AN: I am sooo~ sorry for such a long wait everyone! Please forgive this lowly one!
She looked so small, sitting there in that simple chair. Her knees were drawn up to her chest causing her feet to rest just barely on the cushioned seat, arms wrapped about her legs, and her chin resting on her knees. Wide blue eyes darted all over the place. If any movement was in the owners line of sight, they'd dart there, and follow the cause before being caught by something else.
She reminded them of a frightened child, or a caged or cornered animal. Her current position was the one she had taken up after her little breakdown, and she hadn't really moved since. It was strange to see her in such a state, and even though they didn't know her for that long, it was kinda sad as well. The bloodshot eyes were now clearing up, as well as the swelling from when she had been crying earlier, and now she was sitting there, watching. She had passionately refused to see any doctor or medical personnel, and stayed put in the hanger, where everyone else was.
It was strange. Seemed she had more trust in strange armed people than the ones that were medically trained. All eyes moved down to her feet when they saw her toes scrunch up and wiggle just over the seats edge. If it were any other situation, they would have thought that simple action, cute.
Her body tensed, and her head turned slowly towards the door where the doctors and Simmons had exited earlier. Even though she wasn't facing it directly, they could see her entire attention was solely on the door. They themselves didn't turn till they heard it open and people walk towards where they were all sitting.
Simmons was in the lead, still clutching to her files, and was followed by the two doctors that had tried everything to get close to her. From the look on Simmons face, he was not a happy camper. Leo commented how he looked like he had just sucked on a lemon. Lips were pinched and somewhat tucked in, brows furrowed and eyes narrowed just the slightest amount. The two doctors didn't seem to be helping matters either.
Now, what the man had learned about the girl was... all he could say was, that there was something off about her. Just a week after getting a hole punched into her stomach and she upped and ran all over base, somehow easily avoiding everyone too. The fact that her files were so tightly locked up, tucked into the deepest and most farthest of corners in the Japanese government files also raised a few questions. There were also a lot of blacked out areas on said files.
Her reactions to the NBE's, his eyes slid over to the leader that was speaking with a few of the tech's, was strange. Or perhaps better said, was the lack of reaction. She outright introduced herself, and welcomed them to Earth! Everything about the girl was strange. The thing about her that was the strangest though, not including her actions towards the others and her healing, were her eyes. The coloring themselves was an oddity. Blue. And not a muddy blue, or just one shade, but a whole spectrum of blues and silvers. Not only that, it was the way she looked at you. No fear, not really, and it was rather unnerving. Like she knew everything about a person at first glance.
Though looking at her now, how she curled in on herself, shielding herself from the world, one wouldn't think or even imagine such things about her. Her eyes landed on him, before quickly darting to the two doctors behind him, and he knew in that very second, she was not pleased.
Her eyes narrowed on the two that had tried to get near her after she had been surrounded. Tried being the main word. If it hadn't been for all the armed people surrounding her, she may and most likely would have reacted violently towards them for not understanding the meaning of the word no.
It seemed Mr. File-Hacker wasn't too happy about the situation either. She mentally snorted at that. Good. Buddy learned a quick lesson. Though he was still holding onto her files rather tightly, not that it was gonna do him or the rest of these people any good. But back to the moment at hand. The two doctors. They seemed to be pestering the guy that held her files, said guy was denying them or telling them that whatever they wanted was out of their hands. What they wanted being herself.
Ignoring Mr. Suit, the two doctors made their way towards her with stubborn determination. Not that that was going to help them. Quickly, she jumped out of her chair and placed it between them and herself. She knew her knuckles must be white with the grip she had on the back of the wheeled chair, and that her move startled those closest to her.
"No. Means. No."
"Ms. Higurashi, if you could just..."
"How you got your doctors degree I'll never know. I said no then, I said no just a few seconds ago, and I'm still saying no. Ask me again, and the answer will still be a definite no." the leading doctor narrowed his eyes on her, anger bubbling just under the surface.
"What you have..."
"Is a part of me and I still say no." she was unsure if she should smirk at how angry the doctor was getting, or sigh at how tired she was at repeating herself to the guy.
"Listen here..." she interrupted him a third time, growing angry herself that she was talking to a brick wall.
"No! You listen! I said no, now back off!" she felt her nails digging into the fabric of the chairs back, hearing a few threads rip from the action.
"The girl said no, so do what she says and back off already. You're giving all of us a headache."
Kagome turned slightly so she could see who just spoke up in her defense. It was then she realized it was one of the military men that had been part of the group that had been there when she first ended up in the large hanger. While she assessed the man next to her, she kept an eye on the two doctors that left in a huff.
His hair was either a light brown or dark blond, it was a little hard to tell with the military cut it was styled with, though she was leaning more towards the former. His own brows were furrowed in the direction of the two doctors as well, before settling when he turned his gaze towards her. His hazel eyes were somewhat guarded as they took her in, wary and questioning. Not that she could blame him, she did tend to throw things through a loop, she came to accept that a long time ago.
His face was also masked, something she'd seen often on the men and women that served under her during the war against Naraku, though she knew there was a softness to him. A small but bright glean on his right hand showed a band on his ring finger. A married man. Lucky him... to find something normal and stable beyond the fighting that the world was oblivious too.
"Thank you..." she trailed off, not knowing the man's name.
"Major William Lennox."
"Thank you Major Lennox." She smiled lightly, and bowed her head lightly in thanks.
She could see the slight confusion of her actions in his eyes, not that she could blame him. She had been hostile towards most here, yet respectful and cordial with others. None of them knew how she would act towards who. It left them all guessing to what she would do.
"So... you know why I'm here... Can you share how you got involved in all of this?"
The others watched, somewhat disbelieving at how easily Kagome was conversing with Lennox, an armed and trained man, compared to a couple of doctors. While it was true, that Lennox had yet to actually do or say anything against the girl, it was still odd. Most would have reacted differently in her situation, question everyone and everything, but no. She was taking this all pretty much in stride. Hell, she didn't seem all that put out that there was a giant alien robot walking around and talking with some of military personnel!
"This is so not what I would have expected in such a situation." Leo shook his head as he still watched the two not far from them.
"And how should the situation be playing out?" Mikaela asked as she cuddled closer to Sam's side.
"Well, to be honest... I was expecting more panic... a bit of screaming." he shrugged his shoulders. It would have been the normal thing to do... right?
"What? Like your own little panic attack where you ditched us for about an hour or so?" Sam squeezed the arm that was around his girlfriend's shoulders, glad that it actually was going smoothly with Kagome. It was odd, he wouldn't argue against that, but it was somewhat a relief.
"Hey! My whole world was literally turned upside down!" Leo cried out, brown eyes wide in trying to defend himself.
"And how do you think she feels? We were on the run, she was attacked and out for a week."
All eyes turned to Kagome as she still spoke with Lennox, acting as if nothing actually even happened. Mikaela snuggled in closer into Sam's side, the whole thing that happened to Kagome left her feeling rather cold and unsettled. The fact that the Decepticons attacked directly, at Kagome alone, left her wondering just what the reason was for such a move.
Usually they drew it out, whatever and whenever they were up to something. So for them, or just the one, to strike out of the blue like that, it left her scared and wondering it they were going to strike again. Against who. And when.
Sam tightened his hold on Mikaela when he felt a slight shiver run through her, and gave her a questioning look. She merely smiled lightly and leaned up to kiss him, to which Sam returned whole heartedly.
Kagome paused and turned over towards the others, tilting her head at the scene before her. Sam and Mikaela were making out, practically, unabashed by all that was going on around them. Sure, she'd kissed Inuyasha a few times, but they were alone during each kiss, which weren't many. It was interesting to see that the others weren't at all put out by such a public display of affection.
When the two parted and saw that she had paused to watch them, all three of them, gained various amounts of color to their cheeks. Kagome, for being caught watching and making her feel very much like a pervert, to whom she blamed Miroku. Sam and Mikaela for having someone seemingly so curious about what they just did, almost childlike from such a mature person as far as they knew her.
"What?" Sam decided to break the awkward silence that settled over them.
"Sorry!" Kagome's head snapped to the side, instantly watching... Optimus Prime as he and the others seemed to be observing what was now going on between the young adults.
"It's just that, such displays of affection aren't... really seen in public back in Tokyo. It's just... odd to see it done in the open..." she could feel more blood rush to her cheeks as she trailed off. The difference between herself and Miroku, was that Miroku would milk such a situation only to goad Sango afterward to try something similar. Whereas, she wouldn't. She would be with Sango to give Miroku a good slap.
She could feel amusement roll off the adults as soon as they figured out what she said and understood, nothing sounded around them, but they may as well have been laughing out loud to Kagome. The four young adults, stood in an awkward silence, where Kagome shifted from foot to foot, hoping that their eyes and attention would land on a better subject.
"Could we discuss something else?" she mentally slapped her forehead, she sounded like a lost little girl asking for her mommy.
"Wha...?" Leo's gaze darted from the couple to Kagome and then back. Still somewhat lost at the whole situation, and to what they could possibly talk about to change the focus of said situation before them.
Kagome picked at the chair before her, also trying to think of something that she could change the topic too. While doing so, aimlessly taking in the hanger around her, taking it all in, and at the same time, not really.
"How about... you meet the others?"
Kagome suddenly turned to Leo, and blinked a few times. Others? She tilted her head, and also saw how the others reacted to his question. While Kagome was questioning on the others Leo meant, the others that were within the small group of people all looked at Leo as if he were either a genius or a complete nut case.
Mr. Hacker looked upset really, narrowing his eyes on Leo before turning narrowed eyes to her, making her wonder if he always acted like this, or if she had somehow kicked his proverbial puppy. She was going for more of option three. That he seemed to act in such a way all the time, and when someone did kick his proverbial puppy.
If he knew half of what he messed himself with, namely her and her family, his proverbial puppy would be pissing itself at learning the truth. All thanks to her rather protective family of the better part of the last five centuries. Which she wasn't part of, but that was if you wanted to get technical.
"What are you all looking at me like that?" Leo watched the others around him. From a lost Kagome, to the others that seemed to show a range of mixed amount of emotions.
"It's not like she won't sooner or later. So why not do it when things are calm and not being rushed or forced."
It still amazed how Leo could have moments where he actually spouted something that was smart, and thought out and not his usual nonsense.
"I think the kid has a point." the rest turned to Major Lennox, who just casually shrugged his shoulders when they all turned to look at him. He just smirked and walked off after he heard someone call his name.
Kagome was still very confused at the moment. Who were they all talking about? Others like Sam, Mikaela, and Leo? Like Mr. Hacker and the two doctors? Or more military personnel? Her eyes kept darting to and fro from the three her age to the file thief.
Sam went over what Leo said, also shocked by his idea, but it had merit. Same as the one he had about them meeting earlier, only she was attacked shortly after and the meeting didn't go as planned.
Mikaela just nodded her head, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Why not get it done and over with. She turned to Simmons and had to withhold the laughter that wanted to break out, so she coughed into her hand to also hide her smirk. It seemed that him being out voted was not something that agreed with him.
When all seemed to come to a sort of understanding, they all turned to Optimus that had been watching the whole thing. Kagome who saw this also turned to the large mech standing off to the side. She simply wanted to know what was going on, and from the little that they had shared with her a while ago, it left her with more questions than answers.
"I don't see anything wrong with Kagome Higurashi meeting the others. If you wish..." he nodded his head in her direction, and that was when Kagome felt the whole weight of the topic settle on her shoulders.
Like having been caught studying Sam and Mikaela wasn't embarrassing enough or left her the center of attention, then this sure did the trick. Nibbling on her lower lip, she quickly glanced at the others. Sam, Leo and Mikaela either nodded her head to encourage her or shrugged their shoulders. Pretty much saying it was up to her. Mr. Hacker, she did know his name, but refused to think of him as such currently, seemed to be growing more and more upset that she was quickly learning so much. Which in fact wasn't a whole lot at the moment.
Turning back the Optimus Prime, she shyly nodded her head and spoke up.
"If that is alright with you and the... others." glad that her voice came out sounding more sure than her movements had.
She stepped back when he took the two steps he needed to be rather close, knelt down and presented his hand palm up before her.
"Hop on, it'll get you there quicker. Besides, you're barefoot." she casted a side glance to where Sam was, only to realize they were all behind her and making their way out of the hanger through the large doors at the end.
Shrugging her shoulders, she did as such and climbed into the giant mech's hand. She was thrown somewhat unbalanced when he suddenly stood back up to his full height and started walking forward. It wasn't as graceful as riding on the back of a giant fire cat, but it did still feel pretty awesome.
Sitting on her knees, she peeked down at the others below, who were in turn watching their own proceedings. She crawled over to the edge and looked for the three, seeing that they were now behind, but steadily making their way.
Looking up to the face of the being that was carrying her, she took in his appearance with open curiosity.
"Who am I meeting?"
"The rest of the Autobots that are present here on Earth." his answer was simple, but not in the rude sounding way. He merely seemed to be a being the spoke when needed, and with words that spoke volume in meaning.
When the reached outside, Kagome smiled and turned to face the sun. Eyes closed, resting on her knees, she stretched, ever glad to feel the sun on her skin. The sounds of approaching vehicles though brought her attention downwards, seeing various cars or trucks making their way and stopping in sort of semi circle around them.
Her brows furrowed at the sight of them. Were these other Autobots tinier compared to Optimus Prime, or was it simply a name for... All thoughts came to a sudden halt when the very cars themselves started folding outwards and gained in height.
It was similar to how Kikyo transformed, only from in to out, not out to in.
The sounds of gears whirring, pressured air being released and any other that usually came with mechanical machines echoed around her as she watched beings appear where vehicles once stood. Standing up, she moved to the very edge of Optimus Primes hand and watched as parts spun and twisted, limbs formed where none were a mere few seconds ago. Her eyes couldn't stay on one being alone, as there was so much going on, too much to take in.
She stood in awe of these beings as they finally finished their transformations and stood proudly and all taking her in.
"Dear Kami..." she had no idea what to do with herself. If to hold the gasp the wanted to be let out, or just gasp. Fall to her knees or continue standing. Shivers ran up and down her spine from the slight amount of energy that was released. That same electrical static sort of feeling, and like Sam's car it was a whole lot more comforting than that that had surrounded Kikyo.
Speaking of Sam's car, Kagome's eyes fell on the smallest yellow of the group before her and her brows pinched together. She hadn't really been paying attention to the cars themselves until they all started transforming.
Moving to the side she looked down and saw the that others had made it and were standing just below where she was.
"Sam?" all looked up to her.
"Yeah?"
"Are you saying, that your car, is in fact a robot alien?"
"Uh, yeah. He kinda is."
"Oh." she leaned back and turned back to the robot aliens before her.
"Kagome, I would like you to meet Bumblebee, my lieutenant and Sam's guardian." the small yellow mech moved forward and gave her a sweeping bow that had her giggle at the silliness of it all.
"Ironhide, our weapon specialist." a stocky black and slightly taller then Bumblebee mech seemed to grumble under his breath before raising his arms at her. Her eyes widened when she realized that each arm was... armed. A large cannon on his left arm, and what seemed more like a rocket launcher on his right.
She scuttled back and muttered a hello to him.
"N-nice... can-cannons..." the last time she had been on the receiving end of an cannon, it went off in her face. She couldn't quite recall what it had fired actually.
"Finally! A human who appreciates them!" she just swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded her head with a sheepish smile on her face. They did look rather intimidating, and she guessed many of their enemy fell because of them. She was glad she was on their happy side. For now.
"Our medical officer, Ratchet." another yellow mech, but taller then the first two stepped forward and swept it's gaze over her form and then tilted his head.
"Scans show that the female is fully healed." if all eyes hadn't been on her before, they were now. Looking down at herself, she was left to question how it could learn that so quickly. Then she remembered. Robot aliens! Souta would so love to be in her spot right now.
When the weight of all of them looking on her was becoming a little too much, Kagome coughed into her hand and looked off to the side and then up.
"Oh look! Such wonderful weather today!" a nervous laugh escaped past her lips rather pathetically and her hands seemingly twittered about.
"Don't worry about him Kagome. He does that." a call from below had her looking over the edge. Now, that one raised a brow. And feeling rather mischievous she couldn't help but ask.
"Do tell. Are you speaking based on personal experience Sam?" she heard snickers from all around and watch as both Sam and Mikaela fidgeted now that they were put on the spot.
After Optimus Prime also let out a chuckle he resumed back to the introductions those that had recently rejoined them. He watched as the tiny human greeted each and every Autobot, there was no fear, or hesitation in her actions, she easily accepted each and every one of them with a small smile on her face.
Her head tilted to the side lightly as she spoke with Ratchet about being able to run some tests later, but it seemed something had caught her attention. When she excused herself from said conversation, she turned to Optimus Prime and simply asked if she could be put down.
She thanked him and readjusted the scrubs and turned to face the inner hanger, noticing two familiar faces being led to where she and the others stood. She smiled warmly when a certain set of green eyes caught her own, and the owner of said green eyes rushed the rest of the way to meet her. She had barely open her arms before a solid warm body grabbed onto her own.
He shook with his suppressed emotions as he held her in his arms. His face was buried into her stomach, greedily taking in her scent which was somewhat tainted from hospital and mechanical scents. His hands fisted the back of her shirt, daring beyond anything that this was not a dream, hoping it was real.
The others watched the two. It was odd. A grown man had latched onto her in such a way, and she in turn simply held him to her. She stood between his knees, and she ran her fingers through his disheveled hair. The rest looked up to see a second unfamiliar face walking along side with General Morshower and Banachek.
"And I thought she wasn't looking for that sort of relationship." Leo muttered under his breath. He was mentally cursing the unfairness at how every hot woman he came across seemed was either interested in Sam, Alice sadly included, or was already taken.
"I'm not. And our relationship is not what you think." Kagome spoke up as she held her Shippo, not once looking up from her son. She softly hummed under her breath as she combed her fingers through his hair.
Placing both hands on either side of his face, she managed to get him to look up at her. Even with his disguise on, she could see how he really looked and her brows furrowed in sadness. His eyes were red from lack of sleep, the bruising under his eyes were also a sign to mark that. His entire appearance was disheveled, and he seemed to have looked a might skinnier. It seems in the entire week she had been out, he hadn't eaten or slept.
"I'm sorry for making you worry." she leaned down and kissed his brow. Standing back up straight, he leaned so his ear was over her heart. He had always said the sound of her heartbeat was soothing and helped him sleep when he was a kit. She just simply resumed running her fingers through his hair.
Looking up, she greeted Sesshoumaru, her finger not stopping or slowing in the task of easing and soothing her son.
"Aniki."
That simple word caused him to falter, though to others, it would merely be seen as a slight pause in his step. A millisecond of a time skip so to speak. His next actions caused her hands to freeze, eyes to widen and Shippo to look up at the old inu as if he had lost his mind.
"I would like to apologize."
Kagome blinked a couple of time, taking in Sesshoumaru's bowed form. She opened her mouth to say something, but sadly, nothing came out. Well, a second later she yelped after Shippo pinched the skin on her wrist.
"Ah- apology accepted?"
He stood tall again after those words and made his way towards her. When he reached her, he bent down and placed a kiss on her brow. A sign of acceptance, of family, to the inu.
"Thank you."
Kagome leaned back and eyed him as if he grew a second head, or would that be two extra heads? Shippo himself also stood up, though made sure to keep some form of physical contact. With a hand at the small of her back he spoke up when he gained his attention.
"These two men wish to speak with you Ka...gome." she shakily nodded her head and allowed herself to be led away.
"It was an honor to meet all of you!" she turned and waved at the Autobots still standing around, and then turned to greet the two men. The rest stood off to the sides, dumbfounded that Kagome was easily swept away and left them in the dust.
"Hey! Wait up!" Leo's call brought them out of their thoughts and all followed after the strange young woman
The next half hour proved to be oddly entertaining, as Kagome signed a gag order. Pretty much stating she was not to share anything she had heard, learned or seen while on the base. She just nodded her head and signed away, but immediately after, asked about what would happen to Simmons since he acquired her own files, illegally.
Things got interesting when she was asked how she managed to heal so quickly from such a wound. Her brother spoke up, stating that he and a few others would return to explain, with their own gag orders to be signed.
"Who will be coming along?"
"My associate here, along with Kagome and myself, will return at a later date better prepared to answer your questions."
"Understandable. Please don't take to long, seeing as the enemy was after Miss. Higurashi specifically, I would like to have a member of the Autobots assigned as her guardian as soon as possible." General Morshower replied.
Kagome coughed slightly into her hand when Sesshoumaru's eyes sliced directly towards her, she knew what that look meant and was not looking forward to it. A few more words were uttered between the two before Kagome was riding Shippo piggy-back towards their ride back home.
"When we get home, I'm going to cook up some bacon, eggs and pancakes." Kagome hummed, her chin resting on Shippo's shoulder as her own arms dangled out in front.
"You mean with blueberries?" Kagome chuckled at the eagerness in his voice and shrugged her shoulders.
"If that's what you want, then sure. Blueberry pancakes it is."
Her face suddenly frowned, lips puckered into a slight pout.
"I also want milkshakes..."
The others simply watched as the strange... family left the hanger, their voices still easily heard.
"After your pancakes and milkshakes, you will meet me in the dojo."
Just as the door was about to close they could hear a whined out cry from Kagome.
"You're too cruel!"
The door shut, leaving only an echo of Kagome's parting words towards her brother leaving most of the adults with small smirks. General Morshower shook his head to clear his thoughts. Today... had not been a normal one. Then again, ever since he had been pulled in with working along side the Autobots, nothing was really normal anymore.
"Do you already have one that would best protect the girl?" Optimus looked down at the human General, his blue optics shifting slightly.
"I have a few in mind, but until we knew the full details pertaining to her, it will have to wait."
The General nodded his head in understanding. Plan things out twice before acting. He took the teens in, now in their own little world, Simmons was sitting at the table talking to Banachek looking slightly put out, and Lennox and Epps were off to the side, still looking at the door where the girl and her family left through.
"Something on your mind boys?" they were his two more trusted men, if they were this deep in though, what they had to say was something he would like to hear.
"Her reaction to all of this. It was too calm, relaxed." Epps pinched his lips a little and shrugged his shoulders.
"We think, get the feeling, that she's been through something like this before." Lennox finished off.
Both men turned towards their commanding General, faces firm, if not slightly questioning.
"Her posture when she first came in here, very similar to that of those that had been in enemy territory. And afterward, though relaxed, she was always facing a clear path towards an exit and in a position ready for action. We think she's seen, if not involved, in battle."
It was then all eyes turned towards the doors. Morshower let out a sigh, realizing what they said was true, and mentally cursing himself for not have noticing it himself earlier.
"Wait, you're saying she been to war?" they all looked to a disbelieving Mikaela.
"Not only that, we think she may have been a prisoner of whatever war she may have been a part of as well."
Morshower and Banachek shared a quick look before the latter took Simmons in.
"What did you learn on the girl, both from her files and after she woke up?"
Simmons looked from from his seat at the table, placing the files he had clutched so tightly to, and opened them, frown deepening at all the black he saw. He opened his mouth and started a report on what he knew.
AN: Okay... it's been a while, and I'm truly sorry for making everyone make for such a long time. Life has just been, not as awesome as it could have been. Problems in the family, me working on my portfolio so I can hopefully get into a Graphic Design school. Yeah, life has been pretty hectic and full of, not so awesome surprises.
I've been working on all my fics as best as I could since my last update on my major stories. And as my muse is a fickle thing, new stories have also popped up as well. Not sure about posting them, but we'll see. I will be sticking to updating a story every Friday, so expect either an update to one of the other stories being updated, or a completely new crossover!
Until then, review! You don't know how awesome your guys reviews make me feel and fuel my muse. You guys share ideas with me and while I do have a plan, it's interesting to see how you see what could happen next.
~ Bunny.W.K