Okay y'all, put down the sporks and torches. Next chapter is up.
Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but the Alternate Universe this story takes place in (as well as the story) belongs to me.
Chapter Eleven: Where I Belong?
April 23
THUMP!
"Ow!"
Kagome landed face first after falling through the light. The pain shooting through her nose made her wonder if she had broken it. That wouldn't be good. After all, there weren't exactly a whole lot of good plastic surgeons where she was.
Digging her fingers into the grass, she quickly pushed herself up to her knees. Only… it wasn't grass…
"Kikyo!"
Before she could get her bearings, a pair of arms surrounded her, knocking her slightly off balance. Drops of water hit her face and neck. Tears, she realized numbly. Suddenly she was forcefully thrust away. She managed to keep her balance and jumped to her feet in case of another attack. After blinking a couple of times, she got a look at her assailant. It was a man. A man who looked vaguely familiar.
"Hojo?"
It looked like him, but only barely. He was way too thin and gaunt, as if he hadn't eaten in weeks. His eyes were wide and seemed to be slightly sunken in. They were so red that she could barely tell what color they were. To say that he was disheveled would actually be a compliment. When was the last time he combed his hair? Or changed his clothes? Or shaved? Or brushed his teeth?
She felt bad for her unkind thoughts, until he grabbed her by the arms and began shaking her like a rattle.
"Where is Kikyo?"
"I… I don't know…" She was home?
"WHERE IS KIKYO?"
"I don't know!" She looked around the room frantically. Yes, she was definitely on the other side. The wrong side.
"Bring her back!"
His face was streaked with tears. Her heart hurt for him. But the feeling of his hands on her arms was setting her teeth on edge. She was a bit startled that he was still touching her. After all, Inuyasha never let anyone touch her, let alone shake her.
Inuyasha.
Suddenly her heart no longer had room to hurt for Hojo. She had her own pain.
Pushing Hojo aside, Kagome looked for the mirror, but only saw her own desperate reflection. She had to get home. She had to get back to Inuyasha. Her fingers hit the solid glass as she tried to push her way back through. She clawed at the mirror. Hit it. Yelled at it. Threatened it. Begged and pleaded with it. But the glass continued to be a simple mirror.
"Daddy?"
Kagome and Hojo turned to the doorway to see a little girl in her pink pajamas. After wiping his eyes, Hojo held out his arms for his daughter.
"Kaede. I want you to meet someone."
Kaede walked over to her grieving father and gave him a hug and a comforting pat on the cheek. Then she turned to their unwitting guest.
"Hello, Aunt Kagome."
Kagome and Hojo looked at each other in surprise. Throughout the years they had been careful to keep Kaede away from this fantastical part of life. Instead Kikyo and Hojo told the story through bedtime stories and fairytales. Kagome had the unsettling feeling that Kaede knew so much more than a three year old should. Her eyes were not the eyes of a small child. They reminded her of… well… of the other Kaede. Calm and wise.
"Uh…hi, Kaede."
The little girl untangled herself from her father's arms and went over to Kagome, who was slumped on the floor by the mirror. Kaede reached over and pat her cheek too.
"It will be okay," she said.
Kagome laughed. It seemed silly to be comforted by such a small child. Kikyo's child. Then Kagome cried.
ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOoo
It seemed like hours before Kagome was able to stop crying, often accompanied by Hojo. Kaede had watched patiently. Eventually Kagome washed her face and brushed her hair, then called her mother. She would not, however, let the mirror out of her sight.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
"Hello?" The voice was tired, but wary. Kagome hadn't bothered to look at the clock. It had been so long since she had to worry about what time it was.
"Hi, Mama."
"……." There was silence, then a slow, deep inhale. "Kagome?" she whispered.
Kagome meant to say something witty. Something to make her mom smile or laugh. But she couldn't do anything besides cry. Who would have thought that she even had tears left to shed?
"Shhh… shhhh… its okay, Kagome. Everything is going to be okay. Take a deep breath, baby."
The deep breath helped a little, and Kagome was finally able to find her voice.
"I'm at Hojo's. I don't know how I got here, Mama." Her voice wavered, but at least she was able to get the words out.
"I'll be there in a few minutes, baby." Her mother's voice squeaked a little. "Oh, how I've missed you!"
Kagome hung up the phone with shaking fingers as she struggled to control her out of control emotions. She was going to see her mother again. She was going to get to actually touch her. Hug her. Kiss her cheek. A part of her felt guilty for that small kernel of happiness.
The wait wasn't long. In fact, she hardly got a chance to start berating herself for feeling happy to see her family again before the front door was flung open. Evidently Kikyo and Hojo had not moved far away from her family.
"KAGOME!"
"SIS!"
"KAGOME!"
Her lip trembled as she heard the familiar voices. Jumping up she met the woman at the door. They both cried and talked and cried some more as they hugged each other. Then her brother and grandfather took turns giving her awkward hugs.
"Mama… I missed you. I missed you all."
"We missed you too, Kagome."
"What was it like?" asked her younger brother excitedly. "Did you really hunt demons? Did you get to kill any? Are Inuyasha's ears real? Are you back for good? Did you…"
Kagome's mother gently put a finger on her son's mouth. "We'll have time for questions later, Souta. Why don't you and Grandpa take Kaede to the kitchen and make us all some tea. Perhaps some sandwiches would be nice, too. We will join you in a moment."
Souta huffed, but did as he was told.
After closing the door, the woman turned to Kagome and Hojo.
"I am happy to see you, Kagome. But I know that this is not where your heart lies. There is always hope." She held out her arms for her son-in-law and her daughter to walk into. The three held on to each other. Each in tears.
"Everything will work out in the end," she promised softly.
ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOoo
Author's Note: Thanks for your reviews! I'll keep writing whether or not I get reviews, but they really make my day. Well, maybe not death threats or promises or dire retribution, but other than that I enjoy them. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Yes, I know that it is shortish, but variety is good for the soul. Sorry it took so long to update. Been having Internet issues. Arg.
Next chapter we get to take a little visit and see how Inuyasha and Kikyo are holding up. Y'know, see if they've killed each other or not. :o)
