Three months Later~

Three months had passed since my return home. Somedays it felt like years almost like my whole time in the feudal era had been a dream. Somedays it felt like it was just yesterday. But it was no longer spring it was the middle of summer, Japan during summer was so lively. There was the beach, the pool, the amusement parks, the cram classes and so much more. 'Even though life in the modern era wasn't always as great as I had remembered. The stars had been replaced with city lights, due to growing cities. Clean air had became rare due to growing number of factories, use of vehicles and machines. Strangers were no longer compassionate or trusting to all. Resources that had been taken for granite were now highly valuable. Resources like clean water, wood for homes and land. Luxuries once highly valued were now taken for granite. Luxuries like hygiene, food, reliable medicine and education. Still I'm sure I prefer the modern era, afterall I was born here, I was raised here, I belong here.'

I had been staring at my reflection so long and with my mind being elsewhere, I felt as though I blind. I frowned at the stranger staring back at me. The stranger was me, but sometimes it was hard to believe. Not long after coming back I told my friends that Inuyasha and I were over and that my unknown illness was cured. They begged me to get a makeover and even said they would pay for it. Their exact words were "Let's celebrate the new you with a new look!" Yuka had been very convincing "Come on it's like being reborn, your health is better so your not the isolated sick Kagome anymore. You also left Inuyasha, that's a huge step. Your way independent now! Wash away the old you with a makeover and start over!" I went to the salon and let them pick my new hair style. They of course chose one of the hottest new look, they called it caramel ombre and they had the stylist layer my hair. Ayame showed me how to do my make-up. I'd never worn any before and so I didn't really know what to buy or what to do with it. I admit they did a great job, I looked different.

'Normal' I corrected myself.

I looked down at my uniform checking for any dress code violations. None. A navy blue t-shirt that didn't flatter my figure at all, it made me look like a brick. Suddenly I wondered when did I become so vain. Deciding not to think about it too much, I shrugged and adjusted my name tag. My hair was pulled back in a low ponytail and I wore grey skinny jeans. Opening the door I entered the dingy grey stockroom. Staring at the old punch card machine that constantly wore dust. I scanned the cards up and down, until I found my card. 'Higurashi Kagome,' I grabbed it and clocked in. Going to register two I turned on my light and typed in the last four of my social on the computer. The annoying little tune echoed allowing all to know my lane was open. My shift passed by like any other, customer after customer bringing forth their grocery and household items. Some meaningless small talk here and there, just another way to pass my six hour long shift. Seven pm and my shift was over, I was free to enjoy the evening. Checking my new phone I smiled at the text I received.

From: Yuka

To: Kagome

Breakfast for Dinner? Eri and Ayame are going. Ma and Pa's Dinner 9:00pm.

I went to the bus stop and waited for fifteen minutes. The bus that drops me off a block from my house, every day. I walked on the sidewalk that passed right by my house. I wasted no time in marching up the stone steps to my house. Crossing the courtyard I noticed gramps and Souta wandering around looking lost. A smile grew on my lips "What are you guys doing?" Gramps now had to use his cane everywhere and he didn't do nearly as many chores as he used too. Souta smiled and pointed "Gramps yelled at Buyo for eating one of his dried Yokai parts."

"Those are ancient artifacts!"

"Were," Souta corrected his grandfather. His hair was tied tight into a tradional low ponytail. Two and a half years had changed him some, giving him snow white hair rather than his former grey. His wrinkles had doubled and become deeper, his eyes a bit more dull. His appearance reminded me of how quickly time could change things. Mom had grew her own wrinkles and Souta also became taller in that time. 'I wonder if I changed? They said I hadn't, but I feel like I did. I probably changed more internally than I had physically. But my calloused fingers and strenght were physical changes.

"So Buyo's lost again and you two are trying to find him?"

The two agreed and resumed their search. 'Buyo my brave cat of destiny started it all.' I smiled and looked up at the two and asked, "Have you checked the well?" The two looked at each other as in surprise, confirming my assumption, 'That's a no.' Taking charge I marched toward the wooden house, I had avoided for nearly a month. Plastered all over the doors and sides were sealing sutras of my own making. A few sutras were gramps, I had taught him how to make proper sutras. Since my return I had spent a few afternoons with each member of my family, trying to make up for lost time I suppose. I would spend Sunday and Wednesday afternoons with gramps, teaching him about our family's roots and how to properly utilize our powers. I also told him stories of real yokai and our adventures. He often told me that I should write down my past adventures and make book. He said it would surely be a bestseller. Tuesday and Saturday afternoons belonged to mom. We watched movies curled up on the couch, traded tried new recipes, she would help with my homeschooling and go we'd sometimes go shopping. Monday and Thursday afternoons I spent with Souta. He too liked my stories and so I shared some with him, We'd play soccer on the courtyard, we'd played mortal combat on his playstation and sometimes just watched cartoons. Friday afternoons were mine and as selfish as this sounds, it was my day. I spent it in my sweatpants, with my uncombed, snacking on junk food and watching tv or I'd have a girl's day.

Pulling aside the well house door I couldn't help but cough and wonder how so much dust was produced from just three months. Taking a deep breath I prayed that nothing would happen. 'I never want this well to work again.' Watching my feet I carefully descended the old rickey steps. Each step I took I feared it would break beneath me. I rationalized that, that shouldn't happen. I didn't weight that much. Coming to the bottom of the steps, I felt relief. 'I didn't fall.' A soft mew cut through the silence. The first mew was followed by another and another, before a loud familiar meow followed.

"Buyo?"

A scutter came from under the steps. It was so dark I couldn't see anything, 'Buyo?' Relying on my hearing I got on my hands and knees and crawled behind the steps. Still I could not see "Souta get a candle!"

"A candle?"

"Oh… A… A flashlight! Get a flashlight!"

I waited nervously as the scurrying came from all directions.

"HERE!" A loud bang followed soon after and even echoed. I glared up at my brother's silhouette "HEY! You could have hit me!" Souta crossed his arms and looked away "Ya, but I didn't!" I couldn't help but roll my eyes. He had looked up to Inuyasha so much and now he was beginning to act like him. I grabbed the flashlight by the well and switched it on. The bright light cut through the darkness. Shining the light under the stairs I was surprised to see nothing. Scanning the area between the stairs and the left corner I was surprised even more by a small kitten. 'Did Buyo shrink? Do cat's shrink when they grow old. Some people do. But do cats?' Reaching out I grabbed the small calico puff ball and hugged it to my body. It mewed softly I looked up and smiled "Gramps! Souta! It's baby Buyo!"

''What?!" The two screamed in unison. Using the flashlight to cut through the darkness that laid between the left corner and the next corner. One figure ran from the light while another chased it. The figure in the light match the fur ball in her had, they were nearly identical. "Another kitten! I think Buyo had kittens!"

"Impossible!" Gramps screamed. Souta climbed down the stairs a huge smile grew on his face. He walked up to me and held out his hands "Can I hold Buyo Junior?" Carefully I handed the kitten to my brother, "Souta be ready. We can't leave them here. I'll grab them and hand them to you."

I managed to grab two more. Thing cute little calico puffs had tiny sharp teeth and claws, which they began to use on me. One bit my hand, while the other began to scratch my palm with it's back feet. Smiling in pain I turned and handed them both to Souta, "Don't drop them." He noticed my expression and held out this arms nervously. Now juggling three feisty kittens he yelled up at Gramps "Gramps get mom and a box!" The old man did just that as he did you could hear him mumbling to himself, "Buyo is a boy! Kittens? How could this happen?" Souta was wiggling around trying to keep all the kittens in his safe embrace, he was near his limits. Knowing his limits he ran up the stairs and yelled "I'm going to the house!" I was alone in the well house, just me and hopefully Buyo, somewhere in the darkness. A smile rose on my lips when my flashlight touched something white, orange and black. 'Can't be a koi fish! Gotta be Buyo! Oh I'm going to name one of the kittens that.' The fat lazy cat jumped from my beam of light and back into the darkness. I scanned the floor, corner to corner 'To be honest he could be a girl, I mean we got him from a cousin whose daughter became allergic. They told us he had all his shots, was fixed and was a boy. I'm beginning to think they lied. I think we should take him to the vet tomorrow and the kittens. I'll talk to mom and gramps, but I'm sure they already made an appointment.'

I raised the flash light a little higher and a little higher, 'nowhere down here? I didn't hear him go up the steps. Where could he have go-. The well!' Shining my light on the rim of the well I finally found the fat cat! Using my firmest most authoritative voice "Don't you dare!" He glared at me his ears back, his head low and his tail twitching back and forth. I glared back the two of us were at a stand still, neither making a move. This feeling reminded me of battle. Taking all my current irritation and burying it deep inside I pulled out my baby voice and began to bargain.

"Buyo. Buyo, who is the best kitty in the whole wide world? You are. Yes you are. Want a fish? I'll get you some sushi if you come down." A low growl was all I got in response. 'Okay, new strategy.' I took a slow step forward as I bargained again "Want some dried nimp? You loved it last time. Come here. Come here you, you stupid little fat cat." I lunged at him dropping the flash light, my arms closed around something squishy 'Got him!' My internal celebration was short lived as the ground beneath me disappeared. I felt weightless as though I were flying. Dim light became absolute darkness as Buyo and I find ourselves diving face first down the well, 'Not again.'