A Journey in a Different Time
-Chapter 18-
"It's Destiny…""Kagome, are you feeling ok?" Mrs. Higurashi asked her daughter as soon as she opened the door to her room. Kagome was cuddling up on her bed with her eyes closed; her mother was starting to get worried now.
"Yes…I'm ok, just a little tired, that's all," answered Kagome.
Mrs. Higurashi gave her a nod and started to leave the room. "Lunch will be ready soon, so don't fall asleep, ok?"
"Ok." She heard the door closed and Kagome started to go back in thinking: About Inuyasha and Kikyo. She only came home yesterday, and all she wanted to do is just forget about Inuyasha and Kikyo for a while, until she goes back to the other time. Kagome sighed. "Kikyo is stronger and a lot prettier then me…" She grabbed her pillow and started to cuddle with it. "Maybe…I should stay away for awhile…or something…I still have to go back though." She sighed once again, thinking, what will happen when the Shikon no Tama is full once again? Will the portal close and she won't come back ever again? She's grown so attached to the other side, she wants to always visit there for the rest of her life. But all things must come to an end…huh?
"I wonder how Michelle is doing over there…I hope he's not giving her a hard time." Kagome got up from her bed, looking at her desk. Then thinking…FINAL EXAMS! Kagome put her hands to her fast and made a horrific face, screaming silently. It was yesterday and she MISSED the final exams! Now she'll never get into high school. She started to cry to herself, laughing nervously and also crying at the same time. "It's my fault for spending too much time there…Wait…that means Michelle missed them too…I should tell her that when I get back."
"KAGOME! LUNCH IS READY!" Kagome heard her mom calling from downstairs.
"Be right there."
(Feudal Japan)
Michelle started to scream when she finally got her school uniform back. She was rubbing her cheek against the clothes as she held it in her hand, as the others were staring at her awkwardly. She smiled to herself and quickly went into private and started changing, and came out, rather quickly.
"Hee hee, thank you so much!" She said to Sango and Shippo. "I feel so much better now."
"We…can see that…" said Sango nervously.
"So what are our plans for today?" Miroku said as he greeted them a wonderful afternoon.
"I don't know, we can't really go anywhere when Kagome is home.," said Sango, a little disappointed. "But I guess I can help Kaede pick up some herbs."
"I'll be gathering some chest nuts, I'm starting to run out," said Shippo.
Miroku started to think. "I don't know, what I'm going to do, but I will find something eventually. By the way, where's Inuyasha?"
"I saw him leaving early this morning, but I didn't know where he went to," said Sango.
"He probably went to the well. Well, lets get on with out things." Miroku started to walk off but forgot something. "Oh, Michelle, what are you going to do?"
"Uh…I guess I can practice my shooting," she answered, still thinking if she should do it or not.
"That's great, you really do need that," said Miroku as he patted her shoulder. "We'll see you around dinner time, ok?"
'They do this regularly, probably…' "Sure, I'll see you all then."
They all split up, going their separate ways for a while. Miroku, Sango and Kirara met up with Kaede and started to head out to the herb garden. Shippo went off to the forest to gather his chestnuts, and Michelle got her bow and put her arrows in the quiver. She pulled the quiver strap over her shoulder and started to walk to the forest too, a different direction from where Shippo is going.
But instead, she found herself facing the Sacred Tree. She stood there for a few minutes, staring at the tree. She put her stuff down and started to walk up to the tree. Climbing the roots of it, using her fingers to touch the missing bark of the tree. Her thoughts started to wonder to Inuyasha and Kagome, she knows they should be together.
"What are you doing here?
Michelle turned around, seeing Inuyasha facing her now. "Um…"
"Why are you here?" He asked her.
"I…don't know…"
He took a step forward to her while she took a step back. "How did you know about this place?"
"I saw Kagome here yesterday before she went back home…" Michelle said softly. She took another step back.
"Dammit, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you backing up like that?"
"Uh…"
When she took another step back, her back didn't press against the tree, she started to fall back for some reason; she was going into the tree. When Inuyasha started to realize that she was disappearing into the tree, he tried to reach his hand out to grab hers, but it was too late when her hand disappeared into the tree too.
"What…just…happened there?"
(The present)
"Mom, I'm going now," said Kagome as she picked up her yellow back pack, filled with all sorts of foods and clothes. She didn't care about the exam now, all she cared about was going back to the other time.
"Alright but make sure you come back soon."
"Of course." She opened the door and closed it behind her, running over to the well house. She passed by the Sacred Tree along the way, but felt something rather strange, something she never felt before. She stopped and looked at the tree. Nothing was happening, so there's nothing to worry about. She started to run back to the well house again, opening the door, and closing it, jumping over the edge and going back to the other side.
(The Sacred Tree in the present time)
When Michelle came too, her back landed on hard concrete. At first she couldn't move, but she slowly got up and started to rub her back. She tried to massage her lower back, feeling a bit better after a few minutes, she looked up and saw the Sacred Tree. She then looked around, seeing the familiar buildings, Kagome's house, and the shrine…she's back home. But how?
Michelle stared back at the Sacred Tree. 'The Sacred Tree…it must be a time portal like the well…but I went through the well before…how come I can go through the tree now?' She started to think for a little bit. 'Oh well, who cares! I'm back home now!'
She quickly got up and started to run, running fast to hurry on home, she quickly ran down the steps of the shrine with a smile on her face, running as fast as she could on home. She can't wait to see her family.
(Michelle's home)
Michelle quickly opened the door, yelling out. "I'm home!" As soon as she said that, she was breathing heavily, like she just ran a marathon or something. She slowly walked into the house and closed the door behind her quietly. She walked down the hallway and into the leaving room, no one was there when she came to the living room, usually she'll see her dad watching TV or something.
"Hmm…no one is home…" She walked to the telephone and saw a small, folded piece of paper next to it and picked it up. She opened it and started to read it, it was a note for her from her mom: "Michelle, whenever you come back, we're out shopping and getting some groceries, hope you'll be home when we are. Love Mom." She smiled and put the piece of paper down. "Yes…I will be here when you are."
She smiled again and walked up the stairs to her bathroom, striping herself from her uniform and started to take a shower, taking a nice hot shower felt so good. The hot water running down her body and through her hair. She grabbed her shampoo and started to put it in her hair, massaging her head as the shampoo was in her hair, rinsing it out as she was done. She did the same thing with the conditioner.
After she was done, she got out of the shower and put her regular clothes on, her hair a little wet now. She grabbed her brush and blow dryer and started to walk downstairs to watch some TV. When she got at the bottom of the steps, she heard someone knocking on the door. Who would exactly come for her or anyone when no one is home? Michelle sighed and opened the door, catching her off guard that it was Koya who was at the door.
He took a step in, making Michelle to take a step back. "What are you doing here?" Koya asked her. His black hair shining with the sunlight.
Michelle suddenly grew angry. "What do you mean? I live here," Michelle answered him. All of a sudden, Michelle just realized that this is the second time she has met Koya. Seeing his beautiful black hair, and his gorgeous dark blue eyes. He looked like an athlete, maybe he plays soccer.
Koya took another step towards her. "It's like what I said: What are you doing here? You're suppose to be in the other world with Kagome and the others. How did you get here anyway?"
"That is none of your business!" Michelle paused before she can even say anything. "Wait…How did you know I came back home anyway?"
"I sensed your energy arrived in this era. So I followed it and came here, and found you, who just came out of the shower, I presume."
"Shut up!" She swung her hand up to slap him, but he caught her wrist in mid-air. He then gently pushed her against the wall, holding her wrist tight, up above her head, and then using his other hand to pin her other wrist so she won't move. "Hey! What the…"
He leaned in forward to whisper into her ear. "Shh…stay quiet and just listen, do not argue or struggle, got it?" Michelle nodded slowly, feeling her cheeks started to heat up. He gently sighed to himself, but to Michelle, he was breathing heavily on her ear. "Michelle…you have to understand that you're meant to go to that time period, and help recover the Shikon no Kakera, and make them whole once again. You may not realize it, but they need you, and they love you, as a friend." He settled his hand and started to wrap his arms around her small, skinny body, and held her tight.
"But…I don't understand…why I should go there…I don't belong there…And…all I do is get in the way…"
"That is not true, they actually need you. Not just because of your power, but because of your loving personality, Michelle. Think about Natsuyo."
Michelle's eyes widen as she repeated the name in her head. 'Natsuyo…' She started to picture Natsuyo's face, him and his beautiful blue eyes and his long black, braided hair…wait…isn't he…
"How did you know about Natsuyo?" She asked him quietly.
"I'm connected to you, I know what's happening in world you're in, but if your mind is suddenly closed out, then there's no way I can reach to you or even help you. Natsuyo…He needs you…he has a dark secret to share with you…but he's not ready to share it yet. He's waiting…waiting for you to be ready. He wants to see you and be with you…"
"But why?"
He leaned in closer, pressing his body against her, holding her tight. "It's destiny…Michelle…"
Michelle's eyes started to heat up with tears, she looked down at the floor, when Koya released her, he saw tears running down her cheeks. He used his thumb to wipe away her tears, then using his two fingers to gently grab her chin and make her look at him.
"You know what you have to do…"
More tears rolled down her cheeks as she nodded. He comforted her for another ten minutes for her to stop crying so she can pack up her clothes and some food, shampoo and conditioner, before she did anything else, she put on her school clothes. In the next twenty minutes, Michelle and Koya started to head to the Higurashi Shrine. Walking side by side was very awkward to her, but she knew, she had to return to the other side…she wants to find the truth…about everything…
(Kaede's village, in the Feudal Era)
Kagome was carrying her yellow bag with her bare hands, trying not to put anymore weight onto her shoulder, otherwise it'll be sore and in pain. When she got to Kaede's house and went inside. Shippo jumped into Kagome's arms, giving her a big hug. She smiled at the rest of the people in the house: Miroku, Sango, Kirara and Kaede, they all smiled back, it's great to be back again.
"Welcome back, Kagome," Sango greeted her, and went over to give her a hug.
Miroku stood up and greeted her. "It's nice to have you back, Kagome-sama."
"It's good to be back." Kagome gave a nice lunch pack to Kaede, and then she looked around in the house. "Where's Inuyasha?"
"We don't know exactly," said Sango.
"I saw where he went," said Shippo, he jumped out from Kagome's arms and stood next to Kaede. "Michelle was just at the Sacred Tree, when Inuyasha appeared and started to question her on who knows what. When Inuyasha was getting closer to her, he pushed her to the tree, and she disappeared into it. At least that's what I saw from my point of view." Shippo explained to them. (Note: Shippo saw this on a view when he saw very little of Michelle and mostly Inuyasha's back, making Shippo think he pushed her into the tree.)
Everyone was silent.
"He did…what?" Kagome said, with utter confusion.
Miroku bursted out in rage. "How dare Inuyasha push a beautiful lady like that! Not only did he push her, but he also lost the girl into the tree in which he cannot return to us now! I bet he's thinking of an excuse on why she's not here. He will-Ow!" Said Miroku when Sango used her boomerang to bang his head, she was really jealous now.
All of a sudden, they heard Inuyasha coming through the door way, and when he saw all of them and was about to say something, they all made an evil glare at him. "Um…what's going on?" He said with confusion.
"You…pushed Michelle into the tree…and LOST her!" Kagome screamed at the top of her lungs.
Inuyasha's emotion turned into rage. "What? Where the hell did you here that from!"
"Me!" Shippo said with enthusiasm.
Inuyasha's hand turned into a fist, rage building inside him. "You little runt! I did not push her! She stepped back and fell into the tree and then disappeared!"
"How could she fell into the tree, exactly?" Miroku questioned him, with huge disappointment.
"I don't know! She just stepped back and then all of a sudden her body just started to seep through the tree and then she was gone! All but her bow and arrows left behind."
Kagome started to calm down a little, she first took a deep breath and then spoke in a gentle tone. "Take us to the Sacred Tree, then."
"Fine! I will." He marched out of the hut while the others follow him to the Sacred Tree. He started to mumble all kinds of curses under his breath as he leads them to the Sacred Tree, how come they don't trust him?
(The present)
Koya and Michelle stood in front of the Sacred Tree, not knowing of what to do or anything. Michelle had her bag with her, same size as Kagome's, with one strap over her shoulder.
"This is where you came out from, right?" Koya asked her.
She nodded. "Yeah, Inuyasha was talking to me and then all of a sudden I started to fall down and ended up here."
"Looks like the tree is your time warp, not Kagome's. But probably…in the end you'll both go through the same way and back."
"But how come I couldn't go through the well? I went through it before."
"That's something I can't say yet."
Michelle was confused. What did that mean? Does that mean he knows it and can't say it yet, or that he just plainly doesn't know why? Either way, it doesn't matter to her now, she has to go back to the other side.
"Well, are you ready?"
"Not really. But I'll do my best."
He nodded to her. Michelle nodded back and started to walk over the small fence that surrounded the tree. She turned around to face, getting a good glimpse of him.
"Michelle…"
"Hm?"
(Feudal Era, at the Sacred Tree)
"All right, here's the spot where she disappeared," Said Inuyasha as he walked to the spot where he and Michelle was talking earlier. He stood in the same spot where he was standing before. "I was standing right here, all she was doing was just looking at the tree, when I came she got scared and started to back up."
"I'm not concerned about the tree, what I'm concerned about is why she was so frightened when she saw you," Miroku started to wonder.
"All I did was just question her about why she's here."
"Ahh so that's why…"
"Oh I see now…" said Sango.
"What? See what?" Inuyasha was really confused now. "Hey! I'm talking to you guys!"
All of them looked up at Inuyasha and was shocked on what was happening. The Sacred Tree started to glow a bright blue behind Inuyasha. As it was still glowing, something bumped into Inuyasha and made him fall down and landed flat on his face.
"Michelle!" Shippo cried out.
"You're back! But…how?" Kagome asked.
Michelle slowly stood up, dusting herself off, her back on the ground. "I don't know exactly, earlier when I was with Inuyasha, I fell backwards and ended up in our time."
"So he really was telling the truth…" said Kagome.
"Yeah, if you put it that way. By the way, where is Inuyasha?" She asked as she looked around the area.
"You're standing on his back, bitch!" Inuyasha shouted out angrily.
Michelle gasped and quickly jumped off, taking her bag off his back also. She sat on the ground, trembling a little and also being a little scared. But Inuyasha wasn't going to do anything, considering the fact that she just told the others that she was a witness that he didn't push her. He started to dust his kimono off and then faced her.
"So…why did you come back anyway?"
Michelle simply smiled and stood straight up. "To find out the truth of why I'm here!"
(Michelle's house)
As Mrs. Bitting started to put away the groceries, she started to head to the phone to make a phone call, but she noticed something different, the note was moved. She gasped in shock and quickly ran upstairs to the bathroom. She saw that Michelle's shampoo and conditioner is gone. Then she ran to her room, opening the door, seeing that her drawers are left a little open.
She fell to her knees and tears started to run down her cheeks. "She came home…but…she must've…left again…" She didn't care if Michelle stayed home or not, all that counts is that she was here, gathering some materials, at least she was here…that's all that counts for now.