The summer sun had been high in the sky for a few hours now, Mrs. Higurashi rushing around for all of them. Her guests would be arriving any minute now, and her nerves were getting the better of her. With a huge sigh, she surveyed the house, making sure everything was in its place and that there wasn't a speck of dust in sight. Though, in the end, it wouldn't matter much, once her guests had ended their stay her house would be a mess once again. Before she knew it she heard the Knock! Knock! Knock! at the door.
Mrs. Higuarashi hurried to the door, throwing her apron over into the kitchen and quickly wiping the dust off of her dress. She stopped at the door, composed herself with a deep breath and put on a smile. Slowly she opened the front door.
"Nee-chan!" her sister exclaimed excitedly as she quickly embraced her, her bags lying forgotten on the steps.
"Oh, it's so good to see you!" Mrs. Higurashi replied, hugging her sister back. Kids edged around the woman in the doorway, twin boys running over to Souta and proudly presenting a video game to the boy.
A little girl, four years old, ran up to where she knew her favorite cousin would be, her pigtails, which were fastened by two pink bows, were bouncing up and down just as she was. All the while the rest of the family poured in.
Mrs. Higurashi welcomed her sister's husband, telling everyone to come into the kitchen for some tea and snacks. Her father and mother in law came in next, the elder man going over to talk to Mrs. Higurashi's father about the golf tournaments that had taken place the previous weekend. Both suspected foul play in the second to last shot, because there was no way that such a small hit could send the ball rocketing all the way through the air and into the hole. A teenage boy and girl came in shortly after, their parents following closely behind them.
The girl had her arms crossed, looking around the shrine in disdain, while the boy ran to find his cousins. The parents of the teens set their luggage on the ground with everyone else's- clogging up the entryway- and went to join the other adults for tea.
The teenage girl rolled her eyes, and with a mutter about how "This is stupid." she made her way to the living room where she plopped down on the couch and started to flip through the TV channels.
A second later the four-year-old girl came totting down the stairs, tears building up in her adorable little brown eyes as she clutched her teddy bear to her chest. She tripped a little before taking off into a run to the kitchen.
Mrs. Higurashi turned as she was serving tea, and the smile she had been sporting dropped. "Akira sweetie, what's wrong?" she asked kindly, holding her arms out to the little girl.
Akira huddled into the woman's warm embrace, sniffling. "K-kagome is gone!"
"Oh, I'm sorry dear! I forgot to tell you," suddenly Mrs. Higurashi was nervous. After all her preparing she had forgotten to make up a story that excused Kagome's absence. "You see, Kagome is out right now, but she'll be back." She thought that it be better to be vague and still sort of telling the truth than to make up an elaborate story that could be completely false as to her daughters time of return.
"Oh. When will she be returning, sis?"
Mrs. Higurashi looked over at her sister, who was older than her by two years. "Soon" she nodded. "Would anyone like some sugar in their tea?"
AN: Hello everyone! It has been such a long time! My life has been crazy and college has taken up my life but I have returned. :) This story is one that I have loved since the first time I've read it. This is a Re-write of "The Family Dog" by Darksknight, who gave me permission to re-write and complete the story! I am so excited to share this with all of you and to see where this story goes. Please R&R and tell me what you think! :)