InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Then From Love until Forever ❯ Familiar Strangers ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.

Please forgive any and all grammar/spelling errors!

Author Notes:

This chapter will probably put most of you to sleep…it is a major set up chapter so it may seem a little boring….hey I fell asleep twice while writing it…hehe anyways please review and thank you for your support! ^___^

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Then From Friendship Until Love

Chapter Four: Familiar Strangers

Kagome stood, stunned as the black object landed deep in the valley and out of site. Her mind was hysterical with all sorts of emotions, her heart pumping blood ferociously through her veins. The wind blew frantically around her, whipping her hair all around her head. She reached up and gripped the tiny pink orb that hung around her neck. She held it tightly as she brought her fist to rest against her mouth. Despite her jumble thoughts, she silently hoped the intruders were friends not foes.

It would be some time before the visitors would reach the hut, unless they had failed to notice it during their descent, which in that case they could possibly never come to the shack before leaving. Kagome shook head in an attempt to relax her throbbing brain. She grabbed her pouch full of arrows and flung her bow over her shoulder. It took only a few, lengthened strides to retrieve her other two arrows in her practice tree.

The black haired female pulled them from the tree and replaced them in the sack. She stared off into the distance again in the direction the helicopter landed. Her big blue eyes longed towards the horizon, she wanted nothing more than to find the key that would unlock her past and her memories.

Slowly she turned back towards her home. The place she had lived with Kaede, a kind old woman, and her fatherless daughter. Six years she had spent here, wondering who she was, what had happened to her. God, if only all her questions could be answered, if only the curse of amnesia could be lifted from her, if only her mind could finally rest and her heart find an end to the emptiness she had felt for so long.

It only took a few minutes to arrive back at the small, rundown wooden house. Kaede was outside; staff in hand, her one good eye staring out into the distance. Destiny was still in the garden, dancing and playing merrily. Kagome approached the older woman, her stomach churned slightly causing uneasiness to build in her body.

"It's looks as though the wind has changed, thy child." Kaede said as Kagome came to stand besides her.

"So it seems, but can they be trusted."

"That I do not know. Ye will find out shortly, for a pair heads towards this hut."

Kaede stepped back to sit on a small wooden box next to the entrance of the hut. Kagome stood still, staring up at the brilliant blue sky with its paint strokes of white fluttering clouds.

It took forever, almost longer, until Kagome could make out the form of two people walking across the terrain. One was a male, a very tall man - the other a respectively shorter female. Her heart jumped into her dry throat, and she ran her tongue over her cracked lips in a failed attempt to moisturized them. The anticipation was enough to eat her alive.

"Destiny, go inside the house and do not come out unless I tell you its okay to do so. Is that understood?" Kagome called out to her daughter when the duo was merely minutes away.

"Yes, mommy. But why do I have to stay inside?" the little girl ran up to her mother, looking up at her with pleading, worried eyes.

Kagome smiled down at the child she loved more than life itself. She knelt down so that she was eye level with the young girl and brushed her hand across the girl's cheek, "Because some people are here. Grandma Kaede and I want to make sure they are good people, okay?"

Destiny's eyes grew wide with the news, her expression was conflicting with excitement and fear; the same emotions Kagome had raging in her heart, "Okay," the child whispered before running into the hut.

Her mother stood watching after her as Kaede rose from her seat to move next to Kagome. They both turned their attention to their visitors. Kagome felt her body begin to tremble with every step closer they took, her hands twisted painfully together, and her breaths became short and labored.

"Tis will be all right, child." Kaede encouraged, placing a wrinkled hand on the woman's shoulder to ease her nervousness.

Kagome's heart stopped, her mind about ready to break free from the confining walls of her skull. She could make out features, and…and the male had silver hair. Could he be…would her questions finally be answered?

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Rin walked next to her husband, holding his hand with a firm grip as they neared the tiny residence. She wanted to bolted, run, spirit all the way there so that after six long years she could finally embrace her dear friend. But Sesshoumaru had been right when he told her they should approach with caution. Neither of them had any idea what Kagome had endured over the course of her exile.

She wore her hair up in a high ponytail and was glad she wore jeans and a tight fitted orange tank top. She had not expected to hike such a long distance, but the pilot suggested to keep a distance so that they would not alarm anyone.

"Do you think that she has changed?" Rin asked, straining her eyes so she could clearly make out two figures waiting for their arrival.

Sesshoumaru kept his gaze straight ahead, his hair danced wildly behind him, "I would not know for sure. People change with time. You are not the same woman you were when I met you. It is only natural to assume she has changed, as does everybody. The question would be…to what extent?" His voice was cold and domineering.

Rin let out a small sigh, and nodded a response. She wished that Inuyasha and Kagome had not been tore apart. They had missed out on so much, so many years. And still after all the time that had passed, Inuyasha could not know she was alive. Rin worried about him, he was starting to walk a thin line between his sanity and death. She hated leaving him home alone, Kanna was not one to keep anybody company.

She stopped dead in her tracks, remembering something that Inuyasha had told her, "Miroku and Sango are coming to visit…" she muttered knowing Sesshoumaru would not be happy that she did not tell him sooner.

"It matters not," Sesshoumaru responded, tugging her hand so that she would resume walking, "The east wing of the mansion has been sealed off for remodeling reasons, nobody but you or myself are allowed in that section of our home. Kagome will be safely hidden."

It was only a short time before they finally reached their destination to be greeted by two females. Rin tried to fight the growing smile that crept to her lips at the sight of Kagome. Her heart jumped so it could soar with sprouts of happiness. She had missed her so much. She looked the same, just an older version of the Kagome that she had come to care for so long ago. But the privately celebration was short lived when the younger female of the pair took a step back, no recognition flashing in her crystalline eyes.

"We are looking for Kagome Tama…" Sesshoumaru simply stated also noting the way Kagome's eyes watched him as if she had never seen him before but at the same time stared into his eyes with so much confusion.

The gray-haired woman moved to the side so that she blocked the other from the two intruders. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed at the action but held his ground.

"What business does ye have with her?" the old woman asked, clenching her long staff in both her hands and holding it across her body in attack mode.

"Please," Rin took a step forward her voice pleading, "We must speak with her."

There was an awkward silence for almost a minute before Kagome had the encourage to speak up, "Who are you?"

Rin's hand shot up to cover her mouth trying to stop the escaping gasp. Tears blurred her vision. No. Please No, she couldn't have…she can't. Rin bit her lip just as the first droplets trickled down her cheek.

"I am Sesshoumaru Tama and this is my wife, Rin. We are family."

One of Sesshoumaru's fears had been confirmed. Since Rin and his departure from their home, a thousand different scenarios formed in his mind about the condition they would find Kagome in. Amnesia had been one of the lesser, minor, least tragic of his premonitions.

Kagome walked passed the protecting female only to stop just a few feet from the pair claiming to be her family. She looked over them from head to toe, trying to jog her memory. But the only thing she recognized was silver hair and the feelings that sprung lose when she looked at them. She felt a strong bond towards the female confusing her even more. The man, Sesshoumaru, he had the same color hair as the male in her vision, the man she married. But if Rin was his wife, then he could not be the same person, could he?

"Did you have me brought here?" she asked, keeping emotion from her question.

Rin shook her head, moving her hands to grip her husband's arm, "No, we have been looking for you since you were taken away from us," Her voice quivered as she spoke.

Kagome eyed the woman, her instincts and emotions told her that this Rin could be trusted, that she had been a friend. Relief, happiness, sadness, puzzlement, grief, every thing washing through her body, overwhelming her senses and her ability to think straight. She felt like her heart was going to explode from all the strain it was under going.

"Please tell me then, Why?" she asked with a shaking voice, "Why was I brought here? Why can't I remember who you are? Why…?" she began to collapse from mental exhaustion just as the tears poured from her eyes.

Rin jumped to catch her, cradling the sobbing female in her arms and joining her in tears of pain, "Shh, everything is going to be okay. We will try to answer your questions to the best of our knowledge, just please don't cry." Rin whispered, soothingly into her ear.

Kaede wiped a bead of perspiration off her brow as a result of the sun blaring down upon them, "Come, sit under the old oak tree so that ye can talk things out," the old woman took the lead under the large, shading tree.

Kagome moved out of Rin's hold, uncomfortable because she did not know her, yet comfortable because her heart screamed that she did. The three women sat on the makeshift chairs, while Sesshoumaru opted to stand behind his wife.

"Please tell me everything," Kagome whimpered, staring longing down at her clasped hands allowing the tears to drop directly upon them. Her mind was in such a clutter, but she wanted to know, she needed to know, she had to know.

"First, I wish for you to tell us what you remember…" Sesshoumaru countered her remark. He wanted to know the degree of her memory loss.

"I…I…it's so hard to explain."

"Take your time…" Rin said, giving her a weak smile.

"I only remember bits a pieces of my past, but never any faces or names. Any memories I do have only come to me while I am dreaming or meditating. I can not just openly retrieve them like I am supposed to…" Kagome blurred out quickly.

"I see," Sesshoumaru nodded his head and waited for Kagome to continue.

"I know things. It is weird. I know that I went to school, even college…though I am not sure if I graduated. I know I have a mother and a younger brother…and that my grandfather died at some point during my teens. Most of my knowledge is there…it's just the memories that are being repressed and I can't tap into them when I want."

There was an unbearable silence again. The wind rustled the leaves above them. Kagome shuffled her feet in the dirt, debating on whether or not she should confided in these people even more than she already had. A thump emerged from the hut pulling the attention of all four adults. Kagome panicked, she did not trust these strangers enough yet to reveal her daughter, and so she spoke again, regaining everyone's attention.

"It is so frustrating. I can't handle these emotions that accompany the visions I have, the emotions I feel when I look at you," Kagome's hand fiddled with her necklace as she spoke.

Rin watched her in question as she noticed that all four pieces of jewelry; Inuyasha had ever given Kagome were still in her possession. She glanced up at Sesshoumaru, "I do not understand," she said quickly, "why would he let her keep her engagement ring, her wedding ring, your grandmother's ring, and the necklace she got for Christmas?"

"I would not know, Rin. Why did he let her live would be the more primal question."

"Please, tell me what you are talking about. I need to know before I go mad. I hate not knowing anything about myself, not knowing of my past…" Kagome pleaded fighting back tears.

"Our apologies, Kagome." Sesshoumaru responded, momentarily looking back towards the shack when another thump was heard, "Are you sure you wish to know everything, I do not want to overwhelm you."

"Yes, I will be fine. I have to know why I feel so empty."

"Very well, you are Kagome Tama, formerly Kagome Higurashi before you married my younger brother, Inuyasha…" Sesshoumaru paused noticing a flicker of something flash through Kagome's eyes at the mention of his brother, "You and Inuyasha have been best friends since your first year in high school, however, you were forced to keep your friendship a secret all through high school, because my brother's lunatic girlfriend did not like you."

Kagome's mind began beating against the barrier that had been constructed to block out all her memories. Inuyasha. That name, it sounded so familiar. At just the mention of the name Kagome's heart leapt up in unexplainable, uncanny happiness.

"By the time the both of you had reached your senior year, you had fallen in love. Together you faced a number of obstacles and got married a couple of months after your graduation from high school. For two years after that you lived happily together; attending college and preparing for the future."

"But…" Kagome exhaled, watching the flicker of despair flash through Rin's eyes, her thoughts wondering if she could handle anymore.

"But one night, after you left class you disappeared. Your car was found sixty-seven miles from the university campus, and the only traces of you were the bloodstains in the drivers seat. Inuyasha has searched for you for the last six years, refusing to believe that you were dead or lost to him forever."

Aching pain pounding her brain while her heart twisted adding more fuel to the fire. Somebody out there loved her that much too still be looking for her after all these long torturous years. Inuyasha. Was he the father of her child? Who would take her away? Did she have enemies? Did the Tama family? So many questions that needed to be answered but Kagome's head felt like it was ready to explode from the pressure building in her mind.

"Three men dressed in black attire bought Kagome to this here valley," Kaede spoke up and nodding towards a pale, stricken Kagome.

One of Sesshoumaru's eyebrows rose in question as he redirected his gaze towards the wrinkled woman, "Would you by chance know who these strangers were?"

Kaede eyed the tall male with her good, uncovered eye. He had a frozen demeanor about him however, despite his icy aura, Kaede could sense a good heart resided somewhere inside him. His intentions were not ones of malice, so she concluded that it was already to tell this man about the night Kagome was brought to her.

"No, they spoke no words."

"I see," Sesshoumaru responded, placing a hand on Rin's shoulder, "if you will, tell me all that you remember when she was brought here."

Kaede dug the end of her staff into the dirt, holding it firmly with both hands. She looked to Kagome for permission to continue and after she received a nod, Kaede spoke "the night was dark, and rainy. A man with dark brown hair brought Kagome into my house, beaten and covered in blood while the other two remained outside. Without a word he dropped the child to the floor, left, and have not been back hence."

Rin watched wide eyed as Kagome subconsciously reached up and stroked a large scar on her forehead that had been hidden by her bangs, "How bad were her wounds?"

"She had bruises across her cheek bones, arms, legs, and neck. A small cut was located at the base of her neck and her skull had been fractured just below her hairline. It took a few weeks for her to regain consciousness. Fever took hold of the poor child, and on more than one night, I feared she would not survive. When she did awaken she could remember absolutely nothing. As time progressed certain things returned to her such as her name and a few scattered memories but that is all. However, lately meditation has helped a great deal in her recovery and it is hoped that she will remember everything in time."

Tears dripped from Rin's eyes just as anger poured into her heart. How could Naraku do such a thing to an innocent person? Kagome had nothing to do with his deceitfulness; her only crime had been was to fall in love with her soul mate, "I am so sorry, Kagome…"

Kagome shook her head, stopping Rin's words, "Who? I want to know why I was dumped here, I want to know why I have been here for so long? Why?"

"Naraku Shikon was once my father's biggest business rival. His daughter Kikyou had set her sights on Inuyasha and so after Kikyou and Inuyasha became a couple before entering high school, Naraku blackmailed my brother into staying with his daughter. Kikyou was a very spoiled, very bitchy female and got her way in everything. It would take a week to explain the complication that accompany your history with Inuyasha but to sum it all up - Kikyou hated you as much as you disliked her. In the end, you had captured Inuyasha's heart and you were the one he married, not her." Sesshoumaru began to try and explain.

"So this Kikyou person is responsible?" Kagome asked her brows furrowing together.

"Not directly no. Naraku was set on making sure Inuyasha pay for the disgrace he caused Kikyou when my brother married you. So he had you abducted so that you both would suffer. Why he chose to keep you alive is still unanswered. We had thought you were killed after three years of searching. A few nights ago, your younger brother's best friend revealed to me your location. He has been working undercover in Naraku's business in attempt to discover if Naraku had anything to do with your disappearance. He managed to find where you had been taken but has be unable to obtain any tangible proof of Naraku's involvement."

"Is it dangerous for my brother's friend?" Kagome asked worriedly, not liking the idea of someone getting hurt for her sake.

Rin smiled, Kagome's heart had not changed, "It is, but it a risk Kohaku is willing to take for his friend."

A soft sigh, escaped Kagome's lips but a child's scream kept her from speaking again. Instantly she stood and walking quickly towards the hut where her daughter had been hiding just as Destiny came running out of the entrance, fright written across her face.

"Mommy! There a snake in the house!" Destiny chanted, entangling her small body in her mother's arms when she reached her.

Kagome stroked the back her the child's head, soothing her trembling form, "Shh, we will get it out in a little bit. Just stay outside with me, okay?"

"Okay," Destiny said quickly, her eyes locking onto the two people she had never seen before, moving from the embrace to stand next to Kagome as she stood.

Rin's mouth fell open and her hand immediately grabbed Sesshoumaru's while she stared at the little girl in disbelief. Dark ebony hair and dynamic amber eyes, her features was a perfect mix between Kagome and Inuyasha. Her heart sank into a stormy despair. So now, not only did Inuyasha have to live without his wife for so long, he had been deprived of the first years of his daughter's life.

"Sesshoumaru, Rin. This is my daughter, Destiny." Kagome announcement uneasily, her motherly instinct on alert to make sure her child was kept safe.

"Destiny?" Sesshoumaru asked as if unaffected by the fact that Kagome had been pregnant when she was abducted.

Kagome nodded, biting her bottom lip, "Yes, it was the only name I could think of when she was born. It plagued my mind from the moment I woke up here. I thought it was pretty and figured that since it could only be fate that I would have a child and no remembrance of my past, the name suited her."

"May I tell you something Kagome?" Rin asked standing, a small smile gracing her lips.

"Yes," Kagome smiled back, knowing that whatever would happen from this point on Rin was going to be a pillar of strength and a friend.

"The last person to talk to you before you were taken was a friend of ours from high school. She had called you that night shortly after you left class to ask you something, I can't remember what it was. But anyways her name was Destiny."

Kagome's eyes sparkled hearing the hope that laced each word Rin spoke. She understood that if her subconscious had remembered that name then there was valid faith to believe that her memories would come back to her, "Thank you, Rin."

"What will ye do now?" Kaede asked, standing and slowly making her way towards the broken family she had taken care of for such a long time.

"If Kagome is willing, then Rin and I wish to bring her and…Destiny, home. Being in old surroundings would do Kagome some good." Sesshoumaru answered, his mind strategically working the quite unexpected factor into his plans to keep Kagome safe until the time is right.

Kagome was slightly taken back. She had dreamed of leaving and returning to the place she belonged but now that her dream was being offered to her, she was unsure if she wanted to leave the natural beauty of the valley she had grown accustom too. Destiny needed a better education and social skills than she could provide to her daughter, living in isolation. And there was also the simple fact that her heart screamed for her to accept his offer because she belonged somewhere else. But a few more questions had to be answered before she would agree to leave.

"Why did not Inuyasha come with you and if I do go back with you, what keeps history from repeating itself?"

"My brother is not one to hide his emotions and on many occasions his actions have proven to be rash and thoughtless. Inuyasha does not know you have been found, and it has been decided that it is best that he remain in the dark until we can take down Naraku."

"I do not understand?"

"Until Kohaku is able to obtain a file that proves Naraku guilty for abducting you, Inuyasha will not know about you. If you choose to come home, then for a short time you will have to stay out of sight when he is home."

"Sesshoumaru, even if Kagome can handle confinement, we can't expect a child to do the same." Rin stated, staring up at her husband.

"That is true," he spoke coolly, his mind processing a solution.

"I want to go with you," Kagome decided, making up her mind, "but I agree with Rin. All her life, Destiny has been free here in the wilderness, and I fear being restricted indoors would not be good for her."

Rin's body bounced up as she thought of an idea, "If its okay with Kagome then why not tell Inuyasha that Destiny is a parentless child we have decided to adopt. That way Destiny will not have to remain hidden," she said looking at Sesshoumaru.

After a few moments, Sesshoumaru responded, "It will work under the condition that the child understands that she will have to pretend she has no parents when my brother is around. Will she be able to handle that?"

Kagome thought about all the information that had been fed to her since the short time ago when Rin and Sesshoumaru had arrived. Her mind had calmed a tad and began sorting out her thoughts and storing then for future reference until her amnesia dwindled. She wanted to leave, and she would wait, patiently until it was safe for her to finally meet the faceless man that haunted her dreams.

"She will be able to do it, just let me talk to her." Kagome said, having all the faith that her daughter could handle the temporary situation.

"Do what, mommy?" Destiny's high-pitched voice echoed up to her mother.

Kagome looked down at her daughter, "I will tell later."

"Are we going to go away?"

"Later, sweetheart."

The clouds passed over ahead, blocking out the sun. The wind continued to rustle the leaves of the surrounding trees. Birds sang in the background adding the to the perfection of nature. Kagome knew she would miss the outdoors, but her heart longed for something greater…love, a family, her past.

"Then is it decided?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"Yes, Destiny and I will go back with you." Kagome's soul rejoiced at the decision sending a ping of happiness coursing through her body before laughter consumed her when Rin squealed like a young child.

Before Kagome could calculate what was happening, Rin had ran to her, and pulled her into a tight, sisterly hug. She could not deny the warm that engulfed her being around people who knew her. Life was presenting her with a second chance, to discover what she had been missing for so long. She was going to go home and she had all the faith in the world that she would remember…everything with time.

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:::Inuyasha's Princess17 lights explosives:::

*)))))))KABOOM!!(((((((*

Ok now that you guys are awake again…I wanted to apologize for putting you to sleep…I know this chapter was very boring but it was a very important/needed chapter.

Ok well review and tell me how boring it was…lol…I know, I know…Guarantee the fun begins from here on out….heheheh I can't wait!!!

REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!! Pretty Please…with the next chapter on top!!

Until Next Time…