Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Advance
"Kagome!!! Kagome!!!" She braced herself as a wildly running Inuyasha flung himself into her arms. "You're home! I thought you'd never get home." She curbed her laughter and patted his back.

"I told you I would be home as soon as school finished."

"But it was so loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong ago!" He emphasized dolefully.

"You know I will always come back."

He didn't answer; instead he raised his eyes to her face, as though in search on something.

"What's the matter?"

He pursed his lips.

"You've told me that before…you said you would always come back."

"Well…it's true."

"No…I mean…I remember you told me this before. I don't know when…but I…remember you did."

She hugged him tightly.

"That's wonderful, Inuyasha!"

He continued staring guardedly.

"Your scent was too strong. I remember feeling like I was going to faint."

"My…scent? Are…are you sure?" She never recalled Inuyasha ever telling her that her scent made him sick.

He nodded.

"Tears. It was full of tears…and so heavy…I don't know why."

Oh! That time!

"I…I'd had a difficult week."

He shook his head.

"No…it…it wasn't that. I remember…a decision…" Disentangling himself from her, he turned away. "I…I was guilty."

"No! Not at all." Well…maybe a little. She touched his back gently. "It was a misunderstanding."

"No! I remember! I said: 'I cannot ask Kagome to come back. It wouldn't be fair to her. I have no right.'…and Miroku sighed…and…and Sango looked sad and Shippo looked at me with pity. I remember that but why can't I remember what I did?! What is wrong with me?!" He crouched into a ball.

"Inuyasha., there is nothing wrong with you."

"Then tell me what I did wrong! Tell me why you were crying! Please! I want to know! I want to remember everything."

"Inuyasha…let's go to my room and talk there okay? I'll grab you a glass of water."

"You'll tell me?"

"Yes."

He sat on her bed with all the weight of his full age weighing down his shoulders. What could he have done?

"Now…here's your water." She said offering him the glass. He took it, his gaze, all the while, on the floor.

"So you remember when I came back, yes?"

He nodded.

"I had been crying…but it's normal. You see, we – you and I – we just…we had a bit of a communication problem. I went thinking one thing…and you – well…I don't know what you were thinking, but from what you've told me, I'm glad I didn't give you the chance to act on it."

"What did I do, Kagome?"

"Nothing. I promise you, you did nothing bad, nothing you should feel guilty about. You met someone…and didn't tell me about it, that is all."

"Why would I do that?"

"I think that is something best left for you to remember in order to understand."

"I…I want to know…but you're right…I need to remember." He sighed. "I wish I c'd do it faster." He placed the glass on the floor.

"We have time, don't worry."

"It's just…" He huffed slightly. "I…feel even more like a …a freak. I mean…I'm all big…but I'm still small in my head…and that's weird!"

"It may feel odd but, trust me, you'll get better."

"Yeah…but…I wanna get better now…"

"There is no need to hurry, alright? And you are not a freak, no matter what."

"I…it's nice to hear. Thank you, Kagome…" She smiled but the slow lowering of his ears wasn't lost on her. Her hand moved to his shoulder.

"Inuyasha is Inuyasha and that's all I care about."

He nodded mutely.

"I can only imagine how hard it is on you, but I know you're trying and you should be proud of what you do remember so far."

"I just…want to remember you! I want to know things without you having to tell me first!" He bit his lip. "Like… why I've never seen Miroku actually tell Sango he liked her but I know they'll mate? Why Shippo is afraid of thunder? Why I wake up sometimes and it feels like this…" He pointed to the spot where Kikyo's arrow had pinned him. "…is on fire…or, or why I see your crying face above me almost every night! I wanna know why you are still alive despite meeting Sesshomaru-nii-san and why I keep seeing a sword and my daddy's face." He lowered his head. "I've never seen my pappa before, Kagome…" His words were muffled. "My big brother told me he died on the day I was born…that he died because of me."

She couldn't help feeling surprised at the amount of information he had recalled, but her heart ached for him.

"A year or so ago…there was a cursed sword called Soun'ga. You and Sesshomaru joined forces to seal it and, when you did, your father's ghost appeared for a few moments. That's probably why…but…"

He raised timid eyes to her and her heart jolted again seeing them filled with tears.

"…you…said…that day that you didn't really see his face."

He cocked his head.

"I…in the flower field?"

"Yes." She smiled.

"Oh…" He blushed. "I…I think…I was sad because…I finally saw my pappa but…I didn't know him like big brother and…and big brother always tells me that it's my fault it's like this…so…"

She pulled him into her arms.

"I…I wish you'd have told me."

"I…I was scared. I don't know why but I remember fear…feeling fear."

"It's alright, Inuyasha. It's alright!" She brushed his hair softly. "See…you're remembering so much! Soon you'll know everything again."

"So…what about Miroku and Sango and Shippo?"

Kagome blushed.

"You…were with me…spying on them when he proposed. As for Shippo, his father was killed by thunder demons, you helped avenge him."

"Me?! Help avenge someone?!" He paused for a moment. "Do I battle cool-like?"

"Eh?"

"Am I cool? You know, when I battle? Do I battle much? Is that what the sword is for? Hey…where is the sword?"

She giggled.

"You are very cool when you battle. Very dashing and brave. You battle a bit, you protect us…the sword is a gift from your father and I put it away until you remember how to use it."

He pouted.

"Just until you remember." I don't think anyone could keep you from Tessaiga once you do!

"Kagome likes me!" He announced boisterously. "You think I'm brave! Does that mean you'll be my sweetheart one day?"

Her heart stopped for a moment.

"Kagome?!!! Kagome! I'm sorry." He pulled away from her abruptly. "I'm sorry…that was too…rude of me…I mean…I'm sorry just…make your heart beat normal again!" He implored her. "I don't want you to die coz of me."

"Die? Why would I die?" He was making her head spin.

"Your breathing was so hard and…and…your heart was all…normal then it stopped! I mean…it started again…and really fast….but you can't live if your heart stops! That's what happened to haha-ue!" He clenched his fists at his side. "I'm sorry."

She patted his head gently.

"I was just surprised, that's all. I'm alright, see?" She pulled him in again. "It's normal, yes?"

She felt him nod.

"And, to answer your question…" His ears pricked. "I do like you, Inuyasha…and…if someday, when you've remembered everything, you decide you'd still want me to be your sweetheart…" She tried to keep her heart as calm as possible. "…then…we'll talk. Alright?"

"Mkay…" He replied grudgingly.

"But I do like you, Inuyasha. That won't change…just asking someone to be your sweetheart is a big decision, you know? I want you to be absolutely sure, and you can't be until you remember everything."

He burrowed into her shoulder.

"Well…alright…but…but…when I get all my memory back I'm gonna kiss you, just so'z you know."

She giggled.

"Alright."

Author's Note: Fluff, as some of you had asked for. :D I hope you enjoy this chapter. Do forgive me for not thanking all those who review individually as of late. It's incredibly busy at the moment and I'm concentrating on just getting the chapters out; however, I do want you all to know I am very grateful for all your continued support and feedback. Ivellios, I'll mention you because you're the reason this chapter came about, with your question about Inuyasha and how there's such a huge discrepancy between what he looks like and how he sees himself. I hope that you find this to your liking. :) To all of you who have supported, and are supporting this story, I thank you truly! Your comments always make my day! Kind thanks!

Azaleea