A/N: Welcome to Part 3 in the Travelin' Soldier Trilogy. The way this works is you need to read the series in the following order: 1.) Travelin' Soldier (no=4267) then 2.) Living In A Moment (no=4666), before you read this story. They follow each other and refer back between them.

From Beneath the Ashes

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Chapter 3 - Therapy and First Dates

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"You're going and that's final!"

"You have no right to tell me what to do!"

"As your commander, I have every right. You will go and not say another word about it."

Inuyasha's mouth closed with a snap, as he glared heatedly at Sesshoumaru. They had been arguing for the past hour about him seeing a therapist. His nightmares had been slowly getting worse in the week that he had been back and Sesshoumaru was insisting that he seek medical help.

"Kagome and I want to go home to the shrine. I don't want to stay here and see some quaked up doctor." Inuyasha grumbled.

"You both can return to Kagome's home, but I insist that you see this doctor at least three times a week." Sesshoumaru said coldly as he handed a slip of paper to the sulking hanyou. Inuyasha glared at the hand outstretched to him and angrily snatched the paper from him before depositing it in his pant's pocket, not looking at it.

"How do you know that I will go?" he mumbled grumpily.

"Dr. Richards has been instructed to provide me with weekly reports on your progress, also to include if you do not show up. I have also given Kagome the same information that I just gave you and I don't think that she is going to let you get away with not going." Sesshoumaru replied, his back now to his brother. He stood looking out the window over his gardens where Kagome and Sango were sitting under one of the large shade trees.

Inuyasha's nightmares had been getting worse over the last week and Kagome had desperately sought his help. Ranging anywhere from extremely violent to heartbreakingly sad, she had related every instance to him. She had insisted that they return home, where she could provide him with a stable environment away from the dregs of the conflict. Living just outside of Washington DC, there were always protests and news coverage about the conflict. Subjecting him to their hatred was detrimental to his recovery. Sesshoumaru had reluctantly agreed to her suggestion and had contacted the Pentagon's mental health department for a recommendation of a doctor in the area of Kagome's home. They would be leaving tomorrow for the shrine.

"Why'd you do that?" he heard Inuyasha grumble behind him, covering up a smile at his disgruntled brother, he turned around and look at him before walking across the room to stand in front of him.

"If you love her, you will do this for her. You cannot let this haunt you and turn you into a shadow of former self. For if you continue upon the path you have chosen, you will only bring her greater pain." Sesshoumaru said as he walked around his stunned brother and left him to contemplate his words.

~*~

"Kagome, is everything all right between you and Inuyasha." Sango asked as she looked up at the tired girl next to her. Dark circles marred the skin beneath her eyes and pain filled their dark depth.

"I'll be fine, Sango. Once I get Inuyasha home, everything should be fine." Kagome said softly, trying to believe with all her heart that it would be true. Her elation about Inuyasha being alive still filled her heart, but his continued nightmares were slowly eating away at her. She wanted to do everything she could to help him to get over them, but was unsure about how to support him.

"You're not fine. I can tell, please Kagome talk to me." Sango asked, concern coloring her voice.

Kagome looked up into her friend's eyes, and was more than relieved by the complete trust and concern that she saw in those depths. Bursting into tears, she leaned forward into Sango's comforting embrace, pouring out her heart to her dear friend.

"So Sesshoumaru is going to insist that Inuyasha see Dr. Richards." Sango murmured comfortingly, "I think that is a good idea, he needs someone objective to talk to about what happened."

"I know, every time that I ask him for more details, he says that there is nothing else to say and yet his nightmares are getting worse." Kagome sighed as she sat back, reaching up to wipe her wet cheeks.

"Don't fret Kagome, everything will be all right, I just know it. Now, why don't we go find this mysterious man of yours. I have been wanting to meet him all week." Sango said as she hopped up from the bench and held out a hand to Kagome, a wide mischievous gin gracing her face. Kagome smiled up at her and took her generous offer of the help up. As she stood up, she caught a glimpse of sliver hair coming towards her. Smiling, she bounded past Sango and skidded to a halt in front of Inuyasha.

He smiled sadly down at her as he reached out and wrapped his arms about her waist, pulling her close against him. Leaning forward he buried his face in her dark hair, trying to drown out his dark thoughts with her sweet scent. The sound of a throat clearing interrupted their embrace, and they both looked up into the grinning face of the young woman standing behind them.

"Hi, I'm Sango and you must be Inuyasha." the woman said as she stuck her hand out to him. He tentatively took her hand in his before releasing it.

"Inuyasha." Kagome said as she slid her hand over his arm to get his attention. When his eyes were focused on her, "Sango is my best friend, without her I don't think I could have made it through all that has happened over the last two years." she said, her eyes pouring out the depths of her feelings.

Inuyasha turned back to study the young woman in front of him, before stepping forward away from Kagome and sweeping the startled woman up into a tight embrace.

"Thank you." he whispered in her ear. "Thank you for being there when she needed someone."

Sango's eyes filled with tears over his heartfelt response and she gratefully embraced him back.

"You're welcome, I would have done anything for Kagome and I would be most glad to be your friend also." she whispered huskily. Stepping back she linked arms with him and reached forward to snag Kagome, pulling them forward as she turned them back to the house.

"Why don't you say we go and get something to eat for lunch and talk." Sango chirped happily, her best friend on one side and her new friend on the other. Kagome caught Inuyasha's eye over the bouncing girl's head, smiling happily at the contented look on his face.

~*~

"I know, since this is our last night in DC, why don't we go out. We can double date, Kagome. You with Inuyasha and me with the pervert." Sango said as she stepped over the man lying on the hall floor. Miroku had made another attempt at feeling Sango up after they had walked into the house, when she smacked him across the head causing him to tumble to the floor. Kagome was clutching her stomach trying to hold back her laughter as she looked from the dazed Miroku to the bewildered Inuyasha.

Miroku groaned as he peeled himself off the floor rubbing his head. "Sango, do you have to be so mean?" he moaned.

"Miroku, do you have to be such a pervert?" she countered, smiling fondly down at the dark haired man. "Come on, we are getting lunch and discussing where we are all going tonight." She held out her hand to him and with a heave helped him up off the floor.

"But Sango, don't you love me the way that I am?" he pouted, his lavender eyes twinkling merrily down at her.

"Cut it out, you pervert." Sango slapped his arm, playfully this time. "Miroku, this is Inuyasha. Inuyasha, this pervert is our good friend Miroku."

"Hey, I resent that. I am not a pervert all of the time." Miroku complained as he stuck his hand out to Inuyasha. "Glad to meet ya. . .finally." he added with a chuckle. "Now what was this you said about food?"

"Oh you. . .Come on, I'll feed you hungry lot." Kagome chuckled as she turned and led the group into the kitchen. "So Sango, what did you want to do tonight?"

"Well, I heard that there is going to be a concert tonight at the Washington Memorial. I thought we could take a couple of blankets and a basket of munchies." she said, looking over at the two men seat at the table. "What do you guys think?"

"I'm up for whatever you want, my dear." Miroku said as he turned to Inuyasha.

"Fine by me." Inuyasha said, looking uneasily at Kagome.

"Good, then that's settled. We'll leave at 5 tonight. That will give us enough time to get there and find a good spot before it starts." Sango said happily as she bounced over to help Kagome with lunch.

~*~

The lights in the park cast a soft glow over the area. The music played beautifully in the background as the four sat on two blankets spread beneath a blooming cherry tree. Miroku and Sango where sitting side by side, Sango leaning against Miroku with her head on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around her waist. For once, he was behaving himself.

Inuyasha leaned against the tree with Kagome leaning back between his legs, his arms wrapped around her waist. He nuzzled the soft skin beneath her ear, causing a soft shudder to run down her spine.

"Kagome." he whispered gently in her ear.

"Yes." she replied back quietly so not to disturb the other couple.

"Do you know that this is our first real date?" He said, his breath tickling her ear.

"You're right, it is, isn't it." she said, wonder coloring her voice. It felt so right to be here, in his arms, that she really hadn't thought about it at all.

"We really haven't had much time to ourselves, have we." he said softly, his breath whispering lightly against her ear. "It feels nice."

"Yes, it does." she replied, "Inuyasha, are you happy that we are going home tomorrow?"

He didn't reply for a few moments, long enough for her to become worried and she turned in his embrace, kneeling between his outstretched legs. She put a hand on his cheek, looking into his serious face.

"Yes, I am happy we are going home, but what if I get called back?" he said so softly that she almost didn't catch the words.

"Everything will be all right, my love. Don't worry about it until it happens." Kagome gently stroked the side of his face, before she leaned forward and dropped a light kiss upon his lips. An 'aww' from behind her startled them both and she jumped back, turning to find Sango and Miroku looking at them.

"Don't stop because of us." Miroku chuckled, his chuckle turning into a yelp as Sango slapped him across the back of his head. "Hey, why'd ya do that?"

"Because you're an idiot." Sango said before turning back to Kagome and Inuyasha. "The concert is over guys, let's head home, all right."

Stuck in the world that they had created between themselves, Kagome and Inuyasha had not even realized that the concert had ended and that people were leaving the park. Together the four packed the basket and folded up the blanket. Hand in hand, the couples walked quietly with the other people out of the park and to their car.

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A/N: A little time spent together can do wonders for a couple, especially Kagome and Inuyasha. They need it, because the path will only get bumpier before it gets better.

Thanks for reading ~DBZ Vegeta