NVP

Chapter 7

It was nearly noon before a weary Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara walked into the village. Tor'mac though, didn't seem tired in the least. As they entered the perimeter of the small village Shippo suddenly cried out.

"Hey! Where'd Tor'mac go?"

They glanced around for a brief moment before Shippo let out another yelp. Miroku and Sango turned to see Shippo seemingly floating in mid air, then gently float down to the ground. Shippo looked back and saw what appeared to be a heat wave with a vaguely humanoid shape.

"You've gotta teach me that trick!" Shippo exclaimed, putting it together.

Miroku smiled, "Probably best if the villagers don't see him just yet."

Sango nodded and they resumed their journey to the center of town where Kaede lived. Once there, they hesitated at the entrance, bracing themselves. Then, fearing the worst but hoping for the best, Miroku pulled back the curtain and entered with the others close behind. Tor'mac walked over to a corner of the small and too-low room as the others rushed to Kagome's side. Kaede was putting on a fresh bandage and Inuyasha was still where he had been for the past several hours, holding Kagome's hand.

"How is she?" Sango dared to ask.

"She is no longer bleeding but she did lose a great deal of blood. We can do nothing more than hope she can recover on her own." Kaede said.

Inuyasha, whose eyes hadn't left Kagome the entire time, suddenly sniffed the air and jumped up, scanning the room.

"You were followed." He said flatly.

He sniffed the air again and recognized the scent as the same as that of the creature in the clearing. He moved his hand to Tetsusaiga.

"Hold on Inuyasha," Sango said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's not an enemy."

Miroku motioned to the corner for Tor'mac to come closer. The shadow that was Tor'mac shifted and, after a few odd 'beeps' he became visible to them once again. Inuyasha's grip tightened and he stepped to the side, putting himself between Tor'mac and Kagome. Tor'mac stepped forward in front of Inuyasha and looked him up and down. So this was the creature he had longed to hunt. Part of him still wanted to but his better judgment told him that there were more important things he had to do now than gain the honor of a single hunt. After a few more seconds of a stare down between the two, Tor'mac reached out and shook Inuyasha's shoulder as he had with the others. Inuyasha's steel gaze shifted to one of confusion and he looked back at the others.

"It's some kind of greeting. He doesn't seem to know our language but I think you're supposed to do the same to him," Miroku explained. "He's hunting Naraku as well."

Inuyasha looked back at Tor'mac. "Feh."

With that he turned away and resumed his place on the floor next to Kagome.

Tor'mac felt rage building within him once more, but quickly let it pass. This "Inuyasha" probably didn't trust him, which was understandable given their situation. Had he been another Yautja warrior it would have been quite different. To turn your back on another as he had was not only disrespectful, it was considered an insult. It was basically the same as saying "you're not a threat and not worth my time." Inuyasha though, was not another of his kind. Maybe things worked differently here, on this strange planet. Inuyasha couldn't have known what that seemingly small gesture would mean.

Tor'mac went back to his corner while the others babbled quietly to each other in their strange tongue. As evening set in, Kaede went outside to prepare a meal to avoid heating the hut any more than it already was in the high heat of the day. She had also managed to drag Shippo away from Kagome for the moment. The others had gathered blankets from the village for Kagome so that she was no longer lying on the hard wooden floor. She had awoken only long enough to see that everyone else was there. Now though, it was as it had been before. Inuyasha still refused to leave her side and the others had left them alone to keep themselves occupied outside.

Tor'mac revealed himself outside after Miroku had explained as best he could to Kaede who in turn tried to explain to the village about their newest "guest."

Now he could walk freely among them. They however were not the only ones unsettled by this. Every time a person would pass by-even the children-Tor'mac would tense and eye them until he was sure that's all they were doing. The children though, seemed as interested in him as he was about them. A group of them had gathered around him as he tried to learn his way around. At first he was nervous that the older ones of the village would react badly to the attention, but eventually his nervousness gave way to curiosity. They poked and prodded, trying to him out. He didn't mind much though. It was only natural for ones so young, regardless of species, to be overly curious. That is how the young learn.

Why were the skulls of this race so prized among his own? They seemed to have no natural weapons other than intelligence. That thought sobered him up quickly and he carefully pushed his way through the small crowd. If the others had known why he had come here, would they have given him any consideration in staying? Or would they have attacked?

The others were still waiting outside when Tor'mac returned, his loyal fans close behind. Miroku and Sango exchanged glances and laughed, unable not to at the ridiculous sight of the gigantic warrior among the children. Kaede laughed as well and managed with a little effort to send the disappointed children away.

Supper finally finished cooking as the sky began to darken. Everyone sat around a fire as the stew was passed out. Tor'mac sat off to the side of the others alone, staring up at the sky and thinking about his situation. It would have been another week on this planet before he and Gor'lan would have left. Another several months before any of his clan noticed that they were late. Beyond that, it could be years before anyone came to discover his fate. That was their way. Why go out of your way to find someone who was probably already dead. Such was not uncommon in a challenging hunt.

"Shippo, why don't you take our friend some? He seems to have taken a shine to you." Miroku said, holding out a bowl, "I'll take one in for Inuyasha."

"Right!" Shippo said, grabbing the bowl

As he approached, Tor'mac cocked his head to the side, curious. Shippo held out the bowl.

"It's food." Shippo said, and took a bite of his own to get the point across.

Tor'mac nodded and accepted the bowl. Shippo jumped up beside him on the stump and began eating his own. Tor'mac looked at the bowl's contents a moment, and then set it down to remove his mask. Shippo and the others looked up quickly as the pressure released with a hiss.

He pulled it free and set it down next to the stump, then picked up the bowl again and was about to begin eating when he felt Shippo's stare. Tor'mac turned toward him. Shippo was leaning out over the edge of the stump, completely motionless, eyes locked on Tor'mac's face. Tor'mac kept his lower mandibles together and spread the upper ones apart; mimicking the smile he had seen the others give each other. Shippo blinked twice but otherwise remained perfectly still, mesmerized.

As he stared, he noted that the same sun-like mark that adorned his mask was also emblazoned onto his forehead, seeming to have been burned into it. Tor'mac stared back a few seconds longer, then clicked his mandibles together, making the chittering sound they had heard earlier and snapping Shippo out of his trance. Tor'mac went back to his food, using his mandibles to shove the pieces of meat and vegetables into his mouth. Shippo watched in amazement the entire time. When he finished, he looked up and realized that not only was Shippo still staring, but all those around the fire were as well. He "smiled" again and held up his empty bowl and nodded in Kaede's direction. Miroku, who had paused at the door when Tor'mac had taken off his mask, turned to Kaede.

"It would seem that he likes your cooking, lady Kaede."

"Indeed." Kaede said, wide eyed.

Miroku entered the hut to find Inuyasha, as expected, still holding Kagome's hand.

"Any change?" Miroku asked, kneeling next to him.

"Her breathing is shallow and she's gotten very pale." He answered quietly.

Miroku looked up to his face and would have fainted if the situation hadn't been so serious. Inuyasha looked exhausted for the first time that Miroku could remember, but that wasn't what caused him to have to look twice to make sure he wasn't seeing things. But he wasn't, and he wished he had been. Inuyasha's face was streaked with tears and more threatened to flow. When he spoke, it became more than a threat.

"I couldn't protect her, Miroku. I swore I'd protect her and I couldn't when she was right next to me."

Miroku sat in near shock. Inuyasha had never even talked about his feelings, much less display them so openly. He knew he should say something to comfort his friend, but what could he say? He took a few moments to collect his thoughts.

"You tried, Inuyasha. That's all anyone could expect. No one but yourself blames you for what happened. If she could I'm sure Kagome would say the same."

Inuyasha wiped his face. "Thanks." He looked at his dampened hand, "I haven't cried since my mother died." He said with a weak smile.

Miroku patted his shoulder and placed the bowl in front of him. He stayed a few minutes longer then stood to leave. Kaede entered as he left to check on Kagome. She examined her without saying a word, then stood to leave again. Inuyasha stood and placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"Is she going to be ok?" Inuyasha asked, but his defeated tone betrayed his thoughts.

"Ye must not give up, Inuyasha," She said, still facing away from him.

"Kaede, be honest with me, please."

She let her gaze drop to the floor.

"It would be a miracle if she lasts the night."

The comment visibly stung Inuyasha and he let go of her. After a moment of silence she faced him.

"Inuyasha, if ye have anything ye need to say to Kagome I suggest ye do it soon." She said, staring into his eyes with a look that seemed to beg.

Now it was his turn to stare at the floor. He nodded, more to himself than Kaede. Yes, he did have something he needed to say. Kaede left to break the news to the others, and to leave Inuyasha alone. Inuyasha went back to Kagome and clasped her cold hand as he had before. Surprisingly, the words he had been unable to say for so long came to him easily.

"I love you, Kagome."

Inuyasha felt the same gentle squeeze as before, only weaker, and for a moment he half expected her to sit up and slap him. She never did of course and eventually Inuyasha curled his body up next to hers, and fell into a troubled sleep as he stared at her face. He was unaware when the others entered, tears in their eyes, and found him asleep so close to her.

Miroku offered his prayers and did his best to calm Sango and Shippo. Kirara too, curled up next to Kagome, trying to keep her warm despite the lingering heat. Eventually they went back outside to avoid disturbing either of them. Tor'mac kept a silent vigil nearby, understanding what was happening by their body language. This girl was clearly important to them, he would stand guard tonight, they had seen enough this day.

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