Chapter 9- Kiseki and the Grocery Store Incident

Kiseki walked down the street to the grocery store.

It was a lovely day, with the sun's bright rays raining down on her and the birds singing cheerfully, you would have never had guessed that only a few blocks away, Sota and Inuyasha were sitting together in stifled silence.

Kiseki hummed to herself a happy tune that her Senzo had taught her the day before.

She looked longingly through the window of a clothing shop that held a display of perfect mannequins flashing colourful dresses and skirts that could be purchased inside the shop.

Kiseki gazed up a at delicate looking sun-dress that was a soft sky blue and looked as if it were woven out of pieces of clouds.

She longed to wear it and feel its soft material against her skin. To show everyone that just because she had no idea about her past, didn't mean she was useless and ugly like her Senzo had told her many times. She wanted to show everyone, especially him, that she was worth taking in, and wasn't meant to clean and scrub day after day for Senzo and then be beaten senseless "just for the fun of it" as Senzo has explained to her.

She stood there staring longingly at the dress for a few more moments before reluctantly turned around and continuing on her journey to the store.

She knew that if she was a second late arriving back at the house that Senzo shared with her, she would receive a fresh batch of bruises and cuts.

She shuddered. Just thinking about her punishment made her quiver in fear.

Kiseki wasn't an ugly girl though. In fact, she was quite lovely with her silky black hair, and her dark chocolate coloured eyes. She would have clear smooth skin too, if it wasn't for the striking that came so often.

Kiseki arrived at the market and pulled the shopping list that Senzo had shoved into her hands out of her skirt's pockets, and scanned it briefly so she knew what to buy.

"Eggs, milk, sugar, beef, beer…" She muttered to herself, chanting what she needed to get over and over again so she wouldn't forget. "Cereal, milk, carrots, celery-"

Someone walked straight into her, knocking her to the ground.

"Sorry." The voice muttered gloomily, extending a hand to help her up.

Kiseki accepted it, and the owner of the arm, put his free hand around her waist to help pull her up.

Kiseki pushed some of her dark hair out of her eyes, revealing her face to the stranger. She looked at him, ready to apologize and thank him.

He had kind brown eyes and messy black hair and was quite handsome. He looked so familiar, but yet, she could match a name with his face. His familiar kind eyes were clouded with hurt and desperation, and when he saw her face, his whole face clouded up with anger.

"It's you!" He exclaimed, anger welling up in his chest. Kiseki ripped herself out of his grasp and took a step back.

"W-w-what are y-you talking ab-b-out?" Kiseki stammered, frightened senseless.

"Don't act so innocent!" The man roared angrily, causing some people to stare. "You know what I'm talking about! You cheated on me with that Inuyasha fellow!"

Kiseki flinched at the name 'Inuyasha'. What was so familiar about that name?

"I didn't cheat on you with someone named Inuyasha!" Kiseki replied, fury welling up inside. Who was this guy, and what was he talking about?

"Oh sure!" The man replied mockingly. "The next thing you are going to deny is that you don't even know me!"

"But I don't!" Kiseki answer truthfully. Sure, he looked familiar, but maybe it was just because he reminded her of someone. "I truly don't! Why won't you believe me?"

"HA!" The man yelled, causing more people to stare. "HA! You think, after what you did to me, I can still believe you?"

This was all too much for Kiseki. "Please," She gasped. "Not so loud! I don't want to make a scene!"

"Make a scene?" The man replied, his voice frighteningly calm. "Now why would I do that?" He asked, his voice now piercing her with cold. His voice make the Antarctica seem like a day at the beach.

"Please stop!" Kiseki begged. "The last thing I want is trouble!"

"Well Kagome," The man replied. "If you didn't want any trouble, why didn't you just dump me instead of cheating on me and then making up a big act about it? Well?" The man glared at Kiseki, sending multiple shivers down her spine.

"Since you were too chicken to do it…I will." The man declared, his voice was chilling and icy and froze Kiseki to the spot. "You can now date that cross-dresser without worrying about cheating on me. Good day, Kagome."

And with that, the man stormed out of the store, leaving Kiseki, utterly confused and embarrassed. Kagome? Inuyasha? Why were those names familiar to her? She just didn't know why.

She looked up at a clock that was perched on the wall of the store, and with horror, realized that it she had already been gone for two hours!

Great, Kiseki thought sarcastically. Two beatings in one day. One verbal and one physical.

As Kiseki gathered all the food that she needed to purchase, she thought about the strange man and about her encounter with him. But the oddest thing was that, when the man said that they were through, it hurt her to see the overwhelming pain that was drowning in the powerful fury. Barely there though it was, it made tears run down her face thinking about it.

As she walked out of the grocery store, with bags full of groceries in her arms, the man's name hit her.

"Hojo." Kiseki whispered the name. It seemed so familiar, but yet…it didn't.

"Oh Kiseki," She sighed to herself. "What has happened to you?"

IY4ever: So, my dear readers...what do you think? Wasn't that a nice long chapter? Well?
Please let me know by REVIEWING!
Aren't I annoying? Wait, no, don't answer that...


Kiseki: Kanji for 'Miracle'
Senzo: Kanji for 'Ansector'