Owari Nai Yume; Unending Dreams

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

Chapter 9

Where was she? That morning, she had said she'd be back that evening and now the sun was setting. On any other day, he would have been there, dragging her back, but, today wasn't like any other day, and there would surely be no other day like it for the rest of his life. He and Kagome had...he could barely even believe it, let alone that she had been the one to start it. She was Kagome, sweet, innocent, naive Kagome, not Kikyo, who had always been bolder than most, not that that kiss had shocked him any less. He knew if Kagome hadn't been there, noone would ever have known about it; it would have stay private, like matters such as that should, not broadcasted out to any and everyone, especially not Miroku.

Where in Kami's name was she? Why wasn't she there yet? Was sh in some kind of trouble with her family? Could they think that their meeting had been a tryst? Planned and regular? Kami, his was in deep shit. Girls whose chastity was doubted, in his time at least, would be killed to persevere the family honour. Kagome's time had so many differences, but surely that hadn't strayed. Even if it had, consorting with a half breed surely wasn't well thought of by her family, her grandfather in the least. The worst part was, if he said nothing, their suspicions would grow in the dark, hidden from view and if he went over and denied ever laying a hand on her their suspicions would grow like wildfire, or he might even implant the idea in their heads. He sure hoped that not saying anything was the right thing to do. Kagome wouldn't bring it up to her family, would she? She wouldn't kiss and tell, warping all the details so it looked like he had forced himself on her. Kami, that was the worst thought by far. Kagome would never do something like. It wasn't in her nature. But what did he know? He barely ever saw her and he distanced himself from her so much that there were times he felt closer to his brother than her. What if she thought him some beast, driven only by base instincts? Kami, he was crazy. She would never, ever think that. Kami, he needed to see her.

At that moment, her scent wafted to him from the well, causing him more confusion and confliction. Part of him wanted to yell at her for being late, and part of him wanted to swoop down and take her to the cave he had been preparing for years for the inevitability of taking a mate and mate her in the full sense of the word. He decided the former would be better, even if the latter had more things going for it. He wasn't an animal and he would prove it to her, and to himself.

The second she lifted herself out of the well, every thought of yelling her died. It wasn't his fault she was so goddamned beautiful. His new plan, brought on by his utter confusion, was to wait for her to talk.

"You're late."

He wasn't good with plans today.

"Sorry, I fell asleep," she said softly and sincerely, "I didn't sleep well last night and I was exhausted."

His turn. "Don't let it happen again." He did his best not to look at her. Her lips were still bruised from their overuse that morning. He hadn't remembered being rough.

"I won't. It was a freak accident," she said, playing the innocent card all too well.

Silence filled the clearing. Sure, he had had all day to plan, but he hadn't been able to believe that Kagome had kissed him until noon, the fact it had happened several times took until sunset, and from sunset on was the worry. It had been a rather full day for him and his head would hurt if he did much more thinking than was necessary to survive this encounter. Besides, plans were left to Miroku, the perverted but wise, Sango, the young but experienced and Kagome, the odd but great kisser. No, he meant gorgeous, no, he meant bosomy, no warm? Sensuous? Voluptuous? Luscious?

"Kaede's making dinner." Curvaceous? Sensuous? Decadent?

"Great. I'm starved."

"Me too." Luxurious? Sensational? Tender?

"So let's go," she smiled as he leapt out of his tree.

"Feh." he replied, already walking.

Sightly? Alluring? Beautiful? He didn't know, she just was.

Miroku sat meditating on a hilltop just out of the village. Here, he could be alone, have a wonderful view of the village girls as they walked in the light of the setting sun, and meditate, even if he didn't always do so. He did so every night after dinner and noone ever bothered him.

That's why Kagome's visit surprised him so. The fact that she needed spiritual help only added to that shock.

"How may I help you, my friend?" he asked, trying to sound as monk-like as possible as he tried to look up her skirt, which was shorter since she was sitting.

"My soul has been defiled and I wish to cleanse it."

He visibly faltered. "Pardon?" She repeated herself, ignoring his shock. "I see," he tried to re-compose himself. "How was it defiled?" He saw her look away. "I must know if I am to help."

"You can't tell a soul," she said, a threatening glint in her voice, "Especially not InuYasha. Do you swear?"

He mentally faltered. Kagome did not often ask him to hide anything. "I swear or I shall never bare an heir."

She nodded, apparently satisfied with his pact. "Kikyo was...She had her spirit mingle with Naraku's and my soul carries his taint."

He kept himself cool. If it had to do with Kikyo, he wouldn't dare tell InuYasha. "How did they mingle?"

"You're the pervert. Think as perverted as you can get."

"You don't mean they..." he couldn't even finish the thought. She nodded. "And she..."

"Was willing."

He had to resist the urge to vomit. The very strong urge. He didn't think he could make it. Naraku was evil to the core. To be so close that you had a part of him in you... It was more than anyone could handle. If someone without powers could sense the evil in him, a priestess with strong powers would rather die than be near him. He felt a strong wave of sympathy for Kagome. She was the one with the memories, and the images! He was a pervert, but the thought that Naraku could do something so...human disturbed him. Finally, he recovered from his bout of nausea and looked to Kagome.

"How deep do you feel that the taint is?"

"Deeper than I know now. I expect there may have been..." she paused and looked to the ground, "consequences, though I can't be sure."

"Kami help us," he whispered and she nodded in agreement. He searched deep in all of his years of training. He'd need it all to help his friend, and then some. He may have to somehow convince InuYasha to head out in the direction of Mushin's temple to get her the help her soul so needed, and he'd have to watch Kagome in their encounters with Naraku from then on. He couldn't let her believe, even for a moment, that Naraku was not a foe. Kikyo's feelings may very well destroy their chances of beating Naraku. This was sure to cause problems. In the mean time, he really couldn't hold the urge to vomit anymore. Unfortunately, Kagome's skirt didn't save her legs from it.

"EWWWW!" Kagome screamed, looking with disgust at the unpleansent...gift Miroku had given her. "Do I look like a bush to you!"

"I'm so sorry, Kagome! Perhaps I can help you wash that-"

"No way, hentai."

"What happened?" demanded the wind as InuYasha appeared, sword drawn, "Why'd you...oh. Uh, I'll get your bathing things for you."

"Thanks, InuYasha."

He didn't even flick an ear as he stalked off and she resigned herself to looking at the sunset until he got back.

"Miroku?"

"Yes, Kagome?"

She shook her head. "Never mind. It's not important, I just have been having trouble with telling which of my dreams are mine or her's. Mine can seem...so life-like."

"Perhaps it was a premonition?"

"Maybe." She doubted it.

"Wench, I got your stuff," called InuYasha, appearing from the bushes. "Sango says she meet you there."

She stood up and grabbed the bag. "Thanks InuYasha."

"Feh," he snorted as the girl disappeared down the hill.

The two men stood in silence for a few minutes.

"Monk?"

"Yes InuYasha?"

"How do you know if a girl likes you?"

"Are you speaking of Lady Kagome?" The hanyou didn't reply, but Miroku could see the blush. "She does like you, trust me on that. She has all the classic signs."

The hanyou sat down a fair ways away. "Like what?"

Miroku grinned. This was going to be a long night.

Hi! Incase you didn't get it, ch8 was a dream. Originally, it was going to be real, but I posted it before I thought it through and it didn't fit with what I wanted, but I promise, the fluff has started. R&R abd keep reading!