Faded Memories by Chiera

Prologue: The end of all things

SUMMARY: The events of that day were rather dramatic. For she ended up with her heart broken, it was considered as the best action to seal up her memories, to make forget all about the well and Shikon no Tama and her travels in the past.

And so she is now, living a normal life few years later. As a crack of her seal appears, she starts to see odd dreams, dreams aboout a silver-haired, puppy-eared boy.

And then she meets him. Will the seal hold when she constantly keeps bumbimg in the familiar demon now forgotten?

Rating: NC-17 (because of the lemon content in chapter 7)

Genre: Romance (eventually at least o.O), partly drama but also humorous.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. DUH! Don't own LotR either ( I stole the title of this prologue from the Return of the King soundtrack, Song number 16. I love it.)

Chie (AKA the AUTHOR'S NOTE): So. Before we began I'd like to point out that texts on italic are either people's thoughts OR dreamscenes. You know which is which.

And on bold text there will be written messages.

And I use '.....' - marks when Sesshoumaru will be conversating with his inner demon.

Okay, you got it I hope. We shall begin. *bows*

"Kagome!"

She turned her head and saw Shippou running towards her. His tiny hands were tightly wrapped around Naraku's almost completed Shikon no Tama.

She couldn't do anything to help him.

"Shippou!" she cried when she saw Naraku beat the little kitsune down.

Nearly completed Shikon no Tama rolled next to her feet.

Unshed tears in her eyes she watched the silent form of Shippou lying in the cold hard ground. She waited him to get up again.

He didn't.

"Kagome! Take the Shikon no Tama and run!" Inuyasha shouted. He evaded one of Naraku's attacks with Tessaiga.

Kagome felt throbbing pain in her heart. The quiet warm tears rolled down her cheeks as she crouched down, scooping the jewel into her palm. Everything was blurred by the teras still streaming from her eyes. Her legs were weary but she didn't mind. Inuyasha had told her to run, and run she would!

Behind her turned back Inuyasha was thrown aside. She turned her head to look back and saw Inuyasha getting back up. Naraku was staggering. One final slash. They both fell down.

"Inuyasha!"

His voice was hoarse when he shouted his reply to her:

"RUN!"

Kagome did. Through the blurred landscape she ran, ran all the way back to Kaede's hut.

"Is it over now?"

Kagome could only nod before falling down on the floor on her knees.

She had something clenched inside her fist... She opened her hand. Shikon no Tama rested on her palm.

"You got it!" Kaede celebrated.

Kagome reacted instinctively, her mind being far away, her bleeding heart still being on the battlefield. Her hand moved as if it would have its own will and took her shards from the necklace and added them into Naraku's shard.

It was done. Shikon no Tama was completed.

She suddenly gave a loud gasp.

Kaede gave her a quick look and then left the hut.

"Go to look what has happened", Kaede ordered one of the mikos circling her.

"Rest of you, come with me."

"They're all dead", the miko informed.

Kaede sighed.

"Naraku too?"

"No, he was nowhere in sight."

Kagome was lying on the floor, curled up in a lonely corner, blank expression on her face, her eyes filled with tears. She was staring into the emptiness.

All dead, the words echoed in her mind. All dead save for me..

"Kaede-sama. What happened to the Shikon no Tama?" one of the gathered mikos asked.

"It returned to whence it once came", Kaede said slowly, and turned to give Kagome a long glance.

"It was absorbed into her body."

"Is she... Is she going to be all right?" worried glances were exchanged.

"I... I don't really know. It's quite a shock for her. All of her friends dead.."

"There is a choice..."

"You wouldn't mean...!" Kaede's eyes widened.

"You have any better options? Or do you want to watch from the side and see her heart breaking, her mind falling down and her soul shattering... It could have bad effects on Shikon no Tama. She could turn... To something else."

"Kaede-sama. It's a shame but it's the only choice."

Kaede watched the girl.

"Fine."

Inuyasha panted and breathed heavily. Tessaiga had transformed back to an old and rusty katana. Naraku was lying in front of him.

He had done it.

Victorious grin spread over his face but it turned into a grimace as he felt sharp pain. He should go and get his wounds tended. He looked around him. Sadness now filled him as he saw everyone little further away.

Shippou's cooled body. Sango and Miroku, lying close to each other. He could see the marks on the ground. It seemed that Sango had dragged herself over the houshi with her last strength.

He saw in the corner of his eyes a sudden movement.

Inuyasha turned around.

"Kikyo!"

"I'm leaving, Inuyasha", Kikyo said quietly.

"What?"

"Shikon no Tama is completed. There is no reason for me to roam in the world of living anymore."

"But... Kikyo... Why don't you stay?"

"I'm tired, Inuyasha. I wish to finally rest in peace. I have no revenge either anymore since you killed Naraku for me."

"Kikyo..."

"Goodbye, Inuyasha."

"Wait!"

The woman turned to look over her shoulder.

"Why are you not taking me to hell with you?"

Kikyo smiled sadly.

"Because I know there's another woman in your heart now."

She walked away.

Inuyasha stood there watching her leave, rooted on his spot.

It hurt him, it really hurt him deep to watch her go.

But he knew, he had Kagome...

Where was Kagome?

He started to run to the direction Kagome had ran.

He reached Kaede's hut which seemed peaceful and quiet.

"Kaede-baba!"

Kaede hurried to him suddenly all pale.

"Inuyasha? You're... alive?"

"Keh! Like some dirty hanyou like Naraku could have beaten me up." he paused to flash a stupid grin.

"Now, where's Kagome?"

Kaede still stared at him.

"Where is she?"

"She... We... We thought not one of you had survived and did what we saw was the best thing to do", she said quietly.

Inuyasha's grin faded.

"What did you do to her?"

"We... We sealed her memory. And threw her into that well."

Inuyasha didn't say a word. He turned on his heels and started to run to the well.

"Inuyasha! Your wounds!" old miko shouted after him.

He blocked her voice out of his ears, all he could think about now was Kagome...

He reached the well and jumped in.

His feet soon reached the sand-covered bottom. It did not let him through. He tried several times, but it was no use. The well was closed.

Kaede reached him.

"The well is closed. Shikon no Tama returned into Kagome's body. That must be why."

Inuyasha looked up to her from the bottom of the well. He jumped out and drew his sword.

"This can not be! I want Kagome!"

"And what about Kikyo-nee?"

"The hell with Kikyo! I want Kagome!"

The feeling of loss was overwhelming. He had lost everything, his friends, Shikon no Tama.. He had lost his Kagome. He turned and ran.

It was few days later, when some of the villagers ran to her, carrying something.

"Kaede-sama! Kaede-sama!"

Old miko stepped out of her hut.

"What is it?"

"It's Inuyasha! He's dead!"

"What did you say?"

"We found him from the forest, Kaede-sama. It seems that he has committed Seppuku."

Chie: FYI, killing them all was indeed not enjoyable. But it had to be done for the story.

.. I hope you will understand. Please keep reading.