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akitokihojo · 5 years ago

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Enchanted - Part 5

Please read this before going on to this chapter!

Because from this point on, all I have to say is, yeah sorry guys...

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"Go inside," Inuyasha said politely, ignoring the visible puff of breath in front of his face. "And be careful in case there's ice. I'll put her away."

"But, sir." The caretaker opposed, shaking his beanie-clad head.

"It's too cold out, just go get warm." The prince insisted, guiding his mare by the reigns. Miroku and Sango climbed down from their own horses just behind, their boots sloshing in the melting snow. The caretaker gave a grateful bow, rubbing his reddened hands together for friction as he turned away, hunched over to bundle into his own coat as he headed for the side entrance to the servant chambers.

Inuyasha entered the opened stable house, the area maintained and warmed for the horses, opening the gate to his individual stable and allowing his steed to step through. His aides remained quiet as they did the same. They were reaching the end of winter, but this was about the average time where the worst storms hit. The town was sullen and quiet as they'd traveled through, trees bare and so weathered they seem to lose their own natural color. People were falling ill, whatever life walked through the streets seeming pale and tired, dark circles around their eyes communicating just how ready they were for the cold and wet season to pass. They'd stopped and offered help to anyone they saw, whether that be assisting to carry their heavy logs for the fire or insisting to cover the payment for their bread as money was tight while it was too cold to work, but they could only do so much when the real difficulty lied in Mother Nature's cruel temperament.

As he unsaddled his mare, the prince caught a familiar scent nearby, pulling him out of the small gate and toward the last one at the back wall. Inside, his niece slowly stroked the thick fur of a smaller, white and grey horse, her body blanketed within a long, wool-lined, pink cloak. She seemed to not notice him, even though the small horse had fidgeted slightly at his presence. Even beneath the fluff of her cloak, Inuyasha noticed the quick pace of her chest rising, small huffs leaving her nose.

"Rin," Inuyasha opened the gate to the stable, his concern increasing ten fold as she glanced up at him and quickly pulled her hood over her head, ducking her face as she moved toward the other side of the animal to continue petting. "What are you doing out here? It's too cold, you know better."

"I came outside to play," She spoke, and he could tell the amount of effort she was putting in to make her words come out as steady as possible. There was no hiding the shallow breaths she had to take between words, though, her voice feeble. "I hope papa lets me keep this horse. He's so cute."

He crossed around the animal, his niece flinching at the haste of his movements, backing away before he could grab her.

"No!" She shouted, tone wavering. She was agitated, defensive as she continued away from him. "I want to play!"

The hood fell back with her fervency, and he could see the paleness riddling her face, her skin clammy and unhealthy. His stomach sank disturbingly as his suspicions became rooted, fear causing his breath to shudder as the little girl furrowed her brows and wrinkled her nose at him.

"How about we go inside and warm up for a little while? We can come out to play together later." He carefully offered, kneeling down and extending a hand out for her to take.

"I don't -" She stopped for a short breath, her body giving a quake. "Want to."

"Rin, please. You're sick."

"I'm not."

"You're sick." He repeated more directly.

"I'm fine."

Inuyasha reached for her, snagging her cloak and pulling her into his chest. Her fever burned his skin as she meagerly struggled against him, heat seeping through his own thick clothing as the chills she tried so hard to hide became more and more evident.

"No! I don't want to be sick! I don't -" She was quickly wearing herself out, crying and gasping for air as she sunk into her uncle's chest, clinging to him. He held her firmly, his arms around her, and his heart broke painfully as he glanced up over the gate at his onlooking and worried guards.

"I'm sorry, Rin."

"I don't want to be sick again!"

"I'm sorry.”

“Please,” She whimpered. “I don’t want to be sick.”

He couldn’t speak that time, her sobs wounding sharply.

"Mama and papa don't like when I'm sick. Please, don't tell them."

"I have to, baby." Inuyasha grasped her closer, tucking her further against his body as he held her firmly at his waist, rising to stand. Rin's arm's circled his neck as she wept, turning her head away from his shoulder as she gave into a brief fit of coughs.

At a quick pace, he made his way toward the main entrance of the castle, rubbing his niece's back to soothe her shallow breathing and the pain she was most definitely in. "Sango, go alert her parents. Miroku, get Kaede."

"Where's Totosai?"

"He's out making rounds through the forts. Kaede. Now."

Sango ran ahead of him, climbing the stairs and disappearing around a corner. Miroku abruptly turned around, running back toward the stable house to grab his horse.

The prince hated the way the little girl's fingers trembled against his skin at the back of his neck, tiny hands unable to grasp him through the shuddering of her chills. She sniffled and coughed, resting fully against him now as he hiked the staircase toward her room.

Kagome gently dabbed the forehead of a pale, sleeping man - one of the several resting on a cot in Kaede’s temporarily shop-turned-hospice. Fevers were slowly breaking, sweat dotting every ill person's forehead while both she and the apothecary swiped it all away with a damp cloth. The flames in the fireplace popped and seethed, filling the silent, stiff air with a soothing melody. From the side, she could hear Kaede stand, the ruffling of her skirt giving her movements away as she crossed toward the stove, her soft voice calling for Kagome's attention. She turned to see the elderly woman preparing some herbal tea, beckoning her over for her own glass.

"Another?" Kagome asked, accepting the mug from the herbalist's hands.

"You can never have too much. It'll hopefully prevent us both from catching whichever of the many viruses are floating about town."

She nodded, trusting the woman's knowledge as she sipped the hot, murky liquid, tasting mostly like dirt than any other tea she’s ever had. There was a brisk knock on the front door just before it was opened, and Kagome half-expected another townsperson requesting medicine for a sick family member. Instead, Inuyasha's aide, someone who'd quickly become a friend to her over the passing weeks, entered, shutting the door behind him to seal out the cold while looking at them unnervingly. His indigo eyes landed on Kaede, his jaw tensing as he sucked in a loud and shaky breath through his nostrils.

"What's happened?" Kaede asked, her powerful tone hiding the unmasked panic in her eyes.

"It's the princess." He answered.

"Symptoms?"

"From what I saw, she was coughing and having difficulty breathing."

Without an ounce of hesitation, Kaede moved toward the counter with all the herbs and prepared medicines, snatching a pouch from beneath as she shifted through the containers. One-by-one, she packed everything necessary and in abundance, knowing the castle was too far from her shop to have to return if something was left behind. When she felt everything essential was within, she pulled the drawstrings to the pouch shut, leaving it on the counter as she spun around, grabbing Kagome by a wrist and yanking her into a private room while gesturing for Miroku to join them.

"With the state of the people in this town, I cannot leave." She stated firmly, holding up a finger before Miroku could interject. "Just listen. Kagome, you will have to go for me."

"What?" She couldn't bite back the shock.

"I have to be here to make the medicine. You know very well how to administer it. The princess has a very poor immune system due to the time she lived in an orphanage. The place was, evidently, not maintained while overly crowded. We don't know what her exact condition is, but due to it she often falls with severe cases of influenza or pneumonia. You're familiar with both."

Kagome nodded, still slightly unsure of Kaede's decision.

"If it's something you don't recognize, send someone for me and we'll swap places. If it's something you know you can handle, I fully trust you with it. Stay by Rin's side until she's stabilized." She said. “Additionally, Rin has a tendency to pretend her symptoms aren't that bad when her parents are around. You can imagine how much harder that'll make your job. They know to leave, but you may have to push them."

"Kaede, are you sure?"

"There's no time for second-guessing, child. I have plenty of remedies to get on, and you've got your work put out for you as well. The entire town is in shambles, and you and I are just gonna have to keep it together until the wet season passes. Young Knight, you tell them I permitted Kagome to go in my place."

He nodded, heaving a sigh as he and Kagome followed Kaede back out into the common area. He already knew there'd be resistance at a stranger tending to Rin, but the apothecary knew what was best for the child's sake. If she trusted her assistant, hopefully the king and queen would too.

The herbalist grabbed the pouch and placed it in Kagome's grasp, ushering for them to leave as she opened drawers for the dried herbs she kept, getting to work on grinding them down in a bowl. Miroku guided her outside, and as the freezing air hit her face, she pulled the hood of her long-sleeve, beige dress over her head. The knight climbed onto his horse first, securing himself on the saddle before reaching down for Kagome's hand, aiding her up to sit behind him. She gripped his waist tight, the loop of the drawstrings around her forearm to keep the pouch safe.

Dread knotted in Inuyasha's chest as minutes felt like hours, ember eyes glued to the already-opened gates as he waited for his aide to return. He couldn't get the weak wheezing from his nieces chest out of his ears, almost bringing him to miss the oncoming sound of hooves clapping the ground. Miroku quickly approached, light-colored sleeves bound around his sides, and as his steed passed him and slowed, the prince couldn't help the confusion at seeing a slender lady on his back as opposed to a smaller, hunched, greyed and aged woman. Immediately, though his face was twisted in perplexity, he caught her scent and followed them over to where the horse finally stopped. He tapped Kagome's thigh so that she'd notice him, holding his hands out to grasp her waist as she bent towards him, helping her down from the horse and keeping her at his side.

As Miroku climbed down, they locked eyes, his aide reading the question as if it were asked aloud. "Kaede has her hands full. She couldn't leave, so she sent Kagome."

Though he was nervous, wishing for some sort of immediate relief during this terrifying ordeal, he swallowed the thick lump forming in his throat. He had no reason not to believe Kagome was suitable for the job, and he wouldn't be the one to dwindle whatever confidence she was working to maintain. He could tell, from the slight tremble in her fingers that he felt brushing against his thigh, that she was apprehensive about the entire thing. But he knew she was capable. She was intuitive. She knew what she was doing, and she had to go into it boldly. Inuyasha pulled back the hood of her dress, gently kissing the top of her head.

"Thank you for coming." He whispered, her smile curving upward minutely.

They lead her through the large doors, her brown eyes glued to the dark blue cloak along Inuyasha's back, watching her step as they climbed the stairs. Curving along the hall of the second floor, a tall, chiseled man somewhat resembling her own companion stepped out of an open door, his silver hair parting in the center of his forehead to reveal a crescent moon mark he'd inherited from his own mother. He held himself powerfully though his body and neck were visibly tense, lips curved downward in an emotion Kagome couldn't quite decipher.

"Where is Kaede?" He spoke, voice deep and straight.

"She can't be here, sire." Miroku stated, almost apologetically.

"She's sent me in her stead." Kagome stepped forward, breathing out whatever uncertainty she had before. Now was the most important time not to show any trace of it. Balanced and poised, she gave a small curtesy, bowing her head to show respect.

"No." The king said abruptly. "Go back and get her. Remind her it is her responsibility."

"Your Majesty, I've been well-trained by the apothecary, herself. I can help." She insisted, minding her tone.

"I said no. Go get -"

"Excuse me, sir," Kagome interrupted, this time more steadfast. Even Inuyasha's surprised attention fell on her while the king raised his chin indignantly. "I don't mean to be blunt, but the entire town has fallen sick with the season being what it is. She's doing whatever she can to provide for everyone, and she's sent me in her place. Why would you waste time sending for her again when I am here to help now?"

"Who are you?" Sesshomaru asked, looking down on her with his golden eyes.

"My name is Kagome."

Instantly, his glare shot over to the prince, his brother’s expression even. "You brought me your girlfriend!?"

"My relationship with Inuyasha has nothing to do with my work!" Kagome shot audaciously and resentfully just as Inuyasha's mouth had opened to speak. "I know what I'm doing! Believe me, I understand that you want someone you trust to take care of your daughter, but given the circumstances, you're better off dropping the guard and learning to trust me! If you don't she never will, and her comfort is what's most important here! Not yours! So, if you don't mind, sir, I'd like to see what we’re dealing with here!”

There was a moment, a silent and unsettling moment, where the king seemed so enraged that she thought she may have incidentally overstepped all boundaries and gotten herself into trouble. Her chest heaved beneath the warm dress she donned, but still, she held firm in her stance. A small, meager cough broke through the palpable walls that had formed to enclose the king and her in, his ember eyes shutting as his chest deflated defeatedly. She could see the pain he tried to hide in his expression, allowing anger to be the dominant curve in his brow instead of fear, but at the wheeze of her small cough, Kagome caught a glimpse of the dread. Even the prince winced, his anguish more evident, shying his head to the side.

"Please." She tried once more, much softer as her resolve melted away.

Breathing out, the huff clenched in his throat, Sesshomaru turned back toward the room, never waving her off, so presumably leading her in. Kagome stepped forward, feeling the presence of her prince sticking by her side, and as difficult as it was to do, she turned to him, her hand held out cautiously. This was already hard enough as it was. The last thing she needed was Inuyasha hovering close by as a member of her scrupulous audience. If he stuck by her, watched her, stayed close, she was afraid she'd only be seen as his person by the king and queen. Not the skilled individual she’d just presented herself as a moment ago.

"Stay." She pleaded. And she saw the disturbance in his eyes. Of all people, though, he was the most important to back her up, and that was what she needed right now. "Just trust me."

Inuyasha held his breath for a moment, clenching his fists as his entire body went rigid, nails biting into his palms as the woman's firm gaze stayed on him. When she was nearby, no matter the circumstance, he was most comfortable at her side. Now, when he felt absolutely helpless and Kagome was unexpectedly mere feet away, he was being told he couldn't have her.

He had to force himself to remember the reason she was there. She was working. She was tending to his niece’s health. Reluctantly, he released his breath, giving a curt nod as he said, "Go."

Kagome walked through the doorway of the large bedroom, brown eyes seeking out the frail girl blanketed on the bed, a woman with neatly-tied hair sitting beside her and stroking the bangs from her face. The king cleared his throat to gather his wife's currently-undivided attention, red irises flying toward him then landing on Kagome.

"This is Kagome. She's here in place of Kaede." He spoke unwaveringly, and Kagome guessed that if he showed minimal hesitation to the obviously uncomfortable situation, the queen wouldn't be tipped off to fight the predicament too. Likely, it was his way of reassuring his wife, as subtle as it may be.

Still, there wasn't a large amount of certainty in the queen's eyes, which Kagome understood. This was their little girl, and she was only a stranger. That didn't change the fact that she was there to help, and she knew the only way for them to relax, even an ounce, was for her to show them she was capable. Respectfully, Kagome gave a graceful curtsey, then set to work. Even from her place across the room, she could hear the little girl's difficult and shallow breaths. Her skin was pale, though there was a slight pink flushing her cheeks. Kagome crossed the room, setting the pouch from Kaede on a nearby desk as she came closer to the princess, approaching as carefully as she would any other sick and scared child.

"Hi," Kagome started, smiling kindly. Rin spared a weak smile, waving with a twiddle of her fingers. The queen held her spot next to her daughter, watching her every move, and she accepted the caution behind her expression - much like a lioness with her cub. "My name's Kagome. What’s yours?”

“Rin.” The little girl whispered.

“It’s nice to meet you, Rin. I heard you're not feeling too well."

Rin shook her head, mouth open as she continued to struggle to breathe properly.

"Is it your chest?" Kagome asked, tapping her own chest above her dress with an open palm. "Does it hurt?"

Apprehensively, the princess's eyes glanced over to her mother, then back to Kagome, shaking her head. She was lying. This was what Kaede had warned her about, she doesn't like to worry her parents.

Looking to the queen, Kagome kept her soft smile, her empathy for their discomfort on display. "Would you please help me sit her up?"

"Sit her up?" Kagura echoed.

"Yes, it may help her breath and cough just a little easier."

As the mother supported the little girl to sit, Kagome adjusted the pillows behind her, making sure they propped her comfortably. Gently, she tested Rin's temperature with the back of her hand, running it over her forehead, cheeks, and even her neck. She was burning up. Dangerously.

"It can't be comfortable to have your hair sticking to your neck." She mentioned. "Would you like it put up so it won't bother you anymore?"

The little girl gave a smile, nodding, and Kagome turned back to Kagura, silently asking if she'd like to do it. She figured the more comfort she was able to provide her daughter herself, the less helpless she'd feel in the long run.

The queen gave a fleeting smile, pulling the tie from Rin's half-ponytail down. Using her nails, she scooped up the thick, brown hair of her daughter's, making sure to peel the loose strands that clung to her skin away, and securing it all in an untidy bun, her fingers delicately pushing the bangs from her forehead once more on their way down.

"Better?" The mother compassionately asked her daughter.

"Thank you." The princess beamed as brightly as she could in the moment, her smile being transferred to her father near the door.

"May I have a word with you?" Kagome asked Kagura, and the queen only hesitated to give her daughter a quick kiss on the head, following her over to where Sesshomaru stood. "I know you both are justifiably worried, but Kaede's warned me that Rin will mask how she's really feeling if you're around."

"You expect us to leave?" Sesshomaru asked forwardly.

"I do." Kagome nodded, unfazed.

"Well, what do you think it is? Is it pneumonia again?" Kagura questioned, fighting the instinct to look back at Rin.

"It looks like it. I'd like to listen to her breathe a bit more before giving positive confirmation, but the obvious symptoms are there."

"How bad is it?" The queen shook.

"I can't say yet." She wavered. "But I can tell you that it still looks like she's getting enough oxygen; her lips aren't blue, and that's usually the tell-tale sign she isn't. What's important right now is getting her fever down. May I request a few things?"

With a sturdy nod from the king, Kagome finally felt like she was making way with him.

"I need a bowl of cool water and a few rags, a kettle of hot water for tea, a glass of water for drinking, and not now but soon we'll need some soup brought up - preferably nothing too heavy. Broth and vegetables would do. Has she eaten today?"

"Not much." Kagura answered.

"Okay, then I'll definitely work with her to eat it little-by-little. Has she complained about her stomach?"

"No, she's hardly said a thing."

Kagome worried her bottom lip, giving a slow nod of comprehension as she mouthed the word, "Okay." Darting her gaze to meet the stare of Inuyasha's older brother, she raised her brows, silently challenging him to give her the same respect he'd grant Kaede.

Another stiff moment between them, and a part of her felt like he was testing her; to see if she'd slight or shy away. When she held her ground, her own lips curving downward in impatience, the king stepped around his wife, his boots stomping heavily along the wooden floor, the sound dulled when he walked over the circular carpet that rested beneath the princess's bed.

"You know what to do if you need anything." He said, his hand landing on the top of her head. His fingers flinched from the heat of her fever, and he worked to play it off by rubbing along her scalp in a meager massage. His little girl looked up at him, her cheeks unpleasantly pink but smile as sweet as ever. He took that as his confirmation, giving a small ruffle of her bangs with his palm before turning around to leave. Rin gave a happy wave to her mother just as the king's arm wrapped around her shoulders to guide her out.

"Please take care of her." She mentioned in passing.

"I will." Kagome curtseyed, and she remained where she was until the door to the bedroom shut. As soon as she was alone to do her work, she turned back to the ill princess, understanding that there had to be a good amount of disconcert riddling her from being left with a stranger. To the left of the room was a large assortment of stuffed animals, neatly bunched as if they served as an audience. Sauntering to it, she looked them over, noticing the more worn ones from the newer-looking toys.

"You know, when I was little and I had come down with any sort of cold or flu that had me bed-ridden, my mother would always make sure I had my favorite stuffed animal nearby to help me through it. Do you have a favorite, princess? One that helps you get through things when you're a little down?"

Rin's dark eyes slowly traveled over her, seemingly unsure. The corners of her lips gave a small, upward twitch, and she pointed toward the main heap of the spectators. "The dragon."

"With two heads?" Kagome asked, even though it was the only dragon in the pile. The princess hummed a positive affirmation between short breaths and held her arms out for it as Kagome brought the toy over.

"Papa got it for me,” She beamed. "A few years ago when he went on a long trip."

Kagome tried to keep her expression straight as she noticed the increasing struggle with Rin's breathing. Gently, Kagome sat along the edge of her mattress. "It must mean a lot to you."

"Dragons are big and strong just like papa. They protect."

"Just like your papa protects you?” Kagome smiled. Rin nodded, hugging the two-headed dragon closer. "Princess, do you mind if I listen to your chest for a moment? I'd like to hear how everything sounds as you breathe.” When the little girl seemed hesitant, large eyes shying downward, Kagome felt herself growing impossibly softer.

“It’s okay to be scared. It’s perfectly normal. The sooner we work together, though, the sooner we can have you feeling better.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Rin sourly admitted, tucking one of the dragon’s heads beneath her chin. “I always get sick again. I don’t like it. I don’t like to make everyone worry.”

“That just means they love you. So much.”

A pout formed on the girl’s face, her bottom lip giving a heart-breaking quiver. “What if I never get better? Like, actually get better?”

Kagome reached out, taking one of Rin’s hands to clasp between both of hers, the palm tiny and hot. "No, don't say that. You can. Think of it this way: baby dragons can't always spit fire like bigger dragons can. Some are born with the ability, yes, but others have to grow and adapt until their little lungs can handle that sort of thing." The princess shoved her fingers further into Kagome's hold, gripping at the heel of her hand. "Nothing in the world has the right to tell them they can't do it, not even themselves. But sometimes it's hard. They try and try and still haven't created a spark, and then they begin to question if they ever will. It's in those moments that they have to be their strongest, though. The bigger dragons show them how it's done so that they can practice, but the little dragons have to be brave enough to ask for that help first. But if they doubt themselves and give up, they'll never see the flames they can eventually make because they stopped believing they could. You, princess - you're just like a baby dragon. In order to spit fire one day, you’ve gotta be honest and tell us when and if you don't feel well so we can give you the exact help you need. Your immune system can get stronger with time and medicine. I, personally, refuse to believe otherwise, so why should you?"

Rin's eyes grew doe-like, glossy and brimming as hope began to brighten the color. "But I heard - I heard them saying that I might be sick for the rest of my life."

Kagome cocked her head, rubbing the back of Rin’s hand smoothly, her lips curving auspiciously. "The word "might" has never been a sure thing. There's always potential for a change of plans."

With a beautiful and bright smile, the princess moved the stuffed dragon away from her chest, opening up to allow Kagome to listen to her breathing. She released Rin's hand, scooting a little closer to lean her ear to the girl's chest. There was the expected wheezing as she inhaled, but what stood out was the muffled crackling behind it all. Sitting up and keeping her expression level, she pushed the bangs from Rin's head to prevent them from sticking with the sweat. Thankfully, she was donned in light pajamas so it wouldn't contribute to her overheating.

"Does your chest hurt anywhere?"

Rin pointed to her left side. "Here. Only when I cough."

"Good, it's not constant."

Getting up and crossing toward the desk, she opened the pouch Kaede had packed, sorting the bottles out before her to see what she had to help. To the side, she set the packaged herbs for the tea. It was the sort that helped ease coughs and fevers, but made the person drowsy. She wanted to make sure Rin ate before that, so it would be one of the last things she did.

"I like your dress." The princess spoke, kindly filling the silence. Kagome peeked over at her, a smile returning to her face.

"Thank you." She said, turning back to scout which container held the white horehound she was looking for. It was something the herbalist never came here without, so she knew it was somewhere within the several contents she'd packed. "It's one of the warmest ones I've got."

"And it has a hood!"

"Yes," Kagome laughed. "It's very handy! No cloak necessary."

"And the color is really pretty!"

"How about I send a letter home to my mother and ask if she can make one for you?" Kagome queried, finally finding the syrup. There was a small spoon conveniently added to the bag, and she silently thanked Kaede for thinking ahead.

"No way! Your mama made that?" Rin beamed.

"Sure did!" She replied, equally as enthusiastic, opening the container and sitting on the edge of the mattress once more.

"Do you really think she'd make one for me?"

"Well, after I tell her all the compliments you've given, how could she possibly resist? Open up."

The princess scrunched her nose in disgust as she swallowed the spoonful, quivering as if a chill had run down her spine. She recovered without a single complaint, clicking her tongue to run the taste off her mouth. A brief rasp on the door broke through the air, a caretaker entering with a tray of the things Kagome had requested. Gratefully, she got up and met her halfway, taking the tray from the caretaker.

"The soup is being prepared and will be up shortly, madam." She bowed her head and Kagome was a little taken aback, never having received that treatment before. "If you need anything else, there will be someone just outside the door."

Before she could thank her, Rin lurched forward as coughs racked through her chest, the sound wet and raspy. Quickly, trying not to spill anything, Kagome set the tray down beside the medicines she'd laid out, traveling over to the princess to rub her back in a soothing effect until her fit subsided. The caretaker looked on worriedly, and with a hand outstretched, Kagome silently gestured for her to bring the glass of water, mouthing a "thank you" as the cup met her fingers.

"Sip only." Kagome said, handing the glass to Rin. The princess did as she was told, settling back against her pillows in exhaustion. Giving a brisk nod to kindly excuse the caretaker, Kagome got up and grabbed the bowl of cold water and a rag, setting it up on the bedside table along her bed as the door to the bedroom shut. Before she sat, Kagome went back to the medicines, grabbing a container of balm to ease the potential congestion in Rin's chest. Along with that, a small dosage of powdered herbs that would dissolve under the tongue to help break the fever quicker. At the sight of the powder, the little girl scrunched her nose once more, the look on her face telling Kagome she knew exactly how horrible it tasted. She couldn't even hold back her own laugh at the girl's aversion. "I know, it's the best isn't it?"

"Do I have to?"

"If your fever keeps up like this, you literally will be spitting fire, little dragon." Kagome poked, placing the container of balm on the bedside table as she readied the small amount of powder. "I'll give you some water when it finishes dissolving."

Rin opened her mouth, lifting her tongue so Kagome could pour it in, her lips closing and curving down in revulsion. Swapping out for the balm, Kagome took a small scoop with her fingers, rubbing it into the scorching flesh of Rin's chest. The little girl made grabby-hands when the powder had properly vanished, requesting some water to wash the rest of the taste away.

The soup came as Kagome continuously dabbed a cool, wet rag along Rin's head and cheeks, occasionally drifting down to her neck to wash the beads of sweat away. The entirety of her cheeks were flushed bright pink, an indication, Kagome had learned, that the medicine she'd given was beginning to work.

"Do you think you can eat a little?" She asked, smiling thankfully at the attendant that delivered the food.

"I'm not really hungry." Rin meagerly admitted.

"I can imagine." She sympathized. "But it'll help keep your strength up. Just a little."

The tray was propped over Rin's lap, and she slurped a few spoonfuls of broth while Kagome prepared the tea, giggling as the girl cringed about the chopped celery in the stew. Though she was sick and had every justification in the book to be crabby, she still joked and laughed and smiled as if nothing was wrong. She was a happy girl, and Kagome wondered how much of a handful she was on days where she felt bright.

The princess managed to eat half of her serving of soup before calling it quits, and by then the water in the kettle had cooled enough for her to comfortably drink, the herbs steeped and the liquid a deep shade of amber. It was yet another thing thats taste was unfavorable, but despite her crinkled grimace, she drank every drop up.

"How are you feeling, princess?" Kagome asked, dragging the damp rag behind her neck after taking the empty mug from her small hands.

"Tired." Was all she replied. Her breaths were, expectedly, just as shallow as before, though signs remained positive that she was still receiving enough oxygen. The effects of the tea would kick in soon enough and she'd hopefully sleep for more than a few hours at a time, though when your lungs ached for full and deep breaths of air, it was hard to remain comfortable. As of right now, Kagome couldn't do anything more. Rin needed rest, and time needed to pass before her next dosage of medicine.

She adjusted the girl's pillows a bit so she wasn't completely sitting up, her head supported at the perfect angle where it wouldn't fall to the side if she nodded off. When she relaxed into the mess of fluff, Kagome took the opportunity to clean up the mess she'd created, moving trays away while keeping a few things neatly arranged at the bedside table. Kaede had packed more medicines than necessary, and she figured it was more for precaution than anything. Had it been the flu instead of pneumonia, she would have been equally as prepared.

Pushing her hair behind her ear, Kagome glanced back over toward the princess. The little girl was hugging her dragon close, the fingers of one hand lazily dancing over the the thread that detailed the nose of one head.

"Would you like to say goodnight to your parents?" She offered, noticing how sleepy she was getting. Half-lidded, brown eyes bounced over to her, a trying smile forming on her face as she nodded.

Without hesitation, Kagome left to find them, jumping slightly when she'd forgotten someone was posted just outside the doors.

"Is there something I can get for you, miss?"

"Oh, no thank you." She declined, waving her hands dismissively. "I was actually looking for the king and queen."

"This way." He turned stiffly on his heel, guiding her down the hall.

She couldn't help her eyes from gliding over the marble walls and arched ceilings as they curved into a larger area, the floors expanding and providing ample room for even a carriage to stroll through. Just the outside of the castle was intimidatingly gorgeous to her, but never had she imagined to be so at a loss for words inside as well.

The attendant opened the white door to the side, eyes flickering in to gesture for her to go through. Out of nervous reaction, she smoothed the front of her dress quickly before walking in, slanted, ember eyes landing on her from his place next to the tall window across the room. She hadn't realized that the sun was setting, or that it wasn't nearly as late as it felt. A creak in a chair caught Kagome's attention and she saw the queen leaning forward, wearing a smooth and slim dress so crimson it rivaled the depth of her eyes.

"Her Grace," She slowly began, feeling a little trepidatious and fighting her own common tick to fidget her fingers or stumble over her words. "Um - well her pneumonia’s returned. Her fever's dropped a little. She ate half a bowl of the soup that was sent up, which was more than I expected. If it's alright, I'd like to stay overnight to monitor her breathing, and then stick by her side tomorrow to see if I can break her fever entirely."

"Of course." Kagura swiftly agreed. "Can we send someone to get anything you might need from your place?"

"No, thank you. I've got everything necessary. I appreciate you allowing me to stay." Kagome bowed her head an inch. “With all that said and done, the medicine has made her sleepy and she'd like to say goodnight to you."

She'd hardly finished her sentence before Sesshomaru passed by, strands of her hair fluttering slightly with his silent fervency. Even his long, white cloak brushed the sleeve of her dress, but she stayed perfectly still, only turning to watch the concerned parents path out of the doors. She couldn't hold the king's coldness against him. She'd heard several times from Inuyasha that communication wasn't his strong suit if it wasn't business-related. That, and she could clearly see just how deeply his daughter's illness stabbed him, despite the flesh-colored mask he wore.

Kagome set to follow them, leaving plenty of space between so as not to interrupt their time, catching movement along the wall in the corner of her eye. The prince stood there, watching her with eyes a half a shade darker than his brother's. There was a slight downward curve to his lips, tension in his jaw, and his arms were crossed over his chest - almost as if he disapproved of something she'd done but wasn't expressing it as grumpily as he would on any average day. Nonetheless, just the mere sight of him helped soften the bundled nerves in her chest, and she sighed out and smiled in relief. He was so many feet away, but having him there was just as equivalent as having him standing at her side to physically support whatever movement she made.

He shouldn't have stayed behind, though. She knew he was just as worried about his niece. He should be with her, even if it was just for a brief moment.

"Go say goodnight." Kagome said softly, gesturing toward the door with a flick of her brows.

"You've been working a lot with all the orders for medicine lately." He stated, unmoving. "Have you gotten any real rest in the past couple of days?"

"Of course, I have." She lied convincingly. "Now go say goodnight, Your Highness."

With an exhale, Inuyasha dropped his hands to his side, heading out the door and down the hall toward Rin's room.

—

It was just barely breaking three in the morning, and Rin had woken up twice; once in a fit of painful coughs and another because her fever had spiked again and she was incredibly uncomfortable. The princess's tears were heartbreaking and Rin had admittedly muffled her cries so her family wouldn't hear. There was a point where Kagome's fingers trembled so badly and she wondered if she was doing half as well as Kaede would have in this situation. When the little girl had calmed enough, she was able to give her a little more of the powder and tea, though the water had chilled to a temped temperature which accentuated the bitterness of the flavor. It was more important for the soothing effects to be in her system than waiting for hot water to be brought up, though.

After Rin had fallen back asleep, Kagome shook in her stool next to the bed, watching the girl's chest rise and fall unsteadily, her hands fidgeting and sweating in her lap. She willed herself to breathe deeply instead of mimicking the princess's pace in her agitated state. No matter how high strung her nerves seemed to be, her eyes kept closing, her head feeling heavy on her neck. She couldn't fall asleep. She needed to keep an eye on Rin. She needed to make sure complications didn’t suddenly arise. Her body was too weighted, too stressed, too tense, but no matter how many times she got up and paced the room in an effort to wake her muscles, the fatigue swung through her rapidly and overwhelmingly, bringing her to succumb and rest her head along the edge of the comforter-covered mattress.

Kagome felt a series of gentle rakes through her hair, fingers skimming through so softly, nails gliding along her scalp soothingly. Over and over, along her temple and just above her ear, she felt the massage progressively becoming more evident as consciousness flooded back to her.

She'd fallen asleep.

Gasping tremulously, Kagome quickly sat up, her eyes swiftly scouring over the sleeping child. She studied her chest which continued to rise and fall, and then her cheeks which weren't as pink as before but still remained flush, and her bangs that stuck and curled due to the sweat on her forehead. Her lips were normal-colored, and parted slightly for the air she breathed, her fingers twitched as she dreamt, and she was still okay.

"It's just me." A husky voice whispered behind her, grasping her attention as efficiently as if she'd been yelled at. Kagome turned to see the prince kneeling at her side, the dim, yellow light of the room shadowing his silver hair.

"What are you doing in here?" She asked, running her fingers through her hair as she tried anything to wake herself up further.

"I need you to eat something." He said, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb his niece. He smoothed down her bangs that she'd just ruffled in her half-asleep state, unwilling to resist touching her further and running his fingers down her cheek, over her jaw, and softly gripping around the back of her neck, his thumb continuing to caress.

"I'm not hungry." Kagome shook her head, speaking even lower than he. Inuyasha pushed the plate with the crust-less sandwich she hadn't yet noticed forward, stopping when it sat on the blanket directly in front of her.

"I don't care. You've been here for almost twelve hours and haven't had any food or water. I won't have that."

"Inuya-"

"No. Eat and I'll leave." He insisted, lips curving in the slightest knowing smile that told her he understood why she needed to do this without him around. Caving, and thoroughly appreciating his tender care, she sighed and dropped her head, giving him a defeated smile.

"I'm thirsty." Kagome feebly admitted. Inuyasha immediately twisted where he kneeled, grabbing a glass of chilled water he'd brought for her from the desk. She felt the liquid wash down into her empty stomach, taking sips at a time until half the cup was empty. She was almost embarrassed that he waited while she ate the peanut butter and jelly, his hand rubbing up and down her back as his ember eyes rested on the sleeping princess, though the feeling was washed away with the reminder of her immense adoration for the man. She wondered how many people were lucky enough to know the huge heart he had beneath the invisible shield he obligatorily wore to protect himself. He was deep, attentive, compassionate, and paid close attention no matter how many snarky jokes he made in response; she remembers telling him only once and months ago that she could live without crust and preferred a little more peanut butter than jelly instead of the fifty-fifty ration.

As soon as she was done, he held true to his word, taking the plate from before her but leaving the water behind for her to finish. Just before he stood to leave, Inuyasha pushed aside Kagome's bangs to place a lingering kiss to her forehead.

"I'm so proud of you." He whispered against her skin, respectfully leaving her to her work.

—

Relieved and exhausted, Kagome trailed close behind the servant, following a different direction than she was taken the night before. Passing a few windows, she took the opportunity to gaze out at the forest and grounds they overlooked, the clouds in the sky nonthreatening of another downpour and brighter as the sun peeked through thin pieces of the veil, bringing the melting snow on the floor to sparkle in the muted afternoon light. The man guiding her opened a glossy, wooden door, giving a small bow of his head as she smiled gratefully, smoothed out her dress, and stepped through.

The king bent over a table at the opposite side of the room, softly mumbling to the prince as they studied a large map. The queen watched on at one of the corners, but her mouth remained closed as if she had nothing to contribute to their conversation. Even before Kagome had fully entered, Inuyasha's eyes flew up, alert, his body following his gaze and straightening in attention. The king, though equally as observant of her presence, looked over to her less enthusiastically, expression as pressed as ever, though his eyes flickered from her, to his news-awaiting wife who had completely shifted round toward the door, and then back to her.

"Her Highness's fever broke late this morning, and it's consistently stayed gone. She hasn't had any chills or shown signs of it returning." Kagome smiled as she could visibly see Kagura's chest deflate of alleviation. "Her breathing is a bit steadier, but that's something that will take a little time to completely return to normal, as I'm sure you know. The same for her cough."

"What can we do from here?" Sesshomaru asked, finally lengthening the curve in his back to stand up straight. She hadn't noticed before since she hadn't seen the two right next to each other, but the elder of the brothers was half a head taller.

"She needs as much rest as she can get. Often, when she coughs, it hurts her left side." She pointed to the side of her ribcage which was about the area Rin would clutch when she doubled over and wheezed. "It'll go away as the infection leaves her lungs. I've left behind the herbs for the tea, a balm to soothe her airway, and some white horehound for her breathing. She needs to take the syrup once in the morning and once before bed. The balm can be used as much as you'd like - just rub it onto her chest. The tea will make her drowsy and help calm her cough as well, so definitely give it to her before bed, but if she seems like she needs it throughout the day, don't be afraid to give her glass."

"Thank you. So much." The queen said, her smile small but her gratitude evident in her tone.

"Of course. She's asleep at the moment, but is there anything else I can do right now to make you all more comfortable with this?"

"You've done enough." The king nodded levelly. "I'll have you compensated on your way out."

"Please, no. The princess was wonderful company. That's payment enough." Kagome smiled. "If you run low on medicine or her temperature spikes even a little, please don't hesitate to come get me or Kaede."

As Sesshomaru nodded, Kagome responded with a proper curtesy, making sure to give no fuel to Inuyasha's nerve to make fun of her like the first one she'd given to him.

"I'd like to make sure she gets home safely." Inuyasha said, his own way of requesting to do it himself. Though his expression hardly changed, he could see the hardening in his brother's eyes.

"We have work to do. You may have one of your men take her, instead."

When his golden eyes went back to the map and Kagome rose from her bow to the queen, he rounded the table, nodding toward the door for her to follow him out. So badly, he wanted to grab her hand, hold her waist, bring her close, personally thank her for all the work she'd put in. Exceptionally more so did he want to push her against the wall in one of the curtain-shielded nooks and kiss her so hard he starved for air and heard that whimper she gave that caused his fingers to tremble every time. It had been a grueling event just sitting there helplessly. There were constant uncertainties plaguing his mind as the night dragged on, and he'd made the mistake of walking past his niece's room in a fit of agitated nerves only to hear her crying, increasing his pain and the rip in his heart. All he wanted was a fucking moment of peace; something he felt he could easily get from three minutes of solitude with Kagome. But within the boundaries of his castle he was confined to act proper and professional. He refused to have her be the butt of every servant's conversations and gossip if they were seen. His guards, his brother, and his sister-in-law were aware of their relationship, but there hadn't been any sort of announcement that respectfully declared it, putting the rest of the household - and kingdom - in the know. Personally, Inuyasha found those annoying and intrusive as all hell, but being who he was, and in the family he was, the measures he took until they were ready was what was necessary to guard them both at the moment.

Kagome didn't do anything to push the boundaries, either. Even though a gravitational pull forced his knuckles to graze against her own, she didn't push the limits no matter how quickly he would have folded if she did. She respected his position, his responsibilities, him. And, god, was it frustrating to have to call Koga over to take her home when the least he deserved was to do it himself after the extraordinary amount of self control he exerted in the last twenty-five hours.

Sesshomaru bore him directly with his typical, slanted gaze as he returned to the study to continue their work. He read the expression thoroughly, at first interpreting it as resentment, but then understanding the hint of regret in the curve of his eyebrows. It was so subtle, something he could really only know from being around him since childhood, that he wasn't even sure his own wife knew what that manner looked like on him.

"We need to talk."

"About?"

"An alliance I've agreed to." Sesshomaru said, raising his chin a thin hair. Kagura's head turned slowly toward her husbands, disconcertment marring her features, seemingly as if this was the first she was hearing this news as well.

Inuyasha felt a bubbling begin to expand in his abdomen, a disturbance rising in him. Something didn't seem right.

"The Kingdom of Naraku has a formidable army."

"As do we." Inuyasha skeptically added.

"You and I both know how powerful they are. And ours is being tested. It would be stupid of us to stand by idly without taking some sort of action to prevent it from happening again. I've been in contact with their King, Onigumo, and he's taken interest.” There was tightness in his voice, but his eyes held steady on the prince. The bubbling was shifting, growing, climbing through his esophagus and into Inuyasha's throat. He didn't like the look on Sesshomaru's face, he didn't like that the queen wasn't consulted beforehand, and he definitely didn't like the opened envelope his brother pulled from the pocket within his coat. As he opened his mouth to speak, probably to dance around the details of the subject in his classic, steady fashion, Inuyasha cut him off, his tone sharp and abrupt.

"What's the catch?"

The king tensed, sealing his lips and clenching his jaw momentarily, the muscles in his face contracting with the motion. There was a small click from his tongue as he finally spoke. "He wants a marriage to his daughter to be the ties of our alliance. I've accepted for you."

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