AN: Sorry that I have taken so long to update but I had finals and I had to move out of my dorm. Then, unfornately I had problems getting access to the internet at home and had to sort that out. I'm actually on a library computer trying to get this done, so I can't do individual review responses. I am sorry, but I do appreciate them so keep them coming. HAPPY READING AND ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, if I did I would have killed off Kikyo long ago.

Love Isn't Just a Memory

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Youkai Returns

By: Nimerin

It was a few hours past the sunset and Inuyasha and Kagome still hadn't come back yet, so Miroku and Sango decided to go and check on them. When they approached the Goshinboku they were surprised to see that Inuyasha held Kagome cuddled in his arms sleeping while he rested up against the tree. He opened his eyes when they got within a few feet and a small blush adorned his cheeks. "What are you doing here?" He questioned low enough so as not to wake Kagome but loud enough for them to hear him.

"It's been a long time since we saw either of you and we got worried." Miroku stated as he stood in front of him. He had an amused smile on his face as he regarded the sweet position his two friends were in, "Although now I understand why you were in no rush to come back."

Sango came up behind Miroku and smacked him on the back of the head, "You better not be thinking anything perverted you lecher."

Miroku rubbed the back of his head, "Why Sango dearest, I am offended that you would think so lowly of me."

"Sure you are." Sango snorted and moved to kneel in front of the two still seated. "I think it is time for her to head in for bed Inuyasha."

Inuyasha looked down at Kagome's peaceful sleeping face as he thought. He shifted until he was standing with Kagome in his arms, "Alright, I'll take her up."

"Um... actually," Sango bit her lip as she looked down at the ground, "I was thinking I would walk back with her and you and Miroku could have a talk."

"What would I have to talk to that bouzo about?"

"Inuyasha, we wish to know how Kagome took the news and what it is exactly that you told her." Miroku answered.

Inuyasha brushed past them, "It ain't none of your business."

"But Kagome-chan sometimes tells me things that she doesn't want to say to you guys. I want a chance to talk to her to see if she really is alright." Sango turned and stood as she addressed Inuyasha.

Inuyasha thought about it, 'Sango is right, Kagome does tell her different things than she does the rest of us.' A blush crept onto his face, 'What if she tells them about the kiss?'

The voice decided to pay a visit, 'So what if she does?'

'It's embarrassing!' He sputtered.

'Hai, but they will eventually find out about you two anyways.'

'What?'

'You are planning on kissing Kagome again aren't you?'

'Well, yeah.'

'Then they would eventually find out. It isn't a big deal; in fact it's about time it happened.'

'Whatever.' Inuyasha mumbled.

Inuyasha let out a large sigh and turned back to his two waiting friends, "Alright, I'll wake her and you two can go off and do the girl thing."

Miroku laughed at Inuyasha's reference to the girl's conversations as Sango blushed. Inuyasha kneeled down and shook Kagome gently until she began to wake, "Hey Kagome wake up."

Kagome opened her eyes a crack and mumbled sleepily, "I don't want to go to school yet. Five more minutes please mom."

Inuyasha blushed and let out a light growl, "Wake up girl, I ain't your mom."

Kagome fully opened her eyes and looked around, "Huh? Oh, sorry Inuyasha, I didn't mean to fall asleep like that."

"It's okay." Inuyasha had started to blush a very bright red as soon as Kagome awoke; the events just before her slumber were replaying in his mind. Apparently Kagome's thoughts were along the same lines because she started to blush just as red as him.

Sango smiled at the cute scene, but was anxious to find out why her two friends were blushing more than usual. "Kagome-chan, I'll walk back with you." Sango offered.

Kagome just noticed that she had an audience and blushed even deeper than before, "Um... when did you guys get here?"

"Just a moment ago Kagome-sama. You two missed dinner and we came to get you."

"We missed dinner? Wow, I must have been out for awhile."

"Only a few hours; we have had a busy day after all." Sango answered as she offered Kagome a hand, "I'll head back with you."

Kagome took the proffered hand and stood up, "Alright." Kagome brushed off her skirt and headed back towards her house with Sango before turning back to the boys, "Aren't you two coming back in?"

"We will follow you two in a few moments; I just needed to discuss something with Inuyasha."

"Alright, see you inside."

Miroku turned to Inuyasha as soon as the girls were out of earshot, "Alright, I want to know what it is you two discussed and why you two were looking so cozy when we got here."

Inuyasha snorted, "You sure got right to the point." Inuyasha moved back to the tree and sat in his original spot. "I just told her who Kikyo was, my relationship with her, and that she is still trying to drag me to hell with her."

Miroku came and sat next to him, "You really told her all that? I didn't think that you would be able to tell her all that."

"I'm no coward." Inuyasha grunted.

"I'm not saying you are. You just usually avoid conversations about your personal life or feelings. So, how did she take it all?"

"Better than expected. A lot better than I thought she would actually. She even felt sorry for Kikyo."

Both men were silent for a moment before Miroku broke the silence, "Kagome-sama has always felt sorry for Kikyo; she just never understood why she would act the way she does now."

"She said something like that, and I snapped at her," Inuyasha looked away, "I made her cry again."

Miroku looked at Inuyasha sadly, "Anything involving Kikyo usually results in hurt feeling for Kagome-sama. But I don't understand, how did you two end up looking so cozy?"

Inuyasha kept his head turned away as he answered, "We kissed."

Miroku fell over in shock and sputtered unbelievably, "You two what?"

Inuyasha turned to him and growled, "You heard me you bouzo."

"Wow," he responded in awe as he righted himself, "I can't believe you actually did it. Well, it's about time."

"Yeah. So when are you and Sango going to get together?"

"What makes you think that Sango and I have anything going on?" Miroku tried to ask innocently.

"You two are engaged, Miroku; but she still pounds you on the head anytime you try anything."

"Sango is a proper young women; I don't think she appreciates my more lecherous advances."

"I don't know why, what woman could resist a man groping her?" Inuyasha asked sarcastically.

"I don't know; I am so misunderstood." Miroku answered dejectedly.

Sango and Kagome had just gotten out of listening distance of Miroku and Inuyasha when Sango turned to Kagome, "So, did you two have a nice conversation?"

Kagome wrinkled her nose, "Well, I wouldn't exactly say that. I mean he told me about Kikyo and everything. Do you remember how I said I was afraid of her taking something but it wasn't my soul?"

"Hai, you figured out what it was?"

"It was Inuyasha. When he told me that she was trying to drag him to hell I kind of figured it out."

"Yeah, it used to really worry you that he might go with her one time. She got really close to dragging her with him one time but you were there trapped against a tree by her soul stealers. He went and set you free instead."

"I don't really remember any of that. I got a few flashes but it was never of her."

"So..."Sango drawled, "How did you end up in his arms?"

Kagome covered her now cherry red face with her hands, "We kissed."

"What, really!?" Sango stopped walking and looked at her friend.

"Hai, twice; then I fell asleep."

"Wow, that's great Kagome-chan. I'm glad you two got together."

"Me too. So have you made any progress with Miroku?"

Sango sighed and shook her head, "That houshi is just impossible."

Kagome and Sango continued to giggle and have idle chit chat until they were right in the courtyard once more. They stopped in their tracks and fell quiet when they realized that there was someone standing in the middle of the courtyard facing them. The someone appeared to be female and youkai though they were partially hidden in shadow.

"Ahhh Kagome!" The youkai greeted happily, "I was getting tired of waiting for you. You always are so much trouble you know?"

Sango turned questioningly to Kagome but she was equally confused. "Who are you?" Kagome questioned.

"Aw... I forgot I made you an amnesiac. Well, that would explain why you aren't cowering in fear right now. I guess I will just have to change that; I'm going to jog your memory." The youkai stepped out of the shadows as Sango stepped in front of Kagome protectively.

Kagome's brow was furrowed in concentration as flashes of memories ran through her brain. She turned pale and looked up at the youkai; one word escaped as a whisper from her lips, "Shinku."

AN: Alrighty, I tried to make this chapter a little longer to make up for the delay. Unfortunately, I am operating off of memory so I hope I got all of the details from my own story right; I hope I did. Well, PLEASE REVIEW AND THANK YOU FOR READING AND YOUR PATIENCE.