Where My Heart Lies

A/N: This chapter is kinda quiet, but it lays the groundwork for chapter 5, please read both. ty oh, and Merona is my Character. Enjoy!

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After laying InuYasha on the makeshift bed of grass and straw, his pillow being one of her sweaters, Kagome sat back, slightly out of breath. For everything he was, InuYasha certainly wasn't light. She reflected on the events after Nioaku had died. The thought of not going back home had yet to register, and so she had focused on the most pressing manner. Safety. After assessing her situation, she had tried to find Miroku's or Sango's aura, but she couldn't. She was confused. She had been able to see InuYasha's aura from the well, why couldn't she see her other friends? Had she traveled that far away on her bike? Cold began to seep into her skin as she considered this. Kagome hadn't realized how cold it was with the adrenaline rush she had experienced, and now, with the night wind picking up, it was colder than ever. She had to find shelter, or else no matter how much poison she pulled from InuYasha, he wouldn't make it if fever set in.

Shivering, she looked around. She hadn't done this before by herself, but she'd be damned if she couldn't. Leaving the still sleeping half-demon, she eventually found a small river, which was good as she would need fresh water to cleanse InuYasha's wounds. Using another trick she had discovered about her powers she opened her hand palms up in front of her and concentrated. Feeling warmth in her palm, she saw the small blue orb of fire she had created. She smiled and quickly made a makeshift torch with a small fallen branch and some slow burning grasses. Her luck continued when she found an abandoned bear den. The den had been dug into a hill near the river, its entrance way almost completely grown over with roots and vines, making her crouch in order to get in. Upon entering, she found it only cluttered with dried leaves, which she save in a corner to start a fire. The area inside wasn't very big. Kagome had just enough room to stand with the roof sloping slightly as it reached the ends of it's perimeters, and it was about twice her height in length, but only about three quarters of that in width in the center. Towards the two ends, it narrowed out slightly. To determine its length, she lay down and was able to stretch her arms over her head, with just a few inches left to spare. Judging quickly, Kagome determined it would be perfect to hide herself and InuYasha from any of Nioaku's friends, as well as protect them from the elements until he was well enough to get them back to the village. She wasted no time returning to InuYasha's side.

Upon reaching him, she had realized another dilemma. How was she going to get him to the den? He was out cold! There was nothing she could carry him with, and she didn't trust her powers enough to try and lift him as she did the stick she had practiced with. Faced with no other option, she gabbed up her bag, bow, and arrows and swiftly deposited them in the den, and planted the torch in the ground, to the side of the den. Returning again to InuYasha, she pulled him upright and slung his arm over her neck, while wrapping her right arm to the left side of his waist. This way, she half carried, half dragged him to the den. After getting him inside, she left again to get what she needed to make something of a bed for him to rest on so he could heal. She left once more to grab the torch and bring it inside. Now here she was. InuYasha was still unconscious, and she was exhausted, with still so much left to do. Despite everything that had occurred, it still wasn't yet midnight. She needed to get healing herbs, which she had seen as she had looked for shelter, and water. She hadn't been able to get all the poison, quite a bit had been absorbed by his body. What was left wouldn't kill him immediately, but she would need every ounce of her healing powers and knowledge of medicine, as well as InuYasha's own immune system and regenerative powers if he was going to live through it.

InuYasha was breathing steadily, and so Kagome decided it was safe to leave for a moment. Taking the torch and exiting the den, Kagome started looking for the healing herbs she had seen. Kneeling to pick them, she finally considered the choice she had just made. I can't go back home . The thought registered with some shock. She would never see her family again. Mom..... Grandpa... Sota..... The enormity of what she had done struck her. She had wanted to be with InuYasha and everyone, but never had she thought there would be a time when she couldn't see her own flesh and blood. Crossing over between the worlds had become as normal to her as breathing. She had left everything she had known for a man she loved... but that she didn't know if he felt the same way. Sorrow filled her heart for the family she would never see again. I didn't even leave a note. I didn't say goodbye...... A tear slipped down her cheek, pooled at her chin and dropped into the frosted grass. Frost? That means it will snow sooner than I had thought. Sniffing and wiping away the wet trail on her cheek with the back of her hand she stood again. She had been moving around, automatically picking the necessary herbs as she had thought about her family in the future. Glancing around, she confirmed she had picked almost every plant available in the area, more than enough to do for at least a month, if not more. She wasn't sure how much she'd need to heal the damage the poison had done to InuYasha's body. As her mind wandered once again to the half demon, her fluttering heart calmed. This had been her choice; no amount of tears could change it. Her family knew she loved them, and she would always miss them, but InuYasha needed her now. Pushing away her sadness, she took a deep breath and headed to the river. Water was needed to cleanse InuYasha's wounds, as well as make the healing poultice.

Upon entering the den again, Kagome laid the herbs to one side and the water that she had collected in a fair-sized jug to another. She now had the task of removing InuYasha haori. Trying to judge what would be the best way to unclothe a man who was out cold, Kagome figured the only way was for her to support his weight while he leaned up. Straddling him, knees planted on either side of his thighs, Kagome pulled InuYasha by the front of his haori to a sitting position. She leaned back a little so he would fall forward slightly and be supported by her. Quickly, she fumbled with the ties of the robe and kimono he wore, InuYasha's cheek resting on her collar bone.

She could feel the flush rising in her cheeks. Dear Lord, please don't let him wake up with me like this!. No sooner had the thought entered her head, than she heard InuYasha moan. She froze.

Blinking, with eyes still unfocused from the poison, he raised his head slightly. Kagome wrapped her arms around him to keep him from falling back. His shirt lay against his chest, half open and exposing the smooth skin of his chest that was unmarred by the arrows wounds. Kagome stared wide-eyed with embarrassment.

"Ka...gome..?" InuYasha voice was soft. The look on his faced was dazed.

Kagome bit her bottom lip. InuYasha was still affected by the poison; she could feel the heat from his skin as the remaining toxin in his system worked on his body, causing a fever. Pressing one cool hand to his face she looked into his eyes.

"InuYasha, you're very badly injured. You have to be still while I take care of your wounds, and rest so you can heal. Okay?" She spoke softly but she wasn't sure if he understood. His eyes were unfocused, and nothing registered in his facial expression. His head fell forward as he slipped back into oblivion.

Working much more quickly now, Kagome stripped off his haori and kimono and lay him back down. She was still working by light of the torch, and so took a moment to set a small fire with the small branches she had collected earlier and the dried leaves she had found. It gave enough light to work by and would heat the den easily, but not to the point of discomfort. Putting out the torch, she turned to get a better view of InuYasha's wounds. She sucked her breath in between her teeth. The venom had slowed his own healing abilities considerably. A purple and black bruise was forming just below his ribs. The gash from Nioaku's dagger on his belly should have been half healed by now. It had stopped bleeding but was still an angry red wound. The marks from the arrows were the worst, both seeping some blood still, but also fiery red around the edges. Looking closer, she could also see small trace lines of black, where the poison was setting in. The wound made from Nioaku's short sword was also traced with black, and looked as though it might be infected. As it was closer to the arrow punctures than any of the others, it seemed have also absorbed some poison.

She grabbed the water she had left heating by the fire, then fished through the large book bag for her medicine kit. Retrieving it, she returned to InuYasha's side. Gently wiping away the blood that covered his torso, Kagome made a mental list of things that would be needed. A poultice would be needed to pack on the injuries, and there was plenty of cool water. She had the foresight to pack small meats to bring with her as a treat, now going to be used to make a broth for both her and InuYasha until she could find something else. She started to stitch the slash on InuYasha's stomach. Glad he's not awake for this . His skin was hot to the touch. The fever would be hard to fight as she didn't know how long it could last. InuYasha is strong. She reassured herself. All she had to do was start small and work up to larger doses of medicine until there were results.

After finishing the stitches, Kagome made the poultice and applied it wherever she saw InuYasha's flesh laid open. When she had finally finished, she sat back and observed her work. He was still breathing steadily, but the heat she had felt was warning of troubles to come. It was still chilly, despite the fire she had started, and so Kagome brought out the blanket she had packed. Upon bringing it to light, she was flooded with memories of her family. Her mother had made this blanket, fleece on the underside, soft wool on top. Again her eyes started to well. It still smelled like home. Pausing a moment longer, Kagome turned and covered InuYasha with warm, comforting fabric. After making sure he was comfortable and warm, she considered making something to eat with the provisions she had brought. A second later she dismissed the thought. It was late and she also needed rest. Not wanting to disturb InuYasha, she braced her back against the wall, in front of the entrance. Laying her bow and arrows to her right, with InuYasha on her left, she closed her eyes for an uneasy rest. Should anything come through the entrance, she would wake and kill it.

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Kagome's eyes opened as dawn crept in. She felt a little cold and noticed that the fire had gone out, only gray ashes remaining. Crawling over to InuYasha, she checked the fever. His skin still burned, but his breathing was deep. Turning back to the small fire pit, she gathered some dried leaves and sticks, and quickly conjured a small blue flame. Each time she used her powers, the task was easier. Returning to InuYasha's side, she checked on his wounds. Although they hadn't healed, the herbs she had used seemed to be fighting the infection on his shoulder, and the gash on his stomach didn't look to be getting worse. The injuries from the arrow still worried her though. The black lines of the poison hadn't gotten larger, but they hadn't gotten any smaller either. Kneeling beside him, Kagome placed a hand over each wound. Her brows furrowed as she concentrated to pull out more of the toxin. It was harder to find. Finally, trickles of water started to spill from the punctures. A few minutes passed, and Kagome had to stop. She hadn't been able to get the rest of it; the poison had gone deep into the tissue. After dressing InuYasha's wounds once again, she took up her bow and arrows and passed through the exit. What she saw once she was outside was both a blessing and a curse.

"You've got to be kidding me...." Kagome stared unbelievingly at the world before her. It had snowed overnight. Now she had to keep the snow out, and even if Miroku and Sango were looking for them, they'd never find them, not without any tracks. On the other hand, because the snow covered any tracks, as well as their scent, it would mean they would be safe from anyone who would want to take advantage of InuYasha's current state.

Kagome leaned back on her heels. "He so owes me for this when he gets better."

She would have to hunt for food, the small amounts she had brought were really only good for two or three meals. Not that hunting was really a big deal, she had done it plenty of times before. The only problem was, one of the others always skinned and cleaned the animal she had taken down. No one else was there to do it for her now.

"Learning all kinds of things about yourself lately aren't you.... killing demons in one blow, doin' the woodsy camping thing with guy who's dead to the world, healing deadly wounds by yourself, and now choppin up bunnies" she muttered to herself. Leaving the entrance to the den, Kagome wondered how long they would be in this situation.

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Two nights later, Kagome was physically and mentally exhausted. She had tried several times to see the aura's of her friends, but to no avail. InuYasha's fever had raged for the first day after the snow, then lessened, but did not show any sign of leaving. It still snowed lightly covering whatever tracks Kagome made. Meanwhile, InuYasha had been drifting in and out of consciousness, although he had not been coherent long enough to know where he was. When he was sleeping, his dreams seemed to be haunted. He would make distressing sounds, and twist or jerk as if avoiding something. During these episodes, Kagome knelt beside him, comforting the sleeping man until he calmed again. Still, Kagome took his wakings as a good sign. For the past two mornings, she had continued to pull poison from his body, then binding him again with the healing herbs. The wounds were healing well, with the cut on his stomach looking no worse than a scar. The others had lost the black trace lines around them, as well as the raw redness, but the fever continued. Between the extensive use of her powers and caring for InuYasha, she was completely drained. Dark had yet to fall completely. She desperately needed rest. Taking a quick note of all provisions and again confirming that InuYasha was still o.k., Kagome took up her now regular position across from the entrance. Laying her bow and arrow in her lap, she closed her eyes. A few hours ... that's all

Two hours later, InuYasha threw off the blanket covering him Too damn warm... Rolling onto his right side, he tried to clear his foggy mind. His eyesight still registered things as fuzzy and he still felt weak. Leaning up on one arm, he tried to make sense of the figure before him. Kagome. Sitting up asleep? Why..? He was confused, but so tired. Dark edges started to creep into his vision as sleep overtook him again. Stupid... weak... body.... Without the covering of the blanket, InuYasha fell asleep again.

Kagome wakened later in the night. It was cold again. To the left, she saw the fire had died down to mere embers. Damnit. She was still tired, as her worry for InuYasha prevented her from getting any truly restful sleep. At the thought of him, Kagome looked further to the left. Noting that he had thrown the blanket, she crept over to pull it back on him. When her hand touched his skin, she was shocked. Instead of being warm, it was icy. He was shivering so hard his teeth chattered! The blanket had been keeping him protected from the cold, and now that he was exposed, chill had set in. Wrapping the blanket around him, she tried to warm his skin, but to no avail. She grabbed the medicine kit she carried and skimmed through a handbook that she always kept packed. She worried he might have hypothermia. Finding the correct page, she tried to find the best way to warm him. Her breath stopped.

"In dire situations, the best method for warmth is skin to skin contact". That meant her skin to his. Not really the time to be worrying about this.... Kagome gasped slightly as the cold air struck her bare skin as she pulled off her sweater. Leaving her black bra and stretch pants on, she slid in next to InuYasha, facing his chest. Scooching closer, she stopped once her skin just touched his. Probably doesn't have to be that close. Still, there was a curling tightness in the pit of her stomach, a small thrill running through her that made her want to giggle nervously. She hadn't been this close to InuYasha before. Much less with this much near-skin-to-skin contact. Despite the time they had spent together, the most physical contact they had made had been a hug, or when he carried her on his back.

For Kami's sake, girl, get a grip! Kagome scowled as she rebuked herself. What the hell did she think she was doing? InuYasha needed her help. And it wasn't as if she hadn't seen or touched his body before. She eyed the chest that rose and fell right next to her, then resolutely scooted a couple of inches away. Smiling tensely to herself, she nodded. There, that's better. Letting out a small breath, Kagome started to relax.

The relaxation didn't last long. Sensing the heat, InuYasha reached out and clasped Kagome to him, one arm firmly around her waist, the other snaking behind her neck, holding her in a close embrace. Kagome's eyes went wide with shock. Stiffening in his hold, Kagome felt nervous discomfort for barely a heartbeat before her own skin registered another sensation. His body felt like it was starved for heat. All other thoughts left her mind in her concern for the hanyou. But she needed him to relax his grip, he was hurting her. Craning her head to his ear, she spoke softly to him until his arms loosened slightly. Even when they did, he still held Kagome close, with little to no space between them. Breathing evenly again, Kagome pulled the cover over both of them and waited for his shivers to cease. Once they did, she closed her eyes He's out of it anyway. Can't hurt to just grab a bit of shut-eye... soon after, she too was deeply asleep.

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A/N: and on to chapter 5!