Lil-Brit, this once again is for you (since you are my only fan!) and for your new baby brother, (because I am quite sure he is most kawaii!) I shall be leaving on vacation for two weeks after this, so that means no updates...sigh. However! This chapter seems like a decent stopping point! Enjoy!

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Forgotten

Chapter Six - I Remember You

Kagome gasps sharply in surprise. He can't be bad…not when he's willing to tell her something so secret. Not when his arms, which are still draped over her shoulders protectively, are so warm. Not when he nuzzles her neck gently, his mind completely lost to his feelings as he cherishes what he's missed for so long…her. Startled, the confused miko can only stand there as the hanyou growls softly in contentment, unable to hide the fact that he truly missed her. With his arms around her, Kagome can't help but feel…safe…safe and protected…

'Me, I'll live. I'm half demon.'

Half demon…and half human. A hybrid that doesn't really belong anywhere…a hanyou. She remembers the secret he kept hidden from her for so long…and how badly he's been treated in the past because of it…

'You, tho'…you ain't got a chance.'

'So…I should just…give up hope?'

What had they been doing? Why was he so negative towards her? Kagome glances over her shoulder at Inuyasha, with his eyes closed as he growls softly, almost sounding like he's purring. He doesn't seem to care that he's still hugging her, for he's too content. Just holding her close sooths him greatly. He's so confusing…harsh one moment, then utterly kind the next. Kagome frowns faintly, trying to remember. Still not sure what they had been doing, she closes her eyes and struggles to recall. But…only words come to her…no visual images at all…

'Wha? Wh-what're doin'? You're not…cryin'…are you?'

Yes…she had been crying. And…Inuyasha hadn't liked that…not at all…

'NO CRYIN'!'

'Oh! Should I laugh!'

'NO! You should shut up and let me protect you!'

He actually said that, his words truthful…but…then he denied it later. Still…the way he said it moves her deeply. Kagome suddenly turns, startling Inuyasha into pulling back, his golden eyes wide in shock as he realizes that he had actually been…snuggling…with her. Sure, she hadn't protested but…she's not exactly herself at the moment. It almost feels as if he had just about taken advantage of the situation - something he'd never do…not on purpose anyway…

"Inuyasha." He stiffens slightly, those fascinating ears of his twitching uncomfortably. Kagome only stares at him for a moment, still unsure of herself. "…Look…I really don't know what's going on…but…I'm…I'm pretty sure we're friends…right?" At first he doesn't reply, and as Kagome waits awkwardly for a response, another faint memory surfaces…

'Still…it'll help with the pain…'

'Keh. I can handle pain…I do it all the time!'

'Yes…I know…but that doesn't mean I'm going to just sit and let you suffer! Now hold still…this might sting a bit…'

'…Kagome? Why…why do you…I mean…'

'…I'm your friend…'

'…F-friend?'

"Yes…" Kagome gives a slight start as Inuyasha speaks out loud, catching her by surprise, for she had been rather caught up in the fuzzy remembrance.

"Y-yes?" She questions, still a bit shaken and confused. The hanyou lowers his gaze, deciding to look at the ground rather then her.

"…Yes. We are…friends…I…I think…" Kagome stares at him, still unsure. He only thinks that they're friends? He doesn't know? Perplexed, the young miko sighs and sits down on the ground again, her own eyes locked onto the ground as well. Everything is just so confusing. It's hard to understand what's going on. All she really knows for sure is that Inuyasha…as complicated a being as he may seem…is worth trusting. She's not quite sure why she trusts him so…but both her instincts and those blurry flashes of memories tell her to…

"…That's good." Inuyasha turns to look at her, completely startled as Kagome looks up as well, her soft brown eyes sparkling faintly. The hanyou blinks, then relaxes slightly, for her gaze is comforting…and deep within those chocolate pools he can still sense the Kagome he knows…or at least…think he's knows. He still can't recall everything about her either… The young miko smiles softly and cocks her head a bit in a curious manner. "…I mean…I'm glad we're not enemies or anything…you could do some serious damage with those c-claws…" Instantly Inuyasha growls angrily, startling her into almost falling back again. He blinks at her fear, then pulls away sharply, grumbling softly.

"…You…you baka." Kagome gasps softly, her eyes shimmering with hurt. The hanyou only growls again and shifts his weight before sitting down besides her, his own eyes still locked onto the ground. "…I could never…hurt…you…" Without thinking, Kagome sighs softly and leans over a bit, coming to rest her head on his shoulder. Inuyasha tenses up and lets out a faint gasp of surprise. Looking down at her, he's startled to find that she's got her eyes closed, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

'Inuyasha! You…you came back? Why?'

'Good thing I did. Stupid wench…do you honestly think you could handle this on your own?'

'I…t-thanks…'

'Keh. Just don't want you hurt…'

'…Wh-what did you say…?'

'…uhh…I mean…if you got hurt, who else would find the shards for me? You…baka…'

Such a silly cover-up. She knows he was truly worried. Allowing a soft smile, Kagome shifts bit and lets out another gentle sigh. Inuyasha bows his head, unable to look at her anymore.

"Kagome…" She blinks then looks up, her brown eyes worried yet curious. "…I'll find out who did this…" Confused, the young miko pulls back to look at him fully. He's sitting in a crouching position, with his hands on the ground between his knees, the long red fabric of his sleeves hiding his claws from view. He often sits like that…either that way, or, when he knows he'll be sitting for a while, with his legs crossed and his hands tucked into his sleeves. Kagome remembers that much at least. Inuyasha looks to her suddenly and frowns a bit, his golden eyes sharp and angered…but she's not at all afraid this time. "I'll find out who…who messed with our memories…" Instantly Kagome's on her knees, bending forward, her hands very close to his own as she leans closer, narrowing the gap between them greatly. Inuyasha blinks and pulls back a bit, gulping in slight discomfort.

"What!" Kagome gasps as she moves even closer, her eyes pleading. "You mean…your…your memory is fuzzy too?" The hanyou scoots back a bit, now feeling very uncomfortable. He's never liked admitting his true feelings about anything, but he can't lie to Kagome…not when everything she knows is so muddled. She needs the truth…

"Uhhh…y-yeah…it…was…is…but…then…" He stops again, unsure of what to say. Shippo was the only one who really remembered, but adding another person to the list of people lacking presence in Kagome's memory doesn't seem like a good idea. "…Then I remembered…most of it," he finishes lamely, dropping his gaze. "…Think it's 'cause I'm…half demon."

"Oh…" Kagome pulls back and sits on her feet in disappointment. Deep down she had been hoping there was more too it. Inuyasha frowns softly, still unsure of what to do. "…What…what made you remember?" At first he just stares, growling softly. Then he relents, his ears lowering slightly in defeat.

"…I…you…" He pauses again, then finally just sighs and gives in, telling the truth, shoving his pride aside just this once…for Kagome's sake. "…I was just…sitting by the stream, 'cause I…felt weird. Kinda empty…then…someone mentioned your name…an' I…got confused. So…I…I just kinda sat there and tried to remember where I'd heard your name…then…I knew who you were. Not all at once…first it was just something we talked about once…then I remembered more…an'…" His voice trails off as Kagome suddenly comes forward again, leaning over him as he gasps faintly.

Grave brown eyes gaze sorrowfully at him, searching for something deep within those golden pools staring up at her in shock. Suddenly something hits her emotionally, slamming into her with an abrupt blow, straight in the heart. Letting out a soft gasp, she suddenly begins to weep, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. Inuyasha instantly growls, his own eyes growing concerned and worried. Reaching out, he gently wipes away a few tears with a claw. "Heeyyy," he growls, not at all liking the smell of sorrowful tears mingling with her precious scent. "N-no cryin'! I mean it!"

"Inu…Inuyasha…" He tenses up at the sound of his name. She said it so strongly…so naturally. She…she knows his name. "…I remember you." A brilliant smile lights up her pretty face as she throws herself forward, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. He gives a faint start, stunned as he looses his balance and falls back, landing with Kagome on top of him. A moment of shock passes, but then he returns the embrace almost eagerly. "I remember you!" She gushes, gasping faintly as she presses herself against him, knowing only the safety of his arms at the moment. There's nothing she wants more then for him to continue holding her like this. She remembers…not all of it…but she remembers…

The first time she saw him, pinned against the great God Tree, looking as if he was asleep. How she tweaked his ears despite herself, unable to resist the urge. When she saw him again, awake this time. The arrow. How he insulted her and threatened her life. A necklace…a special necklace she's still not sure of. The first time he came back for her, dragging her into the well despite her arguments. How he gave her his haori in order to make sure she had at least a little protection. Their first battle, and how they worked together as one for the first time, depending on each other to stay alive. The first time he saved her, snatching her in mid-air as she nearly passed out. How he snapped at her when she asked about his mother. How she discovered his past, and suddenly found herself knowing how hard it must have been. A white-haired brother just as angry as he, but much more calm and vicious. A distressing battle, with a special sword as the prize.

His vow of protection and the way he fought to keep her safe. Two more strange brothers, one human-like, the other a monster, and how they threatened her life. How she almost died, but somehow lived, and the plea Inuyasha made for her to stay. The bond that suddenly formed, despite all their hardships. How she tried to avoid her real friends' questions about this 'new boyfriend' she spoke of. The way she felt when she thought of him, and how he might be hurt without her there to take care of him. The way she'd worry until she saw him again, in one piece and as annoying as ever. The relief and joy that followed upon seeing him whole. The special little moments that seemed to pop up everywhere. The nights they spent lying in the grass, side by side as they talked about anything and everything…

"I remember you!" She declares again, resting her head on his shoulder, her tears slower but steady. Sniffling faintly, she closes her eyes and tries to ignore the hurt swelling up in her chest. "…I…I'm so sorry…" Inuyasha, still bewildered as well as secretly relieved and overjoyed, just stares at her. Refusing to look at him eye to eye, the young miko adverts her gaze sadly. "…I…I forgot you…I can't believe…I actually…"

"It's alright," the hanyou cuts her off quickly with a low growl, not willing to hear her apologize for something that's obviously not her fault. "It wasn't your…"

"I don't care!" This turn it's she who stops him in mid-sentence. "I forgot you! I'm so sorry…I never thought I could…" Once again she's quieted, this time by a clawed finger gently pressed against her lips. Startled, Kagome turns her head to look at him fully. He smirks faintly, and instantly she feels a bubble of joy swelling in her chest. She remembers that smirk.

"Shut up, wench…I know you're sorry, alright? So just drop it…" Kagome stares at him for a few rather stretched out moments before she smiles ever so softly, her cheeks flushing lightly as she adverts her gaze again. She mutters her thanks just loud enough for the hanyou to catch it. That smirk grows even wider…

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There you go, Lil-Brit, and anyone else who may have actually read this! Thanks so much for your support! Hope to read lovely comments when I return from Theatre camp! Until then!