Chapter Four: Homesickness
"Where's Kagome?" Sango asked. It was getting really late. Dinner had been prepared, everyone had eaten, despite the absence of Kagome, but now it was nearly time for everyone to go to sleep and there was still no sign of her best friend, for the second night in a row. She reentered Kaede's hut. "Has anyone seen, Kagome?"
"No," Miroku shook his head as he walked into the hut as well. "Shippo and I searched the entire forest. He can't smell Kagome's scent at the Bone Eater's Well. It's very unlikely that she would go home without telling at least you, Sango."
"I know," she agreed, "but it isn't like her to go wandering off without telling us where she's headed. And it's been two days now."
Kaede, who had been sitting by her fire, shook her head. "The child was troubled. She needed time to think out what she's going to do with her life now that my sister is back with Inuyasha," the old woman said wisely. "It was hard thing for her to do, but perhaps she was meant to do it for a better reason."
"Are you saying Inuyasha doesn't deserve Kagome?" Miroku asked.
Shippo's ear's perked up at this. "Well we've all known that for a long time."
"What have we known?" Inuyasha asked worriedly as he and Kikyo came into the hut. Sango looked at the old priestess, but she only shook her head sadly. "We didn't find Kagome," Inuyasha voice what her motions meant. "Did the four of you find something out?"
"Yeah," laughed the fox demon, "Kagome left because you weren't-,"
SMACK!
Kikyo and Inuyasha looked at Miroku questioningly. Sango fought down a smile and Kaede continued to poke at the burning coals of the fire. As Inuyasha and Miroku got into a fight over what Shippo had almost said, Sango sighed, and went outside in the cool fall breeze to ponder.
She walked to the edge of the forest, then stood there with the wind blowing her loose hair about her face. From where she was, she could still hear Inuyasha yelling and the sound of Shippo crying over Kagome.
"She'll return," Kikyo's soothing voice filled the air.
Thought Sango often found her presence to be annoying, it was at a time like this that she was glad the other woman was with her. "I just want to know that she's safe," Sango admitted, feeling childish for being so worried about Kagome. Her friend was a miko and a strong one at that. She could handle herself.
"Have a little faith," Kikyo told her, patting her on the shoulder. Wrapping her shawl tightly around her shoulders, she left Sango alone with her thoughts.
She watched the stars in the night sky become brighter and brighter as it started to get darker and darker. Hoping her voice reached the one she meant it to, Sango whispered to the night sky, "Kagome, where are you?"
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"Where am I?" Kagome mumbled incoherently the next morning when she woke up.
Slowly, she sat herself up and looked around at the room she was in. From where she sat in an overly large bed, piled high with pillows and blankets, she could see a beautiful hand carved vanity complete with mirror. Next to it, on the right, was a dresser, and an old fashion-changing curtain. The wood on it looked almost as old as the dresser and the designs were gorgeous.
"Well, Kagome," she said to herself quietly, "You defiantly aren't in Tokyo anymore."
"Tokyo?" came a voice.
Kagome turned, startled by the sound. Had someone been in her room the entire time? A young girl stepped forward from the doorway to Kagome's right. She looked no more than fifteen. "I'm Lian," she introduced herself, bowing. "Lord Sesshomaru sent me to see if you slept well. He also said to tell you that you're going to need it," the girl finished with a slight smile.
Rin, Kagome thought, also smiling. "I slept fine, thank you." Just as she spoke a low rumble filled her ears. Her stomach was growling in protest from not having eaten in a couple days. "Um…is there some place where I could get something to eat?"
"I was wondering when you were going to ask, Lady Kagome," Lian said as she walked over to the dresser and started to look through kimonos. "Lord Sesshomaru asked you to join him and Rin for breakfast."
"Oh," Kagome blushed. She wasn't used to all this fancy stuff. Living for four years with Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, and Shippo had taught her to eat on the run. She wasn't prepared for lavishing feasts. She hardly had any manners left in her brain, which was so bombarded by thoughts of her home back in modern time right now.
"My Lady?" Lian questioned, raising an eyebrow. "Is there something wrong?" She held out a lovely periwinkle kimono for Kagome to wear. It had stitching of fine silver thread and different colored lotus leaves were covering it.
"Lian, stop calling me Lady Kagome. Kagome is just fine. I don't like all the formalities."
"But-,"
"No, I don't want to hear that Lady stuff anymore. It's Kagome. Just Ka-Go-Me. Alright?" Lian nodded, smiling a bit more. "And I can dress myself. You can tell his Sesshomaru-sama that I'm coming in a few more minutes."
"Yes," Lian bowed, before turning away. "Oh, but Kagome?"
"Yeah?" Kagome popped her head out from behind the changing curtain where she was stripping out of her clothes to put on the kimono.
"The dinning hall is down stairs to the left, third door on the right."
"Thanks, Lian," Kagome grinned.
Left alone to change, Kagome pulled the kimono up, tying up the ends in the back. (A/N: I don't have a kimono, so I don't know how they keep them on.) Once done, she sat down at her vanity, noticing an assortment of hair garments. She was confused as to how Sesshomaru had come by them, but shrugging it off, she pulled her hair back into a bun, using two small sticks that matched the silver in her outfit.
Considering herself ready to go to breakfast, and praying she didn't do anything stupid, like spill food on her pretty clothes, she walked out of her room. She followed Lian instructions, finding the dining hall fairly easily. When she entered, she saw Sesshomaru seated at the end of a long table and Rin on his left. There was a place set at his right, which she assumed was for her.
Looking up from his place, Sesshomaru muttered, "Good to see you've finally decided to join us."
Once again, Kagome blushed as she hurried to her seat. "Sorry, I didn't realize I was holding up breakfast," she apologized, putting her napkin on her lap, as was polite. Rin giggled at her, with her childish eyes beaming.
"You'll have to learn, miko," was his bland reply. Kagome rolled her eyes. Did he ever have any emotion in his voice besides anger? He was so monotone about everything.
"Let's go to the gardens today, Kagome-chan," Rin grinned, stuffing her face full of fresh fruit. "I can show you all the pretty flowers."
Kagome was about to say she'd love to see the plants, but the Lord of the Western Lands interrupted. "Rin, don't talk with your mouth full."
"Sorry Fluffy," the girl bowed her head, looking serious for once. Unlike her, Kagome couldn't keep a straight face. She started to laugh so hard she choked on her food. Coughing, she managed to finally swallow it. When she looked around at the rest of the table, Sesshomaru and Rin were staring at her.
Uh-oh, she thought. I'm in for it now. However, Sesshomaru just cleared his throat and went back to eating. Rin, stared quizzically at Kagome, then did the same. Thankful the embarrassing moment was over, the girl from the present ate the rest of her meal in tense silence.
"I'll have Lian dress you, Rin, then you can go off to the gardens," Sesshomaru said once they were all done with their meal. Rin started to pout, but before she could argue, Lian appeared, holding out her hand for the girl. "I have to talk to the miko," he explained, as if he was trying to make her feel better.
"Her name is Kagome-chan," Rin insisted as Lian began to drag her up the stairs.
"Fine," he rubbed his temples; "I have to talk to Kagome. Better?" Rin nodded and dashed up the steps so fast that Lian had to pick up the bottom of her skirt to race after her. There was a brief sound of a slamming door, then Sesshomaru sighed, and motioned for Kagome to follow him to another room, which she guessed was his study.
The room was large; the walls all made up of shelves with books displayed. Toward the back was a desk with one chair behind it and two in front. It looked much like a modern day office from Kagome's world, but she kept that information to herself as she sat in the chair farthest away from Sesshomaru's desk. Though she was living here, she was still afraid of what he might do to her when he got angry.
For a moment, he stood with his back to her, staring out the one wall that wasn't made up of only large shelves, but a glass window as well. From what she could see, it overlooked a giant garden. The blooms were bright and colorful. IT seemed odd that a demon would take such good care of the blossoming flowers. Then, he turned around and took a seat, staring at her across the top of the desk, his amber eyes piercing her soul. Kagome took a deep breath.
This made Sesshomaru grin. By the way his lips curled she could see his teeth, perfectly straight and white, not to mention pointy. "As you can see, Rin has taken a great liking to you. However, if you are going to watch over her, I will not allow you to spoil her." Kagome nodded, understanding where he was coming from. She was thinking about how her mother had treated her and Souta when she was growing up. "I love her dearly," he said, not looking at her, "but I will not have her take things for granted. Understand?" Once again, she nodded. "Good. Then get out."
"Excuse me?" Kagome snapped. Where had his more pleasant mood gone? He hadn't been exactly friendly all morning, but at least he had been tolerable. Now he was being completely rude and there was no reason for his behavior.
"Did you not hear me?" he growled, standing up with his hands on the desk as he leaned forward getting closer to her.
"I heard you fine," she copied his gesture until there faces were only inches apart. "That doesn't mean you can be so rude to me."
"I'll do whatever I please," he told her in a dangerous tone. "This is my palace and if you can't function in here under my orders you can leave."
"Fine," Kagome shouted, nearly spitting in his face. She pivoted on her heel, heading for the door. She'd leave this damned place and find somewhere better. Rin would understand, wouldn't she? Kagome couldn't stay in a place where she was treated low because she was a human. It was unfair.
When she reached the door, she realized that her outfit was still upstairs, the outfit that actually belonged to her, not this kimono. Then she figured the kimono was nicer and continued walking to the door. The problem came when Rin saw her exiting the palace. The girl screamed and everyone in the palace could hear her scream.
"KAGOME-CHAN!"
Glancing over her shoulder, Kagome shook her head. She couldn't leave this little girl. She wouldn't understand why she was leaving. She'd think she had done something wrong and this was her punishment. Still shaking her head, Kagome swallowed her pride and let Rin run into her arms.
"Kagome-chan, where were you going?" Rin started crying into her shoulder as Kagome picked her up. Sesshomaru was leaning against the doorway of his study, watching the exchange with a plain face once again. Though he didn't seem to have any emotion on his face, she could see the glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Kagome-chan?" Rin asked again, wiping her tears away so she looked like a big girl in front of the miko.
"Nowhere, Rin," Kagome replied, still glaring at the Lord of the Western Lands. "Sesshomaru-sama and I just had a small agreement and I needed to take a walk."
Rin made Kagome put her down. Then, surprising everyone who had gathered to see what all the commotion was about, Rin raced over to Sesshomaru and kicked him in the shin. "Don't ever do that to Kagome-chan again!" she scolded putting on her meanest face, which only managed to make him smirk. Kagome had been afraid he would get angry with her, but instead, he picked Rin up and held her upside down.
"Just what is a little imp like you going to do to me?" he questioned her, holding her up by his tail, so that his arms remained crossed over his broad chest. She tried not to stare, but it was hard when someone was so perfect looking.
Stop it, she yelled at herself. Do you even realize what you are doing? She blinked a few times and when her eyes settled on Sesshomaru again, Rin was back at her side. Sesshomaru cocked an eyebrow at her, then returned to his study, shutting the doors behind him. Kagome barely noticed Lian shooing the other servants away or the stupid toad, Jaken, glaring daggers at her for interfering yet again. Stupid, stupid, stupid, she chastened herself.
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"See how pretty those are?" Rin was pointing to yet another flower, but Kagome's mind hadn't gotten away from the way Sesshomaru had looked at her back inside. They had been out here for hours and still that single moment's reason for being had eluded her. It was starting to make her nervous. What was that underlying twinkle in his golden eyes trying to tell her? And why didn't she have the courage to demand he tell her?
"Kagome-chan," Rin tugged on her hand, shaking Kagome free of her thoughts. "Do you see this one over here?"
"Huh? Oh, yes Rin, it's beautiful," she said, pretending like she had been paying attention the entire time.
The younger girl giggled. "It's my favorite." Kagome smiled but she felt that it was forced. She liked spending time with Rin, so why was this so hard? She liked flowers. Her mother would have loved a bunch of them, if she had gotten them. Mom, she thought, feeling a way of homesickness dart through her.
Since the battle with Naraku was over, she had figured she would keep using the well. She had a wonderful life in both time periods. She wasn't about to give it up. She had the entire jewel now. The well would work as long as she had power over the jewel. All the time when the group had fought against Naraku she had planned on going home when it was over to tell her mother the good news. Yet, it had been four months since the last time she had returned home and she was sure her mother was worried.
Mrs. Higurashi had a great deal to worry about. She had Souta to worry about, meals to prepare, money to bring in for the family, she had to help Grandpa with the shrine, and if Kagome got into college like she wanted to, she'd have to pay for that as well. There was a lot that woman worked on and Kagome knew all too well that she could hardly do it alone.
But that's how she is doing it, Kagome thought, she's all alone. Souta can't help her, he's too young. And Grandpa, she thought of the excuses her grandfather made up for her not being in the present, he can hardly think for himself. What is it like for mom when I'm not there?
For some reason, unknown to her, the immense pressure of guilt overwhelmed her. Kagome stopped following Rin. At first the younger girl didn't notice that her companion had not come tagging along after her, but when Kagome started to weep, the sound brought Rin running back to her side.
She didn't say anything, didn't ask Kagome what was wrong, or tell her things would be okay, and that was fine. Kagome didn't want to here anyone's voice, except for her mother's. So, naturally, when a large shadow fell over her sitting form, she cringed.
"What's going on out here?"
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A/N: Like? Hate? Think it completely sux? Your call, I'm only the author. ~ Nev