Inu Yasha glared into the flames that was burning dimly. The air was too still and tension was in the air. "That wench......." he growled.
Hakisuma and Hikari laid next to each other staring into the starry sky. Both were deep in thought. The only noises were Inu Yasha's occasional muttering and the fire crackling. Miroku was staring at his hell hole and Sango had her chin on her palm, gazing off into space. Kagome was laying in her sleeping bag thinking as well. Shippo was fast asleep next to Kii and Kirara.
Hakisuma sighed. She turned gently onto her side and winced in pain. Her injuries still haven't stopped bleeding and Hikari was no better. The two orphans lay there fuming about Naraku.
Hikari glared into the sky. 'Naraku is going to die slowly...he's going to pay for what he has done to me and my friends...he has hurt Sango, Miroku, me, Hakisuma, and Inu Yasha the most. That sneaky bastard......hes a coward, he wont come out and fight for himself. Damn him!' she pounded the ground and resulted in a sharp jolt of pain in her chest. "Damn it!" she muttered.
Hakisuma glanced at Hikari. She sighed again and laid flat on her back. Hakisuma closed her eyes and dropped off into a fitful sleep.....
(dream)
Hakisuma looked around. There was a disturbing fog blanketing the ground and an eerie silence wavered throughout the air. She took in her suroundings. Inu Yasha and the rest were not here.
"Inu Yasha? Kagome? Sango? Hikari? Miroku?" Hakisuma squeaked nervously. "Shippo?" she called out timidly and desperately. She stumbled through the thick roots blindly, feeling with her hands and letting her nose guide her. Even her fox eyes could not see through the dense fog.
Hakisuma whirled around when she thought she heard a growl behind her. Her eyes widened as she saw a pair of red glowing eyes staring back. She gulped and took a step back. The creature's form came out of the shadows and became larger. Hakisuma could see it for what it really was. "Tou-chan?" she whispered. (daddy) The fox demon growled again and took a step forward, towards Hakisuma. Tears of fear and sadness formed around her wide silver eyes. The fox demon nodded and nudged her limp hand. Hakisuma's father lifted his head and licked away the tears. Then he gently grabbed her wide sleeves and tugged toward a strange and narrow path. She hesitantly walked forward with her dad guiding her. The swirling mist parted as the stepped onto the path. They walked in silence for a while. Suddenly, her father stopped short. Hakisuma bumped into him and swallowed. He led her into some leafy low, leafy branches. Hakisuma stopped short and stiffled a scream.
Inu Yasha lay at an odd angle, twisted and blood flowing into his wide, staring eyes. His Tetsusaiga lay loosly in his hand. Sango was pinned to a tree with a massive black arrow through her chest, her precious weapon lay carelessly on the forest floor. Miroku was sprawled in a rock, blood covering his face. Shippo and Kagome laid next to each other, in a puddle of blood. Kii and Kirara were nowhere to be seen. Hikari was hanging from a tree in vines tightly wrapped around her body and neck. Hakisuma's knees buckled and she collapsed into a shaking fit on the ground. "No...." she said shakily. "This can't be happening...no..." she whispered to herself. "Otou san! Tell me this isn't what it looks like! It's some joke, right?" she cried desperately. She glanced behind her shoulder. Her dad was gone. Slowly, she looked back at her new found friends. She stared in shock and horror. "NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" she cried out.
(end dream)
Kagome was slapping Hakisuma's face gently. "Come on! Wake up!" she said nervously. Hakisuma was sweating badly and she was shaking uncontrollable. Inu Yasha watched in confusion, and everybody was crowded around Hakisuma except Hikari, who wasn't allowed to move from her resting spot. Hikari watched in slight concern with her elbows supporting her weight. Kagome slapped Hakisuma's face harder. "WAKE UP!!" she shouted.
"No....no......NOOO!!!!" Hakisuma moaned. Her silver eyes suddenly flew open, and she was gasping for air. Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Shippo moved to give Hakisuma air to breathe. Everbybody sighed in relief. Hakisuma's chest was heaving as she panted. She looked around nervously, counting everybody. She closed her eyes and let out a relieved sigh. Her panting slowed and she gradually calmed down.
Kagome watched Hakisuma with slight concern. "Are you OK?" she asked gently. Hakisuma nodded. Hakisuma laid back down. "I dreamed that my dad came back..." she started, still panting slightly. Sango and Shippo gasped. "I think that he was trying to tell me something." she continued. "He led me on a path into a...a....place...I saw....." her voice shook and she stopped. Kagome glanced nervously at Inu Yasha, who looked quizzically back.
"What did you see?" Inu Yasha asked.
"Inu Yasha!" Kagome scolded. "you shouldn't be asking that!"
Hakisuma shook her head. "My dad.....he led me to you guys, and you were all.....k-killed." She whispered the last word. Hikari and Inu Yasha snorted.
"Feh," Inu Yasha said. Nobody's going to kill me. Nobody." He scoffed.
Kagome glared at Inu Yasha and kept her silence. Hikari's face was set hard and emotionless.
"Well I suppose it was just a dream, right?" Kagome asked Hakisuma. Hakisuma shook her head. "I think the spirit of my dad was trying to tell me something." She said firmly.
Inu Yasha muttered "whatever" and jumped onto a branch to sleep.
Kagome and Sango looked at Hakisuma concerndly. "Try to get more sleep, ok?" she asked. Kagome nodded in agreement. Hakisuma nodded hesitantly. She still remembered the dream clearly and did not want to revisit it. Shippo bounced to Hakisuma.
"I'll protect you from bad dreams, Hakisuma!" he cried happily. Hakisuma smiled slightly and nodded. She moved over a little bit and let Shippo snuggle in. 'Shippo knows just what to do at times like this...' she thought smiling wider. Hikari watched Hakisuma's face. She shook her head and settled down to sleep again. Sango, Miroku, and Kagome all went to their sleeping spots. Hakisuma's eyes drifted down and gradually closed. Soon, there was nothing to be heard except for the breeze rustling the grass and the leaves.
.::End of chappie 18! Whaddaya think? Good? Heh heh read next chappie to find out what's going to happen next, and I don't think Hakisuma's dream was just a dream....Oooooooo!!!!! . Remember to R&R!!! Domo Arigato!::.