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Chapter 10- The Greatest Gift

"InuYasha..." she whispered. "Help..." she tossed again, her back facing InuYasha. He pulled his claws gently through her ebony hair in attempt to calm her. He was never really one with words. He tried his best with a

"Shhhhhhh it's okay Kagome, im right here. Don't be afraid." but that was the best he could do."

Blackness. Complete, empty, silent black. Kagome fought the black, but it only pulled her deeper with invisible arms sucking her farther into the black void. She was left floating there as if in water. It was thick, almost to thick to breathe. she could feel her hair floating around her. Where was she? Then with a quick, startling flash of lightning, she saw floating red hearts all in a row. Then it was dark again. They resembled glass hearts, so fragile you could shatter them if you touch them. She tried to speak but found herself unable to move. She powerless, helpless in this lost world of black. Her fear mounting as she tried to move her body, but it, like her jaw, was stuck. Only her thoughts could move. Just then did she hear a shatter in the black. A shatter of glass and lightning flashed again. Revealing one of the red hearts only now she knew why they were red. The one shattered held a red substance. Blood. And it was coming closer, painstakingly closer. As the blood moved closer, she could feel an unimaginable, unexplainable, pain overwhelm her heart. It was like it was being crushed and bleeding until there was nothing left but the wound never healed. The blood was endless. Every so often another heart would break and the pain would intensify. She found herself mentally screaming in pain. Then she found she was able to move her jaw freely. But nothing else. "InuYasha..." then a white light surrounded her and she saw a black shadowy figure. As it came closer she could see dog ears and the red of his haori. It was InuYasha. Had he come to save her?! When she saw his facial expression and heard his words her hope was crushed.

"Kikyo? Kikyo! Kikyo I was look-... Kagome... sorry I was looking for Kikyo..."he turned to leave but Kagome spoke up.

"No InuYasha don't do it please!" she said unshed tears finally fell for him again. "Please InuYasha don't leave me here!" he turned around and suddenly looked very angry. His lips were curled up in a threatening snarl.

"Wench! Shut up!"

"But I thought you said you would protect me!"

"That was a long time ago! I have no use for you, kikyo is back and looking for me and now she will help me find the shards. So shut up, go home, and never come back!" without waiting for a reply he turned and left leaving her alone in the darkness once again.

Kagome shot up with a gasp so strong she nearly swallowed her tongue. Panting not knowing that InuYasha was beside her. She broke down crying. InuYasha , unsure of what to do, grabbed hold of her arms and gently pulled her into an embrace. She gasped but limply fell against his chest to tired to fight or be afraid. She let her silent sobs fall down her cheeks. Her face now wet and puffy from crying. Her brown eyes held an unimaginable terror like InuYasha had scarcely seen before in her eyes. He could tell she was more then just scared. She heart broken temporarily. That was always a bad sign in Kagome. When her sobs finally died down to silent tears streaming down her face he asked,

"Kagome? Are you okay?" he said it so softly she wasn't sure if it was him or not. He rubbed her back in a soothing circular motion, slowly, gradually calming her down and stopping the unchecked flow of tears. She looked up at him with hope in her eyes.

"W-was it all just, Just a dream? InuYasha? You won't abandon me for Kikyo while we're looking for searching for the shards right?" she asked, her voice with rising hope.

"No Kagome. Why? Was that what happened in your dream?" Kagome nodded and proceeded to tell InuYasha what happened in her dream.

"Oh Kagome" he whispered as he hugged her tight. She aloud herself to be hugged and eventually hugged him in return.

"Thank you." she whispered. His only response was to hug her tighter. "InuYasha. I have something I wanna tell you before I lose the courage to say this. She said into his chest. InuYasha released her and she looked at him with...was that fear in her eyes?

"InuYasha all I can say right now so I don't lose my nerve is ...I love...you" she looked away with InuYasha staring at her in utter shock. 'How is this possible? Hoe can she love me?...a half breed?' he placed a finger under her chin and made her look at him.

"Why?...why do you love me? Im a half breed."

"I told you before InuYasha stop degrading yourself. Theres nothing wrong with what you are. I don't' care that your half demon." she said gaining confidence only to be crushed when she ended. InuYasha looked into her eyes and saw that this wasnt a joke. Without a farther thought he kissed her.

A/– Hope you liked it. The nightmare was based on one I had once. It's really scary. Review and tell me what you think of this chapter. I think this was my best chapter yet. But tell me what you think! Jaa!