Hello! Here we are again ^^ thank you all so much for the lovely reviews! Also the review 'Hahaha your fates aren't doomed u over dramatic cow' is the best line I ever received 10/10.
Anyway! hopefully this update is worth it and enjoy! Also, it took like 3 days to upload because ffn wouldn't let me submit anything to doc manager orz;;; but it seems to be working now? All I can ask for T^T
Kagome's cheeks burned as she quickly made her out of school.
She couldn't believe herself! That she had gone and patted another student like a pet or a small child, oh how embarrassing!
'Oh gosh! What they'll think of me now...?' She thought despondent, she would need to apologize if she got the chance the next day.
Kagome wasn't sure what had come over her, it was like during lunch, her thoughts had gotten away from her, just the second time around, her body followed.
It was the aura about him, it felt tainted...? Cursed...? Something called to her like the touch of yoki...? She couldn't quite place it, but the familiar register paired with his bright aura lined with pain brought her back to the past.
She knew it did no good for anyone to see shadows of another in a person of the present.
She'd just needed to make a better impression the next day, that was if her odd actions hadn't run him off...
Kagome had been called worse things than odd, but that was then and not now and she hoped to make new bridges.
Leaving school, she did not rush home, instead, she rushed in the direction of her newfound part-time job.
She had looked for work in several locations before she started at Kagawa. And had fortunately been accepted for a job as a cleaner for some large corporate office building, she had one other job she was hoping to hear back from, a cafe not too far from her home.
They paid about the same, so she would need to do both, but maybe after saving up she could afford to just do the one, Kagome well experienced with saving and finding a use of everything without excess waste.
There was a local shrine she knew she would have found an easier job at, but her heart and mind weren't quite ready to take up full miko duties once again...
Kagome kept up her training of sorts in her new home, warding the place and shrine before she left. Practicing with sutras and making ofudas. She wasn't the best at attaining zen and working with her ki, but she wanted to do her family from the past proud. She was still rather untrained, having no real teacher, but the words of her friends and history of past. So, she read what she could and kept close items from the past, the history would live through her.
Kagawa High was too far to commute to from the shrine and home she had for the most part grown up on. She and her mother searched up and down for a suitable housing while she went to school in a different prefecture.
Her mother and grandfather would help pay for housing, but she hated the idea of costing the family an extra expense just so she could go to school and sought ways to ease the cost. They had supported her endeavors in full and she wouldn't take it for granted.
Her family loved her dearly and she them, but a small part of her was somewhat thankful for the reprieve away from them. Kagome had always been independent and mature, but this had grown more so after her travels, and yet her family still acted like she was the Kagome from before.
Technically, she was, she hadn't changed much, only grown. Though only a few years of life over the journey, she had wizened beyond thought. It was funny, despite all she had learned and experienced, it still felt like a new step of life and that she was back to the stage of beginning before her trip down the well. Only this time, she was relearning how to blend in with the modern world, when before she tried to blend with the past. She had to relearn how to make friends and let people in.
Kagome, loathe to admit it, but she had grown a tad shyer and more reserved after her adventures in the past.
She so used to the close-knit pack like nature, it was an adjustment to be without it, offering friendship to anyone and everyone.
Kagome was a social butterfly in nature, but being in her own time for good made her feel isolated, not a part of past or future, floating. Not fitting in, odd one out and it made her confidence in herself fall.
It was both like and unlike her, she was a sensitive but she was also so much stronger than she gave herself credit for. She would simply need to be reminded of her own strengths in due time.
But for the present, she got to her part-time job on time, greeting the workers and changing into her new uniform, she took a deep breath, steeling her resolve before starting her shift.
Leaving the room, she bumped right into another person, she and the other person began apologizing profusely.
Kagome began helped pick up the fallen trash bags, looking up she was surprised to see a familiar face, "Honda-san?"
"Yes! Oh? Higurashi-san! Oh, I'm so happy to see you again!" She said beaming.
Kagome smiled, put more at ease than before, "It's good to see you too, looks like we're working together, please take care of me!"
Tohru responded quickly, cheer making her movements erratic.
"It's a pleasure to work with you too! Please take care of me as well!"
.../.../.../
The two talked amiably as they worked, Tohru while friendly with her older coworkers was ecstatic to have someone about her age, and hopefully, friend work with her.
Though new to the job, Kagome was a fast learner and efficient, it almost made Tohru feel embarrassed about her more clumsy nature.
But then Kagome would come to her for guidance on what to do, if this was the right way, where this belonged and it was the cutest thing! Tohru didn't often feel like the more knowledgeable person when it came to a task, she was good at cooking and cleaning, but had little need for her friends to come to her for help. So small as it was, she was happy to be the one to teach.
Kagome stood a bit shorter than herself, it wasn't a big difference and she wouldn't have even realized it at first glance, only when working side by side.
If she hadn't met her at school, there might've been a chance for her to mistake her age like she had done with Momiji. And though unintentional, she felt the need to dote on the smaller girl.
Kagome was oblivious to such thoughts and actions, just glad to have a friend at work and school to turn to.
The job was simple but exhausting, between school and the built-up tension and was eager for sleep...and yet she lingered not ready to go home.
She was used to being by herself, but the thought of going to an empty space and eating alone caused a sense of melancholy as she changed back into her clothes.
Kagome shook away such thoughts before she could worry Tohru.
Exiting, she saw her friend off first, assuring her that she'd get home just fine. Kagome recognized a familiar tinge in the aura of the boy who came to walk Tohru home but didn't let herself think too much about it.
She waited until Tohru and the boy were just out of site before finally taking the steps towards home. She wasn't too worried, she could protect herself ably, if not a touch out of practice.
Fortunately, she made it to her small little home, a rented space that rented to students and workers. She was relieved to take her shoes off and release her bag, more tired now that the day was finally, finally coming to a close.
It was a bit funny, despite her adventures, it seemed she was a bit out of practice with a lot of things.
The worry of melancholy was unneeded, she ate some fruit in a daze before preparing for bed. Once hitting the mattress falling into a deep dreamless sleep.
Last lingering thoughts on how the hands of fate were trying to steer her once more, but she was ever in control of her path, and she would fight whatever came at her. Optimistic, she was peaceful and would be ready for the next day.
.../.../.../
The following morning was a bit of a rough start. Getting up her body ached as if she had been hit by a steamroller, fortunately, in the habit of waking early, she went through stretching and a few yoga poses. The movements helping ease her body and mind to a degree before she started her day.
Her head felt light as she hadn't eaten much that night but nerves began settling in her stomach and she didn't feel up to a breakfast.
She had bought a few essential groceries and Mama Higurashi had made sure she had a few meals stocked up to last a good few weeks. But Kagome was saving the meals for her dinners, so as of now she didn't have much for lunch, she would need to stock up after class that day...
She grabbed a granola bar and an apple which was better than nothing and left.
While walking to school, she had the thought of if she didn't know better, she could have sworn that the uniform skirt was shorter than the one she wore in junior high. At least, this time around she wouldn't need to worry about constantly repairing or worse case having to buy another.
Her hair had grown much longer, and she used it as a shield of sorts while moving past people. Focusing ahead and keeping her eyes away from any one person.
Arriving at the classroom with ample time and without much trouble, she relaxed for a moment but that was when the hyenas descended...
Endnotes: Hey so a bit of exposition and a little introspective I guess you could say and a hint of drama. Also I realized the category for the story doesn't quite fit, while certainly some hurt/comfort I think it lies a bit more in humor in the future and splash of drama-esque humor?
I have an outlined idea for the story, though it's not all down on paper and apt to changing accordingly, nevertheless! I do hope you enjoy my little fic! And please review! It keeps the little fire in my heart a burnin ^^ until next time~