Thanks for the reviews! The next chapter would hopefully be updated in May, after all my exams.

Glossary:

Miko: priestess

Hanyou: half demon

Youkai: demon

Osuwari: sit

Ramen: Japanese noodles

Haori: the red coat Inuyasha's wearing

Katana: sword

Kaze no Kizu: Wind scar

Senkonketsu: Iron Reaver Soul Stealer

Baka: Idiot

Inu: Dog

Chichiue: Father

Nothing that happens is ever forgotten, although it can't be remembered. - Spirited Away

Chapter 13

"Inuyasha once fell for a strong miko, and she felt something for him as well. Sadly, our gods love to taunt people, and this particular joke was cruel in the eyes of us lowly mortals."

Kagome took a sharp intake of breath. Something asleep was stirring within her, but it just wouldn't come out into the light. Focusing her attention back to the wise story teller, she listens intently.

"The miko possessed the Shikon no Tama, and her heart had to be pure, untainted by neither worldly desire nor mortal feelings. But Inuyasha had silently planted the seed of affection in her cold chamber, thus making her break the rules, and the forbidden feeling of being free from her chains." A pause to calm her racing heart, Lady Kaede continued. "Weaker and weaker she grew. The youkai who were eyeing the Shikon no Tama knew their chance had come, a devious plan was hatched. Combining into one, using an injured bandit as their vessel, they strike."

Subconsciously, Kagome felt the ending of the tragic tale twining and entwining within her fingers. The desire to know was joined by an unknown sourness.

"Posing as Inuyasha, they slashed not only the miko's body, but also the miko's heart; posing as Inuyasha, they fired arrows of sorrow into him. A huge bridge of misunderstanding was formed. Both of them were unaware of the scheme, so they tried to kill each other. However, when the moment comes, none could give the fatal blow."

A whistle of an arrow was heard, strong and tragic. Kagome's fingers twitched, and she gulped.

"Inuyasha was sealed to the goshinboku, sealed, but not dead. The miko was heavily injured, but she decided not to use the powers of the Shikon no Tama to save herself from the brink of death. Instead, she chose to follow in Inuyasha's footsteps by dying as she could not stand living in the mortal realm alone. 50 long years had passed, just when everyone thought the tale had come to and end, an unworldly maiden appeared and unsealed this hanyou. A new tale is unfolded." Lady Kaede gazed into Kagome's navy blue eyes. "She could feel it, but she couldn't recall..." Sadly, she thought.

"Alas, this is also another tragic love story."

"The maiden healed the hanyou's heart, and she gave him hers. Although not yet a couple, they had an unbreakable bond, a pillar of strength to the other party. By that time, the Shikon no Tama had shattered due to an unfortunate mishap. Together, they searched for it."

Kagome's clutch of the Shikon no Tama shards hanging by her neck involuntarily tighten (Lady Kaede had decided to let her keep them, just to see would they hook up some of her memories).

"Fate had entwined their fate with the fates of a kitsune, a monk and a youkai-slayer. Together, they embarked a journey to rid a great evil, but before any of them achieve their goal, a Nine Tailed Fox Vixen appeared and rid them of their goals. Inuyasha and the unworldly maiden were forcefully separated when the maiden's heart was transported way out of his reach. Inuyasha was dealt with a heavy blow, he wanted to leave it like this, he didn't want to meet the maiden again..."

"What happened in the end?" Kagome finally sound her thoughts.

"Regretfully, he found the maiden once more, and she was still searching for her lost heart. Headstrong as he always was, he didn't show anything, only licking his painful wound in the dark."

Kagome slumped. Her heart felt as if it was being repeatedly framed by and angry stag. She tasted a very bitter feeling at the tip of her tongue, but that that curled from her and faded away.

"Kagome..." Lady Kaede patted her small shoulders, "the story had not ended yet, are you aware of that?"

Kagome looked into Lady Kaede's single eye, and saw confusion and helplessness painted on her youthful features. Confused about what? Helpless about what? She needed to scream. She needed to vent her frustrations. And yet...yet...

Walking away from Lady Kaede's hut, she returned to Inuyasha's hut, only to see him sitting up and resting his head on the wall.

Confusion aside, this was quite a big surprise. Happiness joined the colors of her face as she rushed to his side. It was quite a miracle that she could still talk.

"Are you alright?" She asked worriedly. He only turned slightly and a self confident smile played on his tired face: "I wouldn't die so easily, wench."

At his words, tears started to fill her eyes. Like a beautiful stream flowing through a forest, her teas fell. Hugging him tightly, leaning on him for all the support she needed, Kagome cried. She cried her heart out; pearly tears were shed for herself and also for him. She couldn't understand it, why she felt so strongly, all she knew now...was cry.

The flabbergasted hanyou didn't know what to do. Each tear Kagome shed added another weight on his heart, and he was quite sure that was not very advisable for one who just returned from death. His fingers brushed her back softly, hugging her consolingly, than pulling her into a tight embrace. He could feel her every breath on the back of his neck, he could even feel her heart racing wildly against his. Not knowing what to whisper, but desired strongly to take away her sorrow, he could only hug her, and hope his feelings could penetrate boundaries and reach her lost heart...

A/N: Forgive me for being so long-winded, I think that the now clueless Kagome had the right t know the roots. Anyway, do give me your comments/ sarcasm. I'll be very grateful for that.