Note for Reviewers
Thank you rured, Diaphanous, BabbleQueen, Shinigami Clara, and Densetsuno Youko for reviewing!
As for the questions and comments, here is my reply:
Inuyasha is not going to paired up with Kagome simply because I feel that there has been too much history between the two that neither could ever really forget or let go. Inuyasha is revealed later as a very important/kind (yes, underneath that gruff exterior lies a wonderful soul) personality. He won't be with Kagome, but he won't be lonely either! Keep reading, you'll see!
As for closing the portal to the past, the way I see it, it was there at least five hundred years before Kgome was born. It will be there five hundred years more. I find no reason to allow part of what made the story even exist should be so easily written out.
Real life is not likely to be straight forward and over-simplified. My goal was to portray the characters with a little more depth and the way I accomplish that is to increase our awareness of the character interactions. I dislike the whole "I like you. You like me. Come on world, push us together!" Scenario. The way people think and behave has consequences on the outcomes of events and on the decisions of other characters. And there are more emotions out there then Love! Also I have included that everyone has an internal struggle that they will be trying to overcome as well as the various threats that are obviously a carry over from the manga or anime.
I want these people to live and breath over the pages. They are alive! Whahahahahah!
Thank you
Sylvannastar
Getting Friendly...er...Making Friends.
Kagome opened her blurry eyes, for a time disoriented by her unfamiliar surroundings. She turned her head and saw Shuuichi curled uncomfortably in a narrow chair. His silky red hair had slipped over one shoulder and had fallen over his closed eyes.
She smiled gently. He had given up his bed for her. She felt touched and concerned for the discomfort she knew he would be feeling if she allowed him to sleep there all night. The sheets rustled softly as she tried to sit up.
Slowly, Kurama's emerald eyes cracked open. She sat up on her elbows and examined the dirty shirt clutched in one hand. She looked confused. She glanced at him and saw him watching her.
With a nervous smile, she held up the garment and waved it at him apologetically. He moved to take it from her, brushing her finger tips with his. She hugged her arm to her chest and regarded him with her expressive eyes. Then, she spoke.
"You're gonna hurt tomorrow if you sleep there like that."
He gave her a lopsided half-smile and smoothed the ruined school shirt with his fingers. "Yes, well, Yusuke has commandeered the couch, and Hiei the window seat. I had few options left to me. Besides, I wanted to be sure you did not develop an infection from the wound and take a turn for the worst in the middle of the night."
She still felt bad about taking over his bed. She plucked at the sheet thoughtfully. It was a big bed...But shouldn't there be a guest room?
He could see where her thoughts were going. "My mother works the night shift and will be back soon, and our guest room was turned into a studio years ago."
"Studio?"
"My mother teaches piano twice a week from our home."
"Oh."
A long silence followed. When she made no move to lie down, he spoke again. "You need to sleep if you are to heal."
She blushed again and moved over stiffly. She could tell he was still watching her.
His eyes are so gentle and understanding...I can't be so selfish as to leave him like that!
Kagome turned onto her side away from him so he couldn't see her face when she spoke again.
"Shuuichi, there is plenty of room on the bed. I trust you."
It was true, She did trust him, thought she couldn't say why. She blushed harder and curled her fingers into the sheets again, forcing herself to relax.
She was embarrassed. He smiled in the dark but remained in the chair. "Thank you." He heard himself say.
She turned her head around to look at him in confusion. He didn't accept her offer.... "Am I that bad to be around that you actually prefer the chair?" she asked.
He could hear the humor in her voice but knew to refuse right out would hurt her feelings. He stood up and walked the two steps to the side of the bed and pulled an extra blanket with him. She remained under the original covers while he settled on top of them.
"Thank you," she whispered this time.
"For what?" he asked just as quietly.
"For taking care of me. For being concerned. For not preferring the chair..." her voice faded off as she drifted to sleep again. "Besides, I'm used to having someone close when I sleep....my...little...fox."
That made him sit up suddenly. "What!"
She didn't even twitch. She was out.
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Hiei woke up as the first rays of the morning sun appeared over the horizon. He woke suddenly and completely, instantly alert. There was a movement by the door. The lock rattled and opened.
He watched as a tired looking woman dropped various items along her path. Jacket, shoes, keys, handbag, all discarded, until she yawned delicately and noticed Yusuke snoring loudly on the couch. She peered at him and dragged the blanket over him to tuck him in better. She turned her tired eyes to Hiei and smiled a welcome.
"Shuuichi didn't tell me he was going to have friends over. I will see if we have anything to make a good breakfast for you." She spoke quietly to keep from waking Yusuke. "I'm afraid we may be a bit unprepared."
"It wasn't planned." Hiei said. He saw her drawn expression and turned back to the window. "Don't worry about food. We'll be going out."
She looked relieved. She made a polite response before making her way to her own room to get some rest. She knew her son was responsible and would take care of anything that may come up with his guests. He really was a good son. Smiling to herself at her good fortune, she climbed into her own bed to enjoy a long dreamless sleep.
Hiei watched her go using her reflection in the glass. They would have to find somewhere else to talk this morning. He looked at the people stirring in the streets below him. They would need to be somewhere private, where they could get some answers.
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Yusuke opened the door after he received no answer to his knocking. The bed was a tangle of limbs, blankets and long red and black hair. Yusuke wasn't sure which way was supposed to be up, so he poked one unmoving lump in the middle.
"Mmmph..."
At least it was alive. Yusuke shook his head at the mess. The corner of one blanket lowered enough to reveal one blurry green eye.
"Morning, Sunshine!" Yusuke was enjoying this.
"Mmmmph," the voice replied again. The blanket was pulled back up, hiding the exposed eye.
"Didn't sleep so well?" Yusuke asked innocently. The blanket lowered again. "Everyone is here."
The green eye turned to regard the glowing red numbers on his alarm clock. Kurama shot up so suddenly the bed bounced and the other lump slid with a thud to the floor. It whimpered and untangled itself to reveal and even more tousled Kagome. She half climbed back on the bed, leaving her lower half sprawled on the floor. And went back to sleep in front of them.
"I guess she's not hurt." Yusuke commented, scratching his head. Kurama couldn't seem to gather his thoughts. "Everyone is waiting" he repeated and left the room chuckling. He had never seen Kurama so flustered. But then, he'd never seen Kurama first thing in the morning either.
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Kagome pushed her wet hair behind one small ear and touched the tender wound that ran down the length of her side. It was better, but still not good. The shower had lifted her spirits immensely. She finger combed her hair for lack of a brush and looked at the dirty school clothes she had from yesterday. It was rather pointless to put them back on.
A knock on the door had her scrambling to pull the towel tighter around her. The door cracked open to reveal a beaming Boton. She pushed her way in and chattered loudly the whole while. Then she handed Kagome a beautifully embroidered white kimono. It had cherry blossoms across the shoulders and down one sleeve. Kagome was impressed. It was beautiful.
She dressed and joined the others in the now well lit living room. They still seemed a bit distrusting except for Kurama, Yusuke who was grinning at her like a fool, and Hiei who had absolutely no expression whatsoever.
"Ah! There you are!" The child Koenma said. "Time to go."
She opened her mouth to ask where when the ground seemed to disappear under her feet. She yelped and grabbed for the nearest support which happened to be Boton. They arrived in a large room furnished with no more then a desk and chair. Kagome looked around expecting an echo from all the empty space.
The doors across from them suddenly burst open and a blue ogre with a pencil behind his ear and a notepad under one arm, bounded into the room. He was followed by various other ogres carrying mismatched chairs and couches while he directed them around.
Kagome wisely stepped out of the way and remained content to watch. She looked at Hiei. "Spirit world?"
He nodded. She continued to watch the bustling. Then, three more ogres came in carrying a small box between them. It was obviously very heavy. They placed it on the floor under a large screen she had not noticed before, and left the room.
She looked questioningly at Koenma.
"Sit! Sit!" he urged them. Kagome sank into the nearest sofa and was quickly joined by Koenma. He stood on a cushion and proclaimed in a very proud tone, "I found an easier way for you to tell your story. That," he motioned at the box which obediently opened and a small glass ball emerged and floated over to them, "is a type of seer stone. It will show us your memories."
"My...memories?" she hesitated to ask.
"Yes. We will see everything."
"Everything!?" she squeaked. Suddenly, sharing her life story and trusting these strangers took a whole new turn. Kagome wasn't sure what idea was worse. Showing her every memory, even the private ones, with others, or suddenly being faced with the idea she may have to recognize the things she had so far kept hidden even from herself.
"...everything..." she whispered to herself.