I do not own Inuyasha or the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi.
FYI: italicized sentences are inner thoughts.

You asked for an Inuyasha reincarnation chapter and I have finally delivered. I hope you enjoy the last lost chapter. This chapter falls right in between episodes 128 and 129 (right after the cultural festival). Happy reading!

A Face without our Memories - Part 1

"Kagome, you said we were going back after the festival. I let you stay an extra day and now you think you're going to get another day to fool around again. Keh, think again." Inuyasha was leaning up against Kagome's closed bedroom door, hoping that his loud complaints would get her to finally open the door. "Oi! Are you even listening, woman? What are doing in there anyway?" Between the dried up demons that she had taken back irresponsibly and the school festival, he'd had enough of her world to last him another month. No matter what she said he was going to drag her back to the feudal era today. They had to find the remaining jewel shards before Naraku.

"Inuyasha, it's just one more day, you're being unreasonable. I was over there for a really long time," Kagome said against the closed door, her faint voice easy to hear for the half demon. "You said there wasn't much for me to do in the feudal era right now anyway."

"Ya, but I didn't say you could stay here forever, idiot. The jewel shards aren't going to find themselves," he scowled. Retaliation was sure to come for the name calling and Inuyasha turned and crouched down on the floor, ready to pounce. His amber eyes focused on the door handle. Any second now she'd fling open the door and he'd grab her. But to his disappointment, nothing happened.

"I was gone for so long and grandfather had a tough time coming up with excuses for my school absences. This is the least I can do for him," she answered calmly. Kagome knew he was baiting her, but she wouldn't give in, even though he was pissing her off. During breakfast his patience had already run out and she barely managed to escape to her room. She made a mental note to thank her mom for distracting Inuyasha with pickled vegetables. Kagome picked up the white hair ribbon laying on her bed, thinking about whether she should wear it or not. "Don't worry it won't take all day," she assured him and put the ribbon back down.

"Keh, it better not," he said, stuffing his hands in his sleeves and sitting on the floor.

"If you want, you could just go back now and I'll come later tonight," she suggested, hopefully.

"Like hell, I'm leaving you here to dilly dally all day. You'll definitely forget how late it is and then stay another daaa…." Kagome unexpectedly opened the door and the half demon fell backwards into Kagome's room and landed on his elbows. "Hey! What's the big idea?" The half demon was prepared to list an even longer list of complaints and profanities, but froze when he looked up at Kagome. He blinked several times in disbelief. Kagome was dressed in traditional, red and white priestess robes, which allowed flashes of Kikyo to invade his mind.

"I'm sorry, I already told grandpa I would do this. I know that this isn't the best time for me to be wearing this," she admitted sheepishly, knowing that Kikyo's recent death or disappearance, was still a sore spot in Inuyasha's heart. "That's why I said you could go back before me. Besides there's going to be a lot of people at the shrine today. So it's best if you aren't around, anyway."

"Wh..why are you wearing that?" Inuyasha stuttered, still sitting on the floor in awe.

Kagome was pretty sure that he hadn't heard a word she said. "I already told you, grandpa is having an event here at the shrine and we have to be dressed traditionally. Ugh, just go back already," she said annoyed and strode past him to go downstairs.

Inuyasha stretched out his arm and caught Kagome's hand. It stopped her short and she turned to face him, her temper flaring. "Let me…." But she couldn't finish her sentence when she saw his downcast expression. His amber eyes were hidden behind his bangs, his head turned slightly away from her and his mouth was set with a seriousness that she rarely saw. "Inuyasha?"

"I'm not going to leave you. So don't tell me to go." His voice was quiet, but his feelings were clear. There was no home for him in the feudal era without her by his side.

Kagome didn't respond. She was completely taken by surprise by such a bold statement from someone who normally feigned ignorance to his own emotions. The silence grew between them, making him uneasy so he stole a glance at her face. And instead of quickly looking away again, he held her gaze, the weight of his words sinking into Kagome's head. The girl's heart pounded faster and her stomach lurched up into her lungs.

"Sis are you ready yet? Gramps said people are starting to show up!" Sota yelled from downstairs, his voice interrupting their private moment. Kagome could hear her little brother start to ascend the stairs and she immediately pulled her hand to her chest. Slightly embarrassed that she was still holding Inuyasha's hand.

"I'm coming, there's no need to come upstairs!" she replied nervously, practically flying down the stairs to stop Sota from seeing what was going on between them. She wasn't sure herself what they were doing, but her heart was still pounding.

What was that? Why couldn't he just say it normal.

Inuyasha stayed seated on the floor, as he waited for his own heart to calm down. He hadn't meant to be so brazen, but he was only being honest. He took a deep breath and his nerves settled. But as soon as they did, he started to wonder just how long he would have to be cooped up inside the house. His eyebrows pulled closer together as he thought about it, but he already said he wouldn't go back through the well without her.

After Kagome left the house, Mrs. Higurashi secretly fished out the baseball cap Inuyasha used when he went out in public. She had a feeling he wouldn't be able to stay inside all day. "I know you won't cause any trouble," she said happily with a wink. Kagome's mom was nicer to him than he thought he deserved. He wondered if it would remain that way if she knew the kind of danger Kagome was often in on the other side of the well. But the half demon didn't want to think about that.

Inuyasha chose a rather discreet place upon the roof to sit where he could view people coming and going. There was a steady crowd through the morning, although he couldn't understand why. Her grandfather had said he was holding small sessions over the day of historical stories, personal to their shrine, including free giveaways which Kagome and Sota handed out along with answering questions. In Inuyasha's opinion, it was all a load of crap. None of his stories made sense, not to mention how incredibly boring they were. Regardless, he had to give Kagome credit for her part. She mingled busily with the crowd and made sure everyone enjoyed their time spent at the shrine. He smiled to himself as he watched her move about. It made him happy to sit there with the breeze blowing through his hair, while keeping an eye on her. It was peaceful. Especially without the need to worry about demon attacks. Well, there were no demons, but the kids that were running all over the property sure got on his nerves. They were loud, rowdy and he didn't understand why they even came to the shrine in the first place. He figured that they were just bored brats with nowhere else to go. But they spoiled his peace and quiet. Inuyasha laid back onto the warm roof with his hands under his head. He wasn't able to see as much, but kept his ears trained on Kagome's voice.

"Hey! I said knock it off!" Kagome's agitated voice stood out from the crowd, her annoyance directed at a young group of boys.

Geez where were their parents?

Uh oh, he recognized that tone, she was done being nice. But it was fun not to be on the receiving end of her anger. Inuyasha decided to get a closer look and leapt off the roof, stole across the yard and into the nearest tree. He couldn't get into trouble, if no one saw him. He crossed over to a sturdy branch where he had a much better view. Kagome was in the midst of talking to a young couple by the stairs and the kids were playing rough on the opposite end. It seemed like they were playing some sort of game where one kid was being chased by the rest of them. That didn't seem fair to him, but not much in life was. He grunted at the irony. Inuyasha grinned to himself. He would give them a little scare when they came back over to his side. That should put a damper in their day. Lost in thought about how he would do it, Inuyasha didn't notice right away when the kids started to run in his direction. What did make him look up was a gasp from Kagome. A normal person would've never picked up on it, but he clearly heard it as if she was standing right next to him. Something was wrong and his heart vaulted into his throat making it hard to breathe.

Evidently one of the boys managed to run right in between Kagome and the young couple, which forced her to take a step backwards. But there wasn't a flat landing behind her and she was going to fall down the shrine stairs. He watched her lose her balance and before he knew it, his legs were moving to get to the one person that meant everything to him. Kagome closed her eyes when she realized what was happening shut and simply believed in Inuyasha. She knew he would come and save her, even if he did follow up his gallant behavior with a stern berating for being clumsy. Thank goodness he didn't go back through the well, she thought.

She felt a strong hand grab her left arm and pull her against gravity, while another arm wrapped around her waist. Kagome's back crashed into his chest and they both tumbled backwards, landing on the ground. "Whew, that was close," Kagome sighed.

"Wait, what?" questioned Inuyasha. He stopped mid stride right before he was about to break through the line of bushes and searched for the young girl instead. She was unharmed and seated on the ground in front of the stairs. Someone had pulled her to safety. Inuyasha let out his breath, unaware that he was holding it. That was close, good thing people in Kagome's time were nicer and more considerate than in the feudal era.

But seconds later, a low growl escaped Inuyasha's throat. He was glad that Kagome was saved from a nasty fall, but…

What is that jerk doing still wrapped around her. AND WHY IS KAGOME STILL SITTING IN BETWEEN HIS LEGS LIKE THAT?!

Jealousy raged through his body, his blood boiled and he had half the mind to go over there and yank her out of that guy's arms. His claws dug into his skin as he tightened his fists. "What the fuck!"

Kagome opened her eyes alarmed. She felt a certain youkai rising and its presence was not directly behind her. She glanced down at the arm that pulled her to safety.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" The man behind her shouted.

That was without a doubt, not Inuyasha's voice and that was not Inuyasha's red fire rat robe. Kagome panicked and pulled herself away from her savior to turn around and look at him, but before her embarrassment could really unfold, the face that stared back at her, made her gasp again. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

The stranger's long, black hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. His eyes were such a dark shade that they were almost purple. His skin was a few shades darker and he wore the same pouty annoyed expression with his eyebrows drawn together. It couldn't be. She didn't believe. He had the same handsome face even. She was literally staring at a human Inuyasha. Could this man be his reincarnation?

"Damn kids," the man muttered, before turning his head back towards the girl he'd just rescued. Unexpectedly, she jumped in spite of herself. "Sorry, I just can't stand noisy kids. Are you okay?" Kagome was at a lost for words for the second time that day. She couldn't help but stare at him in awe. She kept studying his face, until she finally felt the stares of the people around them. Finally it sunk in that she was sitting between some random guys legs for way longer than appropriate. How long had she sat there for, thinking it was Inuyasha? Another flare of Inuyasha's youkai jerked her out of her reverie and brought her back to reality. She could tell, he was pissed.

"I...I'm sorry," she apologized, standing up quickly and taking a few steps away from him.

The man pushed himself off the ground with ease. "No worries, I'm just glad I was here to catch you," he said, cocking his head slightly to the side, "Are you sure you're okay?" The red shirt he wore only added to the whole mind fuck she was going through.

Kagome forced herself to remember her manners. Regardless of what he looked like, he did just save her from a terrible fall. "Yes and thank you for saving me. I wish I could repay you," she bowed gratefully.

"No problem," he smiled. His carefree smile tugged at her heart, making her feel uncomfortable. Such a smile was not often displayed on Inuyasha's face. But when it did, it was just for her. Kagome's mind was swimming, what was she supposed to do now? Inuyasha was furious, his reincarnation was standing in front of her and she was torn between finding out more and running to be by Inuyasha's side.

"Kagome! Kagome! Are you okay," Mrs. Higurashi ran over to her daughter, taking away the need for Kagome to make a decision. "My goodness," she said out of breath, "I saw what happened. Thank you for saving my daughter," her mother said, bowing to the man as well.

"Really it was no problem. I'm glad I was in the right place at the right time," he replied, but his eyes stayed on Kagome.

"If there's anything we can do for you, please let us know," she offered, but didn't wait for a reply. "Come inside Kagome, you must be in shock." Mrs. Higurashi wrapped her arm around her daughter and led her towards the house.

"Kagome," spoke the man behind them, "there is something you could do to repay me." She turned back around and the young man jogged up to her.

"He's calling her by her name already? Who is this fucker? He's worse than Koga," huffed Inuyasha.

"I'm performing at a show tonight," the stranger said offering a flyer to her. "You should stop by. If you come a half hour early I can get you good seats," he smiled. Kagome reached out and took the flyer. "I hope to see you there." And with that he turned and left.

Kagome's eyes lingered on the dark haired man, "Momma, did you see?"

"Yes, I did, now come along."