Chapter 7
The Hot Springs
Sango, Yuka, Ayumi, and Eri all took Kagome to the hot springs so she could get cleaned up, but even though the springs were only a few hundred yards away, it took them half an hour to get there. Kagome was still very weak and had to lean on Sango for support.
"Kagome, are you sure you want to? Maybe we should just go back. You're still too weak to be up and you need your rest." Sango said in worried tone as she helped Kagome climb up to the hot springs.
"I'm not going back. I think the water might help dull the pain a little."
"Okay. Well, here we are. Do you need any help?"
"No. I'll be alright on my own."
"We'll meet you in the hot springs. Take your time."
Kagome watched as the other girls undressed and got into the warm water. For a moment, she thought about just going back, but she was still pretty sore and for her, warm water usually calmed her nerves.
She slipped off the haori she was wearing and took off her skirt, the only part of her uniform that wasn't completely ruined, and carefully got into the water.
They stayed there for a good two hours before Kagome felt she was well enough to walk back to the cave unsupported. She slipped her skirt back on and wrapped the haori around herself and turned to wait for the others.
"Kagome," Yuka asked, "do you feel any better?"
"Yes. Much better, thank you."
"We should be getting back. It's getting dark." Sango said as she looked at the sky. "It shouldn't take that long to get there now that you're feeling better, Kagome."
"I hope so. I just hope the pain doesn't decide to come back half way back." Kagome stated.
They started to walk back, but this time at a quicker pace.
**********************
"Dammit. It's getting dark. They should be back by now! What the hell is taking them so long?" Inuyasha was getting restless. The girls had been gone for more than two hours and though he didn't want to admit it, Inuyasha was worried about Kagome.
"Calm down Inuyasha." Miroku stated calmly. "I'm sure they'll be back soon. You must keep in mind that Kagome is just now starting to recover and has only been up for a few hours. She's still fairly weak and needs help getting around."
"I know that, you stupid monk." Inuyasha growled.
"Geez. You don't have to get defensive. I'm only saying that you should be more patient."
"Feh."
***********************
The cave was now within sight as the girls headed back. Kagome was starting to feel tired and weak again and started to breathe heavily, collapsing to the ground.
"Kagome! Are you okay?" Eri asked worriedly.
"I'm fine. I'm just a little tired." she said. "Can we stop for a few minutes?"
"Sure."
They all took a seat on the hard, cold ground and rested. Every once in a while, they would sneak glances at Kagome to see if she was going to make it back. She looked really pale and looked like she would collapse any second from exhaustion.
"Kagome, you're welcome to get on my back for the remainder of the way." Sano said.
"No. I want to walk back on my own. Besides, I feel fine. Can we go now?"
They nodded and started walking once more.
************************
Inuyasha sat deep in thought while he waited for Kagome and the others to get back.
"Maybe we should just go back to Kaede's until Kagome's fully healed. I don't want her putting too much stress on herself just to look for the jewel shards. WHERE'D THAT COME FROM?! SINCE WHEN DO I CARE? But I do care." he thought. "I thought I was gonna lose her that time. I still need to tell her how I feel and I almost lost my chance. I don't want to lose her. She's the only person who's actually cared about me for who I am. Kikyo didn't. She wanted me to turn full human, but Kagome doesn't care."
"......I don't care because it's your blood."
Inuyasha smiled as he remembered the time she'd said that. It was true. She didn't care if he was a half demon. She'd never left his side, even when he turned full demon. She'd tried to help him, and showed no fear.
Both Inuyasha and Miroku looked up as the girls returned. Sango looked much happier now that she'd taken a bath and Ayumi, Eri, and Yuka looked refreshed. With everything that had happened, everyone was a little depressed. What got their attention though was Kagome's appearance. She was still pale and, even after a dip in the hot springs, looked like she had before; exhausted.
Kagome looked over at Inuyasha and gave him a weak smile before going over to her sleeping bag. Before she was able to reach her sleeping bag, she collapsed to the ground, exhausted.
Sango was about to rush over to help her friend, but Inuyasha calmly walked over to her, picked her up, and carried her to her sleeping bag. He didn't care what the others said. All he wanted was for Kagome to be comfortable and get better soon.
Sango and the others starred in shock. They'd never seen him be so nice to Kagome before and it was a little unsettling.
"What? What'd I do?" he asked, confused.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." they said in unison.
There was an awkward silence before they all went to bed.
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A/N: Here's another chapter done! Hope you all liked it!
Ja ne,
~Kagome
Sango, Yuka, Ayumi, and Eri all took Kagome to the hot springs so she could get cleaned up, but even though the springs were only a few hundred yards away, it took them half an hour to get there. Kagome was still very weak and had to lean on Sango for support.
"Kagome, are you sure you want to? Maybe we should just go back. You're still too weak to be up and you need your rest." Sango said in worried tone as she helped Kagome climb up to the hot springs.
"I'm not going back. I think the water might help dull the pain a little."
"Okay. Well, here we are. Do you need any help?"
"No. I'll be alright on my own."
"We'll meet you in the hot springs. Take your time."
Kagome watched as the other girls undressed and got into the warm water. For a moment, she thought about just going back, but she was still pretty sore and for her, warm water usually calmed her nerves.
She slipped off the haori she was wearing and took off her skirt, the only part of her uniform that wasn't completely ruined, and carefully got into the water.
They stayed there for a good two hours before Kagome felt she was well enough to walk back to the cave unsupported. She slipped her skirt back on and wrapped the haori around herself and turned to wait for the others.
"Kagome," Yuka asked, "do you feel any better?"
"Yes. Much better, thank you."
"We should be getting back. It's getting dark." Sango said as she looked at the sky. "It shouldn't take that long to get there now that you're feeling better, Kagome."
"I hope so. I just hope the pain doesn't decide to come back half way back." Kagome stated.
They started to walk back, but this time at a quicker pace.
**********************
"Dammit. It's getting dark. They should be back by now! What the hell is taking them so long?" Inuyasha was getting restless. The girls had been gone for more than two hours and though he didn't want to admit it, Inuyasha was worried about Kagome.
"Calm down Inuyasha." Miroku stated calmly. "I'm sure they'll be back soon. You must keep in mind that Kagome is just now starting to recover and has only been up for a few hours. She's still fairly weak and needs help getting around."
"I know that, you stupid monk." Inuyasha growled.
"Geez. You don't have to get defensive. I'm only saying that you should be more patient."
"Feh."
***********************
The cave was now within sight as the girls headed back. Kagome was starting to feel tired and weak again and started to breathe heavily, collapsing to the ground.
"Kagome! Are you okay?" Eri asked worriedly.
"I'm fine. I'm just a little tired." she said. "Can we stop for a few minutes?"
"Sure."
They all took a seat on the hard, cold ground and rested. Every once in a while, they would sneak glances at Kagome to see if she was going to make it back. She looked really pale and looked like she would collapse any second from exhaustion.
"Kagome, you're welcome to get on my back for the remainder of the way." Sano said.
"No. I want to walk back on my own. Besides, I feel fine. Can we go now?"
They nodded and started walking once more.
************************
Inuyasha sat deep in thought while he waited for Kagome and the others to get back.
"Maybe we should just go back to Kaede's until Kagome's fully healed. I don't want her putting too much stress on herself just to look for the jewel shards. WHERE'D THAT COME FROM?! SINCE WHEN DO I CARE? But I do care." he thought. "I thought I was gonna lose her that time. I still need to tell her how I feel and I almost lost my chance. I don't want to lose her. She's the only person who's actually cared about me for who I am. Kikyo didn't. She wanted me to turn full human, but Kagome doesn't care."
"......I don't care because it's your blood."
Inuyasha smiled as he remembered the time she'd said that. It was true. She didn't care if he was a half demon. She'd never left his side, even when he turned full demon. She'd tried to help him, and showed no fear.
Both Inuyasha and Miroku looked up as the girls returned. Sango looked much happier now that she'd taken a bath and Ayumi, Eri, and Yuka looked refreshed. With everything that had happened, everyone was a little depressed. What got their attention though was Kagome's appearance. She was still pale and, even after a dip in the hot springs, looked like she had before; exhausted.
Kagome looked over at Inuyasha and gave him a weak smile before going over to her sleeping bag. Before she was able to reach her sleeping bag, she collapsed to the ground, exhausted.
Sango was about to rush over to help her friend, but Inuyasha calmly walked over to her, picked her up, and carried her to her sleeping bag. He didn't care what the others said. All he wanted was for Kagome to be comfortable and get better soon.
Sango and the others starred in shock. They'd never seen him be so nice to Kagome before and it was a little unsettling.
"What? What'd I do?" he asked, confused.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." they said in unison.
There was an awkward silence before they all went to bed.
****************************************
A/N: Here's another chapter done! Hope you all liked it!
Ja ne,
~Kagome