Akira H. © SilverDrops-6593
Note¹ - Keiko is just a name I picked up for Kagome's mother. It means happy.
Note² - This is a translation from Portuguese of my own fanfic "Recomeçar", which means star again.
Note³ - This is my first story in English. Sorry for any error.
Enjoy, and review, of course. ^^
Chapter 1 – Promise you won't give up?
CRASH!!!
Souta curled himself under the bed, hugging the stronger he could the poor family's cat, Buyo. Gramps who was sleeping on the other side of the room on a mattress, barely moved, and kept drooling on his pillow. His sister only sighed. She did it a lot lately.
-I don't understand.-He whispered mostly to himself, sticking his head out from under the bed.
Kagome looked down at her little brother. She didn't raised her head, which she rested on her crossed arms on a pillow, while she was laying flat on her stomach and sideways on her bed, her feet on the air because of the wall behind her.
-What? How Gramps can sleep while mom destroy the first floor or how nobody called the police?
-No.-The kid stopped and waited for another sound of object being crashed against the wall downstairs.-I don't understand why they argue so much. I thought they loved each other.
-I think that fighting is a better word to describe what they are doing, Souta.-The teenager rested her head sideways on her arms.-And you wouldn't understand. You're just too young. You don't even know half the story.
-Because you refuse to tell me.-The boy defended himself.-Please, sis. I want to understand what's going on.
-You won't, Souta.-She sighed.
-Why not? Just because I was born later and didn't see anything?-He scowled.
-And you don't even know how lucky you are for this.-She glared at him before she uncrossed her arms, which hanged from the bed's edge, and buried her face on the pillow.-Go sleep.
-But how?
CRASH!!!
Souta hid under the bed again, hitting his forehead on the way. Kagome sighed when she heard him bite a moan of pain, and stretched her body to the bed's edge and looked upside down at his hidden little brother.
-You ok?
-Y-Yeah...
The girl just rolled her eyes and stretched a hand to pull him. She brought him to her bed, laying him down at her side, rubbing the bump on his head gently.
-Do you think it all will end ok, sis?-Souta asked in a low whisper, starting to get sleepy with the soft care of his older sister.
-I don't know, Souta. But you know we can't do much about it. It's their matter.
-I know, but... it's so difficult to watch and do nothing.
-I know.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*___Flash_Back___*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome came back from another travel to the past, walking alongside his little brother who was inside the bone-eater-well's temple when she appeared at the bottom of said well. All of a sudden, they realized someone was in front of the Goshinboku, watching the high branches and leaves with a faraway look. The siblings didn't need to observe too much to recognize who this 'stranger' really was. It was almost instinct. They bolted in his direction.
-DADDY!!!
The black-haired man with stormy blue eyes smiled when he saw the two siblings. He lost his balance when they both jumped on him laughing, but that really mattered to him was to know that his babies were fine, and they have grown up quite a bit.
-My children...-He murmured proudly, hugging Kagome and Souta tightly.-Yu two grew up quite a bit, haven't you? Look at you, Souta! Look at you, Kagome!
-Look at you, dad!-Brother and sister cried out in unison.
-You let your hair get a bit longer again, haven't you?-Kagome brushed her father's hair with her fingers.
-Yeah, and you don't have those ugliest-ever sideburns anymore!-Souta laughed as he touched his father's cheeks.-You looked like Elvis Presley after you left!
-You was only three, Souta. How in the world would you remember?-Kagome messed up her borther's hair.
-Of course I remember! Daddy was the ugliest guy I ever met!
The three burst in laughter.
-Say dad, what's up with the new old visual? You're almost like... like...-Kagome looked at her father from head to toe, her smled fading.-You look exactly like...
-The way I looked the day I proposed to your mother?-He smiled sadly.-Yeah, I know. It was exactly here where I proposed to her. I only wanted to...
-Kagome! Souta! Supper is ready in ten minu...-Mrs. Higurashi petrified on the backdoor entrance, and her expression, always calm and cheerful, turned into the rarest scowl of pure fury.-What are you doing here, Akira Higurashi?!
-Keiko...-He murmured, while Souta and Kagome backed off like they had got a shock.
-It's Ms. Higurashi to you. You're dead to me now.-She glared severely at her children, making them shrink immediately in fear.-As for you two: get inside. Now!
They ran inside the house in a hurry, not even looking back. Souta even though stopping, but Kagome grabbed him by the back collar of his shirt and dragged him inside. And he didn't even know how thankful he should be for this.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*___Flash_Back___*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
CRASH!!!
-By the sound of this one, Gramps' a thousand years old pot is dead. He will cry for a week when he find out in the morning.-Kagome smiled when Souta snickered.
-Maybe a whole moth.-The boy added.-Sis, can I sleep with you tonight?
-Alright, but just tonight. You're already too big to sleep with me because of dark fears.
-I'm not afraid of the dark!
-Monster on the closet?
-Kagome!
-Just kidding, my little cute baby brother!-Kagome hugged and kissed her brother's cheeks, making him struggle to get away.-And monster under the bed? Ok! I stop! I stop!
POW!!!
-Was that the front door?
-No, I think it was the bathroom door.-Kagome got up and looked out the window, spying careful outside.-Yep. The bathroom door.
This time it was Souta who sighed.
-If he give up... we're never going to see him again, aren't we?
-He won't give up, Souta.-Kagome approached and hugged her little brother.-He never will.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*___Flash_Back___*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was almost 3 in the morning. Two hours ago, Keiko entered the house in tears, and now, she was sleeping a bit calmer. She didn't know Akira was still outside, under the Sacred Tree. E she didn't know that her daughter got out of the house with a blanket, a pillow and a plate with cold food from dinner.
-Hungry? Cold?-Kagome asked stopping behind her father, who was sitting and staring at the Goshinboku.
-Kagome.-He murmured the name he picked up for his little baby girl fifteen years ago.-How are you?
-Hum?-She sat beside him and asked with a look to be more specific.
-I mean... you, Souta, you mother and Gramps... how are you all?
-Ok... I guess. It never had been the same after you left.
Akira sighed.
-You have no idea how much ashamed and regretful I am for what I've done, my daughter.
-I heard what you said to mom.-Kagome smiled sadly.-She had cried for hours, you know.
-Now?
-That too, but after you left mostly. Hours, days. Even moths.
-I thought she hated me enough to commemorate my departure. She didn't just because...-He widened his eyes and rubbed his hand on his head.-Oh Gods. Souta! He was only...
-Leaving the diapers?-Kagome smiled funnily and melancholically at the same time.-you know what, dad? There's no way you can hate someone you loved so much and for so much time. Mom doesn't hate you and never did. She's only... hurt.
-I know. I hurt her in a way I think I can't fix it. I broke, smashed her heart too much.-He looked at the Sacred Tree.-I only wanted... a second chance.
Kagome accompanied her father's look.
-You taught me, dad: you get nothing in the world for granted.
-Yes.-Akira agreed.-Sadly, they don't come less complicated and difficultly.
-And the more difficult, the more it's worth fighting for.-The teenager smiled and looked at the dark sky spackled with stars.-You came back hoping mom would forgive you and let you enter our lives again... She won't give it all to you for granted.
-I know.
-And because of that you will give up?
Akira looked surprised at his daughter. She didn't have even half of his age, and all the things she said to him were so wise. How did she know what it was, fighting to enter again someone's life. Someone important to the heart. Have his little baby girl fallen in love for someone and suffered for this someone while he was away?
-Kagome. My little girl.-He touched her shoulder.-You're in love, aren't you? You're suffering for someone's love, aren't you?
-Well...-She looked down.-There's no way I can understand what you're feeling now, there is?
Akira smiled, sliding his arm over her shoulders and bringing her to a hug.
-Love isn't wrong, Kagome. Everyone is born to love and to be loved. Even cretins like me.-He scowled at himself, making Kagome giggle.-But it's not always that easy.-He looked at the Sacred Tree again.-I won't give up on you mother, I won't give up on you, and I won't give up on Souta. I will fight to get at least the forgiveness of the people that are the most important thing I ever had in my life: my family.
-Promise you won't give up on us?
-I promise.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*___Flash_Back___*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome looked through the window, at the place under the Goshinboku where her father has been sleeping for the last three days. He was doing all he could to get forgiveness from his wife and kids. But condemn was almost as difficult as to forgive, and Kagome knew she had no right to interfere on her mother's choice. She was the one that suffered the most, and had the whole right to not permit that man to join their family again. Her family.
The young miko looked at her lap. Souta was sleeping peacefully, at least less noisy than Gramps. The kid would be devastated if his chances to have father-son moments with Akira were crushed. Gramps didn't say much to defend his son's causes. He knew that what Akira has done was wrong and that Keiko was really hurt. Maybe he understood better than his granddaughter for not defend his own son.
Kagome sighed.
-"We are all at the same boat, with no rowing on a current."-She thought while she placed the pillow against the wall and laid down carefully, with her hands under her head. She looked at the ceiling barely illuminated by the lamp on her bedside.-"Since father returned, three days ago, everyone has been sleeping here in my bedroom. Makes sense: it's the only place in the house where the sounds of the fight downstairs is lower. Almost privacy invasion, but I know what it is to hear your parents fighting all night long."-She looked at her little brother. And sighed again, not able to do anything.