The next morning

I'm so afraid. I'm really taking a plunge here. Inuyasha is taking me to the beach from our childhood in a few moments. It's just been so long since I've gone past this house. What is the world like?

As excited as I am, there is this uneasy feeling I can't get over. I am overwhelmed by fear…fear of things I don't remember or understand.

"Hey Kagome, you ready?"

"Uh…Just a sec!"

I guess I'll stop dawdling and put my clothes on.

I put my dress and stockings on. All I need is a hat… where oh, where is my hat?

"Kagome, c'mon let's go!"

He's such a nag. "Help me find my hat! It matches this dress."

"You mean this one?" I turned around and he was pointing to the hat sitting in the chair by my door.

"Yeah." I grabbed my sweater and hat and followed him out.

"So how do I look? Is this okay?"

"You look cute."

Cute!? A guy has never called me cute before. "Th-th-thank you." Sigh. I sound like such a freak, flubbing all my words like that.

"Sure. Let's go."

I slowly, but nervously followed him down the steps. I feel like I'm walking towards my death. I really want to go to this beach. I have to see it again! I just can't get over this constant feeling of anxiety. I don't even know what it's from!

We got out the door and began to walk towards a new part of the world—for me at least. Once we reached my fence, I couldn't move. My body had shut down.

Am I about to…

Yeah. I am crying. This is ridiculous! What am I so afraid of? The one person I can trust is right there.

"Kagome, come on!" He said, looking back at me. "You can do this! It's no different from what we've been doing all this time."

"It is so!" I argued. "There's a whole different world out there!"

Inuyasha began walking back towards me. He's probably going to carry me again. I can feel my heart thumping in my chest as he comes closer. If he tries to drag me past the fence, I'm afraid I may hit him again.

He stood over me with his arms crossed. He loosened his arm fold and put his hands on my shoulders before slowly gliding them down my arms. I can feel goosebumps forming on my skin from the way he tickled my arms.

"You're so beautiful in the sunlight." He said as he lifted my head up by my chin.

What did he just say?! What is he doing, touching me like this?! He's making me nervous!

Why is he so close? What are you doing, Inuyasha!? Is he about to…

He's kissing me! My heart and stomach are full of butterflies, I can hear fireworks, I can smell the sweet fragrance of his skin, feel the softness of his lips, the comfort of his embrace! He just stole my first kiss and it was beautiful!

Then, he pulled away and began to walk away from me.

"Hey!" I shouted after him, but he wouldn't stop. I ran after him to catch up, nearly losing my hat. "You can't just kiss a girl and walk away like that!"

He started to laugh as he patted my head.

"What's so funny?"

"Look around you, stupid."

I took a look around.

Where is this?! All these houses! This quiet street and nicely paved sidewalk! Was I so distracted by one kiss that I walked off my own property without even noticing!?

Inuyasha tricked me!

I knew that would work on her! That was too easy!

To be honest, I'm surprised it worked so well. Did I really catch her offguard that much?

It must be because she doesn't like the fact that I kissed her.

I'm beginning to shake. I feel so out of my comfort zone and it's terrifying.

There he goes again! Making me nervous. Inuyasha grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Believe me, Kagome. What you are afraid of is not out here." He said. "Just come on. I won't let go of your hand even for a second."

As I was walking alongside Inuyasha, I noticed just how easy it had become to walk through my neighborhood.

"See? You probably don't have agorawhatever after all."

"Or I'm just feeling courageous because you're with me."

He began to blush and tossed my hand away. "Don't be ridiculous! Um...ah!" He quickly grabbed my hand again. "Sorry."

"Hey, do you know how to get to the beach from here?"

"Yeah. I told you a ghost showed me the way. Well, a ghost of you as a kid."

"Sometimes I feel like my childhood self is separated from my actual self and that is why I can't remember much."

"Well the memories will probably all come back soon."

We started to turn the corner when a nostalgic feeling swept over me and I felt an incredible warmth in my heart.

"There's one place I think we need to go first."

"Where?"

"You'll see. I just hope you remember."

We've arrived at a strip mall. It's crowded with people! People I've never seen before. I'm feeling nervous once again and I grabbed Inuyasha's arm and held on tightly.

"Don't worry." He said as he pointed at a sign. Denny's Ice Cream Shop? The cream orange color sign with the vanilla ice cream cone beside it seem so familiar.

As we got closer to the shop, a little girl in a stroller waved at us. We both waved back, smiling.

"She's so cute." I said.

"Yeah."

Inuyasha pushed the door open and allowed me to step in first.

I looked around the small shop and a table in the back caught my eye.

"I wanna sit there."

"Why?"

"I dunno. It seems like the best place to sit."

"Well I'll be damned!" An old man shouted from behind the counter. "Is that little Inuyasha and Kagome?!"

"Hey Mr. Taru." Inuyasha said with a grin as he shook his hand.

"How've you two kids been?"

"Well we just reunited recently so we're catching up."

"I see Kagome over there is still as shy as ever."

"Haha...yeah."

"So how are your mothers?"

"They both passed away."

"Aw I'm so sorry, kid. But it's good you two have each other, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I think its what our mothers wanted."

"So how about I bring you guys an old favorite you two shared to help ya know...rekindle things?"

"You say that like we had some kind of romance!"

"For a couple of 6 year olds you two seemed serious! Sit down and I'll bring youse something special."

Inuyasha and I sat at that back table and a painting of a lighthouse sitting on a tiny peninsula caught my eye.

"Why do I recognize that place?"

"Not the place, the picture. We used to sit here whenever we came here."

"Really? I think I...sort of remember."

Why is he rolling his eyes at me? "Dont force yourself. You can trick your mind into developing false memories. I learned that in science class."

"That's a load of crap!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!" I shouted as I got up and moved to his side of the table.

"Here you are! Two banana banana splits!" That man Mr. Taru brought us two big bowls of ice cream.

"A banana...banana split?"

Inuyasha is inhaling his, while I'm still examining mine.

"Just eat it!"

I took my first spoonful and smiled. I don't know if there is any other place in this city where I could get banana ice cream. The cold, sweet taste reminds me of something buried deep in my mind.

I just can't quite place it yet.

Looking over at Inuyasha with his face in his bowl overwhelms me with relief. I have never felt so happy to be by his side.

Kagome squeezed me tightly out of nowhere and I almost choked on a banana chunk.

"What was that for?"

"I'm just happy to be with you."

"Uh. I'm happy to be with you too!"

Inuyasha and I finally made it to that beach. My heart feels heavy. I cannot explain this feeling.

Then again, yes I can. There is an enormous void being filled.

We sat in the sand just a few feet from the shore. Inuyasha looks so deep in thought, like he's experiencing the same feeling as I am.

"What are you thinking about?"

He didn't respond.

"Inuyasha?"

He slowly turned his head to me. "I was watching those two kids over there." He said, pointing to the shore. "They remind me of us when we were little." He chuckled a bit. It's sweet to see a softer side of him.

I looked up at those kids. They were holding hands and smiling, like they loved each other very much. Perhaps it is a more naive love that doesn't hold the same principles as serious romantic love between adults.

I looked over at Inuyasha again and I feel my cheeks heating up and butterflies fluttering around in my stomach.

Maybe young love isn't so naive. I just feel so guilty because Inuyasha is catching up with me, but I feel like I'm just getting to know him. Yet, at the same time, I feel so comfortable around him, like I've known him forever.

"Kagome what's on your mind?"

"Inuyasha. In a technical sense, you're still my boyfriend aren't you? Since we never formally broke up."

"Uh. I guess so."

"Well as of now I am breaking up with you."

"What for?!"

"You pulled that mean trick on me earlier when you kissed me."

"That wasn't a trick!"

"Oh? Then what was it?"

He shrugged. "I just wanted you to know I was here for you."

"Ah. I understand and I forgive you."

"Are we still broken up?"

"Do you want us to be?"

"Huh?! I-I...No! I mean! Whatever. I don't care!" He said coldly as he turned away from me.

He's so hilarious that I can't help but laugh.

I think it's time now, for Kagome and I to go to the place that brought us together. The pier further down. I stood up and reached out for her hand, which she grabbed apprehensively.

"Where are we going, Inuyasha?"

There she goes with all those damn questions.

"Just be quiet and follow."

As we started approaching the pier, she stood still like a statue, eyes wide, staring off into space.

"Ka…gome?" I called out her name. "Kagome!"

I can't reach her anymore. It's like her mind is completely gone. What's happening to her?

"Kagome!"