Chapter Five
Time is Running Out
Miroku, Shippo and Sango flew through the skies. It was still dark, which made it difficult to see, but morning would be coming soon.
"We have to hurry Miroku! Kagome doesn't have much time!" Sango exclaimed.
"Kirara, fly lower. Sango, look there!" Miroku shouted.
In the far distance a small tree with red flowers stood amongst a group of shrubs. The sun was beginning to rise. They flew to the ground and leapt off of Kirara. They ran to the tree and plucked branches full of the flowers.
"Alright, we have what we need. Let's hurry and get back to InuYasha and Kagome. The sun is rising, which means we don't have much time," Miroku said as he and the others jumped back onto Kirara.
Kirara flew as fast as she could. They needed to hurry and make the antidote. They made it back to the camp in record time.
"Did you find the flowers?" InuYasha questioned.
"Yes we have it. How is she doing?" Miroku replied.
InuYasha was frustrated, "She's not getting any better, her pulse is fading. We need to make the antidote fast."
Miroku started working quickly. He began boiling some water to extract the nectar from the flowers. InuYasha picked Kagome up and put her in his lap and held her close to his body. Her breaths were getting slower and becoming even more shallow. Miroku finished making the antidote . He poured it into a bottle and shook it to help it cool off.
"Is it done? Can we give it to her?" InuYasha was so worried.
Miroku walked over with the bottle, "Yes, hold up her head and open her mouth so we can administer it."
InuYasha lifted Kagome's head and gently opened her mouth. Miroku slowly poured the nectar down her throat. They finished and InuYasha cradled Kagome like a child.
"Okay, this should start working very soon," Miroku encouraged.
InuYasha placed a hand on Kagome's forehead, "Her fever feels like it's already coming down."
Kagome's breathing was becoming stronger and more even. And her pulse was returning to its normal rate. InuYasha continued to place cold compresses on her forehead to help the fever come down. The others distanced themselves from the two, to give them more privacy.
"I've never seen this side of InuYasha before. He's so nurturing," Miroku stated.
"He must really love Kagome. He doesn't want to lose her like he did Kikyo," Sango added.
The sun was halfway up. The sky was beginning to brighten.
"InuYasha," Kagome whispered.
"Kagome, you're awake. How are you feeling?" InuYasha asked softly.
Kagome sighed, "Tired and a little dizzy, but otherwise I feel better."
"I'm so happy to hear that. Now, be still you still need more rest," InuYasha said, he was so relieved.
Kagome nodded and rested her head on InuYasha's chest. This was one time he didn't push her away. Instead he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him. Kagome was alive, that was all that mattered to him.
Kagome, I will never leave your side. I will stay with you forever and always, InuYasha thought to himself and fell asleep.