Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi et al - not me! :(

A/N: And here's the aftermath of the drunken antics. :) Another one-shot continuation, but there may be some drabbles being added to this as I start doing some contest prompts again as I have more time.

No contest entry - inspired by a random word generator pick, 'Organic'. Word count, 1,900 words, or so about. Un-beta'd, so all errors are my own.

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A Helping Hand

"Urgh… my head!"

The incoherent groan came from her bedroom at around ten o'clock the next morning. Kagome, already awake and stirring a pot of coffee filched from the machine downstairs, winced in sympathy. Her head was throbbing even after a fair dosage of painkillers, and she hadn't downed half as much as poor Sango.

'Wait, why am I saying 'poor'? I had to carry her up the stairs last night! Oh god, I have to thank Miroku again for helping me…'

"Kagoommee…"

The pitiful whine reminded her of her current predicament, and she gave the dark liquid one last swirl before pouring it smoothly into the two waiting mugs.

"All right, Sango, give me a minute… there's some water and two pills for you to take on the dresser. Once the world's stopped spinning, I'll go and get us some food."

A muffled grunt was her only reply. Kagome picked up the coffee and went to the aid of her stricken friend. In the bedroom, all that could be seen of Sango was a large lump bundled beneath the duvet. Brown hair spilled from the gap in the covers, tangled and messy.

"Come on, here's coffee. You'll feel better in no time." Her smile turned teasing. "And what would your students say if they saw you now, I wonder?"

An arm emerged, and the white sheets were thrown aside to reveal a monster rising from the depths. The pointed death glare from bloodshot eyes only complemented the terrifying picture - for Kagome, she'd seen Sango in this state far too many times for the effect to be anything other than highly amusing. Unfortunately, her friend noticed her stifled giggle.

"If you laugh, Kagome Higurashi, I swear-"

"What? You'll drool on me?"

"No! Why, you-"

Sango sat up, ready to get out of bed and pummel Kagome - but before she could swing her legs free of the covers, she froze. The colour drained from her face, leaving it a delightful shade of pasty white. Mildly concerned, Kagome poked her inert friend with a bare foot.

"Hey. Sango, you all right?"

"… everything's spinning… Um, Kagome… I really don't feel well. And not just hangover-not-feeling-well…"

Detecting the uncharacteristic wobble in her voice, Kagome frowned, setting down the coffee and reaching for her forehead. She'd barely brushed the overheated skin when Sango swooned. The woman staggered forwards off the bed and Kagome's quick reflexes were the only thing that saved her from a painful encounter with the floor. Moments later, she was back under the covers with a thermometer lodged between her teeth.

It beeped. Sango grimaced as Kagome pulled it free and read off the temperature - nearly a whole degree higher than it should be.

"You. Painkillers. Now. I'm going out to get you some proper medicine. What were we thinking, going out in the cold last night?"

"… would it help if I said that I don't know?"

"No. Listen to your friend. You're staying here until that temperature's gone."

Sango subsided easily, and Kagome took one glance out of the window before heading to the hallway to grab her coat. She didn't fancy chancing illness herself - especially with the headache still threatening. Suitably attired, Kagome stepped out of the flat.

And straight into Inuyasha.

"Oomph!"

Rough hands came to steady her. Looking up, she found herself the object of a hard violet stare.

"Trying to injure random strangers now?"

"No," she replied wearily. "I'm actually going to buy some medicine for my friend. She's come down with some flu-cold thing, and mixing that with too much to drink last night isn't a good combination."

The stare morphed from its usual blunt intensity to something sharper.

"Flu?"

"Yes. A temperature. Dizzy, generally not feeling well. She said it definitely wasn't just the hangover, and it didn't look that way, either. I've seen enough of Sango post-drinking to know the difference between a hangover and being ill."

"You're worried."

It wasn't a question. She nodded once, jerkily. He was silent for a moment, and then snorted, turning on his heel.

"Keh. If it's just a cold, she'll be fine. No need for you to get so wound up about it."

"Hey!"

"If you're so concerned, go and have a rest yourself. You look beat."

His frank statements tickled her temper. Before she could form a scathing reply, Inuyasha had disappeared back into his flat with a quick glance over his shoulder.

'Infuriating man. Well. I'll show him!'

Resolved, she struggled down the stairs and out into the cold morning air.

It was only when she arrived at the pharmacy after a ten minute walk that she remembered what day of the week it was. Sunday. Just after eleven. And all of the shops were closed. This was even more annoying than Inuyasha after too much coffee, and she spent much of the walk back to the complex plotting ways of proving to her neighbour that looking after ill friends was much more worthwhile than whatever he did in his spare time.

Of which she had no idea. But she wouldn't let that stop her.

Stifling a sneeze in her sleeve as she slid her key into the outer door, Kagome missed the twitch of the curtains in the window of the apartment next to hers.

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"Sango?"

She shut the door quietly, dropping her coat and walking through to her bedroom. Peering around the frame, she sighed. Sango was fast asleep, face still flushed and feverish.

'Why does it have to be Sunday, of all days? I don't know if I have anything else to give her, aside from painkillers… and if her fever gets any worse, I should think about taking her to a doctor…'

Her worries were interrupted by a knock at the door. She left Sango to her sleep and went to answer it, half-hoping for a pair of violet eyes that she could vent her frustration on. The door swung open to reveal the figure she was looking for, but she wasn't given the chance to open her mouth.

"Here."

Something was thrust into her hands, and Inuyasha stepped back, looking a little uncomfortable. She glanced down, finding a small brown paper bag tacked closed by a piece of tape.

"It's medicine. For your friend. I knew the shops were closed, so I figured you'd need some help."

Stupefied, she blinked. His sudden presentation had totally derailed the neat order of her rant.

"What- hang on. Start again."

He crossed his arms, clearly exasperated.

"Look, they're herbs. I grow them in our flat in the window. Peppermint and elderflower - boil them in some water and give them to your friend and they'll get rid of the flu faster than any of that crappy medicine from the pharmacy."

Only one thing crawled its way through the haze of her headache.

"You grow herbs?"

Was that a blush?

"Yeah - for Miroku's stupid stir-fry and a friend who sells teas and other shit to people. She didn't have room to grow them herself, so I did her a favour... What? Is that so weird?"

By the end of his explanation he was frowning fiercely, interpreting her silence as scepticism when really she was more than a little stunned.

"And... you cut these for Sango?"

He snorted.

"Yeah. Stick 'em in some hot water. She'll be better by this evening."

"... thank you, Inuyasha."

"Keh. Just promise you'll stop looking so damn worried."

She smiled. Maybe he wasn't such a bad guy, after all.

"All right, I promise."

"Good. Well. See you later."

He turned to walk away, but Kagome snatched his sleeve, fingers buried easily in the material of his loose jacket.

"Hey, Inuyasha... When Sango's better, I'll make you some ramen and coffee. As thanks."

The man glanced over his shoulder, frown replaced with an arrogant smirk.

"Sounds good."

"... as long as I can come and see the herbs."

The smirk turned into a small smile - genuine, not cocky - and he chuckled, brushing off her fingers.

"Fine, you can come and see the damned herbs. Nosy woman."

"You can't blame me! I've never even seen your flat, and you and Miroku are always coming in and freeloading food and drinks off me, so it's only fair."

"I guess you're right. Oi, go and sort your friend out. Come and get me when the ramen's ready, and we'll work out when you can come and visit."

She nodded, smiling.

"Thanks again, Inuyasha."

"Don't mention it."

Kagome shut the door, feeling her concern for Sango seeping away. Heading over to the kitchenette, she opened the packet and was immediately assaulted by the sweet-sharp mix of peppermint and elderflower - just as Inuyasha said. Humming happily, she went to boil the kettle.

Outside, Inuyasha paused in front of his door, feeling strangely glad that the worry lines had disappeared from Kagome's face as she said good-bye, leaving only her brilliant smile. Seeing them marring her expression was oddly... distressing? No, that wasn't the word. Damnit, they just made him uncomfortable.

'Keh. She's turning me soppy.'

Stepping into his flat, he immediately walked over to the wide window and assessed the remaining pots of herbs. They were running low on peppermint - Kaede would be more than a little annoyed if they couldn't get her the usual amount for the shop. Not to mention the spell... no herbs meant no spell, and no spell was a very bad thing indeed.

Muttering under his breath, he started searching for the wayward seed packets and a pair of scissors.

Demanding miko women. They were going to be the death of him.

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