It had been two nights after Inuyasha's transformation. Inuyasha had asked Kagome to keep it a secret and Kagome had told no one. It was hard for her to lie to her mother and grandfather when they asked where she was. She hated to lie to them but she also was a reliable friend and told them that she and Inuyasha had lost track of time. The only time that she would tell them would be when Inuyasha said it would be okay.
Kagome knew her grandfather didn't like it when she went out and played with Inuyasha. He always asked why she didn't go and play with the girls in the village. Her answer always was, "Because I don't want to"
Kagome mother on the other hand didn't mind that she was playing with a half-demon, but she had her doubts.
Souta was only three and all he cared about was Inuyasha's dog-ears that he liked to pull. Kagome always loved how Inuyasha treated her brother. He seemed so caring and sweet, not the stubborn, rough person Kagome knew.
He didn't have any younger siblings only his mother. Kagome had seen her only once, when she was little and whished to see her more. His mother and her mother were best friends and did everything together. They talked about there husbands, children and about themselves. Kagome however knew nothing about her and decided to have a talk with her mother after breakfast.
"Kagome, pass me that rag would you dear?" asked her mother. Kagome obeyed and got the rag from its hook and gave it to her mother. "Mom," began Kagome, as her mother was just about to leave the kitchen.
"Yes hun, what is it?" Her mother started to clean the dishes with the rag Kagome gave her. "What's Inuyasha's mother like?"
"Doesn't Inuyasha tell you?" Kagome shook her head, "No. He doesn't like talking about his family"
"Really?" said her mother in an almost shocked tone. "Umhum"
"Well she's like me in a way. The only thing different is that her husband was a demon. I felt sorry for her at first but she said he was like no ordinary demon," Kagome's eyes widened as she became more interested in the conversation. "He cared for humans and was the sweetest demon she had ever met. Though he had some demon qualities like, cursing, losing his temper, and shouting she still loved him"
"Like you and dad right?" butted in Kagome. Her mother smiled, "Yes like me and dad"
"What's she like? Is she nice?"
Her mother giggled, "She's very nice." Kagome looked at her feet, "I can't believe I don't remember her" Her mother placed the last dish on the drying rack. "Maybe we can see her today."
Kagome's eyes sparkled, "Really!" Her mother nodded, "Let get dressed first" Kagome forgot she was still in her pyjamas and rushed to her room, to excited to notice that she had kicked her cat out of the way.
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Kagome and her mother walked up to the front door of Inuyasha's house. The house looked darker compared to all the other houses, only because there was a huge cherry blossom tree towering over it. There lawn was littered with petals from the tree and Kagome thought it was beautiful.
Her mother knocked on the door before looking down at her daughter, "Be polite now Kagome"
"Of course mom! I alwa,"
She was interrupted when the door opened and a beautiful black haired woman stood in front of them. She wore a pink kimono with purple flowers going down her sleeves. "Izayoi!"
"Ann! What a surprise!" The two women hugged. Izayoi kneeled down to Kagome's height and looked at her. "Is that you Kagome?" Kagome nodded. Izayoi smiled, "I haven't seen you since you were just a baby. My look how you've grown!" Kagome blushed. She liked Izayoi, but not because she complimented her but because of her personality.
Her voice sounded like angels singing and her violet eyes looked like diamonds. Her smile though, was what Kagome liked the most. It seemed that whenever she smiled it gave you a warm feeling in your belly.
Kagome thought it was strange that Inuyasha didn't like talking about his mother to her. There was nothing wrong with her. "Oh where are my manners," Izayoi got up and opened the door, "Come in!"
Kagome fallowed her mother into the house. It looked even more beautiful on the inside. There was tapestry and paintings everywhere. Bookshelves were lined against the walls and silk drapes covered the windows. Kagome couldn't help but mutter a soft 'wow' at the house.
Izayoi and Ann laughed as the sat on the chairs by the window. "Inuyasha talks a lot about you Kagome" Kagome sat down on a cushion that was on the ground, "Really?" Izayoi smiled, "Yes. He tells me everything that you to do," She leaned back against her chair, "I'm glad that he has a friend like you Kagome."
Kagome smiled, "Um Mrs. Tashio? Where's Inuyasha?"
"He'll be home soon dear. He had to go out for a minute"
Izayoi and Kagome's mother began talking and soon Kagome became bored. Her eyes wandered around the room, looking at all the books and paintings that Izayoi had painted. Her favourite painting was the self-portrait of her and Inuyasha. There was another person there that she was unfamiliar of.
"Excuse me," said Kagome. Immediately the two women stopped talking and looked at the girl in front of them. "Yes Kagome, what is it?" asked her mother.
"Who's that?" she pointed to the portrait. "Who's who?" asked Izayoi. She got up from her chair and stood beside Kagome. "Him." She pointed her finger at the strange man in the picture. "That's Inuyasha's father, Seibunishi" Kagome looked at Izayoi's face then back at the wooden floor. She felt bad for brining up Izayoi's dead husband. "I'm sorry"
"Don't worry about it Kagome" Izayoi smiled and sat down beside Kagome. "You're a good painter Mrs. Tashio"
"Thank you. Which one's your favourite?" she asked. Kagome pointed at the portrait, "That one!"
"I'm not finished that one yet"
Kagome cocked her head, "How come? It looks finished" Kagome squinted her eyes to get a better view of the portrait in case she missed something. Izayoi giggled, "I haven't finished painting Seibunishi's tail yet"
Kagome's jaw dropped, "He has a tail?!" Izayoi nodded, "Yes he did. He's was a dog-demon remember?" Kagome giggled sheepishly. Izayoi grabbed her brush and paints before sitting down and painting. Kagome watched, unblinking, as Izayoi started to colour in Seibunishi's tail. She could tell that Izayoi had been doing painting for a long time because her brush strokes were amazing! It was as if the brush was part of her hand.
After a few minutes, Izayoi placed the last addition on to Seibunishi's tail. "And finished!" she placed the brush on the table with a loud, yet triumphant bang. Kagome smiled, "Its beautiful Mrs. Tashio!"
"Thank you Kagome and for being such a wonderful friend to my son I would like you to have it"
Kagome gasped. She didn't know what to say. "T-thank you!" she sputtered. Izayoi smiled, "Your welcome"
"Izayoi," Kagome's mother walked up to them. "Isn't that you best piece?"
"Yes, but seeing how much Kagome likes it, I just had to give it to her"
Just then the door slid open. "Mom I got Ka," Inuyasha stopped when he saw his mother standing beside Kagome and Mrs. Hagurashi. "Inuyasha!" shouted Kagome. "W-what are you doing here?" he asked still stunned. "They came for a visit," said Izayoi. Kagome noticed that Inuyasha was holding something that sparkled in the sunlight.
"Inuyasha, what's that?" she asked. Inuyasha knew what she was looking at and quickly hid it underneath his haroi. "Uh its nothing Kagome. Just a pebble"
Her eyes darkened. It couldn't have been a pebble. Pebbles aren't that shiny. "Would you two like to stay for dinner?" asked Izayoi. Kagome became happy again and looked up at her mother with pleading brown eyes. "Sorry but my father cant cook and I don't want Souta to starve"
Kagome clicked her tongue and pouted. Izayoi smiled, "That's alright. Maybe another time?" Mrs. Hagurashi nodded, "Lets get going Kagome"
"Mum, don't forget my painting!" yelled Kagome. "Oh yes! I almost forgot" Mrs. Hagurashi lifted the portrait off the ground and carried it out the door. Kagome waved goodbye to Inuyasha and Izayoi before shutting the door behind her.
"So Inuyasha. What did you get that you wouldn't tell Kagome?" Izayoi asked just as the door closed shut. Inuyasha held out his hand and showed his mother what he was hiding. To Izayoi's surprise it wasn't a pebble but a gem, a beautiful gem that was the same colour as the grass and leaves of a tree.
Izayoi took is from her son's palm and looked at it with amazment. "Its Kagome's favourite colour," Inuyasha said happy that his mother liked it. "Inuyasha this is beautiful! Where did you get this?"
He looked at his cut and bruised hands before answering his mothers' question. "I heard the villagers talking about gem's near the river, and since Kagome's birthday is coming up I just wanted to get her something nice"
Izayoi ruffled her sons' hair and gave him back the gem. "I'm sure she'll love it!" Inuyasha beamed, "Thanks mum!" Izayoi smiled and she opened her mouth to speak but instead she coughed violently. Inuyasha ran to her side, "Mum? Mum what wrong?"
Izayoi stopped coughing and wiped the tear that was falling from her cheek, "I'm fine Inuyasha. Its just a tiny cough, now," she pushed Inuyasha toward his room, "You go put that gem somewhere safe and come back and help your mother make supper"
Inuyasha nodded and ran to his room, placing the gem underneath his pillow and running back to the kitchen to help his mother with supper.
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