Author's note: sorry it took long to update but my comp went out for a couple days

Chapter 2:

the monster that lived in her dreams

Kagome waved happily as her father rode off into the distance "Ja ne father!" she called

"ja ne Kagome!" her father called back "take care while I'm gone"

Kagome walked back to the door, looking out she saw her father disappear from sight. She opened the door and walked in. By the time her father left, it had grown to be the nighttime. She walked into the kitchen where Rin and Ayame were waiting. "well I'm going to bed" she said going up the stairs. She yawned as she walked into her room and flopped down on her small but comfortable bed. She stretched and found a comfortable spot. Almost immediately, she fell asleep. For a brief moment she saw her father locked in a cage, his hands cold as ice and he was ill, then she saw a face, the hideous face of a monster. It had ghostly white hair and blood red eyes with blue pupils that seemed to be filled with malice and bloodlust. She then saw herself, hugging this horrid monster! She saw his eyes seem to soften as he hugged her back as well. She was then shown herself crying on top of his dead body on a roof top. Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone. Kagome sat up suddenly, afraid and drenched in a cold sweat. She panted as she looked at her reflection in the mirror that sat across from her bed and hung above her cherry wood dresser. What had the dream meant? She had been known to have premonitions that always came true. Her father had said that it was from an ancestor that had lived before she had been born. She was an old prophet and her entire family had always said that Kagome greatly resembled her. Kagome struggled to remember what her name was. Kikyo! Yes that was it, her name was Kikyo. Usually she didn't mind getting premonitions but this time, she sincerely hoped it would not come true.

"Kagome?" said Rin, poking her head in through the door "are you ok?"

Kagome took one look at Rin, seeing her sincerely concerned eyes and worried expression and burst into tears, though she honestly didn't know why. Rin ran to her, hugging her comfortingly and telling her it would be ok. Kagome cried as she hugged back and buried her head in Rin's robes. "what happened?" asked Ayame as she too ran in when she heard Kagome's sobs.

Rin shrugged as Kagome looked up at the both of them "I had a premonition again" she said.

Ayame and Rin exchanged curious glances as they looked at her "but I thought you were used to those" said Rin finally.

"yes but this one was different" Kagome explained "what happened was...."

Meanwhile, Kagome's father was having troubles of his own. "this can't be right" he said, fumbling with his map "we should have been there already. Maybe we missed a turn"

The horse trotted nervously through the dark and scary woods. Glancing at every little thing that made some kind of noise (a/n: which is everything if you think about it) Suddenly he stopped at a fork in the road. At the side stood a tall pole of signs. Kagome's father looked at the signs, trying to make out the words, which were now illegible from old paint. Seeing that the signs could not be read, the horse tried to continue the same way they were headed. "wait" Kagome's father said to the horse, urging him along another pathway "let's go this way."

The horse peered at the path he was being forced to take. It was a dark and spooky path that was surrounded by many trees, which cast eerie shadows along the road. The horse then surveyed his other option, which was to go the way they had come. Seeing the less life threatening choice, the horse started to turn around, only to be stopped by Kagome's father. "come on it's a short cut" he said, pulling the horse down the road. Things were going fine until suddenly, they were interrupted by a sound. The howling of wolves filled the air! The horse lost control and ran, throwing Kagome's father off of him and onto the ground. Kagome's father stood and looked around to see if the horse was anywhere near him. But instead of seeing the horse, he saw a pack of wolves headed his way! He ran for his life, stumbling on a twig, he rolled down a hill. Dizzily, he looked up at the rot-iron gates of a large manor. He stood, trying to regain focus and maintain whatever little bit of consciousness he had left. He struggled to get through the gate as the wolves found him and ran towards him. The gate suddenly swung open and he fell through to the other side. Relieved, he closed the gate and ran towards the manor, hopefully someone would be there who could help him.

"so you think it will actually happen?" Rin asked Kagome, worried for Kagome's father.

"I hope not" said Kagome "but then, they've never been wrong before."

"well" said Ayame gently "there's a first time for everything, maybe it won't"

Kagome looked up at her friends and smiled, grateful for their reassurance. She hugged them both, beginning to return to her chipper mood. "arigato minna-san" she was just about to break the hug when she saw a flash of the monster's face once again. She gasped as she saw his cruel expression and those eyes! Those cold eyes that held no happy glimmer or hopeful shine. Then, once again, it disappeared just as quickly as it had come.

"is something wrong?" asked Ayame, seeing her friend's worried expression.

But Kagome just shook her head, deciding not to tell her friends about the sight. But she looked down, she hoped that the dream would not come true, but deep down in her heart, she knew it was inevitable.

Kagome's father, slowly pushed open the heavy oak door to the castle and nervously walked in. timidly, he walked through the long corridors of the castle "hello?" he called out to the silence "is anyone there?"

He glanced around, looking for any sign of life. "I got lost in the woods" he explained, hoping to get a reply "and I need a place to stay for the night."

"but of course sir" said a voice "you're welcome here"

Kagome's father whirled around, trying to find the origin of the voice. "who's there?" he called as picked a candelabra that had been sitting on a nearby table.

"me" said the voice which now seemed closer.

"where are you" asked Kagome's father, still turning around to find the voice. He was suddenly greeted by a tap of the head. Kagome's father saw that it had been the candelabra that had spoken! Surprised, he quickly dropped it and backed away.

"now you've done it" said a long, slender clock as it came up from behind the candelabra and looked at the frightened man "nice going Miroku"

"well I don't see you trying to be hospitable Sango" said Miroku, glaring at the clock.

"I-I'm sorry" said the man "I-I didn't mean to intrude"

"it is ok" said the clock "we are terribly sorry as well for frightening you."

"you said you needed a place to stay right?" asked Miroku as he looked at the man, who was soaked to the bone and shivering.

"hai" said the man "It would be greatly appreciated."

"then come warm yourself by the fire" said Sango, motioning to a room just down the hall.

"arigato" said the man as he followed the clock and the candelabra to the room.

The man sat down in a comfortable arm chair and relaxed as he warmed himself up. He was amazed at the peculiar servants like the coat rack who handed him a blanket and teapot and cup that served him the tea! Things were going great until suddenly, the fire was blown out by a tremendous roar that could make even the toughest soldier cringe with fear. The man watched as the servants suddenly cower and try their best to hide or escape.

"There's a stranger here!" roared a voice angrily.

"m-master?" said Miroku unsurely, "a-allow me to explain. The man was lost in the woods and needed a place to stay so..." But he could not finish on account of the loud roar that interrupted him. The other servants also tried their best to explain but were all interrupted by the same angry roar. The man grew pale with fright as he could hear the beast's low growl coming closer and closer and felt it's hot breath on the back of his neck. He reluctantly turned his head to the side and found himself looking at a hideous monster! The monster grabbed him roughly and yelled "so you need a place to stay?" the man could barely nod as his fear paralyzed him "then I'll give you one!" with that, the beast took him away. Leaving his servants watching with sadness and sympathy for the man as he was locked up in the dungeon.

Kagome sighed as she got ready for the day. The premonitions had not stopped tormenting her. It seemed that every few minutes a flash of the dream would appear in her mind. Usually it was a flash of that horrible monster. She could hardly bear it. She felt scared and numb, this was the most persistent premonition she'd ever had. She was jumpy all the time and seemed to be afraid of every little thing. Which only made things worse when Koga made another surprised visit.

"K-Koga?" said Kagome, her voice quivering "um what a...pleasant...surprise"

"isn't it though?" said Koga with his usual arrogance as he walked toward Kagome.

"Ayame?" said Kagome, backing away, her abnormal fear taking over "Rin?"

Ayame and Rin came up the stairs just in time to see Koga getting closer to Kagome. Kagome backed farther and farther away until Koga had her up against the wall. Koga leaned closer to her, preparing to kiss her! Suddenly, Kagome's jumpiness took over her rationality, the flashbacks, the premonition, and Koga's kissing attempt were too much for her now. She acted upon her first impulse and swung at him with a clenched fist, knocking him to the ground. He moaned in pain and rubbed his cheek where her fist had made impact. Ayame and Rin gasped, Kagome was always a sweet happy girl, she'd never struck anyone, EVER! Kagome saw what she had done and backed away, surprised at her own actions. Then, the breaking point, she was once again shown the cold, cruel eyes of the hideous monster.

"NO!" she yelled, dropping to the ground and clutching her head, "Stop!" she shook her head as if the memories could be shaken away. She shivered and cringed in fear and pain as she got up and ran out the door. Running farther and farther into the field she got tripped by a twig and fell. Too scared to get up, she lay still as yet another flash was shown. Though this one was not only of the monster, but of herself, jumping between the monster and someone else and getting badly hurt. She was suddenly brought back to reality and got even more scared as she curled up in the grass and lay motionless on the ground. She suddenly heard a horse's whinny and sat up to see her father's horse coming towards her, without her father! "Kaoru?" said Kagome, standing as the horse trotted up to her, "what happened, where's father?" The horse looked down with sadness (a/n: can you tell if a horse is sad?) Kagome's worry for her father took over the fear and she climbed onto Kaoru (the horse). "take me to him Kaoru" said Kagome with determination. The horse took off, running as fast as it could go.

Soon, the two of them had reached the castle where Kagome's father had been captured. Kaoru stopped abruptly, afraid to go any further. "yellow-belly" said Kagome, giggling as she got off the horse. "I guess this is my stop" she said as she straightened her dress. She looked out to the castle, which was about a five minute walk by foot. Sighing, she pressed on, leaving Kaoru behind. She suddenly heard a low howl from behind her 'do horses howl?' she thought, sincerely hoping that Kaoru was the origin of the howl. Whirling around at the sound of another howl, she saw that her coward of a horse had taken off on her, indicating that it was most definitely NOT Kaoru who had made the sound. Glancing around nervously, she backed away from the thicket of trees where she had gotten off. Suddenly, she saw a pair of bright, glowing eyes. Gasping as she realized that the eyes were that of a wolves!!! The wolves came out from under the shadows and lunged for Kagome. But, for the first time that day, she was not afraid and grabbed a nearby stick from the ground. Swinging it at the wolves, she heard a swift crack as she hit one of the wolves. Hearing it run away whimpering, she smirked at the others and held up her stick defensively at them. Not wanting to end up like the other wolf, the ran away with their tails between their legs. Triumphantly, Kagome walked ahead 'stupid wolves' she thought, though surprised at her sudden courage. Soon, she came to the gates of the castle, unsure of herself, she gently pushed up against the gates, slowly they opened creaking as though they had not been oiled for years. Kagome slowly walked through the gates and headed towards the castle. After awhile of walking, Kagome came to the tall oak doors of the castle. Cautiously, she pushed up against them just as she had done at the gate. The doors too slowly creaked open and Kagome walked into the dark and gloomy castle. She walked down the entrance hall, which was lit dimly by small candles that hung from the walls. Glancing around for signs of inhabitance in the castle she called out "H-hello?" But silence was her reply as she walked farther down the hall.

"we just had to let him in" said Sango, pacing on a table beside Miroku.

"how was I to know master Inu Yasha would find him?" said Miroku, trying to escape getting blamed for the incident.

"hmm I don't know" said Sango "maybe because he always does!"

"well I was just trying to be hospitable" said Miroku.

"and I'm sure he thinks so highly of you now!" said Sango sarcastically.

"Kon'wa?" said a voice before Miroku could voice a comeback. Both he and Sango looked out into the hallway and saw a young girl with raven hair tied back in a low ponytail and a perfectly shaped face. she glanced around as she walked.

"did you see that?" said Miroku happily as he and Sango ran to the door to get a better look at the girl. "it's a girl!"

"I know it's a girl" said Sango as she too peered out.

"don't you see?" said Miroku "she's the one we've been waiting for! She's come to break the spell!"

He ran (a/n: or would he hop?) down the hall after her with Sango trailing close behind. They opened a creaking door that led to the dungeon, hoping that the girl would follow upon hearing the noise. To their joy, she did, thinking that someone was there. They hopped up the stairs and hoped she would follow, which she did. "hello?" she called out as she entered the dungeon.

"Kagome?" said a voice, her father's.

"father!" Kagome cried out happily as she ran to him and grabbed his hands "thank goodness your ok"

"Kagome, leave this place!" cried her father "now!"

Kagome was about to ask why, when she suddenly had another flash from the dream. She remembered now, this very moment had been a part of it! It had already begun to come true! Kagome feared that she would soon see the monster as well. "who's done this to you?!?" she yelled, though she had a hunch.

"there's no time to explain" said her father frantically "you must leave, before he gets you too!"

"who?" said Kagome desperately.

"just go!" said her father.

"I won't leave you!" Kagome cried as tears stained her cheeks.

"what are you doing here!" growled a voice as someone roughly grabbed Kagome and pulled her away from the sell. Before Kagome knew what was happening, she was staring into the cold, blood red eyes of the monster that lived in her dreams! Kagome cried harder, feeling more scared then she ever had before. "answer me!" the beast called out.

"K-Kagome" she said through her sobs as she was brought closer to the beast. She looked up into his big eyes and froze, not with fear, but with wonder. For there, in the corner of his eye, stood a tiny glimmer of hope, something she had never seen before in her dreams. Feeling more confident than before, she struggled out his grasp "and I don't appreciate you imprisoning my father here when he has done nothing to harm you!"

"nothing to harm me?" said the beast "what would you know! You weren't even there!"

"I demand that you release him!" said Kagome, growing more confident still, "I promise that we shall never bother you again if you please let him go"

"no!" growled the beast "I rather enjoy having a prisoner here to torment."

"there must be something I can do to convince you" Kagome said quietly, "If you must have a prisoner, take me instead!"

"no Kagome!" yelled her father from his cell.

"you would give up your freedom..." said the beast "...just to save your father?"

"if I did" replied Kagome "would you let him go?"

"yes" said the beast "but you must promise to stay here for eternity"

Kagome thought about it for a moment before answering "you have my word"

"done" said the beast, happy that he still had a prisoner, and a pretty girl at that. He reached into the cell and roughly grabbed the man.

"kagome!" he yelled, hugging his daughter.

"father!" said Kagome, hugging him back.

But before either of them could even say goodbye, the beast snatched the man away and dragged him towards the door. Throwing him out into the cold, he slammed the door and turned to Kagome, who was now lying on the floor, her hair sprawled around her and her head in her arms, crying. "you heartless beast!" she yelled through her tears "you didn't even let me say goodbye! I'll never see him again! And I never got to say goodbye"

The beast watched her as she wept, and for the first time, he felt guilty. If someone had kicked him hard in the stomach it still would not have hurt as much. It pained him to see her cry and took all of his strength not to go over there and embrace her reassuringly. "I'll show you to your room" was all he could manage to say.

Kagome and the beast had been walking for quite some time in silence. "by the way" said the beast, unsure of himself for the first time "my name is Inu Yasha" but Kagome did not answer him "...and there are some rules here I expect to be followed. You may be living here but you are still a prisoner and as such, you are never to leave the grounds without me, which probably will be never since I prefer to be alone" Kagome just nodded as a steady tear rolled down her cheek. "the castle is your home now so you can go anywhere you want, except the west wing"

"what's in the..." Kagome started to say.

"It's just forbidden!" yelled Inu Yasha.

When they had finally reached her room, Inu Yasha opened the door, "if you need anything, my servants will assist you" he said as Kagome silently walked in "and" he continued "you will...join me for dinner. That's not a request!" with that he slammed the door. Kagome gasped as realized what she had just done and threw herself onto the bed, crying. What had she gotten herself into?

Author's note: how did you like it? Just a tip, the more reviews I get , the faster the updates ;-) til next time ja ne and arigato for reading