Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

If You Come Softly

.:Prologue:.

My mother calls to me from the bottom of the stairs, and I pull myself slowly from a deep sleep. It is June. Outside the sky is bright blue and clear. In the distance I can see Central Park, the trees brilliant green against the sky. I was dreaming of Yash.

"Kagome," Aika calls again. She sounds worried and I know she is standing at the bottom of the stairs, her hand moving slowly up and down the banister, waiting for me to answer. But I can't answer yet. Not now.

"Is there a boy?" Aika had asked me that fall, when Yash was new. And I lied and I told her there wasn't one.

She is standing at the door now, her arms folded in front of her. "Time to get up, sweetie. Are you all right?"

I nod and continue to stare out the window, my hair falling down around my eyes, my pajamas hot and sticky against my skin.

"No, Aika, there isn't a boy. Not now. Not anymore."

She comes to the bed and sits beside me. I feel the bed sink down with the weight of her, smell her perfume.

"I dreamed about Yash last night," I say softly, leaning my head against my shoulder. Outside, there are taxicabs blowing their horns. In the seconds of quiet between the noise, I can hear birds. And my own breathing.

Aika moves her hand over my head. Slowly. Softly. "Was it a good dream?"

I frown..."Yes...I think so. But I don't remember it all."

"Remember what you can, Kagome," Aika whispers, kissing me on the forehead. "Remember what you can."

I close my eyes again.

And remember what I can.

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