When An Angel Lost Her Wings - Chapter 5
By: Sakura Katsana
Disclaimer: Don't own him! Are you happy now?! Hey! I have that song!
Sakura's Note: Hey everyone! There's a short author's note this time because I have to hurry and post this. Sorry I haven't updated, it's been hectic. Projects, tests, MSAs (two tests needed to get into high school) and regular homework, along with personal life stuff.
So, for the sake of time, thank you to everyone who reviewed, and next time I'll try to actually have shout outs.
Enjoy.
It's not just BOOM!
Here's your halo, wings, and eternal happiness . . .
There's training,
Commitment,
And most importantly-
Absolutely NO conflict of interest
I mean, you wouldn't want to have a very . . .
Awkward run in would you?
"It's 7:30 in the A.M. here at 119.9 FM! Here with the newest releases in music! So, get out of bed sluggish sleepers and listen to the tunes of today!"
Kagome groaned, flicking her wrist, and smiled when the music 'magically' shut off.
Being an Angel had it's perks!
The sunlight poured into through the windows, invading her eyes as she rolled over and grabbed a pillow.
"Wake up sleepy-head!"
Kagome leapt out of bed, "Gaaaah!" She landed back on the bed with a soft thump, the covers slowing drifting back down as well.
"Well, someone's jumpy this morning."
"Sango?"
"The one and only!" Sango chirped, winking at her friend. "So, how've you been doing since that . . ." her friend searched for the right words, "information yesterday?"
Kagome blinked, getting up in one of Inuyasha's large t-shirts and some boxers he had let her borrow until he could 'get some damn clothes before she froze and he couldn't have anymore real food.'
"It's been going fine," Kagome smiled lazily, making the bed as Sango hovered over her in curiosity.
"Um, Kag-chan, you missed a spot."
"What are you talking about? You can't 'miss spots' with beds."
"Yes you can," Sango put her hands on her hips as she walked over and examined the bed. "Stand back."
Kagome did as she was told, narrowing her eyes with interest.
"There!" Sango beamed, patting the bed. "No wrinkles."
"How did you-"
"I've always been the clean freak."
"I remember." the younger angel drawled dryly.
Then Kagome smirked, "You sure are acting different."
The winged angel blushed slightly, "Well, being one of the Five you kinda have to be serious most of the time."
"I'm glad I'm not one then, what kind of afterlife is that?" she smiled but it soon turned to a worried look, "If Inuyasha comes in and sees you how exactly do I explain it?"
Sango blinked, realization striking, "Well, I guess I should get going then. Shouldn't I?"
"I'll probably have time to come up during the day, I'll find you."
"Alright," Sango smiled, "Oh, and by the way. Miroku and I think you're doing fine, we even got Shippou to admit it," she laughed, "don't worry about what those seniors say."
"Sango-chan!"
"What? Angels speak the truth." Shrugging, the magenta-eyed female closed her eyes and disappeared.
Kagome shook her head.
Sango had never acted like that before, or at least since Kagome had seen her again. She had always had this wise touch to her in heaven. But down on Earth, where she hadn't been in a long time, she seemed to be more loose and friendly.
Kagome swept her charcoal hair behind her shoulder and opened the door.
Silence.
"Inuyasha?"
Silence.
"Inuyasha?"
Nothing.
Kagome knocked on his bedroom door, no response, she walked into the kitchen, no guy stuffing his face with ramen, she checked the living room, no Inuyasha lounging or brooding.
Where was he?
She retreated to the kitchen to be greeted with a small note stuck to the fridge with a pink cow magnet.
Kagome,
Had to go to work early, help yourself to whatever crap there is in the fridge and make yourself some more 'real food'. I'll call around noon to see if the adoption agency called.
-Inuyasha
How could she have missed that?
It was a Monday morning. There was something most Innocents did on Monday mornings.
Work.
She wasn't hungry, that was something Angel's never had to experience. She had until noon to do something, what was that going to be?
Walking from the kitchen into the living room she looked around.
Ah, the television.
Plopping down on the sofa she picked up the remote from the coffee table Kagome turned on the TV. Nothing was really on, a dramatic talk show where men were cheating on their wives, a dramatic soap opera where someone was getting shot, or a cooking network showing how to make salsa.
Decisions, decisions.
"So, when you chop the tomatoes be sure to make them into little, adorable, tasty, chunks. We wouldn't want the entire recipe to go down in flames, now would we?"
Kagome felt like gagging, she'd never even met an Angel that happy.
But, it was almost noon and Inuyasha would be calling to see if there was any news on Sayo. If she went to heaven she'd miss it. So she waited.
"Now take some basil and dash it into the mix. Dash, dash, dash. Dash, dash, dash." The woman seemed to have the impression she was talking to infants. "Dash, dash . . . And a bit more dashing!"
"Kami-sama, if you have any love for this world you'll make this channel static before she speaks again!" Kagome sighed, knowing nothing else was on to watch. The woman opened her mouth, Kagome prepared for the chef-woman's sickeningly happy voice, and then - - -
Static filled the screen.
Smiling happily Kagome silently thanked Kami before walking into the kitchen. It was a miracle in itself that woman was on the television in the first place.
There was nothing to really do until Inuyasha returned. From any other person's point of view it would seem he didn't need any help at all.
Inuyasha's house was deathly silent, giving Kagome an uneasy feeling. Not even birds that had woke her up chirped. Was it about to rain? She cast a glance out the bay window, nothing. It didn't look like a storm was brewing.
When the doorbell rang the paranoid Angel jumped, laughing seconds later for being so jumpy. The only problem was that this wasn't her house, no one knew she was living here—that she knew of—and depending on who was at the door that could be a problem.
She would have to swallow her fears and answer, the doorbell rang and a light rapping at the door filled the living room.
Kagome bounded across the red-carpeted floor to the door and looked out the door's window. A woman around 26 was at the door, her hair in a high pony- bun. It wasn't until she looked up from the ground that Kagome took a step back.
The woman's eyes were as red as the apples of Eden.
She should know.
Although her looks were strikingly beautiful nonetheless Kagome was still a bit skeptic.
"Inuyasha! You better NOT be in there depressed and ready to kill yourself!" she banged on the door, ostensibly annoyed, and a loud sigh was heard.
"Gods Inuyasha, you're just as pouty as you were in high school," The door opened, the woman tossing a key labeled 'Kikyo's Spare Key' back into her shoulder bag. "Who the hell are you?!" Her face was now as pale as the curtains.
Kagome took a step back away from the door but stayed more or less as calm as she had been. "I'm sorry, I didn't know who was at the door and if Inuyasha wo-"
"W-what kind of sick joke is this?"
"What?"
"How dare you impersonate a dead woman?!"
Suddenly she understood. The resemblance wasn't only going to affect Inuyasha. This Innocent thought she was an imposter.
"Oh! No, no, no. I'm so sorry, I'm Kagome. And, you are?" she was actually surprised how calm she could be right now.
"Kagura."
"How do you have a key?"
"How the hell are you inside?"
"Fair enough," Kagome gave a small smile. "A man attempted to rape me and Inuyasha came to my rescue. He allowed me to stay with him."
She noticed Kagura's eyes softened, "U-usually rape victims want to be with their families."
Although her exterior did not.
"I don't have any family . . .," the words burned her throat as they flowed from her mouth.
Kagura's eyes widened a fraction, "I'm sorry, I-"
"It's alright," Kagome consoled, "I would be suspicious how a total stranger had gotten into someone's house too."
"That's not why I was apologizing." Kagura blurted, "I meant sorry you have no family, I still don't know if you're telling the truth. That was just incase."
This woman was tough, Kagome had to admit that. She mouthed an 'o' and looked at the woman in silence.
Kagura opened her bag, pulling out a cell phone. She immediately dialed a number and waited as it rung. "Sesshoumaru, did Inuyasha tell you anything about a woman staying with him?"
Pause.
"I know you don't talk to him, but did he leave a message? Or talk to Kanna?"
Pause.
"Yes, I know you're in a big meeting right now. I'm sorry, you know I'll make it up to you though, right?" Kagura smirked, obviously happy with his answer.
Kagome blushed, leaving the room for the kitchen to get something to drink. This woman wasn't going to let up easily, although she seemed trusting enough not to call the cops. She seemed unpredictable, one second she was mad, the next she was flirting with her husband in Inuyasha's living room!
The phone rang, knocking all thoughts from her head. Grabbing the phone from it's receiver Kagome heard a bored sounding woman on the other line. "Hello, this is the Tokyo Saiyo Agency. Is this Takeda Inuyasha?"
Why did she feel so disappointed? Just because it wasn't Inuyasha? Upon hearing another 'hello' Kagome was startled, once again, out of her thoughts.
"Mr. Takeda, are you there?" the voice sighed, "Who is this?"
"Oh," Kagome fumbled for the right words. She couldn't exactly say he took her in, no one would place a child in the care of a guy who took in complete strangers. "Well, I'm-"
The phone was grabbed out of her hands, causing her to whip around in surprise. Kagura held the phone to her ear, "I'm his sister-in-law, I came by to check on him, I forgot he was at work. Got to pay the bills, you know?"
The other woman agreed, she was, after all, a very loud talker. "When will he be back from work Mrs. . . .?"
"Call me Kagura," she looked at Kagome with a trace of a smile, "He'll probably be back by 5, unless he's working different hours."
"Alright, well I'll call then, goodbye Mrs. Takeda."
"Kagura," she instructed, "I'll tell him you called. Uh huh, you too." She turned and gave Kagome a once over, "You're so identical it's scary."
"What do you mean?" Kagome looked at the woman, "How come you believe me all of a sudden. I thought Sesshoumaru didn't know anything."
"He didn't. So I called the best source." she winked, helping herself to a soda from the fridge, "I called the dog himself."
"The dog?"
"With a name like Inuyasha, you can come up with some creative nicknames." Kagome laughed.
"Yeah, I guess you can."
"From what he told me in the three minutes I talked to him you sound like a nice enough person, I have to admit it's a comfort he isn't all alone. Even though it sounds like he's gotten another woman so fast."
"I'm not his-"
"I know, but Kikyo and I married into an insane family, almost as insane as mine," she chuckled a bit, mostly self-consciously. "Some would understand, but on the other hand some would go crazy calling Inuyasha to yell false accusations at him."
Kagome just nodded, what would you say to someone you just met under such rare circumstances?
"I'm sorry I acted the way I did, Inuyasha's like a brother to me and I didn't want anything to happen to him, especially now."
The Angel smiled, "Thank you, but you don't need to apologize, I understand. I'm just glad you didn't call the police."
"I can take care of my brother-in-laws house all by myself, I don't need the help of authorities until there's a bomb involved."
"Alright, it's time you met the rest of the five, come with m-"
"Sango-chan!"
The Angel whipped around to see Kagome running towards her. "K-Kagome? Oh, Kagome! Hi!" 'This isn't good, Kagome can't meet her! Oh Kami-sama, what do I do?'
"How are you?" Kagome looked behind Sango, where Miroku was greeting an Angel. "Ah, training a new one I see."
"Yeah, I was just about to introduce her to the rest of the Five when Miroku came, he's taking her now."
"I'd love to meet her," Kagome looked behind Sango again, but her friend darted in the way, pretending she had tripped.
"Well, she's quite busy right now . . ."
"Oh, nonsense," Kagome waved a passive hand, "The Five are patient, and if I didn't know any better I'd say Myouga and Toutousai are resting their eternally old bones right now." With that the girl walked towards the two talking Angels, still not able to see anything but the backside of the newest addition to Angelhood.
"Kagome! Wait!" Sango grabbed the air too late, forced to see what she had been trying to prevent from happening.
"Hello, I'm Kagome," the other woman turned.
It was like looking into a mirror.
Miroku's eyes widened; this wasn't supposed to happen!
Kikyo seemed more surprised than the senior of the two. "W-who?" She looked to Sango for an explanation.
Sango rushed forward, almost knocking Miroku out of the way. "Kagome, meet Kikyo. Kikyo, Kagome."
The two angels stared at each other in slight awe, that is, until a ball flew at them, Kagome having only seconds to pause it midair. The owner of the ball, a young boy at the age of seven, came bounding up and smiled warmly up at them.
"You two look a lot a like! Are you twins?" The boy, seemingly satisfied with his own answer, skipped away after Kagome allowed the ball to fall.
"Well, um, this has been interesting. Kikyo has a lot of training to do so maybe we should be go-"
"Too late, they're already gone." Miroku muttered, running his hand through his hair.
"What?!" Sango whipped around to see the two girls walking towards the garden. "Wait!"
Miroku put his hand on her shoulder, "Relax. Kagome's not going to let anything slip. She knows what to say."
Her magenta eyes darted back to where to two girls chatted away, like long lost friends. "But-"
Miroku put his finger to her lips, "Relax."
Sango pulled away, pouting like a child. "Whatever."
"Oh come on, you taught her yourself, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did."
"Then you should have nothing to worry about. You're the best Angel up here, no wonder you made it to the Five so fast." Sango blushed, looking back to Kikyo.
"Arigatou."
"So how long have you been up here?" Kagome looked up from the rose and smiled.
"Sometimes it feels like only a day, time doesn't really matter up here. But it's been seven years."
Kikyo's calm eyes widened a fraction, "I see. So it doesn't feel like seven years?"
"Nope," Kagome let out a laugh, "You should be relieved."
". . .I am," Kikyo admitted, "It's just, I had a husband."
She could feel her heart drop into her feet, "You did?"
Kikyo nodded, "His name was Inuyasha."
"You miss him."
Kikyo nodded again, sighing and holding a hand to her heart, "We were going to start a family, he got promoted, and I was about to get my own firm."
"I'm sorry. But he'll be healed, an Angel is already down there watching over him and helping him feel better. He misses you just as much, so does Kagura."
The angel whipped her head around, "How do you know Kagura?"
"Oh, Angels talk. Sometimes we tell each other stuff, I guess one met her."
"Oh," Kikyo looked a bit disappointed, "So, do you know who's looking after him? I'd like to met him."
Him? She thought that a guy Angel was taking care of him? How would she react if she found out it wasn't only a girl, but her. One who could pass as her twin?
"Kagome! You here?" Kagome cupped a hand to her ear. She could hear the sound of his voice calling her.
"I'm sorry, Kikyo. It's been nice chatting with you, but I have to go. Duty calls." Before she could say anything else, Kagome disappeared, leaving Kikyo alone with her thoughts.
"Kagome! Where are you?" Inuyasha passed the guest room, looking inside his own before doing a double-take back to the guest room. "Kagome! There you are, gods, don't worry me like that damn it!" he seemed relieved.
Was it because he cared, or because he thought she'd made off with his stuff?
"Sorry."
For some reason she couldn't understand why she felt so guilty, standing there. So what if she had just met his wife, had the privilege of seeing her whenever she wanted while he sat there, never able to see her face again.
Until he was dead.
"I've been calling since I got home." he continued, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was talking to himself.
"I just got up, I guess I didn't hear you. But, to make up for it, I'll make some more real food."
"Alright then. Oh, Kagura called the office today. You've met her then?"
"Yeah, after we smoothed over the fact I wasn't a burglar we hit it off fine. She's really nice."
Inuyasha gave a small smile, "She can be a bit overprotective of everyone. I'm surprised she didn't do anything and believed you . . . Anyway, I've got to finish up some stuff from the office."
"Ok," Kagome smiled, walking to the kitchen, "I'll see what I can make."
Inuyasha plopped down on the couch, grabbed the TV remote, changed the channel to sports, and began typing on his lap top.
Shaking her head, Kagome scanned the contents of the fridge, pulling out what she needed to make something she knew he'd love.
An exhausted groan from the living room and the click of a closed lap top alerted her to his presence. "Done working?"
"Yep, so when's the food gonna be re-" he stopped when he sniffed the air.
"Is that . . .ramen?!" Kagome giggled, stepping away to grab up more seasonings, giving him just enough time to take a- - -
"Stop that!" she slapped his hand away from the pot lightly, "It's not done yet."
"I thought you said ramen wasn't real food!" he gave a poor impression of Kagome complaining about all the ramen filling the cabinets.
"The kind you buy from the store has sodium." she stated simply.
"You just put salt in it!"
"But they pour salt in it!"
"I don't see a difference!"
"Well there is!"
"Sodium is salt. Salt is sodium. You say the other type has sodium. You just added salt. Both have sodium, so you're doing what you said not to!"
"No I'm not! I never said not to put salt in ramen! There was salt in the oden!"
"If you're making salty ramen I can eat the kind I buy!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!" Inuyasha growled, pounding the countertop and surprising the Angel enough for her to jump. "You fix the damned ramen with your salt and I'll go hungry!"
"You're impossible." Kagome growled back, her temper rising by the second.
Inuyasha glared at the girl, walking into the living room. "Fix it however you want. I don't give a damn."
Recognizing that as the closest thing to an apology she'd be getting, the charcoal-haired girl sighed. She'd have to ask Kagura whether or not this was how he acted before Kikyo had passed on.
Dinner had gone as smooth as possible, considering that neither had said much. Now Inuyasha sat on his bed, in silence, watching the moon, while a CD played low in the background.
He hadn't been able to sleep good since the death. Sure he could get to sleep alright from time to time, but staying asleep was another story.
The day kept replaying over and over in his mind, and when he slept the nightmares continued to come, ways she could have died. He hadn't wanted to know from the authorities, neither did he want to know who had killed her. Not yet anyway.
If he did know then who knows what he would do. They said the trial should be a week from now, but they weren't sure. He'd have to wait and see then. Even though the sleepless nights were getting old.
Why couldn't the dreams just go away? She was haunting him and her spirit wasn't even there.
I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all of my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
Because your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone
He lowered the boom box's volume and stared out the window. He could hear Kagome moving around in he- the guest room and finally settle into bed.
It didn't really make sense why he had allowed this girl to stay, she should have been sent somewhere for help. But being homeless didn't really give her that many pleasant options.
When he heard her voice though, he could literally feel his heart beat quicken and his spirits lift. Her eyes were the like to twin orbs that were like the calm before the storm, her hair- - -
Just like Kikyo's.
Gods above she reminded him of his wife, and it pained him more than she would ever know.
These wounds wont seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
When you cried I'd wipe away all your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I've held you hand through all of these years
You still have all of me
The full moon shined, as if musing his fears, on the picture of his wife in the garden with Sayo, laughing at the small girl's antics. It seemed that the glowing of the moon wasn't the reason for the light around her, she had always had that anyway.
You used to captivate me
By resonating light
But now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me
"Sayo, come on, Inuyasha wants to take our picture!" her eyes shimmered at him even though she wasn't even looking his way.
"But I wanna pick Papa Inu more flowers!"
"That looks like a big enough bunch," Inuyasha laughed, bending down with the camera to take the bouquet from the bouncing orphan.
"Hurry Inu-kun, it looks like rain!"
"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" Sayo chirped, vibrating on the spot. Inuyasha shook his head in humorous regret, he should have never ignored Kikyo's advice and feed the girl a triple scoop fudge sundae.
"Alright, alright," Inuyasha feigned annoyance, winking to show he was kidding. "Smile."
Thunder rolled through the heavens. "Aw," Sayo whined, "It's raining!"
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
"Go ahead and take it, Inuyasha," Kikyo smiled, her hair dripping wet. "We need a rainy picture to add to the photo album. Kaede loves making fun of your photography skills."
Inuyasha stuck his tongue out at his wife, Sayo following suit just as the camera took the picture.
Then a week later it had all ended . . .
He had been out mowing the lawn that he'd promised to mow forever now. Kikyo was coming back from a conference in another part of town. Her car had broken down and she had called him.
But, he hadn't been able to hear her over the mower.
She had tried walking to the nearest phone . . .
And that was when he came.
That was when he had killed her, leaving her there like road kill.
It wasn't until he got inside that he received the call from the police.
"Hello, are you Takeda Inuyasha?"
"Yes, who's this?"
When you cried I'd wipe away all your tears
When you screamed I'd fight away all of your fears
I held you hand through all of these years
You still have all of me
"I'm sorry, Mr. Takeda, but we found you wife-"
"What?! Where?!"
"I'm sorry, Sir, but she's no longer with us. She was murdered."
His throat was dry, tight, nonfunctioning.
"Mr. Takeda? Mr. Takeda, are you there?"
"T-thank you, call me with anymore information . . ." he hung up the phone, walked to the living room, and stood there.
Staring out the window at the dark, orange moon.
I tried to tell myself that you're gone
But though your still with me
I've been alone all along
He had sworn to protect her forever, and because of his laziness she was dead.
When you cried I'd wipe away all your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held you hand through all of these years
You still have . . .
Inuyasha's eyes fluttered closed, the last thing seen the picture of his wife, her body surrounded by her natural, faint glow.
All of me . . .
He was about to say her room, but realizing she didn't exactly live there he quickly changed it.
Well, a short 14 page chapter but I think it answers a few questions. ; It was my first time using a song inside a fic, so I hope it wasn't too bad. I wrote a song fic and I'll post it along with a more happy one as well. My White Day fic will be the next chapter of Sleepover (not the entire thing, but there will be tons of Inu/Kag and Mir/San fluff) and MIM might not be posted this week. I'm sorry but I had an iSearch paper, Science Expo, US History project, and math tests to study for.
Anyway,
Ja ne
Sakura
Disclaimer: Don't own him! Are you happy now?! Hey! I have that song!
Sakura's Note: Hey everyone! There's a short author's note this time because I have to hurry and post this. Sorry I haven't updated, it's been hectic. Projects, tests, MSAs (two tests needed to get into high school) and regular homework, along with personal life stuff.
So, for the sake of time, thank you to everyone who reviewed, and next time I'll try to actually have shout outs.
Enjoy.
It's not just BOOM!
Here's your halo, wings, and eternal happiness . . .
There's training,
Commitment,
And most importantly-
Absolutely NO conflict of interest
I mean, you wouldn't want to have a very . . .
Awkward run in would you?
"It's 7:30 in the A.M. here at 119.9 FM! Here with the newest releases in music! So, get out of bed sluggish sleepers and listen to the tunes of today!"
Kagome groaned, flicking her wrist, and smiled when the music 'magically' shut off.
Being an Angel had it's perks!
The sunlight poured into through the windows, invading her eyes as she rolled over and grabbed a pillow.
"Wake up sleepy-head!"
Kagome leapt out of bed, "Gaaaah!" She landed back on the bed with a soft thump, the covers slowing drifting back down as well.
"Well, someone's jumpy this morning."
"Sango?"
"The one and only!" Sango chirped, winking at her friend. "So, how've you been doing since that . . ." her friend searched for the right words, "information yesterday?"
Kagome blinked, getting up in one of Inuyasha's large t-shirts and some boxers he had let her borrow until he could 'get some damn clothes before she froze and he couldn't have anymore real food.'
"It's been going fine," Kagome smiled lazily, making the bed as Sango hovered over her in curiosity.
"Um, Kag-chan, you missed a spot."
"What are you talking about? You can't 'miss spots' with beds."
"Yes you can," Sango put her hands on her hips as she walked over and examined the bed. "Stand back."
Kagome did as she was told, narrowing her eyes with interest.
"There!" Sango beamed, patting the bed. "No wrinkles."
"How did you-"
"I've always been the clean freak."
"I remember." the younger angel drawled dryly.
Then Kagome smirked, "You sure are acting different."
The winged angel blushed slightly, "Well, being one of the Five you kinda have to be serious most of the time."
"I'm glad I'm not one then, what kind of afterlife is that?" she smiled but it soon turned to a worried look, "If Inuyasha comes in and sees you how exactly do I explain it?"
Sango blinked, realization striking, "Well, I guess I should get going then. Shouldn't I?"
"I'll probably have time to come up during the day, I'll find you."
"Alright," Sango smiled, "Oh, and by the way. Miroku and I think you're doing fine, we even got Shippou to admit it," she laughed, "don't worry about what those seniors say."
"Sango-chan!"
"What? Angels speak the truth." Shrugging, the magenta-eyed female closed her eyes and disappeared.
Kagome shook her head.
Sango had never acted like that before, or at least since Kagome had seen her again. She had always had this wise touch to her in heaven. But down on Earth, where she hadn't been in a long time, she seemed to be more loose and friendly.
Kagome swept her charcoal hair behind her shoulder and opened the door.
Silence.
"Inuyasha?"
Silence.
"Inuyasha?"
Nothing.
Kagome knocked on his bedroom door, no response, she walked into the kitchen, no guy stuffing his face with ramen, she checked the living room, no Inuyasha lounging or brooding.
Where was he?
She retreated to the kitchen to be greeted with a small note stuck to the fridge with a pink cow magnet.
Kagome,
Had to go to work early, help yourself to whatever crap there is in the fridge and make yourself some more 'real food'. I'll call around noon to see if the adoption agency called.
-Inuyasha
How could she have missed that?
It was a Monday morning. There was something most Innocents did on Monday mornings.
Work.
She wasn't hungry, that was something Angel's never had to experience. She had until noon to do something, what was that going to be?
Walking from the kitchen into the living room she looked around.
Ah, the television.
Plopping down on the sofa she picked up the remote from the coffee table Kagome turned on the TV. Nothing was really on, a dramatic talk show where men were cheating on their wives, a dramatic soap opera where someone was getting shot, or a cooking network showing how to make salsa.
Decisions, decisions.
"So, when you chop the tomatoes be sure to make them into little, adorable, tasty, chunks. We wouldn't want the entire recipe to go down in flames, now would we?"
Kagome felt like gagging, she'd never even met an Angel that happy.
But, it was almost noon and Inuyasha would be calling to see if there was any news on Sayo. If she went to heaven she'd miss it. So she waited.
"Now take some basil and dash it into the mix. Dash, dash, dash. Dash, dash, dash." The woman seemed to have the impression she was talking to infants. "Dash, dash . . . And a bit more dashing!"
"Kami-sama, if you have any love for this world you'll make this channel static before she speaks again!" Kagome sighed, knowing nothing else was on to watch. The woman opened her mouth, Kagome prepared for the chef-woman's sickeningly happy voice, and then - - -
Static filled the screen.
Smiling happily Kagome silently thanked Kami before walking into the kitchen. It was a miracle in itself that woman was on the television in the first place.
There was nothing to really do until Inuyasha returned. From any other person's point of view it would seem he didn't need any help at all.
Inuyasha's house was deathly silent, giving Kagome an uneasy feeling. Not even birds that had woke her up chirped. Was it about to rain? She cast a glance out the bay window, nothing. It didn't look like a storm was brewing.
When the doorbell rang the paranoid Angel jumped, laughing seconds later for being so jumpy. The only problem was that this wasn't her house, no one knew she was living here—that she knew of—and depending on who was at the door that could be a problem.
She would have to swallow her fears and answer, the doorbell rang and a light rapping at the door filled the living room.
Kagome bounded across the red-carpeted floor to the door and looked out the door's window. A woman around 26 was at the door, her hair in a high pony- bun. It wasn't until she looked up from the ground that Kagome took a step back.
The woman's eyes were as red as the apples of Eden.
She should know.
Although her looks were strikingly beautiful nonetheless Kagome was still a bit skeptic.
"Inuyasha! You better NOT be in there depressed and ready to kill yourself!" she banged on the door, ostensibly annoyed, and a loud sigh was heard.
"Gods Inuyasha, you're just as pouty as you were in high school," The door opened, the woman tossing a key labeled 'Kikyo's Spare Key' back into her shoulder bag. "Who the hell are you?!" Her face was now as pale as the curtains.
Kagome took a step back away from the door but stayed more or less as calm as she had been. "I'm sorry, I didn't know who was at the door and if Inuyasha wo-"
"W-what kind of sick joke is this?"
"What?"
"How dare you impersonate a dead woman?!"
Suddenly she understood. The resemblance wasn't only going to affect Inuyasha. This Innocent thought she was an imposter.
"Oh! No, no, no. I'm so sorry, I'm Kagome. And, you are?" she was actually surprised how calm she could be right now.
"Kagura."
"How do you have a key?"
"How the hell are you inside?"
"Fair enough," Kagome gave a small smile. "A man attempted to rape me and Inuyasha came to my rescue. He allowed me to stay with him."
She noticed Kagura's eyes softened, "U-usually rape victims want to be with their families."
Although her exterior did not.
"I don't have any family . . .," the words burned her throat as they flowed from her mouth.
Kagura's eyes widened a fraction, "I'm sorry, I-"
"It's alright," Kagome consoled, "I would be suspicious how a total stranger had gotten into someone's house too."
"That's not why I was apologizing." Kagura blurted, "I meant sorry you have no family, I still don't know if you're telling the truth. That was just incase."
This woman was tough, Kagome had to admit that. She mouthed an 'o' and looked at the woman in silence.
Kagura opened her bag, pulling out a cell phone. She immediately dialed a number and waited as it rung. "Sesshoumaru, did Inuyasha tell you anything about a woman staying with him?"
Pause.
"I know you don't talk to him, but did he leave a message? Or talk to Kanna?"
Pause.
"Yes, I know you're in a big meeting right now. I'm sorry, you know I'll make it up to you though, right?" Kagura smirked, obviously happy with his answer.
Kagome blushed, leaving the room for the kitchen to get something to drink. This woman wasn't going to let up easily, although she seemed trusting enough not to call the cops. She seemed unpredictable, one second she was mad, the next she was flirting with her husband in Inuyasha's living room!
The phone rang, knocking all thoughts from her head. Grabbing the phone from it's receiver Kagome heard a bored sounding woman on the other line. "Hello, this is the Tokyo Saiyo Agency. Is this Takeda Inuyasha?"
Why did she feel so disappointed? Just because it wasn't Inuyasha? Upon hearing another 'hello' Kagome was startled, once again, out of her thoughts.
"Mr. Takeda, are you there?" the voice sighed, "Who is this?"
"Oh," Kagome fumbled for the right words. She couldn't exactly say he took her in, no one would place a child in the care of a guy who took in complete strangers. "Well, I'm-"
The phone was grabbed out of her hands, causing her to whip around in surprise. Kagura held the phone to her ear, "I'm his sister-in-law, I came by to check on him, I forgot he was at work. Got to pay the bills, you know?"
The other woman agreed, she was, after all, a very loud talker. "When will he be back from work Mrs. . . .?"
"Call me Kagura," she looked at Kagome with a trace of a smile, "He'll probably be back by 5, unless he's working different hours."
"Alright, well I'll call then, goodbye Mrs. Takeda."
"Kagura," she instructed, "I'll tell him you called. Uh huh, you too." She turned and gave Kagome a once over, "You're so identical it's scary."
"What do you mean?" Kagome looked at the woman, "How come you believe me all of a sudden. I thought Sesshoumaru didn't know anything."
"He didn't. So I called the best source." she winked, helping herself to a soda from the fridge, "I called the dog himself."
"The dog?"
"With a name like Inuyasha, you can come up with some creative nicknames." Kagome laughed.
"Yeah, I guess you can."
"From what he told me in the three minutes I talked to him you sound like a nice enough person, I have to admit it's a comfort he isn't all alone. Even though it sounds like he's gotten another woman so fast."
"I'm not his-"
"I know, but Kikyo and I married into an insane family, almost as insane as mine," she chuckled a bit, mostly self-consciously. "Some would understand, but on the other hand some would go crazy calling Inuyasha to yell false accusations at him."
Kagome just nodded, what would you say to someone you just met under such rare circumstances?
"I'm sorry I acted the way I did, Inuyasha's like a brother to me and I didn't want anything to happen to him, especially now."
The Angel smiled, "Thank you, but you don't need to apologize, I understand. I'm just glad you didn't call the police."
"I can take care of my brother-in-laws house all by myself, I don't need the help of authorities until there's a bomb involved."
"Alright, it's time you met the rest of the five, come with m-"
"Sango-chan!"
The Angel whipped around to see Kagome running towards her. "K-Kagome? Oh, Kagome! Hi!" 'This isn't good, Kagome can't meet her! Oh Kami-sama, what do I do?'
"How are you?" Kagome looked behind Sango, where Miroku was greeting an Angel. "Ah, training a new one I see."
"Yeah, I was just about to introduce her to the rest of the Five when Miroku came, he's taking her now."
"I'd love to meet her," Kagome looked behind Sango again, but her friend darted in the way, pretending she had tripped.
"Well, she's quite busy right now . . ."
"Oh, nonsense," Kagome waved a passive hand, "The Five are patient, and if I didn't know any better I'd say Myouga and Toutousai are resting their eternally old bones right now." With that the girl walked towards the two talking Angels, still not able to see anything but the backside of the newest addition to Angelhood.
"Kagome! Wait!" Sango grabbed the air too late, forced to see what she had been trying to prevent from happening.
"Hello, I'm Kagome," the other woman turned.
It was like looking into a mirror.
Miroku's eyes widened; this wasn't supposed to happen!
Kikyo seemed more surprised than the senior of the two. "W-who?" She looked to Sango for an explanation.
Sango rushed forward, almost knocking Miroku out of the way. "Kagome, meet Kikyo. Kikyo, Kagome."
The two angels stared at each other in slight awe, that is, until a ball flew at them, Kagome having only seconds to pause it midair. The owner of the ball, a young boy at the age of seven, came bounding up and smiled warmly up at them.
"You two look a lot a like! Are you twins?" The boy, seemingly satisfied with his own answer, skipped away after Kagome allowed the ball to fall.
"Well, um, this has been interesting. Kikyo has a lot of training to do so maybe we should be go-"
"Too late, they're already gone." Miroku muttered, running his hand through his hair.
"What?!" Sango whipped around to see the two girls walking towards the garden. "Wait!"
Miroku put his hand on her shoulder, "Relax. Kagome's not going to let anything slip. She knows what to say."
Her magenta eyes darted back to where to two girls chatted away, like long lost friends. "But-"
Miroku put his finger to her lips, "Relax."
Sango pulled away, pouting like a child. "Whatever."
"Oh come on, you taught her yourself, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did."
"Then you should have nothing to worry about. You're the best Angel up here, no wonder you made it to the Five so fast." Sango blushed, looking back to Kikyo.
"Arigatou."
"So how long have you been up here?" Kagome looked up from the rose and smiled.
"Sometimes it feels like only a day, time doesn't really matter up here. But it's been seven years."
Kikyo's calm eyes widened a fraction, "I see. So it doesn't feel like seven years?"
"Nope," Kagome let out a laugh, "You should be relieved."
". . .I am," Kikyo admitted, "It's just, I had a husband."
She could feel her heart drop into her feet, "You did?"
Kikyo nodded, "His name was Inuyasha."
"You miss him."
Kikyo nodded again, sighing and holding a hand to her heart, "We were going to start a family, he got promoted, and I was about to get my own firm."
"I'm sorry. But he'll be healed, an Angel is already down there watching over him and helping him feel better. He misses you just as much, so does Kagura."
The angel whipped her head around, "How do you know Kagura?"
"Oh, Angels talk. Sometimes we tell each other stuff, I guess one met her."
"Oh," Kikyo looked a bit disappointed, "So, do you know who's looking after him? I'd like to met him."
Him? She thought that a guy Angel was taking care of him? How would she react if she found out it wasn't only a girl, but her. One who could pass as her twin?
"Kagome! You here?" Kagome cupped a hand to her ear. She could hear the sound of his voice calling her.
"I'm sorry, Kikyo. It's been nice chatting with you, but I have to go. Duty calls." Before she could say anything else, Kagome disappeared, leaving Kikyo alone with her thoughts.
"Kagome! Where are you?" Inuyasha passed the guest room, looking inside his own before doing a double-take back to the guest room. "Kagome! There you are, gods, don't worry me like that damn it!" he seemed relieved.
Was it because he cared, or because he thought she'd made off with his stuff?
"Sorry."
For some reason she couldn't understand why she felt so guilty, standing there. So what if she had just met his wife, had the privilege of seeing her whenever she wanted while he sat there, never able to see her face again.
Until he was dead.
"I've been calling since I got home." he continued, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was talking to himself.
"I just got up, I guess I didn't hear you. But, to make up for it, I'll make some more real food."
"Alright then. Oh, Kagura called the office today. You've met her then?"
"Yeah, after we smoothed over the fact I wasn't a burglar we hit it off fine. She's really nice."
Inuyasha gave a small smile, "She can be a bit overprotective of everyone. I'm surprised she didn't do anything and believed you . . . Anyway, I've got to finish up some stuff from the office."
"Ok," Kagome smiled, walking to the kitchen, "I'll see what I can make."
Inuyasha plopped down on the couch, grabbed the TV remote, changed the channel to sports, and began typing on his lap top.
Shaking her head, Kagome scanned the contents of the fridge, pulling out what she needed to make something she knew he'd love.
An exhausted groan from the living room and the click of a closed lap top alerted her to his presence. "Done working?"
"Yep, so when's the food gonna be re-" he stopped when he sniffed the air.
"Is that . . .ramen?!" Kagome giggled, stepping away to grab up more seasonings, giving him just enough time to take a- - -
"Stop that!" she slapped his hand away from the pot lightly, "It's not done yet."
"I thought you said ramen wasn't real food!" he gave a poor impression of Kagome complaining about all the ramen filling the cabinets.
"The kind you buy from the store has sodium." she stated simply.
"You just put salt in it!"
"But they pour salt in it!"
"I don't see a difference!"
"Well there is!"
"Sodium is salt. Salt is sodium. You say the other type has sodium. You just added salt. Both have sodium, so you're doing what you said not to!"
"No I'm not! I never said not to put salt in ramen! There was salt in the oden!"
"If you're making salty ramen I can eat the kind I buy!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!" Inuyasha growled, pounding the countertop and surprising the Angel enough for her to jump. "You fix the damned ramen with your salt and I'll go hungry!"
"You're impossible." Kagome growled back, her temper rising by the second.
Inuyasha glared at the girl, walking into the living room. "Fix it however you want. I don't give a damn."
Recognizing that as the closest thing to an apology she'd be getting, the charcoal-haired girl sighed. She'd have to ask Kagura whether or not this was how he acted before Kikyo had passed on.
Dinner had gone as smooth as possible, considering that neither had said much. Now Inuyasha sat on his bed, in silence, watching the moon, while a CD played low in the background.
He hadn't been able to sleep good since the death. Sure he could get to sleep alright from time to time, but staying asleep was another story.
The day kept replaying over and over in his mind, and when he slept the nightmares continued to come, ways she could have died. He hadn't wanted to know from the authorities, neither did he want to know who had killed her. Not yet anyway.
If he did know then who knows what he would do. They said the trial should be a week from now, but they weren't sure. He'd have to wait and see then. Even though the sleepless nights were getting old.
Why couldn't the dreams just go away? She was haunting him and her spirit wasn't even there.
I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all of my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
Because your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone
He lowered the boom box's volume and stared out the window. He could hear Kagome moving around in he- the guest room and finally settle into bed.
It didn't really make sense why he had allowed this girl to stay, she should have been sent somewhere for help. But being homeless didn't really give her that many pleasant options.
When he heard her voice though, he could literally feel his heart beat quicken and his spirits lift. Her eyes were the like to twin orbs that were like the calm before the storm, her hair- - -
Just like Kikyo's.
Gods above she reminded him of his wife, and it pained him more than she would ever know.
These wounds wont seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
When you cried I'd wipe away all your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I've held you hand through all of these years
You still have all of me
The full moon shined, as if musing his fears, on the picture of his wife in the garden with Sayo, laughing at the small girl's antics. It seemed that the glowing of the moon wasn't the reason for the light around her, she had always had that anyway.
You used to captivate me
By resonating light
But now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me
"Sayo, come on, Inuyasha wants to take our picture!" her eyes shimmered at him even though she wasn't even looking his way.
"But I wanna pick Papa Inu more flowers!"
"That looks like a big enough bunch," Inuyasha laughed, bending down with the camera to take the bouquet from the bouncing orphan.
"Hurry Inu-kun, it looks like rain!"
"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" Sayo chirped, vibrating on the spot. Inuyasha shook his head in humorous regret, he should have never ignored Kikyo's advice and feed the girl a triple scoop fudge sundae.
"Alright, alright," Inuyasha feigned annoyance, winking to show he was kidding. "Smile."
Thunder rolled through the heavens. "Aw," Sayo whined, "It's raining!"
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
"Go ahead and take it, Inuyasha," Kikyo smiled, her hair dripping wet. "We need a rainy picture to add to the photo album. Kaede loves making fun of your photography skills."
Inuyasha stuck his tongue out at his wife, Sayo following suit just as the camera took the picture.
Then a week later it had all ended . . .
He had been out mowing the lawn that he'd promised to mow forever now. Kikyo was coming back from a conference in another part of town. Her car had broken down and she had called him.
But, he hadn't been able to hear her over the mower.
She had tried walking to the nearest phone . . .
And that was when he came.
That was when he had killed her, leaving her there like road kill.
It wasn't until he got inside that he received the call from the police.
"Hello, are you Takeda Inuyasha?"
"Yes, who's this?"
When you cried I'd wipe away all your tears
When you screamed I'd fight away all of your fears
I held you hand through all of these years
You still have all of me
"I'm sorry, Mr. Takeda, but we found you wife-"
"What?! Where?!"
"I'm sorry, Sir, but she's no longer with us. She was murdered."
His throat was dry, tight, nonfunctioning.
"Mr. Takeda? Mr. Takeda, are you there?"
"T-thank you, call me with anymore information . . ." he hung up the phone, walked to the living room, and stood there.
Staring out the window at the dark, orange moon.
I tried to tell myself that you're gone
But though your still with me
I've been alone all along
He had sworn to protect her forever, and because of his laziness she was dead.
When you cried I'd wipe away all your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held you hand through all of these years
You still have . . .
Inuyasha's eyes fluttered closed, the last thing seen the picture of his wife, her body surrounded by her natural, faint glow.
All of me . . .
He was about to say her room, but realizing she didn't exactly live there he quickly changed it.
Well, a short 14 page chapter but I think it answers a few questions. ; It was my first time using a song inside a fic, so I hope it wasn't too bad. I wrote a song fic and I'll post it along with a more happy one as well. My White Day fic will be the next chapter of Sleepover (not the entire thing, but there will be tons of Inu/Kag and Mir/San fluff) and MIM might not be posted this week. I'm sorry but I had an iSearch paper, Science Expo, US History project, and math tests to study for.
Anyway,
Ja ne
Sakura