Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters in the following story. Nor do I own the German literary and musical movement Sturm und Drang, which lent itself nicely to the title. Thanks for the suggestion J-kun. :3

Storm and Stress

Kagome returned to find Sesshomaru had gone – the open window was testament to that. One look to Inuyasha told her something was wrong: on the side of his neck were green spots.

"Sesshomaru!" She ground out the name. How could she have trusted him?! Inuyasha was already so frail and now he was in danger of dying. This was all her fault!

If I had just subdued him...I wouldn't have needed Sesshomaru...I wouldn't have been desperate enough to need Sesshomaru! She chastised herself, but to no avail.

This was something Inuyasha would have to pull through on his own strength. She wiped the sweat of his brow, and held his hand lightly - his pulse was erratic, but he wasn't convulsing, so she hoped it was a sign his body was fighting the poison. There was no way to be sure, but then again, there was no other way to check either, so she would just have to trust that Sesshomaru had actually helped – in some manner or other.

He was getting colder, but continued to sweat. Kagome dutifully wiped his face then returned to holding his hand. This was their bond. For now.

She pondered the information Sesshomaru had presented her with. Part of her wanted to cry and disappear into nothingness so that the pain would stop, while the other part kept telling her Sesshomaru had a point. But how could she have known?

"It's not like Inuyasha talks about this stuff with me...and I didn't know...I didn't...I was going to kill him." More tears assaulted her eyes. She felt Inuyasha's pulse beginning to settle, but she wouldn't let go of him. For now, this one moment, he was hers and she wouldn't let go.

The panicked movements roused Kagome.

"Inuyasha! You're better!" With an exhausted sigh she plopped her head on her the blanket.

The lack of reply soon made her worry again.

"Inuyasha?"

"Get away from me!" He growled.

"What? I…"

"Get away from me!" He let out another gruff exclamation.

"What did I do? Tell me, Inuyasha…please…"

"Fine! Release me and I'll leave you alone so you don't have to worry about anything, Ka-go-me."

"Release…? I'm not…"

"Lying wench! You made it so I couldn't move!"

"I didn't do anything."

"Liar!"

"But I…I didn't!"

"Then, why can't I move?"

"I…I…"

"Fine, have your fun with the half-breed, but do me a favour and go kill yourself when you're done!"

Kagome's hand acted almost instantly.

"Keh! Nice, Kagome. Hit the dog when he's down."

With an incredulous look she got up and ran out of the room. Her sobs fading away echoed in his head for the rest of the afternoon.

Kagome felt her heart pummelled by the harsh words. She didn't understand what had happened. Her eyes spilled her grief anew, over and over until she couldn't breathe and her lungs clutched desperately at little in-breaths.

"Inuyasha…oh, Inuyasha…" She didn't know what had gone wrong. Sesshomaru had said he would be regaining his memory, and that he would be human; only the latter had been fulfilled.

What did he know? What had she done?

With a quivering heart she headed towards her room. She had the find out.

He was hot and cold and itching to move, but bound. His ears weren't functioning properly – they felt plugged - and the fever was making it hard to keep his eyes open.

Kagome entered the room slowly.

"Get out!"

No answer.

"I said get out."

"I'm sorry." She didn't know what she was apologising for, but the issue was getting him to talk to her. "I'm really sorry…for whatever I may have done, for slapping you. I'm sorry."

He sniffed indignantly.

"I-I made you ramen."

"What? You gonna actually feed your prisoner?" Tears pinched at the back of Kagome's eyes.

"You're not my prisoner. You're just not feeling well. A bit of ramen will give you your strength back."

"No. Being half-demon would get my strength back. Or did you think I hadn't noticed you purified me?" There was so much pain hidden underneath the anger; Kagome thought she would drown.

"I-I didn't! I swear I didn't!"

"Sure! That's why I'm bound to a bed in a place I ain't never seen before with you hanging over me."

"Inuyasha…but…you know me…my name…?"

"Yeah, it's Kagome. What of it?"

"And you don't remember ever being here?"

"Why should I?"

"I…I want to know what you remember."

"I remember everything, Ka-go-me! Every little thing!"

"Like what?" She had to keep calm.

"Like what?!" He asked incredulously. "Like you lying to me, you heartless wench!" He cursed. "As if pretending you gave two blades of grass about me wasn't enough, you had to go and make me…Never mind!"

"Make you what?"

"Cut the act!"

"Make you what, Inuyasha? Please, tell me what I made you."

"A fool, that's what! A right old fool!" The bitterness poured into his eyes. "You lied about caring! You lied! Then you skewer me with an arrow just so you can take it out and subdue me like a dog! A dog!"

"That wasn't my fault! You know I was possessed! You know I told you to run!"

"The hell you did! I believe the last words were: 'Die, Inuyasha!'"

Something was terribly wrong.

"Now leave me be!"

"Inuyasha, please, listen to me…"

"Don't wanna hear more lies."

Kagome was beginning to become frustrated.

"Well, I'm not leaving until you listen to me."

"Well, I ain't listening. Ya want something, why don't you use the darned collar to make me?"

"I…I wouldn't." But suddenly, she was confronted with all the times she had. "I mean…not without reason..."

He snorted incredulously.

"Making me kiss the ground coz you disagree with me is a reason?"

"No…but…I don't use it like that.

"Yeh, whatever."

They stayed in tense silence for a few moments.

"Just…tell me one thing…" A flicker of shame and doubt crossed his features. "Were you ever honest about being with me…if I turned human?"

Suddenly, it all fell into place for Kagome.

"Oh, Inuyasha. Inuyasha. That wasn't me!"

"What the…? Damn that was a bad lie." He chuckled bitterly.

"No…it wasn't me! It wasn't! It was Kikyo!"

"Kikyo…?" He rolled the name around his mouth feeling it to be strangely familiar.

"Yes. She sealed you. She didn't kill you. She…loved you."

"Keh! Like I'd believe that!"

"Please, Inuyasha, please remember. When I pulled the arrow out…before that you told me I smelled differently."

"A likely story when I can't smell you."

"Please, Inuyasha, please! You've got to believe me." She didn't mean for the tears to come. "I swear to you that wasn't me. I…I never ever want you to change."

For a second it seemed like he was going to argue but then he just furrowed his brow.

"Whatever. It's not like it makes a difference. I'm still cooped up in here."

"You…must be getting hungry."

He didn't answer.

"Can you stand up at all?"

"How the hell could I with your damn charms all over me!"

"I told you, there is no spell. No charm!"

He keh'd while she gently helped him sit up and arranged his pillows to help him stay in that position.

"It's okay Inuyasha. I'll take care of you, I will."

He huffed but his nostrils flared delicately at the scent of ramen.

"Whazzat?"

"Ramen. You'll like it."

Carefully she rolled a few strands of the noodles around the chopsticks offering them to him.

He sniffed the carefully, but then his stomach groaned loudly and he reluctantly began eating.

Kagome's arm was getting sore but she bore it uncomplainingly until the bowl was empty.

"Do you want water?"

He shook his head.

"I really am sorry, Inuyasha, but…you'll remember…I promise." She stroked his hair gently pretending not to notice when he flinched.

"I won't hurt you. I'll take care of you. I'll stand by you." She murmured. "I'll stand by you."

Her soft voice lulled him to sleep.

Author's Note: Hey guys, sorry I haven't been able to reply individual reviews, but thank you very much for taking the time to give me feedback. I should have the next chapter up soon. Hope you enjoyed this!: 3