Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. It belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

Scents


The idea wracked her mind as well as her heart.

She knew she couldn't bring Sango and Miroku into the picture – she had a feeling Sesshomaru wouldn't have allowed it – but arranging to make such a journey without them, and without Inuyasha noticing, was a daunting task.

She didn't like lying, and Inuyasha would likely be able to smell it on her anyway.

There must be some charm to disguise such things, she thought but was ashamed at the thought of charming Inuyasha.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh…I…can't sleep."

He snorted and for a moment she was afraid he could tell she was lying, but then:

"S'ok, Kagome…I'll…I'll still remember when you wake."

Her heart stopped for a moment, and tears came to her eyes. She couldn't do it! She couldn't betray him like that.

"Inuyasha…"

"Hmm?"

"I…" Sesshomaru's warnings cried out in her head and she bit her lip. "I just…was wondering if you're comfortable…on the floor."

"Keh. I'm fine!"

"I mean…we've shared before, and…"

In a heart-beat he was beside her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

She would have to give him up, but until then…until then she would have him.

Forgive me, Inuyasha!

The warmth of his arms surrounded her until she felt no more.

She was falling, deeper and deeper. It was so cold, and she was so alone. Scared.

A ray of light shone through – warm, golden, impossibly sad eyes and a beseeching voice.

She found herself incapable of calling back. Tears streamed down her face.

Inuyasha!

The voice called her louder still. She reached out a hand. Blood! Her hand was drenched in blood.

It was then the words the voice had been calling out made themselves understood:

Traitor! Liar! And stronger still: Why? Why?!

She couldn't speak. Couldn't tell him. In desperation she tried to grab hold of him. He floated further away.

She was pinned to her spot. Around her everything turned blood red while she screamed his name in her mind.

Inuyasha!

"Inuyasha!!"

"What's wrong?"

She opened her eyes and found herself reflected in the same pair of eyes she'd been dreaming about.

"Inuyasha!"

Before she could even process what was going on she'd latched tightly on to him and pressed trembling lips to his head fervently.

Inuyasha! Inuyasha! Inuyasha!!

He tried to speak but thought better of it, and merely wrapped his arms around her in return.

"I'm sorry…"

She pulled away abruptly.

"Keh!"

But he was blushing as well.

"Tell me about it?"

She started.

"It's…it's nothing…"

"Oi, you reek of fear. I can tell, y'know…"

She bit her lip.

"Come'ere." He spoke softly, enveloping her in his arms again. "If ya don't wanna talk bout it, just go to sleep. I'm gonna be here, so y'ain't gotta worry."

His sudden tenderness was tearing at her heart.

"Inuyasha…"

How could she…? How could she betray him? Even for his own good?

Tired, she laid her head on his chest, and was surprised to find his heart thundering as fast as her own.

"Inuyasha…?"

"You screamed my name…I thought we were being attacked…what else could I make of it…?"

She burrowed deeper into his chest.

"I'm sorry."

"S'ok. Whatever it was, musta been pretty bad…"

"How can you tell?"

"Scent." He shrugged. "I could hardly smell anything other than your fear…"

His words struck a chord and suddenly she knew her answer.

"I…It was…" She decided to try something small at first. "It was Naraku…"

When no correction was made, she continued.

"Naraku…he'd attacked…and, and….there was so much blood…and then the shards…"

"Calm down…you're safe now." He murmured. Still no reprimand, no sign of noticing.

"I…they got hurt…there was so much blood."

"It was a nightmare."

This was it! If she could do this…

She opened her mouth and the treacherous words poured out of her much easier than expected:

"I know where four of the shards are."

"What?!"His voice made her heart thump against her ribcage. "How?!"

Closing her eyes, and willing herself to calm down she let the noose of words tighten around them further.

"It wasn't a nightmare…it was a premonition…"

She closed her eyes and waited, waited to be called a liar, to be yelled at for making stuff up, instead:

"Tell me everything…"

She opened her mouth once more and began spinning a tale that would be believable, a tale that would involve the search for the shards in a certain direction, a tale that would involve leaving Miroku, Sango and Shippo behind.

And inside her mind, she continued screaming, while the blood poured thickly off her trembling hands.

Author's Note: Here we are! :) Thank you all for your kind patience and your wonderful and encouraging words. I do apologise for not replying to you individually. Also, apologies for any typos. It's pretty mad in my little dictionary at the moment. :p I will do my best to put up the next chapter soon. Until the next time, toodles!