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Night Terrors – Chapter Nine

The next three days passed by uneventfully, but when the sun fell . . . Kagome had three night terrors in a row, and now the miko was too scared to sleep. She would stay awake until exhaustion forced her to sleep, and stay in the night terrors until Sesshoumaru shook her awake.

He wished he could help her heal. He didn't know what to do.

Mentally, he shook the thoughts away. Right now he had a very important task to accomplish. "Miroku, if you go ten meters towards those springs, I will break your legs and let the girls beat you up." he growled.

Miroku simply grinned. "I just want a peek." he protested mildly. "However, I do not wish to face Lady Sango's wrath."

"Lady Sango will have your head on a platter if you're talking about what I think you're talking about." aforementioned lady muttered under her breath. She settled down beside a tree to sleep, Kirara curling comfortably in her mistress's lap. Miroku merely grinned and settled down in his place, close to Sango but not close enough to touch her. Sesshoumaru chuckled at that.

"They'd make a cute couple if he'd keep his hands to himself." Shippou said thoughtfully. Kagome laughed softly and tucked him and Rin in to sleep. The two pups gave her a hug and kiss goodnight and snuggled up next to each other for warmth. The taiyoukai smiled.

"How do you do that? I can never get her to sleep that quick." he said approvingly. Kagome smiled at him and sat down by the fire.

"I'm good with kids." she said simply. She turned her focus to the sky and started rocking back and forth, clasping her knees to her chest. Sesshoumaru frowned, recognizing a familiar ritual.

"You can't keep doing this, Kagome." he said softly. "You're going to kill yourself from exhaustion."

Kagome shook her head. "I don't want the dreams to come back." she whispered. "They keep getting worse."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "What makes them go away?"

Kagome looked embarrassed. "You."

The taiyoukai blinked in surprise. Calmly, he took off his armor and motioned for her to join him. Blushing furiously, Kagome came and sat down in his lap. Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. HE had to tell her now, before she fell asleep.

Kagome rested her head against his chest, enjoying his warmth and comfort. She wanted to tell him now, while everyone was asleep, before she lost her nerve.

"Kagome."

The way he said her name made her look up. Before he could stop himself, before his pride could say anything about what he was about to do, he leaned down and kissed her. Kagome melted against him, her hands trailing up his arms to rest at the nape of his neck. He didn't try to deepen the kiss, using the simple gesture to tell her what he couldn't say in words.

She tasted like she smelled, of storms and electricity, of her raw unbridled power.

Kagome lightly tapped his shoulder, signaling that she needed air, and he reluctantly backed away. She smiled up at him, the sparkle in her eyes telling him everything he needed to know. He folded his arms around her, holding her close.

"Rest now." he whispered. "I will protect you."

As the odd couple fell asleep, Rin and Shippou exchanged hopeful grins. Maybe soon they'd have a proper family after all.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

They traveled the next day in companionable, reasonable silence. Reasonable only because Rin and Shippou were constantly involved in a game of tag. Sesshoumaru led the group, Kagome right behind him, and Sango and Miroku guarded the rear.

WHACK!!

"Keep your hands to yourself, you hentai!"

"My dear Sango, I was merely trying to help you relax."

Kagome had her hand over her mouth, trying so hard not to laugh. Sesshoumaru merely rolled his eyes. "It's a wonder she hasn't killed you yet, Miroku." he said dryly.

"Miroku's scull is too thick." the demon slayer growled. "Much to my dismay, I haven't been able to pound my POINT through it yet."

Kagome finally bust out laughing. "Sango, you know he only does it because he likes you." There was a taunt in her voice, and an increasingly familiar sparkle in her eyes, and Sango's face lit in a smile.

It soon turned into a bout of playful banter. Miroku had to laugh. Kagome had a way of bringing out the best of Sango, a knack for brightening her day no matter what was going on. Then again, didn't the young miko have that way with everyone? First Inuyasha, then Shippou, Miroku, Sango, and now Sesshoumaru.

Suddenly the taiyoukai stopped, raising a hand to still the others. Frowning, he called the pups to him. Someone was there, an enemy, waiting for the chance to strike. "Come out." he called, his voice once again cold and emotionless.

"Sesshoumaru-sama." a reptilian voice hissed. "It's been far too long."

"Matsu-sama." Sesshoumaru greeted the draconic taiyoukai. "You are a far cry from the Eastern Lands."

Matsu smirked. HE was built similar to Sesshoumaru, dressed in a black and red haori and hakama (that is what you call the pants, right?). His long hair was jet black, his eyes blood red. "And this is not the Western Lands." he shot back. He took a step forward; Sesshoumaru held his ground. "I saw you last night. Too busy to notice me, eh?"

"You masked your scent." Sesshoumaru growled. "Tell me what you want or leave."

"Such a temper." Matsu chided. "I wonder how fast you would cool if your kingdom discovered you had thrown in your lot with humans."

"My kingdom will respect my pack."

"Will they respect your human mate?"

Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed red; he knew where this was going. "You will not harm my mate, or my pack, dragon." he hissed. "Rest assured, if any of your men attack them, I will hold you responsible."

Matsu snarled, the whites of his eyes turning red. He charged Sesshoumaru, and collided with a purifying barrier. Kagome stood beside her pack leader, frowning at the draconic taiyoukai.

"Honestly, why does everyone underestimate me?" she muttered under her breath. Louder, she added, "I wouldn't try that again. You'll be purified to ashes next time."

"A miko?" Matsu sounded dazed.

"Kagome, stand down." Sesshoumaru ordered. "I do not need protection against him."

"No," Kagome agreed, "you don't. But this barrier isn't against Matsu." She gestured around her. "He's been masking their scents, but he hadn't anticipated me. I could sense them." They were surrounded by lesser dragon youkai, all of them brandishing weapons and wearing armor. None would approach.

"Very good." Sesshoumaru murmured.

"We can take them." Sango said suddenly. "Between the three of us, these guys are nothing."

"Matsu is mine." Sesshoumaru stated.

"Watch your back." Miroku warned. "We are sorely outnumbered."

Kagome merely shrugged. "We've been up against worse and survived." she pointed out. "I'll guard the pups, and everyone else."

"Guard yourself, too." Sesshoumaru ordered. "We won't be able to protect you."

Kagome winked. "Don't worry."

Sango groaned and resolved to watch her adopted sister's back.

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AN: So, whaddya think? A little bit of fluff, and some soon-to-come bloodshed. There's probably only gonna be two or three more chapters left. Kinda sad, but I'm ready to wrap this up. Dun worry, tho, there's gonna be a sequel. And I need to finish Even Me. R&R please!!