Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Transit Umbra, Lux Permanet	By : ChaoticReverie Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 3749 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters. All OCs belong to me. I am not making any profit from writing this, it is for enjoyment only.

Chapter List
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There was nothing... only darkness. Seemingly tangible it hung in the air, swallowing all it touched and leaving a frightful emptiness in its wake, one that would have been completely infinite had it not been for the lone object suspended at the center.
A small sphere - no bigger than a marble - hovered in the blackness. It too was still for a short time... until it began to fracture, the sounds echoing within the vacuum like the shattering of glass.
The tiny sphere strained - pulsing - the rhythmic, muffled beat eerily familiar in the silence.
Thub-dub
Thub-dub
Thub-dub
...
Kagome woke abruptly, grimacing at the familiar pain inside of her. She clutched a hand to her breast, breathign steadily as she willed it away. Slowly the sensation abated, replaced by a bothersome throbbing behind her eyes. Still, a headache was better than the discomfort in her chest, the one that seemed to be growing worse as time passed.
Sitting up in her sleeping bag, the young priestess wondered to herself over the cause of the unpleasant development. It was a rather common topic of thought for her these days; one that had become increasingly worrisome as the pain grew. It was so strange... this feeling had been with her from the very beginning, shortly after she'd passed through the well on her fifteenth birthday. At first she'd tied the sensation to her ability to detect the shards, her spiritual connection with them allowing her to sense when they were near. But the feeling had grown more intense, flaring up when there were no shards anywhere nearby. There were days when the pain was unbearable, when it felt like something would rip her apart from the inside out.
And then there were the visions she'd been plagued with over the past year, depicting a glowing sphere breaking apart in a sea of darkness. She was certian it tied in the the Shikon somehow; she simply didn't know what it all meant, or why it was happening.
Pulling herself out of her troubling reverie, the you miko rose, nearly stumbling as a wave of vertigo hit her.
"Are you well, Kagome?" Miroku asked from across the camp, concern colouring his tone.
Steadying herself, she replied, "I'm fine, just a bit dizzy."
"The dream again?"
She nodded, trying not to move too quickly, lest her migraine worsen. Slowly she rolled her sleeping bag and retreived the things she needed to start breakfast. When she made for the river - pot in hand - she was stopped by a gentle tap on the elbow.
"Let me get that for you," Sango offered.
"I can do it."
The slayer shook her head. "It's not rouble, Kagome, really. I can tell that you're hurting right now. It would be best if you just took it easy."
Sighing, she nodded in consent. Handing the small silver pot to her friend, the young priestess returned to the fire, frowning as she stared into the licking flames. She hated being so helpless. It had been awkward enough before, to travel with three seasoned warriors and know next to nothing about combat, but her self-worth had continued to degrade as time went by and the pain grew worse. She felt like a burden, even though she knew they didn't view her that way. They loved her, of that she had no doubt, but she felt awful for contributing so little.
"You mustn't fret over these things," Miroku told her as he stepped up beside her, knowing precisely what she was thinking. She viewed herself as a weak, but in fact she was quite strong, much stronger than most people to continue on while her body was under such duress. He respected her, truly, for they could tell that she was in pain, yet she never complained, never asked them to slow for her. He only wished he knew more about her worsening condition, or how he could help her.
Crossing her arms tightly over her chest, she muttered, "What's wrong with me?"
Flashing a consoling smile, he placed a hand on her shoulder. Not for the first time, he suggested, "Perhaps we should take a break from shard hunting? Even for a few days? Some rest might be all that you need."
Kagome bit her bottom lip as she considered the notion, but then brushed it away as guilt quickly reminded her of her responsibilities. "I can't take a break, Miroku. I can't shirk my duties because I'm in a bit of discomfort. I've seen all of you soldier on with injuries and fatigue, so I can do the same."
The slayer returned, pot full of water, and placed it on the rack over the fire. Having heard the last bit of their conversation, she insisted, "You're not in a 'bit of discomfort'. We see the way you cringe when you think we're not looking. How hard it is for you to breathe when it gets bad. Something is seriously wrong, Kagome, and it won't change if we do nothing."
"They're right," Inuyasha finally put in. "Even we rest when we need to. You aren't doin' us any favors by pushing yourself like this."
The miko blinked, shocked at just how concerned he sounded. It wasn't common that her hanyou friend agreed to put a hold on their shard hunt.
Kagome fiddled with the hem of her shirt, feeling quite awkward about the situation. While she didn't want to delay them, she did hate to see them worried, so perhaps appeasing them was the best option for now. She nodded, sighing, "I suppose."
Infinitely relieved, Sango pulled her friend into a hug. "It's for the best, Kagome. We'll head back to Kaede's to get you patched up and be on our way again in no time."
The miko pouted half-heartedly when they forced her to sit down again, Sango insisting she would deal with breakfast preparations. Despite her discomfort, she couldn't help but laugh when a small disagreement ensued, Inuyasha gruffly reminding them of the disaster that occurred the last time the slayer had tried cooking for them. The result had been a questionable and downright inedible stew, and the monk had promptly thrown up after sampling it… or at least Kagome assumed it had been a stew. It had taken days for him to coerce Sango to speak to him again.
A few flustered curses and some placating remarks later and they agreed that perhaps it would be best if Miroku took over this time. He might not have been a chef by any means, but it was highly unlikely that he would ruin something as simple as porridge.
Kagome honestly didn't feel like eating anything, the idea of food making her gut twist. But she needed the nutrients, she knew, so she forced down two servings just to make certain they wouldn't be concerned. She convinced them to let her help a little with the cleanup, though there wasn't much that needed doing, and they were ready to depart within the hour.
"You can ride with us," Sango proposed.
Given her current state the priestess didn't argue, knowing it would undoubtedly be the steadiest method of travel. She slid onto Kirara's back, slayer and monk settling behind her. "Will it be too heavy?" she asked, not wanting to strain the neko.
"Nah, she can handle it," Sango assured. "Right Kirara?"
The large feline glanced back at them with brilliant red eyes, dipping her head minutely before crouching for takeoff.
Kagome held gently to the youkai's soft pelt, trying her best to relax and focus on keeping her discomfort contained. While her time here had taught her that things were rarely as simple as you wanted them to be, she desperately hoped that the others were right this time, and that their dilemma had a simple fix. Perhaps Kaede would have some insight as to why she was feeling this way. Her sister had been the guardian of the jewel, after all.
The wind on her face felt good, and she pulled a deep breath of cool air into her lungs as they ascended. The fire cat leapt across the air currents in steady, graceful bounds, and the priestess found the fluid movements immensely soothing.
Thankfully they hadn't encountered any leads in some time, nor had she felt the presence of a shard nearby. They'd merely been scouting, hoping to pick up on a rumor or stumble across something by chance. So while she did feel bad for delaying them, at least they weren't losing anything by taking this little side trip. Kagome was glad for that.
From her position on the neko's back, she could see Inuyasha below, keeping a steady pace with them. He appeared as a brilliant red dot on the landscape, streaking from one place to the next.
'He's gotten faster,' she noted with a little smile, thinking about how much he'd grown since the beginning of their journey. Hell, they'd all grown a fair deal over the past couple of years. Even she had learned a thing or two, though her debilitating state made it harder and harder for her to put those skills to good use. Her smile vanished. 'I hope we can figure this thing out. I don't want to get to the end and be dead weight to the others. In the shape I'm in now, I'd be nothing but a hindrance.'
Sometime during the flight she'd managed to fall asleep, and her rest had thankfully been uninterrupted by strange dreams and piercing chest pain. Her headache was still present when she woke, but it was a sensation she'd almost gotten used to.
"We're nearly there," Sango informed her as she patted her back gently.
Kagome followed the slayer's finger with her eyes as she pointed ahead, sighing when a familiar cluster of buildings came into view. Kaede had always presented a sort of home-away-from-home for all of them. It would be so good to see her again.
Several of the villagers gathered upon their arrival, as per usual. Their return was often a celebrated thing, as their presence tended to ward off most youkai. The elderly priestess – having undoubtedly sensed their approach – was already outside, waiting to greet them.
"Welcome back. Have ye fared well?"
Miroku addressed her with a bow. "For the most part, though we have encountered a troubling dilemma that we are hoping you can assist us with."
Brow furrowing, Kaede looked on as the slayer assisted the young priestess from the fire neko's back, noting the delicate manner of their approach. "Is Kagome well?"
He frowned. "Not entirely, though I will allow her to tell you the details."
Nodding, she gestured toward her hut. "Let us convene inside. I will make tea."
"That would be most appreciated, Lady Kaede."
The group all made their way inside, sans Inuyasha, who took up his perch atop the roof. Keen ears were still able to pick up every detail of their conversation from there, all while keeping an eye out for trouble.
While her discomfort did not dissipate upon their arrival, Kagome did feel a sense of relief upon entering the small abode, its familiarity filling her with a sense of peace. She touched the weathered wood of the doorframe, smiling wistfully.
They all gathered around the cooking pit at the center of the hut, and the elderly miko began her preparations while speaking, "I can sense a strain on your soul, child, though I feel no ominous influences around ye. Are ye able to sense this as well, Miroku?"
The monk nodded. "I can, but like you I am unable to detect a source for the disturbance within Lady Kagome. We had hoped that you, with your many years of insight, might offer some answers."
She nodded. "Tell me all ye can, Kagome."
Fingers lacing together in her lap, the young woman explained, "I've been experiencing a strange, painful sensation inside of me, one that has continued to worsen during my time here. When I first came through the well it was barely noticeable, a small tugging feeling… I only felt it when we were near a piece of the jewel. It didn't hurt, not really… but as time went by it grew stronger, and the feeling changed. It started happening more frequently, even when I was nowhere near a shard."
She fidgeted minutely, readjusting her position as she considered her words. "I started having dreams… where everything is shrouded in darkness, and something that looks like the Tama is hovering in the air. It starts to crack… and then I wake up with a pain in my chest. Sometimes it's bearable… other times I can hardly breathe. If I concentrate on willing it away that usually helps, but it always gives me a headache."
Kagome glanced up at Kaede, who was staring quite raptly at her. "I think… it may have to do with the jewel, but in what ways I am not certain."
The old miko regarded her. "I believe ye are correct in that, Kagome, but I do not sense even a sliver of impurity in the shards ye carry. They are untainted. That would dismiss any outside influence."
Miroku had not sensed a change in her shards either, but if such was not the case… "Do you think it could be self-inflicted? Not intentionally of course, but perhaps subconsciously?"
Kagome considered his words. She had heard of stress causing physical discomfort, but the level of her own seemed too extreme for such a thing to be the case. She regarded her mentor. "Did… did Kikyou ever experience anything like this during her vigil over the Shikon?"
She breathed deeply, eyes taking on glimmer of remembrance. "Kikyou had always carried a great weight upon her shoulders, though she never spoke of it to me. I could see it. It would often rob her of sleep… but I never witnessed her suffer through anything like what ye have described to me."
The water boiled, and Kaede removed it from the fire. Steeping the leaves, she went on, "While I am not certain of the cause of this ailment, all of ye would do well to rest here for a few days. Then I can keep an eye on ye and properly assess this condition."
Miroku and Sango met eyes briefly, both of them relieved that their friend would be getting some well-needed rest. At this point it was hard to say if it would make a difference, but she deserved it all the same. Even now she seemed in distressed, though she tried hard to mask it, smiling down at Shippou as he patted her leg with his little hand.
Noticing that the fire was beginning to dwindle, and knowing that the elder priestess would undoubtedly need more for preparing their meal, the monk stood, offering to retrieve a few more logs before stepping quietly out of the hut. He rounded the corner of the humble shelter, violet eyes seeking the hunched figure he knew to be settled upon the roof.
"Tea will be ready shortly if you would care for some," he called gently, knowing the hanyou would hear.
"Nah," Inuyasha responded, eyes fixed on the horizon, ever vigilant.
Miroku smiled a half-smile. He could always tell when his friend was in distress, the white, rectangular ears upon his head flattened, twitching every so often. "We'll do everything we can for her. Kagome is strong, she'll pull through."
Mouth pursing into a frown, Inuyasha remained silent. He never did well with situations like these, these awkward, frustrating moments where he was utterly helpless. He'd lived through thousands of battles, fought thousands of foes, but nothing shook him quite like this. In battle he could act, he could push his enemies back and sink his claws into their flesh. Yet this was different. His foe was unseen, intangible, not something he could truly fight. There was so little he could do for his dearest friend, and it pained him greatly to be so useless to her. He hated not being able to protect her.
Quite suddenly the air shifted, his hackles rising as a massive, malevolent force flared up from seemingly nowhere. He leapt to his feet as it raced across his skin, cold like frigid fingers. From the corner of his eye he could see the monk had gone rigid, obviously sensing the dark presence as well.
"What the hell was that?!"
A pained cry from within the hut snared the attention of both men, and Sango's frantic shouts had them both racing to the hut's entrance. Inuyasha was the first inside, though Miroku was only a few steps behind him.
Sango looked up in concern as they entered, curling protectively over Kagome's hunched form.
The young miko was trembling, one hand on the floor to steady her, the other clutching at her chest. She was drawing in long, ragged breaths, the dark curtain of her hair falling in front of her face. She pulled back slowly, settling on her knees, her teeth clenched tight in concentration. A handful of seconds passed, and the shaking had not subsided. Something wasn't right. Usually she was able to subdue the feeling rather quickly.
The scent of her blood reached his nose before he saw it: a thin trail of red seeping from her nostril and over her lip. Inuyasha balked. He watched as her form slowly went limp, blue eyes rolling back in her head as she toppled sideways.
Sango was there to catch her, frantic as she tried to rouse the girl. "Kagome! Wake up!"
There was no response, not even a flutter of sooty lashes. Even the young woman's breathing seemed shallow and irregular.
The slayer lowered her carefully onto the small mat in the corner of the hut. Kaede was there an instant later, Miroku at her side, her old hands shaking as she held them over the prone girl.
"Ye felt the dark energy in the distance, did ye not?" she questioned him, knowing that he had.
"Yes, and it undoubtedly had something to do with Kagome's current condition. But that can wait. Is there anything we can do for her now?"
She frowned, searching for what might have possibly triggered this reaction. She found nothing unusual, apart from the slow pulse and slight increase in temperature. "I cannot sense any change. Whatever this is… it is far beyond the realm of my knowledge."
Hearing that, Inuyasha slid past both of them, kneeling down to collect Kagome in his arms. He gathered her up carefully and stood, turning to the door.
"Where are ye taking her?"
"To her home," he responded gruffly, wasting no time. He tucked her close to him and took off with a bound, trying not to jostle her limp body. He knew the doc-tors in her time were far more skilled than the healers in his. He prayed with everything he had that they could cure her.
'Hold on, Kagome. Just hold on a little longer. You can't die on me… please.'
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