A/N Sorry it has taken so long for the update. Dealing with new jobs and school projects for my daughter are weighing on me right now.
Chapter 7- Going to Baltimore
Pink little bunny slippers pattered on the wooden floor of the apartment as the sounds of breakfast being made filled the small three bedroom apartment. A voice called out to the young woman that stood in the living room, moving her calculus book from the side table to her yellow book bag.
The raven haired young woman gazed longingly at the book bag that was now worn and frayed along the seams. She would never toss it out, no matter how many memories it brought back. Her long, tapered fingers grazed over the place where Inuyasha had accidentally gripped the strap too hard and created a hole with his claws.
"Kagome!" a sweet voice called out, causing the young woman's head to snap up in the direction of the kitchen.
Her daydream of pleasant and bitter-sweet memories now dashed away, she stood and went into the kitchen.
Mrs. Higurashi now had spatters of grey mixed in with her ebony tresses. The hair, as always, fell to the nape of her neck in a stylish yet practical way. Her white apron had a few splotches of grease… or was that broth? It reminded Kagome of something she forgot to mention the previous night. "Oh, Mom, I forgot about the blouse I stained at the cook out last week. I soaked it, like you said to, but the stain is so stubborn!"
With a sweet, motherly smile, Mrs. Higurashi didn't miss a beat as she stirred the rice porridge and said, "Just bring it down and I'll have a look at it, Kagome. I still need to work on a few of Souta's soccer uniforms."
Kagome nodded just as the teenage boy came hurriedly down the stairs and popped a sweet biscuit in his mouth while grabbing a mango and banana out of the fridge. "Hi, sis!" he said swiftly and brushed by her to give his mom a kiss on the cheek before calling out, "I'll be back for lunch!" With that, the breeze that was Kagome's younger brother was out the door.
The brown-eyed young woman turned a curious gaze to her mother, who responded, "Practice. You know how Souta is."
Kagome nodded and smiled as she noticed one of his soccer shirts in the basket nearby. Numerous green smears appeared to be mixed in with the mud stains causing Kagome to shake her head. "No matter how much you teach me, Mom, I don't think I'll ever be as good as you."
The mother of two continued to cook breakfast and spoke with a smirk, "It takes a lot of patience to be able to do all the things that a mother does, but the most important of all is to do it with love."
She smiled and filed that tidbit away in her mind, hoping that one day she might be able to use it on her own daughter- if she was ever lucky enough to have one.
"So," Mrs. Higurashi began with a smile as she sat at the table, "how have you and Hojo been doing? Does he know that you will be leaving for the US in another month?"
The daughter plastered a fake smile on her face and responded, "Sure, Mom. I told him right away. We are still going over the details about how we plan to keep in touch."
She nodded and then looked out the window at the hot, sunny day that was just beginning. "Most couples would have married and moved together to the US," she mused aloud and then looked at her daughter. "Why don't you and Hojo?"
Kagome shook her head and rose from the table, seeing the mail had come. She called over her shoulder as she headed out the door to the box in front of the apartment, "Becoming a doctor comes first, Mom."
Mrs. Higurashi nodded and looked down at her hands. It was no secret to the woman that her daughter was still in love with the animated hanyou that used to visit the shrine via the well. It also came as no surprise to find that it was possible Inuyasha was still alive today- somewhere in Japan, maybe.
What the woman did not understand was why her daughter insisted on keeping this relationship with Hojo going. It was painfully obvious that she was not in love with the kind young man, so why did she continue with this farce? Confronting her head-strong daughter would do nothing to remedy the situation- or even get her to admit there was one.
The widowed mother then turned her eyes to the outside world, once again and waited for her daughter to come back in. With a heavy sigh, she poured herself a cup of tea. She quietly murmured, "Maybe the time she stays in the US will give her clarity on the situation."
She hated to think of her daughter living out her days in a marriage that was without passion. Recalling those wonderful memories of her own husband and the love they had shared caused her eyes to grow a bit misty. This was something she wanted- no, demanded for her children.
Kagome entered the apartment, not knowing that her mother was planning on confronting her. Her brows were furrowed as she dropped a few envelopes, likely bills, on the table and flipping one crisp, white one in her hand. She then turned it back over and commented, "Huh."
Now Mrs. Higurashi was the one wearing a scowl. With curiosity in her eyes she asked, "What is it?"
Kagome looked up as if startled that her mother was even there. "Oh," she uttered and then turned back to the letter and said, "it's a letter… from… a politician?"
At this, her mother grasped the letter with careful fingers, wondering why on earth a politician would write to them. Sure enough, the return address was from Takashi Inukimi, a politician in the west. The addressee was none other than Higurashi Kagome. With a look of surprise, Mrs. Higurashi asked, "Why would she be writing to you?"
Kagome only shrugged in response as she took the letter back and began to open it carefully, her mother watching on in anticipation. When she finally unfolded the thick paper inside, her eyes immediately began to read over the correspondence from a complete stranger.
When she finished, her confused expression met her mother's expectant one. The correspondence fell from her trembling fingers as she tried to grasp anything that could explain what she just read- she had never met this woman before in her life!
Mrs. Higurashi retrieved the letter and began to read over it.
To the young lady Higurashi Kagome,
Your academic achievements have come to this one's attention. It is of some note that you are referred to among those at Tokyo University. It is of the vast opinion of the faculty that you will indeed, one day, become a great physician.
As a founding member of the community and a substantial donator to many of the hospitals in Tokyo as well as Japan as a whole, I feel it is incumbent upon me to ensure of your future success. That you may return to Japan when your studies are complete in the US and become a physician in your home land.
It is for this reason that I have decided to personally assist you in your education. You will find that John Hopkins University has already received the remainder of the funds you will need in order to begin classes there next month. The financier's office will give you all the details upon arrival.
You will be staying in an on-campus dormitory where you are provided room and board for the remainder of your education in the United States. The dormitory is women only and while you have a room to yourself, you will have suite-mates.
As for expenses to travel between the United States and Japan, I leave that to you and your family to decide.
Please note that this arrangement is only to further your education. Should you decide to stop attending school for any reason, you must find your own living and financial arrangements. Please keep note that I will be watching over your studies to ensure that you are focusing on your education.
Takashi Inukimi
Mrs. Higurashi stared wide-eyed at the letter she held in such a light grasp that it may have fallen from her hands at any moment. A sense of wonder overcame her as she thought, "How in the world does my daughter know this politician? Then again, why would Kagome even be noticed by her? It's true that Kagome was excelling at the university, but none of the politicians really took much interest in anyone that was studying anything other than law or politics."
The older woman's eyes then narrowed slightly as she looked at her daughter. Suddenly, a terrible thought came to the mother's mind, "A politician that, for all my knowledge, has never been mentioned in any interest that was outside the district she was in control of."
It was a well known fact that Takashi was a stern woman that took everything she wanted. While her district was one of the most beautiful and well cared for, it was also heavily guarded. No one could even go through the lands without permission- or so she had heard. What would a woman like this have to gain from suddenly caring about the fate of a college student?
Kagome stared at her mother and asked, "What do I do?" Her voice sounded so small, even in her own ears. "I planned on going to Baylor and looking for a job next month, but now…"
Mrs. Higurashi grasped her daughter's hands and as she tried to soothe the young woman. Whatever her reasons for doubting this charitable act, it was ultimately not her decision. Kagome was a grown woman and more than capable of making her own choices. "Kagome, you are an adult now and this is your decision to make. Give it some time to think over and then make a decision."
Kagome gave a thoughtful nod as she turned and headed back up the stairs.
~0~
"Perkins!" the tall woman shouted, causing the very disheveled and exhausted looking man to fall off his bar stool and land hard on his back side. A well-built male with completely bleached out hair came to the drunk man's side and lifted him from the floor.
Not one to be ignored, the woman with the long, burgundy hair and pale green eyes glared the man down and informed him, "You can't sleep here. I've already warned you two times that you shouldn't drink at that dive across the way and then sleep it off here! Did Ashley kick you out again?"
The man had a light coating of stubble all over his chin and smelled of old vodka and stale cigarettes. He gave a goofy grin and nodded. "Caught me with the neighbor this time," he informed her.
At least he had enough shame left in him to blush at his indiscretion. The woman only shook her head with an exasperated smile. "I hope you finally realize that's nothing to be proud of."
As the man was hauled out by the bouncer, a familiar face came through the entry doors. His long fingers moved along the surface of the gold medallion around his neck. His inky black hair fell down to the middle of his back and a few forelocks rested over the shoulders of his grey t-shirt. Even with the concealment spell, those in the building that were of their kind could feel his youki, just a bit.
As the doors finally closed behind the bouncer, the hanyou pulled the chained pendant from his neck and took a deep breath. His silver hair was revealed and seemed to glimmer in the dim lights of the club.
"Finally revealing yourself, hanyou?" a random customer that had vibrant green scales called out to the dog-eared patron. The snake demon was sitting in a chair that he had tilted back on two legs as he leaned the back of the chair against the wall.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes and sized up the snake demon and just chose to ignore him rather than pick a fight. Over the centuries he had learned that it was sometimes best to just ignore trouble rather than being baited by it.
The barkeep eyed the snake demon and then moved over to the bar where Inuyasha had taken a seat. "Should I worry that you're going to have another heavy night where I throw you out?"
The hanyou mumbled under his breath and averted his eyes to an interesting spot on the bar as the bartender with pointed ears brought her closed hands to her hips and gave him a scolding look. With a heavy sigh, Inuyasha's ears drooped before he brought his golden eyes to meet her pale green ones. "Fine. I won't get drunk tonight. Ya happy now, Jojo?"
Her lips thinned as she regarded the hanyou she had known since she was a young girl. It killed her inside to see him this way. This was a family friend and a great hero the world had forgotten. She huffed as she grabbed a bottle and poured a shot for Inuyasha.
As she slid the glass to him, she allowed a worried expression to surface. "You've been like this since you got back from Japan. Did you and Sesshomaru get into a fight again?"
He snorted as he gave her an incredulous look. "Keh, we haven't fought in at least a century." His eyes turned away from her again as his expression became more thoughtful. Absently, he reached for the shot glass and downed the potent drink that would take his problems away for a moment. "I left because I don't belong there."
An elegant burgundy eyebrow raised as the woman began to wipe the bar down. "It was your home. Why would you feel like you don't belong there?"
Clawed fingers twirled the empty shot glass on the counter as he turned his thoughtful gaze to her once again. "It was my home. Sesshomaru was the one that was becoming the lord of all he sees. I was just there… I… I don't know why the hell I was there."
At this, she looked up as a thought came to mind. "Did you see her? Is that why you're so thoughtful… and drunk all the time now?"
The hanyou's eyes narrowed as he looked at the demon-witch. It was a well known fact that the he was in love with the miko that traveled with him in the past, but it was also a well known fact that he hated to talk about it… about her. "That shit is none of your damn business, Jojo."
Nodding sadly, the bartender poured him another drink. It was obvious he was hurting and she could deduce that he had not seen his miko. It was even possible that he was upset that he hadn't. She would regret it later, but decided that maybe her long time friend needed to just stay in an alcohol induced coma for a little while. He had only been back a month and this was his hangout every night.
No, that wasn't a good idea. Her calculating green eyes watched as Inuyasha seemed to simply drink the shot and ask for another. It was time to pull him out of his funk before he turned out like he did when they first came to the US 300 years ago. She didn't remember it, but her mother did.
They said that Sesshomaru was actually worried about his half-brother. The thought of Sesshomaru caring about anything was a surprise to her. Inuyahsa had been picking fights with the strongest youkai during daylight and at night, he would drink himself unconscious. He was brought here, to New York. A kitsune and bat hanyou accompanied him everywhere for the longest time.
She sighed as she looked at the bar in front of her. He had finally snapped out of it and had found a way to occupy his time and make money. His eyes shined when he talked about his business and Sesshomaru had decided he could finally leave Inuyasha to the care of Shiori and Shippo while he went off to start his own business and life.
It was she who had been a friend to the hanyou in all his happy moments of starting his business and who was also there when he had been anxious for the time where Kogome would arrive.
To say that name out loud was to face his wrath. While he dearly missed the miko, it was torture for him to be reminded of her- of what he could not have. They had done so much together. Was it truly in the gods' plan that they should be kept separated for eternity? She hoped not. They deserved to be happy.
~0~
A million different quotes and ideas raced through her mind as she hurried to meet Hojo. It was bad enough that she was moving to the United States for the next four or more years, but now she would be moving to Baltimore instead of Houston. A more prestigious college meant that she would possibly be studying even more in order to keep up. That meant she would have less time to write or even visit.
Sure, she had almost all of her needs taken care of, but she still insisted that she find a job to supplement her as well as send money back to help her mom and Souta. Speaking of her income, and her benefactor…
As she hurried to the garden behind the college where they always met, she recognized the tall man at the entrance of the admittance building. It was the man from the night she needed a ride home from the diner.
"Takashi," she breathed as she came to an abrupt halt. The man was wearing a grey suit and had his long hair pulled into a very well-kept black ponytail at the nape of his neck. Those amber eyes did not turn to her as he spoke with Kagura.
Her eyes went wide for a moment when she finally made the connection. "Takashi! That's the politician, Takashi Inukimi… her son!" she whispered with slight awe in her voice. He had taken her home that night.
He reminded her so much of Inuyasha's older brother. The memory of cold amber eyes and long silver hair assaulted her thoughts. He was Lord of the Western Lands, much like this man that had just followed the professor Kagura into the admittance building.
Was the man that took her home a descendent of his? Maybe the daiyoukai was still living at the castle. After all, she knew that he was still in his prime as a demon. Maybe he had passed the lands down to his child and then to the grandchild and so on.
On instinct, her hand went to her mouth with a thoughtful look plastered on her face. She began to swipe the nail over her teeth as the idea that she could somehow find out about Inuyasha from the man- or at least get some information about Sesshomaru, but right now, she was late to meet with her boyfriend/fiancé.
As she made her way to the picnic area, she caught the person she was seeking. He was patiently waiting by the waterside. Why was Hojo always doing that- patiently waiting? It seems that no matter what the event or situation was, the young man was always waiting and hoping for something.
A nasty little thought came to Kagome's mind as she walked quietly toward him, "You know it's not what he's waiting for, but who. He's wanted you all this time. You know deep inside that you could never love him that way and yet you keep stringing him along."
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Kagome closed the distance between them. "He may not be perfect," she told herself, "but he is a good man and that's what I need right now. I have to get over Inuyasha."
All her excuses only amplified as her rational mind tried to stifle them. Hojo turned with his usual bright, hopeful smile. His thin lips pressed to hers and she closed her eyes, trying desperately to hide the fact that she felt nothing inside. It was getting harder and harder to hide it from him, but she continued to tell herself that she would grow to love him one day.
When those soulful, happy eyes met hers, she noticed the slight etch of concern form between his eyebrows. Had she been too obvious?
"What's wrong?" he asked.
She closed her eyes and gave her head a slight shake, offering a fake smile. "Nothing is wrong," she responded. "I will not be staying in Texas after all."
At her admission, he raised a brow.
"I've been accepted to John Hopkins and a generous benefactor has paid all my expenses so it looks like I'll be staying in Baltimore."
Now it was his turn to plaster on a fake smile. "That's great, Kagome!" he offered as he gave her a hug. "You will still be back in another four to six years, right?"
She gave him a nod and another fake smile. "Yeah, sure."
"Then, we can get married and I should be working as an architect by then. I'll make sure to get a nice little place for when you return." He added with a brilliant smile, "Then, we can be married."
And one more time that day, Kagome let out another lie, "Yeah, we'll get married when I get back."