A/N: here you all go. a new chapter, yay! sorry that its only one...im at work right now, and i only have enough free time to upload this one. but you shud all swing by here later. i might get the chance to post up one more. might give you two, depending on how generous i feel. hehehe...

Disclaimer: Not mine

Summary: Inuyasha is presented with a one-time opportunity – to become a full demon. With his childhood years, not to mention the first ever reason for hunting down the Shikon Jewel in mind, his choice seems apparent – a no-brainer. But there's a catch. Becoming a demon will mean giving up the life he knows now. In fact, only he will remember his life as a hanyou, while others will now only know him as Inuyasha the youkai. Is he willing to give everything and everyone up?

Chapter Eight

Yesterday, Kagome had been furious. Demons attacked her village, for no other reason than the fact that their whole race consists of savage creatures, bent on causing havoc and destruction. And then there was that one demon. The one that hadn't run off with the others. The first three were cowards, running in ever direction before she had a chance to take out her bow. But that other one – with the blood red eyes – stayed behind, as if entranced by the chaos he created. Lowlife, she had thought maliciously. I'll kill you.

But then they met eyes, and immediately, Kagome began to falter.

He reminded her, strangely, of…someone. She just couldn't put her finger on it. It was just like when she had those dreams. Dreams about the past – maybe her past – that she couldn't recognize. Looking in his face, triggered those very same memories. Despite the fact that she had no idea who he was, she felt a connection.

And even stranger, for just a second, she swore she saw it in his eyes too. That recognition she felt inside. Did he feel a connection as well?

But before she could let herself slip off into 'what ifs?', she remembered that this youkai had been trying to destroy her home. Her duty came first, so she had to drive him out. But part of her wished it didn't have to be so. Whose to say this demon didn't have answers to her past? No one else did. Everyone thought her crazy when she told people that they seemed familiar, even if they had just met. Or at least, they would have thought her crazy, had she not been a priestess. Everyone just connected it to something spiritual and left it alone. But Kagome didn't want it to stop there. She wanted to know. And something told her that red-eye demon knew. He wasn't like other demons – she could tell – who prance around, roaring and snarling and speaking in three word sentences for lack of higher intelligence. She felt like he could help her.

Then she had another one of those dreams again that night. This time she found herself running through a forest, desperately chasing a blur of red. But she couldn't keep up, the red slowly disappearing into the trees. She was yelling to it, begging it to stop, calling its name. But there was no sound coming from her mouth, only her lips moving, mouthing the words. Then, once it had vanished completely, she fell to the ground, crying. She had never felt so alone.

Then she saw the flower. Growing out of the ground, was a pink lily: healthy and beautiful. She plucked it, held it close to her, her feeling of loneliness washing away. Now she felt protected, cared for, that someone was there on her side. Just out of reach, but not too far away.

And then came that voice. It was distinctly male, sonorous and unrecognizable. But the message was something she had heard before.

"Don't forget."

Don't forget what, she asked herself, as she awoke the next morning. It was early, the village still asleep. She used the opportunity to wander about by herself. Since she was such a beloved character to all that lived there, it wasn't often she got time on her own.

Don't forget what, she thought again as she walked aimlessly through the forest. She felt bad for not remembering. No matter how much she tried, nothing was connecting. She recognized people, but didn't know from where. She caught herself saying things that she felt she had said before. And then there was that drawing she had found recently. The one that made her almost gasp aloud upon looking at that demon….

She had walked towards the river, and now stood on the bank, surprised to see someone swimming in it already. But as she peered to take a closer look and identify who it could be, the person turned around to face her.

It happened again. The flashes of memories that she knew where hers once, but now just a piece of forgotten history. How she yearned to understand what these images on her mind meant. Did this demon know? Was he really intertwined with her past?

Now would be the time to fish for answers. After he agreed to talk to her, she went to fetch him some fresh clothing – he claimed his current clothes were soiled – then allowed him to dress. Now they sat near the bank, him positioned atop a large boulder, and her at the base.

She spoke first: "You seem different than yesterday."

"I am." He said simply. "You seem different too."

"I am."

Silence, then: "So…what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

Kagome sighed and touched her comb again. It was decorated with her favourite flower – the flower from the dream: the pink lily. Ever since her first dream, the first time she had ever laid eyes on it, she fell in love with its delicate beauty. But more importantly, it was the symbolism it held for her, the ties it had with her past, that made it important. She longed for a real one, but settled for the gift from the village to her, it being a comb with an extravagant ornament in the shape of the lily. She wore it everyday. It gave her a sense of protection, security, bravery. Without it, she felt naked.

"I don't know where to start." She said quietly.

"The beginning is a nice place." He said dryly.

Kagome chuckled at that. "This is going to sound so foolish. I'm going to ask you to keep an open mind. But…" she took a deep breath, unable to believe she was going to share this with someone else. And a demon no less. "…well, have you ever felt that you've met someone, and you've felt like you've known them before? Or you've done something, or said something, and its all familiar to you? Like you done or met them before…maybe in a past life?"

The demon didn't reply, not surprisingly. As her words hung in the air, she could only imagine how insane he thought she was. Had she not believe in this theory so strong, she would have thought herself a kook as well. She glanced at him, expecting him to looking at her strangely.

He was, but not the strange she expected. He looked surprised, but it was mixed with something else. An facial expression that conveyed to her a feeling of…

Hope?

---

It was all Inuyasha could do from keeping his mouth from opening. He told himself to hold it together, that this could really have nothing to do with him, or the fact that she was beginning to actually remember him some. She could be referring to someone else that she knows that she felt she's known before. It didn't have to be him.

And yet, it would make so much more sense if it were him. It would explain her wanting to talk to him, not to mention their flower that she had tucked in her hair.

And because of that, Inuyasha was going to agree with her wholeheartedly with her statement, then attempt to jog her memory a bit to see if she really did remember him. But before he could, she began back-pedalling.

"You must think I'm a crazy miko, whose been inhaling to much incense, don't you." She said in a nervous chuckle.

"No, I don't. I–"

"You don't have to say anything. I apologize for badgering you with my ramblings. You must hate me anyway, for having shot you just yesterday, then to seek ur companion ship today."

"I don't hate you. You–"

"How'd you get those out anyway?" she asked curiously.

"Some other miko took 'em out. Now listen to me I don't think you sound crazy or anything."

"Really. It's nice of you to say that, but you don't have to lie."

"Ka-go-may."

A small smile appeared on her face. But then she shook her head. "Its okay. I'll be seeing you Yash."

He winced. "Don't call me that."

Kagome had been leaving, but stopped when she heard him. "Call you what?"

"Yash."

"Isn't that your name?"

He shrugged. "It's just a youkai term. Call me Inuyasha."

She smiled. "Inuyasha." She nodded. "It fits you better. And I've heard it before…" she frowned in thought. "…somewhere."

Inuyasha fought of excitement. "Where?"

"I don't know. I think I've said it before…but…" she sighed. "I don't know. I can't remember." She shook her head solemnly. "I wish I could remember."

Inuyasha slid off the rock and approached her as she continued: "You wouldn't understand. You don't know how awful it is to not remember your past. To see things you remember, but can't recognize. I feel like I don't know who I am sometimes."

His heart squeezed painfully. "Oh Kagome," he took her hands in his. "It's not your fault that you don't remember." It's mine, he thought sadly.

"I want to remember so bad Inuyasha. I wish I could get a sign or something."

She was looking up at him so earnestly, as if he had all the answers and she was dying to hear them from him. How he wished he could just pour out to her everything she wanted to know. But it was obvious that she was too fragile for that kind of truth yet. More importantly, she was just reaching out to him for the sake of doing it. Even though Inuyasha knew her intimately, she probably still considered him a stranger. Now was just not the time.

She shook her head. "Sorry, I'm acting so melodramatic."

"Its okay." He grinned. "I like melodramatic."

She smiled and appeared to be responding to that comment, but she was interrupted by another voice.

"Sister?"

Both she and Inuyasha turned around to see a young boy standing a couple feet away. Inuyasha immediately recognized him as Souta, Kagome's little brother. So then Kagome's family most have been taken to this time as well, he thought. And for that, he was thankful. At least she had people who cared about her to go home to.

Then his eyes widened at the little kitsune sitting on the boy's shoulders.

"Shippo!" he blurted out.

Kagome, Souta, and the kid fox demon looked at him questioningly. "How did you know that? Do you know this little kitsune?" Kagome had asked.

Luckily for Inuyasha, he didn't get a chance to reply, because he really had no swift way out of that outburst. "Sister, isn't that the demon that attacked the village yesterday?" Souta wanted to know. "Why are you being so friendly? He was going to kill us all!"

Inuyasha felt bad at the sound of the boy's words, compelling him to apologize. But before he could get a word in, Kagome beat him to the punch.

"Oh Souta, Inuyasha didn't mean to do yesterday. Not all demons are bad remember? Like Shippo for example."

"Exactly!" Shippo perked.

Souta still looked skeptical, but no longer angered. "Mother was looking for you." he said.

"I'm coming back now."

Souta nodded, then disappeared back through the trees he came through. Kagome looked apologetically at Inuyasha.

"I have to go be a priestess now." She said with a shrug.

"I understand."

Slowly, she removed her hands from his grasp. He frowned, wanting to hold onto her for a little longer.

She took a step back, still looking at him. "You should attack the village more often."

"Huh?" he said, confused.

"Attack the village." She repeated. "Then run. I'd have to come after you. It's my duty." Then she winked.

Inuyasha grinned, understanding what she was indirectly saying. "Will do."

She nodded, then smiled. "I look forward to that then."

Inuyasha watched her as she left, using the same path her brother had. He could feel himself smiling. He was looking forward to that as well.

A/N: READ AND REVIEW ppl!! im still watching you sneaks who r trying to get away with reading my story with out reviewing. if you like it: TELL ME! or risk that i'll leave you all hanging in suspense n never finish the tale. n if you guys r flamers, just tone down on the flame. if you dont like it, tell me "calmly" that you dont. sheesh.

but to you all that do review, you know Brinvixen luvvs ya!!

see ya'll later...

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