InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dream a Little Dream of Me ❯ Enter Memories ( Chapter 10 )

A/N: First of all: remember that after this point in time I will only be updating under the name `FLAMETWIRLER.' This name is going to my friend, who may or may not use it. Please change over all favorites, update reminders, etc. to the new name. On FF.net I will have the same account and will just change the name, on MM.org I will be changing accounts all together and giving my friend the old one, if she so claims it. So now consider yourselves duly warned….muahahahahaha.

 

Thanx for the updates. A couple people said that they enjoyed the twist, but that it took a couple read throughs to understand what was going on. Sorry about the confusion! If any of you think it is just too ridiculously confusing the way it is written please let me know and I will try to make it better. If you let me know which specific areas that would be amazing of you and I would love you forever! (As if I don't already…haha). Special thanx to Black Betty, Zirra Nova, Akihana, and elemental obsession for being great reviewers regularly as of late - you guys rock!

 

Sorry, I suck at updating apparently. No excuses this time, I'm just lame.

 

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Disclaimer: Not even if there were flying pigs, I'm sure there are others who would be in line before me.

 

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Chapter 13: Enter Memories

 

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“Kikyou…”

 

The un-dead miko stepped out of the shadows into the fading twilight, which gave her an even more ethereal sense than she normally carried. She turned to Miroku and addressed him first.

 

“Houshi-sama, leave us now. We will speak in a few days, but for now I must give Inuyasha alone a message.”

 

Miroku gave a skeptical look, but when Inuyasha did nothing to intervene, he shrugged his shoulders and turned away. Glancing one more time at Inuyasha he advised him, “Be quick Inuyasha, and be careful. You have someone else's welfare to worry about now.” He was surprised when he saw Inuyasha give the slightest hint of a nod, more response than Miroku expected out of the hanyou when he faced his old love. Still, he kept his face an impassive mask and without another word headed out of the clearing back toward the village, praying all the while that Inuyasha would be smart.

 

When she was satisfied that Miroku was far enough away, Kikyou turned to Inuyasha with an expression he did not recognize but could only decipher as a sad smile. “I will not keep you tonite, Inuyasha. I only ask that you come meet me here, in this spot, tomorrow nite. Alone.”

 

At his quizzical expression Kikyou turned sterner. “I wish it did not have to be so soon, but it is getting stronger.” Her voice turned almost desperate, a quality Inuyasha had never seen in her. “I must meet with you - alone - tomorrow night. You will understand once we have spoken. For now go to your mate, she needs you.”

 

Inuyasha almost choked on his own tongue hearing Kikyou refer to Kagome as his mate, and that she was not saying it in any derogatory way. His expression softened; he felt bad for doing such a thing to Kikyou, but he really had no other choice. She wasn't who she once was, and his love for Kagome was different anyhow. But still, how did she know about Kagome being his mate? They had never even finished the entire ritual, and that had only been a week ago anyhow. He opened his mouth to speak, even though he didn't know what to say, but Kikyou cut him off.

 

“Do not worry Inuyasha, I do not intend to take you away from your mate. There are bigger things at stake now. Go to Kagome, but make sure that you tell her everything. I know you wish you had more time to let her adjust to it, but we do not have that time. She is essential and must know the truth. I will speak to you both a few days hence, but tomorrow - you alone. Make sure to be here at twilight. I will be waiting.”

 

Inuyasha nodded curtly, amazing that she was able to keep him silent like that. Crazy how different it was with Kagome. Kagome! Now here was something to truly be frightened of…not only did he have to go face her right now, and after seeing Kikyou which always made her upset, but he had to tell her the truth. The whole truth. He grimaced just thinking about it. And then there was her dream to deal with…there was going to take a while.

 

His breath caught in his throat, he didn't realize he was already standing outside the hut. Mentally preparing himself he pulled back the bamboo curtain covering the door and did a double take at what he saw: everyone else in the room was asleep but Kagome sat in a far corner looking right at him, as if she'd been expecting him right at that moment.

 

“Took you long enough,” she quipped.

 

“Huh..but…wha…how did you know…?” he stuttered.

 

“I don't know, I just had this feeling that you were going to be coming in any minute, and here you are. I guess my gut was right.” She smiled vaguely but Inuyasha could tell she had a great strain on her mind. “There something…uh…”

 

“Yeah, there's something we need to talk about. C'mon.” He walked over and knelt in front of her, beckoning her onto his back.

 

“But where..?”

 

“Look,” he turned his eyes to her, their amber depths sparkling, “there are things I need to tell you that I don't want to talk about with everyone around. Besides, I hear there are some things in your dream that have to do with me,” he raised an eyebrow at her blush, “that you won't talk to anyone else about. So it's just better for both of this way - we have a lot of things to hash out.” Plus if you get mad and start screaming at me we won't wake up half the village, he thought as he felt her weight settle itself onto his back.

 

Kagome clung to Inuyasha's back as they made their way through the forest, the cold night air and the trees rushing by giving her the distinct impression the two of them were flying together, an almost-memory she couldn't' place. The thing was, she couldn't figure out which `reality' this semi-memory was supposed to be from. How am I supposed to figure things out here if I can't even remember what applies here! She could only hope that whatever Inuyasha told her tonite helped with that - she still had no recent memory of this life.

 

“Inuyasha?” she ventured. It wasn't unusual for them to travel along in silence, but he had brought her out here to talk.

 

“Relax Kagome, we're almost there.” She hadn't noticed how her knees and fingers were gripping him tighter and tighter, and whenever she loosened her hold they began to shake in anticipation. Or was it fear? Augh! She had enough to think about already. C'mon Kagome, get a grip! It's Inuyasha, what are you worried about? Just breathe…breathe…there you go…

 

“We're here.” Inuyasha's voice knocked Kagome out of her `trance' for her to see they were steadily climbing Goshinboku. How is it everything important seems to happen near this tree?

 

They came to rest in one of the upper branches and Inuyasha crouched down, but instead of letting Kagome just slide off, he spun her until she was in his arms, nestled up against his chest.

 

Kagome was startled to say the least; this was not normal Inuyasha behavior - the hanyou who hated human emotions. She was about to question him on it but thought better of the idea. She had no idea what was going on in his mind for him to show her this much affection, but she was certainly enjoying this, laying in his warm arms like she belonged there, and she was going to soak it in while she could. Still, she knew it was slightly awkward, knowing all the words that were hanging over their heads and would be out in the open in just a few minutes, but right now she would still live in her dream. Inuyasha stirred under her, and he was having some of the same thoughts. He knew he was probably surprising Kagome with how he was acting, but It had just been so long since he'd held his mate. They sat in silence a few more minutes before Inuyasha pulled her back far enough to look into her face. Here goes…he thought, mentally preparing himself.

 

“So you want to go first?” Kagome looked up at him with timid eyes. She felt bad making him spill everything first, but there was no way she was just going to come out of the blue and say she'd dreamt of them of them as being…considerably more than friends. He'd probably be disgusted by her, she was nothing compared with Kikyou. Her eyes flashed anger for a moment before she calmed herself back down, but not before Inuyasha caught it. “Fine, I'll tell you what happened, but first you have to promise not to say it.”

 

“Inuyasha, we're too high up!” she gasped, surprised he would think she would sit him all the way up in Goshinboku. “Besides, why would I--”

 

“Just promise, okay!” Why couldn't anything be easy with this girl, she had to question everything!

 

“Okay, I promise.”

 

“No matter what.”

 

She eyed him skeptically but nodded her head. “No matter what.” Kagome waited…and waited…and waited. Geez, I though he said he'd go first. She was just about to prod him to speaking when she realized he'd whispered something, so low she couldn't understand it. “What did you say?” Every hair on her body stood on end.

 

He looked right in her eyes and held them for a moment before he said again, “I took you as my mate.”

 

Kagome was stunned, she didn't' know what to do so she did the only thing she could do: she panicked. She raised herself to her feet and backpedaled, failing to notice a small twig jutting out from the supporting branch, and began to fall, causing her panic to go into even more of a frenzied state.

 

Inuyasha easily caught both her wrists in his hand, pulling her back to safety. She stood in front of him panting, a vision of anger, and yelled at him as she tugged at her captive wrists, “LIAR!!!”

 

“What?” What the hell do you mean calling me a liar, bitch!” It was his turn to get angry now. He wasn't used to opening up, being vulnerable in such a way, and to have it thrown back in his face like this was nearly unbearable.

 

“I've told you before, don't call me bitch!” she fumed. This guy was really incorrigible.

 

“It's the proper term for the mate of an Inu youkai, and I'll call you whatever I want!”

 

“But I'm not your mate!” She was getting hysterical, close to tears.

 

“Oh yes you are,” he argued.

 

“No, I'm not,” she whimpered. That finally broke Inuyasha, he hadn't thought she might react like this, just trying to deny the whole thing.

 

“Look, maybe you don't want to be my mate anymore - fine.” Kagome's eyes shot up at what he said and at the sudden change in his tone, it was fierce, sad. “But just because you don't remember it doesn't mean that it didn't happen.”

 

She took in everything about the hanyou in front of her, his ears plastered to his head, his eyes averted. She followed the lines of his body down to where his hands still clenched her wrists. Wait…his slightly blackened hands…was it possible he was telling the truth?

 

“Inuyasha?” he raised his head and she carefully avoided his eyes, not wanting to see the pain there and not sure she could trust herself until she knew for sure. “Come over here into the moonlight - I need to see something.”

 

He raised himself up and headed toward the edge of the branch, and Kagome noticed he still didn't' leave his grip on her. It was as if he was afraid of losing her…

 

Kagome turned abruptly once she could see clearly and held up her wrists and Inuyasha's hands, turning them in front of her. “I can't see, you need to let go.” At his reluctance she added, “Don't worry, I'm not leaving or anything. Where would I go?” she nodded toward the inky expanse below them. At her little joke she felt him finally loosen up a little bit and she slowly uncurled his fingers and held his hands carefully in her own to see that they were indeed blackened, or upon closer inspection, burned.

 

“I did this to you,” she whispered, her voice catching in her throat.

 

Inuyasha stared at her, astonished. “How did you know that?”

 

“Because it happened in my dream,” she replied simply, as if that explained everything.

 

“What is it with this dream?” he asked, wondering what was weighing on her so much, but she didn't answer. Instead she turned and made her way back to the trunk of the tree and sat with her back to it, motioning Inuyasha to do the same and sit beside her.

 

“Is this the first time this happened?” she asked, grabbing his hand again and peering at it like it would reveal the answers to all her questions.

 

“This is the first time we did anything and so the only time you hurt me, if that's what you mean.” Kagome could only guess at what he meant by `did anything.' From her dream she had a pretty good clue, but that would have to wait a moment.

 

“No, I mean yes, I mean…” Sigh. “I need to know that too, but I meant - was this the first time I lost control of my miko powers?”

 

Abruptly Inuyasha was in her face, eyeing her over as if for some injury. “Just what is the last thing you remember, Kagome?”

 

She gulped. His being so close to her now was not making her any less nervous. “I…I don't know for sure. Hunting shares I suppose…”

“So…you don't remember about Naraku?”

 

“What about Naraku?” A sinking feeling was settling in her stomach, and she didn't like what it was trying to tell her.

 

“That bastard's gone.”

 

“You got him?!”

 

“No Kagome - you did. You and Kikyou.”

 

“What?! How on earth did that happen?!” This was the last thing she was expecting to hear right now.

 

“That's not a pretty story, so let's save that `til tomorrow at least. But that was the first time your miko powers flared out of control.”

 

“What do you mean it's not a pretty story?” She was almost afraid to know.

 

“Naraku was a sadistic bastard - you really have to ask?” He could see the fear in her eyes, but as she remained undeterred he leaned over and pulled up the edge of her shirt while pushing down the hem of her skirt to reveal the tip of a deep scar running along her hip.

 

“Kouga!” she gasped, smoothing her fingers gently along the abraised skin.

 

“How did you know that was Kouga?!” He didn't hate the guy anymore, but was still suspicious of anything mentioning him. Jealousy dies hard.

 

“Same as before - it's the same as my dream. Well, different, but the same,” she added cryptically. “So Kouga gave me this scar?”

 

“Yeah, and as much as I hate to say it the guy was trying to do something right.”

 

Kagome quirked an eyebrow in his direction. Since when did her beloved hanyou not go irate at Kouga's name?

 

“He was trying to save you. One thing led to another and he was thrown, his claws leaving a trail of blood down your side. But it was closer to you than any of the rest of us managed to get.” He growled under his breath. “Is that what happened in your dream?” he asked, eyeing her carefully.

 

“No, not exactly. My miko powers shoved Kouga away and the force of it drove his claws into me, scarring me, but I knew he didn't mean to do it.”

 

He was in her face again. “What did Kouga do to set off your miko powers?”

 

“It was the first time my powers went off in my dream, so maybe the same thing that happened in real life…” she left off, fishing, hoping Inuyasha would give something away about what did happen.

 

“Nope. Kouga wasn't the one who set you off. You were already unconscious and losing control when he tried to get to you. But I saw what set you off here, and it better not be the same thing happening in your dream - that shit it scary enough in the waking world.”

 

Kagome gripped Inuyasha's hand a bit tighter and shivered at the thought that something so truly sinister must have happened to her in real life. Luckily her dream wasn't so dark - at least not this part of it. “Nothing happened that sounds as bad as what you're talking about, but if you keep your secrets then I'll keep mine - for now.”

 

“Kagome…” he growled warningly.

 

“Inuyasha, don't push it. I might just forget that promise I made, and I don't really want to try climbing out of this tree by myself.”

 

He heard the veiled threat and decided to let it pass. He had more important questions right now anyhow. “Fine. Then tell me more about your miko powers in this dream. Sounds like you hurt me once there too - and why won't you tell anyone else about what I did in your dream?”

 

He cut himself off He'd been able to smell her nervousness before, but now her blush was bright enough he would have been able to see it in the dark even on his ningen night. This could be interesting.

 

After taking a moment to calm herself down, Kagome started to explain some of the details. “I was a normal village girl. No time travel, no well-house, just learning under Kaede and protecting the village from rogue youkai, although I'll admit I was too busy to learn much from Kaede. Maybe that's part of why I couldn't control my miko powers as I should. Anyhow, the first time, as I mentioned, was Kouga. Second time Sango and I were out scouting and came to this magical, serene clearing. As soon as we left I was overwhelmed by jyaki and lost control until Sango dragged me back into the clearing. After that we were captives in a hidden youkai village…yes, youkai were less powerful there, they were being hunted to extinction by the humans,” she replied to Inuyasha's puzzled expression. “Maybe that's how things change from your time to my time - I don't know, just a guess.

 

“So after that I had to keep my miko abilities a secret. I was doing good, although you had found out, until my friend Yumi made a suicide run for the borders of the town.” She hugged her arms closer to her body at the memory and Inuyasha, sensing her anxiety, laid a hand on her shoulder. “You see, for secrecy sake the humans weren't allowed to leave the village. I figured out too late what Yumi was doing and only caught up as the guards were closing in on her. I freaked out, losing control of the miko power and lost consciousness, but you saved me from killing the guards.” Her sudden smile caught him off guard. “You dragged me into a muddy pond and that cooled me down enough to calm the rage that was feeding the outburst of power. That's when I saw you all burned up.”

 

She paused and looked up at him. “Inuyasha, I'm sorry for hurting you.” A solitary river made its way down her face and Inuyasha leaned over to wipe it away, then in the same motion pulled her into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and begged, “Kagome, please don't cry - you know I hate that. Besides, you're still remembering the dream. What we did here was worth the pain, it wasn't your fault.” He sighed, the weight of his breath lifting Kagome's hair around her face. “I wish you remembered,” he whispered.

 

“Well, I do, sort of. I don't know exactly what happened, but they're probably similar enough…”

”What are you talking about?” Inuyasha's confusion was written all over his face.

 

“There's more.”

 

“Oh,” he said simply, then pulled her closer and let her continue.

 

“Umm…so…” she started off stammering from embarrassment, “after that I was put on trial and sentenced to death because I was too dangerous to the village, but you saved me.”

 

“Of course I did,” he grumbled. “I've promised to always protect you.”

 

Kagome shook her head. “Yes, but it wasn't like that. You took responsibility for me - you took me on as your mate. You didn't' let me know at first, told me I was just your servant, but eventually we figured things out and that we loved each other,” she gripped his haori tighter, “and then…we became mates for real.”

 

“Meaning…?” he motioned for her to go on.

 

“Oh!” she batted him on the chest, irritated that despite how obviously embarrassed she was he was still going to make her spell it out for him.

 

Inuyasha smiled darkly in response. He was pretty sure he knew what she meant, but she was so fun to irritate and tease.

 

“We started to mate…and as soon as you entered me…there was blinding light and pain - my powers were out of control again. Then I woke up here and all of this confusion started.” Kagome fidgeted with her fingers, hoping he wouldn't mind too much the kind of dream she'd had about him, but as she kept waiting and Inuyasha still didn't say anything she began to get nervous. Glancing up she saw his eyes were half-lidded and unfocused with his head tilted up, like he was dreaming or lost in some memory. “Inuyasha? Say something, you're scaring me.”

 

He turned his head back toward her and smiled. “I was just remembering Kagome. You were right, that is exactly what happened here too.”

 

“Really?” She was relieved to find only sincerity written on his features, or at least until his smile turned into a devilish grin. “What?” she asked, suddenly wary.

 

He snickered and poked her arm. “You had a graphic dream about me.” He laughed as her face turned beet red and her mouth moved with no sound coming out. She buried her face in his chest and didn't come out until she heard him say, “Welcome to my world now, mate.”

 

“What?!” she yelled. “You mean you have dreams like that about…wait, mate?”

 

He nodded, wearing a huge grin that Kagome immediately matched. “You mean it?” she squealed.

 

“Hai, you're still my mate.”

 

Hmm, she thought, suddenly in a playful mood. “So if I'm your mate, does that mean I'm allowed to do this?” she said as she brought her arms up around his neck.

 

It took Inuyasha a moment to respond. Did…did she just accept being my mate? Then that must mean that…she still loves me! Hell yeah! Hmm, so my mate wants to play, eh? “Hai, but that means I get to do this,” he bantered back, wrapping his arms more securely around the beautiful creature sitting in his lap, pulling her forward until there was no room for air to flow between them. Kagome smiled up at him, looking for all the world like she was going to kill him, but there was a mischievous glint in her eyes that had Inuyasha worried. “What about this?” she asked, the words dripping off her lips seductively and making Inuyasha's toes curl.

 

Before he could react, her right arm snaked its way upward and she grabbed a hold of one ears, rubbing hard. Inuyasha flinched involuntarily at the sensations coursing through him and he closed his eyes to fight off the urges that followed. He growled at her, enough to get her to stop momentarily, and he regained enough composure to glare down at her. The heat in his darkened amber eyes was enough to almost melt Kagome where she sat. “You're allowed mate, but if you keep doing that we may both end up in a coma again.” He had one hand on the back of her head and his tongue played back and forth between his fangs and his lips, like he wanted to consume her. Kagome got the message and with an “Eep!” she quickly let go of his ear and brought her hands back down to her lap. “Okay, good to know,” she said timidly, embarrassed and gasping for air. That was a little more intense than she'd expected, but then again…”Yes, definitely good to know,” her features immediately turning sensual again as a seductive smile crossed her lips. It was Inuyasha's turn now to be taken aback by the raw provocation of his mate. Kagome's smile grew gentler as she thought, This will definitely be useful once we figure out my miko powers, so not now.

 

She brought one hand up to the side of his face and softly kissed him on the lips, the merest whisper of skin against skin. “For later, ne?” she said, referring to what had just passed. “Hai, for later mate,” he breathed back, leaning further into the tree for support and pulling her with him.

 

Kagome wasn't completely done playing though, and after the intensity of her last attempt…”Inuyasha, can I do this?” She pulled open his haori slightly, just enough to let her small hand pass through. As her hand touched his skin she heard a slight intake of breath, but seeing no other sign to stop she continued. She traced the contours of the muscles along her path, noting how some flexed or jumped under her fingers, and finally came to his side where she used her nails to rake up and down his ribs all the way to his hip and back up again. Leaning up against his chest she was able to hear how his heartbeat had shot up at first, but it was back to a resting pace now and she could actually hear a low rumble starting in what sounded like a deep place in his chest.

 

The rumbling was actually quite soothing, and between that and being wrapped up in a pair of warm, strong arms, she was fighting to stay awake. Inuyasha smiled down at her, he couldn't believe how lucky he was this night. Of all the ways he imaging this conversation would go he never thought it would end up with her in his arms while she stroked his side, especially with his knack for words and saying the wrong ones. Somehow this moment was just peaceful; he would be happy staying like that forever. “Hai, you can do that mate,” he finally replied as he mimicked a similar motion on her side, rubbing his fingers across her smooth skin right above her scar. He smiled as she snuggled closer into him, her motions slowing as she grew lethargic.

 

“I love you Kagome.” She paused and looked up at him, her smile lighting up the entire sky. “I know,” she got out before her face was enveloped by a jaw-cracking yawn. He looked at her, where she was grinning from embarrassment, and gently pulled her head down to his shoulder. “Go to sleep Kagome, you're still getting better and you've been awake all day and now all night.” He motioned over to where they could see through the leaves the beginnings of color creep into the sky. She would have argued some point but was just too exhausted, and she immediately fell, awash in a sense of love and security.

 

Inuyasha glanced down at her. There was plenty he still had to think about, things Kagome still had to know, and then there was his meeting with Kikyou tonight. He shook his head, for now he was just going to relax in the company of his mate, he'd worry about the rest in a bit.

 

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Kagome and Inuyasha did not return to the village until well after noon, Kagome having slept away the majority of the day. Everyone of their friends immediately noticed the change in her demeanor and the extra spring in her step, despite the fact that her body was slightly injured, especially when she flashed them all her trademark smile.

 

“Kagome!” “Kagome-sama!” “Kagome-chan!” Shippo, Miroku, and Sango all shouted in chorus at the approach of their friend. They clustered around her, despite the protective mate that was attached to her arm, and began to pester her with questions…that is until Inuyasha let out a warning growl and Kaede came out of the hut yelling at Inuyasha for keeping her ward out all night. Kagome laughed at the sight of Inuyasha being scolded by the old lady, sensitive ears pushed to his skull in defense against the decibel level of Kaede's voice. Shippo was the one who finally broke in, “Come on, Kagome, come sit inside so Kaede will let you talk with us. I still miss you!”

 

“Hai,” everyone agreed, and they all headed into the hut. Kagome noticed that Inuyasha hung back, wearing a preoccupied look on his face, and she went over and gently grabbed his hand. “What's wrong?” she asked, concern in her voice.

 

“Kagome, please don't be mad at me,” he requested, squeezing her hand back. Before she could even question him he continued, “I ran into Kikyou last night with Miroku. She requested that I meet her tonight at dusk…alone.”

 

“And…are you going?” Inuyasha winced at the slight sadness lacing her words.

 

“I have to go Kagome. Not only did she help take down Naraku and save you, but there seems to be something really important she has to tell me. She said that later she wants to meet with you and the rest of the gang also. But I promise I'll keep it short, and besides, you don't have to worry anymore. You're my mate now.”

 

Kagome still looked hesitant but nodded her consent. Even though she didn't like it, considering she couldn't remember the Kikyou that had saved her and only had her older memories of the undead miko who wanted to drag Inuyasha to hell, she had to respect Inuyasha and let him make choices like this. Just because she was now his mate didn't mean she could dictate all of his life and who he could see. She would choose to trust him, like she always had.

 

Inuyasha smiled and leaned over to kiss Kagome. What started out as a gentle brush of his lips over hers quickly turned into something more heated, more passionate, as the two let any pent up feelings pour into each other. Slowly Kagome pulled back and laid her head against Inuyasha's shoulder, frustrated that they couldn't follow this through even if they had the time. Inuyasha grunted in agreement, as if hearing her thoughts, but then gave her a quick kiss on the top of her head and turned to leave. He look back at her for fear that he would run back into her arms and never budge from them again, so he just plodded forward, his mind racing with questions about what Kikyou could want.

 

Kagome watched as he walked off, but then hearing commotion from inside the hut, which she could only guess was Miroku groping at Sango again due to the sighs, laughter, and yelps of pain, she headed to the hut to see her friends.

 

Shippo immediately ran to Kagome as she entered the door, but at a `tsk' from Kaede he waited until she was sitting comfortably before he climbed into her arms. “How are you child, do you need anything? We have dinner prepared for you.”

 

“Thank you Kaede, dinner would be great. Other than that I'm fine. A little bit tired still, but I feel great!” She smiled of great contentment.

 

Miroku was the first to jump in. “So Kagome-sama, I trust you and Inuyasha had a most…fruitful night,” his eyes creaking in a smile.

 

“Hentai!” yelled Sango as she hit him upside the head, though not hard enough to damage anything. She was still going to marry this bozo after all.

 

“My dear Sango!” interjected the offended houshi, “I was merely referring to their conversation. We all know that there can be none of `that' right now, at least not until they figure something out so we won't be taking care of them in their comas for the rest of their lives!” Miroku was meaning to make a joke of it, but Kagome suddenly became quiet and introspective. “Kagome-sama, I…”

 

“No, it's fine Miroku,” interjected Kagome. “You just made me think of something from my dream, that's all.”

 

“About your dream Kagome, what was so serious about it that you couldn't tell us?” Sango looked a cross between concerned and slightly offended that her friend felt she couldn't confide in her.

 

“I'm sorry Sango-chan,” said Kagome, a blush gracing her cheeks. “It's just that I was embarrassed of what I dreamt about and I didn't want to let you guys know at first. Now I can tell you though - remember how I was telling you about the youkai village and how you all were there? Well Inuyasha was there too, and he saved me from one of my miko power freak outs. After that…we became mates,” her blush deepened to the color of an overripe tomato, “and the same thing happened in my dream that happened here…my miko powers flared up and we were both in great pain, and then I woke up here.”

 

Kaede was taking great interest in what Kagome was saying. “Do you think it is possible, child, that your dream could be predictive in a way?”

 

“I'm not sure,” said Kagome, screwing her eyes in concentration. “It's possible, but since it involves things that already happened, maybe it's just helping me forget things that I forgot?”

 

“That is possible too, of course, but you might want to evaluate some of the other things that happened there, probably some small thing that may be important. Just an idea though.”

 

“Okay, Kaede, I will. But that reminds me, there's something I want to ask you all. Inuyasha mentioned it last night but wouldn't tell me the details of it because it's supposed to be pretty scary, but now I need to know. What happened to defeat Naraku?”

 

The room was suddenly very quiet, a tension filling the air. Even Shippo was abnormally still, only fidgeting with the front of his vest. “Kagome-sama, it might be better to wait until Inuyasha returns before telling that story,” started Miroku.

 

“Why? Why, now that we're mates, should I have to wait on him for anything? If it wasn't like that before it shouldn't change now, and you don't need his permission to let me know something that happened in my past.” Miroku was surprised at the frustration that was radiating off the woman sitting in front of him.

 

“Besides, I'm getting paranoid with only my imagination to feed off of. My head keeps running through all the worst possible scenarios, and that is more frightening than knowing what happened for sure. And you must tell me everything. Please?”

 

He looked from Sango to Kaede, searching for some sign of resistance, but upon seeing none he conceded. “Alright Kagome, we'll tell you, but you must promise to tell me if I need to stop at any point, and for the record…I'm sorry.”

 

Kagome groaned. “Miroku, please never start any story like that again, you're just making me more anxious!”

 

“Of course. Now where to start…Well I suppose there's no good way to say it, so I'll just be blunt. Naraku kidnapped you. We still don't know exactly how he got you out from under us, and I guess now we'll never know. He decided to attack us spiritually and emotionally through you, and the way he figured out to do it was…what he'd originally planned to do to Kikyou,” he stated vaguely, hoping Kagome would understand and he wouldn't have to say the word, but seeing her confused look he knew he'd failed. “He decided that since he couldn't have Kikyou that he would have you…he was raping you Kagome.”

 

Kagome let out a gasp, a shaky hand going to cover her mouth, but she nodded her head for Miroku to continue.

 

“When we finally caught up with him you were lying naked in his arms, and he made sure well that we could see but kept himself protected behind a barrier and some lesser youkai. Inuyasha went berserk, hacking away at that barrier with his red Tetsusaiga, but as soon as he got through one he found another. I believe there were three barriers in all, and Inuyasha was having to fight his way through them as well as some of those troublesome youkai lackeys. Sango, Kirara, Shippo, and I were working on the rest of the youkai, and were doing a decent job, despite the Saimyoushou, until Kohaku showed up. He immediately went to attacking Sango, and that's when things seemed to get really out of hand.

 

“Inuyasha had finally broken through the last barrier, and Naraku was having to divide his attention between you and Inuyasha. Despite his split attention, he was still giving Inuyasha quite a few injuries, and that might have been it had Sesshoumaru, Kouga, and Kikyou not shown up. They didn't all arrive at exactly the same moment, but they were eerily close together.

 

“The first thing that happened was that Naraku…I guess we could say he made contact with you. I'm not sure just how far he truly got physically, as in I don't know if he entered you and broke you or anything like that, but I know he was still connected to you when you started glowing an unworldly pink. Your powers flowed out of you and into him, freezing him to where he was, but there was still enough energy that it made a gigantic aura around the both of you, sending tendrils maybe 30 feet into the air. Everything, and I mean everything, stopped for a moment just to gaze at the awesome power you were emitting. I've never seen anything like it in my life.

 

“Inuyasha was close enough when the initial blast went off that he got thrown back, adding more to his injuries, and then he was set upon by more of the youkai. After that he was so busy fighting them off he never got the chance to get very close to you again. Kouga was actually the only one who got to make any physical contact with you. He had gotten those new claws of his (for any who do not know, after the anime stops it continues in the manga, and in part of it Kouga manages to get a pair of enchanted claws from the gravesite of his ancestors, only after wresting it away from the gigantic three-headed guard dog, of course) and decided to try them out for the first time at this moment. He was able to get up to you and tried to get you away from Naraku's grasp, but as soon as he touched your skin he also was repelled and nearly knocked unconscious by the force of it.”

 

“Sesshoumaru, meanwhile, decided to take out his personal vendetta against my brother,” started Sango. “After your powers initially went off Kohaku seemed distracted and so I tried to take him down without hurting him, but he got away from me. He seemed so intent on avoiding me after that, not even putting his heart into it when he had fought me. It wasn't until later that I discovered he had already regained his memory and knew who I was, so that was probably why. Sesshoumaru though simply came up behind him and popped out his Shikon shard, killing him instantly.”

 

Sango shuddered at the memory and Miroku temporarily took over. “It seemed he had everything planned out though, as he immediately pulled out the Tenseiga. He ran it through Kohaku, but nothing happened. I think even the taiyoukai was surprised and he swung it over him a couple more times. It was the one and only time I have ever seen any flicker of emotion in that stoic youkai's face. Despite his vendetta against Naraku and Kohaku for capturing Rin, he seemed to truly want Kohaku to live again. Whether it was purely for his own curiosity - to see if someone who had been dead for so long and only kept alive by the magic of the Shikon no Tama could be revived, or because he wanted to spite Naraku by giving his lackey a life free from the entrapment of the Shikon, or because he wanted to do for Kohaku what he couldn't do for Kagura, I do not know. The point was he failed.”

 

Sango laid her hand softly on the houshi's forearm to indicate she wanted to regain her place in the story. “Suddenly we noticed a bright orb coming closer. It took a moment to distinguish what it was, but it was actually one of Kikyou's shikengami carrying a soul with it. Sesshoumaru glanced up at the light source and then swiped his sword across Kohaku's limp body one more time. This time when we looked back up we noticed that the soul was no longer hovering next to the shikengami and that Kohaku's skin wasn't as pale as it had been. Over the next few seconds all of his life signs returned to normal and he got up as if nothing was wrong at all! Of course since then he's been recovering not just emotionally, but also from all the injuries he received in the battle both before and after his revival.”

 

“Sesshoumaru pasted his bored face back on and then tossed the shard over to where Kikyou was standing behind all of us.” Miroku shook his head, still in slight awe and confusion on just how everything had worked in this scenario. “She immediately purified the shard and then turned all of her attention to where you and Naraku were still surrounded by your energy. We hadn't even noticed at first, but she was standing there with an arrow pointed directly at you. We weren't sure what to do, and at first Sango moved to stop her, but right then is when Kouga was thrown in our path, having been blown away by your miko powers.

 

“When we looked up again your energy was actually being drawn away, and being pulled toward the arrow that Kikyou held ready in her bow. Once there was a steady stream of pink energy flowing into the arrow, Kikyou began a chant and the almost completed Shikon no Tama that was lodged in Naraku began to glow and emanate a high pitched rumbling. She finished her chant and her eyes snapped open; she let go the arrow and it seemed to be guided along the path of your energy. At first we were scared it was going to hit you, since you were the source of the energy, but it seemed almost to correct itself and hit square on where the Shikon was embedded in Naraku. The rumbling grew louder, but it was almost deafened out by Naraku's screams of pain. After a moment he was nothing more than debris littering the field, leaving both you and the Shikon no Tama in a pile of innards and charred ashes. Kikyou was the first to recover from the shock and she moved over to claim the Tama. She combined it with the piece she got from Sesshoumaru, the one that had been lodged in Kohaku's back, along with a few others she carried, and it was complete. After that she turned and gave us all a cursory glance before she said that you would recover fine, and then she just walked away.”

 

Sango added, “That was about a month ago. After we gathered you up you actually recovered rather quickly. I think you were only in a coma about 4 days, so I don't know why you were in a coma for a full week this time.”

 

Kaede spoke up for the first time during the discussion. “We haven't heard anything from my sister since then; not until tonight. I wonder if she knows anything about what happened and what information she might have for Inuyasha.”

 

They sat in silence, all contemplating what had happened or what could happen after tonight. Kagome busied herself petting the kitsune snuggled in her lap. Please come back soon, Inuyasha.

 

~ ~ ~

 

Inuyasha wandered slightly as he made his way to the clearing to meet Kikyou. He knew he should hurry and get there as quickly as he could so that he could get back to the village as quickly as possible, but he had this strange sense of foreboding about what it was that Kikyou had to tell him. Still, he knew it was important and that it was something that was on a timeline, so he made it to the clearing just as the sun was setting.

 

Kikyou was already there, waiting. “Inuyasha,” she called, “I'm glad you came. We have much to discuss.”

 

“If what we're talking about it so important, then why do we gotta be alone? You have to know by now that I took Kagome as my mate.”

 

“I do know Inuyasha, and that is why I needed to talk to you alone first. Some of this concerns both you and her, but there is also something I need to tell you first. The Shikon no Tama is no more, I made my wish.”

 

“You did!” yelled an incredulous Inuyasha. “What did you wish?”

 

“This was a difficult decision, more of a burden than you know. The Shikon no Tama and I are connected, now more than ever, but it has always been my responsibility. Even when I failed to keep it from this world it was reborn in my reincarnation so that my soul could still watch over it. I knew that my wish could not be anything petty, and that I needed to find the one wish that could be so truly pure and unselfish that it truly would end the existence of the Tama.

 

“Inuyasha,” she sighed, “my hate is dying. I was drawn into this world again by a witch, and after Kagome got part of her soul back I fed only on the negative parts of the soul, I survived on hate. I learned more of the truth as I wandered this island, and I discovered how you and I had both been tricked into betrayal. Slowly my hatred toward you has been dying, while my hatred for Naraku grew by leaps and bounds. However, now that he is dead, the source of all my hatred is gone. This body was not made to last for eons, it is disintegrating on me, and now I have lost the one thing I survived on. I no longer hate, Inuyasha, and so I am fading from this earth.

 

“This being said, I had to be even more careful in my wish. I would love to be able to wish for something as noble as `world peace,' but even this would not be purely unselfish, because I myself want to see world peace. Therefore I made the one and only wish that I could, the only one that would do good and would not benefit me, therefore fulfilling the Shikon: I wished for the return of Kagome's soul.”

 

Inuyasha gasped and raced to Kikyou's side. “Kikyou, does that mean you are dying?”

 

“In a sense,” she replied, a strange peace covering his face. “I would have died soon anyhow though. The reason I needed to tell you this now, face to face and alone, is because you had the right to hear this from me, and because that might not be possible later due to what happened after I made the wish. The jewel fused with my body, so once my body disintegrates wholly the jewel will no longer exist in this world. More than that, in doing so it freed the miko from within. Midoriko now inhabits this body with me, and she expends a certain amount of power keeping it functioning as long as possible. I do not have much energy left, and what I do I must use for keeping what's left of my soul attached to this vessel as long as possible. She and I both must stay until we can get the help of you and Kagome.”

 

“Of course we will do what we can, Kikyou,” he grasped Kikyou's arm, as if by this action he could keep anymore of her soul from slipping out at the moment. “What is it you need help with?”

 

“Midoriko was not the only one released from the Shikon no Tama.”

 

~ ~ ~