When you travel in large groups, you find safety in numbers. But there is also chaos in numbers, especially when you're talking about finding out big news.
Six people in their group, and not one of them were expecting the news. Even Kirara looked a little scandalized. Kagome, after getting over her initial reaction of relief was hit by a tidal wave of shock.
Somehow, it all made sense to her. Why she'd never seen her aunt, even though she'd always heard so much about her. Why she never knew her father, and shared her mother's last name...why she had always felt as if she was getting weaker as she grew, not stronger.
It explained the talk that her mother had with her the day before she turned fifteen.
"Kagome?"
Kagome looked up from her schoolwork to where her mother stood in the doorway.
"Yes Mama?"
Her mother didn't answer immediately, and instead took a seat on Kagome's bed.
"Kagome. I got a call from you Aunt Kareshi today."
"Aunt Kareshi? The one who moved to America and gets 'visions'?" Kagome asked.
"Yes, that Kareshi. And she really does get visions. I wouldn't be so doubtful Kagome, that sort of thing runs in the family."
"I'm sure it does. Anyway, what's the point again Mama?"
"Well, talking to your aunt just reminded me how sheltered I've kept you when it comes to family. Aside from your grandfather and I, and Souta, you've never met any of the rest of our family."
"We're not having a reunion are we? Cause I've got lots of tests this year..."
Her mother laughed, "No Kagome, we're not having a reunion...I just wanted to know if you're upset about it."
"About not knowing our family? I guess not. I mean, I always wondered about my dad...but I know you don't want to talk about it, and I'd like to meet aunt Kareshi one day...everyone used to say we looked alike."
"You remember that?"
"Yeah. It happened all the time. I look just like you too though. I guess it's because we both have darker hair? Or did her hair change when she got older too? I only saw the pictures of her when she was in 6th grade."
"No, her hair stayed the same. You've got her childish elegance. That's what it is, I think. You manage to look sophisticated all the while being innocent."
Kagome looked at her mother, and suddenly it occured to her that she hadn't seen their family in years either. That must have bee why she sounded so wistful.
She got out of her chair and hugged her mother.
"Oh Kagome. I always wanted a daughter." she said, almost beginning to cry.
Her mother hugged her before getting up and getting ready to leave.
"Get some sleep sweetheart. Tomorrow is going to be an important day."
Kagome always wondered why her mother was able to act like she didn't know anything at all about her father. And now, it seemed that she most likely didn't.
She didn't know she was supposed to feel right now. Who finds out that their father is really a hanyou and all of his blood was purged from their body as they grew up? And that they'd go back in time, and their father would be their worst enemy.
"Is he still your father, if none of his blood is in you?" Sango asked cautiously, not sure if she should.
"In my time...lots of dads leave their children alone. And even if they were to come back, they wouldn't be considered a father anymore. Even if his blood was in me, he wouldn't be my father. I guess I'm just luckier than the other kids, because I don't have the burden of his DNA following me around. Though that would be one hell of an explanation if I ever needed a rib or a kidney or something..."
The others stared at her blankly, and Kagome just shook her head, "Nevermind."
Miroku stared at the miko. He knew it would probably take them all days to adjust to what they'd just heard. It was best to get news like this gradually, and not all at once. Kagome's entire identity had been threatened when she found out about Kikyou. But even that was something stable.
Now everything had been changed, and nothing about her was what she thought it was.
None of the members of their group knew what that was like. And so none of them could offer any words of comfort.
It was Inu-Yasha though, that got things moving.
"Keh," he said halfheartedly, "What does this change? Naraku is still evil, Kagome can still see the shards, and we're still sitting here like a bunch of rocks."
"Nothing's changed at all," Kagome said, as she placed everything back inside the box and loaded it into her pack, before starting off in the direction they'd been headed.
The others nodded, and followed after her.
Everything has changed.
As they walked, Inu-Yasha was pondering his earlier statement. He wasn't an idiot. He knew things were going to be different. Kagome wasn't who they thought she was, even though she hadn't changed a bit. The world had changed itself and KAgome got thrown in he mix.
He found himself wondering about Kagome's mother. The true reincarnation of Kikyou. Who was in love with Naraku.
He couldn't believe it.
Because it ruined everything. His entire basis for explaining what was happening in his life. His reasoning for everything he felt, and lived by just laughed at his face.
The group stopped again for the night when it began to rain, and he continued his train of thought alone in a corner of the cave they'd found themselves in for shelter.
He was pulled so deep into his thoughts, that the soft sound of Kagome hitting the ground beside him startled him a bit.
"Inu-Yasha? Are you okay? You've been a little out of it all day."
"Well, haven't we all?" he asked, not meeting her eyes.
"I only noticed you," Kagome admitted, blushing.
Inu-Yasha pretended not to notice and only growled softly in the back of his throat, "I don't know what I was expecting when you opened that box," he said softly, "but that wasn't it."
"I don't think that any of us were expecting that Inu-Yasha."
He looked at her, and wondered what she was going through. Everyone in their small group had lost their parents now. But, now, for Kagome, it was like she was born an orphan. Not to mention that for the entire time the two of them had been together, she'd been Kikyou's reincarnation. Now, she was someone else's. That screwed everything up.
"Inu-Yasha?"
"You're not Kikyou's reincarnation anymore," Inu-Yasha said, standing up.
"I've never been her reincarnation Inu-Yasha . . . I've always been me. Even if I wasn't so sure sometimes. Does it matter that much to you? That I'm not your replacement for Kikyou?"
Inu-Yasha shook his head, "I never thought of you as Kikyou's reincarnation, I only-"
"Now that I'm not, you don't have any excuse to like me, do you?"
Inu-Yasha lifted Kagome off the ground, and looked her dead in the eye.
"Now that you're not her reincarnation, I don't have excuse for why I love you."
There was silence for a few moments, and anything could have happened. Kagome could have easily imagined him sliding his hands down a bit, pulling her by the waist towards him as he leaned down a bit and kissed her for the first time.
Or maybe even pushing her away and stalking off.
All the different scenarios in her mind involved Inu-Yasha doing something to her. Which was why it came as a bit of a surprise to the girl that she was the one that stood on her tiptoes and brought Inu-Yasha's face to her own.
Maybe it was about time she started doing things to him.
A/N: Yes, I know I should be working on Crazy House. This idea was just too much not to work on though. ^^; I'm still doing my other stories, and for those of you who were reading Pray For Me, I actually started the fourth chapter. So if you can't tell, my schedule has decided to go fuck itself. This chapter might be a bit different than what you might have imagined, but I'm trying to handle it a bit...er, realistically. But not so much that it ruins what I want to do with the plot. Heh. ^^;
The next chapter of Crazy House is going to be out sometime later today or tomorrow. I've also decided to just finish A Demon's Worth, and then post a totally new revised version -afterwards-. So if I don't finish, you guys will at least know what happened.
I'm also a bit depressed. If you guys have been following my profile (before I stopped updating it) you'll know that I was planning on writing an Inu-Yasha pirate story (titled And a Bottle of Rum), however, ever since that movie came out, other people have been writing the pirate stories, and so I don't want to be a trend whore, but I really liked that idea.
Anyhow, review time.
Koyangi-Yoja - Hey! I haven't had a chance to read your story yet (too busy sitting on my ass and all) however, I'll r&r it as soon as possible. ^^
Adrienne - Adri! I would never defy The Rharha. So here is your chapter. :D
Meiiri Ryuu - Ri-moutochan! If I rewrote the scene, and the only reason you don't like it is because it had Naraku, how would it be any better? He's gotta be there you know. Anyhow, I'm glad you liked it anyway. ^^
HINOKI - I loved the Miroku scene too. Inu-Yasha is going to realize the Miroku connection in the next chapter. Poor thing is a bit slow. ^^;
Little Rascal - Intense. I like that word. And thank you. ^_^
demonswty - I hope this chapter wasn't a disappointment. It's shorter, and isn't as...er, well, whatever the last chapter was. ^^;
Anjiburu Iszuzu - I showed all my friends your review! I loved it. XD You sound like me when I read a good story, lmao. So thank you! I hope you like this chapter.
Lord Sesshomaru - There really aren't a lot of stories that deal with Kagome's father, and most of them weren't what I'd envisioned. Not that Naraku being her father was what I'd been imagining all along (I've got several theories...incest even!). This is my second story about her father, so I figured I should make it a bit more of a twist than the first one.
Elissa - I'm glad you liked the twist. It was kind of funny watching my friends read the story. It went like this:
OMG! Kagome has a baby!
OMG! Kagome is Inu-Yasha's daughter?
OMG! Kagome's aunt slept with Naraku?!
OMG! KAGOME IS NARAKU'S DAUGHTER?!?! YOU SICK BITCH!
*laughs evilly*
azngirl1990 - *bows* As you wish. :3