HTF

Chapter 21

~~The Shopping Cart Accident~~

Disclaimer: I can't own Naraku…. Inuyasha wants his head too much.

~~Ms. Higurashi~~

I leave Kagome's room; or rather I'm ushered out with Gumo's hand firmly pressed in the small of my back. Neither one of us breathe a word down the hallway. His touch vanishes as we descend the stairs. With each step I feel sadder, older.

"Gumo?"

"Yes?" He answers without looking at me.

I sigh tiredly. "Please don't play rough with them again, please?"

He nods his head in the corner of my eye. My eyes wash over the dinner I had made for everyone, the roast beef swimming in broth with veggies, corn and rolls on the side. I was so hungry a minute ago, but I can barely look at the food now.

Maybe I'll go take a shower instead. I bet I'll feel better then.

I mention to Gumo to go ahead and eat, but he's already wolfing down his third roll right next to Sota. I smile at his teenage-like hunger and go to retrieve some pj's from my bedroom. I walk into the bathroom and lock the door behind me.

After two children, I've learned it's safer to lock the door than to hope no one barges in. I light a match and ignite the candles father will only allow- youki purifying candles. Without him knowing, I have in the past put vanilla oil in and around the candle so that it gives off a pleasant scent. Once the candle successfully burns, I remove my clothing.

I step into the shower and think back to the first time I met Gumo.

FLASHBACK!

Corn, quarter-pound hamburger meat, hamburger buns, chips, corn, beans, tea bags, chips-wait!

I skid my cart to a stop. I quickly pull out my makeshift grocery list and double-check myself.

Corn. Got it!

I speed around the corner, nearly sending an elderly woman flying over the tangerine display.

I kind of wish Kagome had given me a heads-up about her being here for her own graduation! I don't have anything planned! Oooohhhh! This is going to be rushed!

I snatch an ear of corn off the shelf, still running, and round the corner into the chip isle. I zoom about the store, grabing, running, nearly shoving people into the floor.

I almost have everything I need. I just need to get the meat and I'll be ready to cook.

I dash down the cereal isle, the quickest short-cut to the meat section, when my cart collides with something.

Darn! Now I'm not going to have enough time to make the caramel n` chocolate lava cake for Kagome…

I quickly bend over to collect my spilled goods, a masculine hand stops me. I look up.

Above me is a very sexy man, almost equal to Kagome's father; he smiles down at me.

He whispers something, but I'm in such a momentary daze I don't pick up what he said.

"What?" I ask, my eyes fluttering as I try to compose myself.

He shakes his head, his dark hair rippling behind the action. He offers to help me with my turned over cart and we walk around the store. We talk for so long, laughing and smiling at each other, that I have to rush the cashiers and the bag-boy. Just as I am about to leave, he asks if he can see me again.

"Sure, don't see why not." I make a grab for the bag with multiple cans, but he beats me to it.

"Here, let me." He looks around and a thought crosses my mind. "Where's your car?"

"Um, I don't have one. I just walk."

"This is too heavy for one block's worth of a walk. Come on," he jerks his head to a black car. "I'll take you home, if it's okay…?"

"Alright…." We make our way across the lane to his ride. "By the way, what's your name?"

He juggles the bags into one hand, taking his keys out with the other. He places the bags in the trunk and unlocks the car.

He mirrors my action of opening the door and just stands there, looking past me.

"mmm…. Just call me 'Gumo.'"

I smile and sit inside.

Past tense flashback!

He drove me to my house and even helped me with the groceries. I tell him I have to cook and ask if he would like to come to dinner tonight, explaining that it would be a special occasion with Kagome's graduation. Gumo gratefully accepts my offer and takes his leave.

For the rest of the evening I cooked, and cooked, and cooked. Then Inuyasha came in asking what I was doing, later coming home with live fish and pigeons! After I found a cockroach and exclaimed so, Inuyasha, trying to help, smashed half of my kitchen. He and Kagome left for the feudal era, leaving me to clean the rest of the used-to-be-would-be dinner. Gumo arrives on time and, even though there wasn't any food, stayed to help me clean up.

Kagome and Inuyasha never got to meet him. And everytime Gumo's been over, those two would always be on the other side of the well.

End Of Flashback!

I glance at the bath tub. A purple-like goop is sliding down my body and into the drain. I examine my shampoo, but it's blue.

That's strange…

I grab my poof and scrub the rest of the goop away.

There, that's better….. Oh my god! Kagome!

I turn the shower off with a flick of my hand. I snatch the towel off the toilet; making myself dry quick enough to follow my train of thoughts.

I'm such a terrible mother! What kind of mother would just leave her unconscious daughter on the floor! I even saw the bruises! Gah!

I untangle myself from becoming a mermaid in my shorts and correctly place the left leg in the left hole; the tank hurriedly following in suit. I make a mad-dash down the hall.

I hope, pray, she'll forgive me.

Still wet, I slide down the hall, catching myself in the doorway. My eyes zero-in at the spot where I last saw my baby, but she's not there.

My eyes dart all over her room until I spot Inuyasha sitting up in her bed.

He's holding her, rocking the both of them; his head buried in her neck.

I analyze Kagome more closesly.

I step back.

No….

My hand covers my mouth as I shake my head – to deny what I believe has happened.

No!

Inuyasha looks up at me then, eyes red from the tears streaming his cheeks. His grip on Kagome's limp body slacks slightly, then tightens.

"She's… Her heart's…"

He bends his head down to look at my baby, his tears falling onto her beautiful face.

No!

"Her heart's stopped beating…"

I do the one thing any mom would do.

I snap.

A/n: Hey guys! Thanks for staying! School has been something else, something harder, this week, or else I would have updated earlier.

So now what do you think of Mama Higurashi?

It's the weekend, so I promise to update before it's over.

;3