The Illusion of Safety

by RazorStormInc

The feudal era was violently dangerous. Although Kagome was used to the danger, she was always able to return home; Her retreat from the madness that had begun consuming her world. Then, out of the blue, a familiar threat invades her home and Kagome realizes that safety is a lie. An easily shattered illusion whose crooked shards will cut you deeper than any blade.

"Mother, I'm home!" A highly exhausted Kagome yelled as she walked in the door. It had been a stressful day. Inuyasha was for more demanding than usual. She quickly removed her shoes, eager to finally get some proper rest. Even better, the smell of her mother's cooking wafted through the house.

"Finally back? I was starting to worry. You've been gone far longer than usual." The kind voice of Higurashi Mikoto sounded from the kitchen, "Dinner is almost ready, so I hope you're hungry!"

"Oh, I am! Instant ramen and potato chips only get you so far." Kagome groaned as she entered the kitchen. She walked to her mother's side, staring dreamily into the pot of stew. Mikoto looked at her with an amused expression.

"Before you eat, you have a visitor waiting for you in your room." A visitor? Kagome hadn't been expecting anyone. She was never around to schedule sleepovers, anyways.

"I'm not expecting anyone, mother..." Kagome trailed off in uncertainty, slightly worried. Her life was so hellish that paranoia came naturally to her. "Do you know, who It is? If not, did this person give you their name?"

Mikoto's head turned towards Kagome in slight surprise. She hadn't even asked the stranger who he was. Her eyes widened a bit at her own carelessness before she responded, "No, Kagome, I don't... I think he must have come from the well, though."

The well? Kagome's mind started to race. Inuyahsa hadn't followed her through the well. No one else had been able to use the well in the first place. She was drawing blanks. Her mother wasn't near careless enough to simply allow someone into her home without so much as asking their name. The fact that she had done just that was worrying. This stranger must have preformed some form of spell. She was certain that whoever this guest was, He wasn't here for friendly conversation. With this in mind, Kagome made her next move, "Can you describe this person to me, mother?"

"Certainly, Kagome. He's a handsome young man. He has long, wavy black hair and the most beautiful scarlet eyes. His etiquette was perfect and he seemed agreeable enough. I could only assume that you knew him..."

And with this, Kagome's skin began to pale. The instant rush of stress caused her stomach to clench painfully. Tears stung at her eyes, her pupils shrinking into pinpricks. She had always felt safe and comfortable when she returned home, the horrors of the feudal era unable to reach her. But safety is a frail illusion that shatters as easily as glass.