DISCLAIMER: I wish I owned Inu Yasha, but -sniffle- I don't.
A/N- Thanks for the reviews Silverwind89 and anglexofxpeace. Here's the last chapter. I know so sad.
Memories
Chapter 5
Inside the house, Kagome flung herself on the futon and wept. 'I'm so stupid. I can't even remember simple things. I'm no use to them in their quest, if I have no memory of who is evil and who is good. What am I? Who am I? Why did this happen to me?' She wept harder, her whole body trembling.
A warm hand touched her shoulder breaking her from the self-pity that threatened to devour her. "Kagome?"
She buried her face in the futon, trying to smoother out the soothing voice. "Please, I just want to be alone."
"I'm not leaving, Kagome. Not until you talk to me."
"I'm useless. Just leave me."
The word bit into his heart like ice. "You're not useless, Kagome. Don't ever say that."
She raised up slightly, seeing the red of his kimono out of the corner of her eye. "But I am. What good am I to you like this?" She began to sob silently into the futon again.
"Kagome, the memories will come. We just have to give them time. And if they don't we'll make new ones."
Kagome rolled over to meet his gaze. The amber eyes told her that he meant every word. She wiped away the wetness from her eyes. "You…you would stay with me, even though I don't remember anything?"
"Kagome, I won't leave you. If I have to stay here forever, I will."
Tears again filled her eyes as she flung her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair. "Thank you." It was soft and choked with tears, and made Inu Yasha's heart break. For a long time he held her, letting the tears slowly subside.
After a while, he spoke softly in her ear. "Kagome, do you want to come some where with me?"
She nodded. 'Anywhere with him is safe.' He stood and pulled her to her feet, gently. He went to her big yellow bag and pulled out a smaller bag. Then he bent down, so she could climb on his back. "Come on." She complied a bit hesitantly. He sprang of the porch into the dark night. As he flew, Kagome found herself relaxing into him. 'This feels so natural. His warmth and scent are so familiar.' After a while they landed deep within the forest. He let her down. "Here we are."
Kagome examined her surroundings. The moon glistened off a hot spring some fifty feet away. She looked at the hot spring, then at Inu Yasha, then back at the hot spring, then back at Inu Yasha.
"Calm down." He chuckled slightly, when she began to blush feverishly. He bent and pulled a piece of clothing from the small bag. "Here put this on. I won't look." He promised and turned his back on her.
Kagome struggled momentarily with the stretchy swimsuit. When she was done, she asked the question that had been bothering her. "What about you? What are you going to wear?"
He turned to face her, a slight blush on his cheeks. "I don't have one of those things, but I'll be just fine in what I have." He removed his shirt and pants, leaving only the loin cloth. She blushed slightly as she caught sight of his muscular arms and chest. 'Too bad he hinds those under loose clothes.'
Inu Yasha picked up the bag and carried it to the water's edge where he set it on a rock. He stepped into the water and turned to face her. "Coming?"
Kagome blushed again as she nodded and went to the water's edge. He helped her into the water by wrapping his large hands around her waist. As they settled into the water, Kagome smiled. "Have we done this before?"
Inu Yasha shook his head. "No, this is the first we've ever done this. I told you, I want to make new memories with you." He pulled her gently into his arms and settled her in his lap. She smiled sweetly and rested her head in the crook of his neck. He rubbed gently at her shoulder, which was the only part of her that was still exposed to the night's chill. After a while of just enjoying each others presence, he spoke softly careful not to disturb the mood. "Kagome, you didn't hesitate."
"Hmm?"
"When I asked you to come with me, you didn't hesitate."
"No." She agreed.
"Why not?"
"I don't know why exactly. But I trust you. I've trusted you nearly from the moment you showed up. Is that strange?" She lifted her head to look at him.
He smiled. "No, it's not. At least, it's not for you. You follow your instincts and most of the time, they're right on target." He moved to pick up the small bag again, careful not to dislodge Kagome from her position on his lap. Pulling out one of the bottles, he read it to make sure it was the shampoo.
"What is that for?"
"You use this stuff to wash your hair."
"Oh." She smiled and allowed him to lower her into the water to soak her hair first. When her hair was good and wet, he raised her back up and squeezed a bit of the gel-like substance from the bottle into his hand. He rubbed the soap into her hair, watching it lather. 'I could get used to this.' He mused as he continued to work the soap in. The soap smelled strongly of strawberries. 'That must be why she always smells like strawberries and other fruits.'
Kagome was in heaven. His claws felt so sensual as they rubbed gently against her scalp. 'I wonder if I'll regret this once I regain my memory.' She smiled. 'Oh, well, no reason to dwell on that. I think I'll like this memory much better anyways.' He lowered her again into the water to rinse away the suds. She smiled at him when he raised her back up.
"Want me to wash yours now?"
He frowned. 'I don't want to smell like that damn strawberry stuff.' "Um…"
She frowned back and then looked away. "If you don't want me to, it's okay."
He sighed. "Of course I do, its just…" 'Ah, what's one or two days of smelling like strawberries anyways.' He moved her off his lap and onto the rock he was sitting on. Then he ducked under the water and came back up a few seconds later. His hair was soaked now and she smiled as sat down in front of her. She squeezed a little shampoo in her hand and stared at the top, being careful not to get any in his ears. She felt her insides cheering as she continued to work the soap in. 'I must have wanted to do this for a while.' Neither of them seemed to notice the silence as they just enjoyed the quiet companionship.
Kagome had to squeeze a little more soap out to wash the bottom half of his hair, which was a little tricky, considering it was underwater. When she was done, he ducked under the water again, rinsing the suds away. When he surfaced he gave her a mischievous grin. She chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into the deep end of the spring.
"Better hold your breath." He warned as he swung her around in the water. She laughed and took a gulp of air as he pulled her under. They surfaced laughing a moment later. With his strong arms wrapped around her, she had no fear of drowning. His amber eyes sparkled as she gazed into them.
Suddenly, he pulled her to him, his lips pressed against hers. Kagome couldn't resist parting her lips and allowing him to enter. She tasted like heaven, better than he could ever have imagined. Her arms tightened around him, as he tangled his fingers in her damp hair, deepening the kiss. After some time they broke apart, gasping for air.
"You cannot imagine how long I have wanted to do that."
She smiled up at him in the darkness, the reflection of moonlight flickering across her face. "Oh, and how long is that? Before or after you sent me home for my own good?"
It took him a moment to realize what she'd said. When he did his heart raced uncontrollably. "Does that mean you remember me sending you home?"
Her smile widened. "Yes."
Inu Yasha could barely contain himself. "Kagome! You remember! Oh, Kagome! I'm so happy!" He hugged her fiercely. "Oh, Kagome!" He found her lips again and gave her the most passionate kiss. The world melted away and there was nothing. Only Kagome existed. Only her scent invaded his lungs. Only her skin pressed against his devoured his senses. After a long moment, he released her lips and buried his face in her neck. He could barely contain the tears of joy that wanted to be set free. "Kagome…I love you…Please don't ever leave me again."
Kagome stroked his hair, holding him close. "I love you, too. And I promise, I won't ever leave you again."
They floated there in the hot spring for a long, just holding one another, just being close. Above them the stars sparkled and the moon broke free of a cloud. They settled back on a rock after a while with Kagome in his lap again. "Kagome?"
"Hmm?" She asked from his shoulder.
"What will you tell Tatachi and the lord?"
She was silent for a long moment. "I'll tell them the truth."
"Will you tell them you have a mate?"
If Inu Yasha had not had inhuman eyesight in the dark, he might have missed the flicker of emotions on her face. "Are we mates? Doesn't that mean we have to be mated?"
"Well, uh, I didn't think you'd-" He was cut off by her kiss, deep and warm.
"I do." She said as she released his lips.
He trembled with the excitement of her words. But he wanted to be sure. "Are you-" Again he was cut off by a kiss and another and another, until he could no longer refuse her answer. The night swallowed the lovers in passion.
- - - -
Kagome woke to find Inu Yasha's head resting on her breast. She smiled down at him, remembering the fire of the previous night. She reached down and rubbed gently behind his ear, massaging the muscle. She remembered that during her memory loss his ears had been the only thing she was able to remember. 'I think it's because they are unique to him, and so are important to me.' There was a low moan of pleasure from her chest. She couldn't resist the soft chuckle as he turned his head to face her. He had insisted that she rub his ears until he fell asleep. She hadn't been surprised by the request. 'I always knew he liked that, even if he didn't admit it.'
She smiled at him. "Good morning, my love."
"Good morning, my mate." He gave her chest a kiss between her breast, sending sparks of pleasure through her body. Then he looked up at her and there was seriousness in his eyes. "No regrets?"
She pulled him up to lay beside her. "No regrets whatsoever. As a matter of fact, last night will be my most cherished memory."
He smiled. "Mine too, my love, mine too." He gave her a soft, warm kiss. When they broke away, she placed a finger to his lips.
"We should be going soon. It's already midmorning." He groaned at the thought of returning to their group. She chuckled and kissed his brow. "Come on now, we'd better rinse off first." She rose and moved towards the water. Inu Yasha watched her go, admiring the view. When she stepped in the water, she turned and called to him. "You'd better come on and rinse off." The she chuckled as he made a flying leap and landed in the center of the pool. Then he swam up and captured her in his embrace, giving her a playful growl. She laughed. "We don't really have time for a repeat of last night."
He gave her his big round puppy dog eyes. "Aw, come on. This may be the last time we'll be alone for a while."
She grinned. "Oh, really? I do think you may have a point there."
After another thirty minutes or so, they got down to the business of actually bathing. They dressed and packed away their few belongings. Kagome clutched tightly Inu Yasha as he carried them back to the mansion at top speed. The others were circling the house in search of the hanyou and miko. Shippo was slowly making his way towards the forest, his nose inches from the ground. They landed a few feet from him, sending the little fox scurrying backwards a few steps.
Then he sprang into Kagome's arms. "Kagome! I was so scared. I thought I lost you again."
She hugged the little kitsune warmly. "You won't ever loose me again, Shippo. I promise."
Shippo's eyes lit up when he realized she was acting like her old self again. "Kagome, has your memory come back?" She nodded. "Yay! Miroku! Sango! Kagome's memory's come back."
Miroku and Sango, who weren't far away, came running to meet their friends. "Kagome, is that true?" Miroku asked.
"Yes, it is." Kagome smiled broadly.
"Oh, I'm so glad!" Sango hugged her friend tightly.
"Sango, you're squashing me!" Shippo struggled to get out from between the two girls. From around the edge of the house appeared the lord and Tatachi.
"You there! Where have you been with my daughter? If you've harmed her, so help me…" The lord pointed a finger at Inu Yasha.
Kagome handed Shippo to Sango and stepped in front of him. "Leave Inu Yasha alone. He hasn't done anything wrong." Inu Yasha set a comforting hand on her shoulder.
The two men paused. "What is this Ayomi?" The lord asked after a long moment.
"Why are you defending him, Ayomi? We are the ones who are to be married."
Her voice was steady, but her tone was firm. "My name is Kagome Higurashi and I already have a mate." She placed her hand on Inu Yasha's.
The lord smiled sadly. "I see, so you have regained your memory. I'm glad."
Kagome walked forward and wrapped her arms around the old lord. "I'm glad you understand. I'll never forget you. You will be as dear to me as my own father was."
Tatachi had had enough. 'I'm not about to loose now!' He charged forward knocking the old lord to the ground and grasping Kagome by the wrist. "You stupid wench! After everything I've gone through for you. I won't loose now!" He raised his hand to strike her. Kagome flinched as a blur of red shot between them. Inu Yasha had a hold of the upraised hand's wrist. He dug his claws into it, causing it to gush blood.
"I told you never to touch her!" The words were more fearsome than a growl. He wrapped his other hand around the man's neck. "Don't you ever try to hurt my mate again!" He raised the man off the ground with ease. "If you do, I'll kill you." The man dangled in midair, chocking out an apology. Inu Yasha tossed the man a good twenty yards, where he landed in a mud puddle. Tatachi rose, glared at Inu Yasha for a split second, thought it over, and then turned and ran off, clutching his injured wrist.
Kagome sighed. "Well, you did warn him."
Inu Yasha gave her a warm smile. "No one threatens my mate."
She leaned into him and gave him a soft kiss. "Or mine." She promised.
"Kagome?" The lord asked from his place on the ground.
She knelt beside him. "Are you injured?" She looked him over with worried eyes.
"No, I'm all right." He looked up at Inu Yasha. "It seems I misjudged you, for that I am sorry."
"No problem, people do it all the time." The hanyou offered the old man his hand and the old lord took it gratefully.
He dusted himself off and looked at the young girl. "Will you be leaving now?"
She nodded. "Yes, I care for you a lot, but I have a family of my own. And I'm sure they're very worried about me. I've been gone nearly two months."
"Then allow me to do what I can to speed you on your way." The lord provided them with new supplies and food. After changing into her spare clothes, Kagome said her goodbyes to the lord and promised if she was ever in the area again she would stop and stay a while.
The group regained the road and made their way back up the river, but not into the ravine. Instead they opted for the high ground. They paused where the bridge had once been. "So what happened to my bike anyway?" Kagome asked looking over the edge of the ravine.
"Sorry, it couldn't be saved." Inu Yasha explained.
"I guess it's just a useless, pile of junk after that fall." Kagome paused. "Useless? That reminds me."
Inu Yasha looked away, his head dropping slightly. "I didn't mean it." He turned back to her, his amber eyes pleading with her. "You know, I didn't mean it, right?"
She smiled and gave him soft kiss. "I know."
The End
----
Phew, two in one day. You guys better love me. I know I love you guys. It may be a while before I upload in new stories, got lots of stuff going on. In the mean time, you can always check out one of the old ones. –big smile-big wave- See ya. Oh, RandR Pleeeeaaase!