Chapter 19: Blood spilt across time
The darkness had relinquished the hold it had on Kagome a couple of times. She struggled through the fog that held her down within her own body. On several occasions she remembered waking in severe pain wondering 'am I dying?' and then falling back into the hazy darkness that offered only peace and quiet.
'Faces, I remember you.' Kagome thought to herself as she opened her eyes for what seemed like the billionth time that day. She gazed at the young man before her. Her vision was still blurry and her mind foggy, but she was able to comprehend a little more than the other times she had awoken.
She shifted a bit and was surprised to find herself too weak and sore to move. She grimaced and sharply inhaled, the noise alarming the young man that sat by her. He leaned over and put his hand on her forehead and sighed. He looked down at her with a look of worry and absolute relief.
"Don't move you're still injured. You might reopen your wounds." His voice was somewhat familiar. Kagome opened her mouth to ask 'what happened' but found that her voice failed her. She tried a couple of times to force her voice out but barely managed to squeak. She gave up and resorted to gazing hard at this young man, trying to figure out who he was and why he looked so familiar. She figured that he must be a doctor she met in a seminar, but still, his expression told her that there was something deeper between them than just acquaintances. "You look thirsty, would you like a drink of water?" His voice broke her train of thought. She nodded and graciously took the bowl of water from his offering hands a greedily drank it down, not realizing how thirsty she was until the cool water touched her parched and cracked lips. The water served to clear her head a bit and wake her up more. Kagome felt so much more refreshed and again found herself analyzing this young man. She knew it was rude of her to stare, but his dancing green eyes were locked on her. His red hair, flowing back into a loosely tied ponytail. He was handsome.
"Kagome, how are you feeling?" He asked in a soft voice.
"Much better, thanks." Kagome replied in a raspy voice.
"Hmm, that's good. You don't recognize me, do you?" He asked in all seriousness.
"I...think I do. You feel so familiar, your presence, I don't know, like a fleeting memory from a distant dream I guess." She said as she laid her head back and closed her eyes, listening to her surroundings.
"I'm sorry to hear that, because you've never been far from my thoughts. My memories of you are as fresh as morning dew." He said sadly.
She listened to his voice hoping that she'd remember. Obviously she was suppose to remember him, but why couldn't she place a name to his face? It was really bothering her and she started to panic. Did she suffer memory loss from massive blood loss? She remembered being shot, that was something hard to forget, but the events leading up to her blacking out were a bit fuzzy yet.
"I'm sorry. I don't remember you at this moment. Give me a little time to figure things out." She asked, her eyes still closed, searching and digging her memory for this man's face.
As she lay there, she sensed another presence enter. She assumed that it was a doctor or nurse come to check her vitals and typical procedures for post-shot victims. She didn't bother to open her eyes when she felt the presence of the new comer by her side, she just figured that this person will either start bombarding her with questions or address her wounds and dressings.
"Has she come to yet?" The voice said. It was definitely a man's voice, his silken deep voice sent a shock wave through Kagome's body as her mind suddenly sprung to life and started flashing memories in front of her vision.
"Yea, actually she's awake now, she's just resting, aren't you Kagome?" The young man said as he looked to Kagome who was now staring at the ceiling with her breath caught in her throat. "Kagome?" He asked, concern lacing his voice.
Tears sprung to her eyes, she knew that she recognized that voice, she hadn't heard it in so many years. Her mind was spinning as she tried to peice together what was going on and what had happened. Her heart was racing so hard that it was thumping loudly in her head making it harder for her to make sence of it all. She opened her eyes and looked for the owner of that voice and when she found him, she let out a happy cry.
"Miroku?! How?" She cried out, using the last of her strength trying to sit up and get a better look at him. Her muscles quickly gave way and she collapsed back onto the bed. She found herself suddenly exhausted and unable to move and so she just laid there, looking at him and Miroku saw their past wash across her eyes. "How?" she breathed out, sleep threatening to take her again.
"Shhh, never mind that now. You need your rest; I can see you're nowhere near healed. We'll talk once you get your strength up. For now, rest and recover, you need to eat too." Miroku said with a smile.
Kagome nodded in agreement and was surprised how sleepy she was all of a sudden. She stared with heavy lidded eyes at the other male in the room. And then it hit her. She knew this guy. He had grown, oh boy had he grown, but besides that, he hadn't changed all that much.
"Shippo, it's you." She yawned out before falling asleep.
When Kagome woke again, it was dark out and the small fire in the pit of the hut had burned out. 'It must be late. I wonder if my family is ok. Have they given me up for dead? How the heck did I make it back here, to the past? I wonder if Inuyasha's around.' Kagome's mind cried.
Kagome looked around to find a plate with biscuits and a small dish of water to dip them in. Next to that was a cup of water and by the looks of it, the food had been sitting there for a little while now. She ate as quickly as she could, realizing how hungry she was after the first bite of stale, soggy biscuit.
She was feeling a lot better. Some of her strength had returned and she was ready to venture outside and stretch out. She was still a bit wobbly on her feet, but managed to tiptoe by the sleeping monk and a grown kitsune. She stepped outside and the fresh air hit her like a ton of bricks. It had been too long since she had inhaled the pure, clean, untainted air.
Kagome decided to do a little walk down memory lane and sighed as she walked. She could see the sacred tree ahead. That tree was where her whole adventure started, it was where she met Inuyasha for the first time and got caught up in the whole sacred jewel mess. She figured that it was fate just doing it's job. Although, she had to admit that the past few years, fate had been messing up it's work.
As she found herself nearing Inuyasha's forest, Kagome saw a figure exit the woods. Her heart jumped at the sight of the new arrival. He was older, but so was she, he was carrying a bucket of water and dropped it at the sight of her. Her smile was that of relief and happiness.
"Inuyasha." Kagome sighed.
"Kagome? Thank God you're alive." Inuyasha cried out as he found himself moving quickly towards her. Kagome froze in her place when she saw the tears in his eyes and the heartbroken expression that had seemingly been glued to his features.
As he neared, Kagome became unglued and fell into his open arms. She cried happy tears as she held him tight and he did the same. He wrapped his arms around her and held her firmly to his body, minding her injuries, and buried his face in her hair.
"I thought I'd never see you again and then when you came back in the state you were in, I was certain you were going to die. I just couldn't believe that fate would allow us to be happy together." Inuyasha kissed the top of her head as he held her close and took in her scent that he had missed for so long. "I missed you so much." He said softly.
"I missed you too." Kagome said as she cuddled into his warmth.
"I'm never letting you go again, you know that?" He smiled as he looked into her eyes.
"I'm so sorry for being gone so long." She said.
"God Kagome, what happened in you're time that brought you back to us in such a state. You had holes in you and you lost a lot of blood. That's how I found you, you know. I could smell the blood from the village, there was so much of it." Inuyasha said with a knot in his throat.
Kagome had to think for a moment, she didn't quite know how to explain the past few years to Inuyasha, let alone the past couple of days. "Well, hmmm, I guess we'll start from the beginning". Kagome explained how Hojo had helped her through the toughest period of her life, after the well closed the last time. How she had injured herself trying to get back to him and then went through an emotional breakdown. Kagome made sure Inuyasha knew how heart broken she was and how long it took for her to move on from that experience. Inuyasha cringed at the stories of how Hojo had proposed and then started treating her like dirt and when Kagome dropped the bomb that she had gone home early and caught Hojo sleeping with another woman, Inuyasha's jaw practically hit the dirt. "But that wasn't the worst part, Inuyasha. He decided rather be exposed as the dirt bag he was, he decided he was going to..gulp...kill me. He's the one who did this to me" Kagome half cried. Her emotions were getting the best of her, thinking of how close she was to actually dying and never getting to see Inuyasha after finally making it back to his time.
"Kagome..." Inuyasha's soothing voice seemed to calm her at the mere mention of her name. "..I'm just glad you're back with me. You have been out of it for the past three days, with all that blood loss and Miroku said you were in shock. You had been trying to wake up for the past day and a half. We were all so worried about you. I thought, just when I got you back I was going to lose you right away and I'd never get the chance to tell you..." Inuyasha gulped as he recalled his state of mind for the past 3 days. "…I love you. Kagome, I've been lost without you."
Kagome smiled softly. She realized how much Inuyasha had grown. He had become a true man. She still loved him, but this new person who stood in Inuyasha's skin wasn't the bitter, broken down hanyou she left years ago. He was still broken, but he wasn't bitter, he was wiser. All of this was starting to overwhelm Kagome, and she started getting dizzy. "Inuyasha" was all she said as she stumbled a bit, almost losing balance. Inuyasha, quick as ever, caught her and steadied her on her feet.
"Kagome? Are you all right?" He asked, concerned.
Kagome put her hand up to her head as the dizzy spell wore off. "I'm fine, thank you. Inuyasha, would you mind walking me back to the hut, I'm afraid I'm getting a bit tired and I should go to sleep soon." She wobbled a bit again, but was surprised awake when Inuyasha suddenly picked her up bridal style.
"I'll do even better. You've spent years running around in my thoughts, I think you should rest a bit." Inuyasha gave Kagome the cheesiest smile.
Kagome laughed and rested her head on Inuyasha shoulder. She just couldn't believe this was her Inuyasha, the same man she fell in love with so many years ago. She closed her eyes and listened to the sound of Inuyasha's feet stepping in time to the rhythm of his breathing and the sound of his heart beating against her cheek, Kagome started falling asleep.
She was home now; she knew that this was where she belonged. But what of her home in the future? She wondered what was happening to her family. With that sense of dread scratching the back of her mind, Kagome drifted off to sleep.
Kagome woke the next morning not feeling so hot. Wait, she was feeling hot as in temperature wise, but she felt sick and her whole body was aching. Kagome knew that her wounds were starting to get infected and the slight fever and sore muscles where one of the severe signs. She knew she needed to get the proper help, but didn't know how to ask. She tried explaining to Miroku, but he could only do as much as his recourses would allow.
"Kagome, I think I need to try to get you home." Inuyasha worriedly explained.
"But, the well. What if it won't let you through or won't let me back again?" Kagome painfully asked, her illness quickly taking hold of her.
"Look, you told me that these are early warning signs. You said that if we can't kill whatever infection that you could be in trouble. I think I'd rather take the chance of not being able to travel through the well than watch you die with no help." Inuyasha growled.
"I don't know what's waiting for me on the other side, Inuyasha, I'm also scared." Kagome cried.
"Well? I'm sure your mother is also scared, you just disappeared after being 'shot' and wounded." Inuyasha's mouth went dry at the word 'shot'. That one little word had brought him and Kagome this much pain.
"But..No, you're right. I need to go back and let everyone know I'm still alive." Kagome sighed heavily.
"Good girl. I promise, I'll be with you every step of the way." Inuyasha said.
"Kagome, even if I can't be with you in your world, just know that you'll always be with me. I know I'll see you again." Shippo said with a smile on his face.
"That goes double for me too, Kagome." Miroku said softly.
Kagome smiled softly. She looked around and realized she must have been out of it, there was something or rather someone missing. "Miroku, where is Sango? I haven't seen her the whole time I've been here. Inuyasha?" She looked over to Inuyasha who seemed to be crushed by the weight of her question. His eyes spoke everything; he didn't even have to say a word. For further conformation, Kagome looked back to Miroku who was looking away from her and his eyes fixed on the fire. Kagome's heart stopped as her jaw went slack in absolute shock and disbelief. Shippo was the only one willing to look Kagome right in the eye. He looked sad and that was when Kagome realized that all the sadness that Shippo had to endure up to now had made him a man, but he looked year beyond his age. "Shippo? Tell me what happened?" Kagome pleaded.
"She, Sango...gulp...died. A year after her daughter Aiko died and..." Shippo couldn't finish that last part. Not only had he lost his best friend and her daughter in one year, but that same year they had thought Kagome was also lost from them forever.
"She died of a broken heart." Miroku said lowly. Heartbreak still sounded in his voice.
"But she didn't want us to tell you and make you sad in your own time, Kagome, I'm sorry you had to find out like this. I was hoping I could stay off telling you until you were better." Inuyasha exclaimed.
Kagome's voice caught in her throat as tears started to well up in her eyes. She just couldn't believe it. Miroku, Inuyasha and Shippo had time to heal, so it was easier for them to talk about it. It was all too much information for Kagome as her breaking heart started skipping beats. She wasn't strong enough for this, her world started spinning around her as she hiccupped and cried. A years worth of grief spilling over into that one moment and the pain in Kagome's voice ripped a hole into the hearts of Inuyasha, Miroku and Shippo.
Inuyasha stepped forward and knelt by the grieving Kagome and wrapped his arms around her. He held her for a bit and let her cry, he didn't know what else to do for her. It wasn't too long before Kagome had cried herself to sleep against Inuyasha. Miroku and Shippo sat on the floor of the hut and just watched the two, both thinking the same thing, 'let fate be kinder to these two now that they've suffered so much'. It was then Inuyasha discovered that Kagome's breath was coming in short, shallow gasps and her skin was on fire. He could feel the heat radiating off of her skin.
"Miroku! Her fever, it's worse." Inuyasha cried out in alarm.
Miroku leaned over Kagome in concern and rested his hand on her forehead and then felt her cheeks. "Inuyasha, she's burning up! Here, put this robe over her clothes and go dunk her in the springs, but not too long or she'll get too cold too quickly." Miroku explained while he helped Inuyasha wrap Kagome in a robe.
"And then what?" Inuyasha frantically asked.
"You should bring her back to her time!" Shippo cried.
"But..."
"Just do it, trust me, I have a feeling you'll get her through." Shippo interupted Inuyasha and pushed him out the door.
Inuyasha did just as Miroku had said. He went to the spring where the water was cool enough, but thankfully not too cold and slowly lowered Kagome into the water. At the cold touch to Kagome's skin, she gasped and woke up. With her skin so hot, the room temperature water felt like ice. The surprise of being submerged in water up to her neck, Kagome instantly panicked. She tried to flail but found herself restrained by Inuyasha and too weak to fight him off.
"Shhh, Kagome, I've got you, you're ok." Inuyasha soothed. Kagome relaxed and let Inuyasha cup water in his hand and trickle it down her face as he stared worriedly into her feverish eyes.
Kagome gulped hard and half cried "Sango", but Inuyasha put his finger over her mouth and said, "Shh, I know, I know. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Right now you need to focus on recovering, then you can grieve. Dwelling on it now isn't going to bring her back and it certainly isn't going to help you heal, so just put it aside for now, besides, you know she wouldn't want you to join her so soon". He was right, Kagome knew that, Sango had been dead for a while now and if Kagome used what little strength she had in grieving, then she wouldn't have the strength to survive this and that wouldn't honor Sango's memory.
"Kagome, I've got to bring you back through the well." Inuyasha stated bluntly. At the look of panic in Kagome's eyes, Inuyasha smile gently and said, "I'm sure everything will be fine this time. But you need serious help and I know you'd be better off in your time. I promise, I'll be there with you".
Kagome nodded and swallowed hard. She knew she had to get back, but she was also scared that once again the well would seal and separate her from Inuyasha. Inuyasha stood and wrapped her soaked body in his warm and dry fire rat coat and took off towards the well. Kagome closed her eyes and held a death grip on Inuyasha's shirt so that not even time or fate itself could rip her from his arms.
Every step of the way felt so familiar to Kagome, even the sounds of his feet against the ground. She knew when they had reached the clearing that the well stood in by the way Inuyasha's pace seemed slightly hesitated as if he shared the same fears as her. His grip on her tightened a bit more as she felt him take that last step before leaping into the well.
"Please, let him be there, holding me when I open my eyes" was Kagome's last thought as the darkness engulfed her with an explosion of hot purple light, she knew there was no turning back now.
End of Chappy
Oh god, I am SO SO SO SO very sorry I haven't updated in like over a year. I shall bare my rear for the kicking it's about to receive. Well I hope you guys enjoyed. I really am sorry it took so long, but I've just had WAY too much drama in my life in the last year and I hadn't felt very inspired to do anything really creative since. But recent events have brought me back out of my long term slump and this fic is ALMOST done!!! YAY!! Couple little twists and turns to come, so hold on to your head kiddies!