Reasons

Summary: She was running away. Running away from the past, from her present, from her failures. When she lost everyone important, everyone who mattered, she lost her reasons to live...a glowing gold butterfly is hoping to help her find it again.

Anime/Movie: InuYasha/Encanto

Genre: Romance/Family (Hurt/Comfort)

Pairing: Kagome (17)/Camilo (16)

-x-x-x-

It somehow ended up this way. Camilo and Kagome were sitting by the river, watching Antonio carefully walk along the riverbed with bare feet. The Jaguar named Nacio treaded with light steps of his own by his side. At first, Antonio was excited to bring Kagome back to the Encanto, but both she and Camilo were a bit more reserved about the idea. She only knew of what he'd told her. She understood that there had been a situation around eight months ago. Heavy healing was needed in the family, and his Abuela was very protective of her familia.

Kagome understood what that was like. Willing to do anything to protect her family, she'd done nothing, though. Yeah, that's right. It's why she was here, in Colombia. She'd run away from the shadows of her past. The family she'd let down.

Reaching down, she dipped her hand into the radiant red river. Pulling a stone out that had long since been dyed by the water. A magical ember had formed a couple of hours ago as the sun began dipping below the Earth's surface.

"You seem scared."

"I'm not. I have so little left to be afraid of; I'm just... not ready to seek out more trouble."

Camilo nodded, "you think the Encanto will bring you trouble?"

She thought about it, "no," smiling, she turned the stone in her hand over, "I'm scared I'll bring the Encanto trouble."

"Well, that's fine. Shake it up a bit. We could use some excitement."

'Naraku...is still alive. I know it would be better not to get comfortable, but...' from beside her, Camilo stood up and brushed a leaf from his curly hair. She watched him for a moment. Smiling when he turned and held his hand out to her.

"Listen, my family is a bit wild, not in any way I'm sure you are used to. But they can be excitable. They mean well, and I know they will love you. It might take them some time to warm up to you, but be patient... I promise everything will work out."

'Kagome, you need to seriously consider what will happen if you take his hand.' Holding a conversation with herself had never been so difficult. Taking a leap of faith, Kagome sighed. Reaching out, she took his hand and let him haul her up onto her feet.

"Tonito~!" Calling out to his little brother, watching him run back to them, stumbling a step or two over the rocks. Camilo reached down and helped him with his shoes before taking his hand and guiding both Antonio and Kagome back to the Encanto.

Kagome was walking not far behind them as she held onto her bike and bag. A thousand and one scenarios playing back and forth in her head, she was scared. Why was she so afraid!? It wasn't like she knew these people. They weren't her family! They weren't... ah... they were, however, Camilo's family. That did make them pretty important. The impact that her dreams could have on her, on them. She didn't want to hurt anyone else, and Camilo especially. He'd been there for her; even if he didn't realize it, he was a shoulder she'd begun seeking out during her times of struggle. Now, she was in the perfect position to hurt the people who mattered the most to him. 'I shouldn't have taken his hand. I still have time to turn back...' stalling, she looked over her shoulder.

"Kagome?" Camilo frowned, watching her hesitate. His brother pulled his hand free and moved over to Kagome, reaching out to her. Camilo felt his heart skip a beat as Kagome shyly placed her free hand in his brother's.

"You don't have anything to be afraid of, Kagome." Antonio looked at her, his eyes filled with knowing, understanding. "We'll be there for you, I promise."

'...no turning back now, Kagome.'

-x-x-x-

Alma stood with Isabella outside of Casita. Looking over the new plants that she'd planted. It was beautiful, magical, and...perfect. Because it was something that her Isabella made that made it perfect, even in its imperfections. "Oh, Dolores~!"

"Yes, Abuela?" Dolores came over, each step soft and each word just barely above a whisper.

"Have you seen Camilo or Antonio? They've been gone all day, it seems."

Dolores smiled a tight, nervous smile. "I'm sure they'll be back soon! Oh, Mama is calling!" Quick to take her leave, Dolores passed by both of her parents, who walked out of Casita as she ran by them. Alma frowned, looking in the direction Dolores ran to, then turned her attention to Pepa and Felix, who looked as confused as she felt.

"Where is she going in such a hurry?" Felix followed his daughter curiously with his eyes.

"I was about to ask the two of you that very question. All I did was ask her where Camilo and Antonio were."

Pepa smiled, "he went down to the riverside with Antonio. I told him it was fine. He'll be back soon, Mama."

Nodding, Alma continued to prepare the table outside Casita for dinner. Though, her mind still wandered back to Dolores. She was easy to read, especially when she was hiding something. Sure, Camilo wasn't the type to lie to his mother, but perhaps, he didn't tell her the whole truth? Was he meeting someone? Was he using Antonio as an excuse to see a... girl? Turning around, she walked towards the overview of the Encanto, eyes scanning the townspeople as she looked over the young ladies whom she'd been speaking to the parents of.

"Mama?"

Facing her Brunito, Alma smiled warmly at her son. Placing a hand on his cheek as she made her way back to the table, "no worries. I was just looking out at our lovely Encanto. Seeing just how far we've come fills me with pride and happiness." Placing plates down carefully on the table, she didn't lose her smile. She was truly happy. Which, she felt that at this time, her family needed to see just how happy she was. There was so much that she needed to do, and yet... and yet, so little time left to do it in.

"Oh..."

Alma sat the last plate down and looked back at Bruno, who was staring past her. Turning again, her eyes widened. It was Camilo and Antonio, but they were not alone.

"Ah, this is great! They found the girl from my prophecy!" Bruno was excited, practically bouncing on his feet as he moved past her to greet the girl. The stranger. She was a stranger, so why would he be so happy about her coming into the Encanto? No, no, no, she couldn't think like this! She would only push her family away if she began saying such things. No, her thoughts were her own. Smiling, she walked over to the three children and held her hands out to the young girl. Looking at her, she reminded her of a mouse. Jumpy, scared, skittish, to be sure.

"Mi dulce niño, where did you find her?" Bringing a hand to the girls, she was careful not to scare her more than she already appeared to be. She didn't belong in the Encanto, but she wasn't going to be the one to scare her off. Not when it was so obviously clear that the girl didn't want to be here. She would leave. She would leave all on her own. Until then... "come, come, we were just about to sit down for dinner. We, ah... it's silly, but we've been expecting you querida." Catching sight of Dolores peering around a large cactus recently planted near the corner of Casita; Alma gave her a pointed look. "Dolores, gather the family. It's time for dinner."

-x-x-x-

Kagome glanced carefully through her bangs. Beside her, Camilo was talking with his cousin. She had learned her name to be Mirabel. The girl was upbeat, genuine, and excitable. She had yelled out in her excitement when she came down from dinner. She'd wasted no time throwing the yellow ruana in her hands at Camilo, who'd grunted his thanks and pulled it on. On her other side, there was a girl with her hair tied up in a tight bun, muscular and looking like she could take on just about anything. Yet, when their eyes met, she saw worries, and doubts, just like anyone else would have.

A hand reached out tentatively from under the table, taking hers with consideration. Kagome turned her eyes to Camilo, who was blushing, looking away from her while holding a conversation with who Kagome could assume to be his mom. Her eyes fell on the woman, dressed in a sunshine yellow and orange glow dress. Her eyes were on her son, though occasionally darting towards her. She was beautiful, and in her, Kagome found herself making small comparisons to her own mother. Specifically, her eyes. Those warm, brown eyes, like the sun through a glass of tequila. They met hers, and she quickly turned away, her hand unconsciously tightened in Camilo's.

"Everyone is here! Let's all welcome our guest. Kagome, it's a treat for you to have joined us. We will have Casita prepare a place for you—"

"N-no, that won't be necessary."

Pepa held a hand up to silence her, a cloud forming over her head with a rumble, "there will be no arguing. You are a guest of the Madrigals. You will be taken care of. Besides, Bruno has already been working with Casita to get a place for you prepared."

Most of the Madrigals whipped their heads around to look at Bruno. His cheeks were burning with all the attention he was receiving. This spoke volumes to his personality. He was the kind of person who could do something for someone without expecting a thank you, was what Kagome might consider a diamond-in-the-rough. She smiled and bowed her head a bit, "thank you. I don't want to impose on your family or this life you've all built here, and yet...I'm truly thankful that you are welcoming me so readily. It will take a bit to assimilate, but I will work hard to help where I can."

"You and I can go explore the town tomorrow; I'm sure Antonio would love to show you around too!"

"Can I?!" Antonio's eyes widened, "I want to show you around too!"

Mirabel cleared her throat.

Smiling, Camilo pretended as if he didn't hear his Prima.

"Eh-hem!"

Turning to face Mirabel, he adopted an innocent look, "lo siento mucho, Mira. Did you say something?"

Grinning, she ignored his obvious taunting, "I would also enjoy showing you around! Oh, and, with Camilo's help, I managed to make you an outfit! It's so pretty, and I just know you'll love it!"

Kagome looked at Camilo curiously, watching as his cheeks turned red under her gaze. Laughing, she looked back to Mirabel. "I can't wait to try it on. Though, I'm curious, how did Camilo help you with the outfit?"

Camilo suddenly reached across the table, "alright! Who's hungry? I'm hungry! It's been such a long day, podría comer Nacio."

"Hey!" Antonio glared at Camilo, "stay away from Nacio!"

"Boy's, boy's!" Alma's voice rose above theirs, they calmed down, and she nodded. "Then, tomorrow, you will be given a tour of the Encanto and be able to meet with and mingle with the rest of the townsfolk. Until then, let's eat."

-x-x-x-

Me: Here is chapter nine of Reasons! I am so glad this chapter kind of just flowed out of my fingertips with ease. Not often does a chapter work with you. It's usually almost always working against you. Anyways, I'm still at work. It's... 8 pm? Yep, I get off at 10 pm, so I'll work on my Hazbin fic next and see you all again soon!