(Suzu – Hi everyone. I've been really busy with schoolwork lately, so please forgive me. My birthday was a few days ago, I turned 14! Anyway, let's see what Inuyasha will be doing today. )

Suzu – Okay, the above statement just shows you how busy I am… I started this chapter in January (hence the comment above), and now, it's March! However, I do really hope that I'll be able to finish this fan fiction, so please, bear with me!

Thank you, the few reviewers who took the time to get me moving on this fic, even though I hadn't updated in ages. I really appreciate it!

Last time

"You are still young, child. But your inner heart is purer than many others before you. Please, take good care of the Shikon No Tama, which lives in you." She smiled, no longer a sad smile this time.

"And please take care of yourself too, not to mention those that love you."

Chapter 18

Shippo sat by the hut's window, watching as tiny snowflakes drifted down onto the bed of white. It was snowing. This was pretty unusual, since it was still spring. But then again, many things were happening nowadays that were unusual, and the thought scared the young kitsune.

Sango was inside the hut, wrapping her hirakotsu in fur pelts. Her hands traced lazily over the dull shine of the bone, relieving the past. How many demons had she slaughtered with this boomerang? How many times had she bonked Miroku's head with it? The tajiya smiled weakly. How many times had she slapped houshi-sama in the face? Ah, the days when she was still young, ready to take on demons to avenge your village, ready to block out all other obstacles. Had she really become that old? She felt like it.

"Hey, Shippo-chan, do you remember how you'd turn into that big, pink balloon thing to make us laugh? Or to annoy Inu—" her voice broke, but she forced herself to continue, as if nothing had happened. "Inuyasha?" Shippo cringed at the sound of that name.

"Well, Sango, I remember when he'd always come over and bop me on the head really hard, and then Kag—she'd tell him to sit." Shippo's head drooped. He couldn't bring himself to say their names, but both of them knew who they were talking about.

The unspoken words drifted like mist between them: Inuyasha and Kagome

The door of the hut flapped open, and Miroku stepped in. Sensing that there was unease in the atmosphere, he raised an eyebrow, signaling 'what?'

Sango looked up, then looked down at her boomerang again. "Them," she answered to his unspoken question. Miroku stared down at this too, then decided to just get this over with.

"Okay! I know we're all moping over how Inuyasha still hasn't come back in almost two weeks. I know we're all wondering if he'll ever come back, with Kagome too. But that doesn't mean we should mope around all day!" The monk took a breath and continued in a quieter voice. "Send your prayers, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. That's that."

Miroku looked at Shippo, then at Sango. "They wouldn't have wanted us to worry." He sat down next to Sango to pat her shoulder as a tear dripped down her cheek. His own eyes were unusually bright as well. His eyes met Shippo's.

The kitsune gave a silent nod, but he somehow didn't manage to stop staring out into the direction of 'Inuyasha Forest', waiting…

"I'm sorry, Dr. Tsutsumi." Kagome mumbled incoherently as the Dr. rubbed his chin in frustration. She just couldn't pull herself together these days. It had been a week since she first awoke within this hospital, and had stared at the drab, muted walls.

"I forgive you, Kagome, but please, next time, try to answer my questions." Dr. Tsutsumi was a patient man, or so he thought himself, but this was too much. After a week of endless questioning, there wasn't much he could add to his psychology books that was noteworthy. And to think, at first, he had thought the child to be something out of the ordinary.

Of course, she was a peculiar sort. Her chocolate-colored eyes swirled with hidden emotion, and the rest of her face glowed with uncanny light. However, all these extraordinary features were muted, almost hidden, snuffed out by some unknown power. The doctor wasn't the most selfless of males; to be sure, by he had very sharp and acute senses.

The elder man stood up and patted the imaginary dust from his knees. He checked his clipboard, then his watch. "Well, Kagome, I have to get home for the weekend, but I hope you recover from your tragic car accident. It's already eight thirty, so I must leave." He indicated the fading daylight outside.

Kagome held her tongue. She was going to say that she hadn't been through a car accident when she reminded herself that it would do no good telling him anyways. She was glad for some time alone. Lately, her feelings were extremely jumbled, and she was still trying to figure out the meaning of "Inuyasha".

Kagome was pretty sure it was a person, but somehow not totally human. This puzzled her, and she thought back to the dream she'd had about a week ago.

The women smiled, but sadly. She was dressed in old fashioned armor and looked remotely familiar. The fine lady opened her mouth to speak.

"Kagome, I'm sorry. I thought this was the best choice for you, but I see I was wrong. Thanks to you the Shikon No Tama is gone from this world, yet, it's lingering power and aura still remains around you, the new protector."

"Don't worry, Kagome. I know that my spell is still on you, and I'm sorry. Your most inner will has been fighting with my spell, unbeknownst to you. I can't do much to remove my spell, except weaken it so that your inner soul can break through now and then. Breaking the complete spell is up to you…and the lonely hanyou."

She shivered. That dream was waaaaay creepy. It felt too personal, too familiar, to her. But she had no idea what the woman was talking about, and she had no idea what had caused her to dream such things.

Wasn't a hanyou a half human, half demon? Wow, where did she come up with this stuff?

Patting her sheets flat, she burrowed down in bed. Somehow, a part of her felt warm whenever she thought of Inuyasha, whatever it/she/he was. Slowly, the girl drifted into slumber.

(A/N: This is an excerpt from movie number two. Remember, I can't make every detail exact.)

Kagome smiled warmly as she dug something out of her pocket. A golden chain dangled from her hand. A small heart locket hung modestly from the chain. She looked up at a white-haired male.

"Here Inuyasha, I want you to have this. Wear it around your neck always, okay?" Kagome tried to put the necklace around the figure in front of her.

"What are you, crazy? I don't want that thing! What is it, anyway?" The figure pouted and moved back.

Kagome felt her anger rising, but she blushed as well. She wanted him to have the locket because she, well, she liked him… and didn't want to leave him.

Who was 'him'?

"Inuyasha!" Kagome pouted back. "Just wear it, okay?" She blushed hotly again, and started chasing after him.

So that's Inuyasha.

Kagome snapped up in bed. Her breathing was labored, and emotions swirled uncontrollably inside her. Slowly, she sat back down, trying to calm herself.

Okay, so was Inuyasha, like, an imaginary friend from her dreams? She didn't remember having an imaginary friend. She thought back to her dream, still vivid in her mind's eye.

Flowing white hair, fiery amber eyes, white puppy ears, and a wicked smirk that changed into a pout; Kagome blushed in her conscious state. 'Oh man', she thought. 'I have a crush on a figment of my own imagination!' But somehow, he'd seemed real. That dream didn't seem fake; every detail was defined in that dream. In fact it was more like a memory than a dream. Inuyasha had seemed very real.

Kagome pressed her hand to her heart, and felt her heartbeat as it gradually went back to normal. "Inuyasha," she whispered into the air, "who are you?"

Inuyasha was not in the best mood, but he was going to do something about it. He should have done something about sooner. Swiftly, he leaped from building to building.

Cement and concrete slapped against his bare feet. His wild, silvery hair swirled and whipped in the rush of cool night air. His red hoari blew all around his figure. Above, the yellow moon watched his quest. It was a clear, but icy night. The stars twinkled overhead, urging him onward.

Inuyasha sniffed the wind tentatively as he continued racing towards her scent. He should have told her long ago. He could have spared her all this sadness, he could have spared everyone trouble. In the end, his pride had ruined everything. The hanyou shook his head to clear the thought.

No, this was not the end. This was only the beginning.

"Hang on, Kagome. I'm coming."

Suzu- He he, sorry about this. But I kept my promise, didn't I? Inuyasha is indeed in this chapter. The story is reaching a climax, everyone, so please urge me on. It will be tough to write, but I hope to do a good job.

Suzu- Now, if everyone will be kind enough, please press the review button. In the meantime, I have a special sneak peak as a treat for you all! See ya! Review!

Super duper special sneak peek:

Kagome stared at the figure before her. He stepped forward, and she lost herself in his captivating stare. Molten gold were his eyes, and snow white was his thick hair. Fuzzy white ears pocked their way out of the whiteness, and a traditional red hoari covered his well-built figure.

So many emotions was on his face, but the one that stood out the most both frightened and exhilarated her. Suddenly, a river of unshed tears broke free, and those amber eyes widened as he drew near to comfort her. The schoolgirl paid no heed to her tears, but looked up at him instead. She shivered. If only she could break free of this unknown sadness, and see clearly. Somehow, she felt so glad to see him.

This was Inuyasha. Her heart told her so.