Title: Shards of a Memory
Author: NoirRouge
Summary: Kagome is a 15 year old girl with a strange series of dreams about… broken jewels, monks and demons… OH MY! Not only that, Kagome's disease from her child hood has returned. She strives to finish the dream story before her illness takes her life. AU
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, I never have, and I never WILL! Omg
A/n: Welcome to a new and fresh story by me… the slacker or writers. Don't worry, this story has been completely pre-plotted and shall not sit around on hiatus for obscene amounts of time like many of my stories have before (unfortunately). Seeing as there is nothing to distract me I shall get right to work!
Enjoy the show
Chapter one: girls who fall down wells
"There once was a priestess, who lived on this very shrine. She fell through a well and into another world…"
"No, no daddy!" The young girl scolded "I know that part! I know the WHOLE story! I want to hear the end again." She said staring intently at her father. Sure she would get her way. "Please?" she asked drawing out the word and every last syllable.
"You sure you want to hear just the end pumpkin? Not even the part about the boy in the tree?" her father asked, teasing her. He already knew no mater what he would be telling only that section of the story; even if he did bribe her with her favorite parts.
"NO! The end daddy!" she stated firmly swatting her father upside the head with one of the many stuffed animals scattered on the bed. He laughed teasingly at her and gave her tummy a quick pinch before sighing and getting ready to continue. He sat up straight, focusing on his little girl; the proper story telling words coming to mind.
"The priestess cried out and knew she must do something to save her comrades. As each one went down fighting the evil Naraku she began to form a plan. When no one but the boy with the dog ears was left the priestess stood and walked towards Naraku. The boy had fallen and called out to her to come back, so he could protect her. She did not listen to him and approached the evil demon. "I'm going to kill you" she said "so that you can never harm the people I love ever again." She grabbed Naraku about his middle and began to pray. She prayed that she could have the power to vanquish the creature, and save her friends. She began to glow with a bright pure white light. The light was so intense that everyone had to turn away and shield their eyes. When the light dimmed and everyone rose to look; they saw that the evil demon Naraku was no longer there. But the priestess was not there either."
Souta looked down at his daughter now sitting in his lap. She had begun to weep and clung tightly to his shirt. When she noticed he had stopped she glanced up at him first with a questioning look. Which quickly turned into a glare that obviously told him to finish what he had started.
"The priestess Kagome had sacrificed herself to save her friends, and everyone she loved; and more importantly the world. She gave her pure life energy away to seal the demon. Everyone mourned the loss of their priestess, and celebrated their new found freedom from the evil clutches of Naraku. Miroku and Sango had many children together. The lady Kikkyo finally rested in peace. The boy with the ears vanished. He disappeared with the light never to be seen again. Some say he and his priestess lived happily ever after in heaven. The end."
"Daddy," The girl said, her head hung low with tiredness "why did the priestess Kagome have to die?"
"I don't know sweet heart; I often ask myself the same thing. I assume so that everyone could be happy." He sighed resting his head on the child's.
"How could they be happy without her?"
Souta thought for a moment. Then after a slight pause he stood, taking his young girl up with him. He set her down at the head of the bed and pushed a few stray stuffed creatures out of the way to pull up the covers.
"Daddy I want doggy boy!" his daughter spoke up, alarmed that he would leave without first giving her the plushy. He plucked the white stuffed dog from the floor amongst many other carelessly placed dolls, and put in the girls out stretched arms.
"There you are. Night princess" He said, making his way to the door and flipping off the light.
"Daddy" came the timid voice.
"Yes Kagome?"
"I love you." She stated sleepily before yawning and turning her head.
Souta stared at his little Kagome, taking in her features. Her dark hair was matted and tangled like most five year olds were. Her blue eyes closed, draped with long lashes. Her cheeks stained pink with the permanent blush of childhood. She looked just like his older sister had. He felt his heart swell with pride at his beautiful little angel. "I love you too Sweet heart." He assured her before exiting the room and closing the door behind him.
Souta sat up abruptly looking around the room, his head turning rapidly. He stood up and headed for the door. Mizuki sat up and rubbed her eyes sleepily, in a confused daze. Souta barely took notice to his wife as he reached for the door knob.
"Souta," she called out as he headed around the corner and into the hall "what's wrong?"
"I heard Kagome cry out" he called back hurrying toward his daughters room. Mizuki in her state of mild confusion stood up and just as hurried and fallowed her husband down the hall. Kagome was usually a very heavy sleeper and it was strange for her to even make a peep.
Souta approached the door with careful intent to open it very slowly as to not disturb Kagome. He thrust the door out of the way quickly when he heard a banging against the wall and rustling of the sheets.
Upon entering the room he ran over to his convulsing daughter. Kagome's head was banging rhythmically against the wall, the rest of her body twitching and tensing rapidly making the many dolls fly off the bed. She sounded as though someone was choking her; her breathing quick and harsh.
Mizuki reached the open door and gave a startled gasp. "Don't touch her!" she cried out to Souta who looked as if he was attempting to pick up and sooth the jerking child. She immediately recognized the symptoms of a seizure having worked as a nurse at the hospital for the past 7 years. Souta backed off slightly glancing back and forth at his wife and Kagome. He noticed the growing wet patch of sheets on the bed, Kagome had wet herself. Something she hadn't done since she was 3.
As Kagome started to still and rested against the sheets looking like she had not an ounce of energy left in her body she turned her head towards her father. She looked at him but did not see him, she had tears streaming from her eyes down face and dripping to the bed. "Daddy…" she called out weakly. She became more aware and started to openly sob, and reached out for her father.
Without hesitation Souta reached out and pick up Kagome from the bed and held her to him as she sobbed in fear. Mizuki rushed over and began to stroke her child's back to help sooth the violent sobs the shook her.
At that moment Souta's mother rushed into the room looking as though she had just seen a ghost. "Whats wrong? Why is she crying Mizuki? Souta what happened?" She asked so fast that the questions all blurred together, and all went unanswered.
"We need to get Kagome to the hospital" he stated firmly as he passed the child to his wife. "I will go start the car. Change her clothes." at the he left the room at a fast past, headed for the front door.
"Mizuki what happened in here?" she asked, taking Kagome from Mizuki. Mizuki glanced up as she knelt in front of the small dresser, pulling out a fresh nighty and panties for kagome.
"Kagome just had a seizure mother" she said quickly exiting the room and entering the bathroom across the hall, the old Mrs. Higurashi fallowing. Kagome was placed on the floor, standing next to her mother who started to remove her soiled clothing. "We heard her scream and Souta practically ran out of the room as if he was standing on hot coals. Then Kagome was convulsing on the bed and I was so scared." Mizuki rambled, tears starting to run down her face as she finished discarding the wet items. Mrs. Higurashi soaked a towel in warm water and began to scrub her now sniffling grand daughter. She rubbed her idle hand on Mizuki's shoulder in an attempt to calm her.
"Hush now Mizuki, you are scaring Kagome." She said in a hushed soothing voice.
Together they dried and dressed Kagome and took her out to the vehicle waiting for them in front of the house. Kagome had grown very tired by this point and was rubbing her tear stained face, her head lolling this way and that.
Mizuki sat in back next to the sleepy girl, and gently shook her. "Mommy needs you to stay awake hunny. We are going to go see the doctor."
As they came near the hospital and parked beside the emergency room Kagome began to grow upset and pulled at her nightgown. Her eyes were wide with worry and she stared at her mommy in shock. "I'm sorry I wet myself mommy." She whimpered "I won't do it again! I will be a good girl. Please don't make me get a shot." She begged and pulled herself into a ball in her seat.
"Stop it Kagome" Mizuki said in a commanding voice; attempting to unbuckle her through a table of limbs. "You won't get a shot, I promise. We just need the doctor to look at you." She cooed.
After many reassuring words all three managed to coax Kagome out of the car and into the waiting room. Kagome was soon taken away by a nurse to a room where she would be inspected. The nurse came back with a clip board and a pen, which she handed to them along with several forms that would need to be filled out. After completing the forms the small family of three sat in the room with nothing to do but worry.
Souta reflected on what Kagome had asked him earlier that night. "How could they be happy without her?" she had asked. Souta rested his head in his hands a chocked sob barely escaping. "We weren't" he answered to know one, shaking his head. "Please don't take this one away from me as well."
A month had passed since that first seizure; and almost every night fallowing there was another. Souta attempted to sooth his daughter with the stories, but Kagome would often get headaches or feel sick when he did
Souta watched Kagome run around the yard and through piles of leaves, her old great grandfather scolding her as he tried to sweep them away. Just like the leaves of autumn, Souta's world was slowly crashing down around him. Mizuki and he barely slept anymore, staying with Kagome all night to be assured she slept soundly. He could hear his wife and his mother talking in hushed voices in the kitchen. He knew what their whispers were about, the only thing they ever talked about now days. Kagome's fits.
Kagome was regularly at the hospital now days. But no matter how often she went or how long she stayed her condition remained a mystery. There was no obvious cause that could be pinpointed; and because there was no cause Kagome could not receive treatment. He watched her as she ran around and began to through the leaves and the old man, without a care in the world. How healthy she looked, it was almost impossible to tell just how sick his young daughter was.
Souta went inside to check up on dinner. Upon entering the kitchen he hugged and kissed his wife, and gave his mother a small pat. He sat at the table and watched as the two women quickly changed the subject and began to gossip about this and that.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Kagome cried as she ran into the room, her cheeks flushed and her eyes wide. "Daddy, papa fell down!"
Kagome stood next to her father. She wore a dress that was a deeper black than her hair. Her appearance stiff and clean in the starched dress, black tights and buckle shoes. It was raining. The fall leaves were all gone from the branches and mulching away into the ground. Into the ground, just like the old priest that was Souta's grandfather. The crowd that had once all stood around the grave had begun to disperse, leaving Souta, his mother, and Kagome. All stood around the spot where he laid. Buried on the shrine grounds, just like he had put into his will. It was a strange thing to think he had even written it. The old man seemed so lively, and not at all ready to leave this world behind. The heart attack was sudden, unexpected. There was little Souta could do when he found his grandfather. The man died before the ambulance could arrive.
Mizuki's absence did not go unnoticed. Kagome often questioned where her mommy had gone, and among all the other things that preoccupied Souta and Mrs. Higurashi's minds that was one of them. Mizuki had left the day the old man died. It turned out that day in the kitchen, Mizuki had been telling her mother-in-law that this was all too much for her, and she didn't think she could take it much longer. The death of his grandfather had been the last straw. Mizuki left without a word, no divorce papers, and no means of communication. She disappeared.
Souta walked back into the home he had known all his life. His mother took Kagome to the bathroom to let her soak in the warm water. They did not need her any sicker than she already was.
He looked about the house he had grown up in. It seemed empty, and dead. This house that had once echoed the cries of him and his sister during one of their many fights, where his grandfather had told stories and legends to deaf ears, and where he and Mizuki had raised their beautiful child together. He heard footsteps behind him and turned around to find his mother.
She stared patiently waiting for her son to speak. "It seems as though everyone that means anything to me is leaving. Father died when I was so young, then kagome when I was 9, then grandfather and now Mizuki. I'm so afraid of loosing you and Kagome…" he confessed with shaky breath, his eyes fixed on the floor, the cries of Kagome's delight in her bath echoing through the room.
After a long pause while listening to Kagome giggle from the other room, Mrs. Higurashi spoke up.
"Souta, I believe its time you moved out."
"Excuse me?" he said, stunned by what his mother had said.
"I admit, I should have taken this step long ago when you were a young adult. But I didn't have the heart. Now its time you moved out." She said with a knowing smile on his face.
"Mother, I'm confused. What are you talking about? Kagome needs you…"
"No, you need me" she interrupted "and I will always take care of you and Kagome. I think with all this stress, that the best thing you can do is up and leave. Leave it all behind."
"What about you?" he asked, worry plastered to his face.
She approached her son and held him for a moment. "I have lived my whole life in this house, and I see no reason to leave it." She told him. "I want to see you and Kagome happy, and I think it would be impossible for that to happen here. You need to move to a new city, get a new doctor for Kagome, and have a fresh start."
Souta nodded. She was right, there wasn't much else he could do but stay and sulk.
Kagome was dressed, and put to bed. Souta sat up thinking all that night. He would move, and he would start making plans tomorrow. All through the night he planed out a new life for him and Kagome. One where she would be happy and away from all the haunting of the old shrine.
Kagome slept soundly that night, and every other night that fallowed.
Years passed and stories about priestesses that fell through wells were forgotten. Kagome acted as though she had never had a seizure in her life and attended schools with other healthy children. Souta got a new job as a historian, and was always busy. Old Mrs. Higurashi often came to visit the two, but never the other way around. And the old shrine was soon forgotten by Souta and Kagome.
Kagome had just turned 15 when something unexpected happened. Souta pretended he didn't worry about it, but it always plagued him in the back of his mind. Kagome was walking home from school with her friends when she had started to have a fit. She was taken to the emergency room and Souta was contacted. He rushed to the hospital to find an unconscious Kagome. The doctors explained to him that she had an episode that resembled a seizure.
A week later Kagome once again fell into a fit of convulsion during school.
Seeing no end in sight, the doctors at the hospital gave Souta the name of a specialist that had just moved to Tokyo. Kagome was transferred to the Tokyo hospital, and became and official patient to the specialist that had been recommended. When Kagome was released from the hospital Souta explained everything to her.
They were going to move back into the old shrine with grandma, and she was going to see a new doctor. Souta had transferred his job and he talked about how sorry he was that she wouldn't be able to see her friends. He told her she could make new ones and have a fresh start with high school and how proud he was of her. He told her all the things a reassuring parent would say. Kagome didn't appear to be too upset, but Souta knew she was. His daughter was nit-picky and complained about small things, but when it came to something big, she didn't have a thing to say.
And so together they packed their things and headed for the forgotten shrine.
Kagome tentatively stepped out of the car and onto the shrine grounds. She shrugged her bag over her shoulder and closed the car door. She did a slow turn surveying the area. There were tall trees surrounding the whole area; you couldn't see the city despite how close it was. There was a stone walkway covered in leaves and dirt that led to the large area of the shrine, and then back to the house that she would be staying in. She walked away from the long paved driveway that was hidden from normal view by all the wooded area. She stood in the middle of the path and looked to her left, seeing long stone-set stairs that led down to the busy city street below.
"Kagome, hurry on up. We have to get the luggage to the house." Her father called back to her from further up the path; he was much more familiar with the area.
Kagome carried two large bags as well as a back pack up the path, dragging behind her father. After about a 10 minute walk they met up with the woman Kagome had grown up knowing as grandma. She was a very petit woman, about Kagome's height, with wavy hair that had brown and white streaks throughout it. Kagome knew she was much older than she looked.
"Kagome sweet heart," her grandmother cooed at her holding her arms out in a welcoming gesture "you've gotten so big. You still have all your baby fat though, thank goodness. At least I can watch you grow out of that! You get to stay in your old room; you haven't seen this place since you were 5! Honestly! Moving so slowly, even your old grandmother moves faster than you." She exclaimed, rambling on and on while Kagome fallowed the rambunctious old woman to her room.
Kagome barely remembered the room. But she remembered the smell. This was definitely her room. The familiar feeling that filled her was over whelming as she glanced over the room. She felt like she had lived her whole life and more here, and not just those 5 years past.
The room was pink of course; her old tiny bed had been replaced by a twin with a blue bedspread with daisies on it. She immediately wondered where her grandma had gotten it. The drapes on the windows where yellow, as was the ceiling. The other furniture in the room was the desk, dresser, and bookshelf.
"Your dad helped me move all this furniture in from the storage. Your not the only teenage girl that's lived here you know." As her grandmother made to leave she called back "go and get the rest of your things and then start to unpack. I will have lunch done in about an hour."
After 5 more exhausting trips that consisted of carrying everything she owned that was portable from the car to the house. When she finished she started on what her grandmother had suggested and started to put things away into the dresser and the closet. About half way through she noticed a uniform hanging from the inside of the closet door. The shirt was white with a green sailor collar and a red ribbon, with a matching green pleated skirt.
She finished moving all her things to draws or on a surface before going back to investigate the uniform again. She took it off of its hanger; it looked to be her exact size. She laid it on the bed and began to remove her own cotton t-shirt and denim skirt. As soon as she tried it on she could tell it was a little too big for her, and it looked a little aged; like it was 30 years old. She left her room and headed down stairs to ask grandma about the uniform.
When she entered the uniform the laid back chat that grandma and her dad had been having stopped abruptly. She was about to ask if the uniform was for her when her grandmother started to make cooing noises once again.
"Well aren't you the image! You look so much alike! I just can't believe the family resemblance. But oh, where did you get that uniform? I thought I had put that away a long time ago…" she said in wonder
"It was in my closet. I thought it was for school." She said with a surprised look on her face. She looked like whom?
Her grandma didn't give much room for questions as she started right back up again, blabbing about how she used to repair that uniform all the time. "You are going to the same high school of course though dear; they have updated the uniform is all. The shirt is different and all and I believe the color is blue. I will go and pick it up tomorrow. You can wear that for now if your cloths are dirty though, those are perfectly clean. Never had the heart to throw it away."
After listening to her grandmother for a few more minutes Kagome was sat down and forced to eat obscenely large amounts of food. Despite her earlier comment about baby fat she said that Kagome was much too skinny for her size.
An hour later found Kagome outside. She left the house in escape of her ever cheerful grandmother and her overly quiet father. She headed towards the area of the shrine. It was pretty large with multiple buildings that were all pretty old looking but still in use it appeared. Kagome looked through them all for a while before coming across one small building. It was the only one that was locked. It didn't even have the lock on the outside. As Kagome tried to pry open the door it remained firmly shut, as though being held back by some greater power. Kagome decided that it must have been an old junk shed and moved on.
She fallowed an old worn looking path that was dirtier than the stone pathway that led to the shrine. After a while the path ended and Kagome came face to face with an enormous tree. It had white papery rope with shreds of jagged paper hanging around its fat trunk. Not only was it wide but it was tall, easily stretching above the other trees. Kagome stepped closer, there was a sort of energy about the tree, and it was filled with so much life. She reached out to examine it when something strange happened. The tree throbbed. Not just the tree, Kagome's whole world seemed to pulse before it turned black.
Kagome's vision was a little fuzzy, but she seemed ok. She was sitting up, leaning back against the old tree, staring up into its plethora of branches and leaves. She felt warm, and calm, like she had been here before. There was a soothing smell the wafted around her as she laid back. She was so comfy right here, she just wanted to rest. As she laid back a figure appeared over her.
"Kagome… get up" the voice was distant but warm and familiar. Kagome smiled reached her hand up.
"…" Just as she was about to speak the name Kagome felt herself being shaken harshly. She squinted her eyes and opened them slowly and groggily. She stared up into the face of her father, who clutched her tightly about her middle. He was staring down at her with concern and looked as though he was about to cry.
"Kagome" he called once more.
"What?" she said in irritation having been woken from her… dream?
"Kagome we have been looking for you for three hours! Did you have a seizure? Are you all right? You're not hurt are you?" he asked in a frenzy of questions, examining her all over for bruises or evidence of harm.
"I don't think so…" she looked around. It was growing dark, the sun setting behind the thousands of trees. "It was sunny, I was sleeping under the tree… there was a boy" she said in her daze, her eyes unfocused. She tried to stand up but her legs refused to obey her and she slumped back against her father.
"Boy? There has been nobody near this shrine for 10 years besides your grandmother." He gently picked her up and carried her back toward the house.
"Dad?"
"Yes Kagome?"
"Who was it grandma thought I looked like?" she asked, feeling guilty mentioning it, the expression on her fathers face became pained.
"Your aunt… my sister. She died when I was 9."
Souta carried his daughter back to the house and sent her to bed. After making sure she was all right and wasn't going to have another fit he left her there with the door slightly ajar and headed down stairs. His mother was sitting at the kitchen table her eyes glazed over as she stared longingly at the photos she had laid out before her.
"She was my baby girl, Souta; just like you're my baby boy. Nothing will ever change that, not a well, nor another world. Not even death." She said staring into her sons eyes.
"I know mom, I know"
Not much was said after that. It was a delicate topic. The only way Souta had managed to express himself was though telling stories to his daughter. But his daughter was too old for fairytales, and no one talked about girls that fell down wells anymore in this house.
End Chapter