A/N: Ok, so this is a bit different for me. Hopefully it'll be at least a little longer than any of my other stories…but I don't know. Anyway, yes this is an Inuyasha/Kagome. There will be minor Sess/Rin, and possibly Kouga/Ayame as well. Along with mention of Miroku/Sango. I haven't made up my mind on anything else yet. Please enjoy!! Oh, and of course, please do forgive minor errors…I'm certainly not perfect!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. (Therefore, he does not eat dirt when I say "sit." LOL.)
Unnatural Amnesia
Prologue:
Inuyasha was awake nearly an hour before the sun had truly come up. He sat in the Goshinboku, holding his Tetsusaiga against his shoulder, staring out into the early morning sky. He watched as two birds flew by, circling around each other as they continued to their unknown destination.
After a few more moments of silence, his gaze shifted down to the ground beneath the sacred tree. Finally, he caught sight, just barely, of the scar on its trunk. Where he'd been sealed for 50 years. Images flooded his mind's eye.
The day he and Kikyo had first spoken. The day she'd suggested he become human, instead of demon. The day she'd sealed him to that tree. The day Urasue had resurrected her, in a body made of old bones and graveyard soil. The night she'd stolen the Shikon Jewel shard from Kagome. The night he'd believed that Naraku had slain her…again. The day he'd discovered that she was still alive.
But then the images shifted, though he wasn't surprised by the shift. Suddenly he could clearly picture the night he'd first met Kagome, and mistaken her for Kikyo. He remembered perfectly the first New Moon he'd spent (albeit unwillingly) beside her. The night he'd almost lost her to the Thunder Brothers. The evening she'd comforted him after a particularly bad transformation into his full-demon form. The time she'd died, and he'd thought his world had ended. The moment when she'd woken up from that. The time she'd been possessed by Hyoga and nearly killed him. The time, in Kaguya's castle, when she'd declared her love for him. As a half-demon, no less.
He shook his head and forced his eyes away from that spot, looking once again out towards the quickly lightening sky. It ain't worth dwellin' on. She didn't mean it like that. She couldn't have. Any further thoughts were cast aside as the wind shifted. A low growl tore from within him as he leapt from the tree. Damnit! What the hell is that bastard doing here, of all places!
He ran as fast as he was capable as the sun slowly crept into the morning sky. Naraku was approaching, and he'd be damned if he was going to allow the vile demon to attack his friends in their sleep. It barely registered in his mind when Sesshoumaru's scent, too, reached his nose. He knew his older brother was there to kill Naraku; he would provide a good enough distraction, allowing Inuyasha to wake the others.
Inuyasha reached the village in record time. He didn't hesitate as he ran through the bamboo flap that served as Kaede's door. They were all sleeping soundly. Without a thought, he went straight to Kagome's side. For once, Shippo was sleeping beside Kirara, and not Kagome.
"Kagome, get up! We ain't got time for sleepin' in, wench!" He shook her shoulders just enough to disturb her sleep, then raised his voice and looked up towards the sleeping monk and demon slayer. "Miroku, Sango, get up!"
Kagome stretched as she woke. She could hear Inuyasha yelling. Yet she couldn't see the sun yet. Sitting up, she asked, "What's wrong Inuyasha? Why are you yelling already?"
Miroku was already on his feet, a serious look on his face. Sango was reaching for her discarded slayer's uniform. Inuyasha returned his gaze to Kagome and forced himself to speak softer. "Naraku's coming. I can smell him. Sesshoumaru's heading to intercept him, but we've gotta hurry."
"Naraku?!" She gasped, surprised that he'd come to the village. She didn't wait for him to nod in affirmation, she simply tossed aside her sleeping bag and reached for her quiver and bow.
It didn't take them long to get ready for what would be, undoubtedly, the hardest battle of their lives. Inuyasha and Miroku had been relegated to waiting outside while the girls got dressed. When they came out, Inuyasha wordlessly knelt down and waited for Kagome to climb onto his back. She complied in equal silence, grasping his shoulders lightly as he stood, his clawed hands wrapped tightly around her thighs. Beside them, Kirara transformed and Sango and Miroku jumped on her back. Shippo was riding with Miroku.
When everyone was ready, they sped off, Inuyasha leading the way towards their common enemy. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts, wondering if they'd survive this day.
Sesshoumaru was awakened by the scent of the one he'd been hunting for over a year. He knew his foe well enough to know that if he waited, he may not get another chance to slay him. He rose to his feet fluidly, not at all surprised when Jaken snapped awake at his movement. "Milord?" Jaken asked as he, too, rose to his feet.
Without looking down to the toad demon, Sesshoumaru replied, "Wait here." And then he began walking swiftly away. A moment later, he was engulfed in a blue-white light and he vanished instantly.
The commotion Jaken made upon his lord's disappearance was enough to wake the young human girl who traveled with them. Sitting up groggily, she rubbed her eyes and asked, "Master Jaken, what is it?"
"Nothing. Nothing is bothering me whatsoever. Why would it?"
Looking around, Rin realized what it was. "Where has Lord Sesshoumaru gone this time, Master Jaken?"
Jaken deflated and collapsed against Ah-Un with a sigh. "I don't know, Rin. But we're to wait here until he returns."
"Ok." Rin said, stretching.
Sesshoumaru intercepted Naraku just beyond the village that he knew his little brother inhabited. Naraku saw him coming with just enough warning to throw up his barrier in time to deflect Tokijin's blade. He cackled as he levitated himself backwards a bit.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, what an honor. I never imagined I'd run into you at Inuyasha's village, of all places."
Sesshoumaru said nothing as he glared at the vile demon before him.
"Nothing to say, I see. How…unoriginal of you." Naraku taunted. Then he waved his hand and a swarm of lesser demons appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and attacked the powerful dog demon.
Sesshoumaru's gaze fixed on the horde of demons. "Pathetic." He growled as he raised his sword. It flashed a bright blue as he swung it out, and when the light faded, the demons were gone.
Naraku's laugh drew his attention once more. "Well now, what does it take to impress you, then, Lord Sesshoumaru? Perhaps a bit more of a challenge, I presume." Then he paused, and an evil glint shined in his eyes, and he added, "Kagura. Destroy him."
The aforementioned wind sorceress appeared behind and above the evil, arrogant demon. Her eyes flashed as she looked towards Sesshoumaru, whom she'd always believed was the only one who could destroy Naraku. Now she was supposed to fight him; the one she'd always hoped would free her.
Her hesitation did not go unnoticed by her master. "Kagura!" He snarled. A sharp, unbearable pain stabbed her chest. "Do as I command, or die." Their eyes met, and she knew what she had to do.
"Your wish is my command," she spat. Then she turned her attention towards Sesshoumaru, even as the pain in her chest faded. "You heard the man." She said calmly, snapping open her fan. "Dance of the Dragon!"
Inuyasha and the others arrived in time to see Sesshoumaru take to the sky as he easily avoided the group of tornadoes that were headed towards him. Inuyasha landed a bit away from the fight and let Kagome off, before running towards Naraku.
Naraku's attention shifted automatically to Inuyasha and his friends when they arrived. He sneered arrogantly as the half-breed, monk, and demon slayer charged him. "Welcome, Inuyasha. To your final battle!" Then he sent the three tentacles at his back towards them.
"Kirara!" Sango shouted as the hell-cat swerved up and to the side to avoid the tentacles.
"Inuyasha! Be careful, these tentacles are most likely filled with miasma!" Miroku hollered in warning.
Inuyasha scoffed as he unsheathed his sword. "I know that, damnit!"
"But what will you do about it, Inuyasha?" Naraku asked tauntingly, a leer on his face.
Inuyasha's face broke into a cocky grin. "This." Then his sword shifted, suddenly made of adamant, and he added, "Adamant Barrage!"
Naraku's arrogant leer vanished as he remembered what that trick could do to his barrier. With a thought, he instructed it to move him to the side. But he was met by a bright, powerful flash of blue. Tokijin. It forced him to remain more or less where he was just long enough for the flying pieces of adamant to pierce his barrier.
Naraku landed on the ground beneath where he'd been floating, smirking once more. "Very clever. You've successfully destroyed my barrier. But is it enough?"
"Cut the crap, Naraku! You're dead!" Inuyasha shouted angrily, raising his sword over his head.
"Am I?"
"Wind Scar!" Inuyasha hollered as he slammed his mighty Tetsusaiga onto the ground, sending a powerful blast of energy straight for Naraku. A moment before the attack hit, Kanna stepped forward and raised her mirror, intending to deflect the Wind Scar back at him, like she had done so long ago.
"Inuyasha! Kirara, hurry!" Sango ordered as the obedient hell-cat turned and flew quickly towards their friend. Sango reached out as they passed by and snagged Inuyasha out of the way moments before the reflected Wind Scar hit the spot where he'd been standing. Naraku's laugh echoed over the noise as he stood behind the small demonic girl.
Kagura landed beside Kanna, her fan held open in front of her. As much as she desired Naraku's death, she knew that if she disobeyed him, she'd never see that freedom which she so longed for. Her only hope was to avoid being killed until Naraku was finally slain.
"Attack now." Kanna said softly as she lowered her mirror slightly. Knowing she was speaking Naraku's thoughts, Kagura stepped forward.
"Fine. Dance of the Dragon!"
"You wanna play it that way, witch? Backlash Wave!" Inuyasha hollered, swinging his sword once more towards them.
Sesshoumaru landed beside his younger half-brother and raised his own sword. "Dragon Strike." He added calmly. He knew that his best chance to defeat them was if he worked with Inuyasha, no matter how much the idea frustrated him. Inuyasha slid a sideways glance towards his brother for a moment, then shifted his attention back to their opponents. The enemy of my enemy…he thought fleetingly, a slight grin forming in appreciation for the irony of it all.
As Kanna raised her mirror once more, intending to deflect the powerful attack, the unmistakable pink aura of Kagome's Sacred Arrow pierced through the combined attack and imbedded itself into her mirror. Kanna lowered it, acknowledging that it had been rendered useless. She heard Naraku utter something before he quickly shot himself into the air, away from the deadly attack. Kagura, too, escaped. Kanna did not.
Naraku's glare latched onto Kagome mercilessly. "Wench! I'll destroy you myself, if it's the last thing I do!" And then one of the tentacles at his back arched upward and over his shoulder, aiming straight for her.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha hollered, spinning around and racing towards her as fast as he could. He breathed a small sigh of relief when she jumped to the side at the last second, forcing the tentacle to crash into the ground. Unfortunately, the impact cracked it, and a small, steady stream of miasma began seeping out. "Damnit!" He cursed as he closed the distance between himself and the coughing priestess.
Kagome had a hand over her nose and mouth in an effort to protect herself from the miasma, but it wasn't doing much good. Her eyes were watering and her throat was slowly starting to constrict. That's when Inuyasha landed in front of her and scooped her up, into his arms. Without pause, he leapt up again, removing her from the poison.
They landed just behind Kirara, and he set her down gently. "You alright, Kagome?"
She nodded. "I'm fine. Let's finish this."
"How very touching, Inuyasha, that you'd risk your life for that reincarnation. Tell me, would you die for her, as well?"
"I don't have to, bastard! You're the only one who's gonna die!"
The fight was raging on, even hours later. Both sides were tiring, but neither was surrendering. Hakudoushi had shown up shortly after Kanna's destruction with Kohaku in tow. Everyone had been surprised when Kohaku had slaughtered two of Naraku's slave demons and joined his sister and her friends in battle.
Hakudoushi and Kagura were battling Sesshoumaru while Inuyasha and the others focused on Naraku. Naraku dodged one of Inuyasha's many blows and reached out, towards Kohaku. They watched in slow motion as one of Naraku's tentacles pierced Kohaku's back and pulled out with the jewel shard that had been inside of him for so long.
What had surprised everyone was when Kohaku didn't die. He fell to his knees and took a few deep, recovering breaths. But then he stood up again. That was when it dawned on them what had happened. He'd been in possession of the jewel shard for three years, and though the wounds he'd suffered from before had, indeed, been fatal…the jewel had healed them over time.
Sango gave her younger brother a quick, loving hug and then they both returned to the fight. Naraku roared in anger and launched another attack. Sango saw it coming. "Hiraikotsu!" She shouted, sending the big boomerang flying towards the offending appendage. Because she and Kohaku were both wearing their masks, the miasma that leaked out did not affect them.
Kagura spun away and leapt onto her feather as Sesshoumaru's Dragon Strike tore through Hakudoushi. The young, heartless demon's eyes widened in surprise as he watched his own body disintegrate. No one doubted that this time, he would not be regenerating. Kagura looked down at Sesshoumaru, who was staring calmly back up at her. She looked over towards Naraku in time to see him watching her intently. From his look, her options were clear. Knowing she would die one way or another, she did something she'd always wanted to do.
Raising her fan towards her 'master,' she uttered, "Dance of the Dragon," and watched with mixed feelings as the tornadoes spun towards him. She was caught off-guard when Sesshoumaru flew past her, sword out, towards Naraku.
"Dragon Strike." He called evenly as he swung his sword at the villain. Then he averted his course, landing a short distance away from his target as his younger brother took advantage of the situation as well.
Inuyasha lunged forward, Tetsusaiga out and encased in adamant once again. Even as the words "Adamant Barrage!" fell from his lips, a Sacred Arrow joined the fray and flamed pink as it closed in on its target.
Naraku could see that his options were minimal. But he knew he wasn't dead yet. Even as he dodged as many of the attacks as possible, he grabbed hold of Kagura's heart. Her scream of pain tore through the battle field and all eyes watched with mixed emotions as she fell.
Naraku was forced to land as his body attempted to re-grow what had just been removed. "Do you…honestly believe that that was enough…to slay me?"
"Sure looks like it came close. One more shot oughta do it." Inuyasha stated.
Naraku's laugh echoed again as he returned to his feet. He was by no means healed, but he wasn't dead yet, either. Suddenly, a final swarm of demons descended upon them, forcing them to back away and separate. Most of them, anyway. Kagome managed to duck out of their sight, and she didn't reveal herself until she was sure that Naraku didn't know she was there.
Kagome stepped forward, facing Naraku with an arrow notched on her bow, aimed at his heart. His eyes widened in surprise for a moment. Then he smirked.
"Naraku! You won't survive this battle, and I intend to make sure of that!"
"That's really rather funny, Kagome. You see, I intend to destroy you."
"Not likely. This ends now."
"No, it does not." He snarled, sending a tentacle towards her heart.
Inuyasha's ears flicked as he heard Kagome shouting at Naraku. Lopping the head off of the demon nearest him, he spun around in time to see Naraku attacking her. She wouldn't be able to dodge it no matter what she did. "Damnit! Kagome get down!" With barely a pause, he lifted Tetsusaiga and added, "Wind Scar!"
Sesshoumaru noticed his brother's intention and realized that the best opportunity to destroy Naraku was at hand. "Dragon Strike." He stated calmly as blue energy shot out of Tokijin.
Naraku heard Inuyasha's shout of warning and saw Kagome switch targets, aiming for the tentacles with her arrow as she jumped aside. Then he heard the dog-demons attack him, and he knew this was it. He'd lost. But he didn't have to sit back and wait. As the attacks neared him, he locked eyes with Kagome and she saw the shine of the impure Shikon Jewel in his grasp.
"If I must die, I'll take you with me." Raising the jewel higher, he said, "Sacred Shikon Jewel, I wish for you to remove Kagome from this era. To remove all memory of these past three years from her mind forever, along with those who may influence her in the modern era. I ask you to seal the Bone Eaters Well. Forever."
Kagome's eyes widened in horror as the jewel floated out of his grasp. Though it was incomplete, apparently it still had the power to grant a wish. Looking at Naraku, she felt the tears begin to slide down her face as she asked, "Why?"
His triumphant smirk terrified her. "To make Inuyasha suffer for eternity." Was all he said as the two demonic attacks finally reached him, engulfing him and tearing him apart.
The light from the attacks was blinding, and all save Sesshoumaru had to shield their eyes. But when it had faded, Naraku was gone. Everyone was silent until Miroku spoke. He was staring at his right hand. "It-It's gone. The Wind Tunnel is gone!"
"Miroku, that's great!" Sango cheered, throwing her arms around him. Behind her, Kohaku smiled at them, glad he could share in their happiness. But the happiness died soon enough.
Inuyasha looked away from Miroku and Sango's celebration towards where he expected Kagome to be. And didn't see her. His eyes widened, then he shoved Tetsusaiga back into its sheath and he started forward quickly. "Kagome?" When he didn't get a response, he tried again. Louder. "Kagome!"
His shouting drew the other's attention and Sango released Miroku, worry crossing her features. Kohaku, Kirara, and Shippo ran forward, intent on helping Inuyasha search for her. Sesshoumaru's voice was too soft for anyone besides Sango and Miroku to hear. "The priestess is gone."
"Gone? What do you mean?" Sango asked, her voice shaking.
"She is not here. Inuyasha will not find her."
"What? But…that's impossible!"
Inuyasha hadn't heard his brother. He was too focused. And when he found her bow and quiver still half-full of arrows, his heart fell. Somehow, instinctively, he knew something had happened. And he knew it hadn't been good. Without saying a word, he spun around and leapt into the trees. Everyone watched as he headed towards the village and the well beyond it.
"Kirara!" Sango called as the hell-cat transformed again and allowed the two demon slayers and monk to jump on. Shippo landed on Miroku's shoulder. Sesshoumaru followed, as he had to go in that direction anyway.
When they got to the Bone Eaters Well, they were just in time to hear an unnatural howl emitting from within. Shippo shuddered and asked Miroku, "What was that? Was it…Inuyasha?"
Miroku's eyes were serious as he replied. "Yes, Shippo. It seems…that Kagome has been taken from us."
"So the well really has sealed, then?" Sango asked, her voice still shaking.
"I fear that is so." Miroku replied solemnly. Kirara landed and bowed her head. Shippo burst into tears, and Sango leaned back, into Miroku, allowing herself to cry in the comfort of his arms. Miroku, too, had tears streaming silently down his face.
Sesshoumaru looked down the well, not surprised to see Inuyasha kneeling on the ground within it, his claws embedded in the ground and his body shaking every-so-slightly. Without a word, he turned and left the group to grieve in private.
To Be Continued…
A/N: So, is that mean??? Anyway, let me know what you thought! And don't forget to read chapter one!!