Chapter Five: Five Years Later
It had been five years since Mika and Itsuki Ito found me down an old well. In those five years, no one had come to claim me, and my memory remained the same. Since being adopted, my parents, and I, had done everything a family could together. We traveled all over Japan, vacationing at the beaches, relaxing at the spas for mother daughter weekends with friends, and even traveling outside of Japan to other countries.
Now that it had been exactly five years to the day since I was found, I noticed I had grown into a beautiful twenty-one-year-old woman. I examined my nude form in the bathroom mirror, gazing at how much my body had changed since I was sixteen. My long, midnight hair fell down my back, past my waist. My cheekbones became more accented so that when I smiled, I made everyone's heads turn, and admire my beauty. When I was in high school, boys were head over heels for me, ogling my voluptuous figure when I walked through the halls. They were even so jealous of my amazing boyfriend that they wished they were him. He was, after all, the star soccer player of the high school, and indisputably the hottest guy in school. That was a few years ago and we are still together.
I continued looking down at my body, where my breasts rested. They were very well rounded, perky, and soft to the touch. I looked down more, ran my fingers over my smooth, flat stomach, avoiding my new piercing on my belly button, and ran my hands over my divine curves. Though I was not as tall for only being five-three, I had the body of a swimsuit model.
I didn't realize I had been staring at myself for a long period of time after my shower when I felt cold. I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around my frame and left for my bedroom. I had a big day planned, to hang out with my two best friends Oakley and Kiki, then later with my boyfriend Kiyoshi on a date.
My bedroom has changed over the last five years. The walls went from a plain white to an off gray. My bed sheets were a light shade of coral and the quilt was white with a print of arrows in several different sizes in the same shade of coral. A lot more furniture was added through the years. A white desk had been bought for when I did schoolwork, or for my drawings that were scattered all over my bedroom walls.
When I wasn't doing either of those, I would sit in my large coral papasan, wrapped in a fluffy coral blanket reading a good book about different mythical beasts falling in love with human girls. These beasts were almost like the mysterious man from my dreams. I still couldn't comprehend who this mysterious, mythical, handsome man was. Every time I saw Lord Sesshomaru in my dreams he always called me Rin and I didn't understand why? Every time I woke up from having these dreams, I would pick up my sketchbook or tablet, and draw him over and over. I would draw from his head and down to his shoulders. If he was real, I wanted to do a full on sketch of him, shirtless grazing out under a tree. Sometimes I dreamt of drawing him naked, soaking waist deep in water. I had a very imaginative mind.
After I dressed in a normal light blue dress and skin tone heel wedges, I pulled my hair back into a braided ponytail, and then placed a silver chain necklace with a jasmine flower that dangled around my neck. It was my favorite piece of jewelry. It was given to me on Christmas Day five years ago. It was the second best gift I ever received. I also sprayed on a perfume with the scent of pear-vanilla.
Rechecking myself one last time, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen. I was home alone on the first day of summer vacation in July. My parents were at work in the city, which was where I was heading soon to spend time with my friends. I was excited because me and the girls had been planning this fun day out for weeks. I was about to open the fridge when my phone started ringing. It was an incoming FaceTime call from Kiki.
I answered quickly, "Hey Kiki. How are you this morning?" I looked through the fridge for breakfast.
"Hey Hana, I'm doing great. Omg… you look so pretty. Are you ready to hang out today?"
"Thank you. Yes, I'm ready! Are you with Oakley?"
"Yes she is!" she heard her other best friend say out loud. "We'll be there in ten minutes. We are going to shop till we drop!" I'm so ready to buy new outfits.
"You and fashion are like a drug, Oakley." I looked at the time on the gas stove. "Let me eat a quick breakfast and I'll be outside by the time you get here."
"Cool. We'll see you soon." After hanging up, I pulled out a small plate of watermelon. It was my favorite fruit in the whole world. I got a tall glass and filled it with lemon tea. I finished it within five minutes and went to brush my teeth in the half-bath under the staircase. Just as I turned off the light, a quick honk could be heard outside. Quickly I grabbed my phone and purse, walked outside, locking the French door behind me.
Inside the blue Nissan, were my two best friends since I was sixteen years old. "Ahh, can you believe it's finally summer vacation?" Kiki shouted happily as I got into the car.
"Haha, Yep."
"Hana, are you excited to start university again?"
"Yes! Just one more week and I'll be back in my dorm."
"Sweet. Oh! By the way, how are things with you and Kiyoshi? Have you guys done it yet?" Kiki asked, looking back as we were nearing the city.
"Oh god no. He knows my boundaries. But we are doing great. We have a date tonight. So I was thinking of getting a new dress to wear this evening." I smiled happily. "Can you believe he and I have been going out for almost five years now!"
"Has it really been almost five years? Damn time sure does fly by." Oakley smiled happily.
"Yeah," I blushed. We arrived in the city in under forty minutes. We parked along the street near the Higurashi shrine. "Hey, before we head out to shop, why don't we stop at the shrine and pay our respects."
"Yes, we could also ask for pleasant bringing's for us this summer." I would also ask for my memories to be returned of who I really am. We all agreed and ventured towards the long staircase to the shrine.
When we were about to walk up, a vision flashed before my eyes.
The same young teen girl walked to a hut that sat next to the narrow staircase. A elderly lady with fair gray hair, wearing an eyepatch over her right eye came out. "Welcome home, young Rin. Did you have a lovely time during Lord Sesshomaru's visit?"
"I did! We hung out along the meadow where the wild flowers grow." Why do I keep having these flashbacks? "He invited me to come to his castle since the village nearby is having a festival. He even told me a place near his home is looking for a painter for different types of art."
"That's lovely dear. Now how about we have a good hot cup of tea? Then you can tell me all about this upcoming festival and possible job."
"Hana? Hana?" I felt my shoulder being shaken by Kiki.
I shook my head. "Sorry I thought I saw something."
"Are you okay? We can do something else if you are not well?" Oakley said.
"No, no I'm fine. I promise." I smiled at my best friend who's like a sister to me.
"Okay. If you feel uneasy, let us know, and we can change our plans," Oakley announced.
"I will." I don't tell anyone about my flashbacks. All three of us walked up the numerous stone stairs. We lost count of the steps.
When we finally reached the top, Kiki said, "I… don't… see how… the owners… can do… this everyday." She had to catch her breath.
"It wasn't that bad," I bantered with a laugh afterward.
"Hana, you have the energy because Kiyoshi makes you go on runs through the city parks," Oakley laughed too.
"More of the track at school. But yes, he insisted that we go through the city almost everyday near downtown." I looked around the massive property. "Wow!" So many small buildings surrounded the family shrine.
We all walked around eyeing each layout. One of which had a label called, 'Honekui no Ido'. I stopped to look at the building that was open. "Bone Eaters Well? I wonder why they call it that?"
"Odd name for a well I must say," Kiki mentioned. After staring at the open building, we all continued on looking around before we went to pay our respects.
Inuyasha and I both arrived back in the modern era, from the feudal era where I have been living for almost ten years now. We brought back lots of fruits, vegetables, and other sorts of delicious foods for mom to serve the family. We even brought back dehydrated demon feet for grandpa.
"Kagome, do you think we brought back too much?" We both very carefully climbed out of the well and walked up the small staircase to head out on the grounds.
"No! Mom always makes meal plans ahead, makes the food, and then freezes it." The wind blew and Inuyasha I believe caught a familiar scent. "Inuyasha, what is it?" I asked, seeing his eyes were in a haze. Maybe mom was nearby? Or possibly grandpa?
"Kagome, my nose might be playing tricks on me but… I think I caught Rin's scent nearby."
"What? Rin? Inuyasha, that's impossible! There is no way for Rin to be here in this era," I sadly informed him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Rin was like a little sister to him. He always watched out for her all those years ago. "We all miss her dearly and wish she was still with us…" my ears perked up, "I think my family's shrine has visitors today!" That's who's scent he must have caught.
We both walked out to see three girl's by the shrine's blessing box. I could see Inuyasha's eyes were on the girl who stood in the middle. The wind blew and he sniffed the air. "Kagome, I smell pear-vanilla!"
"What? That's impossible."
"Kagome, I definitely picked up Rin's scent from that girl standing in the middle. From here I can see the exact type of teeth marks that Rin had on her neck." Still impossible for the girl to be Rin.
"Inuyasha, that girl is not Rin. We all want to see her again, but… we just need to keep her memory in our hearts." I believe she tragically died in quicksand that day.
As we walked past the blessing box, "hey dude, are you a cosplayer? Your fluffy ears are awesome," a cheerful girl who was the closest to us called out.
"Uh? Cosplayer?" Inuyasha questioned.
"Uh, yes. He loves to dress up as that new awesome fox demon character that's appeared on television recently," I kept their conversation going.
"Kagome, what are you talking about?"
I pulled Inuyasha by the ear and whispered, "just play along."
He just stared at me for a few seconds and then went back to the group of girls. "Yeah, what Kagome said." I could see Inuyasha's eyes were on the girl that stood in the middle, "she really looks like Rin!" I heard him whisper.
I stared at the man with the fluffy ears that got called Inuyasha. I kept seeing visions with the same girl named Rin as she traveled around a small village with a silver haired man, just like the one in front of me. I felt my shoulders shaking again, "Hana, you're spacing out again!"
"Oh! Sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Are you sure you are feeling okay? Is the tree pollen getting to you?" Kiki asked, worried.
"It might be, but I promise I'll be okay," I smiled towards my friends. I then turned my attention back towards the couple before me. "You all have an amazing day," bowing to them.
"You too," I smiled at the woman who was called Kagome happily.
As we walked away, I thought I heard the silver haired boy say, "Kagome, she does look so much like her." Who do I look like? Or do they mean my friends?
Several hours later, I returned home from a long day in the city. I had found a dress that I would wear tonight on my date with Kiyoshi. Inside, I found my mother who had just got home herself from a twenty-four hour shift at the hospital. "Hey mom, welcome home," I walked into the living room, gave her a hug, and took a seat on the couch.
"Hi dear, did you have a good day out with the girls?" mom asked with a yawn. I'm surprised she hasn't gone to bed yet.
"I did and I got a dress for my date tonight. Could you help with my hair, possibly loose curls?"
"Sure dear, let me get a few hours rest first."
"Of course, I was planning to get a nap really quick myself."
As we talked the news came on. It went on talking about the ninth female victim being found deceased in an alleyway in the same city we lived in. The killer was known as Shikon Park Killer. Police believe the killer would follow his female victims, kidnap them by knife point, take them to different locations, sexually assault them just before he would kill them by slitting their throats. They believe the killer picked his victims that walked through the very park where I used to hang out with my friends to have lunch and socialize.
Mom turned off the television, "this scares me, knowing there's a serial killer out there. One of the victims from this died just after they brought her in. It was sad. She was only just a few years older than you."
"That's sad, it scares me too mom. I hope they catch this person soon." I would hate to be the tenth victim.
"Me too dear. Please tell me, are you, and Kiyoshi keeping your date close to home? I don't think I want you guys out in the city all night," mom asked worriedly. "Especially your father."
"I think we'll be close to home."
"Just keep me updated wherever you guys go."
"I will." Even though I'm twenty-one, I'm still keeping mom and dad updated on everything I do when I go out.
After my nap, I got another shower and went to my medium sized bedroom, wrapped in a white towel. My mother was there waiting with everything to fix my hair into curls. "So where is Kiyoshi taking you tonight?" Mom asked, blow drying my hair.
"I'm not sure, though he did say dress nicely and pair it with comfortable shoes. From the way it sounds, we might go clubbing."
"Well, I hope you both have an amazing time." She turned off the hair dryer and picked up the curling iron. "Now, little curls or big?"
"Big, please?" Mom was amazing at styling hair. She had my hair done in no time flat. "Perfect, now for you to get dressed." I pulled a light, pale blue dress out of a white shopping bag. I slipped the cotton dress on, that ended past my butt. The sleeves were ruffled, hanging below my shoulders. Along the dress had jasmine prints in several different spots. "Mom, could you help me tie the knot?"
"Of course dear, this is such a beautiful color and your necklace will go great with it."
"Thank you, it's the reason why I got it," she smiled, happily.
Later that evening Kiyoshi and I arrived at an Italian restaurant along a river. He was your typical boyfriend that was in love with his girlfriend. Opens doors from cars to restaurants. He was dressed in a white quarter sleeved button up shirt, and denim blue jeans. His brown hair fell over his forehead, almost covering his hazel eyes, which I was in love with. Kiyoshi was a halfer. He was half Italian and half Japanese. His tan skin brought out his Italian side from his father's genes. "Did I tell you how beautiful you look this evening?" He grabbed my hand and kissed his way up to my shoulder.
"Haha, yes several times." He kept kissing me till he reached my other hand. "Haha, that tickles."
"Mmh, I love doing this to you. Including this," he came around to face me fully, cupping my chin, and his lips met with mine with soft pecks. We slowly picked up our snogging to where we both had to catch our breath. "I love you my little bunny," pulling me into a hug.
"I love you too, my big strong wolf." Yes, we were your typical couple who gave each other pet names.
We didn't have to wait for long and were brought to our table, to enjoy this beautiful evening together.
I sat in my study with all the back patio doors opened, allowing the midnight breeze to blow through. It calmed my mind, smelling the pear trees wafting through my castle. It was a smell that I would never get over having around me. Rin's presence still was missed within my home. Upon occasion I could hear her laughter echoing through the hallways. Sometimes I could hear her gentle laugh inside her room that remained closed and locked. Five years and she was still missing. In the back of my mind I believed that she was no longer a part of this world, but part of me truly believed that she was still alive, and healthy with a family that loves her.
Every year on that day she disappeared, I would visit the exact same place she vanished. In those days my mother would drop by and tell me to forget about Rin and find a mate to create heirs. Though I would tell her the same thing over and over that I wasn't ready, she would still persist with me to meet with one pure-blooded youkai, a dog demon named Kori. I finally gave in and decided to meet her.
My mother brought Kori to my home for the first-time last year. Her long silver hair fell down her back, ending at her hips. Her golden eyes were lighter than mine and she had the markings of ice blue thin stripes on her cheeks. I did find her beautiful and intended to get to know her more, but she was a very demanding youkai. The first few nights of her visit, she wanted the room that was once Rin's for herself, but I wouldn't allow anyone inside. When Kori would ask why, I would say it was none of her concern. Then she demanded for the silkiest kimonos, along with hairpins, perfumes, and every other girly thing that money could buy. I wouldn't budge for her demands. My home was already filled with her own personal belongings in her room on the other side of my castle, which was near the training grounds and stables.
Sitting in my study, another smell wafted through the air. The scent of kelp. I knew who was approaching. Kori walked through my opened doors, dressed in a loose fitting white yukata and knelt down behind me. She pulled back my silver locks, nipping at my neck. "Lie down with me?" She whispered, licking at my pointed ear.
Her hands slithered down my neck, down my body to where the obi that held my haroi top together. That did it for me. I removed her hands quickly, "I've told you to keep your hands off me. We'll lie down when I say."
"You've been saying that since last year. I'm ready to mate with you." She got up, straddled my hips, and leaned her lips onto mine, taking in the heat from our kissing. She lowered her yukata, exposing herself half naked. She didn't care if anyone walked by and saw what was happening. Kori grabbed my clawed hand, and forced me to feel her perky breast. I knew she wanted to feel the sensation of my grasp, but I wasn't having it. I pulled back and removed my hand, "why do you hold off this long? You are over 900 years old. Does my scent repulse you?" It does. She gripped my chin, and forced her tongue into my mouth. "Mate with me Lord Sesshomaru. Make a woman out of me," she hissed. Kori forced her mouth onto mine again. She gripped my other hand and brought it to where her heat was building up between her legs.
I stopped her movement, forced her face and body off me, "a lot of things repulse me. I'll make you wait a thousand years if you don't stop. I don't appreciate being forced upon for sexual gratifications." I displeased anything that came to sex.
"A thousand years? Eh, you're ridiculous Lord Sesshomaru. I've waited five hundred years for this time that I was mature enough to mate. I want to bear your offspring. I want to give birth to a beautiful baby boy that will one day become the next heir after your time here is up," she got behind me and whispered into my ear again.
"Keep at it and it will be another thousand years added. I don't have an issue making you wait and children are the least of my worries," my voice was stern. I was getting annoyed with Kori breathing on me from behind. "Go back to your room and leave me be!"
"Room? Eh. When are you going to give me that room that once belonged to that dead human girl you kept as a pet?" She moved around and sat in front of me on the opposite of my desk. "I don't see why you keep it locked. There's nothing special about a dead human girl."
"Rin's room will belong to no one. She is… not dead!" I still had a strong feeling that she was alive and would return one day. I see her with the same smile, introducing me to the one who calls her heart, and the family that he gave her.
"News flash!" Snapping her clawed fingers like a spoiled girl. "She has been gone five years and I'm sorry, if she fell down that rickety old well," pointing in the direction of the area. "The ground probably swallowed her up. Now put your seed in me." Her light golden eyes were becoming heavy for my body against hers. She exposed herself more, removing the rest of her clothes.
My eyes turned redder than blood. I jumped over the table, gripped the young naked youkai by the throat, and pinned her against the wall. "You will never speak out of line like that towards me ever again," my nails almost dug into her neck causing prick holes. "Two thousand years you'll have to wait now. Now get out of my study," letting her neck go, she fell down to her bare butt.
Trying to catch her breath, "I would rather fuck a wolf than be with you. You are a horrible excuse for a pure-blooded youkai." She got to her feet, got redressed, and started to walk out.
"Fine by me. Tomorrow morning you will leave and never be allowed to return." I needed to get away. The scent of Kori was lingering on me. I darted out of my study, almost knocking her to her feet again, and flew off. I wanted to wash away her scent of kelp at the springs outside my home.
After we ate dinner, Kiyoshi took a sip of his drink, "Hana, I have something I would like to ask you."
"What's that?"
I watched as he stood up and came around and got down on one knee and pulled out a little white square box. He's…."Hana, will you marry me?" He opened the little box and I was speechless. I never thought he would ask me. "Hana?"
"YES!" I can't believe it! I'm engaged! "I love you so much!" It's sad we can't celebrate for the next few days with everyone. I leave tomorrow early for a long two weeks at the cabin. Mom and dad would come later that day.
Kiyoshi slipped the medium sized diamond ring onto my ring finger, pulled me to stand, and we kissed to our new soon life together. "I love you too, Hana." People who surrounded us clapped, cheered, and even raised their drinks for us. I couldn't wait to show mom and dad the ring. Even my two best friends.
What do you see happening in the next chapter?