Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I'm not even making money off of this, so no one could really sue me and win. I'm just writing stories for fun – if I were making money, then I would have to have a disclaimer. But honestly, these things have no real point to them besides the fact that they annoy the hell out of many fangirl authors. They just remind us that no, we don't own Inuyasha. And no, we're not filthy stinking rich by way of just using our imagination. I bet you Rumiko Takahashi has a nice, cozy, HUGE flat in Tokyo that she doesn't even have to share, while I get to share a two-bedroom, small duplex with my mother. It's a great place... But back to my original point, disclaimers are pointless. I just thought I'd rant on that for a moment.
At dinner that night, the group had assembled at the table in the dining room. Ayame was there, which was a monumental thing in itself. A few of the girls welcomed her back politely, but Chance stayed silent. She was thinking about Chase. Koga, on the other hand, was still wondering about her relation to his former rival, Inuyasha Saginuma. He swallowed a chunk of meat and turned his eyes to Chance. "So," he began. "Chance, I hear you know Inuyasha Saginuma." It was an innocent statement, but it caused a clatter of dropped silverware from the girls of the table, besides Ayame and Chance. It was the first time Koga was initiating any dinnertime talk. Second, he had mentioned the rock god himself, Inuyasha Saginuma of Demonica.
Chance just looked up like a deer in the headlights. Shock wore off from the other people at the dinner table. Cutlery was retrieved as eyes turned to Chance curiously. Chance wiped her mouth off politely with a corner of the napkin in her lap. "I do," she said noncommittally. The girls started chattering in hushed whispers. Tana, sitting beside Chance, hissed at her, asking where, when, and how she had met him.
"Silence!" Koga barked. The girls obediently quieted and looked down to their plates. Their eyes still slid to Chance in the "I really can't help but to be curious" sort of way. "How do you know him?" Koga demanded. His cobalt blue eyes burned into hers. She shivered. They looked like Chase's.
She shook herself and peered down at her plate. "He's my uncle." she said softly. The fangirls at the table gasped in unison. Not only had she met the rock god himself, but she was related to him! Like, by blood! The whispers began again. But before Koga could get a chance to snarl at them, a knock at the door sounded. Not only did it save the girls from a possible beating, it also halted Koga's interrogation. He glowered at Chance and the rest of the girls. He motioned for Ayame to open the door.
Ayame pushed her chair out and walked submissively to the door. They could hear it open if they trained their ears enough, which Chance had. They could hear Ayame's polite inquiry of the visitor's business there. The familiar, rough voice that answered sent a shock through Chance. "I'm here for Chance." Chance's eyes met Koga's. Recalling Kagura's words, he nodded.
Hurriedly, Chance stood up and rounded the corner to the hallway before the door. She was almost surprised to see Inuyasha standing at the door. Despite his being in a horrible condition, he was there for her. He had saved her. He might not have been Chase, but she suspected foul play anyways. Disregarding any of these thoughts, she ran and threw her arms around him. He comforted her, but led her back to his care silently. He drove away without any complaint from her.
Inuyasha kept careful watch on the cars nearby. He wasn't followed. Somehow, he had convinced Sesshomaru, over the phone, to meet him at the hospital. Though thoroughly irritated that he had to break away from his law books and attorney councils, his brother agreed.
Chance only needed three stitches above her left eyebrow from a blow delivered by Koga earlier that morning. She sat in a reserved fashion on the cold metal table as Inuyasha stood, keeping watch, just outside the door. Sesshomaru rounded the corner and saw his brother first, standing in front of the open door. He growled and stalked over. Chance's coo of "Daddy?" may very well have spared Inuyasha his life from the livid dog demon.
Sesshomaru's head turned to gaze into the room and he was stunned to see his beautiful, sixteen-year-old daughter sitting inside the room, having medicine administered upon her brow. She was unscathed, and she was alive, and she was right before him. He entered the room as if in a daze and Chance held out her hand, not yet allowed to move her head. Her hand was kissed by his lips and he held it to his chest. His little girl was alive and safe, right in front of him. He'd never let her out of his sight again. Inuyasha sauntered away, no doubt to resume his post at Kagome's bedside.
His niece, however, demanded to see Chase. She was warned again and again by the nurses and her father that he didn't remember her what so ever, but her resolve didn't falter. She was going to see her long-term boyfriend, even if the emotional trauma may take many years to get over.
The door was before her. When she opened it, she would see his face. She would gaze into his eyes. He wouldn't remember her face. He wouldn't remember her eyes. Chance's clawed hand rested on the doorknob hesitantly. Could she really take that? Could she honestly stare into Chase's eyes, knowing that he didn't remember a damn thing that they had done together? Could she restrain herself from jumping him on the spot and kissing him until he turned blue?
With a deep, calming breath, she cleared her thoughts, and opened the door.
To Chance's surprise, and Sesshomaru's as well, Chase's ears twitched and he blinked as he saw her. He said her name softly before holding out a hand to her and smiling. Chance had rushed over and taken his hand, tears regrouping in her eyes to blaze more trails down her cheeks. However, his next statement would knock her off her feet. "I've heard so much about you."
If there ever was one sentence that Chance could hear from Chase that would completely destroy her person; one that would shatter her heart; one that would take away anything she's fought for; one that would break her hopes and dreams; one that would desecrate the future that she had hoped for with Chase... that had been it. "You... don't remember me." she said simply.
Chase shook his head with a frown. "I'm sorry," he said. "I wish I could. But I don't." The tears refused to fall as Chance's shoulders began to quake. This person wasn't Chase. This person wasn't her boyfriend – wasn't her passionate lover whom she had come to know, love, and treasure beyond anything she'd ever been given. This wasn't Chase. It was an alien that had taken over his body. She retracted her hand from his and she shrank away from him. A shaking hand covered her mouth and she shook her head before fleeing away from the room.
Chance managed to find Kagome's room. Though she was still wracked with sobs, she curled up in a chair beside Kagome's bed and took the woman's hand. Inuyasha had at first wondered what was wrong, but then remembered Chase. She was crying because he didn't remember her.
Sesshomaru had stayed in Chase's room. He looked down at the youth, who was staring after his daughter in confusion. "What did I do, Mr. Echerburry?" he asked, oblivious.
The demon shook his head and took a seat at Chase's bedside. "My daughter loves you." he stated simply. "Possibly more than life itself... The fact that you don't remember her has broken her heart... She didn't know the impact it would have on her. She'll be alright, with time."
It was another week before Chance dared enter Chase's room. She had come in with tears in her eyes, but had resolved also to try and help him regain his memory. "Hi, Chase." she said quietly as she entered the room. Chase had been staring blankly out the window. Chase turned and smiled, returning the greeting. She sat beside him on the bed and gazed out the window. "What are you looking at?"
"Oh, nothing much..." Chase said with a shrug. "Rooftops, birds, treetops... I wish I could go outside."
Chance raised a brow and turned as a nurse came into the room. "That may be able to be arranged." she told him, a small smile appearing on her face. Chase peered at her curiously. "My uncle and father can be very persuasive when they want to be." she whispered to him with a mischievous grin. His own face lit up with a beam and he thought he saw Chance's eyes darken a moment. In her mind, she was thinking of just how much that grin hadn't fit on Chase's face. It wasn't natural. But she knew it was him in there, somewhere. All she had to do was find him.
The next day, Chance had managed to get the doctors to allow Chase out for an entire six hours. She intended to take him around town to places they had been. It was Saturday, so she was able to go pretty well anywhere. Chance was driving while Chase sat beside her, her father in the back for security reasons. They were headed for Bayford High School. She had already arranged for Bailey, Devin, Bridget, Brooklyn, and Chelsea to meet them at the school.
Chase was led up to the school by Chance, their arms linked. He didn't understand it. For the month he could remember, he hated anyone touching him. When Chance touched him, he didn't mind. Hell, he even liked it. Therefore, he said nothing and just smiled as she took his arm and allowed himself to be led up to the school and through the front gate. A group of his friends were standing around under the tree they had usually hung out in. Chase was looking around curiously. The place seemed significantly familiar, but he couldn't place any one memory.
He turned his indigo eyes to the tree. It wasn't called Blackheart tree for nothing. In fact, another high school had a Whiteheart tree in the center of their courtyard. He remembered the story behind the trees. Opening his mouth, he recited it quietly to himself. "Back in 1970 when the school was started, it taught mainly blacks. A few white students from another school came in and painted a black heart on the tree in the center of the campus. The black students retaliated by painting a white heart on their courtyard's tree. Since then, the trees have been referred to as the Black- and Whiteheart trees – the yin and yang of the school district."
Chance smiled as she listened to the Yin-Yang Trees Legend. "See," she told him smartly, "I knew this place would help jog your memory." Chase only smiled. "Hey guys!" she waved to the group hanging around the tree. Bailey smiled warmly and waved back, as did the rest of the cluster of friends. They got reacquainted quickly before Chance suggested that he try and remember his schedule.
The half-demon glanced around the courtyard. "Is this where I started out in the morning?" he asked. Chance nodded. He felt a pulling motion toward his left and he looked. He studied the number on the building. 900. He started to walk toward it and Chance grinned, following him. "Computer applications," he said with a triumphant smile. "With Ms. Davis, room 911. It's upstairs; odd numbers upstairs, even downstairs."
"That's right, Chase!" Chance cheered. She followed him with a slight skip in her step as he continued from the doorway into the 900 building.
Chase grinned as he paused in the center of a hallway. He furrowed his eyebrows and looked around. He felt a familiar tug toward his right and so away he went. He said what he thought the class was out loud to his friends as they trailed after him and he'd hear a shout of approval from Chance or Bridgit. "French 5-6," he said aloud as the last class. "With Mr. Hickman, room 342 – top floor." He crossed his arms and turned around as he recited the class and looked triumphantly into Chance's eyes.
She was grinning madly. "Good job, Chase." she said, going over and hugging him. She left her arm around his shoulders and steered him back toward the car. They left for Bailey's house next. The place of many a pool party may help get his memory kick-started as well.