As I slowly sipped the tea, I tried to clear my head. It was alright. No one was going to harm me. Inuyasha was in here. And he would never hurt me in anyway. At least directly.

Kaede was here. She was a good old woman. I shouldn't fear her. I won't fear her. Shippou couldn't even hurt a puppy, let alone me. Well -- he couldn't hurt a puppy but he could taunt very very well. And Sango? She was like the sister I never had! Miroku -- the only thing I had to fear was his hand.

And not because of that built in vacuum.

My face felt a bit dry where my tears had fallen so I raised a hand to rub my cheek. I suddenly noted how big the room was. And just how everyone was watching me out of the corner of their eyes.

What? Did they think I was a head case? That I would flip at any second? It wasn't like I would start to feel murderous and slice them with my sharp claws, starting with their jugular and making them feel pain as their life slowly dripped out of - what am I thinking?

I would never - I could never do anything like that. I don't even have claws. No! That not what I meant! I could never to that to them, so trusting and so innocent and so... easy...

What is wrong with me? It's not like I'm a - a... demon...

Nightmares and Visions

Empathy

by: bs

What was wrong with me? I finished my tea slowly, and although I tried to appear as casual as I could, my hands shook as I put down my cup.

"Is everything alright Kagome-chan?" Sango asked, peering with a worried look on her face.

"No - no... I'm fine. It's just a little tramatizing that's all..." and I forced myself to laugh. It sounded so hollow and shrill compared to my usual laugh. Seeing Inuyasha's slight wince confirmed on the shrillness factor.

"Ye do not be dumb and lie to us. Ye should tell us what is wrong... there is no other way to help ye Kagome." Kaede said wisely. I chewed on my bottom lip, unwilling to say anything.

Maybe if I chewed long enough my lip would disappear and I wouldn't be able to talk...

"Kagome...?" Miroku prompted.

Hm. That wouldn't work. I didn't want to say anything... not about those images that just keep dancing in front of my eyes... especially not in front of Shippou...

...where was Shippou...? I scanned the room casually but I couldn't see the little tyke. Perhaps he had left the hut while I was in thought...?

As I was thinking, a small hand suddenly pressed against the small of my back, making me stiffen. Oh dear lord.. what was it? I emitted a whimper, a gasp of sorts.

"What's wrong Kagome?" Inuyasha gazed at me with worried eyes.

"I - I... nnmm..." My eyes widened. I could feel the coldness of the air around them. The hand... the little little hand suddenly was joined by two. And now there was a - a face pressed into my back... oh dear lord... what the hell was happening? Couldn't Inuyasha or Miroku or Kaede detect this monster?

"Gods..." I breathed and closed my eyes.

"What's wrong Kagome-chan?" a small voice piped up from behind me. It was Shippou... I relaxed quite noticably and raised my arms, shaking and covered my face.

"Nothing... nothing nothing nothing..." there was nothing wrong... it was me that was the problem. I must be going crazy... truly... gods... I had though... oh god I had thought it was the little white boy.. that pale white boy with the dark soulless eyes who was behind me...

But I am... don't you recognize your own son Mama?

I snapped my eyes open and gasped loudly, rocking forward. Everyone rushed towards me as I fell over, a black coming over my eyes. I was not unconscious. I did not faint, but my body would not respond. I could hear their anguished whispers as Kaede examined me. I could feel her hand slip over my heart and I felt a cold cold chill run throughout my veins.

Where had that voice come from? Where had that emotionless voice come from? It was in my head. It echoed. It echoed and now I cannot forget it. Mama... it had called me it's mother. I'm not anyone's mother. I'm not its mother. I can't be its mother! I'M NOT A MOTHER.

AN: I'm sorry for the lackness of updating but really -- I'm just winging this story. Worry not, the next chapter is already being written as we speak, sorta, and so the updating should occur around Christmas... and as a note I would like to mention that the titles of each chapter do have a meaning. So question not the sanity of me!

And yes - I realize my chapters for NAV are shorter than my other stories but what can you do? I like it better like this. I'm taking the tip of a friend who says that writing shorter chapters will result in faster updates. Hm. Let's see if it true.