Second place winner in the "Memory" competition at Inuyasha Issekiwa, a Live Journal drabble contest community (link to the community can be found on the front page of my own Live Journal – look under my profile). July 2007. 264 words, Rating: PG, Crossover/Drama.

For my grandmother.

"I fell into a well," the old woman mumbled, as she often would to anyone who glanced at her.

This time two people listened. The elder nodded.

"Yes, it was a pool for me, too. Many worlds are connected that way." She turned to her younger companion. "Lucy, do pour us more of this tea. I never imagined that I would enjoy tea without milk and sugar!"

Nurses bustled around the home, paying little mind to the old resident in her forgotten corner. No one seemed to notice the two Englishwomen with her.

"I remember—" the old woman said, her thoughts feeble and maundering, "a boy pinned to a tree. And a jewel. I can't remember his name..."

The golden-haired visitor took and pressed her withered hand.

"So many years ago. They said it wasn't real. I can't remember his name."

There were tears in the old Japanese woman's eyes; her nose ran.

"I can't remember!" she said again and wept.

"My dearest," Lucy said, "it was real. We've seen him."

The woman lifted her head.

"Inuyasha..."

Lucy smiled and nodded.

"He's been waiting for you for so long. They all have."

The old woman was growing younger and younger, her white hair turning black from the ends back to the roots.

"You can go to them," the Lady Polly added.

"Right this minute?" Kagome cried, and she was now a girl just a few years older than Lucy.

"Oh, yes," Lucy answered, "we've come for you." She laughed and pulled on Kagome's hand; Kagome leapt up.

"Further up and further in!" roared Aslan.