No long authors note today.
Enjoy!
Chapter 14 Through the Well Again
--Present Japan--
-6 years later-
"Kagome-chan! Come sit down!" Called Sango, waving at her.
Kagome looked up from her papers and sighed. She stuck the pen behind her ear and walked over to the table her friend was sitting at.
"You look tired." Commented Sango.
"Yeah I am." She sat down, happy to be off her feet.
"It was really busy today." Sango said, pushing a glass of water towards her friend.
Kagome took a sip of the water and leaned on the table.
"I can't believe its been six years." Kagome said, taking another sip.
Six years had past since Kagome had last looked at the prophecy. So much had happened since then.
When Megumi had turned 1, Kagome had found out that her mother was having financial problems. Well, who wouldn't with six people to feed and clothe? So Kagome had suggested that her and Sango get jobs.
Both had easily found jobs at a nearby restaurant as waitresses. The hours allowed Kagome to spend lots of time with Megumi, but it paid decent too. So they'd both worked there up until now.
Sango and Miroku had been married three years ago. Shippo had started school, fascinated by the homework Souta brought home. Imagine that! Fascinated by homework!
Lately though, Kagome's thoughts had constantly been drifting to the feudal era and… him…
Sango looked at her friend strangely. Where had that comment come from?
"Kagome? Are you ok?" She asked, pulling Kagome out of her thoughts.
"What? Oh yeah I'm fine!" She said, giving that same fake smile.
"Kagome! Don't lie to me! What's wrong? You've been acting strange lately." Sango stated.
Kagome looked away, ignoring the concerned stare of her friend. Her hand reached for the locket around her neck. She held it tightly in her hand.
"You've been thinking about Inuyasha, haven't you?" Sango questioned, noticing her friend's actions.
Kagome nodded and looked back at her friend.
"I just want to know what's happening!" She exclaimed, almost seeming angry. "What if he's hurt? He could be dead! And I'm sitting here, not able to do anything!"
Sango smiled reassuringly and suggested, "Have you checked the prophecy lately?"
"Oh what's the point?" She cried, feelings bursting from within her. "You know what it says! Without the chosen one Naraku cant be beat! But that idiot sealed the well!" She slumped in her chair and crossed her arms, trying not to cry.
Sango looked down and sighed.
"I guess you're right… Whoa! Look at the time! It's already 4? Kagome you have to pick up Megumi! I have to get home too! I said I'd help your mom with dinner." She stood up and grabbed her bag.
Kagome stood up as well, shoved her papers into her bag and grabbed her set of keys.
"Kagome.. We'll find a way to fix everything… It'll be ok… I promise." Sango reassured her friend.
Kagome sighed and smiled.
"I hope so…" She put on her jacket and asked, "Are you going to walk?"
"Yeah, so I'll see you at home." Sango waved goodbye and left.
Five minutes later Kagome arrived at Megumi's school. She parked the car and walked into the school, quickly finding her way to the classroom. She stepped inside and saw a few children sitting around a table colouring pictures and looked over to another table and saw Megumi, sitting alone, reading.
The little girl heard the door open and looked up.
"Mama!" She cried, jumping out of her chair and running over to hug her mother.
"I'm sorry I'm late." Kagome said, bending down to pick up the child. She walked over to the table, with Megumi in her arms. She picked up the small backpack and walked over to the coat rack. She put the child down and helped her get her coat on. She thanked the teacher and said goodbye. Then the two were on their way home.
The traffic was pretty much bumper-to-bumper, so it took them a little longer to get home. As Kagome and her daughter walked in the house they were greeted by the wonderful smell of one of Kagome's favourite foods.
"Oden!" Exclaimed Kagome, as the two walked into the kitchen.
"Thought you needed some cheering up, so I made your favourite food!" Sango explained.
"Arigato Sango-chan!" She took a seat at the table, Megumi hopped up on her lap.
"Konnichiwa Kagome-sama." Greeted Miroku, who was sitting across from Kagome reading a newspaper.
"Hello Miroku-sama!" Kagome said happily.
Her mother walked into the room and greeted her, asking how her day was.
"Busy, as usual." She replied. She looked down at Megumi, and noticed her sad look. "Megumi?"
The little girl looked up, her big amber eyes painfully reminding Kagome of how much she missed Inuyasha.
"Is something wrong?" She asked, worriedly. Megumi shook her head and looked down. "Please, tell me."
"The other kids... They made fun of my ears." She mumbled, tears falling from her eyes.
Miroku looked up from the paper and Sango turned away from the stove, both becoming considerably angry that anyone would dare hurt their friend's child.
"They did…H-how could t-they…" Kagome said, her hands shaking with the anger only a mother could understand. Sango gave her a look of warning. She calmed herself down and said, "I will talk to you teacher, and don't worry. You're beautiful the way you are." Kagome looked away, the urge to cry rising.
Sango turned back to the pot and called, "Dinner!"
Shippo and Souta came running in, obviously very hungry. Kagome's grandfather came in behind them and sat down at the end of the table. Megumi got off of Kagome and sat in a chair beside her.
Sango placed steaming bowls in front of each person and then sat down herself on the other side of Kagome.
Kagome concentrated on eating and didn't speak much. She wasn't really in the mood to talk. She just wanted to finish dinner then go take a nice, long nap. She emptied her bowl and politely waited for everyone else.
Sango took away the bowls and filled hers with more and placed it on the floor for Kirara. The fire cat quickly ate it all.
"Megumi…" She said, thinking that she knew a way to raise the girl's spirits. "There's something I want to show you."
The little girl looked up at her, curious.
She thanked Sango for dinner and stood up to leave. Megumi got up as well and followed her mother out of the room.
They walked up the stairs in silence, Kagome wondering if this would just complicate things. The little girl's gaze shifted to the ground as they reached the door to the attic.
"Megumi…" She began, hesitantly. "I know… You've probably always wondered… who your.. father is."
Her eyes widened as she stared at her mother. She could feel a strange longing in her heart at the mention of her father. Her entire body tightened with anticipation.
Kagome opened the door and followed Megumi through it. They walked over to a cardboard box which was covered in a thick film of dust.
Kagome blew on it to clear the dust and then proceeded to open it.
Megumi stared into the box, expecting something grand and magnificent, but was disappointed when all she saw were some clothes and a green baseball cap.
Her mother reached into the box and picked out the baseball cap. She handed it to Megumi, her eyes filled with tears.
"This… this was your father's, Megumi. I-I thought maybe you would like to have it." Her lip trembled as she gazed upon the hat which Inuyasha had worn all those years ago. On those occasions in which he had come to retrieve her, when he believed she had outstay her welcome (in her own home to!), he had worn the hat to conceal his ears. It was one of the only things she had left of him.
Megumi stared at the hat in her hands and then glanced back at her mother, who was on the brink of tears. She was unsure of what to do with it.
"Okaa-san?" She asked nervously.
"H-Hai?" Came the reply.
"Where… Where is otou-san?"
Kagome had been afraid this question would come up. She didn't know how to reply. Her mind desperately searched for an answer.
"Well… He had to leave. Something… bad happened before you were born and he thought… He thought it might be better if he wasn't here." She stared at her daughter, awaiting a reaction.
The girl remained silent, clutching the hat in her small hands.
"Megumi, as long as you wear that hat… Your father will always be with you… At least in spirit. It will... Protect you." She tried to smile, but the mere thought of Inuyasha brought her to tears again. "He will be back… One day…"
She felt bad deluding the girl in the notion that she would see her father one day.
As Megumi gazed at the had she felt a mixture of feelings. There were so many questions that she wanted desperately to ask her mother, but she only felt herself nodding. She could see how much this subject was hurting her mother and decided that just explaining this much must be a big step for her. She couldn't bring herself to ask the awkward questions about her father that had been plaguing her since she could remember. She gripped the hat and stared at her mother.
Kagome awaited the many questions she was sure would be thrown at her and was thoroughly surprised when none were asked. She felt obligated to address the issue and so she asked, "Megumi… Don't you… Have any questions?"
Megumi continued to look at her mother, and despite her early thoughts, curiosity took over, and she nodded her head, but remained silent.
"Do you… Want to ask me?" Her mother continued.
She clenched the hat tighter and shook her head, noticing the confused look that appeared on her mother's face.
"Why is that?"
She swallowed, unsure of the answer herself.
"Um…" She began, in a quiet voice. "Because… You don't wanna talk about it…"
Kagome locked gazes with her daughter, unable to comprehend the fact that the six year old was able to notice the pain in her mother and deny herself something she clearly wanted to know just for the sake of her mother's emotional state. She really was a very smart child.
Regardless though, she shouldn't have allowed her daughter to see and understand her pain. That wasn't fair. Kagome promised herself, from now on, she would do a better job of conceal the pain. But for now, as much as she wanted to avoid the issue, it was her obligation to explain whatever her daughter wanted to know.
"Megumi, it's ok. Please, just ask me…"
Megumi fidgeted nervously, one question coming to the forefront of her mind. Before she could stop herself, it popped out of her mouth.
"Do you miss otou-san?"
Kagome, taken aback by the bluntness of the question, was unable to stop the tears from falling from her eyes. She bent down and pulled her daughter close, not wanting her to see her tears.
Megumi wrapped her arms around her mother, feeling herself want to cry too. But most of all, she really just wanted to make her mother happy.
"Okaa-san… Don't be sad!" She told her mother.
Kagome smiled through the tears, and picked her daughter up.
"Thank you, Megumi…I am alright, I just get a little sad whenever I think about your father." She explained. "But don't worry. Just remember, he loves us, and that's what really matters." Megumi nodded and rested her head on her mother's shoulder.
Kagome, feeling everything that had needed to be said had been said, began making her way downstairs, to her bedroom. She felt at ease knowing Megumi knew more about her father and at least had something to remind her of him.
As Kagome entered her room, she noticed that the little girl had drifted off into sleep.
It has been a long day… For the both of us.
Kagome laid the girl down into her bed and decided that she, too, would take a nap.
She took off her sweater and laid down on the bed, falling asleep almost immediately, tired from the long day.
-----
It had been less than twenty minutes when Megumi began to awake. She sat up quietly and looked around. Spotting her mother sleeping in the bed across from herself, she remembered the earlier event. She looked down and noticed she was still gripping the hat. She pulled it snugly onto her head.
Of course she still had questions, but hopefully they would be answered in time.
As she stared aimlessly, something sparkly caught her eye. She moved closer and saw that it was a jewel. It hung around her mother's neck and shimmered in the fading sunlight, sending cascades of sparkles across the room. She'd never seen it before. She guessed her mom kept it hidden under her shirt.
"Pretty…" Whispered Megumi, her hand reaching to touch it. But she stopped herself, knowing that she shouldn't. It wasn't hers.
But she reached for it again and pulled it off her mother's neck. She placed it around her own, admiring its beauty. She did a few pirouettes around the room, smiling at the sparkles the jewel created.
She stopped and looked out the window. Uncle Souta and Shippo-chan were outside playing soccer. Her gaze casually drifted to the well house. The one place she wasn't allowed to go. It was boarded up now.
As she looked at the well house, she could faintly see something glowing.
It must be inside of the building, she thought.
Suddenly it was glowing brighter. She decided to go investigate, all earlier guilt having disappeared. All that mattered now was finding out about that weird light.
She tucked the jewel inside her shirt and quickly ran down the stairs and out the back door. The urge to see what was inside was overwhelming now.
She quietly stepped past Souta and Shippo and pulled the board covering the door back. She opened the door and stepped inside.
It's so dark, she thought, as she began to get scared. Megumi looked around for whatever had been glowing and saw the well at the bottom of the stairs. She could see light spilling out from within it.
Mustering up all her courage, she began her journey down the stairs.
With each step her heart began to race. She wanted to turn and run back, but some undetectable force told her to keep going.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, she arrived at the well. Forcing herself, she peeked over the side and saw that the light was coming from the bottom of the well. Her feet automatically began climbing over the side, desperately wanting to know what was causing the light.
Before she was completely in the well, she shook her head and said, "What am I doing?"
Why was she down here?
The well was really deep!
What if she fell?
She could really hurt herself.
Not to mention all the trouble she would get in for stealing the necklace and coming in here!
She turned to climb back out, but her foot stepped on a loose brick, which gave away, causing her to lose her balance. Her hands flailed wildly, trying to grab onto anything, to stop falling. She screamed and closed her eyes just as she neared the bottom.
Then she blacked out.
------
The moon had just risen as Inuyasha reached Goshinboku.
"Finally." He mumbled, looking up at the majestic tree. For some reason, after narrowly escaping Naraku (for what seemed the hundredth time), he'd been mysteriously drawn to this sacred tree. He'd felt as if something was pulling him. There was something he needed to do here.
But what? He asked himself again.
Six years had passed. Six long, hard years of endless fights and trying to stay alive. And Naraku had only gotten stronger!
After that first major battle with Naraku, he'd known something was wrong. It had been too easy to find Naraku. And the he'd realized that Naraku hadn't been using the fuyoheki
They later found out that Kagura had been revived by Sesshomauru. She told them that when they had thought they killed Naraku the first time, he had actually been injured and he used fuyoheki so that they thought he was actually dead. That had given him time to recover.
But his choice of location of recovery had been stupid. He had rested on a mountain. The mountain which was actually a demon. The demon who had been the original owner of the fuyoheki. The demon had taken back his crystal and tried to kill Naraku.
Of course he had failed, because by then Naraku had regained his strength.
But Naraku had lost the fuyoheki.
That was why it was so easy for Kouga to find him. Or his copy, rather.
And the one they had thought was the real Naraku was actually just another copy. He was getting better with making copies, because they now had the exact same scent as the real Naraku, so it was literally impossible to tell the difference.
You never knew if you were fighting Naraku or a copy.
So for the past six year, Inuyasha had been running from copies.
But lately his thoughts had been drifting to Kagome… and the child. What had become of them? Were they alright?
He surveyed the area, noting the many changes. While the are around the tree and well had flourished, the area where the village had once lasted had remained a wasteland.
But his thoughts were interrupted then he noticed something. First the sound of crying and then the scent.
Kagome!
He quickly pushed pass the bushes to get to the girl, afraid that Naraku had followed him and would notice her presence.
He broke free of the overgrown weeds and looked to see who was sitting on the tree, where he had been pinned for fifty years,
He felt his heart twinge painfully. It wasn't Kagome. Being so stunned, he hadn't noticed that scent only bared a close resemblance to Kagome's.
The girl was now crying freely, her hair concealing her face and a hat on her head. She shook with each sob, crying out something that sounded like, "Mama…" and, "Where a-am I-I?" She didn't seem to notice the hanyou's arrival.
"Oi! Kid!" Inuyasha called, his voice holding no sympathy. He only cared about finding out who this kid was and why she smelled so much like Kagome.
The little girl looked up, her amber eyes meeting his. With her head up, he glanced quickly at the hat, noting it's familiarity. He dismissed the feeling and sawthat her right hand clutched something around her neck.
He has ears! She thought, excitedly. And his eyes are the same colour as mine! She inhaled quickly, but then looked away. But mama told me not to talk to strangers…
"Kid, I'm talking to you! What's your name?" He asked. Inuyasha never was one to be very sensitive.
She sniffled and looked at him. She felt oddly safe when he was around.
"M-Megumi…" She whispered. He must be ok. He's the only one like me…
"How'd you get here?" He questioned, glaring at her suspiciously. Who is she? He wondered.
"I f-fell down the w-well…" She pointed over to the well, which was very overgrown with weeds.
"W-What?" He demanded. "How did you get through the well!" He was nearly shouting now.
She cowered, frightened by this strange man and this strange world. She just wanted to go home. Even if it meant being made fun of.
"I f-fell… t-through the w-well… I wanna go home!" She cried, holding her face in her hands.
And then it hit him. He knew who this was.
She's… She's my…
But he couldn't finish the thought. It was too much. How did she get through the well? It just didn't make sense. That monk had sealed the well six years ago…
Unless… the jewel… had somehow…
"What are you holding?" He asked, in a much softer tone. He stepped closer to her, his face kind and concerned.
She glanced up at him and squeezed the necklace tighter.
"Mama's necklace… I… Took it…" She looked away, guiltily. "I-I know I s-shouldn't have
Inuyasha moved closer still and asked, "May I see it?"
She looked apprehensive but complied, feeling like she could trust this man. She opened her hand, revealing the glowing pink jewel.
He stared at the girl for a moment and then rushed forward and picked her up. He spun her around in happiness.
The girl was clearly distraught now. She fought to get away, but he only pulled her closer.
"Don't worry. I'll take you back to your home…" He said, merrily. He couldn't stop smiling, even though he knew this was no time for celebration. The well was open once more, which meant that Kagome and Megumi were in danger again.
But right now that didn't matter. All he cared about was talking more with the girl, so they could get to know each other. He was so happy right now, not even Naraku couldn't change his mood. He set her down on the ground and felt his heart sink when she back away from him. Of course, it was to be expected for the girl had no idea who he was. And he knew that, yet it hurt him. To know that he had missed out on so much of her life…
"It's alright, I wont hurt you…" He said with a comforting smile. The girl stared at him, still a little apprehensive but settled herself on the ground, still a little ways away from him. She nervously fidgeted and pulled her hat off, holding it tightly in her hands. Her mother had told her as long as she had it her father would always protect her. And even though this man had said he wouldn't hurt her… The hat still gave her a protective comfort.
Inuyasha watched as she took off the hat and suppressed a sigh of relief.
Those ears… It was undeniable, this really was his daughter.
"Megumi… Such a pretty name you have." He said, dreamily. He remembered the agreement Kagome and him had decided on all those years ago. If it had been a boy he could name it and if it had been a girl she would. He smiled, knowing Kagome had done a fine job in naming her. "How old are you?"
She counted six fingers and held them out.
"Six!" She stated, proudly, all uneasiness lost in the comfort this man had provided with his soft tone and friendliness..
I can't believe it… He thought, disgusted with himself. I never thought I would have the chance to meet you… Six years was much too long. I should never have done this…
He looked at Megumi and saw himself, in his youth, reflected in her eyes. That sense of incompletion due to growing up without a father.
He had done exactly what he had swore he would never do.
He let Megumi grow up without a father.
He made her suffer because he was too stupid to understand that Kagome, and Megumi, needed him. Kagome had always been willing to risk her life if only he could be there for Megumi.
But as he stared into her eyes, he realized another thing
Don't dwell on the past.
Six years had passed but there was nothing he could do to make up for the stupid mistakes he'd made. All he could do was learn from them and do his best for the future.
And so he decided that Megumi deserved an explanation…
"I remember about seven years ago when the woman I loved and I were going to have a baby… We decided if it was a girl, she could name it, and if it were a boy I could."
She looked at him with her big, round, amber eyes, waiting for him to continue.
"But then… Right after we had learned she was going to have a baby… Bad things happened and I had to leave. I could never go back, because if I did, I would put her and the baby in danger. So I stayed away, and I never knew whether the baby was a boy or a girl… What it's name was… Or if it had even been born at all."
Megumi stared at him, wondering why he was telling her this… And who he was…
But for some reason, though, this story seemed oddly familiar to the one her mother had told her that afternoon… She thought nothing of it and again waited for him to go on.
"And when I saw you… My questions… Were answered at once."
It took the girl a moment to understand what he meant and then she looked up at him once again, and whispered, "Otou-san?"
"Otou-san!" She cried. Her smalls arms reached out and grabbed him, clinging for all she was worth.
Finally, after all of her wishing, she knew who her father was.
Her eyes filled with tears as she hugged him. She cried out of happiness, her heart filling with joy. Nothing would bring her down now. Not even the mean kids at school.
After she settled down a bit, she smiled at him and, with insight beyond her years, stated, "Now I understand why mommy has always been so sad. I thought it was my fault… But really, she just missed you. When you come back, it will be like finishing a puzzle. All the pieces will fit perfectly!" She beamed at him, satisfied with her declaration.
He stared at her in awe and remembered that night at the cabin, so long ago. He had thought the very same thing about himself…
He smiled back and hugged her.
"Your mother is going to be pretty worried. We'd better get you back home, ok?" He asked.
She nodded and motioned for him to pick her up and he did.
"Mommy will be so happy to see you!" She stated, gleefully. "But wait…" She grabbed the hat from her head and stuck it on her father's head. "Here you go. Mommy gave it to me and told me that if I wore it you would protect me.. But now that you are here, you can have it back. I don't need it anymore!" She explained.
He held her with one hand and with the other took the hat off his head and placed it back on hers.
"Nah, you keep it. I wont be needing it anymore…" His heart began to beat excitedly thinking of the reunion that was soon to come.
Holding onto Megumi tightly, they headed towards the well.
------
Kagome awoke an hour later feeling refreshed. She looked over to her clock and read 19:00 PM. Deciding she should get up, she reluctantly pulled the covers off and stood up. She stretched her arms and yawned.
Looking around the room, she noticed Megumi was gone.
Must've woken up and gone downstairs, she thought. She put a sweater on and turned to leave.
As she was walking out of the room, something on her desk caught her eye. She strolled over to the desk and saw the prophecy, which was laying in plain sight.
But it was in the drawer… I'm positive…
She pulled out the chair and sat down.
I guess it wouldn't hurt to look at it…
"Show me the next step, please." She muttered, sarcastically. She was positive nothing would show up.
But to her complete surprise, words appeared on the paper.
Together, the chosen one, her parents, and friends will launch a successful assault against the dark one.
But the dark one has taken the six years to expand his powers to the point where death is no longer a concern.
Working together, the chosen one and the keeper will discover the path to the dark one's destruction.
"W-What!" She exclaimed, grabbing the paper and rereading the six lines. "I-I don't u-understand…" Her mind raced frantically, and she decided she should review the last step, to be sure that it had been completed.
"S-Show m-me the l-last step…" She stuttered, trying to calm herself.
Though still badly wounded, the hanyou will assemble forces of the most unlikely individuals. Together, they will set aside their differences in order to crusade against the dark one. Though this attempt, in theory, will seem adequate, it will fail miserably. For without the chosen one, the dark one will never be overthrown.
Six years it will take. Six years of hardship and endless battles for the hanyou.
But he will live.
And through a miracle of the jewel, father and daughter will be reunited.
I must have missed the last part! She thought.
"I'm such an idiot!" She cried, banging her fists on the desk in frustration. "Six years and I never checked it! How could I be so stupid?"
She reread the last part of the previous step again and realized something.
"Six years?" She whispered aloud. It had been six years since the well was sealed… Six years since Megumi had been born…
"Megumi!" She half-shouted, jumping out her chair and bounding down the stairs. She reached the bottom and shouted, "Sango-chan!"
The taijiya came running into the room and said, "What? What's wrong?"
"Where's Megumi? Have you seen her?" Kagome's face was flushed and she was panting."No… I thought she was with you." Sango replied, as Miroku and her mother came into the room.
"Mama… Miroku-sama… Have you seen Megumi?" She asked, worriedly.
Both shook their heads and asked Sango what was wrong with her. Sango merely shrugged and tried to question her more.
Kagome ignored her friends' questions and ran into the living room, asking Shippo or Souta if they'd seen Megumi. Both said they hadn't and Kagome cried out in worry.
Her hand shot up to her chest, trying to grab onto the jewel, which had always given her comfort. But she couldn't find it. Her hand only held the locket. The jewel was gone!
"Kagome-chan? Where's the jewel?" Sango questioned, seeing that her friend couldn't find it.
"No…" Kagome said, realizing that the previous step of the prophecy really had been completed. The girl pushed past Miroku and her mother and ran to the backdoor.
Her friends followed quickly behind her, anxious and worried.
She pushed the door opened and rushed to get to the well house, but stopped, dead in her tracks.
"I-Inuyasha?"
Oden - Basically this is fish stew. It's made of cuttle-fish, hard boiled eggs, radish, kelp, seaweed, turnips, rice dumplings, and other varying ingrdients are used to make this dish. All the ingredients are slowly simmered for a long time in a broth. In Japan you can often get this from yatai street vendors. Yatai are street stalls that open in the evening until late at night. They sell roasted sweet potatoes, noddles, soup, stew or barbecued food. They are very popular.
Hehe evil cliffy! -devilish laugh- I thought that little bit with the hat, as well as the confrontation between mother and daughter on the subject of Megumi's father was needed. I mean, any little girl would be curious. This also helped to show what a special child she really is. Being able to see her mother's pain and know enough to ignore her own curiosity.
-Kellai-chan-