InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Throw Caution To The Wind ❯ Amnesiac, Attack! ( Chapter 10 )

AN: Thank you for over 100 reviews! I'm not quite sure who got the lucky number, but if you know who you are, tell me! Also, thanks to one of my reviewers, I learned that Sesshoumaru's pants are actually called nu-hakama, not gi as I had read in a different fic. Sorry 'bout that. Second hand info, you know. Well, I'm really sorry this took so long to get out. I kind of wrote myself into a corner and had to find a way out of it. Don't really like the chapter, but tell me what you think. ^^ btw, just ignore the title. I was hyper.

THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND_CHAPTER 10_AMNESIAC, ATTACK!

Like getting run over on a one way road, by a car traveling the wrong direction. Irony is an interesting thing. Sometimes it sparks necessity and forces us to live with what we hate or fear. Sometimes is causes a small problem to turn into a catastrophe. Or sometimes it's just there to provide a little humor in our lives. Whatever the cause, after this, I would curse irony momentarily, for the rest of my life and with all my soul, then decide it was really Fate's fault. Unfortunately, I discovered that those two things, my life and soul, are governed by irony, and a very good base of psychotic fate. Screw fate and irony. I know that they were plotting together to bring me down. It was obvious, with what I had been through in the last..oh…month or so. Yeah…reeeeaaaalllly funny, Irony. Ha ha.

I dimly began to become aware of something. Myself, I think it was, but I wasn't sure, as she seemed to be momentarily out on a lunch break. There was a low, incessant buzzing in my ears and my ribs felt as if they had been broken.

Driving a red Ferrari at 150mph down an empty road, crashing headfirst into a brick wall, then topping it off with a major hangover afterwards . That's how an adult would describe the way I was feeling.

I slowly came to realize that the incessant buzzing in my ears was the low hum of murmuring voices coming from somewhere that I could not recognize, seeing as I had no idea where I was, myself. And I later came to know that the reason my ribs had felt like they had been broken was, simply, because they had previously.

I felt drained, tired, nauseous, yet empty. I became aware of a tingling sensation in what I discovered to be my fingers. I attempted to wiggle them, succeeding, yet drained from the effort as if I had just ran a 30k race, only to lose horridly.

I became aware of the increasing volume of the low chatter. Voices talking. Women it sounded like.

"Yes, the lord's marriage went through, though I do not know if he is happy. He is a demon after all, and she a human. He will outlive her by many years and they will have hanyou children. A hanyou heir is a serious thing indeed, and something that he does not like to think of."

I could barely decipher what was being said and hardly believed it at all (hanyou?), yet my ears did not generally let me down. I tried to move, to open my eyes, so that I could see the two conversing.

"Yet, there seems to be a touch of love in their relationship. That should help things along. Personally, I think it is a great advance, bonding between youkai and human. Eventually, it will be our only way to survive."

Perhaps if I could open my eyes, I could ask them what I was doing there and what had happened to me.

" If only others could follow the example. It's a pity it's still seen as such a disgrace among so many…they are blinded by their so-called 'honor'".

They had stopped talking now and I could hear rustling movements near me as someone pulled back then tucked in the sheets around me, making it even more difficult for me to move my fingers or any other part. Oh well, best to take things in stride anyways. I had to open my eyes.

Though they felt like weight, I somehow managed to lift my lead eyelids enough to see straight in front of me. I was in a room. I was, I assumed, laying on a bed. There was a bustling, and then:

"Kagome-sama…thank goodness, you're awake! Oh how wonderful! Kaji, tell Jaken to alert Sesshoumaru-sama of Kagome-sama's waking." she called out, then came to the side of the bed and rested a wrinkled, yet supple hand on my forehead. "I'm so glad you have woken, we were all very worried about you. Sesshoumaru-sama and Rin will be pleased to know you are conscious."

I blinked and coughed, gaining control of my vocal chords once again.

"We were all very worried about you, Kagome-sama."

I warmly smiled at her caring actions as she squeezed my hand and pressed a wet cloth to my forehead. Her face was somewhat wrinkled, but her old eyes shone like stars.

"Um…who are you?" I managed to say before passing out into unconsciousness.

_______________________________________________________ ___________

"No, she did not remember me. It's a good thing it didn't go any further. If she lost all memory with that, think of what a second more could have done to her…"

There was a low murmuring, a male's voice, I thought.

"I think it would be best not to rush her into anything at the second. Let her take everything in stride. She may not remember you either….I don't believe so…..bit of amnesia….no, she's been sleeping the whole time, not that you can blame the child….yes….."

The voices again. The one that I could make out, I recognized from my previous wakening. The other was too low for me to decipher, but now I was sure that it had belonged to a man. I didn't want to open my eyes. The man's voice faded and I assumed he had left. A woman's voice came, a new one, and joined the first in conversation. Their voices became louder and I heard a door slide open. The women came in my room, but I made no attempt to open eyes or let them know I was conscious.

"It's very odd, really. Why do you suppose a detachment of Naraku would be in the woods. Especially around the citadel. Naraku knows Sesshoumaru is a formidable foe." The younger, newer, of the voices murmured.

"Perhaps Naraku sent the detachment, knowing that." I heard water being poured somewhere next to the bed on which I slept. I suddenly realized I was thirsty enough to drink a whole well dry.

"What do you mean, Maki?" the younger voice sounded higher, I could hear a tint of panic in her words.

"Perhaps it was not a coincidence that Naraku's attachment ran into Kagome-sama and not Sesshoumaru-sama. Perhaps Naraku sent the detachment to get rid of Kagome-sama. In the only way he could make sure she never returned."

The other one gasped lightly and I listened, confused, for any more details, but none came. There was a sloshing sound then water dripping. Suddenly, something cold was placed on my forehead and I couldn't help but shiver.

"Maki! I think Kagome-sama moved! Yes, her breathing has sped up! Kagome-sama? Can you hear me, Kagome-sama?"

A hand took mine and squeezed lightly. It was the older woman with the grandmotherly voice.

"Kagome-sama, if you can hear me, try to open your eyes.

I didn't want to. My eyelids were heavy…and, to tell the truth, I was a scared. I didn't know these people. I didn't know where I was. Was I in the hospital? Was my family ok? I didn't know what had happened. Were these people nurses? Then why were they calling me Kagome-sama? I didn't want to know the answers. I just wanted to wake up and be at home…but…I realized that I didn't know where my home was. Or if I even had any family. It was like being stuck in a black void, completely unaware of…everything. And incapable of ever being aware.

"Kagome-sama. Please. Wake up."

It was the younger one now. The wrinkled, warm hand that held mine squeezed once again. What if these people were my family? What if they were my friends? Even if they were only my nurses, they were bound to know something that I didn't.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

"Kagome-sama!"

The first thing I noticed was the blinding brightness of it all. Light streamed into my vision like a flood breaking loose from a dam. For a minute, I was completely blinded by sight.

I blinked and slowly the light simmered out and darker shapes materialized then gained form. Two women were bending over me, earnest expressions of worry on their faces. My eyes fluttered, finally staying open despite the weight my eyelids seemed to gain.

"Oh how wonderful, I will fetch Rin." one of the faces left my area of sight.

"Not yet, Fumie. Give Kagome-sama a little time." The face of an elderly, yet warm-looking woman spoke and the younger one reappeared, a happy, homely look to her. I stared at the ceiling which their faces were blocking from my view.

"Should I inform Sesshoumaru-sama, Maki?"

"Not yet. Time, she needs time."

I had no clue who these women were or who the people they spoke of were. And at the moment, it was all to much to take in.

I shut my eyes once more. I took a short, deep breath. I noticed that my chest ached ever so slightly. I kept my eyes shut, just wishing that I could go back to sleep, something that I knew. I lay like that for a few seconds, just everything away. The light, the room's ceiling, the two women.

"Where am I?"

I could feel the young woman on my right shift happily.

"Kagome-sama, you're-" the other one silenced her.

"You are in the citadel of Sesshoumaru-sama, the lord of these lands, in saigoku, of greater Japan. You might remember it as the sengoku jidai."

"I don't remember it." I lay on my bedding, knowing that I was in some sort of nightmare. Knowing that I should know who these people were and where I was and why I was there.

I sighed quietly.

"Who are you?"

This time, the younger woman replied, hastily, stumbling over her words.

"This is Maki and I am Fumie. Earlier, Wakiko was watching over you. And Kaji will be coming in soon to take over for Maki. We are servants in Sesshoumaru-sama's castle."

"Ok." I opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling. Plain wood ceiling. But beautiful nonetheless, with dark, rich wood that seemed to either shine but perhaps that was because it soaked up all light around it.

"Kagome-sama…you have been through a great ordeal. You are in a weakened state right now. Please, drink some of this." water was handed to me and I drank blankly until the taste registered in my stumbling brain, and I proceeded to gulp down the liquid avariciously. I finished and the cup was taken from me.

Finally gaining some strength and wit about me, I gazed around me slowly, taking in the sparse, yet elegant decoration. The room was beautifully simple. I liked it. Though it didn't seem like I would decorate something that way.

"Is this…my room?"

"…yes…it's your room…Kagome-sama." The older woman seemed to say cautiously.

I finally turned my full attention to the elderly lady with such a soothing voice.

"I don't remember…"

"I know, Kagome-sama, I know and I'm sorry, but it will come back to you."

"I guess it will, won't it." On looking at her face, I noticed something did not seem quite right about her. "Your ears…they aren't human ears."

"You're quite right, Kagome-sama. Quite right. You see, I-" but she stopped, her words fading softly on her tongue. "If you will excuse me. Fumie, attend to Kagome-sama's needs."

Fumie…was it?…nodded understandingly and Maki left the room quietly, slipping just outside.

"Now, Kaogme-sama, do you wish to dress, or perhaps eat, or perhaps-"

"I'm fine, thank you Fumie."

Fumie smiled nervously, as if she didn't know what to do from there on.

"Anything you need-"

"Why do you call me Kagome-sama? Why not Kagome?"

"Because Sesshoumaru-sama gave all the servants the order to call you Kagome-sama, of course. But I have no problem…"

Sesshoumaru-sama? That was, undoubtedly, the master of the house. So why did they call me, and no one else excepting Sesshoumaru-sama by the title of sama?

"…I always liked you. You are so kind to everyone, you…" the servant continued on.

There were voices whispering outside of the door to my room. I recognized it now. It was the same people as before. Maki, the old woman, and a low, smooth, male voice.

"Everything…she will be of no use…"

"She'll recover, Sesshoumaru-sama, it will just take time."

"I can not afford to have a woman governing half of my home, that can not remember where she is."

"We would do best to use patience, Sesshoumaru-sama. That is something in which you always excelled. We cannot merely throw Kagome-sama out in the cold with no memory of who or where she is. It would be murder."

"…"

"Just give her some time, Sesshoumaru-sama. I'm sure she will recover fully if treated correctly."

"You say she has gained consciousness?"

"Yes, but she doesn't remember anything. She will most likely have no idea of who you are. Only give answers to questions she asks. She may be overwhelmed easily."

There was a sliding of the door as it opened once again and I shut my eyes, not wishing to meet any other imaginary people until I had woken up. And, if by some sick twist of fate, this wasn't a dream, I didn't want to meet whoever it was anyway. They would just have to wait. Unfortunately, in my vegetative-like state, I wasn't about to tell this person that. I was more inclined to lay with my eyes closed and play dead. Real courageous, wasn't it?

The closing of a door, footsteps, almost too light to hear, a rustling of fabric. I could feel the eyes upon me. I could feel someone watch me from across the room. I was tired and I hurt all over. I just wanted this person, no all of them, to leave me alone and go away so I could wake up from this nightmare or peacefully learn to cope with it myself…by sleeping the effects off.

It must have been two minutes. Two very uncomfortable minutes where I tried to hide the fact that I was there, tried to blend my black hair into the white covers of the background, and wished with all my might that a tightening in my chest that came over me within the first minute, would leave me in peace to figure out just where exactly I was. The presence of this person, watching me, was weighing heavily on me.

The door slid open and shut smoothly in one movement. I was left alone.

No voices conversed outside of my room.

_________________________________________________________________

"They were happy even though he was a demon lord and she only a human….I didn't know about it either…It's really quite sad, what happened. Very sad."

This time, I was prepared for the flood of light that came with open eyes. I squinted slightly, but opened my eyes as soon as I was thinking clearly. I guess I had somehow worked things out in my sleep…such a wonderful thing. Though too much of it does result in lost opportunity… I wasn't surprised to hear the women's voices. In fact, I rustled just a tiny bit, the only amount I felt capable of at the time, to let the know I was awake. I'm not one for really spending too much time alone. I like having people around, but don't get me wrong, I treasure my time where I get to think clearly. It's good to have a balance of both in your life, you know.

The door slid open and the old servant, Maki, walked in, followed by a new younger servant.

"Ah. So you're awake, are you?" Maki smiled at me grandmotherly and I couldn't help but think that she reminded me of somebody. I just couldn't remember who. "Kagome-sama, this is Wakiko. She is also a servant here. She will help you around when you need it."

Wakiko smiled at me, fidgetting nervously, until she suddenly lunged at me and gave me a big hug. She pulled back instantly, looking as if she had committed some horrible crime.

"Please forgvie me, Kagome-sama. It's just, we were all so worried about you!" She wrung her hands nervously. I managed a sincere smile, nodding.

"Don't worry about it. I'm glad. At least I know that you didn't hate me. If I can't remember anything, that's a good thing to know. I guess we were friends?"

Wakiko nodded nervously.

"Yes, you were always very kind and I enjoyed having the honor of accompanying Kagome-sama with her duties. You-you may call me Waki, if you wish."

I smiled despite myself.

"Thank you, Waki. Kagome is fine for me."

"Oh no! I couldn't call you that! Sesshoumaru-sama ordered-"

"It's ok, Wakiko. Would you fetch some water for Kagome-sama?" Maki offered, halting what I could tell was going to be an embarrassing conversation.

"Y-yes! Of course! I will be right back!" With that, Waki scampered out of the room. Maki watched her go, then turned back to me.

"You are very well-liked here, Kagome-sama. I hope in time you will come to remember those who liked you so." She walked to my side and rearranged my blankets. "Do you think you could sit up?"

I nodded, and slowly rose, propping myself up on my elbows. Maki grabbed an extra blanket and put it behind me, propping my body weight up against it. I watched her movements, interested. They were smooth and deliberate. Stable, I could tell she was the stable one. Probably the head of the servants. I smiled in thanks.

"Maki, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course, Kagome-sama." She walked about, pulling out items from a yellow sack on the floor near a chest. It looked so familiar. Well, duh. I thought stupidly. I've probably used it a thousand times and just don't remember it.

"Well, I noticed that your ears…they're different."

Maki stopped and looked at me questioningly.

"Well, what I mean is…what exactly are you? You all have ears like that and I don't."

"Hm." The old woman chuckled softly. "I should have known that would not escape your attention. You see, I, and all the others in this household, excepting the child, Rin, are youkai. Demons."

I think my mouth was resting against the bed beneath me.

"You-"

"Yes, we are demons. But don't worry, we won't eat you." she smiled warmly. "…yet." she laughed as if this was the funniest thing in the world and I couldn't help but laugh with her.

"Ok, so let me get this straight, I'm in sengoku jidai, in the castle of a demon."

"Not just any demon. The taiyoukai, lord Sesshoumaru-sama."

"Right-the demon lord-"

Then it hit me. What the servants were talking about earlier. It all made sense.

"Maki-"

"Kagome-nechan!!!" I was cut off from my train of thought when the door slammed open and a blur came rushing past Maki. In the blink of an eye, the life was being squeezed out of me as a small child attached herself around my middle. "I missed you soooo much!!" The tiny voice squealed enthusiastically. "Jaken-sama said that I had to wait until Kagome-nechan was awake to see her, and I heard that you were awake, and I yelled at Jaken-sama and called him a toad, and I ran and told Sesshoumaru-sama, but hesaidhealreadyknewthatyouwereawake, soIrantoyourroomreallyfasttoginfyouand-" She took a huge gulp of breath. "You're awake! Are you all better now?! I was really worried 'cause that scary girl with the mirror was standing by you and you looked really sick. Jaken-sama said we could play when you were better. But only after 'Rin did her work'. But I did do my work! See!" With that, she held up a ravaged piece of parchment with messy words in hiragana, katakana, and some slightly more sightly kanji. "So if you are all better, we can play and you can teach me against instead of Jaken-sama!"

Her eyes darted here and there, then she crawled up, sitting next to me, and whispered quietly in my ear. "Jaken-sama stinks. He smells like icky stew." she confided cautiously. She nodded once, as if confirming it, then grabbed my hand. "Come on, Kagome!"

At this point Maki stepped in.

"Rin, Kagome-sama must be very tired from being sick. Maybe you should give her a little longer to get better."

Rin nodded, but looked slightly dejected.

"So. You must be the favorite Rin that everyone talks about!" I smiled down at her. "You're very cute, you know that?"

Rin looked up at me, a smile on her face.

"Silly Kagome! Of course Rin is Rin!"

At this point, Maki stepped in again.

"Rin..when Kagome-sama was sick, she lost a lot of her memory. She can't remember a lot of things. She couldn't remember me or Wakiko or anybody."

Rin turned to me with huge eyes, a look that almost made me laugh.

"Really? Did you forget everyone, Kagome-nechan?"

"Everyone. Even myself. I'm sorry that I can't remember you Rin. But I'll be better real soon and then I will remember everything. I promise."

"Great! Don't worry Kagome-nechan! I'll help you remember!"

"Thank you…Rin-chan."

Rin smiled so bright, that I thought I would have to shield my eyes.

"See?! You already remember what you call me!"

I smiled at her warmly. The little girl was so cute. Memories tugged at the edge of my mind, but none would come. I would have to be satisfied with re-meeting everyone.

"Rin, I have a good idea. Why don't you pick Kagome-sama some get well flowers?" Maki suggested offhandedly.

"Oo!" Rin's eyes lit up amazingly. "I'll bring you the prettiest flowers, Kagome-sama!" With that, she rushed out of the room and I couldn't help think that perhaps it wouldn't be as bad as I thought it was. I only wished every one else I was going to meet would be like her….only…a little less energetic.

I sighed, exhausted, but somewhat energized-does that even make sense?-and feeling a little bit…relieved, was it? There were a few servants who seemed to be good friends, and an adorable little girl with the most infectious smile ever. Now I needed to…

"Maki-bachan?" The name suddenly came as if it belonged and it suited her well, I thought. She reminded me of a kind grandmother with laughing eyes.

"Hm?" She looked up from a chest that she had been rummaging in.

"Would you tell me where I can find….Sesshoumaru-sama?" I hoped with everything that I hadn't said his name wrong as I lifted the sheets off my body and turned slowly to sit on the edge of the bed.. It would be bad if I called the lord of the house the by the wrong title. Especially for me…

With relief, I found that Maki's eyes lit up and a warm smile emerged on her face. She really was a lovely old woman.

"Are you sure you wish to see him so soon, I know that-?"

"I guess if I should see anyone, it should be him, right?" I made to stand up, but suddenly caught a wave of dizziness and decided to sit down for a minute before daring such an arduous task as standing. "Do you think you could help me get dressed?"

Maki looked at me questioningly, then concerned.

"I don't think you should be trying to go anywhere today, Kagome-sama."

"Maki, how long have I been in bed?"

Maki thought the better of it and replied "Days."

"Well then, I think it's time that I got out, don't you?" Feeling a little more…whole, except for a splitting headache and a throbbing chest. I also managed to find a large scrape on my leg, but that didn't really impair me at all, so I ignored it.

Maki brought over some clothing and laid it on the end of the bed.

"I'm sorry, but your old outfit was ripped in several spots, so I gave it to Hideko, the seamstress of the household. Well, she's not a seamstress, but she's the best with a needle, so she is the designated seamstress for wear and tear. Sesshoumaru-sama has a professional make his clothing. So, I'm afraid this will have to do for the moment."

She came over to me, steadying me as I rose to my feet. She watched my every movement as if I might suddenly tumble over to the floor. I caught the look and decided to offer her some relief.

"I'm not going to die this moment, Maki."

"No," she smiled warily "I don't believe you are, Kagome-sama. "Let me help you."

Ten minutes later, I my old clothes had been disgarded into a heap on the floor and I was wearing what looked like, a brand new kimono. It was gorgeous, to say the least. Shades of blue and green everywhere, with silver threads accentuating the shapes of clouds that they formed.

"Wow…" I looked down at myself and my mouth dropped.

"You love lovely, Kagome-sama."

"It's-it's beautiful!"

"And it's yours." she smiled happily at me. "It's very befitting for you, kagome-sama."

"So, you never told me where I could find Sesshoumaru-sama…"

Maki sighed, but smiled.

"Most likely in his study, at the moment. I suppose you will be needing to know where that is?"

I smiled and did the best impression of a clueless child that I could muster up. Maki laughed and continued to tell me how to get to the study from my room. After thanking her for everything, I set off.

___________________________________________________________________ _

Oh great. I thought dismally. I wonder it I was this bad with directions before or if my short term memory was trashed too. I was lost, to say the least.

Wandering aimlessly. You know, most people would consider wandering aimlessly a waste of time, and I would have to agree with them, but wandering lost is something completely different. I guess I had gotten distracted and missed a turn…or two, but, in turn, I was receiving a non-guided tour of the house which was…absolutely beautiful, to say the least. The center courtyard was astounding and it seemed that the whole castle was built around it. I made a mental note to explore it later.

I wasn't paying much attention, examining a certain view of the garden while turning a corner…

"AAAAIIIIEEEE!!! GET AWAY! BACK!" There was a hideous creature standing before me, green skin and protruding eyes.

"AAAAHHHH!!!!" It yelled back. A hideous, green-skinned, protruding-eyes, talking creature!

I kicked it with all my might. It yelled.

"What do you think your doing, human!!" The creature was rubbing a lump on its head, where I had kicked it, that was the size…of its head. Wait. Was it his head? Whatever. I struggled, rising to a sitting position, then rose to its feet, propping itself up on some staff of sorts. I stood gawking at it. It was small. It was ugly. It was, as I found out three minutes later, called Jaken.

"So you're the Jaken-sama Rin was talking about?"

"In the flesh!" The creature squawked highly.

"And what nice flesh it is…" I mumbled.

"What was that?"

"What? I didn't say anything."

The creature stared at me beadily with his bulging eyes. Was that even possible? Well, he was doing it.

"So you say that you are Sesshoumaru-sama's second hand? Do you think you could take me to him?"

The creature eyed me warily.

"Sesshoumaru-sama is busy at the moment." he concluded sharply, head in the air.

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I take one moment of his time. Lead on!"

The creature seemed to waver for a moment, but thought the better of it and headed down the corridor that was to our right.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, blah blah…I blah blah…Sesshoumaru-sama, blah blah."

That's what the way the words that the creature leading me sounded as I attempted to figure out just what exactly he was. Perhaps some weird, ancient, dinosaur reject? A lizard? Finally I settled on a pigeon-toad-alligator-cross and left the topic alone.

"His study is right down that hallway. The door on the right. I leave you here human, I have important tasks to fulfill." he croaked importantly.

"Thank you, Jaken."

Jaken turned to leave, but I called out to him.

"Oh, Jaken, you smell like stew. Just thought I'd let you know."

He disappeared around a corner murmuring something about devil spawn and human children.

I continued down the hallway until I was standing in front of the appointed door. Suddenly, I couldn't find the will to go through it. I didn't want to meet him yet. I couldn't handle it, not after forgetting everyone. I wondered if he was upset at my memory loss or if we had even spent any time together at all. Relationships around this household seemed odd.

I found myself to be extremely nervous. Extremely. But it wouldn't do to have someone come by and see me just standing outside of a door, so I sucked in all my courage, refusing to let even a sliver slip from my grasp and knocked lightly on the door.

For a second, there was no answer and I almost took that as an immediate excuse to run away as fast as possible until a voice sound from inside.

"Come in."

It was a cool, smooth voice. Gave me the chills. I couldn't just run away now though. He was expecting someone to be there. It was impolite, not that I really cared. So I reached out and slid the door open softly and entered.

I walked in slowly. A man was sitting at a table, glancing over rolls of parchment, his face semi-covered by a veil of silver? hair. Beautiful hair, I might add. For a split second, I was extremely jealous. But I got over it.

"What is it that you need? I am occupied."

I remembered the conclusion I had reached earlier after piecing everything together. I had the right to see him. I didn't need a reason. Still, the guy was intimidating.

"I wanted to apologize for being…out of commission for so long." Ok, so that was stupid phrasing, but it's hard to come up with something spur-of-the moment.

I really didn't think he would say anything; he seemed the silent type, or maybe just a workaholic. But he glanced once more over a certain paper then laid it down upon the table and rose his head to look at me.

I was immediately taken aback. I was so startled, I almost tripped. He was…gorgeous. Long silver hair as mentioned before. A perfect, inhumanly perfect, face. Pointed ears that only served to accentuate. And two red stripes on either cheek and a blue crescent moon on his forehead that functioned to direct attention to his most amazing feature-gold eyes. Beautiful, deep, golden eyes. He wasn't a human. I knew that, but it still did not provide cushion for my surprise.

I stood, shocked for a moment, but regained my composure quickly.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, I know you're busy. Please forgive me. I-I'll go now." I turned around quickly, hands on the door at an amazing speed, but I stopped dead as the voice that I had heard but not matched to a face until moments ago, called out to me calmly.

"You do not remember me." It was a statement, not a question. I turned around slowly and took a step towards him, studying his face.

"I-I'm sorry." I whispered. "I know I should, but…I can't remember anything. Please don't take it personally." He was the last person that I needed to be angry or upset with me. That's not how those type of relationships should be.

"It is nothing." he replied stonily.

I walked over softly and stopped on the other side of the table, in front of him, to gaze at him. I didn't know how I could forget such wonderful eyes. I didn't want to forget them again. I memorized every detail as best as I could, only realizing that he was staring at me oddly.

"What are you doing?" His voice was smooth and calm, yet hollow. This guy was one tough cookie. I could tell by the way he acted. Too reserved, too calm.

"Trying not to forget." I had let so many people down, made so many people worry and work just so that I might hopefully regain my memory. I wanted so badly to remember the taiyoukai in front of me.

He looked…was that startled?…for a fleeting second. His eyes widened barely noticeably, but I caught it. Was I doing something wrong?

I bowed my head sadly. I needed to talk to him. After all, he was…

"I know that I've caused a huge inconvenience to you and the others, and I don't remember anything I did before, but…" I raised my head resolutely and stared into his golden eyes. "I'll try to be the best wife I can, for you, Sesshoumaru-sama."

I waited, on nerves' ends for his reply. What would he say? Would he want a wife that could not even remember him? He stared at me, an emotion that seemed foreign to him flitted across hit face then vanished as if it were not allowed to be there. His gaze penetrated me. I felt like he could read my thoughts and see into my soul. It was too much to handle at the moment. I gazed around at the décor of the room. Books and parchment on shelves. A scroll hung on the wall to my left. I read it carefully, deliberately.

Wind beats

Assaulting the mountains

Still they stand

Anything to forget the amazing, cold eyes staring straight at me.

Finally, I turned back to him, unable to find anything else to focus on. He was still looking at me as if I were a foreign item, which I might have been. I couldn't remember.

"Nothing will change because of your loss of memory. You will be informed of the necessities by Maki or Kaji. I am busy. Find something to occupy yourself, I am busy. Rin will resume lessons immediately and I expect advancement. See that she is kept out of trouble. Now if you mind, I am busy."

"As you have told me twice." I hissed bitterly. This man was nothing. He was beautiful, sure, but he was tactless with his words to me, and as stoic as a dead ancestor. I was married to a…grade A jerk. Great. My first hope that he would be a romantic, loving person was smashed to pieces by my first impression of the ice block Sesshoumaru-sama. "I'll leave now. I won't bother you again." I walked back over to the door. "And Sesshoumaru-sama, sometimes wind shapes mountains. Just thought you should know."

I turned and opened the door rather too quickly and it slid shut with a snap behind me, without looking back.

__________________________________________________________________ ___

So I was an amnesiac with an ass for a husband. Swell. Could it get any worse? I hardly thought so.

"How long have I been here…with Sesshoumaru?"

Kaji thought for a second, pressing lightly on my ribs to assess the amount of remaining damage. I had been somewhat…surprised when I had learned that I retained the injury after fighting a…giant worm. That was just a little bit strange. But, maybe it was an ordinary thing for me. Maybe I was a warrior or a demon exterminator that rove the countryside, fighting monsters and liberating small children from their evil clutches. Brilliant. I'm sure that was exactly what I did everyday.

"Two and a half moons, I believe." Kaji finished and smiled. "You're healing wonderfully, Kagome-sama."

"Only two and a half months? Oh, thanks, Maki. Maybe that's why he's such a jerk. Still, it doesn't justify his total emotional constipation."

"Months? Who are you speaking of? I am sorry, Kagome-sama, but I believe you have lost me."

I laughed lightly.

"I guess I really wasn't making sense, was I? Sorry, Kaji."

"No harm done. Now who were you speaking of as being…"

"..emotionally constipated? I was talking about Sesshoumaru. It means he doesn't show emotion. Or doesn't even know what it is."

"But you have barely met him, Kagome-sama…"

"And…"

She sighed heavily. "You are completely right."

I smiled triumphantly.

"Thought so."

I rose to a sitting position and re-tied my kimono. I was, once again, wearing one that looked as if it belonged on a queen. I sighed. This all seemed so wrong.

"Kaji…what happened when I forgot everything?"

Kaji looked at me, as if wondering whether it was worth it to tell me. She sighed. "I will need Maki's help, I am not aware of all that happened." Kaji sent for Maki and not three minutes later, the old youkai woman was standing at the edge of my bed.

"Is there an emergency?" She asked, slightly out of breath.

"No, Maki. Kagome-sama wishes to know what happened when she lost her memory."

"I see." Maki sat down, folding her knees under her and Kaji and myself joined her.

"I don't suppose you remember anything about a certain hanyou named Naraku, do you?"

Naraku.. The name struck fear in me. I could not remember it, but it seemed very familiar, as if I knew to be cautious of it.

"I'm sorry…"

"Very well. I might as well just start by telling you what I know of Naraku…."

An hour later and many questions from me, I was educated on the evil deeds of the hanyou, Naraku, and how he had sent his detachment to destroy me.

"And Sesshoumaru….saved me?"

The two elderly youkai nodded in response and I sat, torn. He had seemed so emotionless, so uncaring of others from his demeanor and attitude. He had been cold with me, as if we were strangers or enemies, yet, according to Maki and Kaji, he had saved my life and soul. Had I been left there, my entire soul would have been removed from my body. I was confused about him more than ever. He was a cold lord…who saved people. How did that work?

"Um…before I forgot everything…did Sesshoumaru ever love me?"

Maki and Kaji looked at each other, a hidden doubt and worry in their eyes.

Kaji was the one to speak up.

"We are unsure of Sesshoumaru-sama's feelings for you, Kagome-sama. But we do know that he respected you for your help and aid. As for his feelings, only he knows."

"Oh. Ok." So it was like that? We lived together, shared a promise, and didn't even love each other. Not exactly what I wanted, but what else was there? I couldn't remember anything. "So I'm an amnesiac with an ass for a husband who doesn't even love me. And on top of that, I have some psycho named Naraku after me. Perfect." I rambled on under my breath, but loud enough for any that cared, to decipher.

"What did you say, Kagome-sama?"

"I have a psycho named Naraku after me. Perfect."

"No…before that. About Sesshoumaru-sama."

"Oh. That." I blushed slightly, but got over it. No need to edit what I said around them but still…it was their lord. Oh heck. Who cares.

"I have an ass who doesn't even love me, for a husband."

Maki and Kaji turned to stare at each other, an uneasy expression on their faces.

"What? What'd I say?"

Maki and Kaji continued to look at each other, confusion and worry evident on their faces.

"What's wrong?" I asked them worriedly. I couldn't helped but be a bit freaked out. They didn't answer me for a second, but then-

"Nothing, Kagome-sama. It is nothing. We did not mean to worry you. Please rest. Rin will be up shortly to talk about lessons and I assume that you will be dining with she and Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Sure, whatever. Gotta face the ice prince some time." I nodded dumbly, completely aware that they were keeping something from me, but completely not feeling like playing twenty questions.

"Kagome-sama, you should not be so disheartened!"

"What, does he transform into Mr. Personality at dinnertime?"

"Of course not! But you are reverting back to your old use of odd words. That means you are remembering more!"

"What do you mean, odd words? They're perfectly normal where I come from..or should I say when? Whatever. I still don't want to talk with Icicle right now. One meeting today was enough, even if he is my husband, no, especially if he is my husband…"

"Ah!" Maki clapped her hands merrily. "You remembered that you are from a different time!"

"This is wonderful progress, Kagome-sama, and in such little time!" Kaji added, a smile of her own to add on to Maki's. To me they looked like two very very overgrown kids at a candy store, after hearing their mom say they could have anything. It was cute and endearing. They were like my loving godmothers or something. Always there for me, and always encouraging.

I sighed, but couldn't help feeling a bit more at ease. At least I wouldn't have to put up with that toad thing at dinner.

_______________________________________________________________

I drifted in and out of a dream state that consisted of static and gray everywhere. Somewhere there was the hum of conversation. It registered in my ears, but I heard nothing of it. I felt mind-numbingly ignorant of everything around me and, boy, was it a relief from anxieties I was beginning to feel building up.

"I think it would be best to let her think what she thinks. Let her remember things on her own. Everything will clear up eventually. We should not force thoughts on her at the moment."

I faded in, then out again with the dying of the voice and the coming of another. Why was I so tired?

"Entertain her memories or what she pieces together…"

Now the warm, womanly voice was fading too. But I wanted to hear it. I actually wanted to wake out of my dream-state-stupor and hear what was being said. I was slipping back into the fuzzy grayness of sleep, but willed myself out of it, unfortunately too late, as both voices fell and the conversation died on my ears.

I sat up on bed, realizing that I was expected for dinner. _______________________________________________________

I fell on my bed with a dejected flop. Dinner had been….a catastrophe, to say the least.

I felt very alone. And absolutely retarded. Not two feelings that are a good match. Heck, they're not even reasonable. I wanted to forget. For once, I just didn't want to know. I wanted to push aside that night's happenings and store them somewhere far away…like perhaps where all my other memories were currently hiding from me….

"Sorry I'm late. I guess I lost track of the time and fell asleep." Rin and Sesshoumaru (after he was such a jerk, I decided Sesshoumaru-sama was too good for him) had already started their meal without me. Rin smiled happily; children are quick to forgive, but Sesshoumaru hardly gave me a glance. In fact, I don't think he did.

I took a seat by Rin and a servant hurried out, carrying a tray of some very delectable looking eatables. Yes, I start to talk like that when I'm half insane from starvation. I hadn't realized how hungry I was, but now that I gave it some thought, I had barely eaten anything in…days. So, after inquiring about Rin's state of being, I turned to my rice, soup, and something else I couldn't identify. It wiggled oddly when I poked it with chopsticks. But anyways. Well, after eating my rice, I was just about to set in on the soup when something hit me and I simply could not bring myself to eat it. It disgusted me, so I turned to the unidentifiable substance. Sure, it wiggled and giggled like some freak science experiment, but it actually tasted ok. Bland, but tolerable.

We ate in complete silence for a whole ten minutes before-

"Kagome-nechan? Are you gonna give me and Sesshoumaru-sama swimming lessons again? You promised you would teach me!"

I glanced questioningly at Sesshoumaru then turned to Rin.

"If I promised you I would teach you, then I can't just go and break that promise, can I? I just hope I can remember how to swim. You may have to teach me, Rin-chan." I smiled at her and she giggled loudly, her ponytail shaking.

"What about Sesshoumaru-sama?!" she giggled happily.

I looked at Sesshoumaru, not ready to believe that I had actually given him swimming lessons. That was just too much. Imagine me "now stroke, stroke, stoke, ok, flip turn", while Sesshoumaru avidly followed my every instruction. I barely knew the guy, but I was certain that would never happen…ever.

"Eh heh heh…"

"It is not necessary." Oh, so it was alive? I thought that which we knew by Sesshoumaru was dead, considering he hadn't spoken one word or even really appeared to have moved at all.

"What?"

"I have already learned how to swim. It is not necessary for you to instruct me any further." Ok. Solves that. Wait. I actually taught him how to swim? He actually let me? Ok, whatever.

"Ok then." I continued my intake of food and Rin asked to be excused so that she could 'go play with Jaken', which roughly translated to 'go torture Jaken'. She was given permission.

I sighed deeply. It was just me and the stone prince now. I could feel the excitement emanating from the very environment of the room. I continued eating and Sesshoumaru continued staring. It was unnerving to say the least, not to mention very annoying.

"Are you done gawking now?" I stopped mid-bite, casting an accusing look his way.

"Have you quite finished stuffing your face?" I swear his voice could drive you mad. It was too calm, so much that it almost drove me crazy. Like Chinese water torture. Sure it's just drops of water, but after a long enough period of time, those drops drove one to insanity.

I nearly growled, but stopped myself, deciding better of it.

"Nope. Not yet." I continued eating with renewed vigor, smiling happily the whole while. "You know…I hadn't eaten…in, like, days…" I didn't bother trying to clarify what I was attempting to say between mouthfuls. "and whoever cooked this…they should have a shrine set up….just for them…" I smiled especially brightly, making sure that he caught every fake second of it.

"The crudeness of humans never ceases to amaze me." Sesshoumaru stated blandly, not even blinking the whole while. Was that a smirk? This guy was purposefully messing with me.

"Right. And the number of jerks there are in the world never ceases to amaze me." I grumbled in response, wondering if our relationship had been like this before I lost my memory. Seeing as this guy didn't seem like the type to back down, I figured it probably had.

There was a tense silence for a while again, but neither of us would rise or leave; it was like a test of wills now. Somehow, out facetious conversation had turned into a battle of sorts. If I was to be the wife of a cold, bitter demon lord, I wouldn't buckle easily. But I didn't like the silence either. It was too intense. He was too intense.

"I remembered some things lately…" I set down my chopsticks neatly, gazing at him as if he weren't there. An eyebrow raised, but he said nothing, the expression on his face as blank as always, yet more so. As if he were trying to make it blank. I wondered whether this guy would be awesome at poker or not. If he were playing a stranger, he would be damn near unbeatable. Yet I felt as if I could somewhat read him already. He appeared simple in his stern ways and calculating stares, as if he were too predictable, yet his eyes sometimes betrayed different feelings. Like an expert artist painting white. It appears just plain white when looked at from a distance, yet upon closer inspection, one sees that really the white is made of reds and blues and greens and is really not white at all, but a mesh, a beautiful chaos or different hues.

I took his silence as a sign to continue.

"I remembered that I'm not from around here, not even from this time. It didn't really surprise me…" I wondered if I should go on. I figured, throw caution to the wind, what could he do to me? "I remembered that I have a family. A mother, grandfather, and brother." I looked to him and I think he nodded very subtly, indicating that I was correct in my statement. "Did you know about them?" he didn't answer. I didn't know how to interpret this. I was confused and slightly angered with his noncompliance. "Can I go see them?" He studied my face for a moment more, then looked away, beyond the shoji doors, to the garden.

"And do you recall how to get to your so-called time?" It was a challenge. He knew that I didn't know and he was playing with the fact. I suddenly felt like a mouse being toyed with right before he was about to be eaten.

"No, but-"

"Then why would you even ask such a question?" he mused, as if talking to himself, his voice was so low. "And even if you were to go see them, why should I let you, and why do you think they would wish to see you?"

"When I remember-I want to see them. I have a feeling I haven't seen them for a long time, and I want to remember everything about them, even if they don't wish to see me."

"When you remember…?" It didn't take a genius to figure out what he was implying. I couldn't take much more of this. This was ridiculous. I wasn't about to sit there and play twenty questions with a crazy demon lord who only responded in more questions. I slammed down the cup my tea had been it and rose to my feet quickly for being dressed in such constricting clothing. I was mad. What had I done to deserve this-this-

"Yes, when I remember." I stated as calmly as possible, but could barely retain the growls that were rising in my throat. "Or perhaps you would prefer me to stay this way, as a mad lady, that way I won't remember that I'm your wife," I was losing the battle against myself. I was yelling at him now. "or so you won't feel as obligated to just try to be somewhat kind to me! Would it kill you to merely say, 'how was your day' or 'have you recovered who you are?! I'm lost here! I have nothing to go on except an emotionally constipated husband who refuses to acknowledge that I even exist, let along have a decent conversation with me!!" To put it bluntly, I was pissed. All the anger that I had pent up inside of me. The frustration with my amnesia, with myself. It was slowly leaking out in very concentrated dosages. I hadn't meant to tell him how lost I felt. I didn't want anybody to know that. I didn't want him to know anything else about me, about the way I felt, so instead of bursting at the meal table, I stormed out in a fluster of silk, not bothering to look back at him.

I ran to my room and tore off the kimono, grabbing what Maki had told me were my clothes before I had come to stay in Sesshoumaru's home. I threw on the white long-sleeved shirt and green skirt, automatically feeling the tinniest bit more relaxed, but still ready to bite off the head of anyone in my near proximity. I exited my room, slamming the door and headed off, without thinking twice. I passed a room and entered it in an heated daze, snatching a bow of a wall and the quiver full of arrows hanging next to it. I stormed out of the room and headed down a hall way, I don't know where.

Not more than three minutes later, I found myself in the garden firing arrows rapidly into an unsuspecting tree. I stringed the arrows, pulled them back and let them go, watching them glow with a bright fire before hitting the tree with a sickening crack or thud, then would repeat the procedure in less than a minute. Twenty minutes later, my anger seemed to have spent itself and I flopped down on the dirt, tired and wary, only then realizing that warmth was spilling from the edges of my eyes then cooling as it slipped down my cheeks. I gave up and lay there, motionless.

Besides, I was out of arrows.

I ran a hand across my cheek and looked at the glistening liquid on the tips of my fingers as if it was more precious than any silver or gold and more foreign than anything I had ever seen. My face dried, the warmth turning cold, then disappearing completely. I stared above me, unaware of what I was seeing until a small light traveled across my plain of vision. It was a falling star. I made a wish. To know where I belonged.

______________________________________________________________ _

I gazed quietly, realizing I was looking at a rose. The only rose in the entire garden. I wondered silently why it was there. It stood out, alone, yet more beautiful than anything else. But on closer inspection, I saw that the petals were old and browned about the edges. It was still beautiful, but in an ugly, sad way.

In my daze, a picture came back to me. It was a picture of Rin, Jaken, Sesshoumaru, and I. I could make out the details, but we were all standing together, and it was roughly drawn. Another picture came back to me too, but I did not recognize the people in it, who were smiling happily. They were strangers to me.

____________________________________________________________________ ____

AN: Wow. That was the longest chapter so far. And yet, nothing really important happened. How sad. Oh well, it was kind of a mandatory chapter. Boy, do I feel sorry for Kagome. Wait, I'm doing all this stuff to her, I don't feel sorry.

Anyways, to answer a few questions, 1.) No I do not have a day of the week when I update. Like I'm that organized, feh! 2.) I hoped that I explained Kanna well enough for this story, if not, email me and I will explain her further.3.)As for the whole idea of Sess reviving Shippou with Tenseiga. First of all, Shippou's been dead for a long time. I don't think you'd want to revive…that. ^^;;; Not to mention, that would probably too much for Kagome. I'm not that evil. ^^ Thanks a bunch, everyone! I absolutely love reading your reviews! Please tell me what you think! They remind me why I'm doing this…

Nu-Hakama-Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha's puffy, MC Hammer pants

Next chapter: Kagome learns to cope with Sesshoumaru's household-again- but Sesshoumaru is a different problem. Will it be different this time around with no old memories of death attempts? And what's this? Well, there has to be some quirk to being married, right?