InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remembering You ❯ Smiling Photographs ( Chapter 6 )

Author Notes: I'm very sorry for the delay but I just kept on writing this chapter and it just didn't seem quite finished. . . I still don't like how it ends. . . but I hope that will let me get into the plot form now on. . . R&R~!

Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to Kagome. Miroku belongs to Sango. Seshoumaru belongs to Rin. Kirara belongs to Sango. Shippou belongs to. . . um. . . Kaede belongs to. . . uh. . . Myouga belongs to. . . huh. . . if no one claims these can I have them?

". . ." dialogue

`. . .' thoughts

(. . .) author's useless commentary

Smiling Photographs

By Hoshi-ni-Onegai

#warning: cuss words come up here and there b/c that's Inuyasha's character and I tend to cuss in real life. . . sorry#

"Inuyasha."

Then without warning Kagome fainted leaving a panicking hanyou. "Kagome?" He shook her still form. "Hey, wake up. . . come on! Wake up Kagome! Right when you remember don't leave me! Kagome!"

She didn't move in the slightest and Inuyasha was panicking even more so now. He was at a loss for what to do until he saw that her chest was steadily rising, a signal that she was breathing. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't scare me like that wench." He was gazing at her now peaceful looking face. He couldn't get over how much she had changed in the years he hadn't seen her, but also on how much she was still the same.

He was brought out of his reverie when he remembered the bloody scene that was left in the living room. He tucked a loose raven hair that had fallen in front of Kagome's face behind her ear. "I wish you had remembered on different circumstances. Instead, the trauma is what brought them back. They didn't come back from seeing me. Did I hurt you that much?" He stroked her cheek lovingly, "Did I hurt you that much that you associate pain with me, and that's what caused you to remember?"

She didn't even stir, she continued to sleep looking innocent as a child.

His face contorted to an expression of pain, "I wouldn't be surprised. . ." As he let his sentence float off he averted his eyes to land upon her dresser. At the top was a disposable camera. Reluctantly leaving Kagome's side he went to pick up the camera, he made his way toward that door. He swung it open and stepped out into the living room making sure that he could still see Kagome.

He looked down at the camera and saw that six pictures were left. "That'll probably be enough." With that, Inuyasha took pictures of horrific room. When he used up the camera he shoved into his jean pocket and went back to Kagome's side. He easily picked her up bridal-style and left the apartment with his precious cargo.

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Inuyasha buckled her into the passenger side of his car and made his way around to the driver's side. Starting his engine and heading back to his apartment he pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911. The phone on the other end rang once and immediately someone picked up. (in Japan 911 is NOT the number you would dial for emergencies, in Japan it is 119, very convenient to remember for Americans(I think). . .)

"911, how may help you?" A feminine voice said.

"Matter considering the Underground." Inuyasha replied.

"What city?"

"Tokyo."

"One moment please." The Underground had set up their form of 119 and reversed the number to be 911. It was used in cases such as this, but it also served as a kind of operator. If you needed information or a connection with someone in the Underground 911 was the place to call. But just in case a stupid human that knew nothing of the Underground accidently called, the operator was not to reveal that it was affiliated with the Underground and pretended to be an information hotline. The only way to get information about the Underground was for the caller to mention it themselves.

Inuyasha was put on hold for a moment then a young male voice came on the phone. "What seems to be the problem?"

"A youkai murdered a human at the residence of the human Higurashi Kagome. A clean up crew is needed as well as some Underground police officers."

"And you credibility four your statement?"

"Touken Inuyasha. Owner of Touken Ginkou. Second in line for the heir to the Western Lands. Brother of Seshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands. Part of the Inuyoukai clan. Son of Inutaishou. Is that enough credibility for you?" Inuyasha's voice was now dripping with sarcasm and near a growl.

"No sir. A team is heading over to the residence at this very moment." The young youkai on the other line was scared, it was obvious. His voiced was trembling and his voice cracked. Inuyasha was know to be one of the strongest, oldest, and most powerful youkai alive. His name enough would make many inferior youkai obey his word, he needed not put in the lines about his lineage or his brother. . . but it was always a nice slap of a reminder to whoever questioned him. No one really understood why he and his brother were able to stay looking so young, but no one questioned in fear of the inuyoukai brothers wrath. The Touken brothers were not known to be malevolent, but the younger brother's violence and temper was well known while the older one was known to kill those with a cold stare. Many rumors circulated the Underground, it couldn't be helped.

"Good. Tell the detective that will put on this case to call me at my office if he has any leads. It is imperative that you tell the detective." A sign of threat was evident in Inuyasha's voice.

"Of course Sir. I will call him personally."

"Good." With Inuyasha pressed the call end button and dialed another number.

This time the phone on the other end did not pick up until the fifth ring and Inuyasha was growing inpatient. When a person finally did pick up a sleepy female voice was heard, "Moshi moshi?" (translation: Hello?)

"Hey Sango, it's me. Put Miroku on the line."

There was pause and some grumbling as Sango checked her clock, "Do you know what time it is Inuyasha? Can't this wait until tomorrow?"

"Yeah, it's 1:30 am, it's not THAT late. And no, this can't wait till tomorrow."

She let out a sigh and grumbled some more, "What's so important that can't wait till tomorrow?" In the back ground Inuyasha could here Miroku ask who it was and she answering him.

"Sango, it's about Kagome. It can't wait till tomorrow. Now put Miroku on the line before I get even more pissed off."

The recipient on the other end of the phone changed immediately, "Hello? Inuyasha? What's wrong? Sango says it's something about Kagome-sama. Did something happen?"

Inuyasha glanced at the unconscious girl next to him, "Yeah. . . shit happened. I need you to come over to my place right now. Bring Sango with you. Oh, and don't tell Shippou, Kaede, Myouga, or anyone else. I just need you guys right now. Can you do that for me?"

There was stunned pause on the other line. Even with the five hundred years that had gone by Inuyasha was not one to ask for help, even from his closest friends. When Inuyasha asked for help it meant he really needed it, for he was still not comfortable because he felt like he was put on the spot. He felt he was showing how vulnerable he was. Miroku smiled slightly, "We'll be over there as soon as possible."

"I'll be waiting."

"I'll see you in a few, bye Inuyasha."

Miroku was about to hang up when he heard Inuyasha say something more, "Oh, and Miroku. Thanks." Then he hung up.

Sango looked at Miroku quizzically from her side of the bed, "What's wrong? Did something happen to Kagome-chan? Is she alright?" By the rising in volume of her voice Miroku could tell she was becoming worried. He reached over with his left hand to stroke the back of the now sitting up Sango's head.

"I'm not sure Sango, but knowing Inuyasha he would never let something happen to Kagome-sama. He just told us to get over there because he needs us."

Sango's eyes went wide, "He needs us? Should I call Shippou?"

"No, I don't think he wants him to know just yet. . . that's what has me worried." He got out of the comfort of his bed and quickly made his way to the closet and pulled some clothes on. "Come on Sango, Inuyasha's waiting."

And so, she got up to change as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before Miroku or Sango could even ring the doorbell the front door swung open revealing a very worried Inuyasha. "Took you long enough!"

Sango puffed at this, "You know, we could have decided not to come all together if you're going to be like that."

"I don't care if you leave me to the dogs of hell Sango, but this isn't about me. This is about Kagome." With that said Inuyasha grabbed Miroku by the upper and dragged him to his bedroom.

As soon as they entered they saw someone laying under the blue-gray covers of Inuyasha's bed and poking out of those sheet was a head. A familiar head.

"Kagome-chan." "Kagome-sama." The two bewildered friends said in unison. They quickly rushed over to her side, slightly shoving Inuyasha on the way.

"What happened to her?" Sango asked as she gripped her best friends hand. Tears streamed down her cheeks, it had been far to long since she had seen her. Within the group it was only Inuyasha that met her as a child, everyone else had yet to see her after five hundred years. "Why is she in your bed? . . . Oh My God!" She whipped her head around, "Inuyasha, you didn't! Not this soon!"

"I didn't! Don't jump to conclusions!" Inuyasha growled defensively but his face was slightly tinged pink, evidence of a blush. "Look, before you go accusing me of doing things I did not do I want Miroku to check if she's okay."

The doctor of the group gently guided his love to the side as he crouched down to examine Kagome.

And as an afterthought Inuyasha added, "If you touch her in even a slightly perverted way I'll kill you and have Sango marry some other good looking guy."

Miroku was about to speak up in his defense when Sango also put in her two cents, "Ditto."

After checking on Kagome with a protective hanyou sitting on the other side of the bed clasping her hand, and a worried best friend hovering behind him, Miroku concluded that Kagome was just fine and just needed some rest. But he wanted explanations, as did Sango.

"What happened? When I talked to you yesterday you were still unwilling to go to the shrine to meet Kagome-sama, now she lies in your bed. Unconscious no less. What happened in the past day that changed the situation so much?"

"Let's go to the living room and I'll explain out there. I don't want our talking waking up Kagome." Sango smiled at that and pulled Miroku with her out the door. Inuyasha stayed a moment longer and brushed back Kagome's bangs. "I'll be right back Kagome." With that he left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.

He saw his two friends sitting on the couch and he took the one next to them that had only one seat. (I think it's called a lazy-boy or a lounger, I'm not sure) He leaned back and stared up at the gray ceiling. Letting out a sigh he started to explain, "It all started yesterday morning when Ms. Imai called in on the intercom. . ."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as the door had shut Kagome had started stirring. She struggled under the covers as she slowly opened her eyes to the unfamiliar room. `Where am I?' She sat up carefully as she could still feel an incessant pulsing in the back of her head. Looking around to figure out her surrounding she noticed that the room was pretty bare. `Who ever lives here just moved in. . . or doesn't have that much stuff.' As she continued to glance around the room she noticed the dresser which held many picture stands. She got up from the bed and walked over to the dresser and picked one of them up. Bring the picture to the only light that was in the room, which was on the nightstand, she sat back down on the bed. The image in the picture made her gasp. `That's. . . me!'

In the picture was an eight-year-old Kagome being spun in the air by a man with short black hair holding her securely by the hips. She quickly shot up from the bed and went back over to the dresser. Upon the said dresser was fourteen picture stands, including the one she held in her hand. Each one was of her and the dark-haired man, each one progressing through the years. Examining all of them, she noticed she was smiling or laughing with the man. `Who is that?' Her mind was a blank, she couldn't remember anything. She couldn't even remember her name, she could only remember what SHE looked like. `Who am I? Who is that man? Why do I look so happy with him?'

As she was racking her brain for some answers she noticed a photograph laying flatly on the dresser. This one wasn't framed and the photograph itself looked to be hundreds of years old. `But that's impossible, photography was only invented in the past one hundred fifty years.' She delicately picked up the photograph, afraid of damaging it and saw an image of herself smiling back at her. This picture was of her when she around sixteen years old, her right arm was looped into the left arm of that of a teenage boy that stood next to her who was blushing effusively and seemed to be protesting. She smiling at the camera and held out a peace sign with her left hand. The boy had long white hair, amber eyes, fangs, claws, and dog-ears atop his head. `I must have associated with some strange people in the past.' She thought as she sweatdropped looking at the boy who seemed ready to go trick-or-treating. (trick-or-treat is not done in Japan)

She flipped the photograph over carefully to see if any writing was on the back, to her luck, there was.

<<Inuyasha,

Happy Rebirth Day! (if such a day did exist) It's been a year since I woke you up from that tree. I didn't know what to get you so I got you a copy of the picture my mom took when you came over that one time. I know it sounds conceited, but I want to give this to you in a way to remember me. . . if anything were to happen.

With lots of love to my best friend,

Kagome>>

When she read the two names written on the back the picture in her handwriting something clicked in her head. `Inuyasha!' She hastily put back the photograph upon the dresser and ran to the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"And that's when you came to the door." Inuyasha had finished with his explanations of the events of the past day and the other two occupants of the room were having a difficult time soaking it all up.

Sango was the first one to break the silence that had fallen upon them, "So. . . does that mean she remembers you now?"

Inuyasha let out a tired sigh, "I. . . I don't know. She said my name, but that's it. I had told her my full name when I introduced myself, so I don't know. She usually calls me `Onii-chan,' because she only remembers me as Touken. I'm not sure if she called me by my real name out of reflex or because she remembered the past that involved the well."

"Reflex? Why would Kagome-sama call you Inuyasha on reflex?"

"When she woke up from her `coma' she gasped out my name. . . we had just been talking about that only about an hour before she said it and fainted." Inuyasha leaned over sliding his fingers through his bangs in frustration. "What happens if she doesn't really remember? What am I to do then? Does that mean she's not my soul mate? Or does that mean she doesn't want to remember?"

His two friends looked at him sympathetically, it was a rare moment when Inuyasha was willing to be open with them. There were very few people in the world that Inuyasha trusted to be open with, and only two that knew what to do when he was. One of them had been his mother, and the other was the girl in the bedroom down the hall.

Sango was about to give some consoling words to her hanyou friend when the bedroom door slammed open, startling the three living room occupants. Inuyasha whipped his head up as he heard hurried footsteps of a person running toward them from the hallway that opened to the living room. When the person emerged from the corner he saw a panting Kagome, "I remember Inuyasha! I remember everything!"

Inuyasha stood up not knowing what to say as he stared wide-eyed. The girl took in a shaky breath as tears formed in her and eyes. She gulped down, trying to hold back her tears, but soon ran across the room oblivious to Miroku or Sango's presence and dove into Inuyasha chest wrapping her arms around his chest. The sobbing girl buried her face in Inuyasha's chest fisting his shirt in her hands. Inuyasha gazed down at the girl. . . no woman, and wrapped his arms around her slender waist. He tried soothing her by rubbing her back but it didn't seem to be working.

"Why are you crying Kagome? Aren't you happy?" Doubt etched his face now as Kagome didn't answer she just continued sobbing.

When he thought she wasn't going to answer he heard her saying over and over, "Gomenasai. Gomenasai. Gomennasai. Gomenasai!" (translation: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm Sorry. I'm Sorry!)

"Why are you apologizing?"

He didn't get an answer until her cries died down slightly, "I forgot you! I tried to remember! I tried! But. . . I was too weak, I couldn't remember. . . I forgot everything. I'm sorry."

Inuyasha pulled her back slightly tilted her chin up. With her tear stained face looking up at her he brushed away her wet tears with his right thumb. "It wasn't your fault." He stared into her eyes with so much emotion that it took Kagome's breath away. "I'm just glad you remember now. I'm glad you remember me."

There was a pause, not an uncomfortable one, but one that was there so the two people that had finally found each other once again could dwell in the moment. Kagome leaned up, her shaky lips mere millimeters from Inuyasha's. As she spoke her breath tickled his lips and he didn't know if he could hold back.

"Without you I would be lost. Remembering you is the reason I was born. It's what makes me complete. It's what makes sense in all this chaos." Then she slowly shut her eyes and leaned upward to initiate her first kiss with Inuyasha.

The kiss was innocent, much like the one she stole from him all those years ago at the foot of the shrine steps. But it was different. This time, it wasn't a crush of a little girl. This time it was the love of a young woman. She expressed all her emotion into the chaste kiss, as did Inuyasha. They were finally together, within each other's embrace. After the centuries of waiting that Inuyasha had to endure, he was planning on never letting her go. They broke away from the kiss. Inuyasha stared down at Kagome that still had her eyes closed, she was trying to savor the feeling of his lips against hers. Her eyelids slowly slid open and they seemed slightly glazed over. She blinked slowly and a gentle smile tugged at her lips, "Wasurenaide itte kurete arigatou." (translation: Thank you for not forgetting me.)

"Baka. Omae no koto wo wasurerareruka." (translation: Idiot. How could I forget you?)

They embraced once again and Kagome buried her nose in his chest as he buried his in her hair. The two of them were within their own little world, that is, until Miroku made his presence known. "It's nice to meet you again Kagome-sama."

The said female looked up startled from Inuyasha's chest to notice the other couple within the room. Due to the force of habit she jumped out of Inuyasha's arms and blushed. "Miroku-sama! Sango-chan!" This time she ran to them and hugged them both at the same time. "You're all here! You're really here!"

Seeing Kagome hug another man was pushing Inuyasha over the edge (he's forgetting the fact that she's hugging Sango too). He stomped his way over to them and stood behind Kagome, growling at Miroku. He was about to pull Kagome away from the monk and the exterminator when suddenly Kagome did the unexpected.

She clasped Miroku's hands within hers and looked him seriously in the eyes and said with also a serious tone, "Will you bear my child?"

Silence fell upon the group as Kagome waited her answer from Miroku. After a second he smiled widely and said, "Of course Kagome-sama."

A resounding slap and punch could be heard through out the whole floor as Sango's hand and Inuyasha's fist connected with the back of Miroku's head.

"What do you mean `of course'?! What am I chopped liver?!" Sango exclaimed down at the monk that was now sprawled on the floor.

"Don't touch my Kagome!" Guess who said that?

Kagome tapped her index finger against her chin in contemplation, "For some reason that didn't feel right." She counted off on her fingers as if she was making a checklist, "Okay. Ask to bear child. Get answer as a `no.' Get slapped. Get insulted." She turned her head to look at Inuyasha and Sango. "Why does Miroku get slapped instead? Shouldn't he be slapping me?"

Miroku had finally returned to the world of the conscious and the three of them stared at her, dumbfounded.

"What are you talking about Kagome-chan?"

"Well, it only felt natural. . . ok, maybe not. But it seemed like the thing to do."

Sango shook her head frantically, "No, no, no. That isn't the thing for you to do, that's what Miroku is supposed to do."

"Slap me?"

"No! Ask you to bear your child." Sango glanced over to the pissed off hanyou to see if he was holding up. Inuyasha was still growling and glaring at Miroku, and the monk tried to look as innocent as possible.

Kagome was confused. She averted her gaze form Sango to Inuyasha to Miroku then back up to Sango. "Do I say yes?"

"No!" Inuyasha exclaimed as he leaped to her side and pulled her into his side protectively with his left arm wrapped around her waste and his right arm blocking any advances Miroku might try.

"Then I say no?"

"Yes!" Inuyasha and Sango said in unison.

"I say yes?" Kagome asked quizzically.

"No!" They both said together again.

A second late, an echoing, "Yes!" could be heard form the direction of Miroku who was now starting to stand up.

Inuyasha and Sango glared at him and Kagome was even more confused, "So do I say `no' to Sango and Inuyasha if they ask me to bare my child and I say `yes' to Miroku?"

"No!"

Kagome threw her hands up in the air, looking pretty silly because Inuyasha still held her protectively. "You guys are just out to confuse me!" She looked at Sango, "You! What did I say to you when you asked me to bare your child?"

"No. Not that I ever asked. . . and I don't think it's physically possible." Sango replied.

"I don't care about physics at the moment."

She turned to Miroku this time but Sango kept on mumbling, "I think it's biology and not physics."

"Oh shush Sango-chan! Okay, Miroku-sama. What did I say to you when you asked me to bear your child?"

Miroku was about to answer when he saw the threatening glare coming from Sango and Inuyasha. To save his ass he slipped his hand into Sango's hand, "No. I'm sorry to disappoint you Kagome-sama, but I am a one-woman man."

"She has no reason to be disappoint you sukebe houshi." (sukebe houshi=perverted monk)

Kaogme let out a sigh of relief and stared up at Inuyasha, "What did I say to you when you asked me to bear your child?"

Inuyasha blushed like an embarrassed teenage boy and stuttered out, "I-I n-nev-ver ask-ked y-you."

Kagome looked crestfallen, "Really?"

"Why do you look sad?" Inuyasha asked still blushing.

Kagome shrugged, "I don't know. I guess it would have been nice to be asked."

Inuyasha and everyone else was taken aback by her statement. "What would you have said if I asked?"

Kagome sighed and casually said, "Probably `no' and I would have probably slapped you, telling you that you were spending a bit too much time with Miroku-sama."

"Hey I resent that!" Miroku protested but no one really seemed to care.

"The truth just comes back to bite you in the ass doesn't it Houshi?" Inuyasha smirked at his long time friend.

"What I want to know is why doesn't Kagome-chan remember something like that?" With Sango pointing it out they all looked at Kagome.

"I. . . I'm not sure. . . I guess with the memories coming back to me, not all of them are clear yet. Trust me, it is an extremely overwhelming sensation when two years worth of memories suddenly smack you in the face at once." She tried giving her most logical answer which everyone seemed to understand. Then she added, "But that only applies to everyone excluding Inuyasha."

The said hanyou stared at her wide-eyed, "What do you mean `excluding Inuyasha?' What's so different about me?"

"Again, I'm not sure, but everything in my mind is clear about you. . . the good and the bad." Her eyes averted to the ground and acquired a distant look to them.

`The bad?' Inuyasha's mind was reeling through all the `bad' times with Kagome and he couldn't help but feel that maybe, it out weighed the good by far too much.

Sango was about to say something when Miroku stopped her. She looked up at him as he gazed at the saddened couple with a knowing look. He moved his gaze to his love and nodded toward the front door. Getting the hint Sango nodded and spoke, "Hey guys." When she got her attention from Inuyasha and Kagome, she continued. "We're going to go now. I wish I could stay and catch up with you, caromed. But I know you need your rest so we'll meet up some other time."

Miroku was already at the front door waiting for Sango to finish talking. He locked gazes with Inuyasha, gave a knowing nod, then locked gazes with Kagome, and smiled giving a slight bow. "I'm pleased to meet you once again Kagome-sama. Inuyasha has been a bit bored with out you. I'm glad you are back into our lives."

Kagome returned the smile with one, twice as bright. "Kagome. Call me Kagome. We shouldn't on formalities after all these years."

Miroku contemplated the thought for a moment then smiled, "Yes, you are right, we shouldn't be on formalities. Well, I bid you good night Inuyasha. . . Kagome."

"Good night Miroku, Sango-chan." Hearing his name without the honorific, Miroku was grinning on the inside, it felt like he had a long lost little sister back.

When the front door shut with a click neither Inuyasha nor Kagome moved. That is, until Kagome noticed her position of being held by Inuyasha. She blushed and pulled out of his hold. "Err. . .Sorry."

He raised an eyebrow as he watched the girl trying to move away from him, "What are apologizing for this time?"

"For. . . you know. . . for the. . . thing. . . and the. . ." Her voice trailed off leaving Inuyasha to question.

"The?" He gestured with his hand for her to continue.

Her face turned 10 shades darker in red and in a barely audible whisper, "The kiss."

"You're apologizing for it? Did you not want to?"

Kagome whipped her head up to stare at him with a panicked expression, "No! It's not that! It's just. . . I feel like I took advantage of you." She blushed and looked shamefully at the ground.

Inuyasha smirked, "Did you know you can be so cute sometimes? You didn't take `advantage' of me with the kiss. Hell, I've been wanting to do that for years now. And if you still think that it is you taking advantage of me, you can do so whenever you want and as much as you want."

He didn't know where this sudden burst of confidence was coming from. Granted, he always had a lot of confidence, maybe a bit too much, but when I came to Kagome he had very little.

Kagome blushed even more, if possible, and gave a small uneasy smile. Then, a thought struck her, "`Sometimes?' I'm not cute all the time?"

Inuyasha chuckled, "Sorry, no."

Kagome huffed at that, "Thanks for the compliment Inuya-"

He cut her off, "You're beautiful."

Kagome blushed even more and pouted, "Who are you and what have you done with my Inuyasha? He was never good at compliments, and trust me he was shy when it came to his feelings."

Inuyasha pulled her to him by gently tugging at her wrist then leaned down so they were eye to eye, "Your Inuyasha's still here. It's been a couple of years, I've matured."

Kagome continued blushing, she wasn't used to this Inuyasha that showed so much affection. "I'm going to miss the jerk that was stubborn, jealous, loud, immature, annoying-"

Inuyasha looked at her flatly, "I think I get the idea."

She continued anyways, "courageous, kind, caring, loyal, and protective. I'm really going to miss him."

Inuyasha grinned and rubbed his nose with hers, "I'm still here. I'm everything you said, and so much more. Oh, but I'm not just protective anymore."

She tilted her head to the side in curiosity, "What else are you?"

"Possessive." He leaned down and initiated the second kiss.

When they broke away from their kiss, which still had been perfectly innocent, Kagome smiled, "I have to go."

"To the bathroom?"

"No! I mean, I have to go home." She tried to once again pull out of his embrace but he responded by keeping his iron grip.

"You're not going back there." Inuyasha growled out angrily, not angry at her but the possibility that she might be in danger.

"What are you talking about? Of course I'm going back."

"Don't you remember what you witnessed in your apartment only a few hours ago?!"

"Yes I remember, all the more reason for me to go. I can't just leave Hojo-kun like that. He deserves to be put to rest." She was now fighting to get out of his hold, "Let go of me Inuyasha!"

With her command his grip became tighter and he growled into her hair as her back was now against his chest, "I'm never letting you go back there. Don't be stupid and run into the face of danger."

"Why not?! You always did!" She continued trying to get to the front door, but with no results.

Inuyasha took a deep breath trying to calm his nerves, "I forgot how troublesome you were," Kagome's anger flared up and Inuyasha sensed it. He nuzzled his nose into her hair trying to calm her down. "but you're worth it."

Her anger distinguished like throwing water onto a flame, "Inuyasha. . . you know I still have to go. I can't leave Hojo-kun like that. . ." The image of the blood painted walls flashed in her mind. "Not like that."

"You don't have to worry about that. I called the cops already. They should have swept though the place by now."

Giving a slight sigh of relief Kagome said, "Officers connected to the Underground right?"

Inuyasha cringed at that, "I don't like how you know so much about the Underground."

Kagome gave a slight shrug, "It was bound to happen sooner or later."

"Yeah, but I should have been by your side when it did."

"If you're feeling guilty you can stop right there. The issue of me getting involved with the Underground is entirely my fault."

"How did you get involved with the Underground?"

"I woke up." She didn't say anything to elaborate on that.

Inuyasha shook his head in frustration, "Care to extend upon that?"

"I don't know where to start."

"How about at the beginning?"

There was a pause before she spoke, "I don't know where the beginning is anymore. . . I could have told you all about it if I hadn't gotten all these memories back. . . now. . ."

"Now?" Inuyasha encouraged her to finish her thought.

"I don't know where everything starts and where things end." She leaned back into his embrace, her head leaning slightly back on his shoulder so she could have a view of his eyes. "I'm just really confused right now."

"About everything?"

She shook her head as it rolled against his shoulder, still looking up at him. "No, not everything. I remember EVERYTHING about you. Some of the other stuff is kind of fuzzy." He gave a genuine smile. "You should do that more often."

"Do what?"

"Smile like you're truly happy."

Inuyasha kissed her forehead and murmured against it, "I think I'll be doing that a lot more from now on."

Kagome let out a laugh, "You know how cliché and corny we sound?"

Inuyasha also gave out a light chuckle, "I'm willing to risk it."

Kagome slid her eyes shut and let out a exasperated sigh, "I don't know why you're happy I remember everything about you."

He looked down at her slightly hurt, "You want to forget some stuff?"

Her eyes still shut she shook her head once again, "I don't want to forget a single thing. . . but I remember some things that I could use against you."

He raised an eyebrow in amusement, "Are you blackmailing me?"

She opened her eyes and smirked up at him, "No, not really. But I do recall a time when you tried to kill me."

Inuyasha's eyes went wide, "I never tried to kill you!"

She smiled, "Of course you did. That's how you ended up with that faithful rosary around your neck." She reached for the said rosary from the collar of his shirt and pulled it out so it was dangling on his neck outside of the shirt. She gazed at it as she fingered it, then she looked up, "Do you want me to take it off?"

"No."

Kagome stared in surprise, "Why not? It has to have haunted your days when I was journeying with you. Why don't you want it off anymore?"

"It's a reminder."

"Of what?"

"Of who I was before I met you, and who I have become."

Kagome stared at him a bit longer than sighed and leaned back into him even more, "You have changed. . . I'm afraid I might not even know who you are anymore. Heck, I don't even know what to call you anymore."

"I'm still the same Inuyasha, and you can call me as such."

"'Call you as such?' You didn't talk like that before. . ."

He honestly didn't know what to say so he embraced her little bit tighter in assurance.

"Inuyasha?"

He buried his nose into her hair, "Yeah?"

"Onii-chan?"

Inuyasha froze, `How am I supposed to answer?'

"Inuyasha, Onii-chan. . . you two are one in the same. . . I'm not sure if I'll be able to grasp that for a while."

"You can take as much time as you need. . . I'm sorry for complicating matters more. . . Maybe I shouldn't have come to you as Touken. Maybe I should have been patient and wait until now to see you." His voice was dripping with doubt and sadness.

Kagome reached up to stroke his cheek. "If you had done that I would have died tonight without you being there. Also, `Onii-chan' was a big part of my childhood. I can't imagine a life without him being there. . . without you being there."

"That's something I really missed about you."

Kagome turned in his arms slightly to look him the face, "What?"

"The way you always knew exactly what I needed to hear."

She smiled fully and gently, "No problem."

Inuyasha glanced over at the clock, "It's 2:45am."

Kagome looked over in the direction of his gaze to the clock, "It's been a long night."

"Yeah. . . the longest I've had in a while."

The was a silent pause, then Kagome spoke. "I have to go."

Inuyasha whipped his gaze her and growled, "I told you. You're not going back there."

"But I have to go~!" Kagome whined like a little child.

"If I say no, it means no!"

"You're not the boss of me!" She pulled out of his arms, which she was able to do by ducking under his locked arms. After she was free, she ran toward the front door. "I have to go and you can't stop me!"

Inuyasha got over the shock that Kagome, in a physically unexplainable way had gotten out of grasp. He ran across the room to stand in front of Kagome a few meters in front of the door. "I said no!"

"I~nu~ya~sha~!" She gritted out through her teeth.

"It's for your own good Kagome." He crossed his arms and stationed himself in front of the furious girl.

Her eyes flashed with a hidden fire and said, the words still gritted through her teeth. "I am so glad you didn't let me take that rosary off."

Inuyasha's eyes went wide, "Kagome no!" He reached over to clamp his hand over her mouth but was too late.

"Osuwari!" (translation: Sit boy!)

Inuyasha went crashing to the ground from the force of the rosaries and Kagome leapt over him to the door. The thing is, she didn't open the front door but the bathroom door that was right next to it.

"I don't know what's your problem Inuyasha, but when nature calls you are NOT getting in my way!" With that, she slammed the door shut and went on to do her business.

Inuyasha was still on the floor with his face planted into the hard wood floor. "Oww."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How do you think Inuyasha and Kagome-chan are doing? Do you think that they're getting along, or are they fighting like before?" Sango asked as she peered at Miroku from her side of the bed. Upon returning from Inuyasha's they both laid in bed trying to catch a few more hours of sleep.

Miroku rolled over on to his side to face her, "I'm sure those two are doing fine. I highly doubt they will be fighting after not seeing each other for five hundred years." A smirked adorned his face, "They're probably too busy doing `other' things to fight."

Sango's eyes went wide, "AHHH! Don't even say that!" She slapped him upside the head. "Now how am I going to get rid of that mental image?!"

Recovering from the hit Miroku scooted over and snaked his arm around her narrow waist. "I know a couple ways." Sango blushed despite herself. He saw this and tapped her on the nose, "I love how you still blush after all these years. It is very admiring."

"With a man like you at my side how could I not blush from time to time?" She grumbled out.

"The fact that you've dealt with a man like me for such a long time just makes me love you even more." He kissed her on the forehead. "It's still early, let's get some sleep."

He pulled her into his chest, a position they both grew to enjoy after many years sleeping at each others side. Sango sighed and snuggled into his chest. "Good night Miroku."

"Good night Sango."

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A/N: I didn't' have a cliffy?!. . . . . . . . . . now THAT is amazing.

I will not be using the customary "sit" for subduing Inuyasha, it will be "Osuwari" because I think the translators had some trouble with that. . . cuz "Osuwari" is a command, and well. . . sit, can be a command but it always isn't. . . so. . . I choose the subduing spell to be with "osuwari" instead of "sit boy" (I also think it sounds better in Japanese). . .

Kurai Mori: your first review I could follow, it was simple and to the point. Yes Hojo is dead, I don't hate him though. And I'm very happy that Kagome remembers her soul mate as well! (I'm the author and I'm thinking `it's about time!') I was thinking of delaying her memory relapse for about five more chapters but I decided against that (for my own sanity's sake (I sound so selfish now). . . ok, about you second review. Um. . . I got lost half way through it. I would love to answer your questions but I have no idea what it is! So I was wondering if you have AIM or MSN, cuz just tell me ur sn or email and I can talk to online and can answer away to all your questions~! Just tell me in your next review k? till then! ^o^

Aura Jade: I'm glad you like how I use Japanese. The thing is, as mentioned before, my native language isn't English and there are certain parts where I think it just sounds better in Japanese because the characters originally speak in Japanese (this is all for my selfish reasons of making it sound better in my head. . . sorry). I'm also glad that you like my idea of making Kagome not the reincarnation of Kikyou. I always thought that it maybe a possibility. Because if Kagome was the reincarnation of Kikyou, doesn't that mean that there might be a reincarnation of Inuyasha in her time? Oh well. Thank you for your review!

Kyaa Kyaff: I think a lot of ppl are glad Hojo is dead (sweatdrop) I kinda liked his clueless nature (in the manga I never saw the anime). I'm glad you like the fic, and thatnks your for understanding my school situation. And thanks for your review!

SilverArcher: I'm glad you like my story and the twist I put into the plot (although I think I may have confused some ppl. . . someone has yet to speak up though). And I understand your frustration in finding really good authors for Inuyasha fics. I am extremely flattered that you think I made a masterpiece *blush* I have always been pretty insecure about my writing and the comments from reviewers like you always encourage me to keep writing! Thank you!

Aleaha: I post this fic on mm.org as well. Might as well attack ppl with a bad fic on both sites right? Yup! ^o^

Maia Webmistress: I'm happy that the reviewers so far has liked the story I have come up with~! Thank you!

Kiwi: This chapter was dedicated to you kiwi! It's always nice seeing new comers to ff.net. It just makes the site even better! The more the merrier right?

CheesieCake: I'm glad that you'll be here forever and ever. . . I'm not sure if this fic will last that long though (sweatdrop). But if I get to have a supportive reviewer like you even for a couple more chapters I will be very happy! ^o^

Chibi Koneko: Yes, I guess it is sweet. . . tell me if it gets to sweet for your taste ok? Thanks for the review! (you were the first reviewer for this chappie)

Ryguy5387: The greatest fic you ever read?! I have to recommend you to some better fics out there!

Maribel: See, she does remember him.

LeonRinko: She DOES remember `Onii-chan' but she just couldn't recognize him because his hair and eye color was different. Does that help clarify?

Ady_anhee999: There are more twists to come and I hope to continue this fic as well!

Aditu: I'm glad you liked my graphic horror scene (should I be glad that I can describe that well?). Sorry to make you scream in frustration with the last cliffy back there but I hope this one wasn't that bad~! ^o^

Cursed Jax: No, I don't know any styles. I'm very limited in the martial arts area. . . but I'm known to be pretty strong and have vicious glare. . . my best friends say I have this glare that promises death more painful than the torture of a thousand souls. . . that kind of disturbs me. . . am I really that scary? (I'm 5'3" for God sakes!)

Oracle44: I'm hoping that my writing is maturing, if even slightly. I'm glad you liked the previous chapter!

Hell's lil Bitch: (I like ur name) I'm sorry but cliffies are something essential in my stories. I tried to make it not as bad for this one. What do you think?

Well c ya at the next chapter! Smiles!