A/N: Written for dokuga_contest's Weekly Perfection, theme 101 - Early. This piece was awarded joint fourth place.
Ghosts
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Kagome trudged sluggishly from her bedroom, down the stairs, and into the kitchen. Warm bands of sunlight streaked across the floors, and as she meandered her way toward the cupboards, a familiar furry body swerved in and out of her steps.
"Mornin', Buyo," she greeted with a tolerant smile and a long, tongue-curling yawn. Though the portly feline was getting on in years, he still followed her around the house, kept her company, and every morning as she prepared her first coffee of the day, Buyo stuck around for plenty of kitty cuddles.
Ever since her life had returned to normalcy, she welcomed the small comfort of companionable silence.
"You never need to know how I'm doing, do you?"
Buyo meowed.
Kagome sighed, shaking her head while she ruffled through the cupboards. Don't think about it, Kagome. It's too early in the day…
With a muted curse, she rose up on her tip toes in search of the elusive coffee beans. "Come on…don't tell me we're out!"
Her fingers brushed against the smooth, glass jar when a burst of youki pierced her consciousness like an arrow.
The breath rushed out of her, whistling.
Impossible…