Author: Mitsuko Maxwell

Title: The Light in the Dark

Rating: PG-13, at most

Author notes: Eh. Got this from Pet Shop of Horrors, basically, a longer, IY adaptaion of the last story. But don't ruin the ending for yourself! I'm gonna make this one into a long one! Haha!! Yay!!! And review at the end, please, even a flame would be appreciated!

"Help! Someone help me! Please!"

Hot flames lick the pajama pants Kagome wears, burning and sizzling on her skin as she runs through her house, barely noticing the flames crawling over the art covered walls and designer furniture. She screams, not only because of the pain, but because of the three bodies of her mother, brother, and grandfather lying dead on the floor at her feet.

"No! Mama! Souta! Who did this? Grandpa!" Kagome cries, and when her hands leave her face, the blood from her hands smears over her cheeks. "No! Please! Get up! Get up"



She stands up, knowing that her family would not want her to die, and vowing revenge on the man who killed her family and burned her house. She coughs because of the smoke, and whips around towards the windows when she hears another cough.

A man shaped shadow turns it's face towards her, and Kagome only has enough time to register his bearded face into her memory forever until he leaps out the first story window and into the cold winter night. She screams when she hears the top levels of the house crash down suddenly, and Kagome runs towards the foyer, where the flames have yet to fully catch, much in part because of the marble floors.

'No! I can't die here!' She thinks, and runs towards the front door, ignoring the flames devouring her house, all of the childhood haunts, every picture of her family, and her childhood. She suddenly hacks and coughs, falling helplessly into a fetal position at the foot of the door. She reaches weakly up for the door, knowing she must get up, she must get out of the house. But her vision turns black while she faints, her hand falling to the cold tile floor.

Not two seconds after her hand falls, she is jostled from her faint by the loud sound of a axe meeting the solid oak door. She moves her head up, and a fireman in a bright yellow suit and oxygen mask breaks through the door, looking startled by the young woman on the floor.

'I'm going to survive,' Kagome thinks, while the fireman picks her up and runs out of the house, right before the mansion finally collapses into itself, turning her childhood home into burnt wood and memories.

At the bottom of the hill where her home once was, a fire truck and a large crowd have congregated. Kagome is rushed into a waiting ambulance, speeding towards the nearest hospital, an oxygen mask strapped around her soot blackened face, and her singed raven hair covering her unconscious face.

Two days later...

"Kagome, how are you feeling today?" The cheerful young doctor asks the quiet young woman propped up on the clean white hospital bed, while a nurse bustles around the private room, moving a few vases of roses and stuffed bears to different corners.

"The same as yesterday, Dr. Mitchell. Like I just lost my whole family in a brutal killing." Kagome's head darts everywhere, her ears trying desperately to follow the sounds of the nurse and doctor.

Dr. Mitchell flinches slightly at the woman's calm answer. "Yes, well." He was not used to circumstances as these. Yes, the expensive medical school he had been trained in had prepared him to tell patients they had a serious cancer, or to the waiting family, that the surgery had not saved their beloved member. But he had never been warned that one day, he might have to tell some one that their entire family had been killed. The only way he could deal with such a situation, would be to ignore it. "And how are your eyes today?" He waves silently to the nurse, who leaves without a sound.

"I still can't see anything Dr. Mitchell." Kagome talks to the ceiling five feet above the doctor. Her voice is quiet and calm, which frightens the doctor even more than if she threw herself into hysterics and screamed.

Dr. Mitchell reads his patient's chart again quickly, even though he knows it by heart.

Kagome Higurashi

age: 18

sex: female

weight: 101 lbs

height: 5'2

He skips past all of her medical records, shot records, and growth and weight chart since she was born and goes directly to the pages he had only yesterday placed in her folder, a report from a highly respected psychiatrist.

~~~~~

Background:

Recently lost her family in an accident, a possible murder. Now suffers from a psychosomatic response from the trauma, developing itself as complete color and light blindness. Also suffers small scattered third degree burns on upper and lower arms, and back, which will heal into small burn scars, probably caused by flying embers hitting body. Does not seem to harm patient's self-image; healthy outlook on body. Appears to act completely emotionless if asked about event or blindness.

Personal note: Since her family was wealthy, and the deaths of said family are under suspicion of murder, it is believed that the criminal at large will try to kill Ms. Higurashi. Fortunately, an uncle has agreed to take on the role of legal guardian, and provide protection in such a case.

~~~~~

"Dr. Mitchell? When will I be released? And who is it that will I be released to?" Kagome's questioning voice breaks the doctor out of his reveries. Her brown, pupil-less eyes stare vacantly at a spot a few feet above and to the left of him.

'Well, her aim is at least better than it was yesterday.' He coughs lightly, and she 'looks' at a spot a few feet to the right of him. "Well, Kagome, since you were very fortunate in only suffering from smoke inhalation and some burns, you will be released a little bit later today. And your uncle from your father's side, a Mr. Edward Kayasuka, has agreed to take you in until you turn 21, when you will become your own independent woman."

"Uncle Eddie? I haven't seen him in such a long time! We used to play together during family functions, since he's my late father's only brother. When will I be able to see...meet him again?" Kagome's face suddenly falls again, and she raises a hand to cover her useless eyes.

There is an awkward pause where the doctor is unsure if Kagome will begin to cry, or if she expected him to answer. When the first didn't happen, he decided to answer. "He'll be here in an hour, so if you would please, begin to prepare yourself, and I'll have one of the nurses come help you dress." Dr. Mitchell nods his head in good-bye, and then remembers. "Uh...good-bye."

He leaves out the open door, making sure she hears the click of the hospital door closing behind him.

Once she is positive he's gone, Kagome warily steps out of her bed, waving her hands wildly about to make sure she doesn't bump herself into anything. She is able to make is to the foot of her bed with out banging into anything, but is startled by the sounds of talking between two nurses who enter carrying a duffel bag between them. "Oh! Who's there?"

"Uh, it's just two nurses, we were told to help you dress." Nurse One replies, slowly stepping forward until Kagome's outstretched hand meets her's. Nurse One gently leads Kagome to the other nurse's hand, and Kagome smiles brightly at where she thinks they are.

"Thank you! I was afraid that I might have to meet my favorite uncle with my shirt on backwards!" Kagome's laugh is infectious, and the nurses quickly catch it. Soon all three are talking and giggling like young girls, and they simply ignore the sound of the door opening slowly.

"Excuse me? Is this Kagome Higurashi's room? I'm Edward Kayasuka, I'm here to pick her up?" A young (27 years old, if you wanted to know exactly) man wearing a sharp, pleated black suit, a clean-shaven face, and a business-like hair cut gently taps on the door, peeking his head inside curiously.

"Uncle Eddie!" Kagome's voice holds happiness, and her face shows every emotion of relief and joy. She turns to meet him, wearing a simple, elegant, long sleeved black dress and low pumps.

"Kagome!" Edward moves swiftly into Kagome's open arms. He hugs her tightly, and kissed the top of her head. "I'm so sorry Kagome." He whispers softly into her ear.

Kagome can no longer hold in her tears, and sobs into his shoulder loudly. Edward hugs her tighter, and slowly moves her towards the hospital bed. With a quick nod, the two nurses leave, closing the door behind them. Edward sits Kagome on the bed, and Kagome slowly calms, her sobs eventually turning into sniffles. "I'm alright now. I'm sorry about that. I probably got your nice suit all wet, huh?"

"It's okay, you don't have to worry about it. It's not like I don't have other suits. Besides, you seemed like you needed a hug."

Kagome smiles slightly and nods her head, her long hair coming over her shoulders to cover her face.

The two sit quietly for a few minutes with each other, thinking quietly. Edward looks down on his expensive Swiss watch, and frowns. "Oh crap. Kagome, we have to go now. We're going to be late." He picks up her duffel bag, and takes her hand gently.

"Where are we going?" Kagome asks while he leads them outside, into the lobby.

Edward signs her out before answering, and thanks the doctors and nurses while they leave.

"Thank you!" Kagome calls out, waving happily as the elevator door closes.

"Good luck!" The friendly nurses call back, smiling in return to the blind girl's own smiles.