Inuyasha©Rumiko Takahashi
Beta Reader: MissKatt.
Still PRIMERO
52
On the other side
A gasp made Kagome press her lips together. A subtle anger ignited deep inside her, but she pushed it aside and hastened her steps. She knew what was coming and she hated it. It happened time and time again and every time it made her fickle temper sharpen.
"You see her eyes?" A student boy whispered openly, "I've never seen ones like that before."
A low chuckle rang in her ears, "I know," the other boy said smugly, "I like them. That's the golden girl."
One of the boys stumbled on his feet and Kagome could hear the wind as he whirled abruptly. Then she felt his eyes dig in the back part of her head. Instinctively, her hand gripped her bag tighter. It would serve no good to turn and glare at him nor would it help to ignore it. It was a terrible cycle she had no idea on how to get out off.
"That's the girl?" asked the student now a good ways away. There was no need for whispers now. What he didn't know was that Kagome, with her enhanced hearing, could hear him still. "I heard she was a very ill girl back in middle school; that she entered an experimental treatment which made her eyes change color."
"It's true," the older boy said smugly and started to walk away as he proudly answered the younger boy's many questions.
Kagome internally fumed. She was glad her grandpa had managed to find a way to allow her to keep her high school studies, but it was really annoying. She was not sick; she mated an inu-Taiyoukai. Of course, no one would believe or care for her silly stories so she had to argue it with her pillow…and her grandpa.
Depressed and irritated, she started the walk back to the Shrine. Her friends didn't hang out with her as frequently now. Not because they loved her less, but she had grown gloomier with the passing of the months and had purposely become anti-social. It made her feel guilty sometimes, but she couldn't help it.
Her heart ached in a terrible way. There was this never ending feeling of loss and longing that would drive her crazy some days. Other days she cried to exhaustion while some others she growled at everyone.
She missed Sesshomaru so much.
A resigned sigh left her dry lips and her eyes narrowed despairingly. Two years had passed since she had wished the Shikon away and had been sealed on her side of the Well. Hatori tried to cheer her up most days, but even he knew she was breaking. He told her stories about the past during dinner time, but now she concentrated on every nuance of his voice. Back then, before her fifteenth birthday, she had dutifully ignored him, but now things were different. He refused to tell her about the past and only shared some of his tales during the afternoons. At first she had hated him for it, but as everything else, she learned to resign herself to the wait.
Most of Hatori's stories involved an inuhanyou and his miko mate. Others involved tales of the Slayer Twins. Those turned out to be full of drama and danger and she couldn't help, but grin every time she heard something about them. Sango and Miroku's girls turned out to be a Feudal danger. Not only were they ferocious fighters, but they obsessed about unsuspecting villagers more often than not. It was hilarious to imagine the twins behaving in a Miroku manner…and highly amusing and embarrassing too. Sometimes, but not many, he spoke of a red-haired kistune. The kitsune had become the Lord of a clan and ruled honorably. He even said rumors told that he lived to the present. That would make her very happy…to see Shippo again.
"Ah, Kagome-chan," called her grandpa from the top of the stone stairs as he waved down at her with his fateful broom at hand, "You are here early."
Kagome's eyes softened into a 'whatever' mode and she tilted her head just so in a silent rebellion she's had since her return, "You said I would go back soon," she muttered in exasperation, "Just when is it…soon?"
A helpless grin lighted his thin lips and he raised his hands in a placating manner, "Soon," he said with a bite of laughter, "Forgive this senile mind."
"Senile my…" growled Kagome as she walked up the steps and glared at her mate's grandfather, "You say Sesshomaru is alive and in this time," she said with an angry pout, "Then why doesn't he come see me!" she cried angrily and blinked back tears, "I really miss him, I do!" she screamed and threw her bag to the floor in one of her unusual tantrums.
Hatori smiled gently, "Pup," he began with a patient voice, "He doesn't dare risk with the timelines," he explained for the hundredth time, "You are alive and with him. He's bonded to that you…he fears something negative could happen."
Tears began to trail down Kagome's eyes and she cleaned them with the back of her hand stubbornly, "I know!" she cried and stormed past Hatori, bag forgotten, "But it hurts!"
Hatori sighed sadly and picked up her bag and followed her inside the house.
xxoOoxx
The next morning Kagome rushed through her morning rituals at double speed. Again she had woken up later than she should, but what could she do? She worried her soul out at night wondering how Sesshomaru was doing, or her group. What had the West done about the new Lordly status, Tohru's pup? There were so many things to worry about.
Socks on, she jumped down the stairs and went to the kitchen. Souta was currently washing the dishes and when she arrived, he offered her a nod in salute and motioned with his head to the single tea cup waiting on the counter.
Kagome sighed and rolled her eyes, "Thanks, Souta," she said before taking the ceramic cup. Gentle swirls came from it and she blew on it before taking a sip. The warm liquid trailed down her throat soothingly and she relaxed in spite of herself. This had always felt so wrong in her mind…but it felt so right after it was done. She was sure she wouldn't have been able to survive without the concoction Hatori had made for her.
When she arrived, Meta had been in turmoil, aggressive and depressed to a dangerous degree. It was Hatori's tea which helped sooth the beast's panic and since then she had to take a cup a day to keep Meta in a drowsy-calm state. Still… it felt so wrong, she felt as if she was betraying her inner beast. Hatori assured her she wasn't, even told her Meta did not hate her when she went back to Feudal Japan, but it was unsettling still. Of course, she didn't want what happened to Sesshomaru to happen to her since back then Hatori didn't know of a way to control his newborn beast… God, Sesshomaru. Kagome pressed her eyes close, took another sip and shook her head, "How's middle school going?" she asked her brother in a friendly tone.
It was the right question to change the topic for herclosed the water and turned to her with a wide smile, "It's awesome!" he said happily while he dried his hands. Then he took his book bag and bid her to follow. "The guys are all excited and we decided we are going to join the tennis' club. There's a girl who seems to like Sagimoto so we are making fun of him too," he told her this last with a mischievous expression.
Kagome finished the rest of the tea in one gulp and followed her younger brother out of the house with a grin, "Poor Sagimoto-kun," she said with a snicker.
Souta beamed and then looked at her from the corner of his eye, "Well…he seems slightly interested too," confided Souta, "I think this is good…maybe he will stop liking you then. Gah! Stupid boy! I would never let him date my sister."
Kagome laughed out loud then, a totally sincere feeling born from the depth of her heart, "Oh, goodness! Sagimoto-kun and I?! Impossible! I am a married woman," she told him with another round of giggles, "I wonder what Sesshomaru would think if he even hears of this," she finished with a mirthful expression.
Souta shot her a soft smile, "He sounds like a nice guy," he conceded with a resigned expression, "I hope he makes you happy when you go back."
Kagome smiled as well, "I am sure he will."
xxoOoxx
That afternoon Kagome hastened to leave the school's perimeter. She escaped Ayumi by chance since another girl had stopped the girl about something. It was good she was class representative; it allowed Ayumi little time… it was so mean to even think that, but Kagome didn't care at the moment. She really didn't want to interact with people right now, not when she knew she was going to stay in Feudal Japan for good this time. Perhaps someone would think it would be best to enjoy these last months with her friends, but she just couldn't. She knew she would suffer all the more if she tried. It was the coward's way, but she would play it this time. She was confident it was for the best.
So, the teenager walked fast-forward out of the school's gate and gave a sharp right and took the usual route to her house. She passed the small stores and vendors without so much as a glance, as she always did. To say she was surprised when a hand grabbed her arm would be an understatement. She almost purified it on instinct, if it could even be purified, but she startled into awed surprise when the strange male called her by name, "Kagome-san," he breathed out as if relieved to have found her.
A frown marred her pretty face and she blinked golden eyes in confusion, "Y-Yes?" Then she shrugged her arm knowingly and the stranger released her with a blush to his cheeks.
"It's good to see you again," he said conversationally and his hand settled behind his head into a nervous habit, "You surely left the school in a hurry."
Kagome pursed her lips and crossed her arms under her chest, unconsciously taking a defensive stance, and glared up at the tall stranger, "You are?" she asked with bite.
The stranger's eyes lit with amusement and a grin settled on his lips, "But why! It's me Kagome-onesan." Then he blinked and his eyes turned gold, the same shade as hers.
Her eyes widened and her heart leapt into her ribcage into a surprised frenzy. Hope blossomed deep inside and her hands fell to the side, "I-Inu… you are not… Inuyasha," she said softly, the frown back in place. Unbidden her muscles tensed and she prepared herself to be deceived or attacked.
The stranger rolled his eyes and chuckled, "I am not Inuyasha," he said amiably and sent her a knowing glance, "But! Didn't you have…another sibling?" he asked knowingly and waited.
Kagome's machinations were easily seen on her face and after a good twenty seconds, realization finally hit, "Y-you are Tohru and Todo's son!" she asked with a gasp and a happy bounce, "Are you?!" she asked excitedly and clasped her hands together.
The young man's grin grew and he nodded, "Nice to meet you," he said formally with a bow and extravagant arc of his long arms, "Kagome-onesan, my name is Niban."
Mockingly, Kagome replied with the same courtesy, "A pleasure, Niban-niichan."
After that, they exchanged equally mirthful grins.
xxoOoxx
The weeks after meeting Niban passed on quickly. The young man, who was almost a boy in youkai standards, was currently working his way up on his father's company. He seemed to take more to Todo's playful personality than Tohru's controlled one, but was apparently a very talented lawyer. His ways with words was annoying and Kagome learned pretty quickly to stop trying to outsmart him. Not only was his cunningness distasteful, but it ended up with her being frustrated and irritated beyond what was rightfully healthful.
It helped. She was able to spend her days at ease and even started to train some. It didn't work much though for apparently young Niban didn't possess the patience his mother, or older sibling, seemed to have for training someone. He was cool and all, but having to explain something twice seemed to unnerve him to a most comical degree.
It reminded her of Sesshomaru in a way, since "This Sesshomaru does not repeat himself" was impossible to forget, but their reactions were totally unalike. Sesshomaru would simply respond with a grunt and walk away while Niban had to scream out and start to walk around circles.
"This is stupid!" he growled in frustration as he walked up the stairs of her humble home to the end of the hall, then back down again and into the kitchen. He opened the fridge and took a pop and came back to the living room and plummeted down on the soft carpet, "How can you not find the force of a falling object?! You got its mass!"
Kagome rolled her eyes as she tried to erase his earlier frustration vent and sighed when his golden eyes glared down at her. She smiled. "Well, I got the rock's mass, but not the acceleration," she said with a daringly raised eyebrow. Her I-know-it-all look irritated him and she enjoyed his tantrums. They were most funny.
He closed his eyes with an unhappy groan and sipped his pop, "Onesan," he began with an angry tone, "A falling object has acceleration. It's called gravitational acceleration," he said with a 'you-are-so-dumb' look.
Kagome merely blinked twice and nodded, "Right, I remember that," was all she said before she started scribbling into her notes.
Niban watched with feigned indifference and then growled when his feet started twitching anxiously. Golden eyes watched the calculations, but then he parted his lips when he saw Kagome make a mistake.
Before he could even say anything Kagome glared up at him, "You promised not to interrupt until I finished," she reminded him with a calmness that belied the storm behind her eyes.
Niban raised an eyebrow, crossed and turned to the side with a, "Bah."
After that Kagome turned to the paper with a smile and finished the exercise.
xxoOoxx
Kagome groaned a she walked from the movies and noticed it was already dark outside. How could this have happened? She had escaped them so skillfully these past months… well, it was a cheap trick, the one she fell for, but her heart gave in. To see Yuka crying like that because she didn't hang out with them anymore had broken something inside of her and she had felt horribly guilty. She had been rejecting them…and they only wanted to be her friends. She was so mean sometimes.
The young high schooler walked at a leisurely pace, her limbs strangely numb. It was peaceful, in a way. Here, in modern Japan, she needed not worry about youkai attacks or anything. Of course, Japan had its dangers, robbers and such, but her enhanced hearing helped her be alert at all times; as did her miko powers. A few times she had felt the trickle of youki poking her curiously, but not once she had been confronted by any youkai in hiding. They seemed at ease with her presence and left her to her own devices. Not that it was frequent either. She had felt it two or three times only, but it was enough to assure her that youkai were not extinct, merely hiding.
Kagome finally reached the stone steps and with a sad look started to climb the stairs. If Inuyasha was there she would have asked for a piggy ride, but of course, he wasn't. She wouldn't have asked Niban. He was sort of nice, but not, and she wouldn't feel entirely comfortable either.
"I'm home," she called when she reached the house and to her confusion everything was dark. She frowned as she placed her book bag on the corner of the living room, "Mom?" she called nervously and when she didn't receive an answer she sniffed the air. It smelled strange…unfamiliar, "Souta?!"
A pang of fear twisted in her chest and she moved socked feet to the kitchen. Anxiously she turned on the light and gasped when a small group suddenly appeared with big smiles, "Surprise!" they shouted in unison and Kagome froze in under the threshold.
Chuckles interrupted the silence and Souta walked towards his sister and hugged her close, "Welcome back Kagome," he said jovially. He was as tall as her now and it made her feel strange.
"Souta?" she asked dubiously and peered at him for a moment before delicately sniffing, "You smell…strange."
He laughed and pushed his hair back, "Well, I took a bath," he said with a conspiring wink.
Kagome frowned, "That's not-"
"I masked our scents," Hatori said with a knowing look, "I bet you were truly surprised."
Kagome turned to him with a pout and a half-felt glare, "Of course I was," she said annoyed, "I thought something had happened."
"Bah," said Niban as he helped Mrs. Higurashi lite the candles over the cake, "As if! Who could best Hatori-dono?"
Hatori grinned playfully and hit his chest with his fist, "That's my boy," he stated proudly.
Kagome could only roll her eyes, "Whatever. So, what's this all about?" she asked as she finally relaxed and helped her brother serve the tea. There was an eerie silence all of a sudden and Kagome felt the hairs on the back part of her neck raise in alarm, "What…did something truly happened?"
It was her mother who reacted first. She shot her a big smile, "The Well just reopened," she said softly, "This is…your farewell party."
Just like that tears began to fall down Kagome's eyes and she dashed against her mother and grabbed the older woman in a bear hug. Sobs rocked the young woman's small body while excitement, but a gut wrenching sadness fought deep inside. She was happy she could finally go back, but the knowledge she was not coming back was a deep wound. If it was like this for her, how could her mother and brother stand there as if nothing was wrong? She knew they would miss her and were sad she was leaving…so how could they? How could they love her so much to act as if nothing was wrong for her sake?
That night, she didn't go back to the Feudal Era. That night she slept with her mother and cried herself to sleep more times than she could even count.
xxoOoxx
Next morning her eyes felt heavy and itched, but she faced the day with as much courage as she could muster. She was met with a warm breakfast and a smiling Souta who was not wearing his school uniform, "You're not going to school," Kagome muttered weakly.
"Nope," he said with a twinkle in his eyes, "I am going to accompany my sister to a trip to the airport today," he said with a grin, "She has to go to America for some treatments."
Kagome raised both eyebrows at his story and grinned in spite of her feelings, "Such a troublesome sister you have," she finally said as she took the seat across from him and started on her breakfast.
Souta's eyes fell on her for a few moments, "I think she's a great girl," he finally said as he finished the last of his toast, "and I love her very much."
Tears prickled at her eyes and she placed her hands on her face, and her elbows in the table, as she collected her bearings, "I am so sorry, Souta," she whined softly.
He chuckled, "You have nothing to be sorry about, Kagome," he told her in a tone to not argue, "I will always love you and hope you well. Just…come back around some time." The last was laced with humor and she knew he was trying very hard to be mature and supportive.
She stood from her chair and hugged him tightly, "I love you too, Souta."
xxoOoxx
And the rest of the day continued a similar pattern. She would say her goodbyes and cry. She will walk past one of her favorite food joints, and cry. She would see her mother's face…and cry. By the time afternoon arrived she started thinking if it really was that good of an idea to leave. It was so tiring! She was drained physically and mentally. She knew leaving her home was going to be a watery affair…but dang! This was almost ridiculous!
The ex-miko, sighed as she finished storing the last of her items in her new backpack. Golden eyes watched it with apprehension. These would run out in a few months… what would she do after that? She would really have to live the Feudal Style…
A knock on her door startled her and she turned to face her mother. "It grows dark," she told her softly, her face guarded.
Kagome nodded knowingly and took her backpack. "It's time," she told her mother with a half-determined face.
Mrs. Higurashi smiled disbelievingly, "Kagome, you should be happy," she chided gently, "You are going back to your mate."
Kagome nodded, "But I am leaving my family," she said, "I feel like a bad daughter," she finally confessed.
Mrs. Higurashi moved closer and hugged her, "My daughter…this happens to everyone. All children must one day leave their nest to build their own. Besides, Hatori did tell me you, the you of now, will come back to Japan as soon as you leave. You will be here… we will be together again…and I will get to meet my grandchildren," the woman said with a real smile and nudged her daughter playfully.
Kagome laughed, "Grandpups, mom," she corrected happily and finally met her mother's eyes square on, "I am ready."
Mrs. Higurashi nodded, pleased with her change in attitude, "I wish you well," the older woman said and gave her daughter a last squeeze.
Kagome gratefully accepted the contact and then ran down the steps of the house, "I'll be going now!" she called cheerfully, as she used to, "Take care!" and without slowing down ran to the Well house, opened the door and jumped down the portal that would take her to her new home.
To her new family…
…and to her beloved mate.
xxoOoxx
To be continued…
xxoOoxx
JeniNeji's Note:
Please, review!
