Chapter 5: Just a Dream?

All were awake the next morning, except for Kagome and Karen, of course. Inuyasha stayed inside with the two as they rested while the others went outside to eat. He seemed a little worried, but no one took any notice.

"Karen's dream seemed a little suspicious… I don't think that she was sleepwalking. Is it possible that a demon had possessed her body…?"

He watched Kagome as she slept. Soon, she began to moan and her eyes opened.

"… Inuyasha?" she asked in a soft voice as she began to sit up. Kagome looked around the room, "Where is everyone?"

"Outside eating…. Kagome…," Inuyasha began.

"Yes?"

"Do you remember last nights dream?"

Kagome was a little confused. Why would he be asking about her dreams? Something was up, she could feel it. But before she could ask about that, she remembered her dream from that night. It was very… strange and oddly demonic….

…………………………

Kagome had risen from the cold ground. She was no longer a teenager, but a small child about eight years old. She was surrounded by darkness… an odd darkness that gave off a strong, demonic aura. Suddenly, before her very eyes, appeared a floating orb of light. It danced in front of Kagome's face.

"Come, child…. Come to your forever fate…." a womanly voice spoke, but there was no figure around.

The light drifted farther and farther away into the darkness. Curiosity tempted Kagome, but she knew that this could only lead to trouble. She was about to turn and run, but the body walked forward as if it was possessed. Her mind resisted the luminous light, but her body wasn't listening. They orb circled around Kagome's waist, as if playing a simple game of tag with her, and continued off. Kagome giggled and ran after the light.

"Wait… did I just giggle…? If I was truly possessed, there'd be no way I would show any emotion at all. Am I sharing a body with…?"

Suddenly the orb approached a river and dropped in. The deeper it sunk, the dimmer the light grew. Kagome approached the river (unwillingly) and the water reflected…

"KAREN!"

After discovering Karen and her shared the same body, Kagome tried to get into Karen's mind and warn her of the evil.

"Follow the orb, follow the light!" the voice commanded one last time. Kagome realized what was happening.

"Someone's trying to drown Karen!"

With all her might, Kagome attempted to will the body away. But instead of luring Karen away, she just stood there; frozen solid.

"She's unsure…."

Then there was a sudden, familiar voice, "Karen!"

"…Inuyasha?"

…………………………

"Well…" Inuyasha said calmly, but annoyed.

Kagome lifted her head blankly, "Hm?"

"Well, are you going to tell me about your dream or not?!" Inuyasha grew a bit more impatient.

Kagome gave him a small smile and giggled, "Don't worry it was nothing."

"I hope it was nothing…."

Kagome looked at Karen and wondered if she remembered the same dream. Inuyasha watched Karen also. "Hey, Kagome, you're awake!" Koga appeared at the entrance.

"Hi, Koga!" Kagome said, "Did you sleep well?"

Koga walked up and grabbed Kagome's hand, "Dear Kagome, always caring for others. Will your kindness ever cease to support me?"

Kagome smiled nervously as she thought, "I only asked if he had a good nights sleep…."

Inuyasha glared at Koga. "That wimpy wolf sure is full of himself…!"

"Why don't you come outside and eat? I saved you a fish," Koga insisted.

"She'll eat when she wants to!" Inuyasha said to Koga.

"I was being polite; a quality that mutts like you don't possess!"

"Quiet both of you!" Kagome silenced the two, "You'll wake Karen. Maybe we should talk outside." Without a word, Koga and Inuyasha followed Kagome outside the shelter.

"Hey, you're awake! Come and eat with us!" Sango waved.

Kagome rushed over, anxious to eat. Once she took in that scent of fresh fish, she just dropped where she was, reached for the food and dug in, but surprisingly kept her manners about her.

"Why don't you eat, Inuyasha? You've been inside all morning, you must be hungry," Miroku insisted.

Kagome took a break from her food for a moment, "You were inside all morning? Why?"

"He was waiting for you to wake up," Shippo answered her while examining his meat before swallowing it whole. Kagome blinked. "Waiting for me…?"

Inuyasha ignored the two. "I'm not hungry…" he lied.

Miroku sighed, "Sometimes, he's just so stubborn…."

"You got that right…." Sango agreed.

Then, Karen walked outside rubbing her eyes as she joined the group.

"Good, Karen, you're up," Kagome said handing her a fish, "Here, have some fish." Karen stared at the food in disgust, "Again?" Not wanting to be rude to the people who were so kind to her, Karen accepted the food and swallowed it with heavy gulps.

"So, how did you sleep?" Kagome asked.

Karen shrugged, "Pretty well, I guess…."

She didn't want to talk about her dream. People would get all worked up over it and ask her tons of questions which she knew she couldn't answer, so why bother telling? She took a seat right next to Inuyasha and looked up at him. Inuyasha stared back at her with an annoyed expression.

"What?!"

"… Nothing…" she said with a smile and looked away. Inuyasha stared at her for a moment with confusion. "She really does remind me of Kagome."

"We should be headed out of here soon," Miroku said, "The man who trusted us with this hut said we could stay for a couple of days, but I believe we are all rested up and are ready to seek for the last remaining shards, am I right?"

Kagome nodded. She looked at the pearly and fairly large jewel shard tied around her neck. She figured there were about… ten shards left including Koga's and Kohaku's. It shouldn't take that long to find them.

"But what about Koga and Karen?" Kagome thought out loud, "Koga's wounds are not yet recovered and Karen is too young to defend herself."

Inuyasha stood up, "Forget it! Koga can handle himself just fine. As for Karen, I think we should take her with us. We can't trust her with anyone else."

"Inuyasha's right," Sango said to the others, "Karen's too young to go out by herself and, like Inuyasha said, we can't trust her with anyone else. After all, she is Kagome as a child. We are somewhat responsible for her."

Everyone agreed that Karen would join them on their journey, but Koga wasn't fully recovered and would have to travel along as well. Kagome had to continue nursing Koga back to health. Inuyasha was obviously annoyed with that, but at least Karen would be traveling with them. Inuyasha had to protect her somehow, because he knew something was out of its place and out to get her... he just didn't know what.

(This chapter's a bit confusing, I know.) Just to state the obvious, let me point out that Karen and Kagome had the same dream. Coincidence? I think NOT! Hope you enjoyed. And if you did, then feel free to REVIEW! (I'd like around… 12 reviews for now, please!)