Clouded Memories

Birthday Gift

Kagome rummaged through her closet, throwing clothes ever which way. Today was a special day. She was finally turning 12, now catching up to her classmates who've been 12 for a while. She hated being the youngest out of everyone but at least she's the oldest sister in the house. She continued to go through her closet but none of the dresses seemed to fit the occasion.
"Kagome! We have a surprise for you!" she heard her mother yell from the stairs.
"Hai!" Kagome yelled back. She pushed the big pile of clothes aside and ran down the stairs to see her surprise.
"Your grandfather and I couldn't wait to give this to you and from all the noise coming from upstairs, I figured you couldn't find something to wear so," Mrs. Higurashi reached into a bright pink bag and pulled out the most gorgeous dress Kagome had ever seen. It was the prettiest colour of light pink and had short, ruffled cotton sleeves with a white, ruffled long skirt and a bow to match on the upper-left part of the chest.
"I loved that dress and wore it any chance that I could. I have it stored somewhere in my apartment. I think this was the best party, other than my 16th that I had and I think it was because of him.." Kagome sighed and glared back at the screen.
"Mama! It's gorgeous!" Kagome awed. She grabbed it from her mother and ran to the hall mirror to get a better glance at it.
"I'm glad you like it! Go thank your grandfather..he picked it out actually." Mrs. Higurashi giggled.
"Thanks Jii-chan! It's just too lovely! You did a great job at picking it out. I'm going to go put it on." She kissed her mother on the cheek and hugged her grandfather before running back up the marble staircase to try on the new dress.
"I'm glad she likes it. It was the last one." Her mother went back into the kitchen to finish preparing for the party.
"She better like it. It was expensive. By the way, are any boys coming to this party?" his eyes narrowed in on the now nervous Mother.
"Um..just a few from her class and InuYasha. Kagome often talks fondly of him.." A smile crept over her face as she frosted the birthday cake.
"Why-" he started to walk up the stairs and give Kagome a lesson but Mrs. Higurashi interrupted.
"Oh Jii-chan! Lighten up. Come here and help me put this in the fridge." He sighed and walked back to the kitchen, almost dropping the side of the cake he had in his hand.
Kagome hummed a few lines of the melody playing out of her music box. The tiny ballerina danced around and around, always in the same pose. Kagome sat down on the petite stool and stared at her reflection in the big mirror attached to her white vanity.
"I hope InuYasha gets to come, Little Ballerina. He promised he would, even after I told him the theme was "Costume Dress-up" I hope that didn't run him away or anything.."
She picked up her hairbrush and gently brushed her hair, every curl becoming a straight hair.
Kami-sama paused it and gave a casual look at Kagome," Costume Dress-up? Really?"
"I was 11-12..you know! I was in the 6th grade, give me a break! My 16th was a better one! And I'm pretty sure you enjoyed that entertainment.." Kagome smirked.
Kami-sama laughed and quickly started the clip again.
Kagome had already had everything planned out. The festivities, games, and the songs in which order they should play. She would, of course, be a princess.
"It's almost time for everyone to start coming. I hope all of this doesn't scare him away.." She picked up the crystal crown from the vanity and placed it on top of her head.
"Let's go." she stood up from the stool and gracefully walked out of her room and down the stairs.
"You look beautiful Kagome-chan!" Her mother ran over and gave Kagome a big hug.
"Too beautiful..maybe we should think about that refund that store clerk was talking about.."
"Oh Jii-chan! I love this dress too much for you to take it back!" Just at that time the doorbell rang.
"It must be Sango! She's always been the first at every birthday. COMING!" Mrs. Higurashi quickly ran to the front door.
"Sango! I love your costume!"
"Thank you Mrs. Higurashi. Where is the birthday girl? I have her present.." Sango jiggled the box she was holding and ran inside to see Princess Kagome.
"Now we are matching! Thanks for agreeing to be my sister. I love your hennin!"
"It was fun putting this outfit together! Can I see the decorations?"
"Sure!" Kagome pulled Sango out of the foyer, past the living room, and into the family room. It was very nicely decorated. A big sign that read 'Happy 12th Kagome-chan!' hung from the upstairs balcony, several purple glittered stars hung down from the ceiling, and the stero was all ready to play some music.
"It's very nice to the eyes. Your parties are always the best!" Sango hugged Kagome and walked over to place the present on the table. Both girls heard the doorbell ring again and soon they saw Rin, dressed up as a cute bee, walk into the room.
"Aw! Rin! How did you make the stinger?" Sango ran over and started to question Rin about her costume.
"Her costume won the costume contest we had later. I don't even know what Rin is doing now..we lost touch after graduation.."
"She is a costume designer for Hollywood in America. She decided on that occupation because of this party and she thanks you for it everyday."
"Oh. I didn't know I had such a big impact on her life..Whenever you hear from her again, tell her I said thanks. She can't obiviously visit me now.."
Ring after ring and knock after knock drove Kagome almost mad. But finally everyone was here...except InuYasha. Kagome was very sad, seeing everyone dancing with a partner except her. Everyone did a pretty good job on their costume though. Shippou was dressed as a fox, Miroku came dressed as a monk(and was all over the girls of course), but no InuYasha dressed as something. A slow song would come on and she would glance at the door, hoping he would at least drop by to say hi. It was cake time before anyone knew it and Mrs. Higurashi and Jii-chan walked into the room, part of the cake in each hand, and placed it in front of Kagome.
"Hope this will make up for InuYasha not being here," she whispered in Kagome's ear, "ok! Who is ready to sing Happy Birthday and eat cake?"
"I am!" all of the kids yelled back.
"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Kagome, happy birthday to you!" Everyone sung as loudly as they could.
"Now, make a wish!" Kagome's mother widely smiled. All the other kids had a smile on their face, even though she knew they just wanted cake and for her to hurry up. She closed her eyes and thought,'I wish InuYasha would at least come by and say hi.'
As soon as she blew out the candles, the doorbell rung. Kagome gasped.
"Go answer it sweetie. We'll hand out the cake." her mother winked. Kagome gave a wide smile and quickly ran to the door.
"InuYasha! My wish...er, I'm glad you came! I was starting to get worried that you got lost or something.."
"Haha. Well, I still have trouble finding your house in this neighborhood. Most of them look the same to me. But I'm actually late because I've been all around town looking for the perfect gift." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a medium-sized box.
"I didn't have time to wrap it so..here." He shoved it at Kagome and blushed.
"I'm not supopsed to do this but I'll go ahead and open your's first." Kagome opened the top of the box and awed in amazement.
"It-It's gorgeous!" She lifted the necklace out of the box and closely looked at it.
"It is called a Shikon Necklace and can tell two emotions. It's pink when the person wearing it is happy and turns a dark violet colour when that person is sad. Here, let me put it on you." He took the necklace from her hands and wrapped it around her neck, clasping it together.
"Do you like it? I mean..I don't know what girls are into and I saw this in a window display and had to get it. Something about it just made me think of you...er, it's just so pretty and..keh."
"Thank you, so much. I'm going to wear it forever!" She giggled and led InuYasha, dressed as a dog, into the family room to join everyone else. She ate cake happily and opened every present but nothing was as beautiful as the necklace InuYasha gave her.
Kagome glanced down at her empty neck and turned away. Kami-sama ended the clip and looked over at Kagome.
"Your reviews on this clip?" Kami-sama asked. Kagome looked back over, tears forming around her eyes.
"What is wrong my child? Why are you upset?"
"It's just..I've remembered a few more things from my past..very very painful things. That necklace he gave me, it cost him 3 months allowance at the time. He never told me that but I found out through his brother. It was the most beautiful gift I had ever received but it had to be from him. I remember that time in my forgotten past and the wound reopened. We had a fight a few years after that party and I pulled the necklace from my neck and threw it on the newly polished marble floors...right in front of him..in my very own house. It shattered in so many pieces. I didn't mean for it to break. He gathered up the pieces and slammed the front door behind him and I fell to the floor in tears..we didn't speak to each other at school or anywhere until at least my 1st year of high school.."
"Unitl your 16th birthday? Oh yes. I remember that quite well. What a very funny moment in your lifetime!"
"You aren't going to show that now, are you?"
"Maybe later in the next chapter or so... Your next clip isn't entirely on you. Do you wish to see what happened during the whole time both of you never spoke?"
"A part of me says yes but the other part is unsure..."
"I'm going to show it anyway. Clip number three: InuYasha's Time Alone."