Family Ties

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Memories

Stressed

"KA-GO-ME!" A childish voice sang.

Kagome softly chuckled as the child ran over towards her. His crimson eyes lit up in glee when he spotted her in the garden. His white slipper shoes softly tapped as he ran across the wooden floor. Crimson eyes widened in surprised as he slipped and fell onto his rear. Kagome chuckled again as he watched her in shock. His eyes began to water and he sniffled. She walked across the stone path towards the child. His lavender hair was cut up to his chin in an angle. She sat next to and pulled the child into her lap. He clutched onto her haori with chubby little hands.

"Why the tears?" Kagome softly asked.

"I fell…it…it hurts!" He cried.

Kagome smiled softly and ran her hand through the child's lavender hair. A soft glow surrounded her and the child. She listened as his cries stopped and turned to childish giggles. The soft glow of light died off and he looked up at her with a smile.

"Better?" Kagome softly asked.

"It tingled," the child laughed.

"Akago, what did you want?" Kagome asked.

Akago's crimson eyes widened as he smiled at her. He quickly jumped out of her lap and stood straight up. Kagome took in his outfit and smiled. He was wearing what she made him for his birthday. He really didn't have a day of birth, but she had made the first day of fall his day of birth. He wore the tattsuke-hakama she made for him. The hakama were pants and came down to his knees. The kyan that she brought for him covered his feet and came up his knees. They were like long socks that had the pants tucked into them. The pants billowed at the knees and slightly hung over the top of the socks. Akago then wore the matching hakama-shita that tucked into the pants. The sleeves were open at the hands and came down to his knuckles. The silver outfit matched his lavender hair and crimson eyes. On his left arm, he had a blue snake going around the wrist. The snake wrapped around until it bit its own tail.

"I'm wearing the outfit!" Akago proudly stated.

"You look very cute," Kagome complimented. He pouted and got upset when people called him cute.

"Hakudoushi said I look like a girl," Akago softly said.

"I think young Hakudoushi is the girly one," Kagome firmly said as he laughed.

"Naraku is mad at him, he was telling Kanna that Hakudoushi was planning something bad," Akago confided.

"Is that what you came to tell me?" Kagome questioned as her eyes traveled to the garden.

"No!" Akago exclaimed as he smiled. "I came to give you your birthday present!"

Kagome looked over at him in surprise and watched as he kneeled next to her. She stared at him and sadly smiled. The little detachment had the power to bring out the darkness in people's hearts and yet, he tried to bring out the light in her. After the baby had been split in half, Naraku gave Kagura Hakudoushi to watch over. He then gave Kanna Akago to take care of. Kagura then had tried to find her freedom only to be killed by Naraku. Kagome saddened at the memory as she remembered the wind youkai dying. Hakudoushi had begun to become darker; Kagome could see his soul rotting even more. He was seeking to betray Naraku. The little boy with lavender eyes was seeking to use Akago.

Kagome watched as Akago showed her his present. It softly mewed and its two tails flickered. Kagome refused to let Akago get brought into Hakudoushi's plans. She voiced her concerns to Naraku and the child had been given to her. It had been five years since she began to raise him. The Nekomata he presented to her jumped onto her head and mewed again. Its indigo fur ruffled with the slight breeze and she smiled.

"I got you to smile!" Akago proudly said as he watched her.

"You know I don't have a birthday," Kagome whispered.

"You do now! Kohaku told me that you came here on a day like this," Akago informed, he was a bit saddened.

"Thank you…Akago, I love your present," Kagome happily said. There was still sadness in her eyes.

"His name is Kioku," Akago informed.

"I love him," Kagome whispered.

"I'm glad," Akago whispered as he jumped into her arms. His short arms wrapped around her neck and embraced him.

"How about I take you to the waterfall?" Kagome asked.

"Really? Can I swim?" Akago quickly asked.

"I'll take you swimming," Kagome agreed as he started to run around in circles. Kagome stood and led him out past the garden.

Her own sad eyes lit up with a bit of joy as she watched him run ahead. He reminded her of Shippo in someway. Naraku had commented on how she was turning his detachment soft. Kagome smiled again, the boy carried her master's heart, and it would be good that he learned to use it. Akago stopped and shouted for her to hurry. Kagome quickened her pace and listened to the leaves crunch under her feet. The weather was changing; it reminded her of how long she had been gone from the others. Anger pulsed through her as she thought of Inuyasha. Her eyes turned to Akago again and she silently promised something to him.

'I won't let anyone hurt you…I won't fail you like I failed Shippo.'

Kagome gazed up at the red Torii and smiled nervously. Her hand reached out and brushed against the Torii, the ki reached out and caressed her soul. She gasped and broke contact with the ancient wood. Kagome walked ahead and left Kurama standing at the top of the long steps they had climbed. Her eyes were drawn to the huge tree she changed her path. She walked toward the tree and stared at the scar on the bark. She stepped over the small rope fence and laid her hand upon the scar. A shock ran through her as her eyes closed.

'Why Kagome…I thought you loved me?'

Her eyes quickly opened and she ignored the tears on her face. Another voice cut through her thoughts.

'Where's my sister? What happened to her?'

'I'm sorry.'

Kagome looked over at Kurama as her tears spilled onto the root of the tree. His emerald eyes showed worry as he crossed the rope to her. Miko ki cackled around him as a warning. He stopped and stood still as the ki enclosed him. The sharp stinging turned warm and he felt a tingle go through his body. He stood behind Kagome and laid a hand on her shoulder for comfort. Kagome stared into his eyes and sniffled.

"What's wrong?" Kurama softly asked.

"Everything," Kagome whispered.

Something clinked and Kagome followed the sound with her eyes. A broom was lying upon the gray brick of the ground. She noticed the tennis shoes and jeans before her eyes followed the red shirt to the teenage face. Messy black hair that was worn like normal, save for a few bangs in his face. His brown eyes met hers as she stepped away from the tree. Kurama followed her and watched as she studied the young boy. Kagome bowed before she faced the boy again.

"I'm sorry for intruding," Kagome apologized.

"Kagome…is your name Kagome?" The boy questioned as he stayed in his spot.

"My name is Kagome…may I ask who you are?" Kagome questioned.

The boy rushed forward and pulled her into a hug. His chin came to her shoulder and he laughed as he squeezed her. Kagome tensed as she watched him. He released her and stepped back.

"I missed you so much sister," the boy began.

"I don't think I'm your sister," Kagome began to deny. The boy's eyes widened in hurt and shock.

"You don't remember?" The boy questioned.

"I'm…sorry," Kagome unsurely said.

"Oh…it's true…he was right," the boy mumbled as he struggled to form a sentence.

"I'm Kagome and this is my…friend Suiichi," Kagome introduced.

"I'm Souta Higurashi," Souta awkwardly introduced.

"I met a guy named Houjou and he told me I lived here," Kagome nervously began.

"Please…come inside," Souta calmly offered. Kagome and Suiichi followed him into the house. They took off their shoes and followed him to the couch where they sat. An older woman came out with a tray of pop for the guests. Her brown eyes locked on Kagome and remained neutral.

"Who are your friends?" Mrs. Higurashi asked.

"This is Suiichi…and Kagome," Souta said as he watched his mother tense.

Kagome watched the woman as she took a seat next to Souta. Her eyes studied Kagome in uncertainty. Kagome dug her fingers into the couch cushions as she bit the tip of her tongue.

"Welcome home Kagome," Mrs. Higurashi said with a warm smile.

"She doesn't remember," Souta supplied as he watched his mother appear crestfallen.

"I guess Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were right then. Do you remember them?" Mrs. Higurashi asked with a sad smile.

"Yes," Kagome tensely answered.

"Inuyasha explained to us what happened after you didn't come home for a week," Mrs. Higurashi began.

"It was more like two weeks," Souta grumbled.

"Inuyasha came to us about two years ago and told us that Naraku had kidnapped you. He had taken you after he got back from the barrier between life and death. They had searched for you nonstop, your friends were very worried about you. They had found no sign of you and came back to the village so Inuyasha could deliver the news to us. He came to us and explained everything to me personally. The poor boy was so distraught and guilty."

"Are you sure…are you sure he told the truth?" Kagome softly asked.

"Inuyasha would never lie to us!" Souta defended. "His brother even came to explain the story to us fully."

"The poor boy hid his tears as he explained this to us," Mrs. Higurashi explained.

"Thank you for telling me this," Kagome said as she stood up. Mrs. Higurashi reached out and grasped her wrist.

"Please…tell me where you've been?" Mrs. Higurashi pleaded as she began to cry. Kagome put her hand over the woman's hand and gently held it.

"I've been living," Kagome whispered as she pulled away and left the house.

"Thank you for your time," Suiichi said as he bowed and left the house.

Kagome was standing in front of the Goshinboku as she watched the leaves fall. Suiichi walked behind her and she sighed. Kagome turned to him and hugged him with a sad smile. He hugged her back and she sobbed with dry eyes.

"I don't remember them," Kagome admitted.

"They remember you," Suiichi whispered.

"I feel like I know them…but nothing comes," Kagome whispered.

Suiichi sighed as he ran his hand through her hair. Kagome looked up into the tree and watched as Hiei stared down at her. He looked away and jumped onto the roof of the well house. Kagome pulled out of Suiichi's embrace and walked over to the well house. Suiichi followed her and watched as she pushed open the door and stepped inside. She walked down the steps and ran her hands along the rough edge. Kagome stared down into the darkness and noticed something glimmer. Suiichi reached for her as she jumped inside the well. Kagome soon jumped back up with the object in hand. She dropped the object to the ground and stared at the dried blood on the sheath, it was stained into the sheath.

"Tetsusaiga," Kagome whispered.

She gasped as she felt Hiei enter her mind. Kurama reached out and held her from falling. Kagome cried as she felt the emotions come flooding in. She fell to her knees and clutched Tetsusaiga to her chest as Hiei stopped his prodding from the roof. Kagome felt betrayal and remorse coming off the sword; it felt like something was in there. She began to sob as clutched the sword closer to her.

'Why are these emotions not mine?' Kagome silently pleaded to the sword.

Author's Note:
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Kanna will have a small part, so will Kikyo