Chapter Twenty-two: The Journey for Love

Inuyasha carries Kagome back to the castle. Inside, they search for the others. He finds then at the entrance of the castle. "Hey, over here you guys."

Shippo runs over to Inuyasha smiling. He jumps up and hugs him, "Inuyasha! You're okay!" he glances down at Kagome, "What happened to her?"

Miroku and Sango walk over, "Yes, what happened?" Miroku asks again.

Inuyasha sighs, "Kagome's crystal broke, the curse is starting to take effect. We have to get out of here. I need to find the lunar flower, if I do I can save her."

Sango looks to Inuyasha, "What happened to Nobuo and Serenity?"

"Both of them are dead. What about Yumi?"

Shippo jumps up, "Whoa? You killed Serenity and Nobuo?"

"No, Nobuo was killed by Serenity, and Serenity was killed by Kagome. I had nothing to do with it." he says softly.

Miroku thinks for a moment, "I see, so that is how Kagome's crystal broke." he pauses, "Yumi was killed by Sesshomaru. We only got to fight demons and protect Rin."

Inuyasha smirks, "Looks like the only thing we have to do now is to break the curse, and seal the spirit. So lets go." Together they walk out of the castle with the doors closing behind them. They walk through the kingdom searching for the exit out of the strange world.

Out of the darkness a girl walks toward them. She is wearing a white kimono with her hair pulled back. She stops in front of the group and smiles, "Hello, you are searching for a way out right?"

Sango holds her weapon tightly, "Yes, what's it mean to you?"

"If you like, I can help you get out of here."

"You will? Who are you and why are you wanting to help us?" Sango asks, not trusting the young girl.

She giggles, "I am Tomoe. I use to work for Serenity, but now that she is dead I'm going to help you." Tomoe looks to their expressions and sees their approval. "Go into the field where the Fire Fox fell and hold up this mirror." she hands Sango the mirror.

"What will it do?" Shippo asks nicely.

"It will glow, opening a portal to your time. "Serenity would use it to appear and disappear like she did."

Miroku takes the mirror from Tomoe, "Thank you very much." they turn and walk away slowly. Miroku glances back at her, "Huh, Tomoe-san, would you," he pauses and takes her hand, "be willing to bare my children?" Sango glares at Miroku. She grabs him by his ear and drags him toward the others. Miroku winces with pain, "Ouch! Sango must you pull so hard!"

Once they make it to the field, everyone holds onto one another. Shippo sits on Inuyasha's head holding up the mirror. It glows and a light shoots down from the sky. First the light turns blue, then red, and then white like the snow. After the light disappears, Tomoe walks over and picks up the mirror that was left behind laying in the snow. She smiles slightly and holds the mirror up, "I wish you all good luck." she punches the mirror, shattering the glass. She whispers to herself, "My nightmare has ended... my soul is now free." Tomoe disappears into the white crisp air. Her voice fades, "Artemis... Julian... you have been avenged..." The dark castle in the winter storm begins to crumble. The Kingdom of darkness has fallen. All of the slaves trapped within are free.

Inuyasha opens his eyes, he glance over and sees his friends talking to Koga. Shippo walks over and smiles at him, "Inuyasha Koga was near by and he picked up our scents. We told them what had happened and he wants to help. He said he will let us stay at the wolf den while you go find the cure."

Inuyasha picks up Kagome and walks over to Koga. "You will let us stay at your wolf den?"

Koga growls, "Yeah, only because I owe you one for stabbing you last time. Also cause Kagome needs you. I'm not going to let her die."

He nods his head, "How far are we from your den?"

"Not too far. Lets go now." they run into the forest, heading toward the wolf den. Koga glances over at Inuyasha, "So Serenity is dead eh? I can't believe Kagome was the one to kill her though. I didn't think she had it in her." he pauses, "Inuyasha, I was thinking, maybe I should go with you on your journey. You could use some help."

Inuyasha nods, "Yeah, I could. So why don't you come with me then Miroku and the others can take Kagome to your den."

Koga grins, "Wow mutt, you are actually thinking things through for once. Okay, lets do it then." he whips around and faces the others, "Change of plans, you guys will take Kagome to the den. Inuyasha and I will go to the mountains. We can't waste any time, so lets move!"

Inuyasha hands Kagome to Sango, "Please take care of her.." he whispers softly. He takes off in the other direction with Koga following him closely.

Sango holds onto her and smiles, "Don't worry Inuyasha... I will." she pauses and looks to Kirara, "Can you pick up the wolf's scent?" The large cat demon nods its head. Sango places Kagome on the demon's back. "Lets go."

Inuyasha and Koga run toward the mountains full speed. They run past valleys and through forests. Hours pass and finally they reach their destination. Koga sniffs the air and glances around. "Well, we are here. Now what?"

The half demon looks to the top of the mountain. Mist and snow covers everything above. He sighs and turns to Koga, "We have to go up there. Into the forest near the top. Nobuo gave me this note, it has directions and a small drawing of a strange demon."

"Let me see." Koga takes the note from Inuyasha and looks it over. "Oh I know of these mountains. I have heard there are strange demons there that are very dangerous. I have also heard of a hut in the middle of the forest with a barrier around it. That is probably where we have to go."

Inuyasha nods slightly and begins to go up the mountain. "Lets hurry then." He disappears into the thin mist and into the forest. Koga growls and follows him closely.

Sango lays Kagome on a large pill of hay and animal skins. Genta and Hakkaku peek theirs heads out from the entrance. They walk inside and greet Miroku and the others. Genta looks to Kagome, "So how is she?"

Shippo sits down next to her and sighs, "She is just sleeping. Her skin is cold and damp with sweat. Kagome looks as if she is dead, but she isn't I don't understand."

Sango kneels down beside the kitsune. She smiles warmly and pets his head. "Shippo, I remember Kagome telling me a story about a princess. She told me that the princess was put under a spell which made her sleep and appear dead. The princess had to wait for a prince to give her true love's first kiss. Once she was kissed by the prince, she awoke. After that, they were married and lived happily ever after."

Miroku glances over at her, "So you think something like that has happened to Kagome?"

She nods, "Yes. I mean, look at her. She looks dead, but is sleeping."

Shippo closes his eyes so he can think to himself. He then looks to the others, "I wander what Kagome is dreaming about. If she dreams while she is like this." his voice fades and he lays down. "Maybe, after Inuyasha wakes her up, she will tell us." he mumbles and falls asleep.

Fire covers everything in the kingdom. Smoke as black as night hides the moon causing everything to be consumed in darkness. Kagome runs pass the huts with tears streaming down her face. She thinks back to what Koga had said to her at the hill top. "He told me he was here. He told me he was in the castle. Inuyasha! I'm coming!" She reaches the entrance to the castle. A large gate blocks her way, "Oh no.. what am I going to do!" She begins to panic, but suddenly the gate breaks and collapses. Kagome turns around to see Kirara growling. "Kirara? What are you doing here?" The cat demon walks up to her and pushes her forward.

"KAGOME! GO NOW!" Sango runs up beside Kirara and Kagome.

"Sango?" she blinks, "Wait whats going on? How did you-"

Kirara and Sango push her forward again. "Just go Kagome, Inuyasha needs you. Kirara and I will be fine. Please just go, he is in trouble!" As they watch Kagome leave, they look to one another and disappear.

Kagome nods and rushes into the castle. She finds steps leading up to a tower. "He is up there." She runs up the steps quickly. "Sango said he was in trouble. I have to hurry." She begins to see the spinning wheels again. They appear all around and the spirits laughter surrounds her. Kagome covers her ears and screams. "Go away!" She can see the door to the tower now. She leaps across a large hole in the steps and grabs the door. She pushes it open only to find more stairs. "Hold on... I'm coming Inuyasha.." she gasps for air. Then when she catches her breath, she begins to run once again. "I'm coming..." she whispers.

Inuyasha and Koga reach the snowy forest. The can now smell the scent of lunar flowers. Demon scent is in every direction. Inuyasha growls, "I don't like this... demons are everywhere, but its so hard to track them."

Koga nods, "I know.. but we are going to have to try." They walk into an opening in the forest. The wolf growls as he hears scratching at the ground. Suddenly, the ground cracks and Inuyasha falls into the freezing cold lake under them. "Shit, it was ice!" he kneels down to help Inuyasha out of the water, but a demon leaps onto his back. It bites into his neck. Koga winces and rips the demon off of him. He turns around only to find more demons surrounding them. Inuyasha tries to climb out of the water while Koga fights the demons, but he continues to slip back in. He growls and pulls himself halfway out, but something under the water grabs his legs and pulls him completely under the water. Once he is under water, he can see one of the demons. Inuyasha kicks it away and claws at it. He swims back up for air. Koga reaches down to pull him out. Inuyasha takes his hand and climbs out. He pulls out his sword and slices at the demons. Koga looks to Inuyasha, "There are too many of them! We have to run!"

Inuyasha doesn't like to runaway from a battle, but he knows they have to. He growls, "Fine!" The two of them run into the forest again and sniff the air for anything other then lunar flowers and demons. As they run, Inuyasha can hear the demons chasing after them. He then feels a sharp pain fly into his neck. He reaches up only to pull out a dart. He growls and throws it down not caring. Inuyasha picks up Nobuo's scent. "I think I found his hut!" He runs toward the scent and sees a small snow covered hut. He pulls out his sword again, "I'll take down the barrier." his sword turns red and slashes through the barrier around the hut. Once its gone, he grabs Koga and rushes into the hut. Koga locks the door behind them and looks to Inuyasha who is looking very tired. "Koga, we have to look for the directions or potion. He said it is written somewhere in here."

Koga nods and searches through all of the jars on the shelves. "There are thousands of lunar flower potions up here. How do we know which is which?"

Inuyasha flips through papers on Nobuo's desk. He scans them over, "There are a lot of directions for cures here. I'll try to find the one that matches what Kagome has." He finds a paper that has 'DREAMS' written on it. He reads it over. "I think I might have found it."

Koga walks over and looks at the paper, "What is this all about?"

"It says that there are spirits that can control what a person is dreaming. So while they sleep, the spirit makes the dream seem so real, that it is. So what ever happens to the person in the dream, it really happens to that person." Inuyasha growls and thinks back to the spirit.

The wolf thinks it over, "So, if she were to die in the dream, it will really happen!"

He nods, "I think this is the cure for it." he pauses and looks to the paper. "Kagome looked as if she was just sleeping when we left her. She was cold and pale. I think the spirit is going to try and kill her in her false dreams."

Koga growls, "Well, what does it say to do?"

Inuyasha growls back and reads it over. As he does so, his vision begins to blur. He starts to become dizzy and weak. "I-I..." he reaches for his head. "We have to.." he tries to talk. "G-Go to the jar of just lunar flowers. Pull out three." he mumbles. Koga nods and grabs the jar. He pulls out three lunar flowers and returns to Inuyasha. "Now.. crush them in a bowl and mix in thistle thorns in it. After you are done with that..." Inuyasha stops and falls to his kneels.

Koga's eyes go wide, "Hey! Whats wrong with you?"

The hanyou glances up to him, "I... don't know... I just feel very dizzy ..and cold... "

He growls, "Well, maybe its because you fell into the water. You'll be fine. Just tell what to do next." Inuyasha sits down and tells Koga how to finish the potion. After about an hour of waiting, he is finally finished. Koga hands Inuyasha the bottle with the potion in it. "There. Its done. Now, lets get out of here." Inuyasha nods weakly and tries to stand. He winces in pain. Koga watches him struggle then helps him up. "Whats wrong? You look even worse then before. You are very pale and-" he then picks up a weird scent on the hanyou's neck. His eyes go wide in fear, "Inuyasha, were you hit by anything on our way here?"

Inuyasha looks to him, "Yeah, why? I was hit by a small dart... in my neck."

The wolf demon throws him up against the wall, "Why the hell didn't you say anything? You were poisoned! You idiot! Now what are we going to do?"

"I was poisoned..?" he closes his eyes and sighs. "That doesn't matter... all that matters is that we get back to Kagome... she is more important then I am..."

Koga punches him and sits him down, "If you die, how am I suppose to get out of here alone to save Kagome? I need you! So just sit down and shut up while I find a cure for you now!" Koga searches around for a cure for the poison. Since Nobuo lived in the mountains with the demons, he would have to have a cure for the poison. Sure enough, he finds a small amount of the cure left in a tiny jar. He hands it to Inuyasha. "Drink it."

Inuyasha nods and drinks the potion. He slowly stands up and walks toward the door with Koga's help. "Okay.. carry me... once we get to the bottom of the mountain where those damn creatures don't live... put me down and I'll run beside you..." he pauses, "That why.. the cure can take effect.." They open the door and rush outside. Inuyasha leans closes against Koga's back glancing back to watch the demons chase them. Koga smirks and decides to run as fast as he can, since he doesn't have to wait for Inuyasha to catch up.

Sango wipes the sweat from Kagome's brow. She looks to Shippo, who is very worried. She tries to smile with a hopeful look, but it looks fake. "She'll be fine. Don't worry. Inuyasha will make it back in time to save her. Her life is in good hands.

Miroku stares off into the distance, "Well lets hope so.." he mumbles.

Genta sets down a bowl of fresh cold water. "Here you go. I brought the water like you asked for."

Hakkaku rushes over to his side, "Yes, and I brought the herbs you asked for as well."

Sango smiles and takes the herbs, "Thanks you two. Why don't you go scan the area to see if Inuyasha and Koga are coming." They nod and take off outside. Sango feels fur brush up against her leg. She smiles at the small cat demon that meows at her. "Oh, Kirara, everything is okay. But, please do me a favor, sit beside Shippo and watch over Kagome. I need to talk to Miroku." Kirara meows and sits beside Shippo. Sango walks over to Miroku and smiles slightly. "May I sit?"

He nods happily, "Of course Sango." Miroku makes watches her sit down next to him. He takes her hand and squeezes it gently. "We have done all we can Sango. We just have to wait for Inuyasha to come back now. I am hoping he will return on time."

Sango leans her head on his shoulder, "He will, with Koga yelling at him and pushing him, he will make on time."

Miroku laughs, "Yeah, I agree." he pauses and glances over to Kagome. "but.. I'm still worried..."

"As we all are.." she kisses his cheek. "We just have to keep hope alive in our hearts, right Miroku?" Sango looks into his eyes and tries to smile. Instead, she buries her face into his chest and cries.

He pats her back to comfort her, "Don't worry Sango.. no matter what... Inuyasha cannot fail.." Miroku closes his eyes and kisses her forehead. "He will make it and save her. Because she is waiting for him. She is waiting for him to save her. Inuyasha will not fail."