Finally! Back from Vacation! -giggles happily- Hope this totally lame chapter makes up for my absence! Yes, yes, I said lame! Why? 'Cause this chapter happens to be the one I hate the most! -wrinkles her nose all childishly- It's not bad...just not good either. Anywhos! Hope you enjoy anyways, my devoted Lil-Brit! (And any other readers I may have out there!)

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Forgotten

Chapter Seven - Thoughtful Worries

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Mrs. Higurashi hums softly as she continues to wash the dishes from breakfast; at the moment she's all alone, for her father had left before the kids had in order to go pick up some 'supplies'. No doubt he wants them for another silly spell or enchantment that won't work no matter how hard he tries. The kind mother smiles, still humming, as she dunks a plate into the soapy water, enjoying herself simply because it's relaxing to clean. For as long as she can recall cleaning has been an escape from her worries. It gives her something else to concentrate on. As of late, she's been rather concerned about Kagome. Her daughter's been acting slightly…off. It's like she's lost…for in the last few weeks she's been wandering around the house, as if searching for something but not knowing what it is…

"M-mom…?" Mrs. Higurashi gives a jump of surprise, almost dropping the plate she had been drying onto the floor. Startled, she spins around quickly to find her daughter standing a few feet away. Instantly she notices how disheveled Kagome looks. Her book bag hangs crooked on her shoulder, her school uniform is ruffled and wrinkled, and her brown eyes are watery, spilled tears still drying on her cheeks.

"Kagome! What happened?" Shoving the plate onto the counter, the concerned mother races up to her daughter and embraces her. Kagome stifles a sob and returns the hug, letting her book bag fall unwanted to the floor. "Why aren't you in school?" Mrs. Higurashi questions as she pulls back to observe her daughter's appearance. "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" Kagome manages to nod slightly.

"…Y-yeah…I just…I don't…feel too good." In truth, she really doesn't, for once she realized what's been going on, she began to feel sick to her stomach. All the information she's lost then suddenly regained is a bit too much to handle all at one time.

"Well why don't you go upstairs and lie down, alright sweetie? I'll make you some soup…" Giving her daughter another hug, Mrs. Higurashi ushers her towards the stairs. Kagome pauses suddenly to look back over her shoulder.

"Mom? …Could you make Ramen noodles?" For a second they both freeze. Mrs. Higurashi gazes up at her daughter in slight shock. Why does that sound so familiar? She knows someone adores the simple meal, but she's pretty sure it isn't her daughter. Still…since she asked…

"Of course, dear! Now, go on up to your room…"

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"What's taking him so long?" The little kitsune groans as he paces back and forth, his fluffy tail twitching in worry. Sango glances up from her spot against the cabin wall and smiles softly.

"Relax, Shippo. I'm sure Inuyasha will return soon." The little fox calms down slightly and pauses in his worried walk.

"Really?" He questions eagerly, his green eyes lighting up hopefully. Sango smiles down at him and reaches over, her slender fingers wrapping around the small demon child's tail; he squeals softly, laughing as she pulls him into her lap.

"Yes…I'm pretty sure…" Still, despite her words, the pretty demon huntress isn't so confident at all. She knows very well that if she and Miroku have lost all memories of Kagome, then the young miko may not recall them either. Plus, from what Shippo's told them, Inuyasha was very close to the girl…and if she's forgotten him…it may mean great troubles. Hopefully time will be on their side…for they need Kagome back. Not only is she important to their hunt for the Shikon shards, but she's also important to the health of Miroku…as well as the happiness of Shippo…and Inuyasha…

"Good!" The tiny fox chirps as he clings to Sango's arm impishly. She smiles warmly and bounces him up and down playfully, enjoying his happy squeals and laughter. "I don't like it when Kagome's not here! 'Cause Inuyasha is always so…so…"

"…Grumpy…when she is gone, correct?" Shippo grins and nods as Sango looks around, startled at the new voice. When she notices the speaker, however, she frowns deeply, worry shimmering in her eyes.

"Houshi-sama!" The priest offers a meek smile. At the moment he's leaning on the doorframe, too exhausted to really stand on his own. His shoulder's only gotten worse, draining him of his energy and hurting him terribly. So naturally, he's been ordered to stay in bed by a secretly concerned demon exterminator. "You shouldn't be up!"

"…Hai, I know, Lady Sango, but simply lying around is rather dull. I merely wished for a breath of fresh air." Sango just glares at him at first, but then she gives a sigh and places a hand in the grass besides her. Miroku hesitates only for a moment before he joins her side, moving rather sluggishly. She watches him sit down slowly, and she cannot help but frown when he jars his bad arm. Letting out a soft gasp, he instantly turns his head, not wanting her to see neither how pale he's gone nor the pain in his eyes; she notices anyway.

"…Houshi-sama…you need to be more careful," she mutters, looking back down in her lap where Shippo's playing with her fingers almost absentmindedly. He knows very well that Miroku's injury is serious, but as concerned as he is about the monk, he also knows that he shouldn't interrupt. This is a Sango and Miroku moment, and to disrupt one of them might just make things worse…

"…I apologize, Lady…"

"Oh, just stay silent, Houshi." Miroku blinks in surprise as Sango leans over and rests her head on his good shoulder, which is fortunately closest to her. Shippo grins when the monk smiles and nods meekly in agreement. The kitsune smiles even wider when Sango's cheeks flush the faintest hue of pink. Those two are perfect for each other…he just knows it.

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By the time Kagome reaches her room, she's near tears again. She lied to her mother. Not completely, for she really doesn't feel good. However, she didn't tell her about Inuyasha, and holding back on the truth feels just as bad as lying. Shakily she pushes open the door and steps into the room. Her brown eyes widen when she spies Inuyasha already in there, sitting semi-patiently by the window through which he had entered. At the moment his eyes are locked onto her desk.

"Hey, Kagome?" The young miko tenses up slightly, not really knowing why. Then she draws the obvious conclusion that the hanyou often visits when she's in her time, although normally he denies coming by his own free will. Having him come through the window seems almost…right.

"Y-yes, Inuyasha?" The hanyou reaches her desk in one swift bound, his actions so graceful that Kagome's taken back for a second. She had forgotten how fast and smooth he can move…

"Wuz this?" He pokes the large white box with a claw almost gently. His own memory is full of holes, but he knows he's seen this thing before. It's something important, for if his hunch is correct, Kagome often took one with her when visiting his time.

"Huh?" Kagome glances over her shoulder, her fingers wrapped around the closet's door handle. "Oh!" She drops her hand, forgetting her previous plans to get a sweater. "That's a medical kit…you know…for…first-aid?" Inuyasha cocks his head slightly and looks at her, his gaze slightly confused. When they lock eyes, however, they both stiffen up in surprise…

'First-aid treatment? I don't need it. Go away.'

'You do too! I was there, remember? Come down here…'

'Nothin' doin'.'

'I said come here.'

'Humph…'

'Hmmm. Sit, boy.'

'Uwaahh! Hey! What'd you do that for?'

'I'll just take a look, okay? When you're hurt that bad you need to have medical treatment!'

'I said go away! You act like I'm the one who lost…'

Kagome gasps sharply and presses her hand over her mouth as Inuyasha takes a step back in surprise. Neither says anything at first, still lost in shock at what had just happened. After a few startled moments, however, Kagome finally finds her voice.

"Inu…yasha…did…did you just…" He growls softly and drops his gaze, rubbing the back of his neck almost shyly.

"…That was the first time you tried to…"

"Treat your wounds…after the battle with…"

"Yura the Hair…" Both teens suddenly become quiet, a bit taken aback by the very fact that not only did they just complete one another's sentences, but they have indeed just shared a memory…together.

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Slender fingers drum across the white lid impatiently. Kagome's sitting on her bed, Indian style, with the large medical kit in her lap. For some reason it feels rather important. Her eyes aren't on the first-aid box, however, but rather locked onto the hanyou pacing almost worriedly in front of her. Letting out a sigh, the young miko picks up a small pink pillow besides her and tosses it at him. Inuyasha doesn't even think, he just automatically catches the offending cushion. It serves its purpose, however, for he stops to glare at her angrily.

"Hey! What wuz that for?" He demands, somehow managing to keep his voice softer then normal. Both teens know Mrs. Higurashi is just downstairs, and she's completely unaware of the hanyou at the moment. Kagome frowns deeply and looks down at the medical kit.

"I want you to tell me something…in your time…we have…other friends, right?" Inuyasha stares at her in shock, not quite knowing what to do other then to nod in agreement. "…Is…is one of them hurt?" Once again the hanyou doesn't even have to say anything. Just by looking at his expression, Kagome knows. Instantly she's on her feet, her brown eyes worried and fearful. "Who is it? What's wrong with them? How badly are they hurt? Do they need help now? Why didn't you…?" Her string of fretful questions is quickly cut off when Inuyasha marches up to her, grabs one of her arms rather gently, and leads her back to the bed where he promptly sits her back down. After only a moment's hesitation, he joins her, plopping down on the mattress Indian style.

"Can't answer your stupid questions if you don't give me a chance to reply," he retorts shortly, growling faintly as he crosses his arms. Kagome leans forward a bit, anxiously awaiting his reply. He only pauses for a moment before sighing and giving in. "Yes…someone's hurt. His name's Miroku…he was injured…really badly…in the shoulder…by a demon. Unluckily for him, he doesn't heal like I do…an' he's only been getting worse. That's why you came back here…to get some supplies to…help…" Kagome gasps sharply and bites down on her lip. Just like she thought…someone was hurt…in the shoulder. Those brown eyes of hers suddenly grow hazily as she lets her guard down for a moment…

'Sango-chan…why do you even bother with him? He's such a Hentai, and he's always…you know…trying to touch your butt! And even worse, he does it to other women…well not as much…but he's always asking them to bear his children…'

'I know, Kagome-chan…but…as annoying as it is…I can't really be mad at him. He only asks because of his Kazzanna…I think…and besides…he's really not such a bad guy…'

'Ooohhh…is that a hint of sweet romance in the air?'

"Kagome-chan! N-never!'

'Oh my gosh! It is! Awwww! How sweet!'

'That's not true, and you know it! Take that back!'

'Aaaahhh! No tickling! Eeee! S-sango! N-no…hee hee…no tickling!'

Kagome gasps again, her eyes wide as she suddenly gets to her feet, almost dropping the medical kit in the process. Instantly Inuyasha stands up as well, his golden gaze curious and almost…worried.

"What? What did you remember?" He questions carefully, not wanting to pressure the confused miko. Kagome spins around to face him, her bright brown eyes wide and shimmering with hidden emotions. The hanyou suddenly finds himself fighting to prevent his mouth from opening in shock. She looks almost…angelic…like she used to look all the time from what he can recall…how she looked before she lost her life to the hands of memory loss…

"Miroku! He's a monk, right? A major Hentai but rather nice an' kind despite that little fact…an' there's something wrong with his hand…an'…Sango!" Inuyasha's instantly alert, his ears perking up at the sound of that name. She's remembering even more…all on her own, too. "Sango…she…she lost her family…to…to this demon…but…then she found us…an'…an' she really…I mean really really likes Miroku…and he loves her right back…only they haven't really admitted it yet an'…oh my gosh!" Kagome lets out a gasp and suddenly grabs Inuyasha's hand, jerking him towards the door as she hurries to open it. "Why are we still here? Miroku needs help…" The hanyou lets out a soft, almost sad, growl, and tugs her back.

"Wait…we can't. Your mother doesn't know…" Kagome comes to a stop instantly.

"Ohh…oh right…" Both teens grow silent for a few moments, but then the young miko looks up, her eyes determined. Inuyasha almost winces. Reaching towards her in a rather panicky way, he gives a soft sound much like a gasp.

"No wait! Kagome! Don't!"

"MOM? CAN YOU COME HERE!"

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Hee hee! That silly Kagome! Hope she knows what she's doing! Well there you go, the not-so-wonderful chapter! Hope it was decent, though! And oh! Lil-Brit! To answer your question, yes I absoultly ADORE long reviews! -grins impishly- But who doesn't? I shall update soon! MUCH sooner than last time! Hee hee! Je ne!