Happy Bath Ending

A/N: Thank you all so much for the rewiews. My job has been kicking my ass, but atleast I passed my Counselor's test. It's a short chapter, but I wanted to put on what I have so that I'm not completely treating you like red headed stepchildren. Kisses and enjoy.

Kagome woke up, her eyes popping open. She had felt strange ever since her run in with Naraku. He had provided her solace, even if it were only momentary. Inuyasha’s departure didn’t bother her anymore, not really. Her interest was rooted in in Naraku. He had smelled of jasmine and lavender, like the bath set she got from Ami for Christmas.

She sat up on the cot and shook dust from her hair, smiling. She stood and stretched, kicking at a rock beside her. Sango was still sleeping across from her, balled up and defensive as usual. Kagome eased out of the hut and looked around the village. The sun had just come up, and the only people out were vendors and police, trolling about. She adjusted her red knapsack and walked into the forest, headed to the well to go back home for supplies. She could have alerted the others, but she went to the forest hoping to find Naraku before she left. She was deep in the forest when she heard a soft, deep voice call to her.

“Kagome.”

She whirled around to see the baboon pelt and felt her heart flutter.

“N-Naraku…how are you?”

The figure stepped toward her slowly. “I am better now that I have seen you, lotus flower.”

Kagome sucked in her breath as Naraku slipped off his pelt, exposing his long greenish black hair and red eyes. He smiled in a sinister manner and extended his hand to stroke her hair. He was impressed when she didn’t flinch.

“Were you leaving?”

Kagome shifted her bag and slid it off her shoulders. “No,” she whispered faintly, entranced by the red eyes. Naraku stepped to her, their chests almost pressing. He started to trace Kagome’s face with the bridge of his nose, then nuzzled his cheek against hers. Pulling back, his lips grazed hers, causing shivers to run down her back. No one had ever kissed her so tenderly, so gently, and she seemed amazed at the show of affection her enemy was bestowing on her.

Naraku continued softly kissing Kagome, his nimble fingers unbuttoning her shirt. He placed his cold lips on her neck, causing icicles to rain on her. She felt shivery, but so alive. Hojo couldn’t kiss her this way, and Inuyasha wouldn’t, so Naraku would have to do. She felt herself being lowered onto the hard but warm forest floor, and Naraku rolling his pelt up as a pillow for her head. She closed her eyes, bathing in the sun and the estacy of the sweet kisses falling on her. She moaned when she felt Naraku's hands slip underneath her bra and fondle her breasts. She wrapped her leg around his back, and moaned again when she felt a clawed finger start to tickle her clit. Naraku kissed down her stomach, removing his finger and bending between her legs.

“Kikyo…you are so beautiful,” Naraku murmured, snaking his tongue out and placing it inside of Kagome, making her eyes fly open. Her pulse quickened and eyes widened as she remembered the harsh words from Sesshoumaru:

“Do not think for a moment, you disgusting shell of a woman, that this is a victory for you. Inuyasha has chosen to stay and keep guardianship over your worthless lives. I tolerate this. But remember this in case you decide to defy me and attempt to entice him. When he and I were together, as short of time it was, his mind was focused on me and me only. If you want to know what I hold over you, it’s the fact that Inuyasha loves me and will never confuse me with someone that died 50 years ago. Remember that from dust you came, and sooner than later to dust you will return.”

Tears slipped from her eyes as she closed her legs on his head and struggled to push and kick Naraku away.

“No…not Kikyo…I’m not her…I’m REAL!!!” Kagome screamed, the Shikon around her neck casting a blaring light, knocking Naraku several feet backwards. Kagome stood, attempting to pull her clothes and bag together before Naraku fully gained conciousness. She glared hatefully at him before half running half dragging herself off toward the well. Approaching the well, she threw her bag in and hopped on the edge, prepared to jump in when she winced in pain and stopped cold.

The infected cut on her arm had returned.

**********************

Sesshoumaru sat on a bench in his garden, watching Suzuka and Rin play marbles. Inuyasha seemed a bit ill and wanted to sleep in. He had been fine the night before, playful and spry as ever, but very sluggish and sick in the morning. Seshsoumaru was convinced that the dirty humans had spread all kinds of germs all over him. If Inuyasha wasn’t so sensitive, he would have forced him to scrub his skin off to delouse him.

“Lord Sesshoumaru, look at this one!” Rin ran toward him, holding a pretty red and white marble. He nodded and tried to look bored, but Rin knew it was a front. She hugged him and raked her fingers through his hair before Suzuka guided her back toward the dirt area where they were playing. She and Sesshoumaru had ‘forgiven’ each other with peace offerings; hers teriyaki rabbit meat for breakfast an his was a pearl barrette for her hair. They were friends again, because if they didn’t make up Inuyasha and Sakura would have made their lives hell.

“Suzu! Suzu!”

Suzuka and Rin looked toward the balcony where Sakura was standing. The same balcony where Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru had pledged their love several hours earlier. Suzuka raised an eyebrow and Sakura beckoned for her. Rin started after her, but Suzuka quickly knelt down and whispered something into her ear and took her new pearl pin and swept Rin’s hair into it. Sesshoumaru also stood.

“Is something wrong with Inuyasha?”

Sakura smiled toothily. “Not at all, my Lord.”

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes and cocked his head. “This Sesshoumaru does not trust you. But you know that, don’t you?” With a quick movement, he was on the balcony standing beside Sakura. She gave him a wimpy laugh as he shoved her out of the way to get to Inuyasha.

The hanyou was a sick sight. His skin was clammy and pale, and he had clearly gotten sick over himself. His hair was matted and clumpy and smelled sour. Sesshomaru glared daggers at Sakura. “Did you bring more dark matter here?!” He growled forcefully, ready to disembowel anyone who caused Inuyasha pain. He already had a long standing vendetta against ‘Hershey’ for creating the evil matter.

“It’s called chocolate, and no she hasn’t had any,” Inuyasha managed to croak as he lay strewn across the bed. Sakura quickly nodded and held up her hands as if to clear herself from guilt.

Sesshoumaru tentatively walked toward him, wetting a cloth in rosewater and wiping the beads of sweat from his brother’s forehead. Inuyasha’s eyes were red from crying, and Sesshoumaru could smell something different, yet familiar.

“Tell me, Inuyasha. What aches you?” Sesshoumaru cooed, sitting at the head of the bed and placing the sick hanyou’s head in his lap. He lovingly stroked and cuddled Inuyasha as he whined from the pain and clutched his stomach.

“I feel funny,” He whispered hoarsely, balling himself up tightly. “Please, don’t touch me. Everything…hurts,” He moaned, his eyes rolling in his head. Sesshoumaru looked slightly frantic. He had sense enough to know that he was told to stop touching him because of the pain, not because he didn’t love him.

Sakura gave them an exasperated look. “I was going to try to summon Midoriko. She specializes in…situations such as this.”

Sesshoumaru glared daggers at her. “Who is Midoriko and what do you mean, ‘situations such as this'? Do you presume to know what is wrong with Inuyasha?”

“Yes, I presume to know, but that’s why we need Midoriko! To make sure!” Sakura remembered herself and bowed quickly at Sesshoumaru’s feet.

“Forgive me, Lord Sesshoumaru, for my insolence. But this situation can not easily be explained to you.”

Sesshoumaru smirked. “Are you calling this Sesshoumaru a simpleton?”

Sakura bowed even lower, her voice shaking from fear. “My lord, no! I would never do something so caustic! It’s just that I fear…I fear Master Inuyasha may be with child. He is obviously sick and needs to see a physician.”

Sessoumaru looked at her, and then snickered. More like giggled. “Now who is the simpleton! Males cannot be with child. You read too many romance scrolls, Sakura.”

Sakura cast an ‘oh-hell-no-he-didn’t!’ at Suzuka, who had walked in with Rin a few moments prior.

“Some male youkai and hanyou can carry children,” Suzuka quipped from behind the group. Sesshoumaru looked at her to see if she was messing with him or being honest, and he saw nothing but sincerity on her face. A look that scared the fuck out of him.

“You mean in their arms or in a basket?” Sesshoumaru’s voice wavered, and now he sounded afraid. He cast a look at Suzuka and she had a wicked grin on her face. Even Rin understood and was excited.

Sakura looked up and raised her eyebrow. “May I summon the midwife to review Master Inuyasha? Lord Sesshoumaru? Lord Sesshoumaru? Oh no!” She shrieked, running over to the bed. She put a finger to her lips to stop Suzuka and Rin from laughing.

Sesshoumaru had fainted.
**********************


They quietly trekked through the forest, leaves crunching underneath AhUn’s thick skinned feet. Suzuka had found some smelling salts and had encouraged both the hanyou and youkai to regain their senses, although Inuyasha did get sick a few more times. She felt bad at seeing the stringy silver hairs coated in sweat and vomit hang limply off her master’s head. Sesshoumaru had never looked so despondent and sad. Suzuka hated seeing her lord that way. She had once tried to explain to him how hanyou could procreate, but he seemed immediately disinterested almost as soon as he had asked her about it. She thought originally he was attempting to test her patience, but then realized that even at that time he was asking about Inuyasha.

“Are you okay? He’ll be alright,” Sakura said, giving her sister a brief hug. She had noticed the troubled look on her sister’s face, and knew as much as she and Sesshoumaru argued, they were like two peas in a pod and his worries were hers and probably vice versa.

Suzuka smiled and nodded. “I’m alright. I just hope Master Inuyasha is faring well. I instructed Rin to wipe him with the cool cloths and try to give him broth from the fire. He needs liquids or else he will get sicker.”

Sakura nodded and then pulled at AhUn's reins to stop at the large hut in front of them. There was a pale woman with short black hair and brown eyes sweeping in front of the hut.

“Midoriko?”

The woman paused and glared hatefully at them. “No. I am Mayumi. What business do you have with Midoriko?” The woman cocked her head to the side, making the sun glint off of her eyes.

The girls hopped off of their demon ride and Sakura knelt down and lowered her head. “We are servants of Lord Sesshoumaru, son of the great Inu no Taisho. We seek Midoriko’s expertise in midwifery.”

Mayumi held her broom against her and stared at them. “Why?” she asked, in a simple, yet harsh voice.

Suzuka was losing patience. “This is not a matter to be discussed openly. As we said, we are servants of Lord Sesshoumaru. Would your Midoriko not be interested in speaking with us concerning the affairs of the Western Lord?”

Mayumi shrugged. “My mother has no use for Sesshoumaru. What has happened? Did he follow in his father’s footsteps and get a village girl pregnant? I’ll give you a hint. Most ningen can not carry hanyou babies. They fade and die…expendable. My mother will not be dragged from her deathbed for such nonsense.”

Sakura narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to speak when a loud crack noise jolted both her and Suzuka. They saw the oak cane slam onto Mayumi’s shoulder, and then watched as she floated to the ground. Once she fell, they saw the culprit.

“Insolent child! How dare you address Lord Sesshoumaru so informally! And treat his messengers with such disdain! How can you expect to become the next in line midwife when you have not yet mastered your manners?!! Each situation is life or death. Do you really want that blood on your hands? Damned if the blood is youkai, ningen, or hanyou, it will be on your head, and Kami-sama pray for you if it ends up being the case!” The wizened old woman shook her narrow, liver spotted finger at her daughter, who was now rolling on the ground holding her probably bruised and possibly broken shoulder.

“If only my Isako had not been killed…this burden would have been hers and you could have gone off to an okiya or to a bath house. I know that’s where you would rather be…instead of helping your poor mother bring life into this world...” the old woman trailed off, her voice crackling.

Sakura and Suzuka looked at each other and then at the little old lady. “Midoriko? We are Sakura and Suzuka. We are the servants of Lord Sesshoumaru and he requests audience with you.”

Midoriko looked at them and smiled wanly. “Please, forgive my daughter. She does not understand or appreciate the bonds between us and demons. I remember Inu no Taisho. He was always good to the village people. My beloved Isako was killed by one of the Birds of Paradise after being lured there to help deliver a baby. There was no baby, and they ripped her to shreds. That is why my daughter is so weary of demons.”

Suzuka bowed her head respectfully. “A thousand condolences from me and the house of the Inu. We humbly implore you to travel with us to give aid to our Lord’s companion. It is a rather…strange situation we are dealing with.”

Midoriko looked interested. “Strange situation? Is it not a village girl or other demon impregnated?”

Sakura blushed and shook her head. She glanced at Mayumi, who was still holding her shoulder and glaring at them.

“I don’t think it is a matter that should be discussed openly.” she said in a low voice, trying to keep Mayumi from hearing.

Midoriko folded her arms. “I will not be lured into a trap! How do I know you all are from the house of the Inu?”

“Ummm…” Sakura looked around and Suzuka looked angry. “We have no reason to be dishonest. Our lord and his companion need you. Like you were telling your daughter, the blood will be on your hands if you refuse us.”

Midoriko sighed and motioned for Mayumi to stand. “My daughter will accompany me. She is my assistant- and I am old and cannot move very well.”

“You moved pretty damn well when you bopped her in the shoulder,” Sakura muttered, but was poked in the ribs by her sister.

“Yes, yes, that is fine. You can ride on our demon. AhUn!” Suzuka said, beckoning for the demon to come and lay at Midoriko’s feet. They helped the two midwives onto AhUn’s back and started their trek back to the Western Castle.
***********************

“Mother. Mother. Mother!” Mayumi shouted, poking at Midoriko. They had been riding for only a few moments when the woman had fallen asleep, sprawled out on the demon’s back.

“What now!” Midoriko shouted, raising her oak cane again.

“Do you smell something? Something…dead maybe?”

All of them paused and took a deep breath. Something indeed smelled sour, like rotting flesh. They took a few more steps until they reached a clearing near the Bone Eater’s Well. They gasped and gagged at what they saw.

Kagome was laying face down, dead. Her arm where the cut was had completely rotted off. Maggots freely roamed about her body and the air was heavy with the smell of death.

“Oh dear,” Mayumi said and passed out. Sakura slapped herself on the forehead. This day was turning out to be worse than expected.

A/N:Yeah yeah, the bitch is dead. We will see if she stays that way. Muahahahahahahahaha! Love ya's.