Obligatory Disclaimer: The "Inu Yasha" series and its characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Sunrise, Shounen Sunday, Viz, and other corporate types. I am none of those entities. I'm just a silly fan writing silly stories because it's fun. Suing me would only be a waste of time and funds, so please don't.

I CHOOSE NOT TO WARN!

This story contains material that might be disturbing or outright triggering to some. Reader discretion advised.

Seed of Memory
By Misarae

Chapter Two
Recovery and Collapse

There was an annoying buzzing sound on the periphery of Kagome's consciousness. She'd been drifting for quite a while, though exactly how long, she wasn't sure. Every time she tried to break through the surface, she'd been dragged back under. She felt a little sheepish, knowing on an instinctive level that it was all the result of pushing herself so hard to heal Kikyou. She may not have been raised in tune with her spiritual abilities, or really been formally trained at all, but she was aware that the first few times she tried to wake up, she just didn't have the power to do so. She'd given her all to save the one person she should have hated most.

Truthfully, she couldn't bring herself to hate Kikyou, no matter how hard she tried. It was painfully obvious to her that at least at one time, Kikyou had loved Inu Yasha, or at the very least been fond of him in some way. She had likely been the first friend he ever had. If not for Kikyou's presence in his life, he might not have opened up to her so quickly, or put up with Shippou, or allowed Miroku and Sango to join their group.

So she could be jealous, and rally against the situation all she liked, but that wouldn't change anything. If she'd let Kikyou die, she couldn't have lived with herself.

The buzzing sound became a distinct murmur of voices, and Kagome hesitantly pushed against the bubble that seemed to have formed around her consciousness. This time, it popped, bringing the noise into her awareness full force.

"Be quiet, please," she tried to say, though it came out more as a mumble than anything else.

Shippou heard her, however, turning to look at her. At the sight of her feeble movements, tears began to swim in his eyes. "Kagome!" he cried, scampering over to her and clinging to the front of her kosode. "We were so worried!"

"Welcome back, Kagome-chan," Sango said gently.

"So good of you to join us once more, Kagome-sama," Miroku added.

"Where are we?"

"You're in my hut, Kagome," Kaede said. "Please tell me that you have not eaten from this bowl."

Kagome squinted, finally making out that Kaede was holding up a wooden bowl. "No, I just woke up."

Kaede looked over her shoulder. "Then it seems Inu Yasha was the only one affected."

"Inu Yasha? Is he okay?" In her barely conscious state, she realized that she could see Inu Yasha's legs just beyond the other people in the room. They were straight and still, something that never happened when he was whole and hale. She struggled to get up.

Shippou continued to cling to her and Kaede came to help, supporting Kagome's back.

"Are you sure you should be sitting up, Kagome-chan?"

"I'm a little dizzy, and I still feel weak," Kagome admitted.

"Then you should lie back down soon," Kaede said. "It seems that a supposed gift I received may have been a curse rather than a blessing."

"Why? What happened?" Kagome asked, detaching Shippou and setting him in her lap with a light ruffle of his hair.

Sango shook her head, then paused and put a hand over Miroku's eyes. Kagome looked down and realized that she was no longer in her school uniform, and her kosode had started to gap, giving Miroku an increasing eyeful of cleavage. Kagome drew the folds of fabric more tightly together and glared at Miroku.

"I was simply appreciating the lovely sight before me," Miroku protested.

"Yes, you were," Sango said with a hint of steel in her voice before dropping her hand. "Anyway, nobody knows what happened, exactly. Shippou came in first, then ran right back out, yelling at the top of his lungs that Inu Yasha had collapsed as well. We found him curled up on his side right about here." Sango shifted so that she knelt on the exact spot. "You know what a light sleeper he is, and we couldn't rouse him, so we put him over there."

"Now we're trying to figure out what exactly has caused his condition," Kaede finished.

Something that felt a bit like a pull nudged at one particular spot deep within Kagome's chest, in the location she'd come to recognize as the place her powers withdrew to when they were not immediately needed. The more she looked at Inu Yasha, the stronger it grew.

"I.. feel something."

Kaede looked at her, appraising the situation, then nodded. "Everyone, give Kagome some room."

They did, and Kagome fell forward to crawl on her hands and knees toward Inu Yasha. The closer she got, the more intense the sensation became. Before she knew it, she was there, beside him. Following her instincts, she slid her knees beneath her and got into a kneeling position before taking his hand in hers.

There was a burst of light, and Inu Yasha's eyes shot open.

The group gasped, and Miroku and Kaede exchanged looks. Something very strange was going on.

Inu Yasha blinked once, twice, then turned his head.

Kagome's heart rose into her throat. She'd never seen him look so open and vulnerable when conscious. Her pulse rose swiftly as she remembered the last time he'd stared at her with such intensity.

It had been just before Kikyou's resurrection, when she'd been convinced he was going in for a kiss.

Kagome squeaked as she felt herself enveloped in Inu Yasha's voluminous sleeves, her entire body acquiring a second layer. She tried to remember how to breathe as she felt Inu Yasha's breath against her neck, then she realized he was inhaling deeply, as if she were a lifeline.

"Thank goodness you're okay," he said roughly before apparently losing his tenuous grip on consciousness and slumping against her.

His sudden collapse made the entire group rush over, helping him to lie on his back again. Kagome couldn't help the blush that stained her cheeks.

What in the world brought that on?

Author's Note: I'm really sorry this is so short. I tried smushing it into one of the other chapters, but doing so upset the flow, since there are time skips on either side of this scene. Ah, well. Hopefully the next chapter will help make up for it! Some comedy and a healthy helping of fluff is on the way.

Edited to add: I am honestly amazed at how warmly this story is being received. I can only hope I don't disappoint everyone, especially those who have favorited, followed, and reviewed! Your kind words mean so much to me. Thank you!