InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Lost the Real Dream ❯ To Remember ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: I claim no ownership of Sengoku Otogizoushi - InuYasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. InuYasha belongs to Takahashi Rumiko, Shogakukan, Viz Media, ShoPro Entertainment, and Shounen; while Yu Yu Hakusho belongs to Togashi Yoshihiro, Shueisha, Viz Media, and Shounen. No profit or money of any kind is made from this fan-created crossover.

The brunette woman looked down at her bowl of ramen feeling as sad as Kagome looked. The day had started out so well too, with all of them getting together and enjoying their time together. Just being friends, albeit they were a strange group, but they were friends nonetheless. They had all gotten to know each other just that much better, and Keiko could tell that Kurama was especially glad. Even Keiko could see the sadness and pain that lay deep in Kagome's eyes. And the scars she saw on her back, it made her almost grateful Kagome couldn't remember anything about how they happened. Each one seemed so painful, even scarred over.

Keiko was not as naive as many would think, she knew and understood quite a bit. She knew enough to know that while wounds may heal and leave scars, it would take just one word, one scent, one anything to cause that old pain to flare up again. And anyone who stopped and truly looked at Kagome, they would see some of that old pain in her unique eyes. 'Like brother, like sister,' she half-heartedly joked to herself. But looking at the forced cheery smile and sadness lurking beneath those blue depths, she had to wonder what word or phrase brought it about.

Taking a deep breath, Keiko steadied herself for what she was about to ask and plunge into, "Kagome-chan... What is making you so sad?"

Kagome's eyes widened a little from surprise, before her face turned pensive. It almost seemed as if she was trying to figure that out herself, "Truthfully, Keiko-chan, I don't know. Hearing them say they have to leave at such a time was like a wound to the heart. As if it had been done a few times before.. But I just can't remember.."

"Shuuichi mentioned something about that to Yusuke, but not much else was said as to why you can't remember."

She leaned against the counter more, keeping her voice down from the other customers along with Inuyaska and Kaede, "Truthfully, I'm not all that clear on the details either. But from what I was told, I was found at the bottom of the well on my family's shrine, with a few wounds on my back and looking as if I hit my head against the well when I fell in. So they think when I hit my head, it knocked a few screws loose and I can't remember the past year of my life." Kagome smiled in amusement, and Keiko could tell she was trying even harder to push away her despair.

"And what do you think really happened?"

The smile slowly faded from Kagome's face, "Somehow, I think that while hitting my head had something to do with it... It feels like there's another reason as well.. One I just can't grasp yet." She shook her head softly before giving Keiko a genuine smile, "But Shuuichi says he will help me remember all I've forgotten, no matter what it takes. So, I have that to hold onto and look forward to."

Keiko couldn't help but smile fondly at her last two sentences. Anyone with any amount of sense could see how much the red-headed male was devoted to his older sister. She admired him for the care he showed for the young woman, especially since she was only half-related to him, "Yes, it is so easy to tell he would do anything to assure your happiness. Our coming together like this today is proof enough of that."

"I am really glad for it too," Kagome admitted, her voice a soft kind of grateful. "Something happened in the year I can't remember, and I'm no longer close with the people I once considered friends. I can't really even see them since I can't go to school either. I was afraid I wouldn't make any new friends, and you all remind me of the friends I can just barely remember having during that year. So, he's already helped me out so much by introducing us all. I feel like my memories are getting closer within my reach now."

Keiko smiled brightly at the older woman, "I'm sure Shuuichi will be so glad to know that today has been such a help to you, Kagome-san. Especially with the stunts Yusuke and Kuwabara pulled."

Kagome chuckled, "I'm sure he was more than grateful to have you around to keep them in check." At seeing a light blush dust itself across Keiko's cheeks, Kagome laughed, "Don't worry, Keiko-chan, I won't breathe a word about this to anyone." She winked at her before heading into the back to cook some more ramen. Keiko sighed wondering when Kagome turned that conversation on her.

"..san... Kagome-san, ye need to awaken," the wizened voice of the woman who owned the ramen shop gently shook her from the grip of her dream. Or nightmare... But with how real it all felt, could it even be a memory? Kagome blinked her eyes, forcing away the bleariness, and wondered when she feel asleep. She looked up and saw the knowing glint in the much older woman's eyes, "Ye have only been asleep for a minute or two. I truly must thank ye for helping myself and Inuyaska close up. Tomorrow morning, ye should be here no later than seven."

Kagome smiled and nodded her head, filing away the remnants of her dream into her memory. Already so few things were left from it. Bowing as she stood, "Thank you again, Kaede-baachan."

The one-eyed elder only smiled kindly before shooing her out the door. She was only grateful Kagome was so out-of-sorts upon awakening that she didn't notice the brief glow the jewel around her neck gave off.

"She's starting to remember a lot earlier than expected," Inuyaska's voice caused her to turn around and face the violet-eyed youth.

" 'Tis to be expected with how much she loves and cares for us all. No amount of power can compare to the depths of her compassion, ye would do well to remember that before sounding so shocked."

The streets of Tokyo had thinned out from the afternoon crowds as most had already headed home for the last meal of the day. Quiet moments like this allowed her to gather together her thoughts and try to sift into the memories locked away from her. She knew something more drastic than a bump to the head had to have caused her to forget her last year of her life. Something... Dare she say, demonic? Those red eyes and the feeling that crawled beneath her skin was something she wouldn't get from a human. But demons were nothing more than fantasy, the stuff of legends, weren't they?

The answer to that question felt as if it would completely change her life and all her conceptions about the world. Maybe one day, when her grief over her family wasn't as consuming, she would head to her ancestral shrine and look through all her jii-chan's scrolls.

Her questions about her past were put on hold as she saw four very familiar figures heading towards her. She tilted her head to the side as she took in the fact that all of them seemed to be completely exhausted and thoroughly beaten. As they came closer she could make out that it was Yusuke who was being supported by her brother and his best friend. The breaking point came when she noticed the dried blood on all four of them.

"I thought I told you all to be careful," she spoke as she walked closer to them. All four were caught off guard, none being able to sense her presence. She noted with some satisfaction that Kuwabara and Kurama looked away ashamed from breaking their promise.

She threw them all even more off-guard with her next words, "I'm sure Minamino-san has yet to make it back home, so let's head there. You all need to be patched up, and get some rest. I'm sure Minamino-san won't mind at all even if she is home." They all found themselves speechless at her genuine concern and the understanding, just bordering on being knowing, smile.

Kurama's shoulders slumped in defeat, "Thank you, onee-san.."

Kagome's fingers lightly brushed against Yusuke's cheek, giving the burn there only the briefest caress. Her sad, faded blue eyes looked at Kurama, "How did he get these wounds?"

With a heavy sigh, he realized he would have to tell her some version of the truth or forever deal with the fact she would never truly trust him if he lied right now. He would not be able to live with himself if he told a direct lie to her. Omitting, in this case, was not the same as lying. She wouldn't be able to understand the truth. "The person we had to apprehend had a few weapons that use high-voltage shocks, and Yusuke took a blow so that he might get close enough to subdue him."

Kurama fought the urge to fidget under her gaze that seemed to weigh each of his words. Even Hiei and Kuwabara shifted uncomfortably under her, almost, unnatural look. "Alright, Shuuichi-kun. I won't press you for what really happened," she held up her hand to stave off their protests. "I won't deny that your explanation tells me why he's so injured, but how do you explain the exhaustion?"

"What do you mean by exhaustion?"

Kagome turned her gaze to Kuwabara, where it then softened, "I think you know what I mean, Kazuma-kun, since you are also exhausted as well."

Hiei stiffened as her words sank in. It confirmed his suspicions that there was something different about her.

Something...unnatural...

Kurama glanced at Hiei, knowing his own suspicions were confirmed as well. His older sister, someone who he already cared so much about, had been someone like them. Someone who knew about demons, spiritual energy, and that there was something more to the world aside from what everyone saw. He prayed that none of their enemies found out about her, or else her knowledge would find her used as their tool.