-Hikaru
I'm baaaaaack!!!! (Well, not really) Anyways, here's the next chapter! Hope you guys like it. Oh, and a lil' suggestion: The first part of this chapter, it will be better if you read it while playing a sad (or even angsty) type of background music. If you have the Inuyasha OST, then you can play 'Naraku's theme' on the background for the second part. If you don't have, the just play something creepy or evil…but it's just a suggestion so you don't really have to do it.
Chapter 44:
A Family's Love…" How was the food, dear? Did it fit your mouth?" Ms. Higurashi asked after she watched Kagome and Inuyasha finish eating the curry.
" It was delicious." Inuyasha smiled nervously and exchanged glances with Kagome.
Kagome stared at her mother hesitantly, " Umm…Mom…"
"Hm?" Ms. Higurashi turned to her with her smile on, " What is it, Kagome?"
" I…"
" 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."
Her mother's sad smile came to her mind. " Mom…you don't have to hide it anymore. I…I know it now. Everything. I know…" She looked up to stare directly at her mother's face. " I know…that I am clone."
Ms. Higurashi's eyes widen as she just sat there frozen.
A single tear rolled down Kagome's cheek, " You didn't want me to become shocked…that's why you kept it a secret, didn't you? To protect me…from the organization. Thank you. But you don't have to hide it anymore."
"…Kagome…" Ms. Higurashi stared at her daughter for a moment. She then sighs as though to give in. " I figured you would've found out soon. You are smart, Kagome. I'm sorry…you would've wanted to hear from me. But like what you said…I didn't want to shock you with such a devastating truth. These whole years…I protected you. No…we protected you. Hide you from the organization, from letting them know of your existence."
" Mom." Kagome said in a firm voice, " I…I thank you. For doing all these things to me. Even though I'm not your real daughter…"
" Oh, but, Kagome. You are." Ms. Higurashi spoke with a sad expression. " You are my daughter. Clone or not. You will always be. Always remember this."
" Okaa-san (Mother)…"
Kagome's mother smiles sadly, " Your father was here."
" EH!?" Both Inuyasha and Kagome said in the same time.
" He came here to tell me…to change everything, to stop this…chaos. Kagome, he came here to tell you…that he's sorry." She continued, ignoring the surprised expression on her daughter's face. " " Sorry for everything, sorry for causing so much pain, sorry…for creating you."
" What?" Kagome's eyes slightly widens.
Higurashi Kojiro turned to Ms. Higurashi before he left.
" Oh yes," He said with a sad smile on his face. " Tell Kagome…that I am sorry for everything. Sorry for causing her so much pain and suffering. And sorry for creating her."
" What do you mean?"
" All of this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't thought of cloning Chie's body. It is all my fault."
" What are you saying!!?" Ms. Higurashi yelled almost angrily, " Kagome wouldn't even be here if you hadn't created her!! Created or not, she is still a life, a life that is trying to survive! If you feel sorry for the pain and suffering you've caused her…then why don't you think of trying to save her instead of feeling guilty?"
"…Kanako…"
" Anata…" Ms. Higurashi smiles sadly, " Despite the fact that she is not my real child, I am very grateful…of you creating her. No matter who or what she is…I thank you for giving me this new life. I thank you…for giving me Kagome." Tears flowed from her eyes as she spoke. " And I thank you…for believing in me. You came to me as soon as you left the organization with young Kagome in your arms, and asked me to take care of her for you. To protect her from them. You believed that I was the only one capable of giving Kagome her true happiness. I was really happy. That even after all these times, you came for me…you relied and trusted me. I had a really selfish thought…that you still loved me…"
Kojiro stayed silent for a moment and smiles softly, " If the situation wasn't like this…I would have sat down and talked with you. To get back the time we've lost after all these years. To tell you that no matter how many women I met…you would always be the one in my heart."
" But…I'm sorry…" Ms. Higurashi spoke, " I broke your promise. I couldn't give Kagome her true happiness. When I realized…I've been hiding many things from her…I'm disqualified as being a mother."
She looked up to see Kojiro standing in front of her, still with his soft smile on. " You could give it to her now. No…we could. By getting the medicine in time…and dissipating the organization…if we successfully do that…then we can give Kagome her true happiness."
" Anata…"
" Besides…I am pretty sure Kagome is happy with her life now…even though how hard and painful it is now…she has a very good and reliable mother at her side. Always."
That's why…
As her father…
I am going to do what I can do.
Give Kagome her true happiness.
Because…she is…my dear daughter…
"…Otou-san (Father)…" Tears uncontrollably flowed from Kagome's navy blue eyes.
I can remember now…When she got that heavy fever…just when she lost all hope of living…
Those warm hands…
Wrapped around her small ones…
That warm smile…
And those words…
' Kagome…you will be all right now. Your father is here…'
" Otou…-san…" Kagome buried her face in her hands. Inuyasha, who was sitting beside her, pulled her to his chest. " Otou-san…Otou-san!!"
It was you…Otou-sanWhen I had that fever…I was alone in the darkness. I thought I was never going to get out of that darkness. I was really scared. Scared of not being able to see Ojii-chan, Souta…and Okaa-san (Mother) anymore. But I couldn't do anything to save myself…I was helpless…
And just…just when I lost hope…
A single ball of light appeared in front of me from the darkness. I touched it…and it was really, really warm. I almost cried. When I realized, I found myself hugging that ball of light. Afraid of losing it…afraid of disappearing…leaving me alone in this cold darkness again.
I can still remember the warmth in my hands.
…It was you, Otou-san.
That ball of light.
It was you, wasn't it?
When you held my small hands with your big…and warm hand…
…I was saved.
You guided me out of the darkness.
Otou-san…it was you.
Ms. Higurashi watched as her daughter cried in Inuyasha's arms. A vision of herself and Kojiro went across her mind and she smiled.
" Inuyasha-kun…" She spoke and Kagome and Inuyasha both looked up. She closed her eyes for a moment as silence surrounded them. Then opened her eyes and smiles, " Take care of Kagome. You will never find another girl like her in your life. She is my proud daughter."
" Okaa-san…"
"…I will." Inuyasha spoke with a determine expression. " I vow that I will protect Kagome with all my life."
Ms. Higurashi smiled again and then stood up, walking towards the window. " My, my, is it this dark, already? I should be going to the temple to call Ojii-chan. Kagome, would I mind if I leave the house to you?"
Kagome shook her head. " No, I won't mind." She saw her mother smile again and leave the house.
" You really have a nice mother…" She looked up to see Inuyasha smiling down at her.
Kagome smiled back, " Yeah. She is my proud mother."
Then they both started to laugh.
----- -------- ------- ------
How is everything going?" Kuku…everything is going as planned. Almost too well." Naraku smirks evilly in the darkness, leaning his back against the wall behind him.
Beside him was the baby, still wrapped in blankets, his purple eyes narrowing.
Where is Higurashi Kagome?" Be patient. She will be here…soon. It won't be late for you to return to your true form."
Hurry. I cannot stand being in this puny body anymore.
Naraku then looked to his side. Kikyou came walking towards him. She then glances at the baby and narrows her eyes in suspicion.
" What are you up to, Naraku?" She spoke with a cold tone. " And that baby…looks almost like you. Not only looks…"
" Of course, " Naraku smirked. " He is my clone. Kikyou…let me introduce you to…Hakudoshi."
" Hakudoshi?" Kikyou narrowed her eyes again.
Who is this woman?She looked up from the sudden voice, " This is…!?"
" Kuku…Hakudoshi, this is Kikyou. She will be helping us obtain Higurashi Kagome. Isn't that right, Kikyou?"
…I don't trust her.
" Hmph." Kikyou spat. " I don't care if you trust me or not, but remember this Naraku, I'm only doing this for the sake of Inuyasha. If he stays with her too long, he will be in danger. He will be killed along with her. I cannot let that happen. So, if you even think of deceiving me, I will have to make sure you will go to HELL, painfully."
' Yes. I am only doing this for Inuyasha. If it is for him…I will do anything.' Kikyou then looked towards the baby. ' But that baby…Naraku's clone…' A cold sweat trailed down her neck. ' He may be rather troublesome than Naraku. Such malicious aura…especially around him…it's as he can kill someone just by staring. I better watch out for this one.'
Naraku held his smug expression. " Kuku…I assure you, Kikyou. As long as you cooperate with us, I promise to not lay any hands on Inuyasha anymore." ' Though…you will be dead before you can even run into his arms.'
" So…" She spoke after a moment, " What am I suppose to do?"
" Easy. It is impossible for me to capture Kagome with Inuyasha sticking around the whole time. I just want you to lure him away from her, just for a few minutes or even longer if you wish. Use any tactics if you like, I don't care. As long as you are able to make Kagome alone." Naraku said with a dark and cynical smile. " And then leave the rest to me."
Her father…Higurashi Kojiro…" Oh yes, and your father, Kikyou. If you can, I also want you to make him stay away from her. You do know of Kagome's secret, don't you? If your father happens to have the cure…then forget your plan about getting Inuyasha back. Because then it will all be ruined if your father gives the medicine to Kagome."
" My father…" Kikyou muttered, " That will be hard, since I, too, don't know where he is now. Ever since he came home, he's been doing many things secretly. And he was always out. But Naraku…I also want you to promise this."
"Hmm? And what would that be?"
Kikyou narrowed her eyes, almost menacingly. " I don't ever want you to lay your dirty hands on my father."
" Ooh, so even the Miko Kikyou cares about her dear father."
" Do not mock me, Naraku!" Kikyou yelled, " I do not want you and the organization to hurt my father or even Inuyasha!! That is the deal if you want me to cooperate with you!"
" Why not?" Naraku smirked, " But would it be okay for you? After all, Higurashi Kagome was made from your mother's body, Higurashi Chie."
" Wouldn't that be the same with you? Planning to kill your older twin brother? Kagewaki was the name, was it? " She looked up as though to look afar, " Besides…though Higurashi Chie was my mother, I have no memory of being with her. She was always busy with work, always thinking about her work…everything was about her work. She never had the time to play around with me. Only my father…had the heart to care about me."
Naraku smirked, " Dear Kikyou, I don't care about your family history. The only reason I want to kill Kagewaki is because he is a bother. A bother to everything."
" Hmph, Naraku. You really are heartless." Kikyou spoke and then glanced at the baby who happens to be fast asleep. ' But no matter what the outcome is, Naraku, I am still going to send you to Hell. Along with that clone of yours. Because there will never be a peace, as long as you two are alive.'
--- ---------- ------
- Hikaru
Hikaru here! Sorry for not updating for so long, still haven't fixed my problems…but I managed to write up a chapter! But again sorry, it's short. But I assure you, the next time will be longer! (If I have the time…)
I just watched the last episode of Inuyasha Anime…and was disappointed. I mean, they didn't even beat Naraku yet!!! How can they just end it like that!!? Oh, but Sesshoumaru looked awesome in this last episode. ;;
Oh gods…but does that mean I have to suffer the torture of not being able to watch Inuyasha Anime anymore!!? I'm broke…so I don't have the money to buy DVD's…
Oh well…I hope the manga's ending will not be as disappointing as the anime…actually I don't want it to end yet!! Please, please, Takahashi Rumiko-sensei, don't end Inuyasha!!! I can't stand of not being able to see Sesshoumaru, Kouga, or Inuyasha anymore!! I mean, I'm already suffering from not being able to see Kagura anymore!! (TT) I don't want to suffer again!!
Well…no matter what the outcome it will be in the manga…I will still love Inuyasha!! And I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Till Laterz!