Author-chan's notes: *singing* I'm going crazy! I'm going crazy! I'm going crazy! I'm going crazy! *pauses for a moment* Oh, wait a sec. I already am crazy!!!! *whips out a flame-thrower and starts burning down various things* Muhahahahahahaha!!!!!! *disappears in a wall of flame and smoke*
*Disclaimer- *The Director appears on scene. He is wearing a red knit sweater, black jeans, and black boots. His clipboard is nowhere to be seen*
Director- *clearing his throat* Ah hem! Due to the fact that Author-chan finally realized that the anime guest star disclaimers were slowing down her progress with the story, she has decided to discontinue them. She apologizes to everyone who didn't get to see their favorite anime character in the disclaimer, and she hopes they're not too mad. However, she hopes that now she'll be able to update this story more quickly. Now, on with the fic!
And by the way, Author-chan does not own Inuyasha or any other anime now existing.
A Clean Slate
(Chapter Eleven: Meetings in the Dreamscape)
Back with Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Shippo
The foursome had hit the road again in search for the peddler who sold Miroku the sleeping herbs he gave to Kagome. The group had been on the road for nearly three days, and they still hadn't found anything on the herb peddler, the Shikon no Tama, or Inuyasha.
"Let's rest here, for the time being," Miroku suggested, as the group neared a small clearing in the forest, "It's getting dark, and we're going to need our energy if we're going to get to a town by tomorrow."
"Good idea," Kagome agreed, unpacking her sleeping bag. In a few minutes, the entire group was asleep. They didn't notice a pair of glowing eyes watching them from the bushes. Or to be more precise, watching Kagome.
"Sleep well, miko from the future," the mysterious one murmured. It walked over to where Kagome lay, and placed something in her mouth. Then the shadowy figure disappeared. (AN: Yep! This shadowy figure is the same mysterious person who threw sleeping powder at Miho awhile ago.)
***
In Kagome's Dreamscape
"It looks like I'm back here again," Kagome murmured to herself as she looked around the dead white void that was her dreamscape, "Hey, wait a second! How can I remember this place? I couldn't remember it when I was awake. Why do I remember it now?"
"'Cause you're asleep," a voice near her elbow explained, "And when you're asleep, you get to know things you're not supposed to know when you're awake."
"Huh?" Kagome looked down to face the speaker. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"I-Inuyasha?" Kagome gasped. There was Inuyasha in his human chibi form, just like in her first dream. Chibi Inuyasha looked at her sheepishly.
"Yes and no," the five-year-old said, "My name's Shiro."
"Not Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, disappointment coloring her voice. Tears began to silently slide down Kagome's face.
"GAK!!! Don't cry!!!" Shiro began to panic. He tried holding her hand, but Kagome continued to sniffle.
"Why do you always have to cry?! Sheesh!" Shiro yelped, not quite sure where his words were coming from, "You cry when I get hurt, you cry when we argue, you cry when you go down the f***ing well!!!! Stop crying!"
"You're so mean, Inuyasha!" Kagome wailed, not looking up, "SIT!!!"
*CRASH!!!* Shiro was slammed down, thanks to the rosary around his neck. He peeled himself off the ground, cursing.
"Kuso!!! I try to comfort you, and this is the thanks I get?! I don't want to see you cry. I just want to see you happy, Kagome! H-A-P-P-Y! Happy!!!" Shiro/Inuyasha yelled, still not quite sure where his words where coming from.
"You have no idea how to comfort someone, you know that Inuyasha?" Kagome yelled. Suddenly Kagome froze. The miko from the future looked at the person she was yelling at the whole time. Instead of a tall white-haired hanyou, like she was expecting, Kagome found herself facing a short black-haired human child.
"It is you, isn't it Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered bending down so she was eye-level with Shiro. The boy looked away from her gaze.
"Aa. It's me," Shiro/Inuyasha muttered.
"Then why did you say your name was Shiro?" Kagome asked.
"'Cause it is," Shiro shrugged.
"Huh?" Kagome blinked. Shiro/Inuyasha sighed.
"You're just getting more confused, aren't ya?" Shiro/Inuyasha murmured, "Maybe I should show you what I always see in the dreamscape."
"KYAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!" Kagome cried as the earth gave way beneath her. And then everything went black.
***
In Shiro/Inuyasha's Dreamscape
"Uh…" Kagome moaned as she slowly opened her eyes.
"Did I wake up?" Kagome murmured to herself.
"What do you think?" a voice from above her snapped. Kagome turned around. In front of her was the God-Tree, tall and majestic. Kagome blinked. Something was wrong.
"Hey wait a second! This entire place is dark and black! I thought the dreamscape was white," Kagome cried.
"Feh! Baka wench," the voice from before scoffed, "Your dreamscape is white. Mine is black. You're in another dreamscape."
"That makes sense," Kagome nodded, "Hey! Wait a second! Who are you?"
"Did your brain get erased or something?" the mysterious voice asked, "Feh! I'll come down, alright?"
"KYAAA!!!" Kagome screeched when something dropped from the branches of the God-Tree.
"You yell too loud," the person before grumbled.
"I-Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, blinking at the figure before her.
"Who else?" the boy scoffed. He was in is teenaged half-demon form, rather than his chibi human form. Kagome hugged Inuyasha. Inuyasha jerked in surprise. Then, finally relaxing, he hugged her back.
"I missed you!" Kagome cried.
"I missed you too," he murmured softly, burying his face into her hair.
"I KNEW IT!!!" a new voice behind them shrieked, "YOU DO LIKE KAGOME!!!" The two quickly sprang apart from each other. Kagome and Inuyasha turned to face a triumphant Shiro-chan.
"Shut up, Shiro!" Inuyasha growled.
"Make me!" Shiro said sticking his tongue out.
"Feh! I will!" Inuyasha said, advancing on the five-year-old version of himself.
"SIT!" Kagome commanded.
*CRASH!!! BANG!!!* Kagome blinked in surprise, instead of Inuyasha being slammed on the ground, both Inuyasha and Shiro were pulled down by the magic of the rosary.
"Wench! What did you do that for?!" both boys yelled.
"Wait, I'm confused. The rosary is only supposed to work on Inuyasha. Why were you pulled down as well?" Kagome asked Shiro.
"Feh! Don't you remember anything?" Shiro snorted, "I am Inuyasha!"
"Huh?" Kagome blinked, "But Inuyasha is right here."
"Shiro over there is the puny version of me," Inuyasha explained.
"No I'm not!" Shiro protested, "I'm the smarter version of you!"
"Yeah right!" Inuyasha growled. Shiro growled right back. Both of them continued to glare/growl at each other. Suddenly, Kagome giggled, interrupting the boys.
"Inuyasha, you're the only person I know who would have a glaring contest with himself!" Kagome laughed. Shiro and Inuyasha blinked at her.
"Look we have to tell you some stuff, before either you or me wake up," Inuyasha said to Kagome.
"Like what?" Kagome asked.
"Like this bracelet," Inuyasha said, showing her the evil silver band.
"What does it do?" Kagome asked.
"It turns me into him," Inuyasha said, gesturing to Shiro.
"And what's so bad about that?!" Shiro asked, "I'm cuter than you!"
"Yeah, but you're not as strong as me," Inuyasha pointed out, "You're a weak human kid with no memories. You don't even know how to fight! And even if you did, you're too small to do any damage to a demon. Kuso!!! And I thought the new moon was bad!"
"But you don't have to worry about any demons. Demons won't go after a small human kid when there's other things to hunt," Kagome pointed out.
"Actually we already have demon in the village where we're staying," Inuyasha said, "A spider demon kidnapped one of the village women."
"Do you think it will come after you?" Kagome asked. Both Inuyasha and Shiro nodded.
"If it finds out who we are, it might," Shiro said, "Inuyasha's name has been connected to the Shikon no Tama for over fifty years. Demons will just love to come after me to see if I have any jewel shards."
"Not to mention the Tetsusaiga," Inuyasha added, "Sesshoumaru isn't the only youkai out there who would love to have the power that the Tetsusaiga wields."
"This is bad," Kagome muttered, "With you defenseless (not to mention memory-less) you'll never be able to win in a fight against a demon like Sesshoumaru. Or Naraku."
"Speaking of that crazy monkey," Inuyasha began, "He's the one that put this stupid bracelet on me!"
"What?!" Kagome cried, "But why didn't he kill you when you were defenseless?"
"I have no idea," Inuyasha shrugged.
"Aki said he saved me from someone," Shiro put in, "Do you think that 'someone' was Naraku?"
"That's impossible!" Inuyasha scoffed, "Aki would never be able to defeat Naraku. He's only human."
"So is Kagome," Shiro pointed out, "Miroku and Sango are human too. They're able to hold out against demons. Maybe Aki can too."
"Aki isn't a fighter," Inuyasha said stubbornly.
"Neither was Kagome at first," Shiro reasoned.
"Feh!" Inuyasha snorted, "She still isn't."
"Hey!" Kagome yelled, "I should say the 'S-word' so many times, you would be able to feel it in the waking world too!"
"Wench!" Inuyasha growled.
"Jerk!" Kagome shot back.
"Teenagers!" Shiro sighed, throwing up his chibi hands. Kagome giggled.
"Listen, Inuyasha, Shiro. You said you might have problems with demons later, right?" Kagome began.
"I won't have problems with demons," Inuyasha snorted, "The brat on the other hand…"
"Shut up, Inuyasha!" Shiro snarled.
"Anyway," Kagome said, interrupting the two boys, "If Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and I were to get to you before the demons do, then we might be able to figure out some way to get that bracelet off before the demons come."
"Have you forgotten that there's already a demon here?" Shiro asked.
"Well, you're just going to have to fight that one on your own," Kagome said, "The demon might not even be after you. And if it is, hopefully you'll be able to come up with a plan. Oh, wait a second. This is Inuyasha we're talking about. You'll never be able to come up with a plan."
"Hey!" Shiro and Inuyasha cried. Kagome laughed.
"Can you tell me where you are, Shiro-chan?" Kagome asked.
"Er, no." Kagome sweat dropped.
"Can you tell me anything at all about the village you're staying in?" Kagome asked.
"Not really. There's nothing special about it that really stands out," Shiro admitted.
"What about the villagers?" Kagome asked, "Do you know any of their names?"
"Aki, Kimiko, Miho, Rika, and that idiot Masato," Shiro said, counting them off with his fingers, "Miho was the woman who was captured by the spider youkai. Rika is Miho's sister, and I live with Aki and Kimiko."
"What about the last one? Masato?" Kagome asked. Shiro snorted.
"Masato is an idiot. That's all you need to know," Inuyasha growled.
"Er, okay," Kagome blinked, "Can you tell me anything else?"
"Um, the village is located next to a forest," Shiro put in.
"Well, that's helpful," Inuyasha said sarcastically, "It's only every village that has a forest next to it!"
"Inuyasha is right, Shiro-chan," Kagome said, "I need more information than that."
"Um, I don't think there are a lot of other villages nearby," Shiro offered, "The village doesn't see a lot of strangers, according to Aki. The villagers don't like strangers."
"Well, that's a little bit more helpful," Kagome nodded, "Do you know anything else?"
"Um…"
"Kuso!" Inuyasha yelled, interrupting Shiro. As soon as Shiro saw what his elder self had seen, he too cursed loudly.
"What's the matter?" Kagome asked.
"The dreamscape is starting to brighten," Inuyasha explained, "We don't have a lot of time before one of us wakes up."
"Don't worry, Inuyasha," Kagome smiled, "I, um, we will find you."
"Hurry up, alright?" Inuyasha half growled, "I don't want to be stuck as Shiro for the rest of my life!"
"Hey! I'm better than you!" Shiro protested, "You should be glad that you're me!"
"In what way are you better than me?!" Inuyasha yelled. Shiro smirked at the hanyou version of himself.
"Simple. I am smart enough to know who I'm in love with and admit it. You, on the other hand, are still denying it!" Shiro pointed out. Inuyasha growled.
"Shut up! You're not old enough to be in love with somebody!"
"Am too!" Shiro yelled, "I'm in love with who you are in love with! You're such a baka sometimes, Inuyasha."
"Why you!" Inuyasha snarled, advancing on his little form.
"Um, guys?" Kagome interrupted, "I have to go. I think I'm waking up now."
"See you later, Kagome!" Shiro chirped, giving the miko from the future a hug. Kagome smiled softly and returned the hug. Then she turned to Inuyasha.
"Feh! Don't think I'll be giving you any mushy good-byes, wench!" Inuyasha scoffed as he turned away.
"Typical Inuyasha," Kagome muttered to herself. Then she disappeared in a rain of silver sparkles. Kagome exited the dreamscape, and woke up.
***
In the real world with Kagome
Kagome woke up with a jerk. Glancing around at her surroundings, she sighed in relief. She was back in the campsite with Sango, Shippo, and Miroku.
"Kagome-sama?" Kagome nearly jumped three feet into the air when she heard Miroku's voice.
"M-Miroku! Why are you awake?" Kagome gasped, looking at the priest.
"I could ask you the same question, Kagome-sama," Miroku said, raising an eyebrow, "You need your rest."
"I know," Kagome sighed, "Um, Miroku?"
"Yes?" Miroku asked.
"I had a dream," the girl began, "It was about Inuyasha."
"You worry about him too much," Miroku commented, "I'm sure he'll be fine."
"NO!" Kagome cried, "THAT'S NOT IT!!!"
"What's going on?" Sango asked, awakening from her slumber. Shippo murmured something unintelligible as he too awoke.
"Go back to sleep you two," Miroku ordered.
"I wanna know what's wrong with Kagome," Shippo demanded.
"She just had a bad dream. Now go to sleep!" Miroku commanded.
"It wasn't a bad dream!" Kagome shouted, "I think it was a true dream!"
"That's impossible," Sango said, "Only that special herb can give someone true dreams!"
"You mean this herb?" Kagome asked, picking up a fragile leaf that was resting on her shoulder. Miroku peered at it.
"I believe Kagome-sama is right," Miroku said, "This herb is the same one that gives the eater true dreams about the person they were thinking about last before going to sleep."
"I guess I ate some of that herb, and this leaf fell on my shoulder instead of in my mouth," Kagome suggested.
"Were you thinking about Inuyasha?" Sango asked. Kagome nodded.
"I'm worried about him," Kagome murmured, "Now more than ever."
"Why is that?" Miroku asked.
"In the dreamscape I met up with Inuyasha. Actually I met two Inuyashas," Kagome said, correcting herself.
"Say what?!!" the others shrieked.
"It's kind of hard to explain, but Naraku did something to Inuyasha that made him turn into a human child with no memories," Kagome explained.
"This is bad," Sango muttered, "If Inuyasha is that defenseless then he could be killed by demons at any moment!"
"That's what I'm worried about too," Kagome admitted, "We have to find Shiro first before he gets killed by youkai!"
"Who's Shiro?" Shippo asked, "I thought we were worried about dog-boy."
"We are," Kagome sighed, "You see, Shiro is Inuyasha. When Inuyasha was found by humans, they named him Shiro."
"Shiro. That's a cute name. I wonder how Inuyasha agreed to have such a cute name," Miroku laughed. The others shrugged.
"I think we should head back to Kaede's hut," Kagome suggested, "We need to look at a map to see where we should start looking first."
"What kind of village should we be looking for?" Shippo asked.
"A village with no other villages next to it," Kagome said, "According to Shiro, the village is very isolated. And there's a forest next to the village."
"I just thought of something," Sango said, "If Kagome ate the herb that gave you true dreams, then how did she get it?"
"I have no idea," Kagome said, "Do you think that someone might have put it in my mouth while I was asleep?"
"It's possible, but very unlikely," Miroku said, "That herb is too expensive to be putting into stranger's mouths for no good reason."
"Maybe the person who put the herb in Kagome's mouth had a reason," Shippo piped up, "Maybe it was trying to help us find dog-boy."
"But who would do that?" Kagome asked, "And why would they? This doesn't make any sense!"
"I know, but all we can do at the moment is thank this stranger for what he or she did," Sango said.
***
Back in the dreamscape with Shiro and Inuyasha
"I know why you did that," Shiro said as soon as Kagome was gone.
"Did what, brat?" Inuyasha snorted.
"Why you didn't say goodbye to Kagome," Shiro replied, "You don't believe in saying goodbye to Kagome, do you? You want her by your side all the time. That's why you never say goodbye to her when she goes down the well. And that's also why you always fight with her when she leaves to go to her world."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Inuyasha huffed.
"You love her, Inuyasha," Shiro said, "Admit it!"
"Feh!" Inuyasha snorted as he leapt into the high branches of the God-Tree. Shiro sighed.
"You can't hide anything from yourself," Shiro pointed out, "I know how you feel; I feel the same way. You better tell Kagome how you feel about her before you lose her forever."
"The wench ain't going anywhere," Inuyasha huffed.
"But she might," Shiro murmured. Then before Inuyasha could reply, the entire dreamscape brightened again, and Shiro/Inuyasha woke up in the real world.
Author-chan's notes: And that's the end of chapter 11!
That shadowy figure keeps popping up everywhere, eh? He/she/it/they will continue to come around to help/hinder our heroes. Sooner or later I'll go into more detail on what the shadowy figure is. Let's just say that there is a giant game here at work and all the characters are pawns.
Well, please R+R!!! Thanks!!!!
