Sweet Dreams
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Memories
Bold WordsWaking up is the hardest thing to do when you're in a comfortable numbness. Rolling over to her left with a groan, she listened to her surroundings. The wind wasn't licking her face and her bedding wasn't hard. She was inside and on a very large bed. She couldn't remember waking up to something this soft, unless you count the mold on Naraku's floor. The bedding smelt of the outdoors and had that freedom scent. Opening one eye, she noticed something move to her left. Quickly glancing around the room, she saw no weapons available. She tensed when she heard two sets of feet softly walking towards the bed.
Both eyes snapped opened and she jumped out of bed and landed behind the two culprits. Hearing two gasps, the mini intruders ran behind what appeared to be a couch. She heard whispered scolds and then giggles of excitement behind the couch. That's when she saw a set of black dog-ears pop up. If she was confused then, now she didn't know what to think. The two stood up with guilty looks and stared at her. Kagome's eyes widened.
They both appeared to be about eight, but the girl had the dog-ears. Her hair was silver black that came down to her mid-back in a braid. Her eyes were a bluish-gray with specks of gold in them. She smiled at Kagome to show her fangs and Kagome could see the delicate claws on her hands. The boy's hair was dark silver and he appeared to be human. His nails appeared to be a bit sharper then normal and he smiled to show fangs. They both looked at Kagome sheepishly before the boy spoke first.
"Izayoi wanted to come and wake you!"
"Sugimi's lying! He wanted to wake you up so you could make ramen!" The little girl yelled as she growled at her brother.
"Mommy!" They cried in unison as they looked at her.
'Both are a quarter youkai and look like Inuyasha and I, what happened? Where am I?' Kagome thought.
"Look what you did now! You sent her into shock!" Sugimi yelled at Izayoi.
"No, no, no! I'm fine, just a little tired," Kagome assured as she finally looked down at what she wore. Dressed in nothing but a nightdress she stood near a window.
"So…will you make ramen?" Sugimi asked.
"Why don't you go outside and play," Kagome said to the children who were already out the door.
Kagome quickly dressed herself in traditional Miko garbs before she growled. Those were the only things that she could find. Marching over to the door the child went through she found that the house was two stories high. She tried using her youkai sense of smell only to find it was gone. Walking out the front door, she found herself only a couple of yards away from the well. Thinking of Naraku, she touched her stomach to find the spider mark gone. Her eyes widened at the thought of him being gone and almost cried.
'If Naraku is dead, where are Inuyasha and the others?' Kagome thought.
"Mommy! Uncle Miroku is here!" Izayoi yelled as she ran towards the monk.
'Miroku is here,' Kagome thought as she approached the monk.
"Lady Kagome! It's good to see you up and about," Miroku said as he gave her a grope free hug.
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked with confusion.
"Nothing, but I see you're ready for the Shrine maiden ceremony," Miroku said with a grin.
"What ceremony?" Kagome asked.
"Kikyo is passing her duties of the village to you before she officially is put to rest," Miroku explained.
"Where is Inuyasha?" Kagome asked as watched the two children in the distance play with Kirara.
"Inuyasha went to sulk in the woods," Miroku angrily said.
"Why?" Kagome asked.
"He doesn't want you involved with a village and the Tama," Miroku carefully explained.
"Jerk," Kagome muttered as she watched Sango and Kohaku come over a hill.
'How does he live?' Kagome thought.
"Hello Lady Kagome," Kohaku greeted with a bow.
"Kagome, how do you feel?" Sango asked with a smile.
"What happened to make you all so scared for my health?" Kagome asked with a frown.
"You don't remember?" Sango whispered.
"Obliviously not and I'm becoming irritated at your delaying," Kagome snapped.
"Please, Inuyasha will tell you…again when you're ready," Miroku carefully said.
"Is it about dog shit going away?" Sugimi innocently questioned.
'Is Inuyasha going away?'
"Kouga will be coming by with his pups," Sango informed with a watery smile.
'He can't…he wouldn't go with her?'
"Kagome are you alright?" Sango seriously asked.
Kagome quickly glanced around to truly study her surroundings. Her eyes landed on Miroku's right hand, the curse was still there. Her eyes narrowed as she truly looked at Kohaku and the souls of fallen warriors within him. Looking at Sugimi she could feel part of her aura mixed with his. The same applied to Izayoi. Something was not right and parts of her memory were missing. She backed two yards away from the questioning gazes of Sango and Miroku.
"What happened to Naraku?" Kagome growled.
"He's hiding," Sango quickly said.
"Then how is Kohaku here?" Kagome demanded praying that Sango was better than keeping her brother as a zombie.
"Kikyo saved him," Sango whispered.
"You know," Kagome whispered in shock as Miroku looked confused and Kohaku looked guilty.
"What's going on?" Miroku asked.
"Kohaku is living off the souls of the dead," Kagome stated.
"Sango…is this true?" Miroku asked with betrayal in his eyes.
"Yes," Sango whispered.
"I want to die," Kohaku whispered.
"Izayoi, Sugimi, go find Shippo and wait for the ceremony," Kagome ordered. The two pups were off in a second.
"Kohaku is not to be brought to this village again," Kagome judged.
"That's not fair!" Sango shouted as she looked to Miroku for support. He turned his head away.
"I will not allow the villager's souls to be another's food. I also will not allow false people in my village," Kagome said as she walked away.
Miroku soon followed her in silence as they walked towards the village. Kagome reached up and grasped the Shikon no Tama. It was whole and radiating off her pure ki. Kagome gave a ghost smile as she thought about this world she was in. It was easy to take up the role and make a judgment that she held her emotions back for. She wanted to fall on her knees and weep at the look Sango gave her. It was a look of hate and loneliness.
"Did I do the right thing?" Kagome whispered.
"I would have done the same thing. You can't let your emotions cloud your judgment," Miroku advised.
Kagome stopped and noticed that Inuyasha was waiting for her at the end of the road. Her breath froze when felt the sorrow in his aura. His every pore radiated regret and self-anger. She could feel the anger pounding at him as he stood there. Miroku walked ahead leaving Kagome and Inuyasha alone on the path. He walked up to her and pulled her into a deep embrace. He deeply inhaled her scent as he gazed into her eyes. He was loathing himself for the decision he made every second.
"I sense your regret, what is going on?" Kagome asked more softly than wanting to.
"Naraku's miasma really affected you," Inuyasha whispered to himself.
"Sugimi said you were leaving today. Is he my son…our son?" Kagome asked as she whispered the last part.
"Yes, they were the only two pieces of myself I could leave behind," Inuyasha whispered.
"Why? Why are you going with her?" Kagome demanded as she pulled away from him.
"It is a promise that I made long ago. And I am a man of my word," Inuyasha answered.
"That's bullshit! She died and your bonds were broken," Kagome argued.
"I want you to care for our children…they need you," Inuyasha said.
Kagome walked into the forest leaving Inuyasha alone on the path. The Shikon no Tama swirled a red before glowing a soft red. She now stood above the village on a hill like cliff. Growling angrily she couldn't help but resent Kikyo, but Inuyasha was another story. She tried to hate him and couldn't. She could feel the evil ki approaching from behind her. Without turning around she sparked with anger at the intruding ki.
"Hello, little Miko," Naraku greeted as he kept a safe distance.
"My name is Kagome," she growled at him.
"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. You have a short temper," Naraku taunted.
"What do I owe this disgusting visit to?" Kagome quickly demanded.
"I couldn't help but be drawn to the evil ki the jewel is radiating," Naraku slyly answered. Kagome looked down to see that the jewel was an onyx color.
"What do you want?" Kagome growled again.
"A deal."
"What thinks you have anything to offer?" Kagome offered.
"I can offer hate for Inuyasha like you can offer me hate for Kikyo," Naraku fervently whispered in her ear.
"You want me to offer you my body willingly?" Kagome asked.
"You can keep your body and mind and control your own fate," Naraku swiftly corrected.
"If you cheat me…I'll kill you," Kagome seriously whispered.
Kagome quickly placed a barrier around the jewel and walked into Naraku's embraced. Everything stung as she smirked at the pain. Evil and Good becoming one, it was a rare and exotic sight to come across. As quickly as it began it was over.
Her eyes snapped opened to reveal frosty blue irises. Looking around she was a good mile away from the village. Her hair was a snow white and her skin held a light bluish tint. Her eyes landed on Miroku and Inuyasha as they asked Kagura questions.