Chapter Nine: Sleeping Hanyou

Kagome places a wet rag on Inuyasha's forehead. She sings softly to herself then turns to see Kaede walk into the hut. She is holding a blanket in her arms, she hands it to Kagome. She takes it and covers Inuyasha with it. "Kaede... why hasn't he awakened yet? Its been three days..."

"I don't know child... but don't worry about Inuyasha... he will be fine." Kaede gives Kagome a reassuring smile, but it doesn't help. She sighs and walks back outside to leave them be.

Shippo runs over to Kaede, "Hey, how is Kagome and Inuyasha?"

"Their fine, Inuyasha still hasn't come to, but he will soon."

"Yeah, right, thats what you said last time..." Shippo sees Kirara and decides to go play. Sango taps Kaede on the shoulder, "Kaede, Miroku and I found something interesting by the Scared Tree. I think you should come and take a look at it." Kaede nods then follows Sango.

When they reach the Sacred Tree, they see Miroku with his back facing them. Sango runs over to him, he turns and smiles at Kaede. "Oh, Kaede-sama, I think you should take a look at this." Miroku points to the tree. "On the other side." she walks over and sees a mirror on the tree.

"Oh my, what is this doing here?"

"We don't know. We had tried to take it off, but its stuck on there."

"How odd. I was here two days ago, and this wasn't there."

"What do you think we should do?"

"I don't know..." she turns and is about to leave when she sees an image forming on it. "Eh?" The mirror shows Inuyasha running, he is then hit by an arrow.

((Btw, this is a flashback.))

Inuyasha winces and hears a soft cry. He thinks to himself. W-what? I can hear... I thought I was dead... He tries to open his eyes, but nothing happens. Am I dreaming? What's going on? He hears the cry again. What is that? It sounds like a child crying... He tries to speak, but his lips don't move. I must be dreaming...

"Who's there?"

"What? Who said that!"

"Can you hear me?"

"Yes, but who are you?"

"You can, hear me, but can you see me?"

"No, what are you? A ghost that lives in the tree?"

"I-I don't know... I can't see anything... only hear.."

"Oh, well, thats weird."

Inuyasha laughs softly, "What's your name?"

"Higurashi Kagome. What is yours?" Kagome moves closer to the scared tree and smiles brightly.

"Me? Inuyasha..."

"Inuyasha?" she giggles.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing, I like your name, its cute."

"Cute?"

"Yup."

"Hm.. your an odd child, you know that?"

"Yeah, I am an odd child. I mean, I am friends with a tree!" she pauses and thinks for a moment. "...uh.. or a tree spirit, or ghost, or whatever you are." she smiles when she hears him laughing. Kagome hears her mother calling her, she jumps up. "Inuyasha, I have to go inside now. I'll be back tomorrow, I promise."

"Wait... you called me your friend... do you mean that?"

"Of course I mean it. Bye bye." she skips off into the comforts of her home. Inuyasha sighs and thinks to himself, Maybe I am just dreaming... this girl isn't real... everything is just a dream...

After weeks of Kagome visiting the sacred tree, Kagome's father decided it was time for her to find someone real for his daughter to be friends with. He calmly walked over to her and kneeled down. "Kagome." she continues laughing and doesn't notice her father next to her. "Kagome." She jumps up and turns around.

"Yes Daddy?"

"Kagome, who are you talking to?"

"My friend, Inuyasha."

"Inuyasha?"

"Yup, he is a half demon. He tells me all sorts of stories about his past. Most of them are sad though..." she pauses, "But there are funny ones too!"

"Ah, I see. Well Kagome, I met this young man named Nobuo Tanakashi. He will be here in a few minutes. I would like you to play with him, alright?"

"Okay, I can introduce him to Inuyasha." Her father gives her a fake smile and nods his head. He then gets up and walks back inside. Kagome turns her attention back to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha, I have to go soon."

"I heard Kagome, don't worry I'll be fine."

"Okay, but... until Nobuo comes, I want to stay here with you, okay?"

"Thats fine Kagome..."

"Oh! Inuyasha, did I tell you about my dream?"

"No... you haven't, what did you dream about?"

"I dreamed about you." he laughs which causes her to pout. "Hey I did, I may not have seen you before, but I know it was you I dreamed about."

"Okay Kagome, calm down... what did I look like in your dream?"

She giggles, "You had silver hair and you had a red kimono on. Everything was blurry so I couldn't see your face."

"Wow... we must have met before..."

"What do you mean?"

"Thats what I look like. Your dream was right."

"Really? Wow!" she smiles and dances around. "Well, in the dream, I was a beautiful princess and you were my warrior. My kingdom was in trouble and you came and saved me." she leans against the scared tree. "Inuyasha... would you come and save me if I were in trouble?"

"Yes... I would."

"Promise?"

"Yes, I promise. I will always be there when you need me."

"I love you Inuyasha..." she sees a boy walking up the shrine steps. She starts to walk away. "Bye Inuyasha."

"Bye Kagome... "

Later that night Kagome climbs out of bed and walks to the sacred tree. She lays down next to it. "My daddy is missing, did you see him?" she listens, and hears nothing. Kagome frowns and tears form, "Are you still their? Were you already set free?"

"No... I am still here. What's wrong Kagome?"

"My daddy is gone..."

"Oh... I don't think I can help you... I'm sorry Kagome..."

"Its okay Inuyasha, I still love you." she smiles and looks to the ground. "Inuyasha"

"Yes Kagome?"

"Do you still love Kikyo?"

"I-I don't know..."

"Oh..."

"Kagome, don't worry, I love you."

Kagome smiles and hugs the tree. "Inuyasha, you are lonely out here aren't you?"

"It is kind of lonely yes... but I'm fine... I am use to being alone."

"Inuyasha...I am here now, you won't be alone anymore..." she lays down and closes her eyes. "Goodnight Inuyasha."

"Goodnight Kagome..."

The next day, Inuyasha hears a someone crying softly. "Kagome?" She sits up and looks to the tree. She wipes her eyes and hugs her legs. "Kagome... what's wrong?"

"We are leaving..."

"What do you mean?"

"My daddy said we have to leave... because we aren't safe anymore."

"Your not safe anymore? What's happening?"

"I don't know... but I am scared..."

Inuyasha sits up quickly, bumping his head into Kagome's. He winces and lays back down. She rubs her head then smiles at him. "Inuyasha, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am fine... I think." he sits up and Kagome hugs him. He hugs her back, "Kagome, what's wrong?"

"I was worried.. thats all..." she starts to cry and he sighs.

"Don't cry... you'll get a headache."

"I don't care..." he laughs then lets go of her. "Inuyasha, what were you dreaming about?"

His heart starts to pound, "It was strange..." He remembers Kagome's voice and how she was crying.

"What happened Inuyasha?"

"Kagome... do you remember what happened to you when you were a child?" Kagome gasps and stares at him in shock. He takes her hand, "Do you remember who it was you talked to?"