Golden Eyes
By Lady of the Ink
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, but you knew that . . .I hope. But I do own this plot and all the twists that it takes.

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Flash Five
Familiar Faces

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The moment that their lips met, a heavy shock shot through Kagome. She jerked back with a gasp, breaking contact just a fraction of a second after it was made. Her eyes flew open and she found her field of vision filled with Hojo's worried brown eyes.

The wrong color.

She frowned at the stray thought, trying to place where it had come from and exactly what it meant.

His eyes should be golden.

Kagome closed her own eyes as a sharp pain ran through her head. Trailing after it like the tail of a comet were images of the eyes that she somehow knew she should be seeing - narrowed in anger, wide with surprise, glinting with a taunt, soft with tenderness …

He's the one I want to be kissing …

As quickly as the pictures had come they were gone, replaced by feelings just as odd. There was a deep sense of anticipation twisted and mixed with happiness, affection, friendship, and trust. The comfort that filled her at the familiarity of them all was marred by the core of sadness and loneliness that lay hidden beneath.

There would be no happy ending …

"Higurashi, are you okay?"

Hojo's voice and the gentle pressure of his hand on her shoulder made Kagome jump and refocus on her surroundings. She shook her head slightly in an attempt to clear it, not that it did much good. There was still a fuzzy, distracted feeling at the back of her mind that she couldn't seem to get rid of - like a snowy TV blaring from the next room. It was all that she could do to try and smile somewhat reassuringly.

"I'm sorry …I just …that wasn't …it didn't …"

Before she could finish her stop and go rambling, Hojo stalled her words with a regretful smile. "It's okay, Higurashi. I was …almost expecting this." It was his turn to pause and take a deep breath. "It just didn't feel right to you, did it?"

Kagome shook her head before realizing that her response could be taken as an insult. "I mean, it was nice but . . ."

"But it wasn't what you wanted." He smiled sadly. "I'm sorry; this is my fault. I knew this would happen but I thought, maybe . . .You didn't seem to remember and so I thought maybe it would be different, that there was chance that you might feel differently."

"I don't understand."

"I know." Hojo stopped speaking, obviously thinking hard. As she waited for him to start again, Kagome felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. A million possible ideas for what he might say raced through her mind but it turned out that not a one of them was right.

"You don't seem to remember this but we've gone out before. They were just a few small dates and they never seemed to go the way they were supposed to, always ending abruptly when you didn't have to cancel for one reason or another …

"Hojo!" Kagome felt bad about the sharpness of her tone but she couldn't help it. He couldn't just drop a bomb on her and then ramble instead of explaining. "What do you mean, we've gone out before?"

Hojo looked startled at her interruption before his face settled back into its usual easy going lines. "I'm sorry, Higurashi. This must seem really odd to you, suddenly hearing about things that you did that you've forgotten. What I meant was that we went out for lunch a few times earlier this year. We also made plans to go to the movies a couple of times but it never really happened. Something always seemed to come up to keep us from going."

Kagome frowned as she searched her memories. She knew that there were a lot of things that she couldn't remember; all the illnesses that the people around her spoke of were prime examples. It had worried her at first, the feeling that there was a chunk of her life missing for no real reason. The only way that she had managed to calm her fears was to reassure herself that all the missing memories were tied to the times of sickness and that was why she had forgotten them. No one really wanted to remember being ill, especially not when it was as often and as severely as she'd been afflicted.

That theory had been temporarily affected when she'd realized there were a few other times that she should remember but didn't, like holidays and birthdays, things that even if she'd been sick should have also held positive memories for her. She'd asked her mother about those times and had received the offhand answer that those occasions had occurred when she "was away". Kagome had assumed she'd meant away at one of the clinics or retreats that everyone talked about and so she'd let the matter drop. It explained why she'd forgotten those times; who wanted to think about holidays spent alone among strangers?

But for Hojo to have asked her out and for her to have gone, she must have been in reasonably good health. A date with the most popular boy in school – her first date, no less – was an event she couldn't imagine forgetting. Unless something extremely embarrassing had happened, she simply couldn't think of a reason why she'd have buried it along with the less pleasant occurrences. There was also the question of why her friends, admittedly some of the biggest gossips around, hadn't mentioned it.

They probably didn't want to risk reminding me of all the times I turned him down and that they practically forced me on those dates …

Ignoring the random thought as best she could, Kagome turned to Hojo with a mixture of confusion and determination to end that confusion. Looking him in the eye, she spoke with deadly seriousness. "Hojo, I'm asking you as a friend; if there's anything else that you know I've forgotten, please, please tell me now. It's really important."

There was another pause before Hojo's expression turned sad and he looked at the ground. He sighed. "I like you, Higurashi. Not only are you beautiful, you're smart, kind, funny, giving, and just one of the nicest people that I've ever known. I was really hoping that things would work out between us. When I realized that you'd forgotten about all the time we'd spent together, I was disappointed. It meant a lot to me and it was sad to think that it was something we didn't share anymore. But then I saw that you were doing so much better in school and your health had improved a lot and I knew it was petty of me to feel bad about something so small.

"After awhile, I thought it might be worth another shot and so I asked you out again. It wasn't until I saw how different your reaction was that it occurred to me that our dates weren't the only thing that you'd forgotten."

He chewed his lower lip for a moment. "I don't know all the details; it's not exactly something that you ever talked to me about. What I do know is that there was something that happened to you one of the times when you were away that really stayed with you. You didn't seem like the person you were before and it wasn't just the illnesses. I didn't mean to pry but your friends aren't always the quietest people in the world and so there were some things that I overheard. They mentioned you liking another guy and kept saying that he was bad for you. There was something about an ex-girlfriend and violent tendencies, too."

Hojo looked troubled as he went on. "I'm not going to lie to you, Higurashi. When I realized that you'd forgotten him, I was glad. It wasn't just because I thought you and I could have a fresh start. He sounded kind of dangerous and I think everyone was relieved when you forgot him. You've seemed so much happier, more like your old self. It's like a burden has been lifted off your shoulders. I think everyone avoided bringing him up because they wanted you to go on being happy, and I won't apologize for doing the same."

Kagome couldn't help but feel touched at the thought of her friends looking out for her. They weren't trying to keep secrets for any bad reasons; they were simply trying to keep her from having to suffer unnecessary pain. Of course, if avoiding that pain also allowed them to urge her and Hojo together, so much the better.

They never understood why I liked some else more than Hojo, but then they never heard the whole story. If they knew everything – not that they'd believe it – they might've seen that it wasn't as simple as they wanted to make it. My feelings for him were so much more than a crush; after all we went through together, there was a strong bond. Of course I seemed to have a burden on my shoulders; I was only trying to save the world! All the things that I saw and did there made me grow up a lot faster than any of them. And the way it ended added more years than the rest of the journey all together . . .

Kagome gave an involuntary gasp as a pain shot through her head, so fierce that white lights danced before her eyes. Hojo slid closer, looking alarmed. Before he could ask her what was wrong, Kagome forced her lips to move. "Don't feel well…home…"

Her words were barely more than a whisper and rough with pain but Hojo seemed to understand them. He nodded and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as he helped her to her feet. The world swung in a wild arc before her eyes and her stomach flipped. Without Hojo's help, she would have collapsed right there. As it was, their walk consisted of him almost carrying her as they left the park.

Kagome tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other but her concentration was shot. The fuzzy TV in the back of her head had flipped channels, suddenly broadcasting voices and sounds at an alarming volume. Woven between them was the voice that had been troubling her before, clear enough now for her to recognize it as her own. It was like being awake inside one of the dreams, where there was a Kagome within another Kagome, both knowing and feeling different things that didn't quite match.

What had seemed like such a short walk less than an hour before now stretched like the final mile of a marathon. Her head was spinning so badly that she could barely tell up from down. She was distractedly grateful that the dusk-shadowed streets were empty so that no one would see her weaving progress and get the wrong idea.

As they turned the final corner before her home, a movement caught her attention. Focusing on it with no small amount of effort, Kagome was finally able to make out a group of figures standing across the street. The one on the end was an odd-looking man. His clothing helped him to blend into the growing darkness but it was the style rather than the color that made him seem out of place. The flowing, ankle length robes weren't anything close to common and neither was the golden staff he held in one hand. Beside him was a girl, her long, dark hair swept into a ponytail. She seemed to be wearing some kind of tight black outfit and had something large strapped to her back. A small, reddish-brown something was perched on her shoulder, a toothy grin revealing childish glee. A cat sat regally on the ground between them, its two tails curled about its feet. They were the strangest group that she could ever remembering coming across and yet there seemed to be something strong pulling her to them.

I know them.

They're my friends.

No, more than that; they're like another family.

Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara …How could I have forgotten you? I miss you all so…

The names appeared in her mind suddenly and completely, accompanied by a sense of calm and peacefulness. Almost immediately afterwards, the images across from her faded from sight. It was as though they were only there to be acknowledged and once she had done that, they disappeared back to where they had come from. She realized gratefully that a good chunk of the noise in her head went with them.

'I think my memories are starting to come back,' Kagome thought to herself. She wasn't clear on everything yet, but there certainly seemed to be something hidden in her mind that was working its way free. The dreams and the strange thoughts had been the beginning and now she was finally able to tie them together.

By the time she and Hojo made it to the bottom of the steps leading to the shrine, Kagome was much steadier on her feet. She even managed a smile as she thanked him for helping her home and assured him that she could make it the rest of the way on her own. Waving as though to reinforce the point that she was feeling much better, Kagome turned and started up the stairs.

Maybe it was time to ask her mother some pointed questions. If the things that had happened in her dreams were as real as the people seemed to be, there was definitely something major going on. If it wasn't real, fine. But if it was – as she was almost positive that it was – then her mother was sure to know something about it. She might have been able to keep her friends in the dark but Mrs. Higurashi, the woman who seemed to know everything about her children, would have to know something. Whatever her reasons for keeping silent, Kagome knew that her mom would come clean once she told her what she was remembering.

Her steps quickened with the anticipation of getting answers. As she started across the open courtyard, her eyes seemed drawn to the small building off to the left. The same magnetic quality she'd gotten from the mirage in the street was coming from the well house now. She had the strongest feeling that if she walked through its door, something would happen. Something big and exciting, something that she wouldn't be able to control and that would change her forever.

Without conscious thought, her feet carried her towards it. One step, then another; the door was looming and the feeling was growing stronger. Her hand was against the wood and tears were streaming down her cheeks. A tight knot had grown in her stomach by the time she crossed the threshold and her breath came in gasps when her feet landed on the packed dirt floor.

Through the darkness of the room she saw a glimpse of color, almost swallowed by the shadows. Red bled into white and gold flashed from the depths of it all as an image formed, wavering and nearly transparent. A name flooded into her mind and dropped from her lips the moment before she felt her body collapse to the ground.

"Inuyasha."

x

Kagome stifled a groan as feeling rushed back into her body. It brought with it a wave of pain from numerous bumps, bruises, and slightly more serious injuries. Her head felt heavy and filled with cotton; her thoughts were confused and incomplete. Since her first attempt at making sense of them caused a throbbing in her temples, she quickly decided to take it easy for a few moments before trying again.

As she focused on breathing evenly, small pieces of information came back to her. She remembered being on the ledge and lining up the shot. There was the flash of light and then the sensation of falling that was the last thing she knew before waking up just then.

A frown pulled at her brow as she recalled her thoughts during that moment. She'd been sure that she was going to die but she was okay with it. She knew that she had done the best that she could and there was comfort in the knowledge that even if she wasn't around to see it, the lives of everyone that she loved would be better off. The timeline that she had set in motion when she shattered the jewel had finally reached its end, along with the end of Naraku…

Kagome's eyes flew open with a gasp. Pain or no pain, she needed to know if her arrow had hit the mark, if it was all truly over. Grunting with the effort, she forced her aching body into a sitting position. She was on the verge of getting to her feet when the sound of approaching footsteps halted her. She waited impatiently, hoping that it was someone coming to her room that would be able to answer her questions.

When Sango stepped through the door carrying a bowl of water, Kagome slumped in relief. Aside from a few small, visible injuries, the demon slayer seemed to be in good health. Since she had been in the center of the heaviest fighting in the cavern, Kagome decided to take her apparent wellbeing as a good sign.

"You're awake!" Sango's surprised tone at her friend's condition quickly changed to one of motherly reproach. "You shouldn't be sitting up yet; you need your rest." She sat the bowl on the floor as she knelt at Kagome's side.

"Sango, what happened? Is everyone okay? Is Naraku finally gone?" The words rushed out with all the tripping speed and force of water bursting through a broken dam. Sango jumped a little at the almost desperate tone before smiling, albeit a bit weakly.

"If you lay back down, I'll tell you what happened."

The memories rushing back to her had flooded her body with adrenaline and so the last thing Kagome wanted to do was lay down. However, all it took was one look at Sango's stern expression for her to recognize a lost battle. With a sigh of resignation, she settled back onto the pallet.

True to her word, Sango explained briefly about seeing Kagome's arrow hit the mark and watching as Naraku seemed to dissolve in on himself. Everyone had been thrilled about his defeat but that happiness was tampered with loss and injury. Although she didn't mention his name, Kagome knew that Kohaku was in Sango's thoughts and her heart ached for her friend's loss. With only the slightest of pauses, Sango moved on to say how they had all been worried when Inuyasha carried her bruised and unconscious form from the remnants of the fallen ledge. It had been almost three days since their return to Kaede's village and everyone had been concerned when she continued to remain unconscious.

Hearing that Naraku was finally gone, Kagome was reassured by Sango's words. She would have been able to relax completely had she not noticed one thing. All through her explanations, the older girl's eyes seemed to be looking everywhere but directly at her. The intuition that her time in the Feudal Era had honed kicked in and Kagome knew that something was wrong. Something had happened that Sango didn't want to tell her about.

Knowing from experience that direct questions wouldn't help, Kagome decided to start vague so as not to raise Sango's guard. "Where is everyone?"

"Shippo's with Kaede, helping her and giving you time to rest. Miroku was pretty banged up, too, but all he can seem to do is stare at his hand." A soft smile lit her face as she mentioned his name and Kagome wondered if she knew just how much her expression gave away her feelings for the lecherous priest. "Kouga returned to the rest of his pack and Sesshomaru went back to wherever it is that he goes. Now that you're up, I'll go get you something to eat." She was on her feet and halfway to the door before Kagome's words made her draw to a stop.

"Sango, where's Inuyasha?"

If she hadn't been sure that he was the taboo topic before, Sango's subtle flinch was positive proof. Kagome's chest tightened as she thought of all the reasons she wouldn't want to talk about him. He could have been badly injured or even…

"Sango! Tell me, please!"

The edge of panic in her voice was a pale reflection of what she was feeling. Even though she knew there was the chance that any of them could have died a million times during their journey, her biggest fear had always been the thought of not having the chance to say goodbye to any one of the people there who had come to mean so much to her.

"He…he left right after Kaede told us you would be okay."

Kagome would have collapsed with relief if she hadn't already been on the floor. Here she was thinking that he had died of his injuries and he had merely gone off on some trip. If she wasn't so happy, she would have given Sango a piece of her mind for worrying her so. "Did he say where he was going, when he'd be back?"

Sango's entire face crumpled in obvious pain. "Kagome, you really need your rest. We can talk later, after you…"

"Sango."

Sango leaned her head against the wall beside the door, refusing to look at Kagome as she delivered her answer in an emotionless voice. "He left with Kikyo, saying he had a promise to keep."

Kagome's world shattered.