Back to the day I met you

Rated PG-13 for Inu-Yasha's supreme potty mouth.

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own it.

AN: You guys guessed the mystery character I noticed. For those of you who guessed that it was Sesshoumaru you were right. It is the Fluff-sama. I will explain later on how he remembered and why. The only hint to that from me is that I suggest you reread the prologue carefully. What do Kagome and Sesshoumaru have in common in that chapter? A Sesshoumaru plushy to the reviewer that figures it out first.

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Chapter 3: Learning to adapt and remembering the past

3 weeks later.....

(Kagome)

Things were starting to finally settle back down. They had been together again for almost a month now and Inu-Yasha was only just starting to get used to her. She hated having to pretend that she couldn't use the bow, but that was the only way she could start the journey that brought them together in the first place. So she had purposefully hit the Shikkon of this time with the arrow she was aiming at the crow demon. The jewel from her before adventure she hid under her shirt.

They now had Shippou with them as well. When she'd seen him again for the first time she had started crying. The memory of seeing her precious little kit lying dead had still haunted her mind. Inu-Yasha had not taken her tears very well. He'd threatened Shippou with bodily harm because he thought that the fox kit had caused her tears.

Inu-Yasha had been acting differently than the last time around. He'd been more protective of her faster than before. She hadn't even seen his first moon time yet and he was already starting to come around and trust her. She made sure she never said anything about his behavior. The last thing she wanted was for him to withdrawal from her again.

The first two weeks had been hell for her. Inu-Yasha had been sulking almost the entire time and had been rude and distant to her. Only after Shippou came around again had he started acting more normally towards her.

They had just recently returned to Kaede's village to restock their supplies and so Kagome could visit home. Kagome knew she needed to get her diary and her camera so that she could rewrite everything that happened to them on their adventure.

She also wanted to pay her respects to Kikyou. She may not have gotten along with the other miko, but she still owed her much. If not for Kikyou she would have never met Inu-Yasha. If Kikyou had never pinned Inu-Yasha to the God tree then there would never have been an adventure. Kagome would have never even met her friends. She owed her incarnate a debt of gratitude.

She brought her thoughts back to the present as she climbed the stone steps that led to Kikyou's shrine. Almost immediately she felt the calming presence this place always caused in her. It was said that the spirit of the miko watched over this place even now.

Carefully kneeling before the shrine Kagome placed the flowers she had gathered on the small stone and settled herself to pray. It was strange since she could remember how Kikyou had died for the second time. She'd have to make sure Kikyou never returned to this world. Her presence had only caused grief and distrust in the group. No, Kikyou would never come back. She'd make certain of it.

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(Inu-Yasha)

He couldn't find her anywhere. The wench had told him she was going to go back to her world after she had tended to some business here, but there was nothing of importance that she needed to do. He'd looked all over the village for her to ask her what the hell she was doing, but she had been nowhere to be found. He had even resorted to asking the old woman, though Kaede hadn't known what she was up to either.

He was about to just give up and go wait for her by the well when he caught the distinct scent that was Kagome's. Abruptly changing directions Inu-Yasha followed his nose to the scent's origin. All at once he knew where he was. He knew what her business was. She'd gone to Kikyou's grave. Kagome had gone to see Kikyou and pay her respects. But why? Kagome didn't even know Kikyou, did she?

The air around him was stifling. He didn't belong here. He felt like he was intruding in a place that he, as a hanyou, had no right to be. Kikyou's shrine was a sacred place. The likes of him didn't have any right to go there.

He stopped at the bottom of the steps then jumped into a tree so he could see Kagome. The girl was sitting in front of Kikyou's resting place in a position of prayer. His ears twitched as he heard her words.

"Lady Kikyou. I know you probably don't know who I am, but I know all about you. I know that you are in a better place right now and I'll make sure you stay there. Urasuai will never have the chance to steal your bones. So you can rest in peace, Kikyou. I'll look after Inu-Yasha and Kaede for you. I'm protecting the jewel now, so you don't have to worry. You're burden is over. It's mine to carry from now until I die. You don't know how much you've done for me, Kikyou. I hope that, wherever you are right now, that you can hear me and you understand. May you rest in peace."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Kagome knew Kikyou! How could she know? It didn't make sense. She was Kikyou's reincarnation. There was just no way. He needed to know what was happening.

As soon as Kagome had walked to the bottom of the stairs Inu-Yasha jumped down in front of her.

"Kagome?"

She flinched then turned to look at him.

"Inu-Yasha? What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"Oh...I was...I was paying my respects to the one that came before me."

"It sounded like you knew her personally."

"You were listening to me?"

"Yeah. I could hear you from the tree."

Her eyes softened as she looked at him. It was like she knew something that she was dying to tell him, but that she could never tell. It wasn't a look he was comfortable with.

"What're you lookin' at, wench?"

Instead of being sat as he had expected Kagome merely smiled at him and said, "I have to go home now, Inu-Yasha. I'll see you in a few days."

And with that said she turned on her heal and started towards the well. He was so confused. What was going on? With a soft growl he started after the troublesome wench named Kagome.

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(Kagome)

Gods this was hard. She wanted so much to make Inu-Yasha understand. He had the right to know what had happened that day that Kikyou died. She could barely contain her need to see him smile again. He always seemed so sad. It hurt her to know that she could help him, but that he didn't know her well enough yet to allow her to help.

She remembered all too well what had happened when Kikyou was revived. Inu-Yasha kept going off to see her whenever she was around. It hurt her just remembering that. The undead miko had haunted her so often that, towards the end, she'd had trouble sleeping. She quickened her pace towards the well as her mind took a turn in another direction.

They had been in the far northern part of the Northern lands when an unexpected snowstorm had hit their party. They had all been forced to sleep outside that horrible night. It was only a few months before the final battle took place. To her the memory was still fresh. As she neared the old well her mind focused against her will to that fateful, horrible night.

(AN: I'll do this periodically to kind of give everyone a grasp of just how close they were before the last battle.)

Flashback

The storm was raging around them. The snow was already up to her waist and it was only getting higher. She could barely see the outline of her friends as they too tried to keep from getting buried in the snow. Kagome clung to Shippou with all her might as another strong gust of wind threatened to send her tumbling. The fox kit was snuggled deep in her shirt trying to keep warm. The three youkai in their group may survive the night, but the three humans would not be so lucky.

Kagome heard Sango call out as she lost her footing and fell in the snow. She prayed to Kami that Miroku and Kilala would take care of her friend. She couldn't see Inu-Yasha anywhere. He'd gone ahead earlier and hadn't yet returned by the time the storm overtook the group.

A faint noise to her right caught the young miko's attention, but when she turned to see who or what had made the sound her foot slid on the icy ground and she went down hard. All at once the cold seeped into her already freezing body. Her mind was rapidly trying to think of some way to get out of this. They had passed the last village two days ago. In this weather they'd never make it.

In her panicked state Kagome called to the only person she could think of at the moment. "Inu-Yasha!"

Almost at once she felt herself lifted out of the snow and onto her feet. She looked up into the eyes of her hanyou protector. His head was slightly bowed over hers as he struggled to be heard over the roaring winds.

"Kagome! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, but what about the others?"

He smiled his trademark half smile and said, "They'll be fine. I dug a hole around them to shield them from the storm. It's the best we've got right now."

Inu-Yasha drew her up to his considerably warmer form. She was only now noticing that he had dug a snow wall around the two of them as well. It wasn't nearly as cold, but she was still half frozen. As she snuggled up against the hanyou her entire body began shaking from the cold.

She could feel Inu-Yasha tense as the cold of her body permeated his clothes as well. He never said a word; he just drew her closer and wrapped his larger frame around her. They both sat down on the ground in the little hole and held tight to each other. Kagome was blushing already, but she just blamed it on the cold. It wasn't long, though, before she drifted off into a light slumber.

End Flashback

Kagome remembered that night all too well. She'd woken up the next morning to find Inu-Yasha staring down at her with a mixture of concern and embarrassment in his amber eyes. It was the closest they'd ever been to each other before or since. He'd been so embarrassed about the whole thing that he'd not spoken to her for an entire week. It was a memory she'd treasure. As she drifted through the time stream she wondered silently if she'd ever be able to see that side of her hanyou protector ever again.

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Thats it.
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Reviewer Responses:

Midsummer's Eve: Thanks and here's the next chapter.

Desy: Don't worry I'm not going to repeat everything, just really important events. Even then things will be tweaked. Enjoy the chapter.

blah: Thanks and I'll try.

Kaiyu Onibaba: I really appreciate that and it's good to know I'm being original since I was worried about an original plot.

bizm: Yep its Sesshoumaru! Thanks and here's the next chapter.

Blahh: I'm not going to redo everything just the important parts.

ClulessMajor: I'm glad you like it and I'll try to keep it up.

more: Here's more.

Sapphire-sama Dreamer: I'm flattered really. Here's the update.

leana marie: Like it says at the top reread the prolouge. It'll give you a hint to why he remembers too.

Miaa4ever: I'm only going to do really important episodes.

Jessica: You figured it out too. I knew most people would. Thanks and enjoy this chapter.

AN: I wish I had time to thank everyone, but that would take all day so here's the people who's reviews caught my eye. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and please enjoy this chapter.