Chapter 36:

  Confrontation(!!?)

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" Goodbye, Inuyasha," Kagome said as she stood at the door, looking at the silver-haired teen, who was staring out the window, folding his arms. It was starting to get dark and Miroku and Sango have already left. " Stay still and don't make the nurses have a hard time."

" Keh! Just go already!!" Inuyasha said. He snuggled inside the white blankets of the hospital bed and closed his eyes.

Kagome smiled softly and quietly closed the door as though to not bother his slumber. She walked down the quiet halls of the hospital. Most of the people have already left and the hallways were dim, almost too dark to walk without a flashlight. She slowly walked down the hall listening to her footsteps as though to hear no one is following her or anything.

' The hospital at night is pretty sure creepy,' She thought. She suddenly saw something moving in the dark in front of her and gasped in fright. ' What was that? '

" Higurashi-san…"

" Eeek!!!" Kagome let out a small scream when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She slowly turned around, expecting to see a ghost or something. But it was instead, Kagewaki, with a confused smile on his face.

" I'm sorry, did I scare you?" He asked rather ruefully.

" Haha… you sure did," Kagome smiled. " What are you doing here this late at the hospital?"

" Oh, I was having a talk with the doctor. And I guess it got too long, when we finally finished, it was already night. What about you, Higurashi-san?"

But Kagome wasn't listening. She remembered Miroku saying something about his weak heart and that he always have to go to the doctor for some medicine.

" Higurashi-san?" Kagewaki asked, noticing the expression on Kagome's face. " Is something wrong?"

" Hm?" Kagome was brought back from her thoughts, " Oh, nothing. I was just here to visit a friend of mine…but I guess we were talking too much that I didn't notice it was getting too dark already."

Kagewaki smiled. Suddenly, a flash of light lit up to their faces and they squinted their eyes from the brightness.

" What are you two doing here? Visiting hours has passed already!" A nurse was standing there, holding a flashlight.

" We're sorry! We'll be leaving already!" Kagome said quickly and then pulled Kagewaki's arm, " Let's go, Kagewaki-kun!"

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" Where do you live?"

Kagome looked up from his sudden question. They left the hospital and are now walking down the dark sidewalk.

" Why do you ask?" She asked in response.

" Well, since it's already getting dark, I can't stand letting a lady like yourself walk home by herself. So I was thinking if I can walk you home just to be safe," Kagewaki smiled.

Kagome let out a soft chuckle, " You really are different from Naraku. He will never do such things. Even if he did, he'd have some secret intention underneath it."

Kagewaki made a thoughtful expression for a moment before asking, " How exactly do you know my brother? Does he know you? What kind of person is he at school?"

" Well, he surely does know me." Kagome said, " Why do you ask such questions?"

The dark-haired boy lowers his eyelids sadly, " Well, to tell the truth, I don't really know my brother. It's kind of weird isn't it? An older brother who doesn't even know how his younger brother looks like. Well, I've heard that he looks just like me, of course, we're twins. But, I don't really know him."

" Why?"

" Well, one thing is that he never comes to see me. I guess it's because he doesn't have time to or just plainly he doesn't want to."

' I take a vote for the second one.' Kagome thought, ' Of course, if Naraku is really trying to kill his brother, why would he come and visit him?'

" The other…" Kagewaki continued, " is that I, myself, is scared of meeting him. I don't really know myself why…it's kind of like I have a feeling that he hates me and if I show up in front of him, he'll be really mad."

" Kagewaki-kun…"

" Haha…sorry. I've talk too much, have I? But, in truth, I want to meet him. Just for once. I want to see what kind of a person he is."

" I…suggest you shouldn't." Kagome spoke and Kagewaki turned to her with a confused expression.

" Why?"

" Well…" She hesitated whether to tell the truth or not, " Let's just say, your brother, Naraku…well, he wasn't that much of a good person."

" I see…" Kagewaki lowered his head.

" But he does have some good sides!" said Kagome, though wondering to herself if Naraku really does have a good side. But she had to say something to cheer him up. She doesn't really know why but she feels really sorry for the guy in front of her.

" Thank you, Higurashi-san." Kagewaki smiled softly.

Kagome smiled too and looked up. She widens her eyes to see a familiar man standing in front of them. ' He is…'

The man, who had a short but messy jet-black hair and soft, gentle blue eyes, smiled at the sight of Kagome.

" Are you…Higurashi Kagome-san?" The man asked with a gentle tone.

" …yes," Kagome said, almost in a whisper, while nodding her head at the same time.

The man smiled again and then turned his eyes towards Kagewaki, " It's been a long time, Kagewaki-san. How is your father?"

' Eh?' Kagome turned in surprise to Kagewaki, who was smiling back at the man.

" Yes, it's been a long time. My father is doing quite well. Anyways, what are you doing here, Kojiro-san?" Kagewaki said, his smile still on his face, and bowed respectfully to the man.

The man, Kojiro, smiled and then turns his gaze back to Kagome, " I came here to see someone. Someone I have known for the longest time. Someone…that I have long dreamt of seeing…"

' Kojiro…my father's name.' Kagome thought as she stared into the tall man's blue eyes, ' so does that mean he is my father? No…there are lots of people with the name ' Kojiro.' It could just be someone else who just happen to have the same name as my father.'

She shook her head and looked at the man again, ' But…he looks exactly like the picture of my father in that picture frame. Are you really my father? Where were you this whole time? Why did you just…appear in front of me now?'

But Kagome was never able to ask those questions for so she kept it in her mind. The tall man continued to stare at Kagome; but not with a fierce, mean look. Almost gentle and kindly as though to watch over a small child. He then turns to look at Kagewaki, turning his eyes away from hers.

" So, how is your heart, Kagewaki-san? Is there a chance that it will be cured?" He asked with his usual gentle tone.

Kagewaki smiled sadly and slowly shook his head, " It seems that no one will be able to help me with this illness."

The man smiled softly, " Don't give up. You still have a bright future ahead of you. I will assure you…that someday…a cure will be found for your illness."

" I thank you for your kindness," Kagewaki smiled back.

Kagome was listening to their conversation while not letting her eyes off the tall man. ' These two know each other? And how does…my father…,though I'm not sure if he really is my father, know about Kagewaki-kun's illness? What is the relationship between these two?'

" Kagome-san…"

She was brought back from her thoughts hearing Kagewaki's voice. " Y…yes, Kagewaki-kun?"

" We should be going now. Your family must be worried," Kagewaki said, smiling, reaching out a hand to take hers.

" Ah…yes. We should…go now…" Kagome said and then took one last look at the tall man.

Kojiro still held that warm smile on his face as he watched Kagome and Kagewaki leave into the dark.

Suddenly, a phone rang from the insides of his pocket. He slowly took it out and opened it.

" This is Kojiro…" He answered, " Yes…yes…I have found her at last. No…she has not been injured yet. But I was surprised to see someone with her. It was Kagewaki…yes, him. No worries…he didn't do anything. Yes…yes…"

A soft, but gentle smile spread across his cheeks, " I think it is almost time now."

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" Is this the direction of your house?" Kagewaki asked as they walked.

" Yes…" Kagome looked up at him. Should she ask? " Ummm…Kagewaki-kun?"

" Yes?"

" You know…that man?" Kagome asked hesitantly.

Kagewaki turned to her and smiles, " Yes, I know him. He and my father were best friends a long time ago."

" I see…what…what does he do?"

" ? "

" I mean…what kind of work does he do?"

Kagome suddenly saw for an instant Kagewaki made a serious and scary expression. But just that instant for so he replaced it with his usual smile, " He is a scientist, Kagome-san. He's been researching on many things."

" Like…like what?"

" Sadly, I don't quite know what kind of things he's been working on."

" Oh…"

" Why do you ask?" Kagewaki asked this time, " Do you know him?"

Kagome stayed silent for a while, " I don't know. Maybe I do…maybe I don't. But he does seem familiar…"

" You do know him…"

" Eh?" Kagome widens her eyes at the sudden statement. " How…"

But before she can ask, they arrived in front of her house. Kagewaki turned to her and smiled.

" I guess this is good-bye, Higurashi-san."

He then left before Kagome can say anything. She watched his back, waiting until he was out of sight. ' What was that he said?'

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" Oh, Kagome, you're home," Ms. Higurashi said seeing Kagome entering the house.

" Sorry I was late. I was at the hospital and…"

" It's okay, my dear. Did you eat?" Her mother asked and smiled, seeing Kagome shaking her head. " You must be hungry then."

" Where's Souta and Oji-chan?" Kagome asked as she watches her mother going into the kitchen.

Ms. Higurashi placed a bowl of rice and some left over food on the table and said, " Souta and Oji-chan are already asleep. Do you want to take a shower before you sleep?"

Kagome once again nods her head as she sat down, picking up the chopsticks. She started eating slowly and watched as her mother turned on the water heater. ' Should I tell mom about what happened?' She thought to herself.

" Mom…"

" Hm?" Ms. Higurashi turns to her, " Yes, Kagome?"

" I…" Kagome opened her mouth to speak but soon closed it. She decided not to tell her since she doesn't want her mother to be worried again, " O…Our School is having a school carnival next month. Do you want to come? You, Souta, and Oji-chan can come together."

" Sure, Kagome. What is your class doing?" Ms. Higurashi asked as she sat on the chair across her.

" U…Ummm, I think it was a restaurant mainly on sweets."

" That will be nice," Her mother smiled, " Souta will surely like that. Speaking of next month, your birthday is coming up, isn't it?"

" Oh…" Kagome made a surprised expression. She completely forgot about her birthday, "…yeah."

" Oh my," Ms. Higurashi let out a small laugh, " My dear daughter turning sixteen already. The last time I remember, you were about Souta's age."

" Mom! I wasn't that small!"

Ms. Higurashi laughed softly, " So…what do you want for your birthday?"

Kagome lowered her chopstick and looked straight into her mother's eye. ' What if…What if I say that I want to meet my father? Would she allow me to do that?'

 " I…I guess…new clothes?" She said almost at the top of her head.

" Are you sure that is the only thing you want?" Her mother asked.

There was a moment of silence before Kagome spoke, " Mom…I…I want to meet my Dad."

" Eh?"

" I…I know that you're already divorced…but I want to meet him. How come…how come I have no memory of him? How come…I can't remember anything about him? Did we even have a father? How come…Why did he leave us?"

" Kagome…" Ms. Higurashi stared at her daughter almost sadly. She tore her eyes away from her and lowered her head, " Your father…your father…isn't coming back, Kagome. He has left us…left you and Souta…left…me. He left us…because of something he did."

She looked up to stare at Kagome, " Kagome…know this…that no matter who you are…or what you are…you will always be my daughter. My dear…lovely daughter. Please know that. When the time comes…and you're very confused…know that you are what you are. Nothing else. I…no…we will love you as who you are." She made a sad smile as tears flowed from her eyes, " You will always be my dear daughter, Kagome."

"…Mom?" Kagome looked at her half surprised and half confused. She didn't understand anything of what her mother had just said. ' When the time comes? Who I am? What do you mean, Mom?'

Ms. Higurashi smiled, " And we're not the only ones here for you…you have your friends…you have…that Inuyasha person. I'm sure they will understand…he will understand. You're not alone anymore, Kagome…"

Kagome widens her eyes as she heard a voice from inside her head.

Where am I…?

Who am I…?

Why is everyone staring at me like that?

What are they doing?

Why am I trapped in this cold glass?

Who is that person that looks like me?

Why am I here..?

What AM I..?

CRAAAAAAAAASSHHHH!!!!

Kagome suddenly held her head in pain. She slipped from her chair and collapsed on the cold floor.

" Kagome?" Ms. Higurashi said in surprise. She quickly ran over to her, " Kagome!? Kagome!!?"

But Kagome didn't seem to hear her. She continued to hold her head, eyes squinting from the head-splitting pain.

' What was…that? Who was that? What was that loud sound? What am I? Who was that voice in my head? Who…am I!!!!!!!?'

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- Hikaru

Okie Dokie, here's another cliffie. A real bad cliffie…well I had to stop there cause it was taking too long. Yes! FINALLY! Exams are over!!! ::sighs in relief::

And finally! Kagome's truth is about to be revealed!! Who was that voice in her head? WHO is that tall man? Is he really Kagome's father!!? And how is Kagewaki related to him!!? What does Kagome's mother mean by ' when the time comes' !!? What is going to happen to Kagome!!? And will Inuyasha and the others be able to save her!!? What about the others!!?

Stay tuned!!!

Well…that should be about it for now. Sorry for the bad cliffie. This story is starting to get thrilling…I'm actually excited myself…though I know what's going to happen. :P

Once again (and always) Thanks for he beautiful reviews!! I am so happy!!! ::bursts out crying::

And hope you guys will read it till the end!!! Until the next chapter! Bye-z!!