Hope you enjoyed the first chapter!
If you are sensitive to the subject of cancer, there is mention of that. It is the fourth time-lapse in this chapter. If you wish to skip, please do so.
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Sesshomaru stared out the windows of his office. His long hair was loose, his face relaxed, but his eyes…. They stared out of the window, seeing but not seeing at the same time. Today was a hard day for him and his pack. The joyful little girl he had saved had died on this today. In his all his years, Sesshomaru did not think he had missed anyone more than her. She had touched him in a way no being could. She showed him the good in the world, the innocence of a child, and the love of a daughter. A sigh escaped Sesshomaru's lips. How long had it been since she passed? It felt like a thousand years. Her skin beginning to gray and olden with time. Her long brown hair slowly faded to gray, her eye's dulling of the young lust for life.
She had married and had children, the only humans to actually live in the Western Shiro. Due to the treaty, his father and Midoriko formed, yōkai and humans freely mingled; Rin loved it. She enjoyed mingling among the different species. As her children grew, Rin taught them all about the yōkai she had met in her travels with Sesshomaru. She told them stories of a dragon and terrifying hanyous, Sesshomaru was proud of that. In the years that passed, her family grew large and expanded more. Children married and had children of their own so on and so forth. It wasn't till the Great Wars that her line all but died out. He had promised Rin on her deathbed to watch over her family just as he had done her. He failed.
When Tokyo was, firebombed by the American's, Sesshomaru was unable to stop the destruction of her family. As the kami's would have it, however, one boy survived. The child would reestablish his family live in the shrine that stood for more than 500 years. Sesshomaru smiled at the thought. The small family of three had just welcomed their newest member. A little boy named Souta. The eldest child was a little girl named Kagome. She had Rin's innocent smile, but her eyes were otherworldly. They were blue, like the clear sea. He had only seen one other Japanese women with the same eyes, Midoriko. He had to laugh at himself now for not seeing the connection of Rin and Midoriko. He had not realized it till they had killed Naraku that the little girl was Midoriko's however many great-grandnieces.
It should not have been a surprise since Rin held the kindness and acceptance that Midoriko had. She cared for the living, no matter their species or where they came from. Rich or poor. Yes, he was very proud to call her his own. As his mind dwelled on the past, a sudden panicked voice yelled from the hall, before a burst of yōkai flared. Scrunching up his nose, Sesshomaru rose to investigate.
"My Lord!" Squawked his retainer. Jaken had burst through the door bringing the smell of salt and water.
"What Jaken?" Sesshomaru said, annoyed at his retainer's outburst.
"T-T-The family was in an accident!" the toad screamed out. His green skin was dulled and clammy. Sweat seeped through his pores, tears spilled from his eyes. Sesshomaru's blood ran cold. Snarling, the Lord of the West darted from the room. How could this have happened? His jaws snapped in anger.
He had summoned the best medical team, by-passing the normal human route. The mother of the family was rushed into surgery, but had died on the operating table. The father had been pronounced dead at the scene, the babe named Souta had been tossed from the car. The car seat not protecting him as it should have. However, as Sesshomaru entered the hospital he was informed that Kagome had survived. She was in surgery. After questioning the medical staff, Sesshomaru discovered the girl had lost her eye-sight. Her eyes clouding over with a film. Inuyasha arrived, his blood pulsing with fear. Sesshomaru did not have to heart to tell him. He had failed his ward. No—He had failed his daughter. Again.
Sesshomaru watched as the little girl's chest moved up and down with help from a ventilator. Her mother had been pronounced dead an hour ago, he growled lowly. The police had said it was some freak accident, but Sesshomaru was unconvinced. He had Jaken pull some favors from a yōkai police squad, his old friend Tatchi had taken the case. His partner Shippo was already on scene, apparently, the kit had witnessed the accident. Balling a fist in anger, Sesshomaru continued to watch the child. Inuyasha's clawed hand laid on his shoulder.
"Her guardian is here," Inuyasha said softly, his ear's flattened against his head.
"I failed," Sesshomaru whispered, his eyes never leaving the girl. The area around her eyes was bandaged, the doctors who worked on her would not know if the surgery worked until she woke up. She had been lucky though, other than some bruising and a broken arm, she had survived.
"You did not fail brother, you could not have known. Zuri has gone missing, no trace. No one could have predicted that," Inuyasha said. He hated seeing Sesshomaru like this. Rin had always held a spot in their pack even in death, she was pack. Inuyasha had done everything he could to help Sesshomaru fulfill Rin's last request. It had been Inuyasha's fault that the family barely survived the firebombing. He wanted to go to war to stop the Nazi's, but in his absence, they had been killed.
"Have some men posted outside of her guardian's home. She is the last of the family, she will not meet an untimely end," Sesshomaru ordered before turning away from the room. Inuyasha watched as his brother walked down the hall, his aura filled with anger and sorrow. Before Inuyasha turned away from Kagome's room, he watched her for a moment. She was a pretty child; her smile had been as warm as Rin's, Inuyasha felt a stab in his heart at the thought. "I'm sorry I failed you Rin," he said before turning away.
She was nervous. She was always nervous when it came to interacting with children her own age. They were cruel and bullied her. Kagome hated being different, almost resented it honestly. At the tender age of 10, she had dealt with more hardships then anyone of her classmates. She gulped as Keade spoke to her teacher. Kagome looked up at Keade, silently begging her not to make her stay. She was dressed in a purple dress, or at least that is what Keade said it was. She looked down at her waist, almost willing her eyes to see. Like always the will did not provide the sight that had been taken from her. Her world was full of darkness, except those rare moment of color that burst through the gloom. Keade had told her it was her Miko powers, her powers were registering others with auras. Kagome was not sure if she believed it, but each time the burst of color appeared she was in aw.
"Kagome," a soft motherly voice said as if knowing her thoughts.
"It's not fair," Kagome said, her eyebrows knitted in anger.
"I know my child. But the Kamis-," Keade was cut off.
"The Kamis are mean. They stole momma, daddy, and Souta!" Kagome snapped before stamping a foot. Keade wrapped her in a hug, placing her chin on Kagome's head. The child began to cry again. They taught parenting classes, but no one taught how to deal with a child who had lost her family and her eyesight. Keade was at a lost most nights. In the past year of Kagome's recovery, the child cried angry tears. She cursed the Kamis for taking her parents and brothers away. Most nights she would cry herself to sleep.
For the first time Keade in her Miko career, she was unprepared on how to heal someone. Keade, rubbed Kagome's back until she stopped crying. She mumbled a half-felt apology that made Keade laugh. "Listen little bird, you are destined for great things. That is why Midoriko intervened, never forget that," Keade said with a soft smile.
"I thought you didn't believe me, no one else does," Kagome said sniffing.
"I do now," Keade said.
"You promise?" Kagome asked, her eyes suddenly transfixed on to Keade's face. Seeing without seeing. It had been something Keade discovered when Kagome had come home from the hospital. She would speak directly to you, as if she could see clear as day. But the film over the little girl's eyes told the truth.
"Pinky promise," Keade said, linking her and Kagome's pinky.
A pair of green eyes watched the two from down the hall. His skin shimmered as is partner appears. The pair watched and the older women spoke to the girl about her classroom. The first male was tall and slender; his normally blue skin was hidden under a disguise that appeared human. The second male was shorter with orange hair and green eyes.
"Tatchi are we sure we don't need to intervene? Last week that kid kicked a ball at her head," the orange hair's male asked.
"No Shippo, Lord Sesshomaru does not want us to intervene unless she is in mortal danger," The male named Tatchi said, before pulling out a cigarette.
"That kid Tashiko is a little shit," Shippo grumbled. Tatchi chuckled and agreed, the pair turned away as Keade walked away from the little girl.
"How long do we have to follow her anyway?" Shippo asked.
"Till told otherwise. Besides Zuri's disappearance is still a concern. " Tatchi responded as the pair of men got into a white car.
Miroku watched as the girl ate lunch by herself. They had been in the same school for a year now. She was pretty for her age, but those eyes. She creeped people out with them, almost as if she was faking being blind. Finally making his mind up, Miroku stood with his lunch box and walked over to her table. His chocolate eyes trained on the seat across from her.
"Hello," he said, as he slid into the seat.
Her eyes snapped up at his face. He was unable to read her expression, her eyebrows knitted slightly, as if in concentration. There was a long pause between them, suddenly he felt a small push of aura coming from the girl. His eyes widened in shock, his mouth dropping slightly
"You're a Miko!" he exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes and you are a Monk are you not?" she asked, before taking a bite of a rice ball.
"Yes, I am. I am of the Hongu family, you are a Higurashi right?" he asked, suddenly putting two and two together.
"Yup," she said, her tone edgy. She hated speaking about her family, even after two years it was still a sore spot.
"Your family guarded the Shikon no Tama," Miroku whispered as if he was afraid of being herd.
"Midoriko created it. After the battle with the hanyou Naraku it was destroyed by Miko Kikyo. It does not exist, so asking me for it won't do you any good," Kagome said, her tone darkening. Keade warned her of this. People still seeking the famed jewel for its power. The damn thing didn't even exist anymore!
"Oh no! I'm sorry. My father just told me stories since I was little. I didn't mean to make you think I wanted it. Besides I knew Kikyo destroyed it. She had teamed up with three yōkai's to kill Naraku. I heard one of them was Inu!" Miroku said excitedly.
"Two were. One was full and the other half. My papa showed me a painting of it once," Kagome said, suddenly liking the kid before her.
"I'm Miroku," he said introducing himself.
"Kagome," she responded with a smile.
"Kagome?" Miroku called out in the darkened room. She was curled up on the bed, her face buried into a pillow.
"Go away!" she shouted, her voice cracking. He did not need to light to know her face was blotchy from crying right that her eyes were bloodshot from not sleeping. He sat next to her on the bed, feeling the small movements of her sobs.
"Bird" he whispered, causing her to sob harder. He gently took the girl into his arms and rocked her back and forth as she sobbed into his chest. Her fingers grasping at his shirt as if he would disappear.
It had been a long six months for them. She had barely gone to school, relying on friends to give her the work to make up. She had sat and held Keade's hand through every treatment, Kagome held her hair as the women vomited, hell in Keade's last days of life Kagome told her stories about their family. Keade had lost her mind by then, not knowing who she was or who Kagome was. It broke Miroku's heart to see Kagome just smile and tell her who she was for the millionth time that day.
"It's not fair," she said in between sobs, her chest heaving for air.
"I know bird. I know," he whispered, still rocking her. His hand stroked her hair as the pair sat in the dark. Six long months of chemotherapy, of doctors' visits, hospitals, and finally the hospice. Suddenly, Miroku wanted to shout at the sky, as Kagome continued to sob. How cruel the Kami's were to her! She had lost everyone and just when things were going well they ripped Keade from her. Miroku, after five years, realized how attached the women were. Keade had trained Kagome in the way of the Miko, she had cared for Kagome, loved her like her own child. Fate was cruel indeed. It was almost rubbing salt in the wound when the pair of teens found out Kagome was being placed in a foster care facility.
His hand tensed in Kagome's hair. Miroku had begged his father to take her in, when the government denied him, Miroku tried. He had been denied. Their reasoning for denying his father was that Kagome was not a blood relative. They denied Miroku because he was in college and unfit to be a guardian. He was angry and saddened. Miroku had helped pack some of her belongings in three suitcases, which stood at the bottom of the stairs. Miroku's father had arranged for a Monk to take care of the grounds until Kagome could return or find another caretaker. It was the best they could do.
Miroku's hair stood up. His eyes flickered out the window, the darkness had fallen over Tokyo for the night. The snow falling softly, almost creating an eerily orange glow from the city lights. Someone was watching them, his senses tingled with the feeling. His eyes scanned the tree line, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Was he being paranoid?
She screamed as Miroku read the letter and she kept screaming. Miroku laughed before she enveloped him in a hug. He could feel the tears on his skin as he chuckled. He was proud of her; though the acceptance letter shouldn't have come as a shock. But he was proud of her none the less.
"I can't believe it!" she exclaimed taking the paper from him and holding it to her chest. She held it out as if reading it. But he knew. She just wanted to bask in the glow of feeling it. Knowing that the words on the page were accepting her into Tokyo U's prestigious business program.
"I swear on my Monkhood that is what it says," he joked, earning him a giggle. How she had changed over the years. Her face finally lost its baby fat. She has grown in height, but not too tall. Her long black hair was pulled up out of her face. He smiled at her. A sense of brotherly pride swelled through his chest. Kagome was a grown woman now. After three years in foster care, she had beat the odds, just like he knew she would.
"You are staring Roku," she said, her eyes trained on his face.
"Are you sure you can't see me?" he asked chuckling.
"I can," she said, bringing her fingers to his face. Her fingertips traced his smile, then his jawline.
"The people here still think I am weird," she said, turning her head towards the door of her room.
"It's because you see without seeing dear bird. When do you move out of this shit hole?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at the tiny room. She had survived foster care, but the house was…. Disgusting. It lacked the proper number of bathrooms, the place was falling apart too. The ever-revolving door of wards of the government bothered Kagome. She had met all types, some she liked and others she didn't. She had met some friends, but they either aged out of the system or runaway, none stayed very long. She had tried to run once, but she had not gotten very far.
It had sparked their own fight. He raised his voice at her, asking how stupid she could have been. Suddenly her aura flared and she screamed at him. Unleashing years of resentment. She screamed about how angry she was stuck in the shit hole. How she just wanted to go home. She had been very good at hiding her feelings, he almost hated her for it. She had outgrown the resentment of losing her sight, but every so often he would catch a scowl if she tripped over something or bumped into someone. She was not perfect, but she had adapted. He even began creating a program for her to help her use a computer without any assistance.
"When you help me pack, trust me the witch doesn't want me to stay anymore then I do," Kagome said, referring to the female in charge of the home.
"Good," Miroku said, getting off the bed. It took two hours to pack everything and one more to load it into the rental truck she had called for.
"Will you stay with me or do you want to stay on campus?" Miroku asked as she drove away from the shit hole. Her face was turned towards the window, she was scowling.
"Hojo wants me to move in with him," she said. Miroku glared at the road in front of him. Where the hell did, that dickhead get off asking her that question?
"Do you want to?" Miroku asked, trying to keep his tone even.
"We broke up," she said, leaning her head on the window.
"Oh?" Miroku asked, unable to hide his excitement at the news.
"I told him I didn't want to move in with him. He started screaming that I was too independent and that I needed to rely on him more. He said I needed to stop being friends with you," Kagome said. Miroku's hands gripped the wheel tighter, making a small noise Kagome picked up.
The pair of men hated each other, she knew that. Hojo and she had only been "dating", if you wanted to call it that, for three months. He was nice at first, but he started to say things that made Kagome's hair stand up. When she spoke to Miroku about it, he immediately hated Hojo. She thought she was being paranoid, but their final argument told her all she needed to know. He had screamed at her, telling her she was had to be cheating on him with Miroku. That was why she didn't want to move in with him. Never mind he still lived with his parents and she had never met them. He tossed accusations of cheating and manipulation on her part, it had been hurtful in all honesty.
He then out of anger threw her disability in her face. Saying she would never truly live independently. She would always have to rely on someone. He knew she valued her independence and hated the pity she received. She was not her blindness; it was a part of her. She would not be defined by it. Yet, just days ago he defined her. Put her in this neat box that was labelled poor blind girl. At that point, she had lost her temper. Every little thing he did that annoyed her, she hurled at him. She told him how she hated him for wanting children. How she loathed the idea of even thinking about marrying him. Her final trump card was telling him why she never slept with him. He was just horrible at turning a girl on.
Part of her was glad at that moment to be blind. She was glad she did not see the utter heart break written on his face, sadly though, she could feel it. She tried to apologize, but he left her at the bus stop. She had felt bad about the things she said. All of it was true, but it wasn't his fault. He was who he was, she couldn't change that. Sometimes things didn't work out, she just…
"Kagome?" Miroku broke her chain of fault.
"I was horrible to him. I said things that I didn't mean, I was just so angry at what he said," she whispered, guilt flooding her chest.
"Sometimes we all do that. Remember with Yuri and I broke up?" Miroku said taking her hand in his.
"I said the worst things to her. I even stooped so low as to say she was ugly," Miroku admitted. "Sometimes people just say things because they are hurt. No one is perfect Kagome. Not even us holy beings. Especially not us, but we strive to grow and learn from our life lessons. Maybe after the sting wares off in a couple of months you can apologize to him," Miroku said trying to cheer her up.
"Yeah I guess so. I think I will live with you. Honestly, the amount of accommodations is just a hassle. I can call that cab company to take me to and from. The one driver Tatchi is nice to me. He's a yōkai!" she said happily.
"You are the only Miko I know who gets excited when she meets a yōkai, the rest of them are defensive," Miroku said, pulling into his parking space.
"That's the problem these days. People automatically assume the worst others. Did you hear about that nutter group calling for the Human and Yōkai Coalition of Peace to be renegotiated? They want to separate yōkai from humans, how outrageous is that?" Kagome said, holding on to his shirt as the pair walked to his apartment.
"They have some holy community backing to support them, that is what is even more outrageous," Miroku said opening the door.
"I can't imagine a world without yōkai, I mean imagine if I never met Shippo! I'd never get free tea at the bookshop! And I'd never would have made a friend in that shit hole. Honestly Roku he is a blessing." Kagome said.
"True. A world without yōkai would be boring. I wouldn't be able to intern at Tashio Inc, that's for sure," he said.
"How is that going?" Kagome asked, moving about his kitchen to make tea.
"Good, I have this lady named Kagura as my supervisor. She's strict but in a good way. She is dating a hanyou named Inuyasha. Apparently, they have been seeing each other for a hundred years," Miroku said.
"That long? Wow. Good for them! It's nice to see that Hanyous are not outcasted like they were all those years ago," Kagome said, pouring Miroku a cup.
"Do you want to visit the Shrine tomorrow? I don't have class or work," Miroku said, the idea just popping into his head.
"Yeah, I need to prepare for the Summer Festival," Kagome said smiling at a faded memory she had.