Again, another chapter. ^_^ I hope that you are enjoying this story—it’s rather fun and hard to write at the same time. Inuyasha does not belong to me, I really wish he did, because then I wouldn’t have to worry about money. ^_^ Enjoy the fic.

Summer’s End

Chapter Five

By: Lazuli

<lazulidreamer@yahoo.com>

“Inuyasha… Inuyasha!” Inuyasha moved his head to try and locate the sound of the voice. It seemed to be coming from above him, but his whole perception of where he was seemed skewed. The voice returned again, even more persistent as the darkness pressed down on his eyes again. “Wake up, you stupid human!”

               Inuyasha’s eyes tried to open at that. He knew that voice, that angry tone. It never held that tinge of concern in it before. His body refused to cooperate with him. He wished that he could see the face that went along with the voice.

               “I swear, Inuyasha… get up, now. I can’t have you dead because of me. I swear if you’re dead…” A choked sob. “GET UP!”

               Inuyasha felt something sharp digging into him and winced. Brief silence from the crying there was before. “You are alive… gods…” He felt pressure against his chest, and found some internal strength to force his eyes open. The bright light of the sun stunned him, and he quickly shut them again, feeling the red light burn on his lids. Now that he knew where ‘up’ was…

               He opened his eyes slowly again, this time prepared for the harsh light. He shifted his eyes until he saw strands of silver hair laying over his arm, and he gently touched the strands, wincing at the pain that shot through him at the simple act of moving his hand. There was a gasp beneath him and the owner of the silver hair stared at him, blue-gold eyes staring into his with shock.

               “I thought you were dead, you moron!” She shouted, and he winced at the effect her voice had on his ears. She noticed this and immediately covered her mouth. “Why did you do something so stupid?” She demanded. “Even I didn’t think you were such an idiot.”

               Inuyasha blinked. “Kagome?” He asked. There was something shining on her cheeks, the dappled sunlight making it more evident. “Were you…crying for me?” He asked softly. Anything louder than a whisper hurt his head, and he looked up at her questionly Her eyes narrowed at him, and she wiped away the tell-tale signs of tears.

“NO.” She pouted and moved away from him. “Can you move?” She asked. He shook his head. “I feel… awful.” He muttered. “What happened?” She shook her head at him.

“You were being all protective and male-stupid.” She declared. “You forgot the woman you were following wasn’t some weak village twit. I’m a hanyou. I can protect myself, you know.”              

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. “Forgive me.” He muttered. “And here I was expecting at least a small thank you.” He smiled at her. “I’m glad you’re safe.” He again tried to at least move his hand, and was rewarded by a shooting pain up his arm.

“Don’t try and move it. It’s broken.” She said. “I need to get you to the healers and they can fix you up.” She gave him a rare smile—still close to her customary smirk, and tapped him on the pressure point on his back. “Pleasant dreams.”

Inuyasha managed to glare at her before falling into unconsciousness.

**

Inuyasha’s eyes slowly opened to find Kagome staring at him, eyes boring into his. “Wha…?” He managed. She smiled at him. “You’re awake. Good.” She tilted her head. “If you can move, Hiro-san says it’s time you stopped laying around in bed and came home. He can’t afford the bill anymore.”

Her eyes were amused, giving into her teasing. “Not that last part, but he does want you home. Can you walk or do I have to carry you out?” He made a gesture and sat up slowly, wincing at the slight pain in his arm.

She actually looked contrite at that. “I am sorry… I lost my temper with you. Hiro-san has explained…some things to me.” She murmered. “He wants you home to explain the same things.”

He nodded, some parts of his recent dreams making sense. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, clinging to the bedside table as the room spun from standing up too quickly. She raised an eyebrow and moved to help, but he shook his head gently. “I think I can manage it. I’m just glad I’m not in one of those hospital gowns.”

Kagome laughed gently. “Ah, but I see that they are so popular.” Her nose wrinkled. “Even though distasteful.” She put a steadying hand on his shoulder. “C’mon, let’s walk you down before they come in with one of those wheeled things I’ve seen around here.”

Inuyasha quickly got use of his legs again before he could be subjected to the embarrassment of a wheelchair. He followed her down the stair way—she refused to take the elevator, and she kept on giving him strange glances as he walked slowly behind her.

“What?” He finally asked. She blinked and shook her head at him, not answering. When they finally made it out of the hospital—the doctors and nurses looking as if they wanted to examine Kagome, he saw his grandfather waiting outside with the car.

“Grandpa?” He asked in confusion. “The shrine isn’t that far away…” His brow wrinkled as he was ushered into the car. “Grandpa? Why are you all treating me so strangely?” He demanded.

Kagome and Hiro exchanged a look. “We’ll talk when we get home.” Was all that was said, and Inuyasha slumped into the cushions of the car for the short trip home.

**

               Kagome sat crosslegged on the couch as Hiro and Inuyasha settled on the piece of furniture as well. Inuyasha was looking at them as if to say ‘what?’ She swallowed nervously, unsure of how to bring it up, if there even was a way or logical explanation for what she wanted to say. It was impossible, and he knew himself well if he had told Hiro that he wouldn’t believe it.

               Inuyasha still looked a little disoriented and she wondered briefly if this was the best time to bring this up to him. She recalled the reason why he was hurt and doubly winced. This wasn’t the best thing to bring up at this moment, and she looked over at Hiro, silently pleading with him to wait on the matter.

               Hiro either missed her look on purpose or misinterpreted it, for he smiled warmly at Kagome and gestured for her to start. She gave him a desperate look, and noticed Inuyasha’s frown deepening at the exchanged glances.

               “What is going on here?” He demanded, violet eyes narrowing as he looked between the two of them. Hiro looked a little sheepish and flushed guiltily. Kagome looked away, not wanting him to see her expression just yet. She could change the way she acted around him after everything was explained. She was still coming to terms with everything herself, and still not sure what to believe what came out of the old man’s mouth. It was up to what Inuyasha thought of everything.

               Inuyasha looked at his grandfather, one eyebrow raised as he waited for the explanation. Hiro sighed and gave Kagome one last look before giving up on her and taking the task upon himself. “Inuyasha, have you had any strange dreams recently?”

               Inuyasha blinked at the strange question, and his eyes narrowed in confusion. “Strange dreams?” Looking at Kagome for a brief instant, he nodded. “Yeah…some dreams were a little stranger than most. Why?”

               Hiro sighed. “This is going to sound strange, Inuyasha…but I need you to hear me out and not say anything until I’ve had my words.” Inuyasha frowned but gestured his grandfather to continue. His arm was still hurting him a little, and he wanted nothing more than to take some more medicine then sleep the pain off.

               Kagome turned to look at the two of them, though her eyes were focused on Inuyasha and his reactions, waiting for his response. It all depends on him…I mean…it’s stupid and all, I don’t know why I’m acting this way—my mate is dead, this boy certainly isn’t him, so why am I acting all nervous about this?

“Get on with it.” Kagome broke out of her thoughts at Inuyasha’s statement, and she smiled to herself.

“Well—Inuyasha, Kagome’s mate, had told me something before he died. I put it off at first as the wish of a dying man, but when I look at you now, it doesn’t seem that way anymore.” He paused for a moment to consider his next words. “Inuyasha wanted to see his Kagome again—to be with her again. He promised he would find a way back to her.”

               Inuyasha’s eyebrow rose slightly, but indicated for his grandfather to go on. He didn’t want to insult Kagome’s mate in front of her, so he kept silent.

               “Well, he also said that if it happened, he wouldn’t believe that it did—until it was explained to him. So I’m explaining it to you.” Hiro finished in a rush.

               Inuyasha’s other eyebrow rose as she stared at his grandfather in astonishment. “You have got to be kidding me.” He muttered. “Have you been drinking too much sake?” His voice was disbelieving, and would have been entirely believed if Kagome hadn’t picked up the faint trace of uncertainty in his tone. “You can’t be suggesting what I think you are suggesting.”

               Hiro nodded eagerly. “It’s exactly what you are thinking. I think that you really are that other Inuyasha. “ He explained. “You don’t look like anyone in the family, you look like him. You act like him, Kagome says.”

               Inuyasha shook his head and looked over at Kagome. “Can’t you be a little more sensitive?” He asked. His eyes were softer as they shifted over to her curled up form. “You can’t say that I am a man that has been dead for so long.”

               Rolling his eyes, Hiro tried to explain. “Inuyasha made that promise. I believe that it has manifested in you, that you really are him and don’t remember.”

               Inuyasha felt his headache coming back. “You have lost it.” He muttered, standing up. “I’m going to go to my room to rest. After you’ve started acting normal again, tell me.” He quickly left the room, but not before shooting Kagome a look before he left.

**

               Kagome lay back on the borrowed bed, frowning. Why didn’t he accept it? She heard the doubt in his voice…he had to know the truth! Or was it the truth? She knew that it was a crazy idea—far fetched. Was she just clinging out to a hope that didn’t exist? She was so desperate to be with Inuyasha that she grasped at that straw Hiro-san gave her.

               Yet—so many things added up that were impossible unless he was her Inuyasha, her mate. The pendant.. it couldn’t be a coincidence. This was hers… she recognized every angle of it, the carvings on it…that Inuyasha could just ‘find’ it in a shop and give it to her…

               The way he talked and the way he looked. Things he said. She had to be paranoid. He wasn’t hers—and that was what he was afraid of. Was that she was going to treat him like he was her mate. That’s why she had gotten so angry…then the explanations had come from Hiro. Which made no sense.

               “I have a headache.” She muttered. “This is not supposed to happen, this type of life is not supposed to exist. I’m still sleeping. Dreaming.” She rolled over and stared out the window where she could see the Goshinboku.

               “This doesn’t make sense.”

**

               Inuyasha was having a similar problem with the information. “My grandfather is nuts.” He muttered. “Thinking that I’m him. And Kagome was right there. Didn’t he think that would hurt her? He knew that Kagome had loved her mate—still loved him even though he was dead—and his crazy grandfather was stating quite innocently that he was the reincarnated form of that Inuyasha.

               “Poor Kagome.” His eyes grew softer when he thought of her. “This must be hurting her…” Although he remembered the look on her face as well, as if she was wanting him to admit it. And this after pushing him away because he suggested the same thing.

She can’t be seriously thinking about this? Grandpa’s just lost it in his old age. Although…how did he know about that dream I had? I thought it was because of the medicine that I took. I admit that I have had some strange dreams lately, but still! That does not mean…

               He closed his eyes for a moment, contemplating everything. “This makes no sense.” He tried to get comfortable on his bed, punching the pillow a few times before it finally got soft enough for him. I just need a decent nap. That’s it. His eyes closed slowly.

**

“You are an idiot.” Inuyasha looked up, frowning, and his eyes widened when he saw who was sitting in front of him. He looked like…

               “Yes, you.” The mirror image of him rolled his eyes. “This is your conscious talking. Wake UP!” The person looked annoyed. “I didn’t make a promise just to break it, you know.”

               Inuyasha rubbed his eyes, confused. “Now you are telling me you’re her Inuyasha? Kagome’s?” He asked in disbelief. “You’re dead.” He said bluntly.

               The other him laughed. “Just sleeping inside you.” He tilted his head. “Again I say you are stupid.” He frowned at Inuyasha. “You have a beautiful girl that is at your fingertips…”

               “She doesn’t like ME!” Inuyasha interrupted. “Or sees me as you. I don’t know which is worse.” Inuyasha scowled and folded his arms across his chest. “I’m not you. I’m me.”

               “And you are me as well.” The mirror image leaned forward. “Look at yourself, listen to what your grandfather said. You’re me. I made a promise.. and I did a pretty good job in carrying it out, too.” He grinned, pleased with himself. “I didn’t expect you to look so much like me…”

               Inuyasha rolled his eyes. “Geez, what did you do? Plan it all out? How were you so sure that Kagome was going to come?” He raised an eyebrow, waiting for the next impossible explanation.

               “Easy. Our souls are connected—“ He started, and Inuyasha shook his head.

               “Not a good enough explanation. You could have chose to be reborn in the past with her. You didn’t know that psycho bitch was going to attack Kagome as well after you came here. You could have chose the past, been with her and happy. Nothing would have changed for you or her.”

               “I didn’t want to be in the past again. Things were painful for the both of us—we couldn’t be together. I was taking a chance. I knew she would appear to me again. Granted—I didn’t expect her to show up as her normal self. I thought she would be reborn and we’d fall in love again.”

               Inuyasha snorted. “Then why try and awaken old memories?” He pleaded. “That was another life that you lived. Let yourself live this life without worrying about the past.”

               The other Inuyasha shook his head softly. “I can’t do that. There are already small parts awakened. The process has already started—its not a bad thing to know who you were. You won’t know everything, of course—but think about it, and catalog what you have learned.” He paused a moment, his gaze sad. “And talk to Kagome.”

               “About what?” Inuyasha asked. “Tell her that, ‘gee, yes—I’m not your mate, but some part of me is sure that I am.’” He rolled his eyes. “That would go over real well. She still loves her mate. I am…well—I like her. I like having her around, I can’t imagine the shrine without her.”

               The other one nodded wisely. “Like a piece of you would be missing?” He asked. “That was how I felt when I first met her.” The other Inuyasha looked wistful almost as if recalling some precious memory. “She got so annoyed at me—but the feeling was eventually returned.”

               Inuyasha shook his head. “But…” The other Inuyasha rapped him on the head.

               “No buts! Just accept it, and fall in love with her like I did. You don’t have to feel guilty.”

**

               Inuyasha woke up slowly, feeling dizzy and disoriented. “I’m getting tired of this.” He muttered. “Now I’m telling myself that I was him.” He continued to lay on the bed, wondering what this was all going to mean. I think it’s time that I really talk to Kagome about this.

**

               Kagome looked up, startled when Inuyasha walked into her room, arms folded, expression set like he was forced at sword point to talk to her. She raised a delicate eyebrow, stretching arms over her head. “Yes?”

               Inuyasha frowned and sat down on the bed, staring at her intently, as if committing her to memory or trying to recall some memory. Her heart leapt at that last thought. Could he be remembering something? Trying to recall? Kagome berated herself an idiot for trying to get her hopes up.

               “I… I think we should talk.”