InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remembering You ❯ Osanaide ( Chapter 7 )

Author Notes: Sorry for the VERY LATE chapter! I was bombarded with end of the quarter tests and projects and didn't have time to write! I know I compensate very badly with this short chapter (although it is still 10 pages, but that is short for this fic). On top of that my pc crashed! So I'm on my dad's pc typing this back up, because I had lost the file when my pc crashed! As we speak/type my pc is getting sent! Yay! I hope you enjoy the chappie anyways. . . R&R!

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is not mine. . . I wish it was though. . . *sigh*

". . ." dialogue

`. . .' thoughts

(. . .) author's useless commentary

Osanaide

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#

Splashing her face with the water running out of the faucet Kagome flipped her hair back and stared into the mirror. She wasn't sure if she recognized the girl staring back at her. She knew it was her, and she was pretty sure she knew herself. Nevertheless, she couldn't help but feel lost. The two years worth of memories was like a sensory overload, and it seemed that she didn't have all the facts straight. But she knew everything that happened with Inuyasha perfectly. From their first violent meeting to their last sorrowful one. Kagome just continued to stare at the girl, no, woman staring back at her.

"Who are you?" She said to her reflection, clearly expecting it to answer. To her, she now had two pasts. One with Inuyasha and another without. She wasn't entirely positive if Inuyasha was real. Out of nowhere he suddenly just appeared, along with package of tightly compacted memories.

"Maybe I'm just imagining everything. Maybe there isn't an Inuyasha or a Sango or a Miroku. . . or a Shippou, a Kaede, a Myouga, a Kirara. . ." She glared at her reflection now, "I get it, so they are real. . . but. . . why do I remember them now?"

She let out a tired sigh and shut off the water and reached over for the hand towel that hung next to the sink. Drying her face off she glanced at the mirror again. What she saw there surprised her. Instead of a twenty-two year old mature Kagome looking back there was a teenage Kagome in her green school uniform smiling back. Kagome's eyes widened in shock, she reached her hand to touch the mirror. The younger Kagome mimicked her movements completely, except her expression was different. She seemed to be trying to be reassuring her doubting older self. When their hand touched on the mirror the younger Kagome smiled gently and mouthed `trust him' then suddenly whirled around and the older Kagome could see her younger reflection disappearing. She stood there for a moment, not really sure what she was supposed to make of the little encounter. She told her to `trust him.'

Kagome voiced her guess on who this `him' might be, "Inuyasha?"

"Yeah?"

She jumped when she heard his voice from outside the bathroom door. She quickly opened the door to find the hanyou leaning against the wall next to the bathroom door.

"Y-you heard me?"

He looked at her a bit confused, "Of course I did wench. I'm a hanyou remember? Better hearing is part of the program."

Kagome let out a frustrated sigh as she flicked off the bathroom light and shut the door behind her. She sat down on the couch, taking the seat to the far left, and crossed her legs. "I see we're back to my lovely nickname again."

Inuyasha made his way toward her and sat down in the seat directly next to her. "What you don't like it? I could always call you `bitch.'"

She gave him a side glare, "And how would that make it better?"

He smirked as he wrapped his left arm around her waist and leaned over her with his right arm across her resting on the arm rest. He pulled her toward him as a blush crept across Kagome's face. "Because, me being a inuyoukai, calling you bitch has certain connotations to it."

She blinked slowly, "Do I really want to know the connotations?"

He shrugged and leaned in close enough that their faces were hair's breath away. "That's entirely up to you. But you're a smart girl, I'm sure you can figure it out on your own."

Inuyasha stared deep into her eyes and she started panicking, and did the very thing she did all those years ago in the Sengoku Jidai. She put all her strength into it and shoved him away. He went sprawling on the floor and she was blushing violently.

Inuyasha took a minute to register what just happened then growled up at Kagome, "What the hell was that for?!"

"You were getting too close!" She huffed turning her red face away to not look at him.

"That's what people do when they're about to kiss!" He continued growling as he picked himself of the floor.

The red-faced wide-eyed Kagome turned to look at Inuyasha and stammered out, "Y-you w-were about to k-kiss m-me?"

"No, actually I was trying to kiss the Pope sitting behind you but you were in the way." He answered with a voice dripping with sarcasm.

She turned around to check if the Pope was really there. Seeing that the leader of the Roman Catholic Church was nowhere in sight she whipped her head around, "But he's not. . ." Noticing his flat expression she exclaimed, "Hey! You lied to me! The Pope isn't back there!"

"No shit Sherlock."

Kagome narrowed her eyes at him, "I liked it better when you didn't make so many contemporary allusions. You had less material to insult me with."

"Well you are an easy target."

"So is a baby but you don't see me dishing out insults at it!"

"Hey! I wouldn't insult a baby either!" He exclaimed indignantly.

"The same way you never insulted Kikyou?!" Kagome yelled.

Inuyasha froze. To him, the whole issue with Kagome and Kikyou ended centuries ago. He had chosen Kagome in the end, that's why he had waited for her. Now he could see, that to her, Kikyou was still something unresolved. She was something that prevented them from getting closer; Kikyou was always the barrier. He couldn't blame Kagome for feeling insecure about that, he had always used Kikyou as an excuse to not get close to anything. But wasn't Kikyou dead already to Kagome? She had been there when he had killed her. Doesn't she remember that night? The talk they had? "Kikyou is dead Kagome. . ." He whispered out.

Kagome faced away from Inuyasha and fought back the tears, "I know. . ."

"Then why are you bringing her up?"

"There is. . ." Kagome paused and directed her gaze to shamefully look at her feet, "there is always a chance someone might bring her back like before."

"Then I would destroy the walking dirt and bones."

"It took you two years to get yourself to do it that last time. . . and that was because our lives were in danger. . . how long will it take you this time? Five years? Ten? Twenty?"

"A split second."

Kagome whispered, "Don't lie to me Inuyasha."

"I'd never lie to you Kagome, not anymore. I would destroy the false Kikyou in a split second."

Kagome shook her head and gave a saddened chuckle, "No you wouldn't. You would see her and think that you might be able to have a third chance with her. . . The only thing you need is my soul." She brought her eyes up to look straight in to his. "For your happiness I would give up my life and soul. If Kikyou were to walk the earth again and you only needed my soul to be happy with her, just ask me. No, you don't even have to ask me. I would give her my soul, so you two can live together much like you two deserve. You two deserve a chance at happiness. . . If my insignificant existence was the only thing sacrificed for that I would do it. . . in a split second."

Inuyasha stared at Kagome in shock, "Don't say that."

"I-I'm tired of being a replacement. I'm tired of always being looked at as `Kikyou's Reincarnation.'"

"You're not."

Kagome glared at Inuyasha with a malicious and hurt look, "I don't need your lies. I know how what you all think of me. I'm a `second-rate replica.'"

Inuyasha growled and looked pissed, "You're not listening."

"I don't need to. I see things perfectly clear."

"Then take off your fucking blindfold!" Kagome didn't answered, too shocked to say anything. "You are NOT Kikyou's reincarnation. That's something we messed up on. We just assumed you were because you two looked alike, but Midoriko told us the truth after you left. Kikyou had stolen a part of your soul to walk the earth again, but that wasn't Kikyou. It was just her body, it held her memories, but not her soul. It was just a empty shell walking around. You're not Kikyou's reincarnation Kagome. Midoriko said you're the reincarnation of something more powerful."

"Then what's my preincarnate?" Her expression was neutral now.

"That's what I'd like to know."

"I'm not Kikyou. . ." Kagome blinked rapidly, the new information was hard to swallow. For the longest time she had been compared to Kikyou, but now, she learns that they have no connection by soul, just appearance.

Inuyasha crouched in front of her, looking up to her as she sat on the couch. He got her attention and locked eyes. "I stopped seeing Kikyou in you a few days after I met you. You two are nothing alike, so I don't want you worrying about Kikyou anymore."

Kagome smiled sadly, "But it doesn't change the fact that you thought it was really her coming from the grave. It doesn't change that you had chosen her."

"I was confused teenage boy back then. I never loved Kikyou. She was my first friend, it was only friendship I felt."

"You acted like you loved her."

"That's because I didn't know what love felt like. I do now." Kagome's eyes went wide. "Aishiteruyo Kagome." (translation: I love you Kagome.)

Her eyes widened even further but instead of the joyous expression that was expected she looked troubled. "I. . . I don't know what to say."

"Say you love me back." Inuyasha pleaded as he reached up to stroke her cheek.

Kagome turned away from his touch, "I can't."

He could have sworn he heard his heart break. His world had just went crashing down. The person he had come to love so much didn't love him back. They say the heart grows fonder with time apart, well he had five hundred years and his heart was screaming for Kagome.

The look on Inuyasha's face hurt her just as much as it did him. "Inuyasha, I don't deny that I have feelings for you, but. . ."

Inuyasha saw the small glimmer of hope, "But?"

"I'm the confused one now. I know I told you my feeling right before I crossed over to my time, but I was under the impression that I would never see you again."

"You said it to humor me?"

"No, it's not that. . . I didn't want to leave you without you knowing how I felt. . . but even then I was so confused. My feelings weren't sorted out. That's why I left when I did. . . so I wouldn't figure out my true feelings. What would have happened if it was love and I figured it out? Could I have left then? No, I think I would have stayed with you and faced my death that was to come in a year. I also didn't want to burden you with my feelings."

"Burden me?"

"Having someone tell you they have a crush on you is one thing, but proclaiming their love. . . that's a whole other story. I thought we would never meet again. I had the luxury of forgetting everything. I couldn't miss something I didn't know about. What about you? I know it sounds a bit conceited, but what happens if I said I loved you and left. I thought you would have lived out your life in the past, I didn't want you to cling onto my memory like you did with Kikyou."

"But I didn't love her!"

"I know that now, but you still clung to her memory. You were afraid to live again. I didn't want you to have to go through that again."

"But you still like me right?"

Kagome apologetically looked into Inuyasha's eyes, "Un, suki dayo. Daisuki. Demo, onegai, osanaide." (translation: Yes, I like you. I like you a lot. But, please, don't push me.)

Inuyasha smiled a sad smile, but seeing that she needed time to sort out her feelings he was willing to wait and see what her final answer would be. He pulled her into an embrace. "Imawa soredakede ii." (translation: I'm fine with that for now.)

"Inuyasha. . ."

"Yakusoku shiteyaru, Kagome no kotowo osanai. . . tada, itsuka hontou no kimochi wo wakkatara oshiete hoshii. Ai, suki, ikari, kirai. Deredemo ii, wakkatara oshiete kure." (translation: I promise you, I won't push you Kagome. . . just, if you ever figure out your feelings tell me. Love, like, anger, hate. Which ever one, just tell me when you know.)

"Inuyasha no kotowo zettai kirai ni narenai. Datte, Inuyasha no koto wo konnani suki nandamon." (translation: I could never hate Inuyasha. Because, I like you so much.)

He let out a sigh into her hair, "Arigatou."(translation: Thank you.)

She shook her head, "Uun, arigatai no wa watashino houyo. Gohyakunen mo tatte mo watashi no kotowo oboitoite kuretashi, soreto, Inuyasha no kimochi wo oshiete kurete arigatou. Mijuku na atashi wo omotoite arigatou." (translation: No, I should be the one that's grateful. You remembered me even after five hundred years, and thank you for telling me your feelings. Thank you for feeling for a person as mediocre as me.) (a/n: I'm not sure if mediocre is the right word for this. . . it's more along the lines of `not yet completely matured')

"Mijuku janaiyo. Ore no me de wa rippa na onna ni natteru yo." (translation: You're not mediocre. In my eyes you have turned into an amazing woman.)

Inuyasha was contented within the embrace until he noticed her slow and steady breathing. `She fell asleep.' He smiled into her hair then scooped her up, taking her to lay down on his bed. As he tucked her into the bed sheets he laid beside her to get his rest as well. But since the incident at Kagome's apartment he didn't allow himself to go into a deep sleep.

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~She'll never love you.~

`Shut up.'

~Why are you even trying to deny it?~

`I'm not denying anything.'

~Then accept the fact that she'll never love you.~

`I don't know that, I'm willing to wait for her answer.'

~Don't be stupid. What do you have that no other average man can offer?~

`Protection.'

~She needs a man in her life, not a guardian.~

`I'll be the man and guardian at the same time.'

~Don't be foolish, you'll never be the man.~

`And how the hell would you know this?'

~Because I'll be the man. A role that a lowly hanyou like you could never fulfill.~

`. . .Who are you?'

~You know me, we've met before.~

`WHO ARE YOU?!'

~In due time you will find out.~

`TELL ME NOW!!!'

~So impatient. . .'

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Inuyasha woke up with a start. He was covered in sweat, breathing erratically, and eyes wide. His sudden movement had woken up the sleeping girl next to him. Groggily she rubbed at her eyes, "Inuyasha?"

His head and eyes whipped toward her. Their eyes locked and at that moment there was fear in his eyes.

"Inuyasha? Are you alright?" She sat up next to him and attentively reached up to place a hand on his cheek. Upon contact she could feel that his skin was slightly cold from the sweat and the air around them. "Did you have a nightmare?"

Suddenly he grabbed her hand in his and pulled it away from his face so that it clasped in both of his clawed ones. "Is there someone else?"

She looked at him a confused, "Is there someone else of what? I don't understand Inuyasha."

"Is there someone else that you love? Is that why you can't say it to me?"

She quickly pulled her clasped hands with his into her so that they were holding each other's hand in front of one another. "Why are you asking this? Are you okay? What happened?"

"Answer the question Kagome." He stared at her sternly.

Kagome searched in his eyes to see where this question was coming from. Unable to determine, and seeing that he was not backing down she answered, "No, there is no one else."

Inuyasha gave a large sigh of relief, "You would tell me if there was right?"

"Of course. If there is or if there ever is to be one in the future, you would be the first person I tell. I promised you that, remember?"

Even the slight mention of a possible other guy in the future irked him but he gave a light smile and leaned his head over to lie on her shoulder. "Thanks."

She brushed down his hair and whispered next to his ear, "No problem."

She glanced over at the window and saw that the first rays of sun from the new day were peeking their way into the darken room with the curtains drawn. Looking over to the clock she saw that it read 7:15am. "We have to get to work."

Without moving from his spot Inuyasha answered, "We could call in sick today."

"What if someone finds out we aren't out sick?"

He chuckled, "It's not like we're going to get fired. I'm the CEO of the company. Trust me, I wouldn't fire you and I'm not willing to fire myself just yet either."

She gave a slight frown, "You know, I don't want this job if you're just playing favorites. I want this job because I'm qualified for it, not because I fell down a well and happen to have met you in the Sengoku Jidai."

He chuckled again, "You don't have to worry about that. I'm not even the one who hired you, and I trust Miss Imai's judgment when it comes to new employees. . . even if she is a little on the flaky side."

"So you didn't just hired me because. . . well. . . I was me?"

"Nope."

"Did you even know I was going to work there when I came into your office yesterday morning?"

"Nope."

"So this is all just one freakish coincidence?"

"Yup."

Kagome sighed and massaged the bridge of her nose, "I think I'm going to get a headache."

"Want me to press the pressure point for you?"

"Huh?"

"Never mind."

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

"Good morning Mr. Williams."

The elderly foreign man recognized the young ebony-haired man that was standing at his office door and greeted him back, gesturing for him to sit down in a chair in front of his desk. "Good morning. How are you?"

"Good, can't complain. You?" The young man answered good-naturedly.

"I'm fine, thank you. So, what business do you have today with me? I hope nothing like a lawsuit." Mr. Williams said with a smile from behind his desk.

"Nothing like that. Miss Imai called me yesterday saying that your replacement had finally arrived and told me to stop by to get some of the legal work underway."

"You're a bit early don't you think? My replacement hasn't come in for the day just yet, she should be here in about fifteen minutes."

The young man gave the old one a dashing smile, "Just wanted to get a head start on a long process. Much like you, I thought I would have seven months to get this all done but now I only have a month. I need to get this all started and finished quickly. And knowing that you come in earlier than the average employee, I decided to get some of the stuff done that involves you in it."

Mr. Williams smiled at the young lawyer, "Sure thing Mr. Senshi."

"We'll be seeing each other constantly for the next month, you should call me by my first name."

The old man smiled that went all the way to his eyes, the skin around his eyes crinkling like the way it does on Santa when he smiles. "My replacement had said the exact same thing. Very well, let's get down to business Kouga-kun."

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A/N: Senshi means "death in war" and this is NOT a last name in Japan, for one thing it is a very crude name and also one that will probably be looked upon as bad luck. . . but I gave Kouga this last name because he is a wolf youkai. . . what does that mean u ask? Well, the thing is wolves used to exist in Japan, but were killed off by hunters. So I thought that Kouga would choose a name that would honor his fellow wolves by having a name that show the that the wolves had died with honor against a battle of the wolves against hunters. . . I might make a side story or integrate that into a chapter. . . not really sure, tell me in ur review if you would like to see that.