Okay, once more, there's a song in this fic. It's Haunted by Evanescence. Not that you care or anything, but the second line in this song is the title of this fan-fic. And I specifically did that for this chapter. Here we go.

Chapter 16: In Dreams

Kasumi's eyes fluttered open. She had no idea where she was. And she wasn't going to stay much longer to find out.

"Sister! Where are you going?" a voice called out.

Too late…

"Oh! Well… I was just… uhhh… who are you?" Kasumi stuttered.

The man whom she was speaking to approached her and replied happily, "I'm Keiga. Koga asked me to keep an eye on you."

"Right! Well, Keiga, I really should get going," Kasumi replied as she began to exit this unknown 'prison'. "My Dad will have a fit if I don't get back to him."

"Hold it right there," ordered another man. "Koga specifically told us to keep you here."

Kasumi clamped her fists tight as she asked angrily, "Now who the hell are you?"

"I am a guard here. My name is Nagi," he replied.

"And what are you guys? More wolf demons?"

"Yep," Keiga replied happily.

Then it hit her. The wolves… wolf demons… straw nests… She was in Koga's wolf den!

Man, why couldn't I figure that out five minutes ago? Kasumi asked in her head.

"So… Keiga… a few minutes ago you called me sister," she pointed out. "Why?"

Keiga had a confused expression as he explained, "You're Koga's woman now."

Kasumi replied angrily, "Him and I had a talk about that already. A few dates and maybe I'll be his woman!"

Nagi stepped in and said, "But he claimed you as his own last night. You're his mate now."

Kasumi began to think in her head. Wait… last night… mate… oh my God!! We did it last night!

She screamed. "Oh no! What are my parents going to think?! I am so dead!!"

Keiga put a hand on her shoulder and said, "We just can't wait to see your beautiful pups."

Kasumi nudged his hand off and replied, "Whoa! Hold it right there! Was Koga planning this?!"

"Nope," Nagi said. "He said it was just a spur of the moment thing. Trust me though, he's just as uncomfortable as you are."

Just then Koga and a few other pack members entered through the den waterfall. He had two large boars on his shoulders as he carried them. When he caught sight of Kasumi, he froze.

"Kasumi!" He greeted. "Uh, how are you?"

Kasumi crossed her hands over her chest. She said, "Drop the pigs. I gotta have a word with you."

Before Koga could debate he found himself being pulled by the front of his chest armor and brought to a large tree outside the den.

"Koga! What the hell did we do last night?!" she whispered sternly.

Koga's face flushed red. He turned his head away so he couldn't look at Kasumi's anger. At the time, they didn't really realize what they were doing. And now, Kasumi may have the chance of becoming pregnant.

"Listen, Kasumi, what happened, was an accident, right?" Koga said.

"Maybe so, but--" before Kasumi could finish, Koga grabbed her shoulders and pressed his lips against hers.

"If you are going to have pups, I promise to be there every step of the way," he said.

Kasumi held herself and turned away. Her voice choked as she said, "I'm not ready, Koga. I can't possibly have a baby now. Do you realize how much danger we'd be in?"

"I'm sure your family and I could help."

"Koga… It's Naraku… he's still alive… I know it…"

Koga looked to the ground. He knew she was right. If Naraku ever found out, the baby and herself would be doomed.

Kasumi gently caressed Koga's cheek and said, "I gotta get home. I'll come by tomorrow, maybe."

Before he knew it, she was gone. Koga had to admit, this was one of the biggest mistakes of his life. He was in love, mated with her, and may have put her in huge danger from their biggest enemies.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Kasumi was getting closer to Kaede's village when she heard her father saying, "That stupid flea-bag! When I find out what he's done to my girl, he's DEAD!"

Then Miroku caught sight of her. He said, "Inuyasha! We found her!"

Inuyasha quickly ran to her with Miroku tagging along. He grasped her shoulders and asked eagerly, "Are you all right? Did he hurt you? Where were you all night?!"

Kasumi looked to the ground and said, "Don't worry. I'm fine. I didn't realize how late it was, so I stayed the night with Koga…"

"You had us worried sick!" Miroku said.

"Yeah… we thought you got kidnapped or something…" Inuyasha said quietly.

He tipped her chin up so she could look at him. Kasumi saw the worry in his eyes. Something she had never quite seen from him. She felt as guilty as ever.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Kasumi snapped out of her daze as she replied, "Nothing. Nothing's wrong…"

Inuyasha wasn't becoming gullible. He knew something was definitely wrong.

"Hey Dad, um, can I stay with you tonight?" Kasumi asked. She made it sound like there was nothing suspicious. But Inuyasha wasn't buying it.

"Are you going to meet up with Koga tonight? Is that why you want to stay?" he asked suspiciously.

Kasumi shook her head and explained, "No. I just don't want to go home right now."

"Having trouble with your mother?" Miroku asked.

"No. It's not Mom. It's--" Kasumi caught herself. Inuyasha still didn't know about Kagome's marriage with Hojo.

"It's what?" Inuyasha asked curiously.

"Nothing. Forget I said anything," she replied. "I'm going to go out for a walk. I'll be back later. Bye!"

Off she went.

Inuyasha quickly called out, "You better be back before the sun goes down or else!"

No response, but he was pretty sure she heard him.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Kasumi was wandering. She didn't know where she was. It was pitch black. She seemed to be walking in a pond. Or a river. Whatever it was, it was wet. But this wet was thicker than water. Kasumi could not grasp the scent. She cupped the liquid in her hands to see. It was still too dark so she brought the liquid closer to her face. It was blood!

She quickly spilled the blood back into the pond. Her heart raced. Where was she? How did she get there? She then heard voices whispering. She couldn't understand what they were saying. They sounded awfully familiar. But which voice belonged to whom?

(( Long, lost words whisper slowly, to me. Still can't find what keeps me here. When all this time I've been so hollow… inside… I know you're still there. ))

Then she heard a chuckle. A chuckle which she could never forget. Naraku's…

"Naraku! Where are you?! Show yourself!" she demanded.

No answer.

The slightest hint of light could be seen. Eyes… glowing red eyes… They were duplicating. More and more became visible. Kasumi looked all around and knew they were watching her every move. Then the eyes came flying at her. Each of them had a creature to whom they belonged to. Bats. They were swarming all around her. She quickly brought her hands to her face to protect herself.

(( Watching me. Wanting me. I can feel you pull me down. Fearing you. Loving you. I won't let you pull me down. ))

Kasumi got her scent back. She could smell Naraku real close to her. The closer she got the more she could hear a heart pounding in her head. Naraku's heart. She brought her hands to her head and tried to shake the sound out. The more she did, the louder it was. It gave her a migraine.

(( Hunting you, I can smell you… alive. Your heart pounding in my head. ))

Naraku's laugh echoed throughout Kasumi's surroundings. The beat of his heart still rang through her brain. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop it. The unknown voices died down, the beating stopped, and the chuckle faded. There was crying. Kasumi walked closer to the crying. It was a baby's cry. It wouldn't stop. The crying became louder and louder. The closer she got to the sound, the warmer the blood got. Then she realized something. The blood came from the baby.

(( Watching me. Wanting me. I can feel you pull me down. Saving me. Raping me. Watching me! ))

Kasumi cried out. She knew Naraku was responsible for this. "Naraku! Stop this! What has this baby ever done to you?!"

Naraku finally spoke. "Unwrap the blanket around the small child. Its secret will be revealed as to why this is so…"

Kasumi did as she was told. She gently took the youngster in her arms and rocked it in her arms. She slowly unveiled the blanket and looked into the baby's eyes. She gasped and her heart skipped a beat. The baby had her eyes and Koga's ears. It was their own baby. A blinding light then came from Kasumi's body. It was the Jewel of Four Souls. The baby stopped sobbing and fear made its way through his features.

(( Watching me. Wanting me. I can feel you pull me down. Fearing you. Loving you. I won't let you pull me down! ))

Naraku's had jutted toward Kasumi. He was reaching for the Shikon Jewel. Pain overcame Kasumi. She screamed in pain as the Jewel began to leave her body. Naraku held the Jewel. He took the baby as well. He finally left with two 'prizes'. His evil laugh once again echoed, and faded into the night.

Kasumi was in a daze. She knew what was going on, but it was as if her body was paralyzed. Her heart stopped. She began to fall to the ground. Deep into the valleys of Hell.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

"Kasumi! Kasumi, wake up!" Inuyasha demanded.

He shook his daughter hard. She was stuck in the dream. Inuyasha, Sango, and Shippo had to watch helplessly while Miroku and Kaede tried a spell to ward off the evil inside. Kasumi's breathing then became intense.

"It's not working!" Shippo cried.

"Naraku's doing this. I can tell," Sango observed.

Inuyasha asked, "How though?"

Defeated by the question, Sango replied, "I'm not sure… But I can sense his evil…"

To her, everything was as real as possible. In reality, it was all a dream. And she was trapped in it.

"Wait, I think it's working," Miroku said.

They all watched as Kasumi's breathing returned to normal. Kaede opened her eyes to see what Miroku meant. And it was true. The evil inside was vanquished and Kasumi was able to be awoken.

"Do not wake her, Inuyasha," she directed.

"Why not?" he asked back.

Kaede rested her hands on her knees and replied, "To her, everything was real. She is tired. So, we must let her rest in peace. She will awake when she is ready."

Inuyasha did as he was told. He stood up and walked outside to cool off. He was so worried about her that it began to make him tired. The others went outside as well. Shippo gave one last look to the resting Kasumi before he joined the group.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter done. I wrote another version of this chapter which really sucked. I'm glad I got some ideas when I went to bed so I was able to change it. What happened in this chapter sort of happened in my dream. Only it didn't have Naraku or the baby. I couldn't remember if it had the Shikon Jewel… Anyway, it was weird. Kinda scary actually. But thank God I had it. Anyway, hope you liked this one, I gots to go. Later!