There was a certain contrariness to Inuyasha's nature that urged him to argue with her or question why she would bother; after all, she was a miko-an unusual miko, to be sure, but still. He was a hanyou. Leaving him to die alone in a cave wouldn't even require lifting her bow.
The larger, more practical part of him that wanted to be free (and take revenge, which was definitely a motivating factor) screamed at himself to shut up and let her do what she could.
"Shouldn't it have been enough that you woke me?" He asked.
Kagome frowned thoughtfully. "That should have worked. Actually, the curse should have been broken, or at least weakened a great deal, when the miko who did this died."
Inuyasha dropped to the ground and crossed his legs. "Maybe that's why my brother wanted you. What if he brings a new miko to renew the curse every time the previous one dies?"
She hadn't thought of that; it would make sense why Sesshomaru had been so set on using her and why he didn't kill her. Perhaps a certain level of power was required? "You're right. It would be a tedious option but also the only way to ensure that it didn't weaken so much that you were able to escape on your own."
"Is it weak enough that you can fully break it?"
"Unfortunately, it isn't a matter of spiritual strength," she answered, ignoring the unintended insult that she might not have been able to break the curse at full power. "I don't know exactly what curse was used or what it was specifically designed to do. Keeping you trapped and unconscious was part of it, but what if there was more?"
His ears flattened against his skull. "So there's really nothin' you can do." His tone was defeated as if he had already given up the small spark of hope that had been flickering within him.
"I didn't say that! Don't be so quick to give up! It'll just take longer, is all," Kagome said, trying to project a positive tone.
"Looks like I have plenty of time," Inuyasha muttered, taking a deep breath. If he couldn't leave the cave itself, he could at least catch a lungful of the outside air.
Kagome clapped her hands briskly, already forming a plan for everything that would need to be done. "Right. Before it gets too dark to see, I'll return to my boat for the rest of my supplies; no sense in leaving it out for the animals."
Inuyasha jerked his head up to look at her, having to squint against the sun at her back. "Wait, you're gonna stay here?"
"Of course. I can't very well solve your problem if I set up camp somewhere else."
"Are you sure you wanna do that? Mikos don't usually share a camp with youkai, much less a hanyou, if they can help it."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "You aren't the first youkai I've shared a campfire with, Inuyasha, and I doubt you'll be the last."
He narrowed his eyes at her flippant tone. Were all mikos like this now? Somehow, he doubted it. "I'm a male hanyou, Kagome. Or are you such a pure miko that you don't understand what that means?"
She leaned over to place a hand on his shoulder, looking deep into his eyes, expression solemn. "I know it will be a great struggle, but you must resist my devastating good looks."
"What the hell do you-oh." He caught sight of the twitch at the corners of her mouth and realized she wasn't serious. With a huff, he leaned away from the soft warmth of her fingers.
"I don't think you would risk angering the one person that could help you out. Besides," she continued, her eyes lighting up with mischief. "You should consider yourself lucky that I'm not like a certain monk I know; otherwise, it's your backside that would not be safe from amorous caresses."
At her suggestive eyebrow wiggle, he found himself scooting backward, his eyes nearly popping from their sockets. She laughed, a bright, engaging sound, and turned to leave the cave on that note. Inuyasha watched her go, cursing the heat he could feel in his cheeks from her forward statement. He had been made fun of often enough in his life to recognize maliciousness and ill intent, but this reminded him more of the gentle teasing of his mother.
"She wouldn't have said that if she knew what that feeling meant," he muttered to himself, embarrassed by his own reaction. He should be able to keep his emotions firmly in check, and he knew better than to allow himself to be drawn to a person-anyone-when it could only end in misery.
As soon as the curse was lifted, he would put as much distance between them as possible.
No sooner had he thought this than the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps met his ears, the light step and soft panting letting him know that Kagome was returning at great speed. Wondering what could possibly be after her to make her move that fast, he shot to his feet, frustrated that he couldn't make a move to attack.
Kagome rounded the corner, her eyes wide. "Inuyasha, I'm so sorry!"
He cocked his head at her wail, not being able to see or scent anything behind her. Was she apologizing for her joke? It didn't really warrant that strong of a reaction, in his opinion, but humans were odd.
Puffing gently, she stopped in front of him, her cheeks flushed from her run as she scrambled with a bundle at her waist. "I didn't even think until I was a distance away-you should have said something! I'm sure you're practically starving and could use a drink."
He looked down at the portion of dried meat and gourd containing what he assumed was water and found, to his surprise, that he didn't seem to crave either. "I hadn't even thought about it," he admitted, hoping that would be enough to erase the worried expression on her face.
"Maybe since the spell kept you alive without food and water, you feel exactly as you did when it was cast," she mused before thrusting them into his hands. "You should have something, anyway. I'm sure you will start to get hungry soon."
Reluctantly, he lifted the gourd to his lips, tilting it until the liquid flowed into his mouth. It didn't feel particularly satisfying. He was grateful that he hadn't taken a larger mouthful when it hit the back of his throat; as soon as he tried to swallow, he began to gag and coughed it up, the water splattering in the dirt at their feet.
"M-maybe your body isn't used to it since you haven't had anything in so long?" Kagome whispered, sounding more like she was trying to convince herself.
"I don't think that's it. Let me try..." he took a bite of the meat, moving quickly enough to avoid the hand she stretched out in protest.
The process was repeated as his body violently rejected the nourishment.
Kagome crouched down beside him, her hand resting on his back as he gagged. She could feel the muscles sliding and bunching under her fingers, and she absently noted that his skin was warmer than a human. She didn't have time to be distracted by his body; she was far more concerned about the implications of Inuyasha not being able to eat or drink.
"This isn't good. Inuyasha, if I can't figure out how to get you out of here soon, you'll die from lack of water!"
He rolled onto his back, breathing deeply to steady his stomach. "I don't think that's gonna be a problem," he answered, his voice hoarse from choking. "Remember that I said I wasn't hungry or thirsty? The curse kept me alive without needing anything-what if all you did was wake me up, and the rest of the curse's effects still hold?"
She bit her lip, considering his words. "I suppose that might be the case," she said slowly. "But I still worry about what will happen if it's wrong."
Inuyasha shrugged, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. "I can go longer without food or water than a human if it comes down to it. And if you can't get me out...well, at least I'll have been able to see outside one last time before I die."
That did not make her feel any better, nor did his lack of concern for his own possible death. It was good that he wasn't panicking, but she would feel better if he would at least fight more for his own survival.
"I told you, I'm not going to let that happen, so don't be so fatalistic! Now, I'm going to try to get the rest of my things as quickly as possible. Since that light is still here, I won't bother with a fire until morning, but it should be warm enough that we won't be too uncomfortable."
Inuyasha frowned at the position of the sun. He didn't have a strong memory of the area and had no idea how much the terrain had changed over the last century. "Then you'd better hurry. I don't smell any youkai or large predators near, but that doesn't mean they aren't out of my range."
Kagome nodded, knowing she would have to be quick and alert. "I've traveled in the dark before. I don't like it, but I'll manage. Take care; we still don't know who or what can enter this cave besides me."
He shifted enough to watch as she set out again, giving her time to see if she wouldn't remember something else and come running back. Even if he had been able to hold anything down, he would have been fine until she returned, and she hadn't needed to make the effort to double back. The fact that she had done so without a second thought told him quite a bit; she was the type of miko who genuinely cared about others and did whatever they could to offer help. That she had done the same for him meant that she might not see him as a lesser being.
There had been very few people in his life who treated him with any kind of respect-that he hadn't had to fight for first-and it was starting to sink in that he wasn't going to have to share a cave with someone who was trying to kill him.
A novel prospect.
Still, that didn't mean he was just going to drop his guard completely. Maybe it wasn't in her best interest to kill him just yet for some reason. The thought didn't ring true, but that didn't mean he was going to be taken in by a pretty face while she stabbed him in the back.
"Devastating good looks, my ass," he snorted, shrugging into his kosode and haori.
He had seen prettier.
He just couldn't think of when at this particular moment.
Kagome retraced her steps, her ears straining for any sound that might alert her to danger. Her eyes flicked from the path at her feet to scan the woods at her sides, trying to make sure that she neither tripped nor missed any movement. She suspected that only wildlife was in the area; she wasn't sure how Sesshomaru had done it, but it was certain he would not have wanted anyone stumbling over Inuyasha.
Could he have known that she had seen the light when no one else could? She had never kept it a secret, but she didn't think that was the type of thing any of the villagers would discuss with an outsider, so she wasn't sure how it could have made it to Sesshomaru's ear.
The small amount of guilt she had carried for harming him more severely than she intended had dissipated with Inuyasha's story. By the number of Marks on his body, she could tell that Sesshomaru had been practically flinging his brother into one impossibly dangerous situation after another. That alone would make anyone prickly, and being an outcast to humans and youkai alike on top of that would have been intolerable. While Inuyasha hadn't treated her with much gratitude or warmth, she found she couldn't be offended; there was no reason for him to trust her.
And yet...there was something about him. Something about the way they had both reacted when she had tried to soothe him...It was a curious feeling and one that she wanted to explore further. Not that she would bring it up with Inuyasha. He was far too skittish. For a hardened warrior, he was delightfully easy to tease, and the rueful thought crossed her mind that perhaps Miroku had influenced her more than she thought.
She could only hope that her earlier joke about lechery didn't prove to be prophetic.
When Kagome returned, struggling slightly with multiple bundles, she was disturbed to discover that she was disappointed that Inuyasha had put on the rest of his clothes. Had he taken her joke to heart? He didn't seem uneasy when he met her eyes, so maybe not; there was a slight chill to the air, so she could see where the additional layers might be more comfortable.
Even if slightly less visually appealing for her.
Scolding herself for her line of thought, she began to unpack, mentally calculating how long the food would last. As long as Inuyasha didn't need to eat, she should be fine. She took a small sip of water and froze. It had crossed her mind that she would need to step out to the bushes before retiring, and it struck her that it was a blessing if Inuyasha was unable to process anything. Otherwise, it would make the logistics of living in the cave embarrassing and intolerable, and she knew that Inuyasha would react poorly to being cleaned up after, like a dog that had soiled inside the home.
"What's wrong? Did you think of somethin' else?" He asked from a short distance away from where he had been observing her, sprawled on his side with his head in his hand.
"Nothing, just wishing I had packed more food. I had planned to hunt to supplement what I brought, but I didn't even see signs of rabbits while I was out," she skirted around the truth.
Inuyasha flicked the small hoop at the corner of his mouth as he thought. That wasn't a good sign. "If the curse was strong enough to drive away game, it's gonna be hard to break."
Bringing her knees up to clasp them to her chest, Kagome disagreed. "Strong doesn't always mean harder. The miko might have thought that a complicated spell wasn't necessary if she was able to keep anyone from getting this far. I plan to start trying at first light, so you might want to get some rest."
A thick, black brow arched at her words. "Think I've had my share of sleepin' if it's all the same to you."
"Then I guess that means you don't mind taking first watch!" She laughed, shooting him the smile that pulled at something in his gut every time she turned it on him.
Not wanting her to see how he was affected, he hopped to his feet and stomped over to the mouth of the cage, plopping down with a grunt. "I'll watch the whole night, just this once. I wanna make sure you have plenty of energy to break this thing tomorrow."
Kagome bit back a smirk at his gruffness. It was oddly...endearing. Like he wanted to be nice but didn't want her to know he was being nice. As much as she wanted to help him leave this place, she hoped that she would get the chance to know him better afterward. A yawn cracked her jaw, reminding her of how little sleep she had gotten recently. She would need all of her energy and concentration tomorrow, so with an effort, she banished her thoughts and settled down to sleep, curling onto her side.
Inuyasha sat at the cave entrance for a long time, watching the stars come out as the breathing behind him became slow and rhythmic. Once he was certain Kagome was asleep, he turned around and focused his attention on her. He was still unable to get over the fact that she had chosen to sleep inside the cave; it would have made more sense to depend on his inability to leave the cave to protect her. The only explanation he could come up with was that she knew he needed her if he had any hope of escaping. Not that he had planned on killing her after their initial fight. He had killed more than his fair share but never anyone who hadn't intended him harm in the first place.
She shifted on the ground, a soft sigh barely making its way to his ears. It was hard to believe, looking at her now, that she had been able to injure Sesshomaru, and that brought up another concern. Both of them were targets for one reason or another, and he didn't imagine that Kagome could expect to go without retaliation forever. Was she being watched? Even now, a spy could be reporting to his brother that the miko had come this way. What better opportunity for Sesshomaru to strike them both down? It would be just like his brother to allow him the hope of freedom before snatching it away. Inuyasha did not plan on going down without a fight, although he was realistic enough to admit in the privacy of his own head that his odds of survival weren't good if Sesshomaru confronted him now. Kagome's were even less if she stayed.
If she was able to break the curse tomorrow, or even in the next few days, there might not be a problem. If it lasted longer than that...He knew he should lay all of this out to her. Give her the chance to walk away. Even though it was the right thing to do, he couldn't quite bring himself to go through with it, knowing that it would only seal his own death, one way or another. For now, he wouldn't say anything; he would wait to see how things played out.
Ignoring the whispers of guilt that sounded suspiciously like his mother's voice, he turned back to face the entrance, his eyes fixed on the darkened shadows of the moonlit trees that seemed to reach for him like long, clutching fingers.
Kagome was floating in a warm cocoon, a half-forgotten dream teasing at the edges of her mind. She had no intention of leaving this comfortable state and frowned when she felt a soft jab in her side.
"Souta, if you don't get out right now, I will do unspeakable things."
A few moments later, the motion repeated itself—harder.
"That's it!" Kagome shouted, jerking herself up. "So help me, I'm going—" Golden eyes met hers mere inches away, causing her to cut herself off with a shriek.
"You'll what?" Inuyasha said with a dangerous smirk. "Tell me, priestess; I'm curious."
Kagome rubbed her neck, wincing at the sore muscles. "I thought you were my brother," she explained, embarrassed that she had forgotten where she was.
"I hardly think either of your parents would claim me," he replied dryly, rising to his feet and moving about in a restless manner. "When can you start? I'd like to be away from here as soon as possible."
Kagome would have liked enough time for a proper breakfast, but she could feel the impatience rolling off of him, and it spurred her to move more quickly than she normally would at this time of day. She pushed past him to use the bushes a distance away from the cave, and on her return, she was unsurprised to find that he was standing as close to the entrance as possible, energy from the spell humming around him and ready to strike at the smallest motion he made to leave.
"I'm going to try a few basic things first; I don't expect them to work, given the nature of this spell, but I don't think whoever cast it thought that another miko would try to break it, and they may not have guarded against the possibility."
Inuyasha wasn't thrilled to hear that she didn't expect success right away, but he gave an affirmative grunt and gestured for her to get on with it.
Kagome knelt down, her spine straight as she folded her hands to her chest. She closed her eyes to better help her concentrate on a few calming exercises before attempting the first spell. As her reiki flared around her, she heard Inuyasha back up a few paces, although it was unnecessary. He should be safe, although she amended that thought when she felt her energy clash with that of the previous caster. She frowned in concentration, focusing all of her effort on the barrier.
"Try going through now," she told him, cracking one eye open.
Inuyasha responded by moving as he always did, quickly and with force. He didn't even have time to make a sound before he was slammed into the wall of the cave, just as he had the first time he attempted to leave.
"Dammit!" he growled, falling to the ground.
Kagome winced sympathetically. He could take more physical abuse than a human, but that didn't make it any more pleasant.
"Sorry! I knew it was too much to hope for-let me try another."
Inuyasha stalked back to his original position, his pride not allowing him to rub the lump he could feel forming on the back of his head.
Sending him an apologetic smile before closing her eyes once more, Kagome redoubled her efforts, hoping that, at the very least, she was weakening the spell.
"Try it again."
Once more, Inuyasha sprang forward, this time bracing himself as he was flung back.
"This is one case where I'm not happy that I was right," she sighed, slumping slightly at her failure.
Inuyasha sat up but wasn't as quick to move across the cave. "This spell has been in place for a long time, and we can't be sure how many people have recast and altered it. It would have been nice, but I guess I couldn't expect you to break it in one go," he said grudgingly. The last thing he wanted was for her to give up.
"Maybe not, but I won't let this get the best of me!" Kagome replied, her jaw jutting out stubbornly. "There are still plenty of things to try, and I have a friend with scrolls that might help if I run out of options."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. Bold words for the person that wasn't being slammed into the wall at every attempt, but he had to admit, she had guts.
"Let's go, then. I can take more hits than that."
Although most of his Marks were now hidden by his clothing, Kagome had an excellent memory and knew very well just how battered he must have been to earn each one.
"If you don't mind using a human, I know someone who can add your Mark for this," she offered quietly, hoping he wouldn't be offended.
Inuyasha froze, hardly able to believe what she was saying. Most humans thought that Marks were barbaric and nothing more than a way to brag about the atrocities the youkai had committed against humans. While he couldn't deny that was the case for some, the Marks held a much deeper meaning and, in most cases, did not involve humans at all. It was clear that Kagome had an understanding of their significance, but he couldn't help but wonder if her offer wasn't connected to the possible bond between them. He glanced away, unable to meet her eyes.
"Not sure if this is worth a Mark-or one that I wanna remember," he finally answered.
Kagome gave a light shrug, not wanting to pressure him. "Maybe not, but I didn't think you would be able to resist getting one to rub in Sesshomaru's face." She grinned as his eyes jerked in her direction, an answering expression curling his lips.
"Damn, you're vindictive. I might have to take you up on that."
"The offer is always open. Now," she sighed, resisting the urge to rub the muscles in her legs that were beginning to protest her position, "Let's try this again."
They continued throughout the morning and then into the afternoon. Each time her efforts failed, and Inuyasha went sailing through the air to smack into what was becoming a sizable dent in the cave wall, Kagome felt a horrible sense of guilt.
"Dammit, Kagome!" Inuyasha howled, brushing tiny bits of stone out of his hair, one eye clenched shut while the other glared at her balefully, "Are ya tryin' to kill me or get me outta here by tunneling through the other side of the damn cave?"
Abruptly, the feeling passed.
"I'm doing the best I can!" She shouted back, her temper beginning to fray along with his. "I haven't eaten all day, and your frustration is beginning to get to me. It also doesn't help that I've used up a great deal of energy!"
Inuyasha paused mid-tirade, examining her closely. Her skin was pale, almost waxy, and there was a thin sheen of sweat covering her face. Several tendrils of hair were plastered in wet clumps against her forehead, and her breathing was slightly uneven. Now that he thought about it, she was probably close to pushing herself into an unconscious state, given the amount of energy she had used up today, and she hadn't even taken a break to eat.
"Fine. Get something to eat. It'll give me a chance to spend more than a few minutes without being airborne," he grunted, not wanting her to think he was soft.
Kagome blinked; she had thought it would be more of a fight to let him get her to take a break. A sharp hiss escaped her lips when she tried to unfold her legs, tingling pins and needles running up and down her calves. She rubbed them briskly, and once she was sure she wouldn't fall, she hobbled out of the cave. While she still had some food that could be eaten without the need for a fire, it wouldn't last much longer. It would also be nice to have a little warmth during the night. It didn't take long to collect some stones and wood and set up a small fire positioned so the smoke would not hang in the cave and choke them.
"That's gonna be risky during the night," Inuyasha warned, watching as she bustled around the cave. "You don't know who will see the light."
Kagome shrugged, unworried. "I think part of the spell repels people from the area, and anyone who would be drawn here is those that already know about it, like your brother. I don't see the fire mattering one way or the other very much, so we might as well have it and enjoy it. It's not like the entire cave isn't glowing as it is."
He scowled, but didn't bother to argue. She was right, and it wasn't like he couldn't take care of anything that chose to enter the cave, anyway. Really, she was the one in the most danger when she wandered off alone outside, and even that was countered by her powers and bow. He crossed his legs, tucking his arms into his sleeves, thinking he would take a small nap. That plan was foiled when Kagome chose to keep up a light stream of chatter, yammering on about her life in the village. She didn't seem to expect him to answer, for which he was grateful; he wasn't the greatest conversationalist, and he had no idea what to say as she spoke of her family and the various other people she knew. To his surprise, he wasn't annoyed by her constant talk. The times were few and far between when someone spoke to him as if he were a person rather than a dumb beast, and slowly, subtly, he found himself drawn into adding a word here and there, intrigued by the way she would smile whenever he chose to respond.
It was so distracting that he didn't bother asking her to try to break the spell for the rest of the day.
That set the precedent for the days to come; rising early, Kagome would attempt to break the curse, while Inuyasha would beflung wildly through the air every time it failed. When Kagome began to flag, they would stop for the day, and Kagome would spend the rest of the time gathering food or wood for the fire or heating water for baths. Much of her time was spent in the cave, as she felt badly that she was free to move about while Inuyasha could only stand at the edge of the cave, freedom a breath away.
He began to speak more. Sometimes it was nothing more than a snarky jab, while at other times, he could be surprisingly insightful in a gruff sort of way. There were moments when his temper flared when thinking of his current situation or something from his past, and Kagome would try to calm him. She was intrigued by the sensation doing so invoked, but it seemed to spook Inuyasha-to the point where she could tell he was making an effort to control his own emotions. She wasn't sure what to think of that, but since it spared her the sharp, piercing headache that always accompained that level of anger, she didn't look too deeply into his motives.
For Inuyasha, it was a period of constant internal conflict. Kagome was intelligent and kind, but she also had a sharp tongue and even sharper wit when riled, and he discovered he enjoyed ruffling her feathers.
Possibly, a little too much.
As much as he had grown to enjoy her company, he was afraid of the outcome. Nothing could come of the closeness between them, and he wasn't sure why he couldn't keep his distance from her, as he had never had that trouble in the past. Of course, he had never been forced to remain in such close confines for an extended period before, but something told him that wasn't the cause.
Still, there were certain things he was not ready to reveal. He did not trust easily, and even though Kagome had proven that he needn't fear for his life where she was concerned, he did not want her to see him at his most vulnerable. Through nature and nurture, it was a secret he had never shared with another, and as he gazed at the night sky each night, he became sick with dread, knowing there was little he could do to prevent her from discovering everything.
Kagome sat by the fire, observing Inuyasha as he stared out into the night. Even in the dim light she could see the tightness of his jaw and the tension in his shoulders. It had increased every night, but he had only brushed aside her attempts to determine the cause. She knew he had to be frustrated. After all, nearly a month had passed since she had first tried to break the curse, and they didn't seem to be making any progress.
"Inuyasha?"
"Hn."
"I've been thinking. As much as I hate to admit it, I've reached the limits of my knowledge. If I'm going to break this curse, I'm going to need to contact my friends and see if there are any scrolls that will help."
She had expected him to argue, knowing how he hated to lose even a handful of minutes out of time that could be spent working toward his freedom. Having to give up several days should have warranted a full-blown tantrum. Instead, he actually seemed to brighten at the prospect.
"If you left tomorrow, how long do you think it would take?" He asked, coming to join her by the fire.
Kagome felt the odd flutter in her stomach that had begun to accompany his proximity, but she ignored it in favor of answering him. "The journey itself shouldn't take long, but it also depends on the state of the village-I should have returned long before now, and I'm sure that I will need to make an excuse for my absence, as well as why I will need to leave so soon. I might not make it back for several days."
He sagged in relief. As long as she was gone the night after tomorrow, he would be fine-at least, for another turning of the moon, but maybe she would find the way to break the curse in the scrolls she mentioned.
The way his body drooped, his eyes clenched together, had Kagome believing that he was upset by the length of time. Without thinking, she reached out to place a hand on his knee in comfort.
"I'm so sorry, Inuyasha. I wish there were another way; I know you're more than capable of taking care of yourself, but I still don't like leaving you here alone."
A reply struggled to form itself into a coherent sentence, but the sensation of her hand against his knee rendered his mental processes useless.
"I'll be fine, and if there's a way you can find to get me outta here, I'll be even better. 'Sides, your village has gone too long without their priestess, right?"
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her frown, her lower lip sliding between her teeth.
"Honestly, I'm hoping this time away will make them realize they can do without me—if they've found a replacement, it will make it easier to turn down the position."
"You don't want to be a miko?"
It was true that she didn't act like any miko he had ever come across, but she had all of the attributes that he thought a miko should. She was kind and compassionate, but she also had the strength to make hard decisions and fight when necessary.
"It's not that," Kagome said slowly, looking for the right words. "It's just...I don't want to be tied to the village all the time. If I had, I never would have found you here-what if there are other people out there that need help, and they won't get it unless someone comes to them?"
"It's not unheard of for mikos to travel," he pointed out.
"I know. And as long as I could be sure that the village would be safe, that is what I would like to do, at least for a while. Just because I don't want to serve there permanently doesn't mean I don't love and care for the people."
Her words shouldn't have surprised him; if she were wasting so much effort on a hanyou, then of course she would be the type to worry about the people of her village more than her own wants. She was going to be devastated if something had happened while she was gone, and for the first time, he felt a twinge of guilt.
"Then why don't you make sure that they have someone? It'd keep you from worryin', and it'll be easier for you to move on when you're done here. You can make sure they're taken care of without havin' to stay."
His words were simple, and it was something that she had known was the best option all along. Hearing it being said by someone else somehow made it easier to accept. Her family loved her, and they would be fine with her choice, but she was always afraid to let others down. If she was being selfish, she knew Inuyasha was blunt enough to say so. She smiled at him brightly, a weight lifting off her chest.
"Thank you, Inuyasha. I think that's exactly what I'll do."
He grunted and turned his head away, not wanting her to see his reaction to her smile. The more he saw it, the more he wanted to make her do it again-and it was getting harder and harder to remind himself that being close to him would only end in her losing her smile completely.
The next morning, Kagome was startled to find that Inuaysha had backed everything she would need for the trip home and had even started their morning meal so she would not have to cook. She had the distinct feeling that he wanted her gone, although she could not understand why; she was his only way out, and there wasn't much he could do in her absence. Her feelings were bruised, but what could she say? She even tried to read his emotions, but he had them tightly locked down-something he was getting better at the longer they were together.
"I think I've left enough wood to last while I'm gone. Is there anything else I can do?" Kagome asked, unsuccessfully repressing a yawn. Inuyasha had woken her just before sunrise, and she still wasn't fully awake-mornings had never been her friend, and years of training never made it any easier.
He waved away her question. "It's not like I can eat or drink, so I'll be fine. Even if I can't build a fire, this cave is still fuckin' glowing."
She did feel a bit better not having to worry about him starving. He had never regained his need for food or water, and whatever spell was in place also seemed to be preventing his hair from growing, much to his displeasure.
"Alright. I guess I'll head out now if you're sure..." she trailed off, feeling an odd niggle at the back of her mind that made her reluctant to go.
"I'll be fine. Nothin' comes in this direction, and even if it did make it into the cave, I can take care of it. I'm not helpless, you know."
She huffed at his stubborn pride. Of course he could take care of himself, but that didn't mean she liked leaving him like this! Still, she didn't want to bruise his ego right before she left, so she only nodded as she distributed the weight of everything he was carrying so she would still be able to reach her arrows. A few steps out of the cave, and she turned to face him.
"Take care, Inuyasha. I will be back."
He gave her a half smile, relaxing now that she was on her way. "I know. I ain't goin' anywhere." He lifted his fingers to return her wave, watching as she walked away, the trees soon surrounding her and blocking out the bright red and white of her clothing.
Inuyasha dropped to the ground, crossing his legs and staring at the point where he last saw her, settling himself in for a long wait.
If he were still alive by this time tomorrow, everything would be alright.
Kagome frowned at the dried meat in her hand that she was nibbling on for lunch, suddenly losing her appetite. She had felt strangely all day, and the feeling had only intensified the further she got away from the cave. Why was she so worried? In all of her time spent with Inuyasha, no one had ever approached the cave or, as far as she could tell, even the woods surrounding it. He had been there for over a hundred years and should be perfectly safe.
No matter how she tried to convince herself, with every step she took, his mind screamed that it was wrong. It was becoming almost physically painful, and she finally stopped. Clearly, her instincts were trying to tell her something. Could she forgive herself if she ignored them and something happened. No. She had promised him that she was going to help him, and she was damned if he was going to die in that cave alone if she had anything to do about it.
Spinning around, she retraced her steps rapidly. The urgency did not leave her, but the pain completely disappeared as soon as she had changed her direction. If she hurried, she could make it back just after sunset.
Inuyasha hadn't moved from his spot. Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on the sky, bracing for the inevitable. The spell had somehow frozen most of his bodily functions, but he wasn't foolish enough to think that it would spare him the transformation. Tonight, he would be at his most vulnerable, and his only saving grace was that Kagome wasn't there to witness his sorry state.
His mother had died with his secret, and he had never shared it with another living being. Partially because he didn't want to court an assassination attempt any more than his existence already did on its own, but there was a deeper part of himself that couldn't bear it if someone saw his human form and considered him 'whole' for one night.
He would rather face death than pity.
A newer part of him whispered that Kagome wouldn't think that-the brief touches of her soul wouldn't let him believe that she would see him as any less or any more than he already was.
Believing and accepting were two different things.
Slowly, the sky bled from blue to red, wide swaths of oranges, pinks, and purples marking the horizon. For the first time since he had woken, Inuyasha began to feel truly tired, and the memory of hunger began to tug at his stomach.
"Of fucking course," he muttered, realizing that this night would be far worse than usual. Just before his body began to pulse in signal of his change, a sense of danger shot through him, a haze of malevolence coating his tongue.
Something far worse than hunger pangs was on its way.
Kagome barely had enough light to secure her boat, her fingers fumbling with the coarse rope in her hurry to be on her way. Her heart hammered in her chest. If she didn't move quickly, she was going to be too late. Irritably, she blinked away the tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes. There wasn't time for that! The aura that had surrounded the area had deepened, and it was so thick with ill intent that she could scarcely breathe. She wiped the nervous sweat that had accumulated on her palms against the rough fabric of her hakama, not wanting her hands to be slick in case she needed to fire her arrow on short notice.
As much as she wanted to run the rest of the way to the cave, she held back; something was near, and she didn't want to make herself a target any sooner than necessary. Carefully, she approached the cave, her dread increasing when she got close enough to see that there was no fire. Had Inuyasha felt the same ominous energy and wanted to hide evidence pointing to the cave being occupied, or had something already happened? Seeing nothing in the area, she darted to the cave, feeling better once she had only one side open to attack-not that being trapped in the cave was a great option, but she would worry about that later.
"Inuyasha?" She called, keeping one eye on the forest.
"K-Kagome?! What the hell are you-Stay out!"
His voice was almost frantic, but it at least showed that he was alive. Some of the weight on her chest lessened, but she knew they weren't safe yet.
"Inuyasha, something is wrong! We need to-" her voice broke off as she rounded the corner, all concern about the unknown danger evaporating with her shock.
In the inner chamber of the cave sat Inuyasha. Inuyasha as she had never seen him before. Gone were the soft, triangular ears at the top of his head. Instead, Kagome could make out human lobes peeking between the edges of jet-black hair. Dark eyes flashed angrily, but Kagome could see the apprehension in their depths.
Of course.
How could she have been so foolish! Each hanyou had a human night, one that they guarded closely to prevent their greatest vulnerability from being exposed. This was why Inuyasha had acted so strangely and why he had been almost desperate for her to leave. He hadn't wanted her to know, and now, because he had no way to escape, he was forced into this situation.
Inuyasha was still, stomach-churning at being so exposed. Without his normal senses, he hadn't heard her approach until she had yelled. If she had any ill intent, he would be dead by now. He had hoped he would at least be spared this, but the gods had never before looked upon him favorably; why would they start now?
Moving slowly, Kagome made her way closer to where he was crouched, surprised that even in this form, he was keeping such a tight reign on his emotions—there were still leaks around the edges, but nothing forceful enough that her years of training couldn't handle. On the other hand, much of his survival had probably relied on not giving his thoughts and feelings away, so she shouldn't be too surprised. Realizing her staring was making him even more uncomfortable, Kagome sank down to kneel beside him, watching as his lip pulled back into a snarl that exposed blunt human canines.
"I'm sorry that I'm seeing you like this without it being your choice," she said softly, resisting the urge to place a comforting hand on his arm.
"Are you sure you're not just sorry that you have to see this, knowin' I'm gonna change back?" he asked, his lips twisted in a bitter smile. "Maybe you'd rather figure out a way to keep me in this form instead of gettin' me out of this cave."
It was a disgusting and unfair accusation, and it stung Kagome. Hadn't they been on good terms? She had thought they were becoming fairly close. She knew that this had nothing to do with her and was the result of years of negative treatment from humans and youkai alike, but it still felt so….personal.
She glared at him, crossing her arms as best she could with a bow.
"Why would I go to that trouble? Your personality is even worse as a human, and you don't even have the cute ears to make up for it!"
His cheeks flushed, and he struggled to splitter a coherent sentence. Her reaction had been far from what he expected, and he wasn't able to regain his mental balance after the comment about his ears.
"Well, well! Is there trouble in paradise?"
Kagome and Inuyasha both shuddered; if a snake was made out of silk, it would sound exactly like that voice. Soft, smooth, and coldly lethal.
Kagome spun around just as they slid into the back chamber, and she was more shocked than she should have been to see a miko. Rather than traditional red and white, her robes were of deep purple and gray, with a string of green jade stones around her neck. Her painted lips were turned up in a smug smile, and although her face was smooth and unlined, her dark eyes contained more knowledge and malice than should be possible for someone of her apparent youth.
How had she not noticed that someone had entered the cave? Inuyasha was lacking his usual senses, so that was to be expected, but Kagome should have never dropped her guard after the foreboding she had experienced all day. Then again, this person had the same exact energy that had surrounded the cave since Kagome's initial arrival. This meant that their theories were true, and Sesshomaru was using new miko to maintain the spell; had he found this one after she had refused him?
Inuyasha had snapped out of his paralysis. Without his usual senses, he had at first believed he was hallucinating, but that face and voice could only belong to one person. He sprang forward, accidentally bumping Kagome aside in his fury.
"Tsubaki!" He snarled, his fists clenched tightly enough that even his blunted human nails were almost drawing blood.
"Hello, puppy. I see someone has let you out of your kennel….or they're trying to." Tsubaki tittered, raising slim fingers to press against her lips.
How did Inuyasha know her? He had made it sound like he hadn't woken up until she came, and she felt like he would have mentioned this when they were talking about why Sesshomaru might have wanted her. That only left one option, and it was one that made her absolutely sick to contemplate.
This was the original miko that had cursed Inuyasha.
"And you're still doing Sesshomaru's dirty work in exchange for whatever scraps he's willing to throw you. A hundred years and you still can't make it on your own….pathetic," Inuyasha laughed, taking pleasure in the way her face twisted sourly.
"Inuyasha, are you sure she's the one that did this to you?" Kagome asked, part of her still recoiling from the possibility.
Inuyasha had never cursed his lack of claws more than this moment; he was filled with the desire to bury them in the guts of the woman standing before him and smell the coppery tang of her blood as it spilled on the ground.
"Inuyasha!"
Kagome's sharp voice brought him to his senses, and he spared her a glance. Her face had gone deathly pale, and her breathing was uneven.
"Yeah, that's her," he spat, getting his emotions under control. He was getting better about letting them rise to the point where they affected Kagome, and he knew that this was not the time for her to become distracted.
"You filthy bitch," Kagome said, her voice low and colder than Inuyasha believed her capable.
"That's a bit hypocritical coming for someone who has chosen to lie down with a dog. Or did I interrupt your one chance to do so this moon? So sorry."
"You dare try to insinuate that those acts are in any way similar?" Kagome snapped, her spine stiffening.
Inuyasha was aware of what Tsubaki was accusing Kagome of doing. He was confused as to why she hadn't denied it, and what could possibly be worse than a miko lying with a hanyou.
"What the hell is goin' on, Kagome?" he asked, even as a human, he was able to feel her surging reiki.
"There's no way she should be alive right now, Inuyasha," Kagome answered, not taking her eyes off of Tsubaki.
"So? She's a dark miko. Clearly, she made a bargain with a youkai to—"
"No," Kagome cut him off. "There's one spell that could have prolonged her life and retained her youth."
Her tone was grim, but Inuyasha didn't need his youkai hearing to detect the note of heartbreak.
"It requires the blood of children, and it has to be renewed at least once a year."
"Oh, darling, I play it safe—once a moon keeps those nasty little crow's feet away," Tsubaki sneered.
A numb sort of horror washed over Inuyasha. Murdering one child a year for at least a century was monstrous. Twelve a year was….he couldn't even wrap his mind around it. He had killed plenty of people in battle—people who had struck first, who at least had the opportunity to fight back. Killing a child? He couldn't imagine it. Even a human child spitting at him and throwing rocks had never been enough for him to raise his hand against them.
"You….you can't have a soul. If you ever had one to begin with," he muttered, repulsed by the woman who stood shamelessly—no, almost proudly—before him.
Tsubaki tilted her head, looking down her nose at the hanyou, furious that such a lowly being dared to judge her.
"What does an animal like you know of souls?"
"He knows his could never be as black as yours, for one thing, and he's not an animal!" Kagome protested.
Tsubaki's expression turned sly. "Oh? Perhaps you're right. Maybe it was your bitch of a mother, who spread her legs for a beas-"
With a wordless cry of rage, Inuyasha lunged forward, wrapping his hands around her neck. He might not have his powers, but they wouldn't be needed for this-and being human, she would not be able to purify him.
"Inuyasha, no!"
It was already too late. Tsubaki had been waiting for an opportunity to get close, and knew that any move she made toward them would be quickly countered. Instead, she lured the hot-headed fool to her, knowing that he would be counting on his current human status to save him. The pressure on her throat was agony, but she had lived through worse. The hand that had been hidden by her sleeve shot out to slap a small bit of paper on Inuyasha's neck. Instantly, his body slumped, and his grip slackened enough for her to roll away.
Kagome wasn't sure what to do; She couldn't fire an arrow, and she didn't think she would be able to pry Inuyasha off of Tsubaki without giving the other woman an advantage. When Inuyasha went still, she had a brief moment of hope that he had gotten himself under control-until he looked up at her with dull, cloudy eyes.
Sensing that something was wrong, she began to back away slowly, her concern mounting when Tsubaki laughed.
"What did you do to him?"
Tsubaki pretended to brush the dirt from her hakama, feeling secure in her victory. "What did I do? Why, nothing! I merely allowed his true nature to come to the fore."
Inuyasha's body trembled, and he took one step forward, although it seemed as if he was fighting the movement.
"His body is human. I wonder how long it will take him to rip you to shreds in this form?" Tusbaki mused, before snapping her fingers. "Attack!"
Kagome braced herself as Inuyasha lumbered toward her, discarding her bow as an option, but loathe to part with anything that could potentially be a weapon. She tried to keep both Inuyasha and Tsubaki in her sight, because she didn't trust the woman to leave everything to Inuyasha if she saw an opening.
Inuyasha's movements were more sluggish compared to his attack on Tsubaki, but he couldn't completely fight off her control. There was a wisp of himself that struggled against her, but his body refused to halt in its advance on Kagome.
"R-run," he managed to get out. He may be trapped here, but that didn't mean he wanted her to die with him.
"You should feel flattered; not many can resist my power enough to warn their victims," Tsubaki grinned, her amusement over the situation palpable. "I suppose that can be a small comfort to carry with you into death."
"I have no intention of dying just yet," Kagome gritted out, falling back as Inuyasha reached her.
She jumped back as Inuyasha swung at her, grateful that he didn't have his hanyou strength. He was dangerous enough in this form, but she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to stop him without doing serious harm if his youkai blood were still at the surface. His eyes were wide, not a glimmer of recognition within them. She would have no hope if it weren't for the subtle tremors of his muscles, pulling back on every movement. She dodged as much as she could, but Inuyasha was an experienced warrior. Some of his blows were getting through, and she wasn't sure how much more she could take.
"You're slowing down, little girl; with you out of the way, there will be nothing left to prevent me from finishing him off. That should be enough to get me back in Sesshomaru's good graces, so I can focus on more important matters."
How obliging of her to reveal her motives, Kagome thought. Tsubaki obviously hadn't absorbed Sesshomaru's tight-lipped ways. Not that it had revealed more than she had already guessed.
Kagome threw herself to the side, but Inuyasha used her momentum to take her down to the ground, pinning her in place. She struggled against him, feeling the bones in her wrist grind against each other. Her energy was flagging, and she knew she only had a few more moments. He was close enough that she could feel his breath, and as she twisted to look at him, she saw a patch of white on the side of his neck. Eyes narrowing, she reached for it, sending a burst of reiki through her fingertips.
As the shikigami was destroyed, Inuyasha snapped back to full awareness. He released her hand, rolling to the side to get his weight off of her, taking pleasure in Tsubaki's shouted curses as she realized her hold over him was broken.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome sighed, seeing the life back in Inuyasha's eyes. "Are you alright?"
He brushed off her question as he helped her up, allowing her to brace herself against him while she got her feet under her.
"You didn't even fight back, so don't ask stupid questions-what about you? Is anything broken?"
Kagome shook her head, choosing not to mention that she thought at least a couple of bones were cracked and several muscles were pulled.
Once she looked steady on her feet, Inuyasha turned his attention back to Tsubaki, who had been wondering what her odds were of placing another shikigami on Inuyasha; the girl might have saved herself once, but if she put on a stronger compulsion, she was sure she could get the hanyou to kill her before it could be removed.
"I'll finish her off this time. Stay back in case she tries anything funny," Inuyasha warned, cracking the knuckles of his right hand.
"No," Kagome stopped him, placing her hand on his sleeve. "That's what she wants. Besides, I know that she has wronged you greatly, but as a miko, I can't stand by and do nothing, knowing the innocent lives she has taken. What she's done has gone against every teaching."
Inuyasha scowled. He understood her point, but he wanted revenge!
"I can take care of myself, Kagome," he snapped, prepared to dart in front of her. He wasn't expecting the gentle hand she placed on his cheek or the smile that broke the tension of her features.
"I know you can, but you shouldn't have to. Let someone else fight for you for once, Inuyasha."
The concept was completely foreign to him. Sure, he understood why she might feel the need to punish Tsubaki for going against the tenets of their faith and the taking of innocent lives, but he hadn't expected her to be doing this for him, as well.
"Child, if you think you're powers are strong enough to defeat me, you're a fool! There isn't a miko alive that comes anywhere near to my level!"
Inuyasha could see why Sesshomaru had chosen to use Tsubaki; they had matching delusions of their greatness.
Kagome stalked toward Tsubaki, forcing the other priestess into the outer portion of the cave. While she had never given her powers much thought in relation to others, she was determined to be the victor; Tsubaki was far too dangerous to go free. She began to raise a barrier, and she wasn't a moment too soon. Several ofuda came flying her way, but the papers began to sizzle as soon as they made contact with her energy. She saw Tsubaki's eyes widen and took that as a good sign.
Even Inuyasha was impressed. He hadn't expected Kagome to be able to hold her own so well against someone steeped in the dark arts.
There were four points that none of them considered, and they would determine the outcome. The first was that Kagome's natural power was unusually high, to begin with. The second was that not only had she been diligent in her training, but the time spent trying to free Inuyasha had strengthened her considerably. Third, Tsubaki had grown lazy in her power. She sustained herself, but she was not diligent with her exercises and hadn't even bothered to meditate for years.
Finally, Tsubaki had long ago fallen out of favor with the gods.
"You're stronger than I gave you credit for, but don't get cocky just yet!" Tsubaki cried, her fingers fumbling slightly as she positioned them in a way that she had not been forced to use in some time.
Kagome fed more power into her barrier, which shimmered but held strong as a streak of sickly green reiki arched in her direction.
"You're gonna have to do more than defend at some point, Kagome," Inuyasha said from behind her, wincing at the level of spiritual energy filling the cave. If it wasn't his human night, it was likely he would have been purified by now.
He wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know. The problem was she wasn't sure about the timing. She would have to drop her barrier and hope her attack struck before Tsubaki could launch one of her own. Also, Tsubaki knew this and was just waiting for an opening.
Inuyasha could see her indecisiveness. She was strong, but he didn't think she was used to this type of fight. If this went on much longer, she would run out of energy or make a desperate move because she felt like it was her only option. She needed to attack and to do so in a way Tsubaki wouldn't expect...Inuyasha sent Kagome a calculating look. She was going to get his help, whether she wanted it or not.
A gasp slipped past Kagome's lips as she was slapped with a surge of emotion. Intense rage erupted within her. It sought a release and traveled along the line of her focus-which happened to be on Tsubaki. With a yell, her barrier dispersed, and a wall of reiki was pushed at Tsubaki as Kagome moved in closer, raising her hand to Tsubaki's chest.
Abruptly, the rage was cut off, and Kagome was able to think clearly. She had never been in a position to fight a dark miko, but she had been trained for the possibility. As vile as Tsubaki was, Kagome wasn't the type who found it easy to take a life. There was another spell she could use...one that Tsubaki might consider worse than death.
Tsubaki, for her part, was struggling as hard as she could, but it was like fighting a flooding river. She had underestimated her opponent until it was too late and passed up too many opportunities to finish things while they were going in her favor. Pain blossomed in her chest where Kagome laid her hand, although there was no real force behind it.
"What are you doing to me?" Tsubaki groaned, feeling herself becoming weaker. "If you're going to kill me, do it already!"
"I'm not going to kill you, Tsubaki, even if you deserve it. I would prefer not to have even your tainted blood on my hands. But I am going to make sure that you can never do anything like this again."
Inuyasha watched with wide eyes as Tsubaki's silky, blue-black hair bled to gray, then to white, her skin mottling and sagging with wrinkles. Even her eyes, which had once been sharp and bright, dulled with a milky film.
Kagome let her hand drop, feeling slightly sick from the amount of energy she had been forced to use. She gazed at Tsuabki dispassionately, unmoved by the other woman's moans. Where a youthful beauty once stood, a haggard crone had taken her place, frail and powerless. The oppressive energy in the cave was almost entirely gone, and Kagome wondered if it would be enough to allow Inuyasha to pass freely.
Tsubaki stared down at withered hands that trembled with fear and age. A soft cry slipped between once plump lips. She was old! She was hideous! And her power...her power was all gone-she wouldn't even be able to perform the ritual to reverse this!
"You little bitch!" Tsubaki howled, futilely attempting to rake Kagome's face with her nails.
Inuyasha watched Tsubaki's meltdown and didn't bother to hide the malicious grin that split his face. He had wanted her dead, but this was more satisfying; why should her end be quick? After all she had done, didn't she deserve to spend her last days in misery?
"Get out, Tsubaki. You can't harm us anymore, and looking at you makes me sick," Kagome ordered her, knowing that even in this state, Tsubaki would still make some sort of attempt on their lives if she stayed-and at that point, she didn't think she would be able to stop Inuyasha from killing her.
Tsubaki backed up, her breathing ragged. Her eyes darted between them wildly, a mad smile forming.
"Leave? Yes, I'll leave-which is more than can be said for you! I'll find a way to fix this, but you, hanyou, will stay here and rot! And when the miko gives up on you, you can do so until the madness of isolation consumes you, and you'll curse the day that she woke you from my merciful spell!"
Inuyasha knew her screeching was nothing more than petty posturing, and he refused to let her see how it stung him when she mentioned Kagome giving up and leaving.
"If that's what you believe, then your brain has aged as poorly as your body," he sneered. "Get out, Tsubaki. If you aren't gone by sunrise, I'll cut you down myself-I owe you for what you did to my hair."
Tsubaki glared at him, her lips pulled back to expose yellowed teeth. "I should have cut off your damn head!"
He shrugged. "That was your mistake. You can choose to live with that regret or die with it. It doesn't matter to me."
Kagome held her breath, sure that Tsubaki would try something.
As if sensing her thoughts, Tsubaki turned her milky eyes toward her, a ghost of her former smugness settling over her.
"You may think you've won, but you can't save him, girl. To do so, you would have to fall even farther than I did." With a bitter laugh, she shuffled out of the cave, leaving them to ponder her cryptic words.
The events of the night beginning to catch up with her, Kagome turned to face Inuyasha, wanting to discuss the events that had just occurred and what bearing, if any, they might have on the curse.
Tsubaki had made it several yards from the cave, hardly believing they had been foolish enough to let her go. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised about the miko; she was the type to be weak when it came down to the hard decisions. Inuyasha...he had softened. Even when his anger was turned on her, it was still tempered from the hanyou she had known all those years ago. Clearly, he was going soft over the girl-he just might make it out of the cave, after all. Well, that was Sesshomaru's problem, and there was no reason for her to clean up his mess for him; he should have just killed his brother and been done with it. He could have made up any story he wanted. After all, who would take the side of a hanyou over that of a youkai lord?
Still, it rankled Tsubaki to have been so easily defeated. If she hadn't become so lax, or let her guard down, things would have ended very differently.
They still could.
For Tsubaki still had one trick left up her sleeve; she could still call on the powers of the minor demons she had brought with her. Just a small, hasty contract would be enough...
Inuyasha caught movement over Kagome's shoulder as some type of snake hurtled through the air, poised to attack. "Kagome! Move!"
Kagome felt the demonic energy behind her; she was too tired to think, and allowed instinct and training to drive her. Right before it could connect with her body, Kagome whipped her arm out and struck it with her bow, sending it flying back from where it came. She glanced over her shoulder in time to see it hit Tsubaki in the face, and the woman screeched in agony.
"I told you to leave, Tsubaki!" She snapped, hoping this wasn't going to escalate.
Tsubaki lowered the hand that had been clutching her face, revealing an injured eye surrounded by a patch of scales. She shot Kagome a baleful glare, but thought better of making another move. If she was to survive and have a chance to regain her youth, she needed to retreat. Without another word, she turned and hobbled into the night, her eye throbbing as a permanent reminder of hr defeat.
"Do you think she'll be back?" Kagome asked quietly, limping over to drop down next to the fire.
Inuyasha followed her, but remained standing. "No. At least, not for a long time. After what happened, I don't think she'll come after us unless she's sure she can win, and I', not sure she'll survive that injury. Something is feeding off of her now, but I don't think she realizes it."
Kagome nodded grimly. "That's one less worry, unless she goes for Sesshomaru."
That made Inuyasha pause, but he shook his head. "I'm sure he already knows that the curse is weakening, but I don't think she'll go to him. He's not exactly forgiving of failure."
True enough, Kagome thought. She knew Sesshomaru would doubtless make an appearance, but Tsubaki wouldn't be stupid enough to go to him now that she had no hope of protecting herself. With a goran, she pushed herself to her feet, swaying slightly.
"What are you doing? You need to rest!" Inuyasha barked, worried she would pass out.
"I need to clean up first. We both do."
He started to protest, but he knew it was useless. Once Kagome had made up her mind, it was almost impossible to budge her, and he found he was too tired to try.
"Fine. You can wash out here by the fire; I'll go to the inner cave."
Kagome frowned, looking at their surroundings. "Are you sure? It's almost completely dark. We can take turns."
He almost said that he could see just fine in the dark until he recalled what night this was. His jaw shut with a snap. "Then you go first," he finally answered, stalking around the corner to sit in the darkness while she bathed.
Kagome tossed him a thin blanket before turning to go back by the fire. "Here. Throw your clothes back this way, and I'll give them a quick wash. They could use it."
He grumbled under his breath as he complied, too exhausted to fight, especially after what she had done for him. As his eyes adjusted, he saw that there was still an extremely faint glow, but nothing like it had been before.
He shivered, his weak human body more susceptible to the chill in the air. Scuffles and splashes came from the other chamber as Kagome brought in water and tried to heat it by the fire, muffled whispers of frustration and squeaks as she tried to carry it without spilling. He grinned; usually, she asked him to do it, since it was so much easier. She probably had that little scowl on her face, he thought, pushing down the feeling of affection that accompanied the thought.
Fighting those feelings was difficult, especially with what night it was combined with what she had done to defend him against Tsubaki. Although Tsubaki was loathsome, he knew many humans would still side with her against him merely because she was human.
But not Kagome.
Kagome thought he had a soul.
One that wasn't stained black.
Kagome believed him to be worthy of respect and didn't see his human night as a sign of weakness...or that he was only worthy of her respect one night a moon.
He clenched the blanket between his fists, unable to deal with how quickly his fondness for her was growing. He knew that he shouldn't be surprised-the very first day he had learned they had potential-but he couldn't bear the thought of hoping only for everything to come crashing down when this curse was broken.
Wait. Now that Tsubaki was defeated, didn't that mean Kagome could get him out? Yeah. By this time tomorrow, they could be traveling their separate ways, never to meet again.
The thought wasn't as comforting as he had hoped.
"You can wash, now," Kagome's voice startled him from his thoughts, and he jumped as she rounded the corner. "Let me know when you're done."
"Yeah, sure. Kagome? Do you think you can get me outta here now that Tsubaki is gone?"
Kagome sat down before answering. "It's possible. I'm too tired to try tonight, but I will in the morning. If it still doesn't work, I'll travel back home as planned."
He nodded, not really surprised. It was late, and the battle had been intense. On top of that, she had spent the day traveling. Attempting anything now would only end in failure, and possibly injure her further.
"Hey, Kagome?"
"Hm?"
"Thanks. For...everything. You know." He said, knowing it was completely inadequate, but he was out of his depths.
"Any time," she answered, and although her voice was tired, her answer was warm and genuine.
Before he could embarrass himself further, he went in to the fire, where he found the water and a drying cloth waiting for him. He washed quickly, not enjoying the lack of protection his clothing gave him. Tsubaki might be gone, but that didn't mean there wasn't anything else lurking out there.
Once he was clean, Inuyasha searched for his clothes, goosebumps dotting his skin.
The hilt of Tessaiga caught his eye. It had been carefully propped against the wall, and looking down, he saw that his clothing had been neatly folded. The material was quick to dry, and he scooped up the pile, eager to get dressed. Something slid from the folds and almost fell to the ground before he caught it. His breath hitched when he recognized what he was holding.
His hair.
Not as he had left it. Instead, it had been carefully combed and woven into a sturdy braid, each end tied with a section of red cord that Inuyasha had seen on Kagome's clothing.
Somehow, this gesture touched him more deeply than anything she had done thus far, and that was saying quite a bit. Something brittle and warped within him gave way, and he knew that he could no longer fight the feelings he had developed for her.
Even if she would leave him in the end.
Tugging on his hakama and kosode, he gently tucked away his braid and called for Kagome.
She was half asleep when she heard his voice, and part of her was tempted to stay where she was until morning. Only the thought that she was already going to be in pain made her decide against it, and she pushed herself up, wincing at a sharp pain in her side that thankfully dulled as she began to move.
He was putting her bedding out when she arrived, and she wanted to cry with relief. She was so tired that she couldn't even think, and she longed to sink down next to the fire and sleep until morning.
"Thank you, Inuyasha," she managed, the words already slurred and thick.
There were so many things he wanted to say, but this wasn't the time or place. He wasn't sure it ever would be. Instead, he settled on, "Get some rest, Kagome."
She hummed her answer, her eyes closed as she turned her back to the fire. A soft weight settled over her, and she cracked her eyes open just long enough to recognize the red material that surrounded her in a comforting embrace. Consciousness drifting away, she smiled.