{ Gah, stupid school --;; I don't see why they make us go through this
torture; having to leave our computers to go and learn! College classes,
so I actually have to apply myself -sigh- It's a conspiracy, I tell ya!
Geez, I've been trying to post up responses to some reviews, but for some reason it's messing up the format of the document. So I'll try to answer some questions in this little paragraph, and I'll not be saving this as html. 1) Akaro - I will definitely eventually tell why she lost her memory etc. 2) Shinigami God of Death - If you noticed, everything sort of.. reset like she actually had been put in a coma instead of going to the feudal era. At least, that's what it was supposed to be like. I'm a bad writer. 3) Sango13 - this chapter should answer that question, or at least half of it. Everyone) 38 reviews! That's more than I have on my 7 chapter fic -stares in awe- THANK YOU! It's good to know people are still reading this, and more importantly seeming to like it. My stories get worse as they go along, so.. yeah.. I'm trying my best. Really!
Wait, one more thing! To those that thought she was actually going to get through the well that easily.. haha, fooled you! I mean, really. She doesn't even have any jewel shards -scoffs- -cackles- -coughchokedie- xx; }
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Chapter 4 - returning
By Jamethiel1
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Kagome landed on her back, head hitting the well's bottom with enough force that her vision blackened for a time. Her breath was forced from her lungs, leaving her gasping for air as she looked up at the roof of the well's housing, knowing something had gone horribly wrong. She shut her eyes against the disorientation that swept over her, tears still not coming though she felt them prick at her eyes. Why hadn't it worked? She wasn't even sure what was supposed to happen, but she was too hurt and scared to care. Something was supposed to happen; this was supposed to take away her pain somehow. But all it did was make her feel as if everything was lost. Not only was she empty, feeling completely devoid within, but now she knew she'd never reach what she was missing. This had been her last chance. There was nothing left for her.
'What are they going to think when they find me at the bottom of the well again?' she had the grace to think, silently mocking herself. She was a fool to believe falling into a well would solve her problems. Maybe she had been attempting suicide.. lousy attempt if so. 'Actually, that's not a bad idea,' she found herself thinking, and she was not one that indulged lightly in such fantasies. It just hurt so much, and there was no way she could return to her old life. 'So what should I do?' Suicide was all but out of the question; she wasn't even sure she could take her own life. But there was no way she could go through her daily routines feeling this way, no way to smile and pretend nothing was wrong. So that basically left her here, laying at the bottom of a well, unable to cry despite her best efforts.
'This isn't right..'
'It wasn't supposed to be like this..'
'I just want to go back!!'
Suddenly the ground seemed to drop from beneath her, only she didn't fall. Opening her eyes warily, Kagome found herself surrounded in a strange light, seemingly floating as she could feel nothing below her. 'Am I dead?' was her only thought, as most of the pain and despair that had strangled her throughout the past week lessened, loosened its hold enough that she was hardly aware of it. Then there was once again earth below her, but Kagome was not staring up at the roof of the well house. She was gazing up at a dazzling blue sky, thin layer of white stretched across as if painted there by an expert hand. The pain in her head and back had returned, so she knew she wasn't dead. And, though there was still a hole within her.. it felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her. She felt lighter, breathing came easier, as did the thought of actually living.
Kagome made to sit up, ignoring the soreness of her back and shifting herself into a kneeling position. She wasn't sure where she was, but it was obvious it was someplace other than home. Yet she wasn't worried. This was right, this was the reason she had been so drawn to the well. Now how to get up? Glancing around, her eyes stopped once she spotted vines covering the well's side. Standing, wobbling only a moment before she balanced herself out, Kagome walked to the vegetation, taking hold. She pulled on the vines, hesitantly at first, then with her full strength, but they merely straightened and tensed, standing up to her test. 'Well, that's convenient.' Not that she was complaining.
Hoisting herself upward, Kagome kept her eyes directly ahead of her, trying to find the best and easiest path to the top. She finally reached her goal and pulled herself up and over the side with an inward sigh of relief. She sat upon the well's edge, resting from the climb, intent on catching her breath before she looked upon whatever she had managed to get herself into. Only once she felt nearly fully revived did she glance up. Her eyes gazed over her surroundings, and she stared in awe at the immense forest that surrounded her. This place was -definitely- not 'home', but it felt more like it than that other place ever could.
Kagome continued to gaze around in a kind of half-dazed wonder, feeling she knew this place but unable to remember ever being here before. Then something red caught her eye, and she turned, brown eyes settling on.. a boy. She wasn't really sure how to describe him; his clothing was rather tough on the eye, outerwear nearly completely red. The rest of him, however, made up for the lack of fashionable attire. His hair ran down the full length of his back, bangs falling just over his eyes, and it was silver, appearing almost white in the sun's light. Amazingly, he had two dog-like ears matching its color, revealing themselves from within his mane of hair, twitching slightly so they had to be real. And yet, his feature that drew her the most was his eyes, which were an unnatural amber, seemingly glowing in their own brilliance. Those eyes were held on her, widened slightly as if -she- were the one that had ears sticking up from atop her head. He walked forward one step, longing written on his features in such intensity that even she could mistake it for nothing else. She was suddenly very glad that she had fallen asleep in actual clothes, so she was now dressed in a dark blue sweater and lighter skirt, rather than pajamas. Still, she felt her heart flutter and opened her mouth to speak, only no sound would emerge.
But at even such a small movement, the strange boy stiffened, stepping back again and standing up straight. She watched as the emotion slid from his face to be replaced by an indifferent one; she could practically see the barrier he placed around himself, and her heart ached at the act. "About time you got back," he spoke, tone harsh as he folded his arms across his chest and glanced to the side, though she could tell he still watched her from the corner of his eye. First anger flared within her, but it then flowed away as swiftly as it had come, unable to sustain itself when she had no idea -why- she felt that way. So she just watched him, saying nothing, unknowing as to why his acting that way made it feel as if her heart were breaking. Why the calm this place had provided her was suddenly stolen away by this one person's reaction to her.
The tears she couldn't cry before now came unbidden, and the boy turned his gaze back to her, as if unbelieving of what he was seeing. Once he had, the façade the one before her put up vanished completely, and he stepped forward a few paces, worry lining his face. Kagome blinked, trying to clear her blurry vision so she could see him better, but was unable to move other than that. Her tears continued to fall, and Kagome found a relief washing over her at him dropping his uncaring mask, so intense that her legs began to give out. Before she could fall, however, strong arms wrapped around her, supporting her before lifting her off the earth completely so she was held bridal style. "Please, don't cry.." That voice.. those words.. they were so familiar. Kagome felt her tears lessen as she looked up at the boy, brows furrowing slightly in confusion. She lifted an arm, tracing her hand gently along his jaw. "Kagome.." he choked, emotion flooding his voice.
"I.. I know you.." she whispered, watched as he blinked in surprise, then looked at her in a confusion that matched her own. She might have continued, but she felt so warm in his arms.. so safe.. Exhaustion overtook her before she knew it, and only one thought went through her mind before she drifted into a peaceful sleep: 'I'm back.'
~~~
"I'm not sure.. She.. she didn't seem to recognize me for some reason.."
"I don't know what to say, besides to wait until she wakes up."
"I guess.."
The voices rang through to her, making her try and fight her way out of her sleep-hazed mind, finding it hard for she had not slept so well in.. well.. ever. It didn't seem to matter that she was laying on a hard surface, her only comfort a bundle of cloth that definitely couldn't count as a pillow. One voice she recognized instantly, thus her attempts at waking, for it was that dog-eared boy. The other was also male, and also sounded familiar, though she couldn't recall ever hearing it before. Finally finding herself able to move, Kagome stirred, her throat making a soft, rebellious sound at the motion. Now that she was no longer as emotionally drained, the pain in her back came into new focus, and her leg felt a bit sore as well. She opened her eyes a crack, only to find three pairs of eyes settled on her. -That- woke her up.
She sat up swiftly, causing her back to cry out in protest, and stared at them, eyes wide. "Who are you?" she asked automatically, though something told her she should know that answer already. That she should know these people.. that boy, who was now carefully averting his gaze, seemingly trying to hide his face from her and the others, but she could see his hurt expression anyway. The other male had short black hair tied back, eyes a dark blue, nearly purple color. He wore a black robe and purple kesa, a purple piece of cloth covering his right hand as well, beads wrapped around. There was a girl sitting beside him, dressed in a green and pink kimono. Her dark brown hair reached the middle of her back, and she was staring at her with watery brown eyes, before turning her gaze to the one beside her. They both appeared human, unlike the first, and most familiar of the three.
"You don't remember us?" the black-and-purple clad one questioned, trading glances with the girl before looking back to Kagome. Kagome, for her part, had backed herself into a corner, and was now leaning against the wall, trying to figure out if she should be worried or relieved by these three's presence.
"I-I'm not sure.." she spoke hesitantly, eyes wandering over the three, lingering a bit longer on the one who still wouldn't look at her. She felt guilty for some reason, guilty that she couldn't remember. "Should I..?"
The girl turned back to her and nodded gently, eyes still shining with unshed tears. "You've known us for over two years.. yes, you should remember us.." she spoke, and Kagome's eyes widened considerably. Two years? But.. but she had been in a coma for two years, there was no way she could know these three! It would explain a lot, however. How she had been feeling, the part of her that had seemed to be missing. This could be it. Maybe she had found it. She tried to ignore the part of her that still had suspicions, the part that kept thinking, 'this is all a dream, you slipped back into a coma.. you'll wake up again, all alone.' It felt too real to be a dream; the pain in her back for one, the clarity in which she could call detail for another. "I'm Sango," the girl spoke again when Kagome didn't respond, "That's Miroku, and Inuyasha."
Inu..yasha.. Kagome let her gaze drift toward him again, and he looked even more withdrawn if that were at all possible. She shook her head, turning back to Sango. "I'm sorry.. this all seems familiar, but I just can't remember.." Inuyasha stood abruptly, turning and walking from the hut they were all settled within without saying a word. There was an awkward silence after his exit, in which they all lowered their eyes, not looking at one another. "Did I.. do something wrong?" Kagome asked finally, folding up her legs and resting her chin on her knees, wrapping her arms around herself.
"A lot has happened in the past two years, Kagome. He just.. you two were close," Miroku explained, voice even.
"Close?" she repeated, trying to somehow sink into the wall and disappear. "H-how close?"
Miroku and Sango glanced at one another, looking uncomfortable. Sango finally spoke up, shifting a bit, "We're really not sure. It was.. you left a little while ago, back to your time. Inuyasha wouldn't say what happened, but he seemed pretty certain that you wouldn't return.."
Kagome was silent a moment, absorbing this information. "Oh.." she said finally, eyes wandering to the door Inuyasha had disappeared through, and sighed.
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End of Chapter 4
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{ Whee, another short one! xx; That's all I can write, sorry; hope you liked it anyway. And I spent forever on this, when I should be doing homework, so I blame you all if I fail!!! Not really, I luff you all ^^;;
-blink- And I am well aware that my Miroku/Sango descriptions are horrid (as well as probably everything else xP). If you see anything that needs fixing/elaborating, please tell me so in your review. 'Cause I know you're going to review, right? Right? -prods- }
Geez, I've been trying to post up responses to some reviews, but for some reason it's messing up the format of the document. So I'll try to answer some questions in this little paragraph, and I'll not be saving this as html. 1) Akaro - I will definitely eventually tell why she lost her memory etc. 2) Shinigami God of Death - If you noticed, everything sort of.. reset like she actually had been put in a coma instead of going to the feudal era. At least, that's what it was supposed to be like. I'm a bad writer. 3) Sango13 - this chapter should answer that question, or at least half of it. Everyone) 38 reviews! That's more than I have on my 7 chapter fic -stares in awe- THANK YOU! It's good to know people are still reading this, and more importantly seeming to like it. My stories get worse as they go along, so.. yeah.. I'm trying my best. Really!
Wait, one more thing! To those that thought she was actually going to get through the well that easily.. haha, fooled you! I mean, really. She doesn't even have any jewel shards -scoffs- -cackles- -coughchokedie- xx; }
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Chapter 4 - returning
By Jamethiel1
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Kagome landed on her back, head hitting the well's bottom with enough force that her vision blackened for a time. Her breath was forced from her lungs, leaving her gasping for air as she looked up at the roof of the well's housing, knowing something had gone horribly wrong. She shut her eyes against the disorientation that swept over her, tears still not coming though she felt them prick at her eyes. Why hadn't it worked? She wasn't even sure what was supposed to happen, but she was too hurt and scared to care. Something was supposed to happen; this was supposed to take away her pain somehow. But all it did was make her feel as if everything was lost. Not only was she empty, feeling completely devoid within, but now she knew she'd never reach what she was missing. This had been her last chance. There was nothing left for her.
'What are they going to think when they find me at the bottom of the well again?' she had the grace to think, silently mocking herself. She was a fool to believe falling into a well would solve her problems. Maybe she had been attempting suicide.. lousy attempt if so. 'Actually, that's not a bad idea,' she found herself thinking, and she was not one that indulged lightly in such fantasies. It just hurt so much, and there was no way she could return to her old life. 'So what should I do?' Suicide was all but out of the question; she wasn't even sure she could take her own life. But there was no way she could go through her daily routines feeling this way, no way to smile and pretend nothing was wrong. So that basically left her here, laying at the bottom of a well, unable to cry despite her best efforts.
'This isn't right..'
'It wasn't supposed to be like this..'
'I just want to go back!!'
Suddenly the ground seemed to drop from beneath her, only she didn't fall. Opening her eyes warily, Kagome found herself surrounded in a strange light, seemingly floating as she could feel nothing below her. 'Am I dead?' was her only thought, as most of the pain and despair that had strangled her throughout the past week lessened, loosened its hold enough that she was hardly aware of it. Then there was once again earth below her, but Kagome was not staring up at the roof of the well house. She was gazing up at a dazzling blue sky, thin layer of white stretched across as if painted there by an expert hand. The pain in her head and back had returned, so she knew she wasn't dead. And, though there was still a hole within her.. it felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her. She felt lighter, breathing came easier, as did the thought of actually living.
Kagome made to sit up, ignoring the soreness of her back and shifting herself into a kneeling position. She wasn't sure where she was, but it was obvious it was someplace other than home. Yet she wasn't worried. This was right, this was the reason she had been so drawn to the well. Now how to get up? Glancing around, her eyes stopped once she spotted vines covering the well's side. Standing, wobbling only a moment before she balanced herself out, Kagome walked to the vegetation, taking hold. She pulled on the vines, hesitantly at first, then with her full strength, but they merely straightened and tensed, standing up to her test. 'Well, that's convenient.' Not that she was complaining.
Hoisting herself upward, Kagome kept her eyes directly ahead of her, trying to find the best and easiest path to the top. She finally reached her goal and pulled herself up and over the side with an inward sigh of relief. She sat upon the well's edge, resting from the climb, intent on catching her breath before she looked upon whatever she had managed to get herself into. Only once she felt nearly fully revived did she glance up. Her eyes gazed over her surroundings, and she stared in awe at the immense forest that surrounded her. This place was -definitely- not 'home', but it felt more like it than that other place ever could.
Kagome continued to gaze around in a kind of half-dazed wonder, feeling she knew this place but unable to remember ever being here before. Then something red caught her eye, and she turned, brown eyes settling on.. a boy. She wasn't really sure how to describe him; his clothing was rather tough on the eye, outerwear nearly completely red. The rest of him, however, made up for the lack of fashionable attire. His hair ran down the full length of his back, bangs falling just over his eyes, and it was silver, appearing almost white in the sun's light. Amazingly, he had two dog-like ears matching its color, revealing themselves from within his mane of hair, twitching slightly so they had to be real. And yet, his feature that drew her the most was his eyes, which were an unnatural amber, seemingly glowing in their own brilliance. Those eyes were held on her, widened slightly as if -she- were the one that had ears sticking up from atop her head. He walked forward one step, longing written on his features in such intensity that even she could mistake it for nothing else. She was suddenly very glad that she had fallen asleep in actual clothes, so she was now dressed in a dark blue sweater and lighter skirt, rather than pajamas. Still, she felt her heart flutter and opened her mouth to speak, only no sound would emerge.
But at even such a small movement, the strange boy stiffened, stepping back again and standing up straight. She watched as the emotion slid from his face to be replaced by an indifferent one; she could practically see the barrier he placed around himself, and her heart ached at the act. "About time you got back," he spoke, tone harsh as he folded his arms across his chest and glanced to the side, though she could tell he still watched her from the corner of his eye. First anger flared within her, but it then flowed away as swiftly as it had come, unable to sustain itself when she had no idea -why- she felt that way. So she just watched him, saying nothing, unknowing as to why his acting that way made it feel as if her heart were breaking. Why the calm this place had provided her was suddenly stolen away by this one person's reaction to her.
The tears she couldn't cry before now came unbidden, and the boy turned his gaze back to her, as if unbelieving of what he was seeing. Once he had, the façade the one before her put up vanished completely, and he stepped forward a few paces, worry lining his face. Kagome blinked, trying to clear her blurry vision so she could see him better, but was unable to move other than that. Her tears continued to fall, and Kagome found a relief washing over her at him dropping his uncaring mask, so intense that her legs began to give out. Before she could fall, however, strong arms wrapped around her, supporting her before lifting her off the earth completely so she was held bridal style. "Please, don't cry.." That voice.. those words.. they were so familiar. Kagome felt her tears lessen as she looked up at the boy, brows furrowing slightly in confusion. She lifted an arm, tracing her hand gently along his jaw. "Kagome.." he choked, emotion flooding his voice.
"I.. I know you.." she whispered, watched as he blinked in surprise, then looked at her in a confusion that matched her own. She might have continued, but she felt so warm in his arms.. so safe.. Exhaustion overtook her before she knew it, and only one thought went through her mind before she drifted into a peaceful sleep: 'I'm back.'
~~~
"I'm not sure.. She.. she didn't seem to recognize me for some reason.."
"I don't know what to say, besides to wait until she wakes up."
"I guess.."
The voices rang through to her, making her try and fight her way out of her sleep-hazed mind, finding it hard for she had not slept so well in.. well.. ever. It didn't seem to matter that she was laying on a hard surface, her only comfort a bundle of cloth that definitely couldn't count as a pillow. One voice she recognized instantly, thus her attempts at waking, for it was that dog-eared boy. The other was also male, and also sounded familiar, though she couldn't recall ever hearing it before. Finally finding herself able to move, Kagome stirred, her throat making a soft, rebellious sound at the motion. Now that she was no longer as emotionally drained, the pain in her back came into new focus, and her leg felt a bit sore as well. She opened her eyes a crack, only to find three pairs of eyes settled on her. -That- woke her up.
She sat up swiftly, causing her back to cry out in protest, and stared at them, eyes wide. "Who are you?" she asked automatically, though something told her she should know that answer already. That she should know these people.. that boy, who was now carefully averting his gaze, seemingly trying to hide his face from her and the others, but she could see his hurt expression anyway. The other male had short black hair tied back, eyes a dark blue, nearly purple color. He wore a black robe and purple kesa, a purple piece of cloth covering his right hand as well, beads wrapped around. There was a girl sitting beside him, dressed in a green and pink kimono. Her dark brown hair reached the middle of her back, and she was staring at her with watery brown eyes, before turning her gaze to the one beside her. They both appeared human, unlike the first, and most familiar of the three.
"You don't remember us?" the black-and-purple clad one questioned, trading glances with the girl before looking back to Kagome. Kagome, for her part, had backed herself into a corner, and was now leaning against the wall, trying to figure out if she should be worried or relieved by these three's presence.
"I-I'm not sure.." she spoke hesitantly, eyes wandering over the three, lingering a bit longer on the one who still wouldn't look at her. She felt guilty for some reason, guilty that she couldn't remember. "Should I..?"
The girl turned back to her and nodded gently, eyes still shining with unshed tears. "You've known us for over two years.. yes, you should remember us.." she spoke, and Kagome's eyes widened considerably. Two years? But.. but she had been in a coma for two years, there was no way she could know these three! It would explain a lot, however. How she had been feeling, the part of her that had seemed to be missing. This could be it. Maybe she had found it. She tried to ignore the part of her that still had suspicions, the part that kept thinking, 'this is all a dream, you slipped back into a coma.. you'll wake up again, all alone.' It felt too real to be a dream; the pain in her back for one, the clarity in which she could call detail for another. "I'm Sango," the girl spoke again when Kagome didn't respond, "That's Miroku, and Inuyasha."
Inu..yasha.. Kagome let her gaze drift toward him again, and he looked even more withdrawn if that were at all possible. She shook her head, turning back to Sango. "I'm sorry.. this all seems familiar, but I just can't remember.." Inuyasha stood abruptly, turning and walking from the hut they were all settled within without saying a word. There was an awkward silence after his exit, in which they all lowered their eyes, not looking at one another. "Did I.. do something wrong?" Kagome asked finally, folding up her legs and resting her chin on her knees, wrapping her arms around herself.
"A lot has happened in the past two years, Kagome. He just.. you two were close," Miroku explained, voice even.
"Close?" she repeated, trying to somehow sink into the wall and disappear. "H-how close?"
Miroku and Sango glanced at one another, looking uncomfortable. Sango finally spoke up, shifting a bit, "We're really not sure. It was.. you left a little while ago, back to your time. Inuyasha wouldn't say what happened, but he seemed pretty certain that you wouldn't return.."
Kagome was silent a moment, absorbing this information. "Oh.." she said finally, eyes wandering to the door Inuyasha had disappeared through, and sighed.
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End of Chapter 4
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{ Whee, another short one! xx; That's all I can write, sorry; hope you liked it anyway. And I spent forever on this, when I should be doing homework, so I blame you all if I fail!!! Not really, I luff you all ^^;;
-blink- And I am well aware that my Miroku/Sango descriptions are horrid (as well as probably everything else xP). If you see anything that needs fixing/elaborating, please tell me so in your review. 'Cause I know you're going to review, right? Right? -prods- }