Disclaimer:Yet again, I repeat myself, I do not own Inuyasha nor any of the caracters in this story
Note: Thank you to Inu-KagomeFan for reviewing :)))))))))))
Chapter 5 : An unbreakable bond
Kagome's eyelids felt like lead as she tried to force them open. Glancing at the clock, she noticed that it was eleven in the morning. "Must get up…" she mumbled before closing her eyes again. A few minutes later a lound thump could be heard coming from her bedroom. Her mother who happened to pass by the door couldn't suppress her curiosity as to what exactly had caused this sound.
"Is everything okay dear?" she asked opening the door to peek inside. She instantly regretted not having a camera. Her daughter was lying at the foot of the bed with most of the covers on top of her. She had quite litteraly "dragged herself out of bed". It was all Kagome's mother could do to suppress her laughter. "Can I do anything to help dear?" she finally managed to ask. The only thing she had for an answer was a muffled groan. Taking that as a yes, she proceeded to untangle Kagome from her sheets and then sat her promptly on the bed. "Now I'll prepare you a bath dear, don't go anywhere." That last order was quite unnecessary as it was pretty obvious that Kagome was not in any state disobey it.
Her mother's little interlude had succeeded in lifting most of the fog that refused to leave Kagome's mind though. So when she heard that the bath was ready, she managed to answer coherently this time and head for the bathroom. It was not an easy treck as every muscle in her body screamed in protest at every movement she made.
"Will you be alright by yourself dear?" asked her mother when she finally arrived at her destination.
"I'll manage, thanks mom." she answered in a raspy voice.
"Looks like someone went all out last night." said her mother in a falsely stern tone of voice. "Well, I'll leave you to your bath dear, I'll have breakfast ready when you get down." she said with a smile before closing the bathroom door.
Kagome quickly undressed and slipped in the warm water. She sighed deeply as the heat soothed her aching body. Last night had indeed been a night to remember. She couldn't remember doing so many things in such a short time. Singing, dancing, eating, they had done it all. Of course, now she was paying the price as her voice was raspy and she was so stiff that she couldn't even walk properly.
She stayed in the bath until the water started to turn cold. After that she dried herself off, got dressed and went downstairs to meet her mother feeling immensely better. "So it looks you can move again, dear." said her mother making one of her rare jokes.
"Very funny mom." Kagome said trying to sound offended, but failing miserably.
"So when exactly are you going to the feudal era?" continued her mother while serving her a plate of pancakes.
"I'll start packing my bag after breakfast and then I'm off. I should stay there for the week." Kagome said. "Anyway, that's about as long as the supply I'll bring will last. I swear, I wonder sometime how they can eat so much without bursting." she added with a chuckle.
After that she quieted down and started to eat while her mother busied herself in tidying up the kitchen. She was about halfway through her plate when she started to notice that her mother was acting strangely. She kept glancing at her with an unreadable look in her eyes when she thought she wasn't looking. She shrugged it off as her imagination at first, but by the time her food was finished, she was certain that something was on her mother's mind.
"Thanks mom it was really delicious." she said while bringing her plate to the sink. After she finished washing it, she turned to her mother. "Now, what is it?" she asked shooting her a knowing glance.
Instead of answering right away, her mother sighed and sat down at the kitchen table motioning for Kagome to do the same. "Well dear, I've noticed that ever since the end of your quest in the past, you've started to drift more and more. You no longer put any effort in anything. Whenever you're here, you spend your time under the goshinboku sulking. Kagome it's easy to see that your heart is no longer here but 500 years in the past."
Kagome sighed a little, as usual her mother had been right on the spot about her problem. "You're right mom, I have noticed it too. I've drifted away from almost everything here. When I'm here, I miss everyone: Sango, Shippo, Miroku, Kaede and most of all Inuyasha. But when I'm in the past, I don't seem to miss the friends I left here: Hojo, Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi. Quite frankly this doesn't feel like home anymore." she finished lowering her gaze to the table.
"Have you considered making the jump for good?" questionned her mother.
"Yes… I have thought about it a lot and my decision is pretty much taken. But there's one thing that keeps me from making the jump." she said, uncertainty appearing in her eyes.
"That Inuyasha fellow, right?" asked her mother softly.
"Yes, he's been avoiding me completely ever since the end of our quest. I wish I could talk to him, look into his eyes and soothe his tormented soul. But he won't allow me to approach him." She said feeling tears starting to build up in her eyes.
"Now now dear, no need to get upset. I have a feeling that everything will turn out just fine. From what I could see, Inuyasha cares deeply for you. Eventually he will come to you I'm sure of it." Her mother said while taking her daughter's hand in her own. "Just promise me one thing Kagome. When the time comes for you to go… Please do not do so without saying goodbye."
"Oh mom…" Kagome started feeling tears slipping down her cheeks "I wouldn't even dream of doing something like this."
They stayed like that for a while, holding hands and looking in each other's eyes. Under her mother's peaceful gaze, Kagome could feel all the fears and uncertainties that had plagued her mind a few moments before disappear. "Thanks… mom." Kagome finally said with a smile on her face. "You're welcome… dear." her mother answered simply.
Two simple sentences and yet Kagome could feel something pass, something that went far beyond the words. An understanding, an acknowledgement, a promise, she wasn't sure exactly how to call it, but she knew her mother had felt it to. She squeezed her mother's hands one last time before standing up and going packing her bag for her journey to the past.
The older woman remained where she was looking at her daughter's back as she retreated to her room to fill her bag. Had Kagome turned around at that moment, she would have seen a tear streaming down her mother's cheek. It was hastily wiped away though and a smile replaced it. "My daughter… you've grown into a wonderful young woman. But please… remember that I will always be… your mother."
Author's note: Well one thing on that last statement before you all start to say "Well duh!!!". What I wanted to picture in this chapter is the fact that Kagome's mother will always be there to help her no matter what her age. I wanted to show that the bond between a parent and it's child is impossible to break, thus the name of this chapter. Well that's it for now, as always read and review.