Summary: Behind the heat of his touch, burned a dangerous secret past…
Passions Choice.
Prologue
Kagome dropped the empty pail and ran as fast as her trembling legs would carry her, her long braids of midnight hair swung from one shoulder to the other, while fear mounted in her chest and spurred her booted feet forward. Early morning sun had not yet warmed the chilly air, and dampness nipped at her flushed cheeks. Her tattered wool coat lost its last button when she stumbled and fell, hitting the earth with a jolting force that left her breathless. With a slight groan she lifted herself and was on the run again, faster.
As she neared the small cave where she had spent the night, she started screaming, "Papa! Papa! Come quickly, Papa!"
When she saw her father crawling out of the small cave's opening, she let her tears held inside tumble from her eyes. She fell into his warm, protective arms. At last, she was safe; safe from the memory of the past and from the man who was down the stream. Her cheek rubbed against a cold button on his waistcoat, and her hands slid around his thick waist.
"Dear, dear child! What has happened? Heavens, you were screaming as if some devil were after you."
Kagome squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her face deeper into the scratchy wool of her father's coat and wept.
Kane Higurashi tried to dislodge his young daughter, but she clung to him desperately. Had she been a bit stronger she would have squeezed the breath from his lungs. When she wouldn't budge, he realized he was going to have to let her cry for a few moments, so he soothed her with comforting words.
"There, now, Kagome. See? You're safe. Nothing is going to hurt you." He held her close with one arm and brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face with the other.
When the sobs subsided he gently eased her arms from around his waist and lifted her chin. He smiled. The tears had cleaned the dirt from her face, and what a lovely face it was. So like her mother's with a little rose bud mouth, straight nose, and eyes and blue as the early spring river. He brushed his thumb across her clean cheek, smudging it with residue that clung to his hands from gathering wood for the fire.
"Now tell me what frightened you."
Kagome hiccupped, and her teeth chattered. "There's – a man down by the stream. He-has-blood all over his shirt just like Mama- when she was shot." The memory of her mother lying on the ground with an Englishman's bullet in her chest flashed across her mind.
Kane drew his daughter to him again. This time he was the one afraid to let go. While he held still and listened for any sound of approaching danger, his eyes scanned the wooded area for intruders. A gust of wind made the leaves rustle, but nothing appeared out of place. The pale blue sky was tranquil. There wasn't even the chirp or whistle of a morning bird to be heard.
He had been foolish to send Kagome for water alone while he started the fire. She was fourteen, and she seemed so capable, so reliable, but he should have known better. He wasn't familiar with this area of Vermont at all, and in the last town, he heard that youkia soldiers were hiding in the hills. Was there safety anywhere on this earth? He had taken Kagome away from the fighting in Japan only to subject her to more of the same in America? A cold shiver shook him when he thought of what could have happened to his beloved daughter.
He had to take action. Kane took hold of Kagome's shoulders and lightly pushed her away from him. "Listen child, I have to go down and see this man for myself. He may be alive, and is he is, he needs our help."
"I-don't think so papa. He was still and white." She hiccupped again. Her clear blue eyes sparkled from the wash of tears.
"Even so, I must go."
"No papa! Please!" She held onto the worn sleeve of his brown coat with a tightly clenched fist.
"You have got to be strong Kagome." He said, giving her a little shake. "Now listen carefully. I want you to go back into the cave and warm yourself. If I don't come back within the hour, you head for the town we were in two days ago. It's about six miles in that direction," he said pointing south. "When you get there, go directly to the sheriff's office and tell them what happened. Do not come after me. Do you understand? Do not go back to the stream."
"Yes Papa"
"Good." He pulled the lapel of her coat closed and looked for a button to keep it shut but when he found none he let it fall and patted her cheek affectionately "Don't worry about me, I'll be careful. Now go-off into the cave with you."
Kagome was shaking again when she stopped to enter the cave. Thick smoke stung her eyes, and filled her lungs. She was exhausted and ashamed that she had broken down when she had been trying so hard to be mature and helpful. It was warm near the fire, but fear kept her cold. Facing the opening of the cave, she moved closer to the small fire, taking what little comfort it offered. Light from the low-burning flames cast shivering, distorted shadows on the hard walls of stone, and she fought back the terror that turned them into imaginary beings.
She had made a promise to her father that she knew she wouldn't keep. He was her only family she had. If he did not come back she would go looking for him. How could she leave this place without knowing what happened to him??
With a trembling hand, she made the sign of the cross. "Oh, Kami" she murmured, beginning with their own safety.
As the fire burned low, a depressing settled over her. Time passed so slowly as she waited, listening for sounds from outside. Finally, she could endure her vigil no longer; she had to find out what was happening.
As she crawled towards the opening, the shuffling sound of a horse picking its way carefully over the stone-covered ground reached her ears. Fearfully, Kagome edged backwards as the sound came closer. It couldn't be her father coming, He had no horse. Fear as thick as the smoke enveloped her; and when she saw her father's face loom in the doorway of the cave and peer anxiously inside, she went limp with relief.
"Kagome, up quickly!" Kane's voice was excited, and he pulled her arm with unintentional roughness.
"We have to leave as fast as we can."
"Why? Is someone after you?" she asked in a high pitched voice. "And what do you have in your hand?"
Kane leaned close to the dying embers of the fire to capture what little light it afforded and said, "Look!" he opened the leather pouch he carried so she could see inside, It was filled with gold coins and paper money. Her blue eyes rounded in shock.
"Whose is it?"
"For now, it's ours." He closed the pouched quickly, and then stuffed a crinkled piece of paper into his jacket. "The man was dead, Kagome. When I checked to see if he had anything to identify him, this was all I found. We must leave here now. Whoever shot that man may still be after him." With his booted foot, Kane shovelled dirt and rock over what was left of the fire, then knelt in front of his daughter, He held her upper arms firmly, his round puffy eyes staring into hers.
"This money is a gift from the heavens we can use to restore what the English took from us. I found that man's horse, and we're going to get on it and ride away from here. When I feel it's safe, we'll stop and make plans. I don't guess it would hurt to use some of the money for new clothes and decent food, but enough for now. We must hurry!"
Three days later, Kagome grasped her father's hand tightly as they walked into a bank. They were several towns beyond the one nearest the dead man. The money her father had found was carefully hidden between wads of cotton in the pockets of Kagome's new petticoat. She had spent most of the night cutting and sewing so that all the coins and most of the paper money would fit. In his pocket, Kane carried two 50 dollar notes he planned to change into smaller bills for the train ride to Boston.
He had used some of the paper money in the pouch to rent a room in an old boarding house in town. While Kagome was bathing, he had gone out and bought some decent but ill-fitting clothes. There would be time for proper fitting clothing once they were out of Vermont.
For Kagome he had bought a green and white plaid dress that was now covered by a plain wool coat. He had put together and undistinguished brown outfit for himself. He did not want to present a figure people would notice and remember.
"Ah-we have arrived at the perfect time," Kane whispered to Kagome. "Only a few people are in line. Now remember, Kagome, don't say anything. I'll get change, and we will be on our way to Boston and a new life."
"Are we going to keep all the money Papa?"
"Indeed we are. I told you it was a gift from the heavens. We must use it wisely and prove ourselves worthy of its blessing."
"We don't have much time before the train." she said looking at the clock around that corner.
"We have more time than we need. Now let's get in line, and don't worry. Just look calm, as if we walk in and out of banks every day."
Kagome moved behind her father as he stepped up to the cashier's counter. No telltale jingling came from the coins snuggled deep in the folds of her clothing. She had done a good job of arranging them. And her father could rely on her. She would guard the money with her life.
Suddenly the door burst open and the bank teller was cruelly pushed to the floor by a man in a handkerchief over his face. Kagome's eyes were now widened in fear.
Two other men rushed in behind him and pointed their guns at the others behind the counter. Two more men burst in, one kicking the door shut.
"This is a hold up! Don't anyone move!"
A hold up? Kagome's eyes darted back to the door to see who had spoken. They were going to rob the bank. They had guns! Were these men going to kill her just as her mother had been killed that day in the park? No! Her mind screamed. Kane pushed her firmly against the wall and stood in front of her, hiding her with his bulk. She closed her eyes tightly. If they dared shoot her, she would rather not see the blood stain her dress.
"Everyone keep quiet and stay still. No one will be hurt. We only want the money."
Kane had successfully blocked Kagome's view from what was going on by pinning her against the wall, then covering her with his arms. Determined to know what was happening, she squeezed and twisted against her father's pressing weight until she managed to turn her face and see the room from beneath his arm.
The bank patron, who had stood in front of her just moments before, now stood on the other side of the room with the woman who had been pushed to the floor. Two of the robbers had jumped over the counter and were pointing their pistols at the cashier, demanding he open the vault. Another blocked the door; one held his gun on a woman, while the fifth man pointed his gun at Kagome and her father. She watched him closely. The red handkerchief that covered his mouth fanned in and out with each breath, and his eyes kept blinking.
"Don't let them know you have the money, even if they ask for it." She heard her father whisper.
Kagome's eyes darted back to the man at the door. His dusty gray hat was pushed low over his eyes, but she knew he was watching her. Was there something about her skirts that looked suspicious to him? If that man guessed she had the money, there would be no safety for her or her father.
The two robbers were out of the vault now with their grain sacks bulging. They shoved the cashier and another man who was behind the counter into the vault before slamming it shut. Kagome's eyes froze. One of the men had started towards her and her father. The kerchief tied around his head covered everything but his squinting violet eyes. Those narrowed, dangerous slits were all she was clearly. She smelled stale sweat, horse, and tobacco when he stopped in front of them.
"Believe me sir, I have nothing to contribute to your cause." Her father protested.
With the back of the hand that held the gun, the man hit Kane squarely across the face. Kane grunted, and Kagome bit her bottom lip to hold in a scream. She had to stay quiet for her father's sake.
"You wouldn't be in a back if you didn't have money." He yelled into Kane's face. He struggled with his pockets and brought out the two 50 dollar bills he was going to change. "Here." He shoved the money at the man. "This is all we have."
Suddenly the robber grabbed the front of Kane's shirt and pointed the gun under his chin. Kagome's breath caught in her chest. She was too frightened to scream. Any moment now she feared she would see blood sprayed all over her father's shirt. She squeezed her eyes shut again, trying hard to dispel the image of her mother's white shirt covered in blood.
"Be brave. Be strong." Her father's words came back to reassure her. No! She wouldn't let this smelly man kill her father. The money would have to be surrendered.
"Now you don't expect me to believe that, do you? Not with that gold chain sticking out from under your coat." The man pushed the gun and Kane's head tilted back further.
"No sir, I beg you to let it be. It's a locket with a picture of my dear wife."
"Sure, and its gold." The robber said, mocking Kane's accent.
A cold shiver engulfed Kagome. All thought of the money vanished from her mind as she realized the man might take her mother's locket. Never! It was all she had left of her mother except memories, and those were fading.
The man's dirty fingers reached and jerked the chain from inside of Kane's coat. When she seen the chain slip Kagome squirmed from behind her father and grabbed hold of the locket.
"What do we have here?" the man chuckled menacingly.
Kagome's fearful eyes met his with all the defiance she could muster. Yes, she would fight him for the locket.
"Give it to him, Kagome" Kane said, taking hold of her wrist.
"No, Papa. It belonged to Mama. I won't give it to him." Kagome was surprise at how strong her voice sounded. She didn't take her eyes off of the man, and her father didn't take his hand off her wrist.
"Let her have it!" someone yelled, and she recognized the voice of the man who had stood by the door way and issued orders.
The robber turned his head and glanced at the man who'd spoken. When he looked back at Kagome, his eyes were gleaming with anger "You little-"
"Leave her alone, and let's get the hell out of here while the streets are still clear."
Although Kagome's eyes were glued on the man who threatened her, she heard a shuffle of feet running and knew the other robbers were leaving the bank. She didn't know what to do. If she pulled the chain hard enough, it would break- and he held the half with locket. The only picture of her mother that she possessed was tucked safely inside.
The man's eyes glittered as she roamed over her face. "I can't let you keep the locket, Honey." With a swift jerk the chain tore through the tender flesh of her hand.
"No!" she screamed once before her father's hand covered her mouth and held her against him firmly.
Seconds later she heard shots in the street and angry voices shouting orders. For now she was safe, folded in the protective arms of her father. The money was safe too, but she lost something far more valuable than the gold coins in her petticoat.
Kane bent towards his daughter and whispered, "It's more important than ever that we be on that train to Boston. We don't want anyone asking us to many questions. Come; let's go while everyone is still excited."
As they passed the man and the woman, Kagome heard his excited voice. "Did you see the marks on them? Did you see their clothes? They must be the same band of youkia soldiers who have been robbing banks all over."
End Chapter…
Thanks you. For reading. I hope you get to enjoy. The Next chapter Sesshomaru makes his entrance… sorry if it was a bit short. It will be longer… I am looking to make this one around twenty chapters.
Akada.