Tie it even tighter

By: Fire0

Dedicated to: Roku W.

Chapter two: Faded memories

Disclaimer: I do NOT own InuYasha or characters with the exceptions of Ko, Meimi, Kawayou, and Zel

Authors note: Sorry for the spelling/grammar mistakes. The chapters are going to get shorter, but that just means I can update more often.

The sunset shrine hadn't changed much, yet the setting orange sun shinning upon its walls made it even more beautiful then she could ever remember.

She paid off the taxi, and then looked upon the shrine steps speechlessly.

She was finally back, the place she'd grown up, the place she used to go everyday for 15 years of her life until the feudal era opened. Since then she was not to her home half as often.

Now after a good amount of years she looked upon it like someplace strange.

'Had it really been that long?' She asked herself.

For the last six years, she hadn't really been permitted to come back to live but it was open to anyone who came to pray. A few times in the past she had thought about it, but the pain would come back. Now six years later she couldn't even remember what the place looked like at sunset much less the numbed pain.

Zel moved up to her ankle, mimicking her mother's pose, looking up the steps.

Meanwhile Ko and Meimi were running away from an angered Kawayou. The noise of their playing slowly disappeared when they came up behind their mother.

Kagome noticed instantly snapping out of her trance, and going up the steps.

"This way kids." She announced in the most composed voice she could manage, and turned back giving them a forced smile.

Ko and Meimi ran ahead of their mother. "Mom, there's so many steps!" Ko ran ahead knocking Zel on the shoulder as she past.

Meimi ran to catch up. "Don't be lazy Ko! I'll race you to the top!"

Kagome watched as they both raced up the steps with boundless amounts of energy and happiness.

'They remind me of me when I was younger.' Kagome's eyes drifted down to Zel who was unresponsive.

'I still wonder if the well is sealed. Either way, it wouldn't benefit to go back there again.' Her hand unconsciously trailed her hand to the scar she gained in the year's back.

'Mother.' Zel's voice mentally cut through her mind. 'We have arrived.'

Kagome looked down, and most certainly Zel had not even moved her mouth. What lead her in the years to believe, Zel wasn't telepathic, but could communicate emotions.

Either way, they now arrived at the top of the steps, looking on with pure interest. The sun was setting, and the skies were becoming gray. A calm before the storm.

The auras where still strong here, she was sure of it. In the past years she had even attended a course on how to sense auras. It was quite strange, almost like a camp.

She'd found out from her grandfather, he'd said the things was on `magical grounds'. It was ran by a women by the name of Lady Eboshi (tooooooo much Princess Mononoke). She had indeed taught her to sense auras, and also the first to know Kagome was pregnant. She herself hadn't ever expected to find that out, all those years she'd thought she was still a virgin. 'Except for that one time....but that wasn't really my or his fault.....'

Kagome shivered at the mere thought, it was not a time to think beyond what was present. She searched the auras, each forming its own color in her mind. The one by the well house, its magical aura was still a pulsing purple.

`Why, why hadn't it died down after all those years? Is something still pushing against its barriers, and boundaries?' She thought walking up the steps with an increased pace to match Ko and Meimi's own.

`If I give the stupid sword back, will it stop pulsing? Or was it because I disposed of the Shikon no Tama'

She closed her eyes tightly shut.

The pulsing aqua she was now locked on to was starting up a migraine. Years back when she climbed from the well, which would be the last time she did, bloody and beaten, she'd only made it to the God tree before she stabbed the sword in, sealing it there with her blood. Nothing could touch it; it would purify, and most likely kill anything that did. Of course, with the exception of one who was pure to begin with.

"Mom! Wow lookie!" Meimi opened the door with ease. Kagome's own mouth fell open. Everything was new the place was amazing."I can smell the food from here." Kawayou commented taking Zel's arm and guiding her in.

`Souta must have thought I wouldn't have enough money to replace all the worn down things. He has became a really good guy over the past years.' She smiled setting down her suitcase, and following her children into the kitchen.


The kitchen remained the same, except for being touched up in the last few years.

If she could close her eyes, she could almost imagine herself walking in to see her mother in the kitchen, her grandfather at the table. 'Hello Kagome.' No matter how many times she tried to remember her mother's voice, it was already faded. Now she wouldn't even mind hearing one of her grandfathers tales about something, or the other.

"Mom!" Kagome's eyebrow twitched as she snapped back to reality, she followed the voice to its source.

Kawayou.

She came up behind him looking out the window of which she was pointed. Where they should have been looking at the well house.

Her eyes trailed along the grass as she leaned forward to rest her elbows on the windowsill. The throbbing purple aura was the first thing she searched for, just like anyone else would have.

It didn't strike her as good, when she found something else instead.

"W-what the hell- Kawayou go upstairs with your sisters! Hurry!!!" She commanded, her voice rattled as she ran off toward the closet praying to every high power she knew that her bow and arrows were still in there.

1038-revised from original