DISCLAIMER: The AMP does not own Inuyasha, it's characters, "Night Terrors", or Static-X...All lawyers can burn in hell!

AMP: Sorry this chapter is a little later than most. Amp has been rather busy.

Sessho: All of you readers are getting spoiled! AMP can't always update every two days or so! What with school and work...

AMP: Awwww...Thank you for taking up for me Sessho...

Kags: NOW who's the suck up?!

Inu: Nah...He's just trying to get AMP into a good mood so that he can have another vacation.

AMP: Inu, shut up...

Kags: Yeah, or I'll show everyone the pics of you from AMP's party!

Inu: What pics?

Kags: Let's just say that my makeup supply has been decimated and I still can't find my old playboy bunny costume...

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Chapter 7: Night Terrors

Sesshomaru watched from an open window as Rin showed Kagome around the castle grounds. She had not spoken a word since meeting Rin, but he saw the way her features softened when the child laughed. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but himself, but his ward had the same effect on him.

Turning away from the window he took a look at the room his only female servant had prepared for the miko. He knew little about the way humans decorated, but he assumed that all females had something in common and trusted his servant's taste. The room was furnished with an armoire, a full-length mirror, and a desk, all made out of the same dark wood. The bed clothes were made of black silk embroidered with small blue sakura flowers and branches while the pillows were made of blue silk.

"The next step," he mused, returning to the window, "is to get her out of those ridiculous clothes." He gave the servant orders regarding the miko's garments and then headed for the courtyard.

"Kagome-chan! Kagome-chan! Watch Rin!" the young girl shouted as she turned cartwheels in the palace courtyard.

The miko looked up from the flowers she had been helping Rin gather. The child's upbeat disposition really was contagious.

Kagome was distracted by the sound of footsteps from her left. "Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin ran towards her guardian and tugged on the side of his hakama until he knelt down next to her.

"What is it Rin?" the demon lord asked, watching Kagome as she went back to picking flowers.

"Kagome-chan's heart is breaked isn't it? Because of Inuyasha."

Sesshomaru stifled the urge to correct her grammar and thought about how to answer the child's question. He nodded and turned to face Rin. "Yes Rin, it is. And it causes her a good deal of pain. That's why she's staying with us, so that she can heal. You must help me watch over her until she is better."

Rin nodded solemnly and ran back to Kagome, wrapping the older girl in a tight hug. The miko stiffened slightly and then relaxed and returned the small girl's embrace.

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The Taiyouki was still wondering how to get the Miko to part with her strange attire as they sat down for the evening meal. Fortunately for him, Rin was unknowingly a step ahead.

"Kagome-chan, aren't you a miko?"

Kagome gave Rin a slight nod.

"Then why don't you dress like one? Your clothes are so strange."

Sesshomaru and Rin both stared at the silent miko as she stiffened. Her expression hardened.

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Bitch! Why are you wearing those clothes?! Take them off!

What?!

Just take them off!

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One single tear slipped down the young woman's cheek.

Sesshomaru thought quickly. Inuyasha's old bitch. Of course the living miko would not want to look anymore like the dead one than she already did.

"Do not worry about such things, miko," Sesshomaru stated, gaining Kagome's attention. "This Sesshomaru will not require you to wear the traditional robes if you do not choose to. However, your current clothing is inappropriate."

Kagome looked at Sesshomaru and then at her own lap.

Later that night, Kagome wandered around her new room rearranging things to better suit her. She had already looked everywhere and still had not found her backpack.

Suddenly, the door behind her burst open as Rin came tearing in like a whirlwind. "Kagome-Chan! Come outside, Sesshomaru-sama is building a bonfire. Let's go watch."

Kagome made a mental note to continue her search later and followed Rin to the courtyard. She arrived just in time to see Sesshomaru lifting her pack, preparing to throw it in.

"Stop!" Kagome screamed, running towards the demon lord. He lowered his burden and gave her a questioning look.

"Burn my clothes if they bother you that much," Kagome breathed, starting to remove them from her pack, "but I highly suggest that you leave everything else in the pack unless the thought of dying in an explosion appeals to you." She held up one of the countless silver shapes from her bag. "These cannot be burned safely." She gathered up her pack and returned to her room, leaving her clothes for him to burn.

Sesshomaru watched her leave before going back to his task. "That's the most words I have heard her say since I took her in. Miko, you are well on your way to starting over," he whispered.

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The creature was growling menacingly from the foot of her bed. Its slitted red eyes made her skin crawl.

"Sesshomaru!" she screamed.

The demon lord burst through her door. "Kagome, what's wrong?" he looked around as the creature slinked behind him.

"Behind you!" she shouted.

It was too late. The thing's claws sliced right through the demon lord. Kagome watched, horrified as the monster ripped out Sesshomaru's entrails and began to feast on them.

A scream rose in her throat, but no noise would come out.

Hands were shaking her, bruising her upper arms. She tried to fight as the creature fixed its steady glare on her.

"No!"

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"No!"

"Kagome! Wake up Kagome!" Sesshomaru continued to shake her as her dilated eyes tried to focus.

"Sesshomaru-sama, stop! Kagome-chan is waking up!" Rin was crying and attempting to smooth the miko's hair away from her face.

Kagome trembled and looked around the room. The Taiyouki and his ward were the only ones here. It had been a nightmare. Kagome relaxed and rested her head against the demon lord's chest as she tried to calm herself. Rin was still crying.

Suddenly as Kagome watched, slitted eyes appeared behind the child and the creature's long claws reached around to the front of Rin's throat.

"Rin!" Kagome pulled away from Sesshomaru and reached out to the child. She was too late. Rin's head fell back and her blood spurted forth, splattering Kagome. It was everywhere.

Kagome's vision began to bleed red as she screamed.

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"Kagome! Kagome, open your eyes!" Sesshomaru yelled as he pulled her into a sitting position and gave her a little shake.

Kagome stared into the demon lord's golden eyes for a moment before screaming again. She tried to struggle out of his grip.

"What the hell?! Kagome! It was only a dream!" He couldn't understand why she was fighting him. Between the miko's screaming and Rin's crying outside the door, he thought he would lose his mind.

Kagome broke out of his grip, fell off the bed and used her heels to pedal back into a dark corner. The Taiyouki leapt up and started lighting candles. When the room was sufficiently lit, he turned to face the cowering young woman.

Kagome was crying and rocking herself back and forth, her hair and yukata disheveled. He approached slowly and knelt next to her, running one hand through her hair.

"Rin" he called through the door to the terrified child. "Go back to bed. I will stay with the miko."

After Rin moved back to her room, Sesshomaru settled crossed-legged with his back to the wall on the floor. He pulled the terrified miko into his lap and continued to run a clawed hand through her hair. He knew she would start singing and hoped that the world she was retreating into was safe from her nightmares.

"In time I'll get this out of
Get this out of
Out of my mind
Where am I?
I can't see
I fear for my life
Fear of this fright…"

He could still hear Rin crying down the hall. He had explained to her that the young miko was out of her mind, but he wasn't sure she really grasped that concept. He would have to reassure her later.

"They haunt me
And they taunt me
Try to relax
Let it happen
My hopes turn to crystal matter
Watch them shimmer
As they shatter…"

Footsteps were racing down the hall. The demon lord looked to the door just as one of his guards burst in, panting heavily. It was a panther youki named Kuromeru.

The panther looked startled upon finding the Taiyouki dressed in nothing but his hakama with a human woman in his lap. "My lord, I heard screams. Is everything alright?"

"Night terrors in my mind
Thoughts I cannot hide
Dreams that play on my cold fears
Night terrors in my head
Am I really dead?
I can't tell, it feels so real…"

"We are well," Sesshomaru answered, glancing at Kagome who continued to sing and rock herself in his lap. She didn't even glance at Kuromeru. "The miko has merely had a nightmare, do not trouble yourself. Return to your place of duty."

The panther narrowed his eyes slightly, but made no comment as he turned to leave.

"Remember what you once said?
Every passing fragile moment
Is another chance to turn it around
I want to try to work it out…"

"Well, there is no point in sitting here all night," the demon lord said, half to himself and half to Kagome. "I'm sure you will not object to sleeping in the room of this Sesshomaru." He expected some sort of a reply about such a suggestive comment, but Kagome did not react. Sighing he scooped her into his arms and carried her across the hall to his bed.

"Night terrors in my mind
Thoughts I cannot hide
Dreams that play on my cold fears
Night terrors in my head
Am I really dead?
I can't tell, it feels so real to me…"

He settled Kagome into his own bed and sat beside her. His eyes widened with surprise when she shifted around until her head rested in his lap. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes and settled back against his black pillows.

"This will not become a nightly ritual, miko. Are we agreed?"

Kagome fisted one hand in the fabric of his hakama.

"Agreed then."

"Get out of my mind
Get out of my head
I wish you were dead
I can't take it
Get out of my mind
Get out of my life
I'll curse you tonight
I just can't take it anymore."

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AMP: R&R!

Sessho: Vacation now AMP? Please?

AMP: No.

Sessho: Awww...

AMP: But you CAN get so drunk that you forget where you are...

Sessho: That will work...

AMP: BTW...Thank you Archangel's Requiem for you're suggestion. I didn't use it this chapter, but I plan to soon. Thanks for the good review!