Part 3: Kagome Goes Back
Grabbing her head, she shut her eyes, allowing her memories to keep replaying itself in her mind. She had remembered everything but she wasn't quite ready to handle the new information, like a child with their brand new toy, unsure of the functions. Unaware of herself, she was gently massaging her temples, thinking of the past sixteen years. Walking over to her door, she grabbed the knob, swung open her door and descended the carpeted stairs. Like a stranger in her own home, she grabbed the family picture and studied the faces. A smiling her was staring back at her, causing her grip on the picture frame to intensify. "I don't belong in this family. I don't think I ever did." Her eyes changed colors from brown to red as she glared around the house. Every trace of her ever being there was suddenly being erased as time kept moving forward. "That's right, these are all illusions. Soon, I as well will be forgotten and the well will seal up when I leave this place. Everything that ever belonged to me will also disappear as I abandon this house, I doubt the Higurashi's will even remember ever having a daughter." Glancing downwards, she saw the her in the family picture had also vanished, leaving her to wonder if she had ever been in the picture.
"It's time, I must get ready soon, they will be coming back." Rushing into her old room, she stopped when she saw everything in her room had also disappeared, leaving only her yellow bag full of its contents on the empty floor. "I see, so everything has already disappeared. All that is left is me, the me who doesn't belong here." Glad she didn't change her clothes before she slept, she grabbed her bag and walked out of the house, only pausing to turn and look back up at the house, remembering all the fun times and bidding her farewell. Turning, she came face to face with Mrs. Higurashi.
"Hi. Is there something we can do for you?" Mrs. Higurashi asked, a warm smile on her face.
"Mo- no, Mrs. Higurashi, I was just looking at the beautiful flowers you have. You must be quite an awesome gardener, the flowers have already bloomed." Kagome immediately realized she almost called her mom, despite the fact that she wasn't her mom.
"Thanks. I assume you got my name from the mailbox. Are you sure we haven't met before? You look awfully familiar, I just can't seem to put my finger on it."
Kagome immediately smiled, a fake smile, "Of course not! If we did, we would remember each other, don't you agree? It was nice to meet you, my name is Kagome. I have to leave now."
Grabbing her mom's hand, she shook it once and then took off, pretending to leave but needing to be out of sight for now. "That's strange, she looks very familiar. I almost have the feeling I've lost something very important. Hmm, Kagome huh? Nice name for a daughter." Mrs. Higurashi whispered to herself before turning and going into her house, unaware of the new changes.
Kagome quickly walked over to the well, sitting on top of the rim, she knew that this would be the last time she would ever see her home, her family and friends. "I'll miss you all, farewell." The blue light reached out to her as she jumped in, knowing that she would never use this well again and enjoying the experience while she had the chance. Landing on the other side, she forced her tears away and put on another fake smile, this time to see if the others would recognize her. When she climbed out of the well, she immediately ran to Kaede's hut. Inuyasha climbed out, followed by Shippo. Kagome stopped, afraid that the same reaction would happen as when she met her mom. "You're early. I thought you would be gone for at least another day. Well, welcome back anyways." Inuyasha grumbled, looking anywhere else but at her.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed before jumping on him, hugging him so hard he thought she had lost it. "I'm home, I really missed you guys." Sango and Miroku immediately came out and smiled, rejoicing in Kagome's safe return. No one but Kagome had noticed that her forehead now had a blue crescent moon adorning it.
They were seated around the fire, chatting about how things were in the feudal era when Kagome went home. Kagome as well told them about everything, and showed them her mark on her forehead as proof that she was the daughter of Akio, the lord of the north. "Then how come our memories weren't also erased? Shouldn't our memories and the things you left behind for us disappear as well?" Sango asked.
"I'm not sure. I want to visit my birth father. After all, he must have spent sixteen years without me and mom. What if he's waiting for me? I must go back, no, I have to go back. Mom would never have given me back my memories if she didn't want me to go back to him."
"I guess, but what about the shards Kagome? I mean, if you go there we all have to come along with you, there's no way friends would ever desert one another." Miroku said, looking at Kagome seriously before glancing over to Inuyasha.
"I'm ok with that, your father must miss you a lot." Shippo said, so low that only Kagome heard.
"Alright, fine. I'll go too, just be ready tomorrow." With that said, Inuyasha walked away to help them prepare for bed.
"Then it is decided, we will go tomorrow and see what fate has in store for us." Kagome whispered to herself, trying to tell herself that this was now her new reality. Falling asleep, she had more flashbacks replay in her mind than sleep itself.
Flashback:
"Dad what do you want in the future?" Kagome turned to face her dad. Akio who was laying beside her in the grass chuckled.
"What do I want? Well, the obvious, your mom, you and I to be living together in peace and happiness."
Kagome scrunched up her nose and said, "That's what all fathers are trained to say! Isn't there anything else that you would want?"
Akio laughed at his daughter's response. "How about you, young miss? What do you want in the future?"
"I want my dad and mom to be forever happy, no matter what happens! You will always have each other and me! Is there anything more to wish for?"
Akio laughed, smirking at his daughter he responded, "Very smart for your age. Nicely said! I agree."
"Then let's shake hands on it!" Turning over in the grass, both father and daughter pinky shook. Then Akio scooped her up into his arms and tickled her, Kagome counteracting and tickling her father as well. Up to the point where Midoriko stepped out to see what the laughter was about and found herself amused with the scene while leaning back on the goshinboku.
Unknown to the group, Kagome's forehead started to glow a light blue then a bracelet appeared on her wrist, a royal bracelet with the same symbol etched onto the middle piece, also glowing blue before both returned to normal, leaving only the fire burning while the group slept.
AN: Thanks to those who read and reviewed this story so far, and please continue to review the story!