Clutching the fatal wound in her side, Kagome fell forward into the well. Blue light engulfed the reincarnated miko as she drifted back into her own time. Falling back into blackness, the voices of the people shethought she could always trustfloated about, mocking her in their repetition.
I have a new mommy now. I don't need you anymore.
Why would we need you? We have the real deal now.
Lady Kagome. You don't deserve the title.
And now the one that hurt the most, that had given her the wound in her side.
You were always second best.
Azure eyes fluttered open and the girl in the hospital bed gasped lightly. Looking to her left, Kagome was shocked to see her mother, her eyes filled with crystalline tears.
'Mom?'
Mrs. Higurashi gasped. 'Kagome, you're awake!' and she lurched forward to hug her daughter.
Kagome let out a soft cry of pain and Mrs. Higurashi pulled back. 'Oh, I'm sorry dear, I forgot...'
'Why are you crying?'
The question caught her mother off guard. "Well, Kagome...' Then she broke down crying.
More urgently now, 'Mom, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Tell me!
Mrs. Higurashi looked up, her eyes stained red with tears. 'Oh, my poor baby...'
This frightened Kagome even more. 'Mom, what is it!' Why won't she stop crying?
Her mother choked back a sob and looked away. 'Th..The wound, in your side... it- Oh Kami- it severed your spinal cord, Kagome.'
Kagome gasped. 'So... so, what, I'll never be able to walk again!' Feeling weak...
'No dear, it's worse that that.'
'How much worse?' What could be worse than never walking again?
'The... the wound wasn't clean and the spinal cord shattered. Some of the pieces pierced your lungs and heart... Oh Kagome, the doctors say you wont survive the night.'
NO!
Five hundred years in the past, a silver haired hanyou embraces a tall, raven haired miko as they turn to watch the sunset.
And still the voice resounds...
You were always second best.
Always second best...
Second best...