I adjusted my tie one final time, staring intently at my reflection in the mirror. The girl staring back at me irradiated confidence, opposite of my inner monologues. She seemed to be laughing at me a little, possibly about to ask me if I'm going to change my ways. I would politely decline with a 'hell no' and a middle finger.
Miroku soon appeared behind me, hugging me around the waist and resting his chin on top of my head.
"You look absolutely amazing, Sango!"
I smirked and looked up at him in the mirror. "Thanks, but you're going to mess up my hair."
"Sorry, sorry; right, right," The boy released me and playfully patted me on the head. I shook my head at him, reexamining my reflection to make sure he didn't tarnish my newfound vanity too badly.
When I told him about the hangout, he insisted I let him come over to help me prepare. He took the voluntary time off today from his work just to come be a bro. Mei was over last night as well and the two were surprisingly cooperative then. I guess they were able to unite over fussing about me and making sure I was prepared for today. Mei's mother came to get her about two hours ago, though. Mei even gave me a genuine wish of good luck before she departed.
I added the last touch to my look for the day, my usual pink eyeshadow and light eyeliner. I stood back and eyed myself one last time in the mirror, satisfied for once with my appearance. I had no idea what to wear today, thusly, I consulted Miroku; and Mei, by proxy. Mei thought I should go for a more feminine style such my punk skirt and a tank-top. Miroku voted for something more androgynous, predicting that Kagura would likely be the more 'girly' of the two of us. I didn't care; I just wanted to look good enough.
Miroku helped me pick out an outfit. It was actually kind of fun and admittedly endearing that he was so stoked to help me get ready for such an important hangout. He insisted it was a date; but while all signs did point in that direction, I kept my guard up and my hopes down. Miroku rummaged through my closet for what felt like a millennium, before finally setting his sights on a pair of plain blue skinny jeans, a black short-sleeve button shirt, red tie, and my converse. I'd never tied a tie in my life and I was lucky Miroku was there to assist. He actually enjoyed dressing up himself, when the occasion called for it.
I walked out into the living room to see Miroku happily seated on the couch awaiting me.
"What time will she be here?" he asked eagerly.
I checked the time on my phone. "Oof, it's 11:00… she said 11:30 and messaged me like thirty minutes ago that she left her place…"
"How far away does she live, again?"
"About an hour? Maybe forty-five minutes?" I grew nervous.
"Well, shit," said Miroku, "I'd better get packing up, then. I don't want to intrude!" He got up and walked to the corner of the living room where his adventure bag awaited him.
"You don't have to leave just yet!" I stopped him.
Miroku smiled. "As much as I want to meet her… it's time for you to do this on your own, my dear."
I paused and checked my phone again. I found myself listening intently for any signs of anyone even remotely near my front door. "Yeah… you're probably right…"
Miroku gave me a hug. I returned his embrace, thanking my lucky stars for him. The young man released me and headed for the back door. As he cracked it open, he turned to face me once more, a knowing smile on his face.
"Besides… it's just a 'hang out', right? What are you afraid of?" I offered him a half-smile and got a wink in return. "Text me! Let me know how it goes!" He closed the door and departed, taking the back way out to the parking lot for the neighboring building. I stepped out onto the patio myself, leaning against the doorway with my arms crossed as I watched him walk down the sidewalk past the small pond.
Soon enough, I heard the sounds of Miroku's small motorcycle start up. He agreed to park in the next lot over in case he overstayed his welcome and had to sneak out the back to avoid Kagura. He insisted on not being seen by her this morning. He wanted the day to be special, for just the two of us. Miroku also insisted that she needn't know of his (and Mei's) assistance in helping me prepare. Miroku wanted me to project an aura of confidence, believing with all his might that Kagura would fall for me if I at least pretended to be confident.
I knew she liked my awkwardness, however. I was confident enough, either way. I just tried to be simply me the whole time. So far, I think she liked what she saw.
I began nervously pacing my living room, awaiting Kagura's arrival. I straightened up knick-knacks, vacuumed again, and walked through the entire apartment one last time to ensure that all was perfect. Mei and Miroku even helped me clean the entire place last night. In my haste, I found myself sweating and quickly went to change my socks and underwear again, despite having showered no less than an hour ago. I hope I didn't overdo it with the perfume, either.
Just as I was running through the place spraying air freshener again, I heard a knock at my door. I literally dropped the can of air freshener at the sound, genuinely startled. I dropped the damn thing two other times on my way to put it back in the bathroom where it belonged.
Another knock at the door prompted me to quicken my pace. I opened it and there stood Kagura.
"Hey—" I deadpanned and could not help but stare.
She was a fucking bomb shell.
Kagura stood in my doorway, dressed in a black, thin-strapped rockabilly-style dress that had a pattern of skulls and feathers on it. Her dress exposed her beautiful tattoos quite nicely. She was wearing her usual feather-themed gauges, septum piercing, and had her hair up in a messy bun, an elegant white and maroon feather sticking out of the side. Her makeup was on point with sharp eyeliner that could kill and the right shade of charcoal eyeshadow that brought out her gorgeous ruby eyes. The dark red lipstick was a nice touch, too. Like me, she was also wearing black and white converse.
"Good morning, beautiful," Kagura greeted me with a shy smile.
I just stood there like a dumbass, mouth slightly agape.
"You gonna invite me in?" asked Kagura.
I proudly walked around the international market, a handful of candy and novelty snacks filling a basket in one hand, and Kagura hanging on my other arm. We earned a few stares, some in admiration, others displaying concern and even the slightest disdain. But we didn't care. I was just happy to be spending the day with her. Time was actually moving by at the perfect pace—I felt so in the moment, so present… It was a welcome opposite to my usual existence of daydreaming and essentially watching myself in third person, wishing I was anywhere, anyone else.
We reached the check-out counter and I placed our hefty basket of loot on the line. I turned to Kagura with a smile. She held my hands and her eyes met mine. I felt myself grinning, experiencing a real smile for the first time in ages; the kind of smile that reached my eyes and almost hurt my face.
"You're so cute," mused Kagura. "I love your smile."
I blushed and grinned wider. "Thank you…"
"You look great today, by the way. I love your outfit." I turned and slowly let go of her hands so I could fish my bank card out of my pocket. I paid, grabbed our bags, grabbed her hand and headed out.
We reached my car and I happily started the playlist I burned for her on a mix CD. Miroku and Mei thought it was the sweetest thing; I was hesitant to actually go through with it, fearing a mix CD would be the cheesiest form of overkill. Miroku approved of each and every song. Mei agreed and then asked Miroku why he never burned her a CD or made a mixtape for her.
"Where are we headed?" asked Kagura. She held my hand as I drove us away from the suburbs and more toward a park that I used to love in high school, closer to where my father lived.
"Someplace special to me," I answered. "I want you to see this park I used to go to as a child with my parents and little brother."
"Sounds rad."
The park was just as beautiful as it was a few years ago, just as serene as it had been during my childhood. There was a small pond that people could actually fish in as long as they released the fish back after they were caught. A small bike path circled the pond and a less-traveled trail veered away through the woods toward the back of the area. A beautiful, regal old purple and white gazebo sat on a slight hill near the edge of the tree-line, overlooking the children's play area.
Mom used to read to me at the gazebo when I was a very young child. We came here often when she was pregnant with Kohaku. I wished I remembered more of it. I just remembered her pushing me on the swing, Father chasing me around the slides and jungle gyms, and Mother reading to me at the end of my little adventures; and I would fall asleep against her under the shelter of the gazebo.
Kagura and I traversed both paths, exploring the entire park. She seemed to have an appreciation for nature's beauty; the girl stopped often to watch the birds in the trees and read the plaques along the nature trail that explained the species and history of the fauna and flora of the little park. It was such a beautiful day out—almost too perfect. Baby blue skies and small, white clouds. The temperature was a little hot for my liking, but I could not complain, really.
Kagura had fallen behind at one point, admiring a rather unique tree just off the back path. That tree had been there since I was little and likely has existed for at least a hundred years or more. It was a massive oak tree that was hollowed out in the middle and big enough for a few children or even two or three adults to comfortably stand within. I turned to find Kagura stopping to take a photograph of the tree. She even brought an actual camera with her, I noticed. I could appreciate that.
"You like the tree?" I walked up beside her.
"It's huge!" She had to back up and tilt her head all the way back to even attempt to see the higher branches above.
"You wanna check it out?" I asked.
"What?"
"Come on!" I grabbed her hand. "You can go inside, actually." I led her into the tree through a hole a bit shorter than us, on the other side.
"This is pretty rad!" commented Kagura. I looked up, as did she. Light was visible through the top.
Various carvings of names, symbols, dates, and such surrounded us on the ancient oak, like tattoos on its being. I took note of a few, trying to find the mark my father had left about fifteen years ago.
"There!" I said aloud, crouching down to get a better look. Kagura turned on her phone's flashlight to help.
"Hmm?" She crouched beside me.
I traced an old carving with my index finger and turned to Kagura with a smile on my face. "My father carved mine, his, and Kohaku's names here when I was eight. I'm surprised it's all still here."
"That's sweet, Sango," she commented in a soft voice.
"Yeah…" I stood up, admiring the work of others telling tales on this tree's insides. Kagura mirrored my action.
Kagura took in the tree's small murals and then turned to me. "Would you… want to add to it?" Her words were quiet, almost shy.
"S-sure…" I stammered. I reached into my back pocket and produced my switchblade.
Kagura laughed. "You're such a badass."
"Sorry?" I apologized, unsure how to take her comment.
She smiled and gently brushed her hand against my shoulder. "Don't be. You're like The Outsiders meets The Breakfast Club with a dash of 2000s Green Day."
I blushed and took that as a compliment. Better than the unholy union of A Clockwork Orange and Clerks that I always saw myself belonging in. Or perhaps SLC Punk… Miroku was probably Heroin Bob, let's be real…
"I can be the Ponyboy to your Cherry Valance, if you'd only let me," I commented back with more confidence than I had intended. It felt good. I smirked as I carved our names into the tree at eye level.
'Sango Taijiya & Kagura Kaze'
"Nice." Kagura gazed at my handiwork, seemingly satisfied. "You forgot something, though." She took the knife from my hand and, to my astonishment, carved a heart around our names then added today's date. "Better." She handed me my knife back.
Soon enough, we left the tree and walked the remainder of the trail back to the main park. We stopped at a picnic table to rest and hydrate. I was honestly too anxious to eat, too focused on spending time with Kagura and savoring every moment. I couldn't believe how well the day was going so far. This kind of thing didn't happen to me…
As I was going to stand up, Kagura stood a few paces away, her camera raised.
"Why, though?" I protested. I usually didn't like getting my picture taken.
"Just shut up and let me take a picture of you," laughed Kagura. I rolled my eyes. "Strike a pose!"
I put one hand on my hip and leaned slightly to that side and held my other hand up in a fist in Kagura's direction. I smirked and slowly raised a middle finger. She took the picture and lowered the camera, a teasing grin on her face.
"Dashing, my darling." Kagura came up beside me and showed me the photo.
Not bad… She turned her head to look at me. I noticed the way the sunlight hit her eyes, it made them look as though the smallest flecks of gold were present in her ruby irises. Beautiful…
"Want to take a picture together?" asked Kagura.
"Sure." I put my arm around her and she snapped the photo.
The day was nearing an end now, the sun was nearly set. The day had continued to go by at the perfect pace and I cherished every moment. I drove us all over the countryside, showing her all my old hideouts and memorable landmarks. We even drove past my father's house, but didn't stop by. Too soon…
"I had such a great day with you, Sango," said Kagura. I felt her hand on my thigh and my heart almost jumped out of my chest.
"Same," was all I could manage, thankful for the shadows casted around me as darkness fell, so as to hide my embarrassment. We cruised through my hometown, past the gas station and old school grounds, the building long since demolished and replaced by another useless soccer field or three. The melody of The Used played tastefully in the background.
"What time do you need to go home by?" I asked. Please don't…
"Meh, doesn't matter, really," said Kagura. "I have nothing going on tomorrow…"
"Well…" Take her to the archery range. "Wanna go on one more adventure?"
"With you?" Kagura's hand relocated to mine and she gave it a small squeeze. "Always."
We laid at the top of one of the wooden stands in the archery range, gazing at the stars. Kagura never failed to amaze me. She knew nearly every constellation and was even able to tell me the names of a few stars. She loved astronomy, I learned. I too was interested in space. The heavens always made me feel so awestruck and inspired but also reminded me of my humble mortality and small existence in this world. It was bittersweet sometimes.
Kagura broke the silence. "If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?"
I adjusted my position, stretching and sitting straight up with my back against the wooden railing behind me. "Hmm… I think I would maybe go back to Canada." Memories of Miroku, Kikyo, Abi, and I drunkenly meandering the streets flashed through my consciousness and I smiled. "Definitely Vancouver… it was such a great experience. Very diverse, multicultural and interesting… beautiful…" I wish you could see it someday… "What about you? Where would you go?"
Kagura was quiet for a moment. She looked up at the stars, deep in thought. "I think it would be cool to go to Paris… The architecture and the culture, the history…"
"What's the farthest you've ever been?" I asked.
"Probably Kyoto…" Kagura turned to look at me. "I can't believe you've been out of the country. Twice."
"Heh, yeah… lucky, I guess. Never planned on it, to be honest with you…" I turned my attention back to the stars above.
"Some of the best things in life are unplanned, Sango…" I could feel her gaze on me. I turned and our eyes met. The moonlight shone down on Kagura, giving her an illusory, ethereal appearance. I suddenly felt the girl's hand on top of mine. She leaned toward me and I felt my heartrate increase tenfold.
"It's like you, I guess…" I couldn't help my words; she had me under a spell that was lowering my guard and dissipating the weak filter I had.
"How so?" asked Kagura. She moved closer to me so that our legs were touching and her other hand was now on my arm.
She's got a boyfriend anyway… "You…" My mind went blank and my mouth was dry. "I never thought you'd even give me the light of the day…"
I shuddered as Kagura placed her hand on the side of my face. "What makes you say that?" She looked surprised, almost sad.
"Well…" I nervously rubbed the back of my neck and began looking anywhere but at her. "It's so stupid, really…"
"What?" The girl took both my hands in hers, her touch gentle and soothing.
"Pretty girls don't like me, Kagura…" I felt my face redden. "Handsome boys don't like me either… not like that, anyway…" Or I just don't like them… I thought of Jou… He's nice enough, he's handsome as hell…
Kagura offered me a shy smile and brushed my hair out of my face. "Well, they're all missing out. You're so wonderful and you don't even realize it…" Without warning, she pulled me into her lap so that I was straddling her hips and facing her. Her hands rested on my sides, my hands on her shoulders. I think surely I almost died.
"Move a little closer… what are you afraid of?"
I half-expected her to kiss me, with the emotion brewing in her beautiful ruby eyes and the obvious tension between us. Instead, she pulled me into the softest, most comforting embrace and leaned us both back. We watched the stars for what felt like hours; I prayed for a shooting one that never came. She would be my gravest wish on the first comet I'd see that night. We felt too perfect.
In a perfect world, she would meet me in outer space and we would watch the Earth exist and the sun wake up. We would wave at Halley's comet and dance with the man in the moon. The planets would bend between us because she would be some type of celestial goddess and I would be the brave astronaut, as lonely as Laika… I prayed she was a gift from the heavens and wondered if I even had a chance to be her Polaris someday.
03:35. Probably time to go…
I sat up; Kagura protested a little, judging by the soft caress of her hand on my arm, lightly trying to pull me back down beside her.
"It's almost four in the morning," I noticed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for us to be out this late."
Kagura sat up and stretched. She checked the time on her phone. "Oh. And so it is." She turned to me. "I don't mind. It was time well spent—time with you."
I smiled. "Well, let's get going, I suppose."
We walked back to the car. I didn't realize how tired I was until we got there and I sat in the driver's seat. I was exhausted; the rush of the day's adventures was finally catching up with me.
"You look tired," observed Kagura.
"Meh, I'll make it…" I turned the keys in the ignition and started the car. "You underestimate me, dear. I am in graduate school and I work in a warehouse. All-nighters don't even phase me anymore!" I laughed at my own self-depreciating humor.
Kagura rolled her eyes and chuckled lightly. "I am aware, Sango… let me drive? I don't mind."
I was startled awake briefly by her offer. "Huh? Are you sure?" I hope she's not scared of my driving…
"I don't mind at all," she said. "You work hard enough as it is; I can drive us back to your place, if you trust me?"
Of course I trusted her! She was a much better driver than me… and most of my friends… "Fine. Have at it. Permission granted."
We traded seats and she drove us back to my apartment.
It was already 04:15 by the time we got back to my humble abode. Kagura seemed rather tired herself by then. I was on the fence about offering for her to crash at my place. I really did not have an ulterior motive, but the idea scared the hell out of me. But her safety comes first…
"Hey, Kagura?" I began, slowly, carefully.
"Yeah?"
I sat next to her on the couch. "It's pretty late and you seem tired now… you can crash here if you want…"
Kagura was silent for a moment, adding to my anxiety. "That may actually be a good idea. Thank you."
I smiled and nodded. "No problem!"
I went back to my room to get a spare set of sleeping clothes for her. She was roughly my size, just a little taller. When I got back to the living room, I handed Kagura the clothing and waited patiently while she changed. I almost wanted to go for Koga's bottle of bourbon that he left in my liquor cabinet, but decided against it. I was not so sure I needed the liquid courage this time. Instead, I took the time to get the spare blankets and pillows out of the hall closet and bring them to the couch.
Kagura returned shortly to the living room. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of her wearing my clothes. "What are you doing?" she asked.
I finished spreading out the blanket over the couch. "Oh, I figured I could take the couch and you could have the bed. You are the guest after all."
The girl frowned at me. "I'm not making you take the couch in your own home!"
"Well…" I nervously rubbed my hands together. "What do you suggest, then?"
I swear I felt her confidence waver for a second or two. Kagura's red eyes widened momentarily and she averted her gaze to the pond out back, visible through the back windows. "…No reason we can't both share the bed…? If that's okay with you, that is!"
Heh… she's cute when she's the nervous one for once. The slightest hint of a blush appeared on her pale cheeks.
"Okay… if you don't mind, that is," I said.
I could practically hear Miroku's nonsense and envision the suggestive grin on his face.
We sat on my bed, both near delirious, yet still talking. I feel like I could talk to Kagura forever and never get bored. I also felt like we could make an adventure out of anything. It was quite nice.
I discovered that she wasn't as much of a "good kid" as I originally hypothesized. Granted, she had actually never done any drugs and her friends didn't have criminal records like some of mine did, but she wasn't exactly sweet and innocent. Apparently in high school, she had a reputation for being the quiet, nerdy kid who turned into a heartbreaker of sorts. She was sent to a private school for her sophomore and junior years in high school on request of her grandparents due to them fearing that she was falling in with the wrong crowd—meaning, dating Suikotsu, who was older and known as a rebel. Kagura then got kicked out of private school during the middle of her junior year for throwing her main bully through a glass door and down the front steps of the school.
During her senior year in high school, she began chasing after Bankotsu. To get his attention, she committed numerous acts of jackassery. The first being dating Renkotsu to make him jealous, although she did admit to crushing on him as well. But Renkotsu turned out to be a horrible boyfriend and actually cheated on her. Kagura apparently got her revenge on him by walking up to him in the middle of the lunch room and smashing a pie tin filled with shaving cream into his face and then pantsing him in front of everyone. She was suspended for two weeks as a result and ended up catching Bankotsu's eye.
Like me, it sounded like Bankotsu was drawn to the strange and unusual and he had a wild streak as well. He had a problem with smoking weed and drinking booze and lean throughout high school and was suspended himself for multiple outbursts, albeit most of them harmless. By the end of Kagura's senior year, she had won Bankotsu over and for their first 'date', they enacted the most infamous senior pranks their school had ever known: filled every toilet with jello mix, toilet papered the school, put Vaseline on every handrail in every stairwell, and released three pigs numbered 1, 2, and 4, into the building.
They still didn't have shit on me, though. I was nearly expelled for lighting off firecrackers in a hallway and then running through the building with a fire extinguisher. Miroku and Koga had dropped cherry bombs in the toilets at their school, apparently. And Inuyasha took apart the shop teacher's entire car and rebuilt it in the classroom. Kagome was a good kid.
Needless to say, in Kagura's case, her pranks won Bankotsu's heart but had gotten her kicked out of her grandparents' house, in addition to them finding out she was dating such a hoodlum. Fast-forwarding to present day shenanigans… I hesitantly told Kagura about bailing Miroku out of jail. She wasn't even mad and showed no signs of backing away. She told me I was a good friend and that Miroku sounds like he was worth it.
Eventually, our conversation took a melancholic turn.
"What's this?" asked Kagura, motioning toward a folded and well-decorated poster board I kept safe between my dresser and the wall. That…
A wave of unanticipated sadness washed over me.
I took a deep breath, well aware of the heavy feeling that just settled into my chest. "That's… from my mother's memorial…"
"Oh…" said Kagura. She was quiet for a few moments. "Sango, I'm so sorry…"
A cascade of emotions welled up from within me and threatened to erupt like a very unstable volcano. I didn't want to cry in front of her but the tears slowly came. Tears that I had managed to keep in check for the most part since Mom died…
"Sango…"
"She—she just died… back in April…" I sobbed, unable to stop myself. Stupid… weak… I hugged my knees to my chest and looked away from Kagura, distraught and slightly embarrassed for losing my composure. "I'm sorry—I know you must think—I don't want to cry in front of—"
I suddenly felt Kagura's arms around me, in a firm yet gentle embrace. She pulled me against her and I cried into her shoulder. This was the first time since the memorial that I let myself really feel…
Kagura rested her chin on top of my head and ran her hand through my hair. "I'm sorry, Sango… I shouldn't have asked…"
"No," I sniffled, "don't apologize… death is just… a part of life…"
We were quiet for what felt like an eternity. I grew comfortable in Kagura's embrace, letting her warmth and the floral scent of her perfume calm me.
"Were you two close?" Kagura finally broke the silence.
"Yes…"
"… will you tell me about her?" Kagura asked softly.
I turned and opened the poster board, displaying numerous designs, photographs, poems and lyrics, all in my mother's memory. "She was my best friend. She wasn't always, though…" I focused on the one photo on there of Mother, Father, Kohaku, and I, taken when Kohaku was barely old enough to walk.
"Mother got sick after she had Kohaku, my little brother. She struggled with mental illness her whole life and ended up with severe post-partum depression shortly after Kohaku was born. She recovered from it but had a psychotic break on Kohaku's second birthday. She was never the same after. Mother was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and Father tried to take care of her and us. He said he came home one night after work and Mother was pacing in the apartment stairwell. She couldn't get the 'correct' number of stairs. Apparently, she accidentally dosed me with sleeping medication and had basically neglected Kohaku the entire day."
"Dad left her after that and raised Kohaku and I mostly by himself. We have a stepmother, but that's been an interesting story all on its own. Kohaku always resented our mother for not being able to take care of us, especially him. He didn't get along with our stepmother at all; but she tried. And Mom tried to apologize and bridge the gap between herself and Kohaku for years. I was mad at her, too, when I was a teenager and learned why she was never around. But, I forgave her. She became my best friend when I reached adulthood."
I looked to the most recent photo of myself and Mother, taken about a month before she died. "I always told Mom all the terrible things I knew I couldn't tell Dad," I laughed. "She was every drunk phone call, she had to hear all my tales of misadventures with Miroku… she knows the real reason I broke my hand last summer, almost knocking out Kohaku's crazy girlfriend at the time…"
"It sounds like you two had an awesome relationship after all," said Kagura. "Your face just lights up when you talk about her. She sounds like she was a pretty amazing person, regardless of her flaws."
"Yeah," I smiled and wiped my eyes. Kagura held me tighter. "Kohaku never got his own closure… I am sorry for him and for her, in that aspect… but I am thankful for the memories I have with her." I fought the urge not to burst into tears again. "Kagura, I'd kill for just one more day… If I'd have known… I would have spent more time with her…"
Kagura pulled me closer. "I know you would, dear. And I'm sure she knows it as well."
"It's not the same… sometimes I forget she's gone," I confessed quietly. "I'll come home from work or school and actually have a good day and think, 'I can't wait to tell Mom', and then I call her number… and it's disconnected… Or, I'll pick up the phone and it will hit me that she won't answer ever again; that she's gone…"
I took a deep breath and voiced aloud one of my darkest thoughts and greatest fears. "I just don't want the world to forget her… and I don't want to forget her voice…" I let myself hold on to Kagura, deciding that she chose her fate as my comfort for the time being. Still, I detested showing my vulnerability. "I just want to make her proud…"
"I'm sure you do, Sango," said Kagura. "You're a wonderful person. She knew that and I'm positive she continues to acknowledge that. And as for anyone forgetting her—I don't think they will. Not if she was as kind and caring, as remarkable and genuine, as you."
I smiled. "Thank you."
I learned that Kagura had also lost her mother, when she was only twelve years old. Car crash. It was ruled an accident but Kagura wonders to this day… there were no other cars and Kaguya's car was found wrapped around a tree near a straight-way road. Kaguya had Kagura when she was young, only sixteen. Her life was full of turmoil; drugs and drinking, numerous and sketchy boyfriends.
Kagura's father, Naraku, was also young when she was born. He was only fifteen. He got scared and disappeared soon after Kagura's birth. Hence, she was basically raised by her maternal grandparents. Kagura has since made peace with her father. He re-entered her life when she was seventeen and she found out then that she had two younger half-siblings from him: a sister, Kanna, who was seven years younger, and a brother, Hakudoshi, ten years younger. Most recently, she now had a six-year old half-brother, too: Akago. Kagura says their mother, Urasue, is very nice. And Naraku is now an adjunct professor at the community college I used to go to. Small world.
I was happy that she had a good relationship with her father, stepmother, and half-siblings, all things considered. Naraku apparently wanted to be her father, but knew it was too late now. But he still tried nonetheless. Kagura said he tries to look out for her and visibly cringes when she tells him some of her stories. But she was already so used to not having him around… It made me thankful for my own father. He didn't have to keep Kohaku and me but he wanted to.
Around 06:00, I found myself finally drifting off to sleep, in the safety of Kagura's embrace.