Dreaming of you
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
"It's ok……I'm ok now….thanks."
Hitori wondered what he was being thanked for but none the less shock his head then turned back around.
'I wonder how all the others are doing….'
"KOHAKU! STOP IT!"
But her cries seemed to be deaf to Kohaku's ears as he kept swinging at his somewhat difficult target.
'Kohaku……'
Sango continued to swing herself in every which direction, trying to avoid both fighting and getting struck by Kohaku.
Kohaku aimed the chain at Sango.
"Ahhh!"
Sango squealed silently while she was dragged towards the ground. Kohaku stood above her, very much the same position she had gotten him into before she had almost killed him, that time years ago.
Kohaku drew his sword at Sango's throat, tears began to form in her eyes, she saw not a single sign of regret in his eyes….she knew this was it this was her end.
She lifted her arm to touch him before he killed her, but out of some bizarre coincidence, the blade which was hidden in her arm, cut along Kohaku's neck, a dirty bluish colored vapor began to emit instead of blood, Sango stood back wondering what she had done. 'Kohaku' began to stumble backward, then fell on his back and began to dissolve into the mist.
"An illusion?"
Sango sat up.
'So then……Kohaku…..'
Sango looked up to the sky, wondering if things would really come to that one day. But then she remembered someone else important.
'Miroku! I have to find the others!'
Sango gathered herself and her weapon and began her way through the mist.
"You heard me…..I asked you to kill me….it's the only way…."
Miroku cringed trying to think of some other solution.
'Father…..why….?'
"Please…..it is dangerous here……get out while you still can!"
All of the sudden the ground began to shack beneath them, Miroku got into a battle stance, his father seemed to just grimly look ahead.
"GGGGAAAAARAAAWW!"
A black demon, with long horns and piercing red eyes, loomed above them. Miroku had never seen a more frightening looking demon in all his life. He stood frozen just staring at it as it made it flew towards him.
"Miroku, the wind tunnel! Use the wind tunnel!"
He was still too petrified to move, he felt the cloth and rosary that were wrapped around his arm being removed.
"Father?"
Soon the strong wind current that resided in Miroku's hand began to draw the beast in. Miroku seemed to get more frightened as the beast neared. He looked to his side to his father but he wasn't there, then before he knew it the beast was close enough that he could see it in full detail, he held up his staff to propel it away from taking a bite into his head.
Miroku didn't seem to concerned of that after a moment.
'Does father still intend on me to kill him?'
Miroku thought while loosing his concentration on the barrier, the demon saw this opportunity and raised it's clawed hands to strike at his head, body already halfway into the wind tunnel.
"MIROKU!"
"Huh?"
Miroku woke up from his daydream and saw his father diving for the demon's hand with his staff.
"FATHER STOP!"
But he had a feeling his father intentional did what he did…...he jump right in front of the wind tunnel's path while grasping the hand of the demon and got sucked in along with him.
"Good bye my son….."
"Father…….'sob' NOOOOOO!"
Miroku threw himself on the ground, banging his fists against the earth.
'Solid ground?'
Miroku looked up, watching in time to see the mist disappearing into his hand as well.
Soon the background was just as it had been before, misty but some was beginning to disperse.
"Miroku? MIROKU?"
Miroku saw a grayish figure that he guessed was Sango.
'Is it another illusion?'
"Miroku? Is it…..is it really you?"
Miroku stood there not really knowing what to say to her, he didn't feel like himself but he had a feeling that telling her that wouldn't comfort her, but make her more frightened then she already appeared.
"Sango…."
Miroku got to his feet and slowly approached her.
"Hmm….it is you."
Sango raised her eyebrows for a moment, forgetting where they were and finding an offense in that comment.
"Who else were you expecting? I'm sorry if I wasn't the beautiful women you may have just seen!"
Miroku chuckled not really believing he could laugh in this moment, then he shock his head.
"No not at all Sango, not like that at all."
"Hmm…."
Sango grunted as she eyed the monk to see if he was lying or trying to pull a fast one. She found not a sign of that lecherous gleam he usually carried after seeing a beautiful or any other women for that matter.
"Shall we continue on and find the others?"
Sango felt like talking to him, he looked very down but felt that now wasn't he appropriate time and nodded her head in agreement.
The two disappeared in the mist.
Sesshomaru walked for many minutes without any disturbance from this place, he wasn't exactly looking for the others but felt none were in any real danger.
'I doubt that brother of mine is faring well….not to mention that girl….'
He looked to the sky, wondering how long this mist was exactly, while he gazed at the seemingly endless clouds of mist, he saw a peculiar image.
"'Gasp'"
A reflection of a young Sesshomaru appeared before him. He was shorter hair shorter eyes brighter and not so cold looking. The image looked rather sad.
'I must not let this place get to me…..even father once said the illusions can drive a demon mad.'
Sesshomaru continued walking when an arrogant thought came to mind.
'No….This person is stronger then that….I am strong enough to easily overcome this!'
"Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru continued walking, ignoring the voice.
"Do you still seek power? Have you still not learned of the importance of feeling?"
Sesshomaru stopped to think about that for a moment, he was kinder to Jaken and let Rin travel with him but he wasn't sure if that would suffice as an answer.
"I have no answer to that question, feeling for those lower then I would disturb the path which I still walk."
Deep down he knew it wasn't true.
He heard a sigh, then the image of the great demon himself appeared in front of him.
Sesshomaru's eyes widened in the slightest. They eyed each other for a brief moment before Sesshomaru continued on his way.
The image appeared before him again, but this time he whipped his poison claws out and tour the image in half.
"My father is dead….I was foolish to even associate myself with you."
Even though he had struck the image of his own father without hesitation even if only an illusion he still felt a tiny bit of sorrow.
"KIKYO!"
Another arrow was barely dodged. After a moment he noticed that her aim wasn't as accurate as he expected it to be. Usually by now he would've been hit and out.
Kikyo narrowed her eyes, looking like she was concentrating hard on something.
"Wha….?"
The bow was glowing pink, like when she had reversed the curse on Tsubaki.
"DIE!"
She aimed the arrow straight at his neck, Kagome was beginning to slip from his back, he heard her fall to the ground with a 'thud' sound.
Kikyo focused on Kagome and aimed the bow's energy at her. Inuyasha quickly jumped in her direction and scooped her into his arms.
"AAAHH!"
Inuyasha shouted when he felt the blast hit him in the back, it stung like no other.
Inuyasha was brought to his knees, his back was tingling from the pain, now he was seemingly bowing to Kikyo.
Kagome was still in his arms, laying there silently barely moving.
Kikyo walked up to Inuyasha the tip aimed at his throat.
"Wait Kikyo! STOP!"
CLENK
That was not only the sound of the bow, his claws had cut through her own throat.
"Ahhhggg!"
Kikyo chocked.
"Kikyo!"
Inuyasha said his voice sounding higher then usually, his expression became more distressed when he saw her merely dissolve after a few moments of suffering.
'Wait….you mean that wasn't Kikyo?'
Inuyasha didn't see any souls come out as she dissolved so it couldn't have been her.
"Kikyo? Kikyo?"
Inuyasha cried out as he frantically searched for Kikyo, but it felt as if he might have been going in circles. All of the sudden he stopped, he felt a disturbance in the air.
Unnoticed by Inuyasha invisible arms wrapped themselves around Kagome, as she was being smoothly pulled out of Inuyasha's arms.
"Hey! What…?"
For a moment Kagome seemed to be floating in midair while being turned to a standing position, slowly the person who had taken her from his hold appeared smirking.
"Who the hell are you? And just what are you doing to that wench right there!"
A man that dressed like a Shinto priest held Kagome in his hold.
"I'll make a deal with you….give me the girl and I shall give you this….."
A bright pink light began to emit from the man's left hand.
'No…..it can't be real…..'
"Oh but it can…."
"Just who the hell are you?"
Inuyasha was beginning to get really pissed off.
"ANSWER!"
"Your worst nightmare if you keep that up!"
Inuyasha stopped and looked him straight in the eye.
"Yeah? How so?"
The priest began to squeeze Kagome's body, but she didn't budge. A blue light began to surround her. Then she began to whimper slightly.
"Huh?"
Before she wouldn't even make so much as a squeal, he knew she must've been in a lot of pain now.
"If you don't corporate I will crush this girl into little tiny pieces!"
Inuyasha approached him closer with a frown on his face.
"So…..why would you give me such a generous offer for something as worthless as that!"
Inuyasha pointed to Kagome. But this is what the priest had been waiting for him to ask, his face formed a smirk that would seem impossible on any normal face.
"The power this girl has in her is worth at least 10 of these! Power that once I've 'wrung her out' will be of benefit towards me!"
Inuyasha didn't seem happy as to where this was going.
"So let me get this straight. You want me to give you her for that."
"Exactly."
This was all too easy, he knew there was a trap somewhere.
"Besides….why keep something that cannot feel or is barely a human!"
Inuyasha watched as the priest put his hands on Kagome. The priest placed his finger under Kagome's chin. The usual blank stare greeted him.
"Yes….this one's especially powerful!"
Inuyasha began to growl for some unknown reason. Kagome was seeing all of this but once again wasn't really with them, she could see the expressions change on his expression but knew not why he was angered when he could get a huge chunk of the jewel shard merely for the price of giving her up. She was very surprised he hadn't done so already.
'What could be holding him back?'
Kagome continued to lay there helpless.
'My baby….I hope your alright.'
Kagome nearly keeled over when she heard what was next said.
"Give her back! How stupid do you think I am? I know there's some sort of trap catch or whatever the hell else you can think of!"
The priest actually looked shocked, Kagome didn't show it but so was she.
"Besides as useless as she is I wouldn't allow even her to be handed over to some as weak as you!"
The priest twisted his face into a smile.
"Wrong answer!"
He began to run away.
"HAH! Think you can outrun me?"
Inuyasha said while at his side. Inuyasha tried to grab a part of Kagome, but kept missing. The priest jumped into the air.
"That's it……WIND SCAR!"
"YOU IDIOT!"
He was merely mist but the blast was definitely real.
'Oh shit!'
Kagome was still in his arms, he jumped into the air using his sword to steer the blast away from her. What was left of that man dissolved into the mist.
"Well haven't I been stupid! Falling for all these damned tricks."
He looked down at the girl in his arms. Kagome had actually fallen asleep.
"Damn women! Nearly get killed and all you want to do is sleep!"
No response as usual, Inuyasha keh'd then continued searching for Kikyo and the others.
'It's getting dark better find them fast!'
Inuyasha seemed to be walking for at least an hour, before he heard Kikyo's voice.
"Oh Kikyo! Your alright!"
Kikyo nodded, noting the sleeping Kagome.
"Did you…..you know see 'things'?"
"What I saw was things that we've encountered many times…"
That is all Kikyo had to say about it, Inuyasha didn't ask anymore questions.
"I'm glad your alright…."
Inuyasha said softly, Kikyo walked on as if he hadn't said anything. Inuyasha sighed she must've been upset at what she saw.
HOW DARE YOU! AFTER ALL YOU SAID IT WAS A LIE?"
Kagome was at the peak of her anger and did something as crazy as to slap Inuyasha back.
"YOU LIED ABOUT EVERYTHING? I THOUGHT YOU CARED FOR ME AND CHANGED BUT I SEE I WAS WRO….."
Inuyasha grabbed Kagome by her neck then Inuyasha throw her back on the ground when her face looked a funny color.
"If you ever….ever do that again I promise you this I will kill you!"
Kagome coughed then gasped, gasped not only for air but her sanity.
"This time I'm not lying!"
Inuyasha gave her one last glance, for a one measly second he felt pity and wondered why he had done such a thing but as quick as the feeling came it faded.
"Let's go Kikyo…."
Kikyo followed behind Inuyasha but not before taking a glance at the scene before herself, Kagome looked up just in time to see that glance, tears that reflected the moon light flowed down her cheeks, Kikyo looked into Kagome's eyes and the emotion she felt inside showed in her eyes, Kagome thought it was only an illusion, the one moment she had thought she had seen pity in Kikyo's eyes.
That look that had been in her eyes that night, seeing it a second time haunted her. She tried her hardest not to think about it but it kept coming back.
"Kikyo? Are you alright?"
Kikyo sighed then looked up at Inuyasha and tried her hardest to smile.
"I'm fine Inuyasha! It's nothing to worry about."
Kikyo walked past Inuyasha. Inuyasha who couldn't take a hint for anything, shrugged it off and continued as if nothing had happened.
"Inuyasha….it's getting late, why don't we stop here for awhile?"
Kikyo was looking a spot that seemed to be free of most of the mist. Inuyasha wondered why she had wanted to stop now of all times not to mention of all the places.
"Uh…. sure alright."
A moment after stopping, Kikyo had requested that she go look for some water, of course Inuyasha wanted to accompany her.
"It's alright, I'll be fine on my own."
Kikyo picked up a water pail and went on her way. Inuyasha watched as she left then turned to face Kagome.
'What was that all about?'
Inuyasha thought while starting to 'space off', he didn't realize it at first but that whole time he was staring at Kagome. She looked peaceful laying there. Kagome's head rested on Inuyasha's arm, nestled in his arms in a very cradle like position.
Kagome woke up to the sound of birds chirping.
'Strange place to have even a single bird in the sky.'
Kagome's lashes fluttered opened, she looked from her view and realized she in the exact same place where her and Inuyasha would dream together at night a long time ago.
'But why am I here again?'
She almost stopped breathing when she realized she was laying in a bundle of red. She looked up and there Inuyasha's face softly stared down at her.
'This is another trick isn't it?'
"You aren't real are you?"
Inuyasha didn't answer but reached to the back of her head, while adjusting her position in his arms and began stroking her head and hair. Kagome felt herself blushing, she remembered times like this, when he wasn't using his claws to smash demons or harm anything else, his claws felt great when they were gently smoothed against the skin.
But now it felt more like a caress maybe even a tease. Kagome decided for once not to question it and laid still while Inuyasha cradled her like a baby.
Some stray hair had gotten on her chest, Inuyasha's hand came slowly and brushed it gently back into place, Kagome enjoyed watching his hands every movement.
Kagome noticed more tresses of stray hair, but right when he was about to remove them, Kagome took hold of his fingers. Inuyasha looked confused.
But Kagome gave him a reassuring smile, the twinkle back in her eyes again. Inuyasha unknowingly had a twinkle in his eye himself.
Kagome lay there for a moment watching Inuyasha smile, almost forgetting what this whole experience was like, and because of this she didn't realize why Inuyasha's face had come in close contact with hers so suddenly.
'……Maybe there's hair on my face?'
But once he got close enough to a point where Kagome could trace and see every single detail and marking on Inuyasha's face, being as virtually clear as it was however there wasn't much to look for except the delicate flawless traces of skin.
"Inuyasha…"
Kagome could feel the warmth of his breathing on her neck, one look into his eyes and she was lost like she used to before, those eyes that could be so hard to decipher the meaning to.
But this time the message was clear.
Inuyasha leaned closer until their lips brushed together, with what once again felt like a tease, Kagome felt for his hand and clasped it into her own and held on while Inuyasha leaned into her mouth showing her something she had forgotten.
Kagome and Inuyasha's tongue danced together for what felt like an eternity to Kagome, one which she truly wished would never end. She felt off when she opened her eyes and saw Inuyasha's soft smiling face lifting from hers.
"Please……Don't go!"
He didn't answer once again, he merely gazed at her while slowly dispersing like the mist. Kagome had begun to tear up as she touched the remains before he completely faded.
"Inuyasha…'sob' I love you…"
Kagome herself began to fade until she woke up.
Kagome slowly opened her eyes, almost like déjà vu she found herself in the exact same position as in her dreams, only this time when she looked up at Inuyasha's face he was fast asleep.
Kagome looked further down, she felt something covering her hand.
'What is he doing?'
Just as in the dream, Inuyasha's hand was intertwined with hers. Kagome sighed, before he assumed something again she'd thought she had better remove it.
'But why did that dream feel so real? Why did he kiss me at all if he hates me so much?'
Kagome continued to look at his and her hand. Kagome looked at the peacefully sleeping Inuyasha. Remembering so much about that face.
'That Inuyasha is gone….he will never return to me.'
Kagome thought while slipping her hand from underneath Inuyasha's hand.
Kagome hated to keep telling herself this but she wouldn't live off the hopes of something that just wasn't there or even real.
Inuyasha slept on, Kagome decided to just go back to sleep herself, for some reason it was so easy for her these days, all she would have to do is close her eyes and she'd be out.
Kikyo came back sometime later, Inuyasha woke up and kept her company, Kagome lay near them, Inuyasha had removed his haori so she could sleep in it. He wanted her near him incase that priest or if some other bastard decided to come and pick a fight with him. He was definitely not going to let them get their sick kicks out of Kagome.
Almost like before when like before, when he would willingly do anything to make sure she was out of harm's way.
But what she didn't realize is that all she had experienced in her dream, even so that Inuyasha woke up confused, everything she had and felt…..was real.
The next morning everyone had been located, thought no one seemed quite themselves anymore. Though everyone choose to keep quiet about what each of them had seen. Sesshomaru of course showed no indication that he had seen anything.
Shippo was a little shaken up however and was constantly messing with his fingers while shaking.
Sango and Miroku continued to watch Kagome as she lay still on Inuyasha's back. She did seem very peaceful. They wondered if something else had happened between them.
"Everyone, we are almost there."
Sesshomaru called out to his weary looking travelers.
"It's about time!"
Inuyasha rudely shouted. Sesshomaru ignored his brother's rudeness and continued walking.
Kagome snuggled deeper into the soft strands of hair that belonged to Inuyasha, his hair stuck to his back by her head felt like a pillow.
Inuyasha felt her stir and hoisted her up further, adjusting her position on his back, he felt her slipping.
'Mama….sick….'
Hitori thought, looking very gloomy for a little child. Shippo and Hitori were both walking, giving Kirara a brake after she had let them ride on her around all last night.
Shippo held Hitori's hand while he walked, incase anything happened he could easily push him back to protect him.
Hitori could smell In Kagome's scent that she wasn't doing too well, thus explaining why she slept so much and for long periods of time.
They were crossing a path that was very narrow along side a mountain, they had to be very careful so walk slowly or else someone could slip and fall. Then another good reason to do so was because of altitude sickness. Already however a few were beginning to feel a bit worn from yesterday's events.
Hitori hadn't been in Kagome's arms for more then a day and was beginning to feel restless and upset because of it.
"Mama….EhhMmm!"
Hitori grunted as he tried braking free of Shippo's grasp while reaching for Kagome. Shippo tried to shush him up but he only seemed to be getting louder. Sango acted next by picking him and patting him soothingly on the back.
Shippo looked up sadly at the two, then he felt a hand rub his head.
"It's ok Shippo you did your best! Thank you."
Shippo smiled at Sango and held a piece of her fabric, he looked like a little child attaching himself to his mother.
Hitori leaned into Sango for comfort, Sango rocked him while she walked.
'Someone needs a changing after this.'
Hitori seemed to be used to feeling wet for long periods of time. he got comfortable and began to drift off to sleep.
The group soon walked down a hill and into a canyon like setting. The scenery was simply beautiful.
Everyone began to hear water, Miroku walked a little quicker up to the front of the group, he was beginning to sense something he didn't like.
'This aura…..something's wrong here.'
Inuyasha walked beside Kikyo who was observing the place in a very similar perspective as Miroku.
Sango held Hitori closer but held her weapon near her as well.
Inuyasha held his head up high to get a closer look, his eyes widened, now he knew why Miroku had felt uneasy and wandered why he hadn't smelt it in the first place until now.
There before all of them was the River of Life, stained with a deep purple like dye. Boiling with the fumes from it.
This water was supposed to be as clear as any water found on this Earth it was supposed to reflect the sky like a mirror, the sky it's self looked dark and the trees now that everyone took notice looked like they were wilting or dead.
Now everyone knew for sure something was off.
"What the hell? This can't be it!"
Sango stood by Miroku gazing at the water, Kirara got a bit closer to sniff it but immediately stood back, for the fumes harmed her nose.
Kikyo stepped forward and observed it closer, it took her a moment to recognize it but then there was no mistake about it.
"The river has been tainted, by Naraku's miasma."
"What?"
Sango turned to Kikyo.
'Naraku….of course!'
Kagome had been set down on the ground near a rock bundled up in the haori, sitting up not showing any reaction.
Inuyasha on the other hand was furious and loosing it fast.
"GRRRR Naraku!"
Inuyasha sniffed the air.
"He's here!"
The sound of waves parting was heard, everyone stopped and looked in the water to see tentacles rising out from the depths.
Rising out of the water was none other then Naruku, in his gray suit of spiky armor with an evil grin on his face.
"Inuyasha! So you've come have you?"
Everyone except Kagome and Hitori frowned and bared their fangs weapons whatever they had at his presence.
"Prepare to die Inuyasha!"
Naraku made a dive for Inuyasha, Inuyasha drew Tetsuseiga.
A/N: This chapter surprisingly wasn't that hard to write, I suppose it's because I miss writing those sweet moment between Inuyasha and Kagome.
In the dream scene, he was awake just sort of in a trance state, he was awake up until Kagome saw him fading in his dream that symbolized him falling asleep. Why he wasn't speaking is like I said because he was in a trance state, his body had the desire to do those things to Kagome, it overcame him.
Have a happy new year and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
