HM: Last chappy folks, sorry! Hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Chapter 5
"What's wrong with him? Why won't he wake up?" Kagome asked frantically, sinking to her knees with Inuyasha's head in her lap.
Sango knelt beside the miko. "He hasn't eaten or slept since you ran from us Kagome. I think it's finally caught up with him in his human form."
"He stopped eating and sleeping when I left?" Kagome asked incredulously.
Miroku nodded. "And when he went to see you we found him about 5 miles west of the well. He'd ran through the rain and mud until he'd collapsed."
Kagome stroked Inuyasha's midnight hair away from his face. "What have I done? How could I be so hard on him?"
Sango put a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder. "It's alright Kagome. You didn't know he'd react like this." The demon-huntress stood. "I'll make some soup. He'll be hungry when he wakes."
"I'll help you Sango." Miroku said, standing and following Sango, knowing that Kagome would want some time alone with Inuyasha, even if he was asleep.
Kagome stroked Inuyasha's face gently, her eyes worried. 'God, he's already so thin…..' she thought. 'To not eat for 5 days, or sleep.'
Shippo came to sit beside Kagome. "Is he going to be alright Kagome?"
"I'm sure he'll be fine Shippo. He just needs a little rest, and some food." Kagome replied, smiling shakily at the kitsune.
Shippo's face brightened. "Good. It would be weird not to have Inuyasha around."
Kagome smiled for real at the small fox's enthusiasm. "You're right Shippo. It just wouldn't feel right at all."
A sudden groan caused her to look down. Inuyasha's eyelids were fluttering in his sleep, his face scrunched up in a look of worry. As Kagome watched he moaned again. "Kagome….please don't leave me..." the unconscious boy murmured.
Kagome was shocked to see a single tear slip down the side of Inuyasha's face as he whimpered in sadness. She leaned over, putting her mouth by Inuyasha's ear. "Shh, I'm here. It's alright," she whispered, stroking his face and wiping away the tears slowly trekking their way down his face.
"Kagome…." Inuyasha muttered, then he slowly opened tired violet eyes. "You're back," he whispered, watching Kagome's face above him.
Kagome nodded. "I'm so sorry I left, that I said all those awful things, I never,"
She stopped when Inuyasha pushed himself into a sitting position, then leaned against her, exhausted. "I know Kagome." He sighed into the crook of her neck, burying his nose in her hair. "I didn't mean what I said either."
Kagome sniffed, then threw her arms around his shoulders, crying into his haori. "Oh Inuyasha!"
The boy gave her a half hug back, using one shaky arm to keep himself from collapsing on her. He closed his eyes, focusing on staying awake.
Kagome felt the tremor run through his shoulders and pulled away. "You must be hungry! Sango's made some soup."
Inuyasha nodded, then leaned fully against her, closing his eyes. "I think I'll get some sleep first….." His voice faded off as he sank back into sleep.
Kagome smiled, gently transferring Inuyasha's head to her lap and settling him on his back. Softly pressing a kiss to his forehead she brushed away a few midnight locks of his hair. "I love you Inuyasha. Sleep well."
As she pulled back she saw a smile flicker across the sleeping boy's lips, if only for an instant.
(The next day, roughly noon)
"Wake up sleepyhead." Kagome murmured, putting one hand on Inuyasha's cheek. The sleeping hanyou showed no sign he'd noticed, just continued his slumber.
Kagome sighed. As much as she loved watching Inuyasha sleep it was time to go. He was so cute with his ears flicking as he dreamed and his face so peaceful in sleep. She petted his silver hair and inu ears, thinking that would wake him, but he simply smiled as she touched his ears.
A grin came onto Kagome's face. She lightly began to scratch behind Inuyasha's ears, trying to hold back giggles as the hanyou's face relaxed completely. A growling filled the air and Kagome was shocked to find that it came from Inuyasha's throat.
"He can purr?" Shippo said from his place beside Sango. The woman giggled while Miroku grinned and inched closer to the demon-huntress…..just to come out with a red cheek.
Kagome stopped her scratching and smiled. "I know what'll wake him," she said slyly. Sango snorted, knowing exactly what the miko planned to do.
Inuyasha's eyes flew open seconds later to find Kagome leaning over his chest, kissing him gently. His cheeks flared red as Kagome pulled away. "Um, Kagome…."
The girl smiled shyly. "What? Don't you like waking up like that?" Her only response was an audible gulp. She giggled. "I'll remember not to do it again then."
Inuyasha blushed redder and stuttered frantically. "I never said that!"
Shippo was rolling on the ground, peals of laughter escaping the kitsune. Sango was giggling madly into her hand and Miroku was full-out laughing at the dumbstruck hanyou.
Kagome laughed and help Inuyasha climb to his feet. "I love you too you big dog."
Inuyasha's face attempted to mimic his fire-rat. "I never said that either!"
Kagome just smiled. "But you were thinking it."
Inuyasha opened his mouth to retort, but was interrupted by a loud rumble from his stomach. Kagome burst out laughing at the look on Inuyasha's face. His eyes were wide, ears back in surprise and his mouth open. He grinned weakly. "Anybody hungry?"
His only response was the laughter of his friends.