Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or its characters. I do own, however, the original characters: Alden, Cora, and Setsuko. Using my original characters in your own stories is not permitted, unless with my consent. Thank you.

Chapter 11

Driving Passion

Alden awoke to the unexpected sweet, soft taste of sunlight. He shot up in the bed, quickly noticing that everyone was still asleep except him. He also abruptly wondered to himself: why had he not experienced another nightmare? It was not night out, but the early morning. It seemed to disturb him; it was an eerie anomaly.

He lay his head back down for a while in the bed, wondering what may have caused him to suddenly stop dreaming the horrible nightmares he had been every successive night ever since he and Cora had come to the Feudal Era. What had happened to halt them?

Alden decided to dress himself and head out of the abode for a walk before the others awakened. His eyes met the peaceful rays of the sun, which didn't seem too overwhelming or hot. He walked the path down to a river of pearly, translucent water. The water was cool and refreshing as he plunged his hands into it. He was able to cup some of it in his palms and look at his reflection.

"Water is never this pure and beautiful back in our time," he thought. "I hope we don't go back soon. Though I know everyone must be worried about Cora and me."

He sipped some of the shining water easily, and then thought about how they would eventually have to get back to their own time.

"We can't just abandon our own lives back in our time," he mused. "We'll have to leave this era sometime. And that means we'll probably never get a chance to come back.....and I'll have to leave Sango....."

He sighed, the remnants of the water trickling down his throat like slow tears.

Back at the abode, Kagome had slowly awakened. She rubbed her eyes and allowed the light of the morning to gradually invigorate her. She yawned.

"It's a beautiful morning," she thought to herself, stretching her arms. "Guess we'll be heading back to the village near the well today. We have to stay near there to see if anything happens with the well. Alden and Cora have to get back to their time."

Thinking about Cora and Alden's dilemma, Kagome saw that Cora was still slumbering soundly next to her.

"She must be really tired," Kagome thought. "Using her powers all the time like this must really drain her."

Turning away from Cora, Kagome noticed that Alden's bed was empty.

"Hm. I wonder where he went to?" she asked herself.

She then turned to Sango, noticing that she was still asleep as well.

"Guess he went out for a walk by himself then. Well, better get up myself now. Better be quiet."

Kagome got dressed and ready as quietly as she could, the others still asleep peacefully. When she finished, she exited the abode and noticed that Alden was walking towards her on the path. He had finished thinking and washing his face down by the small river.

"Hey, Alden," Kagome greeted him.

"Good morning," Alden said. "Are the others still asleep?"

"Yeah. Everyone must be tired from everything. Especially your sister. It must have taken a lot of energy for what she did. She did a great thing for Setsuko."

"Yeah, she did."

Setsuko saw Kagome and Alden from inside her family's abode. She ran outside to greet them, smiling.

"Good morning!"

"Hi, Setsuko," Kagome said. "Wow, you're looking a lot better!"

"Thanks. I feel a lot better. I can't remember the last time I felt this healthy.....it seems like I was sick for.....forever."

Kagome smiled.

"Is Cora up yet?" Setsuko asked eagerly.

"No. She's still sleeping," Kagome told her. "She's pretty tired. It must have taken a lot of energy for her to heal you completely."

"Yeah, it must have. Well, just to let you know, once everyone is up, breakfast will be served to you. Mother will prepare it soon."

"Oh, thank you, Setsuko."

"No. It is nothing for what you have all done for me. Just come over to our abode once everyone is awake."

Setsuko left them and returned to her family's abode. Once she had gone, Alden turned to Kagome.

"Hey, Kagome," he said.

"Yeah? What is it, Alden?" she asked. "You seem worried."

"Well.....see.....I didn't have a nightmare last night."

"Really? But isn't that a good thing?"

"I don't really know. It's just that I've been having nightmares every night since Cora and I traveled to your era.....and I thought it was odd that they suddenly stopped."

"Well, maybe it's a good sign."

"Yeah, could be. I'm just glad that I didn't have to go through another one last night. They're horrible."

"Yeah, they sure seem like it the way you describe them to us."

He nodded.

Meanwhile, Inuyasha had awoken inside the abode. He yawned and stretched out on the floor.

"Another day for more jewel shard hunting," he said aloud.

He then proceeded to get up and head outside. He saw Kagome and Alden talking to each other.

"Hey, you guys up already?" he wondered. "It's early."

"Oh. Hey, Inuyasha," Kagome greeted him. "Sleep well?"

"Feh. If the hard floor can even allow you to sleep. Meanwhile you have the comfortable beds all to yourselves with the warm sheets."

"Hey, you volunteered!"

"Feh. Whatever. What are you two doing anyway out here?"

"Just talking. Waiting for everyone else to wake up."

"Feh. Well, I honestly don't think that Cora will be up any time soon. She's sleeping like a log from using all her powers at once like that."

"Yeah. We were talking about that. And how Alden didn't have any nightmare last night."

Myoga suddenly appeared, hopping on Inuyasha's shoulder. He attempted to suck blood from Inuyasha's neck, but to no avail, he was immediately crushed by Inuyasha's palm.

"Ugh, squashed again."

"Myoga," Inuyasha snorted. "What do you want?"

The flea recovered and composed himself.

"Can't help but overhear your conversation about Master Alden's dreams," he said. "So, they've stopped all of a sudden?"

"Yeah," Alden said. "I didn't have one last night. And I didn't even wake up at all in the middle of the night.....I slept undisturbed."

"Hm. Strange."

"Feh," Inuyasha said. "Maybe it's because he was really tired like the rest of us, Myoga, that he didn't dream last night."

"No, that can't be it. Everyone dreams no matter how exhausted they are."

"Yeah, I remember learning about that at school," Kagome said. "People dream every night, but most of the time they just don't remember them."

"I remember all of my dreams though," Alden said. "I've always been like that. Especially with these ones I've been having in your era."

"Hm," Myoga pondered.

"Maybe my dreams have finally stopped," Alden said, with a slight expression of relief.

"But this is still strange that they would cease so suddenly," Myoga said. "Perhaps an omen of some sort....."

"Maybe that's just the end of my nightmares.....maybe that's the end of the story of the.....being from Hell that erupted from the earth.....freed....."

"Hm. Perhaps."

Around this time, Sango had awakened, as well as Kaede. Shippo and Kilala followed suit, stretching and yawning. They got ready for a new day, and heard everyone conversing outside. Miroku awoke as well, and got up out of bed. They exited the abode together, leaving a slumbering Cora by herself in the abode.

"Hey, everyone," Sango said, Kilala beside her, mewing.

"Good morning to ye all," Kaede greeted everyone.

"Ah! It's a bright new day!" Shippo exclaimed, throwing up his paws toward the sunlight.

"Indeed it is," Miroku agreed.

"Hi, Lady Kaede, Sango, Miroku, Shippo," Kagome said. "We were talking about Alden's dreams."

"What happened?" Sango asked, a look of worry in her eyes.

"They stopped," Alden told her, walking up to her and meeting her eyes. "I didn't have a nightmare last night."

She smiled.

"Well, that's good."

"Feh. Myoga thinks it's some kind of bad thing," Inuyasha said.

"I was just thinking," Myoga interrupted. "Perhaps a sign of some kind. Or maybe this is the end of the nightmares, as Master Alden suggested."

"Hopefully," Alden said, kissing Sango. "They're disturbing."

Sango embraced Alden and kissed him again. An unexpected and quick jolt soared through Miroku's mind.

"But interesting," Myoga commented. "Hm. Oh, well. We will see."

"Perhaps it is best we return to the village near the Bone Eater's Well," Kaede suggested. "As a precaution to its distorted state."

"Yeah, and not to mention we have to figure out a way to return Cora and Alden to their time," Kagome said. "And I have to get back home some time too! I'm all out of snacks and supplies! And I need a relaxing bubble bath in my tub!"

"Hm. Yes, I think that returning to that village is best," Myoga agreed. "Perhaps we can test the well's magic out somehow to see if the distortion has lessened. Or figure out some kind of solution to this enigma!"

"Well, we've been invited to have breakfast at Setsuko's abode before we leave," Alden told them. "I guess we should go."

Everyone agreed, but Alden said he would catch up with them later. He wanted to go back to the abode they slept in and wait until Cora got up.

Cora slept for more than an hour. Alden waited however, allowing himself to think and look around. He noticed that Cora had her notebook near her on the floor. He picked it up and read some of it. Her newest entries told of her powers, how she couldn't believe what she was now able to do. She talked about her new friend, Setsuko, and how she had rescued her life by using her healing powers. Cora didn't mention Alden and Sango in these entries, he noticed. This provoked thoughts about Sango. Alden wondered how long he would have to stay with her in this era. He loved her, and he smiled just thinking about her. But he knew it would have to come to an end eventually, once they left. He sighed deeply.

Cora's eyelids gave a gentle lurch, and slowly slid open. She smiled, seeing the morning light hit her face. Alden noticed that she was up at last.

"Good morning, brat," he said, smiling.

She turned toward him, somewhat startled.

"Oh, didn't know you were there," she said. "Alden, where is everyone?"

"They're at Setsuko's abode getting ready to have breakfast," Alden said. "Why don't you get dressed so we can leave to meet them?"

"Okay."

Cora got up slowly and yawned.

"Get enough sleep?" Alden asked.

"Yeah. I was really tired!"

"You must have been. You used a lot of your powers to heal Setsuko. Must have drained you of your energy."

"Yeah."

"But I just wanted to tell you that you did a good job, Cora. It was a good thing, a great thing, that you did."

"Pf! Don't get all mushy on me now, Alden! Ew!"

He snorted.

"Well, get dressed," he told Cora. "Everyone is waiting for you, Miss Priestess."

"Pf! I'm not a priestess. I'm like half priestess or something."

"Well, what you did was worthy of priestessness."

"You're a dork."

"You're a brat."

Alden smiled.

After Cora got dressed, they left the quiet abode for breakfast. They meandered off from the path and entered Setsuko's abode. Their noses were introduced to new pleasing scents and delicious aromas. Cora was very hungry, and hurried to the table, where everyone was congregated. She quickly sat next to Setsuko, eager to eat. Setsuko hugged Cora unexpectedly, and Cora returned the embrace. They smiled and laughed. Alden sat next to Sango, her eyes so beautiful to him suddenly. He became instantly engrossed in her, and kissed her. Miroku, who was sitting adjacent to Kaede and Kagome, felt a sharp pang zip through his head. Myoga was talking to Inuyasha, who wasn't listening. Shippo and Kilala raced around on the floor.

Conversation was already commencing, with Cora's amazing miracle as the topic. Setsuko delighted in having her sit and talk to her. They were immediately becoming very good friends.

"You know you're my savior, right?" Setsuko asked Cora.

"Savioress," Cora corrected her.

"Savioress? Is that even a word?"

"It is now!"

They laughed and giggled loudly.

Soon, breakfast was served. The smell was an intoxicating and entrancing cloud, and everyone was immediately digging in. There was cooked fish with herbs, soft buns, spiced rice, and a sort of curry or mixture that Cora found herself gulping down quickly and gluttonously. Setsuko's mother and father kept thanking Cora and everyone else for their help, and told them that they would be in their prayers always. Setsuko nodded and smiled at Cora.

After everyone finished eating, they conversed for a while longer over more buns and fresh water from the river. Alden found it difficult to swallow the pure water, his eyes hardly ever glancing away from Sango. Setsuko and Cora continued to laugh in unison, while Kagome smiled at them. Inuyasha flicked the flea demon away, exasperated from his theories and hunches. Miroku conversed with Kaede about Cora's powers, trying to keep his eyes off Sango and Alden. He found his eyes frequently flitting uncontrollably between Kaede and them. Kilala and Shippo continued to romp around, Setsuko and Cora soon joining them afterward.

Soon, the bright afternoon revealed itself with a swift zephyr and a lush aroma. Everyone said their final farewells to Setsuko and her family.

"Good-bye, everyone," Setsuko's mother said. "And thank you. You will always be in our thoughts and prayers."

"Bye, Cora," Setsuko hugged her. "Thank you, my savioress."

"Bye, Setsuko."

Cora smiled, her eyes radiant, as they finally left the village to travel back towards the Bone Eater's Well.

They traveled at a mild, relaxing pace. Kaede feared for Cora's stamina- they did not want to take any chances with her. Her energy was sapped from using her powers to that extreme.

They arrived back at the village near the Bone Eater's Well by late afternoon. The sky was placid and the atmosphere was laced with an elegant wind that washed by. The clouds were gentle and calm, not stirring. The grassy hills seemed almost in slumber.

Everyone entered the larger abode and sat down to a meal prepared by Kaede and some of the other villagers. Kagome told Cora that it was best for her to rest for a while, so Cora lied down and took out her notebook. She jotted down a new entry that told of her powers, and all about her new friend, Setsuko, whom she saved. She was her savioress.

Miroku was scrutinizing his cursed hand for a change, and was overcome by unusual stirring emotions once more. They churned in him, so he turned to look at something or distract himself. He noticed Alden and Sango talking and laughing with each other. The tumbling inside him surged and worsened. He remembered what he had promised to himself a while ago before: that he had to find some solution to calm the tempest within him.

After the meal, everyone decided to head for the hot springs. It was relaxing and soothing for them all, their weariness erased. Silence ensued, but it was peaceful. They relaxed. Alden's mind, however, was not: he grew sad and quiet quickly when apart from Sango. Miroku said nothing, although he could read Alden's expression.

A windless night came. The stars were absent from the sky, but the crescent moon hung like an ornament, shaped intricately like a fragile disk.

Alden and Sango left for the lake. No one followed them; they let them be together. Alden immediately started to caress and kiss Sango's hand profusely. She giggled, and then blushed with embarrassment.

"I love you," Alden said.

"I love you too, Alden," she told him.

He took his eyes off Sango and turned toward the lake.

"The water is calm and the moon is beautiful tonight," he said. "Now I remember why we made this our meeting place."

"Yeah," Sango agreed. "It's all peaceful and beautiful."

"Like you."

She smiled, and then they kissed. It was a slow, passionate kiss- the most romantic one yet. Sango was forced into blushing, although she felt very comfortable doing it. She was just very flustered by it all.

At the abode, Miroku felt his insides swirl and storm again. They grew and churned, bubbled and brewed. His heart gave a painful lunge, and his head echoed an ephemeral throb. He felt like he could contain them no longer: he knew that Sango and Alden were at the lake, kissing with a passionate love that he had always longed for. Soon, the maelstrom within him intensified to its zenith. His mind spun and reeled. Miroku at last, found himself getting up hastily in a feverish frenzy, and rushing out to the lake.

Alden and Sango were still kissing and caressing. The lake was silent and peaceful, allowing for them to solely hear their rhythmic breathing. But the silence was soon shattered like a fragile coveted mirror, as Miroku's hurried steps took them by surprise. Blinded by his unleashed emotions, he stood in front of them.

"This can go on no longer!" he said. "Sango.....I love you."

It took a moment for them to release from one another's embrace and react to Miroku's words. But after a while, Alden stood up and addressed Miroku.

"Please, Miroku," he said. "Be reasonable. Sango and I are deeply engrossed with each other. I realized that you may have....."

Sango stood up abruptly and cut Alden off. Intervening, she yelled at Miroku a few inches away from his face.

"Monk!" she bellowed, prodding his chest in vehemence. "Alden and I are in love with each other. I love him more than anyone else. Alden loves me for more than just what I am- he loves me for who I am. He doesn't see me as any other woman. He doesn't just see me as a possibility to bear his children!"

"But, Sango," Miroku said, clasping his hands with hers. "I love you."

He then brought one of his hands to meet her lower back. Before he could slide it down her any lower, Sango slapped him powerfully across the face, as he was forced to the cold ground. Enraged, she stalked off huffing and mumbling to herself, forgetting about Alden.

"Sango, wait!" Alden called to her, but she didn't hear him.

Miroku rubbed his sore face and stood up, brushing himself off. Alden turned to talk to him.

"Listen, monk," he began calmly. "I realized that Sango may have been infatuated with you at one time or another, but as of now, we are together. Please don't interfere any more. I love Sango- she is not like any other. She's my dream girl. I want to spend as much time with her as I can because I know it can't last forever. Eventually, I'm going to have to go back to my era and never return, parting with Sango for all time. I know our relationship will be a short one, but I love her. I want to be with her. Please, try to understand this, Miroku."

Miroku mused and empathized with Alden. His relationship with Sango was serious, as was Miroku's own love for Sango, but he knew that Alden would soon have to leave Sango. He felt very bad then, and scolded himself for acting the way he did- allowing his passion to run completely haywire.

"I understand," Miroku said.

"Thanks, monk," Alden said. "I appreciate it."

Alden held out his hand to shake. Miroku clasped it, and shook it heartily.

"Well, I better get back to Sango," Alden told him. "I'll calm her down. Don't worry about it."

Alden patted Miroku on the shoulder and left for the abode where he guessed Sango stalked off to.

Miroku turned toward the placid moon, and sat for a while by the lake. The peaceful silence again returned, and it soothed him. His heart no longer felt so burdened and heavy. The swirling tempest of the chaotic emotions inside him at long last, seemed to calm and subside.