A Night under the Stars

Two weeks later

Inuyasha sat high in the Goshinboku tree, eyes concentrated on the clouds. So much had happened since Kagome's return. They defeated Naraku, he had learned why Kagome had left and how she got back, he learned about what would've happened if she had never came, he had told her about his dreams and was satisfied by the fact that she hugged him and told him off for believing in them, and most importantly he was going to visit Kagome's new home in a few days. She didn't know if they were going to come out in the cave of if they would come out at the opposite end of the Bone Eaters Well, so they would just have to risk it, he figured.

"Inuyasha! Come down here!" Kagome's voice drifted up to him from below, and he looked down at her with a smile on his face.

They had spent almost every waking moment together since Inuyasha had woken up after the fight with Naraku, and they had grown even closer, if that was possible. They did say that time apart made the heart grow fonder. Well, something like that. Inuyasha dropped from the tree and landed stealthily beside Kagome, his eyes focused on her bright smile and her beautiful brown eyes. Ever since she had come back he cherished those little things about her even more than he did before, and that sure meant a lot.

Inuyasha picked Kagome up by her waist and spun her around while she laughed carefree. Oh, did I mention that they had finally admitted their feelings? Yeah, they did. You're probably thinking it's impossible for a pair like them, but I say nay. Inuyasha had fallen into a fever from the poison a few days after he woke up, and Kagome had admitted it to him before he passed out. She really thought he was going to die just then.

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Flashback

Kagome wiped the sweat away from his brow for the fifth time that day. Inuyasha coughed hollowly and wheezed, his breath dry and hot. Kaede walked in just then, carrying a pitcher of cool water from the nearby stream. Kagome held up the cup for water, her gaze never leaving Inuyasha.

It was no normal fever he was in; demons didn't get human illnesses. This was much worse, and if it hadn't been for his youkai blood in the first place he would have died soon after receiving the wound from Naraku. His skin had turned a sickly white, his hands trembled and they were always cold. He slept fitfully most of the time, and it was the second day he had been in fever.

Kagome tipped his head up slightly so she could give him water, and he drank slowly in his half-asleep stupor. She had never seen him this weak and vulnerable, even when he was human. It scared her out of her wits. She held his hands tightly in her own, trying her best to keep them warm. His skin was dry and flaky, like it was dying. In turn Kagome was constantly rubbing lotion on his hands to keep her from thinking the worst of his condition.

Miroku, Sango, and Shippo all had wanted to come in and visit with him, but Kaede forbid it. She and Kagome were the only ones permitted in the hut because they never went any where else, so they were fairly clean and free of harmful germs. If the others were constantly going from place to place and touching things that other humans had touched, they might have been harboring disease that their healthy bodies had fought off, but Inuyasha could easily fall victim to.

Even if he was a demon, in his condition any ailment, even the weakest of colds could prove to be a hazard to his survival. His body was already overwhelmed by trying to fight off the poison, and it couldn't handle anything else. Kaede had never said anything to Kagome, but she feared the hanyou was fighting a loosing battle.

"Please Inuyasha…wake up!" Kagome whispered desperately over his bedside, her eyes tightly shut and her hands clasping his.

Kaede left the hut, her face creased with worry. She knew Kagome wouldn't know how to handle it if Inuyasha did die, and she prayed to Kami that he didn't. She wouldn't be able to bear the heartache that the young miko would go through, loosing the one she loved most here in the Feudal Era.

"Ka..go…Kagome…" Inuyasha whispered hoarsely, his eyes working so hard to open.

His lids rose halfway, and Kagome could see his dull, lifeless eyes. They were lost in a fever induced haze, and she was frightened by the near death look.

"I'm right here Inuyasha, you're going to be okay. You're going to get better!" She gripped his hands tighter, and he moved them slightly so his fingers curled loosely around her own.

"No…I don't….I don't think….that I'll get through this. /wheeze/ I can feel it….Kagome. I can feel the…poison, I know…I know I'm dying. My body…..my body is giving up." He coughed with the effort of talking, and to the horror of Kagome his saliva was flecked with blood.

He was dying.

"Inuyasha! You have to get better, please! Inuyasha, you can't die on me now, I need you!" She didn't care that she had just admitted to caring about him, she really didn't care.

Inuyasha was very important to her, even if she never spoke a word about it. If he were to die and leave her here….she wouldn't know what to do with herself anymore. It would tear her heart to pieces, and she would never be able to go on without him. She would do anything it took to keep him with her, and if that meant exposing her heart to him then she would certainly do it.

"Kagome…" The corners of his pale lips turned up ever so slightly and his cool fingers pressed weakly against the back of her hand. "Don't….worry. I'll still protect you….even after I die. Don't ever….don't ever forget….that I love you Kagome….okay?" His voice was airy and cracked, barely audible.

Tears burned fiercely in Kagome's eyes as she nodded her head, unable to speak. Her throat was tight and she knew if she tried to say anything she would start to cry, and she knew how much Inuyasha hated to see her cry. She managed a small smile for him, but she was breaking up inside. He was going to die, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"Inuyasha!" She hugged him close, hoping to keep him there with her just a little longer.

He sighed softly and his eyes closed, but he was still alive. He had passed out again due to the intense fever, and Kagome began to weep bitterly on his chest. She was so useless, she couldn't even do anything to save him, when he had saved her all those countless times, and she just sat there and could do nothing.

The day passed slowly, and Inuyasha was hanging on by the skin of his teeth. At any moment he could draw his last breath, and with each one he took Kagome feared that his chest wouldn't rise again once he had let the air escape his lungs. He was still alive when the sun began to set, and Kaede was out getting more water when a tall, fluffy figure stopped her in her tracks.

"Where is he?" He inquired emotionlessly, his gold eyes cold to any feeling.

"That hut, over there. But I'll just have to say, if you're here to kill him for taking out Naraku without you're consent, it will be pointless. And as for the Tetsaiga, well if it will permit you'll probably be wielding it very soon, before the night ends." Kaede waved towards the hut that glowed yellow from the window, and her face was also set in a stoic fashion.

The man simply bowed and disappeared, and he was soon entering the hut that did not sleep.

"Sesshomaru!" Kagome had turned around to ask why Kaede had returned so quickly, but she came gaze to gaze with the brother of her dying hanyou.

"This Sesshomaru wishes to speak with him, move." He stepped forward, expecting her to step aside so he could have a word with his brother, but she stood firm.

"He's dying, Sesshomaru, and he's not even awake. You missed his parting words, and….and I don't think it'll be long now…" Her eyes became misty, and he could see her fighting to contain her tears.

He could also see how red her eyes were from previous crying, and something deep inside of him felt for the girl. He knew how she was attached to his brother, even if it did sicken him. He knew how broken she was going to be after the half breed died, and it almost made him feel the slightest bit sorry. He almost pitied the girl. She turned back to the dying Inuyasha, and it annoyed him that she was ignoring his almighty presence.

He saw her go rigid and fall to the chair with a heavy thud. She quickly grasped the hands of the hanyou, and the tears were no longer held in. He could see his brother now, and his chest rose, higher….higher….and release. But there was no breath drawn back in. Inuyasha, his brother, had just died before his eyes, and not at his hands.

"Inuyasha!! Oh god, Inuyasha, no!" Kagome sobbed over the dead hanyou, her small form shaking with sobs.

"Step aside miko." Sesshomaru drew the Tenseiga and lifted it with ease.

Kagome watched with wide eyes as he stepped forward, and she moved subconsciously. Was he…was he really going to save Inuyasha from death? Was he actually showing compassion for his brother?

"This Sesshomaru will not let him die at the hands of a silly illness. Full demon or not, he is my half brother and I will not be disgraced by his sorry death. I will be the one to kill his pathetic hide." Sesshomaru raised the Tenseiga and with one fluid movement he saved the life of his brother.

Kagome stared in shock as Inuyasha took in air once more, his body back in health once more. He was no longer plagued by the poison fever, but he was still recovering from the wound that Naraku had inflicted.

"Sesshomaru, thank you!" Impulsively Kagome hugged the demon lord, beside herself with joy.

"If you wish to live miko, you will remove your person from me." Kagome stood back, her face set in a serious manner, even though she had to bite her lip to keep from grinning.

Sesshomaru sheathed the Tenseiga and Kagome bowed to show her thanks. He simply nodded and walked out the door, not looking back to see if his brother was awake. He could come back another day to rid the world of the half breed.

Once the demon lord had left Kagome peered out the window to see his form on the crest of a nearby hill, along with two other, smaller beings. In a flash they were gone, and her smile only widened. Inuyasha shifted in a deep slumber, and Kagome turned her gaze back to the golden eyed boy. He was alive, and his stoic, uncaring brother had saved him.

The next morning Kagome had woken up, her tired form resting on the side of Inuyasha's bed. She rubbed her drowsy eyes and watched the hanyou breathe evenly, his face peaceful. She grinned despite her sleepy state. He was already looking like himself again, and his hands weren't cold anymore. Kagome squeezed one gently, and in response Inuyasha shifted slightly and grasped her hand.

It wasn't until midday that the hanyou woke up, and Kagome was still by his side. She refused to leave lest she miss him waking up for the first time since he died. She giggled slightly at the thought. Saying that sounded so weird.

"Kagome…?" Inuyasha drawled tiredly, his eyelids opening painstakingly slow.

She looked into his golden orbs, and to her delight they no longer looked dead and hopeless. They were hazy from sleeping so long, but he was back and she couldn't be happier.

"Inuyasha! You're awake! I missed you so much, don't you ever scare me like that again!" She leaned down and hugged him, earning a slight wince.

"Oi…Kagome, my chest hurts, stop it!" He growled, but you could tell he wasn't really annoyed. In fact, just to have her hugging him made him inwardly happy.

Kagome remembered what he had said to her just before he passed out, and she pulled away and gaze him an analyzing look.

"What?" Inuyasha quirked a brow, and he smirked slightly when she smiled brightly back at him, a small blush coloring her cheeks.

"Last night….when you said, you….you know! Did you really mean that?" She looked down at her hands, unable to hold his gaze.

"When I said I would still protect you after I died? Yeah, I meant that." He said seriously, but she looked back up him, slightly annoyed.

"No, not that, what you said afterwards….just before you passed out." Inuyasha puzzled this for a while, and when he realized what she was talking about a tiny blush spread across his face as well.

"Well, I…uh…" He rubbed the back of his head, a little embarrassed by the question. "You know, Kagome?"

"What?" She looked at him then, almost ready to shake the answer out of him.

"Yeah, I did mean it." They both smiled, and shared their first moment together since they had seen each other last, before Kagome moved away.

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Kagome walked quietly beside the hanyou as they made their way back to the village. They took their own sweet time about it too, fingers laced together as they enjoyed the peaceful wood. Kaede had become frustrated with the slow pace of 'mortal men', so she told Kagome to drag Inuyasha back so he could show them how it was done. When Kagome had told him this he was very smug, not at all disappointed about getting to show off. Upon reaching the village Sango and Miroku greeted them, hand in hand.

Yes, the two had finally gotten the chance to get married, and they were both pleased. But alas, Miroku was still a lecher, and he still couldn't seem to calm his raging hormones. Inuyasha smirked when Sango smacked him upside the head for getting a little to close to her backside. Even if they were married, he didn't have privileges like that in public. Of course, when they were alone that was a different story….but anyways!

Kaede took notice of the couple emerging from the forest and waved them over with a smile.

"Inuyasha, I think it's about time ye helped out. Ye are living here now, so it'd be best if ye got started." Kaede turned back to the other men, "put you're backs into it! I know you can go faster than that! We need this village back up before the snows set in!" She went about giving her orders, waving this way and that.

Kagome leaned over and gave Inuyasha a quick peck on the cheek. "I have to go watch the kids with the other women, see you later!"

"Yeah, yeah, just go already." Inuyasha rubbed his cheek and sent her an eye roll, but she could tell by the tiny flush of pink that he didn't mind at all.

They all worked until sunset, stopping only for lunch and ending the day with dinner. Shippo bounced around with the other kids in the afternoon light, laughing and tumbling all the way. Kagome watched with fond eyes, hoping to have a kid like him someday. Shippo played, Kagome watched Shippo, Inuyasha watched Kagome….and Kaede watched him with a smile on her face. She knew they were good for each other all along, even if they refused to believe it.

"Hey Kagome?" She turned to face the hanyou, a smile on her face.

"Yeah Inuyasha?"

"When did you say we were going back to your time?" He cocked his head like a puppy would, and it made Kagome laugh.

"On Tuesday."

"Uh….when is Tuesday again? And what day is today?" He furrowed his brow, and Kagome continued to laugh. "What's so funny?" He scowled at her.

"It's just, that face you're making! It's so….cute!" She giggled, and Inuyasha turned his head away to hide the blush spreading across his cheeks.

"Feh, whatever!"

"Two days, Inuyasha."

"Huh?"

"Until we go to my time, remember?" Kagome poked him in the chest and he scowled again.

"Yeah, yeah, I know what you meant!"

"Well then why didn't you say so!?" Kagome threw her hands in the air.

"Because I didn't, so be quiet wench!"

"Inuyasha! Didn't I tell you I didn't like that name?!" She huffed, "you're so insensitive!"

"What did you say?!"

"I said that you were being INSENSITIVE!!"

"No I wasn't!!"

"Yes you were!!"

"NO, I wasn't!!!"

"YES, you were!!!"

"Didn't I tell you to be quiet, wench!?"

"I don't take orders from you!!"

"SO! Be quiet!!"

"No!"

"Yes!!"

"No!!!"

"Yes!!!!"

"Gah! Inuyasha SIT!!!" THUD! "Jerk…" And with that, Kagome stalked off, ending the perfect day.

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Inuyasha sat high in the Goshinboku, staring at the starry sky. He was still pretty steamed about the fight he had with Kagome earlier, and he was subconsciously dragging his claws along the bark of the branch, leaving deep cuts in the wood.

"Inuyasha?" A timid voice called from below, and he looked down to see Kagome standing there, a guilty look on her face.

"What do you want?" He snapped, a little harsher than he meant to.

"I just wanted to apologize for getting so cross with you earlier. Today was so long, and after watching a bunch of rowdy kids it wears at one's patience. I'm sorry I yelled at you." She fiddled with her fingers, and Inuyasha's eyes softened.

He jumped down from the tree and landed beside her, a small smile on his face. "Yeah…I guess today was too long for the both of us." He scratched the back of his head and looked at her with golden eyes.

Even if he didn't come out and say it, she knew he was apologizing in his own little way. He grabbed her around the waist and jumped back into the Goshinboku, settling down on a high branch.

"Eeep! Inuyasha, what if I fall?" She was sitting beside him, but she clutched tightly to his arm to steady herself.

"I won't let you fall, don't worry." He leaned against the tree and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against his chest.

She relaxed into his strong embrace and he rested his head on her hair, inhaling deeply. She smelled so good to his sensitive nose, and he was glad she was there with him. The wind swept over the two, and even though Inuyasha didn't take much notice he realized it was chilly out when Kagome shivered and snuggled deeper into his arms.

"Here Kagome." He quickly slipped off the top of his fire rat robe and draped it over her body, and she smiled warmly back at him.

"Thanks Inuyasha." She nestled back against him once more and clutched the edge of the red cloth, utterly content.

The cloth was still warm, and she loved the smell of it. Inuyasha was like no one she had ever smelled before. Not that she smelled people for a hobby or anything, but from the few people she had been close enough to smell, she thought he smelled the best by far. It was a rich, woodsy smell mixed with his own, purely unique scent, and she was happy just to bask in his warmth and let the smell surround and fill her to the very core.

Inuyasha was his own little fantasy, arms wrapped tightly around the small waist of his angel. Yes, he did think of her that way. She was like no one he had ever met, and even when they first encountered she was kind to him. She was so perfect in his eyes, and there wasn't anyone else he would rather be with. In fact, he figured he was going to ask her to be his mate once he got permission from her mother. That's why he was so eager to get to her time, because he wanted to be able to share the rest of his life with the sweet Higurashi.

"Inuyasha?" He was snapped out of his little daydream when Kagome spoke.

"Hm?" She giggled slightly when his voice rumbled deep in his throat, and she could hear it because her head was resting against him.

"When I wake up tomorrow, you'll still be here, right? I won't just be dreaming again like all the other times?" She tilted her head up to meet his soft golden gaze.

"Yeah, I'll still be here." He gave her a quick squeeze, and her smile brightened.

"Thanks Inuyasha." She snuggled back down, and it wasn't long before her breathing evened out and she was fast asleep.

"Sweet dreams, Kagome." Inuyasha kissed the top of her head and returned to looking at the stars, a small smile spread across his face.

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Alright, alright!! I guess there is going to be another chapter, and THEN the epilogue! So sit tight and I'll have this updated again in no time! I have to wrap up all the loose ends in the next update, so please be patient, it might take a while for me to read over what I've got and fix some things! I hope you liked this chappie, and if you have any questions, comments, or advice I'll gladly accept them in a review! Wow….I write that in every chapter and every story…..I guess I'm starting to sound like a broken record! Oh well, life goes on.

Anywho, I'm really hoping to get one hundred reviews before this is finally over, so please, if you haven't reviewed before, I want to know what you think!! I'd like to get an opinion from everybody, so even if you only have a word to put in I'll be excited that you made the effort! Gah, I know I should stop making one-shots, because over half of them are suppose to be getting epilogues!! Grr….I need to stop offering them….anywho, if you took the time to read this please put 'Treasure' somewhere in your review!! Thanks again, and when I'm finally done I'm going to dedicate my last update to all you wonderful reviews!! So until next time, valete!

Mistoffelees Shadow