A Point in Time by ColShaLin

Chapter 1

Kagome felt as though she were chained to the ground by invisible bands as she looked at the churning cloud above her. She could feel the evil energy emanating from it, but felt powerless to protect herself. She struggled to lift her head and looked beside her at Sango, lying deathly still, arms beneath her, hair covering her face.

She knew she had to move; she had to get away. The energy was building and crackling, and fear was rising in the back of her throat. Something was about to happen, and it wasn't going to be pretty. She had to find Inu Yasha and Miroku and they had to get out of here. But, she still couldn't move. Suddenly the blue clouds darkened and began reaching for her, like long fingers on an invisible hand. Closer and closer they came, Kagome continued to struggle. She could no longer see Sango, the dark fog had completely enveloped her.

Then she felt the tentacles brush her face. She strained against her non-existent bonds, whipping her head around, pushing her arms to their limits, trying to find some hidden strength inside of her, to save herself and save her friends. Then she heard his laughter.

"Nooo!!" screamed Kagome.

~*~*~*~*

Kagome must have come awake with a start because the dark lump beside her shifted and sighed. The room was dark and very still and it took her a moment to realize that she was in her bed. She laid there for a moment waiting for her heartbeat to return to normal. That was the third nightmare this week. Always the same fear, the same fog, and someone she felt she needed to save. Her therapist would want to know all about how she was supposed to save them.

"Why do you think they need your help, Kagome? What do you think the dark clouds symbolize?" She sighed. They felt real; they didn't feel like they symbolized anything except evil. And it was getting worse.

Usually after she had these dreams she would walk around the next day like a zombie. There were days when she felt totally isolated. She couldn't believe the effect they had on her. The dark circles weren't the only visible sign of her lack of sleep. She was jittery and forgetful, too. And she constantly felt as though something was wrong. Like a pair of shoes that were just a little too tight, something felt just slightly out of place. So she trudged on, willing herself to just make it through the day so she could go home and collapse. Her therapist says that she must be getting close to a "breakthrough." She sighed again, unintentionally louder.

"Honey, are you awake?"

Kagome winced. "I didn't mean to wake you, I'll go in the other room," she whispered.

"No, come here." He reached for her, wrapping his arms around her. Kagome let herself be held, still trying to piece together her dream. She was silent and still for a few moments, waiting for his breathing to go back to the steadiness of sleep. But he remained awake and turned her to face him.

"Another nightmare, Kagome?" She nodded. "That's three this week, isn't it? I'm worried about you, sweetheart. I want you to be happy, and I just don't know how to help you."

She looked into his eyes. "Miroku, I am happy. You haven't done anything wrong, and there isn't anything anyone can do to help. Please don't feel responsible."

She turned away and pressed her back into him. "Just hold me and help me go back to sleep."

He pressed back, parts of him more awake than others. "Are you sure that's all you need?" he asked, smiling at the back of her head.

"Don't you have to work in the morning?" Kagome answered wryly.

"I don't care if you don't care." His hands began to do more than just hold her.

"Pervert." She sighed again. But she didn't stop him.

~*~*~*~*

"What do you think the dark clouds symbolize?"

Kagome sighed. She was tired, and today more than previous visits, she just didn't feel cooperative. She felt irritated.

"I don't know, Dr. Myouga. Maybe it all has to do with feeling trapped in a dead end job, powerless to get my school loans paid off, less of a woman because I don't have any kids yet, watching my best friend have babies and build a real home, missing both of my parents terribly, and wondering if I am married to the right man."

He looked at her incredulously for a fraction of a second and then looked at his notepad.

"Let's start with feeling trapped..."

Kagome couldn't believe all of that had come out of her. What was wrong with her? That wasn't how she felt. That sounded like a bitter, selfish witch. She and Miroku decided they weren't going to have any children and she was just fine with that. Where did that come from? Married to the wrong man? She had been in love with Miroku almost since the moment she had met him and she had no regrets. But there was a twinge of sadness behind that thought. What was that? It was gone before she could put her finger on it, and she was just left feeling quite tired again, and slightly embarrassed. And definitely not paying attention to Dr. Myouga anymore.

"Kagome?"

"I'm sorry, Doctor. What were you saying?"

He looked at her with concern. "I could give you a prescription for something to help you sleep."

She looked at her hands. They were trembling slightly. She was suddenly overcome by a wave of emotion, and she struggled to hold back tears.

"I feel like there is something terribly wrong, and I just need to fix it and everything will be fine," she whispered. "But I don't know what it is. Just like in the dream, there is something terrible coming. I can't find it, I can't see it, but I know it's coming. And it's not good."

The doctor ripped a piece of paper from his pad. "Here, get this filled. It will help you sleep. You need to take care of yourself, Kagome. You are definitely making progress, but I need you to eat right and sleep. No need putting any extra strain on your body. Let your mind do the hard part. You will find your demons, Kagome."

She stood and took the prescription. "That's what I'm afraid of."