Owari Nai Yume; Unending Dreams

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

Chapter 14

Completely unaware of the fox demon who was running around yelling on the top of his lungs, extremely overjoyed at the 'news', that InuYasha and Kagome had gone off to become the true mommy and daddy he so deserved, the 'parents' were marching steadily up a path on the side of the mountain to see Rei. The noon day sun beat down on them mercilessly and the silence that had built up around them was becoming rather unbearable for them both. Finally, mother got tired of it.

"InuYasha," it was quiet, but it was better than the silence, "why couldn't we wait for Sango and Miroku to come?"

Ahead of her, the hanyou sighed. "I told you, if Rei keeps what she does secret, it's easier to keep two quiet and out of everything than five, especially that damn fox. Imagine if we brought him!"

Kagome sighed. "No peace or quiet. If that was the case, why did we have to leave before dawn? I would have liked to say bye to everyone."

He turned around, stopping, and looked at her carefully for a moment. Her eyes were dull and more than a little tired with rather pronounced bags under them, her hair seemed to have lost its normal luster and her skin was rather pasty. She looked just plain sick and she was waning away every second they wasted. That was why he had gotten them out early, because saying 'bye' would have to be after breakfast, which would be after everyone woke up, which would be hours after dawn. They would only be leaving sometime before noon instead of being already partway up the mountain. How the hell was he expected to explain that to her without getting all mushy and 'I was too worried about you' and all that crap?

"We would have wasted too much time," That worked. "like we are now. C'mon."

He started to walk up the mountain again, but stopped when he realized Kagome wasn't following. "What now?"

She broke out of her revery and shook her head, eyes on the ground and thoughtful. "Nothing."

He knew when Kagome, actually most women, said 'nothing' it usually meant 'something', but she clearly wasn't in the mood to go into it. "So let's go."

She nodded and they began to move again, Kagome just a few paces behind. A large gust of wind hit them from behind and InuYasha stopped, sniffing it carefully. "Dammit, this is just what we need."

Kagome looked up and around, unconcerned about any approaching danger. She didn't sense any shards, so why worry? Maybe it was going to rain, she thought looking at the dark clouds that had recently appeared above them. "What?"

Before he could reply, a blue flash appeared and moved straight for Kagome. InuYasha had barely gotten her out of the way when it hit where she had been standing, destroying the rock in the process. When the dust cleared and he had ensured Kagome was alright, he looked up to see a youkai with long dark hair and freezing cold black eyes standing above them on a nearby ridge.

"Not bad, little man," grinned the youkai, "But I am confused. Why do you bother protecting such a pathetic mortal?"

"And I'd like to know how it's any of your business," InuYasha asked, Tessaiga already transformed in his hands.

The youkai's eyes harden enough to pierce steel as he charged, claws glowing green. As InuYasha prepared for his counter attack, an old woman appeared between them. She had long white hair tied in a ponytail almost identical to Kaede's and she wore a bright white kimono covered with little sakura blossoms and other flowers. Her face, although old, had smooth skin without a single wrinkle and her deep green eyes had the wisdom of the ages about them. Kagome took in her appearance very quickly, noting she possessed a jewel shard and enormous miko power that seemed to flow around her. Without even moving, she had cast up a barrier, stopping both demons in their tracks. She turned and looked at each of them in turn.

"I am Rie and this is my mountain." The woman spoke in clear tones that seemed to carry to each of them without any effort. "And on my mountain, I forbid fighting." She turned to the youkai, eyes cold and nearly glowing with anger, "I had expected more of thee, Takumaru."

"For give me Mistreess," stated the demon, kneeling, "I was merely..."

"I know what thee were doing, but it is the wrong way to do it. When I told thee to test them, I did not mean in battle." She turned to InuYasha. "Sheath thine sword if thy know what is good for thee."

He did so with hesitation, eyeing her suspiciously and with more than a little shock. "Rie, we've come for your help. My friend here, sh-"

Rie's eyes cut him off. "I know of thine misfortune, and thee have my sympathies, but I cannot help thy friend."

"What!" InuYasha stated in shock, "But you have to help her! We've come here looking for you because we were told you would help!"

"Would, not could. There are things beyond even my skill."

"Please, there must be something you could do for her. Anything at all?"

Rie paused and thought for a moment. "Perhaps, but tis dangerous."

He looked back to Kagome who was looking at the woman wide eyed before lowering his voice, "I'll do anything if it'll mean helping Kagome."

Rie looked at him in surprise and sudden interest as her green eyes inspected him carefully, measuring and judging him and his offer at the same time. "Anything, thee say?"

Kagome looked at InuYasha impassively, wearily, wondering what he would do.

He looked over his shoulder and smiled gently at Kagome before turning back to Rie, confident and fearless. "I promise, anything."

Rie considered for a moment and nodded. "A fair deal." She smiled and looked from the one to the other. "Continue up this path until thee reach my home. Takumaru will lead thee. When thee arrive, rest and eat the food there. We shall discuss the payment in the morning before the treatment."

With that, she disappeared as suddenly as she had come leaving them alone on the mountain. There was a moment of shocked silence before InuYasha broke it. "So, how far is this place?"

"Another few hours."

He nodded and turned to Kagome. "Get on. It'll be faster and we might not get caught in the rain."

She nodded and climbed on his back, hiding her face in his hair. He was such a fool. If only he could realize she wasn't worth as much as he kept thinking she was. He was a fool, but she had always liked him that way, so she supposed she couldn't complain. As they followed the strange youkai up the mountain, she shook off the bad feeling that echoed in her mind, or at least tried to, but it failed rather miserably only increasing her unease. Noone seemed to notice, but she could see the dark clouds around them weren't only threatening rain.

And there's chapter 14 finally. Had problems getting this to what I wanted, but I think I finally did. Sorry about the long wait. R&R please!