Owari Nai Yume; Unending dreams

Chapter 7

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

Things got back to normal, or as normal as things could with the amount of changes that had taken place, rather quickly, and everyone, even the ever wary InuYasha, started to appreciate the new skills Kagome used and the invaluable information she received from the Kaze no Shimobe, even if she only met them in secret at night with InuYasha hiding in the shadows, not that he knew she knew that she was following her. She hadn't told him she could feel him, even when she was on her side of the well. Then, she'd pretend she didn't realize he was following her to and from school or that he was on the roof as she slept or that he came into her room while she was asleep and just sit by the window, guarding her like he was her bodyguard, not that she minded. She thought it was sweet. She just wished he didn't run off before she woke up. She hated talking to herself.

But this morning...this one morning, she was glad he hadn't stayed the night, and furious. She didn't want to see him, but felt compelled to. She didn't wait. She didn't dress, she didn't worry about the test she had that morning or the special breakfast she had promised Souta or even the meowing Buyo at his empty dish, she couldn't bring herself to even think about them. Not after that memory, not after what Kikyo had done in the secret, only known to her and... him. If the fact that she had done that wasn't bad enough, the fact that it had been with him made her sick to her stomach so much so that she had to stop in the bathroom before heading for the well. Noone else was awake, so she had no explaining to do. Yet. InuYasha would be able to smell it on her breathe. She gurgled some mouthwash to stop that from happening. She wasn't sure if she wanted him to know everything yet.

She barely noticed it when she jumped down the well. She didn't notice the chill until her bare feet hit cool dew on the grass, but she kept moving. Her feet felt frozen by the time she reached the village and her arms weren't much better and her whole body was shivering in the predawn mist, condensation clinging to her skin and hair and pajamas. Her sight was clouded by the drops on her eyelashes but they soon joined the few warm tears rolling down her checks, unbidden but welcome. She had reached the dirt road outside Kaede's village before she finally saw the movement of a red being through the fog heading towards her.

When he was close enough that she could see him clearly despite the fog, she stopped, unsure and frightened. He was looking at her half shocked, half reprimanding. She froze under his golden gaze, suddenly feeling ashamed at being driven here for help and comfort she wasn't sure he could give her.

"What are you doing here Kagome?" he asked gently, yet dominantly. He had been doing a lot of that lately. "You're going to catch your death out here without something warm to wear. You wanna..."

"Oh InuYasha," she whimpered, closing the distance between them and wrapping her arms around him, her face buried in his haori.

InuYasha said nothing, suddenly understanding, and lifted her gently, still concerned about her health. He tucked her head under his chin and carried her to Kaede's hut. It was the only place they could by indoors and away from unfriendly eyes, even if he knew he'd get teased for this by Miroku later if any of them woke up, but Kagome's shivering made up his mind. What had she seen this time? She had never run to him like that, not since he had plugged the well. The look on her face had been similar. Fear, loneliness, desperation. She was so fragile sometimes, and sometimes so strong. He never knew what to expect from her, tears or a chuckle. Kikyo had never been like that. You could 'set your watch' as Kagome said by her feelings. She was too predictable.

What was he doing? Comparing them when Kagome had come to him for comfort. He really was dense.

"Not the hut," Kagome whispered, tears choking her voice, "I don't wanna go there. Let's go somewhere else."

"Like where?" he asked a little harshly.

"Like that hut for the sick. You know, the one for the contagious. I hear they rebuilt it since your last visit."

"Who told you about that?!"

"Kaede and Shippo."

InuYasha flushed. Leave it to the old hag to tell her how he had endangered himself recklessly and the kit to tell her he had been missing her the whole time he had sent her away. Instead of answering her, he walked towards the empty hut on the outskirts of the village. When they reached it, he lay kagome down on the hay bed and sat next to her, her head leaning on his chest. He was glad the tears had stopped, but the pained look on Kagome's face hurt.

"Wh...what was it this time?"

"I don't want to talk about it. Just thinking about it makes me sick."

"How can I make you feel better if I don't know what's hurting you?"

She shifted her head so she looked straight into his eyes. "My soul was tainted by one of Kikyo's actions, that's all. I'll ask Miroku how to cleanse myself later, but right now..." she licked her lips and leaned up towards him, "Right now, I'm with you."

"Kagome? What're you-"

Soft warmth, sweet heat, lips on his, hands in his hair. Kagome was...kissing him? He didn't complain. Her soft touch was met with an equally tender touch from him as he eyes fell shut so he could better concentrate on the feel of her. She pulled back after a moment, gentle and breathless, and he allowed his eyes to open and his lips to smile softly.

"Kagome," he whispered before she drew him into another gentle kiss, and another, and another, each dreamy and chaste and deliciously lingering.

It was Kagome who finally realized the sun was rising. She put a finger on his lips to stop him.

"I didn't tell anyone I was going and I've got a test this morning," she whispered sensually, "I gotta go, but I'll be back this evening, okay?"

He nodded, realizing also that soon the others would be looking for him and he didn't want to be found here with her. He wasn't ashamed. Hell, he was anything but ashamed, but he was worried. He didn't want her hurt because of him. "I'll see you then, I guess," he replied, releasing her and helping her stand. "Want me to walk you to the well?"

She was already at the door. "No, I'll be fine, thanks." She looked over at him, kissed his check and walked out of the hut, calling quietly as she walked along the cool grass, "Love ya!"

Yeah! Fluff! Finally, I was starting to wonder when they'd get down to business. Oh yes, before I forget, I want to thank everyone who has reviewed this: Kagome9211, mouko-star, lovers quarrel, Cheese-is-good, SARAH, Anonymous, Teaniaea, SweetInuLover, linkinparkgurl101, aknightofni(love the name! Monty Python rocks!), and last, but not least, mari333. Thank you for your support! Everyone else, R&R!!