-1I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter Nine

Traveling and A Somber Yet Joyous Night.

Once again Kagome found herself in a familiar scene. She knew she was dreaming again. The shadow man was once again talking to her. This time her dream was different though she could see the man, but he was not human he was a youkia and he looked vaguely familiar. She just couldn't figure out where she knew that kind soothing voice from either. "Listen to me little one. The things that I am going to tell you are extremely important. You must complete the jewel. When you do ……. To protect you. … the pain will be excruciating but …. Will sooth it. Your true power will finally be released and your transformation into the … be complete. And know that I will always love you me little princess." Kagome was confused. Only her father had ever called her that but he had been human. Then once again she felt the pain and laying on the ground. When the pain receded she was standing up but this time she was not still in the garden. Kagome was standing in a beautiful bedroom in front of a mirror. For the first time in her dreams she could see what she had changed into. She was wearing a beautiful white kimono with red sakura blossoms on the hem, neck line, and sleeves. The obi was black trimmed in silver. Her hair had grown and was now to her ankles in was still black but it had silver and pink streaks through it. She had pointed ears like a demon and markings on her cheeks and wrists much like Sesshoumaru's but black. The most entrancing change was the fact that she had magnificent wings they were snow white and like angel wings. Kagome was amazed and then she felt the comforting hands once again wrap around her and she looked into the mirror to see none other than Sesshoumaru standing behind her. She saw his expression change suddenly to that of worry. Kagome heard his voice but his lips had not moved.

"Kagome wake up. Kagome." Everything went black and then she opened her eyes to see Sesshoumaru looking down at her stoicly except for his eyes that held deep concern and relief. She smiled at him and lifted her hand up and placed on his cheek.

"What is wrong Sesshoumaru? Why do your eyes show your worry?" Suddenly she sat up straighter in his arms and looked at him panicky. "Oh Kami. Please tell me that my Shippou is still ok." Kagome had tears starting to build in her eyes as she pleaded with him to tell her what had happened. Sesshoumaru pulled her close and inhaled her scent.

"Nothing is the matter now Kagome. This Sesshoumaru could not wake you. You were not responding to me at all. It was like you were unconscious or in a trance. Nothing has happened to your kit. Are you alright?" Kagome calmed when she heard his reply. She hugged him and leaned back to smile at him. Sesshoumaru fought the urge to smile back.

"Oh Sesshoumaru. I am fine. I was dreaming that is all. There is nothing to worry about." Sesshoumaru looked at her skeptically. He was sure he had felt extreme pain in her aura. But if she was just dreaming it was something to be concerned about. Her dreams should not cause her pain. He merely nodded and stood with her and placed her on the ground. When he looked up he knew that he would find everyone starring at them. Sesshoumaru had totally forgotten about them even being there when he could not get his Kagome to respond to him. Kagome turned to begin breakfast and blushed when she saw that everyone was looking at them. She quickly set about readying breakfast and would not meet any ones eyes. When she was done Sango and Kikyou passed out the bowls while Kagome took Sesshoumaru and Rin a bowl and then went back to retrieve her own. Breakfast was a quiet affair and then the girls cleaned up camp and once again the group set off to meet the evil hanyou who so tortured their lives. Sesshoumaru flew next to ah-un so that Kagome and Rin could chat. Sango had flown Kirara on the other side of the dragon beast and was also chatting away with them. They landed again for lunch and then again for supper. The days spent traveling were very uneventful and they passed by slowly.

In three days the landed in the designated meeting place and made camp. They only had one more day left before the evil hanyou showed up thinking that he would finally be completing the jewel. The group was very silent. Even Rin was not talking. Kagome was getting ready to take Rin to the village so that she would be safe during the final battle. Sesshoumaru would not let her go alone so he had decided to go with her so that he could make sure that his future mate and daughter made it to the village and back safely. Kagome was grateful that Sesshoumaru had agreed to go with her. She had been afraid that Naraku would come early and attack while she was gone alone. Sesshoumaru had Kagome while Rin was sitting on Ah-un. The two headed dragon and Jaken would be staying in the village with Rin to insure that she stayed safe until they came back to get her.

"Good bye sweetheart. We will see you soon I promise ok. Don't worry about anything. Every thing will be alright. I love you little one." Kagome kneeled in front of the crying girl and hugged her to her body. She had come to love Rin like her daughter. She would miss her while they were separated but she would know that Rin was safe herein the village far from the battle. Kagome pulled away and whipped the tears from Rin's face before standing and moving back so that Sesshoumaru could tell her his good bye. Rin threw herself at Sesshoumaru and he surprised Kagome by picking up the little girl and holding her to his person. Sesshoumaru ran his hand through her hair as he whispered to her and let her know that everything was going to be ok and that they would be back soon. Rin nodded and then went to stand with Keade and held the elder woman's hand and watched the two people that she loved like parents take off into the sky. She was so afraid that they would not come back and that she would once again be parentless. Rin did not know if she could take the loss a second time. The normally happy and cheerful child walked silently and broken heartedly into the hut behind the elder miko. Jaken went inside after Rin and Ah-un laid down in front of the door out side the hut to watch for any and all approaching people.

Inuyasha and the rest of the group had finished setting up camp and were sitting around the fire quietly. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts, so much so that when Sesshoumaru and Kagome landed in the clearing they did not even know that they had returned. "Hello. You know it is not wise for all of you to be so lost in thought when we are getting ready to face our worst enemy. What if he had come earlier and it had been him that had entered the clearing instead of us. Come on now guys stay more focused. Everything is going to be alright. We are going to win this battle and I am going to get my kit back." Kagome said. Everyone had jumped into a fighting stance at the first sound of her voice. They all calmed and just watched as Kagome ranted and raved about their inattentiveness. Sesshoumaru placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder to stop her from pacing. The reason that she had reacted the way she had was because the upcoming battle was also taking its toll on her. Kagome instantly stilled and relaxed. She looked at all of the people in the clearing and blushed so bright at her outburst that Sesshoumaru thought a tomato would have been jealous. "I am so sorry guys. I guess the upcoming battle has worked its way into my mind also. I did not mean to yell or anything. Ok lets eat and get as much rest as possible before our confrontation with Naraku tomorrow." Everyone nodded and Kagome, Kikyou, and Sango busied them selves with preparing supper for everyone.

When supper was finished and the girls had cleaned up all of the messes. They all huddled up together around the fire. Inuyasha was sitting with his legs spread and Kikyou was sitting in between them with her back resting on his chest. Miroku and Sango were sitting very close together holding hands. Kirara was curled up with her head on Sango and her bottom half on Miroku. Sesshoumaru was sitting Indian style with Kagome in his lap. He had his arms wrapped tightly around her. And she was snuggled into him as much as she could get. Kouga and his wolves filled up the rest of the space and everyone was just staring into the fire and enjoying the night before retiring to bed. They all were thinking about how some of the people including themselves sitting around the fire together tonight might not be around to do it again. Kagome shifted in Sesshoumaru's hold so that she faced him and whispered to him. "Sesshou? Can we retire for the night. I want to just rest for as long as I can before the battle." Sesshoumaru just nodded and stood still holding her. Kagome had to wrap her legs around his waist so that she was not just dangling. She turned to the others. "Alright everyone. I think that we should get as much sleep as we possible can before the battle tomorrow. I love all of you and will see you in the morning." Everyone nodded and stood to move to the sleeping places. Sesshoumaru walked with Kagome still wrapped around him to a tree and then jumped into it. Kagome squealed and tightened her hold on Sesshoumaru. She felt a vibration and looked up to see Sesshoumaru. Kagome almost gasped. He had actually laughed. Kagome smiled and then held onto him tighter as he situated them on the large branch that he had landed on. Sesshoumaru picked up Kagome and then replaced her so that she was in between his legs with her entire upper body propped up against him. Kagome smiled and snuggled into his chest. She closed her eyes and just took in the moment. Her eyes suddenly flew open when she felt something furry wrap itself around her body. She relaxed when she saw that Sesshoumaru's furry boa/tail thing had wrapped itself around her. She also felt Sesshoumaru's hands securely around her waist and she placed her hands over his and interlaced their fingers before closing her eyes again. It was silent for awhile before Sesshoumaru bent down and whispered in her ear.

"Kagome I know that you are still awake. I need to tell you something before tomorrow." Kagome opened her eyes and squeezed his hands so that he would know that she was awake and listening. Sesshoumaru took a deep breath and whispered once again. "Kagome this Sesshoumaru would like you to know that he loves you and will do anything and everything to keep you and your kit safe tomorrow and everyday after even if it means dying to keep you alive." Kagome gasped and tears came to her eyes. She shifted until she was kneeling in between Sesshoumaru's legs and looking him in the eyes. She placed her hands on either side of his face and smiled at him so brightly that he just had to smile back.

"Oh Sesshoumaru. I love you too. I have for a while now. You don't know how happy I am to hear that you feel the same. I was so afraid that you would not feel the same and that you would break my heart." Kagome placed a chaste kiss on Sesshoumaru's lips before wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and hugging him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her just as tightly. Kagome finally pulled back and once again stared into his beautiful golden eyes. "Sesshoumaru I don't want you do die for me. I want you to fight a live for me. It would kill me to lose you and if I knew that it was to protect me I would never forgive myself. Please promise me that you will not ever give up and that you will fight with everything that you have. Promise me that you wont die on me. I cant lose you Sesshoumaru." Tears had started flowing down her face and he moved his hand up to wipe away some of the tears. There was such a fierceness to her voice. Sesshoumaru moved his had behind her head and was kneading with his fingers just at the base of her skull to soothe her. He was very surprised when she used her arms around his neck and pulled him fiercely to her and kissed him with everything that she had. She put all of her fear, love, worry, and happiness into that one kiss. Sesshoumaru matched her stroke for stroke and they finally broke away when Kagome could no longer go without air. She blushed a bright red and ducked her head. Sesshoumaru placed his hand gently under her chin and brought her face to look at him once again.

"Kagome I promise you that I will not let you down. I will do everything that I can to end this battle alive so that we can be together." Kagome smiled and then once again settled into his arms and soon fell asleep. Sesshoumaru held her close to himself and just watched her sleep.

The others had been laying there not able to go to sleep and when Kagome had turned and told Sesshoumaru that she loved him too. She had not been quiet about it. After that everything had been said in normal voices and everyone had heard what had passed between the pair that was now quiet once again in the tree. They had all been very shocked at the display of emotions from the taiyoukai and they kiss that Kagome had initiated. They all smiled to themselves when they realized that they had not needed to do anything to bring the two of them together. They had been destined to be together and Fate had made sure that it had happened. They all once again closed their eyes and soon everyone was asleep in the clearing except for a taiyoukai, and inu hanyou, and ookami-youkai. They were resting their bodies but their minds were on full alert for any presence and for any disturbances. They were not going to allow the evil hanyou to hurt the ones that they loved and cared about. The woods were eerily quiet that night as if every living thing knew and dreaded the battle that was soon to take place between our little group and the most evil hanyou yet to walk the face of the earth.

Well there you have. Sitting and staring at the screen works wonders. Thanks for everyone who let me know what they think about my story. I was really beginning to wonder if I would actually be able to finish it. I am so sorry that it has taken so long to get it written. The next chapter will be about the battle and possibly the releasing of Kagome's powers and the identity of the man from her dreams. Well please review. I will update as soon as I can. Until next time. Later.