The Eternal Bond, Trust ch8
Hello! I apologize profusely for not updating this past week!
-bows over and over again to angry mob-
However, this chapter will hopefully make up for the Kikyo one last week! (I know, I know, still traumatized from writing that chapter)
This chapter is dedicated to loyal reviewer InuGoddess715, for having the most reviews for this story. Thanks so much, it really gives me an ego boost to have everybody comment, especially since this fanfic is one of my best.
Kagome was eased from her dreams by the feeling of a gentle hand softly laid on her cheek, and groaned as the effect of her exhaustion took hold of her limbs. There was a whoosh of air from the side of her, and the caress on her features was gone, replaced instead by the warm rays that tickled her skin.
Slowly, feeling as if their weight was overwhelming her, Kagome opened her eyes and groggily tried to focus. The brown blur above her transformed into wooden boards, and Kagome found herself staring up at the ceiling of Kaede's hut.
"What?" she asked aloud, her voice hoarse and scratchy. Clearing her throat, Kagome tried desperately to remember events. Something had happened, something that had both scared and shocked her. Groping after the distant memory, Kagome sighed in resignation when all she found were blurry images of the night… and someone coming after her.
Suddenly Inuyasha's face flashed in her mind's eye and she shot up, regretting it seconds after from the pain that rocketed up and down her spine repeatedly. Falling back to the comfort of the sheets beneath her, Kagome turned her head and saw Inuyasha.
He was staring at her with such an unreadable expression, his golden eyes locking with hers, searching, wondering, trying to figure out something. His appearance showed him to be weary, and the way his shoulders slouched forward, as if preparing for some unseen attack, perplexed Kagome. What had transpired that had made him so uncertain and bothered?
"Hey…" Kagome said, trying as hard as she possibly could to keep the pained expression from her features as she fought the uncomfortable state of sleepiness she was possessed by. She needed to find out what was wrong, why he seemed so miserable. Wincing, she lethargically lifted her upper body up in a sitting position.
Inuyasha averted his gaze to the side, sensing her puzzlement and realizing it was caused by obliviousness. She didn't remember the incident… yet. "How are you feeling?" he questioned softly, keeping his eyes trained on the wall.
Kagome felt like she was either going to vomit or pass out, but refrained from telling him so, opting to instead answer, "I've been better." She attempted a weak smile, which prompted a small one from Inuyasha. Who knew if it was the last one he'd ever get from her once her memory returned…
"So have I…" Inuyasha mumbled, and flinched when he came to the realization he had voiced that aloud.
"I noticed. W-What's bothering you?" Kagome stuttered as the hand supporting her up began to shake uncontrollably. What you get for sleeping for so long… Kagome chastised herself.
Not missing the unstable condition of her body, Inuyasha snapped gently, "You shouldn't be trying to sit up. Not after," his voice dropped to above a whisper, "the injuries you've sustained." His gaze flickered towards her bandaged stomach and then away.
Kagome stared down at the bandages, working her hardest to figure out why she had an injury on her waist. Heck, no wonder it had hurt when she had sat up…
"I- I don't… remember…" she stammered, fumbling for the right words to describe her amnesia.
"I know." He replied, his bangs hiding his eyes, "and don't worry about it right now. You still need some rest, wench."
Her lips curved upward half-heartedly at his nickname for her and she settled down against the haven of softness below her. Her mind was buzzing with activity, willing her to stay awake to pressure him into telling her the reason for his distress, but her body reacted to its demands first and before she could protest it, Kagome was asleep.
Yet the unfocused memory of that night haunted her dreams…
The half demon beside her was the respite she took from her nightmare, the anchor she clung to in her dreams of lucidity that plagued her sleep.
"So she awoke? That is progress." Kaede remarked upon hearing of the good news, as she hobbled around her hut, gathering ingredients to concoct a healing paste that she was running low on. Her one good eye traveled to Kagome's still form and rested there.
"And now ye shall wait. Do not fear, she shall rise soon, but it is better that she rests. Her strength has yet to return."
"I know that." Inuyasha snapped, aggravated. Kagome's awakening had only served to further worry him as another possibility was presented to him. What if she didn't remember? What if he had to be the one to tell her the sordid details of why Naraku's stench was lingering on her wounds?
The thought scared him more than any demon ever could. In fact, he would happily take the massive horde of demons in place of this nightmare.
Kaede, apprehending the thoughtful expression masking Inuyasha's real feelings, exited her hut, saying, "I shall make this outside, if ye don't mind."
He answered with something akin to a 'why the hell would I mind' and Kaede nodded affirmatively before ducking under the bamboo flap and disappearing from view.
Miroku sat on a stump of a large oak tree, his legs folded in a cross-legged stance as he performed his daily routine of meditating. Off to the side, Sango sat comfortably against the trunk of a sakura tree, its flowers in full bloom and drifting down to land on the ground around her in a pink shower. Her Hiraikotsu was propped up on her lap and she maneuvered the rag expertly across its length.
She paused mid-polish, and her downcast eyes riveted to the monk whose back was turned to her. Sighing as she realized he wasn't finished, Sango returned to her tedious work, paying no attention to the blossoms that fell atop her head and adorned her shoulders.
Shippo bounded out from underneath a patch of underbrush, bits of leaves and twigs stuck fast in his flaming orange hair, but a goofy grin apparent on his face. Kilala jumped out right after the fox kit, and proceeded to chase him around the small clearing they were in, mewing whenever she came in close range to Sango.
Finally, the cat demon caught up to the young kitsune and pounced on top of his laughing form. Shippo only giggled, his sides hurting half from his running and half from laughing so hard.
The sight coaxed a genuine smile from Sango's lips. But before she could join in, a warm voice from beside her said, "Well, it seems Shippo appreciates the time off from shard hunting."
Instinctively, Sango whirled her Hiraikotsu in a defensive position before her, prepared to knock Miroku's lights out if he made an advancement. But the look on his face was not one of a lecherous intent, but held a certain peacefulness, relaxation in the features of his face. It prompted Sango to lower her defense… slightly though.
"Do not fear, dear Sango. I do not wish to caress your bottom, however tempting the offer is…" Miroku glanced at the spoken of, but returned his eyes to her face very hastily. Shippo zipped by the awkward couple, Kilala hot on his heels, literally with her flaming feet.
Sango blushed and gestured for him to sit, at which he complied. In compatible silence they watched Shippo get repeatedly caught and jumped on until he was lying on the ground, his breathing heavy and his body exhausted.
"Shippo, are you okay?" Sango asked, a note of concern in her voice. While Kagome was sick it was her duty to watch after the small demon, at which she didn't mind at all, in fact she enjoyed his company, and he kept Kilala busy too.
Miroku grinned. "You look a little worse for wear, Shippo," he joked. The fox demon huffed in indignation and bounced to his feet, crossing his arms. His pose came to nothing, however, because Kilala proceeded to charge into his unsuspecting figure and they leapt into another round of tag.
Sango leaned the now-clean Hiraikotsu against the tree trunk and sighed, relaxing her muscles completely so that her whole weight rested on the tree. For the past day, all she had accomplished was shining her weapon to perfection, and besides that she had done nothing else. Even for her, who had withstood hours of utter stand-still, it was beginning to become slightly aggravating.
"When will we ever leave?" she grumbled, forgetting that Miroku was right next to her. The monk turned to her in surprise, then grinned.
"It would seem that even you are fast becoming bored, Sango."
She jumped at his voice, and blushed realizing that she had spoken aloud. Personally, she hated to be the one to complain, for her it resembled a sign of weakness. Miroku ignored her fumbling state and continued. "Have patience. Kagome will awake soon, that is certain."
Answering with a weak smile, Sango rested her head on her bent knees. Is it really certain, though? She thought.
Kaede walked into view, her steps slow and calculated as she neared them. A basket was cradled under her arm, its depths already half way filled with various herbs and leaves. She paused directly in front of them and her mouth curved upward in a rare reassuring smile. "Ye should not fret," she kindly told the moping Sango. "Kagome has awoken briefly today, but she returned to her unconscious state shortly after."
Both Miroku and Sango stared at Kaede. "Thank you," Sango replied politely, bowing her head in respect. Kaede carried on, her statement finished.
As soon as the elderly priestess was well out of sight, Miroku hung his head and sighed, "I should've been a fortune teller…"
Inuyasha opened his eyes to the rustlings of cloth and a distant groan of complaint. They immediately riveted to the restless girl in front of him, and widened as he saw the symptoms of her coming awake again.
Was that one time… was it just because she was half asleep that she had a memory lapse?
Normally, Inuyasha would've not portrayed any type of nervousness under any circumstances, but this was one time that he could not help it, and he dug a fang into his lip.
Kagome felt the blanket of sleep being lifted from her and she blinked her eyes to clear them. Stifling a yawn, she leaned her head deeper into the pillow and said nothing for a long time. Her mind was slowly returning to its normal functioning state, and along with it came memories.
This time Kagome could precisely discern the scene, and as she played it over and over in her head, a dread overtook her. Where is Inuyasha? She thought frantically, and whirled her head to the dog demon on her right. Did he figure out what Naraku did?
Inuyasha waited impatiently for Kagome to recover her senses, and with each passing minute his fear burrowed in deeper and deeper into his mind.
Then, with a suddenness that surprised Inuyasha, she turned to face him, her brown eyes wide and shimmering. Realization was a prominent emotion on her face, and his chest clenched painfully. She did know. She did remember.
Kagome, after a tremendously long period of silence, rose into a sitting up position, and continued to have her gaze linger on him. Her entire posture was one of obscurity, and her expression changed multiple times at an alarming rate.
Deciding to check if she would even speak to him, and not wanting to find out if she didn't, Inuyasha swallowed around the lump stuck in his throat and said, "You're finally awake, huh?" If you'd listen closely enough, there was a slight shake to his voice, which expressed his enormous insecurity.
She offered him an unsteady smile, which he took willingly, and drew a sharp breath. There was a tangible tension in the air surrounding them, she could tell easily, and Kagome wished for nothing more than to tell him the truth, that she wasn't vengeful or pitted against him. She didn't know how long she had been asleep, he could've thought about this for days, driving him to the brink of madness.
"Inuyasha," she began softly, her tone gentle and reassuring. But whatever it was she wished to say to him was delayed as Kaede bustled into the hut. She halted as soon as her eye rested on Kagome and the surprise was evident in her wrinkled face.
"Oh, my. Child, ye are up much faster than I had predicted." The priestess reached over to the small table that stood sturdily to her side and wrapped her fingers around a small bottle that held one of her various medications she spent so much time replacing.
Inuyasha's adorable dog ears that marked his heritage were flattened against his head as he glared at Kaede. What had Kagome been about to tell him? Her tone hadn't been harsh or unforgiving, meaning that perhaps he still held a small chance at repairing the gap that had been made between them with the attack.
Kagome smiled politely as Kaede mixed in a portion of the contents of the bottle with a dish of water and held it out to her, but inside she was disappointed at the elderly woman's unfortunate timing. Her warm brown eyes, now saddened, moved to Inuyasha as she lifted the drink to her mouth and daintily swallowed the medicine. Its taste was horrible, bitter with a roughness that left her throat scratchy.
Feeling the need to regurgitate, Kagome forced it to stay down and turned her attention back to Kaede. "Thank you," she whispered her thanks hoarsely, as the after effects of the concoction began to take their toll on her voice. Great, just what I need, for my voice to give out when I really need to talk to him!
Sighing, she prepared herself for her words as Kaede began to exit the hut once more, but she had no more opened her mouth than out of the corner of her eyes she saw a blur of red barrel towards her figure. Acting on instinct, she whirled towards the source just as a jubilant Shippo reached her, and clung tightly to her arm.
"Kagome! I missed you so much, and we were all really worried, and-,"
Kagome shushed him, trying to calm the over stimulated kit down as Shippo continued with his concerns. Finally, inhaling deeply, Shippo relaxed and quieted, his eyes tightly closed with tears leaking out of the corners.
Detaching Shippo from her sleeve carefully Kagome placed him in her lap, and he curled soundly up into a ball, snuggling into the warm folds of the blanket that was draped over her legs. The flap opened again and Kagome's eyes were drawn towards the entrance as Sango and Miroku appeared, each expressing their relief at her awakening.
"Kagome…" Sango murmured happily as she kneeled and lightly embraced the young woman before her. "I'm glad you're finally awake," she whispered into Kagome's ear, and then drew back, a smile steady on her lips.
Miroku looked down at her, violet eyes revealing his relief, but he refrained from hugging her, instead contented with giving her an encouraging nod and sitting down himself. In the whole room, amidst the chatter that was rising from the concerned companions, there were two rather silent, glum figures, each perturbed about the subject of the other, and neither sure of what the other person felt.
Inuyasha, definitely in no mood to converse with the perverted monk and temperamental demon slayer when all he wanted to do was talk with Kagome, eventually rose and, belting his precious sword to his waist, left without a further word.
Kagome's gaze followed his form as he left, then averted to her friends, although they were not the occupation of her thoughts. All hope of placing this incident behind them tonight was thrown out the window, and a frown flitted onto Kagome's porcelain features.
Why does he have to be so darn difficult? Would it kill him to wait a few more minutes until everyone leaves?
Scowling at the still swaying doorway, Kagome figured the least she could do was answer her other companions, instead of leaving them to think she was ignoring their attempted conversation, which was in actuality what she had primarily been doing.
What they didn't know wouldn't hurt them.
But unfortunately, what her hanyou didn't know could hurt her.
Again, I'm so sorry for the delay, really I had no time to post it. Believe me; this month time is most definitely not on my side.
Hope you do appreciate this, though! Yes, Kagome did wake up, but her awakening wasn't exactly what you probably expected. Frustrating, isn't it, that she can never seem to be able to tell him since people keep walking in.
And being the nice, respectful schoolgirl she is, Kagome doesn't have the heart to tell them to go away.
Her problem. ;)
Talk with you anime freaks later!
-kikyohater92-