I don't own any of the characters from the Inuyasha anime series; Rumiko Takahashi does. I just own Yume. Constructive criticism welcomed bashers ignored! Got it? Good!

Translations:

Miko - Priestess

Hanyou - Half demon

Haori - Shirt top (Originally worn in Japan)

Youkai - Demon

Yume - Dream

Ningen

Sengo Jaida - Warring Ages

Taiyoukai - Ultiamte or great demon

Sama - Master, Lord

Schindachimu - Soul Collecting Snakes (Kikyo's got enough of em around her)

Chapter 13

All was quiet that morning. The events that took place that night remained on everyone's minds. As Kagome's brown eyes opened she realized she was alone; well not entirely.

She turned her head to see Inuyasha. The hanyou laid his back against a wall with the Tetsuaiga in his hand. His eyes were closed but he was practically awake. His ears moving back and fourth as Kagome quietly crept up to his unmoving body.

She sighed as she laid her head down on his right shoulder. "Inuyasha…" Nuzzling his neck a little to wake him up.

His golden eyes opened slowly as he spotted the miko; looking at him with bothered eyes. "Kagome…?" He asked as he placed a hand atop hers.

"C'mon…don't be like this…" Inuyasha grummbled in a concerned tone.

"…What do you mean?" She asked in a saddened tone.

"I can smell it…that scent…it's all over you."

"What scent?" She asked; her tone now more bothered then before as she lifted her head off his shoulder.

"Despair…" He muttered in a stern voice as he turned to face her.

"It's because of last night." She admitted.

"Don't worry to much about it Kagome."- "Inuyasha…she was just an innocent little girl…manipulated by evil…" Burying her face into his haori." Then she turned on them…"

"She won't be allowed to get away with this…" He replied sternly; his hand atop of her head. "…Sesshomaru will deal with her."

"I still remember it…" Tears welling up in her eyes as she tried to talk. "I just can't believe he'll…"

"He's cold enough."-"But he loves her!" She uttered aloud; shocking herself as well as Inuyasha. The hanyou's eyes widened at the thought. His older brother. A human hating demon such as Sesshomaru capable of loving someone? And of all things a small human girl?

"Kagome…" The thought of his brother even capable of such an emotion made him break out into a small laugh.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome growled; gripping his sleeves in anger.

"How would you know?" He asked; a stern look on his face as he presented the question.

"He's not all bad Inuyasha! And you know it!" Her eyes wide with intensity as she defended Sesshomaru.

"Well…he did spare Kohaku…" Inuyasha muttered; remembering the time when his brother was suppose to have killed Kohaku for attempting to kill Rin.

"Right! As well as myself!"

"Maybe…maybe Rin…softened him up…?" He asked; looking back into Kagome's warm eyes.

"I think so. He's not as evil as he was when we first met him." She smiled as she sat on folded knees.

"I guess…but he'll always be the same yarou Youkai…I remembered from my…" He muttered; pausing as he thought of his past.

"Inuyasha…?" Her eyes narrowing towards the quiet hanyou. "Have you met Yume before? I mean…before this happened…"

"When I was younger…" He answered in a stern tone. "She threatened my Mother's life…"

"What…?" The miko's eyes widening at the thought. "Inuyasha…"

"She was after Sesshomaru…" The memories of the first confrontation plaguing his mind as he told Kagome of his past.

Flashback

"So…you consume dead people, huh?"

"You came to help Sesshomaru?" Her gaze softening towards Inuyasha.

"Kagome…" He whined. "I did it because I had to…got a problem with that?"

"Not at all."

A sudden look of surprise dawning the hanyou's face to her calm response he sighed and the continued on.

"He didn't want me there…but I came upon the bad scent…so I had to come."

"Damn it…Inuyasha…" The golden eyes staring back angrily into the hanyou's concern ones.

"Sesshomaru?" His older brother's eyes staring at the ground; as if ashamed to look back into his.

"So…you called upon your kid brother to help you?" She teased; picking up her staff upon Inuyasha's intrusion.

"Are you okay?" Running over to aid his big brother he backed off when he saw him snapping at him when he tried to help him to his feet.

"I'd never!"

"I'm guessing he wasn't too happy to see you…"

"I can take care of myself!" Sesshomaru growled as he whipped out his Poison Claw whip; only to be shocked to see it bounce right off of her.

"Right…"

"What the?" Sesshomaru uttered; falling to his knees at the attempt.

"He tried to attack her…but his stupid attack didn't work…he got mad when I tired to help and then…when my Mother showed up…she went after her…"

"Stay away! You horrible demon!"

The young red eyed demonness' gaze narrowing upon the beautiful human mother of Inuyasha as she tried to shield him as well as Sesshomaru from danger.

"How cute…your Mommy has come to save you." The demonness went on.

"She is really no different from Sesshomaru…like him she too despised humans…"

"Leave us demon!" Izayoi demanded as she got in front of her kids; trying to protect them.

"Disgraceful…" She scowled; Inuyasha tensing up at the word. "You are the sons of a ningen?"

"But I wasn't going to allow her to label us…"

"I am!" Inuyasha protested. "Not him…" Looking towards his fallen brother; a pained but angered look in his eyes as he stared at his older brother.

"She would have been killed if it wasn't for my old man."

"But why was she after your Mother and Sesshomaru?"

"She's jealous of him. For being a Lord of one part of the Sengo Jidia land…and…" He smirked. "You can probably guess why she doesn't like me."

"Because you're a hanyou…"

Inuyasha nodded his head.

"Don't despair Master Inuyasha! You and your brother shall defeat him!" Interrupted the little flea demon.

"Thanks for the boost Myoga." Inuyasha replied sarcastically as he turned away.

"I know you don't get along too well with Sesshoumaru…but you should try to assist him in this battle." Kagome went on. "To avenge…the ones you love…" She answered in a whisper. "I would." She smiled softly.

Inuyasha nodded once more to the miko. "My Father threatened her life to get her to leave us alone and she did…but not without threatening our lives first."

Sesshomaru's eyes widened as he caught sight of his Father as he laid in his arms.

"You dog demons…all of you disgust me. You don't deserve to be amongst the highest of "I plan to make you suffer…all of you."

"You go to hell and die you damn dream wench!" Inuyasha growled. His mother placing a hand over his mouth.

"Hmph…such a mouth for such a hanyou…I think you outta discipline him now…because the day your Hanyou or Taiyoukai sons meets with me again…will be the day I discipline them myself!" She yelled; melting into the darkness of the oncoming night.

"…All because of who we are…is why she is after us." Inuyasha finished.

"Yume's vengeance is based upon jealousy so the curse of the bloody Rose fit's the situation with Sesshomaru."

"But are we really out of the picture now? Is it all now up to Inuyasha's brother Myoga?"

"It seems that way…but of course it is not." Myoga answered. "Unfortunately…the curse of the Bloody Rose tends to run deeper then this."

"Shut up Myoga! We aren't infected by the curse of that dumb flower anymore!" Inuyasha growled as he smacked Myoga into the ground.

"That wasn't nice Inuyasha…" Kagome muttered as she looked down at the flattened flea demon.

"If it were up to Sesshomaru he would be the one to kill anyone and everyone who got in his way…"

"He only said what he said to you last night because he wants to save Rin all on his own."

"Ha…" He replied sarcastically; raising an eyebrow at her statement.

"You don't have to believe me."

"Never said I didn't now did I?" He snapped; getting to his feet.

"Your such a sour puss Inuyasha." She replied; smacking him with her nap sack as she got to her feet and went outside.

"What the?" He growled as he rubbed his sore head. "Where do you think your going? I won't let you get away with hitting me with that good for nothing piece a crap you call a nap sack!" Inuyasha roared as he chased after the fleeing Miko.

"KAGOME!" Inuyasha bellowed as he neared the fleeing miko.

"Inuyasha-sama! I'm not done talking to you!" Cried the little flea demon as he hopped over to the hanyou.

"SIT INUYASHA!" She roared as the hanyou caught up to her; his face burying itself into the ground on command.

"Not a good morning Kagome-sama?"

"Hmph!" She replied; folding her arms across her chest. "Not with him around!"

"Why do you do this to me?" Inuyasha whined as he struggled to get to his feet; accidentally smashing Myoga as he caught up.

"This is going to be a long day…" The flea demon whined as he blew himself back up to his original height.

Back at Naraku's Castle Yume stood proudly in front of her dark master.

"So…" Naraku began; eying the woman dressed in blue and drowning in jaki. "This is Rin?"

"Hmp." She smirked. "My Lord, she no longer goes by that foolish human name." She smiled as she turned her attention to the woman.

"My name is Dark Lady." She answered in a stern voice; her expressionless face matching her tone.

"Heh heh…what fine work." Naraku added as he circled the woman. "Except she is without a weapon."

"Yes I know." She answered as she placed a hand on Dark Lady's shoulder. "She is to search for her weapon in the Field of Ignorance."

Naraku's smile lowered to a frown at the thought.

"Won't the spell begin to lose it's affect if she goes there?"

"I am not like my ancestors Naraku. Please understand that my powers are far stronger and will not subside due to outside interference." She answered sternly.

Naraku nodded his head and then returned his gaze to Dark Lady.

"Naraku?" Asked Kanna in her quiet little voice.

"What is it?"

"Dark Lady is already very powerful. She does not need a weapon to contend with Inuyasha and the others."

"Is that right?" He questioned.

"I saw her…" She replied; waving her hand across her mirror to reveal the past event between Sesshomaru and Dark Lady. "As she struck out at Lord Sesshomaru without hesitation. Blasting him far from her place."

"Impressive…" He smiled as he stared up into the serious eyes of Dark Lady.

"I detest him…" Answered Dark Lady. "I want nothing but his head."

"Hmmm…and that you shall Dark Lady. But you must take care of something for me first."

"Huh…?" Yume uttered; wondering what Naraku wanted. Dark Lady's stern gaze focusing on the evil hanyou then towards Yume.

"I want you to take care of something for me." He replied deviously; his gaze now centered on Yume.

Down a dark and lonely path filled with nothing but silence and the beautiful Cheery Blossom Trees remained the soul collecting snakes known as Shindachimu. Carrying three more souls of the departed in front as well as behind them as the one in control of them made her way through the quiet forest of the Cherry Blossoms.

The woman with long black hair and a stern gaze sighed as she stopped at the edge of a stream. Her attention caught by one of her snakes as they stopped in front of her; bearing news.

"I know…" She replied as she rested a cold hand atop of her soul collecting snake. "The aura of Nightmares has grown over the last two days. The Guardian of the Subconscious Realm has returned to seek vengeance upon the one's she has cursed so long ago." She replied; her hands at her side as she stared off into the water.

"She has taken on an heir apprentice as well?" She questioned; closing her eyes as she waited to take in the demonic aura of this new evil.

Her eyes snapping open as she realized who's aura. "The jaki is that of an innocent girl…!" Her eyes widening as the face of the girl came to her mind.

"Sesshomaru's pet…" She muttered. "No…his pup…" She answered turning around slowly with her bow and arrow aiming right at the TaiYoukai that stood only a few feet behind her.

"Put down your weapon. I haven't come here to slay you…" He answered as he continued to walk towards her.

Her bothered look still plastered to her beautiful face; sensing he wasn't here to fight she obeyed his request and lowered her bow.

"Are you happy now Lord Sesshomaru? Your human pet has turned your back on you and is now an enemy to us all." She answered coldly. "You are a fool to allow this to happen."

Growling as he restrained himself from having to seriously hurt this undead woman he simply frowned.

"What do you intend to do…now that she is under the control of the accursed dream wench?"

"She is not my pet…but she does belong to me." He began. "I have come here to warn you Kikyo."

"I don't need your advise Lord Sesshoumaru. I will do what I must in order to rid this world of Naraku." Staring angrily into his eyes. "Even if it means riding the world of you in the process."

"I won't take my aggression out on you…seeing as you are already dead…it would be pointless." His back now facing her.

"Then make your peace and go. I have a job to do."

"As do I."

A moment of silence between the two as they stood there; not showing respect to either person.

"Answer my question Lord Sesshomaru…what will you do in the case of the formidable group known as Yume and Dark Lady?"

"As formidable as they are…that does not mean that either of them does not have a weakness."

"Will you kill them Lord Sesshomaru?"

"What I do to them is my business…and mine alone. That is why I must insist you keep out of this."

"I can't make you any promises."

"I have warned you…as well as my brother…you know of the consequences if I find either of you meddling in my affairs.

"I am not afraid to fight you…or Inuyasha…" She answered monotonously; looking at her soul collecting snake.

As the flower petals from the Cherry Blossoms fell from the trees above them the earth seemed to stop once more as the TaiYoukai and the undead Miko spoke. Looking at Kikyo out of the corner of his eyes he spoke again.

"She has haunted you too I'm sure…" He answered; now walking away from Kikyo.

"It is her job to bother the dead as well as the living." Kikyo answered.

"Then you know of what you are up against…" He answered as he walked off into the distance and into the Field of Ignorance.

"I just hope you do." She answered as she palmed a falling flower into her hand as it fell from above.