It took only a moment for Inuyasha to go from shocked to completely furious. He approached the couple, certain Washi was taking advantage of Kagome, defenseless without her memories. He had just reached them when they finally became aware of his presence.


Washi pulled away from Kagome's embrace to face Inuyasha, taken aback by the terrible anger in the dog demon's face. He opened his mouth to try and explain, but Inuyasha's fist crashed into his face before he could. Washi was thrown back by the force of it, but used his wings to keep from falling down.


"Stop it!" Kagome screamed.


"Shut up, woman! I'm here to save you!," Inuyasha yelled back, drawing his sword. Tetsusaiga came to life, and Inuyasha took up a stance between Kagome and Washi.


"Save me?! Who are you, anyways! Leave Washi alone! He doesn't even have a weapon!" Kagome pounded on Inuyasha's back desperately. He pushed her away impatiently. "After I get rid of Washi, I'll help you get your memories back. Then you'll understand," Inuyasha said. He rushed at Washi, his anger propelling him forward. He ignored Kagome's yells of protest, concentrating on the battle at hand.


Washi dodged the attack. "You have to let me explain, I didn't have a choice but to take her," he said, warily eyeing the massive sword in Inuyasha's grip. Inuyasha snarled in response. "Not only did you kidnap her, you're trying to take advantage of her without her memories! Like I'm going to just let you get away with that! I protect her. You couldn't possibly care for her as much as I do," Inuyasha said, his eyes hard. Kagome stared at him for a long moment, wondering if his words were true. If only I could remember... Tears filled her eyes as she watched the battle before her, confusion in her heart. She grabbed up the bow and clenched it to her chest, looking from one demon to another.


Inuyasha put his sword away and attacked with his claws instead. "Sankon Tetsusou!," he yelled, his claws slashing toward Washi. Surprised by this attack, Washi didn't move fast enough. He watched Inuyasha's claws descend upon him, as if in slow motion. And then Kagome was in front of him, bow held firmly and arrow nocked. "No!" Washi yelled at her, and tried to push her away.


Inuyasha just barely altered his path in time, shredding an innocent maple tree instead as the arrow flew past his shoulder. The sharp smell of the tree's sap filled his nostrils as he wheeled about to face Kagome and Washi.


"What is the matter with you?," Inuyasha yelled, shaking as he realized how close he had come to tearing Kagome to shreds.


Kagome's chin rose in defiance. "I don't know if you're telling the truth. For all I know, you are the one trying to kidnap me by taking advantage of my missing memories. All I know is that Washi has been the one protecting me, and has been nothing but kind to me. I don't even know who you are!" Tears ran down her face as she confronted Inuyasha.


Inuyasha glared back at her. "Fine. Ask Washi, then. Ask that damned bird who I am, and why he took such precautions to prevent me from finding you. Go on, ask him!," Inuyasha said, gesturing angrily. Kagome hesitated, then looked back at Washi. She prayed that this demon before her was lying. Her breath caught when she saw the look of devastation on Washi's face. No...


"Kagome... This is Inuyasha. He is one of your friends. He saved you after a fight with a snake demon, but you were poisoned. I had him bring you to my tribe, where our healer made the antidote. It caused you to lose your memory. Our healer, and also our leader, gave me the job of bringing you to help me hunt the snake demons, once she knew of your ability to sense shikon shards. My place in the tribe and your life as well as mine was threatened unless I did her bidding. I am to bring you back to her after we destroy the snake demons. I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am, Kagome. I've come to care for you deeply after the past couple days. All I wish is for you to regain your memory and go back to your friends. I am sorry," Washi said, his voice mournful. Kagome just stared at him in disbelief. She couldn't stop the tears, or the pain constricting her chest.


Inuyasha remained silent, glad Washi had told Kagome the truth, but not glad to see the pain it had caused her. "Kagome," he said softly, trying to get her attention. He placed a hand on her arm, and was shocked when she pulled away from his touch.


"I don't know, I just don't know," she muttered. Then her eyes hardened. "I will still help you, Washi. It was wrong, what you've done, but I suppose you had no choice. That doesn't mean I think your whole tribe should be allowed to be murdered by the snake demons. Inuyasha, I want you to come with us and help." She scowled darkly when both demons began to protest. Her look silenced them both. Scary... Even without her memories, she's still Kagome, Inuyasha thought.


"It seems my memories are close to surfacing anyways. After the snake demons are killed, then we'll figure out the rest," Kagome said, leaving no room for argument. Washi and Inuyasha exchanged a sidelong glance.


"If that is really what you want, Kagome," Washi said nervously.


"Keh," Inuyasha said, crossing his arms with displeasure.


"Good. We leave at dawn. I'm going to sleep." Kagome turned about and walked to the fire, finding a place to lay down. She faced away from the other two, her head still swimming with too many emotions to let her think straight.


Inuyasha and Washi glowered at one another. It was going to be a long night.


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


The three companions awoke the next morning, and began the rest of the journey east. Kagome ignored both Washi and Inuyasha, concentrating carefully on putting one foot in front of another. Inuyasha and Washi continued to glare at each other. The tension was terribly thick, but Kagome ignored it. She was determined to see this through.


By the middle of the day, the scent of snake was all around. A mountain range loomed before them. Washi called a halt to explain the best course of action.


"Their nest is dug into the foothills of the mountain. There is also a nest of harpies, and once they catch wind of the battle they might help us, or they might just watch. They despise the snake tribe, but they're really not buddies with the eagles, either. This time of day most of the snakes should be in the nest, and I don't suspect there are many left with shards. Our initial scout told us in total there were five snakes which moved faster and seemed stronger than the rest. That leaves three. The bad news is, their leader is by the far the largest and probably has more than one shard. He's the one we'll have the most trouble with," Washi explained, his voice soft. "But then, it's also possible he took the rest of the shards from the other snakes. In which case he will very difficult to kill." Washi chewed his lip thoughtfully.


Inuyasha snorted derisively. "Just show them to me and my sword, and this will be over in minutes," he said.


"Let's hope so," Washi muttered, and they continued on their way. Their packs were left behind, and weapons were strapped on. Kagome slung her bow and quiver of arrows over her shoulder.


They approached the den of snakes from downwind, trying to keep their presence unknown for as long as possible. "Well, here we go," Washi muttered, and began the climb down the mountain slope and toward the nest of snakes. The attack came fast; Kagome took out a few smaller ones with her bow and arrow, Inuyasha and Washi cleaved the rest with their claws. In short order they had slaughtered over a dozen of the large snakes.


Inuyasha looked around. "Was that it?," he growled.


"No..." Kagome said. "Its coming out. Four. Four shikon shards," she said after a moment of consideration.


A snake emerged from the den in the side of the mountain. It was by far the largest that they had seen so far, but its size did not seem to slow it any. It slipped out and rose into an s-curve before them, opening a mouth with two fangs, each bigger than a human. Its black scales shimmered menacingly under the sunlight.


"Dear spirits," Washi muttered. "Where are they, Kagome?," he asked of the shikon shards, as the giant snake regarded them carefully. Apparently it was in no hurry.


"One in the end of the tail. One on each fang. One between the eyes," Kagome said, as she spotted each of the purple glimmers. She nocked an arrow as Inuyasha drew his sword.


Before any of them could so much as blink, the snake's head had struck toward Kagome. She barely got the shot off, and it entered the snake's mouth and was buried in flesh. The snake shook in mild annoyance, and Inuyasha used the split second to jump through the air and launch an attack of his own. "Kaze no kizu!" Inuyasha called out, releasing the attack upon the snake. His jaw dropped open in surprise when the snake dodged swiftly around the attack and snapped in his direction. Inuyasha leaped back just in time, and slashed at the snake's nose.


Washi sent off a volley of razor feathers into the tail of the snake, trying to dislodge one of the shikon shards. It got caught in the attack and moved slightly, but remainded embedded in the creature's tail. The snake slammed Inuyasha into a tree, then turned to snap at Washi. Kagome's eyes narrowed and she sent off another arrow. To her surprise, it became surrounded by a bright light, and tore through the tail of the snake, sending the shikon shard flying. The snake screeched, a horrible sound that tore through Kagome's head. She dropped her bow and fell to her knees. Inuyasha slowly rose from where he had been thrown, and Washi sent another attack at the snake's head.


The screeching stopped, and Kagome grabbed her bow before running for the shikon shard. Her touch purified the corrupted piece of the shikon jewel, and she tucked it away.


"Kaze no kizu!" Inuyasha's attack grazed across the the snake's back, tearing flesh away as it went. The snake had been slower to dodge this time, but was still alive. The wounds were beginning to heal from the power of the shikon shards it still possessed. Harpies had begun to gather overhead, and were cackling at the proceedings. Kagome looked away fom the repulsive creatures.


The snake's superior speed finally allowed it to snatch Washi from the air, and it tore into him with both fangs before crushing him violently against the ground. Kagome screamed, letting another arrow fly. It pierced between the eyes of the snake, and another shikon shard was torn loose. The snake threw Washi to the ground and lunged at Kagome.


Somehow, Washi managed to rise. Inuyasha is too far away. Wings spread, body leaping, must hurry... No, not Kagome, I have to protect her... Washi got between Kagome and the snake, and furiously brought his claws down on the snake's head. Its skull shattered, and he kept going... With a scream of rage, Washi tore the snake's head in two, and with demon strength pulled both fangs from its mouth. Another kaze no kizu and the snake was reduced to dust. Washi stumbled back into Kagome's arms, his vision blurring and his feet going out from under him. Golden feathers were scattered all across the ground, and Washi's blood was splattered amongst them. Kagome lowered him to the ground and held his head in her lap. His last desperate surge of strength was spent.


"Washi..." Kagome stared down at him, into his piercing blue eyes. She watched as those eyes, the ones she had always seen so full of life, began to dull. His golden hair was tangled and matted with blood.


Then he smiled, and brought a hand to her face. He gently brushed away a tear that was slipping down her cheek.


"I finally made my father proud, Kagome. Thank you...," Washi murmured. His eyes began to close.


"No, Washi!," Kagome cried.


"My people are safe, thanks to you. I love you... Remember the one you truly love," he said, and his hand fell from her face, his eyes closing. One last shuddering breath passed through him, and he became still.


Kagome could not stop the tears. They flowed down her face and off her chin, to land on the still form in her lap. Inuyasha stood a short distance away, letting Kagome cry. Knowing there wasn't anything he could do.


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Epilogue...


Kagome sat alone on the well, looking up at the blue sky above. Wisps of white cloud and an occasional bird were all that interrupted the expanse of blue. The breeze made her clothes billow slightly, and her hair drift across her face. She smiled at the sight of an eagle, wings tilted in a midair salute to the world below. Kagome looked down to her lap, and picked up the golden feather she held. She twirled it thoughtfully between her fingers, until she heard the approach of footsteps. She looked up and met the gaze of Inuyasha. He leaned on the well beside her.


"So, now that you have your memories back... Do you still love him?" Inuyasha asked quietly, averting his eyes from her gaze.


Kagome smiled to herself. "When I felt love for Washi, it was the memory of love for someone else," Kagome said, brushing the feather against her cheek. It was still as soft as when she first asked Washi if she could keep it. When she thought of Washi, she thought of a wonderful person she cared about. Not someone she was in love with.


Inuyasha frowned at her. "Love for who?," he asked irritably. Kagome's smile spread.


"Inuyasha, you really are an idiot, you know," she said, much to his annoyance. He rose and crossed his arms, looking away. "Fine. If you don't want to tell me, I don't care," he growled. Then Kagome was in his arms, holding him tightly. Inuyasha blinked with surprise, then returned the embrace.


"You really are an idiot," she repeated, and pulled him down for a kiss.


Fin.