Memories of the Faded

Destiny

"Not by the furry of your fist, or the curses of your mouth shall I be lowered in status, for I am higher then a copy, I am the original."

The forest was beautifully lush in the summer's sun. The leaves were a deep jade color, reflecting the wondrous warmth of the suns rays. The air was clean and fresh, giving off the feeling of peace and security, but though as it seemed so perfect, for the time traveling miko, nothing could have been worse then this day.

Soft tears fell unto the open waters of the hot spring, everything had gone perfect that day just perfect, but the perfect day was not meant for her. The day had started off wonderful. They had found two shards in one demon and another one single shard in the demon that followed adding up to three shards in total. Kagome had instantaneously fused then with the rest of the jewels making up just over one quarter of the jewel. Of course this had pleased Inuyasha as well as the rest of the group. Finally just finally they had started to gather luck. But for Kagome it ended there. First there had been an encounter with Kouga, forcing her to step into the middle of a fight based on jealousy.

At first Kagome was able to keep herself calm, keep herself from wanting, not for the first time, to wring the hanyou's neck until he lay unconsciously on the blanket of grass that they walked so long on.

All day they had been walking without a rest, without food or water. When she had gotten up the courage to ask for a rest Inuyasha had freaked on her, telling her if she wasn't such a weak human then she would be able to keep up for the rest of them, but this wasn't so, everyone including Kirara was getting exhausted. For reasons she didn't understand she incessantly forced herself to keep down the word that her mind called out every time he was acting selfish. In the end she walked, tired and shaken, with every footstep her muscles screamed out in protests as they weakened, telling her not to take another step, but she had refused to listen to them as she walked continuously behind the empty headed dog.

Finally it was started to fall around five o'clock and they were able to rest, taking a deep breath Kagome knew that there was no better time then the present to ask something so, after taking in three deep breaths the gave it a shot. She had asked him plain and simply to return to her own time for a small break and a long bath. She waited patiently and politely for the answer of her request, only to feel her anger shoot through the roof as he declined her appeal like he owned her.

More tears fell rashly onto the waters top as she remembered the words she had shouted at him, the words that had no doubt dinted their friendship. 'You do not own me Inuyasha. You are nothing but an arrogant jerk who always wants to get his way. A demon who likes to watch others suffer, watching as you try to control their lives.' Her eyes shone with anger and pain, both coursing through her body like water. 'You—are just like your brother.'

She didn't fully understand what she had meant by it, but it had infuriated him. His eyes shone over with more disgust for her presences, they shone with hatred for the one that had seen him for who she knew he was on the inside. A kind hanyou who wanted nothing but to be appreciated in his life, but that was not what she saw now, it was not what she saw when he was with the group fighting along side them as a friend, as a brother and a father. As a lover.

She shook her head as more tears rushed down her face. She remembered the coldness of his words as he reminded her with it felt like to be so alone, so—afraid. 'Leave wench. Leave and for the sake of my ears and your pain tolerance, leave to your time and never come back.'

A sob broke from Kagome's body as her whole body racked with sobs of loneliness, of anger and regret. Sobs that meant only one thing, her heart was no longer to hold the pain he caused her every time he left her for another. It was no longer strong enough to travel back to this time and see the man she wanted to call forever hers betray her. Kagome knew she had been wrong, she was wrong when she had said he was just like his brother, no he was so much worse.

Kagome's aura picked up dangerous vibes, sending off shocks of warning as the demonic aura grew stronger. She knew this aura far to well. Too long had he been trying to kill her, to long had he wished for her death, for her pain and suffering. Kagome frowned, maybe it was time he got when he so longed for.

"Little miko, where is your body guard?" a venomous voice lashed out as his figure moved into the clearing. He watched the tears against well up in her eyes at the mention of that pathetic hanyou.

"My 'body guard' has decided that it was time I go on my own." Kagome said sadly. She strongly attempted to push back the tears that wanted to flow easily, but it was hard when even though she wanted her life to end she did not want to be looked at as a weak human when he killed her.

"Selfish of him isn't it." The voice poisoned. Watching her carefully, trying to find a lie in what she was telling him. He like facing her as an opponent, he like it when even though she was so filled with trepidation that she was able to fight harder then she thought possible, but to his dismay, deceit was the one thing he knew he would not find.

"Kill me now Naraku and I will have no fight in me to stop you." Kagome whispered loud enough for him to hear her.

"Why kill you, when I can use you to break the hanyou himself." Naraku planned out loud, watching as the miko's head snapped up in fear. It seemed to him that even though she was pained by whatever actions had taken place, she was too loyal, too strong minded to be brought against her friends.

"No, just kill me as he has killed my heart." Kagome forced a smile. Watching as he smiled and lashed out to her body, gripping a hold of the girls head tightly as she let out a terrified scream. Not being able to stand the pain that seemed to push her every thought out of her head.

She knew she was going to die, she knew she wasn't strong enough to face the attack, but there were no tears in her soul, only a smile that shone down. She was glad that for once, she wasn't strong enough. Her consciousness faded slowly as pain pounded in her head.

"Good bye Kagome."

A scream seemed to fill the skies of the whole world. The whole gang seemed to spring up in fear and worry. Tears still streamed from Sango's eyes, wailing could be heard from Shippou's mouth even Kirara seemed to mourn for the loss of her friend. Miroku looked at his love, silently he mourned for the friend he had lost as well. He wished with every bone in his body that he could have left with her, been there to protect her but he had made a promise, a promise that he knew he had to keep for his father and all his ancestors before him that had been cursed with the wind tunnel.

He looked into the dog's eyes, they also seemed to mourn for the loss of the astonishing miko that he had been blessed to travel with. He knew deep inside it was his fault, she didn't mean the words that she screamed to him in anger they had been just things that the mind screamed out in defense, but it was the same reaction he had witnessed when he wished her away.

He had never wished she would leave him, leave the group for he knew that she was the heart and soul that held the group together. The thoughts of replacing her were sudden yet he knew that she could not be replaced, not when the second chance she had offered him, was the last chance he could have ever wanted.

He stood, pointing his ears towards the direction in which the scream of terror came from. Looking at the group once more, he sped off in route of his friend, of his angel, of his love.

The clearing was beautiful as he looked upon it with pain and abhorrence. Never in his life would he have believed that a place of such beauty, held such hurt. He could see her leaning back in the hot spring, her naked body still half out of the hot spring. He sniffed the air and frowned when he found no trace of death, no trace of blood. He turned his attention back to the girl as the other half of her body began to slip into the heat. In a quick movement he was able to gather her in his arms and bring her beneath an oak tree, stroking the side of her face as he tried to wake her.

She took a stuttering breath, shivering under the coolness of the shade, "Breathe, you'll be alright Kagome."

'Kagome.' The girl's eyes opened slowly, revealing the face of a very strange, very pretty looking boy. Studying the boy she looked into his light amber eyes, finding worry and concern, but there was something she was missing, that was until something on top of his head twitched. She lifted her eyes, watching in the mess of silver locks a pair of silver ears, puppy dog ears.

'Kagome' is what he had called her, but she didn't know if she was to remember this, man/dog, in fact, she didn't remember anything. Slowly and weakly she lifted her hand and touched the velvety covering over his ears, rubbing them in an immature kind of way. Slowly she gripped them in her two fingers and tugged…hard.

"Ouch! Wench what was that for!?" He boy jumped back and hollered watching her pull back in fear.

"There-….there real." The miko stammered in shock. She knew know what that meant, well actually she didn't. She had no memory of this pretty boy, no memory of her life before this at all.

"Well of course there real you idiot. What did you think I did, traded them in for fake ones?" Inuyasha snapped at the girl who stared in fear and confusion. Fear and confusion seemed to pour into his own soul at the sight of her gorgeous face. "What? You look like you've never seen me before." He squeezed out, hoping for one time in his life that he was wrong, terribly wrong.

A nervous smile appeared on her face. "Well have I?" She knew it was a stupid question, but she needed to know for sure.

"Ok Kagome cut that out and lets go back to the group." Inuyasha stretched out his hand not wanting to believe what was being seen in front of him, but how could he ignore it as she pulled back in terror, obviously panicking from the power she felt.

'Kagome.' She stared at him frightened. Everything was so scary when you didn't know a dog boy who stood in front of you. Everything was really scary, when you didn't know anything about yourself or the others that posed as your friends. "Kagome-…is that my name?" She seen a shocked expression emerge on his face, but another thing from his statement bothered her before he had the chance to speak on it. "What group? Group of what?"

"You're not joking around are you?" The boy asked seriously, but the words seemed to go right through the girl before him as she tried to remember.

She shook her head in frustration. "What is your name? What do people call you?" maybe this would help her remember.

Inuyasha snorted, maybe, maybe it would be better if she didn't remember them, she go home and return to her normal life without missing them at all. "Just call me whatever you want." He snorted, leading her towards the well, which he knew what a good day's walk from here.

She stood to follow him, thinking of something she would call him. "Puppy?" She asked innocently but Inuyasha's attention was no longer listening to the girl who was walking along, slightly nervous behind him.

"Sesshoumaru." He growled. She frowned quickly and cowered in fear.

"Sesshoumaru." She whispered after him, testing the name on her lips. It was an, unexpected name. Her frown deepened. It didn't even sound familiar.

Inuyasha just gripped her hand and pulled her towards his body. He felt her tense a lot under his hold but he knew he couldn't care right now. Sesshoumaru should never be able to find her like this, weak and pathetic, just as he had thought of her before. It is funny how you don't see how strong a person really is until you see them at there weakest point. Inuyasha's heart frowned. She was way below her weakest point.

"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome whispered in fear.

A smirk came from Inuyasha's lips. Yes Sesshoumaru, he was proud that she knew to fear Sesshoumaru. If she was to know nothing else, at least she knew that.

He did not realize that she did not fear the great 'lord Sesshoumaru', she didn't even know him, well she didn't remember him. She feared the boy that held her tightly to his body, running fast, too fast. She feared the boy who ran with her, the one who had called himself Sesshoumaru.

She gripped his clothes tightly, holding on as he ran through the forest at speed she hadn't seen anyone have before. She let would a small sigh, she was well over aggravated with this having no memory and she knew that this Sesshoumaru person was doing nothing to help her.

Inuyasha stopped in the clearing in the middle of Inuyasha's forest. He stared at the well and frowned slightly. This was the last time he would ever see her, the last time he heard her voice, feel her touch. "Kagome?" Inuyasha whispered as he let her slide of his back, her knees shaking.

"You run fast." Kagome said as a tiny hint of red came to her face. He was looking at her in a sad way, and although she was certain he would never admit it, he looked as if he was about to cry. Silence consumed the two, making Kagome uncomfortable. Clearing her throat Kagome decided to try to get some answers. "We were close weren't we?" Kagome asked softly, looking up into the tawny eyes that held softness. Kagome moved to the edge of the well looking up at him as she expected answers.

Inuyasha moved up to her and took her hands in his. "After this we will probably never see each other again Kagome." His regret turned into guilt as he heard a soft gasp come from her supple lips. "Don't worry though, you will be safe where you're going, you have family there. A brother a mother and a grandpa." Inuyasha stopped talking as a tear slipped from her eye.

Kagome cursed herself inwardly. She didn't even recognize him so why was she so miserable about leaving, but she didn't stop the tears. "I loved you didn't I?" Kagome whispered, barely audible.

"Yes, and I love you Kagome but I can't protect you here." Inuyasha kissed her lips gently then released her. "Good bye Kagome."

He had made up his mind and he wasn't going to change it now. She would be safe in her own time, safe from Sesshoumaru and Naraku, safe from all the evils that plagued this world. He pushed his hands on her shoulders causing her to lose balance, sending her deep into the well of her time.

"Help me!" She screamed out to him, her tears falling with her body. She expected him to catch her, to save her from this fall but all he did was turn his back on her, leaving her to fall for what seemed like forever

A/N: Well here's another chapter to another story. I hope you all enjoy this one, I have big plans for it, though I am going to tell you now there will be no sequel. I just realized how many stories I have going at the moment, I am surprised I can remember specifically what is happening in each one.

Hinoko