A/N: Here it is. Still kind of boring, but I'm trying to flesh out Tammy a bit. I'm finding it hard to do, and now I understand why there are so many Mary Sue's out there. When we create a character, they come to life a little bit, don't they? And, as our creation (our child, if you will), we don't want them to have to fight TOO hard. Plus its harder to write a character thats not perfect, and keep the ones that aren't ours in their intended personalities. But I digress.
Enjoy the read, please R&R, Coke and Cheetos in the lounge.
Chapter 3
Tammy's eyes snapped open as the plane touched down. She'd slept most of the ten hour flight, more out of the near – desperate desire to rid herself of the annoying person in the next seat, than any real tiredness. Yawning, she sat straight up and looked around. The chatty old lady sitting next to her smiled. Speaking very slowly, she said, "I was worried that you wouldn't wake up in time to get off the plane. Enjoy your stay in Japan."
Tammy smiled and thanked her. Silently she wondered how it was possible to sleep through an airplane landing. If it was, wouldn't one of the disgustingly chipper flight attendants wake her up? They wouldn't just be allowed to stay sleeping on the plane, would she? Then again, this was Japan, and people did things differently. All day people had been treating her like a simpleton. Really, what was so impossible about a young American woman being able to speak Japanese? Granted, it was a little rusty, since she only got to speak it when she was on the phone with Kagome.
Once she was off the plane (with a sigh of relief and a cheerful farewell wave to her unwanted traveling companion), she turned her attention towards navigating the busy airport and finding her luggage.
She had just grabbed her second and last bag when she heard her name being shouted and was attacked from behind. Dropping her bags, she whirled around and returned her friend's embrace. Soon she was engulfed in hugs from Kagome's mom, grandfather, and even Souta (Tammy was amazed at how much he'd grown – he'd only been a toddler the last time she'd seen him) gave her a shy, embarrassed hug before struggling to pick up one of Tammy's huge bags. The bag was almost bigger than he was! Ignoring Tammy's protestations, he maneuvered the cumbersome bag towards the exit, helped by Mrs. Higurashi, who had grabbed Tammy's other bag. Kagome latched onto Tammy's carry-on.
As they all walked out of the airport to find the car, Tammy felt her eyes prickle with tears. She hung back a few steps, still part of the group, but out of direct sight, to hide her tears. It had been a long time since she'd felt such a strong family bond. She and Christy had not been able to get close as mother and daughter. The family ties that had been strained when Tammy had 'lost her mind' (as Christy called it) had been severed by her father's death. Hurt and loss had been replaced with anger and resentment as her mother had tried to remove herself, and her daughter by default, from anything having to do with Japan. As soon as they had moved to California, Japanese was forbidden to be spoken. Christy did her best to force her daughter, still reeling from the shock of her father's death, and recovering from the trauma that landed her in the hospital, to behave as she thought a proper young lady should. She even forbade Tammy to write Kagome, hoping to force her to make new friends.
After Tammy snuck in a phone call to Kagome that resulted in a two thousand dollar phone bill, the ban on letter writing was lifted.
Tammy's failure to fit in upset Christy, and she took it as a personal insult. "You're acting just like your father!" Christy exclaimed once after she'd caught Tammy misbehaving. They had even fought about Tammy taking this trip as well. Tammy had threatened to wait until she was 18 in just a few months and never come back. Besides, she added, she had worked hard at her job at the riding stable for two years to save up the money herself, and she'd worked extra hard to get straight A's, so she deserved this trip. What was Christy so worried about anyway? She had Russel to keep her company these days anyways. Russel, Christy's new husband, had interceded on Tammy's behalf, stating that the trip might do the both of them some good. Tammy would never call him dad, but she was grateful for his being able to control her mother.
Forcing herself back to the present, she realized that they had reached the car. It was crowded with five people, and Tammy found herself squashed between Souta and Kagome, answering endless questions about America and her life there, her school and her friends. Souta was especially interested in her horse, while Kagome was more curious about her job at the barn. The questions helped distract from the growing uneasiness she felt as they got closer to the family home. As they reached the house, the uneasiness blossomed into full-blown panic as she caught sight of the well-house. Ruthlessly, Tammy forced it to the very back of her mind, forcing herself to be calm.
Dinner was a pleasant affair, with Mrs. Higurashi making what was possibly the best meal Tammy had ever had. After dinner, the two girls went up to Kagome's room and Tammy helped Kagome with her english homework. They worked on spelling and punctuation, and began planning the next day, speaking english. That night, as she lay on the floor of Kagome's room (Kagome had offered to share the big bed, but Tammy stated that she needed the floor after sleeping on the plane), she dreamed she was being dragged down the well, her father calling out for her to come back to him.
OoOoO
The next day passed in a blur. Tammy got along with Kagome's friends, and they had a blast at the mall, shopping and checking out boys. "So what's the deal?" She asked her friend as they were browsing a clothes rack. "Are you going to go out with this Hojo guy or what?"
As Kagome blushed, Yumi filled Tammy in. "She should right? Hojo is handsome, and smart, and really good at sports. He's always asking about Kagome when she's not in school, and they would make such a cute couple!" Yumi was gazing off into space and Tammy could swear she saw actual stars in her eyes. What a romantic.
"Yes, but Kagome is more interested in spending time with this Inuyasha guy." Ayami replied.
"Who's Inuyasha?" Tammy asked.
"He's this really bad guy that Kagome likes. He beats people up and bosses her around a lot." Ayami said. "I told her she could do way better that that – like Hojo – but she wants what she wants, I guess."
"He beats people up?" Tammy asked. She was no longer smiling. In fact, her face had gone completely blank. "Has he ever mistreated you, Kagome?"
Kagome shook her head and regarded old friend. She had always been protective, and now there was a wary watchfulness in her eyes that spelled trouble for whoever tried to hurt her friends. "Eh, its not like that. He's really protective, he's just loud and annoying. And its not even like that! We're just friends! So, how's Ricky?" Ricky, Tammy's boyfriend, had made it a point to begin learning Japanese, hoping to come with Tammy to Japan one day, knowing Tammy loved the country. He had even, occasionally, spoken with Kagome to help his understanding of the language.
"He'd doing well. Sad that he couldn't come on this trip. He says to say 'hi, Short Stuff'.' He's working hard to save some money so we can move in together, and next time I come, maybe he can come too."
"Oh!" Yumi exclaimed. "Are you two getting married?"
"Eventually. Maybe. I'm not in a hurry."
The four girls laughed and joked all day, and that evening they stayed the night at Kagome's, helping Tammy make dinner. The next morning after the girls left Tammy and Kagome helped clean the house and shrine with Kagome's grandfather. That night after dinner, Tammy helped Souta look for the cat, finally spotting her going into the well-house. Steeling herself, she stepped inside and grabbed the cat. She stared at the old well in the gloom. She was sure Grandfather had boarded it up, yet it was open now. It's just a well, she told herself. Still, the hairs on the hack of her neck and her arms stood straight up. Hurrying out of the well-house, she called to Souta and headed to the house.
Later that night, she had trouble getting to sleep. She was laying there, trying to force herself to sleep, when she heard Kagome's window slide open. Forcing herself to remain relaxed, as if she were asleep, she listened intently.
Someone was in the room.
Reviews:
Kuroneko388 & 01Shadow Angel: Thank you. I will try my best to update once a week.
