Pieces of You
Chapter 5
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Leaning back Miroku turned to Shippo. They both exchanged a glance before nodding simultaneously, and with a victory punch into the air they shouted, "The Hirosaku Shrine, let's visit Koharu!"
Looking up from her book, Sango glanced out the passenger seat window. "I wonder where Kagome is right now," she whispered quietly.
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The girl paused in her sweeping, and extended her hand with a smile, "My names Koharu, what's yours?" Kagome stared at the hand for a second before reaching out to grasp it, "Kagome."
Koharu smiled broadly, releasing her hand. "I was just about to stop for tea, if you'd like to join me?" After a second of hesitation, Kagome nodded saying, "Thank you, that'd be nice."
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Koharu silently studied the face of the girl seated across from her. This girl is carrying a lot of baggage, she thought sadly. She stood up moving to get the tea kettle, thoughts focusing on the silent, depressed looking girl seated across the room.
Kagome had seemed lost and alone when she'd appeared, out of breath, atop the steps. The wind had been hitting strongly against her, blowing her skirt and her hair everywhere. The darkness of her every movement, seeming to hide a normally cheerful personality. She'd felt compelled to try and talk to her, and to try to find out what had happened to darken her personality so much, and to see if she could help in any way.
"Thanks, for inviting me to tea. I appreciate it very much." Came a whispered comment from Kagome. Koharu felt herself grin, "It's nothing, your welcome to join me anytime, it's quite boring having tea by yourself."
She froze when she heard a faint laugh behind her. "True, though in the mornings it's a great time to think. Alone only you and the cup of tea." Kagome's voice had started strong but softened, before fading away to a quiet whisper.
Turning around Koharu faced Kagome, carrying over the tray she watched the girl who was staring unfocused out the doorway at the Sacred tree. As she watched the girl, she saw a faint blue glow appear around her fingers, slowly spreading to engulf her arms entirely, before disappearing, all in the course of a few moments.
"That's the temples Sacred Tree. It's believed to be over ten-thousand years old at least, though we're not exactly sure." Koharu smiled softly at the younger girl whose gaze had focused on her as she spoke.
Kagome smiled faintly, "I was just trying to remembering a legend my grandfather used to tell me long ago. I faintly remember something about a Sacred Tree, and some demon. I believe it had several other legends attached to it, but for the life of me I can't remember any of them." She frowned slightly, her smile fading from her face. "I can't really remember much that my grandfather ever told me."
Koharu grinned, pushing stray locks of hair out of her face. " I know the feeling, I was raised in this temple by my father, he was always trying to get me interested in legends and myths."
Bringing her cup to her lips she took a quick sip, before holding it away from her lips to blow cautiously on the burning liquid. Nodding to the other girl, who had also found the tea hot and was blowing softly on it, Koharu stood up, walking to edge of the tatami mat to stare out the opened screen at the empty courtyard.
The wind was blowing leaves into the air and making them twirl and spin, before tucking themselves away on the ground, or in a bush, or tree. As she watched, a squirrel scampered quickly across the gray flagstones, and up the side of a tree, another in hot pursuit.
Turning in her seat to regard the girl standing in the door, Kagome continued to periodically sip, her gradually cooling tea. The girl, Koharu, was nice to invite her in like this even though she was a complete stranger. She had an air to her that gave the feeling she was trustworthy, and would listen if Kagome wanted to talk.
"But that's the last thing I need right now," she whispered to herself, quietly so Koharu couldn't hear. She stared down at the tea in her cup carefully moving it so it would swirl around the edges.
She felt her gaze become drawn to the lazily moving liquid, which was taking on a slightly blue tint. Almost imperceptibly shadowy figures seemed to form, there forms rippling slightly.
Tea sloshed out of the cup, as she jerked her eye's away violently. What was happening, she wondered, that had never happened before. Hesitantly she let her gaze drift back towards the cup, before flicking quickly away. Feeling her eye's trying to drift back towards the cup she focused on watching Koharu. Who was still gazing out the screen door.
"It's getting cold out," said Kagome softly, "A bit early in the season here isn't it?" Koharu turned to face her smiling faintly, "Not really, or not here, normally the weather changes are a bit sooner here. You came from further south?" Kagome grimaced, "No, actually to the north of here. In Abashiri as a matter of fact."
Koharu grinned, "I have family up in Sapporo, have you seen Jigokudani?" She laughed when Kagome's eye's flashed, "I love Hell Valley! It's so amazing! Well worth the seven hour trip."
Sliding the screen back closed she moved to sit in front of Kagome, refilling their cups as she spoke, "Definitely, it's wonderful to look out over Ohyunuma, just watching the bubbling water is fascinating." Koharu replied gleefully. Kagome grinned back faintly. But just as she opened her mouth to respond a loud bang sounded, like the slamming of a door.
"Houshi, how dare you!" There was a loud sound like that of a hand hitting flesh causing both girls to flinch. They both glanced at each other, saying simultaneously, "That sounds like it hurt." With loud stomping, a figure appeared on the other side of the screen, sitting on the genkan to remove her shoes to slip on slippers.
Joined by three other figures at their seat on the genkan, the first figure stood up, quickly striding over to the screen, slapping a straying hand as she passed one figure, and calling out, "Koharu, you in there?" in an exasperated voice.
Kagome stared at the shadow, that sounded an awful lot like Sango, and now that she thought about it Miroku was pretty touchy feely, and that would mean the rest of the group was here to if she was right. A faint frown creased her forehead as Koharu called out, "Yes, come in you guys."
As the screen slid back Kagome silently cheered for herself and her excellent deductive reasoning. Sango stared at her gaping, her mouth moving wordlessly. "Kagome?" "Hey Sango, what are you guys doing here?"
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Well that's the end of this chapter, it's pretty short, and I appoligize. On Miroku's beautiful face the next chapters longer, and it should be out eventually.
I really appreciate all of you who reviewed, I want you all to know that I love hearing that you like my story, even though I'm taking so long with it. I feel like I need to thank all of you personally, and I very well intend to.
Queen of Hearts747-I can't spell either, that's why spell check was invented, it's a wonderful creation that keeps me from making a fool of myself.
jubilation15-I hope this story can keep to your expectations. You really think the beginning was original? I was worried there'd be another one out there with something similar happening.
Linggoddess-Well you were right they are wearing a lot of black, probably because I do. I'm going to expand everyone, but Kagome's, clothing colors more, I feel that her's should stay dark for awhile.
Sruthi-Hey you, how are you doing? I'm glad you enjoyed them, don't bother checking everyday though, I promise the chapters won't come out that quickly. You weren't late reading, you can never be 'late' to read something like this. Except if its deleted of course. Hope to see you soon, or at least talk.
StarChild1-Thanks, encouragement rocks! I don't get much from my bedroom walls.
Hush-I update! Very slowly maybe, but I do update! I'm glad you like my story, I do too.
LilNezumi LilInu-We'll keep it coming at the chapter factory, and I hope they're good enough to keep you reading them.
Mooshi-You thought it was great! That makes me so happy. The fact you love it makes it even better.
Um, on this one honestly, I've guessed and guessed and blew a balloon out. I have no idea who this is, though thank you so much, I'm glad you think it's great.
Crimson Dragon14-I have seen you before. I'm glad you like it, esspecially since you like another of my stories.
You know I'm going to be starting a new one that I'm finding myself very fond of. It's going to be called Rubik's Cube's, yes that's how it's spelled. I hope you enjoy it too.
And I promise another chapter's on the way for I Stand Alone, I've almost finished it, and then just need to make minor adjustments.
kgurl-I promise I'll update as quickly as I can. It's nice to know you believe my story's good, additionally because you took the time to tell me that you think so.
AmayaSaria-I think this will be a fairly long story once I get going, and I hope it will stay satisfactory to you.
dark-wolf-soulX-I'm not sure if I'll add the Shikon no Tama or not. I've thought about it and decided to just wait and see where this goes.
My inner voices, can be very mean, they make me cry sometimes. 'I am not going to do it!' 'Yes you are' Finds herself reaching for the chocolate bunny.
All of you who reviewed, I hope you didn't think I was ignoring your comments, and compliments. Just waiting for a short while and then knocking them out at once. I just think it's easier. Thanks again, and see you with the next chapter.
F.E.