Author's Notes: The notes that were supposed to go here are gone. In their place, I'm going to express how much the time between the last update and this one sucked.

The Astronomy class is really sucking. I dropped it and am just going to slog through the semester with 12 credits instead of 16. At least then I'll be able to devote maximum time to the overwhelming writing and reading projects of my other three classes. Also, I swear the astro professor is a robot.

I also found out this week that the reason nothing is agreeing with me is because I have an ulcer. It's fucked up my sleep schedule and made it difficult to eat much of anything. Which really pisses me off and just sours my mood even further.

To top it all off, this huge project I had planned for Halloween isn't going to happen at all because of legal and monetary issues. That was one huge kick in the throat since I had been planning and looking forward to this since January.

On the up-shot, I picked up my copy of The Sims 2. It is quite awesome. I'm currently working in Pleasantview with my novelist sim, Adrian Fruitbat. The other night, I just moved in his elder brother Clifford along with his wife Carmen and their three children. The tradition of the Fruitbat family started with the very first Sims my aunt created. She got the original game before me and ever since the untimely demise of Eric Fruitbat, the family has continued to grow and expand. I'm hoping that during the holidays I can make some stories featuring a few Fruitbats and post them on the web.

Also, I saw Sky Captain on the opening weekend. I went in thinking "This better kick ass, or somebody owes me." I was not disappointed. It's been a lackluster year for Hollywood, and this movie helped prevent it from being total crap aside from Hellboy. I mean, come on. We all know that White Chicks and Catwoman easily negated the effects of several decent movies released earlier in the year. Oh yeah, watch for the Godzilla cameo in the "spinning headlines" montage.

Finally, Maiden of the Moon took the time to draw up this adorable sketch of a scene out of Lights, Camera, Action!. Here's the url: http: (instert back slashes here; fucking document manager) www. artwanted. com/ imageview. cfm? id122932 (remember to remove the spaces; piece of crap document manager). Be sure to leave your comments and rating at the site. As a fellow artist (even though I don't like calling myself that), I'm sure she would appreciate it.

Anyway, back on track...

Dawn of a New Age

Chapter 5- Nightmares

Perkins tentatively knocked on the oaken door, swallowing back the acid rising up in his throat. He hated having to come here and deliver reports. But the coin had come up tails, so he didn't have much of a choice.

"Come in," said the cold voice behind the door. The sound itself was almost enough to stop one's heart. It was so devoid of good feeling. It was as if it wasn't even coming from a human throat, but some autonomous creature completely bereft of emotions such as pity, sympathy, and remorse. Perkins could only find one word to accurately sum it up: evil.

Nevertheless, he had to get this overwith. He opened the door slowly. The room inside was dark. Actually, that didn't even begin to describe it. The entire office was pitch black. The only light came from the computer monitor on the desk which cast a ghostly glow over its area, and created a small pool of refuge from the shadows which swam about the room. For some reason, Doctor Tanaka had an aversion to bright lights. Speaking of whom, he was seated at his desk, the light from the monitor making his pale face look almost inhuman, as if there were no life behind it at all. Perkins had to wonder just how close to the truth was. Doctor Tanaka looked astoundingly youthful for a man who was supposedly over a century old. In fact, he looked as if he hadn't felt Father Time's hands since his early thirties. And that only made him all them more sinister and unnerving. "Yes?" Doctor Tanaka said icily.

Perkins swallowed audibly and stepped into the room, silently and hesitantly placing a single notepad on the desk. The glow from the notepad's screen was only enough to create a faint oasis for itself which the shadows of the room threatened to engulf. "W-we have some a-alarming news, s-sir. Regarding subject 64-027-C."

Doctor Tanaka half-lidded his eyes a moment before smirking in what appeared to be cruel amusement. "Ah, yes. Inuyasha." Then, the smirk was gone as soon as it had come. "What about him?"

Perkins glanced down briefly at the notepad. It seemed that Naraku had no interest in reading it himself. "W-well, sir. The other day we were doing a routine check on the stasis pods in the United States. Subject 64-027-C's had malfunctioned and aborted. We dispatched a small team to investigate, b-but when they arrived..."

"When they arrived?" Doctor Tanaka narrowed his eyes menacingly.

"W-when they arrived..." Perkins swallowed once more. This was such a bad time for his heartburn to be acting up. Of course, the very presence of Doctor Tanaka usually set off illnesses in people. "The subject was gone. And the restrainer was found on the floor, deactivated."

Naraku's eyes narrowed to slits and the corners of his mouth tilted down ever so slightly. "Find him." His voice was barely above a whisper, but the tone was so chilling and threatening, it could have put even the deadliest cobra to shame. "Now."

-x-

Inuyasha sat upright with a yelp. His eyes adjusted quickly and he realized he was in the guest room in Kagome's apartment, not the cold steel table surrounded by the doctors and their blades. It had only been a dream. No... a memory. But that was only cold comfort.

Inuyasha kicked the sheets off and went into the living room. He had just found out that Project: Moreau still existed. If they ever learned where he was, they would either capture him or kill him. It would be best if he left Kagome now and went on the run. But where would he go? To that ranch where other fugitive Moreaus had fled? That nosy reporter or Kagome would probably find him there anyway. And he certainly couldn't make it on his own out there. He had no means of providing for himself except thievery and that was bound to get him noticed eventually.

It seemed that for the time being, he was stuck. If he moved, the Project might find him again. If he stayed, Kagome was put at risk. And after all she'd done for him, she didn't deserve that. Inuyasha was beginning to wonder if he deserved her. What had he ever done to deserve someone like her in his life? She who rescued him from that stasis pod, who took him into her home and fed him and clothed him, who put herself at risk by allowing him to stay.

Of course, thoughts of Kagome always lead Inuyasha to the same conclusions. None of which made him particularly cheerful. She was probably the only decent human being left on this planet and he was an unnatural mistake. If that didn't take the wind out of your sails, nothing would.

Inuyasha flopped down on the couch and turned on the TV. He had learned a few days ago that there was nothing good on at this time, but the ambient noises and distractions helped him take his mind off of the memories.

-x-

Kagome tossed in a light sleep. All but a few of her questions were answered, but they didn't provide much relief. It just lead to worry and anxiety. Inuyasha. The poor guy had a shot at freedom, and now it may not even exist. Now that she knew, she couldn't blame him for being so secretive. Were she in his position, she would have wanted to forget as well.

She was pulled out of her hazy half-sleep by the faint sounds of the TV in the living room. What was Inuyasha doing up at this hour? She lazily climbed up out of bed and looked into the living room. Inuyasha sat in the couch with his back to her as he channel-surfed. The flick of his ears indicated that he had heard her.

"Couldn't sleep?" she asked softly as she walked into the living room. She took a seat next to Inuyasha as he grunted softly in reply. He looked a little more distressed than he was before. His face was a little pale and his eyes had a far-away, haunted look. His aura showed very clear anxiety. The kind that only came from one thing.

"You had a nightmare, didn't you?"

Inuyasha just flicked his ears once and very obviously tried not to make eye contact. That alone spoke more than a single "yes" could have.

Kagome drew her knees up and hugged them to her body. "You know, it sometimes helps to say it out loud and get it off your chest." That was what she said, but her mind had one other sentence that she just wouldn't say: 'Please talk to me.' She wasn't quite sure why, but in this short time, she had really grown fond of Inuyasha. It was difficult to explain, but there was something about him that gave her comfort. The way he stood up for her at the mall. His aura showed a very protective glow, but it wasn't anything harsh or domineering. He actually looked like... a knight in shining armor.

Inuyasha hung his head in his hands, clearly contemplating just what to do. There was a tense silence as the TV droned on in the background and the two of them simply sat there unmoving. At last, Inuyasha stood up and walked to the window. Kagome couldn't help but feel a slight pang in her chest to see that he still wouldn't open up with her. She had hoped by now that he would trust her. He didn't have the advantage of being able to read auras, so Kagome had hoped that she could get him to learn to see that she only wanted to help him. She was abruptly taken out of her thoughts by Inuyasha's voice.

"Are you sure you want to know?" he asked with his voice little more than a hoarse whisper.

Kagome looked up to see him staring vacantly out the window. "Inuyasha, you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, but I'll always be here to listen."

Inuyasha paused once more before sighing. "I'm a mistake, you know. The Project only needed one of the embryos in Group C to survive to meet Tanaka's requirements. I survived by fluke. They would have just killed me, but Tanaka decided to keep me around as a glorified lab rat... So I became the one they tested everything on."

The tone in his voice in that last sentence made Kagome shiver. Just the way he said it with so much loathing, fear, and sadness made her stomach tighten in knots.

Inuyasha continued on. "When I was fourteen, they wanted to test a canine Moreau's tolerance for pain. To see how much punishment we could take..." His voice began to crack, but he kept the blank expression on his face like a mask. "They tortured me for four straight days. They cut me, beat me, burned me. They peeled off strips of my skin, injected acid into me, and pulled out my teeth... but I never once gave those bastards the satisfaction of hearing me scream. On the fourth day I finally blacked out. I must have been out for a couple days. When I woke up, I was in solitary confinement and completely healed except a few scars."

Kagome felt sick. Tears stung her eyes. How could anyone be so cruel? How could they do that to him? The very thought of what Inuyasha must have gone through those four days made her chest hurt.

"The other Moreaus weren't much help either. They told me I recieved DNA from the same dog as an older Moreau named Sesshoumaru. He was sort of my brother. But he hated me. Koga and I were the only ones from Group C who survived. And I never knew just where I stood with him. The rest of the Moreaus just seemed to forget I was there."

Inuyasha's face abruptly turned into a scowl. "And then there was Kikyo. She said she was going to help me, and instead she stuck me in that fucking pod. She double-crossed me."

Kagome couldn't hold it in any longer. The first sob escaped and the tears slid down her cheeks. Everything Inuyasha had gone through... Nobody deserved that. She felt Inuyasha's presence hovering over her, unsure what to do.

"Hey, what are you doing?" he asked almost panicked. "Stop crying. Stop crying, uh... please?"

Kagome turned to him and enveloped him into a tight hug, sobbing into his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I just- I just can't believe that anyone could do that to you."

"You're... You're crying for me?" He talked as if it was the most outlandish thing he'd ever heard.

"Of course I am!" Kagome snapped suddenly. "I care what happens to you! You don't have to treat that like it's so terri-"

She was abruptly cut off when Inuyasha's strong arms wrapped around her, pressing her firmly but gently up against him. She gasped as he buried his face in her hair with his chin resting at the point where her neck and shoulder met. She felt her face going bright red at the contact, but she didn't dare move.

Inuyasha didn't say a word. Kagome absently wondered if he even know how to articulate just what was going on in his head. His knowledge of English seemed limited to some conversational words and phrases, some technical and medical terms, and a lot of profanity. But he seemed to be able to communicate better through actions and body language just what was going on in his head, much like a real dog. That was what made Kagome realize that he was thanking her. No one had ever cared about him before. She was the first, and this was his way of thanking her for it. The pain left her chest and was replaced with a warmth. She tightened her arms around Inuyasha and began to think that maybe things would turn out alright in the end after all.

-x-

A few days later, Kagome decided to use one of her days off to visit the Kabori ranch outside of town. She had contacted the family and explained their situation. Now, she and Inuyasha were on route to meet these Moreau refugees. The countryside was much more peaceful and charming than the hustle and bustle of the city. With the mountains in the background, you got the feeling that society itself could fall apart, and this wilderness would always be there, neither malevolent or benevolent, but simply there.

Inuyasha had been staring out the window ever since they left the city. He watched the countryside not with the same sort of fascination that he had the city, but more a sense of wonderment and belonging. He probably felt more at home here than he did anywhere else.

"What do you think we'll find when we get there?" Kagome asked conversationally. She cursed herself for how pathetic that was. It had sounded good in her head.

Inuyasha didn't seem to notice, though. "Some answers, I hope."

Silence reigned once again. Kagome felt too awkward to speak after that and Inuyasha just kept staring out the window. It wasn't exactly an uncomfortable silence, but the anticipation of their destination was creating a tension in the air that gave Kagome a nervous shiver. She needed something other than the road to help her keep her mind clear. The radio was out of the question since the instant she turned it on, Inuyasha would insist on listening to a heavy metal station which she was not in the mood for. He seemed to consider rock music to be one of society's greatest achievements.

While glancing around to the sides trying to prevent highway hypnosis, Kagome spotted something moving at the side of the road. It looked like a wounded animal. But there was something about the aura that seemed different. "Inuyasha, what's that?"

Inuyasha snapped out of his silent staring and looked in the direction Kagome did. "Looks like roadkill."

"But it's moving," Kagome argued and pulled the car over. "We have to help the poor thing."

Inuyasha heaved a sigh. "Kagome, if it's wounded it's going to bite you. I lived with the parents of the other Moreaus for most of my life, I think I'd know."

"Oh, stop fussing," Kagome retorted as she climbed out of the car. "You know I can just heal it. It'll be on it's way in no time."

Inuyasha grumbled and climbed out of the car as well. But as soon as he turned to face the animal, he paused. He sniffed twice and narrowed his eyes. "Kagome, that's no animal."

Kagome did a double-take at Inuyasha. "What?" She rushed over to the wounded creature that was still crawling forward. It looked up at her and she gasped. It was a little boy with a vulpine face, pointed ears, a fluffy tail, and triple-jointed legs ending in tiny paws. Miroku's words immediately leapt into her mind. Was this Shippo?

"W-who are you?" the little boy asked unsteadily, nursing a bloody wound in his side while backing up.

"It's okay," Kagome answered as she knelt down. "My name's Kagome. I'm here to help."

She heard Inuyasha stride up beside her. "He's a fox Moreau."

The little boy looked up at Inuyasha and his eyes widened. "You're a Moreau, too! Are you with them?" He began back up, one little fist becoming enveloped in a strange blue light that danced like fire.

"What do you mean 'them?'" Inuyasha snapped. "I'm with her," he said, pointing at Kagome.

Kagome rolled her eyes and extended a hand to the Moreau child. "It's okay. My name is Kagome. This is Inuyasha. Just take my hand."

The boy stared at her hand suspiciously a moment before reaching out and taking it with one of his own tiny clawed hands. A soft pink light started at Kagome's fingertips and flowed into the Moreau boy. He gasped, but didn't struggle. As the pink light washed over him once in a quick wave, he found his wounds to be healed except for a few minor scratches and scars.

The boy stared at Kagome in wonder for a moment before he clearly figured that he could trust her. "You have to help me!" he pleaded. "Two Moreaus came to the ranch and started attacking everyone!" At this point, tears filled his eyes. "My Mom and Dad told me to run. I think they're hurt!"

Kagome gasped at this news. She looked to Inuyasha who was staring intently into the distance. He sniffed the air carefully. "I smell smoke... something else... damn it, what was the word?" He snarled in frustration and looked down at Kagome. "Get the kid and get in the car!"

Kagome wasn't about to question Inuyasha so she simply scooped up the little fox Moreau in her arms and headed for the car with Inuyasha at her side. This was bad. Very bad. A sinking feeling welled up in her stomach, and she began to feel sick with dread. But they couldn't just abandon the boy's family. They had to go to the ranch and try to help. Somehow.

-x-

Author's Notes: Sort of a cliffhanger. And Shippo is introduced. I'll give you all three guesses as to just what Kagome and Inuyasha find when they get to the ranch.

Anyway, on to my reviewers...

Dea Mariella: I appreciate the vote of confidence, but if it's as great as everyone says it is, then I've got a long way to go before I can hope to compete in such a list.
Em Starcatcher: I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'll be the book is better.
Magellan-chan: I suppose you could always try to tell them that it's part of your church denomination and see if they believe you. But then, I just like messing with people's heads.
bluefuzzyelf: When you see Sango's entrance, I think you'll be happy. I've never been pleased with my portrayal of her so far, but I think this time I've hit on something very faithful to her canon personality. At least, it makes sense in my head.
Spitfire-Hanyou14: I kind of lost interest in Yu-Yu Hakusho a while ago, but since you've reviewed my own works, I promise to read it in the near future.
Father Malvado: Are you sure that's Jolt Gum? Because it sounds a little more like a morphine cocktail. Anyway, I can't have any caffeine because of my stomach ulcer.
Izayoi: Well, if you think about it, it's not too farfetched. A reporter and a priest essentially do the same thing: try to bring truth to the people. And the truth is always influenced by your perception of reality, so religion and advocate journalists have a lot in common in that regard.
Araine: Laziness I can sympathize with. Good that you're helping the environment, though.
Decrescendo: Well if worst comes to worst, I'll just fall back on my radical liberal heritage. I'll send out an e-mail campaign and transfer my stories to a less totalitarianist host. Anyway the historical connection idea came to me shortly after I started the story. The original idea sucked and was more reminiscent of Aldous Huxley than my own influences as a writer. It just didn't work, so I scrapped it.
Mimiko: Yeah, I figured that Inuyasha is a 19-year-old male virgin who has had every bit of his independence and drive violently crushed by Project: Moreau. The Four F's are going to be warring with his sentience and willpower for control of his mind. I still think my Chinese horoscope is eerily accurate. I was born in the year of the Rat and the element of Wood. I can't remember the rest, but I'll have to dig it up sometime. I have to find out the zodiac sign of my month and time of birth.
Vixen12089: I promise I'll work it in soon. For now, I have a hard enough time just writing. Even after dropping the Astronomy class, I have a lot of writing and reading assignments to deal with. Just finishing this meant I had to pocrastinate finishing my Scriptwriting assignment.