InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sleep Paralysis ❯ The Reason is You ( Chapter 32 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A/n: Another chapter ^v^. Hoohah. Be on the receiving end of the enjoyment factor.

Chanda: I do not believe I am going anywhere soon, Miss Chanda, but I promise if I do to at least get a few good chapters up. And I do promise this story will definitely be finished at some point in time. I love this story too much to leave it unfinished. And thank you for your review, it's nice to hear from you again ^_^.

P.S. FOUND A BETA!*** (is my hubby :3)

Now to proceed with the story. *looks around devilishly*

My head hurts... *pout*

Luna-


'Kagome has to do what...?' Inuyasha stammered, more than a bit baffled and definitely angry.

Kikyou sounded unfazed by him, however. 'When you made your wish, Inuyasha, karma had to balance itself. To do so, it allowed Naraku to live. Kagome had fully supported her cause in the past by purifying the jewel, which as the Guardian was the right thing to do. When she died, as it was rightfully her time, you took her from the natural cycle of rebirth. Thus, that abomination is allowed to wander the earth realm. Not only thus, as you can see, her soul is still incomplete,' were the dry words that seemed to relay a foul taste.

Inuyasha suddenly felt very small. Was his wish selfish? Was everything that happened to Kagome his fault? Were the consequences really that big...?

'What do you mean, wander the earth realm?' Inuyasha asked quietly, confusion racing through his mind. He grasped to comprehend the situation to its entirety, but the whirlwind of questions barely allowed him to take one at a time. All he could do was spit out what came to mind before it was lost in the torrent.

'The realms became split around the industrial age... No longer could this plane support the life of demons and magic. Magic, as you know, is energy. Energy can be directed, but only through belief. It does not require belief in higher ups, or belief in spirits. Only belief that it will work. That focusing that energy, such concentration will cause the energy to react in the way it was directed, through will alone. And when that will began to wane on a whole, when less and less began to believe, it became harder to sustain such life that required so much energy. They were separated into a different plane altogether,' Kikyou explain calmly, though Inuyasha noted she spoke of the mind-blowing matter as if she discussed the weather...

'So, that's why I'm a human now?' Inuyasha ventured. Before now, he hadn't considered why he was, even... but that would explain it.

'Quite obviously. The only problem is, besides that, since your wish directed the energy to Naraku in such a way, he was able to maintain a human vessel and he-' Kikyou began, but Inuyasha interrupted her.

'Onigumo!' he growled, his fists curling tightly together.

Sighing, Kikyou continued, 'Correct. But you can't just obliterate him off the face of the planet, which I am sure you're thinking...'

Inuyasha said nothing, but simply blushed.

'You can't exactly remove him, he does still apply to human society and human law. You kill him, you could be tried for murder. It's a delicate stance,' Kikyou murmured, noting an increase in tension.

'So what am I supposed to do, allow Kagome to just be stalked by this guy?' Inuyasha spat viciously. The thought he couldn't just get rid of the guy caused something within him to coil, burning his insides... He was a threat. A major one, at that...

'Are you still so simple-minded, Inuyasha? Hasn't your life taught you better than that? All those years you spent with Kagome, watching her grow as a miko?' Inuyasha's jaw clenched while Kikyou spoke softly, and he felt a gently brush against his cheek.

He couldn't be reassured this time.

'Kagome, and even you, have abilities at your disposal that do not require such physical methods...'

Blinking, Inuyasha pondered this... 'But how are we to use it?'

Kikyou merely shook her head. 'There are more important things to discuss. I am sure Sesshomaru will address that issue.'

Inuyasha frowned, considering a moment, '... why is Sesshomaru here?'

Sighing impatiently, Kikyou said, 'Your questions will be answered at a later time. I have to leave soon...'

Inuyasha went quiet.

'The most important thing right now is to retrieve the Shikon no Tama before Naraku can build enough energy to go through with his plan,' Kikyou sounded more urgent.

'What's his plan?'

'To take Kagome.'

Inuyasha snarled, 'He never will have Kagome!'

He heard a soft exhale of breath, as very suddenly he felt the warmth that filled him previously begin to leave at a rapid pace.

'I hope so, Inuyasha. I truly hope so...'

'Kikyou, wait! How am I supposed to get the Shikon no Tama back?!'

He was answered with silence.

'Kikyou!' he called out desperately...

And he fell back to the world as the warmth left him completely.




Kagome's eyes widened in panic as she flew to Inuyasha's prone form and quickly fell to her knees beside him. "Inuyasha! Inuyasha!"

He did not respond.

Tears filled her eyes quickly as she shook his shoulder, looking up at the concerned faces of her friends.

"I knew... I knew something was wrong! Please, please... help me!" Kagome pleaded, grabbing Inuyasha's arms and trying to lift him up with difficulty. Miroku automatically came to her rescue, placing one of Inuyasha's arms around his neck as he lifted his best friend's form from the alley.

Sango just watched quietly, intent on the distress on Kagome's face. She hadn't realized, quite before...

I knew they were close... but I never knew... she really loves him...

Sango moved forward, and took up Inuyasha's other side, wrapping the opposing arm from Miroku around her kneck and hoisted him up after she had carefully moved Kagome from being in the way. Kagome's lips were visibly trembling, her entire body shaking as she watched them move him with a critical eye.

"Let's get him back to the house," Miroku said calmly to Sango, who nodded in agreement as they began the trek back home.

Kagome felt her fingers fidget and her hands twitch as if they itched to help, but instead she laced them together behind her back and follow the other two home. She knew they were stronger than her, and she knew they provided better support for him at the moment... but wasn't there any way...

I could take care of Inuyasha myself?

Sighing dismally, she didn't notice any of the looks she received.

Sango and Miroku exchanged knowing glances behind Inuyasha's head, which had Sango wrinkling an eyebrow in concern.

They knew they had their hands full with both of them... but they didn't mind. That's what friends were for... Helping one another, being there for each other... Yet there was something far deeper about this situation than either one of them knew. But neither of them could even begin to guess what it was about...

Luckily, Inuyasha's house was not too far from where they had found his body laying. Kagome had already raced ahead to open the door, as Sango and Miroku had to carefully maneuver, considering three people could not fit through the door at once. It was an interesting display, but somehow they managed the tight squeeze.

As they proceeded to the couch, Kagome wasted no time in running to get a glass of water and a wet cloth. Sango and Miroku watched as Kagome gave Inuyasha a once-over, checking for any injuries. She found none, except for the scraps of where he had fallen on his knees, and even those were minor.

"I don't understand... Inuyasha, what happened to you...?" Kagome whispered to him, still lost in her own world as her friends began to move away from her and started to silently speak to one another.

They went unheard, for Kagome was so intently focused on Inuyasha. This is all my fault... if I didn't always worry you so much... what were you doing alone? What happened?

Brushing the hairs gently from his face and patting his cheeks gently with the cold cloth, Kagome examined him. She watched as Inuyasha's eyelids fluttered, reminiscent of him dreaming. He looked so peaceful, as if he were only asleep.

Kagome sighed softly and leaned down to kiss his lips. It was gentle and chaste, and full of worry. He appeared unharmed, but he seemed to be in a heavy sleep. Regardless of the relocation, combined with her efforts to shake him awake and call his name, he had remained thus far unconscious.

Some part of her tugged in suspicion, and all of her knowing someone had visited him. Yet, he seemed unharmed...

And he had never mentioned dreaming of Naraku... Only the demonesses with him. Mostly memories.

Nothing like she had experienced, except for a handful of times. Where hers was a constant, his was a sometimes.

Kissing him yet again, she lingered, hoping... wanting to feel him wrap his arms around her, and kiss her worries away. Letting her know it'd be okay...

Even if they both knew there was no way to be certain. All they had to hold on to was hope, and pray that the future would be brighter... better. And it looked as if it might be, if only because of him.

"Inuyasha, please... you've gotta wake up... don't leave me alone again... Please..."

Nothing. He didn't respond, except for a small exhale. Kagome worried her lip with her teeth, watching him closely...

I need you here with me...

Resigning herself, she rocked back on her heels and continually stared at his face. She simply sat on the carpeted floor, and decided she would not move until he woke.

Or so she thought.

She hardly expected the explosion that knocked her out of her world and back into material reality. It was the softest of voices, yet the impact left her unearthed.

"Why are you home?"

Kagome's eyes widened, the sapphires turning ice with fear as she turned around slowly to greet the face of the last person on earth she expected at this time of day.

"Se-sshomaru... I-I..."

She found herself unable to complete a sentence, and his appearance and stern look left her stammering.

"What is wrong with Inuyasha?" he looked right past her, ignoring her apparent inability to speak, focusing his attention to his little brother.

Kagome could only follow his gaze, and found herself looking straight back at the face that had her so worried in the first place.

"And why are there other people in the house?"

The voices that had been talking in hushed tones in the kitchen died very quickly.

"Sess... it's not... I mean... what you think..."

Sesshomaru turned his face back to Kagome, and for the first time, she was on the receiving end of one of his frosty glares.

Kagome felt her mouth snap shut, as she withdrew as if trying to avoid his attention.

"I believe, little sister, it is exactly what I think. And I believe Sango and Miroku better leave my house before I call the school to report them for skipping."

Two heads peered from the kitchen, and opened their mouths simultaneously to protest, but were quickly cut off.

"Leave my home. Now."

The order left them shivering from the cold that was sent their way, and the two hurriedly exited the home, but not before sending Kagome a pair of matching glances.

They both said, be careful...

Kagome could only watch them leave.

Sesshomaru closed the door behind the teenagers, and without a word, came back to the couch and bent down to attend to Inuyasha.

He did not expect Kagome to block his way out of the blue by throwing her body over Inuyasha protectively. "Don't touch him!"

Sesshomaru turned his eyes toward her, quite taken aback by her behavior. He had never seen her act so passionately, emotion so clearly filling her eyes. Her countenance was so full of fear...

It tugged at his heart, and he reached for her gently and placed a light hand on her shoulder, causing her to flinch in surprise at the contact.

"I do not wish to hurt him Kagome. I understand this a bit better than you think. If you trust me, I can help you," his voice was barely above a murmur, but his words were strong. He watched her consider him, disbelief apparent, and he knew what she was wondering.

How could Sesshomaru possibly know?

He supposed it was time to explain things to the younger ones. They had been following their own path long enough, and it was taking them far too long to get where they needed to go. He was sure a nudge in the right direction wouldn't do any harm.

"Come, Kagome. I only wish to move him to a more comfortable place than the couch. Say, his bed for instance?"

Kagome looked down and noted exactly what Sesshomaru meant. Inuyasha's body was longer than the couch itself, and he lay twisted on his side. He was sure to have the backache from hell when he woke up if he remained like this, though Kagome couldn't say she was pleased about him being moved more than necessary.

Sighing, she relented with a nod of the head.

Moving out of the way, Kagome watched as Sesshomaru lifted Inuyasha up effortlessly, blinking as he then proceeded to carry him like a baby up the stairs.

Following after him, she watched him open the door with his shoulder and take a quick note of their room. It wasn't quite messy, though it wasn't quite as clean as she knew the immpecable Sesshomaru might have liked.

Kagome blushed at his barely audible snort of distaste at their living habits, and Sesshomaru laid Inuyasha on the bed. Kagome quickly sat down by Inuyasha's side, peering at him to see if anything had changed in the thirty second walk.

Of course, it had not, but Sesshomaru felt a ghost of a smile at the tips of his lips. It was almost amusing how she hovered over him like a mother hen. She checked him over more than once with an extremely critical eye that could have only been worthy of an experienced doctor.

Neither of them could see anything phsyically off with Inuyasha, except for the deeply induced slumber he couldn't be roused from. But at the moment, Sesshomaru figured it was to an advantage.

It was time to have a chat with Kagome that Sesshomaru had found difficulty initiating with Inuyasha hovering over her.

"Kagome."

His words always seemed to startle her out of a world of her own, despite how low his voice may be, and he noticed how she looked slightly apprehensive with his prescence.

"Yes?" he could hear the nervousness in her voice.

"I wish to have a word with you concerning your situation."

Kagome visibly swallowed, her eyes darting about the room.

"...what situation?"

Sesshomaru deided bluntness was the best option.

"Your so-called 'dreams'."

Kagome visibly paled. This was obviously not a situation taken lightly with her, as he didn not expect it to be.

He also noted she was a poor liar.

"W-what... ahem... what dreams?" she seemed to choke on her words.

He ignored her failed attempt to appear ignorant.

"It is very important, Kagome, you realize how your energy is growing and learn to control it."

This time, he knew she really was ignorant. "What energy? What the hell are you talking about?"

About this, he did not expect. He thought she would know, thought Inuyasha would have talked to her about it by now. Holding back a grimace of annoyance, he exhaled slowly to relieve the aggravation. Clearly, his faith in his brother had been misplaced.

"Did you not notice, Kagome, that perhaps when you are emotionally distressed... strange things happen?" he hoped he could figure it out on her own.

She stared at him as if he had grown a second head.

He gave her a moment, hoping she would use that gifted brain she had behind those blank eyes.

A minute of tense silence told him otherwise.

Thus were the nature of modern teenagers. All talk and no sense.

"You never noticed, not once, that when you were experiencing a particularly strong emotion- say fear, hatred, rage, ecetera... that you didn't cause something unexplanable to happen?"

Kagome's mind seemed to process this question a little better... he saw her sorting through memories in her eyes, trying to ascertain what he was talking about... place a situation that might match that...

"I... I suppose maybe...," she looked confused, unsure of herself. As if before she simply wrote it off.

Did the entire world turn a blind eye to when an obvious rule of physics was broken? Were people so desperate to ignore such things?

Sesshomaru resisted the urge to rub his forehead to relieve his pinching headache.

"For instance, say if you felt threatened by a person... that person was suddenly knocked back?" Sesshomaru cut to the chase. That was always the first step of energy use. The natural barriers were utilized, or energy became offensive.

Something in Kagome's mind seemed to click.

"...y-yeah..."

That made things a bit easier.

"Okay, now... Kagome, this is not an unnatural thing for people like you and Inuyasha..." he began, but Kagome cut him off.

"What do you mean 'not unnatural'? It is completely opposite! I'm a freak!" her sudden anger left him unfazed. Though he didn't expect quite an outburst as this considering previously she could barely make out one or two words, but it was better that way.

"It is not an unnatural thing considering neither you are quite what people would consider human... or normal humans, anyway."

She seemed almost offended by his statement, and he rushed to continue to keep her from the cynical remark he could see dancing on her tongue.

"Your souls are able to connect to the astral plane, the plane where your dreams are... shall we say, located. Being connect in such a direct way, you are able to utilize the energy from within you, and eventually, from around you. All life produces energy, and it does take a more connected person to use the energy from around them. And, it is simple to say an even more connected person than that to draw from 'the source'."

Kagome blinked. She appeared as if she might as well have just been given a science lecture in quantum physics.

Sesshomaru allowed his frustration to be apparent this time by giving into that pressing urge and rubbing the bridge of his nose.

How was he to explain to someone who knew nothing about a very thing he had been taught his entire life? This was the utmost of basics, the simplest of all things. Energy was the basic principal of all life. And how she was associated with the flow of that energy was only the tip of the iceberg.

Thinking quickly, Sesshomaru changed tactics.

Speak stupid.

"You are able to do stuff other people can't."

Kagome nodded slowly.

That was progress.

...maybe speaking stupid was the best idea after all.

"That's because your soul and Inuyasha's soul is attatched to things in an invisible way you can't see."

"Like how?" Kagome asked.

Sesshomaru frowned. That was what he was trying to get to.

It was just difficult.

"...well..."

Sesshomaru looked around the room for a reference point.

Clothes, shoes, socks, papers, pencils, stereo... school supplies... glue.

Perfect.

"You soul is glued to an... invisible river, so to speak. But the river isn't water."

"How can the soul be glued to something that moves?"

Damnit.

"...well... imagine... you move a lot too... and..."

His head was pounding.

Scowling, he walked across the room and grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil.

Fuck it.

He'd draw it out.

"Okay, little sister, look."

He casually sat down next to her on the bed, making her obviously 'weirded out', but he could care less. He was too aggravated.

"Look, this circle is you."

He drew a circle, and wrote inside of it with very fine print 'Kagome'.

"And these are other people."

He drew a bunch of squares, and labelled each one 'Person'.

"And these two lines are the flow of energy in the world. No one can see it, but it is there. It connects everyone and everything, and anyone can tap into it. But look."

He first drew two parallel lines that were slightly waved, inbetween them labelling 'Energy flow'. Then, coming from the squares he drew lines that shot out everywhere, in every direction, and lines that connected the squares together, and to the wavy lines.

"This is the average person," he pointed at one of the squares, and Kagome squinted at it. "The energy is not focused, travels every which way, but is still connected. Those are what the random lines represent."

Kagome seemed to understand more, but said nothing. She simply listened attentively.

"And this is you."

Sesshomaru drew multiple lines coming from the circle dubbed Kagome and they all went in one direction; toward the energy flow.

Kagome frowned at this.

"What does that mean?"

Sesshomaru allowed a small smile. She seemed uncomfortable again.

"It means you an do things the squares can't. Inuyasha is the same way, but he is more complicated."

Kagome seemed boggled.

Sesshomaru was not going to explain it at this moment.

"Now, to explain the planes... Hopefully, words can be used this time..."

Kagome blushed.

"Imagine blankets. The things we can see and touch and smell and feel are one blanket. All of the physical world-the world as we know it. Are you following me?"

Nodding, Kagome decided to venture, "I think so... you mean, like, things that are solid? Or water? Or stuff?"

Sesshomaru nodded, "Exactly. But it's everything we know. The air, the wind, gas, the atmosphere, the universe... it means the things we can't see also, but we know are there. So it's all those things, tangible and non, that are strictly one blanket. Imagine that blanket is blue. Still following?"

Kagome smiled, seeming to feel better about this subject. "Yes, I am following. It's all the scientific stuff."

Sesshomaru considered this, and furrowed his brows, "I suppose that's one way of putting it. So... now, imagine another blanket. Imagine this blanket has things we'd never imagine, but also things we have heard of. Let's say this blanket is all the supernatural things we hear about; spectres and ghosts and spirits, demons and what not."

Kagome seemed perturbed at this metaphor, but nodded and said nothing.

"Now, this blanket is red. Imagine at one time, the red blanket and the blue blanket were one blanket woven together. Then, for some reason one day someone decided, 'I don't want a red and blue blanket. I want one red blanket and one blue blanket separately.' So that person began to separate the blankets, until they were independant of each other."

Sesshomaru gave Kagome a moment to breathe and take this in. He could see her mind working... thinking... probably imagining what it was like.

He assumed, imagining if her nightmares were real here.

Though he knew they were... her nightmares existed here. She just didn't know it.

"Now, imagine each stitch in the blue blanket were a person. There are some people who, without realizing it, have created a thread that leads from the red blanket to the blue blanket. These people are the people who claim to be psychic, clairvoyant, mediums, ecetera. You, Kagome, are also one of those people who have a thread to the red blanket."

Swallowing, Kagome began to reminisce of a certain movie with a very dangerous little red pill and blue pill.

Only, she couldn't choose which one she wanted to take.

She had to take both.

To say she wasn't happy was an understatement, and Sesshomaru didn't miss the dark look Kagome had.

He ignored it.

"Inuyasha, to say the least, is also one of these people. It's very important you understand this. That's where your dreams come into play."

Kagome shot him a nasty look, as if it were his fault she experienced them.

"I'm no goddamn psychic. This is a load of bullshit. I don't want to talk about this anymore."

Sesshomaru glared at her, but she was unfazed. He didn't take lightly to her attitude, especially when he was trying to help her.

He didn't fail to catch her look of surprise went he snapped back at her, "This is no time for your childish denial. There's no reason for you to act like a know-it-all bitch when I am here, taking my time to help you and teach you things I'm sure you've wanted to know for a very long time. Either you can shape up, and accept that it is the way it is because I am sure it is very apparent to you it will not just go away. So either you can learn to understand it and work with it, or continue to allow it to control you. So really, it is your choice if you want me to continue or if you think you're so smart that you can figure it out on your own."

Kagome slammed her jaw shut, and he heard as she ground her teeth together and did not speak.

After a moment, he knew he had put her in her place.

He was not the enemy.

Though, he knew he agreed with one thing at this point.

"I think we shall stop here then for the time being despite this. You have apparently had your fill, but I will not accept you being disrespectful again in my house when I have done nothing but show you hospitality. Is that clear?"

Shame washed over Kagome's face this time, and apparent apology was in her eyes as she mumbled quietly, "Yes sir..."

"All right. Now believe me, Inuyasha shall be fine. I do not see anything wrong with him except this unnatural sleep. I am sure when he wakes he will have much to tell you. Now then, I am going to go downstairs for now. Notify me if anything changes."

Not giving her a chance to respond, Sesshomaru swiftly stood and walked out of their bedroom before she could get a word in.

Staring numbly at the door as he closed it quietly, Kagome sighed.

What am I going to do...?



Inuyasha groaned at he buried his face deeper in the a pillow and pulled the cover over his eyes.

It was far to bright, and he felt as if he had a hangover.

"Kagome, shut off the damn light, would you?" he groaned.

Instead of getting what he asked for, though, instead he was pummelled randomly by a heavy body.

"Oof!" the air rushed out of his body as his ribs compressed uncomfortably, and he was about to curse when he noticed said body was quivering uncontrollably.

Trying his best to manuever around, Inuyasha removed the blanket and endured the light as he looked down at the dark head of Kagome.

Her shoulders shook, and he heard her uneven breaths.

Worry overcame him as he touched her tentatively on the head, running his fingers through her hair to try and console her.

"What's the matter Kags?"

He wasn't ready to see her face... it was bright pink, and tears stained her cheeks as her eyes shined brightly.

"Inu...!" she sobbed to him, throwing her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her, blinking as he pulled her close.

"Whoa, whoa, hold up! What's wrong?" He spoke softly, trying to calm her down.

But he couldn't get a sensible word out of her as she cried, and all she could do was hold onto him like a life line.

Listening closely to her ranting, though, there was one thing he could catch...

And she kept repeating it, every other line. Like a mantra, a chant.

It was her personal prayer.

"I love you so much... please don't leave."

His heart clenched, and he pulled her close.

He had already promised.

I'll never leave, Kagome. You're the reason I breathe.

And as she cried, he slowly began to realize one thing.

The reason why she was crying.

...she was thinking that exact same thing...


A/n: All I can say is yay. Another successful chapter. Squee. :3.

Oh, and listen to the StainD sond 'Zoe Jane'. Zomg, I wanted to cry... it was so beautiful.