Disclaimer : No I don't own Inuyasha. I hate you for making me say it...

The Pirate and the Prisoner

Chapter 2. Moving

'Its beautiful. It really is. And everyone seems to be so happy about it. Maybe I should simply smile. Stop frowning and finally smile. Yea smile. There you go… Everyone seems to have brightened up just because I simply smiled. Though it was forced…'

Kagome looked down to her ring finger for the hundredth time that day. Hojo had proposed to her on another seaside walk, though Kagome had predicted it. He got down on one knee and proposed with a princess cut diamond with a small band and an oval shaped diamond. She had smiled and nodded her head 'yes!' Hojo had smiled and picked her up and swung her around and then, he kissed her.

But it wasn't like she dreamed it would be. It was just a small kiss with a bit of wet left behind. She licked at her lips after his left hers and she felt…nothing. She had shrugged it off then. But over the following days, she had grown mute and quite melancholy. She felt as though she had said yes to some type of prison sentence as it were.

She was now sitting at an outdoor picnic with her new fiancé sitting beside her. Friends and family had all gathered to celebrate the news at an outdoor picnic by the ocean.

Kagome looked at everyone present and decided that it was mainly her family that was there. Hojo's mother had died a few years back from influenza so only Hojo's dad was present. Kagome's side of the family was a different story however. Her whole family it seemed was at the engagement party.

Kagome's mother and father of course were sitting at the head of table while Souta - being the only male heir of the family- sat next to his father and Hojo with Kagome on the other side. Kagome's cousins and aunts and uncles surrounded the rest of the table. Everyone was dressed in formal attire and Kagome wore a cream white dress with a sky blue colored sash tied around her stomach with a big bow sitting tightly above her butt.

Everyone was happy and kagome smiled at Hojo as he enjoyed himself. He continued to laugh as her family and close friends told jokes and stories. It seemed like everyone was having a wonderful time; the exception being Kagome. Kagome watched as her fat uncle bartholomew, grabbed another piece of cake and stuffed it into his round, chubby cheeks.

Her nose twitched in disgust and she turned back to her father who was regaling on an old story. "…So there I was. Stuck in the middle of the ocean on that god forsaken ship. The winds had been favoring us for days and it seemed like we would make good time getting back to port. We had been traveling through pirate water's but no one seemed to pay any heed to it though. But then out of the blue, I heard canon fire."

Everyone sat wide eyed at Kenjiro. Except for his daughter, that is. She had heard this story more then a million times by her count, and she knew it by heart. But It was one of her favorite story's he would tell. So she listened.

Kenjiro continued on with his conflicting story. "Everyone ran to their battle stations and prepared for a fight. And the battle let me tell you, was a magnificent one. I ran down into my quarters and grabbed my sward. Then I ran back up to the main deck and began to fight with the scoundrel pirates to reagin possession the ship. Im not sure how long we fought or how many men we lost, but we fought off those dreadful pirates. And you'll never guess who the pirate was that we fought…." He paused for dramatic effect.

"Captain….. Inu… jones." He said in a scary dark voice.

Everyone at the sea side table gasped. They couldn't believe that he had fought the pirates off the ship that was captained by Inu jones. It just wasn't heard of.

Kagome's cousin Bethany suddenly spoke up. "I can't believe you fought him! He's a monster and never leaves any survivors!" She exclaimed.

Kenjiro nodded. "Aye. I know he doesn't. Which is why that particular battle stumped me." He rubbed his chin in thought. "It seemed like he wasn't there to simply kill, rather then he was looking for something…or someone."

"I wonder what he could have been searching for…" Someone pipped in. Kagome looked over her shoulder and saw her cousin Kikyo walking up the grassy hill toward the picnic table. The wind blew her dress around her body and Kagome smiled. Kikyo and Kagome were vary close…ever since they were little they had always been the best of friends. People used to think they were twins when they were younger, but they grew out of that when they grew up.

"Kikyo!" Kagome squealed and jumped up form the tabled. A servant pulled out her chair and helped her stand. Hojo smiled at his fiancés sudden burst of happiness. She had been quite quiet for most of the days that had passed since the engagement had been announced.

Kagome ran over to her cousin and threw her hands around her neck and squeezed tightly. Kikyo rubbed her younger cousins back and giggled."You didn't think I would miss your engagement party, did you?"

"We all thought you wouldn't arrive until a week before the wedding!" Kagome beamed.

Kikyo nodded. "Yes, so did I. But I negotiated Naraku into letting me come home a bit sooner. I took one of his passing ships and then connected on another vessel back here."

Naraku was Kikyo's husband. He was a tall tanned man with defining features. His hair went down bellow his butt and he had piercing eyes with red irises.

Before they were married, Naraku was a poor man that was on the brink of death. But Kikyo took pity on him and fell in love with him in time. Her parents soon told her though, that she would marry a young wealthy officer of the settlement they were currently living in. Kikyo was furiously mad and told her parents how she felt but they ignore her on the issue.

After a while of secretly dating Naraku, Kikyo finally told her parents that she was in love with a poor man but she loved him none the less.

She told them that it simply wasn't possible to marry anyone else because he could make her happy and thats all she ever wanted. Her parents finally gave in and canceled her engagement to the young man.

Because Kikyo and Naraku's marriage was disapproved of, they eloped. After they were married, Naraku got a really good job working as an officer on one of the ships that were docked in their settlement. But after time, he worked his way up to captain then commodore and then; governor. Kagome really didn't know how he'd done all that so fast, but she didn't say anything about it in case it would hurt Kikyo's feelings.

"But you should know that it was all your fathers idea." Kikyo smiled gratefully at her uncle.

Kagome gasped and stepped away from Kikyo to look at her father. "You really did that? For me?"

Kenjiro grinned sheepishly at his daughter. "Of course I did darling! Why wouldn't I?"

Kagome genuinely smiled. "Thank you Papa."

The rest of the picnic was enjoyable as far as Kagome was concerned. Her father continued his detailed story's and bartholomew kept stuffing food into his cheeks like a hibernating chipmunk. And Kagome and Kikyo sat as close as possible together and talked together about what had happened while they were apart from each other.

Kikyo spoke about how her husband worked most of the time, running the ships for the kings navy. Kikyo and Naraku were trying to get pregnant so they could have an heir to there wealthy property, but so far it hadn't worked.

At one point in the conversation Kikyo turned her head to the side to view the oceans tide, and Kagome put a hand over her mouth as she gasped suddenly.

Kikyo had a large red mark on the back of her neck, that resembled something like a birthmark but it was big to much for that. It was dark red and purple that looked like it was trying to heal itself. Kagome thought it looked like someone rubbed a large rope across her skin until she either bruised or bled from it.

"Kikyo….what..what is that?"

Kikyo turned her head back and placed her hand on the mark she was asking about, even before Kagome said what she was talking about exactly. "Its just a bad sunburn." Kikyo said through lying teeth. And Kagome could tell she was.

"Kikyo…if you have…something to tell me, you know you can always tell me anything!" They spoke in a low hush so no one would overhear their conflicting conversation.

Kikyo rubbed the back of her neck in a soothing manner. "Kagome, its nothing. Stop troubling yourself."

Kagome was persistent. "Please, tell me. I know that, that couldn't possibly be a sunburn. I don't even know if its even possible to get a sunburn there!"

Kikyo flicked her eyes over to Kagome and glared. "Kagome stop! It doesn't matter. Just leave it be, drop it. I don't ever want to hear about this again? Got it?"

Kagome recoiled back as though she had been burned. She hadn't expected her cousin to say such a thing at all. She would always tell Kagome her problems, fears, hopes, dreams. It didn't matter! Just as long as they were their for each other.

Kagome finally nodded and whispered, "Yes. I understand."

Satisfied by her cousins answer, Kikyo turned away from her and started eating. She carefully nibbled on each bite as if she feared someone would scold her if she didn't.

Kagome didn't press the matter any further and sunk deeper into the chair she was resting in.

It seemed like she really couldn't tell anyone anything anymore.

xXx

She watched as they loaded her trunks into and atop the carriage. The field help had been doing this since yesterday. Her father stood bellow her balcony and overlooked their work to make sure they didn't drop any of it.

Her room was almost completely bare. Her bed had been stripped of its sheets, her personal things had been moved out from the space and her furniture had all been covered with tarp sheets until it would be used again. Instead of it being her room, it was now the room of anyone who stayed at the house. It was a guest room. She was now a guest in her own home.

She was leaving.

Moving.

She frowned and scowled at the movers as they came inside as they were finished with their work.

'Their coming for me.' She though sadly. 'Ill be leaving soon.'

She started contemplating on running away and traveling the world on the high seas but, but where would she go? Where would she live? Who could possibly love someone that ran away from home just because she was…scared? No. She couldn't and she wouldn't.

Her eyes narrowed into slits when footsteps could be heard coming down the hall toward her room.

"Lady Kagome, They're ready."

She frowned some more and wiped around. "Stop Sango. Just call me by my name. Just Kagome. KA-GO-ME!"

Sango stepped back and looked hurt. "Im..im sorry. I-I didn't mean to, its just…its just what Im trained to do. Its my job." She sadly stared at the ground.

Kagome's hardened features melted off her face and fell onto the floor. "Oh Sango, I…Im sorry. I didn't mean that. Im just stressed out is all."

She suddenly smirked slightly and made her eyes wide and round. "Forgive me?" She made puppy dog eyes and stuck her lip out slightly.

Sango snorted and couldn't help herself and she smiled. She rolled her eyes and stepped forward to her friend. "Of course I will. I cant stay mad at you forever now can I?"

Kagome grinned smugly at her friend. "No, I don't think you can."

Sango rolled her eyes once more. "Come on girl, its moving time." She reached out her hand and Kagome took it reluctantly.

Kagome gave one last look at her room and frowned. She looked around one last time as if someone would burn it to the ground, and finally shut the door behind her.

Sango led Kagome down the stairs to where her family was waiting patiently, and a smiling Hojo. Today was the day he brought his beloved, home. To their home.

Kagome stepped down and hugged her family goodbye.

Her father stood stock proud of his eldest.

Her mother cried.

Her brother tried not to cry. But did anyway.

The servants sniffed back tears as they watched the girl they saw grow up, move on.

Sango smiled politely and held on to her trembling friend and comforted her as she said her final goodbyes.

And her cousin stood sourly in the corner.

She knew better then anyone, the things Kagome would soon be expected to do as a wife. She would be expected to take care of her husband and make sure he was satisfied by her wifely duties. She would have to take care of the home and stand behind her husband not matter what. And she knew that Kagome and Hojo wouldn't consummate the marriage until…well after they were married, so that was good for her. But as soon as they were married, they would be expected to be expecting.

But Kikyo held her tongue and smiled as her cousin made her way over to her. She wrapped her arms around her torso and leaned in tightly.

"Good luck. I love you so much, Kagome."

Kagome sniffed and finally stepped back to see her cousins face. She smiled and whipped a tear away from her cheek. "Thank you. I love you too. So much. Take care of my family for me, ok?"

Kikyo smiled, "Promise."

Kagome nodded in approval, "Good."

Finally and reluctantly, she turned to Hojo. He smiled and extended his hand to her, "Ready?"

Sango gave Kagome her hat and helped Kagome place it atop her mess of curls. She tied the strap under her chin and adjusted the rim until she was settled.

Kagome smiled weakly at her newly betrothed and gave one last fleeting smile at her family and home. They all smiled back at her with warm, caring and encouraging smiles.

"Come on darling, lets leave." Hojo whispered into her ear.

So, she left.

xXx

Her new home was quite large and more grand then her old house. It was nestled in a field of tree's surrounding all the sides. And it was at least three stories high by Kagome's estimate.

The house was big and had huge farming fields in it for the field hands. Kagome watched as it grew bigger and bigger and bigger as they approached.

There were rolling grass hills on either side of the house and it had two barns down the road that were for the farmers and their house was grand and stylish, and would probably be the nicest ouse she ever lived in…. But to Kagome's dismay; it was not by the ocean. She couldn't even see the ocean.

She couldn't smell the ocean air anymore, she couldn't see the blue waves turn into white foam. She couldn't see the tan, brown sand and the small colorful sea shells that were littered on the sandy ground.

She frowned when she realized that it wouldn't be quite some time until she would see the ocean's rising and falling tides again.

When the carriage rolled to stop Hojo helped Kagome out of the carriage and up the steps of the home. All of the servant's and butlers were waiting for her arrival and they lined the walkway like a row of tree's.

Kagome let out a small gasp when she saw all of them staring at her and Hojo let out a soft chuckle at her cute expression.

He slowly lead her up the stairs and as she passed them by; they bowed. As if she were royalty. She looked at all of them in disbelief. They couldn't possibly be bowing to her, could they?

Hojo finally led her up the stairs into a grand room. The door was shut tightly after them, making Kagome jump with the loud CLANK. A man that looked like and older version of Hojo stood at the top of the staircase, beaming down at the pair.

"Ha! there you are! We have been waiting for your arrival." He strode down the stairway and took her free hand and kissed it gingerly. "Its a pleasure to see you again, miss Kagome."

Kagome bowed her head in respect to her soon to be father in law. "Its a pleasure to see you as well captain Akitoki."

He held out a hand to stop her. "Call me Mayosaki."

She smiled and nodded in understandingMayosaki. "Alright, Mayosaki."

He beamed at the use of his name. "Good. Alright, well our servants will be showing you the way to your room. You'll move into my sons apartments' with him after your'e married."

Mayosaki looked over to a shy woman who was glowering at all of them. Her silver brown hair was tied up in a tight bun and she was frowning - scowling was more like it. She was eyeing Kagome head to toe as in a mental examination.

"This is Lanzunme, our head mistress. She will be taking care of you from now on. If you need anything, don't be afraid to ask her or I."

The tall skinny woman frowned even more if that was possible. Kagome could actually see her temples clenching and unclenching as she watched her stand there. Apparently Kagome had made a new 'friend', and she had only been there a few minuets.

'Oh joy, oh rapture. What fun its seems Im going to be having. I bet we will be the best of friends.' She thought sarcastically. Then she snorted at her thoughts. 'Yea right. Maybe if she took the stick out of her...'

"Help her with her things, Lanzunme!" Kagome was startled out of her thoughts when Mayosaki had barked out an order.

Lanzunme bowed, took Kagome's possession suitcase, and walked upstairs expecting Kagome to follow. She did.

Mayosaki puffed out his chest and beamed at his son. His son on the other hand had pink spots on his cheeks from blushing.

"She'll be fine wife. Don't you say?" Mayosaki asked his blushing son.

"Ye-yes. I think she will to. Excuse me." Hojo said as he walked off down the hall toward his room for a nice nap. The ride over had taken a few hours and he had to get up early to greet Kagome and take her home.

Kagome on the other hand couldn't feel anymore awake. Everything around her was new and unfamiliar. She felt the urge to touch and feel everything humanly possible. She had a natural curiosity for old things and new things. Things unfamiliar and things foreign.

But when she went to reach out to the large painting on the wall of her new and very large bedroom, Lanzunme said a short "No." Which came out sounding "Noh." And Kagome decided she must be a french foreigner.

Kagome drew her hand back away from the untouched painting and clasped her hands together and watched as 'Lanz" as Kagome's been secretly calling her, began to unpack her clothing items and personal items.

She sighed and began to look around her room. It wis quite large and expensive looking. The air in the room reeked of 'overpaid' and the walls were high and narrow, ending with large unique, white buttresses. The walls looked like a light yellow with a hint of orange. The windows were curved at the top and were floor length. The floor was made of a fine hardwood-like surface which Kagome's heeled shoes clacked on as she continued to walk into her new living space. She clacked on over to one of the window's and peered outside.

Her view outside her window was very beautiful and lovely, Kagome deducted. The hills were green and stretched on as far as she could see and beyond that were more trees. She also had a view of the back of the house and the field. A few of the horses had been turned out into the paddock and were now galloping in front of her window. The ran as fast as their powerful legs could carry them until they were met with a fence. They slowed their pace and then stopped all together. They bucked and reared but they finally settled and began to nibble calmly on some grass.

Kagome sighed and pressed her hand up agent's the window on longing. Would she end up being just like those horses down there, too? Once they were wild and free. Untouchable. Then one day, they were thrown into a place that had fences all around it. And so it would seem that they were touchable.

And the farmer told them, 'you can go where ever you want. As long as its inside this fence' and so they stayed. Because they had no where else to go. They couldn't leave.

She couldn't leave. She was a broken horse.

She let her hand trial down the window and finally stepped away from the sad scene. He eyes trailed all over the room and then they landed in front a of a fireplace. He walked over to its grand shape and eyed the chair. She smoothed her skirt and sat down in front of the gaping mouth of the fire eater.

The maids and servants walked in and out of her room at will. Putting her clothes in her new large closet and setting her paintings where they thought they would want them.

Kagome sighed and closed her eyes and tried finding some peace.

She didn't.

Finally, giving up, she stood up and walked over to Lanz.

"Please, I can do this myself. Its alright."

Kagome mustered up a smile and gave it out to the brash woman. The woman continued to take out her clothes and frames and other trinkets, as if she hadn't heard her.

"Sorry miss Kagome, but that is not allowed."

Her accent was thick and tangy, just like honey. Her sentence came out as: "Sorreee mizz Kahgohmeh, buttt zat eez noteallowed."

Kagome sighed and backed away from her new head maid. She didn't know what else to say so she walked into all of her new living spaces and checked them out. When she was finished learning every new curve of every little thing, she walked back over to her sitting chair and sat. She just stared a the fireplace uninterested. The living maids and the servants all kept moving things around her room. They uncovered chairs from under their tarps and dusted everything off until it practically sparkled. Kagome blinked numbly until Lanz told her it was time to dress for dinner.

She helped her out of her day gown and into her evening one. It was a simple green dress with gold lace on it. It had a large black tie around her waist. Lanz put her into a beautiful new necklace that was given to her by Hojo. It used to be his mother before she died, and now he wanted to give it to her.

The necklace was lined with small diamond and a larger green tear drop shaped diamond that hung just above her breasts. It was a tasteful eye catcher.

The rest of the jewelry was expensive and large. There wasn't a ton of it, but there was more then enough for Kagome.

She slipped on a pearled bracelet and Lanz closed the clasp around her wrist. Lanz unpinned her hair and brushed it out until it flowed naturally down to the middle of her back. She pinned the sides of Kagome's hair in so it wouldn't get in the way of her face.

Kagome smiled reassuringly at her reflection, as if that would help her sour mood, but it didn't.

Kagome sighed and stood up from her new vanity and followed Lanz down to the kitchen. She got to see more of her new home on the way. The rest of the house matched her room.

Loud, obnoxious, large and expensive.

The walls were high, there were paintings everywhere and the floor had running carpets. Kagome's mouth hinged open as she continued to walk on toward the evening dining area.

'Well I mean if your'e going to have a place this grand, why not invite the palace guards? Its not like it any different.' Kagome thought sourly.

Lanz led her to a large door and pushed it open. She led the way through the giant door and Kagome continued to follow her. She rounded the corner and saw Hojo and his father were already waiting at the table for her. Hojo smiled and took her hand and led her to a chair. A servant pulled it out for her and she followed everyone else and sat down.

"Thank you." She said to the man, but he just stepped back and clasped his hands in front of his body.

Kagome shook her head and returned her attention to the dinner table. Kagome eyed the glasses and silverware which sat before her. They all looked like they were made from gold. The forks, knives, spoons all looked like they were golden. The rims of the crystal glasses were golden.

'If its made of real gold - and I do mean if - wouldn't that make it goldenware instead of silver?' Kagome mused herself.

"So Lanzunme," Mayosaki said, breaking Kagome out of her thoughts. "How is Kagome getting settled? Are all her things unpacked?" Mayosaki asked his maid.

Lanz gave a curt nod and a 'hmm,' which Kagome took for a yes.

'You can use your words you know.' Kagome mentally rolled her eyes at Lanz.

Kagome folded her hands in her lap and sat up straiter when the servers arrived with their food. They were brought out on huge plates, which wasn't a big shocker.

Kagome ate and nibbled on her food politely and Hojo eyed her discreetly. He watched the rise and fall of her chest and as he breathed, how she licked her lips subconsciously after every single bite she took. He wanted to make sure she was comfortable in her new home.

Mayosaki and Hojo talked about His new possession he would be taking over his father position when his father retired after the wedding. Kagome bit her lip as they talked and played with her napkin under the table. She wrung the napkin out until her knuckles turned red, and then white.

Soon dinner was over, and dessert was served out. The clatter of the plates and the clanks of the forks digging into the jellied desert, ran out into the high ceilings. Kagome poked the jello-like substance with her golden fork and eyed it as it bounced around.

She finally dug into it and found that it didn't taste all that bad. She actually like it.

She mulled the food over in her mouth and frowned when she realized how much she missed her family.

'I know they aren't that far away, but it might as well be on the other side of the world.' Kagome suddenly pushed her plate away, she suddenly didn't feel like eating very much.

After dessert, Mayosaki excused himself from his son and Kagome, and went to bed.

Hojo walked Kagome out to their garden that they had located next to the horse barn. Kagome thought it was a beautiful garden, but not at all like the one back home. It had started to grow a lot of weeds and many thorns grew. Vines were tangled and matted and rose bushes were dead and wilting. The flower beds were all dug up and as healthy as they could and should be.

'Im going to be this gardens new caretaker now,' Kagome thought wistfully.

Once again, Kagome touched the tips of tulips and other various flowers that were blooming. Her arm was linked in with Hojo's and the talked and smiled politely at each other. They finally made their way around to the horse barns. Kagome held her dress up so she wouldn't step on it, and walked over to the fence railing. She climbed up on the first step of the fence and stuck her hand out to a nearby chestnut who was grazing lazily. Hojo walked up behind her and put a reluctant hand on her back, to make sure she wouldn't fall.

Kagome made a clucking sound with her tongue and the chestnut perked its head up at her presence and then trotted over to her. He nuzzled his muzzle into her hand making her giggle and Hojo smile. His wickers on the horses chin tickled and scratched Kagome's palm. Soon his tongue ventured out to look for food.

It found none.

"Your'e so much like my mother," Hojo whispered. "She loved flowers and horses too. In fact her favorite thing was gardening. You can tend to the garden if you like."

Kagome smiled as the chestnut continued sniffed her outstretched palm for any signs of a concealed treat. "Thank you Hojo. I would like that very much."

She graceful hoped down from the fence and he held her hand as they walked back inside. Unbeknownst to them; Hojo's father was standing at his windowsill, watching everything with a very large smile on hi chalky lips.

Hojo escorted her back to her room and kissed her cheek goodnight. Kagome licked her lips and smiled at him as he disappeared down the hallway back to his room.

All the servants came out and blew out the candles that were emanating light throughout the whole house. They blew out the chandeliers that had shown brightly for the family's dinner and the blew out the hallways light.

Kagome walked back into her apartments and took off her jewelry and put them back into their specific velvet cases and tucked them back into her closet and locked it, just like Lanz had shown her how.

Kagome noticed a warm fire was glowing from the fireplace that dat across form her bed and she smiled.

Lanz suddenly walked into the room and bowed coldly. She then helped Kagome undress and then dress again for bed. Kagome wore a simple white nightgown that went down to her ankles. It was lace.

Kagome unpinned her hair and took out her brush and started to brush her hair. She looked around the room and noticed a door that wasn't open.

"Hey Lanzunme, where does that door lead?" Kagome gestured with her head and Lanz stopped tidying up the room to look where she was talking about.

"Oh zat. Zat iz Justz ze baby'z rume."

'The baby's room? What baby?'

Kagome eyebrows furrowed together as she thought. Then they rose together as she realized what Lenz was talking about. The room was for her baby. It was nearby so she could hear the baby's cries at night and she could go and feed him or her.

Her baby...

Kagome stopped brushing and sat there staring at the brown oak door. She stood up suddenly and pushed away from her seat and walked over to her bed. She threw away the light yellow blankets and climbed into the four poster bed. She snuggled into the feathered pillows and sighed. Lanz walked over to her and helped her get adjusted. Once she was tucked in, Lenz blew out the candle on her beside table and then the one on her bedroom wall. Then it was dark.

Kagome heard the shuffling of feet and then, her door opening and closing shut.

"Oh yea. Goodnight to you too." Kagome said sarcastically.

She sighed and shut her eyes and tried to sleep. She tried and tried again, but every time she tried to let sleep take her into blackness, she would remember that she was not in her old home.

She was in her new home and it sucked. She also had to stay about twenty feet away from her soon-to-be baby's room was. She couldn't help but not stay awake. Her mind was racing and running.

She huffed and finally sat up and looked around the room. Then she blindly felt around on her bedside table and lit a lantern. She held it out in front of her face to give her light and stood up. She walked over to the baby's room door and lightly pushed it open.

She couldn't really see, but she could make out the outline of dark flooring and big windows. And next to the windows were furniture. One one piece it looked like a large chair.

'That must be a rocking chair.' She thought.

She continued to eyes the space until it landed on something she couldn't make out. It looked like a large piece of furniture with something hanging about it.

Suddenly Kagome's eyes widened as she realized it was the crib. The crib where her future baby would cry when he would wake her up at night to feed and where she would put it down to sleep.

She continued to look around and saw the outline of a crib that looked like it rocked and thought that was probably the crib that would be next to her bed when the baby would be first born. She would and couldn't leave the birthing room for a while because she would either be in too much pain or tired from exhaustion, and the baby needed to be with her.

She finally sighed and shut the door very quietly, as if she half expected a baby to be in there already.

Her feet walked across the cool surface of the floor and she went back over to where the painting was hung up. The one that Lanz told her not to touch. She stared at the artwork and the brushstrokes. The lines in it were incredibly detailed.

She smiled at it, and then scowled at it. She hated all of the rules and where she was stuck at the very moment and one of the rules was that she couldn't touch the painting. Her eyes then flicked back up to the artwork and she suddenly got a sly grin.

She took her hand and gently touched the smooth surface of the artwork. He fingers lingered over the paint and brush marks until she was satisfied with herself.

She dropped her hand from the painting and held her head high in pride as she walked back over to her bed and blew out the lantern. She snuggled into her sheets and blankets and curled up into a tight ball.

Just as she was about to fall into unconscious, a loud booming noise was heard in the distance and Kagome sighed and rolled her eyes.

'Great. Rain. What else could possibly make my here stay even worse?'

And finally, when the rain finally came, it draped over Kagome and lulled her to sleep. She sighed and smiled as she finally slept.

Only in dreams was she at peace. Finally at peace. Everything seemed perfect, in that moment.

For now..

Hopefully the next chapter will be out by the end of the weekend.

-Yourgoldeneyes