Chapter Three: Introduce Me To Your Past
Miroku looked down at our entwined hands. He was, no doubt, trying to figure out how to begin his story.
"It happened two weeks ago." He said in a low voice. "My father and sister went to the bank to start a savings account for her." He laughed mirthlessly, "She wanted to feel like a grown up." He began trembling slightly and I squeezed his hand tightly, letting him know I was here for him.
"She was only eight years old." He confessed, a tear sliding down his cheek.
"I'm here for you, Miroku. You can use my shoulder whenever you need it, okay?" I reassured him.
He smiled and used one of his hands to wipe his fresh tears away.
He spoke again, in a strong voice now, "There was a robbery at the bank, and my father decided to be a hero. He was shot in the head by the guys robbing the bank, and my sister ran over to my fathers body and she..." He couldn't continue as he struggled to breathe. Hearing him gasping for air made me realize that I was holding my own breath, and I let it out slowly as a tear ran down my cheek for my new friend.
"My sister started to cry and she wouldn't stop. I guess those...bastards...couldn't handle it, so they shot my...little sister too..." He was really letting it out now. He could no longer hold it in, and I gladly lent him my shoulder. I made a promise to myself right then that I'd always be there for Miroku, no matter what the cost.
We sat in that position for a while, and I rocked him back and forth, rubbing his back comfortingly until he decided he was ready to continue. We both shed tears for his loss in that time. Eventually he regained his composure and finally did continue.
"Somehow she lived through the robbery and she was rushed to the hospital, but..." He took a deep breath, "She had lost too much blood a-and there was too much damage. There was nothing the doctors could do, and she died in the hospital."
"Oh, Miroku." I truly felt for him. He'd lost his father and his sister all at once. I embraced him tightly and didn't let him go until I'd shed every tear I could for hiim and his family.
"why are you crying?" He asked me in a small voice.
"You just lost so much, and I'm so upset about that. And your so strong and I'm a mess. And your sister was so you, she didn't deserve this." I blurted out, anger and pain staining my voice and my words.
"Kagome, you have such a kind heart." He whispered.
I smiled and looked at him, "My father taught me to be kind. He had a kind heart."
"We'll get through this you know?" He said to me, matter of factly.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I hope so, Miroku. I really hope so."
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Miroku and I continued to grow closer as the days continued to pass by. Nobody ever questioned the two of us being in a room together, and we never brought it up. It's been a week since I've been here, and my fmaily gets to visit me today. I'm very excited for Miroku to meet them and for them to meet him.
Miroku's mother visits him on Saturday's, so I'll get to meet her in two short days. I didn't get to meet her last Saturday because she was unable to come, so Miroku and I kept each other company like we normally did in our free time.
We mostly did everything together. Being here reminded me of school in a strange way. We woke up in the mornings, ate breakfast in the cafeteria, worked in groups together, did activities outside, ate lunch in a cafeteria, had some free time, ate dinner in a cafeteria then went to bed shortly after. Okay, so it's not exactly like going to school, but the similarities didn't escape me.
Honestly, I couldn't wait to get back to school. They had better food, and I haven't had a pop in over three weeks. I'm beginning to have withdrawal symptoms.
I laughed at my thoughts and pushed the double doors leading into the visiting room open. Miroku stood next to me on my left and as I spotted my mom and Sota, I grabbed Miroku's elbow and ran towards my family.
"Mom! Sota!" I said, waving with my free hand.
"Kagome!" Sota yelled, running to hug me. I dropped Miroku's elbow and grabbed my brother into my arms, spinning him around. His laughter filled the air, and the sound of it made my day that much better.
I hope I can laugh like that again one day.
I put him down and hugged my mom for a good minute. As soon as I let go of her, Sota didn't hesitate to ask who my friend was.
"Mom, Sota, this is Miroku." I said, smiling proudly. "He is new to Tokyo." I told them, then whispered, "He lost some people dear to him too."
My mom smiled fondly at Miroku, and pulled him in for a hug, "Your welcome at our home anytime Miroku. And I'm sorry for your loss, from the bottom of my heart."
Miroku was touched by my mother's actions. He knew she was sincere. "Thank you, Mrs. Higurashi."
When my mom released Miroku, Sota grabbed Miroku's hand, saying, "Hi, I'm Sota. It's nice to meet you, Miroku."
Miroku laughed, "Well it's nice to meet you too Sota. Kagome has told me quite a bit about you. You know...we should play those video games you love so much sometime. But...I bet you'd beat me though." Miroku played innocent.
Sota just laughed along with Miroku while mom and I talked.
"So, how are you feeling, Kagome?" She asked me.
"Mom, dad just died. Honestly, if it wasn't for Miroku, I don't know if I'd be doing as well as I am." I told her, truthfully. "How are you holding up though?" I questioned her.
She heaved a sigh, "I'm handeling things as well as to be expected."
"Mom, we will get through this." I told her as Miroku had told me. I wanted to be strong for my family. They deserved that, and I owed it to them.
We visited together for a few hours and then it got late, and my mother and Sota went home until next Thrusday.
But now all I had to do is wait two more days and I will get to meet Miroku's mother. I wanted to know all about Miroku. I wanted to know what made him the person he is today. Miroku was beginning to mean a lot to me, and I wanted to be a close part of his life. I was already beginning to look at him as a brother. Nobody would ever replace my father's place in my life, but I already knew that Miroku could very well be my best friend.
Miroku and I mad eour way back to our room, content with the silence between us. He reached down and grabbed my hand, holding it in his as we walked. I knew it was but a friendly gesture. I'd never mistake our friendly gestures as anything more then friendly, and he'd never mistake them either. That's how we were already so close. We were there to comfort each other, to protect each other, and to love each other like a brother would a sister.
"Kagome?" Miroku asked me after we were tucked into our beds.
"Yes, Miroku?"
"Thank you for allowing me to meet your family. I really like them. I wish..." He grew silent and I waited for him to continue.
"What do you wish Miroku?" I asked when he didn't finish.
"Well...I just wish I could have known your father too." He said. I was so touched by his confession that I got up out of bed and lied down next to him.
"I wish you could have know him too Miroku."
We stayed like that, embracing for quite a while, until I could barely keep my eyes open. He'd already fallen asleep, so I was careful not to wake him when I got up and lied back down on my own bed, falling asleep.
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I woke up to light streaming in through the window next to my bed. I looked over to see if Miroku was still sleeping, and found that he wasn't in his bed anymore. I sat up quickly, curious as to where he was, and found him sitting at the foot of my bed looking at the stuffed animal my mother and father had given me.
He looked at me and smiled.
"Good Morning." He said, standing and placing my stuffed animal next to me.
"Morning." I replied.
"My mom and dad got it for me last Valentines Day." I told him, about the stuffed animal.
"Yeah." He said, "It's nice, Kagome." He told me sweetly.
"Miroku are you all right?" I asked, grabbing his hand and pulling him to sit next to me.
He looked at me and smiled, "Of course, why?"
I shook my head, recognizing his smile to be fake.
"Miroku, your lying to me. Please tell me what's wrong." I said, getting worried.
He sighed. "Sorry Kagome. I never want to lie to you. Please forgive me."
"Of course I forgive you, Miroku, but tell me what's wrong. I want to help you." I told him, honestly.
"It's just...today we have to talk about memories we have with the one's we lost. We do this every two weeks in group talks. It upsets me to talk about it, and I'm worried about you. That's all."
I was really beginning to cherish Miroku. He cared a lot about me as I do him.
"I'll be fine Miroku, "I told him, grabbing his hand, "as long as your with me."
He smiled his true smile now and pulled me up out of my bed and into a hug.
"Thank you, Kagome. You have become like a sister to me already." He whispered into my ear, "And I love you as if you were my sister."
"And I you, Miroku." I said through a smile.
He pulled away from me, still holding my shoulders and said, "All right, well get ready then girl." He smiled at me and walked away to give me my privacy.
Miroku was quickly becoming my best friend. I had lost my father and it seemed that life wouldn't go on for me, and then I met Miroku and he is putting me back together.
Miroku lost his little sister and his father, and I truly believe I'm helping him to get through everything.
I walked out into the hallway and found Miroku leaning against the wall waiting for me.
"You look lovely, Kagome." He said, shining his wonderful smile once again.
I looked down at my simple red summer dress and strappy sandles. I wore my hair straight down today. I didn't see anything lovely about me, but I thanked him regardless.
"You don't see yourself very clearly do you, Kagome?" Miroku laughed at me.
"Oh, stop." I told him, laughing along.
"I'm serious silly."
I started to protest, but he held a finger up to my lips to silence me, "That's okay. You'll see it one day lovely lady. Even if I have to knock it into you." His laughter filled the air again, and I truly felt blessed.
God, you've taken so much away from me, but you've blessed me with such a wonderful friend. Thank you so much for that.
I silently prayed to God, counting all of my blessings, thanking him for each and every one, but thanking him especially for Miroku and his abilities to help me get through the days.
"Thanks, Miroku." I said, stopping him before we entered the door to where the group sat waiting for us.
"For what, Kagome?" He asked, confused.
"For you." I said shyly, looking down at the floor.
He placed a hand under my chin and lifted my head to look at him. His smile was more beautiful then I'd ever seen before, and it lit up my life, forcing my own smile to appear on my face.
He grabbed my hand and nodded toward the door in front of us and the people waiting beyond.
"Come on." He said, pulling me through the door.
