"Really, I'm sorry. He's not usually such a jerk. Well, yeah he is but you gotta get used to it." Stepping over Inuyasha, Kagome walked over to her new friend, unspoken. "What's with the odd face? Is something wrong?" She shook her head no and tossed her head aside. "No, it's just that, that name. It's like I've heard it…before. I just, can't remember!" Putting her head in her hands, she sighed. "It's ok. Look, maybe we can help you. If the stupid idiot ever gets over my sitting him." As Kagome spoke the word accidentally, Inuyasha slammed back into the dirt. "Whoops, sorry Inuyasha! I forgot." He pried his face out and stared at her angrily. "You forgot? Wench, how long have we been together? And you forgot?!" Standing up, he shook the mud and things from his haori. Turning back to the girl, he sat in front of her. "Do you know my name, girl?" Looking into her eyes, he felt kinda peaceful. "Inuyasha, she doesn't know much of anything. Not even her name. She has a case of amnesia." She nodded sadly and looked away. "Oh, that's great. So what are we supposed to call you?" Crossing his arms, he faked annoyance. "Inuyasha! Be nice…" but the girl cut Kagome off. "No, it's ok. Call me what you wish. I've been as long as I can remember nameless, so it doesn't really matter." Kagome looked at her skeptically, but Inuyasha said "Feh, fine then. I'll name you. Your names Kaori." At the mention of her new name, Kaori flinched slightly. "I, I know that name. Where did you think of it from?" She looked at Inuyasha, who was lost in thought. "Earth to Inuyasha! Hello, answer her!" Kagome was inpatient, and he was already on thin ice with her. "It was my," He bit his lip quietly. "My sisters name." Kagome gasped silently, and sat next to him. "I never knew you had a sister! Why didn't you tell us?" He stood, looking out over the lake in a too calm manner, and turned to look at them with flickering sadness in his beautiful amber-gold eyes. "Because, she died a long time ago." And with that he turned and headed back toward camp, without a backwards glance.
"Inuyasha, Inuyasha wait!" Kagome sighed sadly and sat where he previously had. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset him!" Exclaimed Kaori startled. Grabbing her bag, she stood up. "Maybe I should…" She motioned toward the woods. "Leave?" Kagome looked horrified at the thought. "Why? Besides, I want to help you. And I think there's more to you than meets the eye, I can just tell. So why don't we introduce you to the gang?" She grabbed Kaori's arm, who reluctantly followed. Stepping over some dead undergrowth, they came to Kagome's camping site. "Welcome back, Kagome…and who is this?" Miroku had asked, looking up. But upon seeing Kaori, he sprang into habit. "Fair lady, would you perhaps bear my…" *Whang!* He didn't get to finish, as Sango hit him on the head with her boomerang. "Sorry, I hate to interrupt, but Kagome, what happened out there? Inuyasha woke us up saying he was going to get you, and next I know he's moping past us. Don't have a clue where he is now, though but what happened?" Sango saw the sad look fly across her friends face, soon replaced by stubborn anger. "That stupid dummy! He got all hussy at me, and was rude to Kaori, and…and…I found something out." She gave up looking angry and just faced them sadly. "I also found out that, Inuyasha had a sister!" Miroku sat up, rubbing his head where a tender bump was forming. "Really? Why is that such a big secret? Unless…" Kagome finished for him. "She died. I think he wanted to forget. But for some reason, something reminded him of her. But wha…That's it! Last night, right before I lost consciousness, I heard Inuyasha say, 'Not again'. I ask him what he meant, but he just got all angry. Maybe something in that fire reminded him of her!" At the mention of the incident, Kaori jumped. "What's wrong, Kaori?" Questioned Miroku, getting to his feet. "I have no clue. I keep having these weird feelings. First at Inuyasha's name, then at my own name, now at the mention of a burning building? What does it all mean?" Kagome stared at her peculiarly. "What is it?" Kaori asked questioningly. "Oh nothing, it's just, I don't remember mentioning a house burning, just a fire. How did you know we were in a building?" Everyone looked at Kaori, who was thinking. "I have no clue Kagome. Something in my head just thought of a burning house. Maybe, it's a memory." Sighing, she grabbed her things. "Well, now that we all have something to think about, let's find dog-breath." Shippo laughed quietly at Miroku's statement, but made sure to be quiet in case Inuyasha was listening. But Inuyasha was too deep in thought to have cared at that moment, anyways. "Damn, what's wrong with me? Whoever that whelp is, it's got nothing to do with me! But…She felt so homey. All most like she could understand and fix any problem in the world. I always, felt that way around Kaori." Tears clouded his eyes, but he was too stubborn to allow them to fall. "Wait a minute!!" a thought had just come to him, one that both saddened and cheered him up. "That can't be Kaori. She died,….over fifty years ago! And if Kaori was human…she would have to be close to 100 years old!" Horrified and somewhat relieved at his deduction, Inuyasha decided to re-join the group. Kagome had sounded sorry, maybe she'll ask if I'm O.K." Just as he was about to jump down, a new scent stopped him. "Oh gods, not now! Why now?" Quickly scrambling from the tree, he just made it to the gang before the whirlwind of fur that was his rival, Koga. "Hey, Kagome. I picked up on your scent a couple of minutes ago, and came to see of flea-boy was treatin ya right!" Kagome smiled embarrassed, and Inuyasha had smoke coming out of his ears. Kissing her hand, Koga turned his gaze to Kaori. "And who pray tell is this? Another poor lady you've seduced, Inuyasha?" That one got him. "Oh, Koga! Your gonna wish you never laid eyes on Kagome!" Running forward, he flashed his claws. "Iron reaper soul st…Yeow!" He had almost made it, to. But Kagome 'sat' him in time. "Sorry Koga, maybe you should go." Koga smiled mischievously down at Inuyasha, and replied, "Tell biscuit-brain that I'm not here for you today. Believe it or not, I'm actually after Kagura." Inuyasha finally managed to pry his head from the dirt, and feigned sarcasm. "No, really? Why would ya wanna do that?" Getting up, he brushed off. "If that's why you're really here, get goin. Leave us out of it." But Koga didn't go, and instead made his way over to Kaori. "Hm, if you have Kagome, then at lest allow me this one!" She was too startled to speak, and just stood there with his hand on her arm. But though Kaori had nothing to say, Inuyasha was livid. "No, you can not have her either! Get away from all of us, or Kagome will be too slow to save you!" But it was to late. In a whirlwind of mud and leaves, Koga took off, but he wasn't the only one. Everyone stared shocked after him, especially Inuyasha. Kaori was gone.
