9/21/03
Chapter 2: Found…
Kagome sighed as she picked up the whistling tea kettle off the stove. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon…one of those days were people stayed inside and relax because the weather was so dark and dreary. Rain pelted the windows of the kitchen as she crossed the room in an old pair of grey sweats she had been wearing the night before and hadn't bothered to change out of when she got up that morning and saw the weather. She'd watched the morning news and found out that it was going to rain all day, so she decided that she would stay indoors and catch up on some reading she had been planning to do. After a couple of hours, the chill from the rain was starting to get to her, so she decided that a cup of tea would warm her up. Pouring the steaming water into a large mug, she placed the tea bag in the cup and while she waited for it to flavor the water, she walked over to the cupboard to get out sugar, and to the refrigerator to get milk. That was when she saw the half eaten dish of cat food.
Stupid cat, I haven't seen him all day… Kagome thought as she grabbed the milk and made her way back to the table. Removing the tea bag and mixing in the ingredients, she brought the mug up to her lips when something moved outside the kitchen window.
Damn it…Don't tell me that the stupid cat got outside…My luck he'll be washed away… With that, Kagome abandoned her tea and grabbed an umbrella from the rack in the hall and sliding on her shoes, she opened the door to the shrine, only to be assaulted by sheets of rain.
One hell of a day he picks to go outside and get lost… Kagome thought miserable as she slammed the door and ran across the yard, careful not to slip on the slick floor. Her sweat shirt was already starting to get wet as the bottom of her sweat pants soaked up water like a sponge. Still, she was determined to find her cat, even if it meant getting soaked.
Oh Buyo…what am I going to do with you… Kagome sighed once more as she went head on into the storm. She had had this cat ever since her mom and brother moved to the United States. Kagome's father died when she was little, leaving her mother to raise her and her brother. Her mother, being a single mom, went back to school and started a career in business. This lead to a lot of traveling, and finally her mother's company wanted to move her over seas to the states; it wasn't such a bad thing since her brother, who was going to be graduating high school wanted to go to school in the states. Kagome's mom decided that the best thing for the family would be to relocate to the states. Kagome, not wanting to leave her family home, begged her mom to stay in Japan at the shrine their family had owned for years. Her mom agreed and let her stay. Kagome, already graduating high school, decided to operate the family shrine; her mom approved of this and even sent her money to subsidize her living since relocating had increased her salary. Kagome had gotten the cat shortly after they had left when she had been lonely living in the house by herself. Now a few years later, the cat was practically family to her since her mom's and brother's visit were few and far apart. It was nice living by yourself and being your own boss, but the shrine was big for one person, and the Buyo gave Kagome company a lot of the time.
"Stupid, stupid cat." Kagome muttered as she caught her balance from where she had almost slipped in a huge puddle. She had been calling the cats name for some time now, but had gotten no response. I hope he's ok…probably hiding out in some other part of the shrine…Kagome thought as she walked around to the front of the shrine. By now her clothing was plastered to her body and the cold was starting to get to her. If she couldn't find the cat soon, she was just going to leave him out there in the rain to teach him a lesson. As she rounded the corner of the building, she could see the outline of something lying on the tiles of the front walkway.
What the hell could that be? Kagome thought as she made her way closer to the form on the ground. Careful not to slip, she walked over to the mass and bend down, only to drop her umbrella in sock.
Oh my god! Kagome cried mentally It's a person…or is it a body?! She thought with alarm, afraid that she had just stumbled across a fresh murder scene because of the blood all over. Kneeling to get a better look, she could see that the person wasn't in good shape and was barely breathing. Their' clothes were stained and muddy, and shredded in several spots, and their hair had now accumulated an interesting mix of mud, leaves and grass. Kagome, forgetting the umbrella did the only thing she could do. She picked up the figure underneath their arm, dragged them into the shrine.
Whoever this is needs help…I can't just leave them out there in this weather... And with that Kagome started making her way to the front door of the shrine, not taking notice of the fact that her own wet clothing was being ruined as the body rubbed against her creating nice smears of dirt and blood. It looks like they've gone through hell…what could they have been doing out in this weather… She thought as she dragged the person over to the living room couch. The living area to the shrine was behind the actual alter area, and provided all the necessities a normal house should have. Not worrying about the fact that her couch would get ruined, she tried to place the body on the it as gently as possible, so as to not hurt them further.
What am I supposed to do now? She thought solemnly, as she looked over the figure on the couch, her tea long forgotten and cold by now. I can't stay in these wet clothes, and neither can that person…I guess the only thing I can do is make sure their warm and dry until they come around. With that, Kagome walked over to the figure. I wonder if it's a guy or a girl…its kind of hard to tell with all that long black hair, and the clothing is too lose for sure… Carefully Kagome took the wet shirt off the person, only to blush in embarrassment. Definitely a guy… She thought as her checks flushed as she examined the well developed muscular chest. Only then did she see the circular wound that was still bleeding near his lower abdomen. Shit, he's been wounded…I'm not a doctor, and that looks like a bullet hole! She thought in alarm as she started to panic. Should I call an ambulance? But what will I tell them- Excuse me sir, but I found this person lying in my walkway?! Deciding that that wouldn't be such a good idea, she ran to the bathroom closet to get the first aid kit she had, hoping it would due. Back in the living room she carefully took off the destroyed white pants, leaving only under garments on, as she took notice of all the cuts and bruises on the body, especially the chest wound, and a nasty gash over the eye. She was worried that the bullet might still be inside his body and was glad when she rolled him over. She saw a hole matching it on his back. Good thing it came out. She cleaned the wounds and applied ointment before placing clean bandages on the larger two. Exhausted from all that work, she decided that if the man didn't wake up in the morning, she would bath him…under garments on of course…to wash off all the dirt that she missed. She draped a huge blanket over the still unconscious guy and decided that he was better there than outside and that she would worry what to do with him after she had gotten a shower and changed into warmer clothes. Making her way up stairs, she pulled off her wet clothes and got into the nice warm shower. After cleaning, she relaxed in the heat from the water, soothing her sore muscles from the weight she had dragged. As she stepped out, she closed the glass door and wrapped her long hair in a towel, placing one around her body as well. She was just about to make her way back to her room when she heard a scream come from down stairs. She froze for a second, before changing directions and running to see what had happened, afraid that her guest had woken up, and he was none too happy.
End Chapter 2…