A/N – Quick update, no? XD Haha, I decided since that last chapter was so short I'd update two! :D I hope you guys like it! Review, Favorite, alert, whichever! I lufff you guys. I don't own Inuyasha or the characters, just the random OC's!
Chapter 7 – Stupid Wolf
"As we travel through life,
we realize we cannot do it alone."
-me.
The sky was a light, light gray, and the air was icy cold, forming clouds of steam around everyone's mouths. Kagome, Shippou, Sango, Miroku, and Kaede sat around a fire. Kirara sat in Kagome's lap. A week had passed since October 9th, and the weather had just gotten colder. Sango decided that it was too cold for much practice, and Kaede had agreed. Kagome still visited the Tree, although her thoughts were often clouded by Sesshoumaru; she would see random glances of him whenever she went for walks. It was as if he were following her, but that, Kagome thought, was going too far. She didn't mind it, though. His presence scared away other demons, and it was strangely comforting in the strangest of times.
Edo had become almost like a hibernating bear, not even Shippou's playmates went outside in the cold, which didn't bother the little fox like it did humans. He was getting pretty bored, aside from the way he was progressing in his scent tracking. He would get ecstatic when he could trace Sesshoumaru's scent for a while, but he said it disappeared a lot. Go figure.
No one had seen Inuyasha or Kikyo, but reports of a quiet woman traveling alone were spreading fast, but none of a half demon like Inuyasha. A grudging worry for Inuyasha was hanging over the group, even Shippou was a little anxious. He was worried about Kagome, too. She seemed to be a little distant, but she was happy; he just didn't want her unhappy. "Shippou, I have an idea. Tonight, we're going to roast marshmallows and make smores. How does that sound?" Kagome asked brightly.
Shippou looked at her. "Smores?"
"I'll show you later. It's really good though." Kagome said, giving Kirara to Miroku, who was talking lightly with Sango. She didn't look like she was buying it. "But you gotta promise that you won't go and get wet or anything, okay? I don't want you do get sick." She honestly didn't know if demons could catch colds, but because he was young, she wasn't taking chances.
"But! I'm a demon, Kagome! I won't get sick!" Shippou complained. He'd almost said 'mother'. But he didn't know if she wanted that...
"Still, I want you to be careful, okay?" She kissed his forehead and hugged him. He hugged her back.
"Okay." He drew it out as he gave in.
"Good." Kagome said, smiling brightly. "I'll see you later, alright?"
He smiled at her, "Okay!" Then he went to draw. Sango, Miroku, and Kaede all watched with amused, soft eyes. Kagome quirked an eyebrow and made a funny face at them before heading out to the Tree.
In the clearing, she lowered herself to the freezing ground. Now, since the Tree was all but sleeping, this was more of a place for meditation for her. The trees had lost all of their leaves, and they crunched under her feet, making it impossible to walk quietly unless you were Sesshoumaru. He managed to be silent through anything. Unless he wanted you to hear him. It reminded Kagome of a bad Chuck Norris joke. She snorted, and then started relaxing, trying to ignore the temperature of the ground.
A leaf snapped behind her. She whirled, only to see Sesshoumaru standing like two feet into the clearing. "I'm trying to meditate." She said, still facing him.
He stared at her for a moment, his eyes calculating. "Hn."
Kagome sighed in annoyance, her eyes lingering on his hair. "Do you like snow?"
"No."
"Oh." She looked at the tree behind him. This was a little awkward. "Why?"
Sesshoumaru's eyes searched hers, as if contemplating answering. "It is a hindrance to progress." He said, sounding distant. She sat back down, her hair falling over one shoulder. After the dream he'd had last week, he'd been agitated. It hadn't come back, but it lingered in his brain like a bad habit. A few snow flakes were falling from the sky, promising a nice coating of the stuff. It was annoying, and caused his group to slow down.
"I like it. It makes things so beautiful." Indeed. The snow was falling on her hair and eyelashes, making her look almost like a spirit.
"Hn."
She sighed, biting her lip. "Oh well. I gotta go before there's too much snow. See you." She smiled hesitantly and waved a little before walking away.
He watched her leave, his eyes following her and studying her neck. The skin there was unmarred and pale, only furthering his confusion.
0-0-0-0-0
On her way back, Kagome caught the sight of Sango and Miroku walking along a path, smiling and laughing at each other. Sango was blushing. Sneaking around, Kagome slid off the path and into the bushes to watch them. "...Sango, I swear it. You are too beautiful to be real."
Sango snorted. "Sure, Miroku."
"Sango, I'm being serious." He stopped them and pulled Sango to face him. "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and if I died right now, just looking at you, I could die a happy man. Sango... I want to spend my life with you." Miroku murmured, looking at her thoroughly.
"Oh... Miroku." Sango said softly as his hand took hers and he fell to one knee.
"Sango, you are the love of my life. And if there is anyone I want to grow old with and have great grandchildren with, it's you. Will you allow me to court you?" Miroku met her eyes from under his lashes. Kagome made an eep noise, but neither of them heard it.
Sango fell down to her knees and hugged him tightly, saying yes a few times for good measure. "Yes, Miroku." She was crying. Kagome smiled so wide she thought her cheeks would burst. All she wanted to do was hug Sango, but right now, that was Miroku's job. His arms enfolded her as he stood up, holding her close to him and burying his face into her shoulder.
"Aww..." Kagome murmured. Then she went on her way, leaving the couple alone. A longing formed in her chest for the thing they had. Alas... She didn't think she was destined for that kind of life, however much she wanted it. Sadness settled in the pit of her stomach, and she sighed as she entered the village. Snow was falling faster now, catching on her clothes and hair.
When she entered her hut, she found Shippou sitting on her bed, smiling at her. "Shippou? What are you doing in here?"
He looked a little sheepish. "I wanted to talk to you."
"About what, Shippou?" Kagome asked, sitting down on the bed with him and pulling him into her lap.
"I... I wanna call you mother." He said softly, messing with the hem of his kimono.
Kagome's heart swelled, her earlier sadness forgotten. "Oh, Shippou, of course you can. I would love it if you did."
Shippou's exclamation of happiness was muffled as she pulled him against her chest. "I love you, mother." Shippou murmured.
Kagome sniffed, tears gathering in her eyes. "I love you too, Shippou." They sat for a moment, just smiling and holding each other. Kagome took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Mother and son; it sent a jolt of satisfaction through her. She knew that Shippou would come to call her mother sometime, but the fact that he finally had was a huge... she couldn't say relief, but it took a lot of her stress away. "Who's ready for smores?"
A few minutes later, the group sat around a fire inside Kaede's hut; it was too cold to be outside, and the snow was falling faster and faster, the light fading. Sango and Miroku kept glancing at each other and blushing, but Kagome let it be. If they wanted to tell her, then she'd let them do it on their own terms. "Is it supposed to catch fire?"
Shippou's voice brought her out of her thoughts as she clamored to blow the flames out. She laughed. "Not that close, Shippou. Good job for a first time." She encouraged. The first time she'd done it, she'd melted it into the fire. As the night wore on, Kagome laughed and messed around with Sango, teasing her about blushing all the time; but soon it was time to head back to their homes.
"Goodnight you guys. Don't have too much fun now." Kagome winked at them. Only Sango and Miroku scooted slightly away from each other, giggling nervously.
"Goodnight Kagome!" They chorused.
The snow had kept falling throughout the time they'd been at Kaede's, and now a solid layer of white covered the ground. "Ach! My feet!" The snow was seeping through her shoes. Time to break out the boots. Shippou was perched on her shoulder as always, half asleep. Heavy weather made the edges of the dark forest seem foreboding and slightly... creepy. Flakes of snow were gathering on her clothes, seeping slowly through. "At this rate, I'm gonna have to light a fire in our house." She muttered to Shippou. He made a soft sound of agreement, curling into her chest. At the hut, Kagome put Shippou on the bed, and quickly lit a little fire. The crackling flames warmed the small hut quickly and heated up her frozen toes. "Ah..."
Aside from Shippou's soft breathing and the popping of the fire, it was still eerily quiet. Relaxing against the bed, Kagome sighed. Her thoughts drifted to Sesshoumaru again, being lulled by the heat of the fire. "It is a hindrance to progress." His eyes passed over her distantly, his jaw raised. He knew who he was, and he was arrogantly proud of it. He obviously didn't think of her as a threat, because both of his hands were at his sides, and he was facing sideways. A freezing cold breeze swept his hair slightly, the snow catching in it. She couldn't see it though, his hair was that light. Kagome snorted at her own thoughts.
Something brushed the blanket hanging over the doorway. Instantly, Kagome froze and waited for the sound again. She reached slowly for the small knife she kept near her bed, listening carefully. Sango had been teaching her to wield it, but she was still a little awkward. The sound of sniffing made her tense, covering Shippou with a blanket. She sent waves of her purifying energy into the blade, making it glow. Fur brushed the side of the hut again, and Kagome hurriedly pulled her boots on, adrenaline pumping in her veins. She stood up carefully, her eyes rooted to the doorway. Pawsteps sounded outside.
Kagome grasped the knife tighter, stepping toward the door. She flung it open her eyes scanning the darkness around her. Okay, maybe not such a good idea. She thought, anxiety forming in the pit of her stomach. "Whatever you are, I suggest you get away from here." She hoped her voice sounded commanding.
Growling, from around the hut, caught her ears, and she steadied herself, waiting for something to happen. "Foolish girl." the words were weirdly mangled, like it was trying not to growl instead. The pawsteps sounded again, coming around the corner to her left. A large snout, about five feet in the air, twitched as it sniffed the air. It was as black as a shadow, and as the body followed it, Kagome realized it was a wolf. Yellow, starved eyes stared at her hungrily. A huge wolf. It growled again, only a few feet from her. "Calm down, girl, and I'll make it quick."
Somehow, the wolf reminded her of Kouga's wolves, except this one had no humanity. No kindness burned, no calm, just a vicious predatory gleam. "Nope." An old lullaby flashed through her brain. Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Kagome thought sarcastically. The wolf growled again, and lunged forward, jaws snapping. She dodged, slipping underneath it and thrusting her knife through it's stomach, quickly pulling it out. It whined, staggering as it stopped. Her face set into a determined scowl. "Mom?"
Panic flashed through her. "Shippou, stay in there, okay? Don't come out, no matter what." Kagome said, her eyes still focused on the wolf. Bright red blood splattered on the snow.
"That's what I was smelling? Foxes aren't that bad tasting either." It growled gleefully as it's eyes flashed with madness.
"You can just forget about that plan." Kagome growled. The wolf lunged forward again, this time staying low to the ground. Kagome's eyes widened, and she jumped up and over, the dagger burying itself in the thick flesh of the wolf's neck. She yanked it back while it whined again. As her feet soared over it's head, it snapped up and caught her ankle, canine teeth digging into her and ripping. She yelped, falling to the ground. Unable to stand up correctly, she leaned up against the side of the hut, pain lashing at her. Blood was flowing freely from her right leg. The wound felt like it was burning up.
"Well, well, little girl. That blood of yours tingles, Miko." It hissed, licking it's chops. Taking her knife in her other hand, she waited for the wolf to come at her again. When it did, she buried the knife in it's neck again, right through his throat. He choked and gurgled as he fell to the ground, bleeding out on the pinkish snow.
"Showed you." Kagome muttered, sagging against the hut and sinking into the snow. Exhaustion washed over her. "Shippou. It's alright now." Her ankle burned, and it felt like it was sizzling.
The little fox poked his head out of the doorway, his eyes widening in horror. "Mama? Are you okay?" Her heart warmed as he crawled into her lap. He could smell her blood. It clogged his nose, and the smell of wolf was overpowering. The giant, bloody black mass was still; but there was a strange, wrong scent about it. Like it was sick.
"I'm alright. Just tired." Kagome sighed, feeling a little lightheaded.
"You need help, Mama, you're bleeding!" Shippou exclaimed.
"Ngh..." This is fun... The world is spinning. Kagome thought, a laugh bubbling in her throat. "Get help... Shippou." The last thing she heard was Shippou running off.
0-0-0-0-0
Blood. Her blood. It was flooding his senses, the heady copper scent mixed with her scent of sweet rain and vanilla was making him almost twitchy. Almost. Someone was coming through the forest, following his scent, it seemed. "Sesshoumaru!" The small voice called, muffled by the thick snow falling around them. It was her pup. He crashed through the foliage and snow to land at his feet. "Sesshoumaru, my Mama, she needs help really bad. A wolf attacked her and bit her. She's bleeding all over. Can you help her? Please?" His voice was strained. Sesshoumaru had thought she'd just gotten cut on something. The scent of her blood wasn't as strong out here in the forest. But a wolf? He tensed.
"Hn. Come." He ordered, sprinting off through the forest to the edge of the village. The closer they got, the stronger the scent of her blood became. There was a giant black mess splayed near her side, and Sesshoumaru assumed that was the wolf, at one point.
"Can you help her?" Shippou's anxiety-ridden voice asked. He glanced at the fox, silencing him. He knelt down, his silver-white hair brushing the snow. The bite marks on her ankle were troublesome, still bleeding somewhat heavily. A clawed hand reached out to touch her skin, which seemed too ice cold for a human. Her breathing was shallow and quick; her face pale and drawn. Sesshoumaru leaned over and slipped his arms underneath her, lifting her into the air. He brought her inside the hut and laid her on the bed.
"Where are the bandages?" His voice was quiet, but it was an order nonetheless. Shippou scrambled, gathering the bandages in his arms and handing them to Sesshoumaru. He picked up her leg and sniffed it, catching the smell of the poison in her blood. "Put a blanket on her. She needs to be warm." To get rid of the poison, he needed to counter it with his own and take care of any infections she might get. Then her priestess abilities would hopefully destroy any traces of poison. That was the only way that she wouldn't die, and there wasn't any time to look for an antidote. His claws dripped poison as he held them above her wounds, and as the greenish poison soaked in, she hissed and moaned in her sleep, tossing around. Sesshoumaru held her leg fast, not allowing her to move. He slowly wrapped her wounds. The teeth marks would leave scars on her legs. Shippou was silent while he watched, curiosity and concern burning in his eyes. Her eyelids fluttered, but she stayed unconscious. Her skin was still ice cold. Sesshoumaru paused for a moment. If she is to survive, she must have warmth. But do I want to save her? After taking care of the poison in her system with my own, it would be a waste. And still... Memories of talking to her earlier flashed through his brain. It would be a waste. Lifting her up, he sat on the bed and then lowered her onto his lap. Shippou watched closely, suspicion glowing in his eyes. Sesshoumaru glared at him, and Shippou glared back. Surprised at the fox's lack of submission, he growled lowly in his chest, the vibration traveling throughout the room. Shippou averted his eyes, and Sesshoumaru lifted his jaw. A fox he may be, but he still had canine instincts that forced him to submit to Sesshoumaru.
Satisfied for the moment, Sesshoumaru let his mind wander. The feel of her, however cold, in his arms, brought back the dream he'd had the week before. Almost snarling out loud, he shoved the thoughts away; but he couldn't stop himself from glancing at her bare neck to make sure his mark wasn't there. Pale skin, no crescent. Relief of the strange sort washed through him, only for a moment. After hours of sitting; Kagome began to mutter and move in her sleep. "Sess..." She murmured, sounding oddly soft. "Where's... Shippou.." She was still asleep, he knew, but she was rather vivid. "Stupid... wolf." She muttered, and fisted her hand in Sesshoumaru's kimono. He stared down at her. Pale dawn light was filtering in the hut, and her body was heating with fever. Burning poisons out. It will take her a while to burn off my poison, but she will heal.
"Watch her. She will wake by nightfall." Sesshoumaru said. Shippou nodded, his eyes averted. He started walking out, noting that her blood was on his kimono.
"Thank you." Shippou's voice called.
He turned, his eyes watching carefully. He inclined his head ever so slightly before turning and walking away.
0-0-0-0-0
"Ouch." Kagome muttered. Her ankle hurt, but not as much as it did before, when she'd fought off a wolf. A demon wolf, too. Pride welled in her. Kind of.
"Kagome! You're awake!" Shippou jumped on her, his arms around her neck.
"How long was I out?" Kagome asked. It was almost nighttime.
"The whole day!" Shippou said.
Kagome blinked. "Whoah. Who did you go to for help?" She glanced at her leg and saw that it was wrapped well, with precision.
"Oh... I uh..." Shippou paused. "Sesshoumaru."
All Kagome could muster was, "Huh?" Her eyebrows furrowed. "And he helped me?" In all honesty, even though he'd saved her before, she was still shocked to find out he'd done it again. The same odd gratitude formed in her, and a memory of his glowing gold eyes flashed in her head.
"He said that you would wake up now, I think you were poisoned by that wolf." Shippou stated, his eyes bright. "Kaede said that your wound was wrapped well, so she didn't do anything, but the others are worrying about you."
She tried to stand, and there it was. It hurt only slightly to put all her weight on it, but she could walk. Shippou sneezed. She looked up at him, concern in her eyes. "Shippou? Did you just sneeze?" She'd only heard him sneeze when he smelled something awful.
He rubbed his nose, sniffing. "I guess so." She placed her hand on his forehead. She knew that he normally ran a little hotter than humans, but now, he was burning up.
"Are you sick?"
"I don't think demons get sick, Mama." Shippou sniffed again. She shook her head fiercely. Of course, full grown demons probably didn't get sick that often, but young ones were more susceptible. She bustled around and got a cup of herbal tea for him, one that usually helped with fever. Kaede had taught her how to make it.
"Drink up. I don't want you to get sick."
"But Ma-"
"No buts, you need to make sure you don't get sick." Kagome smiled at him as he drank the tea, sitting down on the bed. Despite sleeping for a whole day, she was still tired. That dang wound and the poison seemed to take a lot out of her. "Come here."
0-0-0-0-0
The next morning, Shippou didn't even want to get out of bed, and Kagome was getting worried. He was feverish, and he slept a lot. She was taking him to Kaede's hut the next morning, most of the snow having melted the day she was asleep. "No way are you getting out of this, Shippou. 'Demons don't get sick', my butt." She groused, limping a little.
"I'm sorry, Mama." Shippou sounded genuine.
"Oh, Shippou, I know. It's just... I'm worried about you. I know how to treat human sicknesses, not so much demon ones." Kagome comforted.
Kaede looked up at Kagome in surprise. "I would have thought you were still in bed, Kagome." She looked at Shippou. "Is something wrong?"
"He's gotten sick, and I don't know what to do for him, Kaede." Kagome said, a hint of panic in her voice. Kaede listened as she listed off what was happening. "He's feverish, he has little appetite, and he sleeps a lot."
Kaede frowned. "It sounds to me like he's got the flu. What have you tried on him?"
"I gave him an herbal tea that helps with colds and the flu, but nothing happened. Then I gave him some fever reducer from my time, but that didn't work either." Kagome explained, concern burning in her eyes.
"His demonic power must be burning off anything you give to him." Kaede said, almost to herself.
"Do you know of anything that can help?" She asked. Shippou had fallen asleep in her arms again. The village had come out for the day, enjoying the weak sunlight while it lasted. A flute played in the distance.
"The only things we can do are try normal remedies, child." Kaede said.
With every remedy they tried, and every remedy that failed, Kagome's nerves grew more and more frayed. She worried constantly. After each few days, Shippou became a little more sick. Throwing up, higher fever, a little bit of delusion. Her wavy black hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, too stressed to do anything else. She didn't know what to do anymore. Sango and Miroku were always by her side, comforting and soothing. "Kagome, come with me for a nice bath. Kaede and Miroku can look after Shippou for now." Sango urged. The hot water would soothe her nerves.
Kagome sighed. "Thanks Sango. I'd like that." She smiled brightly despite her stress, giving a sleeping Shippou one last glance before following Sango.
And Sango was right. The hot water felt brilliant. "Ahhh... thanks again, Sango."
The demon slayer grinned. "Anytime, Kagome." She paused, looking thoughtful. "Do you mind if I braid you hair after we're done?"
"Sure, sounds cool." Kagome smiled, relaxing further into the water. "This is nice..." She sighed.
"I have to agree with you; and it's nice to know that Miroku's busy elsewhere." Sango grinned again.
Washing their hair and faces, they talked and laughed for about an hour. One thing Kagome loved about the past. The water never got cold like her bath water. After they were out, Kagome marveled at the long braid that fell all the way to her waist. "You know, I've never had my hair braided before. It's nice."
Sango nodded and smiled brightly. "And it keeps your hair away from your face." She looked suddenly shy. "Hey...Kagome? Can I tell you something?"
Kagome brightened. "Sure, what is it?" She knew already what it was, but oh well.
"Miroku and I... Well, we're sort of... courting." Sango said quietly, a blush covering her face.
"So I hear." Kagome smiled, then laughed. "It's soooo cute! I hope the best for you guys."
Sango looked at her, open mouthed for a moment, before laughing with her. "Thank you, Kagome." Oh yes, they would be a wonderful couple. Get married, have little Mirokus and Sangos running around. Kagome giggled at the thought, before worrying about Shippou again.
0-0-0-0-0
"Still no luck, Kaede?" Kagome's voice came from outside the hut. She sounded much less stressed than before, and there was a flush on her cheeks from the hot springs that made her look livelier.
Kaede shook her head. "I am sorry, Kagome."
Kagome sighed. And then something came to her. The only problem was finding him. "I'm going to meditate..." Kagome said, a little distantly. She hoped, that the one time she actually needed to see him, he would be there. But with her luck, he'd be on some trip to Norway. She snorted.
Standing instead of sitting on the wet ground, she closed her eyes and started to meditate. Sure enough, after fifteen minutes, nothing. She waited a little longer, and she heard the crunch of a foot on snow. Purposely, of course. "You didn't go to Norway, thank goodness!" After she realized what she'd said, she slapped a hand over her mouth.
Sesshoumaru simply raised an eyebrow. "Norway?"
She waved a hand in the air. "I wanted to thank you for the other day..." He stayed silent. "And I need to ask you a question."
"Hn." Sesshoumaru said quietly, turning his eyes away.
"Why would a full-blooded demon get sick?" Kagome's voice brought his eyes back. "And how do you treat it? It's been about two weeks, and he's not getting any better."
The demon lord contemplated her for a moment. Her hair was braided. "Symptoms?"
Kagome ticked them off on her fingers. "High fever, no appetite, puking, delusion, and lots of sleep."
Sesshoumaru's eyebrow furrowed. He'd not heard of that before. Kagome stared at him, her concern burning into him. He stayed quiet a long time, pensive. His eyes were swirling golden pools of unknown emotions. "My healers may know what it is that ails your fox, but I cannot promise his life."
Kagome's eyes lit, and Sesshoumaru ignored the weird light feeling that fluttered through him. "Thank you. So much." She bowed at her waist.
"Hn." He turned away. "Bring him and your things tomorrow morning at dawn." She wondered how he knew it was Shippou that was sick. Then again, he was the only full demon she cared for.
0-0-0-0-0
Inuyasha could smell her. Just barely, but he could. "Kikyo." He murmured, his eyes filling with sadness. There was no way he was giving her up again. The past few weeks had been Hell for him. The snow not only made her scent hard to follow, but Kikyo seemed determined to keep him off her trail. She made false trails, back tracked, and tried to cover her scent by either traveling with a group of random people or putting a dead animal in her path. She knew he was following her. And it only made the hurt in him a little harder to bear.
End of Chapter 7 – Stupid Wolf
A/N – Alright, there was chapter 7, I hope you guys liked it and please RxR!
