Author's note: Hey, to the new readers, what's up? This story would have shot off in the middle of the animated series when the group was still searching for the jewel shards. The end of the animated series really isn't mentioned here.
To the old readers: as you know, this has been officially reposted and is to be finished. I would have kept it on the Fire 0 Raven account but since me and Raven broke up, she took everything with her. Now it's lost in oblivion. But I hope you found the new stuff. You won't have to read over the past chapters. They're just slightly revamped to make it flow better.
Tie it Even Tighter
Kagome grazed her fingertips lightly upon the fading scar that stretched from the edge of left shoulder top to her collar bone. The wound was old, but it still brought back memories that were so fresh she could nearly relive the moment. Memories she didn't want to have.
If she hadn't gone numb in the last few years then she would have refreshed tears brimming on her eyes, and trailing down her cheeks. But she wouldn't allow herself to cry for him anymore, to cry for what she'd lost. She needed to stay strong and go without tears to give new hope to her children.
Yes her children, she was a mother.
In fact, it wasn't just one child, it was four of them, quite resembling a litter.
There were a pair of identical girls, Meimi and Ko, that looked just like her. Younger six year old versions. They had long black hair to their hips, but mismatching eyes. One was light amber, the other was silver.
The other two weren't identical. Silky silver hair slipped down to their shoulders. Kawayou, her little boy had amber eyes, an exact replica of his father. Zel, her baby girl, had plain silver eyes and otherwise looked human. Her human ears were covered by her lengthy glossy black hair. Kagome's lips thinned as she thought about it. Zel was mute. She'd never say a word.
Kagome snatched her hand back like it burned when she heard the door open.
"Hey Souta, no one told me you were coming." Kagome said in her calmest voice possible at the moment, and stood up from her computer chair allowing it to roll away a little bit.
The older Souta certainly looked more like a man then a child now, even if he was so much younger than her.
His height stood just above his own. He caught her eyes through his square framed glasses perched on his nose. Hand running to rub his five-a-clock shadow cast over his face, Souta just looked tired.
"Don't worry, I told you kids not to bother to tell you, Zel got the door anyway." He leaned against the door frame, eyes straying to look over her workplace steadily.
A twinge struck her when he averted his vision. She wouldn't cry, but what would stop him from seeing the pain and hurt that still lived in her eyes. Busying herself she took the papers that recently came out of the printer stuffing them in the correct files.
"I know you may not want to talk to me Kagome, and I haven't seen you until recently. It wasn't my fault mother kicked you out, but you can't go on ignoring me forever." He stated standing up correctly reaching a hand out as if to soothe her.
"I know Souta, I'm sorry. It's not your fault." She stopped from what she was doing to give him a sorrowful look before she just left the files to follow him out of the room.
"I made coffee, come on." He led her to the tiny kitchen.
"Already? How long have you been here." She arched an eyebrow briefly glancing in the direction of Meimi and Ko who were pestering the cat.
"Awhile. You were in deep thought before. I didn't want to bother you." He made her pause so he could hand her the hot cup of caffeine and signaled for her to sit at the table.
"How is the rent, and job going?" He looked at her from over the rim of the cup.
"It's been better, and we might have to move again if I can't afford another's month rent. Being the secretary does have its down points you know." She took a quick sip savoring the taste. "But honestly Souta, did you travel thousands of miles just to ask me about the job and rent? You know I've been having problems." She added not waiting for an explanation as much as a straight answer.
"The reason I'm here to is give you an offer I doubt you'll refuse sis. Remember the old Sunset Shrine?"
Kagome nodded urging him to go on.
"Well since the will has been passed out, I now own it."
Kagome muttered something under her breath, and between sips that sounded like 'Go figure.'
"But since I already have plans of a different house, and am on my way to having the money, I have no desire to keep it. I'm offering you it." Kagome set her coffee on the table looking him hard in the eye while her mind raced over the sudden jumble of thoughts.
'That would bring back such bad memories, but I would no longer have to worry about rent so I could spend money getting real food for once.' Kagome's thoughts drifted to the kids.
Ever since her mother had kicked her out, she'd been having a hell of a time trying to find work that had a decent salary for her and four kids to live on. Even now she had to borrow from a bank, work more than one job, and cut back on half the things they needed yet to make ends meet. Living paycheck from paycheck didn't suit harmony very well.
"The land has no taxes as long as you keep it a shrine." Souta reminded her waiting impatiently for her decision as he gulped the remaining coffee.
Kagome broke eye contact blinking.
"I guess I could-"
"Great! Sign here." Souta whipped out a file of papers she hadn't even been aware he'd been holding, and slapped them in front of her.
He handed her a pen, and pointed out where her signature was needed.
Kagome hesitated for a moment. 'I don't care how I feel anymore, I need to do my best for the kids.' She mentally reminded herself firmly.
"Now, when can I move back?" She gave him a forced smile.
~*~*~
"Hey mom, what's that?" Kawayou leaned anxiously toward the window in the plane, and pointed to something out toward the endless blue.
"Probably a boat genius." Meimi leaned over the seat, her eyes darting all around.
"Out this far, you'd have to be insane!" Kawayou retorted growling at her.
"Unless it's a superhuman like that one you see in your dreams." Ko peered back at them through the seat crack.
They were in the back of the coach section. Kagome's fingers raced to rub her temple, the bickering of her children's voices growing louder and edging at her patience. She'd been glad she'd sat never to Zel who didn't inch from her spot. She played with a cross-stitch that Kagome had bought her earlier that month. Kagome regretted the fact that all over her children couldn't be so sedate when studying the intricate patterns and designs of the strings.
"It's true! But when he comes to the house, I won't show you." He said adding a snort, and looking toward the side. Kawayou was the only one who had to wear a hat to cover his dog ears. Both Ko, and Meimi had them as well yet they were black, and easily blended in with their hair.
"Calm down all of you!" She snapped at them in a more gentle way, dropping her hand to her lap.
Five hours on plane and the stupid engine was giving her a headache. She would have paid extra about now just to get in first class.
Kawayou was the only real one with advanced hearing, but he was fine with having a hat on which muffled most of the sounds. With how tight the cap was, Kagome was amazed that he could even hear them speak.
"Madam." A meek voice asked to the left at her.
"Kawayou close the window already, there is nothing but ocean. Ko, Meimi sit forward! Do you have your seat belt on?" Kagome barked orders at her young ones totally oblivious to the flight attendant.
Zel gave a tug at her mother's shirt looking back between her, and the flight attendant.
Kagome ignored this, and leaned forward to flick Ko's nose when she shoved her head back.
"Stop that before it gets stuck." She ordered.
"Mom." Kawayou's voice muttered.
"Madame." The attendant said again trying to gain the women's attention.
"Ko, show your sister how to put the seat belt on! Make sure it's on the right hook."
"Mom!" Kawayou's voice sounded again louder this time.
Zel gave another sharp tug until Kagome quickly turned on them.
"What?" She'd raised her voice.
"Madame, I came to tell you we'll be landing in an hour. Would you like something to drink?" Kagome flipped around in state of shock, her heart ramming in her chest.
'I'm surprised she doesn't throw us out for misbehavior...' Kagome gave a smile and nodded.
"I'll have anything without caffeine. They'll all have coke, except Zel." Kagome threw a thumb over to point at Zel. "She'd like whatever I'm having. Always does."
The waitress nodded pulling out the soda's.
"How cute, are they twins?"
"Of course." Kagome took the two cups of coke, and passed it up to the girls.
"What about the silver hair, what is that?" The waitress looked her children, confusion furrowing her brow.
"Uh...hair die....temporary, it was for a....Halloween party." Kagome tried to remember how to articulate correctly. She'd been asked this so many times before, and most of the time she didn't have a problem rattling off "genetic disorder" or "hair dye." Her mind had been so lost in thought that the sudden inquiry caused her thoughts slam back in order and jumble.
Catching herself, she almost pinched her nose, and let out a quick breath.
'Please have this lady just LEAVE'
The waitress handed them the last coke for Kawayou.
"But Halloween isn't for a month." The waitress raised her eyebrows so high they disappeared behind her brown bangs.
"Yeah," She paused for a second, "test run…"
Kagome's eyebrows twitched, and she could feel Kawayou shuddering as he snickered from there.
"Really? Sprint fine? Caffeine free." The waitress pulled out two cans.
Kagome just nodded.
"Yeah, well I used to do the same thing, dye my hair gold. I swear I used to want to be rare with blonde hair, and blue eyes. But that's something you gotta be born with ya know. Otherwise you end up looking off. Thank the lord for those month dyes."
The waitress went on rambling before she pushed the cart away.
Kagome leaned back, flexing her hands that cramped with the anxiety.
"Some people don't know when to go away huh mom." Kawayou laughed aloud now.
Zel shook her head, and the other girls didn't comment.
"An hour, this is going to be a LONG, annoying trip." Kagome leaned back in a chair, only an hour and a half more from her real home. One she'd left so long ago.