Welcome to the latest installment, courtesy of the madness known as my mind. Enjoy!
Suzuko: Glad you're happy and that you're enjoying the story. Don't think I'm going to make it easy on the happy couple though. bwahaha.
emerald dragon hanyou: Sorry about the cliffhangers. I'm evil, you know.
me, lily1121, Rekishi, vapireluv, Miyuki-Chan, pinay935, Gueshoo, tessa, Chelsea: THANK YOU! You guys are great, hope you like the next chapter!
Shadow: Sorry this isn't a Sess/Kag story, but I am planning on doing one when I finish my other story, The Eagle Tribe. (Go read it!) :)
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The big cat made its way stealthily through the black night, yellow eyes glowing. The creature was completely at home in the dark, and its movements were careful and precise. No sound betrayed its approach; the cat was just a shadow slinking beneath the moonlight. This was a nocturnal beast, carefully stalking its prey.
Yes, there was its intended victim. A helpless girl, asleep by the fire. The tiger would have her by the throat before anyone could leap to her defense. The big cat lunged gracefully through the air, claws and teeth at the ready...
Kagome awoke in the middle of the night, her heart pounding and her sheets twisted all about her. She gasped for breath, eyes darting about her dark bedroom. A moment later she recognized her nightmare for what it was, and she let out a huge sigh before flopping back down on her pillows. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes before opening them again.
Enormous yellow eyes stared down at her.
"Gahhhhhh!!!!" Kagome yelled, and pummeled the owner of the yellow eyes.
"Kagome! Cut it out!" Inuyasha yelled, then fell to the floor with a loud thump. He had managed to get tangled in the sheets when he jumped onto Kagome's bed, and they went with him. Kagome, also tangled, landed on top of him. The loud noises woke the rest of the house, and Kagome was still tangled up with Inuyasha and her sheets when her mother, brother, and grandfather charged into the room to see what was the matter. Light streamed in from the hallway beyond the open door.
"It's not what it looks like!," Kagome said, trying to unravel her legs from Inuyasha's and blinking in the sudden light. Both of them turned a dark shade of red beneath the stares of her family.
"Well... what happened?" Kagome's mother asked. Her eyes were dancing with amusement.
"Mamaaaaaa...," Kagome groaned. Her mother looked down at her daughter, limbs askew and face brick red, and gave the most natural response. She burst out laughing. Kagome could only sigh and let Inuyasha untangle the sheets. Finally free, Kagome got back in her bed with a huff of indignance. The smile tugging at the corners of her mouth betrayed her happiness at hearing her mother's laughter, and seeing her smile. Souta rolled his eyes and grumbled about being woken for no good reason, then left for his room. Grandpa did the same. Mama gave Kagome another smile before leaving and shutting the door quietly behind her.
Kagome and Inuyasha stared at each other for a moment.
"Were you having a nightmare?," Inuyasha finally asked. Kagome frowned as the memory of it came back to her. "Yeah, just a nightmare...," she murmured.
"Well, try not to wake everyone up next time, okay?," Inuyasha said, looking away with a sniff. Kagome smiled. "I'll do my best," she said dryly. Inuyasha sat back down on the floor where he had been sleeping. Kagome wondered if he had stayed here out of worry for her.
"Inuyasha...," she said, her voice hesitant.
"What?"
"Ah... Nevermind. Good night," Kagome said, and curled up under her blankets. She felt Inuyasha's eyes on her, but closed her eyes anyways. A short time later she heard the sound of his level breathing and knew he was asleep. Kagome rolled over and looked at him, sleeping by her bedside. Moonlight streamed in through the bedroom window and gave him an eerie shine. Kagome yawned, and felt sleep beginning to tug at her. Just as she started to drift to sleep, she felt the fear of the nightmare approach. She awoke instantly. Even with Inuyasha right next to her, she felt terribly vulnerable. She chided herself for being so scared of something as silly as a nightmare; yet the fear remained. After a long moment of consideration, and the feeling that she would regret it later, Kagome climbed out of bed and lay down next to Inuyasha. He twitched in his sleep, and his arms went around her. Kagome was too tired to blush; she fell asleep, safe and secure in Inuyasha's arms.
The next day...
Inuyasha awoke before Kagome, and was more than a little surprised to find her next to him, snuggled against his chest. He rose onto an elbow and looked down at her sleeping face, a blush creeping over his features. He carefully removed himself from her grasp. She was probably just still upset from her nightmare, he reasoned to himself.
"Inuyasha...?" Kagome gazed up at him through sleepy eyes. She yawned and sat up to stretch, then looked around as if wondering how she got on the floor.
"What do you have to eat for breakfast here?," Inuyasha asked, averting his eyes. Kagome smiled and rose to her feet, still stretching. A few joints crackled, much to her apparent relief.
"I was thinking we should go back today. Everyone is probably worried," Kagome said, and began to dig through her drawers for clothes. She didn't say anything about how she had been sleeping next to him. Neither did Inuyasha.
"Okay," he replied, watching her. Kagome then pointed at the door. "I need to get changed. We'll have some breakfast, then get going," Kagome said, one hand on her hip. Inuyasha grumbled and then acquiesced, leaving the room and heading toward the kitchen. The aroma of breakfast wafted to Inuyasha's sensitive nose, and he eagerly followed it.
Kagome got changed quickly, then took a few moments to wash up in the bathroom. She packed her bag while Inuyasha gobbled down all the food Mama had placed in front of him. "Wow!," Souta said, amazed. "You would be great in one of those eating contests!"
Kagome wrinkled her face distastefully and grabbed a plate of her own. "Don't give him any ideas," she grumbled at her brother. Souta had always been fascinated by Inuyasha; he looked up to him as if he were his big brother.
"Don't forget about my play next week," Souta reminded Kagome. Kagome nodded and she drank down her juice, then began to drag Inuyasha from the table. "Let's go, before you eat my family out of house and home," she said. Inuyasha grumbled unhappily, grabbing a few more fried eggs on the way out.
A few minutes later, Inuyasha and Kagome were climbing out of the well in the feudal era. On the way to Kaede's village they found Sango, Miroku, and Shippou. Miroku was sporting a new bump on his head, and Sango looked put out. Shippou seemed exasperated at the monk's antics, while Kirara was curled up in Sango's lap, fast asleep.
"Kagome!" Shippou jumped through the air and landed in Kagome's arms, hugging her fiercely.
"Hello, Shippou," Kagome said, returning the welcoming embrace. Then she fell backward, a wave of dizziness washing over her. Inuyasha caught her before she fell to the ground.
"Kagome! What's wrong?," Inuyasha demanded, as the others came closer to see what was the matter.
Kagome held her head. "I just feel dizzy... And my head is pounding," she muttered. She clutched at her head, eyes dark with the pain assaulting her. Sango reached forward and gently felt her forehead, then neck. "You don't seem to have a fever. You must be coming down with something. We should take her to Kaede," Sango said, gazing down at Kagome with concern.
Inuyasha nodded, his face etched with worry. Shippou hopped off of Kagome's chest and took her hand. "I'm okay," Kagome managed to say, then closed her eyes against the pain.
Inuyasha snorted derisively. "Right. I'm taking you to the old hag." With that, Inuyasha cradled her in arms as if about to carry a bride over the threshold, and with demon speed was on his way. He made it to Kaede's in just a few minutes, and peered inside.
"Inuyasha? What be the problem?" Kaede peered back at him with her one eye, which quickly fell on the crumpled form of Kagome. "I see. Put her down, here. Kagome, what is wrong?," she asked the girl.
"It's... Just a headache, Kaede. I'm fine," Kagome replied as Inuyasha set her carefully down.
"Hmm, hmm. Well, let me make you some tea, dear. Inuyasha, will you boil some water?," Kaede asked, sitting down beside Kagome. She looked into Kagome's eyes, and felt for a fever. Suddenly she froze. "Kagome..." Kaede stared at the girl with shock.
"What? What is it?," Kagome asked, nervous from the strange look Kaede was giving her.
"Your eyes, Kagome! They be turning green!"
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