Inuyasha (Revised)
HOL-LY CRAP! It's sure been a loooong time since I've updated! Sorry for keeping you all so in the dark! I was actually sick for a long time, so that's why it took such a long time to get back on this. But now that I'm back, I've got a good chapter waiting. Now, this chapter is not at all anything that happened within Inuyasha, so be prepared for that. I really wanted to shake up this story a bit and make it more personal, ya know? Well, let me know how you like this addition, and will have more up in the coming weeks! Love you all! Thanks so much for reading!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA
Ch. 9: Home Sweet Home
"You heard me, I'm going home." I stated, straight faced at Inuyasha.
"You can't go home! We have jewel shards to find!" Inuyasha yelled out, clearly irritated.
"Haven't you ever heard of a break? Besides, I need to go back and see my family; they're going to assume I'm dead or something if I don't return soon!" I said as I began walking off.
"Where the hell are you going?!"
"Chill, man. I haven't seen my family in almost a month, I need to go home. Also, I need a break."
I had been begging Inuyasha as of late to take me back to the village, but he wasn't having any of it. "You can't go home yet, there are tons of shards still out there!" he would say. I couldn't put up with it any longer and told him that if he didn't take me home, then I'd go home myself, and that 's exactly what I intend to do.
"FINE! I'll take you back to the village so you can go back to your freaking home! Happy now?"
"Very!" I chirped happily as I trotted along.
"Finally, some peace" Miroku said in relief.
"You said it!" agreed the fox demon.
The whole way back, Inuyasha was being a moody grump, but that didn't matter to me, because I was going home! I was going back to my mother's cooking and a warm bed. As much I've loved being out here, I still missed my home dearly. It'll be great to go back after so long.
After much travel, we made it back the village safely. I jumped at the chance to find my way back to the well with the group on my heals. I said my goodbyes and made my way atop of the well. I stopped there, though.
"I will see you all in a few days" I said with a sure smile.
"Just go already" Inuyasha said stubbornly. I rolled my eyes, but could not hold back my smile, he's gonna miss me.
With one last look at everyone, I jumped into the well and made my way through the blue star-y-ness until I was back in the well at my house. Once I was there, I began searching for the vines I've learned to use as my latter. When I finally found them, I grabbed hold and began climbing.
When I climbed out of the well, I was happy to notice that nothing had changed. Though I've been gone for only a few weeks, it's felt like an eternity. I slid open the back door and invited myself back into my house.
"Mom! I'm back!" I yelled out cheerfully, I was so excited to see my mother again and couldn't wait to tell her what had been happening.
"In the kitchen, dear!" I heard my mom yell from the kitchen. I proceeded in that direction.
When I got to the kitchen, I noticed that someone else I did not recognize was with my mother in the kitchen. He was around my age with big doe eyes and honey brown hair, and then I remembered who he was.
"Kagome! Welcome back!" My mom yelled out and went over to hug me. She step back to let me breath again. "Kagome, you remember Hojo, don't you? He's back up here for a business meeting.
Hojo was my childhood best friend; we did everything together, all up until that day.
"Of course!" I tried to swallow my awkwardness, but it still showed. He began to extend his arm out for a shake, and all I wanted to do was swat it away from me, but my mom was watching, so I had no choice but to do the extend my hand out as well. I clenched my teeth and bit my tongue.
"It's been a long time, Kagome. Glad to see you're doing alright" He said with a courteous coolness that made me wish my mother wasn't watching so I could bash his face in. Like the business man he is, I don't know him anymore. "Likewise" was all I could say.
"I'll just let the two of you catch up" my mom said before she went back up stairs, leaving only Hojo and I alone.
"Walk outside with me" he must have read my thoughts.
As we walked out the door, the sun was just starting to set and the autumn air was beginning to feel cooler.
"Man, how long has it been since I was here?"
"Six years" I said with acid in my voice.
"Six whole years, it feels like-"
"Why are you here?" I cut in coldly. He looked away, but when his face returned to mine, he wore a sad expression. He almost looked a boy again.
"Your dad wanted me to give you something" his voice was solemn.
"It'd be better for you not to waste your energy here, Hojo" I said bitterly and turned on my heal.
"He told me this was yours by right and believes you should have it"
Slowly, I turned myself back around to face my childhood friend. When I did, I noticed that he was holding in his hands a long object that was delicately wrapped in cloth.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"A sword"
"A….sword?" No, way….does he mean to give me…When I finally realized what this was, I knew there had to be something terribly wrong with my father. I tried hard to keep my composer.
"Why would he give me his prized possession? I'm sure he loved it more then he loved me and mom" I spat out bitterly, not knowing what else to say. Surprisingly, my voice did not falter and I managed to keep my cool.
"Don't say that! He loves you very much!"
"Oh yeah, then tell me why he left mom for another woman when she was sick?! Tell me why he chose to abandon us at the worst possible moment?! Tell me why?!" I blurted out angrily as I grabbed the hem of his shirt violently towards me. I finally realized my actions when he looked back at me with blank eyes that stared straight into mine. I could feel my anger turn to tears in my eyes, betraying every one of my defenses. I quickly had to look away before he noticed how weak I was being. I took one shaky breath to regain myself enough and said, "That's a lie. He never loved me or mom. So why is he giving me this?"
"Because it is his dying wish for his daughter to have his sword" Hojo said straight faced.
I almost faltered then, but I didn't. "It looks like the old man's time has finally come" I said with a straight, unwavering face.
It was Hojo's turn to be angry. "What's wrong with you, Kagome?! Your father, your own flesh and blood, is dying and you don't even care! He gave me his sword to give to you, does that mean nothing?! You and I both know that means more than life itself, Kagome! At least you have a father, Kagome! One you spent half of your life with, and a father who truly loves you!" Hojo was livid with anger, clenching the sword angrily in his hand.
"Is that what this is all about?! You don't have a father, so you see my father as yours, and now that you've come back years later, you want to try and convince me that my father loves me the way he "loves" you?!"
Before I knew it, those words were out of my mouth without a filter. I immedietly felt bad for what I had just told him. I could see could see how deep my words had cut him as he turned cold and steely towards me.
"You know what, Kagome? I'm done. Whether you see your father or not is of none of my concern, goodbye." He left, then. Leaving behind the sword and a paper with an address of a hospital and a room number on it.
I followed the address and the room number straight to my father. He was asleep in his hospital bed when I finally got to him. He looked so thin and frail and his face had sunken in. It was in that moment when I truly realized that he was on the brink of death. I grabbed a chair that was in the room and sat next to him for what seemed like hours, contemplating the whole time whether I should leave him or stay. I ended up staying.
When he finally came to, he gave a horrible wheezing cough a partially opened his eyes.
"Ka…Kagome…..my daughter…you have come…"
It was incredibly difficult to see him like this. I had to fight hard to keep my tears at bay. There was no way I would let him see me cry after what he had done to mom.
"yes, papa. It's me" I said in my most indifferent tone I could muster, trying to ignore the fact that my own father was dying right before my eyes. He could never know how truly weak I was inside.
"You really came" he said with a ghost of the voice he used to have. He looked up and smiled a true warm hearted smile that made him look like some happy-go-lucky little old man who was not at all my father.
"Yes, and what was it you wanted to tell me?" I said, straight faced. I watched as his face go from blissful to confused and sad. He let a few tears steak down his cheeks before talking again.
"Kagome, I know what I did was terrible, but this is not the time. I am dying, child"
"Just because you are dying now, does not mean it atones for what you have done; what you have put my mother through" I said in an angry tone.
"Kagome, please, this is not the time for this"
"When is the time for this, then? Because it seems like you're running out, and I need some questions answered. Let's start with an easy one, why did you send Hojo after me to give me your blade?"
"Isn't it obvious? You need it more than I do and because you are my child, you are the one who rightfully deserves it."
"So you gave it to me in hopes that it would make up for all the pain you've put me through, to win me over, is that correct?"
"Kogome, I know that I cannot take back what I have done, but right now, I want you to have it. Not because I thought it would win you over, but because you are my child, whether you want to believe it or not *cough* *wheeze*"
I bit my lip and looked the other way, not wanting to look at his sunken-in face. I really didn't know how much I could take of this. I couldn't find the words to say to him then.
"Kagome" my father croaked. I couldn't help but turn my head back towards him and lightly grab his hand, but I was strong enough not to show him how weak I really was. "I'm afraid my time here is up. Kogome, you are my child and I love you". His voice feather light as he said those last words and his hand grew limp in mine. I could almost feel the heat that left from his body as I carefully let my hand let go of his. Then I grabbed the sword he had entrusted me with, and was on my way, feeling completely numb.
With my father's blade in hand, I unconsciously found my way back to the well, where I crossed over to the Feudal era. After I climbed out of the well, I finally collapsed, letting out all of the tears I had been guarding. I never moved from this spot, for I could cry in peace. I never wanted show how weak I was.
