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

Flashback: She watched silently as he got up and walked towards her. Kagome gasped when he climbed on her lap and wrapped his arms around her neck, placing his lips firmly on hers.

Tainted

Chapter 7

"WAH!" Kagome shot up, knocking her chair backwards, slapping Inu-Yasha in the face repeatedly. "What the hell do you think you're doing? I can't believe you just…" She stomped her feet angrily and whirled around, practically sliding down the stairs.

I check the little alarm clock and stare at it until it was two minutes after Kagome's outburst. I smile. The door slams open and Kagome walks in, a furious look on her face. "That was my first kiss, you little brat!"

I gape at her words. Her… first… kiss… It had no effect on her at all! I scrunch my eyes and poke her in the arm. "Feh, you really don't remember."

I sense no response coming from the big-eyed girl sitting in front of me and I turn, walking calmly towards her bed.

"Wait… remember what?"

"That I had taken your first kiss seven years ago." I notice the dimness of the room and feel myself go into shock. I forgot… it has been a month since I last transformed… which meant… I suppress my anxiety to get away from Kagome and sit on her bed.

"Seven… years ago…? But t-that's impossible… w-we just met three weeks ago, right? R-right?" I close my eyes at hearing her nervous stutters. Why was she nervous?

"On second thought, if you're talking about recent matters, I kissed you that night at the tree, and that night when you thought I was a dream." I chuckle, trying not to look at Kagome. She keeps silent, as if trying to piece things together.

There was silence for nearly half an hour, for neither of us spoke. Then, as I feel the rising darkness and the emptiness in the sky, I tell her my secret, "Wake up, Kagome. Stop dreaming."

I feel my energy wrap around my body and I close my eyes once again. The light is probably surrounding me, as Sango described once when I tested it, but I cannot see it. I see nothing except for Kagome's teary face as she sobbed into the pillow she has somehow acquired.

I've made her cry again.

Sango bit her lip as she sat herself carefully on the tree outside Kagome's room. Her eyes went from Inu-Yasha's transformation to Kagome's sobbing form, her heart clenching at the sight of the two. She knew, even if no one else realized, that Inu-Yasha had pushed himself far to see Kagome. He had pushed himself beyond his limits, beyond his caring for reputation and dignity. In fact, he didn't even care if he loses his life.

He loved her that much.

But he wouldn't admit it to anyone after he was given his shrunken form. Perhaps he has even gone so far to clear his mind of all thoughts just to focus on two things.

Kagome and his task.

Sango knew that his task was an important one, it was one of the reasons she returned almost immediately after she left. She was just going to talk to Kaede when the old healer had located her first. She had advised Sango to go back to Kagome's time and watch over Inu-Yasha. Somehow, Kaede had known that he was about to complete his task. It was about time too… he only had three months at the most.

Sango was nervous. There was only a week left for Inu-Yasha to complete his task, he had better not screw this up.

The transformation was complete. Inu-Yasha was in his hanyou form for the first and last time in Kagome's time. If Kagome does not accept the truth this time, there will be no hope… Sango was scared for the hanyou. She was scared for Kagome. She was scared for Sengoku-Jidai and what the future will bring.

I study my silver-white hair silently, trailing my fingers down a few stray strands that had blown past my face. It was just like Kaede promised. One last transformation, hanyou. My gaze settle on Kagome, examining her tear-streaked face, ears perking at every little sniffle she emits.

"T-this… isn't happening…"

I ignore her statement and look straight into her eyes, noting the sudden flashes that pass through those orbs every little while. It's working, her memories are returning to her. Perhaps too fast for her own good, too. Sango's presence startles me, but it is only natural that she is here. I cast a wary glance out the window, locating the demon exterminator's shadowed form immediately. There is tension surrounding her. Feh.

I feel worried, even though I will never find myself admitting it. Lifting my head, I take a few steps toward Kagome, kneeling beside her chair. I lift a clawed finger and slid it under her chin, directing her eyes to meet mine. I notice fear and unbelieving in them, as I predicted.

"I'm sorry." It is a blunt statement, perhaps. Curt, yet short, but I notice my words taking effect on her. I pull her off the chair and into my embrace, careful to be gentle with a human body. "I'm sorry…"

Kagome took in a deep, shuddery breath and pulled herself roughly away from Inu-Yasha. "You're dead… you died five years ago, when you p-protected me… when you… " She swallows and try to keep more tears from rolling down her face.

"No… do I look dead to you?" Kagome noted the slight sarcasm in his voice.

"This is a lie. You're a lie. I tried so hard to forget, I tried so hard, Inu-Yasha! Why are you here? Why didn't you tell me you had been reborn? How could you do this to me?" Kagome stood up and backed away from the hanyou.

"It's not a lie, Kagome! And I was never reborn."

Kagome lifted a hand to cover her mouth, her eyes fixed on Inu-Yasha.

"I was never reborn because I never died. The only way to keep me alive was to cast a spell to shrink my body and put me to sleep for four years. When I awoke, I was back in my original form and they told me you've sealed your memories away along with the Shikon. They told me that I could see you if I returned to the child I was again, so I wouldn't create a disturbance when I passed through the well with the Shikon inactive.

"I agreed and went, and that's when you found me in your backyard. It's important, Kagome, that you understand this fact. I was sent here not by force, but by will. I was that man in your dreams. I told you to wake up, and to stop dreaming. I left clues and hints since I could not speak, but you didn't understand. You didn't understand, and I had to take difficult measures. This form is a last resort, Kagome. You have to believe me."

"No… no… you're not him… This is a lie! Get away from me! Get away!" Kagome spun around and rushed out the room, ignoring the desperate calling of her lie. She had to get away, she didn't want to remember. She sealed her memory so she could start again, but her memory has been unsealed by a simple action from a certain hanyou. No… it was all a lie.

A lie.

Sango groaned and broke a twig off from a nearby branch. She aimed and threw it at Kagome's window, earning Inu-Yasha's attention. She waited patiently as he strolled over lifelessly, trying to find a way to open the window. Sango rolled her eyes and pointed at the simple latch. Amused, she watched as Inu-Yasha lifted the little latch and opened the window. Finally… took him a while.

She jumped in the room, sitting herself on the bed. "Didn't I tell you not to mess this up? Didn't I?"

Sango noticed the droop in Inu-Yasha's eyes and the loss of the light that usually lit his golden orbs. "Well… aren't you going to get her? You only have a week left!"

"How can I? You know her, she's stubborn like that." There was a sigh from the hanyou.

Sango sighed. "You'll have to find a way, Inu-Yasha. You know the consequences if you don't."

"Feh."

X.X I'm getting bad at writing... Anyway, I hope you guys liked it. :) I have one more chapter and that's it. There might be an epilogue if I don't feel like writing a sequel, or there might be a sequel. There'll most likely be a prequel, but no guarantees. Comments?