She never thought she'd leave her home, yet here she was standing outside of the Haneda International Airport waiting on her long-time pen pal to pick her up. She and Kagome had been sending letters, emails, and postcards over the course of twelve years. Communication had been great up until about seven years ago. Zuri often wondered why her friend had suddenly become distant, and was bound to find out while on this visit. Zuri tilted her head back and closed her eyes as she took a deep breath in of the summer air. A warm breeze blew her forest of curls around her shoulders and she smiled. She couldn't believe she was finally meeting her friend of so many years. As she returned from her reverie a car with two women parked in front of her.
"Zuri…?" The younger woman skeptically said through squinted eyes. She jumped out of the car and ran over. "Zuri!" she exclaimed. It's so good to finally see you!"
"Ka-Kagome?" The young woman took a step back to give Zuri a full view of herself. "Kagome! I can't believe it's taken all this time!" The women embraced and put Zuri's things in the car.
Once inside Kagome looked at Zuri sitting in the back seat. "Zuri, this is my mom, Akiko. Mama, this is Zuri. My American friend," she introduced.
"Kagome, dear," Akiko started. "You say this as if I haven't virtually met Zuri many times. As if the two of you haven't been connected since you were both ten." Akiko laughed, "Zuri, sweetheart you can also call me 'mama.' You've always been my foreign daughter."
The trio travelled to the Higurashi shrine making light conversation about what's been going on in their respective countries. When they pulled into the driveway Kagome helped Zuri grab her things and take them to the room she'd be staying in. "You girls get settled in, and dinner will be ready in about an hour," Akiko said as the girls headed up the stairs.
When her bag was unpacked, Zuri looked at her friend with a semi-serious expression. "Kags," she started. "What's been going on? I thought you grew out of our friendship. Are you in trouble? You know I always have you back."
Kagome sat on Zuri's bed. "Honestly, I don't think you'd believe me if I told you," she started. "Most times I don't believe it myself."
"Do you have a baby I don't know about or something?" Zuri asked with a laugh.
Kagome laughed, "Oh no. Nothing like that. But it would be a lot simpler to explain." Her face grew serious as the grave. "Zuri. You're my closest friend and I've been keeping a secret from you. I have to know that you won't think I'm crazy for what I'm about to tell you."
Zuri sat next to her and placed her hand over hers. "Kagome, tell me what's wrong."
"It all started when I was fifteen," Kagome started and her face became reflective. "I was transported 500 years into the past." Zuri looked at her like she grew a second head and Kagome laughed but continued. "I wrote to you about the Shikon no Tama, do you remember the legend of it?"
Yeah. The jewel that grants power to whoever possesses it," Zuri said nodding; waiting for her friend's ramblings to make sense.
"Well," Kagome began her explanation. "That jewel—the real one, not the ones gramps sells. That jewel was inside my body and a demon sensed it and pulled me through the well in the wellhouse." Zuri's eyes widened. "And long story short, I shattered it and have been working to repair it and the damage it's caused for the past seven years. But it's not simply gathering the shards. An evil being has been working against us so he can have the power to take over the world. I really didn't expect you to respond. I know I haven't been the best friend you deserve. But-," Kagome's voice hitched. Zuri jumped and pulled her into an embrace. "I wanted to at least meet you face to face. Things don't look good, but I refuse to give up, I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to fight and walk away."
"Kagome," Zuri said pulling away to look her friend in the eyes. "You don't mean you think you may die there…" Kagome looked away. "Does mama know it's this bad?" Kagome shook her head. Zuri pulled her back into an embrace. "Well, I have some good news for you." She felt Kagome shift slightly. "Not only do I believe you. I may be able to help."