DISCLAIMER: I don't own Inuyasha, or any other of Rumiko Takahashi's characters.
Chapter One: Leaving
"America?"
InuYasha laughed, "Yea man! It's the final frontier!"
"Yea but, wow…hey isn't space supposed to be the 'final frontier'?" Kouga questioned. InuYasha laughed again.
They walked at a steady pace down the foot of the mountain as they descended Mt. Fuji. Kouga had his hair pulled into a high ponytail and sported a sweatband. InuYasha had his waist-length silver hair pulled back too, but not as high as Kouga's.
Both were fairly muscular, but not to the extreme. That's what happened though, when you spent a majority of your free time outdoors, mountain climbing, kayaking, hiking and swimming.
"Besides," InuYasha stated, "Sesshomaru lives there, I haven't seen him in a couple years. Plus, I really need a change. It feels like my life has gotten really monotonous."
"You know any routine you get into will end up being that way." Kouga always liked to point out the obvious. He took a drink from his canteen. A wolf charm hung from his thick leather bracelet.
"I know, I just need to change life, I'm bored with mine."
Realizing his mistake, InuYasha turned to his friend, hands up in apology, "don't get me wrong though, we have fun, I like our outings! It's just…how many times have we been here? We've done everything I can think of, some of it more than once, and Japan's only so big. I need new adventures."
"No I understand. I'd love to go with you. You know we'd tear the country side up, it'd be awesome." Kouga muttered sounding defeated.
"Yea, I wish your company would transfer you. That really sucks."
"Eh, shit happens. So, you're leaving for this life of new adventures and experiences soon then?" Kouga asked, trying to turn the subject from its downward slope.
"In a week or two? Maybe?" InuYasha's answer coming out like a question since, though he knew he should have, he still hadn't booked his flight.
"Well, may I suggest we do as much as we can before your grand departure?"
"That sounds like a great idea Oh Wise One." InuYasha agreed.
"You know," Kouga started, looking down, mashing his lips together, "I'm really gonna miss you, I-" he cut himself short, faking some sniffles.
InuYasha raised an eyebrow at him, suspicion creeping up.
"I LOVE YOU INUYASHA!" Kouga yelled, lunging at InuYasha trying to kiss his face.
"Oh GOD man! Get off me!" InuYasha said fighting him off. Kouga burst into laughter as InuYasha continued to fight out of his grasp. "Freak." InuYasha called, after finally being released.
"Yeah I know, but," Kouga sighed, "its probably better this way, you know, I've been cheating on you Inu…I'm sorry…but you're just not enough for me."
InuYasha just rolled his eyes, smiling, "yea, I'm leaving 'cause you've been stepping out on me. Asshole."
Kouga smiled too, "I really will miss you though, kind of, it's just not gonna be the same."
"Oh come on, don't get all girly on me. You'll be fine. Plus if you ever decide to leave your job, there's plenty of mountains and snow in America." InuYasha offered.
"True," Kouga nodded, "hey, I'm seriously hungry. We should get some food."
InuYasha noticed the sudden change in subject but went with it. He was in need of a distraction. The more he thought about leaving behind everything he knew, the more anxious he got about it. And he was never one to back down from adventure.
They took the train back to their homes near Tokyo so they could take showers and get on with their night.
Having decided to celebrate the move instead of dread it, InuYasha and Kouga went to one of the local hotspots for shots of sake and loud music. Kouga danced with girls, InuYasha sat at their table and laughed as his friend made a fool of himself.
InuYasha wasn't one to dance with strangers…especially not this kind of dancing. He had past girlfriends before who had brought him to these places, not that there were many. But dancing like this with strangers never made him quite comfortable.
It was a good thing Kouga didn't have to work the next day since by the time InuYasha dragged him home he was sufficiently trashed. InuYasha figured he'd give his friend a day before hounding him about last minute plans and Kouga maybe helping him pack.
Regardless of his late ticket purchase, InuYasha had started packing already. There were things he would need to bring with him that couldn't be left at the house, so there were already a number of boxes that were due to be shipped to the U.S. (priority with extra care and insurance.)
He wasn't leaving his house totally unprepared for his move though. He met Kouga there a couple days after the Mt. Fuji climb so he could help put sheets on all of the furniture. There certainly was never the option of selling the house, it had been in his family for longer than he or his brother was alive.
Having made sure that extra night-watch security would be available, he felt comfortable with his all-but-abandonment of the family home. Kouga had connections with local papers and had to make sure there would be no news story about the last of the western-region royalty leaving Japan. The family did manage to round up enemies, so the house couldn't be left unguarded and open to public destruction.
The rest of the week had gone by fairly quickly. InuYasha had decided to keep his remaining time to two weeks. They had gone to see every new movie and took a couple trips they'd only made once before.
He made Kouga remind him to call Sesshomaru and have him find a nice apartment; he refused to live with his brother.
Not that they weren't on good terms, not at all, the brotherly love was all there. It was more of a self-pride thing, InuYasha needed to be independent. Well, as independent as one could be with not having to work for the rest of his life as the family fortune hid in the background.
Knowing his brother, though, InuYasha figured that finding an apartment would be all his brother would do for him, he'd end up having to find furniture after he got there.
Sesshomaru would say he refused to do everything for his brother, however, InuYasha had the feeling that Sesshomaru just liked to irritate him sometimes.
The night before InuYasha left, he entered Kouga's house to a surprise going-away party. Kouga had gotten his friend Yura to help him coordinate.
Yura was ok, but she kind of got on InuYasha's nerves. She had always liked InuYasha's hair, so naturally, she would touch it whenever she got the chance; InuYasha didn't like to be touched, at least not as much as Yura insisted upon touching him.
The hours passed and were filled with goodbyes and good-times stories. Finally, tired and drunk, people either passed out or went home and InuYasha retreated to his house with arms full of gifts. He stored the ones he could live without in a closet and put a couple he thought would be good to bring with him in his carry-on bag.
"Who knows, maybe America will make you crazy and you'll dye your hair black again… I think you actually liked it, I know Kikyo did."
"Oh God, of course you would bring up that crazy bitch. What's wrong with you? Like I don't have enough to think about with this move you have to add nightmares into the only sleep I'll get?" InuYasha refused to be irritated with his friend in their last moments in the same country, but Kouga was making it difficult.
"I didn't actually like it that much. It's not like I kept it black for very long anyway, my hair wouldn't even hold the dye." InuYasha continued.
"I know, I know. You know I'm just tryin' to get a rise out of you."
"Keh, I'm not mad."
Kouga was silent for a moment. "So, you're gonna take a second flight?"
"Yea," InuYasha confirmed, "to Seattle Washington, that's where Sesshomaru lives. I've heard it's a great city, 'full of life', or so I'm told. Plus there are mountains and that's always a good addition to any new adventure."
"True"
'NOW BOARDING, FIRST CLASS AND BUSINESS CLASS PASSENGERS FOR FLIGHT 732 TO CALIFONIA'
Kouga looked at InuYasha, "I'm not gonna say goodbye…I'm not gonna get all weepy either. So, I'll see you later."
"Yea, see you later." InuYasha smiled. "It's a good thing you're not gonna cry, I forgot to bring the tissues…plus I'd rather leave pretending that I do know you, instead of having to run from you like the plague."
"Haha, very funny," Kouga said taking a step toward InuYasha. They embraced for a moment and stepped away before either of them could get publically emotional. For both, this was like losing a brother.
InuYasha rounded the hallway to the large Boeing 777 giving a last wave to his friend. Mentally preparing himself for the next half day in a single aircraft, it didn't matter that he always rode business class, he always felt trapped after a while; this was to be the longest flight he'd ever been on… it was bound to be bad for him by the time they landed.
Once his plane was leaving the runway he looked out of his window. Taking one last look at the familiar landscape below him he sighed,
"Well America, here I come."
K-POV
Six months later…
12:15 - Higurashi residence
I looked around my house one last time, I couldn't stand the feeling I got just being there.
Their funeral was just a month ago and I'd cried myself to sleep every night since. Of course, I would leave the house as often as possible, but since I still had my brother Souta, I would inevitably come back every night as moral support for him. We needed each other more now than ever in the wake of our parents' death.
He didn't cry anymore, he'd stopped about two weeks earlier. The house had been willed to him so he had come to grips with his new responsibility. He had to work more to pay the insurance as well as his car and its insurance and gas, the house itself was paid off of course; its been in our family for generations.
Plus our grandfather was still there, being a recluse though, in light of having outlived his daughter. He avoided me. I figured it was because he saw too much of our mother to look at me often. Honestly though, I hadn't looked at myself in a while either in fear of equal torment.
I'd been mulling over the idea of leaving for good since the day after the funeral. I had done my research too, entertaining the idea of actually doing it. I had looked for places to start over, places to forget, places to heal without constant reminders acting as salt in an ever-present wound. An escape I guess.
Places, I remembered while researching, that my mother and I had often dreamed of vacationing on a road trip. We had mapped out all the places we would visit; taped pictures of snow-covered mountains and farm fields in Sapporo, Maiko-san and Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, Gembaku Domu in Hiroshima.
A new wave of torture ripped through my chest at the memory and I cringed. It was still too hard for me to remember, I usually avoided it all together if I could. I hadn't meant to do it just then either.
'Shit' I thought, trying to hold back, but failing miserably as a dry sob escaped. 'I've got to get out of here'
Turning away, I picked up my two suit cases and duffel bag and walked out to Ayumi's car. She had been waiting, but wasn't about to be impatient. I smiled sadly to myself, I would miss her so much.
I'd talked to Souta about this moment, and we had decided it was best for both of us that I leave while he was at work.
I still left a note though, promising I'd call as soon as I new where I was going for sure, wishing him love and happiness and hoping it wasn't too long before we saw each other again.
We were a little surprised earlier when our grandfather had left the safety of his bedroom sanctuary to with me well, tell me loved me and that he was sorry about his neglect.
I certainly hadn't thought ill of him for it, I understood all too completely. It was, of course, the same reason I was leaving; it was just too hard to face the family.
It was like having an entire body, whose lungs and beating heart had been suddenly ripped out; the limbs ceased to mean anything separately, there was no movement, no interaction with other limbs. The center and soul of the family had been taken away and now none of us knew how to function together.
"So," Ayumi said cautiously, bringing me out of my thoughts, "have you decided where you're going?"
"Honestly I still haven't chosen, there are so many states to pick from. I guess I'll stay at a motel until I make a decision." I finally looked over at my friend. "Really I don't know what my problem is, I have narrowed my choices down, and it's not like I can't change my mind later right?"
"Right," Ayumi replied, her voice cracking a bit.
I looked down, fighting back tears of my own. Lord knows, I had seemed to acquire and unbounded resource of them.
"Ayumi, you could come with me you know, it's not like you still live with your parents."
"I know. Hah, I really don't think they're handling my being another district away let alone the idea of another continent!" I noticed Ayumi's smile falter, "Are you sure though Kagome? I mean, America? It's so far, and their time zone is what, thirteen hours behind us at best? When will we talk?"
"Yea, I need to get as far away from here as soon as possible." I said more desperately than I had intended, looking back at her. I could see Ayumi's eyes threatening to spill tears. "Ayumi…"
"I'm fine, I'm fine! Heh, Don't worry about me!" Ayumi said quickly trying to sound upbeat.
We pulled up to the restaurant 'Fugetsu' where we were meeting Eri and Yuka. Both girls stood up from their bench while Ayumi and I walked up. I hugged them each tightly before we entered.
"What time is your flight? Where are you landing?" Yuka asked. Good thing I was so thorough, I knew they'd never let up with these questions until they had my every move memorized. I loved them for it. They truly were the best friends a girl could ask for.
"I was going to take a 4:10 flight to Texas, but I need more time with you guys before I go, so I'm taking the 6:35 flight. I figured we could go see a movie after lunch. There's a showing of one of the new movies at 3:15, so I guess that'll give me enough time. I doubt the movie will be three hours and something long. So, I guess we can go to the airport after that…I'll still need to check in and everything."
"Sounds like a plan." Eri said, sounding pleased, as a small woman came over to direct us to our table. "Which one's Texas?"
"It's the big one right above Mexico, Eri." Yuka answered rolling her eyes as though every one should be as well informed of the American states as she was.
Well really, we were both well informed. We were in the same American Studies class and top of our class. Once I barely passed middle school I decided that maybe I'd be better off not insisting on being outside all the time and I spent more time studying, good thing I did too or I'd never be in a position to leave now, when I so desperately needed it.
5:45 – Tokyo Narita Airport
Ayumi and Eri had an arm over each other now while I hugged Yuka again officially ending my second round of farewells. It was clear we'd all been crying.
"I love you guys so much. I swear we'll see each other again. You guys should definitely come see me when you get out of college, before the career path starts, I already know Japan and you guys will need some first hand education on America!"
I had been fortunate enough to graduate early, but my friends were still in their last year of University.
"Definitely," Yuki shook in my arms, choking back another sob.
Once I released her and went through gate security, looking back at them one last time before rounding the corner, I waved at them sadly. When I found my gate I sat down to wait until my flight.
I opened my check-bag and pulled out one of the gifts my friends had given me at the restaurant; a journal Eri had given me so she could document my new life from the beginning. Yuka had given me a picture frame that was actually several picture frames put together, each of which held a picture of the four of them on their favorite adventures.
Ayumi, however, had given me my gift bag in the car on the way to the others. "So they don't feel bad about their gifts." she'd laughed. It was filled with a variety of things; a large detailed map of the U.S, How to Drive on the Other Side, a manual she had hand written on how to cope while driving on the opposite side of the highway (complete with hand-drawn illustrations), a handful of rolls of film for my camera and a picture of herself with her autograph; "Incase I make it big in Theater." she'd said.
I had laughed at that, I knew Ayumi wanted to be in theater arts. Hoping Ayumi did make it big; I had put the autograph behind one of the pictures in Yuka's frame.
'Just in case'
Putting my pen to the first line in the journal, I thought for a second and started;
'Well America, here I come.'
I stood in the middle of a forest, the slight breeze brushing my face. I wondered briefly where I was before deciding I was probably in the woods near my house, this tree looked familiar. I started walking what I somehow knew was north, I didn't have a compass. Strange, it just felt like I was going north.
Out of nowhere I heard this hiss that sent a chill up my spine and choked my air supply. I stopped dead in my tracks and looked behind me as a head of purplish-silver hair appeared…only it was followed by the most horrifying creature I'd ever seen.
The thing had the semblance of a snake, only with a human face and two arms, if you could call them arms; they looked like the larger halves of razor sharp crab claws. The whole creature was white and its spine stick out in a sickening way.
I ran, no, I sprinted, as fast as I could. Maybe 30 seconds… 10 minutes, maybe an hour, how long had I been running? I wasn't even gapping the space between us. I looked frantically around me, for the safety of my home before I realized I couldn't go home, I couldn't bring this thing to my family!
I started to cry while tearing through a field. I brought my sleeve up to wipe my face and noticed for the first time, that I had on a white haori. I didn't own a haori, what the hell? I looked at my other arm; I guess just to make sure they were both lying to me, but then noticed I was holding a bow and a single arrow. What the hell again?
In my confusion, I tripped over a root that had grown up from the ground. I recovered quickly when I heard a shrill victory cry from the demon behind me. Before I even had time to think I threw myself over on my back, deftly knocked the arrow and fired at the thing like I'd been doing it for years.
Hit. I got it! I actually fired an arrow and got it! I heard people cheering in the distance. I didn't wait for long before they converged upon me, shaking my hand and raising me up. They brought me to an elderly gentleman who I assumed was the leader of their village and sat me before him. He appraised me for a moment before speaking.
'Thank you for flying with United Airlines and welcome to California'
Huh?
I was startled awake as the wheels of the plane landed on the runway. It took me a couple seconds to recover before I realized suddenly that the announcement hadn't been a dream… it made me very anxious.
