Shapes moved in and out of focus as pain pulsed beneath her skin. She tried to move, but it only made the pain worse, and Kagome eventually stopped struggling, sinking back into the darkness that begged to consume her.

It felt like she was drowning, something dragging her down, and she would've let it if it hadn't been the odd pressure on her hand. She was stuck to something, and it refused to let go, forcing her to search for air instead of succumbing to the tantalizing numbness.

Her hand felt hot, the sensation slowly creeping down her arm, every nerve sensitized as she tried to pull away. There was something familiar about it, but with it came a pounding headache and overall exhaustion, and she wanted neither.

Kagome tried to pull away again, but the grip only tightened, wrapping around her arm as tendrils of heat pulled her out of the darkness.

Everything was too bright or too loud, blinding her the closer the surface she got. A whimper escaped her lips, and something vibrated through her, coaxing her to accept the help. Fighting took too much energy, so Kagome finally gave up, letting whatever was attached to her arm engulf her entire body.

The vibrations continued, wrapping around her shoulders like a lifeline, and she finally relaxed. She felt safe and secure, warmth spreading to her heart, and this time, when the darkness came, she wasn't afraid.


Shippou scampered down the hallway, not bothering with the decorum of walking on two feet as he raced toward the throne room. Claws scratched against the floor as he skidded to a stop, a scathing retort on the tip of Jaken's tongue at his lack of bow, but the kit cut him off before the rebuke could form. "She's awake!"

The king raised an eyebrow. "It has been less than a week."

Shippou wanted to shake him. If he knew Kagome, really knew her, he'd know that didn't matter. "Well, she's not awake awake, but her hands were moving, and she was mumbling to herself!"

The king tapped a boot against the floor, then turned to Jaken. "Are humans normally so resilient to death?"

Jaken glared at Shippou, then turned to his master. "I am not the expert, my lord, but in all the dealings we've had with them, the former queen included, the initial wound alone would be enough to snuff out such an insignificant existence." His tone said he'd hoped it would, and Shippou would've pummeled him into the ground if the king hadn't risen to his feet.

He perked up. The king may not remember Kagome completely, but if she kept saving him, which Shippou knew she'd done again, he wouldn't be able to ignore her.

Shippou still hadn't figured out the reason behind the change in her eye colour, and Souten hadn't been any help. He'd even asked Jinenji, but the healer had never heard of it either.

It sounded like a spell, a powerful one, but who was more powerful than the king?

"Are you coming?" the king asked, standing at the far end of the throne room, much to Jaken's chagrin, the toad sputtering about protocol and being behind in his duties. Shippou stuck his tongue out at Jaken, then scampered after the king, almost catching his tails in the door. "Has her demeanour changed at all?"

Shippou lengthened his stride to keep up. "Jinenji says she doesn't have a fever anymore! And she's just sleeping instead of being unconscious. He was able to stop the bleeding, too."

"I would expect nothing less from him."

The kit smiled, though he kept his eyes on the floor. The king wasn't all bad. He rescued kids regularly, so they always had someone to play with. Jinenji had been one of the first, and it had taken the king a few tries to get the transformation right before his body accepted the youkai blood.

As a result, Jinenji had ended up slightly disfigured, but his appearance didn't detract from his healing abilities. No one knew the flora better than him, and that included the neighbouring kingdoms. And no one bothered him about it now, but Souten had told him that she'd often found him crying in the gardens after she'd first arrived.

How she'd managed to coax him out of his shell, Shippou would never know.

There was soft chatter on the other side of the door as they entered, Jinenji's face flushed as he inspected the wound on her temple. "I am not as talented as all that."

Kagome's face was pale, but she offered him a small smile. "You are if the king trusts you." His flush only deepened, and he checked her pulse.

Shippou bounded ahead, jumping onto the end of the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I was hit by a truck," she said truthfully, her hand flexing as if to reach out a hand but unable to do so.

He crept forward, careful not to jostle her, and patted her arm. "You should be more careful."

"Indeed. It is the second time you have managed to escape death," the king mused. "I doubt you would be able to a third time."

"Shows what you know," she muttered, closing her eyes.

Jinenji lifted the bandage on her head and spread a pale green paste over the cut. "I agree with the king in this regard. And you should stay in bed for as long as possible. "The wound should be healed in the next few days, but your—" His eyes darted toward the king. "—energy is severely depleted."

Shippou heard the king snort. Did he know she was a miko? She certainly hadn't hidden it the last time she was here, but if he still thought she was someone else, it might be better that she kept it hidden. He patted her arm again. "Do you feel up for any food?"

Kagome shook her head but squeezed his hand. "Maybe later. I'm still feeling a little dizzy right now."

"What about some soup?" He looked at Jinenji hopefully, knowing that his expertise in healing also lay within the kitchen. He nodded, slowly getting to his feet before Kagome grabbed his shirt.

"Thank you. I know you worked really hard to fix me." She exhaled deeply, unable to open her eyes, but smiled all the same. "And sorry for being such a bother."

They both felt the king's eyes narrow, and Jinenji swallowed slowly before placing her hand back on the bed. "It is my job."

Kagome chuckled. "Then I'm really glad you're good at it." He nodded again, even though she couldn't see him, then let Shippou drag him from the room, chattering about her favourite things to eat and which would be best in the soup.

Sesshoumaru waited until they turned the corner before approaching the bed, the woman's head turning toward him, eyes once against fluttering open. "How are you feeling?"

He frowned. She was the one currently bedridden, yet she was concerned for him? "My well-being is none of your concern," he said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"It kind of is," she argued, "especially given the circumstances."

He raised an eyebrow. "And what circumstances would that be?"

"The ones where you don't remember who I am." Her tone was breathy, chest heaving with the strength it took to keep her eyes open and his own narrowed.

"You are speaking of that supposed spell I am under."

Dark eyebrows raised. "You admit to being under one?"

"I never admit to anything."

The edge of her mouth quirked, and she settled back against the bed, his pelt still wrapped firmly around her shoulders. "At least that part of you hasn't changed."

He could feel her power waning, and he touched her forehead, encouraging her to close her eyes. "You should rest."

She managed to raise her hand, lithe fingers wrapping around his wrist, his stripes tingling. "Did you find her?"

"Who?"

"Kagome." There was power in a name—it was the reason fae wanted them so badly—but the sound of that particular one on her lips caused an odd pressure in his chest.

"She has not bothered me for some time." He was surprised to feel the truth in his own words. Usually, his dreams were plagued with the woman, leaving him floundering between wakefulness and slumber, but his mind had been on other things the last few days.

Namely her.

The woman sighed in relief, whisps of her power sliding up to his elbow in a comforting caress. "I'm glad."

Sesshoumaru pulled his hand away to regain control of the situation—and his composure. "Since when do you care about what happens in Meikyuu?" he asked.

Sucking in a breath, she forced her eyes open, and he caught a flash of sapphire before the soft hue of chestnuts replaced it. "I've always been concerned with this place. And you."