I'm kinda mean to everyone, aren't I? That's my specialty.

Chapter 25: A Familiar Face

Kagome wa

lked into her home and yelled out in a shaky voice, "M-mom! I-I'm h-h-home!"

Ms. Higurashi came into the front hall from the kitchen and saw her daughter's tear stricken face.

"Sweetie, what's wrong?" said Kagome's mom as she rushed over to her daughter.

Kagome walked over to the couch and sat down, her mother following close behind. Kagome collapsed on the couch and she snuggled up to her mother who sat next to her. Kagome let the tears flow down her face and told her mother everything. Everything about Kyoumi and the Jewel. She spilled out her feelings, and how Kyoumi had told her last request to Kagome, and how she felt about that.

"Kyoumi lost her life to help defeat Naraku," said Kagome, her tears slowing down now. "No one deserves that. No one at all."

"She probably could accept death and she had a feeling that she was going to die, so she died happy. She died happy because you helped her, and became her friend. You are a beautiful young lady and can change people's lives. Never forget that," said Kagome's mom as she hugged her daughter tightly. "I'm going to go make some food, OK?"

Kagome nodded and huddled up on the couch, silently crying.

Sota walked into the house and put his backpack on the floor. "Kagome! You're back again! Wait, what's wrong?" asked Sota as he jumped onto the couch from the back.

"Kyoumi... died," Kagome said slowly, feeling like saying those words made her even more dead.

"What? She was so cool... I'm gonna go... to my room..." Sota said, not exactly knowing how to take this upsetting news.

Kagome sat on the couch for about an hour before there was a knock on the front door. She got up and slowly walked to the door and opened it.

A girl who was looking at the ground was standing at the door, her hair about waist length and midnight black that was put up in a ponytail. She was almost six feet tall and she had large feet. She wore a black sweater, and she had baggy blue jeans. Her eyes were wide and seemed to shine a little bit, and her hair seemed to glow in the sun.

"Um, I'm new here and, I, um..." said the girl shyly. She looked up into Kagome's eyes and said, "Are you all right? Did someone hurt you?"

"No, no. A friend just died recently... In fact..." Kagome said, looking into the girl's face. She looked just like you! thought Kagome as she stared at the girl's face. This girl must be Kyoumi's reincarnation!

"I'm so sorry! What happened?" asked the girl. "Oh, I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Mai."

"An accident..." Kagome said, brightening up a little bit. She smiled slightly and said, "I'm Kagome."

"Kagome... That name sounds familiar... Anyway, um... I was wondering if you could visit me some time. Visit whenever you're in. I came over yesterday with my family, but your mom answered the door and said that she was the only one home at the moment, and she said that you were sick a lot. Anyway, come visit me whenever you aren't sick, OK? I live next door," Mai said and she waved and ran off to her home.

Kagome's smile stayed on for a little while and she went back to the couch, happy that Kyoumi's spirit lived on. Kagome fell asleep and awoke in the morning feeling a little bit better, but then someone came through the door.

It was InuYasha.

Still more! What is InuYasha doing there? Well, you'll find out next chapter. Oh, and the thing with Sota… I didn't know how to make him react… So… Yeah...