A Simple Dream: Revised

It was hot. Flames consumed the thatched roofs of the town, spitting sparks into the air. Fire spouted from the bowels of the earth, attacking the villagers as they tried to escape the monstrosity that caused all of the mayhem. Inuyasha sat on a leafy branch on a hill near the village, observing the monster destroy the homes of the townsfolk. The demon roared and consumed a handful of screaming horses, picking his sharp teeth with his snake-like tongue. It turned to smash another set of stables, flashing the large spider scar that was branded onto his back. It had to be one of Naraku’s incarnations. Inuyasha snorted and turned his head from the devastation that lay out before him. Too many times he had been pulled into things like this. He wasn't going to help this time. Naraku could have this pathetic village; it was none of Inuyasha's concern.

The group had stayed behind while Inuyasha came to the town. They had complained about walking all day and set up camp in the safety to the dense forest trees. By now they were probably preparing dinner, waiting for his return. The hanyou licked his lips thinking about the delicious Ramen that Kagome would be making for him right now. Beef, Chicken, Shrimp; so many different flavors for him to try, so little time to try them in. Yes, Inuyasha knew that Kagome would eventually go back to her own time, through the Bone Eater's Well, and he'd never see her again one of the times that she went through. No matter how many times he said he wouldn't, he knew deep down that he would miss her when she did leave. Hell, he missed her every time she left for a few days to take her stupid tests. Not like he'd ever admit it to her.

The fire blazed as the demon beat its gigantic fists through the wood roofs of the small houses, bellowing threateningly, challenging anyone to try to defeat him. Inuyasha shrugged and looked back towards the woods where he had left his companions. Good thing they were safe.

"I see them! The shards are on his forehead!" Inuyasha's ears perked up and his head jerked towards the village.

"Hiraikotsu!" Moments later, Sango's giant boomerang landed next to the base of the tree Inuyasha was sitting in.

"Kagome! He's too strong! We need Inuyasha!" Miroku's voice rang out from the inferno in front of the hanyou.

"We'll have to keep it busy until he gets here." Kagome shouted.

“But what if he doesn’t come?” Shippou’s high voice called out.

“He’ll come, Shippou!” Even from this distance, Inuyasha could hear the uncertainty in Kagome's voice. Inuyasha growled. How could she doubt him? Hadn’t he always been there for her before? He tensed, ready to jump out of the tree and race to the rescue. But the village was none of his concern. The half demon shook his head and rested against the tree trunk. Besides, Miroku would get them out of there before anyone got hurt.

“Kagome! Miroku and I are going to see if we can knock it off balance!” Kirara’s roar filled the air, mixing with the constant crackle of the fire as the fire cat took off, the two warriors perched on her back.

"I've got a shot." Kagome yelled over the raging fire. A bright light shot towards the demon's head, but it bounced away before it even hit its mark. "What the? . . . Kikyo? What are you doing here?"

Inuyasha's eyes widened at the mention of Kikyo. Why would Kikyo be with one of Naraku’s incarnations, unless . . . no, she wouldn't side with the one who killed her . . . would she? 'This is ridiculous' Inuyasha shook his head. 'She'd never do that.'

"Naraku has the power to help me get my soul back." Kikyo's voice echoed in Inuyasha's white, triangular ears. "And if I protect his demon, I can be complete once more."

"But the only way for our souls to merge is-" Kagome's gasp cut her own sentence short.

"For one of us to die." Kikyo finished for the teenager.

Inuyasha sprang from his tree and rushed down the hill towards the battle zone in the fiery village. 'No! Not Kagome!'

”But why, Kikyo?”

Kikyo’s cruel laugh screeched through the air as Inuyasha drew closer to the burning village. “So I can be with Inuyasha, of course.”

"Kikyo, you don't love him anymore! All you want is not to be alone in your hatred anymore. All you want is to drag him into the deepest pit of hell with you." Kagome shouted, anger and fear clouding her voice.

"And you think you can stop me?"

"I'm not going to let you take him!"

He finally reached the battle zone, looking around in horror as Miroku and Sango fought blindly, desperately attempting to pierce Kikyo's protective shield to injure the monster held the coveted shards in its forehead. At the foot of the monster stood Kikyo with her bow, and on the other side of the clearing was Kagome, her bow strung and at the ready.

Kikyo looked over, her dead chocolate eyes glimmering in the firelight. “Inuyasha. How nice of you to join us.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Don’t interfere.” The miko’s attention turned back to Kagome, who had not acknowledged Inuyasha’s presence. " You should never have come to this time." Kikyo ground out as she drew back her bowstring. Both bows twanged, one arrow going straight for Kagome, the other going straight into the bushes behind Kikyo. Inuyasha tried to jump in front of Kikyo's arrow, but he was held in place by some kind of magic spell. He watched in horror as the arrow connected with Kagome's stomach. "Bad aim, copy." Kikyo grinned smugly, proud that she had at last triumphed.

Kagome smirked and gave a small chuckle, grimacing afterwards. "Not quite, Kikyo."

"What?" Kikyo hissed and turned towards the bushes, her smile turning into a gasp when she saw Naraku's humanoid body lying on the ground, a puddle of dark, acidic blood dissolving the dirt around him. “Naraku? Dead?” Kikyo looked down at her hand, yelping with surprise as she watched her body slowly disintegrate, turning into a pile of earth beneath her. "No! This can't happen!" She shouted as more of her disappeared. “Damn it!” Kagome watched with sad eyes as Kikyo glared at her. "You stupid girl! You won't live either!"

Kagome smiled and nodded. "I know. But now I can die knowing I've done some good here." Kikyo yelled angrily one last time before the last of her turned to dust, scattering into the winds.

Finally free from whatever spell bound his feet, Inuyasha rushed to Kagome as she fell to the ground, blood slowly dripping down her front. "Oh god." He muttered, looking at her paling face.

"Inu . . . yasha?" Kagome whispered, looking up at him with her beautiful chocolate eyes which captured the firelight, making them shimmer and dance.

"Kagome. Don't leave me. Please, you can't leave me." He pleaded with her as tears pricked behind his eyes bright ocher eyes. She sighed and coughed up some blood that had made its way to her mouth, letting it fall to the ground in a splattered crimson puddle. Behind them, Sango and Miroku continued their battle, oblivious to the dying girl and the grieving hanyou.

"I'm sorry . . . Naraku had the other jewel shards . . . in some of his monsters . . . they'll be scattered by now . . ." She reached up to her neck and pulled off the jewel shard necklace that she wore. "Here . . . find the rest . . . become a full demon ."

Inuyasha closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'll give up the jewel shards, just don't leave me." He begged again, holding onto her cold hand to his cheek.

She smiled and put a hand against his warm cheek. "I l-love you . . . I n u y a s h a . . ." With that, her hand went limp and her eyes closed for the final time, blocking her shining brown eyes from his view for the last time. Inuyasha didn't notice the demon go down at the hands of Miroku and Sango; he didn't see them come up to him with their newly collected jewel shards. All he saw was Kagome, dead in front of him, blood pooled around her, soaking her once pure white uniform with crimson, her hair fanned out behind her, contrasting like day and night with her ashen face. Fires burned red in his bright amber orbs, which now shone with unshed tears. He howled with grief as the image of Kagome's dead, bloody body was burned into his memory forever.

The hanyou jumped in his tree, gasping for air as tears ran down his strong face. He looked around the camp urgently until his eyes landed on Kagome, awake and stoking the fire. He flopped back onto the branch he'd been dozing on, relief flooding his body. 'She's still alive . . . it was just a dream . . .' He looked over his shoulder down at her back, huddled next to the warmth of the small campfire.

She glanced over her shoulder up at him before turning smiling up at him. "What are you doing up?"

He shrugged and looked up at the leaves above him. "Nothing." He flipped on his side and looked back down at her. "You?"

She just smiled at him. "Just a bad dream. It's nothing really." Her attitude was happy, her scent was filled with sadness.

He shook his head. "You suck at lying Kagome." He jumped down and looked into her eyes, searching for what was bothering her.

She turned her head and sighed. "It was just a dream . . ." She murmured, gazing intensely into the fire.

Inuyasha sighed with aggravation. "Would you just tell me already?"

She looked up at him, smiling mischievously, and shook her head. "I wanna know your reason too. Agreed?" He nodded after a minute, hoping that she would let it slide if he didn't tell her. She sighed and looked back into the dancing flames. "I . . . I thought Kikyo dragged you to hell." She admitted sheepishly. "It scared me a little." She turned back to him, grinning again. "Ok, you're turn."

Inuyasha blinked and scratched his head. "Well, you see, errr-"

Kagome scooted closer to him. "Come on . . ."

He sighed and looked down. "I dreamt that you died." Kagome's mouth opened and closed, not sure what to say to him. "It terrified me because, I was right there and . . . and I couldn't help you." He confessed, hanging his silvery head in shame.

Kagome leaned against his arm. "It was just a dream Inuyasha." She breathed.

"But what if you really do die?" He asked as his head titled until it rested on top of hers, her sweet scent filling his nose.

"Calm down. It's ok. I'm not planning on leaving you anytime soon, except maybe to go back and take a few tests." She added thoughtfully.

The hanyou growled and crossed his arms. "You're not taking this seriously Kagome." He lifted his head and forced her to look at him. "You really could die. Any day now we could be fighting and you might die."

Her deep brown eyes bore into him as her face became serious. "And Kikyo could drag you to hell any random day that we meet her." She whispered. "No matter how much I hate it, it's true. I just have to accept the fact that one day . . . one day you'll leave me to be with her. You don't think that scares me?" Tears formed behind her eyes. "I'd rather die than see you taken to hell." A single tear slowly made its way down her face and fell onto his hand.
"Kagome . . ."
"I don't want to be alone Inuyasha." She whimpered, blinking back the tears that built up in her eyes.

The hanyou looked down at her and wrapped his strong, protective arms around her. "You never will be Kagome. I love you."

She looked back up into his golden eyes, surprised. "You . . . you do?" He nodded and leaned down to her. She closed her eyes and lifted her head more to meet his lips. The two dreamers kissed for the first time.

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of camp, a kitsune nudged a sitting monk. "Pay up, he admitted it."

Miroku grumbled and put 500 yen into Shippo's open hand. "I hate it when you're right." While Shippo counted his new money, the monk sighed and looked over at a sleeping Sango. 'Maybe someday we'll be together like that Sango. After all, it all started with a simple dream.'