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Rising Sun

It was happening again. Kagome was tossing and turning in her sleep, brows furrowed and skin laced with sweat, becomming ever paler.

InuYasha had had enough of this. It had been nearly a month since they had first found out the well had been sealed, and they hadn't been able to find a way to unseal it. It was a mystery to them all, how something like this could have happened. Sure the jewell was gone, but the well hadn't sealed then. Why had it now?

InuYasha wished he knew why, for Kagome's sake more than his own. It had hurt her so much to know she may never see her family again, he could see it clearly in her usually warm eyes. Now though, they had a deep sadness locked within them, one that she would do her best to hide around her friends. InuYasha cursed himself daily that he couldn't help her. The only way he could seemed almost impossible to do now. The only way he could help Kagome was to unseal the well.

To make matters worse, Kagome was still having these horrible nightmares, and they were taking their toll on her aswell. All InuYasha could do was hold her, and wake her up if they appeared to unbearable for her.

But still, she insisted nothing was wrong with her, that they were just dreams that meant nothing, that they would pass in time. InuYasha knew it was something more serious than that, and tonight only strengthened that belief.

He held Kagome tightly to him, but he had to pull her away a little when she started to thrash violently and scream.

" What's going on?! ", came the worried voice of Sango when she heard Kagome yell out from the other room in the hut.

Kaede, Miroku and Kirara came running in after her, worry on their faces.

InuYasha looked desperately to Kaede, trying to calm Kagome down at the same time.

" What's wrong with her Keade?! ", InuYasha demanded. He was scared now, really scared. Kagome had never yelled out like this in her nightmares before.

" Lay the child here! " Kaede instructed to the half-demon as he laid Kagome down infront of the elderly miko. Sango had to help InuYasha hold Kagome down though, as she continued to thrash and turn in her sleep. She screamed again.

There was no way Kaede could inspect her like this.

" Hold her there! " came another voice that entered the room. The group turned around to see Yoru standing in the doorway, a stern and determined look visable on her face. She came forward and knelt beside Kagome, ordering Sango and InuYasha to keep her as still as they could. Though confused, the two did as they were told.

InuYasha and his friends watched with curiousity as Yoru placed her index finger on Kagome's forehead. Her hand started to glow a a light purple, slightly darker than Kagome's spiritual pink colour. Immediately, Kagome began to calm down. When Yoru removed her finger, Kagome lay sleeping peacefully.

" How did you do that? " InuYasha asked in relief, holding Kagome's now calm form against him.

" An old trick I learnt a little way back, " Yoru answered, standing up on her feet, " She will be alright now, my spell will have taken strong affect. "

" Spell you say? " Kaede asked, still in bewilderment that one as young as Yoru had been able to calm Kagome down with a simple touch of her finger so quickly. Yoru turned to Kaede.

" Yes, a spell, a simple miko charm I learnt, " she told Kaede, before disappearing into the other room again. The rest of the group stared after her as Yoru left. Kaede broke the silence.

" It appears there really is more to this Yoru than what meets the eye, no? "

Miroku and Sango turned to eachother, questioning looks of their faces. Yoru had stayed with them since she had been attacked by that demon, as she had nowhere else to go. She had proved helpful, collecting herbs in the fields with Kaede, and playing with Shippo occasionly. She went to the river to bathe with Sango and Kagome, and even InuYasha had had to admit she was a far more useful companion than he had first thought she would be. Miroku had even taken a liking to her, a liking that Sango had quickly decided was a little too 'friendly' for her taste.

As helpful as she was, there was something about her that troubled them all a little. When she was with Sango or Kohaku, she would ask quite alot about their past, and what life had been like in the old demon slayer village they had once lived in with their father. It was still painful for the two siblings to speak about those past events so openly, so they would politely turn down her requests if they came across as a little to personal for them. They didn't think much of it though, and neither did anyone else.

Yoru asked similar questions to Miroku, stating she merely curious, and that it must have been exciting to be a travelling monk. Miroku knew that while his past life had certainly been eventful, it hadn't been what one would call enjoyable. He would answer Yoru's questions, but again turn them down politely if they became maybe a little to hurtful. Yoru would just nod in apparent understanding. No one did think anything of it. After all, Yoru had lost her only family too, and probably just wanted to feel as if she fit in with her new found companions.

It seemed Yoru had little interest in InuYasha's past, which he himself was glad for. He would never be able to tell her opnely about his own tragic past with his mother, with Kikyou. It was just to painful for him. Infact, the only one that he had opened up truly willingly with had been Kagome, and he haven't even realised it until after he'd done it. It was as if just Kagome's presence could make him feel calm, and safe, and wanted, accepted. Only Kagome could make him feel like that so strongly. Yoru could never do that.

The next day, Kagome had awoken from her previous nightmare a little flustered. She'd been having that horrible dream again. The one she had had before she returned to the fuedal era, the one she had had when after she fell down the bone eater's well. The well that was now closed.

Kagome felt tears come to her eyes.

She stood up slowly, notably glad that the rest of her companions were fast asleep in the other room. She heard a light snore from beside her, and just had to giggle a little when saw InuYasha had fallen asleep on the other side of her futon, his mouth slightly open and ears twitching as he dreamt. She hadn't even noticed him next to her. Kagome bent down next to him and lighty kissed him on his cheek, thankful that he had been watching over her while she slept. She realised though that soon, InuYasha would demand to know about her nightmares, and she couldn't blame him.

Kagome knew he was worried about her, and so were the rest of her friends, but she just didn't want to talk about them. They were horrible, either everyone in her dream died and she was left at the mercy of a terrifying demon, or she'd return home to her family in her own era, only to find they had all been slaughtered aswell. Kagome just didn't want to think about them.

It really wasn't easy, having these horrible dreams and knowing she may never be able to return home to her family in her own time ever again. She had promised her mother she'd be back soon, and she felt so awful knowing her mother was probably sitting at home worried sick that she hadn't come home. Tears finally came flowing out of Kagome's eyes.

She found it much harder to smile nowadays, but she would always keep trying for the sake of her own friend's happiness.

Kagome stepped out of the hut and into the morning air, suddenly noticing she had a furry little companion with her.

" Kari? "

No. Kagome looked down to see Kirara rubbing against her legs in comforting sort of way, as if she knew Kagome was upset. Kagome sighed. She missed her neko demon friend now more than ever. Kari had been with her every second of every day, and Kagome had been so glad for it. While Kagome had known nothing of her previous life with InuYasha and her friends, she was glad to know she did have company with her, that she did have someone who cared for her. Kagome had found herself opening up to Kari, letting him know that she was scared about her mission to destroy Naraku, and how glad she was that she had Kari as a friend. Her best and only known friend at the time.

Kagome's tears began to poor out again, and she found she just wanted to get away from the village for a little while and think to herself. Truthfully though, Kagome didn't want to be alone.

She sensed Kirara following her, and allowed the small nekomata to follow. She could do with a little friendly company for the time being. Unknown to Kagome, someone else was following her aswell.

-with InuYasha-

InuYasha awoke from his spot on Kagome's futon, having had a worry-free night's sleep for once.

He stood, stretching slightly. His brow furrowed once more though when he noticed Kagome wasn't in the room. He cursed himself again for not watching over her like he should be. He was angry with Kagome too.

" Why do you keep doing this to me Kagome? Are you trying to push me away? Don't you want me to help you? I know I want to help you in any way I can, but I can't do that if you don't let me Kagome..."

InuYasha bounded out of the hut, following Kagome's scent.

-with Kagome-

Kagome sat down by the river's edge with Kirara in tow. She looked up at the beautiful hues of red and blue that signified a sun rise was fast approaching. She allowed herself to fall lay down on her back and gaze up at the sky, pondering the recent events. Kirara came and layed her head on Kagome's stomach, burying her nose into Kagome's simple blue Kimono that she was borrowing from Sango for the time being. Kagome brought her hand to Kirara's head and rubbed her ears affectionately, gaining a soft purr from the nekomata.

" What are you doing out here all alone, lady Kagome? ", came the sound of a familiar, soft but musky voice.

Kagome raised her eyebrow and sat up to meet the piercing grey eyes of Yoru.

" Perfect..." Kagome thought, but smiled all the same at Yoru.

Kagome found she couldn't be sure about Yoru. She didn't think she hated the girl, but didn't entirely trust her either. Sure Kagome felt sorry for Yoru, she'd lost her home and family but she still didn't know a great deal about her. There was something mysterious about Yoru the miko, and it wasn't a good thing per say she was sure of. Nonetheless, everyone else seemed to get on with her and trust her, and Kagome figured that with time the strange feeling she got around Yoru would pass.

" Are you alright lady Kagome? You do look a little pale...I hope my spell last night gave you a pleasant night's sleep, " Yoru said.

" Umm..Your spell? " Kagome inquired.

Yoru smiled.

" Yes, my spell, you were thrashing violently last night in some sort of apparent nightmare, so I drove the unpleasantness away..."

" Errr? "

" Drove the unpleasantness away? Strange thing to say..." Thought Kagome.

She shrugged the thought away though.

" Yes lady Kagome, you gave us quite a scare last night, worried us all sick...especially that InuYasha..." Yoru told her, and Kagome found she hadn't liked the way she'd spoken InuYasha's name, nor how Yoru had reminded her of how she'd made InuYasha worry for her, made her friends worry for her...

Kagome felt her sadness escalate once more.

" Um...Yoru? I don't mean to be rude but, could I be alone for a little while please? I need some time to think to myself, and please, can you not tell InuYasha? " Kagome asked with as warmer smile as she could muster.

Yoru's eyes seemed to sparkle for a second, but she then smiled back at Kagome and nodded in understanding, promising she would not say anything. She then turned and walked back in the direction of the village.

When Kagome was sure Yoru was gone, her fake smile vanished and she tilted her head so that her bangs covered her eyes from view. She then began to cry softly, wanting the deep sadness she felt to just melt away and never come back again. It was too much to ask though. Whenever she had began to start feeling happier again, something would always be there to remind Kagome of her situation. She couldn't see her own family. She was having horrible reacurring nightmares that continued to get worse. Worst of all, she was making everyone worried about her. She hated when her friends worried like this, and she was the cause of it.

To think, she had been so happy to regain her memories not so long ago. Now, she began to wonder...

Kirara sensed Kagome's distress. She transformed into her larger self and layed her body behind Kagome, her two tails wrapped around Kagome's form, but not burning her with their fire. Kagome looked up at Kirara and smiled softly in thanks before laying her head against Kirara's fuzzy warm chest, wrapping one arm loosely around the neko's neck.

The sun began to rise.

" Kagome?..."

Kagome, who had been close to nodding off against Kirara looked up in surprise at the familiar masculine voice. Her sad brown eyes met InuYasha's inquisitive golden ones.

" Kagome? What's wrong? You're crying..." InuYasha asked as he came closer to her.

Kagome quickly brushed the tears away.

" I...I'm not crying! "

" Yeah you are! What's this? " InuYasha argued, reaching forward and catching a stray tear with one clawed finger, a small but strangely warm smirk on his features.

Kagome blushed and turned her gaze away from him, leaning back against Kirara and gazing back at the rising sun.

InuYasha raised an eyebrow and brought his hand to Kagome's face, turning her head gently to look at him. Her eyes...they were so sad. It was horrible to see Kagome like this.

" Kagome...please tell me what's wrong..." InuYasha pleaded with her.

Kagome looked back at him.

" InuYasha...you know what's wrong...I can't see my family...the well's sealed..."

" It's not just that though is it? " InuYasha questioned.

Kagome gulped. She knew he knew about her nightmares. From what Yoru had told her, everyone knew now. Still, Kagome did not want to talk about them, not yet. She figured she would tell them, and soon, but just not yet. She didn't feel ready.

Kagome sighed and lifted her body from Kirara and leaned her head gently against InuYasha's shoulder. Kirara shrank back to her normal neko size and curled up on Kagome's lap. InuYasha's brow forrowed once more in worry for Kagome when she covered her face with her hair, so he wrapped one of his arms around her form, the sleeve of his haori draped around her shoulder. He hoped it would give her some comfort and reassurance. He then leaned his own head down on top of hers.

" InuYasha? I'm sorry..." Kagome whispered to him.

" Sorry? What have you got to be sorry for?..." InuYasha asked just as quietly back to her.

Kagome found his rough whisper very conforting and warm, and she leaned further into him.

" I'm so sorry...for making you worry like this...I want to tell you about these dreams, really I do...it's just..."

InuYasha waited for her to answer, looking down at her through her bangs.

" I just..I can't InuYasha, not yet, it's too hard to talk about them...yet. I promise I'll tell you soon InuYasha, promise, I'm just not ready yet...please don't worry any more..."

InuYasha sighed against her hair. He brought his other arm around her front and, careful not to nudge Kirara, he wrapped Kagome in a tighter embrace, burying his nose deeper into her hair.

" Kagome...are you gonna be okay? " InuYasha asked her gently.

Kagome wrapped one of her own arms around his torso, sighing into him as she gazed out across the wide river and village fields.

" No...I'm not okay InuYasha, but I will be..."

The two sat there with Kirara, watching the sun continue to rise together.

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