Kagome looked over her shoulder and stared at the faint outline of the island so far away. The wind sprayed mists of salt water on her face, cooling her from the sun's scorching heat. Turning her head back around, she focused on her breaths. Breathing deeply and exhaling slowly as she robotically dipped the ores into the dark sea, propelling them forward.
They were so close, closer than they'd ever been to home before. And they needed to get home. They dared not step onto soil that wasn't Japan's, because the times they had… Well, they never had the best of luck since the jewel threw them out into the world.
She couldn't remember how long they'd been in the boat. Days blending into nights, blending into days. Before a storm had just about ripped their boat in half, the passage of time hadn't been so depressing or lonely.
Now, to keep themselves afloat, they shielded the boat to keep it together. One going into a deep meditative state to maintain optimal concentration. One rowed the boat, fished, and, using as limited power as possible, purified seawater to make it drinkable—only she could do that because of her holy powers—, and the other slept to rejuvenate themselves, all so they could survive.
Every six hours.
Shield. Row. Sleep. Change shifts, repeat. Over and over again…
Kagome had stopped counting how many shifts she'd done, having lost count after…weeks? Months? There was never a day that she wasn't exhausted. She couldn't even escape through insanity—well, no, she had gone insane once. However, her dreams kept her mind from completely breaking down… Dreams of a palace in the clouds. Of falling through the sky without hope of landing.
"Kagome."
Kagome blinked rapidly at the sudden appearance of Akinlana's dark, exotic, face. Worried, red-tinged, hazel-colored eyes stared at her. Long tawny hair whipped around the demoness's lean, scantily leather clad, body.
"You can stop now and sleep," Akinlana said softly in her smooth, thick South African accent. "I will 'wake' Inuyasha so he may take your place."
It took a few moments before Kagome's sluggish mind could comprehend Akinlana's words, and for her arms to force itself to stop rowing. "I'll wait," Kagome said, her voice raspy from disuse. "Just in case."
There were only a couple minutes between shifts when they were all awake at the same time. Maybe that was the reason why Kagome hadn't cracked under the pressure of being alone yet.
Akinlana stared at her, concern still written plainly across the wild inu's face, but she didn't object. "Just in case," she agreed.
If Kagome had said anything else, other than what she had said, she knew Akinlana would have bullied her into going to sleep. However, they couldn't afford mistakes, so Kagome didn't plan on staying awake for more than a minute or two. They'd used up all their chances, Lady Luck having turned her back on them a long time ago.
Kagome turned and watched as Akinlana stuffed her face with dried fish, and wash it down with half a waterskin of purified water, before she made her way to Inuyasha's side at the front of the boat. Akinlana sat next to him and slowly expanded her vibrant-red yoki over his. Whispering his name, she trailed the back of her fingertips up and down his cheek, in a lover's caress. White eyelashes fluttered for a few seconds before opening. Blinking at Akinlana, Inuyasha exhaled wearily before drawing in his yoki. His blood-red shield sinking back into his body with practiced ease and control.
Inuyasha cupped Akinlana's cheek, nuzzled the side of her face, then tenderly kissed her lips. She smiled at him, and whispered a few words too soft for Kagome to hear, before closing her eyes—settling in to prepare herself to sink into a coma-like meditation.
Inuyasha stood and stretched, groaning as his back cracked loudly, after instinctively scanning around for threats…not that there were any. They were in the middle of the ocean. The only threat was the rickety dinghy they were floating in.
Kagome smiled in greeting when Inuyasha's golden eyes finally met hers.
"You should be sleeping," Inuyasha scolded. He stepped over the gaping hole in the middle of the boat and kneeled in front of her.
"I should," Kagome agreed as Inuyasha looked her over.
"You're getting weaker," he said. "Akinlana and I can—"
"Do nothing," Kagome said. Standing, she moved to the back and curled into the warm blankets Akinlana awoke from. "I am the only one that can purify seawater to make it drinkable. But, it's not as bad as it used to be. The more I do it, the less amount of reiki I use, remember?"
Kagome forced herself to keep her eyes open—wanted to talk more, starved as she was for human/demon contact.
"You need more sleep. You're only human," Inuyasha grumbled under his breath. Grabbing the ores, he began to row at a strong, but steady pace.
Am I? Kagome pressed her fingertips against her lips, an action not lost to Inuyasha. But he remained silent. What could he say that hadn't already been said? Humans didn't have fangs. They didn't have claws, smell a scent from miles away, or see with perfect clarity in the night. The only thing they did know was that she wasn't a demon. It would have been too simple if she had been.
"The way things are; this is as perfect as it will get. Don't change it, not while the end is close enough to see," Kagome mumbled, losing the battle to keep her eyes open. "We are almost there…"
"And I'll make damn sure we get there before you wake up."
Kagome smiled. It was a possibility, especially with Inuyasha manning the ores. But, before it was time she woke in six hours? Maybe he could do it, but she would not hope for it.
No… She had little hope left in the world. She would rather use what she had left on something else… Something small with red hair and little pawed feet.