Honoring the Dead

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Memories

Stressed

It was horrible to live for centuries and be haunted by memories. Walking down the street while engrossed in the past was also horrible. You slowly began to block out the life around in an attempt to forget everything. Forgetting wasn't an option that he could afford. He had to remember for himself and for her. If he forgot then everything would be lost and she would truly be a puppet. His brown eyes sparkled with contentment as she walked by him. It had been far to long since she had truly seen him. He tightened his ponytail and pushed the black bangs from his face. His slightly tanned skin reflected the setting sun as he followed her. He had to make sure that there was some way to trigger a memory.

"How much further Suiichi?" He heard her whine to her companion.

"A few more blocks," Suiichi assured.

The man stopped following them and turned down an alley. It was to soon to do anything. He had already waited a few centuries to free her. What more damage could another day do? His eyes caught hint of the female walking towards him. Her red hair was pulled back into a bun with hair sticks. Her emerald eyes held pity in them. He could tell that she was trying to hide the pity. She reached out embraced the man as he wept silently inside. It was so hard to have someone so close and yet so far at the same time.

"Shh, we'll free her soon," the female whispered.

"It's been to long Ayame," the male whispered back. Ayame smiled and held him tighter.

"Don't worry Kouga," Ayame comforted, "we'll get her back."

Kouga smiled at Ayame's attempts to comfort him. Her comforting would have helped if she knew the root of the problem. He would always be haunted by the one thing no else was there to witness. It was the one reason he gave up hope on Kagome until she spared him.

"I'll be fine," Kouga roughly assured.

"Of course," Ayame whispered with a sad smile.

'What did you do all those centuries ago?' Ayame silently asked Kagome.

There would be no answer from Kagome or Kouga. It was Kouga's secret by choice and Kagome's by ignorance. The two wolves vanished back into Makai until they could figure out a better plan for freeing the woman.

Kagome stopped walking and turned to look behind. Suiichi silently watched her as she stared at the people behind them. She felt something familiar for a brief second before it vanished. Kagome felt the barrier open and close before the presence vanished. She turned back to Suiichi and offered a smile. Kagome knew that he felt it too. She just didn't know he sensed that presence either.

"Are you okay?" Suiichi asked as his eyes focused on behind her.

"Déjà vu," Kagome offered with a sheepish smile.

"Then let's get going," Suiichi offered with a doubtful look.

Kagome nodded in agreement before she grabbed him by the elbow and dragged him across the street. He chuckled at her renewed mood before grabbed her hand and pulled her along. Kagome froze at the touch and felt the tears come to the surface. The pain of not being touched reopened. She hadn't held hands, hugged, or kissed another guy for centuries. Kohaku had hugged her and Naraku occasionally would run his finger down her cheek and assure her she belonged with him. That was comfort from a brother figure and assurance from a family member.

Kagome stared down at their hands and smiled fondly. This was something, she didn't know what though. It felt so nice to feel another's skin and draw comfort from it. Kagome looked up and saw that boy Yusuke ahead with a girl next to him. Kagome quickly withdrew her hand and put her gloves on. The female with Yusuke took note of this before offering a kind smile. Kagome gave her own small smile to the girl. She had chestnut hair that reached her shoulders, a petite figure, and radiated a strong attitude. Kagome looked into the girl's eyes and noted that they were a deep brown.

"Part of the old fan club?" Yusuke asked Suiichi. Kagome raised an eyebrow at this and Suiichi frowned.

"Don't mind him he's just a jerk," the other girl brightly whispered to Kagome.

"Then why date him?" Kagome skeptically asked.

"He's a big softy on the inside," Keiko softly answered with a giggle.

"I'm Kagome," Kagome introduced with a smile and bow.

"Keiko, it's nice to meet you," Keiko answered back with her own soft smile.

"So who's the chick?" Yusuke asked since she seemed familiar. Keiko growled and elbowed him in the gut. Yusuke rolled his eyes, he could fight youkai but he couldn't fight his girlfriend.

"Her name is Kagome and I met her while helping you out at the shop," Suiichi calmly replied.

"It's the green tea chick," Yusuke mumbled as he remembered her. His eyes slightly widened when he recalled her strange ki. It had been powerful and then it vanished.

"Please don't call me chick," Kagome softly asked.

"Bitch" "Wench" "Shard detector"

'Why do I still hear his words?' Kagome questioned herself.

"Chill, I was only messing with you," Yusuke mumbled.

"That's alright," Kagome coldly said.

'This girl changes moods faster me,' Yusuke thought.

"Let's get going," Keiko suddenly said as she sensed the silence.

Kagome and Keiko walked in front while they idly chatted about the weather and different colleges there were. Yusuke stared at Kagome as he tried to figure her out. He could tell she was hiding something. Suiichi noticed that Yusuke wasn't doing anything besides stare thoughtfully at Kagome. The thought of him staring at her for long periods of time bothered him to no end. To deal with this Suiichi cleared his throat in attempts to catch Yusuke's attention. Yusuke still remained oblivious so Suiichi glared at him and went to talk.

"Did you sense anything strange about Kagome?" Yusuke asked as he tried finding anything out of place. Suiichi briefly wondered what he was talking about. He didn't like the fact that Yusuke picked up on something quicker then him.

"What do you mean?" Suiichi calmly asked.

"When I was working at the shop the day she came in she tried reading my ki level," Yusuke explained.

"Are you sure it was her?" Suiichi asked.

"Positive, when I looked her way, her ki retreated and went to the level of a weak human," Yusuke answered.

"Her levels seem fine now, are you sure it wasn't someone else?" Suiichi seriously asked.

"I'm never wrong about this stuff…she's hiding something," Yusuke softly warned.

Suiichi remained quiet as he stared at Kagome. His emerald eyes watched as she calmly talked to Keiko. Keiko asked her a question that got both Yusuke's and Suiichi's attention.

"I told you about my family, what's yours like?" Keiko innocently asked. Kagome looked away and took a calming breath.

"I live with my dead friend's brother, but my family's dead. I consider him a brother since I have nothing left. His sister was the closest thing to a sister to me," Kagome sadly explained as she tried to offer Keiko a smile.

"Oh Kagome…I didn't mean to bring up painful events," Keiko whispered in slight horror.

"That's okay, I've had a long time to deal with my family's death," Kagome assured.

"Do you mind if I ask about your dead friend?" Keiko carefully asked.

"Go ahead," Kagome replied.

"What was she like?" Keiko asked.

"Sango was a strong woman that I traveled with. Her family was killedduring their job. She was kind, compassionate, and very loyal," Kagome explained.

"What type of work did they do?" Keiko asked.

"They were exterminators," Kagome softly replied. Yusuke started cracking up in laughter. He tried to hold it in but all the tension finally got to him.

"Did the mice finally get them?" Yusuke teased.

Suiichi smacked Yusuke up the head and Keiko punched him in the gut. Kagome froze and sent him a glare promising pain. She walked up to him and poked him in the chest. Kagome's ki started to leak as she began to lose control. It was hard enough feeling emotions that didn't belong with the memories. But his laughter pushed her to the edge.

"If it wasn't for Sango's family then your sensei wouldn't know a thing," Kagome darkly whispered. Yusuke froze and his eyes narrowed. He reached up and grabbed her wrist and held onto to her so she couldn't run.

"What do you know?" Yusuke harshly whispered.

"More then you'll ever know," Kagome knowingly promised as she pulled her wrist from his grip. Kagome then turned and began to walk away from him.

"Hey! Get back here!" Yusuke ordered as he walked after her.

"Please…just leave me alone," Kagome whispered. Suiichi walked over to her and cautiously placed a hand on her shoulder. Kagome jerked away from his touch and stepped to edge of the street.

"Kagome," Suiichi softly said.

'Why does he have to be so nice?' Kagome questioned.

"How do you know about my sensei?" Yusuke growled.

"I…I have to go!" Kagome stuttered as she started to run.

"You're not getting away!" Yusuke yelled as he grabbed her by her shirt.

Before Yusuke could react he froze. Kagome's ki level soared and she turned around. Balling her hand up she channeled her Miko ki into her fist. She punched him so hard he went flying into the brick wall. A small dust cloud erupted and shattered pieces of brick fell to the ground. Kagome then gasped and took off running down the street. Yusuke groaned as Keiko went to help him. Suiichi was already chasing after Kagome.

"Keiko, I'll meet you at the bay," Yusuke promised as he took off running. Keiko sighed and continued on her way.

'Why did I have to come?' Kagome anxiously thought. She dodged a couple and finally made it to the Tokyo bay. Kagome hid behind a tree to catch her breathe. She knew she wouldn't be able to out run them unless she used her full power. Naraku would be mad if she revealed herself anymore.

"Kagome!" Suiichi called out.

Kagome closed her eyes and prayed that he would walk by her and not notice. Her eyes slowly opened as she noticed that it was darker out. They were preparing to set the little boats assail into the bay. Kagome jumped when she felt a hand land on her shoulder. Preparing to attack she stopped when she saw it was a boy about her age. His brown eyes were lit up in excitement and his brown hair was slightly messy. Kagome stared at him in question.

"Kagome! I've missed you so much! What happened to you?" The boy quickly questioned.

"I'm sorry…but you must have me confused with someone else," Kagome softly said. Her eyes caught sight of Suiichi and she noticed that he was coming towards her.

"You don't remember me?" The boy asked with slight hurt.

"I'm sorry," Kagome apologized.

"Who's your friend?" Suiichi questioned as he came up to them.

"I'm Houjou," the boy introduced.

"I really don't remember you," Kagome whispered.

"Your parents were so worried," Houjou stated. Suiichi raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Parents?" Kagome questioned in equal confusion.

"You just went missing for three years straight. We all worried about you," Houjou admitted.

"Missing," Kagome questioned.

"They searched for you, but never found anything. We all thought you passed away," Houjou continued.

"Houjou, where do I live?" Kagome questioned.

"At the Sunset Shrine," he automatically answered.

"Thanks," Kagome said.

"You really did forget about all of us," Houjou whispered before he left.

"How could you forget me?" A male voice softly whispered.

"How?" Kagome questioned as she watched him walk away.

"Kagome," Suiichi softly called out.

"I know you want answers, but I can't give them to you," Kagome quickly responded.

"I wanted to know if you still wanted to celebrate with me?" Suiichi questioned.

Kagome stared up at him in shock. Usually people demanded answers right away. They tried to control her and get what they wanted. Kagome stepped closer to Suiichi and embraced him. She let a few tears fall as she hugged him. He wrapped his arms around the girl as she held onto him.

"Thank you," Kagome whispered.

"For what?" Suiichi curiously asked.

"For not demanding anything of me," Kagome answered. Kagome sighed as she remembered this type of comfort. It seemed like a dream in some distant reality.

Kagome pulled away and they walked down to the bay. She sat down by the shore and opened her purse. She pulled out a white candle and her little bamboo raft about the size of cd. She then pulled out the cover that had four sides with names written on each side. Suiichi watched as she set the candle on the raft and lit it. His eyes strayed over to the names. The names seemed familiar to him as he watched her set it afloat. They boat was to guide the spirits back to the spirit world so they wouldn't be trapped in the living world.

Kagome looked one last time at the small boat after she said her prayer. The names Inuyasha, Shippo, Sango, and Miroku were written on the paper. She stood up and watched it sail away. Kagome turned to Suiichi and smiled sadly at him.

"Why didn't you send a boat?" Kagome asked.

"Because, no one important to me has died recently," Suiichi admitted.

"I wish the same was for me," Kagome whispered.

Author's Note:
If anybody is confused just ask and I'll answer you, but ask a specific question else I won't know what to explain.
Thanks to all the reviewers! Please keep reading and reviewing
Hiei's Cute Girl- Naraku would get mad because she would end up revealing things that didn't need to be known, and he's a jerk