No, this isn't a lemon chapter.^_~ lol it may seem lemony at first, but you know what I do with lemons? I make lemonade! Heh, okay, so aside from a few bad pulp jokes that made no sense, but still, I just like lemonade.^_^ Man, there were SOOOO many good places to stop in this one, well, the beginning of it at least, but I didn't want to leave and make it too short.^_^; lol Truth be told, most of the last was just random filler, but I like the beginning.^_^ I had forgotten that I needed a little time in between here and the next setion, and promptly ran out of ideas. *shrugs* Aww well. Enjoy!^_^

Oh, and as always,

_= thoughts *_* = sound/ italicized "_" = speech //_// = narration

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Memories of the Present

Chapter 13: Fleeting Pleasures

// I think it was only about a minute ago that I fell and Inu Yasha... Inu Yasha…//

Felling a slight movement, Kagome slowly begins to open her eyes. With them half closed, she can see Inu Yasha looking, staring off into the space surrounding the God tree, his gentle locks blowing freely in the wind. I wonder what he sees...

He turns towards her gently, scanning her person with a gentle glance. His eyes are different. They're the same, only... he looks sad, gentle. He almost looks more mature than he was an hour ago. I wonder what could've happened.

She sighs sadly as he slowly lowers her down onto the cold ground. Her body persists, telling her that she can't lose his warmth, his scent, his presence in general. He looks back towards the sky and gets up slowly, almost reluctantly. He begins to walk away, but a sad voice stops him. "Inu Yasha, what's wrong? Why won't you speak to me?"

He turns quietly, glancing back over his shoulder to her small form. The look in his eyes makes her shiver, but why? So much emotion, it wasn't like him. Where was the scowl she had grown so accustomed to? Where was the hardness he always tried to bring to his gaze, always trying to hide something. Their depths were no longer clear and bright; they shone with pain, regret, and something else, maybe lo... no, it couldn't be, but... what then?

He closed his eyes tightly and walked towards her. Without a sound, he kneels down and helps her up, one arm working its way beneath her hair, no longer tangled from her sleep, but wet instead. Light shimmers over them as he removes that hand and gently places it near her neck instead. As his other arm wraps around her waist, the water droplets cease to fall, and he uses his free hand to stroke her cheek softly with a single claw.

She stares, confused and yet... drawn? What was she thinking? What was she feeling? In a way, she understood, but it was like the knowledge was long lost, buried. She wanted it released; she didn't want to be confused anymore. She wanted to know. She wanted to...

"Inu Y...Yasha...?"

His eyes closed as they slowly neared each other. With every breath he pulled her closer, pressing her against him tenderly. Her heart beat desperately in her chest, but she knew she wasn't alone in that. She could hear his beating wildly as her head was pulled to his chest, her ear settling just below his collarbone. He swallowed and it seemed to lodge momentarily in his throat. She licked her lips nervously as her legs turned to jelly beneath her. Needless to say, she wasn't sick anymore, but her stomach was still not at rest, as it would be, but for these butterflies that seemed to have found a new home. Her heart raced, jumping into her throat as his claw traced the curve of her jaw line. Slowly, with one finger, he nudged her head upwards, asking silently for her attention. She gladly gave it to him.

He sought questions in her; she could see that. His gaze piercing into the very depths of her soul. She could feel him there, stirring inside of her. What did he want? What was he looking for? His gaze changed again, this time from one of questioning to one of asking. What could he be thinking? What did he want?

He lowered his head towards hers, resting only to watch the expressions flutter across her face as he stared eye to eye with her. Eyes closed, he lowered his head even further, nuzzling the entire expanse of her shoulder to her jaw with the bridge of his nose. With another nuzzle to the underside of her jaw, he lifted his face to greet hers once more, but with a different intent this time. He kissed her, deeply, passionately. Her life with him flashed before her as shock overwhelmed her mind, and he overwhelmed her senses. She pressed herself against him by instinct and wrapped her arms around him. It was only when he pulled back that she realized that she had been, not only not responding, but not breathing either. He looked at her questioningly and she realized why; she hadn't returned his kiss.

Kagome groaned softly, curling up against him again. He seemed a little shocked, but in a way, she was glad. This time it was her turn to caress his face. She gazed deeply into his eyes, sweeping little bit of his bangs out of his face as she did. No matter how hard she may have tried, there was only one thing that could've broken that look. She nuzzled him the same way he had done to her only moments ago, only this time it was going to be a little different.

She trailed small kisses along his jaw, up to where the ears would be if he had been human. She tentatively rubbed the base of his ears, causing him to shudder softly at her touch. She bent him down, placing one kiss on each ear, and then brought his face to hers. He needed her. She didn't know what had come over her, but she knew that much. What frightened her the most was that she wasn't sure that she didn't want the same.

He cupped her cheek in his hand, rubbing it gently with his thumb. He bent down to kiss her again, hesitantly this time, but she was ready for that. When he paused, she kissed him. Their lips molded together in the perfect union of lust and love. As far as Kagome was concerned, if the world had decided to stop right then, if she never had another moment, she would be happy, as long as this was her moment, their moment.

He pulled away suddenly, looking almost frightened as he stole a glance at the well house and then looked back towards her. He let her go, pulled his arms back to his sides, and gave her one last kiss before bounding off and leaving her there, alone.

She stood there, staring at the place he once occupied, still feeling the warmth of his breath on her neck, his lips on hers. Her mind was a puddle of confusion, occasionally being kicked and causing more to rise until the sediment settled down at last. A small portion of her mind regained, she grudgingly made her way back to the front door.

"Kagome, Inu-noneechan is here!"

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Why... why is she looking at me that way? Inu Yasha gulped. Kagome ran to him, throwing herself into his arms. She had looked so happy that he was there, but why? Did she really want him around? Either way she was supposed to be in bed and had he not specifically told her to stay there?

"Oi, Kagome, didn't I tell you to stay in bed?"

"Wha...?" Why does she look so surprised? She should be glad I'm not mad.

"Keh, it doesn't really matter. Kaede-babba wants to see you. She thinks there is something wrong with the shards. Where are they?"

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But... but wait... wasn't he just... Tears welled up in Kagome's eyes. They had been so intimate and now, now everything was back to normal again. I wish time had stopped, she thought dryly.

On the conscious level, she knew that Inu Yasha was saying something, but she didn't care. Why was he doing this? She thought... she thought that he loved her, or cared for her at least. He *HAD* just kissed her for heaven's sake! But isn't this what always happens, one step forward and ten steps back?

"Kagome, are you listening to me?"

At least he wasn't really yelling at her for disobeying him.

"Where are the shards?"

Yes, the precious shards. If she were a little happier she would've been pissed by now, maybe even sat him, but frankly, she wasn't, so there was no use dwelling on it. Lifting a hand, she meekly pointed towards her bedroom, "In my backpack."

He nodded and jumped to her window.

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Claiming the container, he picked her up and brought her over to the well. I don't get it. She seemed so happy to see me, but now she looks as if she's on the verge of tears! What did I do?

He adjusted her in his arms slightly and then hopped over the lip of the well, emerging in the familiar grassy clearing. Something is seriously wrong; I can feel it. I can smell it for crying out loud!

"Kagome?" She looked asleep, but his senses told him otherwise. He could smell the salt from the tears in her eyes and could hear her heart beating irratically. She felt as if a sudden weight had been put on her, and Inu Yasha could only figure that it had something to do with her being sick. With the Shikon shards involved, things could be a lot worse.

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Everyone was waiting at Kaede's for them to return, but none more so than Kouga and Shippou.

"Kagome, Kagome! Are you okay?," a worried little kit shouted as he ran up to her. Kouga followed the little one, jealousy flaring slightly when the fox child threw himself into Kagome's arms, 'HIS' Kagome's arms. She embraced him tightly and ruffled his hair a bit before letting him down. She was surprised that Inu Yasha hadn't bothered to yell at the kitsune, but he seemed too deep in thought to notice much of the real world right now.

"Kagome, are you okay? What did he do to you? Did he leave you alone? I would always protect you..." A sharp bark and Kouga was silent. All eyes turn on the hanyou who just quickened his pace slightly and walked into Kaede's hut. When the others tried to follow, he glared at them, almost *daring* them to enter. He was tired of the games, and more so of the noise.

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"Kagome, how ye be feeling child?" Getting up, Kaede strolled over to where Inu Yasha had put Kagome.

"Hmmm... Inu Yasha, please get Miroku. We will be needing his help." With a nod, Inu Yasha departs and the two are left alone.

"Why so quiet? Ye'd think ye and the hanyou had switched personalities with how calm he's been today."

"I think everything's been weird today."

Kaede nods, "But something is still troubling thee. Mayhaps it would be best for thou to have a bath with Sango whilst we prepare."

Thankfully, Kagome nods and stands. Being excused, she wanders outside to see Sango watching Inu Yasha and Kouga go at it, Shippou trying to break them up. Miroku is standing beside Sango, up to his usual game of hide and seek.

*Whack!* " Hentai!"

"Hey dog-turd, keep away from my woman!"

"She's not yours bastard!"

"Hey you two, knock it off!"

"Maybe we should all just calm down."

"Houshi-sama?"

"Yes?"

Everyone turns to the monk briefly, "SHUT UP!!!" Everything returns to the chaotic state it had previously been in. Maybe it'd be best if Kagome just went alone. She didn't feel much like getting in between any of the fighting going on and *definitely* did not want to get groped, proposed to, or claimed. All she wanted was a bath.

"Kagome?" She looked just to her right and noticed Sango standing there. "Are you okay? It looks like something's bothering you."

"How...?

The demon hunter laughs, "Woman's intuition?"

Kagome giggles and sighs. Nodding, she turns towards the hot springs and looks back at Sango who nods right back.

A slightly worried look spreads across Sango's face, "Kagome-chan, how will we get to the spring?"

Indeed, they had a cat... erm, dogfight going on between three demons, *AND* they had to lose the monk in order to get past all of them and to the forest.

"Don't worry, Miroku won't be hard and I've got the perfect plan for the others." Sango watches curiously and follows as Kagome walks up to Miroku. She tells him that Kaede wants to see him and needs his help. He nods and rises, walking quickly towards the hut. "One down."

Sango nods approvingly. "So, how are you going to take care of them?" She points towards the ball of flying fists.

"Easily, watch." The girls stand there a few moments. No sound is uttered from either until, "Sit." The rosary being activated, Inu Yasha comes tumbling to the ground right on top of two conveniently placed demons. Shippou managed to squirm his way out before the real fight would begin, but it didn't take long to get started.

Kagome walked over the crumpled pair, well, on them actually, and Sango followed close behind.

"Don't you think that was a little mean?"

From under the wolf, Inu Yasha responds into his good friend Mr. Dirt patty, "Bitch."

"No," Kagome shakes her head, "I don't think so at all." She smirks and the girls walk off to the spring.

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"Hey, you can't call my woman a bitch!"

"Your woman?!"

"Yeah, mine dog-breath!"

"Just WAIT until this rosary spell wears off!!!"

*Sighs* Some things... will *never* change...