Watashi no Musume
Chapter 7 – birthdays

Chiharu was singing and dancing around the camp. Jumping on Kagome's sleeping bag and hugging Inuyasha around the neck. Inuyasha nearly fell over and tried to push the child away from him with no luck.

"Chiharu settle down." Kagome rubbed her eyes and paid no attention to the tortured Inuyasha.

"Will you get this THING off of me!" Chiharu was now jumping up and down holding Inuyasha's arm.

"Chiharu dear come to mommy.' Chiharu jumped into Kagome's lap still giggling and squirming.
"Ok tell mommy what's going on." Chiharu charged at Kagome giving her a big hug.

"It my birthday silly! When are we going to go! Can we go now please! Please! Please!" Kagome felt guilty. How can a mother not know her child's own birthday!

"Go were?" Chiharu looked over at Inuyasha and somehow managed to work out an even bigger smile.

"To see grandma and uncle! Then we have to get a flower from the Goshinboku! Mom do you think I can climb up the tree myself this year?" Kagome was amazed how the child was able to say all of that in one breath.

"Well.. We better leave now I suppose." Kagome got up and out of her sleeping bag.
"Sango, Miroku." The two were already awake and getting dizzy from the child who was jumping up and down as her feet were springs.

"Yea we heard. You three just go and meet us here tomorrow."

Chiharu and Kagome climbed on Kirara and they were instantly gone. Sango looked over at the monk. His eyes shined with ideas. So many ideas.

"Don't you even dare!" and Sango hid herself in her sleeping bag.

It was nearly noon when they reached the well. Kagome and Chiharu climbed off Kirara and then waved the feline goodbye. The child wasted no time charging to the well and then jumping into it. Kagome looked into the well and watched the girl fade away. Kagome jumped in and Inuyasha fallowed.

A hazy blue universe surrounded them as they fell. It was like flying through a dream world. But the world disappeared as dirt walls replaced their surroundings.

Kagome and Chiharu slowly climbed up the ladder. Inuyasha who had already jumped to the top was growing impatient and carried the two up before they even reached half way. Chiharu immediately charged out the door and danced around the tree. Flowers were still blanketing the Goshinboku with their magical glow and several managed to get caught in Chiharu's hair.

Ms Higarashi walked out of the sliding door t surprised to see a girl treating the shrine so warmly. Kagome rushed to her mother so she could explain the situation. Chiharu running calling her Grandma was not the way to start out the day.

"Oh Inuyasha nice to see you! Tell me who is that girl?" Kagome began to stutter no knowing how to start.

"Well… Um … you see…. We don't really know. He name is Chiharu and…." Kagome didn't get to finish the sentence the dancing girl was now clinging to Ms Higurashi. Kagome rushed down and covered the girls mouth before she could say anything.

"Um… Inuyasha. Take Chiharu up to my room." Kagome shoved the two through the door and slammed it shut.

Kagome and Ms Higurashi sat on the porch. For the entire time the mother was silent and didn't say a word. She soaked in every word of Kagome's story. When Kagome finished there was a long silence.

"I think Ill go make a birthday cake." Kagome became very annoyed and did every thing she could to keep from yelling.

"But What about Chiharu?"

"What Chiharu needs more than anything right now is a mom. Who else better than you? It seems that she has already chosen you for the job so just go with it. All the answers will come soon." Kagome didn't know what to say. Just waiting for the answers. It seemed too simple.

The two walked into the house and saw Chiharu arguing with Souta

"You cant be uncle Souta because uncle Souta is taller and has a Mustache." Souta sighed and looked very annoyed.

"I never said I was you uncle! What gave you that idea!" Souta looked over at Kagome.

"Tell her I'm not her uncle!" Kagome didn't know what to say. The girl looked over at Kagome just noticing that her mother was there.

"Can we pick my birthday flower now!" Kagome felt like she was about ready to collapse under all the questions and she still didnt know what the child was talkinga about.

"Um… sure you lead the way." Sure enough the child was already outside and already clinging to the sacred tree.It took a minute to realize that the child was talking about the flowers from the tree.

"Oh great. Inuyasha go help her."

"What are you talking about, you go help her!"

"Don't you dare make me say the WORD!" Inuyasha instantly got up and rushed to help the struggling child.

When Chiharu had picked the highest flower on the tree she ran into the house with the flower in her hand. Kagome slowly followed behind. The miko walked upstairs to her room were the child was digging under the bed.

"I can't find it Mommy! I can't find it!" the child gave up looking under the bed and began to cry.
"I can't find my birthday flower book!" Kagome again didn't know what to do. Everything was a surprise with this mystery child. Of course she couldn't find her book. The girl had never even been here before.

"Why don't we make a new book!" Kagome sugested. Chiharu's lit up and she began to jump for joy again. Kagome sighed. This child was definitely a hand full.

The two gathered old buttons and scraps of paper found around the house. Chiharu happily pasted it all on the cover of the book. When it was all done they glued the birthday flower onto the front page.

"How old are you dear?" Ms Hifurashi was putting the finishing touches on the birthday cake.

Chiharu held up five fingers and yelled out "Five" in the cutest voice.

Ms Higurashi placed five candles onto the freshly baked cake. It occurred to Kagome that she never considered how old the child might be. She took a pen and labeled the first page of the book "5th birthday."

The entire house smelled of fresh chocolate and Chiharu happily blew out the candles after a loud ringing of Happy Birthday. Inuyasha covered his ears during the singing convincing himself that he never heard such a horrible noise in his life.

The cake was passed around and the hanyou stayed in his corner thinking about all of his past birthdays. Most of them had been alone. After all his mother died after about the age of four. Inuyasha felt a little jealous for Chiharu. But also happy that the child would never have to spend a birthday alone like he had.

A:n Eversince winter break started I have somehow become even more busy. Strange how that happens. I thought this was a very cute chapter. Sorry it took so long to write. I decided to rewrite it when it wasn't going the way I wanted it to. Keep an eye out for the next chapter!
Happy Holidays!