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Disclaimer: As always, I do not claim ownership of Inuyasha or its characters, I merely claim the storyline herein written. Also, I claim no rights to "Join hands cross the ocean," it was a pretty song I learned in 4th grade and memorized, and thought it was fitting for this story.
So please don't sue me!
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Chapter 1
Joys and unfulfilled wishes
Kagome lay on the hospital bed, machines clicking and whirling around her, monitoring her body, the IV keeping her hydrated and comfortable. Outside her room, she could hear the soft, muffled sounds of her mother crying, mingled with the gentle, comforting voice of the doctor. So, she thought, closing her soft brown eyes to try to block out the sounds, he finally told her. He had told her about the infection He'd had never seen before, and so far resisted any and all the anti-biotics they had given her, and would tear Kagome's lungs apart in a matter of weeks. How despite all their best efforts and the reassurances made to Kagome and her family, she was dead, and nobody could stop it.
Before the tears of sorrow welling up in her eye could overwhelm her, she turned to the tiny bundle fast asleep in the crib next to her bed, holding her single greatest source of joy, and the one thing that could keep her going.
Shinju, her new daughter.
Just days old but still able to take away Kagome's breathe at how much she loved her. A tiny thing with soft furry pointed ears settled on top of her head, twitching now in her sleep. Kagome smiled, and gently picked her up, waking the baby who wiggled her nose slightly and began to whimper.
"It's okay love. Mommy's here." Kagome whispered gently as she rocked the infant, trying to soothe her. She then fed her, watching the tiny little chocolate eyes watch her. She stroked the soft downy silver hair and then began singing a lullaby her mother had sung to her when she was a baby. A song Kagome sang to reassure herself as much as the baby.
Two lands across the sea, two lands as different as different can be.
Although so different in face and in name, all of the dreams that we dream are the same.
Maiden, maiden tell me true, what can grow without the dew?
What can burn for years and years?
What can cry, yet shed no tears?
Join hands across the ocean and soon you shall find a great world for all human kind
It was at this moment that Mrs. Higurashi walked into the room, tears still running down her cheeks, watching as her grandchild and child. Kagome finally laid Shinju, safely away in dreamland thanks the soft melody, back in her crib with the final haunting notes of the song. Mrs. Higurashi threw her arms around her daughter, sobbing hysterically, unable to accept the final outcome for Kagome.
"Come on Mom! You'll wake Shinju up! I don't think I have the capacity to sing that song again!"
"I'm *sniff sniff* sorry *sniff sniff* Kagome! I just *sniffle, snort, sniffle* can't believe I'm going to lose my baby is all!" With that, Mrs. Higurashi plunged her head into Kagome's shoulder and once again began sobbing plus a little wailing, waking Shinju, who also began wailing her lungs out, too. So now, Kagome had two wailing hysterical people to deal with.
Greaaat.
Good thing was that in her three days of life, Shinju had taught Kagome all she needed to know on how to deal with a screaming, hysterical person. She picked a pacifier and calmly stuck it in her mother's mouth, then put a second pacifier in the baby's mouth, and then there was blessed peace and quiet. Then Kagome put on her best brave face to talk to her about matters no daughter should have to talk to her mother about.
"Mom, I'm not in any pain. The drugs keep me from feeling it. And, I know you're going to lose it totally, when…it finally happens, but you can't!" Mrs. Higurashi looked shocked at Kagome's blunt and not just a little bit cold-hearted statement.
"Kagome!"
"No mom, listen to me! Please, this is probably the most important thing I'm ever going to tell you. Shinju is going to need you to be strong and stay together for her. And so will Inuyasha." Mrs. Higurashi's face immediately stiffened at the name.
"I'm not doing that dogged-eared, impregnating, abandoning so and so any favors!"
"Mother! He's Shinju's father . . . and her guardian once I'm gone."
"WHAT?"
"Mom. Look at Shinju, LOOK AT HER! She doesn't belong here, in this time!"
"Like she'll do much better in feudal times? Where she'll belong to not the human race or the demons. Where she could end up like. . ."
"Mother, if you really love me, and if you love Shinju, you won' finish that statement." Mrs. Higurashi took a deep breath, and continued, desperate to changer her daughters mind.
"He got you pregnant Kagome, We don't know how, but he did! He wasn't there to support you when you had to face us and tell us the Shinju was on the way." Kagome closed her eyes, remembering that day, seven months ago. . .
*flashback*
"Kagome! What'd the doctor say dear?" Kagome looked shame faced at her mother without really knowing why she was ashamed. How'd this happened? How could she possibly be. . .
"HesaidI'mpregnant." Kagome rushed out the words before she lose her nerve. Her mom suddenly stopped cutting the vegetables for that night's stew, and look at her eldest, saying in a shaky voice, "Come again?" Kagome, already ready to cry from shock and bewilderment burst into tears before she said, "he said I'M PREGNANT!" Suddenly all the pent up fear and anger and uncertainties came boiling out as she yelled "WITH CHILD, KNOCKED UP, STUFFED, HOWVEVER YOU WAN TO SAY IT. I'M 16, UNWED AND GOING TO HAVE BABY!" Kagome was shaking, and suddenly, her mother threw her arms around her and hugged Kagome tightly. Trying to calm them both down.
"It's okay honey, its okay." Kagome was heaving and gasping in her mother's, arms, and began to cry again.
"Okay, we need a plan here. You could have an-"
"Without Inuyasha's permission?" Mrs. Higurashi raised her eyebrows, Kagome quickly continued, "That's not fair and it's not fair to kill it because I'm young and sacred!"
"Alright. What about having it and then putting it for adoption?"
"With 1/4 demon blood? You remember how odd Inuyasha looks! What're the chances that someone would adopt it if it gets his ears, or his fangs, or (horrors!) his claws?"
"Well, that leaves only one choice Kagome. Keeping it."
*end flashback*
". . . Then he doesn't come around, doesn't even come when his daughter was born!" Mrs. Higurashi sputtered, forcing Kagome to interrupt.
"BECAUSE HE DOESN'T KNOW! I told you that a million times! I tried looking for him but he wasn't there, ever, and I couldn't keep going back to those dangerous times while I was pregnant! And you know, you know, in these time, she'd have to hide who she really is. She'd learn that keeping secrets, dishonesty and distrust are the only ways to get people to love her! At least in Feudal times, she wouldn't have to hide everything. She could learn that people who love you, love you because of who you are, not who you pretend to be." Kagome held Shinju a little closer, breathing heavily, and looked her tiny daughter, who was smiling and reaching for her raven hair.
"Besides, at least in the feudal times, Shinju will have a parent who can help her with any powers and questions she may have when she's older. And mom, you know it's not fair to Inuyasha. She's his daughter too. I have to go back and find him." Kagome took a deep breath, and forced herself to sound resolved about this issue, "Even if it means I die over there, I can't not try! Mom," Kagome turned to her mother, tears slowly rolling down her cheeks, "this is the only thing I can give Shinju." There was a brief pause as Mrs. Higurashi studied her daughter, and finally succumbed.
"Alright Kagome, if you insist, I'll take you home to the well."
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Oh, cliffhanger! Well, don't worry, it'll be well worth the wait when I post the next chapter and Kagome starts her journey to find Inuyasha, and give him her little "present."
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