Okaa-san
By: Senko Tenrou
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Chapter 4
A/n: So sorry it's taken so long to get this chapter up!! T-T Forgive me.
Review Responses:
Azmidiske: ^_^ Thanks! Glad you share my opinion!
Teenager14: Thank you! I thought so, too…
Authoress Pendragon: Heehee, I've been getting better with the chapter length problems. I'm sorry it's been so short; and, trust me, Inu-sama's treatment is going to be better with the most recently added character, but O.o I'm afraid that sooner than soon is out of the question at the moment. Lol. Gomen ne, Sorano-chan.
Shadowspinner1: Heehee, I love reactions like yours. ^_^ They're so funny! I'm sorry for the cliffy, though.
KougasMyMan: Well, now's the time to find out what happens!!
Junyortrakr: Mwuhaha, I just love your name!! ^_^ –nods– You got it right on the dot – confused and in trouble, like always… Heehee
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Inuyasha was at a loss for words. This woman, sitting in front of him, looked so familiar… and she knew his name. She'd said it with such familiarity – who was she? Why did she know him? And… why was she here? Inuyasha backed his way up to the trunk of the tree, scared. "Um, yeah?"
And, why was this woman transparent?
The woman tilted her head to the side slightly. "Do you understand, Inuyasha? Did Kagome help you at all?"
That plucked a cord somewhere deep – what did this woman know of Kagome? "Okay, just how do you know Kagome's name?" He snapped at her. Why in all hells would Kagome have anything to do with him? "And what do you want from me? What the hell am I supposed to understand?"
She remained cool, watching Inuyasha as he raved, and waited patiently for the hanyou-gone-human to finish his rant. "I know Kagome's name because I've been listening to you two for quite a—"
"What are you – some kind of stalker!?" Inuyasha interjected loudly, growling at the translucent woman.
The woman shook her head simply. Inuyasha was just as she remembered – hotheaded and defensive. Though, she realized that he'd gotten more and more uptight since he met Kagome. "No, I'm no stalker. I'm only looking out for you. Your guardian angel, perhaps?" She offered, smiling at the human boy as his anger faded into confusion.
"Who the hell are you?" Inuyasha demanded again, "And gimme a goddamn straight answer this time…"
"Now, now, Inuyasha, is that any way to speak to family?" It wasn't a straight answer, but… she'd given him a pretty good hint.
It took a few moments to sink in. He looked at the woman, perplexed by her explanation. He blinked… And blinked again. "Wait. Do I—do I have an older sister, too??" He asked thickly, blinking again. "Whoa. I've always wanted a sister!" He exclaimed, leaping forward to hug her. Though, he was surprised when he went straight through her.
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Kagome looked up in the trees she was walking under when there was a sudden rustle of leaves and an indecipherable shout of joy high in the trees. She blinked in surprise. What on earth could that be? She stopped and stared into the trees curiously. She let out a sudden shriek when she saw a black-haired Inuyasha come pummeling through the foliage. Her eyes rounded and she jumped over to where he would land, thinking that, in some crazy chance, she could catch him.
Inuyasha, luckily for Kagome and himself, caught a hold of one of the lower branches on a tree and growled in frustration. He'd forgotten—If something looked see-through, don't jump at it because it probably was. So much for his enthusiasm…
"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted up at him in irritation, placing her hands on her hips. She glared a hole in his head when she ignored her, wrapped in his own musing. "Inuyasha!!" She tried again, stomping her foot for emphasis.
This time, Inuyasha looked up, swinging himself onto the branch he'd barely caught for survival. "What is it, Wench? I'm busy!"
"Why are you falling out of a tree, Inuyasha?" She asked flatly, partially satisfied at his gain in attention. She sighed, giving up on her glare. She looked up at him coolly, expecting him to ground himself so that she could talk to him without shouting.
Inuyasha blinked back at the chilly stare. What the hell did that woman what from him? He shrugged at her question, scowling. "I dunno – I slipped, I guess…"
Kagome deadpanned. "You – slip? Ha! Yeah; right, Inuyasha." She mocked, rolling her eyes. "Get down here." She ordered, snapping a finger at the ground in front of her. When she received no comply, she continued evenly, "I really don't want to have to say it, Inuyasha…"
Inuyasha's eyes widened and he looked at the ground below him. At this height… He didn't want to continue that thought. Inuyasha easily made his way through the branches of the tree to the ground. Once he landed safely and without the S word, Inuyasha frowned at her. "What do you want?"
"To talk to you…" Kagome answered lightheartedly. "Everyone was looking for you back at Kaede's, so, c'mon. We have to head back now…"
Inuyasha withdrew his hand when Kagome reached for it, causing the girl to send him a strange glance. "I can't leave. I've got company up there…" He explained without Kagome even having to voice her thoughts.
Kagome's eyes rounded slightly. "Company – who?" She asked, blinking. Who on earth could it be? I don't—I don't sense anyone…
Inuyasha looked up to see a feminine – see-through – head poking out of the leaves above her, where Inuyasha once sat. He looked back to Kagome and shrugged uncomfortably. "I haven't exactly gotten that far yet." He waved up to the semi-transparent face, signaling for the woman to come down.
The female dispersed with a small smile and reappeared near Inuyasha, who jumped out of his skin.
"Damnit! Don't do that!" He warned, jumping away from the unidentified woman.
The woman rolled her eyes, simultaneous with Kagome, at the childish act. She vanished and rematerialized at his side again, just to annoy him. "Then don't you curse at me like that again, Inuyasha."
Kagome, who was left in complete and utter darkness, blinked at the situation unfolding before her. The woman acted as if she'd known Inuyasha for his life – speaking with such familiarity. It was strange to hear that anymore, considering the only one who could get away with speaking to him like that was Kikyou – rarely used, though – and – at some times – Kagome.
"Who are you to tell me whether or not to speak like I please?" Inuyasha shot back, regaining his confidence.
"Your mother, thank you." The translucent one defied bluntly, folding her arms crossly.
A shocked silence followed, filled with Kagome's dropped jaw, Inuyasha's blinking face, and the one distinguished as Inuyasha's mother – Mika – silent fuming. The remark that followed was one that would, in any other situation, never been heard from a girl like Kagome: "No fucking way!" She protested. "You must be joking – Inuyasha's mother is dead!"
Mika sighed wearily and turned to Kagome, coming really close. "Kagome." She said sweetly, "Do I, in any way, look alive to you?"
The aforementioned girl blinked and stepped back, falling right in to Inuyasha and efficiently shaking out of his little world [that he'd fallen into after Kagome uttered her comment that was learned from none other that himself] of astounding happenings – where he locked up all the memorable moments – unconsciously, and looked the transparent one over. "Um, no." She answered – finding that even as she knew the woman was a ghost, she didn't seem the least bit frightening. "But…" Kagome continued with sudden realization, "You do look like that woman from my dream!!" She exclaimed, pointing accusingly at the woman.
The translucent ones eyes twinkled mischievously. "Are you sure it was merely a dream, Kagome? After all, you are a miko. Am I right?"
Kagome blinked. "Yes. I mean, I suppose I am. But—"
"What the hell are you piping on and on about?!" Inuyasha interjected, glaring at the clear female, who looked ready to admonish her son again, but Inuyasha was quicker, pointing his sharp claw very near to her. "Don't you dare tell me to watch my mouth!! I don't care if you're my mother or not—not if you did this to me!!" He hissed, spreading his arms to emphasis the word "this".
Kagome whirled on Inuyasha, glaring at him – again, before Mika could do a thing. "I don't care if she did that to you or not, she's your mother! You don't talk to your mother like that!" She shouted, slapping him across the cheek for his disrespect and spinning away, intent on giving the pair time to make up lost time with each other. "And you had better apologize, too!" She called over her shoulder, making her way across the clearing.
Inuyasha gave up massaging his cheek to yell after the retreating back of the girl. "Wench, get your ass back here!"
Kagome didn't do a thing, acting as if she hadn't even heard the numerous insults thrown after her as she continued down the path. She smiled, knowing she'd done the right thing. Besides, she knew that if Inuyasha was like he was, then his mother must have been ten-times worse. She could handle the hanyou-gone-human…
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After nearly ten minutes of Inuyasha's shouting insults and obscenities over Kagome as soon as she was out of sight, Mika finally sighed at her son – who was still going on and on with the curses and name-calling at everything, even the inanimate objects surrounding him – and tapped him on the shoulder, efficiently silencing him when a chill worked its way up and down his spine. "Inuyasha. Are you finished now?"
Inuyasha nodded uncomfortably, fighting off the sudden sprout of goose bumps that surfaced on his arms.
Inuyasha's mother smiled brilliantly. "Thank you. Now, I suppose you realized that I, in fact, was the one to lie this "curse" on you—It's a temporary spell, might I add."
The hanyou-human forgot about the shiver, recovering instantly, and glowered ruthlessly. "Like hell it is. Now, take it off already!"
His mother only smiled more, intentionally forgetting to reprimand him about his language. "I'm sorry, but you're the only one who can do that, Inuyasha…"
Inuyasha blinked. He couldn't damn well do a thing. What the hell was she spouting on about? He didn't have any power like Kagome—He blinked. Wait. Did that mean that his mother had miko power, too—had been a miko, for that matter? "What are you talking about?"
"I can't remove the spell, Inuyasha." She explained, trying to simplify it for her child.
Inuyasha blinked. "Why not? You put it there."
Mika smiled placidly at his innocent bewilderment. "You have a task, Inuyasha. This mission – you could call it, I guess – must be fulfilled for you to take it off."
He slowly seemed to catch on. "Um, okay. What do I have to do?"
"Tell her." Inuyasha's mother explained simply.
Wha…? Inuyasha mused, staring at the dead woman in front of him. Tell who—tell 'im what? Inuyasha blinked gradually, making his mouth work. He was nervous about that enlightenment, and the female's sly smile didn't help his uneasiness. "Tell who what?" He ventured bravely.
The deceased girl extended an arm in front of her, palm up. An unsteady hologram materialized in her hand at an apt pace for miko's power, blurring slightly before finally becoming clear enough to decipher its subject. It was a depiction of Kagome. A very detailed one, at that.
Inuyasha blinked as he stared down at the figure in his mother's hand. She wasn't helping much… He jolted away from her hand when Mika snapped it shut – he'd been staring, she noticed.
"The who," She explained, opening her palm again, displaying an animated icon – a vivid cherry heart. After affectively finding Inuyasha blushing like crazy, she grinned and closed her hand again. "And the what."
Inuyasha fell flat on his back in surprise when her hand snapped closed again, eyes wide. He stared up at his mother, arms and legs sprawled out in shock. "No." He answered instantly, glaring at the woman. "Hell no."
Laughter danced in her eyes. "And why not, my son?" She asked slyly.
"Because it's not damn well true, that's why! I'm not gonna lie to her just to get my damn blood back!"
Mika shrugged. "Fine; have it your way. But, you know, even if you lied, it wouldn't do a thing." The late Mika stepped away from where she was leaning over him. "Well, Inuyasha, I must be off – Kagome's coming back. We'll talk later, yes?" She smiled mischievously and vanished into nothing again. "Goodbye, my son…"
The words fluttered into his mind, leaving a confused hanyou-human in the dirt. That had really been his mother – it was really Mika – and she had really put a spell on him…
He sighed, knowing that he didn't plan to do a single thing until his mother gave and undid the curse for him. There was no way that he'd admit—His thoughts stopped instinctively, ever suspicious, when he heard Kagome call his name. He heard the said making her way down the path that she'd taken before.
Just as Inuyasha came into sight, Kagome grinned. "Done yet?" She asked and looked around to greet Mika. "Wait. Where'd your mother go, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha shrugged, sitting up. "She left. We finished our conversation…" He explained, and added as an afterthought, "Damnit, forgot to apologize, though… Oh well." Inuyasha looked up suddenly. Oops. Had he said that out loud?
Kagome glowered at him, twirling away in indignation. "Jerk."
And he really had to tell this girl that he loved her? Great. One more "jerk" for the billion he'd already been called…
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A/n: Heehee. I'm done. Yay! I thought that "Mika" was a great name for Inuyasha's mother. ^_^ It means "new moon". So, therefore, I was forced to pick it. ^_^''
Ehee.
I love my plot. Any one else? ^_^
[In]sane as ever,
Senko Tenrou