Chapter 8: Naraku Enters the Well

When Kagome got home, she was greeted with smiles and hugs that quickly turned to scolds and reminders of her reality check about school. Her mother fussed because she was gone for so long and she was falling behind in school. Her grandpa told her about the other illnesses she had and her brother nagged her with question upon question about how Inuyasha was doing and when he'd see him again. The feudal Era was looking pretty good to Kagome right about now even though she just got out of it.

"I'm whipped," said Kagome slumping up the stairs and falling onto her bed, "I'll work on homework tomorrow."

Kagome took a long hot bath, as she always does when returning from the well, slipped into some pajamas and went to sleep.

That night Kagome had a sweet dream followed by a terrible night mare:

* * * * * * The Night Mare * * * * * *

Kagome was standing in a clearing, alone. She kept hearing creepy noises and was frightened. Suddenly, Inuyasha appeared out of the lurky shadows of the forest.

"Inuyasha!" sighed Kagome in relief turning to him.

Inuyasha said nothing but looked at her. He walked up to her and smiled sweetly.

"Kagome, your alright," he said calmly.

"I was beginning to get scared," she said quietly to him.

"I'm here now so don't be afraid," Inuyasha stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He looked so calm and peaceful.

"Inuyasha….." whispered Kagome gazing into his glimmering golden eyes.

"I'll protect you always, Kagome," he said hugging her tight.

Kagome shed a tear as they embraced, not letting go. She hugged him back with her arms around his neck. She closed her eyes and tears came dripping out. Inuyasha eased up but still had her in his arms. He wiped her tears gently away with his finger. They stared into each others eyes in silence.

"I love you Kagome," he said with the same smile on his tender face.

Kagome said nothing for a moment but tried to hold back her tears. She was over come with joy and happiness that her tears busted out and she sobbed into his chest.

"Inuyasha! I've waited so long to hear you say that!"

Inuyasha leaned his head against hers and stroked her hair. Kagome stopped crying and gazed up into his eyes again. Inuyasha leaned in slowly to her face and kissed her. Kagome returned the kiss. They broke off after a few moments, which seemed like hours to them, and stared at each other.

"I love yo---"

Inuyasha started to say when he stopped suddenly. His eyes widened and his grip on Kagome's waist got tighter.

"Inuyasha? Inuyasha?! What's wrong?!"

Inuyasha didn't answer, he fell to his knees, his expression full of pain. Kagome kneeled by his side and looked over his shoulder and saw Kikyo standing there with bow in hand.

"Kikyo?" asked Kagome in a quivering voice.

Kagome looked back down at Inuyasha. There was an arrow lodged in his back, directly where his heart was.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed bending her face down to his trying to get him to say something, or to sit back up.

Kagome looked back over to Kikyo but she wasn't there. Kagome directed her attention back to the dying Inuyasha. She pulled the arrow out making him gasp in pain. She laid him on his back and grabbed his hand.

"Inuyasha?! Inuyasha?! Speak to me!" she cried desperately.

Kagome hugged his neck and cried. Inuyasha put his hand on her back in comfort and Kagome sat back up.

"Inuyasha?"

"Ka…Kagome," he stuttered in a weak voice.

"Don't die on me! Please! Don't die!" tears trickled down her face.

"I'll always be with you Kagome," he managed to say.

"Don't go, what will I do without you?" Kagome broke out in sobs again and hugged him once more. Then she bent down and kissed him.

"I love you," were his last words.

Inuyasha's grip on her hand went limp and lifeless.

* * * * * * End of Dream * * * * *

"Inuyasha!" screamed Kagome as she sat up in her bed. She was breathing hard and sweat was dripping down her face.

"It….it was a dream. Just a dream," she puffed wiping her face and throwing the covers off her bed.

She went to the bath room and tried to wash her face clean of the sweat and the nightmare. She got back into bed and laid down.

"I can't sleep now, not after a dream like that," she said to herself looking at the ceiling, "I hope he's okay."

It took a while for her to finally get to sleep but she did.

* * * * *

The next morning Kagome awoke to her alarm clock and headed off to school. It was a long and pitiful day. She had so much to put up with, her annoying friends asking her about her illnesses and her "relationship" with Hojo, the class work that she was totally lost in, and coming home to do a never ending list of homework that should take her forever to make up.

"I hate school," she said walking into the house and taking off her shoes.

"Sis?" asked Sota coming into the room, "Sis, I have to tell you something."

"Huh? Oh, hi Sota. Where's mom?" she asked not paying any attention what he had said.

"Kagome, your home," said Mrs. Higurashi stepping into the doorway and greeting her with a hug, "How was school?"

"*Ugh* Don't ask," Kagome replied in a sigh.

"That bad? Well you'll feel much better when you know what I'm making for dinner…..chicken casserole with some rice and gravy! How does that sound?"

"Mom, you're the best!" Kagome gave her a quick hug and rushed up the stairs.

"Kago---" started Sota but was cut off.

"Sota, why don't you help me with dinner? I could use your help," Mrs. Higurashi asked tying an apron around her waist.

"Okay mom."

* * * * *

After a few hours of studying and homework, Kagome joined her family to dinner then gathered her things for going back into the well. It was already dark outside.

"Bye mom! Thanks for dinner! It was great!" shouted Kagome putting her shoes back on and heading out the door.

"Your headed off already? Why so soon?" Mrs. Higurashi asked standing by the door and wiping her hands off in her apron.

"I've got to hurry up and go mom, Inuyasha and the others are waiting!"

"Alright, be careful!"

Kagome walked to the shrine and put one leg over the side of the well. Before she could hop in Sota appeared.

"Kagome?" he asked walking up to her.

"Sota? What is it? I'm about to go back to the feudal era," Kagome asked with still one leg over the side of the well and turning her head to him.

"I saw some one come out of the well last night."

"Yea, me. Or Inuyasha probably. Did he sneak over here again?"

"No, no it wasn't you or him, it was…..a man."

"What? Ha, ha very funny Sota, now go back inside so I can go already," she said turning her attention back to the well preparing to jump in.

"No, listen to me Kagome! I saw somebody go through the well last night when you weren't here!"

Kagome froze and pulled her leg out of the well. She sat on the edge and glared at him.

"What did he look like?"

"I didn't see his face but he was wearing….I know this is gonna sound funny, but he was wearing a white baboon looking cloak."

"A what?!?" she asked her eyes widening at what she had heard, "Where did he go?"

"I don't know I didn't follow him, he was going too fast. He was looking around our house a lot though before he ran off into town."

"It can't be Naraku! Can it?! How can he get through the well?" she asked herself.

"And you saw him leave, right?" Kagome asked her voice hesitant.

"Yes. I stayed around the well to see if he'd come back and he did. He left."

Kagome sat in silence for a minute looking at the ground. She sweat dropped as she thought about what Naraku could have been doing or did here.

"Sota, are you absolutely sure of what you saw? Your not making this up? You weren't just seeing some guy pull a prank or anything?"

"No! I saw a guy come in and out of the well!" shouted Sota getting angry with her.

"This is not good," said Kagome in a low voice.

"What's wrong sis? Who is that man?"

"Listen Sota, stay at home, don't leave mom or grandpa's side okay? I'm sure everything's alright now that he's gone but be careful. If you see him again, don't talk to him or get near him okay?" asked Kagome walking up to her brother and grabbing his shoulders, "Do you understand?"

He simply nodded to her and she went back to the well, "Oh and Sota, don't tell mom or grandpa about what you saw okay? They don't need to know."

"Okay."

Kagome hoped back into the well and to her surprise, was alone. Kirara wasn't there to take her back to the Kaede's.