Kagome wandered the halls early in the morning unable to truly grasp that she had a home and a job, something that she had acquired in one bold act. The long corridors seemed cold this morning. A few doors here and there were scattered throughout the hallway. The walls were of a soft cream and the flooring looked pearly white.
According to Sango the Center had only been up and running for only about a year now which would account for the small number of patients. Dr. Ookami and Sango had gone to school back east and after graduation andteamed up to open this Center here in California. Dr. Ookami was experimenting with a different approach to depression therapy. With Kagome's limited knowledge on the subject she didn't press to what he was experimenting with.
Ahead of her there was a small boy sitting in front of what she assumed was his door. Yesterday she had seen the same young boy walking with Dr. Ookami, the boy hadspotted her and with a quick hushed comment to the doctor beside him the pair swerved and headed for her. She ended up taking a walk with the two of them, neither had spoken to her and Kagome found it rather odd but kept it to herself. Hearing her coming down the hallway the boy looked up from the floor with wide eyes and a blush stained his cheeks.
"Hey there, is everything ok? Why are you outside your room, aren't you cold?"
His green eyes blinked but he didn't say anything. Instead he stood pushing the door open behind him and motioned for her to follow. Unsure what to do she gave the boy the benefit of the doubt and followed him into the room.
The room was similar to Kagome's room except for the cartoon posters and numerous drawings littering the floor. The boy searched the drawing covered floor until he found what he was looking for, he held it up proudly. The boy smiled happily as Kagome examined the portrait. A giggle escaped her lips as she looked back to the boy.
"Is that me and you walking? Kind-of like yesterday right?"
"You remembered me from yesterday?" Green eyes watched her carefully.
"Of course I did. How could any girl in her right mind forget such a cute little face like yours? My name's Kagome, what's yours?" She offered her hand to the young boy who shyly shook it.
"Shippo" he said with a blush.
"Nice to meet you Shippo. How would you like to come with me on my walk this morning? Since I just arrived here I don't know my way around I could use a good guide."
"S-sure." Shippo blushed at his own stuttering. Kagome gave him a warm smile and held out her hand again. His small hand tenderly touched hers as the two of them headed out the door.
Shippo smiled at the woman beside him. "You're really nice. Can I show you a surprise?"
"Of course Shippo I would love that."
He led her to the back of the compound his face plastered with the largest grin ever. "I come here all the time, but I don't know how to take care of it so I think its dead."
Pondering at what possible meaning that held she looked ahead. Kagome spotted a small line of trees at the back edge, but something looked wrong. The trees were arranged giving it a look as if there was a space between the trees and the back fence. Shippo led her to a small break in the trees revealing a small rusted gate. Unlatching the small lock Shippo opened the gate and beckoned her inside.
A small over grown lawn spread before her revealing a secret garden of sorts. Weed filled flower beds were placed throughout the small area. Kagome could only imagine the beauty this place could hold were it properly taken care of. Shippo's hand took her own once again and led her deeper into the strange and over grown garden.
A bench lay hidden behind a large bush and with that the pair of them sat and Shippo blushed at the silence. Kagome didn't say anything either but she made sure to give Shippo a dazzling smile in thanks for sharing this place with her.
Pondering Kagome broke the silence, "Don't worry Shippo the garden isn't dead, for if it were there wouldn't even be any weeds here. Say Shippo I have an idea. How about we fix this place up and make it into a real secret garden?"
She and the boy hopped off the bench to survey what could be done about repairing the garden.
"Thank you for choosing American Airlines, we apologize for the short delay. We will begin boarding shortly. Thank you."
The J.F.K airport was over flowing with people today. Everywhere he looked he saw happy couples and families embracing and saying hellos and goodbyes.
Keh.
No one was able to see him off, not that he would admit he cared. Sesshomaru had business as usual and Rin worked as his private assistant, his mother was visiting friends in Maine, leaving him here alone waiting for his flight. He idly wondered if Kikyou were alive if she would have taken a day off work to see him off. Here he was boarding a flight for California, he felt as though he were running away from his problems. He knew Rin was just looking out for him but he was still reluctant to go.
What did they want from him?
Did they really think that he would be able to forget Kikyou's death that easily?
The Watson Mental Health Center was waiting for him, an experimental type of depression therapy. He remembered the young Doctor Ookami proposing the idea in New York but was refused; Inuyasha had been one of the doctors who had remained indifferent to his cause. Both he and Ookami had graduated the same year but Ookami's unorthodox approach to therapy made many companies wary of hiring him.
Kikyou would have loved Central Park this time of year. He thought randomly.
New York companies preferred to stick with the old fashioned approach with a strict doctor patient barrier. Ookami was now going back to New York to present his findings in hopes of setting up yet another Center on the east coast, wishful thinking in Inuyasha's opinion. Yet Inuyasha was curious to see the outcome of the experiment first hand. He found it ironic that he would be taking Ookami's place treating his depression patients when he himself was lost in his own misery.
Kikyou always pushed me to do better, she rarely smiled but when she did I always smiled back.
Sick of watching the people around him he opted to watch the clock tick.
Boarding the waiting plane his eyes traveled the length of the plane watching as various families got situated for the long flight. Parents reassured their finicky children to the safety of the aircraft.
Kikyou hadn't wanted kids at the time. I doubt she would have ever wanted kids as much as I did.
Taking his seat in first class Inuyasha gazed out the window wondering if the plane crashed weather or not he would care.
"Hey, what's waiting for you in California?"
"Another chance" was his automatic response.
He turned to see a young woman around her twenties sitting beside him. She had dusty brown hair with natural gold highlights and emerald green eyes. With her olive complexion she was remarkably beautiful. Obviously Spanish in heritage he was somewhat surprised to see her finger was unadorned with a diamond band.
"You can call me Amy. What is your name? Seeing how we're stuck with one another for about six hours" she justsat smiling brightly at him.
"My names Inuyasha Takahashi and what is your reason for flying this morning?" He answered politely, no use in offending someone your next to on a flight across the country.
"I've always wanted to learn how to surf, so California here I come. I figured that Hawaii was to cliché."
"True enough."
Inuyasha sighed deeply, he wasn't in the mood for her cheerful manner and brought his attention to the book sitting in his lap. He took a deep breath, oh how he hated flying.
He knew the flight wouldn't be to bad considering she hadn't turned out to be some overly fat man wanting to share his cream puffs with Inuyasha.
Kikyou always had me on a strict diet even though her figure was flawless.
As he braced himself for the odd sensation of take off Inuyasha stared out the small window as the ground dropped below the aircraft. New York City spread below him, he was finally leaving it behind. He would try his best to accept Kikyou's death and start over in California.
Yeah...right.
New home.
New job.
New patients.
New life.
Not likely.
All of it was simply another chance to fail in Inuyasha's eyes. Lords he was pathetic.
Kikyou, I still can't believe you're gone. I'm so sorry that I failed you. Please forgive me.
With half lidded eyes his book and neighbor were forgotten as memories flooded his mind.
"Ok Shippo we have a lot of work to do today. I'll head out to get some gardening tools mean while why don't you draw me a picture of what you think the garden should look like."
"Sure thing Kagome, hurry back."
Thank you everyone for your reviews. You have no idea how happy they make me when i read them. I hope that you'll bear with me as I need to get some backround information in before I can start any interaction between Inuyasha and Kagome.
I promise that next chapter they'll meet. As the story progresses I aim for the chapters to be longer so please once again bear with me. Thank you my reviewers for you support, it really warms the heart to think anyone would like my story I was afraid of rejection.
Thanks
M.J
thank you: chii576Hikari's-dark-side-08, Sara, inuschopstiks, animefan103, Akileh, Fantastical Queen Ebony BlackDarkRoxy