A contented sigh escaped Kagome's lips as she snuggled deeper into her bed. The weight of a warm arm draped over her waist, pulling her closer to the body behind her, was comforting. Her bedroom was bathed in the soft light of dawn, casting gentle shadows across the familiar space. She smiled, feeling at peace for the first time in days. Everything seemed perfect.

But that peaceful haze shattered the moment she tried to shift but found she couldn't move.

"Sesshoumaru…" she whispered, her voice light with sleep, "I can't breathe…"

The arm tightened around her waist, making her gasp. Panic began to rise, but it wasn't the pressure that stole her air—it was the voice. Low, sweet, and dripping with malevolence.

"Guess again, little bird."

Her blood turned to ice, and before she could process what was happening, her instincts took over. Kicking, scratching, she thrashed violently until she finally broke free, tumbling out of the bed and onto the floor. Her heart hammered in her chest as she scrambled backward, pressing herself against the far wall.

Laying on her bed, looking far too content, was Naraku. His dark hair spilled across her pillow, his sinister grin lighting up his pale face. He propped himself up on one elbow, eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Now, now," he cooed, "no need to be so dramatic." He patted the empty spot beside him. "Come back to bed. We have much to discuss."

Kagome's breath came in short spurts, her vision blurring as she struggled to make sense of it all. Just a moment ago, she had been surrounded by Rin and Shippou, camped out beneath the stars in the forest. Now… she was here, in her own time, in her bedroom. How? Was this real?

Naraku's dark chuckle snapped her attention back to him, her stomach churning in fear.

"Oh, little priestess," he said, sliding off the bed with predatory grace, the deep purple robe he wore nearly slipping open as he knelt beside her. "You still haven't figured it out?"

She flinched away as his cold fingers brushed against her forehead. "This is all happening right here," he whispered, dragging his fingers to the back of her neck. "And I've been hiding here, inside you." His hand tightened, his sneer turning cruel. "Did you really think I would die so easily? That I wouldn't find a way to survive?"

Terror paralyzed her. This couldn't be happening. It was just a nightmare—she had to wake up. Any second now, she would snap out of it, and he would be gone. Just a terrible, twisted dream

Naraku's fingers slid from the back of her neck to grip her throat, his touch cold as ice. "You think this is just a dream?" he murmured, reading her thoughts with an unsettling ease. "Unfortunately for you, this is very real."

Her body shook as bile rose in her throat. This isn't real… it can't be.

"Don't worry," Naraku's voice cut through her frantic thoughts like a blade. "When you wake, I'll be there too. Thanks to Sesshoumaru, I can now move freely within your mind." He smirked, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "It's such a shame about Inuyasha, isn't it? Choosing your best friend over you. First it was Kikyo… then Sango. How does it feel to be abandoned by everyone you love?"

Kagome's body trembled uncontrollably, her vision darkening at the edges.

"I had planned to stay hidden until you finished collecting the jewel shards," he continued, leaning closer. His breath was hot against her cheek. "But watching you squirm is too tempting to resist. I've enjoyed playing with you, adding my own little thoughts and suggestions along the way."

His gaze trailed down her body, and Kagome suddenly realized she was wearing nothing but a thin, white nightgown. A violent chill raced down her spine as Naraku's eyes darkened with hunger. "I suppose I can understand why Sesshoumaru is so interested in you. I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought about what you taste like."

A wicked grin spread across his lips as he crawled closer, robe falling from his shoulders and his lean chest now fully exposed. "You've allowed that dog to violate you… surely it wouldn't be so different from me, would it?"

Revulsion surged within her, and Kagome's instincts kicked in once more. She bit down hard on her tongue, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth. Pain shot through her, but it was what she needed.

The dream shattered.

Kagome woke with a start, bolting upright, gasping for air. Her chest heaved, and her hands flew to her throat as if she could still feel his fingers wrapped around it. The children, who had been snuggled beside her, stirred at the sudden movement. Shippou was the first to sit up, his eyes wide with worry as he looked at her.

"Kagome?" his small voice asked, but she couldn't respond. Blood dripped from her mouth, the result of biting her tongue in her sleep. She spat it out, trying to regain control of her breathing.

A hand touched her shoulder from behind, and Kagome flinched violently. But when she turned, she met the familiar, golden eyes of Sesshoumaru. His brows furrowed in confusion, clearly concerned by her reaction.

Without thinking, she threw herself against him, her arms wrapping tightly around his shoulders. Her body shook as she buried her face in his chest, seeking comfort in the deep rumble of his steady breathing. Sesshoumaru froze for a moment, startled by the sudden embrace, but when he realized she wasn't letting go, he sighed and settled himself onto her sleeping bag.

The children also crawled over and curled up around them. Rin tucked herself into the crook of Sesshoumaru's arm, while Shippou burrowed himself into Kagome's hair. Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around them, holding them close.

For tonight, he wouldn't press her. Tomorrow, he would demand answers—would find out what had caused such terror to grip her so tightly. But for now, he would remain silent, holding his pack safely within his arms.

The nightmare might have ended, but its shadow still loomed.