Neat! Thanks for the reviews! I was actually losing interest in some of the
IY fanfics too cause it was all the same old same old. That's why I haven't
updated the other one I am working on because I didn't think it stood out
from any of the others. Don't get me wrong, I love Sess/Kag but it was
getting really repetitive. That's the reason I started working on this one.
And for those of you who thought it was getting a little dull (I
understand, there isn't much going on right now), hopefully this chapter
will make things more interesting. And for those of you who wanted some
Inu/Kag stuff, well, not quite yet but he will come in at the end. Man, you
guys are really going to hate me once you read the end. . . err. . . sorry?
*
*
You always have your family there to love you and you always have compassionate friends who care about you. In reality, you are never really alone because there are so many others going some sort of loss too. So why should I just pity myself when there are millions of others out there?
If people can deal with shit like that everyday, so can I. I will never forget Inuyasha or my friends, but I CAN move on.
I still had a future. I could still go to school and make something of myself. I could still travel the world and meet so many people to talk to and share dreams with. There was so much I could do, I just had to act.
I can live again.
*
*
*
Ah, the sun. The beautiful perfectly round golden object that hangs in the sky. It gives us light and energy, and signifies the start of a new lovely day. It creates a pastel of colors and shadows when it sets, drawing out all of us working people from the dark holes we had been laboring in, and annoys the heck out of us when it rises. Oh yes, did you know it takes light from the sun eight minutes and twenty seconds to reach earth? Well it does and since my alarm clock decided to malfunction on me, wouldn't you know, the dependent light woke me up a half hour too late!
I had one of those moments where you think 'is this real?' and it didn't take me long to figure out that I wasn't trapped in a nightmare. Sometimes I wish I could just be like a regular school student and pretend to be sick on a whim because I didn't fell like working. Unfortunately, I needed money to live and to get money, I had to go to my job. I mean, we can't all be little rich spoiled kids and mooch off of our parents our entire lives can we? Ha! If only. Yes, this was the real world and I was seriously, dangerously late.
I squirmed out of my bed and tried to jump out with the sheets tangled around my feet. Cause and effect: Because the annoying bright sun woke a very late person, this very late person knew she had to get her ass out the door as quickly as possible, but forgot to untangle herself from the bed. This not so subtle awakening didn't give this late person any time for her brain to unfog, so her lack of judgment was impaired. Hence, the reason she ended up on the unforgiving floor.
What a way to start my day.
Do you ever have that feeling, like you just know you're going to have the worst most fatal day ever? Of course you have. It's part of that mysterious sixth sense that we all seem to posses, like that unexplainable feeling when you know someone is looking at you. And of course, knowing that your day will be horrible and knowing that you can't do anything about it gives you that sense of dread, and that small kindle of hope, thinking your day would get better, completely diminishes.
Well I could already tell it was going to be one of those mornings. One of those mornings when all the hot water is out and you're stuck with a cold shower, when the only thing edible for breakfast is dry cereal because you hate to shop and every thing in your fridge is moldy and smells like one of those stink bombs that are always popular around April Fools Day.
I shifted the food around in my fridge, as if moving around the items would clear my path to the perfect breakfast, but of course I was only deluding myself. I picked up the moldy cheese and tossed it over my shoulder (I would pick it up later). There was always milk. . . wait, no I don't think lumpy milk would taste very good. Ok, food was out of the question. I should buy one of those nifty breakfast bars on one of those rare occasions I go shopping. I stored that helpful tip in my brain so I could pick it out of my head to remember later, but the only thing it would probably end up picking up was dust.
I don't remember ever moving so fast. I had to take a five-minute cold shower and I brushed my hair while I had my toothbrush jammed down my throat. After gagging out the mint toothpaste and leaving my hair to air dry, I had to run around my room looking for presentable clothes. Once I got to my closet though, I remembered that I wasn't exactly the cleanest person and I wasn't looking forward to going into the unknown jungle that resided in my mass of clothes. Why couldn't I have been one of those annoying people who always laid out their clothes the night before?
My apartment was a complete mess but I couldn't help it. I was always in and out so fast, that I barely had time to clean the kitchen. I don't mind clothes all over the floor, but I can't stand leaving crusty dishes in the sink, so that was always my first priority. I got into a bad habit leaving dirty dishes when I was in collage. Like every typical collage student, I still wasn't used to the fact that I didn't have my mom there to clean up my messes for me anymore. It got to the point to where I ended up throwing out half of my cooking dishes because they were so crusted over, the dish itself was rusted and rotting.
One thing I learned from that experience though, is that I don't think I will ever underestimate my mom again. I sorely miss her cooking and I gained about five pounds because I was living off of ramen and instant microwave meals. At least my cooking improved a little over the years. Not by much, but a noticeable amount. And of course, if all else fails, get takeout.
I lifted the shirt I had tossed over the clock in my haste and groaned. Crap, crap, crap, crap!
I have always woken up on time. I always stick to the same routine so nothing is ever out of place. I know it sounds like an incredibly boring life, but this is the life I have lived for the past couple of years, and it is a safe way of living where I don't have to worry about being hurt and I don't have to worry about my life getting thrown out of whack. Normal is good; normal means you're sane. Well, to an extent anyway.
I practically have my emotions planned out on a calendar and actually schedule ahead! Like I said, not insane, just a very well thought out way of living.
Note to self: On this and this day expecting period; don't plan any heavy meetings and avoid confrontations with my boss the jerk less I want to get myself fired.
On this day of this month my boss the jerk wants extra hours; buy lots of coffee and keep voodoo doll handy.
And let me tell you something, oversleeping was not planned out on my calendar!
I am pathetic.
I have weekly movie nights where curl up on my couch with a wooly blanket and a container of ice cream. I always pick my old favorites like Sixteen Candles and Empire Records. Most nights I just go out for a walk and stop at an ever-spreading Starbucks for some more coffee. Of course I get it out of habit. It seems like I'm always working these days and I always need that extra jump-start to keep me going. My entire diet consists of coffee. I know, incredibly unhealthy, but you try to convince that to my tired brain cells.
I honestly feel like I haven't stopped working since I decided to shape up and clean up my act in school. I had to improve if I wanted to graduate at a good college and get a well paying job that I was happy with. And I did all that. I have a good job and my family is proud of me. Unfortunately, we can't choose out bosses, so I got stuck with Mr. Sanders.
Friends? What friends? No, seriously. I could have friends if I wanted to. I'm a very nice, agreeable and practical person. Oh yea, sometimes I got out to a little café with some colleagues during lunch break, but who wants to escape from work, only to talk more about work? I need to have my life separate, and in categories. And the "fun" and the "work" categories are miles apart.
Aha! I reached into a seemingly harmless pile of clothes (but let me tell you, I'm lucky I didn't get my hand eaten off), and pulled out long, knee length skirt. After that breakthrough, it wasn't too hard to find some clean undergarments and a plain white blouse (though it was a miracle it was still white).
I squirmed into my clothes so fast that it there was a category, my time for putting on clothes would have set a world record, and judges would be amazed at how neat and orderly they looked!
Finally, I was getting somewhere!
I ran a hand through my hair once more and was out the door.
Unfortunately, I didn't get far before I realized that I forgot to lock my apartment. Like some helpless fool, I had to force myself to run back up three flights of stairs.
Oh, jubilation.
*
*
*
Absolutely quiet. Not one sound. Swiftly out the elevator and quickly, through the fake plastic tree decorations. Keep your breathing shallow and slip past the receptionist's desk and make sure the elevator music covers the taping noise from your shoes. Just a few more doors down. . .
"Miss Higurashi."
. . . and quickly straighten up your hunched back and pretend to dust off imaginary lint from your skirt.
"Miss Higurashi" the same voice said with more insistence.
Act innocent and don't show guilt on your face.
"Hmm? Oh! Mr. Sanders, sir. I didn't see you there. Did you get back from a coffee break? I certainly hope you had the luxury of coffee, because you see I was working so hard, that I completely forgot about the time and my coffee and I have just been running on auto drive this whole morning. . . "
Rambling, that's all I was doing. He knew it, and I knew it but was stupid to stop.
"Miss Higurashi, next time you are late and feel the need to sneak past my office, I would think again. No matter how I dare to dream otherwise, you are still an employee at this company, and what I DO care about is all the work you HAVN'T done. However, if you ever wish to sneak out of this building for good, I would never dream of objecting."
With that said, the short, fat, balding man waddled off while nosy spectators cleared way and gave me pity looks.
I waved my hand back and forth after being so close to him.
Geezads, that man had breath that gallons of mouth wash wouldn't be able to cure.
I always feel like such a coward with him. No matter how much shorter than me he is, he always seems to intimidate me. Well, maybe I can pretend it's his breath that is more intimidating. That's probably why people are always so quick to agree with him; the faster the conversation ends, the quicker they can get away from him.
I mean it's not my fault that I stay up doing the work he gives me. And. . . well, dreams keep me awake too, but that's besides the point. He's a jerk and jerks don't need the ego boost of being right.
What a prick.
Man, I wish I had to courage to say that to his face.
*
*
*
. . . 19. . .20. . . 45. . . 50. . . 59. . . 5:25!
All right!
It's almost 5:30! Almost time to escape this hell.
As you can imagine, I made quite an scene; sitting in my messy cubicle while twirling around in my chair, always keeping my eyes on the little digital clock sitting oh so innocently at the corner of my desk.
What else was I supposed to do? My co-workers were avoiding me like the plague. Those ass-kissers thought the best way to get on the bosses good side was to avoid me! And despite what Mr. Pri- I mean what Mr. Sanders thought, I was a very diligent worker. I crossed all my T's and dotted all the I's.
Oh, yes. What is it I do, exactly?
I work for a big company as a technology consultant. Translation: I sit in front of a computer all day and stare at the glowing screen while my butt falls asleep.
So what else was left to do? Stare at my clock like a juvenile school kid, willing it to change, waiting for the end to come.
And then the phone rang, shocking me out of my stupor.
I wiped the drool hanging from the corner of my mouth and hastily picked up the phone.
"mphrm." oh, that's a good impression.
I cleared my throat.
"I mean, ah, Kagome speaking."
"Kagome!" I hear a woman say in a sing-sing voice.
"Uh, hi mom, how are you doing?"
"Oh sweetie, everything's wonderful! Sota's having a few friends over tonight and it's been a little hectic, but I have gotten the wrestling to stop before anything was broken."
"Mom, exactly how many teenage boys are over there?"
"Oh, errr, just a few, dear. It's so nice to have the house alive again."
"I'm sure, but are you sure you can handle them by yourself?"
"Of course dear! I just need something to occupy their mouths so the yelling gets down to a minimum. That's where you come in."
"I'm afraid to ask."
"Oh, I don't need you to baby-sit them! I just need you to stop by the store to get some snacks for them. Those growing boys have practically cleaned out the kitchen!"
"Mom, you actually want to feed those monsters?"
"Of course! I can't let them go hungry as long as they're in my house. Please? All you have to do is drop them by and leave."
"Alright."
"Oh, thank you honey! And how's my working daughter? You're not working too hard, are you?"
"No mom, everything's fine."
"That's my girl. I-"
I heard a crash on the other end.
"Umm, Kagome, I should get going. I don't think I can leave those boys alone for ten minutes."
"Bye mom. I'll see you in a while. And be careful!"
"Bye sweetie, and don't worry, everything will be fi-"
Her sentence was cut off with another crash and a yell.
"Bye honey, love you!"
Then came the dial tone.
I looked at the clock- 5:35. Time get outa here.
Somehow, I wasn't as relieved as I would have been eleven minutes ago.
*
*
*
I decided to go home and drop off my car before I brought the snacks for my mom. And I had to take care of the mutated chunk of cheese that was still lying on my kitchen floor from this morning. It was only a short walking distance anyway, and with all the sitting I do everyday, I needed the exercise.
"The things I do for my brother." I mumbled. Though I could only imagine the state my mom was in. She didn't have Grandpa there to help her anymore, so I guess I was doing it more for her sake than anything else.
I kept reminding myself that while I walked up the long, endless shrine steps.
I finally made it to the door, sweaty, tired, and downright miserable because this day just seemed to stretch forever. Why is it that it seems like all of the good days are too short and the bad ones seem to never end? And don't you dare give me that crap about how "time flies when your having fun" because I simply don't believe that.
I put my forehead against the door and could feel the bass from the heavy music coming from inside the house.
My hands were too full to effectively get my hands free and knock on the door, and I didn't want to put to bags down because I knew if I did, I wouldn't be able to pick them back up. So, given my situation, I did what any exhausted person with half a brain would do.
I slammed my head on the doorframe, hoping I would be heard over the loud music before I passed out or got a concussion.
Thankfully, just when I was about to see dots, my disheveled mother opens the door.
"Kagome, dear, why are you knocking the door to your own house?"
"Because, I, that is. . . uh, my hands were full?"
"Oh, well thank God you're here. I was afraid I was going to have to feed them Buyo's food."
"Well, sure mom, I don't think they would be able to tell the difference anyway." I said as I handed her the food.
"Kagome, don't be ridiculous." She scolded, but I could tell she was amused.
"So where are they now? I can't tell, the noise seems to be coming from all directions."
"Well, I left them in his room playing video games, but who knows where they ended up."
I glanced longingly at the couch in the living room, and my mom saw where I was looking
"Honey, forgive my bluntness, but you look like you could use sleep." She began unpacking the treats and did a double take. "In fact," she said, "Get a lot of sleep, you need it."
I suppressed a yawn and slowly nodded in agreement.
"All right mom, if you're sure you can handle everything. . ."
"Of course I can handle it, I raised you didn't I?"
I laughed and gave her a hug and kissed her on the cheek. "Yea, you're super mom."
She opened the door for me and hugged me goodbye. "Bye, I love you honey."
"See ya, and tell Sota I said to take it easy on you, or next time I will be the one babysitting him and his friends."
She grinned and closed the door.
I was definitely ready to go home and pass out.
I started towards the steps, totally set on going back down them, but stopped when I came to the old well house. It had been so long since the last time I was here. And even then, it was still too painful to actually go inside.
I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and opened the old creaking door, determined to make one last stop before I left.
I slowly stepped thorough, and was startled when the door shut loudly behind me. The total silence of the place was almost deafening. My ears were still ringing from the loud music in the house and I shook my head and looked around. I had almost forgotten how much sentimental value this place held for me. I felt a little guilty avoiding it until now, like I was neglecting a major part of who I was.
I approached the seemingly innocent well cautiously, knowing despite its old age, it was once capable of great things.
It really has been so long, but I never did forget them. Sometimes I hear a childish laugh and I turn around expecting to see Shipo, or I find myself making a comment that makes me think of Inuyasha. But what bugs me the most, is when night comes, my mind can provide no logical reason as to why I hear his voice.
Sometimes I dream, and my dreams are always of him. They are no innocent dreams either, but I wont get into detail about that. He just kisses me and tells me that he won't let me go. But it's not real. They're just dreams. Anything besides the real thing is lacking, and every time I wake up from the dream with tears down my face and dread in my heart, I know it's true.
I placed my hands on the rim of the well and wiped off the dust and grime that had gathered there throughout the years.
'I just. . . I wish I could see them again. My life won't ever be complete without them in it. They will always hold a part of me, and I need them in my life. I wish I could go back.'
At first the light was so subtle, I mistook it for a trick that my tears had played on me. But then it got so bright, there was no way I could ignore it, and I knew better than to think it was the porch light from the house.
I must have fallen asleep, and this was just another dream.
But then I felt the force tug at my soul and pull at my body.
"What's happening?!"
I fell down and I fell forever. And when I opened my eyes, through the cloud of tears I could see the beautiful pinks and oranges of a setting sun.
*
*
* Ok, I'm stopping here to split what was going to be one really long chapter. So click the purple button down there for the next part. I wouldn't leave you guys hanging here.
*
*
You always have your family there to love you and you always have compassionate friends who care about you. In reality, you are never really alone because there are so many others going some sort of loss too. So why should I just pity myself when there are millions of others out there?
If people can deal with shit like that everyday, so can I. I will never forget Inuyasha or my friends, but I CAN move on.
I still had a future. I could still go to school and make something of myself. I could still travel the world and meet so many people to talk to and share dreams with. There was so much I could do, I just had to act.
I can live again.
*
*
*
Ah, the sun. The beautiful perfectly round golden object that hangs in the sky. It gives us light and energy, and signifies the start of a new lovely day. It creates a pastel of colors and shadows when it sets, drawing out all of us working people from the dark holes we had been laboring in, and annoys the heck out of us when it rises. Oh yes, did you know it takes light from the sun eight minutes and twenty seconds to reach earth? Well it does and since my alarm clock decided to malfunction on me, wouldn't you know, the dependent light woke me up a half hour too late!
I had one of those moments where you think 'is this real?' and it didn't take me long to figure out that I wasn't trapped in a nightmare. Sometimes I wish I could just be like a regular school student and pretend to be sick on a whim because I didn't fell like working. Unfortunately, I needed money to live and to get money, I had to go to my job. I mean, we can't all be little rich spoiled kids and mooch off of our parents our entire lives can we? Ha! If only. Yes, this was the real world and I was seriously, dangerously late.
I squirmed out of my bed and tried to jump out with the sheets tangled around my feet. Cause and effect: Because the annoying bright sun woke a very late person, this very late person knew she had to get her ass out the door as quickly as possible, but forgot to untangle herself from the bed. This not so subtle awakening didn't give this late person any time for her brain to unfog, so her lack of judgment was impaired. Hence, the reason she ended up on the unforgiving floor.
What a way to start my day.
Do you ever have that feeling, like you just know you're going to have the worst most fatal day ever? Of course you have. It's part of that mysterious sixth sense that we all seem to posses, like that unexplainable feeling when you know someone is looking at you. And of course, knowing that your day will be horrible and knowing that you can't do anything about it gives you that sense of dread, and that small kindle of hope, thinking your day would get better, completely diminishes.
Well I could already tell it was going to be one of those mornings. One of those mornings when all the hot water is out and you're stuck with a cold shower, when the only thing edible for breakfast is dry cereal because you hate to shop and every thing in your fridge is moldy and smells like one of those stink bombs that are always popular around April Fools Day.
I shifted the food around in my fridge, as if moving around the items would clear my path to the perfect breakfast, but of course I was only deluding myself. I picked up the moldy cheese and tossed it over my shoulder (I would pick it up later). There was always milk. . . wait, no I don't think lumpy milk would taste very good. Ok, food was out of the question. I should buy one of those nifty breakfast bars on one of those rare occasions I go shopping. I stored that helpful tip in my brain so I could pick it out of my head to remember later, but the only thing it would probably end up picking up was dust.
I don't remember ever moving so fast. I had to take a five-minute cold shower and I brushed my hair while I had my toothbrush jammed down my throat. After gagging out the mint toothpaste and leaving my hair to air dry, I had to run around my room looking for presentable clothes. Once I got to my closet though, I remembered that I wasn't exactly the cleanest person and I wasn't looking forward to going into the unknown jungle that resided in my mass of clothes. Why couldn't I have been one of those annoying people who always laid out their clothes the night before?
My apartment was a complete mess but I couldn't help it. I was always in and out so fast, that I barely had time to clean the kitchen. I don't mind clothes all over the floor, but I can't stand leaving crusty dishes in the sink, so that was always my first priority. I got into a bad habit leaving dirty dishes when I was in collage. Like every typical collage student, I still wasn't used to the fact that I didn't have my mom there to clean up my messes for me anymore. It got to the point to where I ended up throwing out half of my cooking dishes because they were so crusted over, the dish itself was rusted and rotting.
One thing I learned from that experience though, is that I don't think I will ever underestimate my mom again. I sorely miss her cooking and I gained about five pounds because I was living off of ramen and instant microwave meals. At least my cooking improved a little over the years. Not by much, but a noticeable amount. And of course, if all else fails, get takeout.
I lifted the shirt I had tossed over the clock in my haste and groaned. Crap, crap, crap, crap!
I have always woken up on time. I always stick to the same routine so nothing is ever out of place. I know it sounds like an incredibly boring life, but this is the life I have lived for the past couple of years, and it is a safe way of living where I don't have to worry about being hurt and I don't have to worry about my life getting thrown out of whack. Normal is good; normal means you're sane. Well, to an extent anyway.
I practically have my emotions planned out on a calendar and actually schedule ahead! Like I said, not insane, just a very well thought out way of living.
Note to self: On this and this day expecting period; don't plan any heavy meetings and avoid confrontations with my boss the jerk less I want to get myself fired.
On this day of this month my boss the jerk wants extra hours; buy lots of coffee and keep voodoo doll handy.
And let me tell you something, oversleeping was not planned out on my calendar!
I am pathetic.
I have weekly movie nights where curl up on my couch with a wooly blanket and a container of ice cream. I always pick my old favorites like Sixteen Candles and Empire Records. Most nights I just go out for a walk and stop at an ever-spreading Starbucks for some more coffee. Of course I get it out of habit. It seems like I'm always working these days and I always need that extra jump-start to keep me going. My entire diet consists of coffee. I know, incredibly unhealthy, but you try to convince that to my tired brain cells.
I honestly feel like I haven't stopped working since I decided to shape up and clean up my act in school. I had to improve if I wanted to graduate at a good college and get a well paying job that I was happy with. And I did all that. I have a good job and my family is proud of me. Unfortunately, we can't choose out bosses, so I got stuck with Mr. Sanders.
Friends? What friends? No, seriously. I could have friends if I wanted to. I'm a very nice, agreeable and practical person. Oh yea, sometimes I got out to a little café with some colleagues during lunch break, but who wants to escape from work, only to talk more about work? I need to have my life separate, and in categories. And the "fun" and the "work" categories are miles apart.
Aha! I reached into a seemingly harmless pile of clothes (but let me tell you, I'm lucky I didn't get my hand eaten off), and pulled out long, knee length skirt. After that breakthrough, it wasn't too hard to find some clean undergarments and a plain white blouse (though it was a miracle it was still white).
I squirmed into my clothes so fast that it there was a category, my time for putting on clothes would have set a world record, and judges would be amazed at how neat and orderly they looked!
Finally, I was getting somewhere!
I ran a hand through my hair once more and was out the door.
Unfortunately, I didn't get far before I realized that I forgot to lock my apartment. Like some helpless fool, I had to force myself to run back up three flights of stairs.
Oh, jubilation.
*
*
*
Absolutely quiet. Not one sound. Swiftly out the elevator and quickly, through the fake plastic tree decorations. Keep your breathing shallow and slip past the receptionist's desk and make sure the elevator music covers the taping noise from your shoes. Just a few more doors down. . .
"Miss Higurashi."
. . . and quickly straighten up your hunched back and pretend to dust off imaginary lint from your skirt.
"Miss Higurashi" the same voice said with more insistence.
Act innocent and don't show guilt on your face.
"Hmm? Oh! Mr. Sanders, sir. I didn't see you there. Did you get back from a coffee break? I certainly hope you had the luxury of coffee, because you see I was working so hard, that I completely forgot about the time and my coffee and I have just been running on auto drive this whole morning. . . "
Rambling, that's all I was doing. He knew it, and I knew it but was stupid to stop.
"Miss Higurashi, next time you are late and feel the need to sneak past my office, I would think again. No matter how I dare to dream otherwise, you are still an employee at this company, and what I DO care about is all the work you HAVN'T done. However, if you ever wish to sneak out of this building for good, I would never dream of objecting."
With that said, the short, fat, balding man waddled off while nosy spectators cleared way and gave me pity looks.
I waved my hand back and forth after being so close to him.
Geezads, that man had breath that gallons of mouth wash wouldn't be able to cure.
I always feel like such a coward with him. No matter how much shorter than me he is, he always seems to intimidate me. Well, maybe I can pretend it's his breath that is more intimidating. That's probably why people are always so quick to agree with him; the faster the conversation ends, the quicker they can get away from him.
I mean it's not my fault that I stay up doing the work he gives me. And. . . well, dreams keep me awake too, but that's besides the point. He's a jerk and jerks don't need the ego boost of being right.
What a prick.
Man, I wish I had to courage to say that to his face.
*
*
*
. . . 19. . .20. . . 45. . . 50. . . 59. . . 5:25!
All right!
It's almost 5:30! Almost time to escape this hell.
As you can imagine, I made quite an scene; sitting in my messy cubicle while twirling around in my chair, always keeping my eyes on the little digital clock sitting oh so innocently at the corner of my desk.
What else was I supposed to do? My co-workers were avoiding me like the plague. Those ass-kissers thought the best way to get on the bosses good side was to avoid me! And despite what Mr. Pri- I mean what Mr. Sanders thought, I was a very diligent worker. I crossed all my T's and dotted all the I's.
Oh, yes. What is it I do, exactly?
I work for a big company as a technology consultant. Translation: I sit in front of a computer all day and stare at the glowing screen while my butt falls asleep.
So what else was left to do? Stare at my clock like a juvenile school kid, willing it to change, waiting for the end to come.
And then the phone rang, shocking me out of my stupor.
I wiped the drool hanging from the corner of my mouth and hastily picked up the phone.
"mphrm." oh, that's a good impression.
I cleared my throat.
"I mean, ah, Kagome speaking."
"Kagome!" I hear a woman say in a sing-sing voice.
"Uh, hi mom, how are you doing?"
"Oh sweetie, everything's wonderful! Sota's having a few friends over tonight and it's been a little hectic, but I have gotten the wrestling to stop before anything was broken."
"Mom, exactly how many teenage boys are over there?"
"Oh, errr, just a few, dear. It's so nice to have the house alive again."
"I'm sure, but are you sure you can handle them by yourself?"
"Of course dear! I just need something to occupy their mouths so the yelling gets down to a minimum. That's where you come in."
"I'm afraid to ask."
"Oh, I don't need you to baby-sit them! I just need you to stop by the store to get some snacks for them. Those growing boys have practically cleaned out the kitchen!"
"Mom, you actually want to feed those monsters?"
"Of course! I can't let them go hungry as long as they're in my house. Please? All you have to do is drop them by and leave."
"Alright."
"Oh, thank you honey! And how's my working daughter? You're not working too hard, are you?"
"No mom, everything's fine."
"That's my girl. I-"
I heard a crash on the other end.
"Umm, Kagome, I should get going. I don't think I can leave those boys alone for ten minutes."
"Bye mom. I'll see you in a while. And be careful!"
"Bye sweetie, and don't worry, everything will be fi-"
Her sentence was cut off with another crash and a yell.
"Bye honey, love you!"
Then came the dial tone.
I looked at the clock- 5:35. Time get outa here.
Somehow, I wasn't as relieved as I would have been eleven minutes ago.
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I decided to go home and drop off my car before I brought the snacks for my mom. And I had to take care of the mutated chunk of cheese that was still lying on my kitchen floor from this morning. It was only a short walking distance anyway, and with all the sitting I do everyday, I needed the exercise.
"The things I do for my brother." I mumbled. Though I could only imagine the state my mom was in. She didn't have Grandpa there to help her anymore, so I guess I was doing it more for her sake than anything else.
I kept reminding myself that while I walked up the long, endless shrine steps.
I finally made it to the door, sweaty, tired, and downright miserable because this day just seemed to stretch forever. Why is it that it seems like all of the good days are too short and the bad ones seem to never end? And don't you dare give me that crap about how "time flies when your having fun" because I simply don't believe that.
I put my forehead against the door and could feel the bass from the heavy music coming from inside the house.
My hands were too full to effectively get my hands free and knock on the door, and I didn't want to put to bags down because I knew if I did, I wouldn't be able to pick them back up. So, given my situation, I did what any exhausted person with half a brain would do.
I slammed my head on the doorframe, hoping I would be heard over the loud music before I passed out or got a concussion.
Thankfully, just when I was about to see dots, my disheveled mother opens the door.
"Kagome, dear, why are you knocking the door to your own house?"
"Because, I, that is. . . uh, my hands were full?"
"Oh, well thank God you're here. I was afraid I was going to have to feed them Buyo's food."
"Well, sure mom, I don't think they would be able to tell the difference anyway." I said as I handed her the food.
"Kagome, don't be ridiculous." She scolded, but I could tell she was amused.
"So where are they now? I can't tell, the noise seems to be coming from all directions."
"Well, I left them in his room playing video games, but who knows where they ended up."
I glanced longingly at the couch in the living room, and my mom saw where I was looking
"Honey, forgive my bluntness, but you look like you could use sleep." She began unpacking the treats and did a double take. "In fact," she said, "Get a lot of sleep, you need it."
I suppressed a yawn and slowly nodded in agreement.
"All right mom, if you're sure you can handle everything. . ."
"Of course I can handle it, I raised you didn't I?"
I laughed and gave her a hug and kissed her on the cheek. "Yea, you're super mom."
She opened the door for me and hugged me goodbye. "Bye, I love you honey."
"See ya, and tell Sota I said to take it easy on you, or next time I will be the one babysitting him and his friends."
She grinned and closed the door.
I was definitely ready to go home and pass out.
I started towards the steps, totally set on going back down them, but stopped when I came to the old well house. It had been so long since the last time I was here. And even then, it was still too painful to actually go inside.
I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and opened the old creaking door, determined to make one last stop before I left.
I slowly stepped thorough, and was startled when the door shut loudly behind me. The total silence of the place was almost deafening. My ears were still ringing from the loud music in the house and I shook my head and looked around. I had almost forgotten how much sentimental value this place held for me. I felt a little guilty avoiding it until now, like I was neglecting a major part of who I was.
I approached the seemingly innocent well cautiously, knowing despite its old age, it was once capable of great things.
It really has been so long, but I never did forget them. Sometimes I hear a childish laugh and I turn around expecting to see Shipo, or I find myself making a comment that makes me think of Inuyasha. But what bugs me the most, is when night comes, my mind can provide no logical reason as to why I hear his voice.
Sometimes I dream, and my dreams are always of him. They are no innocent dreams either, but I wont get into detail about that. He just kisses me and tells me that he won't let me go. But it's not real. They're just dreams. Anything besides the real thing is lacking, and every time I wake up from the dream with tears down my face and dread in my heart, I know it's true.
I placed my hands on the rim of the well and wiped off the dust and grime that had gathered there throughout the years.
'I just. . . I wish I could see them again. My life won't ever be complete without them in it. They will always hold a part of me, and I need them in my life. I wish I could go back.'
At first the light was so subtle, I mistook it for a trick that my tears had played on me. But then it got so bright, there was no way I could ignore it, and I knew better than to think it was the porch light from the house.
I must have fallen asleep, and this was just another dream.
But then I felt the force tug at my soul and pull at my body.
"What's happening?!"
I fell down and I fell forever. And when I opened my eyes, through the cloud of tears I could see the beautiful pinks and oranges of a setting sun.
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* Ok, I'm stopping here to split what was going to be one really long chapter. So click the purple button down there for the next part. I wouldn't leave you guys hanging here.