Kagome opened her eyes- quite the achievement in itself, considering that she was, you know, dying and all.

She had no delusions about her current condition. All she wished was that Sasuke didn't worry.

She might love him, but all she would ever be to him was a disposable shield.

***~~~***

That night, as Sasuke fell into a troubled sleep, he had the most odd, realistic dream.

***~~~*** Dreamscape ***~~~***

He was in a moonlit field, surrounded by sakura trees in full blossom. He looked around for someone else, because, surely this frilly, flowery landscape didn't come from him, and he caught sight of a lone figure in the distance.

Unconscious to the fact that he was moving, Sasuke approached the person.

Once he was closer to the figure, Sasuke saw that it was Kagome.

Though he made no sound, she turned to face him. "Sasuke-sama." The sound of her voice was too much for him, and Sasuke fought to keep his emotions under control.

Kagome walked towards him. "I'm dying, Sasuke-sama." she whispered, and indeed, in the silvery moonlight, her already pale features stood out starkly, and her blue eyes looked too big for her face.

"No. I won't let you." Sasuke said, his voice jarringly harsh in the serene landscape.

Kagome smiled at him, much like one would at a rather small child with an impossible idea. "Sasuke-sama, there's nothing you can do. The poison's already spread too far into my system." She raised her face to the distant moon, still with that gentle smile. "At least, I die with no regrets…Sasuke-sama, promise me that…when I die…burry me under the Goshinboku, at my family's shrine…and please…take care of this. It's brought so much suffering to so many people." Kagome turned her head back to him. "And Sasuke-sama?"

"Yes?" he managed to choke out.

"Keep yourself safe. Don't do anything foolish…Aishiteru, Sasuke-sama…"

***~~~*** End Dreamscape ***~~~***

Sasuke awoke with his hand clenched around a small, pink, marble-like object.

'Take care of this.' Kagome had said.

Sasuke closed his fist back around the Shikon no Tama, and headed towards Konoha.