Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

A/N: This document was written months ago, but I was never able to find the right time to post it. I'm guessing that this is going to have less than ten chapters, but it can possibly be longer. And updates will be monthly since Bloodshed already takes like two weeks to update.

Also, this has been edited on 31st January because of a dialogue I had written which was "...like a woman on her period". I apologise to anyone who was offended. I'm a female myself, so the thought of possibly offending others didn't occur to me. Again, I apologise.

Chapter 1:

Definitely Not Sick

Inuyasha felt feverish and light-headed. He had no idea why he hadn't been feeling well for the past few days, but he guessed that these were the times when even sickness could overcome his healing abilities. He had felt sick like this once, about 25 years ago, and he had hoped that he would never have to face it again. Of course, luck really wasn't on his side and he had to face it again.

The problem was that when he's sick, he becomes crankier, and easier to get annoyed. It was probably to release the frustration of having to pretend that he was fine. Earlier, he had knocked Shippo harder than usual, causing the kitsune to cry in pain, and earned himself an 'osuwari'. Then, the monk tried reasoning with him and he started yelling. After that, Kaede tried easing the tensed situation, and he ended up calling her several ugly names. At last, he decided to keep his distance away from everyone before he goes on a rampage.

He sat under the Goshinboku; its trees giving him enough shade to block out the sunlight. He covered his mouth when he started coughing. His illness was getting worse; which means that this was a critical time for him. He closed his eyes and leaned his head at the bark of the tree. The illness will eventually go away, but it took him two weeks to recover the last time he got it. It seemed that he just had to hold on until it ends. It wasn't as if he was going to die from it.

"Inuyasha! There you are!"

He flinched as he heard Kagome's voice being so near, and he quickly masked his sickly expression into a grouchy one. Kagome emerged from the trees, her face unhappy, and her arms crossed.

"Keh. What do you want, wench?" Inuyasha snorted.

"What is wrong with you today?! You've been yelling at people nonstop! You hit Shippo-chan, you shouted at Miroku-sama, you called Kaede-baachan names... I just can't understand you!"

"Maybe I don't want to be understood! Now leave me alone!" Inuyasha shouted. He wished he could've said it while standing, but he doubt that he had the energy to do it.

"No," Kagome said and narrowed her eyes. "You will apologise to Shippo-chan, Kaede-baachan and Miroku-sama for your behaviour. I don't want to hear excuses, Inuyasha."

"You can't force me, you shrilly, annoying–"

"Osuwari!"

Inuyasha's face landed on the hard ground, and he almost immediately regretted saying those words. His head felt like it might explode. But because his anger was as high as his sickness, of course he had to reply with a muffled, "You ugly, hot-tempered–"

"Osuwari!"

Again, his face was slammed to the earth, and he could've sworn he heard his skull crack. He laid on the ground for a few seconds, before slowly getting up. Once he was up, Kagome glared daggers at him, as if daring him to insult her one more time.

"You're so loud and annoying, you damn wen–"

"Osuwari!" this was probably the loudest command he had ever heard from her today. His face hit the ground, and it took some kind of willpower for him not to lose his consciousness. "Inuyasha, I swear that if you don't stop saying mean things to everyone, I will pray to the gods above to take your voice away!"

With those last words, Kagome stomped away. Inuyasha gave himself a few more minutes before he could lift himself off the ground. His body swayed and his head throbbed. He held his forehead, and squinted his eyes to focus on Kagome's leaving form. He eventually saw three of her, and he ended up closing his eyes instead.

Well too bad, wench, Inuyasha thought weakly as he laid his head again at the bark of the tree. Until I die, you won't stop hearing from me whether you like it or not.

Kagome furiously pushed aside the flap of Kaede's hut; her footsteps heavy and thumping the wooden flooring. Kaede, Miroku, Sango, and Shippo looked at her as she plopped to the ground, her arms folded across her chest, and her nostrils flaring. They all inched away, just so that they won't be the target if she decided to suddenly attack people.

"Kagome-chan, would you like some tea?" Sango offered, practically feeling the flames of Kagome's anger.

"No thanks," Kagome huffed and closed her eyes. Everyone waited in suspense, knowing what was coming next. They didn't have to wait long. "That jerk! After what he did, he had the audacity to call me names, and... and...!"

"You actually talked to him?" Miroku asked, raising a brow as he sipped his tea.

"Yes, and he called me ugly, hot-tempered and others!" Kagome snapped. "I had enough with his attitude! I promise you, if I hear one more of his insults, he's going to taste dirt for the whole day!"

Shippo bobbed his head in agreement. "Man, I don't get it. Inuyasha smells a little funny, but I don't understand what that has to do with him acting so mean at everyone."

Everyone whipped their heads to Shippo, and the kitsune jerked back by everyone's stares. They all eyed the kit, making the child clearly uncomfortable.

"What did you say, Shippo?" Miroku asked carefully.

"Inuyasha smells a little different today," Shippo said, and gave a slight shrug. "Only a little. I've been trying to figure out if that has to do with his grumpy behaviour."

"Could it be that Inuyasha is not feeling well?" Kaede commented.

"No, he's clearly fine. He acts like his usual self, except scarier and much more sensitive this time," Shippou waved the matter off nonchantly.

"But knowing Inuyasha, isn't he an expert when it comes to hiding his pain?" Sango stared and looked at Kagome. "I mean, the last time he broke his arm, he acted like this too, just for the sake of us staying away."

Kagome looked remorseful. "I... I didn't remember about that. If it's true, then that would explain why he didn't get up immediately after I 'sat' him. Oh god... if he really is sick, then I just hurt him more! We have to check on him!"

Miroku bent down and grabbed his staff. "We better hurry then, Kagome-sama. Because I can feel a demonic aura approaching near the forest, and it's coming fast too."

Inuyasha emptied the contents of his stomach a few meters away from the Goshinboku. He had been throwing up a lot lately, and his appetite wasn't all that great either. He panted as his eyes were locked with the mess he made. He quickly wiped his mouth and turned around to head back to the Goshinboku.

"S-Stupid wench..." he stammered. He stopped and felt his forehead when his head became dizzy again. "Damn it... the pain wouldn't stop..."

Just then, something caught his eye, and the next thing he knew, he was knocked to the ground; his back hitting the hard earth. He looked up and found a youkai over him. The youkai had slits like a snake, and by the tongue that sticked out with a hiss, Inuyasha could unhappily confirm that, it indeed, was a snake youkai. The problem was that, even if this snake youkai was some weakling, he didn't have enough strength to get him off after he had just finished vomitting.

"What the hell?! Get off me!" he said as he swiped his claws at the reptile's face. "Sankon Tessou!"

The snake youkai easily dodged his claws; only having to move his face a little to the left. "My, my, look what we have here. My brothers will be pleased to have you as our dinner..."

"I'm not going to be food for the likes of you!" Inuyasha shouted as he struggled to get the youkai off him. "Dammit! Get. Off!"

The youkai gripped Inuyasha's neck, choking the hanyou. Inuyasha winced when he felt stinging around his neck, and his eyes widened as the snake smiled cunningly at him.

"You talk big for someone who is weak," the snake youkai hissed. "You are a hanyou, are you not? Learn your place, and accept that I will do the world a favour by getting rid of an abomination."

Inuyasha's throat was on fire, and he wished so badly that this illness wasn't weakening his body. Now, all he could do was watch as the world blurred, and pain errupting from his throat. His efforts to release the choke-hold on his neck proved to be futile, and he could feel his limbs drop at his side.

"Inuyasha!"

Kagome's voice was the last thing he heard before he was consumed by darkness.

Kagome and the others were running at top speed. Kagome continously repeated Inuyasha's name in her head; her heart beating twice as fast at the anxiety that grew in the pits of her stomach. She regretted every 'sit' she had given to Inuyasha for the past few days. If Inuyasha was really sick, then she had made his condition worse by slamming him to the ground. If only she could see through his facade, she wouldn't have done it.

Her eyes widened in horror as a youkai was on top of Inuyasha, its hands surrounding the hanyou's neck. She watched as Inuyasha's hands fell limp, and his half-lidded eyes close. Without further thought, she pulled back her arrow, filling it with an amount of her spiritual powers, before releasing towards the youkai.

"Inuyasha!" she shouted.

The arrow hit the youkai, and the youkai hissed in pain, before dispersing in the air. Everyone hurried to the unconscious hanyou. Miroku bent down on one knee, inspecting Inuyasha's injuries. He gasped at the sight of Inuyasha's slightly burnt skin around the neck. The veins around it were visible to see thanks to the green hue; indicating that poison was coursing through.

"Inuyasha has been poisoned," Miroku announced.

Shippo sniffed the air and covered his nose. "I smell vomit from here."

Kagome stiffened. "Oh my god, then it's true... Inuyasha has been sick and I haven't realised a thing."

"Houshi-sama, we should bring Inuyasha back to Kaede-sama," Sango said as she placed a hand over Miroku's shoulder. "He will die if he doesn't get treated."

"Right," Miroku said as he turned to look at Kirara. "Kirara, do you mind?"

Kirara mewed and transformed into her huge cat form. With a nod from both, Miroku and Sango lifted Inuyasha up onto the nekomata. The taijiya and the monk were surprised that the hanyou weighed less than they thought. They did notice that Inuyasha had barely eaten the past few days, so this must've been the result. And the vomit also explains why he had disappeared often.

At the sight of Inuyasha, Kagome subconsciously gripped her bow at her side, following her friends from behind in silence.

"Kaede-sama!"

Upon hearing Miroku's voice, Kaede stood up as fast as she could. Before she could even approach the group, Miroku had beat her to it by violently pushing aside the flap, one of his arm was supporting Inuyasha's waist, while one of Inuyasha's arm was over Miroku's shoulder. The monk quickly, yet gently, placed down the hanyou on a mat, laying his head on the piece of fabric.

Wasting no time, Kaede got to work. She placed a hand over Inuyasha's forehead and took note that the hanyou was burning up. Then, she checked for other injuries, and found out that Inuyasha's neck was poisoned.

"Kagome, Sango, please get me a bucket of water. Inuyasha has a high fever," Kaede ordered and the two hurried out. "There is poison that mainly comes from his neck. Houshi-dono, how long has Inuyasha been poisoned?"

"About a few minutes ago."

"I see," Kaede stood up from Inuyasha's side. "I will be gathering some herbs to remove the poison. If Sango and Kagome returns with the bucket of water, please place a wet cloth on top of Inuyasha's forehead, it might help his fever."

Miroku nodded and Kaede left the hut as well. Miroku placed his staff down and sat cross-legged beside the unconscious hanyou. He ran a hand through his dark hair. His brows furrowed as the hanyou's face scrunched up and twitched. Earlier today, he had been confused and slightly hurt when Inuyasha had shouted at him, but now, he understood well what made the hanyou on edge.

He didn't notice Shippo sitting beside him, only staring at Inuyasha with a frown.

"Will Inuyasha be okay?" Shippo asked sadly. "He's never been this sick before, unless it's his human night."

"His human night is in a few more days, but it doesn't affect him unless it's the day when he turns human," Miroku responded. "I believe... he has lied to us when he says that he doesn't get sick."

"We got some water!" they both heard Kagome shout.

Kagome hastily placed the bucket down, while Sango searched around for a cloth. The taijiya returned and handed the cloth to Kagome. Kagome accepted it with a faint thanks, and quickly dipped the cloth into the water, squeezed out the excess, and placed it slowly on top of Inuyasha's forehead. She pressed the cloth gently and shifted into a kneeling position.

No one said a thing for a while. The silence broke only when Kaede entered. The old miko brought back some herbs and started making medicinal tea to take the poison out of Inuyasha's body. Soon, she finished making it, and Kaede handed Kagome the cup, since she was the nearest to Inuyasha's face right now.

"Let him drink it," Kaede said. "It will help him get rid of the poison out of his system."

Kagome nodded and gently lifted Inuyasha's head with her free hand. The hand holding the cup brought the item closer to his lips. Carefully, she tilted the cup slightly higher, and watched as the liquid entered through the hanyou's slightly parted lips. She allowed the water to flow slowly inside him, not wanting him to die out of choking in the process.

Once the cup was empty, she placed it down and lowered Inuyasha's head back onto the mat. Inuyasha's scrunched up face soon turned into something more relaxed, and they all sighed in relief that, at least, the hanyou wasn't getting any worse.

"Kaede-baachan, is there something wrong with Inuyasha?" Kagome asked with a frown. "We haven't notice it before, but my guess is that he's been sick for a few days now. He also doesn't seem to heal as fast as usual. I don't understand. I thought youkai doesn't get sick?"

"That is what ye may believe, Kagome," Kaede responded, her eyes casted on Inuyasha. "However, there is an illness that can truly affect a youkai. It is a rare disease. No one really knows where it comes from, and it chooses its victim randomly. It has no cure, but ye won't die from it. It will be gone in about a week, though, since he is a hanyou, I believe it would last a little longer," she said, and added, "I'm surprised that he was able to mask his sickness so well. Due to his half-human status, he should take the illness worse than a pure blooded youkai."

"And I 'sat' him three times when he has it," Kagome said bitterly to herself.

All of a sudden, there was a slight movement, and Inuyasha's eyes flew open. Before they could ask whether he was feeling okay, the hanyou shot up and out of the hut. Everyone hurried after him, Kagome being the fastest as she foresaw the hanyou's reaction.

Kagome reached the hanyou first, who was sitting on his haunches behind Kaede's hut. She could immediately hear the sounds of gagging, followed by the sounds of throwing up. In order to help him, she collected all of his silver hair in one hand, and held it high so that it doesn't get caught with the vomit. She crouched low and started rubbing circles on his back, earning herself a death glare from the pale hanyou – which she ignored.

"Kagome-chan!" she heard Sango call. "Is Inuyasha–" the taijiya stopped when she saw the said hanyou. "Inuyasha!"

By now, Inuyasha had finished emptying whatever was left in his stomach. He stood a little too fast, causing him to sway violently, but Kagome supported him fast enough before he could collapse. He narrowed his eyes at her, wanting her to not treat him as if he was that weak, but her eyes held some kind of determination and she refused to let him go.

"Inuyasha, thank goodness," Miroku approached, with a Shippou perched on top of his shoulder. "Are you alright now?"

"I'm fine, stop worrying about me so much," Inuyasha snapped.

But his eyes widened when he couldn't hear the words come out of his mouth. He tried talking again, but his voice wouldn't come out. He glanced at his friends, whose eyes were also widen. He took a step back. At first, he thought he had gone deaf, but that couldn't be possible; since he had just heard Miroku talk a few seconds ago.

His eyes widened in horror.

It couldn't be...

He couldn't have possibly lost his voice.

Kagome was the first to interrupt the silence; which confirmed his worst fear when she said, "This cannot be happening."