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Chapter Ten
That night while the friends laid around the fire, Miroku & Takara were holding each other & Kagome was laying with Inu Yasha even though she hadn't wanted to. Shippo laid with Sango who was currently petting the young fox's head.
Takara looked up at the face of her so-called lover & tried to figure out why she had no memories of him. When his eyes opened, she looked at his brown eyes. "Miroku?" she whispered.
"Yes dear?" he replied, just as quiet.
"Tell me about us..."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't remember a thing about us. Please tell me?"
"Where do you want me to start?"
"How, & when, did we meet?"
"We met about six months ago when I came to the village, wounded from a run-in with a demon," he told her, trying to piece together a story. "I was found at the border of your village by Sango & she brought me in to Kagome since she was the village healer. While I was being cared for, you came in to see who people were talking about & when you saw me, we started talking & became friends. Two months later after being healed & acting as your friend & comforter, I asked you to be mine & you said yes."
"So we've been together for four months?" When Miroku nodded, Takara snuggled back against him & he wrapped his arms tighter around her, rubbing her back softly as she sighed against him.
"Is something wrong Takara?"
"No," she lied. This can't be right, she thought. I don't feel anything for him, yet he claims to have been my lover for four months. Even if I lost my memory, shouldn't my heart still yearn for his touch & kiss? I've only had his touch, but I turn my head when he tries to kiss me. Shouldn't I be returning the kiss?
Miroku looked at Inu Yasha when Takara's eyes closed. Inu Yasha looked as if he was enjoying having Kagome in his arms with her head on his chest, something Miroku hadn't expected to see out of the hanyou. But he brushed it off, knowing that somewhere in the stubborn guy there were some type of feelings for Kagome.
Takara looked into the angry eyes of the youkai Lord, knowing she was slowly falling for him, but she couldn't tell him this. He was angry at one of his servants & here he was in her chamber, about to take his anger out on her. When he brought his hand across her face, she didn't flinch, for she knew it would only make him restrain himself & she could tell he needed to vent his anger. When she didn't flinch or cry out, something in him made his anger rise & he hit her again, making her close her eyes.
"Why do you not cry?" he asked, stepping closer to her, his face mere inches from her own.
"Because I know I must have done something to anger you my Lord. I am only accepting my punishment. Why cry when I am getting what I deserve," Takara replied.
"You have done nothing to anger me."
"Then I take the punishment of the one who did upset you."
Sesshomaru turned on his heel & left the room, leaving Takara to herself as she rubbed the side of her face he slapped.
Takara awoke in the middle of the night, covered in a thin layer of sweat & her breath was hard to catch. Miroku's arms were still around her, but it wasn't what she wanted. She moved away from him & rose to her feet, glancing around the circle of still sleeping friends. Everyone looked so peaceful that she thought if she left now, she could find what her heart was pulling her to look for. Walking away from the camp site, Takara made a run for the woods, hoping to get away before anyone woke up.
She hadn't gone very far when a pair of arms encircled her waist, bringing her down to the ground. "Let me go!" she cried out, struggling to get out of the hold of the person.
"Where did you think you were going?" a voice said above her. The person turned her over & she saw it was Inu Yasha. "Answer me!"
"I'm leaving! I don't belong with you & your friends & I definitelydon't belong with that monk! I feel nothing for him at all." Takara replied, tears coming to her eyes.
Inu Yasha felt a small tug of guilt at his heart, but he pushed it aside & let go of his hold on her, but quickly grabbed her wrist so she couldn't leave. "You do belong with us Takara," he said, looking at her face. "Your memory just isn't coming back quick enough for you." He brought her into a hug. "I wish it would so you can know that you do belong here with us." He felt her shake against him & realized she was crying against him. He stood there with her, rubbing her back as she cried from her confusion & uncertainty of where she belonged. When he felt her settle down, he pushed her away enough to look at her face.
"If I'm supposed to be with that man, then why do I feel nothing for him? If I was with him when I had a memory, shouldn't my heart still be with him?"
Inu Yasha wiped her tears from her face. "I don't know Takara... I really don't understand the feelings of love."
"Do you not love Kagome?"
"I do love her, but that doesn't mean I understand the love I feel for her."
Takara sighed. "Inu Yasha, I may not be able to remember my love for Miroku, but there are feelings for another man in my heart that I don't understand. I don't even know who it could be because it's no one here."
"Are you sure?" Inu Yasha loosened his grip on her wrist until he was no longer holding on.
"I'm sure Inu Yasha. You have to let me leave you & the others so I can find just who it is I have these feelings for. If you're the good friend to me you claim you were, you'd let me go so I can be happy. I need to find out what my dreams mean."