Dark Mind, Dark Times
Kagome starts limping almost immediately so InuYasha decides without her consent to carry her. Kagome doesn't mind though, because that was why she had started limping in the first place. As InuYasha cradles Kagome close to him she leans her head on his chest and closes her eyes. Before she knows it she is asleep in his arms.
InuYasha looks down at the now sleeping Kagome in his arms and can't help but kiss her forehead.
"Thanks InuYasha, I needed that." She murmurs without even opening her eyes. He smiles at her and begins to run back to Miroku's place. When they arrive Miroku answers the door as always.
"Who is it?" Miroku asks looking at the sleeping Kagome in InuYasha's arms.
"How did you get back here so fast? Or have I been gone that long?" InuYasha asks.
"If you would please strip the girl and leave her on the step I'd much appreciate it. I have a wife you know and she doesn't know about your secret girl deliveries that you make once a month." Miroku teases waiting for InuYasha to snap at him.
"Let me in you Lech! Besides Kagome is mine!" InuYasha snaps pulling her closer to him.
"Oh so now you've chosen which one you want! Good then you may come in but I still demand you leave her on the step naked." Miroku says smiling as he slides open the door.
"Ha, ha Miroku very funny, but I don't think you'd want someone taking advantage of you if you were just in a bloody battle to the death where you were the one losing." InuYasha says seriously stepping inside the home.
"So Arisa is still as evil as before, I was a little afraid at how kind she was being yesterday." Miroku comments following after InuYasha once he has shut the door.
"Still as evil? You mean you knew she was bad yet you let her in to your home." InuYasha snaps at the monk.
"People change as you well know InuYasha." Miroku points out.
"I guess you're right." InuYasha says taking Kagome to her room and laying her down on her sleeping bag.
"Thanks!" She mutters once again before falling into a deeper sleep. InuYasha looks over her wounds and notices that they are not healing as fast as they should. Also Kagome is still losing a lot of blood.
"Go get Kagome's medicine kit, Miroku. I need you to dress her wounds." InuYasha asks placing his hand on Kagome's cheek.
"That will involve disrobing her!" Miroku says excitedly.
"Don't you even dare!" InuYasha snaps standing up quickly and turning towards Miroku.
"I'm afraid this time I'm serious. I can't much treat her side wounds with her torn clothing over the sight of the cut." Miroku says turning toward InuYasha with the medicine kit in his hands.
"Fine but be careful and don't do anything perverted to her." InuYasha snarls sitting down a few feet away from Kagome.
Miroku grabs the torn fabric and rips it away from Kagome's clothing. He then cuts any stubborn pieces with his teeth. InuYasha stares at him in utter shock and confusion.
"I thought…" InuYasha snarls.
"I told you I couldn't do anything with the fabric in the way. Also I told you it had to be removed. You wanted to see her undressed didn't you, InuYasha?" Miroku asks not taking his eyes off the wounded girl.
"It's not like that!" InuYasha grumbles blushing as he turns away from Miroku.
"These wounds are terrible. I'm not sure even Kagome's medicine kit can help. Arisa cut her deep and since she was of the same blood type as Arisa, she won't heal." Miroku comments, dabbing at the wounds lightly with a piece of cotton.
"Same blood type? What do you mean by that Miroku?" InuYasha asks scooting in for a closer look.
"I'm thinking that Arisa may have been another that Shi bit. Her resemblance to Kagome was uncanny and they both have the same mannerisms and killer claws. Kagome and Arisa in a way are sisters." Miroku explains as he begins to bandage Kagome's wounds.
Blood soaks the bandages as fast as Miroku can put them on. He continues to wrap the girl up, but it continues to be an unwinnable battle. He gnashes his teeth together out of concern for the demon girl. 'At this rate she will surely die!' Miroku thinks.
"InuYasha!" Kagome suddenly screams grabbing Miroku's cloak firmly.
"Save me! Arisa, she's going to kill me! I trusted her and now she's going to kill me! InuYasha! InuYasha! I need you! I don't want to die! I love you too much to die!" Kagome screams shaking Miroku uncontrollably.
"She must be reliving the event and what she wanted to say!" Miroku suggests as he is jerked back and forth.
"INUYASHA!" Kagome screams one final time before collapsing back into her coma like state. Miroku sighs with relief until he realizes she still has a hold of him.
"Kagome!" InuYasha murmurs while trying to hold back his emotions.
'All this time, I've been thinking about Kikyo and how she died. I've been so caught up in her death that I didn't even see how much Kagome needed me. She's been trying to get my attention this whole time by flirting with other guys and leaving me to worry about her. Then when she needed me the most I wasn't around. I was off thinking about how much I missed Kikyo. I killed her, and I may have just killed Kagome. If Kagome dies I'll never forgive myself! For she stayed by me all this time and I've kissed her twice! It didn't seem to mean anything to me, but to her that was her assurance I still cared! Why didn't I see Arisa for who she really was?' InuYasha thinks as he looks at the unconscious, Kagome.
"InuYasha! Her wounds won't heal! I can't do anything for her! Kagome must fight this on her own!" Miroku states before attempting to leave her side.
"Darn she still has a hold on my sleeves. InuYasha will you help me cut off my sleeves, because I do so hate to disturb her?" Miroku asks looking at the girl clutching his sleeves tightly.
"Sure." InuYasha says slashing the sleeves at Miroku's shoulder.
"Thanks." Miroku mumbles rubbing his arms at the blast of cool air on his exposed arms.
"Dinner!" Sora yells down the hall to the men.
"We should go! She won't go anywhere and even though her healing rate is slowed she will make it." Miroku assures InuYasha leading him away.
"You're right Miroku." InuYasha comments allowing himself to be led away, and as soon as they are gone Shippo slips into the room.
"Kagome!" Shippo says sadly to the nearly lifeless girl. She raises her hand and begins to pet his head.
"Don't leave me, please don't leave me alone! She may come back!" Kagome mumbles so quiet that Shippo is almost sure that he imagined it. Until he hears her hand hit the ground, and looks at the sleeve that had been in it.
Shippo runs off to the dining room, leaving Kagome alone in her room.
"She spoke! She spoke to me!" He yells racing into the room out o breath.
"Who?" Sango asks holding her growing stomach.
"Kagome! She told me not to leave her because Arisa might come back. I don't think she even knew who she was talking to." Shippo mutters trying to catch his breath.
InuYasha looks at him in disbelief. He studies the young fox demon and notices for the first time that Shippo has grown at least seven centimeters since they arrived a month ago. Had he been growing all this time or had InuYasha just never taken the time to actually look at him?
"Let's eat!" Seimei squeals digging into the food after a brief prayer. Sora joins him along with Kyo, Sango, Miroku, and Kirara. InuYasha and Shippo sit down and begin to eat slowly.
"So what do you think Miroku? Will Kagome be okay?" Sango asks him with concern in both her voice and her eyes.
"I do but I'm sure the shock will keep her in her current state for a few months. Arisa did try to kill her and she almost succeeded in doing so. Kagome is mostly like reliving the event continuously in her mind which prevents her from awaking." Miroku explains between bites.
"So we won't be seeing her smiling face for awhile? That makes me sad." Sango says sadly.
"I'm going back to Totosai's tomorrow!" Kyo suddenly announces, trying to change the subject.
"You are? I thought you said you're training was done?" Sango asks looking at him confused.
"Well I still think I need to learn more! Besides I can always come back and check on her. I'll stay in touch, and you write me the day that baby is born!" Kyo demands looking proud of himself.
"We are also leaving!" Sora says grabbing Seimei's hand.
"What?" Miroku says shocked!
"Seimei and I need to start living our own lives and we can't do that here. This is your house not ours. So tomorrow we are leaving to find our own home." Sora explains grasping Seimei's hand tightly.
"It will be so lonely around here without you three." Sango comments with a smile.
"Yes, and it will be lonely without you around to talk to Sango." Sora says sadly.
"Enough with all this sad news! Let's talk about something happy for a change!" Miroku demands, beginning a whole new conversation.
InuYasha eats silently and stares blankly at the food on the table. His mind is far too occupied in worrying about Kagome to stay on topic. Miroku tries to pull him into the conversation a few times but fails.
'Kagome! Will you ever wake up, and smile at me as you did before? I miss you so much and I don't want to think of spending months without you around. Please wake up soon!' InuYasha thinks finishing his food and leaving the table to go and sit in Kagome's room.
He finds a comfy spot against the door and sits there watching her slightly breathing form. Soon his eyes grow heavy and he falls asleep.
Author's Note:
This was supposed to be the last chapter but I obviously couldn't bring myself to end it. I know it's been awhile but school, work, and other stuff kept me busy. Anyways I have left it at kind of a weird spot! Will Kagome die, will she ever wake up, why is InuYasha so oblivious, and most importantly what will Arisa do to exact her revenge? All these questions plus many more will be answered in the next chapter!