Chapter 19

Wake Me Up Inside

Kagome's eyes snapped open sharply, her breath barely passing into her lungs, as she looked around. It was dark, with the remains of a fire a few feet in front of her the only light. 'What…' the female thought silently as she tried to figure out what was going on. She winced slightly as she moved her wrists and ankles and something dug into her skin. Suddenly a thought came to her. 'Was it all a dream…. Am I really not a hanyou…?'

"Kagome…? Are you awake?" A familiar voice asked. Kagome's eyes snapped up and across the fire's embers to look at a dark figure sitting on the ground. The male shifted and slowly moved to Kagome's side. "Are you alright?" Inu-Yasha whispered as his face came into better view next to her.

"Inu—Inu-Yasha? But, I thought…" Kagome stammered back. His dark eyes narrowed slightly in confusion.

"What is it Kagome?" Inu-Yasha asked, slowly placing his hand lightly on her cheek. Kagome stiffened at first at the touch, but slowly relaxed into him.

"I—I thought that I…" Kagome trailed off and looked away. She could smell the confusion on Inu-Yasha as he removed his hand from her cheek, but quickly moved his hand to her chin, pulling her face back to him.

"Kagome…" He breathed. She gasped slightly as she realized that Inu-Yasha was human, his black hair blending in with the night around them. His hands held no claws as he gently rubbed her neck, his eyes shinning with a smile his lips would not show. Kagome's blood red and coal black eyes filled with tears as the 'dream' she had had only minutes earlier reached her mind again.

"Inu-Yasha… What happened… before…?" Kagome muttered. Inu-Yasha's face was questioning again.

"Before…?"

"After I ran out of Kaede's hut…. I don't really remember much…" She whispered, even though she really did remember. 'But if I woke up, what was a dream…? Am I really even a hanyou…?' Kagome wondered to herself again.

"After you left Kaede's…?" Inu-Yasha repeated, thinking back. "I yelled at Kaede for saying that… then ran after you. I followed your scent when it suddenly mixed with…" Inu-Yasha trailed off, his eyes looking back up at Kagome.

"Kikyo… So it was true… I did kill her…" Kagome's eyes filled with guilt as she looked away from him. Inu-Yasha blinked once before again raising Kagome's face to his own. "I'm—I'm sorry, Inu-Yasha, I don't know why…" She trailed off again, her throat tightening in sadness.

"Don't—don't be sorry." Inu-Yasha said quietly. Kagome's eyes widened and her head snapped up, her eyes falling sharply on him.

"What…? But, I—I killed her…" Kagome was confused.

"Yes, you did, but it doesn't matter. Kagome, she means nothing to me, not anymore." His lips twitched as a sad smile flitted across his lips. "You're the only one I want by my side…" He whispered roughly.

Dark brown eyes shook slightly as their owner looked over Kagome's face quickly. The female's eyes began to shake and small streams of tears began to find their way down her cheeks as Inu-Yasha slowly leaned down to her. Kagome's breath again left her body as his lips connected lovingly lightly with her own. She moaned lightly as one of his hands moved behind her neck and ran fingers through her dark hair.

"Inu-Yasha…" She finally breathed as his lips moved to her neck, nipping her lightly with his blunt teeth. "No…" She muttered despite her body telling her she wanted more. "Not now… please…" She couldn't resist his affection. A deep growl came from her throat, but Inu-Yasha took it as pleasure, not as a warning. Kagome clenched her hands into fists as she thought of some way to stop Inu-Yasha.

She suddenly froze, a feeling of deja vu overwhelming her. "Inu-Yasha…" She stammered again. This time, Miroku wasn't going to buy her anytime. "Inu-Yasha!" She snapped suddenly, her fangs snapping together in emphasis. He pulled away and looked into her eyes.

"Kagome… what is it? You'll wake the others." Inu-Yasha's eyes showed his confusion again.

"I think that there was a reason that I was tied up, was there not?" She said, holding back her anger and fear. Inu-Yasha didn't reply right away. "Well?" Kagome pressed lightly. She almost didn't know if she wanted to know the answer or not.

"Yes, but, they were wrong. There is nothing wrong with you." Inu-Yasha finally replied.

"It's the new moon isn't it? That's why I'm tied up, I'm a youkai. Right?"

"How could you…"

"I must have heard Myoga."

"But, you were unconscious."

"I was?" Now Kagome was really confused. So it wasn't a dream that she was a hanyou, and that she had killed Kikyo, but she was also a youkai this night. How could she know these things if she was unconscious when she was told? 'Maybe it's my subconscious telling me.'

"Yeah, when I found you and Kikyo, you were covered in her blood and shaking. I asked what had happened and you just kept repeating that you had killed her, and then fainted. You just now woke up that I know of." Inu-Yasha continued to explain. Kagome was silent as she thought.

'So anything after that was not real…?'

It could be… A growl came from her head. Kagome's eyes widened in shock at the voice.

"No, it couldn't be…" She growled back, baring her fangs.

"What couldn't be?" Inu-Yasha questioned.

"What?" Kagome looked at him in surprise. "Oh, nothing, I was just thinking out loud." She replied. She tried to smile at him, but it was only a half smile as his coppery blood again filled her mouth. She coughed and gagged at the taste.

"Kagome?" Inu-Yasha asked, worried as her sudden action.

"I'm—I'm fine." She assured him, not really sounding to confident. Inu-Yasha continued to stare at her. He opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off as someone moved toward them.

"Kagome? Are you awake?" It was Sango's soft voice that filled their ears. Both Kagome and Inu-Yasha turned to the slayer as she joined them. "Inu-Yasha, is everything alright?" Sango questioned as she saw the human's face.

"Feh," he said before getting to his feet and walking away. The females watched as he flopped back down on the ground across from them.

"What's with him?" Sango asked looking back at Kagome. The younger girl didn't reply. The demon slayer smiled lightly as Kagome stared at the form that was Inu-Yasha.

"What's going on, Sango?" Kagome muttered, still looking at the hanyou turned human. Sango put her hand on her friend's shoulder reassuringly. "Why do I feel like this? Why did I do those things?" Her bloody eyes were again slowly filling with tears as she spoke, but her eyes never left the motionless Inu-Yasha.

"Kagome—" Sango started, but was cut off. Kagome gasped as he whole body pulsed. She seamed to watch from far away as Inu-Yasha jumped to his feet. His head turned to the side, his now gold eyes looking toward the East.

Another wave of energy left Kagome's frozen body as Inu-Yasha's black hair rippled silver, and ears appeared on the top of his head. 'What's going on…?' Kagome's heart pounded as more energy left her body. She clenched her eyes closed. 'Inu-Yasha!'

((Switching views))

Inu-Yasha sighed lightly and sat down cross-legged across from the two girls. He crossed his arms and stared into the fire's embers. 'What's going on? Is this really what I want? Kagome is still Kagome, she just smells a little different… right?'

But she's yours. Something else reminded him. Inu-Yasha growled lightly.

'I know that.' His eyes came back into focus as he felt a pulse of energy go through his body. His head snapped up as he got to his feet. 'Sunrise?' Inu-Yasha looked toward the Eastern horizon. 'Finally.' He blinked and his vision became sharp, ha felt his claws lengthen again, while his hearing intensified. The hanyou was surprised as another pulse went through him. 'What…?' He muttered, turning back to the two females. Golden eyes widened slightly as he watched Kagome's transformation.

The girl's head snapped up, her face now looking up at the orange sky. Her long black hair rippled first grey, then silver, and finally pure white. Her breath was ragged as another blast of power left her body. "Inu-Yasha…!" She growled, her voice filled with pain.

The hanyou jumped over the dead fire and landed right in front of the girl at her call. "Kagome, what's going on? Are you alright?" Inu-Yasha questioned as he put his clawed hands on her shoulders. "Kagome?" He shook her slightly. Kagome slowly lowered her head, her now crystal blue eyes locking with Inu-Yasha's.

"Don't—don't ever let me—let me near—you." Kagome growled out through her clenched fangs.

"What? Kagome, tell me what's wrong!" Inu-Yasha said, searching the younger hanyou's face. He could smell the human blood again flowing in her, she was hanyou, but why had she changed so?

Kagome's eyes began to shake as she stared at Inu-Yasha silently. He held her stare for a second, trying to get anything from her. Sango moved slightly next to him and he suddenly snapped. "I can't help you if you won't talk!"

"Kagome!" Shippo suddenly shouted, jumping to the hanyou's side. Kagome began to shake, her whole body quaked. "Wh—what's going on?" The little kit stammered as he watched. Inu-Yasha's mind raced.

"Untie her!" He suddenly barked. Sango, Shippo, and the newly appeared Miroku jumped at the hanyou's order. Inu-Yasha turned his attention back to the convulsing girl. "E—everything's going to—to be alright." He whispered. Inu-Yasha cured himself for letting his voice crack. He slowly put his hand on her cheek. "You're going to be fine…" He whispered.

"She's free, Inu-Yasha." Sango said. The male hanyou nodded slightly and then winced as Kagome's claws dug into his wrist of the hand resting on her face.

"Ka…gome…" Inu-Yasha breathed, his mind still trying to figure out what to do. Then a flash of a memory came to him. 'Kaguya…' He suddenly leaned forward and pressed his lips against the other hanyou's.

Time seamed to stop.

There was a bright flash of pink light that blinded Miroku, Sango, and Shippo. When the three could see again, there was no sign of either Inu-Yasha or Kagome. "Kagome!" Shippo shouted. His voice echoed back at him off of the silent forest.

(Author Notes)

Well, I didn't think that I would be writing another chapter of this, but it was for Ashsmee, so I hope it was alright. I might have another chapter up soon, depending if I get any reviews. I had a sudden burst of ideas for this, and would like to know what people outside of my little town think. Anywho, if anyone is reading this, please review and let me know I'm not talking to myself or just Ashmee. Later,

Myst