For the first time, in a long while, Inuyasha woke up feeling cheerful and anxious about the day a head. He could not wait until he got the chance to see Kagome again. In a daze, he went about his business getting ready and in no time at all, he was on his way to Kaede's house. It wasn't until he got a block away from where Kaede lived that seemed to draw him out of his daze. As he approached Kaede's house, a sense of dread began to creep in and take over the happiness that he was feeling. With only a moment's hesitation, he rushed into the house and through the open door, hoping that his senses were wrong.

But as he stepped through the threshold, he notice that the house was a mess and when he turned his eyes toward the floor, his blood ran cold as he saw a still figure lying on the floor. Quickly he hurried over to the pale old woman that had blood dripping down her side from a deep puncture wound and tried desperately to find a pulse, hoping he wasn't too late. With a small sigh of relief, he felt a pulse. It was faint, but still there. He didn't waste any time to get to the house phone and call for an ambulance. After he got off the phone, he went back to Kaede's side and tried to stop the bleeding. Guilt was the only emotion that he felt and it seemed to be weighing him down.

It didn't take the ambulance long to come and hurried off to the hospital with Kaede. However Inuyasha had to meet them there because they didn't want him in the ambulance with them. So as the hanyou walked to the hospital that Kaede was going to, the guilty feeling seemed to have gotten worst. He knew that it was his fault that she was in this situation. Someone most have found out that she had been helping a disgusting hanyou and he felt responsible for being selfish and putting Kaede in danger. All Kaede ever did was help him, and look where that got her. Here at the hospital.

If Kaede lived through this, he would have to find her somewhere else to live or give her better protection. Since she was old with no other family, he will stay with her but he will be more careful so that this type of thing doesn't happen again. With a heavy sigh, his thoughts when to Kagome, she was supposed to meet up with him today. He will just have to find away to tell her not to show up. She has a life and she doesn't need him in it to ruin it for her. She deserves to have a good life, not to have to look over her shoulder all the time. With another sigh, it was settled, he wouldn't see Kagome again.

Just then a nurse slowly made her way over to him. She looked as though she had lost the coin toss and wasn't too happy about having to talk to him. He got up to meet her so that he could get the information that he needed and they would both be on their way. She stopped a few feet from him and gave him the once over with a disgusted look on her face. He didn't even bother paying attention to her other than what she had to say.

"Are you here for the old woman that was brought in?" the nurse asked.

"Yes, her name is Kaede. Is she alright? Can I see her?" the hanyou asked anxiously.

"Yes, she will be alright, but she needs to stay off her feet for a week. We also need her to stay the night." the nurse said and then added as an afterthought that seemed to leave a bad taste in her mouth, "I guess you are allowed to stay too, if you wish."

With that, the nurse turned and went back over to file some papers while talking to some other nurses, while the hanyou made his way over to Kaede's room. When he entered, he was surprised to see that Kaede was awake. He slowly made his way over to her side as she gave him a small smiled that was just for him. The guilt from earlier was quick to come back, as he sat down next to her on the uncomfortable chair.

"How are you feeling?" the hanyou asked softly while not meeting the old woman's eyes.

"Better. Thanks to you," at the old woman's gratitude, the hanyou turned his head away.

"No, it's thanks to me that you're in here…If I've been more careful…or never stayed around. You wouldn't be in the hospital now." Inuyasha said with remorse.

"Now that is not true, and you know it. Stop being so hard on yourself Inuyasha. You have no control over what people do, but you do have control over what you are going to do about it." Kaede said sternly, reaching out and touching his hand to get him to look at her.

"What do you mean?" the hanyou looked at the old woman in confusion.

"Well, take this incident. You can either blame yourself and distance yourself from everyone and be miserable. Or you can accept what happen and try to find a way to make sure that it doesn't happen again. You have a good heart, and you shouldn't let it get tainted by others." Kaede said.

"I'll think about it," the hanyou said after a moments pause.

Well, here is another chapter. I started working so I should be updating more. They make me take a 30 min break and it gives me time to write. I hope you enjoy this chapter. As always, me no Inuyasha. And if you would be so kind and let me know what you think, I will be thankful. So until next time.

Isabella the White Tiger