Chapter 10-Dreams, Pain, & Awakenings

Kagome…..

She felt dizzy but she wasn't aching at all, which was surprising considering she remembered getting hit by the Adamant Barrage just before she blacked out. She was so close to ending the problem that was Kikyo, at least, long enough to be able to get some answers from her after tossing her in the dungeons.

Kagome….

She opened her eyes and looked around, but she didn't recognize anything. She wasn't even at Sesshomaru's palace! So, where exactly was she?

Kagome…. Please...

Kagome stood slowly, testing to make sure she was able to remain on her feet. She turned in a full circle and realized that she was in a garden, a castle's entrance right next to her. Shrugging to herself since no one seemed to be around she turned and walked inside.

All the walls held paintings of youkai royalty. She didn't feel any youki, or reiki for that matter. It seems that the palace was deserted. There were dead flowers in the vases, and all the furniture held a lot of dust. Remembering where Sesshomaru's dining room was, and hoping that this palace was built similarly, she kept exploring before stopping at a large set of doors.

Kagome…. Hurry….

There was a lot of blood on the doors, but no skeletons or bodies anywhere. Being cautious she cracked the doors open peeking in. Gasping she pulled the doors open wide. The room itself was beautiful, despite the splashes of blood randomly seen throughout the room. The walls, the floor, the table… There wasn't something that didn't have blood, yet…

'Where are the dead people? Surely no one could live through losing that much blood, not even a youkai.' Kagome thought.

Stopping at the head of the table she looked up at the painting where the lord of the palace would have sat.

"Oh Kami…" Kagome said in shock.

Kagome… Come back to us…

The faces in the portrait stood out against the blood splashed across it. There was the lord, a handsome man who resembled her father with his short blackish blue hair and cobalt blue eyes. His hand was on the shoulder of what must be the lady, who looked a lot like Kagome and yet not for she had eyes as silver as the moon when it is full. The lady was holding a child who couldn't be more than a year old or so, who looked exactly like her when she was little. The only reason she didn't believe this was her father and herself was that the woman wasn't her mother… And… They were all youkai. The lord had a silver star on his forehead and two dark blue stripes. The lady had the same star and three light pink stripes. The child had a silver star and two light grey stripes. They all had the same dark hair Kagome did, and they all had the pointed ears and longer nails like most youkai nobles did.

"There's no way…" Kagome started, then everything went black again.

Kagome… Come back… NOW!

Waking up with a jolt that partially raised her body, enough to make her realize she was in pain in her left side and right shoulder, Kagome's eye popped open and she let out a silent scream.

Sesshomaru immediately began to push her back down gently so she lay on the bed once more. Her scream alerted the healers who set to work shushing her and assuring her that she was safe and as well as could be. They gave her a tea to help alleviate the pain while Sesshomaru watched on. Once they were done they bowed to him and he returned to Kagome's side.

Still pale, and looking stunned, Kagome turned her head and looked into Sesshomaru's eyes.

"I just had the strangest dream." She told him.

Raising an eyebrow Sesshomaru asked, "How so?"

"There was a palace, deserted, and a lot of blood. Most of it was in the dining hall." She told him.

Fully trained on her next words, Sesshomaru prompted, "Is that all?"

"No… In the hall was more blood. And a portrait of the lord and his family I think… The lord looked like my father, and the child looked like I did when I was that age. I'm not saying that I think it's me, the woman wasn't my mother, and there's no way that was us. It's just…" Kagome said.

Debating how to explain, and unsure if he should, Sesshomaru was about to tell her to let it be and redirect her thoughts on what was in her lap.

"Sesshomaru-san… It couldn't have been, but it felt… It felt like I was home…" She stated, her eyes looking pained.

Sesshomaru closed his eyes and took a deep and calming breath.

"Kagome, there is a lot you need to learn, and know. For right now I think we shouldn't focus on it because you still need to get better. The Tessaiga helped as much as it could, and Miroku and Kiri have been in here daily pushing reiki into your body. Shippo and Rin are distraught as is Sango, though she has hid it well enough taking care of the two." He explained, despite his inner youki demanding he tell her now.

"The Tessaiga?" She said before looking down at her lap. Eyes wide she asked "Sesshomaru-san…. How?"

Continuing to watch her so he could gauge her reactions he told her.

"InuYasha left it behind after you were hit with the Adamant Barrage. He had gotten control of his youkai blood and left it behind when he took off running. I think he may have felt guilt at what he did, but I'm not sure."

Kagome took it all in and let it process. Running her hand across the sheath the sword pulsed.

Sesshomaru, feeling the answering pulse from Tenseiga, looked at the Tessaiga questioningly.

Kagome's closed her eyes and grasped the hilt, smiling as she felt the warm hum flow through her body. She opened her eyes and looked at Sesshomaru.

"I think I'll be alright. It wants to be with me, and I feel better despite the dulled pain."

Sesshomaru nodded before leaving her room to talk to the healer. After conversing with her for a bit the healer came in and helped Kagome dress into a kimono that was green with brown leaves, and under kimono of a lighter brown, and an obi that was dark brown with green leaves, leaving it so it wouldn't injure her further before leaving the room.

Sesshomaru entered again and picked Kagome up bridal style since it was the only way to keep from messing with her healing injuries. She had one hand gripping the Tessaiga, her other was gripping his haori.

Sesshomaru took Kagome from the healers' wing and went to the garden. She looked around smiling at the fact that it was such a nice day while he cast for a scent then took to the air on his youki cloud. Touching down at the shrine they made their way inside to where everyone was.

"Kagome-sama!" "Kagome-chan!" "Kagome-nee-sama!" "MAMA!" Cried everyone. Shippo bounding over to them, jumped onto Sesshomaru's shoulder so he wouldn't hurt her further. Rin ran over and gripped her kimono, both were smiling.

Kagome smiled and after touching Rin's head, and pinching Shippo's cheek looked over and said, "Hello everyone, I hope you weren't overly worried."

"Well after a week with you being unconscious Kagome-sama… Can you blame us?" Miroku asked trying not to laugh.

"A week… Guess it's a good thing I don't have to worry about school anymore huh?" She said before everyone except Kiri and Sesshomaru burst into laughter.

She knows, she's safe, we may have a chance yet…