A cold Winter's wind whispered and chilled the air in the Well shed as Inuyasha and Kagme climbed out of the Bone-Eater's Well. One feel of the air, and Kagome shivered in sudden shock of the cold air. It was only Decmber eighth, maybe the ninth. Kagome always lost count of days when she was in the feudal era. Kagome rubbed her arms to stay warm. It was only this cold because of all the rain Tokyo had recieved in Autumn. Kagome turned to Inuyasha, trying to force her teeth not to chatter.
"L-Let's h-hurry, okay?" Kagome said, her teeth chattering.
Inuyasha dropped the yellow bag that he was carrying. Then he shrugged, "Feh, ya cold?"
"Well... Yeah!" Kagome said, still rubbing her arms to stay warm. Inuyasha took off his fire-rat haori and tossed it onto Kagome's head. "Wha--"
"Just until you warm up, okay?" Inuyasha said. Kagome (while blushing) tied the haori and nodded. Then before she knew it, she was smiling at him, and he was smiling at her. He's much nicer now... Kagome thought. But I like him this way...
Inside of Kagome's house, she and Inuyasha couldn't even see the kitchen floor. Boxes labeled 'Shikon no Tama Keychains', 'Kimonos to Sale', and authentic 'something'... Kagome sighed. Inuyasha asked Kagome what was up with all the boxes, and she explained that the festival she told him about was at the Higurashi Shrine. And Gramps always sold things such as kimonos and keychains. And this year, she had to participate in the festival shows. Inuyasha still didn't get it, but he just left to put Kagome's things away where he knew where to put them (A/N: Ha! Che'ya right...)
Kagome sighed and sat on the only chair without a box or boxes on it. She began to rub her temples, because it was Christmas time, and a lot of things were on her mind. For one, Naraku's whereabouts. He hadn't been seen in a few weeks, which would make Inuyasha rude and hard to deal with. What's new with that Inuyasha? Kagome thought, giggling softly. Then she remembered what Miroku and Sango told her yesterday. Apparantly, Kagura and Kannah attacked Miroku and Sango, when Shippou and Kirara were in the hut, and took a shard from Sango's father's corpse. Why would they even want a shard? At least that one... There were plenty others! Like the one in Kohaku's back, but Naraku loved to use him as a puppet. Sango asked Kagome to think about it, even thought she and Inuyasha were basically on holiday, but Kagome nodded and agreed.
Kagome was so in thought, she didn't notice Mama (what I will refer Kagome's mother to) come into the kitchen. Until Mama smiled and said, "Oh, Dear, you're home!"
Kagome blinked as she returned to reality, "Huh? Oh... Yeah, Mama. I told you Inuyasha and I would be back soon." Kagome faked a smile.
Mama knew the smile... A fake, saddened smile. Kagome had the same smile about twelve years ago. Mama was smarter that that, "Kagome, what's wrong?" Mama asked.
"Why would you think something was wrong?" Kagome asked. Just tell her... Kagome told herself.
"Kagome..." Mama sighed.
"Fine... Remember the guy Inuyasha and I are after? Naraku?" Kagome asked. Mama nodded. "Well, he's just attacked my friends Sango and Miroku, and took a shard out of Sango's father's dead body... Which was way wrong. And I need to think of ideas on why he did that." Kagome said. Mama nodded. Then Mama asked why would Kagome want to think about such things during such a joyous time, and Kagome replied, "Because she's my bestfriend." Mama understood.
Then Mama went to clean what few dishes, and asked, "So, what about you two?"
'You two'? Kagome pondered on the thought for a few seconds, and then blushed. Mama meant her and Inuyasha! Kagome giggled. Should she tell her mother? Who else was she to tell? Eri, Arumi, and Yuka didn't know the full truth behind Inuyasha, and like she'd tell Gramps or Souta! Only Sango and Mama were the only people Kagome'd tell. Kagome smiled. "He loves me, too. And he gave me his mother's old kimono, which it's gorgeous! Which made my gift to him lame..." Kagome sighed.
"What'd you give him?" Mama asked. Kagome took the Beads out from under her shirt (she liked wearing them).
"I took them off of him. But I want to give him something more now..." Kagome said quietly. Mama dried her hands with a hand towel and looked at Kagome.
"What about your father's old talisman?" Mama asked, rubbing Kagome's back softly, reasurring her. Kagome sat up and smiled.
"Right! Since he gave something dear to his late mother, I'll give him something dear to my late father!" Kagome quickly stood up and hugged Mama, and ran upstairs. She passed Inuyasha, without a second glance. She just flew on by. Inuyasha blinked and sighed. What is she up to THIS time? Inuyasha thought as he went into the packed living room to play with Buuyo.
Kagome quickly opened her door, ran two feet into her room, and tripped. Clothes were everywhere! And the school books she had brought recently to Inuyasha's era. Kagome got up and whined. Her room was a horror film brought to life. Kagome started to clean up the piles of clothes all around her. Kagome, at the moment, would rather be facing Naraku than be cleaning this mess.
Then she organized her school books. Her math book was opened to chapter twelve, section one. Kagome sighed. She knew who did this, even though a few of her notebooks had 'Souta' on the backs... It was Inuyasha's doing. Kagome quickly gathered the books and put them away so she could get her talisman. Kagome went to her desk and opened the small door. A necklace with a medallion on it was in there; Kagome took it out. The medallion had an encrypted character of strength on it. Which suited Inuyasha perfectly. Kagome smiled and ran downstairs. Halfway, she called to Inuyasha, "Inuyasha! Don't ever try to put my things up again!" Kagome went into the kitchen to see poor Buuyo being played with by Inuyasha. "What is Buuyo? A toy?" Kagome asked.
Inuyasha nodded, "Exactly what he is." Inuyasha grinned.
Kagome sighed. "Oh, right... Guess Mama and the others left. I have something more to give you." Kagome took Inuyasha's hand and made him get up and stop messing with Buuyo. Kagome then held out her left hand, in which the talisman was. It had a special shine to it than it usually did.
"It smells like a man... And you." Inuyasha said, sniffing it. "Why?"
Kagome looked down, "The man is my late father. Like you, Inuyasha, I've lost a parent. It was late Winter... It was so cold, and snowing, so the streets were iced over... My father lost control of the car, and didn't survive the wreck. But the day before, like he knew he wasn't going to live past a few days, he gave me that, and told me never to forget him." Kagome enhaled, so she wouldn't cry. "That's why I'm giving you that. Because it's dear to me."
Inuyasha took it from Kagome and hugged her for comfort, "You humans are fragile things..." Inuyasha stroked Kagome's hair softly, "But you aren't. Because of what's happened to you, you've grown stronger. Losing one close to you... That's the worst weakness, but it grows to strength. Don't forget that, Kagome." Inuyasha said.
"Your mother told you that, huh?" Kagome said, calmer now.
"Right before she died." Inuyasha chuckled, "But it's true. I know that now."
Kagome laughed and nodded. She loved this Inuyasha, but somehow... For some reason, she missed the rude and arrogant one. Hopefully tomorrow, Inuyasha would be a little more like himself than today. But this Inuaysha was much more gentle. Yet, the other Inuyasha was loud, and said what was on his mind (not always the best things to say, either).
After dinner, Gramps was telling Kagome an other history lesson, or story... Whatever it was. Kagome was listening a lot better now, since she didn't listen to him eight months ago. And look at her now: fighting for her life in feudal Japan. And then trying to keep up her social life in her era. It was a hard job, but somehow she managed to keep it up, thanks to Gramps' fake sicknesses. This story was about Midoriko, the creator of the Shikon no Tama. "Kagome, how much do you know of Midoriko?" Gramps asked.
"Only that she was a miko who fought youkai, and one day, in battle, she released her heart, which became the Shikon no Tama. And that jewel alone sealed the youkai." Kagome said bluntly.
"Ah, so you don't know she had a daughter before her travels?" Gramps smirked.
"What's that got to do with Kagome?" Inuyasha asked. Gramps nodded.
"Kagome's her great-great-great-granddaughter." Gramps took a deep breath of air.
"WHAT!" Kagome and Inuyasha's eyes grew big. Now, not only did Kagome had to fight for her life, keep up her social status, help her friends on figuring out why Kagura and Kannah took the jewel, and help fight and destroy Naraku, worry about Kikyou coming back to life, but had to deal with the fact she was a relative to the most famous miko that ever lived, Midoriko? What's next in her bizaare life? Death?