(Snnfle) I just can't believe (snffle) how many fans there are (snnfle) of this story! Thanks you guys! I'll thank each and every one of you at the end! And give a Japanese translation page...

Okay yaoi people, sorry if I tick you off, but as I said BEFORE, Inu-chan and Sesshy are BROTHERS, yo. Get it through your head!

No, I am not closed-minded. But "that's just the way that it is, uh-huh, uh huh..." Thank you, Shadowfax, for the support! I won't be discouraged! That is one of the coolest reviews I have ever gotten.

ALRIGHT PEOPLES! NOW THAT I HAVE PUBLICLY DECLARED THIS NOT YAOI AND HAVE STATED MY OPINION AS IS LEGAL IN THE GOOD OL' U.S.A., WHO'S STILL WITH ME?

Ahem. Review and lemme know who I still have interested! And if you aren't...
...Don't review.

Chapter Seven

Miroku stirred slightly. "Ow."

The pressure from Sango's grip swas cutting off the circulation to his hand, and it was getting more than just slightly uncomfortable.

He slowly removed the fingers intended for her backside and carefully peeled away the fingers squeezing his arm, one by one. There was still an imprint, though. Crud.

Morning light was streaming in gently from the window, bathing the occupants of the room with soft but strong radiance. The sun felt good on his face, and he closed his eyes for a few moments, savoring the warmth. A soft sound brought his attention to the middle of the room.

There, next to Inuyasha, lay Sesshoumaru. The older demon was spread across the floor at his brother's head, sleeping peacefully with his back against a table leg. His white hair was spilled across the floor, cascading over tan shoulders and blanketing glare from the sun off of his pure white tresses was almost blinding. Miroku wondered how he'd missed him.

He was surprised, but not very, to see Inuyasha curled up next to him, away from his own mat, his hands grasping his brother's clothing. The hanyou was breathing easily now, as was his older brother, his chest having healed well during the night and the dark spot close to fading away completely.

Relief flooded over him as he saw Inuyasha's shoulders rise and fall in the rhythm of his breath. He honestly thought the half-demon would not survive the night. The monk's gaze fell on Sesshoumaru's arm around his little brother's head, cradling him tenderly.

Things do change, don't they, he mused. Less than a month ago this demon wouldn't have hesitated in crushing him, and now... He let his thoughts fade, watching with a smile as the two lay silently and comfortably in each other's presence.

Finally Miroku looked over at Kagome, who still had the smile from last night on her face, and let out a breath. The monk had been worried about her; the stress and worry for her beloved Inuyasha had been eating away at her for the past few weeks.

He wasn't sure how much she could have taken, and the possibility that the hanyou might be dead, well... He couldn't even think about what it might do to her.

The monk rose and dusted off his clothing, reaching for his staff against the wall. With one last look at Inuyasha, he pulled the curtain aside and stepped out into the sun.

As the day wore on, eventually the hut emptied. Even Kaede and Kagome left for while, as soon as they were sure that both patients were stable.

Inuyasha's bleeding had subsided, but Kaede predicted that he probably wouldn't be able to walk or stand for a few more weeks. The makeshift casts on his arm and legs would help steady him, but the wounds would limit his movement to small steps, and a walking stick would be necessary. But then, because of his blindness, he would need one anyway.

Kaede asked to see Kagome privately, but assured her they'd return a little later. She nodded and followed obediently, straightening the blankets as she rose to walk with her. The old miko turned and faced her once they'd reached her hut.

"Kagome. I have news."

"News?" she pressed. "Is it them?"

"Sesshoumaru will be fine. His arm is regenerating at an exceedingly rapid rate; it's a complete mystery to me," she sighed. "Considering this speed, I think it will have fully regenerated in about three weeks."

"That's wonderful!" Kagome told her. "This is what I hoped would happen; I mean it's kind of hard to get along with someone when it's their fault you're disabled."

"Yes, I know," Kaede said slowly. "But that isn't the problem. Kagome... It is Inuyasha."

"Huh?" The miko's enthusiastic smile was wiped from her face. "What is it? Something other than what we saw?"

"Yes," she replied. "You see, I examined him thoroughly for signs, traces of any kind of poison. His healing powers haven't started working on him the entire time, and the only thing that could have affected him like that is poison. But despite my efforts, I couldn't find anything. He had either already flushed it out of his system, or... or that wasn't the problem."

"What do you mean?" Tension was beginning to grip Kagome's chest. "What's wrong?"

"I believe Inuyasha has endured psychological damage as well as physical while in Naraku's castle. That would explain his regression into himself, and we all know Naraku isn't one to under-do a job." Kaede took a deep breath. "He may not remember anything that has happened, or he may remember it all, and I am not sure which one will affect his mind the worst."

"He may not remember...us?" The thought struck the young miko as, hopefully, impossible. "But-but he called for me! He called for Sesshoumaru, he..."

"He will remember it all eventually; he may even remember it now. But how Naraku's tortures affected him, I cannot be sure. It is all up to him."

"...Okay." Kagome breathed slowly, in and out. "I'll help him with everything. Maybe me and the others will calm him; he can hear us, he can see us-"

"That's... the other issue, Kagome."

B-BMP. B-BMP. Her heart was beating holes into her chest.

"His eyesight was... severely damaged. It's as though Naraku had gashed his eyes and that is how they healed, but there's no mark to indicate that it was a wound. I...I cannot say if he will ever regain his sight."

Kagome felt her blood pounding in her ears. The colors of the priestess' gi and hakama, the green of the grass, the blue of the sky, all seemed to shine out at her roughly, as though mocking her. Color. So much to see. So much that would not be seen.

Kaede put an arm around the girl's shoulders, trying to comfort her. "I know this will be difficult, but it will pass. You just need to help him recover. Our Inuyasha will be back to us soon... Although considering his colorful use of language and attitude, perhaps we should prefer him to remain as is," she remarked.

Kagome let out an involuntary laugh. "Yeah... I'll have to remember not to sit him."

"Hunh...?"

Inuyasha couldn't tell what was going on. He felt...people. Everything was black. The scents were muffled, he could smell a lot of blood but not much else.

...Blood? Fear gripped his heart like a vice. "Ka...Kagome?"

Suddenly a hand tightened around the base of his neck. "Ahh!" he yelped, reflexively pulling away. He struggled to release himself from an unseen grip, panic setting in. It was dark again. Darkness and blood. Pain was eating away at his chest, his arms, his legs-

"Kagome- Kagome!"

"Whoa, whoa," a soft voice said reassuringly. "Shhh, it's okay, brother, you're safe. We brought you home."

Inuyasha stopped his writhing and stared without results into the black. The unseen voice was familiar, but somehow unnerving. "Sesshou...nii chan?"

He gave a small chuckle. "Yes."

"You...you're here?"

"Yes."

The half-demon released his held breath slowly, calm replacing his manic fear. "Wh-where's Kagome?"

"She's outside, talking with Kaede-baba. They sound pretty happy now. Listen." Sure enough, laughter could be heard from his left, bouncing cheerfully from ear to ear. Inuyasha relaxed against his brother's shoulder as he stroked his furry ears, tousling his hair.

"You saved me... Nii-chan saved me," he murmured, curling up to him like a baby.

"Yes."

Silence.

"Nii-chan... are you still mad at me?"

Sesshoumaru started tangibly. "What...? No, I..."

"Do you...still hate me?"

There was a long pause. The half-demon couldn't see his expression. "No. I don't hate you."

"You don't?" He sounded childishly hopeful.

Inuyasha felt his brother smile. "No, I don't."

"...Good."

"Hmph." The youkai nodded his approval, resuming his playing with his little brother's hair.

"...I'm tired... Can I sleep now?"

"Yes, you can."

"...Good. 'Cause I'm really...tired... It's so dark..."

"I know. But it won't be forever."

"...See you in the...morning, Nii-chan?"

"Yes, otouto-chan. See you in the morning."

"Heh..."

With that, Inuyasha felt the world slip, and he tumbled down into the softness of sleep.

~~~
Two weeks later

~~~

"Come on, Shippou! It's only for a few hours," she insisted. The kit was wrapped securely around her leg, clinging like a barnacle and sticky as one to boot, due to all the sweets he'd consumed.

He was shaking his head like a maniac, trying to keep her from leaving.

"No no no nononononono," he babbled, eyes shut tight. "I don't want you to go yet! Can't we play a little more? Can't I come with you?"

"No, I have to do this alone," Kagome told him. "Don't you remember? Today we can get Inuyasha out of bed. We need to get him walking, and he asked for me and Sesshoumaru to be there..."

"But why can't I come?" he whined, pleading with puppy-dog eyes.

Because he's embarrassed and shy and doesn't want anyone else to be there, she thought. "Please Shippou, just stay here for a little while and I'll be back. I'll bring you some more of that special candy you like, and we can play hide and go seek. Okay?"

The kit's eyes widened. "Really?" he said excitedly.

"Really."

"Well, alright. But hurry back!" The miko smiled at the cub's exuberance, watching him scamper off into the bushes. He had gotten a little taller, the little fox was almost up to her knee now. She'd have to be careful; he'd probably turn into a rebellious teenager like Inuyasha...

Oh, man... Do I really want to do this?

He poked his nose out the door, scenting the passing villagers. He could smell children, and men and women. The half-demon could smell the rice they carried, and some different vegetables (wait, were those turnips?), and a few strange, cottony smells that must have been cloth materials. He could smell the dirt of the road, and rocks, and some trees, tufts of grass and a few foods; good smells like noodles, cooking rice, boiling water, and tea, all caoming from the other huts.

He took a deep breath.
At least I won't be able to see them stare.

Inuyasha stepped carefully out of the doorway, pushing aside the noren and slowly walking with his new staff wrapped tightly in shaking fingers.

He'd been given a new red haori, and his hakama had been mended, but the slashes had been so severe that they were visibly pieced together. At a slow, unsure pace the hanyou made his way down the dirt road, trying to find the path to the woods.

Inuyasha had only gotten a few feet from the door when he sensed them: there were people, stopping all around to look at the village's half-demon, taking in his clouded, solid yellow eyes and his walking stick which served as both a crutch and a guide. He began to sweat as the murmurs started.

I knew I shouldn't have done this, now Kagome and Nii-chan'll be mad at me, he thought desperately. They had told him to wait, and not to come out of the hut till they came and got him, but he couldn't wait.

Gulping down his fear, he continued his painstaking steps toward the path. He smelled leaves that way, and cooler darkness. The sun was warm on his face, almost hot, so he knew it must have been about ten in the morning. When the heat was on top of his head, he knew it was noon, and this was a little off.

Inuyasha was just beginning to calm down, thinking about taking a rest beside the tree in the road when it happened: his worst nightmare. A rock was on the ground near his left foot, just below his staff.

He felt the stick hit the obstacle in his path and realized in growing horror that he was getting off-balance. The emotion had barely time to register as his panic loosened his grip on the staff and it fell to the ground, leaving him without any means of support. The half-demon staggered on weak, unsteady legs and tripped, falling hard onto his front in the dirt and knocking the wind out of him. Cruel claws of shame and embarrassment tightened the iron grip the fall had on his lungs, cheeks burning scarlet.

He felt tears of frustration threaten to well in his eyes, hearing gasps from the villagers and whispers skittering back and forth.

Damn it, I can't-I can't even...

Inuyasha forced the tears away, resolve gripping him tighter than the pain. Slowly his breath returned to him as he relaxed his muscles and tried to feel for the staff.

A rustle to his left made him freeze even as his fingers found the guide. He turned his head. "Kagome?"

No answer.

He tried again, sniffing to see what his senses brought. It smelled human. "Who are you?" he asked, warily.

The person didn't answer, but instead took the staff from him. Inuyasha let out an involuntary cry of surprise as he felt the comfort of the hard wood leave his fingers.

"What-what are you doing?" he yelped. He heard the person freeze and suddenly realized that this human was just as scared as he was. Inuyasha swallowed and, taking a shaky breath, forced himself up on his arms, trying to rise.

A hand grabbed the hanyou's wrist and he cringed involuntarily, but after the initial contact he realized that this must be a child. There was little strength in the grip, and he felt tiny fingers barely able close around his.

He heard another villager, presumably a parent call out to him to get away from there. Whoever it was was quickly silenced by another human, yelling for her to be quiet. Inuyasha stayed where he was confusedly as footsteps approached them from the vicinity of the argument.

"Wh-who is it?" Inuyasha tried again. There was shuffling sound as the child kicked its feet.

"Nuriko," was the shy answer.

Suddenly the footsteps reached them and he heard the girl protest as she was picked up and carried back to her mother. Inuyasha was surprised to hear them return and speak softly. "Do you want some help?"

It took the half-demon a little while to respond. "Ye...yes," he replied in a soft murmur, still wary of whoever was talking to him. He felt two hands much bigger and much stronger than the little girl's pick him up from the ground and carefully set him on his feet. He wobbled a little, but managed to half-walk over to the tree and lean against it. Two hands returned his staff to him and he took it gratefully.

"Thank you," he said in a subdued tone.

"You're welcome," was the reply.
Then the steps faded away.

Inuyasha stayed where he was next to the tree for a long while. His fingers ran over the smooth wood of his guide, stick back and forth.

After a few minutes, he smiled, and prepared to continue his walk into the forest.

I love bishie-torture, don't you?
CUTENESS! (squeal)

That was the weirdest thing I've ever done. I wrote this while switching back and forth from a book report to the chappie. Weird, hunh? I guess you can multi-task with school and fics! ...Sort of...

Here's some real good stories to check out, these guys are awesome. And so cute! KAWAII! (squeals):

In Dreams by Happy Youkai (Inuyasha) She reviewed this fic and signed it, by the way, if you want to find her penname without a search

Falling Into Grace by Lady Blackmour (Vampire Hunter D [crossover]) This also doesn't require much of a search, it's on the first page of VHD, as not many people write those fics. (I know, I know, I didn't think it'd be good either, I'm not much of a crossover fan, but check it out, it's SOOOOO GOOD)

And all the other goodies are on my faves on my author's page.

So everyone, any other requests? I gave Sesshy back his arm, Inu-chan will be blind for the majority of the fic, but not all, and more Sesshy/Inu cuteness was achieved! HAH!

Now the only thing left: romance. Hee hee hee... Lessee, how should I do this... Oh yes, and more cute Inu-chan rehab scenes comin'! Can't wait for the next walking scene... (Geez, I'm writing this and I can't wait for the next scene, how does that work?)

Jaa! ^_^X Next chappie-

Oh yes, and you want your bishie? Press the button! (I've heard some parents install Bishie Blocks for safety reasons...)