in unison. Their eyes met in a mutual feeling of annoyance at that, but let it go so she could explain.
"Hmm… it means… glucose is low… get some carbohydrates…" she trailed off dreamily in his arms. Inuyasha huffed, having understood about every other word of what she was saying. She still slipped into using futuristic words that went miles over his head from time to time.
"Damn medical terms… dumb it down Kagome." He commanded, shaking her a bit to reawaken her.
"Ah? Oh… rice… or honey." She concluded. He smiled in relief.
"I can arrange that." He muttered, nodding to Sesshomaru once and turning to bring her back to the hut, leaving him to ponder her odd statements. He wondered if she was merely delirious, milling over the possible connections between her blood and sugar. She did smell rather sweet, he thought, letting it go as Rin appeared at his side.
"My Lord." She said, dropping forward in a quick bow for propriety before continuing on. "You've returned already? Is lady Kagome injured as well?" The child's eyes darted worriedly between Inuyasha's retreating form and Sesshomaru.
"The miko is fine, and I was just leaving." He answered. She looked again between the hut and him, worrying with her hands.
"Oh… I see…" she muttered softly. Sesshomaru looked down at her, realizing she too seemed a bit shaken.
"Has something frightened you, Rin?" He asked, watching her eyes drop to the ground.
"Yes… the monk of this village is not well… his injuries seem most serious. Do you think he will die?" She asked softly, moving a bit closer to lean against him. Sesshomaru focused for a moment on the activity inside the hut, listening to all of the four within.
"I do." He replied honestly. Rin sighed, nodding sadly with understanding. She didn't cry, but hid herself beneath his sleeve as she did when she'd been younger. He had no arm then, so she would tuck herself there when she was afraid, or tired, sometimes using the loose fabric as a blanket when she slept. She hadn't done so in years, so he found the usually comforting action rather worrying. He turned his attention to the sound of footsteps behind them to see the woman he knew as the demon slayer hurry past them to make her way to the hut, never sparing them a glance. Rin stayed glued to his side for a moment longer before he placed his hand on the top of her head. "Humans live, and they die. It's nothing to fear." She looked up at him, pulling his sleeve a bit closer, but nodding.
"Must you leave?" She asked in a small voice.
"Hnn." He replied, his hand petting down her hair. She slowly released his sleeve and stepped out from beneath the fabric.
"Goodnight, Lord Sesshomaru." She said, bowing again. With that she turned and ran ahead to the hut. He listened as she entered, hearing her ask eagerly how she may help as he ascended into the night.