Kagome walked through the door cranky, grimy, exhausted and desperately in need of some sleep. As she made her way wearily into her home, she reflected at how ridiculous it had become just to come home to her own era for a few days to relax and study. It would always start with the lingering desire to slip into a bath and enjoy the silence, to just calm oneself in a blissful state of unawareness. Firstly, before she could even begin to think about relaxing, she had to plan a trip home, before she could plan a trip home she had to scheme up new and original ways to get around Inuyasha's ever vigilant and ever increasing protests. Then, already exhausting, she'd become doubly exhausted to warding off his vein attempts, she did have to go home either way sooner or later, despite his intentions. The last few weeks had been so hectic though, she couldn't wait to just sleep it off in her nice, warm, comfy, amazing bed. Even though getting around that evil dictating hanyou, who was starting to seriously dominate her life, annoyed her, coming home made it all worth the wait. It wasn't like Inuyasha was GOD he should look at his own life before he lectured her! As if his little getaways with Kikyou didn't hold them up for days at a time. My god she wasn't asking for much, a day or two here and a break from shard hunting there, even shard detectors got tired and grumpy... as well as easily 'SIT' provoked.
A somehow cute, but evil little grin painted itself on Kagome's face at the thought.
Ditching her bag by the door and removing her shoes, Kagome stepped into the house, simultaneously calling out her greetings, she was promptly answered by her mother.
"Hello Darling!"
"Hi mom." She replied curtly.
Right now Kagome's mind was working on a single mindset: breakfast, followed by a bath, and then off to bed, well a nap, an extended nap.
"Can I get you anything, honey?" Kagome's mom asked.
"Some Eggs would be nice," she said tiredly.
"Coming right up!" her perky, overly perky mother actually, retreated into the kitchen to retrieve her daughters order. Luckily Kagome appeared to have come right in the middle of breakfast the smell of eggs and toast waffled through the living room from the kitchen and fresh brewed coffee could be detected as well. At least she wouldn't have to wait long for food.
"Where are Sota and Grandpa?"
She asked walking into the kitchen and wearily disposing of herself in a chair.
"Well Sota practically ran out of the house this morning when he read about the new arcade game that arrived here from a America in the newspaper. I thought it was a little early to be playing video games but he and his friends rushed right down there. Grandpa has gone into to town to retrieve some new charms for the temple, and I'm off to pick up some groceries from the market, as soon as your eggs are ready, you don't mind being alone do you dear?"
Kagome could have cried with joy. She could greet the others later but an hour of undisturbed bath time came but once a- actually that never came- well it certainly was a nice little surprise. It was all she could do not to scream out her enthusiasm at having the house to herself.
"NO, momma I'll be fine."
"Kagome would you mind if someone were to use your room?"
"Use my room? Who would need to do that?"
"Well darling, you see, The Higurashi family has been chosen to receive a transfer student from the United States of America and she is going to be using your room, isn't that wonderful dear!?!" Mrs. Higurashi's voice was extremely high pitched and breathy.
She cautiously moved to set down a steaming plate of eggs and bacon in front of her daughter hoping it would absorb the blow.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?!"
It was a futile hope.
"It will only be for one year, of course, no longer than that. Yes, a 17 year old girls going to be coming here and taking courses at the local school."
"MOM?!" Kagome clearly had not calmed down
"HOW is she staying HERE exactly," panting now her earlier hunger was quickly forgotten.
"Oh Kagome, all day Sota's at school and Grandpa is busy in the shrine I have a lot of extra time on my hands. I miss you a lot and when I thought about it, really thought it about it, I realized I wouldn't mind having another young lady in the house. Especially since the way things are going……" Kagome's mother looked down slightly wringing her hands.
"I'm not going to be buying a prom dress for my little girl, or anything…" her mother broke off in dramatic hysterics.
Kagome did an anime sweat drop and tried soothing her very distressed mother.
"Gomen nasi momma she can have the room its ok-mom- MOM! Please stop crying!"
Her mother calmed a bit and replied.
"THANK YOU KAGOME!" She hugged her-when the heck did her mom get so overly emotional?
Things now having settled down Kagome sat down and resumed eating her eggs which had grown warm by this time. It was all right though she didn't like them piping hot anyway.
"So when does this girl get here?"
Kagome speared a piece of egg onto her fork and popped it into her mouth reaching for her glass of O.J.
"Oh Tomorrow," Her mother replied guarded.
Loud bangs could suddenly be heard and Mrs. Higurashi quickly turned away from the kitchen sink to see Kagome banging her open balm harshly against the table as she turned a faint red color. Forcefully swallowing, she sputtered before addressing her mother.
"Mom," Kagome cautiously started attempting to avoid another emotional outburst from her mother,
"what were you planning on telling her about me?"
"What about you dear?"
Kagome felt her patience slipping.
"About me transferring between worlds!" Kagome said now jumping to stand
"WELL?" She demanded.
A blur of words quickly left her mothers mouth and Kagome had to actually strain to catch it.
"Souta thought we could say you were going and coming in and out of hospitals and that's why you were gone." She said very rushed.
"The hospital? What the heck are you going to say I'm in the hospital for at such an extended time rate? Or what about when I come home to rest for a few days? Will you say I'm returning again?!"
This didn't make sense, it was a stupid idea, and Kagome was frankly just angry that she wouldn't even have a place at home, and she never had one in the other dimension. How could her mother do this without talking to her first?
"Well we could say that you were coming in an out of the hospital. Then, the excuses we give your school and the ones we give the girl won't be mismatched."
Kagome wanted to protest, she wanted to point out how the girl would think it odd for a hospitalized girl to walk home in a school uniform at random parts of the day with youkia grime covering her bruised and battered while donning a yellow backpack and the occasional hanyou. She wanted to demand her mother call up whomever it was she needed to call and arrange for this girl to be put somewhere else. After all the threat this situation posed was real and dangerous. What is the girl discovered Kagome's secret? What if her presence wound up alerting the media and the waking world as they knew it to the discovery of time travel? Didn't her mother see this deadlines lurking behind this problem?
Kagome wanted to say all of this and more…but Kagome couldn't do that. Kagome took one look at her mothers face and she couldn't do that. Her mother was hopeful and wishful. She really wanted this, and tries as she might, Kagome couldn't bring herself to take it away from her. Sighing in defeat she muttered a small defeated agreement and decided that now, more than ever, she needed that hot soak in the tub.
Kagome reached the top of the stairs and immediately it seemed, her feet, on there own accord, raced into the bathroom. She first secured her hair, sweeping up and out of her face, high on her head. Then she reached over and adjusted the nozzle to ensure the perfect temperature bath. She savored every moment of being able to use modern pluming. Slowly she striped out of her soiled school uniform and placed it in the hamper for washing. Sparing a glance at the bathtub she could see it was only half full and turned to the task of finding a fresh towel, she was not so much relieved as much as grateful to find freshly folded towels waiting in the linen closet. Daily laundered clothing and fresh linens was another luxury she had taken for granted. Setting up her toilet tree's and placing her towel on the counter top, Kagome slipped down beneath the waters surface feeling the delicious sensation as the heated water splashed against her skin. All She could think of was 'this is sheer bliss.'
Kagome took her time in the bath, soaking up the smell of her cherry blossom soap and lavender shampoo. It almost caused her heart to break, but once her fingers and flesh began to prune Kagome knew her bath had ended. She rose slowly out of the water reaching for her towel feeling 100 better. She'd even managed to forget the sour mood that had suddenly come on while talking with her mother. She dried off and dressed in a pair of khaki Capri's and her favorite knock around T-shirt, very casual, extremely comfortable. Perfect for napping activities and the like. After she was dressed she made her way down to the kitchen to ask her mom about what time this girl was coming. If she were lucky she'd have enough time to sleep in late tomorrow and get in another bath before she had to leave for the 'hospital.'
"MOM!?"
Kagome called coming down the stairs, she wondered if she'd gotten back from the market yet. After all, Kagome had spent a very long while soaking up in the tub.
"Yes dear?"
Her mother popped up out of nowhere causing Kagome to jump 10 feet in the air. Breathing heavy with her hand over heart, Kagome tried to gain her bearings as she glared at her mother .Though, internally, she found it ironic to be brave while fighting youkai, but to be unnerved when your mommy snuck up on you. Inuyasha would laugh his ears off. She nearly snarled at the thought and turned back to her mother.
"Mom, when's this girl arriving here? I want to be back in the Feudal Era before she arrives."
"She's arriving late honey. She's catching the 11 o'clock flight in the morning and her scheduled landing time is three o'clock."
"IT'S A FOURTEEN HOUR FLIGHT!" Kagome exclaimed.
"I suppose so, well dear she is coming all the way from The United States of America, I would think it would take her time to get here.
The day passed by quickly and afternoon slipped easily into night. Kagome spent the next few hours after her mother's conversation packing so she wouldn't have to do so the next morning. She put in the usual new age tonics and some band-aids and such for dressing wounds. Once her packing was complete she blissfully fell into her bed.
"Oh bed how I love you so," She whispered while snuggling into her cushy comforter.
"You love a bed?"
The voice, though familiar, was extremely unwelcome at the moment and Kagome was in no mood to be throw off by anymore unexpected surprises. Never the less leaping out of her skin for the second time that day, she sprang up to properly address her intruder. Mentally asking herself, 'What is it with these people?!?'
"INUYASHA!"
"Oi, Wench keeps it down!"
"OSWARI!"
Carpet met Inuyasha, Inuyasha met carpet. Small twitch's came from his body has he was slammed down by the power of the beads.
"WHAT WAS THAT FOR!" He said once he regained his strength, standing up.
"FOR SNEAKING INTO MY ROOM UNANNOUCCED! I COULD HAVE BEEN CHANGING OR SOMETHING!"
If Kagome wasn't going to be entitled to this room for much longer, she wanted to at least be able to enjoy her privacy- that was something she had little of in this time as well as Inuyasha's. Inuyasha, however, only seemed more annoyed.
"Well you weren't changing, and besides I would have checked before I entered!!"
"I Could Have been is the point!"
She didn't really have a very justified reason for being angry, except that she was cranky and put out by her mother and, desperately in need of some sleep, therefore she gave herself permission to be aggravated. Inuyasha didn't pick up on any of it and continued to be his bossy charming self.
"Fine point taken, now, lets go."
He said this while making a jerking motion with his thumb indicating the window and Kagome couldn't help but turn redder than his clothes.
"GO where! I said I needed to go home for a few days!" now she yelled.
"I know but there's a rumor about a shikon no-
"NO! Inuyasha NO! I need sleep! I NEED SLEEP IN A BED! IN A BED FROM MY TIME! PLEASE! You don't me just to chase down a shard, it's late right now anyway! JUST PLEASE SLEEP!" Kagome begged.
Inuyasha was helpless he couldn't tell her the real reason he wanted her back was because he was lonely and Miroku and Sango were getting too cozy and excluding him. Though they only did that because they felt he was uninterested. Than Shippou and Kiara were playing in the fields all day, all he had left to do was find a tree and sit and brood. She obviously needed this though and he didn't feel like hearing her.
"Fine wench stay in your stupid time, no use in a battle anyway."
He mumbled softly to himself. He smelled her change in scent and felt her anger but she remained passive as he climbed to her sill and into the tree just outside.
"Oh Inuyasha?" She called out sweetly.
Hoping she'd changed her mind he turned slightly facing her.
"Eh?"
"OSWARI!" She shouted.
Inuyasha fell mercifully from the tree and down into the solid door.
"NIGHT!" She called and he heard the audible click of a window lock.
Inuyasha began to walk to the well and returned to brood in the God Tree, the one in his time anyway.
Kagome fell into a peaceful sleep and awoke late the next morning. She woke up around noon. She rolled out of bed and drew herself another bath. When you live 500 years in the past you can just never get enough baths. By the time she was bathed and dressed and was ready to go it was nearly 3 o'clock. Kagome knew that The girl's plane would be landing soon. Walking out of the house in her newly washed uniform, and having said her goodbyes she dragged more than carried her now bulging yellow sac into the Well house and jumped over its lips. She wasn't over the other side more than 10 minutes before a certain hanyou and kitsune had jumped her.
"KAGOME!" Shippou had said running to leap into her arms. She caught him and allowed the small cub to hug her.
"Hey Shippou have you been behaving yourself?"
Somewhere off she heard Inuyasha snort at their antics.
"Where's Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.
"He's up in the tree he just missed you is all-
Shippou was cut off has a shockingly recognizable hand bopped him on the head.
"Inuyasha! Don't hit him!"
Kagome turned to the cub, facing away from Inuyasha.
"Feh"
Was all they got out of him and he began to walk back to the village, muttering about protective mothers and big mouth brats. Kagome carrying Shippou followed.
Back in modern times changes were commencing. Somewhere on the distant shores of the continent known as North America, in a large white warehouse like area crowded with people, A voice boomed over the loudspeaker of the airport.
"All passengers leaving on the 11 o'clock flight to Haneda Arpt Narita in Tokyo Japan please report to Gate B, please report to gate B. Would all passengers please board now. Thank you."
'That's me' Lisa thought to herself.
Seventeen-year-old Lisa Wellington kissed her mother and father good bye, standing on tip-toe to reach her fathers over-whelming height of 6'0. She was angry for a fairly average mother and father she felt she had turned up short at only 5'5. She pushed her brunette pony-tail away from her hazel eyes and grabbed her luggage. Her mother gave her a much longer hug and really did seem overly anxious. She couldn't help it though, her only daughter was leaving.
"You're excited aren't you?"
"Yea and a -
"Bit nervous?"
"Yea..." Lisa said eyeing her mother.
"I can tell because those eyes of yours are gold. They only turn that color when you're anxious and happy."
Lisa laughed; hazel eyes were just weird why couldn't she have a nice normal color like blue or green? Something that was harder to read? When she would read books or listen to music, she could definitely relate to the simple plainness of having hazel eyes. There was nothing good about them. You always heard about, "sharp green eyes" and they called Frank Sinatra "old blue eyes." Hell even someone had written a song "My Brown Eyed Girl"- hazel eyes didn't have any of that.
Lisa gave her father another hug, leaving was going to be so hard for both of them. By the time she was done it was time to go and she had to hurry on the plane. She promised everyone that she'd miss them and that she loved them all, and of course, that she would keep in touch, which both of her parents had insisted upon. She boarded her flight and sat in the window seat she had been assigned. A seemingly sweet old lady sat by her side and a rather large man sat next to her. Lisa looked out the window her anxiety mounting as the engines of the plane roared to life. Suddenly, she could see three stewardess' walking up and down the isle's telling everyone to please heed the buckle up sign. Soon they returned to their corners and Lisa felt herself starting to move. Automatically her secret mantra began chanting in her head
I HATE TO FLY
I HATE TO FLY
I HATE TO FLY
I HATE TO FLY
Truly, she did hate flying. Despite her budding enthusiasm for Japanese culture, and her eagerness to dive head first. She was particularly interested in most of the folklore and old world magic. Japan had a regal history that was etched with fantasy. Remarkably Exciting things, Lisa had dedicated herself to being a history Professor or some such thing.
Feeling the plane gain speed, Lisa quickly popped a slice of gum into her mouth to keep her ears from popping. Once they had cleared the ground and were safely in the air Lisa removed her IPOD from its protective pouch, popped in her head phones and sat back to enjoy the tunes.
Fourteen long, long hours later, with her ass completely asleep, a groggy but extremely excited Lisa exited the plane. She was so nervous about going through the motions of departing a plane, not only by herself, but in a different country! On a whole different continent! This was momentous. Walked stiffly over to the baggage claim Lisa waited patiently for her parent's 20 year old luggage to make its way around the conveyer belt, having collected her bags, she began walking to the semi-middle of the airport scanning the crowd for whoever was suppose to meet her. Making her way over to a small set of benches, Lisa set down her packages and grabbed her purse, opening it up she fished around inside for a small piece of paper with her Education information stamped on it along with her sponsor information, what was the name of the women she was suppose to meet? She knew she knew it but she couldn't think of it.
"Ah-ha!"
She called out to no one in particular when she found what she was looking for, announcing the answer to her own question out loud.
"Mrs. Higurashi! Ok, I just need to find the real you now."
Setting the paper back in her back and grabbing hold of all her items- she somehow felt better with her bags in her hand, after all someone could take something at any moment if she wasn't careful. After what seemed like forever, mostly because the packages were extremely heavy after a while, the massive crowd began to somewhat dwindle, and scatter a bit reveling a group of people Lisa hadn't noticed before. A young boy holding a sign, an elderly gentleman with a very haphazard countenance, and a gentle looking women in her late thirties, early forties scanning the airport almost frantically-it was apparent that she was searching for something, Lisa wondered if she, herself, was what the women sought out. Was this elder women the one Lisa was meant to live with for the next month? Lisa brought her full attention, for the first moment since spotting them, to the sign the young boy was holding.
"LISA WELLINGTON OF AMERICA"
It took Lisa a moment longer than she would have like to read the sign, because it was written in Japanese. Even though Lisa spoke Japanese fairly well, and knew some words for this thing and that, her reading had always been a little poor. Closely examining the sign Lisa recognized immediately her first name Lisa, but wanted to be sure of the rest before she approached this new family. Having confirmed that they were looking for her, she composed herself and readied to make it towards them. She walked over to the friendly looking people and introduced herself, hoping she didn't sound like a complete idiot.
