A/N: Wow. I'm really touched that so many of you out there are really enjoying this! I hope you enjoy the rest of the story too. :0)

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The air was thick and heavy as his eyes slowly opened. He could feel the tension in his muscles and he could feel the hunger screaming at him from deep within his gut. He shifted slightly, barely enough to move his arm to his stomach and he pressed gently. The hole in his stomach had finally healed completely as if it were fate's cruel joke to have him wait until his journey was completed.

His hand fell heavily back to the floor as more tension was released from his body. He grumbled a bit as his head began to pound and he realized that he couldn't recall exactly what had happened. He couldn't remember why he felt as miserable as he did.

"You're awake, Inuyasha?"

The hanyou rolled his head to the sound of his older male comrade and forced his eyes to focus on the houshi's. Everything seemed so fuzzy and unreal, even though he was well aware that his mind was awake in that of living reality. He licked his chapped lips and cleared his throat, wincing a bit at the dryness of each.

"Yea, I'm awake monk," he replied with a very hoarse voice.

He was vaguely aware of the light brushing of Miroku's sandals against the floor as he slowly sat up. Miroku was quick to press a hand against Inuyasha's back for support and was shocked when the hanyou didn't draw away. Had his body and mind really been put through such harsh endeavors as Kagome had suggested?

A shallow bowl of water was offered to Inuyasha and he took it, guzzling its contents in mere seconds. He didn't care as the water dribbled from his chin and dripped to the floor. He didn't care when Miroku helped him to stand and led him towards the fire for warmth and a cooked meal. In fact, the hanyou felt empty -- he felt as if there were something missing.

"Do you remember anything that happened, Inuyasha?"

Miroku watched as the hanyou nodded weakly and took a deep breath. He marveled at the slowness with which Inuyasha was actually consuming his rice. He could tell there was a hint of desperation in the hanyou's slow actions.

"I...I remember battling Kagura. I was injured...badly...by my own blade," he began before pausing to take another bite of ramen, "Then its kinda fuzzy. I remember riding on Kirara over a lake and the next thing I remember is waking up and Kagome..."

Miroku watched as Inuyasha noticeably flinched at the mentioning of her name. He watched as the man across from him dipped his head low and hid his eyes from view behind a curtain of silver. He knew the inevitable question was going to fly from his mouth any moment. He knew he would want to know...

"Where's Kagome?"

Miroku sighed as he placed his own meal on the floor before he allowed his gaze to meet Inuyasha. He felt his stomach twist at the hanyou's face. It was contorted in fear and confusion, almost as if he were expecting something terrible to be issued from the houshi's mouth.

"Kagome is fine, Inuyasha. She is resting comfortably beneath the branches of the God Tree even as we speak," he stated and watched the relief flood his friend's face. He braced himself for the next part of his story.

"Inuyasha, Kagome is very sick. She needs your help," he spoke softly, afraid of the young man's reaction.

"What do you mean she's sick?"

Miroku shivered at the controlled calm in Inuyasha's voice. He could tell that it was a guise to keep himself from sounding too concerned for the woman he loved, but it was disconcerting none the less. Miroku watched as the hanyou picked up his bowl of food and continued to force himself to take small bites to satiate his ravenous belly.

"Kagome needs a hair of the dog that bit her, Inuyasha," stated Miroku with a bit of pride at his use of the analogy. However, he didn't realize the weight of his words until he heard Inuyasha's bowl clatter to the floor in horror.

"You're telling me I ATTACKED HER?!"

Inuyasha could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end from fear. If he had harmed Kagome, she would never forgive him. She would never love him and Inuyasha would die alone. He put his head in his hands, fighting the sting of the saline tears that were threatening to fall from his eyes.

"No, no! Nothing like that! Its something Kagome says in her time! It means you need to bring back a piece of the demon that injured her to cure her!"

Smooth, Miroku. Give the poor guy a heart attack.

Miroku watched as Inuyasha's breathing evened out, but he couldn't help but notice the sound of hiccuping as Inuyasha wiped at his eyes with his sleeve. He wondered how deep his feeling really ran for Kagome. Normally, he would've growled or roared in frustration at the whole situation, but instead, Inuyasha was crying. Was his journey really that tiring? Was he really in love with Kagome?

"Inuyasha, are you willing to help Kagome?"

"What do you think, monk?" asked Inuyasha in a feeble attempt to hide his emotions.

He couldn't help but cry with relief knowing that he hadn't hurt Kagome. Normally, he would've just smiled and began barking angrily at his friends to cover up his emotions, but the long journey and his empty stomach were finally taking their toll on his mind and not just his body. He was having a difficult enough time just trying to hide his hunger, nevermind all of the other emotions that were so dangerously close to boiling over.

"I know you'll help her," began Miroku trying to be supportive for his friend, "You've never let her down. You've never let any of us down for that matter."

"You mean like this last time when I couldn't protect her?"

Inuyasha polished off the last of his warm meal before he tossed the bowl to the side of the small fire within Kaede's hut. He rested his elbows on his knees as he leaned his head forward and grabbed either side of his head. He could feel the guilt washing away his relief within every fiber of his being.

If only I wasn't such a failure. If only I wasn't a half blood good for nothing...

"Inuyasha?"

Miroku frowned at the pitiful sadness within the hanyou's amber eyes. The fire, the livelihood, that usually rested there seemed to be diminished and almost completely extinct.

"Inuyasha, I know what you're thinking and I want you to know, you're not a lowly half breed. You have more honor than any human or any demon that I've ever met."

Inuyasha nodded, greatful for his friends encouragement. He allowed the words to roll through his head and small snippets of memories played through his mind before he smiled a bit. Miroku was right. He had more honor than Sesshomaru or even the lecherous monk in front of him! Maybe he wasn't so worthless after all.

"How...how long have I been sleeping?"

"Its been about 3 days, Inuyasha," began the monk choosing his words carefully as he spoke, "You were nearly dead when you arrived here."

"Yeah, I know. I just wanted Kagome to be safe," he replied as he inched closer to the pot cooking over the fire and scooped some rice into his bowl. He was famished, but he didn't want to overwhelm his stomach too quickly.

A comfortable silence settled over the hut as the two men ate until a soft "ahem" brought Miroku from his deep thoughts.

"So what exactly do I need to do to get this...'hair of the dog' for Kagome?"

Miroku smiled a bit before he spoke, "Glad to have you back, Inuyasha."

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A/N: I bet you all want to know what he has to do, right? haha. Please let me know what you think! Thanks!