Owari Nai Yume; Unending dreams

Chapter 6

Disclaimer: InuYasha and all its characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Wahhhhhh!!!!T-T

He didn't like this one bit. Kagome had lied to him. She had been distant for weeks, and now she LIED to him. He just wanted to help, and she said she had no idea what he was talking about. It was possible, he supposed, that she hadn't known, that his suspicion had been grossly wrong, but how was he to know? She had smelt like a lie when she had told him that earlier that morning. Even if he was wrong, she sure was hiding something. Maybe she was cheating on him with that Hobo guy, or she had some major family problems (the fact that she had all but forbidden him from speaking to her family seemed to support that), or maybe she had just decided that she wasn't going to trust him with anything ever again. Not knowing what was happening was driving him insane...and her away from him.

Maybe he needed to just sit her down and talk to her about this. Yeah, great idea. What would he say? 'Hi Kagome. Just wondering if you've been getting any of Kikyo's memories lately. Why? Just wondering. No, I don't want you to be her. I'm just worried. AND WOULD YOU JUST STOP WITH THE 'I'M JUST YOUR SHARD DETECTOR' CRAP!!!' Oh yeah, that was smart. Damn wench was too emotional and would never hear him out. He wished she'd just sit down and listen to what he had to say sometimes. When it came to fighting demons, he was invincible, but when it came to confronting Kagome, he was useless, and Miroku's advice wasn't for him. Yes, he had been so desperate that he had gone to the monk for advice. Even if he was a pervert, he was a monk.....and he knew a lot more about women than he did, or ever would most likely. It was him or Kaede, and the old hag sure wasn't useful.

Below his perch on the branch of a tree right near where he friends were camped. Glancing down through the foliage, he saw one of Kikyo's old soul snatchers approaching an awake and alert Kagome. He was about to leap down when he saw her stroke it and whisper to it something even he couldn't hear and stood. The phantasmal creature circled Kagome's waist and she smiled. Smiled!!!! What the #$$#!$ was going on here?(A/n. I've always wanted to do that! ) Before Kagome had even left the campsite, two more of the creatures had joined the first and they were leading her to the village.

Curious and frightened, he followed at a safe distance, just far enough so he wouldn't be seen, but close enough so if those things attacked, he'd be able to get to her before any major damage was done...he hoped. He had only fought one of those things once, before he had known Kikyo was still alive. He hoped he wouldn't have to dull his claws on any more.

Kagome and her escorts veered suddenly away from the village, Kagome's quiet laughter floating back to him. She was enjoying herself?! Kami, what kind of spell was she under? He nearly rushed out and scooped her up when more of the creatures joined her, but decided to wait. He wanted to know what was going on here. As he followed, more came out of nowhere, one passing right by him, more than he had seen before, or ever hoped to see again. The fact that Kagome greeted each new arrival succeeded in confusing him and infuriating him. He would not allow anything to happen to his Kagome. Nothing from any of the seven hells would stop him from protecting her. Nothing.

Finally, the procession stopped by a bend in the river, a copse surrounded, and filled, with the soul snatchers. The ones around her waist left leaving her alone surrounded by the things. He had to admit, though, that Kagome looked rather pretty in the sparse moonlight.

"Kaze no Shimobe," she said clearly but quietly, "You have asked me to be your Mistress-"

WHAT! WHEN THE FUCK DID THEY DO THAT?!

"-and I have accepted. I am ready to receive the mark that proves to all that I am your Mistress."

Before she had finished speaking, the things were all moving to her. One, he saw, had its mouth dangerously near her neck. He saw the jaws open and he acted.

"IRON REAVER SOUL STEALER!!!"(A/n if anyone knows how to spell 'reaver', please tell me)

Kagome let out a small shriek as the first dozen fell dead. She watched with a look of pure horror when she saw him prepare for another strike.

"Sit boy!" she called, "Kaze no Shimobe, do not attack! This is a misunderstanding!"

"What the fuck do you mean, 'misunderstanding'!" he demanded from the ground, "I knew exactly what I was doing!"

"You weren't saving me, if that's what you mean!" she retorted, kneeling down next to one of the dead things, "You killed them for no reason! They weren't going to hurt me! You are such a fool!"

"So what are you following these things for?!"

One of the things curled around her waist and cuddled into her neck. "I think you guys should leave. I will explain things to this one." The thing nodded and flew of with the rest obediently.

"So?" he asked standing, "I'm waiting for your explanation Kagome."

She ignored him and turned out to the river. "It was right here."

He looked around and blinked. "What was?"

"Kikyo killed that Monk here," she replied smoothly, "He stood where you do now, and I'm where she was..."

"How do you know?" he asked, almost reluctantly.

"I dreamt it last night," she replied not looking at him. "I remember at least most of her life and afterlife from dreams these last few months: Kaede's birth, her parents dying from a disease, her training as a miko, receiving the shikon no tama, meeting you, being revived...everything." She sat down and pulled up a handful of grass from the ground before throwing it into the flowing water. "Everything up to the night she killed that monk...but I know the rest will come...it does that..."

He came up to her side and sat next to her. So, he had been right. Somehow, it didn't feel all that good to be right.

"I bet you're wondering why I didn't tell you..."

"No," he replied, "I understand that you didn't want me to see you as her, but there was no need for you to be concerned with that. It's been a very long time since I saw you as anyone but you and-"

He was silenced when Kagome wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. Okay, this wasn't what he had expected. The scent of salt reached his nose as sobs shook Kagome's slender form. She was crying? That wouldn't do, not in the least. His Kagome wasn't made to cry, but he supposed the situation had to have been hard on her. Maybe, just this once, he'd let her cry, but she'd have to let him hold her.

When he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his lap, Kagome's body tensed for a moment but the tears didn't stopped . When he was sure she was comfortable, he began to rub her back with his large hands, overly gentle and careful. He was there to comfort her, not hurt her, and he'd stay there all night if she needed him to.

Shippo woke at first light to find the sleeping bag he had been sharing with Kagome was empty. His first reaction was a yelp, only enforced by the fact that her scent was hours old. The little kit began an expansive search around the camp and surrounding area, hoping to catch his mama's scent. When he returned, he immediately roused Sango and Miroku, hoping they could somehow help. By now, he was crying loudly and calling her name fiercely loud, praying she could hear him.

"It appears we will need InuYasha's help," Miroku stated after a few minutes, "Although I would have expected him to have heard us by now."

Sango nodded in agreement. "He doesn't normally sleep so late, either. The sun's already up and he's not telling us to hurry."

"Maybe he's missing too!" cried the kit, crying even louder, "OH! I'm really an orphan!!!My Mama and Papa have left me and I'll never see them again!!!"

"Could someone shut that kit up, please!!"

"InuYasha!!" grinned Shippo, "Inuyasha! Kagome is missing!! Mama Kagome is missing!! We have to find her!! Get down here and help us look!"

"If you don't shut up, kit, you're going to wake up Mama Kagome and she's going to be very mad at you!"

"You know where Kagome is?" asked the demon slayer.

"Course I do, 'cause she's right here! Now shut up and let her sleep!!"

"I think it best if listen to him, Shippo," Miroku grinned a very un-monk-like grin, "I am certain InuYasha and Kagome exhausted themselves last night."

The monk was knocked unconscious by what appeared to be a fallen limb from the tree InuYasha's voice had been coming from, ten feet away.

"Nice shot InuYasha," called a grinning Sango, "Serves the letch right."

"I THOUGHT I SAID SHUT UP!" InuYasha silenced himself, realizing his yelling could wake the sleeping girl, especially since her head was on his chest. He froze as the girl shifted in her sleep, quietly moaning. He had to grab his haori, which had been acting as a blanket, before it fell off the branch. Before he could replace the cloth, Kagome opened her eyes and smiled at him sheepishly, realizing, even though half asleep, that they were in a rather intimate position, and that it wasn't the morning sun that stained his checks red.

"'Morning, Yasha," she smiled sweetly, "Sleep well?"

He nodded hesitantly. "You?"

"Wonderfully," she whispered, hiding her face in his neck, "I didn't dream at all."

He smiled and rested his chin on her forehead, unwilling to release her and go see their friends below. "I'm glad." He really didn't want Kagome to become Kikyo; he didn't know if he'd be able to handle losing her: the way she smiled at him, the way she walked, the way she thought, the way she looked at him, a look of absolute trust and caring and love. He had thought, not so long ago, that noone would ever look at him like that like that. Not since his mother died, not that Kagome reminded him of his mother or anything besides the fact that she didn't care that he was a half breed. She had said, just the night before, in fact, that no matter what happened, be it with her memories or with Naraku, she would always trust him and stay by him, no matter what, trust him and love him. He remembered how she had smiled when he had said that he'd always stay with her and trust her and protect her.

"Me too," she replied angelically, her breath warm against the skin of his neck, "Yasha?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we go down soon? I smell something good cooking," she gave a little laugh.

"What's so funny?" he demanded, careful to keep his tone good-natured.

"Mom would kill me if she knew about last night."

"Yeah, well humans don't seem to understand that sleeping with a member of your pack isn't necessarily...improper."

"Who says?"

"All demons," he replied flushing, "Often whole packs sleep together. It's necessary for survival sometimes."

"Last night was for survival?"

"No," he replied, "But it wasn't improper, was it?"

She looked up at him and gave what he could only describe as a tempting smile. "Wasn't it?"

He didn't reply. He wasn't sure how. Instead, he stood up and pulled a frightened Kagome up with him, all the while grinning evilly, and leapt off the branch. She had to learn he wasn't good at these kinds of talks.

"Care to warn me next time, Yasha?" she scolded as Shippo jumped into her arms.

"Who says there'll be a next time?" he scoffed.

"Kikyo didn't have a very happy afterlife."

"You can't blame that on me."

"I'm not," she replied sitting by the fire, "I just may want some comfort sometimes."

"Feh."

"What are you guys talking about?" asked a confused Sango as Shippo looked at the pair cautiously

Yea!!!!! Finally, Inu knows what's going on!! Now things get good!!!! R&R please.

OH! I know in chapter 4, I called the 'kaze no shimobe'(servants of the wind) 'shimobe no kaze'(wind of the servants) Silly Japanese error. 'kaze no shimobe' is the right one, and no, I don't know if that's really what they are called. I was fed up with calling them 'soul snatchers'.