Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi et al.
Her Knight
Ch. 2
The first thing he became aware of were voices. One was loud and urgent while the other somehow managed to purr and reprimand at the same time. He felt the strangers' youki next and thought about what Kagome had said about the bakery being owned by a demon. Why hadn't she told him an unknown youkai lived so close to her and her family? Any demon wanting to change history or harm her could have tried to steal the jewel shards she possessed. Lucky for both he and his priestess they didn't seem to want to hurt them.
"Hush, Aite. We have to get these two back to the shrine. I've done what I can for Lord Inuyasha."
"But Lady Kirara, his lordship will be so displeased to learn I did not protect his brother." Kirara snorted delicately.
"He's always got a bug up his butt about something. Help me get them to my car." The female leaned over him and Inuyasha let out a warning growl. Opening his eyes to slits, he glared at familiar eyes. "Hush, pup. You asked me to take care of you on this day."
"Kirara?"
"Rest."
"Kagome?"
"She's safe. I gave her a light sedative so she wouldn't wake up and see me." Inuyasha allowed an older Kirara to carry him outside and place him in a motored object of transportation. Kagome had explained what they were to him long ago when he had first tried to destroy one, thinking it a demon. Now he was thankful that it could bring them back to the shrine quickly.
He braced himself against the pain in his body during the ride, focusing on Kagome's calming scent. She had been beaten and bruised but the bandits had not defiled her in any other manner. Inuyasha would have to ask Kaede if there was any way Kagome could use her powers against humans with evil intentions to protect herself. And to have Sango teach Kagome some self-defense. Maybe if she were clothed from her head on down no one would take an unhealthy interest in her.
Again he was lifted from the car by Kirara and the other youkai carried Kagome up the long flight to the shrine grounds. He sensed Mrs. Higurashi almost in the exact place he'd left her and he had to wonder just how much time had gone by since he'd passed out. "Kagome, Inuyasha! My dears, what has happened to them?" the matriarch addressed her demand to Kirara.
"Some goons went after Kagome. Inuyasha got to her before they could do something irrevocable but I'm afraid he's been shot in the process. I removed the bullets from him. Tomorrow night is the new moon so he may have to go to the hospital if he doesn't greatly improve by then." Inuyasha tried to lift his lids so that he could look at his miko's mother and reassure the crying woman but fatigue weighed them down like heavy stones. They were brought in the house and amidst startled exclamations from Souta and Grandpa, taken to Kagome's room.
A futon was quickly laid out for him next to her bed and he was laid on the thick mattress. Covered with a heavy blanket, he was finally able to open his eyes. "Found her…" Mrs. Higurashi smiled and brushed his bangs away from his face.
"I never doubted you would, dear. Let me tend to Kagome, and then I'll see about getting you more comfortable." He might have nodded but couldn't recall as he fell back into the void.
Mrs. Higurashi studied the female demon across from her at the kitchen table. The two cream tails ringed with black reminded her of the nekomata that was such a good companion to Kagome's friend Sango. "Thank you for bringing them home. I worried when he didn't return right away with her. For some reason I fully expected them to be arguing about her habit of being late."
"I've done all I can for now, Mrs. Higurashi. Should he require medical attention tomorrow night when he is human, ask for Dr. Kintaro at the hospital. He treats demons and half demons that are brought in to the human facility. Sesshoumaru has given him permission to treat Inuyasha."
"You are not supposed to interfere with the way things are happening, are you?" Kirara shook her head before standing. Bowing, the fire cat moved to the kitchen door.
"No, but Inuyasha asked me for this favor five hundred years ago and I promised. Good night, Higurashi-san. I wish you luck in keeping the pup in bed." The two women shared a smile as only mothers can and the nekomata left.
Kagome was awake and kneeling at Inuyasha's side when her mother went to check on them. Her daughter's wrist was bound and several cuts had been covered by bandages. She was pulling off the half demon's haori to check his wounds. Blood continued to seep from the one in his chest and Mama wondered if he shouldn't be in the hospital now. "Kagome, you should be in bed, dear. I'll tend to Inuyasha."
"How did he know I needed him?"
"He must have sensed it. He came through the well just as I was wishing under the Sacred Tree that I could go get him or that he would come." She saw her child finger the rosary and thought she ought to tell her that that was not the reason they were connected.
"He's always putting himself in harm's way for me. I end up feeling like one of those damsels in distress that are in Western fairy tales and he's my knight. Instead of shining armor it's fur of the Fire Rat." Tears studded grey-blue eyes and Kagome sniffled while placing new gauze pads and fresh wrap on the three gunshot wounds. "Not even his haori can protect him against guns. Mama, do you think he'll be okay by tomorrow night? Enough so that he won't have to go to the hospital?"
"I think it depends on how much rest he can get. And as your safety is obviously more important than his own health, knowing you're safe in bed will greatly relieve his mind." Mama watched as golden orbs peeked out from black lashes. Kagome had yet to notice that Inuyasha was awake.
"Oi, wench, you're not crying again, are you?" Kagome glanced up quickly from her ministrations to find him studying her. One clawed hand rose weakly to swipe a stray tear from her cheek. "Weepy woman. Don't you know it takes more than three tiny metal objects to kill me? I survived Sesshoumaru's hand through my gut didn't I?" Too late they remembered Mama was still in the room. They heard her gasp and declare,
"Wait until I get a hold of that young man. Trying to kill his baby brother over some inheritance like a spoiled child." Righteous anger making her forget her concern, Mrs. Higurashi sailed out of the room to go find the emergency number Kirara left her. The two shard hunters watched her go, mild astonishment on their faces.
"Should we tell her he's probably not going to listen to a word she says, much less care?"
"Keh, I just want to see the look on his face when she does." Inuyasha tried to shift into a more comfortable position but the overwhelming pain prevented him from finding one. "Kagome, where's Tetsusaiga?"
"Under my bed. I didn't want Souta trying to use it." Kagome placed her hand over his where it remained on her cheek. "Thank you."
"Go to bed, Kagome." He watched her turn out the overhead light and crawl into bed. She shut off the light on the night stand and carefully got onto her side so that she was facing him. "Kagome, we have a lot to talk about when I'm better." Her murmured assent gave no indication whether she really heard him or just his voice. It didn't matter how long it took him to get better. His wench wasn't going anywhere without him again.
