{___} that is Kati's comments, not part of the story
When its in two of these (( like this)) that means its Chels-dawg is talking, its not in the fanfic!!!
Underline is the beginning of a chapter
-~-~-~-~-~- Means around same time, different setting, same character(s)
_-_-_-_-_-_ Means Around same time, different people
*-*-*-*-*-* Means years/months apart baby!! Long time no see
Kati: Err, happy little dream sequence by Chels and partially me, mush courtesy of Chels.
Chapter Seven: Dreams of Forever
Rinku was walking through the forest she was having a hard time with the hunting, not that she couldn't find and kill the prey, its that she couldn't concentrate. She sat beneath a tree, exhausted, and feel into a deep sleep.
-~-~-~-~-~-
She was sitting in the grass, the valley in which Inu and her used to play in, she felt arms go around her waist and instantly turned claws bared ready to defend herself, but just to see Inuyasha. "I-Inuyasha?!" He put his hand on hers, his fingers resting on hers making her hand into a fist, leaving her open. He advanced closer her hand was still in his as he grabbed her other in his free hand, she found his grasp tight, and as her leaned over she suspected for him to attack. But to her surprise he just kissed her, and it wasn't a short kiss either, she was in shock, feeling his tongue join hers, she just relaxed. When he pulled away from her, she looked sad not wanting it to end, but he just turned and smiled like a puppy and trotted a few steps motioning for her to follow. She was still frozen with shock, but took a step forward, then more she broke into a run as Inuyasha did also and they started playing a little game of chase. She paused and looked around she had lost sight of him, the sky was dark, the wind was cold and the snow whirled around her in clouds. She was looking, infinitely, for Inuyasha. There was a moor ahead of her, she could only barely make it out, and at the end of it was a silhouetted form. Him. He smiled and turned, and started running again she accelerated too. But they kept running and she couldn't catch up. Her thoughts consisted of two words: catch up. Catch up. Catch up. Catch up. They echoed around in her brain, and then instead of catching up…
She woke up, her heart pounding, and her body drenched in a cold sweat. "I will find him." She arose and walked, careful to cover her scent, away from the cave, Kannokki and Unmei.
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Unmei never heard from Rinku after the hanyou left the cave, leaving Kannokki the Mist Wolf behind. Nearly a year had passed after Rinku's disappearance and Unmei and Kannokki searched to no avail.
"Kannokki, maybe we should just give up, she's vanished from this world and possibly the next." Unmei ruffled Kannokki's head fur.
Kannokki shook off her hand and kept walking.
"Well, I'm sorry! Gods your grumpy!" Unmei trotted to catch up. They entered a large meadow surrounded by trees; there was an old broken down well in the center, and on it stood a girl and a very familiar hanyou; Inuyasha.
_-_-_-_-_-_
"Kagome, are you sure…" His words just softened and dwindled off as Kagome's downcast eyes leaked salt water.
"It's for the good of your world and mine." She wiped away her tears, always trying to be strong, even though she was human. Even though all Inuyasha felt like doing was holding her and making her stay with him.
"I want you to stay here, you can seal the well from here and your world will be safe." Inuyasha objected.
"My family needs me, I have friends in that world, and besides the Shikon No Tama would be here and we'd still have to fight off demons. It's reentered my body, it would be dangerous to stay here."
"I'd fight off a million monsters, they couldn't beat me before, they can't beat me now."
"And what happens when you slip up? We'd both die, the jewel would fall into dark hands and both worlds would be torn to bits by the corrupted thing. I can't do that, Inuyasha, I just can't."
"Then I'll come with you." Inuyasha snatched her hand.
"You aren't human, you would scare people. And it's illegal to kill in my world, you can't repress your instincts forever."
"You offered me the chance to become human with you. I'd take it, and come with you." He raised their clasped hands to chest level, drawing her closer.
"Inuyasha, I need you to stay here and eliminate anything that might threaten the portals unemployment, or anything that might live long enough to gain acceptance into my era. I'm sorry, there's no way to work around it. I go my way you go yours." Kagome looked into his amber eyes. "Truly, I am sorry." She kissed him on the cheek and freed her hand. "Goodbye forever Inuyasha." And then she was gone, into the well.
Inuyasha sat down on the well, his head in his hands. Then he turned and jumped into the well, hopeful. But when his claws met only dry bones and dirt he cried out in anguish.
After a couple minutes of silence a lilting voice carried to his sensitive ears. "I-nu-yasha." It separated his name as if dissecting a helpless animal pinned to a metal tray, as if it was interested yet estranged, as if the owner held more power than he himself did.
He looked up, half expecting it to be his elder brother with a voice-lift. But none other than Unmei, his brother's long-lost friend, met his eyes.
"Did you miss me? I see your little escapade with the jewel is over, as is your chance to become one of them. I don't understand your logic on the subject, but, to-each-his-own." She shrugged.
"I didn't miss you, if you really wanted to know, but there's nothing between us. I don't know what you saw, but we're only friends." Inuyasha growled, bringing a clenched fist up to show his emotion.
"Well, well, well, your manners certainly haven't improved, show respect to your elders, child." Unmei was smug, examining him.
"Your one to comment on manners, geezer."
"Now, now, I'm not that much your senior, but down to business, you remember Rinku, correct?"
"Yeah, what about her?" He felt a twinge of guilt.
"She's looking for you, ever since just before your showdown with Lord Sesshomaru-"
"Lord Sesshomaru? Since when?"
"Since he inherited the western lands from your father of late." Unmei was amused, watching the hanyou's face twisting from regret at the mention of his father, to anger at the inheritance.
"Fine, so what about Rinku?" He changed the subject.
"Have you seen her lately."
"No, I've been… busy."
"Will you search for her with me?"
"All right. When do we start?" Inuyasha took the well in one leap and was at the top before he finished his sentence.
"Now." She turned to lead the way but stopped at the growling Kannokki. "Oh, yes, by the way, this is Kannokki. Kannokki, Inuyasha. Inuyasha, Kannokki. Skip the pleased to meet you junk and cut to the chase. Kannokki, stop growling!" She tapped him lightly over the head. He shot her a dirty look then turned "He's Rinku's." Unmei added shortly. And then they all walked into the border of the woods.