Please enjoy this newest chapter!

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Chapter 7: Is This A Dream?

Inuyasha once again sat in the tree outside of Kagome's home, keeping a eye on the house, trying to formulate a decent plan of how to approach his old girlfriend. Currently she was eating dinner with her family allowing the half demon outside a chance to think. Thankfully the heavy storm from earlier had calmed down as well.

If Inuyasha managed to convince Kagome to help him and relieve her of Naraku's manipulating spell so that she could get the jewel, it would be like killing two birds with one stone. How to do, was the tricky part. After all Kagome believed him to be dead and it was not a common thing for a dead person to unexpectantly appear in ones' bedroom.

'This is so frigging frustrating. I've been here for hours and I still don't know what to do. Maybe I could just wing it? Or say that it's a dream. That usually works out in movies' he thought.

Oh ya cause this sooo like a movie

Hey at least it's something. We have to be careful through, especially since we don't want to wake up her family

Inuyasha pulled himself from his mind's debate when the light in Kagome's room turned on. Scaling up the tall tree to peek in, Inuyasha tried to listen in without looking in the window lest she decide to change. He was a man of honor and he did respect people's privacy, to an extent.

"I hate having a boat load of homework on ice cream night, but I guess the teachers have to cram as much as they can in our brains before exams. Aw man, I could have really gone for a chocolate mint right now" there was a pause as a door opened, "Hey mama! Can you bring me something back, please?"

"Of course dear!" shouted Ms. Higurashi from somewhere in the house.

The dog ears on Inuyasha's head perked forwards at the exchangment of words between mother and daughter. So the family was going out for their annual weekly ice cream night? How could he have forgotten that they had it. Not that he went with them often. It was a family affair of the Higurashi's since the death of Kagome's grandmother who once owned an ice cream shop in town when Kagome was seven years old.

Tonight, Kagome would be alone. Things were starting to look up.

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Kagome groaned as she plopped down at her desk and opened her history textbook to the chapter she would be studying for the next hour. She also pulled out her notebook and turned the page to her study notes. Thankfully her exams notes would help her memorize what she had to do. She grumbled under her breath as she proceeded to read and take notes. To be honest she was a big fan of history, but when you don't feel like doing something, it's hard to get motivated.

She sat there for only gods knew how long and had only gone through a paragraph once. Kagome frowned angrily. Her mind was never good at focusing on one thing at a time. She was usually a multi-tasker.

"Maybe some music will help" she muttered under her breath as she got up to turn on her radio.

The station she tuned into blared loudly in the bedroom and a satisfied teenage girl sat back down to continue her work. The current song, Break Away, was already three quarters of the way done. Sometimes Kagome marveled at the songs that the English singers sang and often wondered what they would have sounded like in the other countries' native tongue, not that she knew much English, but still. The translated songs were sometimes awkward, seeing as how Japanese speaking had a faster pace.

Soft piano music poured from the radio as a new song began to play. It was a soothing sound and it was a song that Kagome had never held of before. It must have been new.

Hey Lucy,

I remember your name.

I left a dozen roses,

On your grave today.

The sharpened lead of the pencil stilled in the middle of completing a word. The slender hand that guided the pencil tensed as the notes of the song flowed through the air. The owner of the hand stopped all movement as her ears and mind trained on the song.

I'm in the grass

wiping leaves away.

I just came to talk for a while.

I've got some things I need to say...

Now that's over,

I just wanna hold her.

I'd give up all the world to see,

That little piece of heaven looking back at me

Now that's over,

I just wanna hold her.

I've gotta live with the choices I made,

And I can't live with myself today...

Kagome's hold on the pencil slackened, causing the writing utensil to roll across the page when nothing supported it. The chair she sat on squeaked as she stood up, hands clenching the sides of the desk.

Hey Lucy,

I remembered your birthday.

They said it'd bring some closure

To say your name.

(To say your name)

"Inuyasha" she whispered as a tear dropped from her chocolate eyes, pooling on the paper of her notebook.

I'd knew I'd do it all different

If I had the chance,

But all I got are these roses to give

And they can't help me make amends

A gasp ripped through her throat as she tried to breath around the lump in her chest, another couple of tears sliding down her face.

Now that's over,

I just wanna hold her.

I'd give up all the world to see,

That little piece of heaven looking back at me.

Now that's over,

I just wanna hold her.

I've gotta live with the choices I made

And I can't live with myself today.

Kagome walked over to her window to look out at the night sky. Her reflection stared back at her on the glass pane and the sadness that swam freely in her orbs were unguarded. She drew her arms over her shoulders, hugging herself, desperate for comfort.

Here we are.

Now you're in my arms.

I never want anything so bad.

Here we are

for a brand new start.

Given the life that we could have had.

Me and Lucy walking hand in hand.

Me and Lucy never wanna end!

Just another moment in your eyes,

I'll see you in another life!

And how about we never say good bye!

Slowly Kagome swayed side to side as she tried to imagine being held in the arms of her old boyfriend as he rocked her like when they were younger and she was upset.

Now that's over,

I just wanna hold her.

I'd give up all the world to see,

That little piece of heaven looking back at me.

Now that's over,

I just wanna hold her.

I've gotta live with the choices I made,

And I can't live with myself today.

Here we are!

Now you're in my arms!

Here we are!

For a brand new start!

Gotta live with the choices I made,

And I can't live with myself today!

(Me and Lucy walking hand in hand)

Today!

(Me and Lucy never wanna end)

Gotta live with the choices I made

And I can't live with myself

Today...

Hey Lucy,

I remember your name...

"I can never forget you Inuyasha. I will always love you. No matter what happens" Kagome vowed as she stared at the moon hidden partially by the tree outside her room.

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Inuyasha was stunned by what transpired in Kagome's room moments ago. Had he really caused her so much pain? How many times would he have to regret taking Naraku's dare. No, now was not the time to focus on how things turned out till this point. Now was the time to make changes.

'I'm going in'

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Kagome's head snapped over to her window. Reaching out, Kagome lowered the volume of the radio to listen for the sound she had heard earlier. Nothing. Hmmm, it must have been a trick of the wind or something. Shrugging her shoulders, Kagome's eyes drifted back to read a paragraph about Oda Nobanaga's early childhood life.

*Ping*

There it was again! Kagome spun around and stomped over to her window. Pushing up the window, Kagome peered down at the ground, scanning the area for troublemakers and pranksters. No one was there.

"Whatever, I'll just leave the window open so I can't hear that annoying sound" Kagome planned. Sighing, the teenage girl dropped down on her bed, staring at the ceiling thoughtfully. She deserved a moment of peace before she got back to her homework. She debated calling Naraku, but she didn't really feel like doing that so dismissed the thought, closing her eyes.

For the past year, the only people she called were her family and Naraku. She had made no other calls or texts to anyone else, even though every now and then Sango and Miroku made an attempt, but she couldn't answer them because Naraku wouldn't have liked that.

"Since when I did I ever do what a boy told me to do" she chuckled wearily.

"Never" answered a voice that was not in Kagome's mind. Chocolate eyes wrenched open as she sprung to a sitting position. There staring in at her from her window was a white haired boy with strange features; erect white dog ears and golden eyes, a familiar cocky smirk apparent on his visage.

'It can't be' She recognized this teen, despite the differences from now and then.

"In-Inu-yasha?" she stammered, completely stunned.

"Hey there Kagome" he greeted a little shyly, "Can I come in?"

Unable to answer vocally, she nodded instead. Gracefully the apparition of her dead boyfriend climbed inside and stood there with his arms folded across his chest. Slowly she stood up to trend cautiously over to Inuyasha, her eyes taking in his full appearance. Despite all the changes, he still looked the same, although a little older than before. Raising a timid hand, Kagome rested it upon a warm cheek. Pulling her hand back with a gasp she stared wide eyed at the person before her. This wasn't a dream or a trick of her imagination. Here was Inuyasha real and in the flesh.

It was then that she did the only thing she could do when undergoing an extreme shock to the nerves.

She fainted.

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"ome...gome... Kagome..." called a distant voice.

Chocolate eyes fluttered open, trying to focus on the intruder of her unconsciousness. The most she could make out of the blurry image was white hair and weird twitching movements on the figure's head. Who was this person? She knew a moment ago and she was sure it was someone important. He was looking at her from her window.

"Inuyasha?" she mumbled trying to think about who the familiar person could be. She must have fallen asleep studying and had dreamed that her long dead boyfriend had somehow come back to her. Man, was she weird and obsessive.

Kagome started to giggle as something brushed up against her neck, her most ticklish spot. The volume of her giggles grew into laughs.

"St-Stop! HA HA! Stop!" she begged between breaths. The insistent tickling finally stopped allowing Kagome to breath somewhat properly. Wheezing Kagome slowly sat up to come face to face with the person she had seen before fainting.

"Number one weakness. You're ticklish" smirked the strange looking Inuyasha. Kagome's mouth dropped open in pure shock as her eyes widened like dinner plates. The man's smirk softened into a gentle smile as he lifted a hand to close Kagome's mouth for her. Chocolate orbs became watery as they filled with tears.

"Inuyasha," she found it hard not to say his name, "Are you really here? Or is this just another dream?"

Inuyasha didn't give an immediate answer as he caressed her cheek slightly, a hint of sorrow tinting his amber eyes. Kagome wondered a little at this weird appearance, but shoved it to the back of her mind. It didn't matter how he looked, it was still his face, it was still him. Even if it was just a fantasy in her head.

"It is, isn't it? But I don't care. At least you can be in my dreams" she declared suddenly throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder. Inuyasha was startled by her unexpected exclamation and embrace, but it didn't take too long for him to return it as he wrapped his arms around her. He had not held Kagome is so long and it was satisfying to hold her so tightly.

"Keh, this ain't no dream woman"

"Of course this is a dream. The real Inuyasha died a year ago" Kagome said pulling out of the circle in his arms.

"Kagome, it is me. I didn't die. I was tricked by Naraku to do something stupid and I accepted. This witch, Kikyou, kept me trapped for the past year. Naraku has been lying to you and everyone else" The dog eared teen tried to explain.

Kagome gave him a funny look, 'the Is-something-wrong-in-your-brain-?' expression.

"Am I really that desperate to have dreamt up such a messed up alternative?" she mumbled to herself. Inuyasha's ears perked up, not missing a word Kagome had said.

"Really, Kagome? Does this feel like a dream to you?" he questioned. He leaned in and planted a firm kiss right on her soft lips. Kagome's eyes fluttered closed at the familiar feeling of someone she had kissed many times before.

'This seems so real and yet how could it be?' she wondered.

Inuyasha reluctantly pulled away, much to the disappointment of both parties. Looking in her beautiful eyes, Inuyasha saw that although she wanted to believe what he was saying, she was not convinced.

How could he possibly make her see that this was not all in her mind?

'I need her to witness the truth about Naraku, but if she believes that I'm only a dream then my word alone won't mean much. She needs other people who can verify what I tell her and what better way to do that as when she's alone in the middle of the day' schemed Inuyasha.

Later he would tell Miroku and Sango his new plan, but that could wait. He was finally with Kagome and he didn't want to spoil it, especially when she wasn't freaking out at his appearance like what he imagined her to do. He had been terrified of her reaction, which had all been for nothing.

Kagome's head rested on his shoulder as they stood there for a long time in each other's embrace, neither wishing to let the other go.

"I miss you, Inuyasha. You have no idea how hard it was getting over your death, how hard it still is" she whispered. Inuyasha's ears flattened against his head at her sorrowful words and his grip tightened ever so slowly.

"I never wanted you to be in pain" he stated.

"I know. Naraku told me that you would have wanted me to move on-" Inuyasha froze and went rigid at the hated name of his former friend and current enemy. He had, for a moment, forgotten the bastard. He had also forgotten Naraku's enchanted hold on Kagome.

'Damn him, this is all his fault' he mentally growled.

"Inuyasha are you alright?" piped up Kagome in concern.

"No, I'm not and I won't be till I settle things" he confessed.

"Settle what things?" Kagome asked.

"Don't worry about it. Just go to sleep and I promise things will start making changes for the better tomorrow" he vowed, picking his old girlfriend up bridal style and carrying her to the bed. Laying her down, Inuyasha couldn't help, but kiss her forehead.

"Aren't I already asleep?" she questioned. However, the inquiry fell on deaf ears as Inuyasha climbed out her window, without another word.

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As much as Inuyasha wanted to contact his cousin and best friend, Inuyasha decided to make a detour first. The place he intended to visit would be pretty much deserted since the visiting hours were done for the day. He wasn't planning to make it so much a social call as it was just him checking up on something.

Thankfully the ledges of the building were not narrow and were easy to latch onto, making it an easy climb. The partially empty parking lot made the trip an easy and chaos-less climb.

Using his amazing sense of smell, Inuyasha pinpointed the window to the room he was searching for. In exactly three mighty leaps, the dog cursed teen landed on the third story to peer through a rose and tulip printed curtain. The room contained two beds, one of them vacated and the other was occupied.

A middle aged woman lie in the bed, her long onyx black hair was sprawled neatly across the pillows. She was extremely pale and thin, yet she still had an inner warmth that glowed on her skin. The woman looked peaceful and very fragile as she slept.

"Mom" Inuyasha breathed as he felt a soft prickling on the bottom of his eyes. "I'm so sorry for doing this to you. I promise that the next time I see you, it won't be through a glass window"

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