Alone

Alone

By: Nekayasha
Disclaimer: I do not own any Inuyasha characters, only my own!

“Talking”
‘Thinking’


Chapter 1
The Collection

The heat was unbearable that day in the Sengoku Jidai, Inuyasha and his followers were taking a rest beside a beautiful waterfall…to Inuyashas discomfort. Kagome begged him to rest for a little while before they reached Sesshoumarus castle in the Western Lands, Inuyasha was hoping to surge on till nightfall. The only reason he stopped was because they were looking weak and hungry, so they set up camp that afternoon. But not because he seen the tiredness in Kagomes beautiful brown eyes, no never…..

Kagome was so happy to rest that she made Inuyashas favourite, ramen. While she cooked he caught some fish in a near by river, that was over looking the waterfall for his human and youkai companions. When he returned, they all started frying up the fish and getting the ramen packs ready for the boiling hot water. After a few minutes the ramen was ready, and the fish was cooked to perfection thanks too Miroku and Sango. No words where exchanged while they ate, they were all too happy to eat and no breath was wasted on small talk. They would never know if the inu-hanyou would change his mind about the little rest stop, and it was to perfect to waist on fighting and arguments.

After half an hour of content sighs, everyone started putting their ramen containers and plastic plates in tough bags for Kagome to deposit in her era properly. Kagome was wondering if she should ask something of the inu-hanyou, so she thought on how to word it with out him getting angry at her.

Kagome walked up to said inu-hanyou with her eyes huge, she tried to look as innocent as she could. But Inuyasha knew better and smelt her anxiety; he waited a minute till she would say something, but after a few minutes he grew tired. “Just spit it out already!” said the annoyed hanyou, while he growled softly to show her that he was annoyed with her already. “Uummmm……could me and Sango….have a bath in the river? Heh” she said making her eyes flutter with cuteness. Inuyashas eye twitched with annoyance, but he gave in because he didn’t want to ague ether or get sat. “Fine! But only for a few minutes we need to get moving soon”. Kagomes eyes lit up with happiness “Thank you!! We won’t be long!” she said and grabbed her towels, soaps and ran dragging a shocked Sango with her. “Keh!” was all the hanyou said to the fleeting girls, Miroku gave him a lustrous smirk “I think your going soft on her eh inuya….” Was all he said before he was thumped in the head by the hanyou with a threatening growl knocking him unconscious. Shippou didn’t say a word not knowing how angry he was and did not want a thumping of his own. Inuyasha sat back down beside a tree to keep away from the lecher and listen for the girls, encase they might be attacked.

Inuyasha trained his ears in the direction of the woman, trying to hear any signs of trouble but could only hear giggling and splashing. With a sigh he leaned back against a tree, just listening to the sounds of the forest contently. He could hear the little crickets chirping, frogs croaking near by and then a screech from the river. When he heard the screech from the river he bolted up and ran to the woman that were in need of his rescuing, when he got there all he was rewarded was with an “OSUWARI!!!” from Kagomes gorgeous lips. He just let the spell wear off growling with a rosy blush on his cheeks from seeing, certain parts he shouldn’t have seen on Kagome. Kagome stormed over to the towels and wrapped herself in them, then throwing one to Sango who was resting behind a rock out of the Inu-hanyous sight.
Kagome was towering over the flattened hanyou with a sigh “I’m sorry but I didn’t mean to scream, it was a little fish that rubbed against my leg and it startled me.” Said Kagome with a blush of her own, “But I can’t let you go unpunished for seeing me in ways that you shouldn’t!” Kagome said while walking behind a bush to change into her normal green and white uniform, with a little red scarf. “Keh!!” he said, and stormed off to the makeshift camp with a glower that would burn the forest to ashes if it could. While he walked he growled to himself for thinking he was so ‘whipped’ by Kagome, so that he would run to save her with out a second thought. He was still blushing on what he seen, she looked so gorgeous with out her clothes on. ‘Damn!!’ he thought, ‘I’m turning into the lecher!!’ He growled louder at himself for even thinking such things about young Kagome, well not so young anymore. With that thought he blushed more, then pushed the thoughts away when he got into view of the camp.

When he got back to camp he could see a smirking Miroku sitting with a lump on his head, from the previous thumping. He knew what the lecher was thinking with out even asking him, it made Inuyasha want to growl at him. He Keh’ed yet again angry at his rushing to save Kagome even thought he had promised to protect her, but only got ‘sat’ for his efforts. It was frustrating for the poor hanyou to always have to save her, and seeing her in such an unclothed state to only be sat or hit. The angered hanyou sat down beside the tree he was in only moments before enjoying himself, only to be interrupted by curtain woman. Miroku was still sitting there grinning like a Cheshire cat on catnip, he wanted nothing more then to pound the lecher. But he would only make him smile more, because then he would KNOW what had happened and grin even wider. Inuyasha closed his eyes trying to rest his tired head wanting just to relax, he leaned his head back against the tree smelling around softly trying to see if anyone is coming around the area unannounced. So far no one has passed in this area, they were getting a little closer to Sesshoumarus castle. Then his nose picked up the woman approaching, he could smell Kagomes upset getting stronger and their footsteps. Miroku smiled at Kagome with knowing eyes, so she only spared him a glance. She started putting the fire out with dirt, she used a stick to shuffle it around to make sure it was all out. Sango petted Kirara letting her know she was being a well behaved youkai, and let her on her shoulder. Then she grabbed Hiraikotsu, swigging the huge boomerang onto her other shoulder making sure the strap was secure on her shoulder so not to fall off.

Inuyasha got up from his spot and started walking down the path to the dirt trail towards the Western Lands, everyone fallowed suit with Kagome struggling to put her heavy bag onto her back while she walked. Inuyasha walked over and helped her put it onto her shoulders and bent over for her to climb onto his back, she didn’t object and climbed on while Miroku and Sango hopped onto a transformed Kirara and they all speed up with a little Shippou on Sangos lap. Kagome rested her head on Inuyashas shoulder, so she could rest a little longer before they set up camp not to far from the Western border. The other companions fallowed suit all resting on each other, the only ones alert to danger were Kirara, Shippou and Inuyasha. Kagome opened her eyes only to stare into a beautiful sunset with purples, pinks, reds, oranges and yellows all clustered together. She was in awe of the sight, it took her breath away on how beautiful the Sengoku Jidai could be at night. She only wished that it was just as beautiful in the modern era, because it was hard to see the sunset when a huge skyscraper was blocking your view or when the lights on the street were to bright for you to see the stars up above. She wished she could just count how many stars she could see with out falling to sleep, but in HIS era she could. Thinking of him made her look over at Inuyasha only to see him looking at her with softness in his eyes and something else, but she didn’t see it long enough because he turned his head fast only to put a glower back on his face. He was a puzzle that she would love to solve, she wanted to do everything in her power to open up his heart to let her in. Kagome sighed and laid her chin on his shoulder, to watch the sunset’s colors dazzle and dance for her eyes. Kagome drifted off to sleep on Inuyashas warm back, knowing that she would be safe from all that dare attack HIS ‘pack’. For a brief second she felt a rumbling on his back but thought better of it….because…dogs can’t purr…can they?.

After a few hours of running Inuyasha smelled out the perfect spot to make camp for the night, it was a nice shady area with lots of trees for protection, and of course a river to fish in later in the morning. Sadly he had to slowly slide Kagome off his back onto the ground so not to wake her, and Kirara did the same with Sango and Miroku with a tired little Shippous help. Inuyasha took her bag off her back and fished around for the sleeping bags for his 3 companions to sleep in…because he didn’t need them, he never did he preferred the trees. He wouldn’t mind laying in one though, only if Kagome was in it with him. He blushed at that thought alone, he shook his head getting rid of that thought. He almost begged the sleeping Kagome to sit him for his impure thoughts of the innocent girl, but never dared to voice his thoughts in fear of rejection from the girl he so longed to have. After assisting the limp body of the woman of his dreams into the sleeping bag he helped Sango and Miroku into theirs with out waking them, he nodded to the other youkai and they both curled up with there protectors and fell fast asleep. Inuyasha just watched the leaves flutter on the branches of the trees looking out at the full moon letting himself bask in it’s beauty, but it’s beauty could not compared to what was under him….never…..he watched the girl sleeping under him with adoration and awe that something so pure would be so close to HIM because he was a useless tainted hanyou, but she made him feel like so much more. With that he drifted asleep making sure to keep half his senses on the outside world away from his ‘home’, her sent lulled him to sleep like a mother’s voice singing to a tired child that didn’t want to sleep just yet, but couldn’t resist.

~Inuyashas dream~

Inuyasha was in a field of beautiful flowers, he looked around himself to see a crystal blue sky with pinkish fluffy clouds. He started walking strait ahead, he started going over a hill he could hear singing. To him it sounded like an angel has serenading him, just for him. When he looked towards a huge sakura tree 40 feet from where he was standing there was a woman sitting under it singing to herself, while she played with the petals of a rose running a finger along the silky heart shaped petals almost lovingly. Inuyasha was walking closer and closer, only getting so far when he heard a childs giggling while it ran towards the woman. The woman stood from her spot and embraced the child, showing so much love in her eyes while she looked at the child. When Inuyasha looked closer the woman had black hair and rosy lips, but he could not see her eyes good enough because they were blocked by her bangs only a hint of her eyes showed. When he looked at the child it had little white ears on the top of its head and silver hair almost a smoky grey, if not for the glow of the love the child has gotten from its mother its hair would be a bland grey. When he heard a whoosh of the wind he looked over to see a man with long silver hair and white ears on the top of his head walk over to the woman, he could again not see his eyes but only see the love for the woman and child shining from them. The man approached the woman and held her hand in his while the child held onto her shoulders, still hugging her not letting go for anything. They all hugged each other with such love, it almost brought tears to Inuyashas eyes. When the woman backed up they kissed, giving each other the love that was beyond words into the single kiss. The woman set the child down and kissed its forehead only to have a necklace fall from between her bosom to hang in Inuyashas view…It was the Shin-no-Tama. Inuyashas eyes became large with knowledge, but then the dream faded away slowly. He reached forward not wanting to leave the most beautiful site in his life, he gave a whimper of sadness when it went away.

~End of Inuyashas Dream~

When he opened his golden-amber eyes he had seen Shippou in his face, “Inuyasha come on and wake up! Were hungry and Kagome made more ramen for you, if you go ketch more fish” the child said. Inuyasha growled and pushed the kit off him onto the ground 30 feet below roughly, he grumbled to himself and leaped off the branch towards the river to ketch some fish. When he got there he pulled his hakama above his knees so not to get them wet, and started wading into the water knee high. When he started watching for fish, he kept thinking of his dream he had a few moments before Shippou woke him up. He wanted nothing more then to fall asleep and dream forever, if he could always dream of what he dreamt of last night. Normally he would dream of his past, of the torment he endured all alone since he was but a pup. Or even the time Kikyou pinned him to the Goshinboku. They were sad times on what he did not want to relive, but if dreaming brought him visions of that beautiful field of flowers….Then he would sleep a thousand times throw all the pain, just to see that one moment of the beautiful flowers and the woman. After he caught 2 fish each for everyone, he wandered back with the fish wiggling in his arms trying to flee for there lives from the hungry inu-hanyou. He throw them down beside the fire for them to fry up hoping they would leave him alone, he walked over to Kagome and snatched his ramen cup out of her hands. He grabbed his ramen harsher then he meant, but did not apologies or thanked her for making it just Keh’ed like always and sat down beside a tree. Kagome looked saddened by his expression, almost like he wasn’t even noticing them…let alone her. She just let it go, because she did not want to anger him so early in the morning and not on such a beautiful windy day. She welcomed the wind, it would play with her hair almost make her hair dance for its enjoyment she let it enjoy its time as long as it was refreshingly cool. Yesterday was to hot to enjoy all of them were cranky and sticky from the heat, she longed for this weather to be around everyday. After a few minutes of frying the fish it was ready, they all started eating quickly because they were hungry from the long voyage. Inuyasha jumped into the tree above him to watch over the little camp and sniff for youkai or other disturbances, when he smelled nothing he relaxed and watched his human and youkai companions eat there breakfast. When they would finished he would tell them to set off again to there destination, he wished they weren’t weaker then him. But now he felt he had a per pious not just to protect Kagome and the jewel shards, but to protect his ‘pack’ as well. It made him feel wanted, even if he didn’t deserve it. He cherished it none the less, just to be wanted was enough for this lonely inu-hanyou.

They finished shortly after making sure everything was put away in a big bag again, they all stood up and put out the fire fallowing Inuyasha again down the dirt road like lost little puppies fallowing there master. This time they walked slowly just to enjoy what the day had to offer, the wind was blowing nicely and you could hear the birds chirping in the trees high up. Inuyasha was still a little off in his world of thoughts when he felt Kagome bump into his back “Hey!? What are you doing bitch?!” he said rudely “Well I wasn’t the one that was slowing down! I was looking out towards the forest to listen to the birds better, but then you started slowing down and I bumped into you! So it’s YOUR fault!!” she said angry that he called her a bitch “oh and…..OSUWARI!!! That’s for calling me a bitch!!! You Baka!!!” Inuyasha fell flat on his face growling trying for sit up to yell at her some more, but when he looked up she was a few feet ahead of him “Hey!!! Wait for me!!!” he yelled and jumped up because the spell wore off. The other companions walked behind him because they stopped mid step, to wait for him to regain his…legs. They started off again with Inuyasha grumbling about stupid human girls and there evil necklaces, and all she did was ignore him as best she could with a dignified snort in his direction to show him that she didn’t care and if he kept it up she would ‘sit’ him again. He kept quite after that, but didn’t stop him from glowering at her back in frustration. They walked for hours and the humans started getting hungry as well as Shippou, they pleaded Inuyasha for one more little break before they got to the Western Lands. “We can’t keep stopping! Sesshoumaru will think something is up if we haven’t gotten there already!” Inuyasha said “Please Inuyasha once more, and then we won’t ask again!” said Kagome almost begging. Inuyasha sighed and then “Keh’ed” while turned away with a blush on his cheeks. They all ran off to the side to set up another little camp, they all ate the left over fish from the last ‘camping trip’. Kagome gave Inuyasha another ramen cup to eat with a little fish for nurturance. Inuyasha sat down beside Kagome, because he is not as upset anymore for being sat by her evil spell. He enjoyed the short time sitting down with his friends eating, it was relaxing to his nerves.

After Kagome and Sango had another hot-springs bath, not like Inuyasha liked it. But Kagome threatened to ‘sit’ him if he didn’t because she felt grubby even after yesterdays bath, so he gave in to her because he did not want to be eating dirt more then once a day. They set off again this time with out hesitation, because they wanted to get the big battle over with. When they arrived in the Western Lands 5 hours later they met up with Sesshoumarus challenge, the toad called Jaken. He looked annoyed and discussed that the hanyou and his human friends where even 10 feet within his masters castle, but let them fallow him detesting every step. Inuyasha almost hit him more then once for his rudeness to his ‘pack’, but kept inline. He didn’t want to anger his brother so soon by hitting his charge in the head or killing him, that would be rude.

When got to the front gates Jaken yelled up to the guard that was in control of the doors, he in turn let the doors open and the gang entered the house. Jaken called for his master not yelling to any specific direction, when he heard his reply he waved them on. He walked in the other direction to make sure dinner was on its way for the ‘guests’ and his master, he did not enjoy there company but he could not object to his masters decisions. They all went towards the sitting room where Sesshoumaru was sitting on a huge chair of black and red leather, with Rin playing on the floor with a doll that was hand crafted just for her. They could see a huge fire place right beside him, it was almost covering the wall. The walls where covered in brick and pictures of royalty, some trophies of youkai heads on his walls as well. He almost looked like a big game hunter, but he just enjoyed seeing the pray that he has killed over his long life time. He waved his almost feminine hand towards the huge sofa adorned with reds, gold’s and blacks. “They are almost here half-brother”, Sessy said with no hint of emotion. Inuyasha was almost ready to leave, but he remembered why they all came here. He will have to stay calm just for awhile, and then he could rip him open with Tetsusaiga later and mount HIS head on the castle walls like a trophy. They just sat in quietness for half an hour before Kouga and Ayame came into the castle, with Jaken escorting them. “Jaken…” Sessy said “yes?” Jaken replied. “Leave us…” he said, “yes, my lord!” Jaken said while he bowed low on the ground almost licking the flooring before he scurried off. A cook came in, (youkai of course) and told them dinner was almost ready. They all washed there hands and sat at the huge dinning room table, adorned with candles and flowers from the gardens. They all ate in silence making sure to get there fill, before they headed off to Narakus castle. There was no need for conversation, and even if someone talked no one could hear you because the tension from the youkai brothers was too thick, you couldn’t even cut it with a butchers knife.

They all made sure to bring small sacks to store some food in, for there long journey to the Northern castle (I’m not sure where the castle is, but so far this seems like a good direction) and back. Inuyasha was still plagued with the dream, he didn’t know if it was a window into the future or…just a fantasy on what he wishes to happen. They all headed off with Ah and Uh carrying Rin and Jaken, Shippou was riding on Kirara. While everyone else walked beside each other, with Inuyasha keeping up front and Sessy in the back with Ah and Uh. No one commented on anything just walking and dreading on what is to come, Kouga made sure his tribe was well looked after before he left he told his underlings that they in charge of everything while he was gone. They walked for what seem to have been for days on end, resting now and then when Kagome or Rin got hungry. Now and then they would swim or dunk there faces in a cold stream to keep cooled off, the day was blistering hot if Kagome found an egg in a nest they could boil it on the dirt road, and maybe even burn it. After awhile they grew tired of walking so Kagome jumped on Inuyashas back, while Sango, Miroku and Shippou rode on Kirara. Fallowing there idea Sessy rode on Ah and Uh with Rin and Jaken, Sessy wasn’t tired he just enjoyed riding along in style. While Kouga and Ayame ran beside them, they did not get tired at all they were too pumped up for the battle.

Two days before they enter the area of the castle, they made camp with the 4 stronger youkai changing watch every now and then. They wanted to make sure the other comrades would get enough rest before the big battle ahead, they did not want them pulling them down with there weak human emotions or strength.

(A/N: I hope it's better, plz read and review)