A/N: There is a very tiny spoiler in this chapter, a scene taken from an episode that has yet to air. I haven't even seen it for myself yet, but I have read about it. The scene is not a major event in the plot of the anime. Rather, it's one of those funny, filler-type scenes. I think I stayed pretty vague when referencing that incident, but if you don't wish to have it spoiled for you anyway, then skip over the indicated paragraph.

A Father's Embrace

Chapter Three

Demons

An orange taxi cab slowed to a stop in front of the white marble steps of a Shinto shrine. Two passengers emerged from the vehicle, one from the rear passenger side, the other from the rear driver's side. Each wore a rain jacket, the only protection from the rain that pelted down from the gray clouds of the afternoon sky. One woman, with a small pet carrier in hand, moved around to the back of the car. The trunk had already been popped open via a lever next to the driver's seat. The other woman went to the driver's window, handing him a small wad of bills before joining her daughter at the rear of the vehicle.

Three medium-sized boxes and two small suitcases were unloaded from the taxi before it pulled away. A third woman, having appeared shortly after the arrival of the taxi, took two of the lighter boxes while her guests carried the remaining luggage. They made their way up the long stairway. The only sounds were that of the falling rain pelting into the earth and of the light traffic below. Crossing the ancient shrine, they made their way into the house and out of the dreary rain. The dripping wet boxes and suitcases were left next to the doorway until they dried a bit. The three women shed their raincoats and hung them to dry.

"Kagome, are you sure you're okay?" Nana Higurashi asked of her daughter. Kagome nodded her head, but remained silent otherwise. The eldest of the women accepted the quiet answer, knowing all too well the pain her daughter was going through. She hadn't been much younger than Kagome's current age when she had gotten a divorce. "How about some tea to help warm up then?"

"I don't like tea," Maiki spoke from her spot beside the door before Kagome could voice her own answer. Nana looked over to her kneeling granddaughter, eyes falling onto the teenager's back. Maiki was busying herself with the contents of one of the boxes, pulling out what appeared to be pieces of a cage.

"Maiki, why don't you relax for a moment and then we'll get you and your mother settled in?" Nana suggested, dismissing her granddaughter's almost rude interruption. "I can make you some cocoa instead, if you like."

At the kind words of the grandmother she didn't know so well, Maiki finally turned away from the small mess she had started to make. She stared at her grandmother's face, noting how youthful the elder woman still looked. But she realized that it shouldn't surprise her too much, taking in the fact that her mother still retained much of her youth as well. In fact, Kagome could almost pass as Maiki's older sister.

Nana smiled warmly at the teenage girl. A curious, surprised, and almost suspicious expression crossed Maiki's face. Nana either didn't notice it or, if she had, she pretended not to. There was something about the elderly woman that tugged at Maiki. Unlike Grandmother Hojo, Nana Higurashi seemed much kinder, even her expression was far more pleasant. Maiki couldn't help but to returned the smile. Kagome, having not seen her daughter smile in what seemed like forever, also found herself smiling. A real, genuine smile. The first genuine smile she had had in a long time.

"So, cocoa it is?" Nana asked. Maiki gave a single nod, still wearing the smile. "Okay then. Why don't you take your cat out of that confined little carrier and bring him with us? I think I might have some tuna for him…"

Maiki's smile faltered. Her grandmother noticed instantly. "What's wrong? Does he not like tuna?"

"Uh… no, that's not it. He actually loves a little bit of tuna now and then, but…" Maiki trailed off, opting instead to show her grandmother the reason for her hesitation. She opened the door to the cat carrier and reached inside. Withdrawing her hands a moment later, she now held the occupant of the carrier in her hands. The little animal's body was much thinner and longer than any cat. Nana's eyes grew wide as she took in the site of the weasel-like creature.

"Nana, this is Kunkun. Isn't he cute?" the teenager 'introduced' her grandmother the black-footed ferret. Like the breed's namesake indicated, Kunkun's legs and feet were indeed black, which faded into various shades of brown along his back and tail. His round ears were white, as well as his face, except for the dark-brown patch of fur that stretched between and below his eyes and down across the bridge of his snout. His obsidian eyes seemed to take in everything around him while his little pink nose sniffed persistently in the air.

"Uh… Yes, very cute," Nana replied, still not quite used to the unusual pet.

"Don't worry," Maiki gave Nana a bit of reassurance. "Kunkun's been de-scented and when he's out of his cage, I keep a very good eye on him. He usually stays very close to me. Though ferrets are generally curious by nature, he doesn't like to stray too far from me."

"Well, okay. How about after tea and cocoa, I help you find a place to set up Kunkun's cage?"

Maiki smiled, finding her grandmother's poorly disguised discomfort slightly humorous. "Sure."

Pink. Pink, pink, pink. Pink walls. Pink curtains. Pink bedspread. Pink everything. From the doorway, Maiki cringed as her eyes trailed over the all-pink bedroom. Kagome came up behind her daughter, curious about the teenager's hesitation.

"What's wrong, Maiki?"

"Nothing. I think I'll take Uncle Sota's old room."

"Are you sure you won't be more comfortable here in my old room?"

Maiki twitched. A look of comedic disbelief crossed her face. She suddenly turned to her mother. "Are you kidding? Just look at it in there! It looks like a Pepto Bismol factory blew up inside there! Did you forget that the color pink and I don't mix?" The girl huffed, before saying, "Besides. I think poor little Kunkun would go blind if he had to live in there…"

Kagome stifled a grin at her daughter's antics. "Alright. You win. I'll move into my old room and you can have your uncle's."

"Thanks, mama," Maiki breathed a sigh of relief before turning down the hallway to retrieve the parts to Kunkun's cage. 'Man… I didn't realize mama was such a… such a… girl!'

Kagome sighed as she watched her daughter's retreating form. When Maiki had disappeared down the stairwell, Kagome turned back towards her room. Her demeanor grew sad as she stepped inside. Long lost memories tugged at her as she took in the familiar surroundings.

-Four-year-old Kagome sat in the middle of her room, playing with her many dolls. A tall man entered her room, kneeling down beside the girl. Kagome grinned as her father reached into his coat, and pulled out a small bundle of fur. Kagome eagerly, but gently, took the tiny kitten from her papa's hands. "Buyo!" she squealed happily…-

-Kagome sat on her bed, chattering to her grandfather about her day at school. Preoccupied, she didn't notice the front door open and close. A few moments later, her parents appeared in her doorway. Her mama holding a small bundle in her arms. Kagome's eyes lit up and leaped off the bed towards her parents. Her mama kneeled down to her daughter's level. The girl's eyes grew wide with wonder as she finally got the chance to meet her new baby brother…-

-Sitting against the wall under her window, Kagome held her hands tightly over her ears. Her parents were fighting again. She didn't understand why her mama was always so sad, so upset, so angry. Her papa was no better. She wished they would stop fighting. She heard a sudden whimper from her doorway. Looking up, she saw Sota, now three years old. His tear-stained face matched her own. She opened her arms to him and he toddled over to her, collapsing into her embrace, accepting the small amount of comfort his sister had to offer…-

-She stared out her window, watching her papa as he walked towards the stairs leading away from the shrine. Tears silently streaked down Kagome's face. The divorce had been finalized. Her mama had won custody, since her papa would be moving far away. How could he leave? And on her twelfth birthday, no less. At least he hadn't tried to wish her a happy one. That would have only added the proverbial insult to the injury…-

-Her fifteenth birthday. She couldn't believe it! Kagome hurriedly combed her hair as thoughts of the evening's plans came to mind. After school, she and her friends would be going on the biggest shopping trip they had ever been on. And Kagome's mother had given her a fat wad of cash as her birthday present! She couldn't wait! She slipped on her school uniform and dashed out of her bedroom, prepared to welcome the start of what she knew would be an exciting and eventful day…-

-Kagome had a very important math exam the following day. Unfortunately, someone saw fit to irritate her while she studied at her desk. Golden eyes peered over the edge of her desk. Suddenly, the owner of those eyes darted behind her, leaning over her shoulders, trying to look around her at the curious symbols scrawled on the paper in front of her. She sighed in annoyance before muttering the word. "Osuwari." A crash and a groan followed immediately after…-

(Start Spoiler.)

-Returning to her bedroom where she had left her friends, Kagome was stunned to see Inuyasha sitting there with the three girls. Even more shocking, was that he was actually having a civilized conversation with them. They were quite fascinated with his fair-colored hair and amber eyes. Kagome allowed them to believe their assumptions that Inuyasha was only half-Japanese, thus explaining his unique traits. They discovered that he wasn't as horrible as they had assumed he was and Kagome was quite pleased that her friends approved of him…-

(End Spoiler.)

-Kagome laid in bed. The clock on the nightstand next to her said 4:57 a.m. She was wide awake with a horrid stomach ache. She swallowed back the bile in her throat. She really didn't want to be sick again. Feeling the lurching sensation in her gut, she bolted for the wastebasket. She heaved, though nothing came out. Her stomach had been emptied hours ago. The nausea finally fading for the moment, she lifted her head away from the basket. Still seated on the floor next to the window, she had a perfect view of the full moon outside. Had it been a month already? If the trip to the doctor's office later that day proved what she suspected to be true, then she had a long eight months ahead of her…-

-The infant wailed in Kagome's arms. At six months old, Maiki was teething, and she was proving to be quite miserable about it. Kagome tried to sooth her baby as best as she could. "Try giving her this," came a young man's helpful suggestion as he handed the young mother a bottle of liquid Tylenol meant for babies. Kagome focused her attention on her daughter to administer the remedy. She failed to notice Nanashi's shuffling. Maiki's cries settled after a few moments and Kagome turned back towards Nanashi to thank him. A gasp broke from her lips instead of the 'thank you' she had meant to say. Her wide, surprised eyes were drawn to the princess-cut diamond held securely in the white-gold engagement ring…-

Kagome pushed the memories away. She really had hoped that Maiki would take this bedroom, so that she wouldn't have to face the onslaught of unwelcome memories. Again, she sighed. 'Well, if I can make it through tonight, then I guess there's nothing to worry about.' With that thought in mind, she vacated the room to retrieve the few belongings that she had brought with her to her mother's home.

The three women sat at the low dining table, eating the curry that Nana had prepared for the evening meal. Conversation had been minimal at best, despite Nana's attempts to get her daughter and granddaughter to open up. She had found herself doing most of the talking, updating Kagome on how Sota and his family were doing. Sota had apparently earned a big promotion at Tokyo First National Bank. He and his wife Akemi had just bought their first house. Their oldest son Taro would be turning eight in less than a month.

After filling Kagome and Maiki in about Sota, silence filled the room for what seemed like several minutes. Wanting to break the silence, Nana searched for a new topic of conversation. Her eyes were drawn to the many piercings on Maiki's face and ears and the thick, black make-up around her eyes and mouth. The last time she had seen her granddaughter was at Gramps's funeral four years ago, and the girl hadn't had any of the foreign objects on or in her face.

"So, Maiki, what made you decide to get all the piercings?"

"I wanted to."

Nana pondered the response for a moment. "I don't see why. I remember you having such a beautiful face. Why would you want to hide it under all that?"

"Well then, I guess you could say that my inner demons told me to do it."

Suddenly, Kagome was wracked with a coughing fit. Nana diverted her attention to her ailing daughter, patting her on the back. Maiki handed her mother a glass of water. Kagome accepted it, allowing the cool water to settle her throat. She regained her breath, wiping the un-fallen tears from her eyes.

"You okay, mama?"

"Yes, thank you."

Nana returned her attention to her granddaughter. "So, Maiki, what do you mean by 'inner demons'?"

"Everyone has inner demons," the girl stated matter-of-factly. "They are the dark and unspoken thoughts and feelings deep within us. Our opinions of things around us. Things we don't like or don't understand. The desire to rebel against those things, but feeling powerless to do so."

"I'm not sure I completely understand," Nana replied cautiously.

"Well, like mama, for example," Maiki said, causing Kagome to lift her eyes to meet her daughter's gaze. "Mama won't admit it, but I can see past the hurt that Nanashi causes her. I can see how mama wishes she could be strong, to be able to take control of things around her. But she's too afraid to." Kagome's gaze returned to her food. Her daughter was right. Absolutely, one-hundred percent right.

"I think I get it now," Nana replied. "How about you, Maiki? What are your 'inner demons'?"

The teenager hesitated for a moment, trying to put into words what she had felt for so long. "I just… I donno. I just don't feel like I belong. I'm sure you kinda have an idea how my 'relationship' with Nanashi is." She paused for a moment, then continued." At school… I used to think that I got along with people well enough… Heh… But it's funny how a person will be nice to you one second, then the next second they're saying shi-i--stuff- about you behind your backwith their real friends. So, I've become more of a 'loner' type.

"I've only had one true friend. I've known Izumi since first grade. But, sometimes, it feels like having only one friend isn't enough. It's hard when it seems like everyone shuns or misunderstands you and you don't know why. That's why I chose to look like this. To give them a real reason to avoid me. I know it doesn't make sense, but it's just the way I've learned to deal with people. Push them away before they have the opportunity to hurt you. But still…" Maiki sighed. "I guess loneliness and rejection are my demons."

Nana thought about her granddaughter's troubled words before speaking again. "Well, Maiki, instead of feeling sorry for yourself about all the rejection you have faced, perhaps you should be grateful for having been accepted by the one friend you do have."

Maiki didn't comment. She reflected upon the wise words of the elderly woman. She had never thought of it like that before. She had allowed her self-pity to consume her. She realized, that her grandmother was right. Absolutely… one-hundred percent… right.

Kunkun - sniff -"Sniffers"

Akemi - bright and beautiful

Taro - first-born son

"osuwari" - a command given to a dog to "sit." This is the word Kagome uses in the original Japanese dialogue.

A/N2: It has occurred to me that "Nana" is also a name in Japanese meaning "apple". However, it was not my intention on naming Kagome's mother "Nana" in that context. Rather, it is just an alternate title for grandmother. Nothing more. Also, I just finished working on a pic of Maiki and I have it posted on my deviantART account. Here's the link directly to the pic: www(dot)deviantart(dot)com(slash)view(slash)18419918. Obviously, just replace the words in parenthesis with what it says...