A/N: This chapter kind of jumps around a lot. Please don't kill me ^^; I'll try and get the next chapter up quickly. Reviews are greatly appreciated!
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Inuyasha.
Kagome hummed softly as she went about the task of making Kaiya's formula. Glancing toward her daughter she smiled as she noticed that Kaiya was sitting next to Shippo and watching the kit with a serious expression. The change in her daughter's temperament was obvious and her relaxed temperament seemed to put the others in the group at ease too.
Glancing momentarily toward her companions, she watched as they cleaned up the dishes from dinner. Turning her attention back to her current task, she continued to add the correct measure of formula to the bottle in her hold. Satisfied with the correct amount of water and formula that rested in the bottle she put the top onto the bottle. Covering the tip with her finger she shook the bottle until the formula was mixed completely with the water.
Waiting until it settled she nodded in satisfaction and made her way over to Kaiya and Shippo. Smiling when she came to where they were seated, she squatted down in front of them. "Hey guys, are you ready for bed?" she questioned.
Shippo stopped talking in the midst of his story to Kaiya and frowned. "Aw Kagome, do we need to go to bed now?" he questioned.
Kagome sighed when Kaiya copied Shippo's object to the idea of going to bed. "Yes, you both are young and need to sleep".
Both children pouted at her response, after some time Shippo sighed and slowly got up and made his way toward his sleeping spot.
Shaking her head at his behavior, Kagome picked Kaiya up and carried her toward their sleeping spot, laying her daughter down she tucked her in, seeing that her daughter was going to start fussing, Kagome quickly handed her the bottle she had prepared and sighed in relief when Kaiya instantly began to drink the formula.
Kagome normally wouldn't give her daughter something to drink before going to be bed, but it seemed to be the only thing that would calm her since the event a few weeks ago and had become a night time routine for them. It was a routine she was hoping Kaiya would no longer need when she got older, but for now she would let it go, because she needed her daughter to get as much sleep as possible. If drinking the formula or water every night was the only way to do so, then so be it. She was sure this behavior would be gone when she switched her to a sippy cup.
Glancing down at Kaiya, Kagome smiled softly as she noticed that her daughter was already beginning to give into her exhaustion. Kissing her forehead, Kagome stood and made her way to where Shippo was resting.
Noting that Shippo was already snuggled in his bedding, Kagome keeled down and quickly gave the small fox kit a quick kiss on the forehead. Bidding the kitsune goodnight she then joined her daughter on their bedding. It didn't take long before she felt herself falling asleep.
Time passed quickly for the group and they continued their travel in search of jewel shards. They found a good amount, which pleased Inuyasha greatly, meaning the hanyou was in a good mood and allowed the group some time off. Kagome was pleased at this because it gave the two youngest members of the group, Kaiya and Shippo, time to rest and behave as young ones should.
Kagome smiled softly as she watched her daughter play with her kitsune companion. She was glad that the two were getting along-it helped her a lot to have Shippo look after and play with Kaiya. Especially now, since Kaiya was growing and gaining more energy as each day passed. Giving them one last glance, Kagome began to browse through one of the parenting books she had brought with her from her own time.
Kagome had been reading her book for half an hour before she heard Shippo yell for her, the alarm in his tone made her quickly discard her book and make her way over to the kitsune. She quickly noticed the cause for his concern as she approached, Kaiya was laying motionless on the ground. Quickening her speed she kneeled by her daughter and gently picked her up. "What happened Shippo?" She questioned, trying to keep herself calm.
Shippo was panicked "I-I don't know Kagome! We were playing and then she suddenly fell asleep!"
Kagome frowned "Let's go Shippo" She stated as she rose to her feet and began to walk in the direction of where her companions rested. Her thoughts were whirling, she had no clue what was happening with her daughter. She could feel the heat of her daughter's body through her clothing and it worried her.
Coming to a stop as she reached the camp ground she sat down beside Sango and she rearranged Kaiya so she was resting on her lap. She frowned as she examined her daughter more closely. Laying the palm of her hand onto her daughter's forehead, her brow furrowed as she noted that her daughter did indeed have a fever as she previously thought.
"What's wrong with her Kagome?"
Kagome glanced at Sango and noticed her worried gaze. Kagome offered her friend a hesitant smile "I'm not sure. She has a fever and suddenly become unconscious while playing with Shippo" she replied, sighing she brushed the fringe from her daughter's forehead. "I remember my mother saying that sometimes babies will come down with a fever...but I didn't think it would be like this"
Her daughter had been healthy since birth, she assumed that since her daughter was hanyou she would not experience the same illness' as human babies. Turning her attention upward she glanced around the campsite until her gaze rested on Inuyasha who was currently residing in a tree.
"Inuyasha"
She heard him huff and took that as her cue to continue "Could we go back to Keade's village?" she questioned.
Inuyasha glanced down at her and Kaiya "I guess..." he replied hesitantly.
Kagome smiled thankfully, readjusting her hold on her daughter she sighed softly. She hoped that Keade would have something that would help rid Kaiya of her fever. If not, she would return to her time to see if her mother knew of anything that could help.
Kagome glanced down at her daughter with a worried gaze, taking the wet cloth that rested on her daughter's forehead she placed it into the bowl of cool water that rested beside her.
Wringing the access water from the cloth she placed it on to her daughter's forehead. She frowned as her daughter whimpered and the cloth seemed to steam in response of being laid on the heated flesh.
She was currently at loss as to what to do to ease her daughter's pain. They had been in Keade's village for a few weeks now, after entering the village the group had quickly made their way to Keade to seek the elderly woman's help. Keade wasted no time getting the correct herbs to help but everything the elderly woman tried to do had no effect at all.
With each day that passed her daughter's health only further deteriorated. It left everyone in the group confused- Kaiya had been the picture of health weeks prior, the illness she had, had come quickly.
Kagome had asked Inuyasha if he knew what could help and he had responded that he had no knowledge of anything that could.
Kagome was pulled from her thoughts as the cover of the entrance to the hut she was currently residing in opened. Kagome turned her attention momentarily to the one at the entrance and smiled tiredly as noticed Inuyasha standing at the entrance. "Hey Inuyasha" she greeted.
He nodded in return to her greeting and his gaze instantly rested on Kaiya, worry evident in his expression and voice he questioned " How is she?"
Kagome frowned "Not good" she replied, moving her daughter's damp hair away from her face she sighed softly "She still won't eat anything, she hasn't awoken since yesterday".
Inuyasha sighed "The well isn't working" this statement brought Kagome's attention away from her daughter and toward her companion. Seeing her expression, Inuyasha continued "I went to the well to go to your time and ask your more for help. But it wouldn't work"
Kagome's brow furrowed and her frown deepened. This couldn't be happening, why now? She had been hoping that her mother could give some medication or get some information from her time that might be able to help her daughter.
She rose to her feet, meeting Inuyasha's gaze she gestured toward her daughter "Keep an eye on her. I'll be right back" she instructed.
Seeing Inuyasha's nod, Kagome left the hut and quickly ran toward where she knew the well rested. Even though she believed Inuyasha's words. She wanted to check for herself. It didn't take her long to reach the clearing where the well rested.
Stopping before it she inhaled deeply in hopes of catching her breath, walking up to the well she closed her eyes and silently prayed to all beings above that the well would work for her. Without hesitation she jumped into the depths of the well.
She didn't feel the warmth of the magic the well usually held. She grunted as she landed at the bottom of the well. Opening her eyes she glanced upward and frowned as she noted the same blue sky of the feudal era met her gaze. No , she groaned. It didn't work for her either.
Sighing she began to climb up the well, with her experience of climbing up the well, she soon reached the top. Her thoughts were frantic as she made her way back to the village.
It didn't take her long to reach the hut where her daughter and best friend rested. Pushing back the flap of the entrance she made her way inside. The sight that greeted her wasn't one she had been expecting.
Inuyasha was hunched over her daughter, his expression worried. Kagome rushed to their side and looked down at her daughter. It seemed that in her absence her daughter's health had taken a turn for the worst.
"What happened Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha meet her gaze with his own panicked one. "I don't know. She just seemed to get worse."
Kagome didn't think it was possible for her daughter to get worse. She was wrong. Her daughter was covered in sweat and the small girl seemed to be struggling to breath. No! She mentally exclaimed.
Picking up her daughter she cradled her to her chest and rocked back and forth. She felt her heart drop as she noticed her daughter's breath continued to come in struggled gasps. No, please no.