I still do not own Inuyasha or its characters...

Birth Rite ch 3...Haunting Dreams

She stumbled through the darkness of the forest - feet aching, heart pounding. Arms of eerie blackness engulfed her small frame. Hands of twisted bark pulled at her raven tresses and still she pushed through the dense underbrush in search of safety.

She should have known- should have listened to the warnings in her head when he'd asked her to accept his company while she made her way home. But his good looks and easy smile had won over her common sense.

Memories of their encounter cascaded through her panic- stricken mind; fear pushed her onward- away from him.

Earlier that evening...

" May I walk you home?" His voice was deep- his physical appearance more than handsome. Chestnut colored hair lay tied at his neck, its length rolling leisurely down his back. Pale skin glowed softly beneath the full moon's light. Dark eyes gazed upon her, made her feel as if she were the only female in existence, as if her pregnancy didn't bother him in the slightest.

Her mind screamed she was in danger, yet she heard herself accepting his offer.

" Okay, if you wish."

" What is your name, miss? He murmured, his steps falling in sync with hers.

" Kikyo, and yours?" she answered, her eyes meeting his in the pale light of the moon. They were such an odd color- his eyes, somewhere between crimson and black; her mind noted the unnaturalness of their shade.

" I am known as Naraku." he replied. The tone of his voice, somehow different now, sent shivers down her spine; dark and mysterious- dangerous.

" Naraku...do I know you from somewhere?"

" I'm afraid not, but I do visit this park often. Perhaps you have seen me here before; I find the scenery breathtaking."

She nodded, her body easing slowly away from his towering form, her mind finally communicating its warning to her body. Her hand fell unconsciously to her swollen abdomen.

" Ah, you carry a child. How far along are you?" he questioned, his eyes following her movement.

Reasoning to herself that carrying a conversation might distract him long enough for her to move a safer distance from him; she forced a smile.

" Seven months. She is small; the doctors are unsure why though. They do say that she seems healthy, despite her size. "

" Good. And the Father?"

" He passed on about five months ago. He was killed during a fishing trip with is friends; they were unable to save him."

" So sorry." he said. Taking her arm, he steered her toward the darkened tree line.

" Oh, my home is that way." she pointed.

" As I said. So sorry; it would seem you will not be making it home tonight. In fact, I don't think you'll be making it home - ever."

Yanking her arm from his grasp she backed away. " I AM going home now, sir. I think it is time you left. " she hissed, panic lining her words. Her heart beat quickened; adrenalin licked over her tensing muscles.

" Dear girl. Do you honestly think you can out-run me in your condition?" he mocked.

She watched in horror; his once handsome features beginning to shift. Fangs lengthened to replace the straight white teeth that had once been an easy smile. The eyes she had thought to be nearly black lightened a degree to shine blood- red, hunger lingaring in their depths.

She bolted - only to find herself, hours later, lost and alone. She screamed when she ran into something hard- yet soft. Raising her eyes , she found herself staring into the unholy darkness of his gaze, his hands forcing her body to his own. In a movement she neither saw, nor could pull away from, he buried his face into her neck. Searing pain ripped through her, both at her neck, and her abdomen. In that moment she knew it was over - her life was over.

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Inuyasha woke to the the heady scent of her fear. Many times during her childhood he had been awakened by it, and countless times he had responded, just as he would tonight. She was frightened; something deep within him demanded he sooth her.

Sliding out of bed, he made his way to the deck, then to the glass doors leading to her room. He'd known she would pick it - he'd designed it for her after all, intentionally decorating the room closest to his own. Testing her door and finding it unlocked, he made his way to her bedside. Tears ran down her cheeks; he reached to brush them aside, his voice soft.

" Kagome?"

In an instant her eyes opened, and in the next second he found her pressed to his chest, her soft sobs of anguish resonating through him.

" Why won't they stop Inuyasha? Please, just make them stop!" she cried.

" Shhh. I'm here. No one can ever hurt you - I won't allow it." he whispered into her hair. They rocked back and forth in a rhythm she had always responded to when she was a child.

They remained that way for hours until her breath evened out and her heart returned to its slower- steady beat.

Laying her back, he covered her up before turning to leave, surprised when her hand took hold of his wrist and her soft voice caressed his ears.

" Please, don't go Inuyasha. Please?"

How could he deny her? He had always been the only one able to sooth her fear. When she was smaller, and the nightmares would come, Miroku would always seek him out. Eventually he ,too, moved into Miroku's home to make the task of soothing her night-dreams easier.

He'd never denied her his presence when she needed it, and he never would.

" Okay...scoot over. "

Sliding in next to her, he blushed in the darkness when she lay her head upon his chest and curled into his side. And although he tried- most valiantly- to stay awake, he fell to sleep beside her.

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Inuyasha opened his eyes to the early morning rays of the sun. Grinning lopsidedly, he realized just why Kagome had always preferred the black curtains that he'd been so adamant in hanging in her room. Though it was early, and the sun had risen already, the dark curtains dulled the sunlight to a pale glow. This was definitely the reason she was always the last one out of bed.

Kagome's curtains - Kagome's house . He was in her room - in her bed!, Kagome still curled at his side. Careful not to wake her, he moved away slowly. Her hair lay wild about her upturned face, one hand bent awkwardly at her cheek, the other resting possessively around a lock of his hair. Soft, red lips pulled his gaze from her hands. They parted slightly to reveal straight, white teeth. She had grown into a beauty while she was away. Why hadn't he noticed? But the more prominent question was just who had noticed. Did she have a boyfriend? She hadn't mentioned it, though she had only returned yesterday. She really hadn't had the time to say anything.

Anger pulsed frantically within him at the thought.

" I'm far from a little girl, Inuyasha. I have heard of sex before."

She'd said that just yesterday. Unable to help himself, he leaned forward to sniff lazily at the skin of her neck. She smelled...innocent and dear God- oh, so intoxicating.

Taking in her scent, he allowed it wash over him- through him. His beast howled in pleasure, bringing him from his current preoccupation and back to reality. Moving back, he was startled when her hand tightened reflexively upon the lock of hair she still held- pulling him closer while she slept.

Sheer panic raced through him- the thought of her waking to find them in this position bouncing off the confines of his skull. " What do I do? Shit!! "

Thinking lost all importance , however, when she brought him even closer. His eyes closed in irrepressible pleasure when she nuzzled the underside of his jaw, her body still lost within the shadowed realm of sleep.

He shuddered when he felt her lips pass over his cheek, and without fully realizing what he was doing, he turned his head slightly so their heavenly perfection could pass, ever so softly, over his own.

Lightning rods of passion exploded within him setting his world afire, his body well aware of the woman who lay sleeping beside him.

Jerking away from her, he stumbled from her bed, twin silver strands of his hair still resting within her grasp.

She growled in what could only be deemed as disappointment, her mouth opening a bit more to reveal the tips of what appeared to be fangs. " What the -. "

She stretched half-heartedly beneath his sight, her body arching upwards until her breasts strained beneath the thin fabric of her pearl white, silk bathrobe.

He growled at the unruly behavior of his lower half; his eyes betraying him further when they refused to remove themselves from the gentle swell of her breasts. Not trusting himself enough to get near her again for a closer look at her teeth; he quickly pulled himself from the room.

Closing the glass door behind him, he leaned heavily upon its smooth exterior. Allowing the early morning breeze to wash over him, he waited until it cooled his heated flesh before turning and making his way into his room. " Dear God - NO woman had EVER done THAT to him before. But what stunned him further was the fact that she had done it unintentionally. If his body reacted THIS fiercely to her while she slept – how would it react should she ever do it while she was awake?

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Hey all. Sorry this is so much shorter than normal.

Chapters may become erratic in their updates , though I will do my best to keep them no longer than two weeks apart..I haven't been feeling well lately and it is beginning to affect everything I do..I wish I could explain, and perhaps later on I shall, but for now just know that I will keep working on this as I could never give up on my fics or my readers.

As always...PLEASE let me know what you think and if you all want more. You all are what motivates me to keep writing, so please...DO let me know what you think. I deeply appreciate it ...Until next time...Neisha