Hello Again
Chapter 7
Nightmares

"Please tell me our last days together are as precious to you as they are to me...never forget me Inu Yasha. I will always love you with all of my heart." The voice echoed over and over in his dreams. Yet when he chased it to try and figure out who was saying the words it vanished. With a groan, Inu Yasha sat up. He knew there was no point in trying to go back to sleep. The routine had been the same for the past three days. At least now his doctor had proclaimed he could move about the house. Throwing back the covers he put his feet on the ground and stood. With a clawed hand he grasped the black silky robe and shrugged into it easily.

Padding silently through the halls, he made his way through the spacious home finally finding the den. Sitting in the recliner, he turned on the TV quickly lowering the volume to almost its lowest setting. He watched the news hoping for something to trigger his missing memories.

He felt himself drifting off and allowed the slow drift to continue, then a sniff caught his ear. Sitting up Inu Yasha looked at the side of the chair to see a human pup. The little boy was holding a stuffed animal in one arm and rubbing his eyes with the fisted hand of the other. His pajama footed feet shuffling on the rough tatami mat as another sniff sounded. "What's wrong ru... er pup?" Inu Yasha asked gently. Something about this pup made him want to comfort him, protect him from every danger. The feeling surprised Inu Yasha. When the pup began to try and climb up in the recliner with him, Inu Yasha lifted him seating him on his lap.

"I had a bad dream and Momma's not home. And I got scared." Kenmaru dipped his head, letting his black hair hide his face.

Placing a finger under the small chin, Inu Yasha gently forced the boys head up. "Everybody gets scared sometime. So why didn't you tell me all about this bad dream." The little boy shook his head. He was about to say something else when the pup's voice interrupted him.

"Do you watch amime? Cause I do. My favorite is Omishi Magical Theater. See." Kenmaru pulled at the chest of his pajamas. Then started pointing out characters, going on and on about the story. Inu Yasha nodded, letting the boy talk. "This is Moe and she likes Yuya. She sees him being nice to another girl and gets upset. Then Risky comes, she's an apprentice Shinigami which is kinda like a bad youkai, to take her soul to hell. But then Moe thinks something nice and Risky changes into Safety who's an apprentice angel. Its a good amime. We could watch it together tomorrow, if you want."

Something about the story was familiar, but Inu Yasha couldn't figure out what it was. It teased at the back of his mind. Realizing the boy was waiting for an answer, he nodded. "Sure pup. We can watch it."

"Goody! This is Roku. Momma got him for me." He said holding up the stuffed dog. "I got a bigger one in my room that's Unkles Fuffy." Inu Yasha smiled and patted the stuff dogs head. When just as sudden as the smile appeared it vanished. "I can't watch the amime with you tomorrow."

"Why not?" Inu Yasha asked amused at how seriously he was taking missing the show.

"Cause Momma and I are going to the park." Instantly the child seemed to brighten, "You can come with us!"

"If your Momma agrees then I'll go with you. You ready to tell me about that bad dream now?"

"I was being chased by a big mean spider monster and he was trying to bite me." The whispered reply came.

"Hmmm, that is a bad dream." Inu Yasha agreed solemnly. "What if you stay here, with me till your Momma gets back?" He held up his hand in front of the boy, showing the claws. "These are pretty good against monsters. If that big mean spider shows up, I'll take care of him." Another smile crossed the hanyou's face at the child's vigorous nodding. Shifting his hand as if to shake the boys he continued, "I'm Inu Yasha."

"I'm Kenmaru." the now smiling boy said shaking the hand he was offered. A big yawn rounded his little mouth. Cuddling against his new friends chest Kenmaru soon fell back to sleep.

Turning his attention back to the news Inu Yasha watched for awhile. Within a few minutes his eye lids grew heavy and closed as sleep claimed him as well.

Several hours later Kagome entered the house exhausted. Her only thoughts to check on Kenmaru, shower and bed. Noticing the flickering from the TV she went to shut it off. Walking into the den she froze. Inu Yasha held Kenmaru on his lap, his cheek against the boys hair. Kenmaru was a picture of childhood innocence, one arm wrapped securely around Roku, thumb in his mouth, the other arm laying across Inu Yasha's exposed chest. Moving quietly she retrieved a blanket from the hall linen closet. Opening it she started to drape it over them when a gruff whisper stopped her, "What are you doing?"

"Gomen. I didn't mean to wake you. I was just going to put this blanket over the two of you. Since you're awake I'll put my son to bed." She answered.

Inu Yasha looked at the boy curled up on his chest and then up at his doctor. "Naa, he's fine. He had a nightmare. He's sleeping good now so let him rest."

With a smile Kagome nodded. Laying the blanket over the two of them she bent and lightly kissed Kenmaru's forehead. "Night baby." Looking up she stared into Inu Yasha's eyes for a long moment. "You'll make a great daddy. Good night." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Thank you." Shutting off the TV she left the room in darkness.

Inu Yasha stared at the door she had exited for a long moment before finally finding his voice. "You're welcome."