Chapter 38: Transcending Love

"I'm not asleep, but I'm not awake, after the way that you loved me." Adam Lambert, Sleepwalker

After walking until her legs ached, Kagome finally found a safe place to sleep. Sesshoumaru had never found her and she doubted that he even looked. He was too busy with his demon friends. She could not complain, if she had found her friends, she did think Inuyasha would appreciate, if Sesshoumaru joined them. Of course, she would have argued, but she knew that he would not be welcomed. Still she did wish that she were not alone. She missed Sesshoumaru's annoying company even if she knew that their friendship was not meant to be. He was her enemy at the end of the day. She felt sick whenever she remembered how she was happy when Inuyasha had cut off Sesshoumaru's arm in the future. If he knew that then he probably would kill her on the spot. She vowed that she would find a way to restore his arm in the future or his future if she ever returned. She owed him that , she was not attacked since she hid her scent and powers. Kagome counted her blessings. She was safe and alive even if she did not have Momoko Sama to keep her warm.

She curled her knees to her chest and fell asleep.

During her dream, Kagome found herself on that beach again. It was this dream again.

It was the beach that she and Inuyasha had gone to on that day. She was not sure why she always remembered this place in her dreams instead of any other place. She walked along the shore and her footsteps shaped behind her then she felt his arms around her. She did not look back to see, since she knew it was Inuyasha.

She blushed as he buried his face into the back of her neck. "Did you miss me?" She teased him.

Inuyasha spun her around. "Every god damn second."

Her heart swelled with happiness. "I missed you too. I should have stayed with you."

It had been a mistake to leave the younger Inuyasha, a mistake that she was still paying for. She had been so worried about changing his future. He was supposed to meet and love Kikiyo not her. She was not going change Inuyasha's destiny, because then he would not be the Inuyasha that she knew. It was not right for her to mess up the past any more than she had already done.

This was just a dream. It was okay to love Inuyasha in her dreams. It was safe. This was not real no matter how much she wished that it was.

"Yes, you leave me every night. Why do you torture me? This time please stay with me." Inuyasha said with a catch in his throat that she dismissed.

She twirled a strand of his long silver strands around her fingers. "You do know that this is a dream. Right? I can't stay with you since I have to wake up."

He dropped his eyes to the ground. "Are you going to be sad if I can't see you anymore?"

Kagome froze. "Inuyasha, what are you saying?"

He swept her back into a hug. "Why do we have to wake up? I want this dream to never end. I want to stay with you forever."

"Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered against his chest. "What are you saying?"

He pulled back from her and then turned around.

Why did she do wrong? She touched his shoulder. "Inuyasha?"

He was not acting like himself. What was he hiding from her?

He lightly touched her fingertips. "I must be an idiot to dream about a girl that is not real every night. Why can't you be real?"

Tears came to Kagome's eyes. "You are not an idiot."

He turned to look at her and his amber eyes full of emotions that made Kagome's heart skip a beat. "I am. Even in a dream. I cannot get you to tell me your name. It is pathetic."

She smiled weakly. "You are not pathetic. I can't tell you my name because you already know it."

Inuyasha shook his head. "I don't want to argue with you. I do not know if I will see you again. The last memory I have of you has to be your smile."

Kagome's mind whirled in confusion. Why did he think that he would not see her again? Maybe he was just worrying?

She caressed his cheek. "We will see each other again. I swear. We will see each other."

He smiled a false smile then wrapped his arms around her again.

Was he upset that she did not tell him her name? It was only a dream. Why could she at least have a dream where he was not upset with her? It made no sense. Shouldn't this dream be less realistic? Why could she not control anything? What if this was not just a dream?

"It's okay." He whispered in her ear. "I just want to hold you. I am not having a good day."

"Inuyasha, are you okay?"

"Shhh." He whispered. "I'm okay. Do not worry. I just am happy to see you."

"Me too." Kagome whispered.

He tilted her chin to look into her eyes and Kagome melted at the look in his eyes.

"I love you." Inuyasha said and Kagome's heart fluttered.

"I love you, too." Kagome whispered.

"No matter what happens or where you go. Never forget that Inuyasha loves you." He said with a fierceness that made Kagome want to cry.

"Inuyasha, stop. We will see each other again." Kagome tried to reassure him.

He smiled softly. "I'm sorry. I really did try to find you again. I was not strong enough. Goodbye."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed.

He was gone.

The flustered servant ran into Lord Usui's study. "Lord, the prison guard said something is wrong with the demon prisoner."

Lord Usui glared him from across the room. "How dare you interrupt me?"

The servant bowed almost to the floor. "He said that he thought that the demon was dying."

Lord Usui put down the report he was reading. He did not wish for the beast to die since the demon was still useful to show his people that he was the new lord of the west.

"Bring my niece to me."

The servant ran away in a hurry.

Lord Usui mood had darkened. How could his toy die? It would be inconvenient. No matter his niece was only 15 but she was a skilled healer. She was the only one that he would trust for this task. His respectful niece did not keep him waiting too long.

"Uncle" the girl walked in gracefully and bowed.

"Kikiyo, my favorite niece how is your studies?"

She stood straight. "My studies are going well. Thank you uncle for letting me have another tutor."

"My dear, what choice do I have? You are such a good student that you surpass your tutors. I think one day you will be more powerful than Mirodoko."

Kikiyo blushed happily. "Uncle you flatter me."

He shook his head. "You are young and don't see your potential. Your parents would be proud of you if they were alive."

The smile left her face.

"The last three years you have worked so hard. You are a strong young woman and you are such a good role model for your sister Kaeda. She adores you. You are more than a sister. You are the only mother that she knows. I am proud to call you my niece. "

"Thank you Uncle for taking us in after we were orphaned."

He shook his head. "You were never an orphan. Your father is my brother. We are family, little one."

She smiled again.

"Now there is the beautiful smile that I love. Now niece I have a favor to ask you."

She stepped closer. "Anything for you Uncle."

"I want you to heal the demon, Inuyasha."

She blinked. "I thought it was forbidden for a priestess to heal a demon."

"Niece." Her uncle chided. "I need you to do me this small favor. If it helps, you ease your mind. His mother was human. You are not going to deny me. Are you?"

Kikiyo shook her head quickly. She bowed. "As you wish Uncle."

"The demon is dying and only you can help him. Heal him but be careful. If he harms you then do not hesitate to purify him." Lord Usui advised.

"I understand."

"You are dismissed."

Kikiyo left the room.

Lord Usui continued reading his reports.

Kikiyo went into the dungeon where the prisoner was being held. She was nervous but she wanted his approval since she was grateful to her uncle. She knew that he was not perfect, but she owed him. Even if Kikiyo had a bad idea about this, but she would never defy her uncle.

A dungeon guard led her down into the labyrinth to where the demon was being held. She tried not to look at the human prisoners that cried out for help. She tried not to show her fear of the ones that looked as if they would happily slaughter her.

Finally, they reached the last door. "It is in here. I am not sure what is wrong with it. Tonight, he is not moving and his hair turned from silver to black. I never seen anything like it. It has not moved in hours. I think it is dying. Do you think that you can heal it? "

Kikiyo was not sure. It was forbidden for a priestess to heal a demon. There were many things that could go wrong. Although, she doubted that her uncle cared if she hurt the demon.

"I will do my best." The teenager said, trying to keep her voice even. "Please open the door."

He eyed her carefully. "Even if it is dying, you could still be hurt. Did you want me to stay with you? You are barely a child. You should not be in there alone."

She was young but even she could tell that this man did not really want to stay. He was only being polite. He probably saw her as much as demon as the creature inside.

Kikiyo shook her head. "Thank you for your offer, but I must decline. I need to concentrate and I cannot afford any distractions."

Kikiyo waited for him to open the door. As soon as he let her in, the guard shut the door quickly. Something did not feel right to her senses, and what she saw shocked her. The demon Inuyasha had become human. His hair was now black, his claws were gone, but his skin was pale and breathing laborious. He was dying. What was happening?

Before she stopped herself, she pushed his silky black hair from his face to get a closer look. He was the most handsome man that she had ever seen. Her heart pounded so loud that it seemed to echo in the room.

How had he become a human?