Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me
Chapter Twenty-Six: Kanna, Naraku, and Valentines Candy
February 14th
Kikyo smiled as she put the flowers into the vase on the table beside her bed. Hojo had brought her flowers again. The first day of the month he brought her a single daisy. The next day he brought her a tulip. The third day he brought an iris. Each day he brought her a different flower. Tonight he brought her a red rose.
She closed her eyes and smelled the flower. The feeling inside of her was growing. She couldn't keep it in, so she let out a laugh and twirled. In the mirror she could barely recognize the girl she knew was herself. Her smile was real, her eyes sparkled, and she was relaxed. The girl in the mirror was happy. And tonight she was dressed in a pretty red dress, waiting for Hojo to come and take her to dinner to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Just as she was about to grab her purse and head downstairs, Kikyo saw the mirror shimmer. She turned her head and closed her eyes. Every time she saw that shimmer she felt her heart clench in fear. Fear that her happy new life was going to be snatched away from her.
Why now? She tried to push her frustration away and turned to face the mirror.
Kagome seemed startled to see her. Evidently she had been washing her face in the water, not looking to find Kikyo.
For a few moments they simply stared at each other. Then Kagome smiled.
"Going someplace special?"
Kikyo felt uncomfortable. How would Kagome react to her dating the guy who had been courting her for years?
"It's Valentine's Day," Kikyo said, neither confirming nor denying.
Kagome looked surprised. "I had forgotten…"
"What's Valentine's Day?" Kikyo saw the little fox demon ask Inuyasha in the background. Inuyasha shrugged.
"It's a day that celebrates love," Kagome turned and explained quickly. "You give gifts to the one you love, like a card or candy or flowers… sometimes jewelry."
"Like a necklace?" Shippo asks, snickering while pulling on Inuyasha's rosary.
Kikyo watched as Kagome rolled her eyes at them and scolded the dog demon for bopping the kit on the head. It still astounded Kikyo how Inuyasha let the girl scold him while trying to look innocent. He had been so serious and fierce when she knew him.
Finally Kagome turned back to Kikyo with a smile. "Are you going someplace special? You look beautiful."
"Thank you. Have you found Kanna and the mirror yet?"
Kagome blinked at the lightening quick change in conversation and the lack of an answer. It wasn't her imagination… Kikyo was definitely avoiding the topic. She sat back and shook her head. "Not yet, but we're close. We also believe that she is in the same place as Naraku. I think we're heading in the right direction… but I'm not sure exactly where to go next. Have you and Hojo found any clues yet?"
Kikyo's cheeks lightly turned pink and she turned from the mirror to pull out her notes that she and Hojo had compiled.
"We have traced it to a mountain region. There should be a river at the base, and a waterfall. There is an entrance behind the falling water. You go through the cavern and eventually you will find where Naraku is living."
"Which mountain? Which waterfall? Does she think we can check them all?" An exasperated Inuyasha was asking rather impatiently.
Kikyo glared at him and snapped her notebook closed. Just as she was about to throw it at the mirror and tell the hanyou just what he could do with it, Hojo walked into the room. They looked at each other, smiled shyly, then blushed. Hojo had dressed up as well and was holding more roses.
"Oh! Kagome!" Hojo noticed the mirror behind Kikyo and greeted his friend.
"Hi Hojo. You're dressed up. Going someplace special?" As soon as the words were out of Kagome's mouth she realized what was going on, and why Kikyo was determined to not let her know where she was going. She got quiet, which prompted the dog demon to get curious and take a closer look. Shippo's curiosity was piqued too.
Kikyo had been staring at the floor like it was the most interesting thing she had ever seen, then she took a breath for courage and slowly lifted her eyes to meet Kagome's. She had expected hurt, confusion, anger, or betrayal. She hadn't expected to see a soft smile of understanding. But it was a sad smile, the same smile she had seen on her own face when she it occurred to her that as wonderful as life was here, it was only temporary. The time she spent with Hojo was time spent trying to help her, and Kagome, to get back to their own homes.
Kagome smiled sadly at Kikyo. The girl was head over heels in love with Hojo. It was easy to tell by the eyes. And he was just as fond of her. He had never looked at Kagome quite that way. She wasn't sad at the loss of her once suitor. No, she was truly happy that he found someone that he really did love. It was just sad that once the mirror that they were seeking was found, that they would lose each other. She looked back at Inuyasha and Shippo. Just like I will lose them.
"The west," Hojo said.
"Huh?" Reeeeal eloquent, Kagome, She scoffed at herself.
"The mountains are in the west. You should cross a wasteland before you get to them though. It will be dangerous. Be careful of dehydration, there are no sources of water at all in the wasteland."
"Thank you," Kagome said, "You both have been very helpful. Those were great clues. We'll find the mountains in no time at all now." Kagome tried to sound bright and cheerful. But she wasn't fooling Kikyo, or a certain concerned looking dog demon. "You guys go have a nice dinner! Happy Valentine's Day!"
Kagome and Kikyo exchanged sad smiles. Then Hojo extended his arm to Kikyo and they left the room without a backwards glance.
