Long time coming. Gomen nasai! It's not my fault….ok yeah it is. But who cares, I mean really. It's here if you wanna read it so…..read (if u dare)! ㅡ kidding!

- Dialogue straight from the book (with names changed of course)-

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Jane Eyre.

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Ch. 3

Shigomi-san's Turbulent and Unhappy Past

When I woke the next morning, there were servants running around in a flurry. Their beloved master was back and everyone wanted the manor perfect for him.

Little Rin was absolutely ecstatic over her Shigomi-sama's return. During our lessons she constantly went to the staircase, trying her hardest to get a glimpse of him. I did not have the heart to dampen her spirits with the reality that it was not probable for Shigomi-san to call upon her to come see him.

There were a great deal of callers that day; people needing business to be settled with the newly returned master of the house. Kaede-sama had a hard time keeping Shigomi-san still with his sprained ankle. It seemed he was very restless being kept in the parlor the whole day.

I never once saw him that morning, even with all the hustle and bustle, though I was very intrigued as to what he would say if I did see him. More importantly, how would I act towards the man I met last night?

That afternoon however, after Rin-chan's lessons when I had retired to my room, reflecting on last night's and today's events while waiting to be called to tea, Kaede-sama interrupted my reverie with an order from the master that myself and Rin were to accompany him that evening for tea. Little to say, I was shocked but quickly dressed into nicer apparel, fetched Rin-chan and went to the drawing room where Shigomi-san currently sat.

He was seated in a chair very near the fireplace, which his gaze was fixed upon. When Kaede-sama announced our entrance, he merely nodded and waved us acknowledgement, never taking his eyes from the hearth.

Sango brought in the tea shortly after. Kaede-sama gave Rin her milk (she was not yet old enough for tea) and asked me to bring Shigomi-san his. I took it to him, with a quiet "Here is your tea Shigomi-san", to which he finally took his stare from the flames and looked at me. He took the cup from my hands and took a sip before placing it on the small table beside him.

Just as I was turning to sit back down next to Rin, Shigomi-san stopped me saying, "Don't go back over there, take that chair for you to sit in and place it by me: I wish to talk to you."

I moved the chair and sat it across from him, but he would not let me, saying, "No, I said to place it by me; bring it closer." I did and he began what ended up being a very strange conversation.

"Higurashi Kagome, isn't it?" he asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Do you have any relatives, Higurashi?"

"None that I know of."

"No parents?"

"No sir, they are dead."

"Ah. I assumed so, you seemed a solitary person. Kaede-baba has informed me that you attended boarding school. Where?"

"Lowood School, sir."

"Yes, I have heard of it. Very strict, was it not?"

"Too put it lightly sir. We never ate our full and we were never properly warm. It was supposed to 'purge our sins' as they said."

"I thought of sending that child over there to boarding school. I did not find one that came up to standards."

"If you do not mind me asking sir, what about Rin's mother? Surely your wife had plans for your child."

His face grew annoyed and answered harshly, "Rin is not my child, merely my ward. And I do not have a wife, therefore no one has made plans for the child."

"Excuse me, sir. I only assumed –"

"Well, you assumed wrong. Enough of the subject. What of your education? You don't seem to have any special talents, but I'll let you tell me."

"I can play piano decently and many people have told me I have a gift in art, though I don't particularly think so."

"I do not believe what other people say about such things. I will be the judge of that. There is a piano in the room yonder. Play a piece for me, so that I may see."

I obeyed and went to the music room, played for a while until I heard him call, "That is enough!"

I came back to the drawing room only to hear, "You play well enough, maybe better than some but not great. Now, you mentioned art. You have a portfolio, I assume?"

"Yes, sir."

"Bring it to me then."

I fetched it as desired and Shigomi-san spent the next ten minutes surveying its contents. Of course, Rin-chan could not resist herself and came to her Shigomi-sama's side to look at the drawings as well.

"Do not hover over me, I will pass them to you as I finish," he chided to her.

After looking at them all, then letting Rin take them to let Kaede-sama see, Shigomi-san asked me, "All those drawings were drawn by you, they were not plagiarized?"

This offended me greatly and I replied hotly, "No, sir! They all came from my mind and my mind alone. I do not appreciate that insinuation!"

He chuckled and said, "No, no, no. I did not mean to accuse you. You are a very singular person. Not much at all like most products of boarding schools and you're art is not like that taught. You will have to excuse my harshness. I am so used to telling people to 'do this' and 'do that' and them doing it."

I smiled at this. He saw my amusement and questioned. "Why do you smile at my apology?"

"It's just that not many employers ask forgiveness of those who he pays to follow his orders."

"Oh yes. I forgot the salary. But you are enjoying yourself here?"

"Yes, sir. Everyone is so kind."

"I bet you think they're kind, don't you? You haven't enjoyed much pleasure in your life, I can tell. Just a little fairy witch, aren't you? It was you who made my horse slip on causeway; who gave me this," gesturing towards his ankle, "sprain."

I could see the twinkle in his eyes as he said this.

Kaede-sama looked up from her knitting with confusion.

"Higurashi-san, sir? But I thought –"

"Yes, it was she. Her kind walk around in the moonlight, bewitching people. My Higurashi! It is almost 9:30 and Rin is still up. Go now, she must be seen to bed. Kaede-baba, go with her. I want to be left alone. Goodnight."

His abrupt change in subject surprised me, but I did as I was told and brought Rin to bed.

Rin and myself had tea with Shigomi-san every night for two months. Some nights Shigomi-san would be in a vibrant and talkative mood. Others he would be sullen and not talk at all. I grew used to his mood swings. They fascinated me even. I grew more and more interested with the master of Thornfield Hall.

Those two months then seemed to be the happiest of my life. There was so much more life and excitement in the house. People came from everywhere to pay visits to Shigomi-san.

His ankle eventually healed, and he would make outings to his patronages in person sometimes. When time allowed, he would also come into the schoolroom to watch Rin's lessons. He would rarely say anything, just observe.

When I would see him I the hallways, just passing by, he would sometimes smile, shake my hand and greet me cheerily. Other times, he would just nod, or even ignore me altogether.

One day, chance had it that Shigomi-san would choose to tell me about his past, and how he came into the possession of little Rin.

Rin and I were taking a stroll through the garden when Shigomi-san came upon us.

"Would you mind walking with me, Kagome? I can call you Kagome, can't I?"

I was a little surprised, but I didn't really mind. I said it was fine.

Rin ran off playing with Pilot, leaving me and Shigomi-san to talk.

"She looks just like her mother. A miniature Kanpu. I can only hope she did not inherit some qualities," he reflected. An almost mournful look came into his eyes.

"How did you come to take Rin in, sir?"

Surprised at my question, he answered, "Well, I was a suitor of her mother's. But it seemed I wasn't the only one. I showered her with gifts, I remember, hoping to forget –"

He stopped suddenly there, but continued cautiously, as if picking and choosing what he wished to say, "Kanpu told me that she returned my affections. I believed her too. But one day when I caught her with another man. A young officer.

"I ended the affair then, and put a bullet in his feeble arm. He was a weakling. They both were. Kanpu cried, wanting me to reconsider. By then however I had seen through her, and knew that she was only using me for my money," he stopped and looked at a small group of flowers.

"I'm sure such things like that happen all the time. Anyway, she left the child on my hands, claiming it was mine, and everyday I look at her, looking for any resemblance to me, but there is none."

We walked on a little more in silence; him brooding over some unknown thought; me mulling over what he had just told me. Then he spoke:

"Have you ever felt jealousy, Kagome? Have you ever heard the green snake hiss in your ear? Ever felt its sharp bite? No, I suppose not, for you have yet to have felt even love in your life, much less its consequences. But you will experience both, I assure you…

"Strange, that I should choose you as the person who I told the tale of my illicit love affair tale to. Well, it has passed, no regrets. Good afternoon then, Higurashi-kun, and I will see you at tea."

And with that he walked back to the house.

I played with Rin outside a little while longer, and as it was beginning to grow dark, we came inside and rested. As I watched Rin, I looked for any sign of Shigomi-san in her, but as he said, there were none. 'It's a shame she doesn't look more like him,' I thought, 'for he would like her decidedly better.'

That night, as I was half asleep, I woke to the frightening laughter I had heard before, only this time, it seemed as if it was right next to my pillow. I peered around me, looking for the source of the laugh, but there was none. I gave it up as being but a trace from a lost dream, until I heard it again, and this time accompanied with the sound of someone trying to find their way, brushing against the walls in the hallway outside my door.

I stayed wide awake for what seemed forever, but in fact was only a few minutes, before I heard the mysterious laugh make its way back down the hall and returning to the attic from where I had guessed it came from.

I got up then and opened my door, peering slowly and silently into the cold hallway. I didn't notice anything amiss until realized that there was some sort of fog down a little ways. I then saw that it was not a fog, but smoke, and pouring out from Shigomi-san's room!

I ran to his room, running in only to see that the curtains were all aflame, with the bed sheets catching. I coughed from the dense smoke that filled the room, and tried to awaken my master, only to find that he had inhaled too much smoke, and was unconscious.

I looked around for some water to douse the quickly spreading flames, and found a jug of water and quickly threw it where the sheets (and consequently Shigomi-san) were being threatened to catch fire. I then found a wash basin also filled with (cold) water and sufficiently snuffed the flames out.

By this time my master had woken and cried out, "Is there a flood?"

-

"No, sir, but there has been a fire: get up, do, you are drenched now. I will fetch a candle."

"In the name of all the monks in Buddhism, is that Higurashi Kagome? What have you done with me, witch, sorceress? Who is in the room besides you? Have you plotted to drown me?"

"I will fetch you a candle, sir; and, in Buddha's name get up. Somebody has plotted something: you cannot too soon find out what it is."

"There – I am up now; but at your peril you fetch a candle yet: wait two minutes till I get into some dry garments, if any dry there be – yes, here is my dressing gown. Now run."

-

I did run, and brought a candle back into the room. Shigomi-san looked over the bed, finding it burnt and blackened, with the sheets scorched and the floor swimming in water.

"Who did it?" he asked suddenly.

I briefly told him what had transposed, as he listened gravely, his face showed more concern than astonishment. He did not speak immediately when I finished, so I asked:

-

"Shall I call Kaede-sama?"

"Kaede-baba? No: what the deuce would you call her for? What can she do? Let her sleep unmolested."

"Then I will fetch Sango and Miroku."

"Not at all: just be still. You have a shawl on? If you are not warm enough, you may take my cloak yonder; wrap it about you and sit in the armchair: there, - I will put it on you. Now place you feet on the stool to keep them out of the wet. I am going to leave you a few minutes. I shall take the candle. Remain where you are till I return; be still as a mouse. I must pay a visit to the attic. Don't move, remember, or call anyone."

-

He left very quietly, leaving me in darkness. I listened for a long while for his return. I was growing weary, and cold despite the cloak, and was almost on the point of risking Shigomi-san's displeasure and returning to my room, when he returned, looking very pale and gloomy.

-

"I have found it all out," he sighed, "it is as I thought."

"How, sir?"

He did not answer but stood there with his arms crossed, and after a few minutes asked in a peculiar tone:

"I forgot whether you said you saw anything when you opened your chamber door,"

"No, sir."

"But before you heard an odd laugh? You have heard that laugh before, I should think, or something like it?"

"Yes, sir; there is a woman who sews here, called Sakuraba-san, - she laughs in that way. She is a singular person."

-

"That is it, you have guessed it. Sakuraba is as you say, singular – very. Well, I shall think it over. Meanwhile, I'm glad it was only you and I who know of this incident, and you are no prating fool: you will tell no one if I ask, and so I do. Now return to your room; I shall do very well on the sofa in the library. The servants will be up in nary two hours time."

-

"Goodnight, then, sir," I said, departing.

He seemed surprised – very inconsistently so, as he had just told me to go.

"What!" he exclaimed, "Are you quitting me already: and in that way?"

"You said I might go, sir."

"But not without taking leave; not without a word or two of acknowledgment and good will: not, in short, in that brief, dry, fashion. Why, you have saved my life! – snatched me from a horrible and excruciating death! – and you walk past me as if we were mutual strangers! At least shake hands."

He held out his hand; I gave him mine: he took it first in one, then in both his own.

"You have saved my life: I have a pleasure in owing you so immense a debt. I cannot say more. Nothing else that has being would have been tolerable to me in the character of creditor for such an obligation: but you: it is different – I feel your benefits no burden, Jane."

He paused; gazed at me; words almost visible trembled on his lips, - but his voice was checked.

"Goodnight, then, sir. There is no debt, benefit, burden, or obligation in the case."

"I knew," he continued, "you would do me good in some way, at some time; - I saw it in your eyes when I first beheld you: their expression and smile did not – (again he

stopped) – did not (he proceeded hastily) strike delight to my very inmost heart so for nothing. People talk of natural sympathies; I have heard of good yousei - there are grains of truth in the wildest fable. My cherished preserver, goodnight!"

Strange energy was in his voice; strange fire in his look.

"I am glad I happened to be awake," I said: and then I was going.

"What!, you will go?"

"I am cold, sir."

"Cold? Yes, - and standing in a pool! Go, then, Kagome; go!" But still he retained my hand, and I could not free it. I bethought myself of an expedient.

"I think I hear Kaede-sama move, sir."

"Well, leave me." He relaxed his fingers, and I was gone.

-

I went back to my bed but never even thought of sleep. Till morning came, I was tossed on a buoyant but unquiet sea, where billows of trouble rolled under surges of joy. I thought sometimes I saw beyond its wild waters a shore as sweet as the hills of Tenkou, and now and again a wind blew me closer to it. But I could never reach it, even in fancy.

Sense would resist delirium: judgment would warn passion. Too feverish to rest, I rose as soon as day dawned.

There we go! Chapter 3 finished. In case you didn't notice the ' – ' marks between lines, most of the fire scene dialogue was directly from the book. Literally. I sat there and typed it word by word from the book…but it's just too beautiful for me to butcher it up! I mean, you have to agree with me…it is beautiful. And so sweet!!! sigh You will fall in love with Sesshoumaru (Mr. Rochester) all over again after this. sniff

I have a pretty song for you too! Let's see who can guess where it's from…

When the cold of Winter comes

Starless night will cover day

In the veiling of the sun

We will walk in bitter rain

But in dreams

I can hear your name

And in dreams

We will meet again

When the seas and mountains fall

And we come, to end of days

In the dark I hear a call

Calling me there

I will go there

And back again.

Hmm, be interesting to see if anyone gets it right…

The -notes are right below!

Kanpu – in Japanese means "adulteress"

Higurashi-kun – due to popular belief, '-kun' is not always used for guys by girls. the ending means 'equal', and is often used by an employer to his employees. also, in for instance a business meeting, the only female in the room would be referred to as '-kun'

Monks in Buddhism – in the book: "elves in Christendom" but I thought Buddhism would be more suitable under the circumstances.

In Buddha's name – in the book: "in Heaven's name", again I saw it more appropriate

Yousei – in the book: "genii" and the only Japanese word I could find to sort of fit this creature was 'a sprite, elf, fairy'. thus, yousei

Tenkou – in the book: "Beulah" which is another name for the Christian heaven, so I just used the Japanese word for 'heaven, paradise' which was tenkou