A/N: Hi Guys! It's Chapter 10 time! Ready?

Chapter 10:
Awake

I was exhausted. We had spent the last two days walking and of course, I wasn't sleeping. If it was just me staying awake staying in one place I could probably have stayed up for much longer. But, as usual, luck wasn't on my side. Demons attacked from nowhere and I had no choice but to help the others fight. It was obvious to me that my fatigue was affecting my shooting, my aim was failing and there was barely enough power in my arms to fire. I didn't miss that worrying looks from my friends and the apologetic ones from Tsukiko. The others were making me ride on Kirara so I didn't have to waste energy. I was grateful for that; I was obviously slowing them down.

The sun was going down and we had to stop, it was going to be too dark to travel at night. Kirara landed swiftly next to Sango, I slung my bag onto my shoulder and climbed off Kirara. "Thanks girl." I said, stroking her fur. She purred in appreciation and Sango gave me a smile. I smiled back as I started to unpack some food for dinner out of my bag. I slowly poured water into the cups of ramen; I didn't have the strength for anything complicated. Tsukiko came up to me and asked, "Kagome what's that stuff?" I remembered that she didn't know about where I came from and began to explain. My life, the future and how all this happened. She listened intently the whole time and after I was finished, looked at me in fascination. "You really are amazing, aren't you?"

"Not really, I owe everything to my friends really." I said while glancing to my friends who were chatting by a tree. I returned to making dinner once Tsukiko wernt to talk to the others. After it was ready, I handed them to the others who thanked me and began to eat. I changed the bandages on the wound on my side. My throat was healing and my side seemed to be closing up fine. I was lucky this time.

After dinner, everyone tried to stay up with me so it was easier for me. I tried to tell them to get some rest but they weren't having it. "Kagome just let us stay awake." Shippo pleaded. "But you guys are tired; you've been doing a lot of fighting today." I argued. "So? It's fine just let us help you idiot." Inuyasha added. I glared at him and sighed, "Fine." There was no more point in arguing; even I wasn't going to win here. The other gave me kind smiles and Miroku suggested we play cards. I agreed and decided that we should play something easy like Snap. "What the heck is Snap?" Inuyasha butted in. "It's a game where you divide up the cards between everyone equally. Then you go around in a circle placing cards down, when you get two in a row that are the same card you have to slap your hand on the matching cards and say snap!"

"Seems simple enough." Miroku stated.

"Yay! I like games!" Tsukiko cheered. I smiled at her and started dividing up the cards then quickly added, "No looking at the cards in your hand." They nodded in understanding and we began to play. Shippo went first and placed down a nine. To make sure they understand I added, "So if I were to put down a nine I would have to slap the cards and say snap."

"Alright then." They said. We kept going around the circle, we played a few games. Luckily, because they hadn't heard of Snap before they were kept intrigued for a few hours. Unfortunately for me, I was getting really tired. My eyes were drooping and I was yawning every few minutes. I fought to stay awake but I eventually curled into a ball, ignoring the others shakes and shouts for me to stay awake and fell asleep.

"You took your time Kagome." I heard a voice say, his voice. Naraku's voice.

"Yeah well I was sure you had something better to do then waiting around for me. Attacking a village, slaughtering some innocents, the usual?" I sneered. He chuckled, "You always having something to say don't you." I took the chance to analyse my surroundings, it seemed to be a little village. There was no one around but I suppose he could choose whatever he wanted to be in this dream. "So what do you have in store for me tonight, Naraku?" I asked, wondering why he hadn't attacked yet.

"What indeed." He walked into the village and I followed him, I knew that I should probably shouldn't but my feet followed him of their own accord. I walked towards him where his back was turned towards me. Suddenly, steel walls rose around us and boxed us in, enclosing me and him in a small space. A bow and quiver full of arrows appeared on the ground in front of me. I understood, this was a battleground and he had someone somewhere for me to fight. "Typical Naraku doesn't have the guts to fight me head on. Who am I fighting today?" I spat.

"An old friend." He answered and someone I wasn't expecting appeared. Sweeping black hair flowing behind her, piercing brown eyes staring at me with hatred and mouth twisted into a snarl. Kikyo.

She stopped on the other side of Naraku and suddenly leaped at me. I didn't hesitate I jumped aside and fired an arrow straight into her stomach. She grimaced and swiped at me, I easily dodged her clumsy moves. This wasn't Kikyo, he couldn't manage to bring her back to life this was probably just a replica body that he brought to life. It was a monster, it wasn't a her it was an it. It attacked with swipes but I just leaped to each side. It was horrendously slow and was in a complete frenzy. Like a rabid dog, it kept stumbling around and I easily fired arrow after arrow. It was a mess, I kind of felt sorry for the creature. I decided that it needed to be put out of its misery, I didn't waste time firing several arrows into its head and it collapsed with a growl. Naraku looked shocked for a few seconds but quickly composed himself and smirked, "Just as I thought, you despised her so much that you slaughtered her in cold blood. You aren't as pure as everyone seems to think you are."

"Shut up, that wasn't even human. You are just so pathetic that you tried to create that to put me off. Kikyo was brought back once; you don't need her to go through the pain of returning again. Let her have some semblance of peace." He laughed and launched a spider web that cut into my face slightly and warm blood dripped down my face. "You should really think about what you say in a place where I have all the power. Lucky for you I have some business to attend to you so you get to keep your life for a while longer. Consider yourself honoured." The world started to twist and turn, then I opened my eyes.

"Kagome!"

A/N: All done for this chapter! Thanks for reading!

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~Caitlin