Disclaimer: I don't own Inu-Yasha. My wish goddess doesn't like me. She never grants me any wishes.

Flashback: "You just wait till I catch you, you little- little… THING!"

Only a snicker was heard as the child hanyou disappeared among the trees, apparently scuttling back to her house.

Tainted

Chapter 2

Kagome couldn't believe her luck. Trapped in the woods at- what was it? She glanced at her glow-in-the-dark watch. 9:30p.m. It was dark, it was cold, and it was creepy. She shivered as a flurry of wings sounded behind her. Even the birds were going to sleep. She sighed inwardly, not daring to make any noise despite her usual, loud self. How could Inu-Yasha abandon her? Most important of all, how could he not come searching for her? She stretched an arm out in front of her and wiggled her fingers, trying to make out a dim shape or line that might be her hand. Her vision failed her for she did not spy anything. Great… now she was going blind too. Her instinct had her look up in the sky, trying to spy even a trace of the bright, round object that usually hung lazily over the night world. There's my reason… She thought. New moon.

Turning around, Kagome felt and stumbled her way back to the tree she had fell asleep under before, hoping she hadn't wandered very far from it. The roughness of the bark somewhat calmed her when she came upon it; it at least made her feel safer knowing that she was going to stay in one place. Kagome had never thought the woods could be so dark at night, she had always thought that you could see everything as soon as your eyes adjusted to the dark. Obviously, her hypothesis was wrong. Pulling her legs up to her chest, she whimpered softly, a loud sound in comparison to the silence around her. She wished desperately for crickets or frogs to make sound. What kind of forest was this silent? It wasn't normal. Or so she thought.

Leaves crackled near her and a soft whoosh reached her ears from around the trees. Well… the invisible trees. Kagome suddenly had an urge to have a cat's vision, or some kind of nocturnal creature. Bats, maybe, would be fine. Or perhaps an owl…

The crackling sound started again, this time nearer. Kagome stiffened, holding her breath. Her heart was pounding ferociously in her chest and her head was getting woozy from lack of air. Something stirred beside her and Kagome snapped out of her daze, jumping up and leaning heavily against the faithful tree. A deep, rich laughter filled her ears and she shuddered ever so slightly, drinking in the extreme familiarity of the noise. There was no echo.

"I found you…" She gasped as someone pressed her against the tree, soft lips covering her own. She kissed them back slowly, not daring to breathe. She could see something now… slowly… almost cautiously, she studied the man in front who had just kissed her. Long, silky ebony hair framed his face and curious brown eyes peered into her own. A frown etched Kagome's faced as the churning feeling burned inside her once again. Eyelashes brushed against her cheeks as a feeling of déjà vu drowned her. A flash, and then another… that was her first kiss… or was it?

She was pushed against a willow tree, peering back into golden eyes that scanned her frail form briefly. A shiver shook his figure as he took a deep breath… she wondered what he was thinking. Her arms were pinned beside her and she shuffled slightly. Gingerly, he lifted a clawed hand to her face, stroking her cheeks slowly, as if afraid she would disappear if he moved too fast. She looked into his eyes again and saw no hesitation as he bent down, silvery threads draping across them both.

"Aishiteru," he whispers, and their lips touch.

Kagome screamed and clutched at her head, pushing and clawing at whatever was in her way. Her head hurt so much… she wanted out… she wanted to go back to her warm bed and snuggle down under her covers and sleep. She wanted to sleep so bad…

Darkness engulfed her completely as the mossy ground rushed up to meet her.

Kagome was dimly aware of someone catching her before the ground came in contact. She sighed softly as strong arms held her tightly. A cold breeze blew past and she shivered unconsciously, snuggling into the embrace. Her bed may be softer, but this wasn't bad as well… in fact, she kind of… liked it.

I sigh and look at her sleeping form. I only had but 12 hours like this, then another last transformation. That was it. Kagome annoys the hell out of me when she treats me like a child… but how else would she treat me? After all, I look like one. There were times when I was tempted to snap a remark at her- no, probably an insult. There were times when I wanted the old days back, the days when we used to trade insults with each other… they never ended, really. Not even after our first kiss. First kiss… that struck a nerve.

Lifting a finger, I stroke her cheeks, slowly breathing in her scent. The smell of cherry blossoms and vanilla fill my nostrils and I sigh. Even after five years she still hadn't changed. It wasn't that long of a time period to me, but I suppose it is to humans.

What am I getting to now? That thought kept repeating itself, probing my mind to wake up.

I'm half-human and I despised that fact until Kagome came along. It isn't that bad now that you think about it. My mind is wandering back to the past. She didn't remember anything, obviously. I finally admit to myself that the old lady was right. By the way she had screamed in the woods when I kissed her… she had probably evaded all thoughts and memories to ease the pain.

The pain of seeing my death.

I was scared too… scared when tears of blood flowed down her cheeks continuously and she mumbled incoherent words feverishly, stroking my hair and pushing my bangs back. I was semi-conscious, but she didn't seem to know it. I figured dimly that she thought I was dead; I probably looked it. It was pretty ragged…

I turn and close my eyes.

I had found it ironic despite myself when I found out I was falling in love with a human, someone other than Kikyou at that. It shocked me to no end and had me frequently wandering the woods on those sleepless nights. I still haven't got over the shock entirely. I doubt I ever will. I still feared the constant changes in my life… I mean, I had ended up in this form of a child just to complete a single task and to get Kagome back. Yeah, she belongs to me.

I didn't regret having taken on the body of a child to find Kagome and aid her quest for her lost memories. I make it sound so noble, but really, I'm just leaving clues and hints along the way. It didn't matter to me, as long as I could be with Kagome… but she wouldn't know that. How could she understand if I spoke one random day and told her I loved her, and that I was a couple hundred years old and had died just a little over five years ago? Oh wait… I forgot to tell you that you loved me back. She'd think I'd gone insane.

Except for Sango… As if I did not hate this body enough, she had to emphasize the fact. I tried to produce a child-like innocence and clung to Kagome's hand without thinking. She electrocuted me. I wasn't sure what it was, but it felt like a spark of electricity running down my spine. Of course, I then scrambled up the tree to hide and listen to their conversation.

It scared me, for the second time in my life, when she didn't follow me. The sun had set and I felt myself change, just like the other times. I felt stronger, even though I was human. I went out to find her since it was getting dark, hoping that nothing bad had happened. I found her, just like I always do and I try to surprise her. I realize pieces of the past were coming back to her slowly when she screamed. I realize that it won't be long before my secret is revealed. There were good parts to it too, I supposed. It will definitely aid me in my task.

"You can't protect your women, can you, little brother?"

That sentence kept repeating itself over in my mind. Albeit the fact that Sesshoumaru had said it, I still took it to heart. It was true. I had lost Kikyou to Naraku and now Kagome to him as well. Well, almost. What has happened to me? I couldn't answer my own question. Kagome stirs beside me and I look up. I think she was waking up. Glancing back out her window, I notice the dark sky. I had learned how to tell the time in Kagome's world and depended on her "clock" often. It said, right now, 12:00a.m. I didn't know I had been thinking that long. She turned on her side and faced me. A wave of serenity washes over me as I study the curves of her face closely. She sighed in her sleep and murmured one word that set my skin on fire. Well, a name actually… my name.

Kagome awoke to a world of darkness. She was either stupid to think that her eyes are open when they were actually closed, or she had gone blind. Things got better when dim lines and fuzzy shapes appeared from the darkness. Someone was sitting on her bed. She frowned. Was it her mother? No… her mother isn't that tall…

"Inu-Yasha…"

The shape straightened sharply. Why the heck did she just say that? It couldn't be the little boy… he was a little boy! She kept silent, waiting for her eyes to adjust more to the darkness so she can see the person more clearly. The person moved faster than her eyes' adaptation skills and placed his head against hers in an instant too fast for her mind to follow. A shaky breath escaped his lips as Kagome held her breath. Bright lights exploded somewhere on the other side of the world and Kagome's mind emptied itself as she settled herself in the kiss. It felt strangely familiar… her arms wound itself around his neck and her fingers automatically proceeded to toy with his hair. Long black hair… Kagome pushed him away, only to look into a pair of deep brown… Black hair, brown eyes. It sounded so, so familiar. Yet she could not place it. A musty scent filled her nose and she took a deep breath, careful not to make any sound, as if fearing their fragile moment might be broken. The man's scent reminded her of something… back to the forest… the night… the kiss… the oak tree. No… the willow tree… her eyes widened at the recollection. "You- mph!"

A hand shot over her mouth and muffled her words. She stiffened as her mystery visitor shook his head, then stroked her cheek softly. "Wake up, Kagome… stop dreaming." Then, he was gone. Kagome blinked slowly as her head pains returned. She wanted to sleep… her eyes shut her from the world.

Wow. =.=;; This is the first time in my four years of writing that I've ever felt like this. Just update and update and update. I guess I just want to get the fic over with. o.O Anyway, it is confusing isn't it? Everything clears up as you get furthur into the story. :] Hope you guys like.