A/N: -looks irritated- I had this chapter completely done. Now I gotta re-do it. X.x Fun. Anyhow, disclaimers and I hope you enjoy!
~~OO~~II~~OO~~
Miroku had his face buried in his hands, and Rin was gently rubbing his back, reassuringly, under the intense disapproving look of Sesshomaru. Inuyasha was standing beside his half-brother and Kagome sat in the chair beside Miroku, Shippo playing in her lap.
Though she looked like she was just thinking, Kagome truthfully proved to be confused. Her head hurt beyond belief, everything was fuzzy, making her dizzy, feeling like she would pass out at any moment.
"Kagome?" Shippo said softly, his green eyes full of concern for the young woman. "Are you okay?"
Inuyasha glanced over when he spoke, his own golden eyes holding concern.
"…" was Kagome's reply just before the doctor came in and said, "Hello, you must be the group looking to see Mrs. Sango, correct?" The man said, smiling slightly, his eyes drifting down Rin's figure –only looking away when Sesshomaru growled. "Mrs. Sango was very upset that she didn't get to welcome a Miss Kagome and Mr. Inuyasha home."
Inuyasha immediately felt his distrust for this man rise, making his way to stand protectively in front of Kagome and Shippo. Something was wrong. The man before them didn't have a scent, and Sesshomaru had noticed as well.
Meanwhile, Kagome quivered her eyes wide and the fuzziness in her vision gone as she clutched Shippo to her chest. Then she shot up, scaring Inuyasha half to death when she suddenly said loudly, eyes cold with fury, "What did you do to my sister!"
This shocked Inuyasha and he jerked his head around to look at her.
Kagome's blue eyes flickered between fury and blankness as memories shot through her mind.
Four year old Sango reached a hand out, offering to help her up. "Let's be friends!"
Seven year old Kagome laughed as she tackled her friend, grinning. "Got you, Sango!"
"Kags," Sango soothed, rubbing her friend's back as she screamed and sobbed into Sango's shoulder. "Everything will be alright. I know it hurts now; I know exactly how you feel. But everything will turn out fine, I promise. Mr. Higurashi's probably glad you're alive…"
Kagome hummed as she wondered around her house, Sango trailing after her as they discussed Inuyasha…
Sango's fearful expression as she watched in horror as the snow demon's fang went through Kagome's torso, almost killing her then and there.
Sango giving a wail just as darkness seeped in…
Kagome strongly glared at the man, daring him to object when she snarled, "What did you do to her! You bastard! She's innocent! WHAT DID YOU DO?"
"Kagome?" Rin whispered, a ghost of a smile flickering across her face. "You…"
Inuyasha's ear swiveled towards Kagome when the man smirked, and he pressed back slightly against her.
And then, to everyone's surprise, Sesshomaru sighed, stepping forward. "Ah, Magatsuhi," He said, nodding a greeting. Inuyasha went stock still. "I see you will be interfering with our family just like Naraku did…?"
Magatsuhi waved him off, smirking as Miroku's face paled. "Not like will be, Sesshomaru, more like has been. I was the one who ordered Naraku to do as he did. But he couldn't keep a demon under control and my plans were ruined when his own ended up killing the most important woman in my plans…"
Inuyasha's temper snapped and he snarled, pressing even more against the woman behind him. "What did you do to Sango?"
"A minor spell," Magatsuhi sighed as his true form made itself known. He smirked again, shooting a look at Kagome.
Kagome gasped as her legs crumpled beneath her. Inuyasha dropped down beside her, whining softly in confusion. "Stop it!" He demanded.
The look was turned on Inuyasha and he and Kagome traded places. Inuyasha gave an uncharacteristic shriek, crashing to the ground and Kagome stifled a sob, her hand shaking as she gently touched his cheek. "Stop!" She cried. "Stop! You're hurting him! Stop! Please!"
Rin's face paled and her eyes widened in horror as her brother-in-law convulsed on the ground, eyes wide with pain and shock. Then he was still.
Sesshomaru growled, stepping forward, reaching for his Bakusaiga. Yes, his brother was a half-breed and he didn't exactly like his brother, but Inuyasha was Sesshomaru's brother, none the less.
And then, to everyone's shock, Sesshomaru was down.
Rin shrieked, clamping her eyes shut in pain as the pain raced through their mating bond.
Kagome staggered to her feet, furious. "Go away!" She yelled.
Shippo hid behind Miroku's legs. The man quivered with anger at the thought that this man had been near his wife while she lay helpless in the ICU. "You've proven that you're stronger," he said suddenly, voice shaking. "Now go. We won't challenge you right now."
Magatsuhi gave a cocky smile. "Damn right." His lavender gaze landed lightly on Kagome until the girl collapsed.
"What are you doing?!" Miroku finally demanded. "What the hell are you doing? How! This isn't any kind of spell I've seen!"
"Of course not," The demon replied as he disappeared. "It's my own creation.
And Miroku was left alone with the unconscious bodies of his friends, Shippo shaking in fear behind him.
~~OO~~II~~OO~~
She groaned as she opened her eyes slowly, blinking away the blurriness that made her dizzy. What had happened? All she could remember was Miroku dragging her to the hospital, and then the surgery. And then…
She cursed, shooting up, cringing as pain flared up her front. "Damn," she muttered, rubbing. For the first time, she noticed the dozing figure of a kitsune in her lap. "Shippo?"
Shippo stirred, looking up at her with tired and puffy green eyes. "Sango!" He cried, hugging her neck tightly. "I was so scared!" He wailed. "We came here to see you and that guy came and hurt everyone but me and Miroku, and Miroku said to stay here while he took care of them and that he'd be here soon!"
Sango's eyes widened and she gently, soothingly, stroked Shippo's hair, shushing him softly. "Calm down, Shippo. Are they alright?"
"Miroku said they'd be okay, they just needed rest. He took them home."
Sango sighed in relief. "Good. To tell you the truth, I think you're talking about the guy that I didn't know who came in here. He was very kind to me, but I know he was a demon. Did he have light purple hair?"
"Yes."
"Same man," Sango said firmly, soothingly rubbing his back. "Now let's get some more sleep, hm, Shippo?"
She lay back down –carefully. Just as she began to fall asleep, she heard Shippo manage to say, "Oh! And Kagome remembers you."
~~OO~~II~~OO~~
Inuyasha chuckled, twisting his head to nuzzle Kagome's cheek reassuringly. "How are you holding up?" He murmured to her, eyes full of anxiety.
Kagome ignored the blackness that was invading her vision by the second and she barely managed to reply, "Fine." She closed her eyes again, her breathing harsh, she noted. She wasn't stupid. The demon had stabbed her through the stomach with a fang and she was only human-and it hurt like hell. She was dying, and Inuyasha knew it, too. He just refused to believe it.
"Come on, we need to find Naraku," Inuyasha said, sniffing the air, and then starting for the broken door again. "He's this way…Kagome?" Kagome had coughed harshly, spewing red all over his shoulder. She gave a rasping breath, bubbling coming from her chest as she coughed up the blood.
"Kagome," Inuyasha whimpered, gently shifting so that she was cradled against his chest, his ears flattening. "Sesshomaru?"
"Tenseiga is not with me at the moment," Sesshomaru replied back softly.
"Stay awake, Kagome," Inuyasha murmured. "We'll come back for Naraku later. Just…" his voice cracked in pain. "Look at me, okay?"
Kagome stared up at him, her eyes dull. "Inuyasha…"
He whimpered, nuzzling her hair as their friends and family paused, looking back with concerned eyes. "Stay with me, alright? We'll get you to the hospital, right now."
Sesshomaru grunted from where he was. "She won't make it, Inuyasha." He said bluntly, eyes narrowing.
Sango lifted her head, her eyes panicked. "What?! Kagome's dying?!" She struggled to get off of Kirara, but Miroku kept her there, his eyes dark with concern for his wife. "Let go!"
Inuyasha snarled at Sesshomaru, his own eyes full of panic. "She'll be fine, damn it!"
Kagome sighed, closing her eyes. She nuzzled her face against Inuyasha's chest, breathing in his smell. The black wave seemed to be flooding into her mind and she smiled. "Love you Inuyasha."
"No, no, no," Inuyasha snarled, frantically kissing her neck, nipping gently. "Stay awake," he said urgently. He kissed the joint of her neck, clenching his teeth. "Please, Kagome, stay awake."
Kagome closed her eyes, her breathing rattling in her chest as she relaxed against Inuyasha. "Can't…" she mumbled. The twenty something year old woman looked like a helpless child in Inuyasha's arms, her breathing becoming shallower. She smiled as the wave consumed her and she went under...
Kagome shrieked, shooting forward, tears spilling over and hitting the blanket that covered her. The warm body beside her jerked in surprise, confusion evident on the person's face. "What the- Kagome?"
But Kagome was sobbing into her hands, shaking her head furiously. "No, no, no!" She cried.
((Flashback))
The dream started like it usually did…but somehow seemed to pick off where it left off.
Kagome whirled around, her eyes searching the never ending blackness of…well, whatever this was. "Please!" She screamed and pleaded to nobody in particular. "Please, help me! Where do I go?"
A flash of silver.
Kagome jerked around to look at it, her eyes full of relief. It was the silver haired man! He would help her, wouldn't he!? "Please," she pleaded again.
He stopped his golden eyes full of fury as he glared at the woman before him. "You left us," he accused, his tone cold. His silver hair drifted in a nonexistent breeze. "You left us."
"No, I didn't!" Kagome cried, her eyes filling with tears. "I don't know what you mean! Please!"
He raised a hand, examining the claws. "Why should I? What did you ever do but leave us behind?"
Kagome's face paled. "I'm sorry," she choked out. "I didn't want to!" Whoa, wait a moment, where had those words come from!?
"Didn't want to," he sneered, returning his furious golden eyes to her, searching her own eyes. "You didn't even warn us. You just…left!"
"I'm sorry," Kagome repeated, giving another sob. "I'll make it up! I won't leave again!" Okay, where had those words come from, too? Her gaze dropped as she waited for him to leave, abandoning her to the blackness of nothing.
"You promised."
Kagome opened her eyes, raising them to meet the gaze of the stranger before her, shock running through her when she discovered him inches from her.
"You promised," he repeated. "You promised that you wouldn't leave me. And I, in return, promised the same thing, did I not?"
Kagome nodded dumbly.
"You might be a liar, one who isn't afraid to break promises. But I am not one who does that," he mused.
Kagome understood. "You'll take me back?"
"No."
Tears filled her eyes again, this time with anger. "You won't take me back there?! Why not!?" She screamed at him.
"No, I won't take you back," he said, his eyes softening as he raised a clawed hand, caressing her cheek. Kagome instinctively leaned into his hand. Kagome's eyes shut. She'd never get out, would she?
"I'll take you home, though."
Kagome opened her eyes in surprise. "What?" She whispered.
He smiled slightly, leaning closer to her so that his lips were just moments away from pressing against hers. Kagome froze. He chuckled. "Come home, Kagome." He leaned over and just barely kissed her, his lips a soft pressure against hers. "I'll protect you. I won't leave you alone, ever again…"
Kagome's eyes fluttered shut as she returned the kiss, giving a small fearful whimper as he pulled away, an amused look in his golden eyes. "I see now," he murmured, raising a clawed hand and pressing it against her heart…or where her heart should've been. He gave a wry smile. He fingered the summer dress she wore for some reason.
Kagome frowned in confusion, hesitantly pressing against him, nervous he would attempt to leave her in the black. "What?"
"I see now," he repeated, his golden eyes becoming hard with a small amount of anger. "You don't love me enough, do you?" He whispered, locking gazes with her.
Kagome stared into the molten gold, biting her lip nervously. "I do love you," she insisted, not having a clue why she did, but she just knew. "I don't know who you are…" she raised a shaky hand, cupping his cheek, "but I do. I promise."
"If you did, your heart would be right here," he said, placing a flat hand against her chest, just above her breasts. "Here, in you, with me, where it belongs." His voice was icy again, hardening with fury.
Kagome gave a small sob, burying her face in the man's shirt. "I do, I do," she swore, eyes swimming with tears, "I really do. I don't know you, I don't remember you though I should, but I do. I promise."
A fang appeared, sliding over his lip as he smiled, eyes softening again. "I see, so that's why. You love me, but you don't remember me?" His hands drifted to her hips as he allowed her to lean on him, giving small sobs. "That's why you don't remember me. You're heart isn't there, so you've lost your memories. And you can't get them and your heart back because you have no memories to look back to."
Kagome lifted her tear streaked gaze to look up at him, azure eyes confused. "What are you talking about?"
The man before her was beginning to get excited, his ears swiveling on top of his head as he gave the happiest grin she'd ever seen. "If I show you, you'll get your heart back, you'll remember me!" He surprised her with a chaste kiss to the lips. "For now…" he smiled gently at her. "I'll give you something to help. I know you're looking for the actual me, correct?"
"Yes…" Kagome said carefully. "I am…but what exactly are you if you're not the actual you?"
"A memory that has its own thoughts," the man mused, brushing a lock of hair out of Kagome's face.
"Oh."
He spoke up again, looking down at her. "Every time you sleep," he suddenly promised. "I'll see you; show you part of the missing past. Eventually, you'll remember everything, and your heart will return, freeing you from him…but he can't find out, or he'll erase me and nobody will help you. You'll never see me, or know who the actual me is."
Kagome froze, tightening her grip on his shirt. "No," she croaked.
He laughed; kissing her head as he reassuringly cradled her in his arms. "Your clue, wench…" He reminded her.
"What is it?" Kagome was instantly curious. "What's the clue?"
He sighed, curling a finger and using it to lift her chin to meet his gaze, pressing another soft kiss to her lips before leaning closer, murmuring in her ear.
Kagome's eyes went completely wide with shock. "Trust…?"
He nodded, already beginning to fade. "I cannot tell you who he is, but he is worth your trust. You may tell him what you are looking for, as you were thinking about this morning. Who has your heart. Why they have it. I will see to him later. He cannot reveal himself to you as his full self until you have discovered it for yourself." His doggy ears twitched and he was gone.
((End of Flashback))
"KAGOME!"
Kagome started out of the memory, eyes frantic with confusion. "…Inuyasha?"
The hanyou was gently holding her shoulders, his claws just barely pricking her skin. In fact…he was under the same blanket, in the same bed…
Kagome cursed, ripping herself from him. "What are you doing in my-" she cut off, her eyes going blank as she came to a sudden realization. That's what the memory of Inuyasha had been saying 'you left me' about. She'd died, right in his arms as he'd begged her to stay with him.
She really had left him, not even fighting it.
Kagome burst into tears, burying her face in her hands. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she choked out, lifting her tear streaked face to look at Inuyasha. "I'm sorry!"
Inuyasha looked at her in honest confusion. "About what? You didn't do anything wrong. Miroku was the one who stuffed us into the bed together-"
"No," Kagome cut him off, hiding her face again. "I'm sorry. I left you alone, I promised I wouldn't, but I died and…and you asked me not to go and I did anyways."
Inuyasha soothingly rubbed her back, still trying to figure out how he'd ended up sleeping in the same bed as his now intended mate and how much trouble he was going to be in because of Miroku doing so. "That wasn't your fault." He said quietly. "I promise I'm not mad at you anymore. I was just worried, and upset that you were…gone."
Kagome bit back a harsh laugh, drawing her knees up and resting her forehead on them. "And I'll most likely be leaving again eventually, huh? I'm still sorry though. And I'm sorry that I can't remember any of you…well, I remember Sango, but that's it. I can't remember you, or Takahashi-san, or Shippo, or Miroku-sama, or Rin-chan. I feel terrible that I can't."
Inuyasha growled softly. "Kagome."
She glanced up, surprised to see his face only barely inches away. "What are you doing?"
He smirked then said gently, "You don't remember me. But…you trust me, right?"
"…of course," Kagome breathed, her blue eyes round with surprise and confusion.
"Then that's okay," Inuyasha told her. "We'll make new things for you to remember." Then he suddenly pressed his lips to hers in a quick, forgiving kiss. When he pulled back, his eyes smoldered at her.
Kagome flushed a bright red, then came to a realization that Inuyasha had been hoping to distract her from. "…what are you doing in my bed?!"
"Actually," Inuyasha responded easily, flopping backwards with a smirk. "It's my bed. We're at the Takahashi Mansion. I don't see what the big deal is," he lied, "you've slept in it with me before- I swear it was just sleep, I didn't do anything!" He added on quickly at her dark look. "I wouldn't."
Kagome sighed, exhaustion evident on her expression. "Are you okay?" She asked suddenly, remembering what had happened. "Magatsuhi…he…"
"I'm fine," Inuyasha reassured. "I'm a little sore for some reason, but that's all. If I was dangerously hurt, you would know and I'd be complaining about it. According to my bastard of a brother, I whine too much."
Kagome laughed and his eyes softened further. "Lay down," he told her, "I won't do anything. I'll just protect you while you sleep…maybe sleep a little myself."
Kagome was hesitant, uncertain. "Can I trust you to not try anything?"
"Yes," Inuyasha said firmly. He brushed his lips against her forehead before falling backwards with a loud yawn. "Now sleep."
Kagome smiled slightly, then lowered herself carefully, closing her eyes to fall into sleep. Of course she noticed when he wrapped his arms around her, bringing her closer and nuzzling his face into her as their legs became tangled.
But she was too tired to do anything about it and fell into a deep slumber.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed!