Chapter 9 - Stuck on you

Chapter 9

Inuyasha’s nose twitched and in the depths of his fever began to regain consciousness; he recognised that scent.

“Kagome.”

Sesshoumaru turned back to his brother quickly and helped lift him up, to his surprise Inuyasha’s eyes opened and a growl sounded deep in his throat.

“Let me go, Sesshoumaru! What have you done with Kagome?”

“The wench?”

Refusing to answer Inuyasha pulled himself to his feet slowly, he gripped the Tetsusaiga for support as he faced Sesshoumaru; gradually he realised that Sesshoumaru was making no move to attack him, this unnerved the half-demon more than he wanted to let on.

“It doesn’t matter why you are here, pup, you simply are.”

Inuyasha, not as skilled in keeping his emotions hidden as his brother, let his mouth gape open; he had not been called pup since they were children, it had been a term of affection.

“I don’t have time for this, I have to find Kagome.” Inuyasha, using the Tetsusaiga like a walking stick, painfully walked towards the door. He hadn’t gone more than five steps beyond Sesshoumaru when he fell to his knees gasping with pain; in an instant Sesshoumaru was at his side easing him to the floor.

“What have you done to me?” The pain was already lessening.

“I have done nothing, although, it happened to me as well. If I try to leave your side it causes me pain and visa versa.”

Inuyasha snarled in disbelief and anger; he drew his sword and held it before him pointing straight at Sesshoumaru.

“Well then, if I’ve got to walk with you to get anywhere then let’s get going. I have to get to Kagome.”

Rolling his eyes Sesshoumaru walked around the Tetsusaiga to his brother’s side, he snaked his arm around Inuyasha’s waist and supported his weight.

“Get off me, bastard.” Inuyasha spat through clenched teeth.

“Don’t be stupid, pup, you can barely stand on your own let alone walk through the castle.”

Sheathing the Tetsusaiga Inuyasha pulled away from the full-demon furiously.

“Don’t call me pup!”

With a fresh determination Inuyasha turned away and started to walk back towards the door, as no pain hit him he assumed Sesshoumaru was following; if he had looked behind he would have seen the lone tear that streaked down Sesshoumaru’s face.

(Meanwhile)

Shippo looked up at the huge stone castle rising before them and gulped audibly, he edged closer to Kagome trying to look brave.

“Maybe I smelt wrong, maybe Inuyasha isn’t here.”

“Shippo,” Kagome smiled down at him. “Don’t be afraid.”

“How are we going to get inside?”

Kagome turned to look at Miroku and shrugged, usually Inuyasha would carry them up; she turned to look at Kirara appraisingly.

“Could Kirara carry us all?”

“No, she is not strong enough for that.”

Kagome sighed and turned back to looking at the huge castle home of Sesshoumaru; it was so large she had to crane her neck to see the topmost battlements and so wide it filled her entire line of vision, built out of a rare black stone it looked ominous and evil.

“Even if we do get in there we don’t know where to look for Inuyasha!” Shippo’s voice rose to a wail as he began to cry, he was tired from tracking all night and clearly overwrought.

Sango bent down to pick him up and cuddled him comfortingly, Miroku looked at the young fox-demon with barely disguised envy.

Just then the front gates swung open with a crash that reverberated in the quiet of the morning; silhouetted in the doorway were two figures, one was stooped and leaning on what looked to be a walking stick; the other, who walked slightly behind, was much taller and walked with a predator’s grace.

“Kagome!” Inuyasha’s voice carried easily over to the small group; he began to run as best he could but, caught unawares, Sesshoumaru did not catch up in time and the younger half-demon fell to his knees cursing.

“Inuyasha!” Raising her bow she pointed it at Sesshoumaru. “Don’t take one step closer to him Sesshoumaru!”

Ignoring Kagome, Sesshoumaru walked to Inuyasha and helped him to his feet; together they walked to meet the small group.

“What’s going on?” Miroku, Sango and Shippo chorused as one.

“Are you alright, Inuyasha?” Kagome’s voice was trembling as though she were about to cry.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Inuyasha glared at Sesshoumaru over his shoulder. “But somebody’s done something to us; I wouldn’t care if it was anything but this.”

The look on Inuyasha’s face was so full of horror that Kagome felt sure that someone had cursed him and he was at death’s door.

“What is it?”

“We’re stuck together!” Inuyasha snarled.

Looking at their non-plussed faces Sesshoumaru sighed internally; he would never get used to the stupidity of mortals.

“Watch.” Sesshoumaru told them irritably and walked away from Inuyasha, sure enough five paces later he was on his knees moaning from the pain.

As one the small group began to laugh, Inuyasha, his face a dark scowl clenched his fists and yelled.

“Stop laughing! It’s not funny, we have to find whoever did this and kill them. NOW!”

A small voice from the grass made everybody look down; Myoga, his face serious hopped onto Inuyasha shoulder.

“I can explain, and I can tell you how to break the curse.”