Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha nor any of the characters mentioned in this story.

Small Steps
The boys had huge appetites come dinner time.

"Someone had a good time." Aya observed goodnaturedly. "Good thing I made extras."

She piled the food on Inuyasha's plate.

He stared.

"Anything the matter, dear?"

He continued to stare.

"Ume..boshi...Miroku liked those with onigiri...They were his favourite." He raised wide eyes to Kagome. "I know Miroku!!! I know who Miroku is! Kagome!!! I know who Miroku is!!!"

She could hardly contain her joy.

"That's wonderful, Inuyasha." She squeezed his hand tightly. "You remember anything else?"

He blushed.

"There is this really pretty lady..."

Kagome felt a leaden weight fall in her stomach as her family continued to listen in. She prayed for strength all the while dreading the words he was about to speak.

"...and...I can't remember her name...but she's pretty...and...Miroku...he...he..." She thought she saw the tips of his ears redden as they disappeared into his hair. "He...puts his hands on her...er...on her..."

He simply could not utter the name of the body part on which the monk placed his hands. "And she gets angry...and slaps him...or hits him with this big...er...'ku' shaped weapon."

Kagome felt the breath returning to her body.

"The lady's name is Sango. The weapon is called Hiraikotsu – because it comes back when she throws it."

"But...Kagome...how can you be friends with someone who is...like...like...that?"

She took a deep breath.

"Miroku-sama may have his faults, but he is a good person."

"But...I kinda...remember he always goes and asks women very...improper questions..."

Kagome smiled.

"Like I said. He is a good person at his core, and that's what counts the most."

Inuyasha nodded thoughtfully.

"Nee-chan?" Souta piped up. "So...where does this Miroku person put his hands?"

She turned a shade of red that rivaled Inuyasha's haori and was thankful for her mother's intervention:

"My...Inuyasha...you must be tired having remembered so much...Do you want to lie down?"

He was gone by the time she finished her sentence.

"Tell me more about everyone, please!"

She patted his hair gently and sat next to him.

"Well...let's see. Sango is a strong warrior and demon exterminator..."

"T-t-taijiya?!"

"Relax. She would never attack you." She chose to omit details of their first meeting. "She has a demon companion named Kirara. Remember? The fire-cat on whose back we rode to get to the well?"

He nodded.

"She...she was nice." He mumbled.

"Yes, Kirara is very nice."

"What else?"

"Well...there's Shippo?"

"The one who said I was like his brother?"

"That's the one."

Inuyasha's eyes shone with unshed tears.

"I always wanted a nice brother like that."

Kagome fought against the tears that threatened to fall.

"You get along well..." Usually...

"I want to remember so much!" She brushed his hair softly.

"All in good time."

"Say...Kagome...what happens if I don't remember?"

She couldn't dare to think about that.

"You will." Her smile was as much for his assurance as it was for her own. "You definitely will."

He laid his head across her lap.

"Will you still stay with me after I remember?"

She grasped his hand.

"I promise."

A/N:

Language notes:

umeboshi pickled plums

onigiri rice balls

Hiraikotsu is, in fact, shaped like the "ku" character from the Japanese hiragana syllabary. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I apologize for the formatting. It has refused co-operation under any circumstances. :S