Mae to Ima
Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha.
AN: I'm really, really sorry I took so long to update... but yay! Windsor is over smiles … and LaG is starting in less than a month frowns…
Regents are next Wednesday, too. Dammit!
THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL REVIEWS!!! I was SO happy when I opened my mailbox and found millions of reviews to read… okay so maybe not millions but like 27!!!!! For the first chapter!!!! That's better than "Paying Up": my two shot comedy.
One thing readers should know is that with me, its hard to find inspiration to write… especially when you write about three essays a week for a whole summer. I wrote this chapter over THREE freakin' times and I'm still not that happy with it!. I wanted to go somewhere with this but I just wasn't sure where! It was hard to develop the new InuYasha's personality without making it cliché. Sorry, I'll stop the self-pity now.
I'm still taking suggestions on this story!
To the person who was somewhat mad at me don't worry! This is definitely an Inu/Kago (I hate the abbreviation "kag" it sounds like "hag". Kago's prettier) story (even if in later chapters it looks questionable). But without Ayumi, there would be no story (worth reading anyway…)
L-ingOL, wanna know sumthin funny… you all know 'inu' means dog, but 'kago' means basket! The dog luvz the basket! Mou, kago wa inu ga suki desu! …, … ! …. ? …. … Guys? Anyone there? Don't leave! I thought it was funny 's being stupid and it won't let me space things the way I want but whatever...
Just so everyone knows, I'm raising the rating just in case because I'm scared of this story being deleted… so, yeah.
Chapter Two
He sat in the moonlight streaming through the open window. It was a beautiful night he noted. The sky was a dark purple almost black and a few stars dotted the sky like diamonds. He felt the cool breeze rush through his long and still damp hair as he sat on the window's ledge.
He couldn't sleep.
He figured the hot shower might help lull him but it didn't. The flashes were coming back; parts of his past streamed in his mind and he lost control of his thoughts, again.
He knew the flashes were just that: his past. Almost every night it was the same thing… either in the form of dreams or just random voices and thoughts, sometimes it was as if he was standing in the past.
He blinked and was greeted by another flash. He fell into a sort of dream while he still wasn't quite asleep.
A dark haired man sat next to him. He was adorned in dark clothes, that of a Buddhist priest or monk. The air around him seemed calm and he spoke quietly.
"You know, she loves you; you have to be aware of that. Her eyes glimmer with the emotion and as much as she yells at you and uses the power of the prayer beads on you, she still loves you," he stated.
InuYasha felt the vibration of his voice lead through his throat although he had no control over it. He was merely watching as his body moved and spoke of its own accord and it was as if there was another presence within him: himself but holding different thoughts and emotions.
"Miroku, it's just a crush. She'll grow out of it," it was his past that spoke.
Then he realized, there was no other presence, just his memories. Completed and unblocked, they were there but out of his reach. It was like the feeling you get when you search for a word and realize you know it; it's at the tip of your tongue but you can't voice it.
"It isn't 'just a crush.' Why must you deny it? She's in love with you and she's scared of the emotion. I don't believe she's ever experienced this type of love, InuYasha. She needs you to guide her through this," this Miroku spoke.
"I can't," he spoke and lowered his gaze to the ground, "I just can't. I-I won't forget Kikyo. She loves me and-- god, Miroku! She was going to be my wife! I was going to have kids with her, become human for her! Then Naraku comes along and ruins my life and my only chance at happiness since before my mother died! I will not just betray her after I've gotten a second chance… I love Kikyo."
Unbeknownst to the pair a person had just fled the scene. Even the present InuYasha didn't realize someone was there until they ran away. The two past figures were completely unaware of the person's seeming distress, as its distinctly female scent gave away. Her scent was so familiar though he hardly caught it in the light breeze and it blended easily with the many other fragrances of the forest.
He wanted to track down the girl but he couldn't. He wasn't in control of his body.
"InuYasha, are you sure? I understand you loved her but she's gone. You don't really have her anymore, she's dead. The Kikyo you see now isn't real. She's made of soil, clay and a soul that is no longer truly hers. If you tried to carry on your life like she never died, you wouldn't be able to get her pregnant." Miroku said acutely.
"Now's not the time for jokes Bouzu," he growled.
"I'm serious; you wouldn't be able to have the family I know you want. Whether you want to believe it or not, she's dead. She can't bear children. The dead cannot give life," the dark-haired man spoke, still softly.
At this, the past InuYasha was silent and the present InuYasha could hear his thoughts. 'I never thought of that. It would be yet another sacrifice I'd have to make for Kikyo.'
"InuYasha, you don't consider the entire situation. I'll leave you to think about this conversation and just what it means to stay with Kikyo. You say she loves you… but I just don't see it and I don't think anyone besides you does." Miroku stood up and turned standing still for a moment before turning his head slightly, speaking over his shoulder, "She's still waiting though, the girl who travels back in time just to see you; Kikyo's opposite... she, I know, loves you." The man with black hair left the clearing.
"I know; I love her too," InuYasha said to the silence of the forest.
The world was a swarm of colors before he arrived back in his girlfriend's house.
"Who's Kikyo?" he asked no one in particular.
Miroku, that name sounded familiar. He'd definitely heard someone say it around the house. He decided he'd ask Ayumi if she knew a 'Miroku' in the morning. But who, the hell, was 'the girl who travels back in time'?
As he passed Kagome's room, he heard muffled sobs. Wincing slightly he remembered what had occurred earlier.
It wasn't that he thought her a slut; he could smell she wasn't, but he really needed to nail her. It drove him crazy everyday. If he hadn't met Ayumi, he would've definitely been all over Kagome. She was gorgeous; probably better looking than Ayu, though he never thought about it.
Ayumi was pretty, daring and wild, downright sexy. Kagome was pretty, sweet, calm, and just innocent. He enjoyed being with Ayu but Kagome? She was just begging to be tainted.
Realizing Kagome's sobs had slowed; InuYasha leaned closer to her door. She was sleeping he gathered. He entered quietly.
She was half under the white silk sheets on her bed, curled into a ball and whimpering in the dark room. Upon closer inspection, InuYasha understood that she was having a nightmare. Her hair and body was damp with sweat and she was crying softly in her sleep.
"No! Not again! You're not him! Stop it, no, Naraku!" she yelled and writhed in the twisted sheets.
InuYasha was by her side in a flash, gently shaking her awake. Her eyes sprung open and she backed away from the silver-haired man in front of her.
"Kagome?"
"N-no, go away Naraku!" she stuttered.
"It's me, InuYasha, see?" he reached a hand out to her with a slight sincere smile.
"No, you're Naraku!" she argued, the terror etched on her face was fading.
"No, I'm not," he continued before sighing at the hopelessness of the situation.
"Show me the rosary," she demanded.
"What?"
"The rosary!"
Obeying, he reached into his black t-shirt and pulled out the beaded necklace.
"InuYasha!" she shouted and shot out toward him, embracing him.
He was shocked and confused to say the least. She never came into physical contact with him if it wasn't necessary much less hug him. 'Not that I'm complaining' he thought delightedly as she pressed her body tightly to his. She was soft, small and deliciously curvy.
Kagome finally become conscious of what she was doing and immediately began to step back but InuYasha's arms came around her waist and she found herself trapped.
InuYasha pulled her closer and rubbed her back with one hand. "What happened? You were crying in your sleep," he stated, resting his head on top of hers.
"Um, I'm okay now; just a little nightmare, that's all," she explained shyly. Kami, it felt good to be in his arms again.
"Who's Naraku?"
She looked up into his face with a startled expression. Their faces were inches away but she was more surprised by his question than their situation.
"Why?"
"You were dreaming about him. Is he an ex?" he asked suspiciously. It didn't sound like she really liked the guy too much. She almost feared him, from the scent of things.
"No, he's just—it's a long story and I don't think you'd understand it," she smiled nervously, pushing his arms away.
"Try me," he smirked and tightened his hold. 'She's hiding something', he thought.
"Look, I don't want to talk about him, just let me go, please?" she asked quietly.
"Are you scared of him?"
"I-I don't know… he-he took away someone very dear to me, at least I think. He hurt a lot of people."
She was being gloomy and depressing again. At least now, he knew the reason she was so sad. He let his arms loosen and she slipped out of his arms.
"This Naraku, have you seen him lately? You know around your job or maybe school?" he asked cautiously.
"No, he… disappeared, a long time ago, why?" Kagome questioned.
"No reason, I was just wondering; there must have been some stimulus for this dream," he shrugged and sat down on her bed.
"I know. I haven't dreamed of him in months! It was unexpected." She sat on a chair and lifted her knees up putting a throw blanket over them.
"Well then, want to go back to sleep?" he asked innocently.
she lifted an eyebrow. "If you mean with you then no,"
"Actually, I hadn't even thought of that… but if you insist--"
"Believe me, I'm not insisting," she stated.
"Fine be that way, your loss," he smirked.
"Whatever, why are you always like that?" Kagome asked.
"Like what?" he countered.
"Like a sex-deprived freak!" she clarified.
"Well, I'm definitely not sex deprived but I am a freak, in bed at least," he smirked yet again.
"Ha ha, but really why do you make me feel like you're always trying to get under my skirt?"
"'Cause I am?" he offered.
She never thought she'd live to see the day InuYasha said something dirty. It was odd but incredibly sexy.
"InuYasha! What about Ayu? If you're cheating on my friend, I'll have to hurt you," said Kagome.
"Ooh, is that a promise or a threat?" he lifted a brow; the devilish grin never leaving his face.
"I can't believe you! Now I know why she likes you, you're crazy!" she giggled.
"Is my charm working on you too?"
"Puh-leez boy," she rolled her eyes.
"Please what?" he asked in a suggestive voice.
"You are insufferable!" she threw her hands up with a huff.
"Thank you, I do try."
Kagome laughed. He was just too amusing. It was like the InuYasha she knew, gone mad.
He watched her laugh, her voice like magic. This was the first time he could remember that he'd ever seen her with a smile in his presence. The sound of her laughter was making him oddly happy and proud of being able to make her feel good.
"You know this is, technically, the first time we've had a somewhat civil conversation without Ayu," InuYasha pointed out as her giggles died out.
Smiling she nodded, "I know."
"Remember when we met?" he asked and saw her eyes daze out then come back to focus.
"Yeah," she was remembering the real first time she met him: her fifteenth birthday. A flash of him in an enchanted sleep came back to her.
He wondered about her immediate reaction but let it go. "Ayumi introduced me after you walked in on us…"
"I know…" she said after a visible wince. It still hurt to think about.
She had just come home from school and headed to Ayu's room to tell her it was 4:30pm. Everyday, Kagome did the same thing. She had to wake Ayu to go to work. Ayumi complained about hating the sound of alarm clocks and bribed the raven-haired girl by saying she'd much rather wake up to such a pretty voice. Of course, Kagome would've woken her up without the compliment, as she was the kind person she still is.
When Kagome opened the door, in her immediate vision was InuYasha's bare back and damp silvery hair, Ayumi beneath him under the sheets. For a moment she froze. It was InuYasha, her InuYasha! The one she'd searched for all her life since she got back in her world.
Then her world came crashing down: he was with her best friend in bed, undoubtedly inside of her at the moment.
"Kagome-chan!" Ayu squeaked.
InuYasha turned, his eyes widening and for the moment, Kagome thought he remembered her. He was definitely the same hanyou with the same unmistakable golden eyes.
"You looked like you had stepped into a horror flick," InuYasha chuckled.
"For a moment I thought I did," she said quietly.
"Ka-chan? You okay?" he asked slightly concerned.
"Um, yeah but I'm getting kind of tired… you mind if I go to sleep?"
"On top of me? Sure," he teased.
"I'm serious, InuYasha, I don't feel so well," she stated with a sad smile.
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow," he said with his hand on the door.
"Goodnight," she spoke softly sitting down on her bed, as her long white night gown dragged on the carpet.
"Goodnight," he said opening the door before turning once again, "oh and Kagome, I didn't mean to hurt you."
"What?" she was stunned. Did he know? Did he remember?
"You remember, earlier. I'm sorry, what I asked of you… that was wrong of me. You know what I'm sorry for every other thing I've done, too." He smiled sleepily.
He was tired. That was why he was apologizing. In the morning, he probably won't remember half of what he said much less that he asked for forgiveness.
"It's okay InuYasha, it's okay," she smiled sadly, once again.
When he closed the door, she let the tears drop softly from her eyes and laid down. 'Well, let's try this sleep thing again… maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and maybe things will be different,' she thought again, calming herself down.
InuYasha walked down the little hall, to the room he shared with Ayumi. Currently the girl was all out snoring, one leg off the bed and the blanket splayed messily over her. Further inspection revealed she was drooling… on his pillow.
"Oh man Ayu! That's it, I'm going home to sleep tomorrow… might as well; I pay the rent for some reason!" he complained to the sleeping girl before laying down himself thinking about Kagome and her strange behavior. He soon fell asleep without a pillow.
AN: After playing like 20 games of DDR I was able to finish this chapter while listening to Ayumi Hamasaki's "Moments" [I don't own the song either]. And no the famous Ayu is not the Ayu I'm using in my story! My friends would kill me… Ayu worshippers… she's ok with me, but not all that.
Review again please! Tell me what you think. Bad? Good? OK? Or again just say hi! I'll be really happy you took the time to write it! I'm pretty sure if it wasn't for the feedback I wouldn't be able to write. I read every single review I get and save them all in my AOL mail cabinet. Sometimes I re-read them to get in the mood for writing.
Ok, I luv u, buh-bye!
TTFN,
E.A.Z.P.