Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

(I don't usually like doing a/n's at the beginning of fic's, but I needed to apologize for my lack of updates. Also that I am sorry for the constantly changing mood of my writing, I tend to write according to my mood. Also, this chapter has some language in it… so be warned.)

New Beginnings

Chapter 6 – Broken Dreams

too much hope… is never a good thing…

Kagome woke with a gasp and sat straight up in her bed. She was drenched with sweat and breathing heavily. "W-what a crazy dream…" The girl pushed her bangs out of her face and tried to calm her racing heart. 'That dream was just so real…' she thought to herself. 'But I should have known I was only dreaming… the Shikon can't come back… and-' Kagome quickly swept her hand up the side of her top and felt for the lump that would indicate the jewel, but she felt nothing. 'Thank goodness… it all was just a dream… Inuyasha…' Her eyes started misting over and Kagome decided that she had better get her mind off the subject of the hanyou. With a sigh, she got to her feet and stretched. "I wonder what time it is…" She said out loud. Then she looked out the window and noted the slowly lightening sky. 'I might as well go to the hot springs.' Kagome grabbed her robe and bath supplies and headed for the springs.

Once there, she slipped off her sleeping kimono and stepped into the spring. "Ah… just what I needed to relax." Kagome closed her eyes and let herself be calmed by the soothing water. After sitting for a few minutes, she washed herself and climbed out of the spring. "I could never get tired of these springs…" As she was donning her robe, a sound from behind caused her to jump a good two feet into the air.

"That is certainly a relief girl. Now vacate my springs, unless you wish to bathe me." Sesshoumaru's cool voice rang out through the air. Kagome whipped around and scowled at him. She opened her mouth as if to yell at him, then changed her mind and closed it. Sesshoumaru raised one elegant silver eyebrow, but Kagome merely walked past him into the hall.

"Of all the nerve…" Kagome nearly growled to herself. She walked into her room and slid the shoji door shut angrily. Then she took a deep breath and calmed down. "sigh, there's no point in getting angry at that guy…" Kagome dressed in a pair of lavender hakama pants and a white kimono tied at the waist with a darker lavender obi. Then she pulled her hair up into a messy bun using some chopsticks. After slipping on her sandals, Kagome made her way to the dining hall to get some breakfast.


Sesshomaru was having a inner conflict. He rarely had so many troublesome thoughts escaping his control, and he did not like it. 'That girl… I must do something about her…' After he dressed, he also walked to the dining hall. Kagome was already seated at the table, eating delicately. Sesshomaru walked over to her seat and looked down on her. "Have you no manners?"

Kagome looked up at him with confusion. "Since when do you care what I do? I don't even know why you keep me here." Sesshomaru bristled.

"Do not speak to me in that tone, girl. I do not like you. In fact, I detest you. You are nauseating to smell and horrible to look at. But I keep you around due to the fact that I do not trust you." As soon as these hateful words left his mouth, Kagome set her chopsticks and napkin down on the table and seemed to shrink into herself. Even though the smell of saltwater was detectable, she did not cry. Instead Kagome merely rose from the table and walked away. "Where do you think you are going girl." Kagome ignored him and headed towards the hall doors. Sesshomaru growled and grabbed her arm roughly. "Bitch. Do not ignore this Sesshomaru."

However, Kagome still said nothing. She only turned to face the demon lord with misty eyes and placed a hand softly on his chest. "Leave me be, Lord Sesshomaru." She sent a small jolt of purifying energy through his body and he let go immediately. Kagome continued on her way to the door and left quietly.

'That went… interesting…' Sesshomaru felt a twinge of guilt at his unkind words to the girl, but he knew it had to be done. He was becoming too attached.

Outside the castle, Kagome walked until she reached a small alcove surrounded by sakura trees. She sat on the ground and leaned against one. Only then did she let the tears fall. 'That bastard… how dare he say those things to me? I… I thought that he at least trusted me… just a little…' Kagome set her head down on her folded knees and sighed. 'I wish Sango and Miroku and Shippo were here… they always made me feel better…' After a few minutes of quiet sniffling, Kagome fell into a deep sleep.

Begin dream sequence

"Kagome!" A very familiar voice caused Kagome to raise her head. A small orange blur flew at her stomach. Two other missed figures appeared in her vision. Sango and Miroku walked towards her with welcoming smiles on their faces.

"Shippo… Sango… Miroku… how...?" Kagome was clearly confused. But she held the tiny kitsune to her closely nonetheless. Once she got to her feet, the exterminator an the monk embraced her and Kagome started crying again. "I miss you guys so much… I wish you were still with me! If only I could have realized my powers sooner…"

"Kagome, it is not your fault that we were killed." Miroku said kindly, backing away to look at her. "Nothing could have been done to foresee what Naraku had up his sleeve. Do not feel guilt at our expense." Sango stepped back and looked critically at the miko.

"You aren't eating well, Kagome. What is Sesshomaru doing to you?" Kagome's eyes misted over again and she hugged Shippo tighter. The kitsune seemed to realize that his favorite person needed comfort and so he just held on to her and made a comforting purring sound in his chest. Kagome proceeded to tell her friends everything that had happened since their demise, including what happened with Inuyasha and her dream about him. As soon as Kagome finished telling about the hateful words spoken by Sesshomaru, Sango enveloped her in a hug again.

Miroku looked thoughtful. "Perhaps, Kagome, he was feeling uncomfortable with some feeling he might have had, so he lashed out at you. In any case, I am sure he did not mean it." The monk smiled gently at the distraught girl. "As for Inuyasha, I apologize things had to end that way. But I think your dream might be something more than just a dream. Like right now. This is not merely a dream. Sango, Shippo and myself are permitted to visit you in unconsciousness until you no longer need us. I believe it is the same for Inuyasha. He was trying to contact you to let you know that he didn't blame you for what happened."

Kagome smiled and made a choked sound of laughter before flinging herself at Miroku and hugging him tightly. "Thank you. Thank you so much. All of you." Just as Kagome calmed down, she felt a slight pulling sensation.

Sango caught the small panicky expression in the younger girl's eyes. "Don't worry Kagome, it just seems our time is up. We will see you again." Kagome nodded and gave everyone one last emotion filled hug.

End dream sequence

Kagome opened her eyes and found she felt infinitely better than she had before her meeting with her friends. She got to her feet and prepared to return to the castle. "Well one thing's for sure. If the Shikon really did come back, I'd use it to wish for those three back." Then she walked back through the garden to Sesshomaru's home.


Meanwhile…

Sesshomaru paced back and forth in his study. He had just sent Rin off to his only trustworthy uncle's home, so he could deal with the miko in peace. Also, he didn't want the little girl to get too attached to the wench. The demon rubbed the bridge of his nose and groaned. 'What in the world am I supposed to do with her…' He suddenly stilled as the sound of footsteps and the scent of the miko reached him. 'So she has returned.' Surprisingly, the smell of salt water had all but disappeared. Once the sound and smell faded from his senses, Sesshomaru relaxed again. 'Well, in any case, I must see my uncle about this scroll…'

After gathering his weapons and armor, Sesshomaru formed his flying transport and left the castle.


Okay, I'll try not to keep you waiting too long… I know pretty much what I want to do with the next chapter. Don't worry! I'll mend the gaps that have appeared between Sess and Kag!

Chapter 7- Mending the Trust

Sesshomaru comes home in poor shape, and must rely on Kagome for assistance.

myinu