(Written on and through February 28, 2011 & March 6, 2011)

IK91: Still there? Awesome! Let's get on with it then!

Rated R/M: For language, sexuality, and crude/violent images.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Dragon Ball Z. Both belong to their rightful owners and respective copyrights.

Chapter Thirteen: Gone Away

Kagome sat up straight in bed in a cold sweat. Throwing the covers off and sliding out of the bed into the floor, she tried to catch her breath. "What a terrible nightmare…"

She sighed and stood up to stretch. She could hear the faint snoring coming from Goku and Gohan's room. She had finally gotten used to it. Yawning a little she looked back at her bed, but shook her head. There was no way she could get back to sleep.

She had dreamt that Naraku had come back to life and had come to this Earth. He had found her at Kami's Temple and began to torture her friends. She tried to stop him but it was like her body was frozen and she couldn't move. So, she was forced to watch as Naraku tore her friends apart.

He had saved Goku for last and just when she thought that Goku had almost had Naraku beat, one of Naraku's tentacles came up behind Goku and went straight through his chest.

Kagome was sure she had screamed Goku's name in her sleep and wondered if anybody heard her. She shook her head once more. She didn't want to think about it.

Looking around for her yellow bag, she found that she had still not brought it to her room. She pulled the white blouse that was her high school uniform over her head. She grabbed the skirt and pulled it up onto her hips and zipped it. Pulling the ankle high socks over her feet, she grabbed her black Mary Janes and slipped them on her feet. She looked down at the bow on her blouse and made sure it was straight.

It felt like getting ready for school all over again. But thankfully, she wasn't. She didn't know if the guys were going to train today or not. They had been training for a week and Kagome remembered Goku saying that he and Gohan were only going to stay at Kami's Temple for so long.

Opening her door a crack, she looked for anybody down the hallway. She was sure that it was too early for everyone to be awake. Walking down the corridor, Kagome decided to go outside and get her monstrosity of a backpack.

Opening the door to the outside, Kagome basked in the morning rays, glad to see some light after her awful dream. Descending the steps she saw her bag with her bow and quiver full of arrows. She hadn't used them since the first day she came here.

Sinking to her knees beside her bag, she began to dig inside of it. She pulled out some pocky and began to nibble on it. It would be awhile for the others would begin to rise so breakfast wouldn't be for a couple of hours.

Snacking on her pocky, she dug some more through her bag and found some school books and pulled them out. Smiling sadly, she flipped through them. "How funny. I bought these books right after graduation because I figured I had better study if I wanted to get into a good college. I never made it back there did I, Inuyasha?"

"Kagome-san? What are you doing?"

Kagome turned around to find Gohan at the top of the steps, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Ah. Gohan, good morning. I was just going through my bag and found some school books." She gestured towards the studying material. Kagome grinned at his unruly black hair. He was a miniature version of his father.

Gohan went down the steps and sat beside Kagome. "Does your mother make you study super hard too?"

"I'm sure my mother wanted me to do my best, but because I was going back and forth between the future and the past, my grades dropped quite a bit." Kagome blushed in shame. "She never said anything though. I think somehow she knew I had my priorities set."

"My mother was always making me study. That's all she ever wanted me to do! I never got to play outside or hang out with father. She didn't even want me to fight against the androids! But I wanted to fight too." Gohan's eyebrows furrowed in anger.

Kagome smiled softly at him. "I'm sure your mother thought she had your best interests at heart. It's good to study, but it's also good to take breaks. As for her not wanting you to fight, she was probably worried for your safety. But I don't think she should have been. You're strong enough on your own and you have your father to protect you."

Gohan's eyes widened as he looked up at Kagome. He had never thought of it that way. "Kagome-san? That Inuyasha fellow…did you love him?" Gohan looked at her with his innocent eyes.

Kagome looked down at her hands that were folded neatly in her lap. "I did. He was my best friend, my protector, and my first love. However, he loved someone else and although she passed away, he was never able to forget her." Kagome looked up at the sky. "And I don't think he should have forgotten her either. So, just being important to each other was enough for me."

Gohan looked at Kagome. She seemed as selfless as his dad.

"Do you care for my father?"

Kagome's faced reddened and she turned her head away from him. "W-we've become good friends…"

And it was true. In the week that she had known Goku, they had become closer. He had been training her one on one for a few days and would always give her compliments. And when they would take breaks they would talk about all kinds of different stuff. Well, Goku would stop the conversation because he wouldn't know what something was and Kagome would have to give him an explanation.

Kagome had found him to be simple and innocent, but he was cute that way.

She covered her face with her hands so that Gohan wouldn't see how red she had become. But she lowered her hands when she felt Gohan poke her in the arm. He had one of her books in his hand.

Kagome seemed to know a lot about studying and school. And at least she understood that he wanted to play and have breaks. And after his mother had made him try so hard, why should he let that go to waste?

"Kagome-san, will you study with me?" How could she say 'no' to that face?

"Of course I will, Gohan!"

They were completely oblivious to Goku who was watching them from the doorway. The scene had looked so right. He had heard every word. When she had talked about that Inuyasha guy, he felt his chest constrict, but then his son had asked the one question he had been dying to know the answer to. At least she thought of him as a good friend.

Watching them, he looked at his son. He had grown so much since they were first told that the androids were coming. He hadn't told anyone that Gohan was his secret weapon against Cell. In fact, he was sure that Gohan was the only one that could beat Cell.

Pretending he heard nothing, he called over to them. "What are you guys doing? Mister Popo is fixing breakfast!" And right on cue, they heard a rumble come from Gohan's stomach.

Kagome laughed and stood up. "Shall we get something to eat first, Gohan?"

Gohan smiled brightly at her and got up as well. "Yeah!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her inside after him passing Goku, who grinned at them both.

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"So, we have thirteen days until the big fight with Cell. Are you going to train more, Goku?" Kuririn glanced at his best friend while chewing on some rice.

Goku had already cleaned off three plates of food and was now working on his fourth. "Hmm, nah. I think Gohan and I have trained as much as we can."

"So, you think you have a shot against Cell now?" Trunks looked at Goku eagerly.

"Nope. I still don't think I'm strong enough." Goku shrugged shoving a biscuit in his mouth.

"Then we're toast." Kuririn sighed and placed his chin on the table.

Kagome glanced at the others around the table. Piccolo and Vegeta were looking at Goku like he was hiding something and Kuririn and Trunks just looked dejected.

"So, you're just gonna go home Goku?" Kuririn leaned his head to the side watching his friend gobble up food.

"Probably. There's nothing to do but wait." Goku rubbed his stomach signaling that he was full.

"I'll probably go train more at Muten Roshi's then…" Kuririn gave a sigh. Rolling his head to the other side, he looked at Kagome. "What'll you do Kagome?"

Kagome blinked, the end of her chopsticks on her bottom lip. "I'm not sure…" She shrugged. She could probably use more training. During her sessions with Goku, he had showed her basic techniques and moves. Her imaging sessions with Midoriko consisted of honing her spiritual powers and learning the technique of removing souls. She had even practiced on a tree on the palace grounds. Mister Popo had been kind enough to put them back out for her to train with.

Kuririn sat up quickly. He had just thought of an awesome idea. Chuckling to himself, he leaned back in his chair. Matchmaker time. "You know how to cook right, Kagome?"

Kagome nodded wondering what he was getting at. She eyed him suspiciously as he looked at Goku.

"Goku, why don't you take Kagome with you?"

Kagome dropped her chopsticks. The others looked up from their food at her. Kuririn just grinned. 'A set-up!' Kagome squeezed her eyes shut. Did Kuririn know?

Goku looked up from the big plate of fruit that Mister Popo had set in front of him. "Eh? Why?"

"You'll need someone to fix your meals right?" Kuririn winked at Kagome. She blushed. He knew!

Goku figured that he had been found out as well. "I can cook a little…" He scratched the back of his head. He felt someone kick him under the table and looked over at Kuririn.

"You can't live on fish every day!" Kuririn prodded him.

Rubbing his now aching knee, Goku looked away. "I do get really hungry. Would you like to come with me and Gohan, Kagome?"

"Yeah, then she can help me study! And we can teach her how to fight some more, father!" Gohan sat up in his chair excitedly.

Kagome looked at her bowl of rice smiling a little. "I wouldn't mind…"

"Then you can come and visit Muten Roshi's and fix us a big meal as well!" Kuririn laughed. His plan had worked. "What will you do Trunks?"

"I'll probably head over to Capsule Corporation and train some there. I'm sure my mom could fix some kind of training pod. The extra day in the time chamber helped a little though."

Kuririn figured that Vegeta would probably head to Capsule Corp as well. Piccolo would probably stay here at Kami's Temple.

Gohan scooted his chair back standing up. "Can we go study Kagome?" Although he still wanted to fight more than study, he was glad to find someone else who had had to study and could help him.

Kagome nodded and followed him back outside where she had left her bags and books.

Kuririn grinned widely now. "Aren't I your most favorite friend now Goku?"

Trunks just shook his head while Vegeta and Piccolo looked confused.

"How did you know Kuririn?" Goku silently wondered if he had psychic powers.

"Oh, please! You've been hanging around her all week. Chatting, training, and smiling. It's hard not to notice." Kuririn waved his hand in front of his face with envy. "I wish I had a girl that would train with me."

Goku looked at all of his friends with a serious face. "Kagome's ki is almost as strong as mine." Everyone's eyes widened. "Since I've been training with her, it's risen dramatically."

Kuririn squinted his eyes knowingly. "That's just one more thing that attracts you to her, isn't it?"

Goku blushed and Kuririn just laughed.

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Kagome rubbed her temples as she followed Gohan outside. How did Kuririn find out? She was so embarrassed! How could she like someone so much just after a week?

Gohan was already going through her books when she descended the steps of the palace. She stopped when she got to the last step, whipping her head to the left.

Something was coming. Whatever it was, it had a strong aura and it felt evil. However, it didn't have a ki and its aura wasn't evil like Cell's. Who or what could it be?

It happened too quickly. She saw a flash of light. It was like she was moving in slow motion and she was afraid she wouldn't make it.

The attack was headed for Gohan. She thrust herself towards Gohan pushing him down.

"Gohan, look out!"

He didn't realize anything was happening until he felt himself hit the ground and heard Kagome's scream. He saw a bright flash and Kagome was gone.

"Kagome-san!" Gohan hadn't even felt any ki coming towards them and he couldn't feel any now either. Not knowing what to do, he ran inside for his father.

Kagome opened her eyes half-expecting to be dead. Realizing that she was flying and that someone's arm was around her body, she looked up. "Wh-Who are you?"

The man looked down at her and scoffed. "It seems that I caught the wrong one, but it matters not. Kakarrot is softhearted. He'll come to save any life."

"Kakarrot…?" Kagome looked at the man. He had on armor similar to Vegeta's but the right shoulder had a long pad that stuck out. That light that had been aimed at Gohan wasn't an attack, but this man! "Why were you after Gohan?"

"Is that the brat's name? I was supposed to retrieve Kakarrot's son, but his woman will do too." The man answered.

Kagome blanched. His woman? So this 'Kakarrot' must be Goku. Kagome didn't know how she was going to get out of this mess or if she even could. However, she was sure that this guy thought she was a normal woman. But he couldn't be more wrong.

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IK91: I finally finished DBGT. Thank goodness. I don't think I've ever been glad to have been done watching an anime series like I have this one.

Watching DragonBall GT was what drove my motivation for awhile. It's not really that good though. I mean, if you're going to expand a series beyond what the author did, and then at least make it really good! Super Saiyan 4 Goku is pretty cool though even though SS4 never even really existed.

Sometimes, I wish Akira Toriyama had made DBGT manga, but then sometimes I'm glad that DBZ ended where it did because I wouldn't want DBGT to be about finding Dragon Balls that didn't exist in the original storyline and Goku running around as a kid.

But, alas, we can't always get what we want.

The chapter title is the song 'Gone Away' by Safetysuit. I do not own the song.

Review and stay tuned!