Chapter II.
Salt in the Wound
. . .
Kagome's life could be summarised to be pretty much going perfectly.
She regarded herself mentally as she fondly watched her son experiment with his teal fire.
Being a pro-hero and trying to take time for their own birthday had been more difficult than she anticipated. But with some sweet words and promises of overtime to the Heroes Public Safety Commission, she was able to do it.
"Mama, watch this!" Her son yelled with a giant smile from their backyard, his hands glowed with his teal fire, and he made the image of a fox fly through the air. He looked at her with pure excitement, waiting for her to comment.
"Wow, Shippo! That's some amazing progress!" She praised, taking a sip of her tea. Kagome leant her cheek against her hand in the patio chair, watching him closely.
He was such a joyful child; it always surprised her that she managed to raise him to be so carefree.
She was shocked that she somehow raised him well, between her family issues and pro-hero work...
Kagome cringed at the thought of her family.
For the last nine years, she had not spoken to or interacted with her parents.
Honestly, she couldn't bring herself to care about them, but her siblings...
A haunting thought always crossed her mind when she thought of them.
It's possible that she wouldn't even recognise her own brothers...
Fuyumi had contacted her, though. However, she had only communicated with her through text and phone calls, but they were few and far between.
And her grandmother... better left forgotten. Deserving for the vindictive horrible woman she was, Kagome sneered.
Shippo happily flexed his fire abilities, breaking Kagome from her thoughts. She gazed at him, a smile adorning her as she realised she was so content with this life she had.
Could life get any better?
The universe seemed to answer as her phone buzzed, and the rattling of her phone vibrating against the glass table startled her. Kagome grabbed her phone and glanced at the message notification curiously.
It was from Fuyumi.
Heya sis! I hope you have been doing well! I see your hero career has been fantastic ~! I know we haven't talked in forever, but I was hoping we could catch up? It's been quite some time since we've seen each other! And I was hoping you would drop by for dinner, maybe? You don't have to! But I thought I would ask and also let you know that... Dad is changing.
Or at least trying to change, haha. Ever since he became number one, his whole attitude has shifted. I thought it would be nice to see you again and maybe the rest of the family. So come by tomorrow night at 6 pm if you can! Let me know if you make it! Lots of love, Fuyumi! ;D
.
.
.
( ಠ _ ಠ )
Kagome blanched at the text as she read it over and over. She had thought she had left her family behind, but it seemed they would crawl back into her life no matter how hard she tried.
Her life was perfect; she didn't need interruptions.
Yet Kagome reread Fuyumi's text.
And as she went about her day, she kept rereading the text.
She couldn't help but be doubtful of its content.
Begrudgingly Kagome couldn't help the flicker of hope that appeared in her chest when she read a particular line.
"Dad is changing. Or at least trying to..."
Was it even possible? The fight Shippo and her witnessed barely a week ago spoke otherwise. Her memories of him continually whispered that he couldn't change. That he wouldn't.
But the way he fought... she knew better what he did and what it meant as a pro herself.
She gritted her teeth at the thought.
Shippo, who was sitting at the dining table with her eating dinner, leaned over to read the text on her phone.
"Whose Fuyumi?" He asked with a huff, taking a bite of his food.
"She's my sister."
Shippo nodded, pushing the pieces of curry around in the bowl. He knew his mother had siblings, but not much else was known to him.
"And this sister wants you to come over?"
"Yes. To catch up over dinner."
Her monotone response made Shippo eye her with a raised eyebrow. "Soooooo, are you going to go?"
At this, Kagome paused her eating, her eyes misty as she stared at the phone.
She was conflicted.
Shippo knew that his mother's relationship with the immediate family was strained. She never told him the details as to why but often cited that some people just grow apart.
He was only seven, but he was exceedingly socially bright. Doctors had equated it to the canine part of his quirk. Animal quirks tended to lead to higher social intelligence and understanding. When he first developed his quirk, the whole family and social part had been a lot to deal with.
It was weird for Kagome to be sometimes referred to as an alpha. Now, she was accustomed to his quirk and its tendencies.
She understood that as the only male in their pack and the alpha's pup, he was a default beta.
And he took his role seriously, protecting his mother when he could and assuming control when he had to.
"I'm not sure." Kagome glanced at him, snapping him out of his thoughts. "A part of me wants to see my siblings see how they are, but another is distressed at the idea of being in that house... it's quite troubling."
"Can I come with you?"
Kagome sharply looked up.
"Absolutely not."
"Mama, come on! I would finally meet my uncles and aunt, my grandfather, too!" He stood, defiance ablaze in his eyes. The pack was pack no matter how strained.
"And how do you think my family, who hasn't seen me for nearly a decade, would react to me rocking up with a child in hand?" Kagome jested. "Besides, I won't drag you into anything without knowing the situation."
Typical alpha move, Shippo's canine mind supplied. Before proceeding with him, she wanted to assess the situation; his safety was her priority.
But that wouldn't stop him from begging.
"Please~" Kagome grimaced as he pulled his signature puppy-eyed look, his eyes watered, and his tail drooped.
Did he just transform his ears into his canine counterpart ones?!
Said ears dropped back, adding to his watery baby eyes-
Goddammit! He was good, she mentally divulged.
"If I go tonight and it goes fine, I will consider bringing you to the next one."
Shippo immediately jumped for joy, bouncing at his success.
"So this means you will go tomorrow night?" Kagome swore as she noted his sly grin. A seven-year-old kid with a fox quirk was the devil's masterpiece. She walked right into his little trick.
"Fine." She gritted as she began texting her reply. "I will, but I don't guarantee that this dinner will lead to you meeting them."
"YES, ENDEAVOR'S HOME! HERE I COME!"
" TODOROKI SHIPPO, I SWEAR-"
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For the illustrated headers and scenes please go to either wattpad or AO3, under the same username!