Special Moments in Time

A Memory Away

The varied group of travelers had set up camp near a crystal blue stream. It was the middle of the day; the sun beat down on them mercilessly. Even Inuyasha had to take off his outer fire rat haori while he perched on one of the many branches of a tree for shade.

Miroku wiped sweat off his brow as he sat down under the same tree the hanyou was currently perched on. Sango was washing her face in the nearby stream to cool down, if only a little.

Shippou was napping near a weary Kagome, who was gulping down her third bottle of water. Good thing she had brought back some bottled water from her time.

"It's very hot today" Sango said as she dried her face off with the towel Kagome handed her.

"No shit" Inuyasha grunted moodily, he really hated the heat.

"Inuyasha, be nice" Kagome scolded lightly taking the towel Sango gave back to her and putting it back in her backpack.

"Keh" he grunted again. Kagome looked over at him in mild surprise.

"What?" he snapped.

"That's it, you're not going to say anything else?" she asked him.

"No" he said shortly, not getting her point.

"I believe the heat has made Inuyasha lose his will to argue" Miroku stated sagely.

"Don't be stupid monk" Inuyasha glared down at Miroku. Kagome giggled softly, however the moment was disturbed by Shippou yelling out in his sleep.

All four of them and Kirara too turned to look at the young kitsune. He was tossing and turning and beads of sweat glistened on his face. His nose was scrunched up, and his eyes shut tight. A tear ran down the side of his face making Kagome tense up.

"Kagome" Shippou mumbled in his sleep, but all of them heard. Kagome was at his side in an instant.

"Shippou, wake up" she shook him gently. His eyes flew open and he looked around in fright before his eyes fell on Kagome. She was looking down at him with a very concerned expression.

He immediately bolted into her lap and snuggled closer. Kagome's arms wound around him, she patted his back with the intention of calming him down.

Sango, Miroku and Inuyasha watched the kit holding on to Kagome for dear life; they decided not to say anything. Kagome was the only one who could pacify him right now.

"What's wrong Shippou? Did you have a bad dream?" she asked him gently.

She felt him nod his head, but he refused to say anything. "What was it about?" she coaxed.

"M-My parents…t-they were k-killed" he stuttered out making Kagome hold him closer. Shippou hadn't been having nightmares about his parents being murdered for a long time; they thought he had gotten over it. Maybe he would never really get over it completely, after all, he was just a kid when he saw them get killed right in front of his eyes.

"It's ok Shippou, we're all right here, we won't let anything happen" Kagome said softly, stroking his hair in a soothing gesture.

"But you l-left" Shippou said.

"What?" It was Inuyasha who was asking the questions now, "What do you mean she left, she's right here"

"No, in my d-dream, Kagome left" the young kitsune said looking up at the miko.

"Don't be silly Shippou, I'm not going anywhere" Kagome said, smiling warmly down at the kit.

"Will you stay with us forever?" he asked with childish innocence, this pulled at her heart strings. She felt a feeling of helplessness wash over her.

Inuyasha noticed the change in Kagome's scent, and he didn't like it, he was just about to scold the kit and change the topic but his thoughts froze when he heard Kagome answer Shippou.

"I can't promise that Shippou"

'What does she mean she can't promise that?' Inuyasha thought, didn't she already promise him that she would stay by his side forever. Well, maybe she didn't say forever but she did say she would stay for as long as he wanted her to and he wanted her to stay forever damn it. Surely she wouldn't break that promise. Would she?

Kagome's face suddenly brightened up, "Hey, how about I sing you a song to help you get back to sleep"

"But what if I get bad dreams again?" he asked her nervously.

"When I was young, I had a lot of nightmares too after my father died. My mother used to sing me songs to help me get back to sleep and I always ended up in a nice dreamless sleep after that" Kagome said gently.

"Ok" said the kitsune before cuddling closer to Kagome.

Kagome took a deep breath and started to sing. Her voice was soft and innocent. Inuyasha's ears perked up when he heard the first line.

"I hear the voice of my destiny call

And I know I must go find my way"

What did she mean by that? Wasn't her destiny here, in the feudal period…with him?

"The hardest part will be leaving you all

And I'll miss you much more than words can say"

Inuyasha's claws dug into the bark of the branch. There was no way she was leaving them…leaving him, he wouldn't let her. What the hell did she mean by singing this song? This wasn't going to cheer Shippou up. He looked over at her when she started singing the next stanza.

"I'll be only a memory away

If you need me, you can call me anytime of day

I'll be there"

Another tear rolled down Shippou's cheek, Kagome wiped it away.

"It's ok…

Only a memory away"

Wait, was she really leaving? Is that why she was singing this song? WHY the hell was she leaving!?

"My intuition says something is wrong

My friends said they'd come say good bye"

Kagome looked over at Sango and Miroku, they gave her sad smiles. Yes, they knew that she might have to leave them after the Shikon-o-tama was put back together.

Inuyasha glared at the monk and demon slayer. They said they'd say good bye to her did they. Not if he had anything to say about it.

He jumped down from the tree and started glaring at Kagome.

She was NOT leaving.

Shippou's hold on Kagome tightened. He thought that if he loosened his grip, she might just disappear. Kagome smiled down at him.

"I can't go until I know what's going on

I fear there is danger somewhere nearby"

So, does she mean that she won't leave till they defeat Naraku. What about after that?

She looked straight at him, as if she had read his thoughts; she started singing the next line.

"I'll be only a memory away

If you need me, you can call me anytime of day"

She smiled at him making him feel funny inside.

"I'll be there

It's ok…

Only a memory away"

'But I don't want a memory, I want the real thing' Inuyasha felt like someone had ripped his heart out, and she hadn't even left yet. Just the thought alone was enough to make his blood run cold.

"We've been together through good times and bad

You've always been there for me"

Was she singing that to him?

Her gaze swept over the monk and the taijiya. They had fallen asleep. Kagome smiled softly.

"I'll always treasure the best friends I have

Eternally"

She turned to look at him again before she sang the final stanza.

"Only a memory away

If you need me, you can call me anytime of day

I'll be there"

She laid Shippou who was also asleep now, gently back on the soft grass covered ground near her backpack.

"It's ok…

I'm only a memory away…"

She turned her head to come face to face with a very angry hanyou. She gasped softly in surprise at how close he was.

"You are NOT leaving" he ground out through clenched teeth.

"Of course I'm not leaving now" Kagome assured him.

"You're not leaving EVER" he clarified.

"Inuyasha, like I said, I can't promise that" she said gently, sitting down and making herself comfortable. She patted the spot next to her, indicating that he should sit there. He slowly complied.

"Why not?" he asked, it almost sounded like a whine.

"Because, what happens after the jewel is complete, I'll have no reason to return back here"

"Isn't seeing us all again reason enough?" he argued.

"Inuyasha, all of you belong here" she sighed, "I don't"

"Of course you belong here, don't be stupid wench" he admonished, "This is your home"

She smiled slightly, "I guess this is sort of like my home" she agreed.

"Then what's the problem?"

"What if the only reason I'm here is to find the jewel shards and put them back together, what if after that I'm not allowed to stay here any longer, what if the jewel sends me back?"

Inuyasha's ears drooped lower and lower after every 'what if' question she asked.

"I won't let it" he said quickly, "I'd shatter it again"

Kagome laughed, though it wasn't like her usual carefree laugh, this laugh seemed almost forced, "You can't do that Inuyasha"

"You're not leaving us" he stated more firmly, there was no way he would let some stupid jewel take her away from him.

"Let's worry about that when it happens ok" she said grinning at him, this time it was genuine, "It's depressing talking about that now"

"Keh" he said, "You're not leaving" there was a tone of finality in his voice.

Kagome was the only happy thing that had ever happened to him. She didn't bring him happiness, she was his happiness. She wasn't leaving him. No, he would make sure of that…

AN: - I know there are probably quite a few stories where Kagome sings to Shippou but I though this song really fit the situation. I mean, doesn't it sound like something she would say in case she ever were to leave. Anyway, Thank you so much to all those who have reviewed so far.

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DISCLAIMER: - I'm disclaiming all rights to both Inuyasha and the song. They both belong to their respective creators.

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Till next time...