Chapter Ten

            Inuyasha's eyes flew open.  Something's not right.  He was disoriented for a second, before he realized where he was.  Where's Kagome?  She had disappeared!

            He was up in an instant, looking around the dark temple for her.  Miroku was sleeping by the now empty cauldron.  Sango, Kirara, and Shippou were all curled up close to the door.  No sign of Kagome.  Inuyasha was beginning to panic.  He grabbed tetsuaiga and ran out of the temple, into the early dawn twilight.

            Sniffing the air, he could tell that she had been there.  He followed her scent into the forest, worried sick.  If she was awake, why hadn't she awakened him?  Why was she out in the forest?  Was a demon after her again?

            The sound of crying ahead of him made him run even faster.  But when he burst into the small clearing, all he found was Kagome alone, on her knees, sobbing into her hands.  What's wrong with her?

            "Kagome?"  He ventured quietly closer to her.  "Kagome, are you all right?"

            She turned her head towards him, looked into his eyes, and dove into his arms.  Inuyasha held her quietly, not knowing what to do.

            "Was it just a dream, Inuyasha?  Was it really all just a dream?"  Her voice was muffled against his chest. 

            "You were poisoned, Kagome.  You've been sleeping for the past two days.  It was all a dream."  He paused and gently stroked her hair.  "Do you want to tell me about it?"

            She looked up at his face.  "I woke up, and you were so close to me.  In the dream you… you… It was all so real!" She stopped, her eyes filling with tears.  "It was a very bad dream, Inuyasha.  But there was one good thing."

            Inuyasha was getting more and more curious about what she had been dreaming about.  So he just listened, holding her while she came to terms with it.

            "First things seemed normal.  Like they did when it was just the two of us… but then…  Then Kikyou, she…" Kagome looked at the necklace he wore, and buried her face in his chest again.  After a few moments she continued.  "She used the necklace to make you her slave.  It was horrible to watch, Inuyasha!  You were fighting demons all the time, and she never let you heal!  You were dieing right before my eyes!  When she made you fight Naraku, you were already so weak.  I had to help!  But when I did… she… and then you… I tried, but you…"

            Inuyasha stroked her hair, listening quietly.  "It was just a dream, Kagome.  You can tell me, it will all be okay."

            "Kikyou told you to stop me.  You didn't have a choice, Inuyasha!  I knew I had to get it off you, or she would drag you down with her… but I wasn't fast enough.  The tetsuaiga detransformed, but your claws… It wasn't your fault.  I should have saved you sooner."  She stopped.

            What is she saying?  Did I…  "Kagome, what happened?"

            "Just as I was taking the necklace, you… you… struck me, in the side.  I know it wasn't your fault!  I know you would never kill me!"

            "Kagome…" Inuyasha didn't know what to say.  In her mind, he had just killed her, but here she was, saying that it was all her fault.  "It was just a dream.  I will never, ever, hurt you.  And I'm never going to let you get hurt again.  I promise."

            They held each other quietly, for a few moments.  But then Kagome stood up suddenly.  "I know you would never hurt me.  But I just can't risk you getting hurt that way."

            She reached for the bead and bone circle around his neck.  But he grabbed her hands.  "Are you sure, you should?  It was just a dream, Kagome.  At least talk to Kaede!"

            "I trust you, Inuyasha."  Kagome gave him a very odd look, which confused Inuyasha further.  Then she suddenly darted in, kissing him.  Inuyasha was so shocked he let go of her hands, and she took the opportunity to lift the necklace over his head.  She stepped back with a smile on her face, but she was also watching his expression closely.

            "Can I ask you something, Inuyasha?"  She asked the dumbfounded hanyou.

            "What?"

            "Why were you sleeping so close to me like that?" 

            He blushed profusely, redness spreading across his cheeks, and his ears were twitching wildly.  Kagome grinned.

            "I- I just wanted to make sure that you were safe!  Don't you smile at me like that!"  He stomped off back toward the temple.  Kagome ran to catch up with him.  She walked silently beside him. 

            Inuyasha relaxed, and as they walked, side-by-side, a thought occurred to him.

            "Hey, you said there was something good in your dream.  What was it?" 

            Now it was Kagome's turn to blush.  "That is none of your business, Inuyasha!"

            The hanyou raised an eyebrow at her, and twitched his ears.  What was that all about?  What got her so embarrassed?  He glanced at her sideways and caught her looking at him the same way.  Oh well… she sure is cute when she blushes…

            Kagome did her best to suppress the redness flooding her cheeks, but failed miserably.  So she just stepped along, walking beside Inuyasha, completely in the dark about how he felt.

            It was just a dream, Kagome.  I can't expect the real Inuyasha to be like the dream one.  And I can't tell him about that part either.  'You don't know how he really feels.'  I really don't know how he feels about Kikyou, or me.  I'll just have to live with this.  Being here, by his side, that's enough for me.  And he was so sweet this morning.

            She thought about the last bit of the dream.  She had died in his arms, with his tears on her face.  Was that really how it would end for them?  But then she had awakened. 

            She had been very disoriented at first, suppressing a scream as her eyes opened.  She felt the warmth surrounding her and turned her head slightly.  She was inches away from Inuyasha's face.  He looked so sweet when he slept.  His arms were wrapped around her, underneath her arms, and one of his legs was flopped over hers.  She was sure that she was still dreaming. 

            She had spent some moments, feeling his breath against her body, gently stroking back his hair, letting her fingers linger over his ears.  Then she saw the necklace, still around his neck.  She looked around her for the first time, saw the temple, the sleeping villagers.  It had all been a dream.  Inuyasha's love for her had been nothing but her own imagination.  She had extricated herself from Inuyasha's arms, trying not to disturb him with her flooding tears, choking back the sob that was heaving in her chest.  She had made it to the clearing, where she could grieve in peace.  

            Inuyasha had found her, not long afterwards.

            Kagome let herself smile, as she walked by his side.  Back to the temple, to their friends.  So Inuyasha may not love me.  So he may never.  At least he is here, and at least he is free.