'Ok.' Kun Loon ran down her mental checklist of all the people she had to call. 'Souta will be coming home tonight. Grandpa will be here tomorrow. Who else…' She walked over to a table and picked up the phone book. As she flipped through the pages, she saw what she was looking for. Psycho-analysis offices; she needed to make an appointment for Kagome. She would also need to make up a good story for them to explain why her daughter was suffering from PTSD; assuming that she was of course.
"Hello, Psycho –analysis offices, how may I help you?"
"Yes, I would like to make an appointment for my daughter if you wouldn't mind.
"Of course. Do you have any idea of what she might have?"
"Post-traumatic stress disorder," Kun Loon winced at the next question the woman asked.
"How old is your daughter ma'am?"
"Seventeen," Kun Loon winced at the silence on the other line. Would the woman think she was lying?
"And how do you think she got this disorder?"
Kun- Loon sighed. What could she tell them...? "Her father was killed, right in front of her by muggers when she was younger." Kun Loon winced. It wasn't exactly a lie. Her husband had been killed by muggers. Kagome was with her however. "And maybe she has been repressing it, but it's coming to the surface now. She almost attacked me when I came up behind her the other day."
"…" the woman didn't respond, but the sound of typing was heard through the phone. "What is the patient's name?"
Kun Loon let out a breath that she hadn't realized she had been holding, "Kagome Higurashi."
"Ok Ms. Higurashi. You're appointment will be next Thursday at four-thirty. However, I recommend you come in alone on Tuesday so we can get your medical information and insurance. Is that ok with you?"
"Yes. Thank you for your time." Kun Loon hung up the phone. She walked back into the kitchen to see Kagome on her fourth plate of food. "My! You were hungry!" Kun Loon looked astonished.
"Sorry mom." Kagome blushed lightly. She did eat a lot of food, but she was still hungry!
"It's OK." Kun Loon sat down at the table and watched as her daughter fixed herself more food. She could really put it away. Kun Loon smiled. It was so good to have her daughter back. But then she frowned. Kagome was different than before, how would she react to the psychologist appointment. "Kagome?" Kun Loon got her daughters attention.
"Yeah mom," Kagome looked up from her plate. "What is it?"
Kun Loon tried to speak, but no words would come out. "Umm…" She composed herself. "I made you an appointment…for a doctor." Kun Loon fidgeted despite herself, at her daughters stare.
"What kind of doctor?" Kagome looked at her mother suspiciously.
"A Psychologist." Kun Loon looked down.
"What?!" Kagome cried. "Why?" She continued a little more reasonably. There was no need to get upset. Maybe her mother had a good reason.
"I think you have PTSD Kagome." Kun Loon looked up at her daughter.
Kagome's face was pale. She knew what the symptoms of PTSD were. She also knew her mother wouldn't be taking her to a doctor unless she thought it was serious. And the only way it could be serious was if...? Could it be? Had she hurt someone?
Kun Loon took one look at her daughter face and almost regretted telling her. "You didn't hurt anyone." She told her daughter.
Kagome looked her in the eye, looking for lies. "Then why…?" Kagome trailed off.
"Because, you could potentially hurt someone if we don't find out how to deal with this." Kun Loon spoke quietly. She knew every word hurt. She knew her daughter was a good person inside. She didn't want to hurt anyone. She also knew that all the killing she had to do had taken a serious toll on her psyche. The night terrors and the screaming in her sleep were enough to convince Kun Loon of that.
"Ok Mama. I'll see this therapist. But what do I tell them?" Kagome was not about to tell them that she was traipsing through the past on a long and arduous adventure with demons and the like. They would put her in a loony bin! Kun Loon had already thought of that. She explained the plan to Kagome about her father. So long as she played along, they should be able to fool them. Kagome nodded at the plan and regarded her mother thoughtfully. "I thought we weren't supposed to lie?"
Kun Loon blushed and then smiled deviously "Only when it's necessary sweet heart." Kagome shared her smile. Kun loon couldn't help but hope that things would get better.
The days passed pretty much the same as before Kagome left in the Higurashi house hold. Without anyone really noticing, two months had passed. Kagome was home-schooled still, like she had been in the feudal era. She needed to catch up to the grade she was supposed to be in. Souta and Grandpa were back in the house and all seemed right with the world. Kagome was still going to her therapy sessions. Mama Higurashi had paled when the price of the doctor visits weren't covered by her insurance. However, a wealthy benefactor, one of the richest businessmen in Japan, stepped in and helped out. When asked about it, all Kagome said was "We go way back." For a while, everything seemed fine. However, every once in a while, Kagome became lost in thought and depressed. It only happened when she happened to pass by the well house, and Kun Loon was growing concerned. Maybe Kagome needed to get away from the shrine. She hated the thought of sending her daughter away, but maybe it was just what she needed.
"Kagome." Kun Loon called her down stairs from her room. She listened for the thumping of footsteps, but heard nothing.
"You called?" Kagome poked her head into the kitchen and Kun Loon jumped slightly; a movement that Kagome caught. "Sorry mom. I forgot to make noise." Kagome smiled apologetically.
"It's fine. Come in, I have a question to ask you." Kun Loon motioned for her to sit. Kagome did, but she was now staring at her mother in suspicion. She waited patiently for her mother to continue. "Ok, I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to blurt it out. I think you should stay somewhere else for a little while. Kind of like a vacation." Kun Loon smiled brightly at her stunned daughter.
"What?!" Kagome yelled indignantly. "Why? I'm doing everything I can to get better. I'm going to the therapy sessions, I'm eating, sleeping, going outside. Why do I need to leave?" Kagome looked mildly hurt. Kun Loon cursed in her mind.
"I just don't want you to go back to the way you were when you first got home. And whenever you happen to look at the well house, you go into a relapse!" Kun Loon finished strongly.
Kagome huffed and crossed her arms across her chest. "So what. I'm never going to be the way I was before the feudal era. But I am getting better." Kagome looked at her mom angrily. How could she want her to leave her own home? This place held so many memories. Kagome blinked at the thought. Maybe that was why her mom wanted her to leave. She thought the memories were painful ones. "Mom, the memories I have here are all happy ones. I keep the others locked away. Please don't make me leave." Kagome pleaded with her mother.
"Kagome…my mind is made up. I think you should take a vacation. Visit with your Uncle, Soun, and your cousins." Kun Loon sighed at the look of defiance on her daughter's face. "Please Kagome; I think it would do you some good. Besides, Akane was asking about you shortly after you left the last time. They all miss you."
Kagome sighed. She missed them too. She had good times with her cousins. She just…didn't want anything to change. She wasn't the same person they remembered. What if she hurt someone there? An imaginary light bulb popped up over her head. "How will I go to my therapy sessions?" Kagome asked slyly. Maybe she could wiggle her way out of this yet!
A deep baritone sounded from the front door. "Miko, you are going, and that's final." Sesshomaru was standing in the hallway next to the kitchen. His once long silver hair was now short and black. He was wearing a sharp black business suit and his markings were gone, concealed with a spell. He was older looking, with more wrinkles in his face. It just made him look even more distinguished.
"Oh, Hello Sesshomaru-sama." Kun Loon spoke politely to him. She had welcomed him into their family when Kagome had told her that he had saved her life countless times. She urged him to drop by whenever he needed to.
"What are you doing here Sesshomaru?" Kagome addressed him as she would a good friend, something Sesshomaru absolutely hated.
"This Sesshomaru was originally going to ask you to spar, but I overheard you speaking to your mother. You need to leave Miko." His eyes softened imperceptibly. In his long life, he had come to tolerate most humans, and actually care for a few of them. The Miko was under his protection. "The memories you hold here are not all happy, as you say. Some are dark, and they trouble you. Therefore, the only way for you to get better is to go see new places." He turned a glare on her when it looked like she was going to defy him. "Do not test me Miko!" He growled.
Kagome sighed and her shoulders drooped in defeat. "Fine… I just…" She trails off and refuses to look at them. Sesshomaru refuses to feel guilty but her mother cannot help it.
"It won't be forever. I just think it will help with the healing process if you get away from the shrine. I've already informed the Tendo's of my decision. I was just waiting for you to make yours." Kun Loon smiled at her daughter. Kagome couldn't help it, she smiled back. Sure she was angry, but her mother loved her, and she wanted her to get better.
"Alright, but how will I keep going to my sessions?" Kagome questioned them.
"I will arrange for a new place nearer to your location. All will be well Miko. Just focus on keeping up with your studies, and your training." Sesshomaru was being very business-like. It was almost scary how much he had changed since the feudal era.
"When do I leave?" Kagome asked. She had to start packing.
"You leave tomorrow. I'll call and order a train ticket for you dear." Kun Loon said, relieved. She was expecting much more fighting. She was thankful for Sesshomaru's help. Kagome nodded, muttered something about needing to pack, and headed upstairs. "Thank you so much for all the help you have given us Sesshomaru-sama. It means a lot to Kagome and our family as well."
"Do not thank me. This Sesshomaru is responsible for her. She is pack, and by definition, so are you. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call if you need anything." Kun Loon nodded and Sesshomaru headed for the door. "This Sesshomaru thinks she will thrive in her new environment. I have visited the Tendo dojo before; it is perfect for her personality."
Kun Loon nodded and smiled at the tall demon. "Yes, thank you. Good bye Sesshomaru-sama. And please, if you would, visit Kagome at the Tendo dojo. She will miss you."
Sesshomaru nodded and left the house. Kun Loon stared after him. Kagome had a good friend in him. She could only hope that Kagome could find someone to fill the void Inuyasha left in her heart.
