I want to remember

I want to remember you
--Chapter 1--
Kagome struggled over the uneven ground, trying to keep her balance. She was lagging behind her friends and called for them to wait up. InuYasha stopped and turning towards her and rolled his eyes.
"Can't you keep up at all wench?"
"What am I supposed to do?" She shot back indignantly.
"I don't want to fall in any of the deep crevices and some of these big rocks aren't that sturdy when I stand on them!" Kagome eyed the hilly terrain under her feet warily and carefully stepped onto a medium-sized boulder.
"Oh, would you cut it out with the excuses! It's that backpack of yours that's really slowing you down!" Inu-Yasha pointed to the overstuffed bag on her shoulders and shook his head.
"I *told* you to leave it back in your world."
"Would you stop harping on me about it? I'm sick of you always saying it's too heavy for me." Kagome growled in irritation and InuYasha matched it with a snarl of his own.
"You know I'm right. Now get over here." He leapt over the numerous rocks until he landed beside her.
"Give the damned bag to me, I'll carry it."
Kagome frowned and backed up. "No, I'm not a weakling, I can do it myself!"
"Quit being so stubborn!" He reached for the pack and she batted his hand to the side.
"I said no!" Kagome was adamant.
She took a few more steps away from the hanyou and found herself on the edge of the boulder.
"I'm just trying to help you, fool!"
InuYasha didn't notice that Kagome was on the tip of the boulder and leaned towards her.
Kagome put her hands on her hips and glared over at the man in front of her.
"Well knock it off, you're not trying very hard."
Inu-Yasha swore and threw his arms up.
"Oh how you aggravate me woman!" He growled and in one swift motion, swiped the backpack from her shoulders. "I'm done playing this game with you. Now come on." InuYasha turned and hoisted the bag to his frame, starting to leave.
Kagome balled her hands into fists and kicked a nearby stone in frustration.
"You jerk!"
Kagome kicked at another stone and another and as she went for one last one, her foot slipped and she suddenly lost her balance.
"InuYasha!" Kagome cried out and waved her arms out at her sides, trying to keep herself upright. The hanyou looked back in disinterest, but his expression quickly changed to one of horror as she began to fall. Kagome tumbled from view and before InuYasha could catch her, Kagome’s head hit a neighboring rock and she landed in one of the dark fissures she had feared she'd get stuck in.
"KAGOME!!!" InuYasha jumped down in after her as the rest of the gang rushed over to she if she was alright.
"What happened?" Sango asked, getting to her knees and peering down at them.
"Is she all right?" Miroku raced up behind Sango and joined InuYasha in the mini chasm.
The monk put his hand just above Kagome's mouth and felt her slow breathing.
"She's been knocked unconscious," he determined as Shippo wailed next to Sango.
"Is Kagome gonna die?" The kitsune cub sobbed out and Miroku shook his head ruefully.
"No, she'll be fine," he turned to InuYasha. "But we really should get her out of here.”
The hanyou's face was ashen and he nodded absently. Gently he scooped the limp girl into his arms and cradled her against his chest.
"We'll make a campsite and stay the night." Miroku decided and the entourage followed all casting quick, worried glances in Kagome's direction.
She could feel something cool on her forehead and as Kagome fluttered her eyes open, a face slowly appeared in her hazy vision. It was a man with long white hair and amber eyes and he was looking down at her with such an expression of concern that she almost felt sorry for him.
"Hello," she said in a soft voice and Inu-Yasha gave a rare half-smile.
"Hey," he lifted the compress from her forehead and pushed her bangs back with his hand. "How are you feeling Kagome?"
She blinked for a moment and drew a blank at the name.
"Kagome? Who's Kagome?" The girl gave him a confused look and the hand on her head froze.
"What?" InuYasha gazed at her in shock and at that moment Miroku came strolling over, smiling.
"How is she InuYasha? Is she feeling better?" The monk sat down next to the girl and patted her side gently.
She stared at the foreign man in bewilderment and frowned.
"Who's InuYasha?" Kagome asked in a lost tone.
"And who're you? Do I know you two?"
InuYasha felt a lump grow in his throat and caught the surprise on Miroku's face.
"Come again?" The monk asked, sure that he had heard wrong.
"My name's not Kagome," the girl shook her head. "And I've never seen either of you before in my life."
Miroku's eyes widened.
"What are you talking about? You saw us both about an hour ago!"
"Really…"
Kagome looked thoughtful for a moment and then her mouth formed down in an 'O'.
"I-I don't remember that at all."
InuYasha sputtered in disbelief. "What's wrong with her?" Open fear was plainly in his voice and he did nothing to hide it.
"Maybe she hit her head harder then we thought." Miroku examined the bruise on Kagome's forehead and bit his lip as he saw her wince.
"Perhaps something is out of place in her mind. It might have happened when she fell," Miroku whispered to the hanyou beside him and Kagome overheard.
"Fall? Who fell? I did?" She put a hand on her chest and looked at Miroku for an answer.
"Why yes you did," he nodded. "And not only did you hit your head, but you also twisted your ankle pretty bad." The monk pointed to her right leg and Kagome saw a large purple bruise coloring the bone just above her foot.
"Goodness!" Kagome tried to sit up but the white-haired man put his hands on her chest and gently eased her back down.
"Right now you need to rest." InuYasha looked at her sternly, but Kagome got the distinct impression that he was trying to cover up a great amount of worry for her with the expression.
"Was anyone else hurt?" Kagome let her gaze roam around her surroundings and saw only one other person, a woman, sitting by a fire holding a small fox-like creature in her lap. The girl stared at the little thing in interest until its eyes met hers and it let out a great squeal of delight.
"KAGOME!!!!!" The fox-thing leapt out of the woman's lap and raced towards her with joy.
"You're awake!" It cried, jumping onto her chest with an exuberant bound and Kagome couldn't help but smile. It seemed so happy to see her.
"Hello there lit--" Kagome was taken aback as the creature bent down and hugged her neck fiercely. She could feel wetness under her chin and realized the thing was crying.
"I'm so glad you're okay Kagome," the fox said in a muffled voice. "I was so worried about you."
Kagome looked up at the white-haired man for guidance and noticed for the first time the two dog-like ears atop his head.
Her mouth dropped open in surprise and inside, her thoughts spun. What's going on? A talking fox that treats me almost like it's mother and a man with dog-ears? Where the hell *am* I?
Carefully Kagome extracted the creature from her neck and set it down on the ground. She moved to sit up again and Miroku and InuYasha both put their hands on her shoulders to stop her. This time though, Kagome wasn't swayed and she gave them both an angry glare.
"I want some answers!" She raised her voice and pushed their arms away. "Where am I?" Kagome brought a hand to circle around the campsite. "Who *are* you?" She directed the comment at InuYasha and Miroku. "And what is that?" Kagome pointed to the bushy-tailed kitsune cub and Shippo's mouth dropped down in hurt.
Miroku's eyes narrowed and his voice took on a dark tone. "I think we have a problem…"