Kagome was stuck at the bottom of the well. She had been going non stop for 5 days now. School, work, home to study, just to do it all over again the next day. She had been getting a meager 3 hours of sleep a night, but her midterms had been more important. Now that they were over, she found herself part of the walking dead. She had been gone for almost a month now, and for some stupid reason, instead of taking one last night to sleep in her own bed and actually rest, she found herself packing her large yellow bag and saying goodbye to her family. She was so tired she could barely hold herself up and ended up dragging her bag to the well.
So when no Inuyasha showed up to greet her on the other side she felt hopeless. It was late, of course, but Inuyasha promised he wouldn't go anywhere while she was gone. She crossed her arms and huffed angrily. She had already tried to climb out, but even with her anger driving some of her exhaustion away, her body just wouldn't listen to her.
"Oh come on!" She said loudly, huffing and throwing her hands up in exasperation. The thought of spending the night in the demon bone filled well was not an inviting one. She leaned her face against the side of the well, enjoying the cool stone against her hot forehead.
"If only I was stronger" she muttered slamming her palm halfheartedly against the stone.
"Nonsense. You don't need more power" Kagome spun as fast as she could to face the owner of the voice, the sudden movement making her sway on her feet as a wave of dizziness washed over her. He stood behind her, closer than she would have liked in the small space, at least that's what she tried to tell herself. She stared at his sudden appearance as he stood proud and tall before her, clearly studying her face. She hadn't heard him land behind her, though she supposed even if she was in top shape she never would have.
"You do, however, need sleep it would seem" he continued, noting the heavy bags under her eyes and the way her face and body seemed a bit too thin like she had sunken into herself just a bit. Her face and neck were flushed a slight red. She watched as his hand came up and landed lightly on her forehead, making her shiver slightly at the cool touch of his hand on her heated skin.
"Hmm. And a fever it seems." Without warning, he was closing the space between them, scooping her up in his arms and cradling her more gently than she imagined possible against his hard chest.
Without thinking, Kagome leaned into him, splaying her hand against his chest, smoothing it up to the back of his neck and curling his silky hair around it.
"Are you real?" She asked deliriously as she continued to run her hand lightly along his chiseled jawline, strong neck, down to his muscular chest and back to do it all over again.
"Hnn" he replied, catching her gaze as she traced a finger over his markings. His eyes shut slightly and a look of what seemed like pleasure washed over his features before he realized and carefully guarded his expression once again. Kagome wanted to do it again to see if she could make him look that way again, but the slow movement of him walking was lulling her gently to sleep. She hadn't even realized they had left the well already. She laid her head against his chest, listening to his strong steady heartbeat as he walked, not even noticing that she still had her arm around his neck.
He received more than a few stares when he walked into camp, surprising everyone with the way he was carrying the Miko. The surprise was furthered when instead of bringing her to her hut, he sank down against a tree near the fire, still cradling the sick woman in his lap, gently laying his fur over her sleeping form.
"Slayer" Sango jumped when he addressed her, "the Miko is ill, she will require water." If it was possible for any of them to be even more surprised, they absolutely were.
"Uh, yes Lord Sesshomaru! I'll go fetch some now!"
"Rin, please find a small cloth. When the slayer gets back with the water, get it wet and place it on the Miko's forehead." Rin nodded and went off to search for a small bit of cloth, remembering the ones Kagome used for bathing. The demon lord's attention then went to his brother, perched in a tree directly across the clearing from him. Their eyes met but Sesshomaru was met with no resistance, his brother merely nodded his head and turned away, clearly not happy, but not about to start a fight while his best friend was ill.
It was only a few minutes before the demon lord verbally addressed his brother.
"Go to her" the rest of the group sitting around looked from the demon lord to the half demon fidgeting in the tree. None of them needed an explanation. Inuyasha's eyes fell to Kagome's sleeping form before his gaze lifted to Sesshomaru's and gave him a slight nod.
"Don't make me regret it" he said low and warningly, he stood up from his spot as his brother returned his slight nod.
"I will not betray your trust" for once neither brother was displaying hatred toward the other and everyone witnessing it all wished the Miko had been awake to witness the exchange, including both brothers.
Another quite short chapter, but I didn't think it needed anything else. Hope you like it!