DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha and all of the canon characters featured in this fanfic are the property of Takahashi Rumiko, Sunrise, Viz and all other respective copyright owners. I do not lay claim to these characters in any way, shape or form.


Chapter 19

Her wait was long, restless and mercilessly dull. Her attempts to occupy her mind were less than successful. Distractions were few and fleeting. Sleep was slow and stubborn. She was almost starting to miss Inuyasha by the time she finally drifted off.

"Oi."

His voice jolted her back to her senses. She glanced up and found him silhouetted in the cave's mouth. There was something large and ungainly slung over his shoulder. Even in the half light it was clear his face was set in its customary scowl.

"Where-"

"Here."

He nodded towards the bundle over his shoulder. His other hand clutched a bucket of unfamiliar fish. Spirits knew how he'd got all that up here in one piece. At least it showed they couldn't be too far from civilisation. She'd take whatever hope she could get at this point.

He strode past her and set down his haul on a large rock. He untied the bundle and spread out its contents: a loaf of bread, three gourds of water,a package of dried fruit, a stout length of rope and two smaller bundles of cloth. She eyed them with suspicion.

"Where did you get those?"

He didn't bother with an answer. He reached for the bread and inspected it with a sniff. Satisfied, he tore off a piece and held it out to her. She blinked.

"Here."

She shook her head. "I can't."

"Keh." He eyed her bound wrists before fixing her with a stare. "No bending, okay?"

She gave him a nod. Well, it was a start. It'd be great just to get the feeling back in her wrists. He still hadn't answered her question, though. She gave the rest of his haul a pointed look.

"Those aren't yours."

He snorted. "No kidding."

"You can't just take-"

"Oi. You hungry or not?"

Her stomach gurgled an answer before she could reply. She turned away to hide her blush. He gave another snort.

"Thought so."

He crouched down beside her and nudged her shoulder. She rolled obediently onto her side. He cut through her bindings in one easy motion. He must have a knife on him somewhere. Best focus on survival for now.

He went back to sharing out the food. She busied herself with working out her cramps. At least it was something to do. Better than thinking, at any rate.

Have gave her a couple of minutes before he thrust one of the gourds towards her. "Drink up."

"Oh."

He stared at her until she took it from him. She cleared her throat. "Um, thanks."

"Keh, just don't want you passing out on me again," he grumbled. He reached into the bucket and grabbed one of the fish. "Here."

She stared down at the fish. It was still flopping about to escape his grip. It wasn't having much success. She shot him a questioning look.

"Um, aren't you going to cook that?" She was no stranger to raw fish but it was far from traditional Fire Nation fare.

He eyed her as if she was stupid. "No."

"But-"

"No fire." The look on his face was final.

She deflated with a sigh. Of course he wouldn't give in that a campfire would be enough to serve as a beacon. Well, raw fish was fine by her. She sat back against the wall and took another bite of bread.

He gave the fish a brief inspection. Satisfied, he smacked its head against a rock. The fish fell still. He pierced its eye with a finger. She gasped as she caught a glimpse of a long, tapered claw. Those bindings must have been like paper to him. The bread turned to ash in her mouth.

He glanced up at her. "What?"

His ears flattened as he caught her stare resting on his hands. She turned away guiltily.

"Keh. If you've got time to stare, go do something useful." He nodded towards the bundle of clothes. "You can start by getting changed."

Her stare shot straight back to him. To think she'd almost missed him.

"No way."

"You want to walk around half-soaked?"

"No-"

"Then go get changed." He wrinkled his nose. "Have a wash while you're at it."

"You... " Her face burned like a bonfire. No company would have been better after all.

He raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You - you pervert!"

His eyes shot wide as the ocean. "Wha - no!" Even his ears flushed scarlet. "Like I'd want to see you naked," he muttered.

She levelled a glare at him. His blush deepened.

"Just do it over there! Okay?"

"And how am I supposed to do that?" She wriggled her bound legs.

He heaved a sigh. "Fine."

He bent down and cut through the ropes with a flick of a claw. It didn't even graze her. It was still far too close for comfort.

"Don't even think about trying to run."

"I won't."

That was no lie. She'd do better to bide her time for now. She picked up the bundle and began to untie it. There was a pale yellow undershirt, loose brown trousers, an olive green shirt and a long forest green tunic: not too different from her usual clothes. He'd brought her a pair of stout leather shoes, some socks, a plain brown sash and a couple of rolls of bandages too. Guess those would have to do for underwear. At least he wouldn't make her wear someone else's.

She glanced over her shoulder to check on him. He was busy rinsing the fish with some water from one of the gourds. He gave another sigh.

"I'm not looking."

"Oh?"

"Look - just put them on, okay?" He carried on cleaning the fish and fixed his eyes determinedly on the wall.

She gave him a few more seconds before he cleared his throat. His eyes stayed on the wall. She'd have more chance of getting that to budge. She shook her head. Best just get this over with. She ducked down low and undressed as best she could.

At least the thief was true to his word. His eyes stayed well clear of her until she was done. Not that she was anywhere near as quick as he would have liked. Her fingers were still stiff with cold. She'd have to use some of the bandages for hand wraps. She took stock of the remaining roll while she fumbled with the shirt collar's frog.

He cast a swift glance back at her once she'd tugged the hopeless thing into , he began to shrug off his own clothes.

She caught a glimpse of his bare torso before her gaze could settle elsewhere. There really wasn't much on him: all lanky limbs and whipcord muscle. Three half-healed scars marred his left shoulder. His flesh was taut enough to show every rib when he raised his arms. How was he still on his feet, let alone scaling cliffs?

She let slip a gasp. He skewered her with a glare.

"What?"

She cast her eyes downwards. "Nothing," she mumbled. Her cheeks were still burning.

"No peeking, right?" He rolled his eyes.

"I wasn't - look. You're hurt."

He snorted. "And?"

"I could help?"

"You can't."

"I'm a healer." Even a novice had to be better than nothing. Just the sight of those scars was enough to make her wince.

He shook his head. "Even that old hag couldn't help with this."

"Master Kaede-"

"Keh. Doesn't matter who. Water won't help." He gave another snort before she could interrupt. "It never does."

He went back to dressing himself without another word. His outfit was quite similar to her own; probably from the same clothes line. He'd also got his mitts on a long brown scarf. She gave it a puzzled look as he began to wind it round his neck.

He shot her a scowl. "Like you need to ask."

Oh. She gave his ears a glance. Of course. She kept her eyes elsewhere until he was finished.

He shoved the rest of her bread at her once he was done. She ate in silence, glad for the distraction. He sat and finished gutting the fish. He gave her two when he was finished, along with half of the fruit.

He polished off the rest himself. He didn't leave a scrap. When was the last time he'd had a decent meal? She turned away before he could catch her eye again. Best focus on her own needs for now.

He cleared his throat as soon as she was finished. He held out the coil of rope with an expectant frown.

"Hands."

She kept them by her sides. His frown deepened.

"It's not like I can go anywhere."

He answered her with a snort. Well, she had dragged him an unthinkable distance across the ocean. Of course he wasn't going to take his chances. She cast another glance at his claws. Better do the same.

"Fine." She held out her wrists to be tied.

He measured out a length of rope and cut it off with a single swipe. He looped it around both her wrists and bound them in front of her. He secured the rope around a large stalagmite. Shame she wasn't an earthbender. She waited obediently while he cut off another length.

"Feet," he offered by way of explanation.

"I'm not-"

"You're the damn Avatar," he retorted. "Feet."

Fine. She sat down on the nearest rock and let him hobble her ankles. She just about swallowed the urge to kick him.

He checked her bindings twice before he was satisfied. He straightened up and took a stretch.

"Don't get too comfy. We're leaving at nightfall."

"Where are we-"

"None of your business."

She lifted her chin. "Oh?"

"You heard me."

She shook her head. Souta and company were an utter breeze compared to this overgrown toddler.

"You know, you could at least-"

"Keh. Just try to rest." He turned his back on her once more.

So much for company. One thing was clear enough: talking wasn't going to get her anywhere. She settled back against a rock and shut her eyes. At least she had some time to come up with a plan. Anything to keep her mind busy. The alternative didn't bear thinking about.


The sky was an open wound. Smoke seared her senses. Her lungs were choked with ash. The spirits soared above were packed thick enough to blot out the sun. They hung over the tree like a storm about to break.

Kagome.

The voice was a thorn in her mind. She rolled over with a groan. "Not now... " she muttered.

"What are you on about now, woman?"

The thief's voice jerked her out of her doze. She opened her eyes and found him crouched atop a rock. His eyes were fixed on the cave's entrance.

She followed his sky was wide and mostly clear, with only a few scudding clouds to disrupt the sunset. At least tomorrow should be a fine day. Although one of those clouds was awfully dark.

She squinted at the rogue cloud with a frown. A storm cloud in a sky like this? She peered closer. The cloud shuddered. It rippled outwards, forming a great dark slick across the sky. Her tongue clung to the roof of her mouth.

She swallowed. "Inuyasha... "

He was already on his feet. "We're leaving. Now."

"But-"

He grabbed the back of her tunic. Her voice broke off in a shriek. He cut her leash with a single swipe. He hoisted her off the ground and tossed her over his shoulder. He bundled their belongings under his other arm.

"Put me-"

"Now."

He took off before she could say another word. Her stomach rose into her throat as they approached the cliff's edge. The ocean lay an unbearable distance below. She gathered her breath and squeezed her eyes shut.

He took that as his cue. He leapt headlong from the ledge without so much as a warning. She clenched her teeth tighter as they hurtled towards the sea.


Constructive criticism is very welcome!

I update once a month.