DreamPlot Drabble: I know this plot is used more often than not, but I can't really seem to get it out of my head. It's just coming out onto the page, so don't be mad, (after all, this is my first story) I actually thought this up a long time ago. I just couldn't write it.
Much-Needed Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha, or any of the characters that will appear currently in this chapter, or perhaps more.
Kawairashii Kusabana (sweet flower (blossom))
Chapter One--Morning After
The rain softly pelted the window, as dawn began its way into the sky, a small amount of light creeping past clouds' small, inbetween, spaces. Dogs were barking somewhere, an alarm clock rang its toll, and the rain's steady thrum became soft pads on the window pane. Through a small crack in the slightly-opened window, the smell of the grass after rain was filling the room with a sweet aroma. The pungent smell of fresh-brewed coffee took over soon though, reached the upstairs corner-room, and the figure underneath the pink, flower-printed blanket stirred.
The morning of Kagome Higurashi had begun.
The birds started chirping incessantly, more alarm clocks went off down the block, even more dogs started barking, and tired feet stumbling from bed and into the hallway not two doors down shattered the delicate peace. This is what Kagome woke up to every morning. She didn't wake up to see dawn creeping through the clouds, or the rain slowly stopping, she didn't smell the wonderful, sweet smell of freshly-wet grass, or the first early-morning birds twittering softly.
By the time she was awake, the first early cars were driving from their houses, hell-bent on getting to work before everyone else, and the late one's alarm clocks bleeping non-stop. She woke to too many birds waking and chirping, too many alarm clocks, and to not the smell of after-rain, but the smell of coffee. So instead of feeling refreshed, ready to begin the day, she felt like turning over and sleeping until 10:00. But, of course, once her eyes were pried open by the insistant sunlight, there was no denying day that satisfaction of waking another.
That, and the fact she had to get to school.
So, starry blue eyes opening, Kagome sat up in bed and stretched. But it was then she remembered that forever-nagging thought: Inu-Yasha was tapping his foot somewhere, (most likely at the edge of the well) waiting, forever-impatient for her to get up and go back to the fuedal era. A scowl on his face, thinking he was about ready to come over and drag her from bed, pajama-clad, grab her half-empty bag, and fly right back out the window, however much she screamed in his ear and pounded his back.
The thought of her grumpy hanyou brought a smile to her face, and a feather-light giggle past her lips.
"Hey sis, what're you so happy about?" Questioned her 9-year-old brother from the doorway, sleeve up against his mouth, which was curled into a yawn. She slid her feet over the side of the bed, fit her feet snugly into her slippers, and stood, padding across the carpet.
"Oh, nothing." was her forever-reply, even though she was smiling from ear-to-ear in the process. Skipping down the stairs, and into the kitchen, (with Souta not far behind) she plunked herself in a seat, and watched her mother turn and question her.
"Dear," Mrs. Higurashi said, smiling lightly. "What would you like for breakfast?" Kagome made a little, confused noise, tilting her head.
"The same thing I always have?" she questioned, taking in her mother's straight-as-a-rod stance and seemingly forced smile. Her heart leapt up into her throat, and she could feel the pulsing of it pumping her life's blood. Her mother's expression was that of sorrow, agony. It was the something she never wanted to come to terms with. Will you tell me, mom? she heard herself think, Will you come to terms with what you have to say, or will you just stop and pretend everything is alright, like on every other particular day of the year?
Bringing up the spatula from the half-done eggs that was Souta's breakfast, she smiled wistfully. "Of course, dear. You're right, as always." with an unnervingly happy facade, she returned to the eggs.
"Um...mom, I'm actually not hungry. I'm going to get dressed. Inu-Yasha will be wondering where I am." she made her way, albeit stiffly, to the stairs and up, passing a wondering Souta, who was just coming down.
Why won't she tell me? Every year it's like this, she crashed into her room, and onto her bed, clutching a pillow to her face. every year she never says what she wants to. She just...leaves me hanging. Onto every word, every--
She jerked up at the sound of a window being violently pushed open. "Hey wench, didn't I tell you to hurry?" Enter Inu-Yasha, pig-headed, vile, she stopped herself in time to catch the words actually form in her head. N-No! Wonderful, caring, sweet-in-his-own-way Inu-Yasha, who is just actually worried about me. Wiping the tears from her pale cheeks, she put on her most cheery smile.
"Of course!" she chirped. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Inu-Yasha, but I woke up a little late this morning," her smile, cheery talk, and seeming bounciness was just as bad as her mother's fatal acting.
The only reply she got was the ever-reoccuring; "Feh,"
Stumbling from bed once again, she picked up strewn-about clothes, hiding underclothes modestly, throwing about some shirts in search of just the perfect things. "Of course, of course I was wrong, I'll hurry, I'll hurry," she mumbled, pushing into her bag everything she needed. Inu-Yasha gave her an odd look, before toddling to the window and hopping out, onto the branch.
"Crazy," he said, throwing another look at the muted girl.
But Kagome was far from over with her mental self-conversation. My mom will come clean some time, and I say that day is today. she affirmed this by nodding. I'm going to march down there, and demand answers. So, throwing the growing pile of accumulated clothes onto her bed, she threw open the door and marched downstairs. Though her confidence dwindled to a flickering flame when she saw her mother, hunched over the stove, years older than she had been yesterday, smiling tiredly into the eggs.
"Mom...? I need to talk with you," Kagome stated, somewhat warily.
Her mother looked up, nodding. "Yes, honey. What is it?" the sounds of Souta's video game wafted in from the living room on the breeze, and Kagome sat.
"I need to know what you were about to say." she started, solidly to an amount. Her mother sighed.
"Yes, of course."
DreamPlot Drabble: Dun, dun, DUN! The mother of all cliffies has been administered! Review and find out what the secret is!
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