Chapter 7: Adjusting.
Kagome awoke to the same thing the next day. She watched TV, made lunch, and went for a jog, a little longer than the last one. She was still disoriented when it came to the neighborhood and didn't want to stray too far from her house. She did some laundry in the small basement and even went so far as to go through all the drawers and closets in the house to see what all was around. She looked through some photo albums she found in a downstairs closet, and cleaned her house again. As the sun set she sat on her back deck and sipped a cup of tea, watching the sun sink deeper into the spaces beyond. She awaited her friends with a mix of excitement and dread. She just didn't want to tell them that she still didn't remember all the memories they held so close to their own hearts. Sighing Kagome got to her feet when she heard the doorbell ring. She walked quickly to the door and swung it open to find a young man on her doorstep.
"Miss Kagome Higurashi?" The young man asked, smiling.
Kagome nodded, not knowing what else to do.
"I have a package for you." He said pointing to a large box on her front steps.
Kagome nodded and smiled, and even tipped the man with money she had found in a purse in the living room. Picking up the package she half carried half drug it into the living room, but before she could open it the doorbell rang again. Heaving another sigh she once again answered the door, this time to find only Inuyasha there. Welcoming him inside she lead him into the kitchen where they sat in silence for some time.
"Sango and Miroku had a previous engagement tonight and they couldn't get out of it. So I thought maybe this would be a good time for us to talk about things, just the two of us." He said, smiling. Kagome nodded, and exhaled the breath she had been holding.
"That sounds like a good idea." Kagome agreed, getting up to make more tea. Kagome told Inuyasha about the photo albums she had found and how she had tried to remember, but it simply refused to come to her. Inuyasha listened to her tell him of the things she had done to try to jog her memory. About the Jogging, the cleaning, and even going through the house. Kagome sat again across the table from Inuyasha as he told her a little more about her sister, their childhood and the death of her parents. They talked for over an hour before Kagome remembered that she was going to ask Inuyasha about Sesshomaru.
"Inuyasha, at the dinner the other night, you and Sesshomaru seemed to know each other, I was wondering if that's right?" Kagome asked, it was a good a start as any she supposed. Inuyasha looked at her for a long time before he even set his tea down.
"Sesshomaru is my brother, well half brother. We had different mothers, and share the blood of the same father." Inuyasha began. "He and I don't get along well, we never have. We try to avoid each other out of respect, but that isn't always possible." He explained, only adding to Kagome's confusion. "I'll put it like this Kagome, Sesshomaru and I are not close, we never were, and I don't think we ever will be." Inuyasha said flatly.
Kagome nodded blankly, and decided it was best to change the subject. They chatted a while longer this time about Sango and Miroku, Inuyasha told her about Miroku's job, and how his boss had an obsession with her. Kagome couldn't help but shudder as Inuyasha told her about the things Kouga had said to her in the past, and understood why she didn't care much for him from the start. He told her a little about young Shippo and how she always coddled him. Inuyasha stretched and yawned, making Kagome look at the clock. It was nearly dawn, they had talked all night. Inuyasha got to his feet and said goodbye before hurrying home. As Inuyasha got into his car the could have thought he caught sight of a black car pulling away from down the street, but he just shrugged it off and started the car. As the sun rose over the city he drove home, hoping this day would be better than the last for his dear friend.
Kagome waved goodbye to Inuyasha and turned back into the house. She washed the cups that were in the sink and took a quick shower before lying down to sleep. She thought about what Inuyasha had said about Sesshomaru and felt a little disappointed that she couldn't bring herself to ask Inuyasha for his number. Kagome slept well into the afternoon, her dreams haunted by a tall man with silver hair, and a icy glare.
When Kagome awoke she was bound and determined to find him, she had to, if only to thank him again. She changed into comfortable clothes and decided she would try her hardest to find a number for him, or perhaps even find his address and take a taxi out to see him. She searched the house to find a phone-book and finally found one in a desk drawer. She didn't have a cell phone, either because it had gotten lost that night in the ally, or because she never had one. Instead she located a cordless phone in the kitchen. After searching for his name, the only listing he could find with Inuyasha's last name was just that, Inuyasha. She frowned and set the phone-book aside. She laid her head on her arm on the desk and sighed heavily. All at once an idea came to her, and with an uncertain smile she dialed one of the numbers Inuyasha had given her.
"Hello?" A voice said on the other end.
"Is this Kikyo?" Kagome said, hoping it was the right number.
"Kagome, it's nice to hear from you." Kikyo's voice sounded happy as she greeted her.
"I was wondering if you might have Sesshomaru's number, I mean I know he and Inuyasha are kinda family, and I was hoping to get in touch with him." Kagome explained, giving her sister the reason for her call.
"Well I'm not sure if he has it here somewhere or not, but I can look for you." Kikyo said sweetly.
Kagome and Kikyo talked for a few more minutes before they hung up. Kagome was a little more hopeful than she had been before she called and decided it was time to go for her jog. She wandered around the neighborhood for about an hour before heading back home. She walked up her front walk and was surprised when she walked into the house and noticed the box still sitting next to the couch in the living room, in her haste to try to find Sesshomaru she had forgotten all about the box.
Sitting on the couch she slid the box over in front of her and carefully pulled away the tape. She opened the flaps and smiled, folded neatly in the box were all the clothes Sesshomaru had bought for her, and a plain white sealed envelope. She opened the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper and a smaller envelope. She unfolded the paper and noticed the words on it were written in a bold sharp penmen ship. She set the small envelope down and began to read the letter.
Kagome,
I thought perhaps you would like to have these. I bought them for you, and you should be the one to have them. Kaede insisted that it would be right for me to tell you that the house is quite a bit quieter without you here, and Kaede says even the more empty for you're absence. I don't know if you have found out all you need to know yet, but I do hope your memories don't hide from you long. Please take care of yourself, and please call Kaede, she has missed you greatly, and won't stop talking about you in the house.
I have enclosed the house number so you can reach her anytime.
Yours,
Sesshomaru.
Kagome couldn't help but smile, he had said that Kaede had missed her, and in truth she had missed the elder woman quite a it as well, but he had not said anything about him missing her. Not that she thought he would, he just didn't seem the type. She had managed to get the number out of it though, and that alone was enough to make her smile. She would call them later and talk to them both, and let him know that even if he hadn't said he missed her, she had in a strange way missed him.
