InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten Memories ❯ Chapter Four - Searching for Answers ( Chapter 4 )

The bath water was quite warm and relaxing to her slightly chilled bones. She closed her eyes and entered her own realm of private thoughts. Who was she? She honestly didn't know. No matter how hard she tried to think she couldn't remember. She couldn't remember anything.

“Is that good Miss?” The lord's servant inquired from outside of the bathhouse. “Yes thank you!” She answered gratefully. The woman smiled and replied. “Call if you need anything.”

 

She sighed at the relief of the maid's disappearance. She needed time too herself to think. Why couldn't she remember anything? She thought again silently to herself. Her only leads were the shards of light, and her abnormal clothing. She closed her eyes and played with her hair. She lowered her head deep within the warm water's depths and felt better all over again. Her hair lifted above her face and she slowly surfaced again. She reached over the edge of the tub and grabbed a washing mixture of different soaps. She lathered up the mixture in her hands and applied it too her snarled hair liberally.

 

The mixture worked great on the tangles and fully cleaned her once dirty hair. She ducked beneath the water and rinsed it out pleased with the results. Not only did she smell clean now but she defiantly felt it. She reached over the tub once again to replace the mixture with another soap mixture. She lathered it up in her hands and picked a cloth off the floor and used that too give the lather more volume. Once lathered she began cleaning all the dirt off of her face and arms.

 

It felt so good too be clean again she almost did not want to get out of the bathtub. “I suppose” She silently whispered to herself and she raised herself out of the bath. “If I stay in any longer I will get pruned” She lifted her right leg over the edge of the tub, and then the second. She reached on the table and pulled of the drying cloth. After she was satisfied with how dry she was she picked up a fresh set of new clothes. They were traditional priestesses clothing. But she has never seen this kind of priestess clothing. How did she know this was priestess clothing? Was there a priestess in her village?

 

She closed her eyes to try and remember. Expecting nothing too come to view she dropped the thought but then was flooded with a memory. A beautiful woman, her height, with raven hair held back. She wore traditional priestess clothing- just like she remembered! She held a long bow and a quiver of arrows; her eyes were not cold nor warm but where filled with sadness.

 

As soon as the memory surfaced in her mind, it vanished. She tried desperately to remember what that memory was, but the more she tried the more she forgot. It was like trying to hold water in the palms of your hand, the tight she grasped, the more the slipped away.

 

Angry with herself for forgetting she quickly dressed and walked out of the bathhouse. A maid entered after her, too clean up after her, and the other walked her to the front of the manor. She approached the screen and opened it for her and followed her in. The manor was beautifully decorated, with several paintings and other works of traditional art hanging from the walls. Torches lit the walls up and down the hallways. The maid motioned for her to follow her to her room. She opened the door and ushered her in. “This will be your room for tonight” the maid explained. We hope you enjoy your stay here, in our lord's manor. With that she left.

 

“Why can't I remember?” She thought quietly too herself as she sat down on the feathery bed. She closed her eyes and was surprised to feel sleep pull at her. She rolled under the covers and without a second thought or warning and drifted off to sleep.

 

 

~*~

 

“Inuyasha I need to return home, this time it's more important than ever. It's my little brother's birthday, and it would mean so much to him if I was there for him.”

 

“Feh, I don't see the importance in it. I never celebrated my birthday.” Retorted Inuyasha.

 

Kagome rolled her eyes and took a few more steps toward the well's path and turned around to face him. “Inuyasha please, this is not only important to Sota but to me as well!”

 

Inuyasha grunted than took a few more steps toward her, anger steadily growing in his voice. “Kagome, you don't know how important you are here! You are the only one that can see sacred jewel shards! Naraku could attack at any moment and we need you here for that! We have to keep searching! If we keep taking off days just for you Naraku is going to get ahead of us in collecting jewel shards!!” Inuyasha yelled.

 

Kagome shook her head. She knew how important it was to search but seeing her brother on his birthday was a must for her. “Inuyasha, don't you know how much it kills me to not see my family every day?” Kagome asked on the brink of tears.

 

He hated seeing her cry, but this time he had too put his foot down otherwise she would just leave whenever she damn well please. “Kagome! I said No! You have to stay!”

 

The words pierced through Kagome with anguish. How could he be so cold? She tried her best to hold back her tears but one accidentally slipped past her grasp. “Inuyasha please?” Kagome asked again in a muffled sob.

 

Why couldn't I just let her go home? Inuyasha asked himself deep within thought. She needed to be there for her brother and now not only had she let him down, but she was missing. Because of him, she might never again get to see her little brother….

 

~*~

 

Darkness greeted her dreams. She sat up, and looked around. Darkness was everywhere she couldn't see a thing. Suddenly as if a large window from above was opened light poured in around her, and only her. She looked down too see her original attire. Her green and white shirt, and green miniskirt, she blinked softly and examined more of her again. She grasped hold of something solid in her hand. She raised her hand to her face and examined the bow she was holding. She checked her back and a quiver of arrows were hung there. She didn't remember grabbing these…

 

She glanced around the room once more; beyond the light that clung to her appearance she could see nothing. She raised a hand to her brow and looked up toward the light. All she could see was light flooding from what seemed darkness, with nothing beyond projecting it. She glanced down again to the ground but this time there was something else in the room with her. Another beam of light projected a humanoid appearance.

 

It was a boy. The figure seemed so familiar but yet she couldn't put the face to a name. He was taller than her, but wasn't intimidating as he should have been. His long silver hair shined in the light. Upon the base of his face there were a set of what seemed dog-ears. The look on his face was relaxed. Was he asleep? She followed her gaze down too his neck and the choker he was adorned with. Black pearls and beads with white porcelain fangs. Where the porcelain? Where the real?

 

She took a step closer to him, but as she did his figure seemed to fade a bit. Puzzled she took a step even closer and he faded some more. Before she new it she was in a quick sprint to catch him before he was engulfed in the darkness. “No!” She screamed as she sprinted toward him. “Don't leave me!” She added.

 

She reached the original spot he stood in, but he was gone. Her legs buckled and she found herself falling toward the floor.

 

No sound erupted when she hit the cold darkness, but she felt the pain of falling. It was nothing too severe, but enough to make her wince. “Don't leave me…” Me mumbled as she felt herself slipping into eternal darkness.

 

She woke with a start, and instinctively grabbed for the jewel shards but found none. Puzzled she rose off of the bed and wandered toward her only belongings, her only set of clothes. They were neatly folded and now clean, and the vial of shards rested upon the pile. She instantly grasped the bottle and held it tightly. She felt as if she would have waited a second longer, they would have vanished into the darkness. She looked around her room. Before she fell asleep she hadn't had taken the time to take in how beautiful it truly was. The bed was adorned with what seemed to be silk sheets and a comfy bead spread. The rug she was standing on was plush red, matching the shade of the sheets. The walls were adorned with beautiful pictures of painted scenery. A vase holding flowers was set on a wood table along with what seemed to be petals from a rose like flower. Even the torch holders were formed beautifully. Four small statues were place in each corner all facing toward the center of the room. Everything was beautiful, but why had the lord chosen she stay in this room?

 

She turned to face the windows. She pulled back the curtains only to reveal a beautiful scenery of the approaching dawn.

 

Slowly one by one the stars were fading from the sky, and were being replace by orange, red, and purple hues. As the sun steadily rose over the horizon she held her breath too herself. It was beautiful. Slowly the entire room was filled with the suns light and warmth, and she watched and studied every second of it, taking in it's true beauty. She felt as if she never had had time too do this before. Just to take some time off and admire the sun rising. Maybe she didn't take time off from her normal routine to pause and watch it rise.

 

She shook her head from the thought and walked toward her clothes. After a brief moment she decided to change into them. After taking a moment to her self too change she opened the screen to exit her room. Upon entering the hallway, the same maid that had brought her too her room last night was waiting for her. “Please my Lady, follow me, the lord wishes to have a word with you over breakfast.”

 

The maid lead her through the hall way into an impressive room with a large table in the middle which held different varieties of breakfast food. When the lord motioned for her too take her seat at the opposite end of the table she did so obediently. The maid left the room and it was only her, the lord, and what seemed to be a little girl.

 

“Good mourning” greeted the lord. “I hope your stay in my manor was one to remember.” The little girl suddenly erupted the Lord's greeting with a “Hi Miss what's your name? I heard that you are an important pristess” the little girl struggled with saying the word “Priestess” but was corrected by the lord.

 

The lord chuckled to himself. “My lady, this is my daughter Akina. She is going to be 6 when the spring returns to us again.” The little girl squirmed with delight and reached for some eggs with her chopsticks. After grabbing the desired food she placed it upon her plate and smiled, forgetting her original question. But her father did not forget question. “My lady, how come you didn't answer my questions yesterday, I understand if you are not willing to give us your name, but it would surely be courteous.

 

She bowed her head in respect then answered. “My lord, I am sorry but I- I do not remember my name.” The lord seemed almost taken aback by the answer but soon answered, “That must be very tragic, is that all you have forgotten about is your name?” She lowered her head in respect but at the same time in shame. “I am sorry, but I do not remember anything. All I remember is waking up in a field near here.” The lord eyed her carefully but soon determined that she was telling the truth. “I'm sorry for your loss” the lord apologized. The rest of the breakfast was filled with numerous questions from Akina and the lord even asking some as well.

 

Finally when they were all finished with eating, and Akina left the room, the lord asked his question. “My lady, there is something I have been meaning to ask you, you see with the demon finally gone from our village, the villagers have feared that another one might find an opportunity to attack, I was wondering if perhaps you would stay with us a while longer and protect our village.” “It would be fine with me, but… I want to find my lost memories.” The lord nodded and answered. “There is an old sage that lives in this village, perhaps if you ask him he might have something to say.”

 

She felt a moment of hope flutter from within her chest and nodded. “Indeed I will stay a while longer and protect this village with my life.” The lord was impressed with her answer. “Very well your reward will be this money for funding, you will find this village has a wide selection of many things for trade. I hope you enjoy your stay.” The maid was called into the room and brought forward a chest of money and gold bars.

 

Upon opening the chest she bowed her head in respect. “Thank you my lord, but I fear this is too much money for me. I do not see what I have done to deserve this much compensation.” The lord smiled and answered. “My lady you saved the very lives of everyone in this village. Our farmers can now return to their fields without worry of losing their very lives over their actions. Children can run out and play without mother's worrying. We all can finally rest because of your actions. With that the lord left the room. The maid turned to her and asked her if she would like to go to town. She nodded asked “What is your name?” The maid was taken aback by her questioned but then blushed a bit and answered “Tami… Sorry, no one has really asked for my name before.” Tami blushed some more than lead her through the hall way toward the large screen.

 

Tami opened the door for her and light poured through. She stepped outside into the sun's warm rays and admired the view. Although they were inside the manor's walls the children from the village were allowed to run around within them, keeping Akina company. Tami lead her through the walls and into the village's streets. The streets were filled with merchants displaying their trading goods to several village shoppers. This village was one of the largest ones she had ever seen. Tami lead her through the crowd and over toward the towns square.

 

When they reached the town square Tami lead her to a darker alley of the town to a larger house, and knocked on the door. Eventually a younger man answered the door and let them in.

 

Tami turned too face her and explained that this was the sage's house. The young man lead her toward the back and opened a door for her. An older man sat at a desk and raised his head while she walked in. He motioned for her to take her seat. When she obliged he began to talk.

 

“I heard there was a young priestess that saved the village but I never imagined that you would look like her.” She tilted her head a bit to the side as if asking for clarification. “I see you do not know whom I am speaking about. You see you look just like the priestess Kikyou, when she was about your age.” Her heart skipped a beat. She had heard that name before. But where? She closed her eyes slightly and the same picture came clearly to her mind that was there before in the bathhouse. The young woman adorned in priestess gowns, holding the long bow and still holding the sadness in her eyes so clearly. Was this Kikyou?

 

“So I see you may know about her, she was once a very powerful priestess, one of the strongest in the lands. Words about her were spread everywhere of her power and shear will. But that was over fifty years ago. She died at a young age because of a demon that stole the sacred jewel. She was the keeper of the sacred jewel and she guarded it with her life, up until the very end. She was a very honorable woman.”

 

She nodded, and slowly was reverted back to her thinking. Why do I feel like I know her? Why can I in vision her in my mind? Have I met her somewhere before?

 

“You look just like her” the sage answered mournfully. She looked up. “Perhaps you are a bit more like Kikyou than you would ever know.” She looked into the sage's all knowing eyes as if trying to read his very soul. “That can't be” she answered back. “I do not know my name, and I doubt I have ever met Kikyou before in my life.” The sage took in her answer and answered back. “Perhaps you are not Kikyou but a reincarnation. You hold great powers, powers that none other may have. Are you Kikyou?” She was taken aback by the answer. “I'm not Kikyou.” She simply answered. “How do you know? You said you lost your memory.” She was more taken aback by that reply than anything. “I said I am not Kikyou. Tami saw an argument forming and decided to step in. “If she says she is not Kikyou, than she is not Kikyou.” The sage looked deeply into Tami's eyes. Than turned back Kikyou's reincarnation. “How are we to know if she is Kikyou or not.” She stood up from her chair abruptly than answered. “I am not Kikyou! My name is Kagome!” Kagome's eyes widened then realization hit her. Was her name Kagome? Or was it Kikyou… She didn't know.

 

Tami's eyes widened in shock, and the sage just merely chuckled. “You have strong spiritual powers, some that you probably don't even know about. I suggest you tread carefully.” And with that he dismissed them.

 

Tami lead Kagome out of the sage's house and bowed to the sage's apprentice. Once they were in the town square Kagome began examining the shop's merchandise carefully. While checking out several clothes and jewelry she began a conversation with Tami.

 

“How often does the lord let you out of his manor?” Tami was a bit surprised at her question and replied. “Every once and a while, he lets me take Akina shopping.” Kagome smiled at her answer and picked up some silk clothing. “Don't you ever want to buy something nice for yourself?” Kagome noticed Tami's eyes widen while she picked up a beautiful silk Kimono. It was very beautiful indeed Kagome thought to herself. It was of a beautiful light pink color and was embroidered with a picture of cherry blossoms. Tami lowered her head and confessed. “Some times but I would never have the money to afford something so splendid.” Kagome smiled and picked up the kimono once again and held it to herself and walked over to the merchant. She glad fully paid for the kimono with a gold bar the merchant thought was more than a generous offer. Kagome smiled and handed the kimono over to Tami. “For you.” Kagome whispered.

 

Tami's eyes widened in shock and then a look of disbelief came upon her face. “I am sorry My Lady but I can not accept something so generous.” But Kagome refused to accept her decline. “You have been nothing but helpful to me, please, take it. I don't need all this money anyway.” Tears filled Tami's eyes but she accepted the Kimono thankfully, and hugged Kagome. “Thank you.” She whispered in Kagome's ear. All Kagome did was smile.

 

~*~

 

When the sun rose, the group was more than willing to rise early to look for Kagome. They traveled back to Kaede's village. Inuyasha had already traveled back to Kagome's time, in hopes that she escaped there but the only thing he accomplished there was getting Kagome's mother good and worried. He sighed once again as he looked down into the bone eater's well. Kagome had appeared out of this well so many times before, it only seemed natural that if she was gone, she would appear here. But this time was different this time she wouldn't.

 

Inuyasha grumbled to himself and leapt up into the sacred tree to get a better view of the clearing. There wasn't even a single trace of her. Her scent had faded over night so they were even further behind then they were before. Suddenly as if instinct had told him so, Inuyasha leapt off and started running west, away from the rising sun. He had to find her everything depended on it. Every step he took he felt like the need was growing stronger within him. He didn't even stop he just kept running. Eventually Sango, Miroku, and Shippou caught up with him with Kirara but he just kept running spite of all it. He had to find her, he felt like he was going to go insane. The rest of the group didn't question it, they just followed Inuyasha, because he was their only lead….