I do not own InuYasha or any of the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi
Authors Note : Hello everyone! I know it's been awhile! I thought I was over some of the recent health issues I was dealing with, but it seemed that I was wrong. But none the less I had been working on this chapter for a while and I finally finished! I have started Chapter 7, not sure when I'll get it posted but I just wanted to let anyone that was wondering I will never leave a story unfinished! It is my biggest pet peeve when I find stories that are left unfinished or haven't been updated in years. It's not fair to the readers. ANYWAYS, I hope you all enjoy this chapter and if you can leave a review telling me what you think! (:
We left the library in a hurry and hadn't said a word to each other for the past ten minutes. Minute by minute I was growing more anxious, drowning in the overflow of unanswered questions I had. 'I don't remember,' Inuyasha's voice had been circling around in my head. How can someone just 'wake up' somewhere with no memory from before? A small shiver traveled down my spine with a flashback of waking up on the well house floor cold and injured. I guess I'm in no position to talk, with my own memory loss still a mystery and summed up to a simple tumble down a flight of stairs. I guess that's something we have in common. But still.. I wonder how his family feels about all this.
"Hey Inuyasha, what do your parents think about all of this?" instantly I felt his entire body go ridged and his grip on my thighs tightened. Slowly, trying to not spook him I leaned forward trying to get a better look at his face. Is he upset..?
"Stop moving wench before I drop you," he said quietly, with absolutely no trace of sarcasm. Instinctively I wrapped my good arm around his neck for security. Loose strands of his hair tickled my warming face and I was finding it extremely difficult to not get distracted at how close we actually were. Why am I getting so nervous all of a sudden?! Clearing my throat loudly I brushed off my embarrassment growing irritated that he hadn't actually answered my question.
"Well, are you going to answer my question?" I prompted once more.
"What question," he snorted.
"I asked you what do your parents think about your memory loss? Did something happen?" the jerk wasn't even listening to me!
"I don't see how its any of your damn business," he snapped, flashing a warning glare over his shoulder. As if he scares me, I scoffed rolling my eyes at him.
"Oh come on Inuyasha, you can drop the 'fuck off' act, it's really getting old," I snapped, frowning at my choice of words but I honestly couldn't think of a better way to describe it. He always acts as if he doesn't care, but would someone who truly wants to be left alone do all this for someone like me? He doesn't fool me one bit.
"My mother is dead, if you must know," his voice was harsh, maybe even a little sad and guilt instantly washed over me. I never know when to keep my big mouth shut. I should have know there was a good reason why he didn't want to talk about it.
"I'm so sorry," my voice barely audible as I struggled to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat. Turning my face in to his hair, I tried to hide the fresh tears that began to brim my reddening eyes.
"It was a long time ago.." he mumbled, adjusting his grip on my legs bringing me even tighter against his back as if trying to offer some small sliver of comfort. "You don't gotta get all depressed over it," he grumbled, visibly becoming uneasy in my mood shift. Taking a moment to gather my composure, I focused on the rhythm of his steps to calm my breathing and blinked away my unshed tears.
"So.. does that mean you live with your dad?" I started once again, allowing myself to lift my head casually keeping my eyes averted. Squirming under my hold, he let out a sigh muttering various curse words under his breath.
"My dad died before I was born. But don't go getting all sad and cryin over him! He ain't worth your tears got it?" he scolded, quickly maneuvering to the other side of the street to avoid nosey pedestrians. He doesn't have any parents?
"Then.. who do you live with Inuyasha? Who takes care of you?" a mixture of confusion and concern in my tone. Cursing under his breath once more and complaining about how I was too damn nosey. I couldn't help but wonder if he would really drop me this time. I tightened my grip around his neck once more, I wouldn't put it pass the jerk to drop a girl even though she's injured.
"Will you quit choking me?!" he hissed, reaching up to loosen my arm. "I ain't gonna drop you so stop worrying! If you must know you nosey wench, I live with Totosai," abruptly stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, he turned to give me a stern look over his shoulder. His honey glazed eyes intense causing my breath to get caught in the back of my already dry throat. "Before you go assuming anything weird, him and my old man go way back. I guess he promised him he would look out for me if anything were to happen to him. Then when my mother passed… well you're not stupid you can figure out the rest," his eyes softened slightly before hardening once more. "Don't go yappin that to the entire school though, ain't nobody's business but ours," fighting the urge to flash him a bright smile, I internally celebrated his choice of words. 'Ours' does that mean we now share something Inuyasha? Is it alright to hope the we are somewhat closer? Even if it's just a little bit? Giving him a small nod, he seemed to be satisfied with my agreement to keep it between us and resumed walking. "And let me just make one thing clear, I take care of myself!" he scoffed. "Are we done now with your game of twenty questions wench?!"
"I am for now," I said sticking my tongue out at him.
"Keh! I don't know why you talk so much," he grunted. I noticed that we were growing closer to the shrine and I couldn't help but feel a little sad.
"I just wanted to get to know you a little more Inuyasha" I added lightly, resting my cheek against his shoulder, breathing in the smell of his shampoo to calm my hammering heart. He has no immediate family to rely on. That explains why he's so antisocial. It must have been hard growing up without your parents, practically alone. And then losing his memory.. Snuggling closer, I let myself relaxed and be soothed by the rhythm of is steps once more. I have to admit, when I recover from my injuries I'm going to miss him carrying me around. Who knew it would be this comfortable, I mused struggling to stifle a giggle.
"We're here wench. Wake up," I hadn't even realized I had dosed off and had arrived at the shrine. Carefully he set me on my feet meeting my uneasy gaze, both unsure of how to proceed. For a moment something flickered behind his eyes and he opened his mouth but quickly snapped it shut before he could say anything. Before I could react he swiftly turned and made his way out of the courtyard only to stop at the entrance. I tried to call out to him but when I opened my mouth there was no sound. Mutely I reached out a hand, as if some invisible force would make him come back. Why do I feel so alone every time he goes to leave? Like at any moment I could never see him again? When did I become so dependent of his presence? I jerked my hand back to my chest, completely terrified at the thought of needing him. Unaware of my internal battle, my silent calls to him had somehow been heard and he turned to face me, his features still morphed into his nitrous scowl of his.
"I'll see you tomorrow Kagome," his voice echoed through the court yard, making my heart flutter hearing him use my name once more. Not trusting my vocal cords I gave him a small nod pulling at my sling nervously. "You better not take forever to get ready! I really don't feel like waiting around for an hour for you to change wench!" he snapped, throwing me a weak glare. Always has to ruin the moment, I grimaced.
"See you tomorrow jerk," I grumbled turning to head inside, hiding my small smile and pink cheeks. Tomorrow..
- Later That Evening -
"Aren't you going to make a wish?" a soft voice asked, making the hair on the back of my neck stand. As I opened my eyes I was suspended in the middle of a limitless darkness. Frantically searching around I tried to find whoever had spoken. 'What is this place?' shivering, I pulled my arms over my chest clutching my sides to keep the tremors at bay. Suddenly a pool of warm, purple light appeared sending ripples of energy pulsing through the still air. Tears began to fill my eyes, making it difficult to focus on what was unraveling before me. 'I'm scared..' "Answer me Kagome," the voice cooed, louder this time demanding my attention. "Will you choose to spend eternity in this lonely darkness?" I felt the tears falling down my cheeks and an overwhelming amount of emptiness washed over me.
"Please no.." my voice was shaky, sounding foreign to my own ears. 'This feeling of emptiness is almost unbearable. I feel as though it is going to swallow me whole.'
"Then will you be true to your heart and wish to see him again?" 'I don't understand. Wish to see him again? Who? Why does it sound like this voice is taunting me? If I do make a wish will they really grant it? Or is it a trick?' The darkness was closing in on me, I felt as though at any moment it would consume me. A small sob escaped from my throat as more tears fell from my eyes. 'This emptiness… I can't.. what do I do?' Searching the darkness once more I still could not find an exit nor the other presence, I was on the verge of hysterics. 'I'm trapped there's no way out. Unless..the wish..'
"I wi-"
"Kagome! Where are you?!" another yells in the distance. 'That voice!' The darkness began to play tricks on me, whipping around I searched frantically. 'I know that voice.. I think.' "Don't make any wishes! Wait for me!" a blur of red and sliver flashed before my eyes startling me. "Wait for me Kagome!"
"I.. believe he will come for me." 'I'm not exactly sure who it is, but I believe in him. "I will not make a wish," and then.. there was just gold. Those unmistakable.. beautiful.. honey hued eyes were staring into my soul paralyzing me. There was no more darkness.. no more emptiness.. just him.
"INUYASHA!" I screamed, bolting straight up in bed. Gasping for air, I hastily surveyed my surroundings to find a familiar darkness that blanketed my room with the glow from the moon filtering in through my open window. Stealing a glance at the glowing green numbers it was only a little after one in the morning. It was just a dream, heaving a deep sigh of relief I wiped the beads of sweat off my face and detangled myself from my sheets to go sit by the window. That dream felt so real.. I was so alone.. I wasn't sure if it was the cool breeze that sent goose bumps down my arm or the returning vision of blackness.
"I was so scared," I whispered into the night feeling a fresh batch of tears streaming down my raw cheeks. The haunting emptiness was creeping up on me once more, almost swallowing me whole when the image of those eyes came into mind again. But then Inuyasha.. he was there, calling out to me. Well at least I think it was him..
"Something must be wrong with me," I let out breathlessly wiping away the tears with the back of my hand. Why would he be appearing in my dreams? All of this, I feel it's somehow connected to my memory loss. "But how?" I whispered, gazing up at the moon feeling the pull of wanting to be with Inuyasha stronger than ever. My heart almost ached at his absence. How is it that I feel so safe when I'm with him? "Who are you to me Inuyasha?"
The faint rustling by the Goshinboku brought me crashing down to reality. Muffling a shriek, I crouched behind my window sill searching the branches for a sign of an intruder. To my relief a pigeon flew out from the lower branches, it was just a bird. Guess I'm not the only one having trouble sleeping. Closing my window with a soft thud I got back into bed, unaware of the figure watching my window from the top branches of the Goshinboku.
- A Few Weeks Later -
"Here!" I chirped, placing a large bento on the desk in front of the sulking boy next to me. Throwing me a questioning glance he slowly lifted the top to reveal one of the nicest assorted lunches I've ever seen, geez Mama really out did herself. My lunch never looks that nice.
"What is this wench?" he hissed, sniffing the contents.
"What does it look like Inuyasha? It's a packed lunch. Mama made it for you!" I said a little too brightly flashing him a small, fake smile. All day I had been trying to shake off the last of my mood from my restless night. For the past couple weeks every night I have had the same reoccurring dream. Always begins in darkness and waking up screaming Inuyasha's name. I was becoming irritable, unsure of it's meaning or why I can never get further than meeting those golden eyes. I'm restless, unable to sleep through the night.
"I know what it is. But why did she make this for me? Is this some sort of trick?" his voice was sharp as he flashed me a warning look when I placed his chopsticks a little too hard on his desk.
"Just shut up and eat it you jerk. Mama's not trying to trick you," I grumbled turning to resume eating my own lunch in silence.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," I mumbled lamely, picking at the last bit of my rice.
"Don't give me that shit, this whole week you've been in a mood. What gives?" pointedly ignoring him I turned to gaze out the window. It's happening again. That feeling of nothingness.. it keeps coming back. Why? Everything was going great, at least until that dream. "Why have you been acting so depressed? I didn't think you were this pathetic," he hissed. Whipping around, white hot rage shot threw my veins. Pathetic?! The jerk! What does he know!
"You're one to talk! You go stalking around the school like you could careless about anyone or anything," I hiss pinning him with a glare. "So don't lecture me on social skills. I just had another bad dream and wasn't able to sleep, alright?"
"Feh, it was just a dream. Nothings gonna happen to you, I'm here with you ain't I? I'll keep you safe. Now get over it already," he grumbled before shoveling food into his mouth. Instantly my cheeks began to burn, does he realize what he just said? 'I'll keep you safe.' "Besides only weak, pathetic humans are scared of a dream." There he goes again calling me pathetic, he's really pushin it.
"Alright, I get it Inuyasha. You're right. I know I have nothing to worry about when I'm with you," I added irritatedly. Well that moment was ruined, turning to give him a piece of my mind I see the faintest tint of pink on his cheeks. Or maybe it wasn't..
Although my injuries have healed over the past few weeks and things have for the most part gone back to normal, I had expected things between us to revert back to before the incident. However, I was surprised when he showed up at my house the morning after I got word from the doctor that I could take off my sling and go back to archery practice. When I asked him why he had come all he did was scoff and tell me to quit asking stupid questions. Ever since then we've been inseparable. At first our friendship, if you could even call it that seemed so far fetched to our classmates. And if I'm going to be honest it was weird for me too. People are constantly telling me he's a delinquent or asking if he was blackmailing me into hanging out with him. Ayumi, Eri and Yuka have had these smug looks on their faces for days now and constantly give me side grins when he waits for me after practice so we can leave to walk home together.
It's not like anything has really changed between us.. he's still acts just as rude and arrogant as ever. Plus were always arguing about something.. Stealing a glance at Inuyasha a small smile crept over my features seeing him pick up the bento to scrape the last bit of crumbs into his mouth. For someone who was so apprehensive about the lunch to begin with he sure enjoyed it, I mused accidentally letting a soft chuckle out.
"What's funny wench?" shaking my head I gave him a small smile, not having the energy to strike up another argument over his inability to use my name.
"Nothing at all. So will you wait for me again after practice?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
"Keh, what kinda question is that? You know I will," he grumbled, scratching his head anxiously.
"Just making sure," I hummed. Not long after the first bell rang signaling the end of lunch. The rest of classes went by in a blur, filled with stollen glances and a hammering heart anticipating our time together after school.