Dream's Tale by Keiko Yuki

Rude Awakenings

A/N: Well, here's my sequel to "The Storm" , as promised. I'm sorry about not writing this sooner and I promise I'll make this one longer. ^.^ Now, you don't have to have read "The Storm" in order for this to make sense (though I highly recommend it.) Remember my one rule "you read it you review it!"

You might have read this already but I'd really appreciate it if you emailed me instead of reviewing the normal way. Domo! Ja ne!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, if I did my name would be Rumiko Takahashi, I'd be rich and I sure as hell wouldn't be posting my stories on the internet!!!

()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()

Amber eyes opened instantaneously. Suddenly awakening from slumber was not something Sesshoumaru was prone to do. He stood from his futon gracefully and walked towards the open widows gazing over the garden.

The breeze that passed lazily through the white curtains grazed his delicate features. He tied the pristine silk to the hooks on the walls and stood staring through the window without looking at the scenery.

He thought back to the dream that had awoken him so suddenly. He was in a battlefield, not at all unusual for him. There was carnage everywhere, demon and human bodies together lying in bloody masses on the once green and alive plain.

This didn't perturb him however, he had seen it often enough for it not to faze him. It seemed everyone was at war these days, human and demon alike. The fight for land and power spread all over the country, even in the western lands.

During Sesshoumaru's rule many a battle was fought and all were successful, he wouldn't settle for anything less. His thoughts once again took a turn towards his vivid dream.

In the midst of the red blood a single figure stood tall, almost defiantly as they refused to be slain by anyone. Long black hair waved in the wind blowing their scent towards his ultra-sensitive nose.

He recognized the scent as that of the woman-child Kagome's. Yet there was a difference from her usual state of perennial happiness, in fact it seemed her very method of survival was a wild fury.

There she stood, amongst the massacred people and stared. That's what disturbed him most, the staring. Her sapphire orbs gazed toward but not at him. Hatred filled the eyes that used to hold jubilance. She was like a wild animal on a rampage. He stood, paralyzed by this perplexing scene.

He shook his head and returned to the present. It was rare that he dream and he learned to take all dreams seriously. For he had a gift almost none knew about and he preferred to keep it that way. He could sometimes see the future, never whole scenes, just flickering images of what was to happen.

They were most lucid during dreams and this particular prediction troubled him. It was logical that she had killed all of those people seeing as her aura was flaring with power and an uncontrollable anger in the dream.

"I need to get to the bottom of this." He stated into the night sky, proclaiming his conclusion to the garden below and moon above.

How he would do it was a problem, he knew that the woman traveled with his hot-headed brother and that would most likely pose a problem. He needed something as an excuse not to be hostile.

Coming to a possible conclusion as to solve this problem, he began to make preparations for the journey he decided to embark on as soon as possible. It didn't matter that it was late at night. Everything would have to be ready by the time morning decided to come.

()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()

"Achoo!" A young woman shot out of her sleeping bag with a loud sneeze. Some birds went flying and the frogs stayed silent for a few seconds in response to the disturbance. The forest now becoming peaceful and returning to it's original state, the woman peered around her.

She was never a superstitious person and didn't believe that a sneeze signified someone talking about you but she couldn't help but wonder. She looked around the campsite, Miroku was asleep, propped up against a tree with his staff tucked underneath his arm.

Sango slept in one of Kagome's sleeping bags with Kirara and Shippou curled up next to her, giving them her warmth and vice versa. Inuyasha was not in his tree as he was used to doing before, that is before she joined the group.

Yes, Kikyo was now in the Inu-tachi the disturbing thought rang unpleasantly through Kagome's mind. Inuyasha and Kikyo slept together now. This vision used to sent a jolt of pain through Kagome's chest but now she was alleviated of her pain. She finally gave in to the fact that Inuyasha would never be more to her than a friend.

Now, she spent her time strengthening herself and her friendship with Inuyasha. Secretly she still didn't trust the undead miko, how could anyone blame her? Kikyo was the source of all her struggles and sorrow.

She watched as Inuyasha's ears began to swivel subconsciously making sure that the disturbance didn't bring about danger. She smiled at the scene he made, his ears were her favorite thing about him and she loved watching them move about of their own accord.

Laying back down she stared into the now brightening sky. Through the leaves of the trees and the branches that obscured her vision she could see the once black speckled sky turning a fiery orange.

Sighing she turned on her side and stared at the grass next to her sleeping bag. This was going to be another chaotic day she could tell. She should be going back to sleep she knew, but for some reason it was impossible.

With a sigh she got up (much to her body's dismay). Her muscles tightened in protest but she forced them to move. Ever so quietly, she got all of her bathing supplies and dental and hair products then left to the nearby stream she knew was conveniently situated near camp.

After walking enough distance away from camp to be out of earshot she started to hum a tune. She was always uncomfortable in the woods and felt better if she made noise, hence the humming. It was a good thing she always brought her bow and arrows with her.... "damn!"

Realizing she forgot her only weapons against danger she started to panic. "Wait a minute! If something happens all I have to do is scream. Inuyasha will come for me." Her fears subsided, she returned her trek to the stream and begin her morning ritual.

After another day of shard hunting it was decided that she would go back to her time and take a break to catch up with school. She had finals to deal with and it was approaching the end of the school year.

It was her last year of high school. It was a miracle that she'd even been able to pass all these years. If it weren't for Hojo and her other friends then she would have never passed. Stopping her thoughts for a second she scanned the area for demons.

Surprisingly there were none, that's odd. Shrugging it aside as a stroke of luck, she proceeded in bathing and brushing her teeth. "Ah! Much better!" She exclaimed as she brushed her hair while walking away from the stream. "A good bath is exactly what I needed."

Humming again, she walked back to camp. The others must be up by now. Soon she reached camp and was surprised to see everyone ready to go. Shippo ran towards her with a cup of ramen in his hand "here Kagome! Eat up, I helped Sango make it!" Kagome gave him one of her bright smiles, "thank you Shippo-chan! I'm sure it's delicious!"

With a huge grin he jumped off to play with Kirara and Miroku who actually wasn't playing at all, but being chased around by the two miniature demons. Kagome watched the scene with a smile, then turned to an irritated hanyou.

She gave him a smile too and looked at him innocently. "What seems to be the problem Inuyasha?" She said sweetly, knowing it would piss him off further. "What seems to be the problem?" He mocked, "the problem is that it's our last day of shard hunting and you're taking your time doing all your girly stuff! We coulda gotten three shards already!"

This was a lie because lately shard findings were few and far between since most of the shards were already found by either Naraku or themselves. Kagome, knowing this decided to tell the hanyou "that's a lie and you know it! We haven't found a single shard in weeks! And now you expect to find three? Please!" She said in exasperation and then stomped over to Sango.

"Ohayo Kagome-chan, Inuyasha giving you grief already?" She asked with a smile. Kagome let out an exasperated sigh "always Sango-chan, always." Just then her senses spiked and a flash of recognition touched her mind. She turned her head towards the spot where she sensed the shards from.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled without sparing him a glance. "What is it!" He yelled from his spot next to Kikyo. Still staring in the direction the shards were in she said "it's your lucky day."

()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()

A/N: So, whaddya think? Well like I said b4 plz plz plz email instead of review (and I would appreciate it if I wasn't added to buddy lists and stuff if you would plz respect that. Thanx.)

~*~Keiko Yuki~*~

animekayneko@msn.com