Don't worry everyone! It hasn't ended yet! Onward to Chapter 18!!!

Love You All!

Disclaimer-I Don't Own Inuyasha

Chapter 18:

Praying it ain't too late

Miroku and the group finally caught up to Inuyasha about an hour after he had taken off with Kagome. They looked around and found women running out of a hut with water pales in there hands. But they knew that it was definitely where Inuyasha was when he came storming out.

They ran over to him. "Inuyasha!" Miroku called out. "How is Kagome?" Inuyasha growled. "Stupid old hag! Won't let me stay with her because she has to undress her! I told her I'd turn around!" Sango pushed past them both and ran into the hut. Inside the old woman gasped. Sango bowed her head. "She is my friend." Sango said referring to the now topless Kagome.

The elderly woman smiled. "Hai, I thought ye was that bothersome demon that came with her." Sango kneeled down and looked at the arrow wound. The arrow was out and she was beginning to sterilize a needle over the fire to stitch her up. Sango winced as she stuck the needle through Kagome's skin. Kagome didn't flinch. 'She's so tough.'

"Your friend will be fine. She'll have to take it easy for a couple of weeks though. But that shouldn't be to hard. She's not going to want to do anything." The old woman finished cleaning Kagome's wounds and then covered her up. She stood up and began to walk out.

Inuyasha who had been taking all his anger out on Shippo, looked at the old woman. "Is she ok??" The woman nodded. "Hai, she hasn't woken up yet. But her breathing as slowed and the bleeding as stopped. Ye may all go and see her."

Inuyasha wasted no time running in there. He kneeled by her side and looked at her sleeping face. He was suddenly hit with an image about three months ago.

'No,' He thought. 'I can't think of that. She is just sleeping.' He sighed and looked at Sango who was silently crying while holding her friend's hand. Inuyasha growled and lowered his head, his bangs covering his eyes.

"You're so stupid Kagome! Why do insist on endangering yourself to save me!" "Because...you would...do the same...for me.." Everyone looked up and saw Kagome wince as she slowly opened her eyes. She tried to sit up but was met with extreme pain. She let out a cry and Inuyasha laid her back down. "Don't you dare move." He warned her. He looked into her eyes. Ice blue. But he didn't care at that moment. He had almost lost her for a second time. There was not going to be a third.

"Kagome..." He didn't know what to say. He wanted to yell at her. To scream at her for pushing him out of the way. But the look on her face told him, that no matter how much he yelled. She wasn't going to ever apologize, or take it back.

"You really bug the hell out of me." He said half heartedly. Kagome gave him a weak laugh and touched his cheek with her good hand. "Trust me...the feelings...mutual."

"You're going back to your time for a while." Everyone gasped and looked at Inuyasha. "What?" Kagome whispered. Go back to the future? For how long? "You heard me." He stated. "It's too dangerous for you here. Until you are fully healed, both physically and mentally, I have no choice."

Everyone was shocked. Sure Inuyasha made Kagome go home for a while. But this was different. Kagome had little to no memory of that time. This was all she knew. Kagome blinked and looked away. Tears threatened to spill. "I'm sorry I'm such a burden." Sango squeezed her friends hand. "You are no burden Kagome. Don't ever think that!" She stated. Kagome glared at Inuyasha who had his back turned.

Kagome forced herself up to her knees despite everyone's including her own body's protest. "Will you rest!" Inuyasha stated. Kagome whimpered as she raised to her feet. She wobbled but shook it off. She looked sternly at Inuyasha. "You have absolutely no right to tell me where I am going. And you're right, you don't have a choice. It's my choice." Inuyasha raised a brow. Shocked by Kagome's words, though he shouldn't have been. She always had to fight him with every decision he made.

He sighed. "I'm doing what is in the best interest for you." He stated. "Oh yes! Because sending me away to a time I have NO memory of is what I need! I need to be here! With all of you!"

Inuyasha held his hand up to silence her. "My decision is final. Kagome, you can either go back willingly, or by force. It's your choice. Don't make me have Kaede seal the well until I decide to come get you." He warned. Kagome slapped him across his face. "Don't you talk to me like I'm some kind of child. I'm a grown woman, capable of making my own choices."

"I'll start treating you like an adult when you start acting like one. Now rest. Tomorrow I'm taking you home." Kagome growled but laid down in the bed. Her body was too weak to stand. Once Kagome laid down, she fell asleep. Inuyasha sighed as he heard her even breathing. He looked at the group. "Got something to say?" He glared at them.

Miroku cleared his throat. "We agree that she should go home until her wounds are healed." Inuyasha raised a brow. "Wait...you're agreeing with me?" Miroku nodded. "We think the situation could've been handle a little more delicately. But yes, Kagome should go home. Naraku knows that she's injured, as soon as he's healed he could come after her again." Inuyasha nodded and picked the sleeping girl up.

"Wait Inuyasha! You can't take her while she's sleeping!" Shippo protested. Inuyasha growled. "Hush. It's easier this way. She won't put up a fight and hurt herself. Meet me at Kaede's tomorrow evening." The group nodded and Inuyasha took off.

Inuyasha ran through the forest. He looked down at Kagome who was curled up against his chest. 'Forgive me Kagome, I'm doing this because I love you. I know you're not worried about dying. But I can't see that again. I just can't.' He got to the well and jumped through it.

Once on the other side, Inuyasha jumped to Kagome's window and growled when it opened. 'Never listens.' He Sat her down on her bed. He untied her armor and took off her boots, then he covered her up and walked downstairs. "Hello?" He called. He heard some shuffling in the kitchen. In there he found Souta and Jin. "Inuyasha!" Souta called.

Jin looked over and smiled at him. "How's Kagome?" Inuyasha looked nervous. "She's ummm....she's alive....and she's here." Jin raised a brow. "What now?" "It's not my fault she's so damn stubborn! She is ridiculous! You should be given a medal or something for putting up with her for so long! She always has to be the hero! Always puts others before herself. Stupid!" Jin laughed at Inuyasha's outburst. "Feel better?" "Much." He sighed and led her up to Kagome's room where she was still sound asleep.

Inuyasha kneeled down and unclipped her top. Jin gasped at the stitches. "What on earth?" Inuyasha's ears lowered. "She pushed me out of the way of an arrow." Jin nodded. Inuyasha stood up. "I don't want her to come back. Not until I come for her." Jin looked at the hanyou. He looked devastated, she could tell that he didn't want to leave her.

"Inuyasha, I don't know if I can force her to stay. Dad doesn't have any sutras that are strong enough." Inuyasha nodded. "I know. Either do we. I threatened to have our village priestess seal the well, but I think Kagome knows that it wouldn't stop her. I can only ask that you try. I also think that she may need to go to that medical place in your time for new stitches. That old hag didn't know what she was doing."

Jin smiled. "I'll take her in the morning. Would you like to stay?" Inuyasha shook his head. "I need to get out of here before she wakes up. I don't want to anger her." Jin nodded. "Ok, I'll see you soon right?" Inuyasha didn't answer. Jin nodded and shut the door. 'He's crazy if he thinks Kagome will stay in this time forever.

Inuyasha ran his hand across her face. He blushed as she heard her sigh his name happily. "Kagome." He whispered. Seeing no response, he leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I do this, because I care about you." And with that he jumped out the window and ran to the well.

"Goodbye." And with that he was gone.

Kagome awoke the next morning. She yawned and tried to stretch but cried out in pain. 'Oh yeah that arrow.' She sighed then remembered, 'If Inuyasha thinks he is sending me home today, he has another thing coming!" She then looked at her surroundings. "Oh...no...He already sent me home!!?" She slowly got out of bed. She saw her armor and boots laying on her desk. She opened her door and was met with her little brother. Kagome blinked and looked at the thirteen year old. "Hi. Who are you?" Souta looked at Kagome sadly. "Your brother." He stated in a deep voice due to him hitting puberty. Kagome smiled and hugged him tightly, and cried against his chest. Souta blinked a couple times and patted his not so big sister anymore. He was already a smidgen taller than her and he had just hit his growth spurt.

Jin came running up the stairs and helped sit Kagome on her bed. "Come on dear, lets put you in some other clothes and we'll take you to the hospital and take a look at those wounds." Kagome continued to cry. She wanted Inuyasha. She didn't want to be here with these people. "Kagome listen! When your wound is healed, you can go back. Inuyasha wanted you to stay here and use our treatments since it's 500 years in the future!" Kagome sniffled and looked at Jin. Jin was lying right through her teeth. But Kagome didn't know that. She sighed and nodded.

"Ok! Now, lets get you dressed. Souta, shoo." Souta smiled and ran out of the room. "He's my LITTLE brother." Jin laughed while looking through Kagome's dresser. "Yeah I know. He's so taller and muscular. But you were always told you would be little. He has his father's genes."

"I can't believe how strong he is! How old is he?" "Thirteen. I blame that all on Inuyasha. Inuyasha has been around Souta for years and Souta has always and will always idealize Inuyasha. Inuyasha is so strong and muscular. Souta wants the same. He works out everyday. I'm so proud of him." Kagome nodded. "And I am 18 right." Jin let out a small gasp and looked at her daughter. She handed her some clothes. "No sweetie. You're 20." Kagome's eyes widened. "I just. I remember my eighteenth birthday....so I...I thought." Jin kissed her forehead. "Don't worry about it. That's what we're here for. Now, let me help you get dressed. I'd let you shower, but we really should get this looked at." Kagome nodded and slipped out of her outfit, leaving her in a pink pair of underwear and a matching bra. But the bra was missing a strap where the arrow hit.

Jin helped her pull the bra and panties off and put on a fresh pair of white ones. She put her into a pair of grey, flared dress pants, a white button up top and a grey vest. She brushed all of Kagome's hair back into a high ponytail. "Okay, lets head out."

Kagome followed Jin outside and Souta was out there to help her into her moms SUV. Once in there they began to drive to the Hospital. The car ride was rather silent. Kagome was in a lot of pain and was trying to sleep.

***********

Inuyasha growled as he glared at a wall. The group knew he was glaring through the wall, through the trees, and too the well. They began to actually wonder, who would hold out longer? Kagome or Inuyasha. 'What if she's hurt....' Inuyasha thought, but shook his head. 'I sent her there because there ARE NO threats. She's fine. She's probably pissed, but she's ok.'

"Inuyasha." Sango started. "What are we going to do now? We can't sense jewel shards, so we can't find any or find Naraku." Inuyasha sighed. "Look, maybe we should all part ways. Meet back here in like a week. Sango I know you've been talking about going to your old village. Miroku, you said something about needing to see your old master." They both nodded. "Okay, we'll see you in a week. Shippo, would you like to come with me?" Miroku asked. Shippo nodded. Sango stood up and took Kirara and they flew off while Miroku and Shippo ran off. Inuyasha looked at Amaya who mewed sadly while looking towards the well.

Inuyasha petted her. "Sorry." He said.

*********

"Alright! All Done!"

"Wow Doctor, That didn't hurt at all." Kagome stated. The doctor smiled. "I told you. It helps when you have something to numb the skin. Now you be careful on that archery field next time! You're very lucky!" Kagome nodded and smiled. Her arm was in a sling now. Her wound was tightly stitched together, and the doctor gave her medicine for the pain and antibiotics to make sure nothing got infected.

Kagome followed Jin out to the car and got in. She looked over at Jin. "Thanks." Jin raised a brow. "For what?" "For taking care of me." Jin rubbed her daughter's leg. "That's what mothers do hunny." Kagome smiled and drifted back off to sleep.

R&R