What the Darkness Brings

What the Darkness Brings
By: I Agree

Disclaimer: I own nothing

PART I: The Consequence of Recovery

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Chapter 3: A Little Bit of Hope

Kagome was getting worse by the day. At times she was lucid enough to speak, to reassure the others there had been nothing they could do to help. Those times were becoming increasingly few and far in between. No one believed she would make it past the next two weeks.

It was hard watching her. It was even worse being in the same room with her. He could smell her agony, he could hear her near-inaudible whimpers in her restless sleep. Watching her try to writhe around in an attempt to ease the pain broke his heart. Her normally healthily tanned skin was pale and moist with sweat. Her face was continually contorted in pain, her hands clenching so hard her palms had begun to bleed long ago. She had to relieve herself where she was. Sango or Kaede were constantly cleaning up after her.

When she was lucid was somehow able to suppress the pain to eat and try to reassure Shippou she was holding onto her life as much as she could. The kit was too smart and his senses too good for her to even try to lie about her survival, especially when it looked so grim. She was the one who was handling the situation the best, as crazy as it sounded. She smiled when everyone cried, she was the practicality when everyone was hysterical and panicking. It amazed him that she could be so calm in such a condition. He would never be so strong, he would have given up from the first. He supposed he was the one acting the worst in this. He couldn’t listen to her whimper in her sleep without whining himself. When she paused in taking a breath he went into a panic, thinking she was going to die right then. But that wasn’t the worst part. The worst was he could do nothing for her, only watch her pain.

He was helpless.

Inu-Yasha stared up at the night sky from the roof of Kaede’s hut, his body tense and weary. It had been a week since he’d found her at the bottom of that damn well, a week of his best friend in torment because he hadn’t gotten to her in time. What kind of friend was he anyway? He knew exactly what type. He was a friend that pissed off everyone around him and drove them away so he couldn’t help him in time, that’s what kind of friend he was. Worst yet, he was a friend who was going to lose his best friend. That was no friend at all in his book.

The inu hanyou heaved a sigh and jumped down from the thatched room, figuring it was time to relieve Sango from watching over Kagome. It was getting dark and the woman hadn’t had any rest or a substantial meal since the day before. Bracing himself, he opened the tatami door and stepped inside. Not two feet in he had to suppress a gag of revulsion at the combination of undesirable scents. He didn’t dare breathe through his mouth. He would more than likely taste everything then.

He walked over to the corner where Kagome rested fitfully and leaned down, touching Sango’s shoulder. “Hey.”

The young taijia jumped in surprise, blinking wildly up at him with tired eyes. “Wha?”

Inu-Yasha gave her a half smile, “Go to bed Sango. I’ll look after Kagome for the night.”

“Oh.” The young woman stood up, wobbling slightly in her exhaustion. “I’ll to now bed go.”

He chuckled softly at her slur, watching as she stumbled over to where Miroku slept and cuddled next to the monk. It wasn’t long before she was asleep herself, snuffling softly in her rest. He smiled slightly but only gave her his attention for a few more moments until he began his watch over Kagome. His breath caught when he saw pain contorting her normally pretty face. Instantly, he reached out and touched her clammy cheek, trying to sooth her pain through his touch. It didn’t work of course he didn’t think she could feel anything beyond her agony. It was a heart-wrenching thought. With a sigh, Inu-Yasha pulled away from his friend and shifted so he could lean against the wall. He crossed his arms and sighed, taking in Kagome’s scent. He winced at the illness he found.

She was going to die and it was his fault. How could he be so stupid to let her go alone? So what if they had taken that path countless times before? The world was an unpredictable place and so many things were capable of happening. And not only was he stupid for letting her go home alone, he was stupid for not letting her go home more times than he had. Hell, he missed his own mother, why try to take Kagome’s from her?

“In-Inu-Yasha?”

Surprise, the hanyou’s gaze snapped to the one lying beside him, his eyes widening when he saw her pain filled eye concentrating on him. He reached out and grasped her hand. “What? What is it? Are you alright? Can I get you anything?”

A wavering smile graced her lips, warming his heart just a bit. But a spasm of pain had her grimacing soon after, tears coming to her eyes as she tried to fight off a whimper. “You… don’t need to… get me anything Inu-Yasha.”

He nodded sadly, squeezing her hand in reflex. “How is it? Are you feeling at all better?”

A tear fell to the futon under her, “It comes and goes.”

Inu-Yasha nodded again, unsure what to do or say. He gazed down at their joined hands, forcing his own tears back, not wanting her to feel any worse than she did. Kagome never did like anyone to cry at her expense, it had always made her cry as well. And though she was already crying, there was no need to make it worse. She knew how he felt anyway, so there really was no reason for him to express that sentiment so physically. She knew. She always knew.

Her sudden intake of breath started him and his spine stiffened in preparation of her falling into unconsciousness once more. The clearness of her eyes told him she was far from the sleeping world for the moment. “Inu-Yasha, please, I need you to do something for me.”

He nodded eagerly, scooting closer to her so he could hear her quieting voice, “What? What is it? I’ll do anything if it’ll get you better.”

“Kill me.”

His breathing ceased and for a moment it seemed as if his world stopped turning. Had he heard her right? Kill? Kill Kagome? No. Surely he had heard her all wrong. She wouldn’t ask him to kill her. There was no possible way. She was too strong for death and he too weak to end her misery. She knew that. She couldn’t have requested that of him. In short jerks, Inu-Yasha shook his head, forcing himself not to crush her hand in his by mistake. “What? What did you say?”

The desperation in her eyes frightened him more than any demon had ever been able to, “Please, Inu-Yasha. Kill me. I can’t live this way.”

Her voice was a mere whisper, but he heard it as if she had been shouting. “K-kill?”

“Please.” She sobbed the word.

He shook his head emphatically, “Kagome I can’t!”

“Yes you can, you have to!”

“No!”

“I can’t… live like this Inu-Yasha. I’ll go insane.”

“You can’t make me kill you! I won’t do it!” He hissed.

Tears began to fall from her eyes, “I’m going to die anyway Inu-Yasha. I should have died… down in the well. No one… should be able to live through an injury to the spine.”

“That means you might live!”

“It means… I’m going to die… in agony or live in misery.”

He looked away from her, his eyes closing in fear and hurt. In his minds eye he could see a lifeless Kagome where she lay, his hands stained in her blood. Horror and dread forced a sob from his throat and with his free hand he covered his mouth. The acid of his stomach began to rise in his esophagus; he forced it away along with the horrifying image in his head. He looked at her dully, his mind desperately trying to completely understand her request. Was she truly asking him to kill her? Did she really think he could? She was everything to him, didn’t she know? Didn’t she know he would die along with her if he was the one who took her life?

But she was in pain. She was dying. It hurt him so much to see her like this. Would it be so damning to end her suffering? They had no way to heal her, no way to dull her pain. Would it be a kindness to kill her?

Inu-Yasha shook his head and sighed dismally as he gazed into his friends eyes. “Not now Kagome. I promise I will if we can’t find something to help you soon. Kirara is still trying to get one of those other miko’s. Hang on just for a bit longer.” The relief in her eyes almost made him retch. He couldn’t even imagine how much pain she was in if she was relieved that he promised to kill her. It must be hell.

The hanyou watched her fall into unconsciousness again, carefully extracting his hand from hers so she wouldn’t be harmed by his claws. Releasing a shuddering breath, Inu-Yasha buried his face in his hands. There wasn’t going to be any help coming soon enough. Kirara could get anyone here fast enough to keep Kagome from forcing him to fulfill his side of their deal. Kirara had left four days ago to get an infamous miko. The fire cat wasn’t even likely to get back for another week. The priestess lived on the mainland.

Kagome was going to die and he was the one that was going to kill her.

Dear heavens forgive him for killing one of the blessed ones.

“M-master Inu-Yasha.”

The familiar nasally voice of Myouga on his shoulder had him jerking upright. Instantly his sorrow formed into fury. Angrily, Inu-Yasha snatched the small flea youkai up and glared down at him and snarled, “Hell of a fucking time to show up, flea. What sort of problem with the ladies do you have now?”

The flea in his clutches shook uncontrollably, “N-none, my lord. I had just h-heard the Shikon n-no Miko had been b-badly hurt. I w-wanted to confirm the rumor.”

Inu-Yasha tossed the flea across the room. “What use are you then you damn coward?”

He heard a tiny thump against the wall, but the little servant came back and stood next to his former master’s son, hopping from one foot to the other. “But my lord! I think there is help yet!”

His golden gaze snapped to the fidgeting demon, “What?”

“There is one, my lord, who might know how to help Lady Kagome.”

Inu-Yasha didn’t like the way he was avoiding naming the person or demon. The flea usually gave the name straight away. It was going to be someone he really didn’t like. “Who?”

Myouga’s voice hitched for a moment, sounding like a hiccup before he continued, “Your family has long been privy to medical scrolls that are beyond this time. Each inu in the family is tutored thoroughly in ways of healing.”

The implications were all too loud, “Sesshou-Maru. You’re telling me that my bastard half-brother is the only hope for keeping Kagome alive.”

His vassals eyes were fearfully round, as if he were afraid he would be squished for implying something of the sort. Inu-Yasha’s mind, however, was on a different thought process than violence. Sesshou-Maru could help Kagome. But would he help? Would he give aid to his hated sibling? In both their lives they had never done a single kind thing for each other. The hanyou stared at Kagome lying unconscious before him. Should he even try to find the Western Lord? Would he be able to get back in time?

Inu-Yasha stood, deciding it didn’t matter if Sesshou-Maru didn’t want to help. He at least had to try. He could do no less for Kagome.

Turning towards the door, he didn’t even bother giving a backwards glance, knowing it would be harder to leave if he saw her in her injured state. “Myouga, wake Miroku and tell him it’s his shift. Tell him I will be back as soon as I can and not to let Kagome talk him into killing her.”

“My lord? Are you going to seek Sesshou-Maru?”

Inu-Yasha didn’t bother to answer as he stepped out of the small hut and began his search for Kagome’s cure.

~

The lands belonging to the Silver Inu’s – the Western Lands – were vast and grand. Up until Toshiro – the great-grand father of the current lord – the previous rulers had set out to conquer the entire island of Japan, waging wars against all who would threaten them and all who would not relinquish their lands. Before long the Western Lands were not just in the west anymore, but all of Japan, China and some of India and Russia. The Great Giver Toshiro had given back much of the lands the Silver’s control when he came in power, feeling that an island could not sufficiently control half of a continent. Those who were freed viewed him as their savior. Those in his family had him killed for his actions.

But still the lands were large. The West controlled the largest amount of land in Japan and was slowly and subtly regaining what Toshiro lost. Over many hundreds of years only yards of land had been gained back from the other lords. Amazingly, no one had ever noticed the slow commandeering.

Inu-Yasha noticed. Oh, how he notices, and he hated how massive the Western Lands were. For two days he had been running around within the boundaries, stopping for nothing as he sought his elusive half-brother. He hadn’t stopped to eat nor sleep, had not stopped when a goddamned demon made a laughing stock out of him. There was more than his pride at stake. Kagome was getting closer to death in every moment. He would not pause.

But finding Sesshou-Maru was harder than he thought it was going to be. The Western Lands reeked of him, his scent was deeply melded with the surroundings. Because of this it was impossible to accurately track the bastard and Inu-Yasha was on a wild goose chase from hell. The only thing that kept him going was knowing his brother would eventually get sick of him spreading his scent in his boundaries. His brothers patience for him wasn’t great, so eventually he would come and forcefully kick him out. All he depended on was when the bastard would show up.

Inu-Yasha skidded to a halt under a tree, breathing deeply to try and catch his breath. Along with the air, he took in the scent of everything around him. His brothers stench registered first, stronger than usual but still too ingrained in the land and air around him to decipher where the bastard was. The second scent he found was one of a kappa, the stupid retainer of Sesshou-Maru to be exact. That was no help either. Everywhere the bastard went, the kappa went. No help there. Neither were the scents of the two headed dragon or the girl. He heaved a sigh and moved forward again, moving in a random direction. Seeking his elder intentionally would never get him found.

The only warning he had before being thrown into a large tree was the sudden sensation of his brothers oppressive yoki. Inu-Yasha was up instantly, glaring at his brother and waiting for the next attack. But his brother merely returned his glare, his cold and violent. “You are trespassing and defiling my lands. Leave now or die.”

The hanyou spit out the blood from his mouth, “Asshole.”

The acrid scent of his brothers poison made itself known and Inu-Yasha winced. “Name calling will get you nowhere little brother but closer death. If you do not leave I will be forced to kill you.”

Like he needed an incentive to try to kill him. He could swear by anything all Sesshou-Maru was ‘Die, Inu-Yasha’ and ‘You are not worthy’… and maybe even ‘Damn I’m pretty.’ But Inu-Yasha didn’t voice his thoughts and shook his head to get his thoughts in the right place, “I can’t leave. I need your help.”

Surprise flashed across the taiyoukai’s face before in was replaced by curiosity. “You have come to me for help, brother?”

“I have no other choice.”

A malicious smirk crossed the others lips, “You must be desperate then half-breed. Tell me what you want of this Sesshou-Maru.”

Hope began to bloom in Inu-Yasha’s chest. He hadn’t said no. Sesshou-Maru hadn’t said no. “Naraku got to Kagome, she’s dying. Myouga said you could help.”

Sesshou-Maru became thoughtful, tilting his head to the side making him seem more like the dog he was. “I wonder how you figure this Sesshou-Maru has the capability of curing your mate.”

Again, Inu-Yasha shook his head, “Kagome’s not my mate. And Myouga told me that our youkai ancestors studied medicine.”

“I see.” Suddenly the full-youkai turned and began to walk away. Inu-Yasha followed, feeling like a ‘whipped puppy’ as Kagome had called him once. He didn’t care, he only cared if Sesshou-Maru conceded to his request. “I suppose this Sesshou-Maru could help your… miko… however I will not. She is annoying and a hindrance, my life will be much better without her in it.”

Surprise and dread found their way into Inu-Yasha’s mind, freezing him in place for a moment or two. The accompanying anger managed to force his body back into movement and he darted forward to catch up to his brother. He skidded to a halt in front of the cold demon and glared at him. “You have to help her.”

“No I do not.”

His claws dug deeply into his palms, spilling his blood on the ground. “Give me a better answer than you don’t want to.”

“I dislike her immensely.”

“Why?”

“I believe we already discussed this brother.” Mock shock and scorned decorated his voice.

He felt rage rip through him and at his side he felt Tetsuseiga pulse, “Damnit Sesshou-Maru! She’s begging to die!”

“Then deliver the death she yearns for.”

The sudden memory of Kagome’s desperate voice ripped at his heart and his ears flattened against his head, “I can’t. I can’t kill Kagome.”

“Then she will stay in pain.”

The thought nearly ripped him in two and Tetsuseiga once again pulsed, keeping the beast within him at bay. He watched as his brother passed him to continue on his way. Inu-Yasha turned around to yell at the heartless bastard, but it caught in his throat. Yelling at his brother would do nothing, it would only make Sesshou-Maru reject helping her even more. There was only one thing that would get Sesshou-Maru to even remotely consider helping.

Without a second though, Inu-Yasha ran in front of his brother. He dropped to his hands and knees, bowing his head in an act of submission. “Please Sesshou-Maru. You can help her, I know you can.”

The voice that answered him was scathing, “Resorting to begging brother?”

“Only if it will get you to help Kagome.”

He didn’t get an answer for some time, but even though it grated on his nerves, he didn’t dare look up. When his brother finally spoke, his voice was merely curious. “You would beg for the girl?”

Inu-Yasha could only nod, but it was apparently good enough for the Western Lord for, with a strong yank on his arm, Inu-Yasha was on his feet. For a moment, Inu-Yasha almost looked away from his brother face. There was no condescension in his expression, nothing that he was used to seeing when his half-brother looked at him. No, there was something else in his eyes which he saw.

“I will make a deal with you then.”

Relief made him compliant. “Thank you, thank you.”

Sesshou-Maru nodded in acceptance and released the youngers arm. “In return for the girls treatment, should she survive, this Sesshou-Maru will receive one of two things. The first I request is the return of my arm, she can retrieve it from where it lay.”

Inu-Yasha blinked at the simplicity of the request. That and he had thought his arm would grow back on its own. “A-alright.”

“The second, if the girl is unable to fulfill the first request, I demand the Tetsuseiga.”

Annoyance ripped through Inu-Yasha. Of course the bastard would make the Tetsuseiga a part of the deal. It wasn’t like the asshole needed his sword. With just his poison he could fell one thousand demons. He just wanted it because their father didn’t want him to have it and it was now Inu-Yasha’s. Asshole.

But the sword was nothing to him compared to Kagome. She could get him out of his youkai-state easily and he was strong enough to kick that bastard Naraku’s ass on his own anyway. There was only the chance he would lose his fathers sword anyway. Kagome might eventually be able to get the Sesshou-Maru’s arm back. So grudgingly Inu-Yasha nodded. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

Sesshou-Maru nodded and raised a hand to his mouth. Inu-Yasha watched in surprise as the youkai lord cut open his palm with a fang and reached out to him. “If it is a deal made, then it must be official.”

Understanding dawned on the younger and he held up his still bleeding hand. He could feel his brothers more powerful blood mixing with his own as soon as they clasped hand, nearly making him shudder with the sudden sensation. Eventually, when Sesshou-Maru was satisfied with the exchange, they stepped away from each other, breaking the connection between blood. Almost in sync, the two brothers turned and ran to where the young miko waited in pain.

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I heart you! You heart me too!

Please Regard Me Kindly,
I Agree