Loving Thru the Trials of Love

Wow...sorry this took so long...I was relishing in my first days of summer vacation and going to grad party after grad party for my cousins...and even people I didn't know! (Friends of evil father...) And I even had to see dear Kachie off at the airport for a fifteen day trip...where is my beloved sister-like friend, you ask? IN JAPAN! That lucky little chika is staying in Japan for FIFTEEN days! She even gets to stay with a host family for eight days! The two parents are English teachers and the daughter is in art club, and is thirteen...and is as in love with anime and manga as the two of us are! Her name is...get this...Kana! How awesome is that?

I told her that while she's there, she has to track down Rumiko Takahashi and get her autograph...as well as find the creator of Tokyo Mew Mew...I hate how Ichigo ends up with Masaya in the end...everyone knows she needs to be with Ryou Shirogane! Lol...I've only seen the dubbed American version, Mew Mew Power, but I hear that Tokyo Mew Mew is soooo much better...and I've seen clips of it in music videos...hell, I even made a Tokyo Mew Mew music video! It's to Frou Frou's version of 'I Need A Hero.' Dare I say it...it turned out quite well!

Lol...Tokyo Mew Mew is my new fascination for right now...and I'm even writing a fic of it for Kachie while she's in Japan...featuring Kachie and myself once again! (Yea...I like putting our characters in fics...I do it all the time...I write at least seven different fics a year that never make it to sad huh?) The fic was mostly a little something I wrote and printed out for Kachie to read on her flight...but I didn't get the whole thing done in time...she went to Japan with five out of sixteen pages...whoops...but I finished the chapter and she read it while she was there...and I have also finished chapter two...fo her plane ride home...but since she hasn't written me in a few days, I don't think she'll get it or be able to print it out...so...I'm hanging onto it for now...

Hey...if I get six reviews or more asking for it...I'll post the Tokyo Mew Mew fic...which is more focused around Kachie and myself...sorry...(oh, and Ryou doesn't end up with Ichigo...mostly because there are other rapid fan girls who are madly in love with him...mainly me...) The fic, in total, I have decided to be a long-term birthday gift for her...(btw, her birthday was on June 20th, so wish her a happy b-day in a review if you want...she reads them before I do sometimes...)

To Kachie, From Hekele:

Happy sixteenth birthday! This chapter, and an entire Tokyo Mew Mew fic, (whether it gets on or not,) go out to you! You're the best friend that a girl could ask for, and I know that I'm lucky to have you. I hope you had a great time in Japan and that it was your best birthday ever! You deserve it! hugs!

Now that I'm done being sentimental...I have a mini contest...(which you guys get partially because of Kachie...so thank her...) the prize will be a song fic to any of the following animes: Inuyasha, Rurouni Kenshin, Tokyo Mew Mew, Shaman King, Wolf's Rain, One Piece, Digimon, or, (dare I say it?) Pokemon.

The contest should be simple: I wrote some dialogue incorrectly in my last chapter. It is out of character on how this character has spoken since the beginning of this fic...Kachie brought my attention to it, (which is why you get the contest,) and I was wondering if anyone else could catch it. This is your only clue: it ISN'T Kagome...(like I said in the last chappie...she is supposed to be OOC...)

What you have to do is:

1. Give me the character's name.

2. Give me the piece of the character's dialogue that I messed up on.

3. Tell me what I did wrong.

If you are the first to give me these three things, in this EXACT order, you will win the song fic. In you review, please submit your preferred anime and story type, (angst, romance, etc.) as well...

Good luck and have fun!

Disclaimer: I own nothing...not even poor Rumiko...though...if I did...

Moonlit Nightmares

Hekele sighed as she hopped through the well. She was finally going home, well, her futuristic home that is...she was at home in either time. It had been about a week, and after periodic checks in their time, they found it safe to return. The pandemonium had ended, and school was starting back up the next morning. Hekele smiled joyously; she could finally sleep in a nice fluffy bed.

"Hekele...you're holding up the line down here...Kagome and I want a nice comfy bed and a lovely hot shower too...oh...and Grandpa is complaining...get a move on!" Kachie scolded. Hekele snapped out of it and continued on her way up.

"Sorry guys...I was just daydreaming about that comfy bed...I'm moving..." she said as she climbed over the top and found herself in the well house. She all but ran into the house, ditching her bag and shoes at the door and making a mad dash for hers and Kagome's bedroom to get a clean set of clothes, and then she ran into the bathroom before anyone could stop her.

It wasn't that she disliked bathing in the Feudal Era, in fact, she loved the hot springs to no end, but there was something about a shower with rose scented shampoo and conditioner that was calling to her that day. Perhaps it was because she hadn't been sleeping well.

Hekele lathered the shampoo into her hair as she went over the past few nights in her mind. She had been waking up from odd nightmares since three days ago, and it was unnerving. Some had to do with her father, and still some seemed not to have meaning. She would be running towards a warm, comforting light, and then suddenly it would turn into a cold and desperate darkness that seemed to suck the warmth out of her.

Hekele entertained the idea that maybe she was being warned to either shape up or go to Hell, but she couldn't figure out what trouble she had gotten into to warrant that idea, so she tossed it aside. The thought was belittled even more when she thought of all the evil creatures in the world...if her dreams were a warning from above...then they must never sleep with all their nightmares...

Then she thought about the fallen angel. That was a much more likely situation. She was probably subconsciously warning herself of the danger...or something like that. But why they came right after dreams of her father, she didn't understand. It just didn't make any sense.

As Hekele rinsed out the shampoo and put in her conditioner, she thought of yet one more possibility. Perhaps it didn't represent Heaven and Hell at all...maybe it only meant that she'd turn evil...

Ha! ONLY turn evil...that's a big ONLY...but...what if that's it? Wait...it's like a psychological riddle...what do I find warm and comforting? And then...what do I find so dark and cold that the warmth is stolen from my very being? I think that's the key to it's meaning... I won-

"Hekele! You've been in there for fifteen minutes! Get your ass out!" she heard Kachie yell, effectively snapping her out of her thoughts. She quickly rinsed the last of the conditioner and shut the water off. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her hair and put on her long black fuzzy bathrobe. She walked out of the bathroom, coming face to face with a very annoyed Kachie.

"Did I interrupt your day-dreaming?" Kachie asked, seeing Hekele's semi-dazed expression. Hekele usually was more upbeat after a warm shower...even if Kachie grouched about her taking forever...

Hekele sighed, "Yes and no...I'll be ok; go get what's left of the hot water before Kagome runs in..." Kachie nodded to her softly and went into the bathroom, carefully shutting the door behind her.

Hekele ducked into hers and Kagome's room and, noting that Kagome was not there, grabbed a red cami and a pair of black shorts as pajamas. She quickly dressed and threw her bathrobe back on over it. She slipped on her black slippers and headed downstairs. She needed junk food...

Feudal Era:

Sesshoumaru watched as Rin bounced around in the moonlight. She was picking flowers and humming one of Hekele's songs to herself. He found the tune bearable, and unlike some of the rather odd music he would hear from time to time in that era, it had a sort of melody. It was getting late however, and Rin needed her rest. Despite the fact that she was now a demon, she still was growing...and rest was necessary.

"Rin, it is time for you to go to sleep..." he said, just loud enough for her to hear him. Rin obeyed and quickly ran over to her Sesshoumaru, giving him a big hug.

"Ok Sesshoumaru-sama, Rin will go to bed! Good night!" she said as she released him and ran towards Kaede's hut and into the room she resided in. Sesshoumaru chuckled to himself.

"I expected a little more whining than that...oh well, she must be too tired to try..." he said to himself. He decided to take a walk to clear his head...something was bothering him.

After nearly ten minutes of walking leisurely, he found himself assailed with Inuyasha's scent. Curious, he walked a bit further toward the scent and found his brother sitting in a tree, and he appeared to be moping.

"Am I going to be forced into playing the good listener, or the good spy?" he asked candidly. Inuyasha growled loudly, signifying his bad mood. Sesshoumaru chuckled.

"Spy then?" When Inuyasha didn't answer, Sesshoumaru sat at the base of the tree he was sitting in, making himself comfortable, "Are you worried about Kagome still? She seems to have recovered nicely from your altercation a few days ago..."

"Shut-up jack-ass..." was Inuyasha's reply. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed.

"I don't believe that was a proper answer, dear brother, now tell this Sesshoumaru what's got you so agitated before he ceases to give a damn."

Inuyasha sighed to himself, he did want someone to talk to, and though he probably would have preferred one of the other girls, Sesshoumaru would have to do, "...Something happened...she wasn't just knocked out..." Sesshoumaru's curiosity was aroused further, and he spared Inuyasha a glance from his position on the ground.

"What didn't you tell us?" he asked. Inuyasha sighed.

"I should really talk to her about it first...she sort of...blacked out..." he said cryptically. Sesshoumaru didn't like where this was going.

"You don't mean when she went unconscious, do you? This...occurrence, happened before hand?" he asked. Inuyasha nodded.

"She was acting strange the whole way there...but after we got there she seemed back to normal...and then she blacked out, and went on a rampage...it was like she was dead to the world..." he consented. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened slightly.

"A rampage? That does not sound like Kagome...describe this rampage," he requested. Inuyasha took a deep breath.

"Well, the crystal chic was basically purifying us, like I said when we got back, and Kags was screaming...then, I don't know...something in her must have snapped. She practically tore that creature limb for limb, literally, not figuratively. There was so much screaming, but it was like she couldn't hear it...the whole area was caked in blood...it was insane...and I was pretty damn freaked out. That's when she went completely unconscious..." he explained.

Sesshoumaru was stunned. None of that had sounded at all like he had imagined, and he understood why Inuyasha had kept it from everyone, especially the girls' mother, grandfather, and younger brother. It seemed too out of place for even him to grasp. He couldn't think of anything to explain it...and yet, it most definitely wasn't normal.

"...You said she was acting strange on the way to this creature...what did you mean by that?" he tried, wanting to gather more information. Inuyasha obliged.

"She was just getting used to running at her full speed, and I decided to tease her a bit by running through the trees instead, then SHE did it as well! AT FULL SPEED! It was like she was competing with me! She ended up passing me, and even though I was proud, I was worried. Then she jumped to the tree tops and started running there as well! Then when she tripped, I caught her and we had a rough landing. I told her that she wasn't ready yet, but that she would get used to her senses and be able to do that stuff easier. Then she shoved me away and started yelling at me about how she didn't need my help and that she could take care of herself!" By the end of his story, Inuyasha was so animated that he was standing on the tree branch making gestures and yelling every other sentence.

Sesshoumaru rubbed his temples in agitation and sighed. None of these things were making sense. Kagome never acted in this way, and she most definitely never pushed Inuyasha away from her and yelled at him for helping her...

"I do not know what to say, little brother, perhaps speaking to her on this matter would be wise...none of it fits together..." he said.

Inuyasha sighed and looked at the sky, trying to get those thoughts out of his head for a while, "So, why are you out here?" Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes, in the midst of Inuyasha's rather puzzling situation, he had forgotten his own reason for sulking for a time.

"...Hekele hasn't been sleeping well, it seems that she is having nightmares of her father again. She had one the day the wave knocked the three out, but ever since three days ago, she seems to be having more, and they appear to be getting worse, judging by how many times a night she wakes up...Rin's told me about them, though she hasn't," he said. Inuyasha sighed, shaking his head.

"Fate seems to have an ugly sense of humor lately: Kachie's gotta go away, Kagome's acting strange, and Hekele's having nightmares...I wouldn't doubt it if Sango was about to start doing back-flips everywhere she goes the way things are going now..." he remarked, trying to find a bit of humor in the odd situation. Sesshoumaru smirked slightly, but nothing more.

"It would seem that way...let's hope things do not get worse..." he said, before rising and walking away silently. Inuyasha watched him go and sighed heavily, still quite bothered about the whole thing.

Thanks for listening though, I guess you're good for something bro.

Modern Era:

Hekele shot up, breathing heavily. She was covered in a cold sweat and tears alike, and her heart was racing. She had just had another pair of those dreams...and neither were pleasant. She curled up in the corner and rested her head on the wall. These had been horrid nightmares...worse than usual.

Dream Sequence:

She had been laying in a heap on the floor, covered in blood and tons of blankets, and she had looked to be pale and dehydrated. All the life in her eyes seemed to have been drained away...almost as if she had never possessed it in the first place. She appeared to be in a basement of some sort, and then the view shifted to a thermostat, which showed a whopping 110 degrees Fahrenheit. She couldn't move...she was too weak. Surrounding her were bloody knives and even a bloody baseball bat.

God...someone must really hate me... she had thought. Then a door had opened above her and light seeped into the dark room. There was a tall man standing there in the doorway, and though Hekele couldn't see his face, she knew who it was.

He descended the stairs and looked at her with disgust. He grabbed her throat and threw her into the nearest wall. He then held her there, strangling her, "Haven't you died yet? No one's coming for you...no one loves you..."

It had been the first time that Hekele had heard his voice in her dreams, and it haunted her. She then had the honor of feeling a knife pierce through her heart. And no one had saved her. She had died against that wall, in her father's grasp, with a knife in her heart, in mere seconds...and no one had stopped it.

End Dream Sequence

Hekele had never heard his voice since the day she had gone to live at the agency. Truth be told, she never wanted to hear it again, but part of her knew that someday she would.

Her other dream had been just as bad.

Dream Sequence:

Hekele was dancing. She was alone, spinning in circles and wearing a white gown. She was in a room so full of light that you had to squint to see her at all. Hekele had never seen such a beautiful light before.

Then Hekele saw a black speck on the floor. She stopped dancing to observe it curiously. It seemed so out of place, and yet so harmless...she was intrigued.

Close your eyes and disappear...

While darkness claws at your heart...

The speck suddenly exploded into a large pool of black. Little tentacles shot out and wrapped themselves around her arms, legs, and waist. She screamed and screamed, but no sound came out. Then she heard a voice...it was dark and seductive...it told her what a bad person she was, and that she had to be punished for her crimes...

Calling you...

Blaming you for all it's done...

Claiming you...

It slowly began devouring her. She continued to try to scream, but still, no sound came out of her mouth.

Can't you see it eating you?

Pulling you into its world?

Can't you see the pain it loves?

Causing you to fail!

It pulled her down to her knees into the begging position. And then she heard herself beg. When her voice finally seemed to work, it was begging for forgiveness for some crime she knew not of.

Fall and end this damn charade!

Let it end all your emptiness!

The darkness began to seep into her. Her bright, shining eyes lost their shimmer, and her smile turned into a sneer. Her soft facial features turned jagged and fiercely dangerous. The lost shimmer in those eyes was replaced by black irises with red specks in them. Her demonic features revealed themselves, only they seemed different somehow. They looked threatening instead of friendly and loving. Her long, white, gown was torn and tattered; the darkness seeped into it as well, turning it into an obsidian color. She cried tears of blood.

Turn your heart to steal...

And let your shackles fall!

Then the darkness released her. She looked damaged and almost evil. She was definitely not the same Hekele that had been dancing only moments beforehand. It was then that blood began flowing from her body. Her bloody tears stained her face; upon her arms, cuts appeared and bled horribly. Her legs were sliced in many places, and her old scars reopened and bled as well...

Let the crimson life adorn...

Every fucking thing you own!

Bleed until your blood runs dry!

Die and let the darkness in!

Then, the Dark Hekele in the dream looked up and sneered at what appeared to be a younger Hekele...perhaps from when she was about eight years old...before her troubles had begun... The Dark Hekele walked up to her with a look of pure hate and malice about her face. When she reached the trembling little one, she grabbed her throat and raised her from the ground. She brought her within an inch of her own face and snarled.

"Die and let me fucking win!"

End Dream Sequence

That had to have been the most terrifying sequence that Hekele had ever had. She couldn't sleep any longer, and didn't know what to do. She entertained the idea of waking Kagome up and talking to her about it...but she had seemed a little out of it for the past few days, and Hekele didn't want to bother her. She sighed and crawled out of bed; she was too awake to sleep. She slipped on her slippers and bathrobe and headed downstairs.

Once in the kitchen, she put on a pot of coffee and waited at the table for it to be made. She idly leafed through a couple of magazines and, when the coffee was done, grabbed a mug of it and sat on the livingroom couch. She turned on the television, making sure to keep the volume down, and absently flipped through the channels, hoping to find something good.

She was flipping channels until she came across Adult Swim. She kept it there and watched a Wolf's Rain marathon until dawn. She had made ten trips to the kitchen to get more coffee, and had actually made herself a second pot.

Souta came walking down the stairs groggily. He sat on the couch next to Hekele and watched the television for a few moments before turning to her and speaking.

"So, which episode is this? I can't remember..." he asked. Hekele sighed.

"It's the last one. You know, where they either make it to Paradise or die trying."

Souta frowned at her tone, "Have you seen it before?"

"Yep."

"What happened?"

Hekele growled at the television, "No power on this Earth will force me to tell you how disappointed in the ending I am..."

Souta nodded and snuggled up next to her, still rather sleepy, "Let me guess, they all died trying?" Hekele only nodded, allowing him to rest on her shoulder. If she couldn't have a good night's sleep, she'd compensate by letting him get back to dreamland.

Two hours later, Hekele had Souta wrapped up in a blanket and was still sitting by the television. Kagome had woken up...Hekele heard the shower upstairs. Kachie had then woken up because of the shower, and since she had fallen out of the bed when trying to get out, Grandpa had woken up due to the huge resounding thud, which in turn had woken up Ms. H., since Grandpa's room was right next to hers and he was hitting the ceiling with a broom because of all the noise. Souta remained blissfully asleep, however, and Hekele remained 'blissfully' awake.

Kagome came downstairs, looking rather chipper, and came across the sight of Hekele and Souta on the couch, "Aww...that would make an adorable picture...how long have you been awake?" Hekele snorted.

"All night..." she said. Kagome flashed her a look of concern.

"How come? Are you feeling all right?" she asked, feeling Hekele's forehead.

Hekele smiled slightly, "Physically, I feel fine, but mentally, I think I need some work." Ms. H. walked into the room and smiled at the two girls, until she saw the bags under Hekele's eyes and pale face.

"Oh dear...do you feel ill honey?" she asked, mimicking Kagome and feeling her forehead. Hekele shook her head.

"Nope...I just didn't sleep much...that's all..."

Ms. H. wasn't fooled, "How long have you been up?"

Hekele snorted once more, "Long enough to watch the entire Wolf's Rain marathon..." Ms. H. looked at her for a moment before shaking her head.

"You're staying home and resting...Kagome, please bring her work home from school..." she requested. Kagome nodded and went to work on getting some toast for breakfast.

Ms. H. looked at Hekele once more before taking Souta and ushering the girl upstairs, "Now go and get some sleep! If I walk in there and find you awake, you'll suffer for it!" It was a light joke, but Hekele couldn't help but shed a tear as she walked up the stairs.

Can't you see though? I'm suffering in my sleep...

Feudal Era:

"She didn't sleep all night. Apparently, she came downstairs around two in the morning and was awake ever since. She hasn't slept since then either...every time I go to check on her, she's wide awake. I don't know what to do...do you have any ideas?" Ms. H. explained to Lady Kaede. She had decided that Hekele's insomnia was troubling and she wanted the wise woman's advice. She knew that Kaede was the one that everyone in the feudal era turned to for advice, and couldn't think of a better person to ask herself.

Kaede seemed troubled, "These do not seem like Hekele's usual sleeping habits. I am worried as well...will she talk to ye about it?"

Ms. H. sighed, "I don't know if she would...she doesn't seem to be in the talking mood...she just refuses to sleep..."

Kaede sighed, "I hate to bring a fourth party into this...but perhaps ye should ask Lord Sesshoumaru to speak to her. She would willingly speak to him, and I'm certain that he would willingly come to speak to her about this problem...this is mighty strange..." Ms. H. sighed.

"Well, thank you Lady Kaede...I'm sorry to bother you with this, but the girls always said that you were the one they could talk to when they had a problem that they couldn't solve..." she said as she bowed politely to the old woman. Lady Kaede smiled at her and waved her hand.

"Ye are a lucky one to have such wonderful girls, and ye are lucky to have such devoted men after their hearts...they would do anything for one another...ye must know that..." she said.

Ms. H. smiled a bit, "Was that a hidden message?"

Lady Kaede smiled once more, "But of course...ye must not worry about the strange things that are happening...if Kachie is indeed taken from ye...I can guarantee that Koga will get her back sooner than ye would believe possible, and as for Hekele's sleeping troubles, ye know that whatever is causing them shall be taken care of by Lord Sesshoumaru...he has a way of calming her by only listening..."

Ms. H. sighed, "I can't help but shake the feeling that this is all connected to that...fallen angel...oh, you probably think I'm over-reacting..." Lady Kaede shook her head.

"No...I have entertained the same thought in my own mind many a time...and it is more than likely the case...but until Sango and Kagome show signs of something being wrong, we can't be sure..." she said. Ms. H. Studied her for a moment.

"Wouldn't things be more complicated if they were being caused by one person? I mean...they power it would take to do something like this..." she trailed off, worried.

Lady Kaede brushed her fears aside with a tell-tale smile that told of calm, "No...it would make it all the easier for them to deal with...because they would all be fighting for one another, and not their own cause...they love each other in one way or another, and would be happier avenging their own wrongs if they could help avenge a friend's wrong as well..."

Ms. H. smiled once more, "Thank you Lady Kaede...and I will speak to Lord Sesshoumaru...I have a hunch that Hekele really wouldn't speak to anyone else about this..."

Modern Era:

Sesshoumaru had all but jumped at the opportunity to discover the cause of Hekele's insomnia, and if she grew angry with him for being intrusive, he could always pretend to be indifferent and say it was Ms. H.'s idea...which it was...

He had gone down the well and had changed into some modern clothes as soon as he had emerged. Perhaps he would take Hekele for a walk...he found it soothing, and perhaps she would as well. Fresh air might do her some good after being cooped up in her room all morning...

He lightly knocked on her bedroom door and, when he received no answer, opened it quietly and walked inside. Upon a first glance, one would believe Hekele to be asleep, however, to Sesshoumaru's trained ears, her breathing was irregular, and he could easily tell that she was faking it.

"Come now Hekele, even as a human I can tell that you aren't slumbering..." he said smoothly. After a moment, he heard her sigh heavily before rolling onto her back to face him. She truly did look tired and pale, and there were dark circles under her eyes.

Sesshoumaru walked over and carefully sat on the bed next to her. He brushed some hair out of her face gently and looked at her for a long moment before either of them spoke.

"So, Mommy called in the calvary?" Hekele asked. Sesshoumaru allowed himself a small smile.

"Yes, and I must say, I am quite curious as to what is troubling you so much that you refuse to sleep..." he said nonchalantly. Hekele sighed once more.

"...It really isn't anything...I just couldn't sleep last night..." she said. Sesshoumaru took her chin in his hand softly and turned her face so that she was looking him straight in the eyes.

"Do not lie to this Sesshoumaru...I know that you are Hekele; with you, there is always a reason," he said wisely. Hekele just looked at him for a few minutes before grudgingly giving in. She really wanted to talk about it, and it was so hard to keep a secret from him...but she didn't want to worry him either...

"...Fine...I had more nightmares...It's childish...ok? It really isn't anything..." she said. Sesshoumaru didn't miss her tone of voice, however. She sounded as though she were trying to convince herself of the same thing.

He stroked her cheek with his thumb and sighed, "Will you stop acting Hekele-chan? I know that it is troubling you, and for that reason alone I would like to know it...childish or no."

Hekele took a deep breath, knowing that she had lost, "I've been having...multiple nightmares a night...and they always come in pairs...and last night's two were worse than usual..."

She proceeded to tell him about the two nightmares, and explain their significance to the best of her knowledge. When she had to explain the second nightmare, she had to double back and explain the poem pieces that had appeared in her head during the nightmare, and how they related to the events. Sesshoumaru's face was one of mild confusion and immense pain. Hekele began slowly breaking down just talking about the dreams; her tears were falling soon after beginning her tale of the second dream, and he could only imagine what it must have been like to experience them first hand.

He pulled her into a warm embrace and allowed her to cry into his shoulder. He stroked her back soothingly and rested his head on hers. Hekele only wrapped her arms around his waist and held him as if for dear life.

Sesshoumaru held her firmly for a few moments before speaking, "No one shall harm you while I'm here...do you understand? I will protect you..."

Hekele managed a weak smile in return, "What happens when we're separated by five hundred years?"

Sesshoumaru paused, not having thought of that, before retorting, "If anyone did do you harm while I was away, I'd kill them when I returned. But this much I can promise you for certain...I will never stop caring for you, and as long as I do care, you will be my top priority..."

Hekele giggled slightly, "And what about poor Rin?" It was Sesshoumaru's turn to smile, glad that she was slowly returning to normal.

"You and Rin are equal in my heart...what I would do for one, I would gladly do for the other...now ease your mind and get some rest...you need it..." he said jokingly. A stuffed bear slammed him in the head a few times before Hekele ceased her revenge for the comment. Sesshoumaru gripped her wrists so that she couldn't hit him anymore in one hand and gently gripped her chin with the other. He looked her in the eye for a moment, almost daring her to try something, before leaning down and placing a chaste kiss on her cheek.

He stood up to leave before she could react to the display of affection. When he reached the door he turned back to her and smirked to himself when he saw her touching her cheek and blushing, "Sleep, Hekele-chan, or I'll bring a rather loud Inuyasha with me next time and give you a valid reason not to..." With that, he left the room and silently closed her door. Hekele smiled to herself, still blushing, and curled back up in her bed. With Sesshoumaru acting so lovingly towards her, how could she not have sweeter dreams? She was willing to give it a try at least...

As he walked down the hall and down the stairs, Sesshoumaru couldn't help but allow his concern to slip onto his face. Hekele's dreams most definitely meant something, but what that something was, was a mystery, and he was worried.

None of it made sense to him, Hekele's dreams, Kagome's frightening behavior, or, Sesshoumaru thought idly, Kachie's sudden need to depart. The more he thought about it, the more he was convinced that everything was connected. But why did the fallen hate them so, and why was she only targeting the females in her revenge?

Only time would tell...

Feudal Era:

Lady Oyu stretched in her bed and felt two warm arms constricting her. She turned her head a bit and saw Kotaro's slumbering face. She smiled slightly and curled up closer to him, and he tightened his hold around her.

"Were you afraid this one would get cold, love?" she asked, teasing him lightly. Her response was him nuzzling her slightly and a light peck on the forehead. His expression broke into a soft smile as he opened his eyes to gaze upon her.

"Love...the spell is working better than this one would have expected..." she said idly, beginning to stroke his hair. Kotaro's smile faded slightly, but still remained.

"And what have you seen in your dreams my lady?" he asked. Lady Oyu gently pecked his cheek.

"Hekele seems to be having nightmares about her father, rather nasty ones at that. The spell was quite clever to give them to her so that she could slowly break before her true torture was bestowed upon her...she's also having nightmares about us love, right after the nightmares of her darling daddy..." she said.

Kotaro was slightly taken aback, "How about us? Our faces?" he asked, slightly concerned. Lady Oyu shook her head.

"No, the dreams are representation of our essences. She sees no person in them but herself...yet our auras and essences are in the dreams as well. You'll love how we torment her so love..." she said, snuggling into his hakama. Kotaro idly began stroking her long locks as the two lay there. After a few moments, he felt her breathing even out, signifying that she had gone back to sleep. Ever so carefully, he unwrapped her arms from him and gently laid her down beside him. He slowly got out of bed, making sure not to wake her. He quietly changed into a set of clothes he had retrieved the other day, for blending purposes, and folded his hakama and set it gently on the bed. He noticed that Lady Oyu was only half covered by the blanket and kindly tucked her in better, wanting her to be warm. Her night-gown was rather thin for the winter weather, and he didn't want her to catch cold while she was already almost too weak to get out of bed.

He gently pecked her cheek and walked to the doorway pausing when he reached to look back at the sleeping woman, "Is revenge all you dream of, love?"

Me: Well? Did you guys like it?

Sesshoumaru: Interesting...that...poem in the chapter...where did you get that dark and hateful piece of work from?

Me: (smiles) I wrote it. Then I published it in my long forgotten blog, and my band buddies online gave me an idea for a title, since Iasked for help. They told me that it reminded me of a song they wrote...

Sesshoumaru: (concerned) So...who are these psychotic idiots writing songs like that?

Me: The band is a local one, called born. You can go to http/ check them out; just look up 'born' in the music section!

Sesshoumaru: You're advertising these people?

Me: (shrugs) Why not?

Sango:(poofs into author's note) The next chapter is focused on Miroku and me...so read it! Also, do not forget the contest in the beginning author's note, or your vote whether or not Hekele should post her Tokyo Mew Mew fic...she will write it either way though...there's no stopping that...oh, and one more thing...

All characters in my Inuyasha and Tokyo Mew Mew fics: HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY KACHIE-CHAN! YOU ROCK ON ICE!