Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, nor do I profit from this work of fan fiction. =)
Chapter 1
Kagome awoke suddenly and sharply gasped for air, instinctively she grasped her sleeping bag with both hands. Her eyes searched the hut as she remembered where she was. From a darkened corner two golden eyes watched her silently as the beads of sweat glistened on her forehead. She quietly unzipped her sleeping bag and carefully climbed out. Softly she crept out of the hut into the crisp night air.
"Ah" she sighed, the cool air caressing her face. This was just what she needed to help her to calm down. She silently trudged up the hill a few steps and lay back on the fresh grass. As she gazed up at the night sky she tried to replay the details of the nightmare in her mind. This terror had plagued her dreams for several nights now. She could remember only bits and pieces of the bad dream and the feeling of dread that accompanied it. She knew for sure that something was coming and it was coming for her.
She was so focused on her thoughts that she failed to hear Inuyasha creep up beside her.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked, concern apparent in his voice as he sat down beside her. He looked at her apprehensively and tried to read the emotion in her eyes.
"Oh, Inuyasha, you scared me" she said as she sat up quickly. "Uh, yeah, I'm fine" she responded nervously straightening the pleats on her skirt. "I just got so hot in there, you know, I just needed some fresh air, that's all" she added.
"Hmph" Inuyasha grumbled as he crossed his arms like a toddler, "I'm not an idiot Kagome, what's really wrong" he demanded.
Kagome's brown eyes widened and she secretly smiled at his childlike behavior. "Inuyashaaaaa, I told you nothing's wrong now drop it!"
"Nothing doing, now talk" he shouted as his arms dropped to his sides and fists balled up.
She stared straight ahead and sat in silence then flopped back down into the cool grass. They sat like that for what seemed like a forever.
Finally, Inuyasha grumbled incoherently and began to get up. Kagome quickly sat up and reached for his wrist. "Wait, please!" She tightened her grip on his wrist "please, I'm sorry" she whined as she looked up at him sadly. He turned back towards her quickly glancing at her death grip on his wrist and then back at her. She blushed slightly but didn't let go.
"Geez wench make up your mind" he grunted as he sat back down and tried to hide the blush that now garnished his cheeks. "Now, what's going on" he demanded staring at her intently.
Their eyes met for a moment. Kagome turned forward and pulled her knees to her chest. She wrapped her arms around her legs and gazed forward. "Nothing really, I just had a nightmare" she responded.
"About…..?" he asked questioningly.
"I can't remember all of it" she spoke with disappointment.
"Try harder" he demanded.
"Inuyasha, it's not like I haven't tried" she retorted.
"Feh" he muttered under his breath. "Well tell me what you can remember"
Kagome sighed deeply and closed her eyes. "Okay" she begins hesitantly. "It begins normally enough. Sango, Miroku, Shippo, you and I, we're hiking through the countryside like usual. Suddenly, the sky begins to darken even though I'm fairly certain it was midday. We detect a demonic aura and I try to sense a jewel shard. My head begins to throb; I crumble to ground clutching both sides of my head. The pain is excruciating, I keep my eyes squeezed shut. I remember hearing a voice." Kagome stopped and rubbed hands over her arms trying to warm the goosebumps that had popped up while she spoke.
Within a matter of seconds Inuyasha had removed his outer haori and draped it over Kagome's shoulders.
Kagome looked to him appreciatively "thank you" she said softly. She slipped her arms inside the sleeves; it was still warm and smelled like the hanyou. She closed her eyes, and smiled to herself. She wondered what it might be like to feel his arms around her; she could imagine it, if only for a moment.
Inuyasha's voice called her back to reality "the voice…." "huh" she looked up "oh, sorry, r-right the v-voice" she stuttered.
"Whoever or whatever he is said he was there for the miko, which I can only assume meant me. I remember Sango yelling and Miroku chanting sutra's. I can still hear the sounds that resonate from your battle cries. I remember the voice offering one last chance to hand me over with a promise of no more bloodshed. After that everything's kind of a blur. When the pain finally stops, I look up. It's dark and quiet." Kagome began to feel the familiar burn of tears welling in her eyes.
Inuyasha could smell the salty tears before they began to fall. He hesitantly shuffled closer to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Warmness engulfed his insides as she laid her head against his chest.
"I see Sango and Miroku's bodies far from where I presume most of the battle occurred, too far for me to get to in my current state. You on the other hand look like you barely left my side. I crawl over to where you've fallen. There's blood everywhere. I call your name but you don't respond. I don't even have a moment to see if your breathing before something grabs me. I struggle to get a look but for some reason I always wake up. I can still hear the sound of its evil laughing in my head when I open my eyes."
Kagome's emotions began to get the best of her as she choked back a sob. Inuyasha turned and wrapped his other arm around her. He pulled her close and leaned his head down against hers. The smell of Kagome surrounded him, her salty tears and the soothing sent of lavender, he was secretly so fond of it and of her.