Love and War
Disclaimer: I do not own, or make any money from, the stories of Inuyasha.
All Inuyasha characters are the sole property of Rumiko Takahashi, Sunrise and Viz
All original characters belong to me.
Chapter Seven
Disappearing Powers
Kagome stared at her open palm before closing it into a fist. She looked up and stared out the window at the blue, summer sky. Inuyasha, sitting up against the wall, watched her carefully. He could see the look of concern gracing her features,
"Kagome?", he queried.
"Huh?", she replied, startled out of her thoughts, "What do you need, Inuyasha?"
"Nothing.", his voice was quiet and reserved, as he turned his head and faced the window, the sun beams highlighting his hair and face.
Two months had passed since that fateful day, when the two of them had returned to modern day Japan, only to discover that the world Kagome had known was gone, replaced by a military state. They had tried to return through the well, but were stopped by Kagome's brother, Souta. That's when they had learned that it appeared Kagome didn't exist in that new, modern world, and in the process of escaping to the past, Souta had fired a rifle, hitting Inuyasha squarely in the back. His spine and spinal cord had shattered upon impact.
Now, for reasons that Kagome couldn't figure out, Inuyasha hadn't healed as he used to. Kagome kept the wound opened so that she could track his progress. Over the course of the last two months, the spine was slowly regenerating. That was the key word ... slowly. She had seen Inuyasha bounce back from worse wounds in her time with him and she was at a loss for his lack of recovery. He remained wounded, paralyzed from the waist down. His demeanor seemed to be paralyzed as well,
"Inuyasha?", she asked, as she sat beside him,
"Yea, what?", he turned his head to look at her,
"What would you like me to make for dinner tonight?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "Dunno.", he replied.
She sighed, "Inuyasha. I know it's slow, but, you are recovering."
He didn't respond. He just continued to gaze out the window. She followed his gaze. Shinta, Kai, Izayoi and Shippou were running around chasing butterflies. She saw the wistfulness in his eyes. Her heart broke for him. She moved closer and wrapped her arms around him,
"Oh, Inuyasha.", she spoke, softly.
Moments passed. To Kagome, it seemed like an eternity. She could only imagine how Inuyasha felt, no longer being able to run, jump or, for that matter, fight,
"I saw you in the fields today.", he commented, "In your condition, that's the last place you should be, woman.", he gently chided her.
"I was mainly picking what was ready. Miroku and Kohaku have been handling the hard labor."
"That's not the point, wench, and you know it. You should be taking it easy."
"I still have another month and a half. It's not like I'm an invalid, you know.", she spoke the words and immediately regretted them.
Inuyasha's head turned back towards the window. She heard him sigh softly,
"Why are you stll here?", he questioned her.
"Huh?", she lifted her head off his shoulder to look at him, "You want me to leave you alone?"
"Why are you still with me?"
She blinked, "Why wouldn't I be? I promised you I would never leave. And I definately wouldn't leave you now."
"I don't need sympathy."
"I'm not here for sympathy. I'm here for support.", she started getting angry, "The Inuyasha I know wouldn't give up. He doesn't know the word defeat."
"Maybe I'm no longer him."
Kagome stood up, "I recall once, in battle, you said that someday, you would lose to someone stronger than you, but, he wouldn't be human. Yet, here you are, staring out the window feeling sorry for yourself, after being attacked by a MERE MORTAL!"
Inuyasha stared at her, defiance burning in his eyes, his anger evident, "WITH A WEAPON I CAN NOT DEFEAT! NOW LOOK AT ME, I CAN'T PROTECT MY FAMILY!", he screamed, emphasizing every word, punching a hole through the wall with his left fist for more emphasis.
Kagome felt the tears well up in her own eyes and she quickly knelt down to hold him tightly,
"Then I'll protect us.", she whispered, "Until you can do it again."
--
Miroku leaned against the wall in Kaede's hut listening to the village men,
"Look at what has happened to Inuyasha. We cannot rely on him to protect us. We will have to pay the taxes the next time they come to collect.", said one man.
"Men, please, if we give into them on this, then they will overpower us on everything.", Miroku explained.
"They already have.", said another.
"We're still recovering from that last attack.", said yet another.
"Can you protect us, Monk Miroku?", asked another man.
"Not alone, no. But, Lady Kagome says that Inuyasha is recovering. It's just a matter of time. Plus, we also have Lady Kagome's powers.", Miroku pleaded.
"And it's only a matter of time until they come and collect again. Inuyasha-sama may not be recovered by the next time.", urged the first.
"And what about Lady Kagome's powers? They seem to be lacking as of late.", commented yet another.
Kaede spoke up, "I tend to agree with the villagers, Lord Miroku. At this time, I say we make sure we have the money or property to pay the taxes, should they come again. At least until Inuyasha is better."
Miroku sighed softly in defeat, "Fine. I will add my portion. But, I do this under duress.", he stated firmly.
"So noted.", said Kaede.
--
Nishimura sat upon his stallion,
"GENERAL!", he called.
Ashikawa rode up to him, "Yes, m'lord?"
"Uesugi castle is destroyed and the Hojo clan is defeated. Then why are my flags not flying in those areas?", his voice was low and angry.
"The demons, my lord. Their resistance is stronger than we had thought. Especially, under the leadership of the wolf demon, Kouga.", Ashikawa explained.
Nishimura slammed his fist onto his saddle, "DAMMIT!", he swore, "I should be mounting campaigns against the Western lords by now. Not still trying to finish the Eastern lands."
"Not bad work for a bunch of imaginary fairy tales, eh, my lord?", Ashikawa looked at Nishimura in slight amusement.
Nishimura looked at the general for a moment before turning his horse around and heading back to the castle.
--
Riding into the castle town, Nishimura was stopped by one of his samurai,
"My lord. The temple that you wanted built ... we are having some ... issues ... my lord.", he stated.
Nishimura set his jaw firmly and spoke "It is NOT a temple, you idiot, it is a church. And, what issues?"
"It seems that all the younger, stronger men were taken for battle. The older men and women are not as strong and are having problems building it, sir.", the samurai spoke quickly.
"We have villages around the town, do we not?"
The young samurai nodded, "Then get more people from there. Must I tell you everything?"
"N-n-no m'lord.", the samurai bowed and hurried away. In the short distance, Nishimura heard the young man, "C'mon, soldiers. Let's ride."
The lord dismounted his steed at the castle entrance and walked inside. An older man approached him,
"My lord.", he bowed, deeply.
The lord removed his riding gloves and continued walking, "Ahh, Nagoya, my good man, have you any information for me?"
"Yes, my lord. That young man at the village is a half-demon who goes by the name, Inuyasha. Apparantly, he is the son of a legendary dog-demon from the west. From what I can gather, he is very powerful. And, like all demons, hard to destroy because of their ability to heal quickly."
Nishimura stopped and thought a moment, "And, what about that woman?"
"She is apparantly who the shrine is dedicated too."
"The living deity?"
"Yes. Her powers are godly. She also harnesses spirtual and demonic powers."
"Hmmm. She might come in handy.", Nishimura spoke thoughtfully.
"She is also the wife of Inuyasha. From what I've heard, you won't get near her without a huge battle."
"All the better, my good man.", the lord patted Nagoya on the back and smiled broadly, "When I return from my sojourn, I'll have to pay her a visit."
The older man bowed nervously. The lord's smile made him ill indeed.
--
Kagome wheeled an object into the hut,
"Inuyasha! Look what I have for you!", she called out cheerfully.
Inuyasha turned his head to face her. He was again sitting and staring out the window. The spot he sat every morning since becoming paralyzed 3 months earlier,
"What the hell is that?", he queried, "A chair ... with wheels?"
"Yup! We call it a wheelchair. I described it to Takahiro. He's an excellent craftsman. He built it for you out of good, strong wood. The wheels turn beautifully", she gushed.
"What's it for?", he eyed the chair suspiciously.
"It's to get your lazy ass away from that window and outside for some fresh air!", she exclaimed, "Now, try it out!"
"I don't wanna."
"INUYASHA! TRY IT OUT OR I'LL SAY IT!"
"You'd 'sit' an injured man? Oh, you're a real sweetheart, aren't you?"
Kagome set her jaw and spoke through clenched teeth, "GET IN IT!"
"No."
"DO IT!"
"I said, NO!"
Kagome clenched her fists and stood her ground,
"INUYASHA!! DAMMIT! GET IN THE FUCKING CHAIR OR I WILL PICK YOU UP AND PUT YOU THERE MYSELF!!"
Inuyasha backed up as close to the wall as he could physically get and stared at her, his eyes wide in fear, "ok.", he gulped.
Dragging his limp lower half, Inuyasha seated himself in the chair,
"Satisfied?"
"Thank you.", Kagome said, curtly.
She walked over to the chair and wheeled Inuyasha outside. Shinta, Kai and Izayoi made a big deal over their father being outside. Miroku, Sango, Kohaku, Rin, Shippou and Kaede greeted him,
"Welcome back to the world of the living, Inuyasha.", Miroku kidded him.
"HMPH!", was Inuyasha's only comment.
"That is a really neat invention, Lady Kagome.", Rin commented.
"It does come in handy.", Kagome agreed.
"So, how's Inuyasha's progress coming, Kagome?", asked Kaede.
"Slow. But, at least I can tell that he will eventually recover the use of everything again. He has some feeling in his feet.", she replied.
"Why is it taking so long, Kagome?", asked Shippou, concerned.
Kagome looked at Inuyasha and then back at Shippou, "I really don't know. It's as if my Reiki powers are weak."
"You've mentioned that before, Kagome.", Miroku mentioned, "How, since you've returned from the modern era, your powers seem different."
"Yes. It's as if they're being sealed up or something. Sometimes I have them and sometimes ..."
She was disrupted by the thundering of hooves,
"It's Nishimura and his men!", Miroku jumped up.
"DAMMIT ALL!", Inuyasha cussed.
Kagome turned to Rin, "Wheel Inuyasha round to the back of the hut and stay there!"
Rin obliged and pushed the wheelchair away. Kagome grabbed her bow and took up a defensive position beside the others at the center of the village,
"Back to collect more money?", Miroku angrily asked.
"Where is the half-demon?", Nishimura noticed Inuyasha's absence.
"He's not here right now.", Miroku lied, "Is your business with him?"
"No, actually,", Nishimura replied, "I've come for your living deity.", his eyes settled on Kagome.
'DAMN!', Inuyasha thought from behind the hut, 'He's discovered Kagome's powers.'
"Come for her?, asked Miroku.
"Yes. I could use someone as powerful as that.", Nishimura smiled his wicked smile.
Kagome notched an arrow, "I'm not leaving with you or anybody.", she spoke with conviction.
Kagome released her arrow. It hit Nishimura in the arm. Miroku just stared,
'That was just a normal arrow. Where are Kagome's spiritual powers?', he thought.
Kagome looked at her bow, 'My powers ...'
Miroku took advantage of this, "It appears it would be worthless for you to take Lady Kagome. Her powers are at the will of the gods and it seems they do not wish her to have them right now.", it was a lie, but it was all Miroku could think of at the moment,
"You and your gods.", Nishimura muttered, loud enough for Miroku to hear, "There is but one God and you will feel his wrath by my own hands.", he said, removing the arrow from his arm.
Shippou was becoming angry, "You better leave this village ...", he warned.
Nishimura laughed at the child, "Or, what? What can you do?"
"FOX MAGIC DEMON PUPPET!", Shippou yelled out his attack, sending a small doll out towards the horses. The doll grew greatly in size, spooking the horses, sending them into a panic.
Nishimura and his army tried to control the rearing horses, to no avail. The horses finally took off, running away from the demonic toy,
"HA! That'll teach'em.", Shippou said, as he pocketed his doll.
"Good going, Shippou!", Miroku congratulated him.
"It was nothing.", Shippou said, as he turned to Kagome, "Kagome ... where's your spiritual powers?"
"I don't know, Shippou.", she responded, sadly.
--
A week went by and Kagome was still unable to access much of her powers,
"Don't worry about it right now, Kagome.", Inuyasha said to her, "The pup is due very soon. I don't want you overexerting yourself."
Kagome looked up at him from her position on the ground. She was busy preparing herbs from the garden,
"I know.", she lamented, "Still ..."
She stood up and picked up her basket of herbs. Leaning over the wheelchair, she kissed her husband, "I'll be right back."
"I'll be here."
She smiled at his self-depreciating comment. Since he had gotten the wheelchair, his spirits had lifted considerably. She headed into the hut and nearly ran into Miroku,
"Oopps. Sorry, Kagome. Kai let me in. Is Inuyasha out there?", he asked.
"Yea. Where else would he be?", she smiled.
"Of course.", Miroku replied, exiting out the rear of the hut.
Kagome placed the basket on the floor and sat down to prepare the herbs for drying.
Sssssssssssspppp ...
SLAP!
"ooooooohhhh..."
"MYOUGA! It's you.", Kagome was a bit astonished, "Where have you been?"
Myouga recovered, "Kagome, it is horrible. The eastern demons are being annihilated by the new warlord."
"Nishimura, you mean."
"Yes. The demons that have survived are taking refuge at Toutousai's mountain. Oh, by the way, how is Master Inuyasha? Any change?"
"So, you've heard, have you? Nice of you to come and pay him a visit, Myouga.", she chided the flea.
"I've been busy.", the flea crossed his arms and turned away, "I was investigating this Nishimura ningen."
"What have you discovered? Anything we can use to defeat him?", she asked and then,
"KAGOME! HURRY!"
Miroku ran inside,
"NOW!"
Kagome stood up and ran outside,
"Is it Inuyasha?", she called to Miroku.
Exiting the hut, she saw Inuyasha had wheeled to the side of the hut,
'Good. He's okay.', she thought.
Miroku had run around to the front of the hut. Villagers were gathering, gawking. She heard the comments,
"It's a demon!"
"Kill it!"
Rounding the front of the hut, she saw what, or actually who, was causing all the commotion. There, kneeling on the ground, dripping massive amounts of blood, was,
"KOUGA!!"