…This is a strange chapter and completely unexpected, as usual…
"So...Kohaku and you had to help Rin with the ending?"
"Yeah…"
Shippou ran past her once the door was open. He went straight to her bedroom and flopped on her bed. Kagome kicked off her shoes so that they flew next to Shippou's that were also in a pile of disarray. She soon followed him into her bedroom dropping her bag on the living room couch and throwing her jacket over a kitchen chair as she passed. Kagome stopped at the doorway leaning on the frame, much like her mother had done when she was little, looking in on Shippou. He was spread eagle dead center on the mattress. His tiny body was strategically placed to take up the entire bed somehow. She laughed lightly.
Shippou lifted his head and gave her a sleepy grin. It was lopsided and made him look goofy. Kagome walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. She brushed her fingers through his bangs, pushing them to one side. His eyes closed slightly and when he spoke his voice was deeper with his drowse.
"She would never have ended it. Rin has so many ideas…but wants them to be perfect and kind of…drags them out."
"Oh yeah?"
"Mmhmm…they're always good though, in the end."
Kagome smiled. The end of his sentence considerably muddled. He'd drifted off right at the end. Her coaxing fingers drawing through his bangs delivered him peacefully into sleep. Kagome pulled the blanket, folded at the end of her bed, up to cover him. Kagome changed quickly. The apartment was warm, humid, but her Capri's had been stained when Shippou jumped into her lap at the ice cream store with his sweet treat still in one hand. Afterward, she left for the kitchen.
The apartment was dark and she found she liked it that way. The shadows hugged her form and soothed her worries. However they could not be hidden. The rain splattered in a beginning drizzle against the window pain. Kagome closed her eyes taking a deep breath. Her mind shuddered and her breathing seemed loud in the confined space of the kitchen. She felt contained and in the blue shadows of the kitchen, Kagome sat undone. Her eyes became shallow, her emotions flowing out of the dark sapphire hues.
She sighed. The tension slowly erased from her form. The weight of the afternoon's event wore on her little by little. Her shoulders relented to gravity and sunk from their normal position, pushed back and straight. Kagome's chest lowered and she slouched. She seemed to be doing that more and more. Perhaps she should take up archery more seriously. With this internship, she'd been slacking, but even that was ending soon. For she would return to school in April, that was about two months away. Could she really finish this up in that time? Seriously- she probably couldn't, but damn it if Kagome wouldn't kill herself trying to, lives depended on it.
It was February 1st. Kagome's lashes fluttered against her skin as she tightened their closed position. The patter of the rain echoed in the quiet abyss of her misting thoughts. Her skin gained a bluish tint from the light filtering in. The hour was late, but the days were lengthening and the sun set much later now. The moon's glow was bright despite the weather, the clouds moving. The storm wouldn't last long, but travel on to some unknown location. Kagome wished she could follow it. Sometimes she really just wanted to live without such chaos, live simply. Even if it was impossible, Kagome still dreamed. Open fields, warm afternoon walks, and fresh air. The city bog dragged her down, it couldn't be ignored, but after many years living there Kagome had gotten accustomed to it.
She slid back in her chair. She grabbed her coat and walked out the door. Her gaze was distant and her thoughts muddled the second she moved. Kagome cast a glance over to her window, but will was whisked away and sorrow was setting in to chill her heart. Why she felt this way, why she always got this way, she didn't know- like it was almost painful to move. Couldn't she just be okay for once? Did she not deserve it? Was it bad karma or something?
Kagome jogged across the street. The lights of the nearby apartments were all out, except for the few late working students. Her eyes passed over the park grounds to the city scrapers beyond. The signs suspended high on the buildings buzzing away with changing scenes and advertisements. Cars in constant motion still blocked the roadways and cluttered the side streets.
The park was cold and empty. Her lonely soul wandered throughout her body and clouded her mind. The tears fell unbidden, unfelt down her already soaked cheeks. Their salinity joined the acidity of the rain descending to dirty the earth. Even heaven's tears were polluted. Nothing could wash away the sins of man now.
Kagome lifted her eyes to the sky. It was grey and only blackening, but there was still the moon's light. It was a living paradox, bright yet dark in the same moment. The clouds passed over the lunar glowing lantern, but never for long. Rain puttered down from the sky onto her cheeks riding the curve. What was she doing? It was like eleven o'clock and here she was gallivanting in an open park just waiting to be picked up and raped. Kagome chuckled quietly.
Cerulean sparkled dully and a longing look passed over her face. The night was drab and her heart was searching for something she couldn't describe. What was it? What was missing? Kagome ripped the hair tie from the end of her braid. She ran her hands through her hair and loosened the long, damp strands. Kagome had been happy earlier that afternoon surrounded by Shippou and Sango when they went to get ice cream, she had been all afternoon. Now Kagome was grasping at straws just to keep that feeling within herself. The rain poured through her hair and layered her skin as a cool layer of confusion settled over her mind.
Maybe the difference lied elsewhere? Kagome touched her lips, dragging a solo finger over the contours of each, sinking to her knees. The grass left imprints in her pants. The jeans she'd just changed into. A sob escaped her. Was that is? How pathetic she'd become.
When she was little the small things had always made her happiest. A lot of kids around her were well off getting luxurious presents for their birthdays or Christmas. Like on their sixteenth birthdays, when most were just getting their permits and learning to drive, their parents would give them brand new cars. Kagome knew her mom was always kind of ashamed. On Kagome's birthday she'd gotten that pink bicycle, the one she could never do away with. It was freedom to her. Kagome didn't need a car then and didn't now. She lived in a huge city with public transportation and trying to find parking was a bitch. Kagome had squealed for joy when she unwrapped the first part of her present to find handlebars beneath sticking out of a large cardboard box. The box had hidden the shape from her.
Kagome laughed bitterly. Her father's laughter, her mother's oden, Shippou's pounce as a greeting, Souta's annoying attentiveness towards her. These things had always made her day, whether she wanted to or if it pained her to admit it. Now everything was different. Her peace of mind was wrought from a much more difficult source.
Kagome breathed in deeper and stood up shakily from her spot on the ground. She clenched her fist for a minute and swallowed. The frustration trembled beneath the surface, the levels undulating. Kagome's eyes greyed and her mind set. She took off running.
The water slid over her form to the ground. The rain seemed to pound harder at her with her quickened speed, but Kagome didn't care. She didn't mind, the pressure was encouraging her forward. Her feet were swift, faster than she'd probably ever been. Kagome had weak knees, so though she did love to run, it wasn't exactly beneficial for her physically.
Wide cobalt orbs blinked quickly through water dappled lashes to look up the steep incline of the apartment building. Kagome nodded her head resolutely. She had no idea what she was doing or what she would do, but impulsivity would be her guide. Kagome could only hope she wouldn't be led astray. She also hoped this wouldn't wrinkle the new budding ties between them. Her eyes caught light and she smiled. He was up.
Kagome jumped up the steps, taking two at a time, and completely impressed with her agility. She didn't stumble once. Kagome was about to celebrate except for the fact that she forgot she was moving and very nearly avoided slamming into the glass door. Kagome blushed then opened the door.
There was a clerk at the front desk and she only waved at him.
"Just visiting a friend, I won't be long."
"It's late."
Kagome cringed, this was the truth. Her desperation raised a notch and attempted to reason with the middle aged man.
"I know, but I really have to…"
"Go ahead, but try not to make a lot of noise."
Kagome blushed again remembering how she had entered Sesshoumaru's building the last time, kicking, screaming, and making a scene. Kagome nodded to the clerk with a brilliant, but watery smile. The rain was really falling now. Her sneakers squeaked on the tile floor. She felt suddenly guilty for tracking in the muddied water. Her shoes weren't dirty, but the floor was still lined with brownish lines looking peculiarly like the bottom of her sneakers.
The elevator ride past like an eternity filled with dings for each floor. The elevator must feel so self-important noting its progress past each floor. The light music in the background was annoying and Kagome found herself flying through emotional hoops once again. At least they weren't on fire though, right? That was something to feel lucky about, poor lions and whatever else would have to suffer that fate.
A ding and the doors released. Kagome stepped back, unsure. Then she wanted to kick herself. She came all the way here and now she was getting wet feet? Kagome laughed suddenly taking a gander at her feet. Well it was too late; her feet were practically drowning and kind of chilled too. The building was air conditioned and unlike the outside that was muggy, the atmosphere was starting to get to her. Kagome ruffled her bangs trying to dry them a little.
"I need a towel."
Her voice was soft, deep and sounded almost like it wasn't her own. Her legs moved without her knowledge it would seem for all of a sudden Kagome was facing the door. Her thoughts had carried her away again, what a surprise. Kagome lifted her hand, the fist hovered in midair. Kagome lowered her head and closed her eyes. Then pinched herself, wincing slightly, and knocked lightly on the door. Rin would definitely be asleep. Possibly Sesshoumaru as well and maybe he just left a light on, though it was improbable that the man would do something so careless. He did forget a hair tie this afternoon, but that wasn't wasting electricity.
Kagome was shocked when the door actually opened. She gasped softly. There in front of her was a bare-chested Sesshoumaru with his khaki pants low on his hips. The black belt, with its silver buckle, was now fully visible. How was he a workaholic and so ripped? His eyes appeared weary and he seemed surprised to see her, but then you could never tell with Sesshoumaru. His feet were bare, Kagome noticed as she was now staring at the ground. Go figure he'd have perfect toes too, besides the second toe that was a little longer than all the others including the big toe. Somehow this fact knocked Sesshoumaru down one more step from godliness more towards Kagome.
"I'm sorry for showing up so late at night…"
Sesshoumaru had excellent taste. The tile was plain, yet beautiful. Kagome blushed, she was so shy now. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and took the plunge. All sense was lost to her, reason jumping out of the proverbial window more than willing to fly for the sake of love. Sure there was the chance of a crash landing, but given time, even the weakest flowers could rejuvenate back to health and common sense.
…Haha- cliff hanger. I wonder what she's going to do…
