A/N: I don't own Inuyasha and clan. :0(

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Crickets chirped under the milky glow of the cresent moon as it hung low over the valley heavy with the smell of fresh rain and earth. A cool breeze rippled the surrounding tall grass, gently splitting the damp blades like a gentle comb running through hair fresh from a morning shower; it did nothing to soothe the young girl's fevered brow as she tossed and turned in the warmth and comfort of her sleeping bag.

In her mind whirled a cinematic vision of pleasure and horror meant for her own personal viewing. The characters commanded the stage well and captivated her mind, just as they had the first day that they had met on her 15th birthday. They were, afterall, her best feudal friends and familiar faces that she had been seeing much more of now that her summer break had started.

Kagome's body relaxed a bit as she watched the smiling faces of Sango and Miroku dance into view. The dark blue monk robes of the holy man she had grown to know so well blew in the wind as the sound of his mirthful laugh ran through her the thoughts that were becoming less lucid and much more solid and it was harder for her mind's eye to discern the vivd dream from reality. Her body tossed once more, responding to the sound of the houshi's voice that resounded silently within her head.

"Ah, Lady Kagome! How good of you to finally join us!"

Miroku took Sango's hand and twirled her in a brief, flirtatious show of friendship to which the demon exterminator responded well. Kagome watched as her hair spun carelessly out from its usual tight pony tail and poured rivulets of silk down her slender frame. Her usual demon hunter's uniform neatly concealed beneath a kimono skirt had been replaced by a true spring festival kimono. The white fabric complimented her pale skin tone and the beautiful cherry blossoms etched along the hem and sleeves of the garment bestowed an unstartling grace that the miko had never seen her friend carry. In an instant, the exterminator's face twisted into a grin and a bubbling brook of laughter tumbled from her mouth. The sky responded, shifting fitfully between a deep cerulean shade and a much lighter bird's egg blue before it settled someplace between.

Miroku held the strong woman firmly in his grasp as if he were holding a treasure that he couldn't bear to part with before the woman in his arms began to speak.

"Really, Kagome. Its about time! We thought for sure we'd never see you tonight."

Kagome watched in awe as the couple continued they're fanciful dance before she began to inspect her own attire. Not a single thing had changed, right down to the torn shoe and the ragged shoelace protruding from the gap in her attempt to fix it over night.

"You didn't think you'd see me?"

"No, milady. We thought for sure you'd be off galavanting with your hanyo," replied Miroku, never missing a step.

"With Inuyasha?"

"Of course, Kagome! Who else would you sneak off with late at night?" asked Sango trying to hide her suspicion behind a wiley grin.

"I. Uh...What I meant to say is...uhhh..."

"Kagooooooooome," chanted a small child's voice from somewhere off in the distance. It was clear to Kagome at that point that the little kitsune that had called her mom had enterred her dream. Sure enough, the small fox demon appeared riding on a fully transformed Kirara's back.

Kagome's mind seemed to bubble over in anger and she could have sworn that she saw a flicker of something large looming off in the distance, but she shrugged it off as she watched the joy that cascaded around her from her friends dancing throughout her dream.

Why do they get to have all the fun? Why can't I be wearing a pretty kimono and dancing...and where on earth is Inuyasha?!

Kagome's thoughts were jarred from her mind and the tangle of dances and jubilee around her came to an abrupt halt as the earth below the gathering began to tremble and buckle. Everything around her began to vibrate and the vibrance of the sky at once began to darken until it was impossible to tell if night had befallen the friends or if it were something much more sinister in the making.

The miko's ears rang as the earth tore assunder just feet in front of her and set her flying to her rear with the impact of it all. Without hesitation, a form began to rise out of the ground. It was covered in white fur and surrounded by flames licking around its flanks.

It was a dog demon unlike any that Kagome had seen in her life.

"LET ME AT HIM!"

Everyone's attention turned to the newly arrived half blood clothed in his unbelievably bright fire rat kimono.

"Kagome," he said softly as he leapt from his perch atop a newly sprouted tree, "wear this while I'm fighting this thing alright? I don't want it to hurt you."

Without another word, Inuyasha leapt forward wielding only a stick and his bear hands.

"Inuyasha?! WHERE IS YOUR TETSUSAIGA?!"

Kagome draped his haori about her arms carelessly. She never noticed that it slowly began to conform to her body. She never noticed that within instants, it had fashioned itself into a beautifully intricate kimono just as she had wished before.

"Where's my...what?! AHHHHHHHHHH!"

The rest of the world faded from vision as Kagome watched her hero fall into the mouth of the dog demon before them. His fangs clenched down on the boys soft gut and there was a soft pop and a disgusting grating sound as his bones began to snap from the force of the jaws surrounding him. Salty tears poured forth from Kagome's honey colored orbs as she could do nothing but watch on in horror at the scene before her. She could smell the metallic tang of Inuyasha's blood hitting the ground before her when any remaining light was extinguished and Kagome was left standing in a world of black completely by her lonesome.

Startled, the miko sat up and began to untangle herself from her yellow sleeping bag. She could feel the blood pounding in her ears as she surveyed her surroundings. She could feel her spiritual energy crackling through her and in the blades of grass surrounding her, ready to lash out at anything that may threaten her life force. With a steadying breath, she opened her eyes and let her gaze settle upon the tall, ominous mountain that lay before her.

She shivered as she remembered the story that Inuyasha had told the group only hours before in broad daylight when they had asked about its red earthen color and its foreboding presence against the sky. His voice grew quiet, remorseful even, as he proclaimed it Sanguine Mountain. It was the final battle ground for his father and it was the blood of the very demons that seeped into the earth and gave it its hue. Kagome's body relaxed as she thought of his voice even as it brought news of the tale to her ears and mind. Her body faded in and out of consciousness, remembering the way his ears quivered as he retold the final battle of his father. She felt her body falling into the warmth of dreamless sleep as her mind registered that strange and unusual occurences often occured at the foot of the mountain and often cost those pit against each other their lives.

Kagome's body tensed slightly with the last thought still fresh on her mind. However, her body tuggled her willingly back into the realm of sleep from which she had been wrenched and any uneasiness that she may have felt melted away, to be forgotten by the coming of dawn.

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A/N: so what'd you think? This is just a little something to keep my creativity flowing while I continue my work on one of my other stories. Hope you enjoy this one and yes, there are definitely more chappies to come!