Through Blood and Tears
Chapter 11: Saving a Life
"I'm just saying, we shouldn't rule it out as an option," Miroku said, crossing his arms.
"He's right," Ayame pitched in. "But that still leaves the question; what are we going to do?"
Everyone was quiet for a moment as they pondered their thoughts. Inuyasha, however, wasn't concerned with their next move. Instead, his thoughts revolved around Kagome. Its been way too long. She should be back by now. What's taking that mangy wolf?
As if on cue, the door burst open to reveal a figure. Miroku immediately whipped the flashlight towards the door to discover Kouga; his eyes wild and crazy. "Kouga?" Ayame whispered.
"We need a stretcher, now!" the wolf demon yelled, his eyes roaming over their confused faces.
"Where's Kagome?!" Inuyasha bellowed as he balled his hands into fists.
"No time. Find something that could be used as a stretcher. We need two of them, then follow me!" No one had a chance to respond as Kouga disappeared from the doorway. Inuyasha growled, his mind conjouring up every possibility as to what happened to Kagome; all of them involving blood shed.
Everyone stood in silent awe for a moment, stunned at what had occured. Rin was the first to recover. "Well, you heard him. Let's get going." Her stern words startled her classmates from their trance-like states. They began searching the classroom for anything they could use as a stiff board; making sure it wasn't too heavy, but sturdy.
"What about this?" Kikyo's voice projected over the commotion of shuffling feet and moving objects. Everyone turned towards her and followed her determined gaze to the open storage closet.
Inside was a rectangular fold up table. "Perfect," Miroku said as he hoisted it out, setting it down on a group of desks. "And it's not that heavy either."
"We can use this," Kagura said, coming forward with a fire blanket. "It's not that strong though," she continued, her voice emotionless.
"It'll have to do," Sango said, grabbing the blanket from the red-eyed woman. "Come on, lets go," the brunette said, looking to her demon friends for directions. Inuyasha immediately took her hint and started out towards the door, following his beloved's scent. Miroku and Sesshomaru followed swiftly after him with the table; Sango and Ayame taking off close behind with the blanket. Kikyo, Naraku, and Rin stayed behind, preparing for the worse.
The smell of blood penetrated the half-demon senses as he drew closer to Kagome's location. Please be okay, Kagome ...
"Its okay, Hakkaku, just hold on." Kagome continued to apply pressure to his wound with one hand as she held his hand with the other. His breathing had labored and worry thoughts entered the young woman's mind.
Just then, she heard footsteps approaching. Kouga was by her side seconds later. "How's he doing?" the wolf demon asked, giving his friend concerned looks.
"It'll be better once we get him to the classroom and assess the damage." This reminded her of Kouga's task and she furrowed her brow in question. "Where's the stretcher?"
He could see the concern in his love's eyes as moonlight hit her face. "It's on the way." Kouga shifted his position so he kneeled on the other side of Hakkaku and grasped his free hand. "Hey," he said, unseen tears in the corner of his eyes.
"Kouga?" Hakkaku forced out, trying to catch a glimpse of his friend's face.
"Yeah, man, its me," Kouga replied with a half-hearted smile. "You're going to be fine." He tried to give his friend some reassurance through his words, but deep down, his heart was full of pain and worry.
A hoard of footsteps echoed down the hallway from the direction of the classroom. Inuyasha ran up beside Kagome and a shocked expression took over his facial features as he glimpsed the sight before him.
Miroku, Sesshomaru, Sango, and Ayame came up next to them as well, stunned at the scene before them. The group of friends were snapped out of their stupor as Kagome took control. "Sesshy, Roku, lay the table next to Hakkaku." They obliged to her wishes, although the dog demon grunted in discontent by the use of his nickname and being ordered around like a slave. "Kouga, keep putting pressure on the wound." He nodded in response as him and Kagome switched positions. "Sango, Ayame, set the blanket next to Ginta." Miroku handed her the flashlight so the group could see what they were doing. "Inuyasha, help them move Hakkaku on to the table. But do it carefully," Kagome said, stating the last part fiercely.
The dog demons put their hands under the injured man's torso, feeling blood trickle through their fingers, as Miroku took a hold of Hakkaku's legs. Kouga continued to put slight pressure on the wound as Kagome took position by her friend's head. "Okay, on the count of three, we're going to life him up and over." She received three mumbles in reply before turning her attention to her patient. "Okay, Hakkaku, we're going to lift you over to the table lying down beside you. It might hurt a bit so brace yourself." He squinted his eyes in response.
Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead in concentration. "One ... two ... three!" Hakkaku screamed out in agony as jolts of pain shot through his body. Kagome grimaced as they set him down on the make-shift stretcher. "Alright," she commanded once more as the injured man took short, raspy breaths. "Kouga, Miroku, Ayame, and Sesshomaru, you get him back to the classroom, pronto!"
Sesshomaru glared at her, tired of being told what to do. "Woman, you do not order this Sesshomaru around." She stared up at him, as if to challenge her authority.
"Sesshy," she said, stern but quiet. "He's dying." And that's all she said before returning her attention back to Ginta. With a slight grunt from the demon lord, the four did as they were told; Ayame putting pressure on the wound as they cautiously made their way down the hallway.
Kagome wanted to break down in tears right then and there, but knew there was still one more task to complete.
"Come on, Sango and Inuyasha, help me get Ginta onto the blanket." Her voice quivered as she knelt beside her friend's lifeless body. She stuck her hands out in front of her, slowly slipping them beneath his torso. She stopped as she felt a hand lay gently on her shoulder. The dark haired girl glanced up to see Inuyasha's amber eyes shine through the darkness.
"Let me, Kagome," he offered solemnly. She backed away in response. Sango helped the distressed girl to a standing position and held her close, trying to bring her some sort of comfort. By the time they parted, Inuyasha had Ginta's body resting on the blanket with the sides folded over; sheilding his body from view. The half-demon picked the death package up bridal style and walked towards the classroom, the girls following closely behind.
When Kagome, Sango, and Inuyasha returned to the classroom, everyone was hard at work. Hakkau's make-shift stretcher was set across a row of desks as Naraku stood by, shining a flashlight on Hakkaku's wounds.
Although Kagome and Kikyo both aced their Anatomy and Physiology class last year, it was Kikyo hunched over Hakkaku's stomach, trying to repair the damage done. Rin stood near the patient's legs stitching up cuts with thread from a woven friendship bracelet her cousin gave her and a paper clip. Books were placed nearby to be used to set his leg. Miroku and Sesshomaru searched the room, looking for anything that could be used to save the wolf demon's life. Ayame sat at the teacher's desk, sorting through the items the two men brought her, determining what could be used. Kouga stood over Hakkaku's head as he whispered soothing words to him, trying to keep his friend's mind off of the excruciating pain.
Inuyasha silently went to the back of the room and gently set Ginta's body down on the floor. He turned around just in time to see his beloved collapse to her knees. "Kagome!" he yelled, running to her side. The half-demon knelt down beside her and Sango, seeing her friend was in good hands, went to help Rin.
Kagome was pushed into a fit of sobs as she clutched an item in her hand. Inuyasha set her on his lap and held her close. He gently pried open her hands to see what she was holding. His breath caught in his throat as he realized what she had in her possession. A single white rose, splattered with the wolves' blood. What was going on?
A/N: Well there you go, another chapter. I'm so glad you guys like this story so much. Ideas are welcomed, even though I've already got it all planned out. Thanks for reading and please review and take my poll!