So here's the next chapter. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Ch. 14: Kimiko's Story

Kagome woke with a groan. She hurt so much and felt so weak. What had happened to her? The last thing she remembered was walking back toward Naomi's compound with Hiroto and the children. Then...nothing. She couldn't remember anything after that.

She shifted and immediately decided moving was a bad idea when agony shot through her. Something silver in the corner of the room caught her attention and she saw it was hair. Inuyasha. He was sitting on the floor sleeping. His knees drawn up to his chest and the tessaiga held loosely in his arms. It was how he always slept. As if he were ready to jump up and fight. Which she supposed he was and had to be.

The shoji leading outside opened and Naomi walked in. She smiled. "You're awake."

Kagome nodded. When she spoke, her voice sounded so rusty and her throat hurt with each sound. "What happened?"

"You don't remember?" When Kagome shook her head, Naomi said, "You were shot through the lung with an arrow. It took a lot of work and time to repair the damage without letting you die."

"How did I live?"

"I can heal," Naomi explained as she set the tray of food Kagome hadn't noticed down on a table.

Kagome gave Inuyasha a look then turned her attention back to Naomi in silent question.

"I was with him when Rin came to tell me what happened. I couldn't very well leave him when he knew you could die so he came with me. Miroku and Sango are here too." Naomi gave Inuyasha a patient look. "The food is for him. He hasn't left this room since I finished tending to your wounds."

Kagome was so shocked she forgot how hurt her throat was and said, "He hasn't?"

"No." Naomi smiled. "I think he's made a decision. We can hope anyway."

Before Kagome could comment or object, the wolf hanyou walked over and shook Inuyasha's shoulder. "She's awake, Inuyasha."

His eyes slid open and stared at Naomi blearily before he looked over to Kagome. He came fully awake in seconds and was across the room before anyone could even blink. "Kagome, you're alright."

She stared up at him, still absorbing the fact that he'd been worried enough to stay with her. That he was relieved enough to take only seconds to cross a room. His hands holding hers were warm and trembled a little with his relief. Slowly, she nodded.

Naomi left them alone, mentally ordering Inuyasha not to mess up this time or she'd kill him. She sighed and rolled her shoulders. Maybe she should take a nap. She was still so tired.

"Lady Naomi?"

She sighed. No time for naps. Turning, she began dealing with whatever problem was presented to her.

Inside Kagome's room, Inuyasha was still holding the miko's hand and explaining how glad he was to see her alive and well. Kagome watched him and wondered if he was sick. He'd never been so open about what he was feeling before. Finally her anger began to surface. How dare he act like he hadn't done anything wrong.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing here?"

His ears flattened. "I wanted to make sure you were alright, Kagome."

"No, I mean why aren't you with Kikyo? Isn't she the one you really want to be with?" She turned away from him. "I'm tired, Inuyasha. I'm tired of always being second."

"Kagome..."

She didn't let him finish. "No, Inuyasha. I won't listen this time." She met his gaze again. "While I was away with Naomi, I learned that I deserve more. I deserve someone who will love me as me. Not look at me and wish for someone else."

"Kagome..."

"And you know what else. It's your loss." She was practically shouting now despite the rawness of her throat. "If you want the past so much why did you bother coming here?"

He was feeling a little panicky so he spoke without thinking. "Because I can't lose you."

"What?"

"I can't..." His eyes closed as the very thought of it weighed him down. He couldn't imagine life without her anymore. "I need you, Kagome. More than I need to breathe. Even more than I need Kikyo."

Kagome stared at him then turned away again. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha, but it won't be that easy this time."

He looked down and sighed. "I understand." Inuyasha made sure to meet her gaze again. "But I will do anything to earn your trust again. Anything, Kagome."

Standing, he turned and walked out of the room. Kagome watched him go with mixed emotions. The door opened again and she thought he might be coming back. She sat back when Naomi entered the room.

"It's only you."

"Don't sound so disappointed," Naomi said with a grin as she walked over to open the shoji leading to the gardens. Some fresh air would do the young miko good. "Inuyasha will be back."

"I don't care if he comes back," Kagome huffed.

The wolf hanyou sighed and sat next to her friend. "Kagome, come with me. I have something to show you."

With Naomi's help, Kagome managed to get out of the bed. They moved slowly as Naomi took her out to the most secluded part of her compound. Kagome looked around. Flowers grew in abundance here as if in tribute to the stone sitting in the middle. A bench rested at the end of the grave.

Naomi sat on the bench and patted the spot next to her. "I have a story to tell you and I hope it helps with your little dilemma."

"What are you..."

"Shhh," Naomi ordered, "and listen. It started over three hundred years ago. A young woman living in a small farming village to the north was out for a walk late at night."

Kagome found herself drawn into the story despite not understanding why she was being told it in the first place. She shifted a little, wincing as muscles still mending complained at her movement.

"The woman, Kimiko, knew it was dangerous to walk at night, but she loved the stars. They were so beautiful and she couldn't resist going to look at them." Naomi could see it herself. She always could see it. Her mother had been an excellent story teller. "As she walked, someone approached her. He had clawed hands and fire colored hair. On his forehead was a blood red star. Fangs glistened int he moonlight as he gave her a charming smile. Kimiko's heart stood no chance."

"What happened?" Kagome asked when Naomi paused.

The hanyou looked at Kagome. "She gave him everything and as a result became pregnant. Kimiko knew she couldn't let him find out because she'd also known he was mated when she'd met him. At the time, she chose to ignore that fact."

"So, what did she do?" Kagome finally chose to sit, her sapphire eyes never leaving Naomi's sad sea foam eyes.

"She ran and gave birth to a hanyou. An illegitimate child of a mated Daiyokai. The child that couldn't exists."

Naomi smiled a little as she saw the realization dawn on Kagome. The miko looked at the name carved into stone. Kimiko. The woman from the story. Her wide blue eyes turned back to Naomi.

"Your mother."

Naomi nodded. "Yes."

"And your father..." Kagome's eyes widened even more if that were possible. "The star and the red hair..."

"Yes."

"Lord Akira."

Again, Naomi nodded.

"But, he killed your mother."

Naomi nodded. "Yes, he did. He would have killed me except my mother had been wise enough to run to the Western Lands. Lord Inutashio happened by in time to save my life." Her sea foam eyes focused on the grave. "But not in time to save my mother's. That's why I'm afraid of the Northern Lord. If he ever found out, he'd kill me."

"Why tell me this now?"

"Two reasons. One, I promised to explain why I was afraid of him."

"And the other reason?"

"I once asked my mother if she ever regretted what happened between her and my father. Who wouldn't after all? She'd been forced to run from all she knew and became a whore in the eyes of many for giving birth to a hanyou."

"And she said?"

"No." Naomi gave a humorless chuckle. "Can you believe that? She told me she wouldn't change a thing. That life was full of risks and chances. If you ever lost the ability to trust in others and take those chances, then you might as well stop living."

Kagome looked at the grave again. "I don't understand."

"It means that you should always try again if the opportunity presents itself. Never give up on people, especially if you love them, unless absolutely necessary." Naomi shifted so that she was facing Kagome. "Even when their stupid jerks that waited a day too long to realize how much he cares about you. Because this might be your last chance to try again. If he dies tomorrow, would you regret not giving him another chance?"

Kagome stared for a long moment before jumping up and running despite her injuries. Naomi gave a satisfied smile. Finally, things were going right for Inuyasha and her new friend. Now all she had to do was get rid of Naraku then everything would be alright. That should be the easy part.

Hidden in the trees, a pair of amber eyes watched as Naomi stood and placed a hand on the grave stone. Her sea foam eyes held a lifetime of sadness. Now that he'd heard her story, he understood a great deal about the wolf hanyou. And strangely enough, the only thing that bothered him was that she was in danger if Lord Akira ever found out her secret. He'd just have to make sure she stayed safe...And he still couldn't believe he cared at all.

"Maybe I am sick," he grumbled as he walked away.

That's it for now. Hope you liked it. Until the next chapter.