Chapter 2

"KEADE!" Inu-Yasha bellowed. "What is it Inu-Yahsa?" Keade asked still half asleep.

"Kagome's been hurt,…bad help her old hag!"

"Calm down Inu-Yasha, set her down on her stomach and wait outside"

"NO!, I'm staying with her."

"Inu-Yasha please I need to concentrate and the last thing I need is a hysterical demon over my shoulder, no go outside!" Keade commanded with both impatience and exhaustion.

Reluctantly he left, he made his way to the sacred tree, where he had first set eyes on Kagome. He jumped into the tree and sat with his back against the tree trunk. He stared off into the night sky. Praying with everything he had in him for Kagome to live. He couldn't lose her, not yet, not when they finally had a chance. He fought back tears that rarely came.

Keade worked long into the night. She had sent word out to Miroku and Sango, telling them not to return to the hut for the night. Miroku came up with the idea to have a camp out and roast those mar-sh-mel-low things that Kagome brought with her from time to time. It wasn't until early morning when Keade tired and weary set out to find Inu-Yasha. She knew exactly where to find him. It wasn't long before she was standing at the base of the sacred tree. Looking up she saw the tell tale sign of silver hair.

"INU-YASHA!" The hanyou awakening with a start looked down to see the old hag.

"Hmm must have dozed off for a bit" he said muttering to himself. He jumped down and landed next to Keade. He started to open his mouth to ask about Kagome , he didn't smell the scent of death, but his stomach was still in one giant knot.

"Inu-Yasha before you start let me speak, Kagome is alive, but extremely weak. Luckily the arrow just missed her heart. Still she is going to need time to recuperate. So no shard hunting for a while or anything like that. She barley survived Kikyo's arrow, its taken all of her to survive this long." Inu-Yasha listened intently being sure to not miss a word out of the old hag's mouth.

"Thank you Keade, you should know, Kikyo's soulless body no longer walks this earth. I sent her to the underworld."

"Thank you Inu-Yasha, where may I find her remains so that I may return them to the shrine?"

"They're not but a half mile into the forest to the east in the clearing near the hot spring. You should be able to find it alright. Before being able to thank him he went to Kagome and she off to find the remains of her long departed sister.

Inu-Yasha reached the hut within seconds, he stopped at the door to catch his breath. He slowly stepped inside. He heart was beating so fast he though it would lead out of his chest. The hut was very dimly lit. Only two oil lamps stood baring little light. He could make out Kagome laying near the hearth. She was on her stomach facing away from him. It wasn't until then that Inu-Yasha realized her was holding him breath until he made sure he saw he steady rhythm of her breathing.

…..Slowly the room came into focus as she slowly opened her eyes. The last thing she remembered was Inu-Yahsa holding her, was it all a dream? She heard the flap open and the familiar sound of bare feet on the floor of the hut. She tried to move but she felt so weak. Then she felt the pain in her back.

"Inu-Yasha" she managed to whisper.

"Kagome, I'm here" Inu-Yasha said as he quickened his pace to be at her side. Kneeling her took her hand and held as if to be sure she really was alive. "Kagome how do you feel?"

"Ugh I feel like I've been impaled with a pike" She tried to push herself up with her arms, but found she had no strength in them. "Uhhh Inu-Yasha….what happened exactly, the last thing I remember was being in your arms, then just black."

"Kagome, are you sure you don't remember anything before that?"

"Um a little, its all a bit blurry, I remember seeing Kikyo preparing to fire an arrow at your back, and then….oh…yea I remember now. What happened to Kikyo?…..Inu-Yasha?"

"I….I….sent her to the afterlife Kagome, where she can finally rest"

"Oh Inu-Yasha" with the little strength she had she reached out for his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. He returned the gesture and brought her hand to his lips and brushed it ever so slightly with a kiss.

"Kagome you should get some rest" He then got up an went to the corner of the room and removed tetsuiga, leaning it up against the wall.

"Inu-Yasha?"

"I'm right here" he then made his way over and sat himself at her side.

"Now get some sleep, I'll be here when you wake up." Reluctantly she did as she was told…for once.