Chapter 2: Debate

Throughout the remaining of the night, the young miko tossed and turned. She kept fighting off a fever that caused sweat to grip her body and soak her clothing. Sango and Miroku both continued to share looks of worried as they tried countless time to help break the fever. It was a decision that was made for everyone to return to Kaeda’s village as soon as possible.

That is where everyone was located now.

Whatever illness the young miko received after the fall was not leaving her body. Kaeda did everything she could think of. All the herbs that were usually used upon the sick were mixed. Multiple times, Kagome was shaken awake to drink some of the water and take some of the concoction that was made. Nothing seemed to work, though.

It was still days later that the young woman continued to fight against this strange illness. Miroku and Sango both thought she should return to her time beyond the well. However, that solution was kind of hard to muster. InuYasha disappeared as soon as he brought Kagome into the hut. No one knows where the hanyou went and why he would have been gone for so long

After four days of battling the strange illness that gripped the young miko, the fever finally broke.

Kagome could keep conscience and stomach some food. It was then that the hanyou decided to make his mysterious return. A strange look was upon his face as he glanced at the young miko. Everyone knew what he was thinking. Kagome’s spiritual powers were sealed mostly because Naraku and Magatsuhi both feared her, but no one expected that other youkais and humans would want Kagome’s powers. It put everyone in a huge predicament.

Nobody knew, though, that something else was bothering InuYasha as he stood in the doorway staring at the young miko. He swore that he would protect her with his life when the battle against Naraku happened, but he had no idea on how to protect her from this.

“InuYasha.” His ears turned to the voice of the young woman. The blanket was laying across her legs as she sat up leaning against one of her arms. “Are you okay?” She asked softly.

“Keh. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine,” he responded. He heard as the young miko sighed as the blanket was move. He didn’t know how to answer her. Fuck, he didn’t know what to do. Kagome was almost raped by some strange youkai that knew her powers were sealed. Who the fuck else knows about this? It angered InuYasha that he had no solution on how to protect the modern girl.

“InuYasha, do you wonder how many others know?” asked the monk. He was holding a cup of tea as he stared into the fire.

The hanyou grunted as he crossed his arms and glanced out to the horizon. “Probably quite a few if that bastard was telling the truth. Doesn’t make sense, though. Why would others care?”

“Naraku,” spoke Sango softly. “He must have said something. She’s at risk staying with us.”

“Damn it, I know, but I promised to protect her,” cried out InuYasha as slam his clawed hand against the frame of the door.

“I should have stayed in my time.” Everyone glanced towards the young miko. She was gripping the blanket tightly as tears began to pool within her chocolate eyes. “I promised Kikyou, though.”

“Don’t worry about a thing, Kagome. We will make sure that you are safe,” spoke the monk. She only smiled softly as she watched as InuYasha walked out of the hut, the bamboo door flapping shut.

InuYasha shuffled his feet as he walked towards the edge of the village. He knew having her around was going to be a risk. Magatsuhi caused a problem for all of them. It was only a few weeks ago that Sesshomaru left to find Magatsuhi. InuYasha hated leaving his brother to fight the bastard, but since Magatsuhi wasn’t one of this world, the Tenseiga was the only weapon able to inflict pain.

Claws scraped against a nearby tree as InuYasha leaned against it. Okay, he knew there wasn’t much he could do regarding Kagome’s powers being sealed. Fuck, he knew he had to protect her. It wasn’t her powers that was bothering him, though. His youkai inside knew what is was. More bark faded away from the tree as his claws dug deep. It was the issue that any youkai or human would try to take Kagome again just because of who she was. That is what was bothering him the most.

“Hey, mutt-face!” The hanyou cursed. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn’t even smell the ookami youkai that was standing behind him.

“What the fuck do you want?” snapped InuYasha as let some of the bark of the tree chip away.

Kouga walked to stand in front of him. “You know what was about to happen. You know others are going to try to do the same. She isn’t safe here.”

InuYasha growled as he turned towards the tree, swiping it with his claws. “Damn it, you think I don’t fucking know that.”

Kouga grunted as he watched the tree fall in the distance. The sound of it hitting the ground was heard echoing off the surrounding area. “Then you know what you have to do.”

InuYasha growled as he shot the wolf youkai a dangerous look. “I will not allow any harm come to Kagome.”

“Damn it, mutt-face, “hollered Kouga as he rolled his eyes. “Others will come. Leave her with me, at least I know I will get it done.”

InuYasha growled deeply as he quickly pulled out the Tessaiga allowing the rusty blade to transform into the powerful fang. “I will not allow you to fucking touch her. Get out of here Kouga. We don’t need you.”

“Then stop being a damn pup. You know how to protect her, so do it before something worse happens!”

“I won’t put her through that!”

“Through what?” Both InuYasha and Kouga quickly turned to the light voice of the young miko. She stood with a blank wrapped around her and a curious look in her eyes. “Why are you guys fighting?”

Kouga sighed as he jumped to land in front of her. “Kagome, I know that I decided to let you all take on Naraku, but with this new threat, I believe I am the best at protecting you.”

“That is sweet of you, Kouga, but I am staying with InuYasha. He said he would protect me, and I believe him.”

Kouga turned towards InuYasha. He brought his hand up as he was about to say something before shaking it and dropping it. “If something happens to her because you are too damn chicken, I swear I will return.”

InuYasha sheathed the Tessaiga as he watched the ookami youkai take off. He glanced over to the young miko. Oh, he had a very good idea on what Kouga wanted him to do. However, it was something he was preventing altogether. He would protect her from everything, and it included that.

“You need to return back to the hut and rest.” spoke InuYasha as he turned to look out at the forest.

“I came to tell you that I am thinking about returning home.” She said it so softly as she gripped the edge of the blanket, twisting it in her hands.

“What?” He questioned, catching him off guard. It surprised him but also made him a bit angry.  

“After Sesshomaru has defeated Magatsuhi, maybe then it will be safe enough for me to return,” she continued.

InuYasha chuckled. Kagome looked up at him, a surprised look upon her face. He was facing away from her with both of his hands gripped into tight fists. She could see droplets of blood dripping upon the ground.

His voice was raspy as he glanced over his shoulder at the young woman. “Going home won’t prevent anything. You shouldn’t be so naïve to not know what was about to happen.”

Kagome swallowed hard and stood straight, blinking away the fear that started to settle in. “I knew what that youkai was going to do to me. I also know that others will come after me with the same intent. Going home might not prevent it, but at least I will be safe.”

“Do you not trust me to protect you?” He questioned as he glanced down at his claws. “Some promise, huh?”

“No.” Kagome shook her head. Tears beginning to burn behind her eyes. “I just don’t know what to do.”

 “Go home then,” he responded dryly. “Why do I care? I promised to protect you. If you don’t believe I can, then go.”

“What is wrong with you?” asked Kagome as she slowly approached him.

“What’s wrong with me?” repeated the hanyou as he turned towards the young miko. Kagome backed up slowly. Sure, she knew InuYasha made the promise to protect her, but this was something that she wasn’t even sure if the hanyou was strong enough to save her from. He transformed when that youkai had her in his clutches. How does she know it won’t happen again?

Kagome shook her head and turned away, not waiting for a response. “It isn’t that I don’t trust you, InuYasha. I do. I trust you with my life, but when that youkai had me, you transformed. That is what I am worried about.”

InuYasha stood watching the retreating back of the young miko. Yes, he transformed. He knew why, too. Didn’t she understand that the youkai was about to take her away from him for good? Didn’t she understand the risk of what could happen? No. She wouldn’t have any idea. She wasn’t a youkai or even a hanyou. She wasn’t from this world. No. This was one thing InuYasha was going to make sure to protect her from. He couldn’t lose her, not that way.