Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Worth Waiting For
By : inumom
Category: InuYasha > General
Views: 6484 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.
Chapter List
- 25
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- 27
26. Winning and Losing

It was dark, and quiet, and warm. There was no pain or other sensation to disturb the peace. Nor was there any noise save for a soft rhythmic sound that seemed to draw her up through the layers of darkness around her. She would, she thought, have been perfectly content to simply remain peacefully in this non-place for all time, but that sound was calling to her--there was something important out there waiting for her, and that sound would lead her to it.
Although still the central noise on which she focused her attention, she gradually became aware of other sounds around her, other sensations in and around her body. There was an almost continuous hum of what sounded like soft voices--or were they simply far away? Still, she tended to ignore the indistinct noises in favor of the rhythm that seemed to mean life itself to her. Gradually, she noticed that she was actually half-lying against something firm and very warm, with more of that same warmth wrapped around her middle. The wound in her leg had settled down to a dull throbbing, and seemed to have been tended with at least a little skill--she could feel what could only be a snug bandage on her injured thigh. Far more disturbing to her was the odd sensation of a sticky wetness seeping through her kimono from behind--or was it beneath--her. She became aware of a familiar, comforting fragrance, much like that of pine trees and a soft rain, somehow overlaid with a harsh metallic scent. The coppery odor was already adding to what felt like the beginnings of a pounding headache.
Her eyelids fluttered momentarily, then opened. Surprisingly, she was in her bedchamber, where she must have been brought after the fighting ended. Shifting position slightly, she was surprised to find that she couldn�t move. Looking down, she was not all that shocked to see two arms covered in red and ending in hands equipped with sharp claws wrapped firmly around her waist. Now more aware of her surroundings, she realized exactly what was holding her in place and could easily identify the source of the weight on the top of her head.
She gave one of the arms around her a light squeeze to signal that she had awakened, and was rewarded when the grip on her loosened slightly. The weight on her head moved, coming to rest on her right shoulder. A soft voice rough with pain and something else she wasn�t quite able to identify spoke into her ear. �Crazy bitch. What the hell were you thinking of?�
She only had to turn her head slightly to see the amber eyes that flashed at her with concern. �It worked, didn�t it?�
He nodded slowly, not willing to relinquish his grip on her just yet. �It worked. I just can�t figure out where you got such a stupid idea.�
�I saw that my first arrow didn�t do a lot of damage. Then I remembered when we were first together, when you were trying to fight Yura. You turned your blood into a weapon. It seemed to me that miko blood would probably hurt Naraku worse than anything else I could think of. In combination with the purifying energy of the arrow, your Bakuryuuha, and Naraku�s own power that you turned back on him, I guess it was enough.�
�Still,� the soft voice murmured, �It was a big risk. You could have waited a little before trying something so desperate.�
�Maybe,� she said, �But everybody else was already hurt--everybody I could see, anyway. Is Shippou all right?�
Her mate nodded, and she realized exactly how tired he looked. �Naraku never touched him. He had the good sense to disguise himself so that bastard couldn�t find him. He�s pretty tired, though--all those illusions took a lot out of the little runt.�
Grabbing his arm, she pulled herself to a sitting position. �Good. Of course, if I know you, you haven�t let anybody look at your injuries yet.�
Attempting to pull her back against his chest, he shook his head. �It�s nothing. I�ve had worse.�
She replied with an especially rude expletive he hadn�t even realized that she knew. At the look of absolute shock on his face, she continued, �Don�t give me that crap! Sure, you heal faster than the rest of us. Sure, you can ignore pain that would have the rest of us curled into a shivering ball on the floor. Sure, you have to be the tough guy. I don�t give a damn! Besides,� she said, her tone softening slightly, �I have an idea--I want to try something.�
With absolutely no idea what she was talking about, he released her, allowing her to finally examine his wounds. Pulling open his haori, she shivered as she saw the deep punctures spread across his chest and stomach. Tugging at the hem of her kimono, she trembled in a combination of fatigue and frustration until he whispered, �You�re not going to give up, are you?� At the pure determination on her face, he sighed, using a single claw to start a tear in the expensive silk of the garment. Pulling a strip of fabric loose, she looked around for some water--he must have used some to clean her leg up before bandaging it.
Once she spotted the water on the bedside table, she dampened the cloth, using it to gently clean away the excess blood that was obscuring her view of his wounds. She was instantly sorry she had done so--they looked even worse now that they were clearly visible.
With nothing but pure instinct to guide her, she straddled his hips in a position he would have found absolutely delightful under any other circumstances. Leaning forward, she grabbed his shoulders in a gesture he found eerily familiar. It was just after that witch Urasue had forced Kagome�s soul into the artificial shell she had made for Kikyou, when Kikyou, convinced that he had betrayed her and consumed by hate, had tried to kill him.
But this, after all, was not Kikyou. He relaxed as he felt the energy building in her. He could feel her breathing slow as she turned her attention inward so that she could control the power she was generating deep within. Instead of the painful shock of Kikyou�s attack, what he experienced was a powerful warmth, something like being wrapped in heated blankets. It lasted only a few seconds, and was over almost before he realized that it had happened at all. Afterwards, she slumped against his chest, sinking once again into a deep sleep.
Surprisingly, he could feel no pain where she leaned against his wounds. Moving her carefully around to a more comfortable position at his side, he looked down and realized with a profound shock exactly why there was no pain. Somehow, she had used the energy within herself to heal his injuries.

*
Though he actually required very little sleep, Inuyasha had found that sleeping next to his mate was enormously pleasant, not an experience to be missed if at all possible. Unfortunately, other concerns occasionally intruded on his blissful rest. Although he had assured her that the others were in fact going to recover with no lasting ill effects, he had not yet had the opportunity to reciprocate and inform them that Kagome would indeed be all right once she had rested from the unaccustomed exercise of her miko powers. Making certain that she was indeed deeply asleep, the hanyou carefully disengaged himself from his mate, moving silently out of the room.
Of the humans making up the largest part of his strange little family, he could see that Sango had been hurt the worst. If not actually broken, her ribs were badly bruised--it would be some time before she would be able to resume her normal activities. Miroku�s injuries consisted of a broken ankle and a nasty cut on his forehead from a close call with one of Naraku�s clawed appendages. Although there was the possibility that the wound would be poisoned, there was so far no sign of it. Still, it would definitely leave a scar.
Though the injured had managed to treat themselves and each other with some skill thanks to Kohaku�s early training in field medicine--a very useful skill for a youkai taijiya--and the family�s extensive reference library, Inuyasha still had some burning questions that badly needed answers. After making sure that the injured were comfortable, Shippou and Nozomi were playing happily together, and Kanna was securely confined in a vacant room sealed by one of Miroku�s wards, Inuyasha turned to Kohaku. Although uncertain of exactly how the boy had been revived--indeed, that was one of the questions he wanted answered--he was not about to turn down any possible help. Giving the taijiya boy detailed instructions, the hanyou watched as he leaped aboard the large Kirara and left for the village.
Although he had considerable concerns, he was unwilling to discuss them with the family members before he had any real information. Fortunately, he did not have long to wait.
It was only a matter of an hour or so before the firecat youkai returned bearing Kohaku and Kaede, the elderly miko from the village. At a word from the hanyou the boy disappeared into the cave to make some tea for their guest. Once they were alone, Inuyasha settled the old woman on a simple seat made from a section of tree trunk cut to a comfortable thickness.
Kaede watched him in silence, not entirely believing that this was the same brash young man who had given her so much aggravation when he was first unsealed. After a long pause during which he fidgeted endlessly, the old miko shook her head slowly. �I know you didn�t summon me here just to admire my beauty, Inuyasha. What�s happened?�
He shook his head, eyes focused on the ground before him. �I don�t know. There�s a lot that�s happened in the past day or so, and I don�t know what to make of it.�
If she had any opinions about that she kept them to herself. �Tell me,� she said simply.
He snorted. �You�re a miko. Haven�t you felt anything unusual lately?�
The old woman nodded slowly. �I felt�something. Something strong. But I don�t know what it was.�
He paced back and forth for a few moments. �Naraku came for us last night.�
�That explains much,� she said, peering at him with her good eye. �You are all well?�
He shook his head. �I don�t know.� He quickly summarized the events of the previous day, describing everyone�s injuries in great deal. Opening his haori, he showed the old miko his lack of wounds. �Even I don�t heal this fast, Babaa. But,� he continued, �There�s something else.� He went on to describe Kagome�s use of her blood as a weapon, the purification of the battlefield, the resurrection of Kohaku, his own healing, and the fact that he could no longer smell their new pup in her scent. �What,� he asked, not at all cure he wanted to know, �The hell happened?�
The old woman sighed, shaking her head. This was not going to be pleasant. �There�s a reason why mikos don�t marry--it�s not just an empty tradition. Mikos can do the things they do because they can channel the energies around them through their own bodies. If a miko was to become very close to another--a mate or child, for example--she could hurt or even kill them accidentally if her control of the energies isn�t absolutely flawless. Since neither you nor your daughter were harmed by the energy released I�d say that Kagome�s control is as close to perfect as I�ve ever seen. Unfortunately, not even the most powerful miko who ever lived would be able to protect an unborn child from that kind of power.�
Although he didn�t understand much of what she was saying, the implications were clear enough. He stared at the dusty ground between his feet. When he spoke, his voice was choked. �Then we�ll never have another pup.�
The old woman shook her head. �It�s not as bad as that. Even though you�ve lost this one, I doubt that Kagome will ever need to be the focus of such intense energies again. Even so, it would probably be safe enough for her to do so as long as she�s not with child. I expect,� she said, smiling slightly, �That this village will be plagued by inuhanyou for generations to come. Besides,� she said, �Your hanyou blood is the best chance for her to successfully bear a child--it�s not likely to be overcome by the normal energies in her.�
�How the hell do I tell her?�
The old woman shook her head. �That�s not something I can help with--you�ll know the best way when the time comes.�
He shook his head. �I still don�t understand it. How could the same energy that took our pup revive Kohaku?�
�It isn�t Kohaku--not completely, anyway. Even though your mate�s healing energy was strong enough to heal Kohaku�s body, it was not sufficiently powerful to recall his soul from the other world. Instead, her power somehow merged the soul of your pup with Kohaku�s body.�
The hanyou shook his head. �That�s not possible--Kohaku remembers his whole life.�
Kaede shook her head. �Memory has nothing to do with the soul. If it did, Kagome would possess all of my sister�s memories as well as her own. No,� she said, rising to go inside and check on the condition of the injured, �Things will all turn out as they must. Just wait and see.�

*

The old woman was not especially surprised to see that the group�s injuries had been treated with some skill. Sango�s ribs--which were only badly bruised after all--were tightly bandaged, and although her mobility was somewhat restricted, the pain was kept under control by the strange medicines from Kagome�s world. The monk�s broken ankle had been splinted and tightly wrapped so that he could move around a bit with the help of his staff. The long cut above Miroku�s eye had been closed by what looked like small knots, of all things. She shook her head in surprise but realized that the bizarre treatment would result in a thin line of a scar that would give the monk a rakish look rather than a large mass of disfiguring scar tissue. She was inwardly glad--he was, after all, a good-looking boy, and it would have been a shame if those looks were ruined.
She paused briefly outside Kagome�s bedchamber. Although she had no desire to intrude, she could only assess the younger woman�s condition if she observed her. Besides, it would probably be better if she could speak to the young miko without the presence of her anxious mate. Pushing aside the reed curtain, she stepped into the dimly lit room.
The first thing she noticed was the trembling form of the young woman huddled into a tiny ball under what appeared to be a very warm quilt of unusually fine workmanship. Nodding slowly to herself, she left the room in search of Inuyasha.
She finally found the hanyou in one of the home�s storage rooms. He looked up at her quiet approach. She nodded slowly at the unspoken questions in his golden-amber eyes. �She�ll be fine in time,� she said, taking him by the arm and leading him back in the direction of their bedchamber. �She�s expended a lot of energy, and is having trouble maintaining her body temperature. You must go and keep her warm until she is once again able to do so for herself. When she wakes she will be extremely hungry. Do not allow her to rise until I return tomorrow. By then she should be nearly herself again.�
He needed no further urging. As the old miko hobbled off to ask Kohaku to return her to her home, he pushed aside the curtain separating their bedchamber from the rest of the household. He saw instantly that the old woman had not been overstating the situation. One look at the violently shivering figure curled up in the futon and he made his decision. Peeling off his clothes, he slid under the quilt, wrapping his arms around his mate.
Feeling the cold of her skin even through her clothes, he instinctively made the right choice. Releasing her from his grasp, he quickly stripped off her clothes, throwing them carelessly to the floor.
Even though her body felt like a block of ice in his arms, he pulled her close so that his body was pressed against her icy back. Resting his chin on the top of her head, he tightened his grip on her, using his free leg to hold both of hers tight against him.
Gradually her uncontrollable shivering subsided as the warmth of his body began to seep into hers. His grip tightened on her and he had to fight down the surge of desire brought on by their close proximity and her powerfully enticing scent. Mentally berating himself for even thinking about physical pleasure under such serious circumstances, he resigned himself to a long, frustrating night of self-denial. With a sigh of frustration he closed his eyes and tried to ignore the now warm body in his arms.
He awoke to dark eyes staring into his amber ones. �It�s gone, isn�t it? The pup, I mean.�
Not trusting himself to speak, he simply nodded. As she collapsed against his chest in tears he enfolded her in his arms, stroking her hair carefully. �I know, love,� he whispered. �Kaede says it�s because of all the energy that went through you in the battle. She says we should be able to have as many pups as we want as long as you don�t have to focus that kind of power when you�re pregnant.�
Her wild sobbing quieted until only a few sniffles remained. �Could we start one right now?�
�No,� he said, lightly brushing his lips across her forehead. �Kaede says you have to rest and eat for a day or two. Besides,� he said, �You�re not in heat now.�
She sat up. �If you say so, I�ll eat. Just give me a few minutes, and I�ll get some breakfast.�
�The hell you will,� he growled, pushing her back down to the futon. �The old hag said that you�ve got to stay down until she comes back tomorrow, and for once I agree with her. I�ll go and get the food.�
It didn�t take him long to put together a simple meal of smoked fish, a rich broth that had been left simmering over the fire, some cold rice, one of the first melons of the season, and some tea. When he returned with the large meal he found her shivering once again.
Sitting up with his back against one of the trunks, he pulled her icy form into his lap, wrapping them tightly in the quilt. As he fed her carefully, he thought about what the old miko had said. Maybe, he decided, his mate�s coldness was due to a combination of her exertion and several hours without food.
Once she had finished almost the entire tray of food, the hanyou pulled his badly chilled mate back down to the futon. Even though her trembling stopped soon, he could feel an untouched core of coldness deep within her body. Beginning to grow more than a little worried, he pulled the limp body closer against him, looking up at a soft sound in the doorway.
�Mama?�
He released his mate long enough to gesture for the pup to approach. �Mama�s not feeling good, pup.� Suddenly getting an idea, he continued, �Mama�s really cold. Do you think you could help me get her warm again?�
Though the child usually slept with her parents--unless they required privacy for a time--she was more than happy to help out. The thought that she could be of help to the two people she practically worshipped above all others was intensely appealing. At her father�s direction she crawled into the opposite side of the futon, curling up into a warm ball against the woman�s stomach.
They were still in that position when Kaede returned several hours later.
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Worth Waiting For	By : inumom Category: InuYasha > General Views: 6484 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Worth Waiting For