Disclaimers Notice: I know! I will pretend to be Rumiko Takahashi and steal
her identity! Wait...that's illegal...
Authors Beginning Note: Here's your new chapter! Sorry for the delay, but my Beta reader can't...well...beta read currently so I've been doing the editing. Hey, better late than never right?
********* ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Chapter 34 Breaking Point
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"Kagome! Phone call!" yelled Souta up the stairs. Kagome grumbled and flipped over.
"Kagome! Hojo's on the phone!" He yelled back up. Kagome jumped out of bed and hit the floor. She glanced at the clock.
"11:07! Eeep! How did it get to be so late in the morning!" She yelled while scrambling to rush down the stairs, still twisted in her blanket. She was nearly at the bottom when she heard what Souta was saying to Hojo.
"Kagome said she can't come to the phone, but she'll..." And he was cut off as Kagome grabbed the phone.
"Don't be silly Souta. I'm right here. Hello Hojo." She said but gave Souta a grateful nod nonetheless before he disappeared.
"Hi Kagome. Are you feeling any better? When I talked to your grandfather the other day he said that you were sick with Malaysia. I rushed over with some curing herbs but he said that it was so bad that you had to be quarantined." Kagome gritted her teeth.
Grandpa, Malaysia? Isn't that supposed to be deadly? Jeez, people will probably be expecting to come to my funeral next. Heck! Why not!
"Kagome?" came Hojo's voice on the phone.
"Hmmm? I'm sorry Hojo, I got distracted. What were you saying?"
"Maybe right now isn't a good time, I mean if you're still feeling sick..."
"Oh don't be silly. I'm fine."
"I was wondering if you wanted to go for a picnic in the park today. It's really nice outside and I figured since you are well enough it would be a nice change since you've been locked up inside your house." Kagome nearly laughed. Locked up in her house was not exactly where she had been, but maybe a picnic in the park would be nice.
"I would just love to, but I have tests that I need to study for and..."
"Great. I'll pick you up at noon today. See you then!" He hung up and Kagome stared at the receiver for a few moments before nearly slamming it.
"What's wrong sis?" Souta asked carrying a sandwich as he passed by.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." She gritted.
"By the way, Souta, where is Mom and Grandpa?"
"Mom went to run a few errands and to pick up a few things at the store. Grandpa is at the library looking up more illnesses." Kagome hung her head in a despaired sigh at her Grandfather. Sometimes he was just too much, but she was glad for it.
"Uh, Kagome?"
"Yah?"
"Why were you gone so long?" Kagome felt a sudden pang of guilt at rushing back like she had and off to the feudal era with hardly and explanation let alone telling her mother how long she planned on being gone. Kagome was quiet for a moment and really looked at her little brother.
That's right. I rushed off and hardly glanced at them before going back. Then I suddenly appear back a few weeks later and as soon as I got here I went to sleep right away without even telling anyone anything. My. He's grown so much, and I have hardly been here to see him. Maybe I should tell him? No, that would just worry him more. He doesn't need to worry while I'm away so much.
"You were hurt weren't you." He said more as a statement than a question. Slowly Kagome nodded.
"Yah, but Inuyasha was there." She smiled. Souta smiled a huge smile.
"Inuyasha is cool. He has a huge sword and everything! When I grow up, I'm going to be just like him." Kagome snorted at the thought of someone wanting to be arrogant like Inuyasha, but smiled.
"Souta, don't tell Mama though. I don't want her to worry."
"I know. I'm not stupid." Kagome smiled as he puffed up his chest and crossed his arms. She ruffled up his hair passing him to go upstairs.
"I'm going to be gone most of the afternoon. Do you think you can handle things on your own?"
"Feh." Kagome nearly fell in fits of giggles as she heard Inuyasha's most infamous word spoken from her little brother, but continued up the steps.
Well, I am not going to let this spoil my day. I will just go and have fun for a while. I'll study as soon as I get back.
So resolved to make the best of it, Kagome took a shower and quickly dressed in a purple summer dress and a high ponytail, letting small wisps of hair hang by her ears. Not long after the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" She yelled and ran down the stairs, nearly tripping as she finally got her foot into her right shoe. She swung the door opened and was greeted by Hojo who was looking just as happy as ever. In his hands he carried a large bento box just for the occasion.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yah. Just one sec. Souta! I'm going now! Make sure to lock the door when I leave!" She yelled over her shoulder. The two left slowly walked down the many steps to the shrine. Hojo whistled and looked up in the sky.
"So Hojo, Where exactly are we going?" She asked to break the silence. He quit whistling.
"To the park, unless there's someplace you would like to see even more."
"No the park sounds fine. I was just wondering that's all." She said uncomfortably as Hojo continued his whistling. Soon they were out on the streets walking on the sidewalks.
Why doesn't he say something! He's never this quiet. Not usually. Oh no! What if he knows there's something wrong! Or what if he thinks we should begin to get serious or....
Thousands of ideas ran through her mind as her discomfort gradually grew.
Soon enough they turned into the park and sat down by a tree. Hojo produced a small blanket and opened up to the extravagant amount and quality of food placed before her.
"Hojo! You shouldn't have. Really. This is almost too much."
"I know, but I wasn't sure what you wanted, so I made a little of everything."
"You cook too?" She asked in surprise.
"Yup. My mother taught me. She used to work as a chef at her parents restaurant." Kagome nodded in surprise.
I guess it's kind of weird being with a guy who can cook so well. Inuyasha can cook rabbits and other game over spits but is barely able to cook Ramen. Miroku can make some stews, but nothing else much. Mostly I see women doing the cooking.
"Well, dig in." He said. He himself began eating an assortment of items and Kagome shrugged off her previous thoughts before she too began eating her fill. Soon enough the food was almost gone, and both of them leaned against the tree full of food, Kagome though still felt slightly uncomfortable.
"Kagome?"
"Hmm?"
"The real reason I asked you to come with me, is because we need to talk." Kagome sat up suddenly worried.
I don't think I've ever seen him this serious.
"Kagome, do you really like me?" Kagome sat in shock for a few moments before answering. This of course causing an awkward moment if it wasn't already awkward.
"Of course I like you. Why would you think I didn't?" Hojo took a deep breath before looking directly into her eyes and clasping her hands in his. Kagome politely let him keep her hands in his grasp, but wished more than anything to pull them away.
"I know it's unfair, with you sick and all, but it seems that we are never together." Kagome squired a little. Feeling more and more out of place with each word.
"We're together now aren't we?"
"Yes, you're right." He said and sat back down while unclasping his hands, still looking troubled. Kagome let out a sigh.
"Kagome?" She nearly froze.
After that, what else could be bothering him?
"I-I think I'm in love." He said. Kagome literally froze as she looked at him. He didn't look her in the eyes, instead he stared off into the sky. Of course by not looking at her he didn't see her panic stricken face.
"W-what do you mean by 'in love'? You can't p-possibly mean?" Kagome stuttered out.
"I mean with another girl." Kagome still couldn't quit think. Hojo looked at her concerned.
"I didn't mean to be cruel like this. I wanted to tell you when I asked you to go to the movies but then you had this emergency and I wasn't able to."
"Oh." Kagome said still in the state of being frozen.
"Oh Kagome! Please forgive me. I did not mean for it to happen this way. You see Arimi dropped her books in the hallway and I helped pick them up and asked her to go to a café somewhere after school and we began talking and in those few moment I knew I was in love and I've been so miserable because now I feel like I've been leading you on all this time and well I didn't mean to." He said rushed. Apparently taking her silence in the wrong way. Kagome stared at him before she....
Smiled.
"You and Arimi?"
"Yah."
"Well congratulations!" She said bursting with sudden vigor and feeling better than she had been the whole day. All feeling of awkwardness was swept aside.
"You're not mad?"
"Not in the least. I mean, you're in love right? Who am I to stand between you two than? Well, I better go. Mama should be home soon." She said standing up and wiping the grass off of her skirt and skipping off while whistling, leaving behind an extremely confused and semi guilty happy Hojo.
***** ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ****
"I'm Home!" Kagome called, extremely happy. It had taken her quite a while to get back. Well then again, she skipped around most of town in happy delight, so it shouldn't be any surprise that she didn't get back until 6:00
"Why are you so happy?" Souta called peaking around the corner. Kagome broke out into a wide grin.
"Hojo just dumped me." She said practically dancing to the kitchen. Souta just looked confused.
"I thought getting dumped by a guy was supposed to be a bad thing. I'll never be able to understand girls." He said and went to play video games. Kagome got herself a glass of water and soon enough her mom came walking through the door with her arms loaded with groceries.
"Here mama, let me help you with that." Kagome said grabbing more than half of them only to set them on the counter and skit around the kitchen putting them away.
"Kagome. I didn't know you were going to be home today."
"I'm sorry I didn't get home sooner. I didn't mean to worry anybody, but we ran into a few complications so I wasn't able to come home."
"You seem awfully happy. You want to tell me why?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I just went out on a picnic with Hojo and he dumped for Arimi." Ms. Higurashi gave her daughter a quizzical look before giving an understanding nod.
"Well then, in celebration we should make up some oden."
"Oden!?" Kagome shrieked in wild excitement.
"Yes." She said reassuringly before practically being plowed over by her daughter in a grand hug.
"Yay!"
"Mom! Did you have to use the 'O' word on Kagome?" Souta yelled. Ms. Higurashi laughed.
"Now, go upstairs and clean up while I put the rest of the groceries away and make dinner. Jii-chan should be getting back any time now."
"Okay mama, I'll go ahead and take another shower." Kagome said skipping off and into her room to get ready. Only moments later her Grandfather came walking into the house bragging about the new ingenious discoveries on modern diseases he had come across. Kagome groaned as she entered her bathroom and took another shower.
Kagome came bounding down the stairs in high spirits. Her still damp hair clung to her shoulders. She wore a loose blue shirt and shorts since it was so warm of an evening.
"Odin! Odin!" She squealed hardly able to sit down in her excitement. They had barely all seated themselves before Kagome picked up her chopsticks and with more speed than even Inuyasha could muster, she began eating.
"Kagome, you better slow down or you'll choke on your food." Said her grandpa. Kagome glared and nearly growled but continued to eat.
"She's acting like Inuyasha." Souta said in amazement at his sisters Inuyasha like moment and maybe more or so her rapid eating, wondering where she puts it all. At this comment however Kagome did choke.
"See. What did I tell you? Children these days. No respect for their elders. Why I remember when I was young..." Kagome finally stopped coughing enough to swallow some water and continue eating. Ms. Higurashi giggled at the ordinary craziness of it all. Almost too soon, the meal was over with and as Ms. Higurashi stood to clear away the plates, Kagome stopped her.
"No mama, I'll get it. You all just relax. I'll even do the dishes too."
"But shouldn't you be resting?"
"No. I slept nearly the whole morning through. I'm full of energy." She said picking up a particularly slippery dish.
"Kagome. Do be careful and don't let that..." But before she could finish saying anything, the dish did fall, right by Kagome's foot and shards of glass flew and cut her legs and feet.
"Oh dear! Souta hurry and grab the bandages. Jii-chan, will you please grab a broom, mop and a bucket full of water to clean up this mess? " Ms. Higurashi said calmly as she stood up.
"I'm sorry. I should have been holding it better. I'll try to get you a new one."
"Don't be silly Kagome. It was an accident." Her mother said while disappearing for a moment and coming back with a thick bath towel. She laid it over the glass.
"Be careful and go ahead and walk over that." She said and Kagome did as she was told, being wary of the larger lumps underneath the towel. Ms. Higurashi had Kagome sit down away from the glass. Souta came with some bandages and even a wet towel and sat them next to Kagome. Kagome's mom took the towel and began to wipe away the thick trickles of blood on Kagome's legs but stopped and took a large intake of breath.
"Cool. Kagome, that was a neat trick. I want to know how to do it too!" Souta exclaimed.
"Kagome, is this some part of your Miko powers?" Ms Higurashi asked her considerably pale daughter who wouldn't meet her eyes. Kagome bit her lip, but wouldn't look up until her mother took her chin in her hands and made eye contact.
"Kagome, please." She asked softly.
"No, Mama. It's not." She said resignedly. Just then her grandfather walked in.
"What's all the fuss? I could here you people all the way down the hall!" He exclaimed but stopped short at his daughters extremely serious face and Kagome's sullen one.
"Come here and look." She said and he came and watched as all of the blood was wiped away to leave flawless skin. The shards of glass fell to the ground like little stone pebbles.
"Demon! Who are you and what have you done with our Kagome! I shall banish you!" Was his first reaction and Kagome burst in tears.
"Father!" Kagome's mother said harshly.
"This is not a demon it's Kagome. And she'll gladly explain to us what this means, but only when she's ready." She said coming quickly to her daughter's defense and angrily at her father's audacity. He grumbled a bit.
"Mama."
"Oh Kagome." She said rocking her sobbing daughter back and forth.
"It was that demon Inuyasha's fault then! He did this! I knew we should never have trusted him. I knew it from the beginning."
"Stop it! It wasn't his fault. If it wasn't for him I'd be..." Kagome dropped her sentence quickly as she felt her mother's form stiffen.
"You'd be what Kagome." She said gravely.
"I-I-I'd be...in really bad shape." She said softly. Soon she was explaining the whole story between sobs and tears, of course giving her mother the more simplistic and kinder version of the story, saying she was possessed by a demon and tried to hurt Inuyasha, but he used one of her purifying arrows as a last resort but accidentally hurt her so he had to give her something like a blood transfusion. The glass all but forgotten on the floor as her family listened. Her mother wrapped her in her arms when she was done and Souta jumped up and down in semi excitement.
"My sister is a demon! She's almost as cool as Inuyasha now! Yippy!" Ms. Higurashi thought it over.
"Well, it can't be that bad. When do you get you're ears?" Kagome smiled as she wiped away a few tears.
"I don't. I'll look exactly the same as I usually do. The only differences are that I'm able to heal quicker, my Miko powers are stronger but a bit more concentrated and...and..." She burst out in more crying.
"Kagome. Kagome dear what's wrong?" Kagome wouldn't say anything until she had got herself under control. She grabbed her mothers face and looked directly into her eyes.
"Mama, I'm part Yukai now. My life span has more than doubled. In fact, to put it more simply, I'm immune to aging." She said. Ms. Higurashi took in a sharp breath, Kagome's grandfather's jaw dropped a mile and Souta got even more excited.
"So you mean?"
"Yes. I'm going to live as long Inuyasha probably, and he told me once that he's already 500 give or take the 50 years he was pinned to the tree. Mama, I'm going to be this old for over a hundred years." Ms. Higurashi fainted. Souta quite dancing and looked worried and Jii-chan rushed over to his daughter to try and revive her. Kagome hiccupped and groaned. This was not at all how she had imagined any of this happening.
***
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Authors Ending Note: Hojo broke up with Kagome? And is in love with one of her best friends Arimi? Ms. Higurashi fainted? With all of this chaos life in the Feudal Era almost seems calm. Now what is to become of Kagome as she and her family are to come up with a plan to explain her eternal youthfulness to others when the time comes and the tests, which are sure to be terrible if they are to reflect her study habits.
Authors Beginning Note: Here's your new chapter! Sorry for the delay, but my Beta reader can't...well...beta read currently so I've been doing the editing. Hey, better late than never right?
********* ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Chapter 34 Breaking Point
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"Kagome! Phone call!" yelled Souta up the stairs. Kagome grumbled and flipped over.
"Kagome! Hojo's on the phone!" He yelled back up. Kagome jumped out of bed and hit the floor. She glanced at the clock.
"11:07! Eeep! How did it get to be so late in the morning!" She yelled while scrambling to rush down the stairs, still twisted in her blanket. She was nearly at the bottom when she heard what Souta was saying to Hojo.
"Kagome said she can't come to the phone, but she'll..." And he was cut off as Kagome grabbed the phone.
"Don't be silly Souta. I'm right here. Hello Hojo." She said but gave Souta a grateful nod nonetheless before he disappeared.
"Hi Kagome. Are you feeling any better? When I talked to your grandfather the other day he said that you were sick with Malaysia. I rushed over with some curing herbs but he said that it was so bad that you had to be quarantined." Kagome gritted her teeth.
Grandpa, Malaysia? Isn't that supposed to be deadly? Jeez, people will probably be expecting to come to my funeral next. Heck! Why not!
"Kagome?" came Hojo's voice on the phone.
"Hmmm? I'm sorry Hojo, I got distracted. What were you saying?"
"Maybe right now isn't a good time, I mean if you're still feeling sick..."
"Oh don't be silly. I'm fine."
"I was wondering if you wanted to go for a picnic in the park today. It's really nice outside and I figured since you are well enough it would be a nice change since you've been locked up inside your house." Kagome nearly laughed. Locked up in her house was not exactly where she had been, but maybe a picnic in the park would be nice.
"I would just love to, but I have tests that I need to study for and..."
"Great. I'll pick you up at noon today. See you then!" He hung up and Kagome stared at the receiver for a few moments before nearly slamming it.
"What's wrong sis?" Souta asked carrying a sandwich as he passed by.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." She gritted.
"By the way, Souta, where is Mom and Grandpa?"
"Mom went to run a few errands and to pick up a few things at the store. Grandpa is at the library looking up more illnesses." Kagome hung her head in a despaired sigh at her Grandfather. Sometimes he was just too much, but she was glad for it.
"Uh, Kagome?"
"Yah?"
"Why were you gone so long?" Kagome felt a sudden pang of guilt at rushing back like she had and off to the feudal era with hardly and explanation let alone telling her mother how long she planned on being gone. Kagome was quiet for a moment and really looked at her little brother.
That's right. I rushed off and hardly glanced at them before going back. Then I suddenly appear back a few weeks later and as soon as I got here I went to sleep right away without even telling anyone anything. My. He's grown so much, and I have hardly been here to see him. Maybe I should tell him? No, that would just worry him more. He doesn't need to worry while I'm away so much.
"You were hurt weren't you." He said more as a statement than a question. Slowly Kagome nodded.
"Yah, but Inuyasha was there." She smiled. Souta smiled a huge smile.
"Inuyasha is cool. He has a huge sword and everything! When I grow up, I'm going to be just like him." Kagome snorted at the thought of someone wanting to be arrogant like Inuyasha, but smiled.
"Souta, don't tell Mama though. I don't want her to worry."
"I know. I'm not stupid." Kagome smiled as he puffed up his chest and crossed his arms. She ruffled up his hair passing him to go upstairs.
"I'm going to be gone most of the afternoon. Do you think you can handle things on your own?"
"Feh." Kagome nearly fell in fits of giggles as she heard Inuyasha's most infamous word spoken from her little brother, but continued up the steps.
Well, I am not going to let this spoil my day. I will just go and have fun for a while. I'll study as soon as I get back.
So resolved to make the best of it, Kagome took a shower and quickly dressed in a purple summer dress and a high ponytail, letting small wisps of hair hang by her ears. Not long after the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" She yelled and ran down the stairs, nearly tripping as she finally got her foot into her right shoe. She swung the door opened and was greeted by Hojo who was looking just as happy as ever. In his hands he carried a large bento box just for the occasion.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yah. Just one sec. Souta! I'm going now! Make sure to lock the door when I leave!" She yelled over her shoulder. The two left slowly walked down the many steps to the shrine. Hojo whistled and looked up in the sky.
"So Hojo, Where exactly are we going?" She asked to break the silence. He quit whistling.
"To the park, unless there's someplace you would like to see even more."
"No the park sounds fine. I was just wondering that's all." She said uncomfortably as Hojo continued his whistling. Soon they were out on the streets walking on the sidewalks.
Why doesn't he say something! He's never this quiet. Not usually. Oh no! What if he knows there's something wrong! Or what if he thinks we should begin to get serious or....
Thousands of ideas ran through her mind as her discomfort gradually grew.
Soon enough they turned into the park and sat down by a tree. Hojo produced a small blanket and opened up to the extravagant amount and quality of food placed before her.
"Hojo! You shouldn't have. Really. This is almost too much."
"I know, but I wasn't sure what you wanted, so I made a little of everything."
"You cook too?" She asked in surprise.
"Yup. My mother taught me. She used to work as a chef at her parents restaurant." Kagome nodded in surprise.
I guess it's kind of weird being with a guy who can cook so well. Inuyasha can cook rabbits and other game over spits but is barely able to cook Ramen. Miroku can make some stews, but nothing else much. Mostly I see women doing the cooking.
"Well, dig in." He said. He himself began eating an assortment of items and Kagome shrugged off her previous thoughts before she too began eating her fill. Soon enough the food was almost gone, and both of them leaned against the tree full of food, Kagome though still felt slightly uncomfortable.
"Kagome?"
"Hmm?"
"The real reason I asked you to come with me, is because we need to talk." Kagome sat up suddenly worried.
I don't think I've ever seen him this serious.
"Kagome, do you really like me?" Kagome sat in shock for a few moments before answering. This of course causing an awkward moment if it wasn't already awkward.
"Of course I like you. Why would you think I didn't?" Hojo took a deep breath before looking directly into her eyes and clasping her hands in his. Kagome politely let him keep her hands in his grasp, but wished more than anything to pull them away.
"I know it's unfair, with you sick and all, but it seems that we are never together." Kagome squired a little. Feeling more and more out of place with each word.
"We're together now aren't we?"
"Yes, you're right." He said and sat back down while unclasping his hands, still looking troubled. Kagome let out a sigh.
"Kagome?" She nearly froze.
After that, what else could be bothering him?
"I-I think I'm in love." He said. Kagome literally froze as she looked at him. He didn't look her in the eyes, instead he stared off into the sky. Of course by not looking at her he didn't see her panic stricken face.
"W-what do you mean by 'in love'? You can't p-possibly mean?" Kagome stuttered out.
"I mean with another girl." Kagome still couldn't quit think. Hojo looked at her concerned.
"I didn't mean to be cruel like this. I wanted to tell you when I asked you to go to the movies but then you had this emergency and I wasn't able to."
"Oh." Kagome said still in the state of being frozen.
"Oh Kagome! Please forgive me. I did not mean for it to happen this way. You see Arimi dropped her books in the hallway and I helped pick them up and asked her to go to a café somewhere after school and we began talking and in those few moment I knew I was in love and I've been so miserable because now I feel like I've been leading you on all this time and well I didn't mean to." He said rushed. Apparently taking her silence in the wrong way. Kagome stared at him before she....
Smiled.
"You and Arimi?"
"Yah."
"Well congratulations!" She said bursting with sudden vigor and feeling better than she had been the whole day. All feeling of awkwardness was swept aside.
"You're not mad?"
"Not in the least. I mean, you're in love right? Who am I to stand between you two than? Well, I better go. Mama should be home soon." She said standing up and wiping the grass off of her skirt and skipping off while whistling, leaving behind an extremely confused and semi guilty happy Hojo.
***** ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ****
"I'm Home!" Kagome called, extremely happy. It had taken her quite a while to get back. Well then again, she skipped around most of town in happy delight, so it shouldn't be any surprise that she didn't get back until 6:00
"Why are you so happy?" Souta called peaking around the corner. Kagome broke out into a wide grin.
"Hojo just dumped me." She said practically dancing to the kitchen. Souta just looked confused.
"I thought getting dumped by a guy was supposed to be a bad thing. I'll never be able to understand girls." He said and went to play video games. Kagome got herself a glass of water and soon enough her mom came walking through the door with her arms loaded with groceries.
"Here mama, let me help you with that." Kagome said grabbing more than half of them only to set them on the counter and skit around the kitchen putting them away.
"Kagome. I didn't know you were going to be home today."
"I'm sorry I didn't get home sooner. I didn't mean to worry anybody, but we ran into a few complications so I wasn't able to come home."
"You seem awfully happy. You want to tell me why?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I just went out on a picnic with Hojo and he dumped for Arimi." Ms. Higurashi gave her daughter a quizzical look before giving an understanding nod.
"Well then, in celebration we should make up some oden."
"Oden!?" Kagome shrieked in wild excitement.
"Yes." She said reassuringly before practically being plowed over by her daughter in a grand hug.
"Yay!"
"Mom! Did you have to use the 'O' word on Kagome?" Souta yelled. Ms. Higurashi laughed.
"Now, go upstairs and clean up while I put the rest of the groceries away and make dinner. Jii-chan should be getting back any time now."
"Okay mama, I'll go ahead and take another shower." Kagome said skipping off and into her room to get ready. Only moments later her Grandfather came walking into the house bragging about the new ingenious discoveries on modern diseases he had come across. Kagome groaned as she entered her bathroom and took another shower.
Kagome came bounding down the stairs in high spirits. Her still damp hair clung to her shoulders. She wore a loose blue shirt and shorts since it was so warm of an evening.
"Odin! Odin!" She squealed hardly able to sit down in her excitement. They had barely all seated themselves before Kagome picked up her chopsticks and with more speed than even Inuyasha could muster, she began eating.
"Kagome, you better slow down or you'll choke on your food." Said her grandpa. Kagome glared and nearly growled but continued to eat.
"She's acting like Inuyasha." Souta said in amazement at his sisters Inuyasha like moment and maybe more or so her rapid eating, wondering where she puts it all. At this comment however Kagome did choke.
"See. What did I tell you? Children these days. No respect for their elders. Why I remember when I was young..." Kagome finally stopped coughing enough to swallow some water and continue eating. Ms. Higurashi giggled at the ordinary craziness of it all. Almost too soon, the meal was over with and as Ms. Higurashi stood to clear away the plates, Kagome stopped her.
"No mama, I'll get it. You all just relax. I'll even do the dishes too."
"But shouldn't you be resting?"
"No. I slept nearly the whole morning through. I'm full of energy." She said picking up a particularly slippery dish.
"Kagome. Do be careful and don't let that..." But before she could finish saying anything, the dish did fall, right by Kagome's foot and shards of glass flew and cut her legs and feet.
"Oh dear! Souta hurry and grab the bandages. Jii-chan, will you please grab a broom, mop and a bucket full of water to clean up this mess? " Ms. Higurashi said calmly as she stood up.
"I'm sorry. I should have been holding it better. I'll try to get you a new one."
"Don't be silly Kagome. It was an accident." Her mother said while disappearing for a moment and coming back with a thick bath towel. She laid it over the glass.
"Be careful and go ahead and walk over that." She said and Kagome did as she was told, being wary of the larger lumps underneath the towel. Ms. Higurashi had Kagome sit down away from the glass. Souta came with some bandages and even a wet towel and sat them next to Kagome. Kagome's mom took the towel and began to wipe away the thick trickles of blood on Kagome's legs but stopped and took a large intake of breath.
"Cool. Kagome, that was a neat trick. I want to know how to do it too!" Souta exclaimed.
"Kagome, is this some part of your Miko powers?" Ms Higurashi asked her considerably pale daughter who wouldn't meet her eyes. Kagome bit her lip, but wouldn't look up until her mother took her chin in her hands and made eye contact.
"Kagome, please." She asked softly.
"No, Mama. It's not." She said resignedly. Just then her grandfather walked in.
"What's all the fuss? I could here you people all the way down the hall!" He exclaimed but stopped short at his daughters extremely serious face and Kagome's sullen one.
"Come here and look." She said and he came and watched as all of the blood was wiped away to leave flawless skin. The shards of glass fell to the ground like little stone pebbles.
"Demon! Who are you and what have you done with our Kagome! I shall banish you!" Was his first reaction and Kagome burst in tears.
"Father!" Kagome's mother said harshly.
"This is not a demon it's Kagome. And she'll gladly explain to us what this means, but only when she's ready." She said coming quickly to her daughter's defense and angrily at her father's audacity. He grumbled a bit.
"Mama."
"Oh Kagome." She said rocking her sobbing daughter back and forth.
"It was that demon Inuyasha's fault then! He did this! I knew we should never have trusted him. I knew it from the beginning."
"Stop it! It wasn't his fault. If it wasn't for him I'd be..." Kagome dropped her sentence quickly as she felt her mother's form stiffen.
"You'd be what Kagome." She said gravely.
"I-I-I'd be...in really bad shape." She said softly. Soon she was explaining the whole story between sobs and tears, of course giving her mother the more simplistic and kinder version of the story, saying she was possessed by a demon and tried to hurt Inuyasha, but he used one of her purifying arrows as a last resort but accidentally hurt her so he had to give her something like a blood transfusion. The glass all but forgotten on the floor as her family listened. Her mother wrapped her in her arms when she was done and Souta jumped up and down in semi excitement.
"My sister is a demon! She's almost as cool as Inuyasha now! Yippy!" Ms. Higurashi thought it over.
"Well, it can't be that bad. When do you get you're ears?" Kagome smiled as she wiped away a few tears.
"I don't. I'll look exactly the same as I usually do. The only differences are that I'm able to heal quicker, my Miko powers are stronger but a bit more concentrated and...and..." She burst out in more crying.
"Kagome. Kagome dear what's wrong?" Kagome wouldn't say anything until she had got herself under control. She grabbed her mothers face and looked directly into her eyes.
"Mama, I'm part Yukai now. My life span has more than doubled. In fact, to put it more simply, I'm immune to aging." She said. Ms. Higurashi took in a sharp breath, Kagome's grandfather's jaw dropped a mile and Souta got even more excited.
"So you mean?"
"Yes. I'm going to live as long Inuyasha probably, and he told me once that he's already 500 give or take the 50 years he was pinned to the tree. Mama, I'm going to be this old for over a hundred years." Ms. Higurashi fainted. Souta quite dancing and looked worried and Jii-chan rushed over to his daughter to try and revive her. Kagome hiccupped and groaned. This was not at all how she had imagined any of this happening.
***
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Authors Ending Note: Hojo broke up with Kagome? And is in love with one of her best friends Arimi? Ms. Higurashi fainted? With all of this chaos life in the Feudal Era almost seems calm. Now what is to become of Kagome as she and her family are to come up with a plan to explain her eternal youthfulness to others when the time comes and the tests, which are sure to be terrible if they are to reflect her study habits.