The Price of Memory

by red.n.rain

Kagome makes her wish and is sent back to her time where no one has any recollection of what happened. She refuses to believe it was all just a figment of her imagination and is eventually institutionalized. How could she have imagined it all; her friends, their adventures, and more importantly, the stoic demon she grew to love? A series told in drabbles, updated MWF.

37. Grow

Disclaimer: I do not own any InuYasha characters.

A/N: This story was inspired by Yoruzuki's piece "The Price of Memory" which you can view on dokuga /gallery?func=detail&id=8326.

---

Chapter 37 - Grow

(Flashback)

Kagome stood alone in the vast forest, nothing but trees could be seen as she strained her eyes to make out shapes in her illy lit surroundings. A cool breeze came sweeping through trying desperately to pull the leaves from their restraints. Chilled to the core, she shivered and huddled more deeply into the embrace of her own arms. Why hadn't she brought a sweater? She mentally slapped herself for her stupidity. What was she even doing out here to begin with? Oh that's right, she was trying to dance with danger. Why was she such a stupid stupid girl?

Weeks had passed since her late night encounter with Sesshomaru, but she still found herself dreamily thinking of him. The spark that had been lit that night had firmly implanted itself in her consciousness and refused to budge, growing increasingly brighter with each passing day. She often caught herself staring wistfully into nowhere, thoughts of him filling her mind, until she'd be rudely pulled back to reality by a fuming hanyou just begging to be sat. At night though, there was no interruption to her thoughts and she often found them quickly escalating into territories that made her blush.

It didn't help that he seemed to be crossing paths with them more often, either. Sure they were both chasing Naraku and bound to run into each other, but something about his eyes lingering on her in between flinging insults at Inuyasha had her thinking it might not be that much of a coincidence at all.

With the moon at it's fullest, tonight had been her chance to find out. She had waited until her companions had drifted to sleep before quietly shimmying out of her sleeping bag and tip toeing off into the night. She reasoned that if he had been following her, he would surely show himself should she turn up alone, and that's how she found herself standing once more in the middle of the woods at night weaponless and alone, but at least this time she wasn't lost.

A chill ran up her spine as another breeze raked through her surroundings, leaving her teeth chattering noisily. She was about to cut her losses and give up, but when a flash of silver caught her eye, her suspicions were confirmed and she suddenly didn't feel so foolish.