Readers--Quicky AN today. Just wishing you a likeable chapter. Enjoy!
Whyndancer sez:
Wow this was an easy chapter! I got it back it I think just about 24 hours! Go Jesse! Now you can send me the next of the next four chapters you have written. (See, it's my fault if this takes a while to get updated, not hers. All flames thissaway.)
Disclaimer: *sigh* They aren't mine, they have never been mine, they'll never be mine...it's all in my mind.
Chapter 1: The Dojo
Kagome stopped once on her journey to the city, at a small diner off the freeway where she grabbed a quick lunch and used the restroom. The second her helmet was removed from her head, she replaced the visor with sunglasses. This earned her a few weird glances from the waitresses and other customers in the diner. She guessed they didn't get many teenaged biker girls out this way. Kagome ate in silence, left a good tip, and then was back on the road after she changed her CD and raised the volume a little.
She entered the city around mid-afternoon. She'd just be getting out of school if she were home. That meant that all the schools in the city were being let out as well. It mildly phased Kagome that she would probably walk into the dojo while her grandmother was in the middle of class, but she shrugged it off. Crashing was a fun hobby. Kagome grinned as she cut off a truck and whizzed through an orange light with only two seconds to spare. Yes, Kagome Higurashi was a force to be reckoned with, at least on the road.
Once the dojo was in sight, Kagome grinned like a fool. This was her second home, and probably her favorite place in all the world. At grandmother Kaede's dojo, Kagome was free to train at her will, and that was quite frequently. Her grandmother let her sleep in late, eat whenever she wanted, and stay up late at night. When Kagome was at Kaede's she was just a teenaged girl. She wasn't a big sister who had to look after two little boys. She wasn't her mother's heir. She didn't even have to be a miko if she didn't want to. At Kaede's dojo, Kagome was just Kagome. And she loved that feeling.
Kagome pulled into the small parking lot behind the dojo itself, parking in the far corner and leaping off gracefully, her duster flapping behind her. She pulled the helmet from her head and put it on under her arm. Sunglasses in place, she shouldered her duffel bag and headed around to the front door of the dojo.
There were people moving around inside, she saw figures dashing about, but it didn't look like a big class. In fact, when Kagome opened the door, she saw only two people in the room. The first floor of the dojo was broken into three rooms. The front room, the one you walked into from the front door, was for hand-to-hand combat. The floor was bare and the space was open for freestyle training. The next room was for weapons training, also open spaced, but the walls were hung with weapons of all kinds. The third room in the back was Kaede's house--her kitchen/dinning room. There were also stairs in the back room that led to the second floor of the dojo. That contained smaller, more closed in training rooms. The third and final floor was the rest of the house area of the dojo, where Kaede lived and Kagome stayed while visiting.
Kagome poked her head into the first room of the dojo and saw two people fighting ferociously over the entire floor. They were simply two blurs, one light colored and one dark. Kagome watched for a moment, waiting for her chance to get in and through to the second room without getting caught up in the battle. 'They must be Grandma's top students,' she thought with a touch of envy at the way they moved.
Her chance came when the light colored blur threw the dark colored blur to the ground and stood over him. "I win," said a very smug male voice. Kagome raised an eyebrow at she looked at the combatants. The light colored blur was now a rather gorgeous teenaged boy around Kagome's age. He was dressed in rather traditional training clothes that were white and red. His silver hair was held up in a sloppy tail behind his head. She also noted two small ears on the top of his head, not that she cared. Demons were commonplace in this world. Most of them were harmless enough to live and mingle with humans. There were only your occasional murderous ones, or those born with a primitive mind knowing only how to survive. Those were taken care of by Mikos like herself. No, this boy was a civilized demon, or maybe even a half-breed. There was a smug smile on his face that matched his voice as he helped the other guy to his feet. The one on the floor was a teenaged boy of about the same age. He had short--and currently very messy--black hair and was wearing the same kind of clothes as the other boy, only his were black.
"God you suck," the boy in black whined once we was on his feet again and able to dust himself off. "I trained to death and you still kick my ass without much effort."
"I know, I'm amazing, aren't I?" the boy in white gloated. Kagome just couldn't contain the snort. She'd met some cocky guys in her life, but this guy totally stole the show. At the sound, both boys whirled to look at her. "Who the hell are you?" the cocky guy said rather impolitely. Kagome rolled her eyes behind her sunglasses, very happy that she bought the pair with mirrored lenses so no one saw her expression.
She sighed and pushed open the door the rest of the way, walking into the room. Ignoring his question, she asked one of her own. "Do you know where I could find Kaede Isharugi?" Both guys blinked at her a few seconds, looking her up and down. Kagome rolled her eyes again and sighed once more. "Never mind, I'll find her myself." With that, she swept out of the room and into the next, leaving both guys standing dumfounded and still blinking.
"Who do you think that was?" Miroku asked, tossing a glance at his best friend, then back to the door where the girl just disappeared.
"No idea," was Inuyasha's reply. His gaze was also locked on the door. "Correct me if I'm wrong," he began slowly. "But we come here just about every day, right?"
"Yep," Miroku said.
"And we've never seen her before, right?"
"Nope."
"Maybe she's new?" was his conclusion.
"If she was new, baka, don't you think she'd go to school before she looked into martial arts training?" was Miroku's reprimand. Then he turned back to Inuyasha. "But still, she was pretty hot." Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at him.
"What do you mean by that?" Inuyasha said indignantly. He never got caught checking out girls, it wasn't part of his character. He was above that. They were too much of a distraction. Sure, girls chased after him all the time, but he'd never chase after one of them. Even the insinuation of such a thing, as Miroku's perverted tone and look were evidence of, pissed him off. "Oh please, just because you haven't yet asked her to bear your child doesn't mean she was all that great! She's just new so that automatically qualifies her as 'hot' to you. I bet if you saw her every day you'd be sick of the sight of her in a week."
"Geez Inuyasha, take it a little more seriously," Miroku said defensively. "I was simply commenting that the girl was pretty hot. I mean, come on, even you have eyes." Inuyasha shrugged. He'd never give his best friend the satisfaction of knowing that he had, in fact, checked her out. Just a little bit. Just enough to notice her ruffled jet black hair that fell around her shoulders, probably ruffled from being underneath the helmet she had under one arm. Just enough to notice that she was wearing a long black leather duster that trailed down to her mid-calves, hugging her upper body where it was clasped, but flaring open at her hips. Just enough to notice she had a backpack on and a duffel bag thrown over one shoulder. Inuyasha checked her out just enough to notice that she was wearing sunglasses with the one-way lenses so that no one could see her eyes.
"Feh," Inuyasha commented, scratching his left ear absently. It twitched in annoyance. Miroku sighed, rolling his eyes. Then he tip-toed over to the door that led into the next room, into which the girl had disappeared. He pressed his ear to the wood and strained to hear. It was Inuyasha's turn to roll his eyes. "Dumbass, just open the fucking door! Don't stand their groping it, it's not a girl!" Miroku gave him one of those you-are-too-funny looks and backed away as Inuyasha tugged the door open.
They saw the biker-girl leaning against the far wall of the second room. Her duffel bag and backpack were resting next to her on the ground, her helmet on top. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her head was down. The sunglasses still blocked her eyes and she was chewing absently on a piece of her hair. Both boys peered at her intently through the crack in the door, Inuyasha hovering over Miroku's head. Suddenly she straightened, looking at them and smiling.
"You don't have to stare," she said absently, still leaning casually against the wall. "I don't bite...much." Miroku took the initiative to open the door and he and Inuyasha promptly fell through the doorway, sprawling on the floor. She snorted at them, grinning broadly. "I thought you two were martial artists, is the dismount from the door too great for you?"
Inuyasha got to his feet, glaring at her. She merely regarded him with a small smile, totally cool. That only made him angrier. He whirled on Miroku though, his usual victim. "What the hell man? Warn someone before you open the door." Miroku huddled into a fetal position on the floor.
"I'm sorry man, the voices told me to do it. It's all the voices..." The girl watched them and laughed. It was a light, refreshing sound. The kind of laugh that comes from a person who has a good singing voice. Inuyasha's ears twitched at the sound, swiveling towards her even though he was still towering over Miroku menacingly. She noticed this and smirked. Inuyasha watched her out of the corner of his amber eyes, wishing that he could see her eyes behind the glasses. For some reason, not being able to look someone in the eye made him nervous.
"You guys are great," she commented, pushing off the wall and taking a few steps forward. "Classic comedy."
"I'm so glad you're amused," Inuyasha muttered.
"Oh, don't worry, I am."
"Wench," he said under his breath.
"What was that?" she said in a warning tone, arms crossing again. She leaned forward until she was entering his personal space. It surprised him that she was so tall. Inuyasha was easily six, one. Miroku a good six foot himself. This girl couldn't have been smaller then five, ten. It was a nice change from all the girls he knew, who were easily six inches shorter.
"I called you a wench, got a problem?" he sarcastically replied, crossing his arms in a mirrored movement and leaning into her personal space. They were head to head, faces mere inches apart, stuck in a glaring match.
"Yeah I got a problem, dipshit!" she said, voice raising. Inuyasha smirked despite himself. Apart from his close circle of friends, no one would ever talk back to him. Inuyasha was both feared and respected in his neighborhood. This girl was obviously new, and didn't know the rules, but once she heard his rep, she'd get quiet again.
"You wanna try that again, bitch," he growled, eyes narrowing.
'He has pretty eyes,' Kagome thought to herself. She enjoyed a good argument, and this guy was the perfect victim for her adrenaline-pumped nerves. "I guess it would take a bitch to know a bitch," she remarked offhandedly. Inuyasha seethed.
"You are two seconds from pissing me off..."
"Warn me when we get to one second so I can cower in fear."
"Hey, hey!" Miroku intervene, pulling Inuyasha back a few feet. "Can't we all just get along?"
"NO!" Kagome and Inuyasha yelled at him. Inuyasha shrugged him off and stalked forward, regaining the distance he'd lost and placing himself once again right in front of her and looking down his nose at her. Kagome looked up, the muscle in her jaw clenching.
"Boys," a voice called from the back room. Inuyasha's anger vanished in a flash as he looked up, behind Kagome. Miroku was also looking behind her to the door. Kagome saw that it was slowly opening and she strode forward to hold it open further. A small, elderly woman strode into the room from the kitchen. Her gray hair was held back in a loose bun and her wrinkled face looked peeved. Her hands were on her hips as she looked them over haughtily. She was dressed in a traditional kimono of a dojo master. "I don't hear practicing, I hear slacking!" she barked at them.
Kagome smiled. 'Grandma will never change.' Kaede never even noticed Kagome holding the door open as she marched towards the two boys that her grand daughter had just been assaulting. "I want you to march back into that room and train for another half hour! It was you two who begged me to enter the Isharugi Dojo in this year's National Tournament, was it not?" They both nodded, headed down in a submissive manner. "Well, I would hate to have to inform the other members of your team that you were too busy slacking to train when we lose!" She pointed a finger at the front room. "Hop to it!"
"Yes Mistress Kaede," they both said in a monotone voice. Inuyasha looked at Kagome from under his bangs and scowled. She smiled sweetly and waved at him. God he wanted to strangle that girl!
Miroku headed to the front room but stopped when he noticed Inuyasha wasn't moving. Kaede noticed this also. "It wasn't my fault," he said in a low voice. "She interrupted!" He pointed an incriminating finger at Kagome.
"Who? Me?" she asked with feigned innocence. It was only then that Kaede turned around. Kaede's face broke into a huge smile and she straightened her posture. "Hey Grandma, what does a girl have to do to get a little service in this place?" Both Miroku and Inuyasha looked horrified. No one talked to Kaede in that way! Of course, they had no way of knowing that Kaede actually was her grandmother. They were even more horrified when Kaede laughed.
"You're late," Kaede said, taking a few steps in her granddaughter's direction.
"Traffic was a bitch," Kagome said with a shrug. Kaede shook her head.
"At least you're still in one piece. Did you bring all your things?" Kagome grabbed her helmet and bags.
"Yup. Mother gave me some extra cash to buy some new clothes for school and everything, so I'll be peachy. Same room as always?"
"Of course honey." Kagome grinned and headed into the kitchen. "Oh, one more thing!" She stuck her head back in the room. "When you come back downstairs, please take off those sunglasses. You know I love to see your eyes, dear."
"Awww, Grandma!" Kagome used the small-whiny-child voice, but she was grinning. "You're no fun." Then she disappeared into the other room. Kaede turned back to her students who looked completely dumfounded.
"What are you slackers still standing here for? I thought I told you to train!"
"But...but...who was that?" Miroku stammered. Kaede looked from the kitchen door back to them.
"Her?" she asked, motioning behind her with her head. The boys nodded. "That's my granddaughter. She's come to stay with me for the next few months." Both their jaws dropped open in shock. Kaede...had a granddaughter??? That meant she had a child, and that meant that she was married once. It was a bit more that they wanted to contemplate. "What are you staring at?" she barked. They recovered quickly and headed back into the front training room.
Kagome hopped back down the stairs, very pleased with herself. She could unpack tonight, right now she'd visit with her grandmother. Kaede was standing in the front room, watching the two boys spar at a slower speed than before.
"No Miroku," she interrupted, shaking her head. "You still aren't following through with your left foot. You need to keep that balanced or you'll lose half the power of the blow and leave yourself open for counterstrike." The black-haired boy nodded as he faced his opponent once more, trying the same move. "Better!" Kaede praised. "Keep practicing with the follow-through. It's very important."
"Yes Mistress," he said which faking to the left and trying to catch the other off guard. It didn't work though, the other guy was faster.
"Very good Inuyasha, you're speed is picking up tremendously! But you still have to cover your right side. You put too much confidence in your accuracy and not enough attention on your defense." He nodded, eyes never leaving the Miroku boy.
Kagome stood next to her grandmother. "They're very good," she said quietly.
"They are among my top students. Of course, neither are as good as you my dear." Kagome laughed, covering her mouth with a hand so she wouldn't distract the fighters.
"Me? Good? Surely you jest Grandma. I can't hold a candle to these two."
"You'd be surprised how good you are when you're not thinking too much. Fighting is as much mental as it is physical. If your mind wanders, your body wanders. When you concentrate on that one thing, Kagome dear, you are unbeatable." Kagome blushed crimson. Kaede looked up at her. "Ah, thank you for taking off those glasses." Kagome smiled.
"Anything for you Grandma." Then they went back to watching the combatants. "The one in white is dragging his left elbow, he needs to keep it even," Kagome commented.
"Yes, unfortunately," Kaede replied. "Inuyasha is my best fighter, by far. He is very strong and unbelievably fast. He also has a great drive and intense concentration. However," and there was always a however. "His ego is the size of Greenland! And I'm sure he heard every word I just said so now his head will get even bigger." Kagome spied the ears of Inuyasha swivel in their direction and then away. A faint blush spread across his cheeks. Kagome giggled.
"Aren't all the greatest fighters conceited?" she commented lightly and waited for his reaction. It came in the form of a glanced glare, but then he seemed to pause in mid-movement to look at her. She raised an eyebrow, then remembered that she was no longer wearing her sunglasses and she looked away. "I'm gonna grab something to eat, ok Grandma?" Kaede nodded and Kagome disappeared into the back room until she thought the coast as clear. When she did resurface, she saw that both boys were still standing in the front room talking with her grandmother, but they were changed into normal clothes now.
"You two are improving very much, the extra practices we added on seem to be doing the trick," Kaede said happily.
"Do you think we'll be ready for the Nationals, Mistress?" Inuyasha asked. "They're in three and a half weeks. Do you think we can get ready by then?"
"Inuyasha, I believe in my students. If you keep focus and not lose sight of your goal, then you will succeed." Kaede sighed and smiled. Kagome leaned against the doorframe behind them and cleared her throat to announce her presence.
"Motivational speaking should be your second job Gram," she joked with a smile. Kaede waved a hand at her dismissively.
"I don't need any of your sarcasm young lady," was her gruff reply.
"I blame the drugs I bought on the corner this morning," Kagome said with a sad sigh, shaking her head. "They just don't grow weed like they used to." Both the boys looked totally pale at her comments. Kaede rolled her eyes.
"Don't listen to her boys, she'll only infect you with her suburbanite cynicism." Kagome howled and hugged her grandmother.
"Oh Grandma, why do you torment me so? I'm just trying to lighten things up." Then she turned to the boys. Miroku's eyes were wide and blank and Inuyasha looked repulsed. Kagome rolled her eyes. "I thought you were city boys," she taunted. "Haven't you ever heard drug humor before?" They didn't move. "Grams, why do you put up with these stiffs?"
"No one in this city is like you, dear," her grandmother said with a half smile. "You're one of a kind. Besides, if I had a student as lively as you, I'd probably already be dead." They both laughed at that.
Inuyasha and Miroku were thoroughly baffled. Kaede never acted this way around them normally. She was always strict and no nonsense, a true martial artist. But what was with that girl? She just seemed to appear and change Kaede totally. They had never seen her before, yet she knew her way around the dojo as if she'd been there all her life.
Kaede turned back to them and frowned. "I never did introduce you boys properly did I?" They shook their heads. "Boy, this is my granddaughter, Kagome Isharugi." Kagome seemed to flinch a little at her last name, but she gave them both a friendly smile.
"Sorry about before, I was a little pissed. I've been driving all morning to get here and you caught me at a bad time." She especially directed this comment at Inuyasha, holding out a hand and offering him her olive-branch smile. "Truce?"
"For now," he commented, shaking her hand. Miroku then elbowed Inuyasha out of the way, grasping Kagome's hand in both of his.
"Lady Kagome, I am filled with overwhelming happiness to know you'll be staying at the dojo for however long you plan on staying." He then kissed her hand. Kagome, for once, looked totally at a loss for words. She blinked at him, both eyes wide. It was only then that Miroku noticed her odd eye coloring. Kaede clicked her tongue to get his attention and shook her head menacingly when he looked at her. He quickly released her hand and stepped back. Inuyasha glared at him angrily.
"Did he just call me a lady?" she asked her grandmother.
"Don't mind him, that's Miroku Houshi. He is a self-proclaimed ladies man," her grandmother commented with a shrug. Miroku blushed dully. Kagome gave him a crooked smile.
"Well you're looking at the wrong person if you want a lady," she told him happily. "I'm not much of a lady. I'm too foul mouthed, wear too much leather, and my motorcycle is the only thing that goes between my legs." She beamed and he blushed harder.
"Kagome!" Kaede gasped in shock. "Would you please refrain from talking like that in my presence? That is something I'd rather not hear come out of the mouth of my little miko." Kagome blushed.
"Sorry Grams, got a bit carried away. It won't happen again." She laughed lightly, running a hand through her shoulder length hair. Kaede sighed, muttering to herself.
"Well, now that you have shared such information with Miroku, allow me to introduce my other student. Kagome, this is Inuyasha Inutoya." The second Kagome heard his name, her blood ran cold. Her playful smile was frozen to her face as all the color drained from it. Inutoya...That was them. The family of Dog demons she was in the city to kill. Inutoya...the family name of her father's murderer. And here he was, one of the sons of that monster. Right here, in her grandmother's dojo.
'Oh God,' Kagome thought, still trying to function so that no one knew anything was wrong with her. She couldn't stop the narrowing of her eyes or the little bit of contempt that began to lace her smile. But it was fear that she felt most of all, cold undiluted fear that assaulted Inuyasha's senses. He blinked rapidly as he looked at her. Was it just him, or did she suddenly look sick?
'What was it Mama said?' she thought quickly. 'Inutoya had two sons, although they were by different women. The older was a full-dog demon and the younger was a half-breed, half human. This must be the younger son. Yes, he has the essence of a half-demon now that I read him. And his mother is living, the human who married Inutoya.' So many times had her mother told her about the family that her brain began to fill with too many thoughts. 'Oh God, they'll know something's wrong. Come on Kagome, play it cool.'
Kaede noticed the change in her immediately, and regretted the introduction. She had been a fool to think that Sayaka would try to keep Kagome out of her war. She had been a fool to think that Sayaka would not be as selfish as she had always been. But Sayaka obviously thought revenge was more important then her daughter. Yes, Kaede had been a fool, a hopeful fool. Kagome was already drawn into the war that should never have happened, a war that she should have no part in. It dawned on Kaede that this was probably the reason Kagome was here.
"Kagome, dear, why don't you wait in the kitchen for me," Kaede said in a low voice. Kagome nodded stiffly, then turned and fled from the room. Inuyasha and Miroku watched her go, confused. Kaede sighed heavily. 'Such a shame,' she thought, watching her granddaughter flee. 'Such a shame that she is drawn into this ugly web.'
Inuyasha had no idea, of course. He didn't know about Kaede being a Higurashi, or that Kagome was obviously one as well. He had no idea what had started the war between his family and hers years before he could even understand the concept. All he knew was to hate and fear the Higurashi family, which was why Kaede took him on as a student in the first place. All he knew was that three years ago, Sayaka Higurashi killed his father in an intense stand-off. But he knew nothing of Kagome apart from her last name. And Kagome knew nothing of Inuyasha apart from his.
"You must excuse her," Kaede said hurriedly. "Kagome is...uncomfortable around people of your affiliations, Inuyasha." Inuyasha looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"You mean she'd anti-demon?" he asked with sarcasm.
"You might say that. Kagome has been raised a Miko, as have I. But her mother...is a very closed minded woman. You must give her a chance, she's trying hard to find her own place." Kaede wanted to end this war, before more lives were taken in the name of vengeance. She lost a son-in-law, and her daughter's soul. She also lost a dear friend in Inuyasha's father. Both families grieved heavily. She would not lose her favorite student to this, and may the Gods damn her, she would not lose her granddaughter.
Inuyasha shrugged, grabbing his backpack. "Whatever. If she keeps to herself, I'll keep to mine. See you tomorrow, Mistress Kaede." With that he left, Miroku trailing after him with a goodbye of his own. Kaede waved them off, then went to the kitchen.
Kagome sat at the table, holding her head in her hands. Her raven hair fell around her, curtaining her face. But Kaede saw her trembling ever so slightly. "I made a fool of myself out there," she said quietly. Her voice was soft, unlike the high-flying girl who had been mouthing off just a few minutes ago.
"Kagome," Kaede began, sitting next to her. "Why did you come here?" Kagome looked up and met her grandmother's dark eyes. Kagome's own two-tone looked empty and scared.
"Mother was hurt. She won't be able to fulfill her duties as High Miko any longer. I'll be taking her place in a matter of weeks, so she asked me to do something for her. To fulfill one last mission of hers."
"Kagome, are you here to kill the Inutoya family?" Kagome looked away, nodding her head slightly. Kaede laughed ironically from deep in her throat. "I knew Sayaka would unload this on you, that selfish girl." Kagome looked at her grandmother pleadingly.
"It's not her fault Grandma! Mother hasn't been the same since...since...If I do this, she'll be able to put it behind her. She'll be able to move on. Mother will come back to us." Kaede looked at the desperate hope that clung inside her granddaughter's beautiful eyes. It was a sad sight indeed, that a child would go this far for a mother. Kaede knew the truth. No matter what Kagome did in her mother's name, no matter how many lives were taken in the name of justice for Sayaka's dead husband, she would never been the woman she was. Sayaka Higurashi died with her husband. All that was left now was a shell of anger and bitterness. And nothing could bring her back.
But Kagome couldn't believe it. If she knew such a thing, it would break her. For ten years, she had taken over the role of mother to two small boys, and had truly taken the position of High Miko. When someone came to the Higurashi's for aid, it was to Kagome that they went. In the past ten years, she had lost the childhood innocence that all children deserved. For those ten years she had clung to the one hope that her mother could come back to her, because she had lost the father that she had adored more than anything. If that hope was taken, Kagome would have nothing to hold on to. Kaede knew that the granddaughter she cherished would not survive such a truth, not now.
"You have met the youngest son of the Inutoya family today. Inuyasha. He lives with his human mother and half-brother. But I'm sure your mother told you that." Kagome nodded. She felt sick to her stomach. "Kagome, listen to me," Kaede pleaded, grabbing Kagome's hands. "You don't have to do this! Inuyasha and his family have done no wrong against your family. Your mother avenged your father three years ago, there is no need to kill them."
Kagome pulled her hands away and stood up. "I'm going to bed now Grandma. I'm tried from my trip." Indeed, she looked tired. Her face was pale and her shoulders slumped. Kaede nodded, inwardly sighing. Maybe after some time here, if she got to know Inuyasha a little better, she'd understand that death was not the only solution. Kagome trudged up the stairs and curled up on her bed in defeat. So far, that was two people telling her that killing the Inutoya family was wrong. Kaede and herself. She pulled on her headphones to drown out that little voice in the back of her mind. Only, the song she was greeted with did nothing to sooth her,
I don't ever try
To keep the love alive
I've found the frequency
You sucked it out of me
I'm not the only one
To hold a smoking gun
You felt the gravity
You think you're finally free
I don't even know
Which way I ought to go
Get out before you drown
Before they bring us down
It's all inside of me
My only enemy
You sucked it out of me
You fucked it out of me
Watch the world turn on
My only enemy
I want it all before you go
I don't ever try
To keep the love alive
I've found the frequency
You sucked it out of me
My only enemy
Well fuck you
Disgusted with herself, she tugged off the headphone, blinking hard against her burning eyes and grabbed at the phone that was resting serenely on the nightstand. She punched in her home number and waited as the phone rang. "Hello?" answered a small voice on the other end.
"Souta! Hi little dude," Kagome said, feeling better at hearing her brother's voice.
"Kagome!" Souta cried happily. She heard scuffling in the background and knew that Shippou and Souta were fighting over who got to hold the phone.
"Hi Kagome!" she heard Shippou's voice call into the phone.
"Hi Shippou. Why don't you use my phone in the work room and let Souta have the kitchen phone? Then I can talk to you both." He quickly rushed off the phone and from downstairs. Both boys chattered happily to her about how their day went and how their mother was doing. After a while, the gnawing feeling in Kagome's stomach all but disappeared. She loved listening to the sounds of her brother's voices. They were her only comfort in the world, her reason for being. They talked for a while, until Kagome announced it was past their bedtime and said that they had to hang up. With a promise to call again tomorrow, she sent them off with a firm, "I love you." Then she curled up into a ball on her bed and drifted off.
Okay, there you have it. Please remember to review, thanks ever so. Toodles for now!
~~Jesse the Wolf Demon~~
Whyndancer sez:
Wow this was an easy chapter! I got it back it I think just about 24 hours! Go Jesse! Now you can send me the next of the next four chapters you have written. (See, it's my fault if this takes a while to get updated, not hers. All flames thissaway.)
Disclaimer: *sigh* They aren't mine, they have never been mine, they'll never be mine...it's all in my mind.
Chapter 1: The Dojo
Kagome stopped once on her journey to the city, at a small diner off the freeway where she grabbed a quick lunch and used the restroom. The second her helmet was removed from her head, she replaced the visor with sunglasses. This earned her a few weird glances from the waitresses and other customers in the diner. She guessed they didn't get many teenaged biker girls out this way. Kagome ate in silence, left a good tip, and then was back on the road after she changed her CD and raised the volume a little.
She entered the city around mid-afternoon. She'd just be getting out of school if she were home. That meant that all the schools in the city were being let out as well. It mildly phased Kagome that she would probably walk into the dojo while her grandmother was in the middle of class, but she shrugged it off. Crashing was a fun hobby. Kagome grinned as she cut off a truck and whizzed through an orange light with only two seconds to spare. Yes, Kagome Higurashi was a force to be reckoned with, at least on the road.
Once the dojo was in sight, Kagome grinned like a fool. This was her second home, and probably her favorite place in all the world. At grandmother Kaede's dojo, Kagome was free to train at her will, and that was quite frequently. Her grandmother let her sleep in late, eat whenever she wanted, and stay up late at night. When Kagome was at Kaede's she was just a teenaged girl. She wasn't a big sister who had to look after two little boys. She wasn't her mother's heir. She didn't even have to be a miko if she didn't want to. At Kaede's dojo, Kagome was just Kagome. And she loved that feeling.
Kagome pulled into the small parking lot behind the dojo itself, parking in the far corner and leaping off gracefully, her duster flapping behind her. She pulled the helmet from her head and put it on under her arm. Sunglasses in place, she shouldered her duffel bag and headed around to the front door of the dojo.
There were people moving around inside, she saw figures dashing about, but it didn't look like a big class. In fact, when Kagome opened the door, she saw only two people in the room. The first floor of the dojo was broken into three rooms. The front room, the one you walked into from the front door, was for hand-to-hand combat. The floor was bare and the space was open for freestyle training. The next room was for weapons training, also open spaced, but the walls were hung with weapons of all kinds. The third room in the back was Kaede's house--her kitchen/dinning room. There were also stairs in the back room that led to the second floor of the dojo. That contained smaller, more closed in training rooms. The third and final floor was the rest of the house area of the dojo, where Kaede lived and Kagome stayed while visiting.
Kagome poked her head into the first room of the dojo and saw two people fighting ferociously over the entire floor. They were simply two blurs, one light colored and one dark. Kagome watched for a moment, waiting for her chance to get in and through to the second room without getting caught up in the battle. 'They must be Grandma's top students,' she thought with a touch of envy at the way they moved.
Her chance came when the light colored blur threw the dark colored blur to the ground and stood over him. "I win," said a very smug male voice. Kagome raised an eyebrow at she looked at the combatants. The light colored blur was now a rather gorgeous teenaged boy around Kagome's age. He was dressed in rather traditional training clothes that were white and red. His silver hair was held up in a sloppy tail behind his head. She also noted two small ears on the top of his head, not that she cared. Demons were commonplace in this world. Most of them were harmless enough to live and mingle with humans. There were only your occasional murderous ones, or those born with a primitive mind knowing only how to survive. Those were taken care of by Mikos like herself. No, this boy was a civilized demon, or maybe even a half-breed. There was a smug smile on his face that matched his voice as he helped the other guy to his feet. The one on the floor was a teenaged boy of about the same age. He had short--and currently very messy--black hair and was wearing the same kind of clothes as the other boy, only his were black.
"God you suck," the boy in black whined once we was on his feet again and able to dust himself off. "I trained to death and you still kick my ass without much effort."
"I know, I'm amazing, aren't I?" the boy in white gloated. Kagome just couldn't contain the snort. She'd met some cocky guys in her life, but this guy totally stole the show. At the sound, both boys whirled to look at her. "Who the hell are you?" the cocky guy said rather impolitely. Kagome rolled her eyes behind her sunglasses, very happy that she bought the pair with mirrored lenses so no one saw her expression.
She sighed and pushed open the door the rest of the way, walking into the room. Ignoring his question, she asked one of her own. "Do you know where I could find Kaede Isharugi?" Both guys blinked at her a few seconds, looking her up and down. Kagome rolled her eyes again and sighed once more. "Never mind, I'll find her myself." With that, she swept out of the room and into the next, leaving both guys standing dumfounded and still blinking.
"Who do you think that was?" Miroku asked, tossing a glance at his best friend, then back to the door where the girl just disappeared.
"No idea," was Inuyasha's reply. His gaze was also locked on the door. "Correct me if I'm wrong," he began slowly. "But we come here just about every day, right?"
"Yep," Miroku said.
"And we've never seen her before, right?"
"Nope."
"Maybe she's new?" was his conclusion.
"If she was new, baka, don't you think she'd go to school before she looked into martial arts training?" was Miroku's reprimand. Then he turned back to Inuyasha. "But still, she was pretty hot." Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at him.
"What do you mean by that?" Inuyasha said indignantly. He never got caught checking out girls, it wasn't part of his character. He was above that. They were too much of a distraction. Sure, girls chased after him all the time, but he'd never chase after one of them. Even the insinuation of such a thing, as Miroku's perverted tone and look were evidence of, pissed him off. "Oh please, just because you haven't yet asked her to bear your child doesn't mean she was all that great! She's just new so that automatically qualifies her as 'hot' to you. I bet if you saw her every day you'd be sick of the sight of her in a week."
"Geez Inuyasha, take it a little more seriously," Miroku said defensively. "I was simply commenting that the girl was pretty hot. I mean, come on, even you have eyes." Inuyasha shrugged. He'd never give his best friend the satisfaction of knowing that he had, in fact, checked her out. Just a little bit. Just enough to notice her ruffled jet black hair that fell around her shoulders, probably ruffled from being underneath the helmet she had under one arm. Just enough to notice that she was wearing a long black leather duster that trailed down to her mid-calves, hugging her upper body where it was clasped, but flaring open at her hips. Just enough to notice she had a backpack on and a duffel bag thrown over one shoulder. Inuyasha checked her out just enough to notice that she was wearing sunglasses with the one-way lenses so that no one could see her eyes.
"Feh," Inuyasha commented, scratching his left ear absently. It twitched in annoyance. Miroku sighed, rolling his eyes. Then he tip-toed over to the door that led into the next room, into which the girl had disappeared. He pressed his ear to the wood and strained to hear. It was Inuyasha's turn to roll his eyes. "Dumbass, just open the fucking door! Don't stand their groping it, it's not a girl!" Miroku gave him one of those you-are-too-funny looks and backed away as Inuyasha tugged the door open.
They saw the biker-girl leaning against the far wall of the second room. Her duffel bag and backpack were resting next to her on the ground, her helmet on top. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her head was down. The sunglasses still blocked her eyes and she was chewing absently on a piece of her hair. Both boys peered at her intently through the crack in the door, Inuyasha hovering over Miroku's head. Suddenly she straightened, looking at them and smiling.
"You don't have to stare," she said absently, still leaning casually against the wall. "I don't bite...much." Miroku took the initiative to open the door and he and Inuyasha promptly fell through the doorway, sprawling on the floor. She snorted at them, grinning broadly. "I thought you two were martial artists, is the dismount from the door too great for you?"
Inuyasha got to his feet, glaring at her. She merely regarded him with a small smile, totally cool. That only made him angrier. He whirled on Miroku though, his usual victim. "What the hell man? Warn someone before you open the door." Miroku huddled into a fetal position on the floor.
"I'm sorry man, the voices told me to do it. It's all the voices..." The girl watched them and laughed. It was a light, refreshing sound. The kind of laugh that comes from a person who has a good singing voice. Inuyasha's ears twitched at the sound, swiveling towards her even though he was still towering over Miroku menacingly. She noticed this and smirked. Inuyasha watched her out of the corner of his amber eyes, wishing that he could see her eyes behind the glasses. For some reason, not being able to look someone in the eye made him nervous.
"You guys are great," she commented, pushing off the wall and taking a few steps forward. "Classic comedy."
"I'm so glad you're amused," Inuyasha muttered.
"Oh, don't worry, I am."
"Wench," he said under his breath.
"What was that?" she said in a warning tone, arms crossing again. She leaned forward until she was entering his personal space. It surprised him that she was so tall. Inuyasha was easily six, one. Miroku a good six foot himself. This girl couldn't have been smaller then five, ten. It was a nice change from all the girls he knew, who were easily six inches shorter.
"I called you a wench, got a problem?" he sarcastically replied, crossing his arms in a mirrored movement and leaning into her personal space. They were head to head, faces mere inches apart, stuck in a glaring match.
"Yeah I got a problem, dipshit!" she said, voice raising. Inuyasha smirked despite himself. Apart from his close circle of friends, no one would ever talk back to him. Inuyasha was both feared and respected in his neighborhood. This girl was obviously new, and didn't know the rules, but once she heard his rep, she'd get quiet again.
"You wanna try that again, bitch," he growled, eyes narrowing.
'He has pretty eyes,' Kagome thought to herself. She enjoyed a good argument, and this guy was the perfect victim for her adrenaline-pumped nerves. "I guess it would take a bitch to know a bitch," she remarked offhandedly. Inuyasha seethed.
"You are two seconds from pissing me off..."
"Warn me when we get to one second so I can cower in fear."
"Hey, hey!" Miroku intervene, pulling Inuyasha back a few feet. "Can't we all just get along?"
"NO!" Kagome and Inuyasha yelled at him. Inuyasha shrugged him off and stalked forward, regaining the distance he'd lost and placing himself once again right in front of her and looking down his nose at her. Kagome looked up, the muscle in her jaw clenching.
"Boys," a voice called from the back room. Inuyasha's anger vanished in a flash as he looked up, behind Kagome. Miroku was also looking behind her to the door. Kagome saw that it was slowly opening and she strode forward to hold it open further. A small, elderly woman strode into the room from the kitchen. Her gray hair was held back in a loose bun and her wrinkled face looked peeved. Her hands were on her hips as she looked them over haughtily. She was dressed in a traditional kimono of a dojo master. "I don't hear practicing, I hear slacking!" she barked at them.
Kagome smiled. 'Grandma will never change.' Kaede never even noticed Kagome holding the door open as she marched towards the two boys that her grand daughter had just been assaulting. "I want you to march back into that room and train for another half hour! It was you two who begged me to enter the Isharugi Dojo in this year's National Tournament, was it not?" They both nodded, headed down in a submissive manner. "Well, I would hate to have to inform the other members of your team that you were too busy slacking to train when we lose!" She pointed a finger at the front room. "Hop to it!"
"Yes Mistress Kaede," they both said in a monotone voice. Inuyasha looked at Kagome from under his bangs and scowled. She smiled sweetly and waved at him. God he wanted to strangle that girl!
Miroku headed to the front room but stopped when he noticed Inuyasha wasn't moving. Kaede noticed this also. "It wasn't my fault," he said in a low voice. "She interrupted!" He pointed an incriminating finger at Kagome.
"Who? Me?" she asked with feigned innocence. It was only then that Kaede turned around. Kaede's face broke into a huge smile and she straightened her posture. "Hey Grandma, what does a girl have to do to get a little service in this place?" Both Miroku and Inuyasha looked horrified. No one talked to Kaede in that way! Of course, they had no way of knowing that Kaede actually was her grandmother. They were even more horrified when Kaede laughed.
"You're late," Kaede said, taking a few steps in her granddaughter's direction.
"Traffic was a bitch," Kagome said with a shrug. Kaede shook her head.
"At least you're still in one piece. Did you bring all your things?" Kagome grabbed her helmet and bags.
"Yup. Mother gave me some extra cash to buy some new clothes for school and everything, so I'll be peachy. Same room as always?"
"Of course honey." Kagome grinned and headed into the kitchen. "Oh, one more thing!" She stuck her head back in the room. "When you come back downstairs, please take off those sunglasses. You know I love to see your eyes, dear."
"Awww, Grandma!" Kagome used the small-whiny-child voice, but she was grinning. "You're no fun." Then she disappeared into the other room. Kaede turned back to her students who looked completely dumfounded.
"What are you slackers still standing here for? I thought I told you to train!"
"But...but...who was that?" Miroku stammered. Kaede looked from the kitchen door back to them.
"Her?" she asked, motioning behind her with her head. The boys nodded. "That's my granddaughter. She's come to stay with me for the next few months." Both their jaws dropped open in shock. Kaede...had a granddaughter??? That meant she had a child, and that meant that she was married once. It was a bit more that they wanted to contemplate. "What are you staring at?" she barked. They recovered quickly and headed back into the front training room.
Kagome hopped back down the stairs, very pleased with herself. She could unpack tonight, right now she'd visit with her grandmother. Kaede was standing in the front room, watching the two boys spar at a slower speed than before.
"No Miroku," she interrupted, shaking her head. "You still aren't following through with your left foot. You need to keep that balanced or you'll lose half the power of the blow and leave yourself open for counterstrike." The black-haired boy nodded as he faced his opponent once more, trying the same move. "Better!" Kaede praised. "Keep practicing with the follow-through. It's very important."
"Yes Mistress," he said which faking to the left and trying to catch the other off guard. It didn't work though, the other guy was faster.
"Very good Inuyasha, you're speed is picking up tremendously! But you still have to cover your right side. You put too much confidence in your accuracy and not enough attention on your defense." He nodded, eyes never leaving the Miroku boy.
Kagome stood next to her grandmother. "They're very good," she said quietly.
"They are among my top students. Of course, neither are as good as you my dear." Kagome laughed, covering her mouth with a hand so she wouldn't distract the fighters.
"Me? Good? Surely you jest Grandma. I can't hold a candle to these two."
"You'd be surprised how good you are when you're not thinking too much. Fighting is as much mental as it is physical. If your mind wanders, your body wanders. When you concentrate on that one thing, Kagome dear, you are unbeatable." Kagome blushed crimson. Kaede looked up at her. "Ah, thank you for taking off those glasses." Kagome smiled.
"Anything for you Grandma." Then they went back to watching the combatants. "The one in white is dragging his left elbow, he needs to keep it even," Kagome commented.
"Yes, unfortunately," Kaede replied. "Inuyasha is my best fighter, by far. He is very strong and unbelievably fast. He also has a great drive and intense concentration. However," and there was always a however. "His ego is the size of Greenland! And I'm sure he heard every word I just said so now his head will get even bigger." Kagome spied the ears of Inuyasha swivel in their direction and then away. A faint blush spread across his cheeks. Kagome giggled.
"Aren't all the greatest fighters conceited?" she commented lightly and waited for his reaction. It came in the form of a glanced glare, but then he seemed to pause in mid-movement to look at her. She raised an eyebrow, then remembered that she was no longer wearing her sunglasses and she looked away. "I'm gonna grab something to eat, ok Grandma?" Kaede nodded and Kagome disappeared into the back room until she thought the coast as clear. When she did resurface, she saw that both boys were still standing in the front room talking with her grandmother, but they were changed into normal clothes now.
"You two are improving very much, the extra practices we added on seem to be doing the trick," Kaede said happily.
"Do you think we'll be ready for the Nationals, Mistress?" Inuyasha asked. "They're in three and a half weeks. Do you think we can get ready by then?"
"Inuyasha, I believe in my students. If you keep focus and not lose sight of your goal, then you will succeed." Kaede sighed and smiled. Kagome leaned against the doorframe behind them and cleared her throat to announce her presence.
"Motivational speaking should be your second job Gram," she joked with a smile. Kaede waved a hand at her dismissively.
"I don't need any of your sarcasm young lady," was her gruff reply.
"I blame the drugs I bought on the corner this morning," Kagome said with a sad sigh, shaking her head. "They just don't grow weed like they used to." Both the boys looked totally pale at her comments. Kaede rolled her eyes.
"Don't listen to her boys, she'll only infect you with her suburbanite cynicism." Kagome howled and hugged her grandmother.
"Oh Grandma, why do you torment me so? I'm just trying to lighten things up." Then she turned to the boys. Miroku's eyes were wide and blank and Inuyasha looked repulsed. Kagome rolled her eyes. "I thought you were city boys," she taunted. "Haven't you ever heard drug humor before?" They didn't move. "Grams, why do you put up with these stiffs?"
"No one in this city is like you, dear," her grandmother said with a half smile. "You're one of a kind. Besides, if I had a student as lively as you, I'd probably already be dead." They both laughed at that.
Inuyasha and Miroku were thoroughly baffled. Kaede never acted this way around them normally. She was always strict and no nonsense, a true martial artist. But what was with that girl? She just seemed to appear and change Kaede totally. They had never seen her before, yet she knew her way around the dojo as if she'd been there all her life.
Kaede turned back to them and frowned. "I never did introduce you boys properly did I?" They shook their heads. "Boy, this is my granddaughter, Kagome Isharugi." Kagome seemed to flinch a little at her last name, but she gave them both a friendly smile.
"Sorry about before, I was a little pissed. I've been driving all morning to get here and you caught me at a bad time." She especially directed this comment at Inuyasha, holding out a hand and offering him her olive-branch smile. "Truce?"
"For now," he commented, shaking her hand. Miroku then elbowed Inuyasha out of the way, grasping Kagome's hand in both of his.
"Lady Kagome, I am filled with overwhelming happiness to know you'll be staying at the dojo for however long you plan on staying." He then kissed her hand. Kagome, for once, looked totally at a loss for words. She blinked at him, both eyes wide. It was only then that Miroku noticed her odd eye coloring. Kaede clicked her tongue to get his attention and shook her head menacingly when he looked at her. He quickly released her hand and stepped back. Inuyasha glared at him angrily.
"Did he just call me a lady?" she asked her grandmother.
"Don't mind him, that's Miroku Houshi. He is a self-proclaimed ladies man," her grandmother commented with a shrug. Miroku blushed dully. Kagome gave him a crooked smile.
"Well you're looking at the wrong person if you want a lady," she told him happily. "I'm not much of a lady. I'm too foul mouthed, wear too much leather, and my motorcycle is the only thing that goes between my legs." She beamed and he blushed harder.
"Kagome!" Kaede gasped in shock. "Would you please refrain from talking like that in my presence? That is something I'd rather not hear come out of the mouth of my little miko." Kagome blushed.
"Sorry Grams, got a bit carried away. It won't happen again." She laughed lightly, running a hand through her shoulder length hair. Kaede sighed, muttering to herself.
"Well, now that you have shared such information with Miroku, allow me to introduce my other student. Kagome, this is Inuyasha Inutoya." The second Kagome heard his name, her blood ran cold. Her playful smile was frozen to her face as all the color drained from it. Inutoya...That was them. The family of Dog demons she was in the city to kill. Inutoya...the family name of her father's murderer. And here he was, one of the sons of that monster. Right here, in her grandmother's dojo.
'Oh God,' Kagome thought, still trying to function so that no one knew anything was wrong with her. She couldn't stop the narrowing of her eyes or the little bit of contempt that began to lace her smile. But it was fear that she felt most of all, cold undiluted fear that assaulted Inuyasha's senses. He blinked rapidly as he looked at her. Was it just him, or did she suddenly look sick?
'What was it Mama said?' she thought quickly. 'Inutoya had two sons, although they were by different women. The older was a full-dog demon and the younger was a half-breed, half human. This must be the younger son. Yes, he has the essence of a half-demon now that I read him. And his mother is living, the human who married Inutoya.' So many times had her mother told her about the family that her brain began to fill with too many thoughts. 'Oh God, they'll know something's wrong. Come on Kagome, play it cool.'
Kaede noticed the change in her immediately, and regretted the introduction. She had been a fool to think that Sayaka would try to keep Kagome out of her war. She had been a fool to think that Sayaka would not be as selfish as she had always been. But Sayaka obviously thought revenge was more important then her daughter. Yes, Kaede had been a fool, a hopeful fool. Kagome was already drawn into the war that should never have happened, a war that she should have no part in. It dawned on Kaede that this was probably the reason Kagome was here.
"Kagome, dear, why don't you wait in the kitchen for me," Kaede said in a low voice. Kagome nodded stiffly, then turned and fled from the room. Inuyasha and Miroku watched her go, confused. Kaede sighed heavily. 'Such a shame,' she thought, watching her granddaughter flee. 'Such a shame that she is drawn into this ugly web.'
Inuyasha had no idea, of course. He didn't know about Kaede being a Higurashi, or that Kagome was obviously one as well. He had no idea what had started the war between his family and hers years before he could even understand the concept. All he knew was to hate and fear the Higurashi family, which was why Kaede took him on as a student in the first place. All he knew was that three years ago, Sayaka Higurashi killed his father in an intense stand-off. But he knew nothing of Kagome apart from her last name. And Kagome knew nothing of Inuyasha apart from his.
"You must excuse her," Kaede said hurriedly. "Kagome is...uncomfortable around people of your affiliations, Inuyasha." Inuyasha looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"You mean she'd anti-demon?" he asked with sarcasm.
"You might say that. Kagome has been raised a Miko, as have I. But her mother...is a very closed minded woman. You must give her a chance, she's trying hard to find her own place." Kaede wanted to end this war, before more lives were taken in the name of vengeance. She lost a son-in-law, and her daughter's soul. She also lost a dear friend in Inuyasha's father. Both families grieved heavily. She would not lose her favorite student to this, and may the Gods damn her, she would not lose her granddaughter.
Inuyasha shrugged, grabbing his backpack. "Whatever. If she keeps to herself, I'll keep to mine. See you tomorrow, Mistress Kaede." With that he left, Miroku trailing after him with a goodbye of his own. Kaede waved them off, then went to the kitchen.
Kagome sat at the table, holding her head in her hands. Her raven hair fell around her, curtaining her face. But Kaede saw her trembling ever so slightly. "I made a fool of myself out there," she said quietly. Her voice was soft, unlike the high-flying girl who had been mouthing off just a few minutes ago.
"Kagome," Kaede began, sitting next to her. "Why did you come here?" Kagome looked up and met her grandmother's dark eyes. Kagome's own two-tone looked empty and scared.
"Mother was hurt. She won't be able to fulfill her duties as High Miko any longer. I'll be taking her place in a matter of weeks, so she asked me to do something for her. To fulfill one last mission of hers."
"Kagome, are you here to kill the Inutoya family?" Kagome looked away, nodding her head slightly. Kaede laughed ironically from deep in her throat. "I knew Sayaka would unload this on you, that selfish girl." Kagome looked at her grandmother pleadingly.
"It's not her fault Grandma! Mother hasn't been the same since...since...If I do this, she'll be able to put it behind her. She'll be able to move on. Mother will come back to us." Kaede looked at the desperate hope that clung inside her granddaughter's beautiful eyes. It was a sad sight indeed, that a child would go this far for a mother. Kaede knew the truth. No matter what Kagome did in her mother's name, no matter how many lives were taken in the name of justice for Sayaka's dead husband, she would never been the woman she was. Sayaka Higurashi died with her husband. All that was left now was a shell of anger and bitterness. And nothing could bring her back.
But Kagome couldn't believe it. If she knew such a thing, it would break her. For ten years, she had taken over the role of mother to two small boys, and had truly taken the position of High Miko. When someone came to the Higurashi's for aid, it was to Kagome that they went. In the past ten years, she had lost the childhood innocence that all children deserved. For those ten years she had clung to the one hope that her mother could come back to her, because she had lost the father that she had adored more than anything. If that hope was taken, Kagome would have nothing to hold on to. Kaede knew that the granddaughter she cherished would not survive such a truth, not now.
"You have met the youngest son of the Inutoya family today. Inuyasha. He lives with his human mother and half-brother. But I'm sure your mother told you that." Kagome nodded. She felt sick to her stomach. "Kagome, listen to me," Kaede pleaded, grabbing Kagome's hands. "You don't have to do this! Inuyasha and his family have done no wrong against your family. Your mother avenged your father three years ago, there is no need to kill them."
Kagome pulled her hands away and stood up. "I'm going to bed now Grandma. I'm tried from my trip." Indeed, she looked tired. Her face was pale and her shoulders slumped. Kaede nodded, inwardly sighing. Maybe after some time here, if she got to know Inuyasha a little better, she'd understand that death was not the only solution. Kagome trudged up the stairs and curled up on her bed in defeat. So far, that was two people telling her that killing the Inutoya family was wrong. Kaede and herself. She pulled on her headphones to drown out that little voice in the back of her mind. Only, the song she was greeted with did nothing to sooth her,
I don't ever try
To keep the love alive
I've found the frequency
You sucked it out of me
I'm not the only one
To hold a smoking gun
You felt the gravity
You think you're finally free
I don't even know
Which way I ought to go
Get out before you drown
Before they bring us down
It's all inside of me
My only enemy
You sucked it out of me
You fucked it out of me
Watch the world turn on
My only enemy
I want it all before you go
I don't ever try
To keep the love alive
I've found the frequency
You sucked it out of me
My only enemy
Well fuck you
Disgusted with herself, she tugged off the headphone, blinking hard against her burning eyes and grabbed at the phone that was resting serenely on the nightstand. She punched in her home number and waited as the phone rang. "Hello?" answered a small voice on the other end.
"Souta! Hi little dude," Kagome said, feeling better at hearing her brother's voice.
"Kagome!" Souta cried happily. She heard scuffling in the background and knew that Shippou and Souta were fighting over who got to hold the phone.
"Hi Kagome!" she heard Shippou's voice call into the phone.
"Hi Shippou. Why don't you use my phone in the work room and let Souta have the kitchen phone? Then I can talk to you both." He quickly rushed off the phone and from downstairs. Both boys chattered happily to her about how their day went and how their mother was doing. After a while, the gnawing feeling in Kagome's stomach all but disappeared. She loved listening to the sounds of her brother's voices. They were her only comfort in the world, her reason for being. They talked for a while, until Kagome announced it was past their bedtime and said that they had to hang up. With a promise to call again tomorrow, she sent them off with a firm, "I love you." Then she curled up into a ball on her bed and drifted off.
Okay, there you have it. Please remember to review, thanks ever so. Toodles for now!
~~Jesse the Wolf Demon~~