The little woman was bleeding profusely. He'd always thought of her as strong, indestructible. He knew what she'd gone through in the Sengoku Jidai. He never thought a weak oni would have a chance of doing her in.
It was part of the reason he had chosen her. Her strength and purity had called to him and he'd had to answer. Their opposing natures were so attractive – he with his fire and ice and yoki and her with her pure heart. His nature would not allow him to leave her.
And he'd thought that even if he was not strong enough to protect her, she would be strong enough to protect herself.
He had never thought she would dive in front of an energy attack by a demon that he could so easily kill. That she could so easily kill…
And yet she did. He had taunted the demon, expecting it to come for him and knowing that when it did, he could dodge, leaving only an afterimage. But she had thrown herself in front of him, without pause, without a thought broadcasting her intentions. She had instinctively wanted to protect him.
She didn't even know he intended to keep her as his.
Hiei cursed her foolishness and killed the demon instantly. She was not awake to see it. Her blood made his energy lash out in anger and made him snarl.
It was then that he realized that despite her power, she was only human. Her body could only withstand so much. The respect he'd given her could not protect her at all. His despair rose.
Hiei gathered her in his arms and ran as fast as he could. There was nothing he could do for her and he was at the border of the worlds. Making a split-second decision, he headed for Genkai's temple rather than Mukuro's castle.
She was dying.
Genkai was ready when he arrived, having sensed his furious strength and Kagome's waning energy from the time he crossed into Ningenkai.
"Botan is on her way," she told the man. "Bring her over here."
He set her onto the porch gently, hands attempting to cover the gaping wounds the demon had inflicted. Her eyelids fluttered and she choked.
Genkai pushed him aside and turned the girl onto her side, letting her cough up blood. "What happened?"
"I don't know." And he didn't. Why would she leap in front of him when she knew his strength? When she had felt it for herself the first time they had met? Why would she not protect herself instead?
Genkai, in her old wisdom, recognized the look in his eyes. "She fell in love with you."
Hiei said nothing, but turned his head sharply as the reaper arrived.
Botan ran over and held her hands over the miko. "I'm going to need some help. Where is Yukina?"
"Here! I'm coming."
Hiei backed away and watched as his sister and… friend attempted to save the woman that loved him. He could no longer sense her energy. Her breathing was erratic. Suddenly he knew that he would rather be the one to die than her.
He lowered his head and closed his eyes and for the first time in his life, he prayed.
'Kami save this woman. I would do anything, but save my Kagome.'
The tear that fell went unnoticed until it hit the wood with a chink and rolled to Kagome's side.
The healing energy began to take. Botan and Yukina were sweating, but Kagome's wounds were closing. After an agonizing half hour, the young miko was whole.
Then the fever set in.
For an agonizing week, Kagome was delirious, shaking with cold, but burning up. Hiei couldn't help but want to warm the room for her, but when Genkai caught him at it, she scolded him and told him to send his sister in instead.
Genkai would feed her broth when she was awake and would only let Hiei watch from the doorway. At night, he would sneak in to sit with Kagome, feeling her forehead as he'd seen Genkai do, but not knowing how hot she was in comparison to other humans.
Keikio dragged Yusuke to the temple to try to help, but recoiled at Hiei snarled at the young man. Yusuke studied him and shrugged, holding up his hands to say that he was no threat.
No one wanted to be around the koorime.
But after a week, he fever broke and for the first time since almost dying, Kagome truly awoke.
To Hiei's critical eyes, she looked tired, even after sleeping most of the week. She looked pale and gaunt and… weak. It was horrible.
He stood over her as she ate a bit of rice.
"Why did you do that, woman?"
She put down the bowl and smiled at him.
"Because I love you, you fool."
He turned and left. When he returned that evening, she was already asleep.
Hiei went to her side silently, watching her calm breathing. A prick of his claw and her skin broke, letting through a tiny drop of blood. He rubbed it away and licked it from his finger. She was so human. So weak. And yet…
Red eyes met blue. He gathered her into his arms and kissed her. "You are only a weak human."
"Sometimes," she admitted.
"Hn. Then I will protect you. Do not do something as foolish as that again. It would not bode well for Reikai if my woman died and they could not bring her back."
Kagome smiled and snuggled into his embrace. "Alright. I'll try not to. No promises though."
One day my girlfriend and I went out to the country. We encountered a rattlesnake.
It lunged at me. Before I knew it, my girlfriend threw herself in front of me. The snake bit her leg.
She almost died that day. When I scolded her for it, she just smiled and said that she loved me.
Her absolute love for me Gives Me Hope.