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Shadowcat1028: Thanks!
Hikaritenshi2000: I'm glad you like it! Don't worry, I'll have the new chapter up... now!
LynGreenTea: Don't worry, I'm writing more! Actually, I already have this story finished, and have begun work on the sequel!
AN: I hope you all like this chapter! I'm uploading two, so you have extra reading to do!
Chapter 4: Letters, Part 1
Kagome sprawled on her divan, and just rested her eyes. Sesshoumaru-chan… I wonder what's going on with you… You've been acting strangely around Lyn, Usa, and I for the last two days… it makes me wonder what you're thinking…
She opened her eyes to see Sesshoumaru standing a few yards away. "Sesshoumaru!" She sat bolt upright. "What brings you to my chambers, Sesshoumaru-san?"
"Kagome-san…" and Sesshoumaru sat down on another divan in her room, "I know you miss your friends. Wouldn't you like to send them messages, tell them that you're all right?"
Kagome Lynted, because she hadn't even thought of what her friends might think if she was gone too long. "You're right! Oh Sesshoumaru, what will I do? My friends probably think that I'm back in my—my home," she finished.
"And where exactly is your home?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"Well-I-live-on-the-other-side-of-the-well-in-InuYasha's-forest-about-500-years-in-the-future," Kagome said really quickly, hoping that Sesshoumaru didn't catch all of what she said.
"Hmm, I see. So, you're actually from the future?"
"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama."
"Kagome, cut the –sama out. I've told you time and again, you don't need to use that when we are alone."
"Hai, Sesshoumaru…" Kagome quieted.
Sesshoumaru called for Jaken. When the imp scurried in, Sesshoumaru turned to him. "Jaken. Fetch several pieces of stationery from my study, and bring them here to Kagome. She is going to try and contact her friends."
"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken scurried out.
Sesshoumaru turned to Kagome. "Enjoying your day off?"
"Actually, yes. I'd forgotten how tiresome watching little ones can be," Kagome replied. "I haven't had to baby-sit, let alone mentor a child… let's see… for the entire time I've been here, before I began working for you. Oh Kami…" Kagome closed her eyes. "Who's taking care of Souta?"
"Who is this Souta?" Sesshoumaru asked.
Kagome opened her eyes. "Souta is my little brother… I haven't seen him, or my family, in almost a year! Mama… Jii-chan… they must be so worried about me…" she almost started crying, but then her head snapped up. "Jaken is almost back…" She sat up, and straightened herself out.
Sesshoumaru caught himself before he smiled. Oh, Kagome-chan… you act so much the lady… I wish you were my lady… my Lady of the Western Lands…
Jaken knocked, and then walked in. "Kagome-sama, here is the stationery required. May I be excused, Sesshoumaru-dono?" When Sesshoumaru nodded, Jaken walked out.
Sesshoumaru looked at Kagome. "If you wish to write your friends now, I will leave."
He stood, and was about to leave when Kagome spoke. "Matte, Sesshoumaru, onegai?"
He turned. "What is it, Kagome?"
"Will you help me? I know you have other things to do, but—"
"I'd be happy to."
Sesshoumaru's reply caught Kagome completely off guard. "You're sure?"
"Absolutely."
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Kagome and Sesshoumaru sat back, and looked at the completed letters.
"Not bad, Kagome-san. Now, all that has to be done is get them delivered," Sesshoumaru said.
"I know just the pair who will do that." Kagome concentrated extremely hard. "Usa, Lyn, can you come to my antechamber? I have a favour to ask."
"Not a problem. We'll be right there," their answer reverberated in her head.
Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru. "Usa and Lyn should be here soon."
Usagi and Lyn walked in, as if on cue. "What do you need, shisuta-chan?" Lyn asked.
"Usa, Lyn, can you take these letters to my friends? And ask them to meet away from InuYasha before they read them. These four are for Kaede, Shippou, Sango, and Miroku," and she handed those to Usagi. "These two are for Kikyou and Kouga," and she handed them to Lyn.
Lyn asked, "Aren't Kikyou and Kouga with the rest of the group?"
"No, Lyn, they aren't. Kouga is an ookamiyoukai who has never gotten along with InuYasha, and stays away from him as much as possible. Kikyou has always been a lone traveller, until a couple of years ago, which is when she started living with Onigumo," Kagome explained. "Kouga is always on the move. You should be able to find him within a day or two, though, with the powers you have. Hell, you could always bring him to you. You have the power to do it.
"Usa-chan, my other friends are in the village near the well in InuYasha's forest. They don't go anywhere anymore, unless there's a stray youkai or two to destroy, and even then, they don't go very far, so they're usually back either the same day, or the next day," Kagome explained.
"Hai, Kagome-chan. We'll be back soon," Usagi and Lyn chorused.
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Usagi walked into the village, and immediately started looking for Kaede's hut. A villager approached her. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"I'm looking for the Miko Kaede-sama, the Houshi Miroku-sama, and the Taijiri Sango-sama," Usagi answered. "I have messages to deliver to them from the Princess Kagome-sama."
"From THE Kagome-sama?" The villager seemed doubtful. "Very well, I will lead you to them."
A few minutes later, the two stood outside Kaede's hut. "Miko Kaede-sama is inside."
"Domo arigatou," Usagi answered. She then walked inside.
Kaede stood. "Who are ye, and why are ye here?"
"Kaede-sama, onegai, calm down. I am here on an assignment from the Princess Kagome-sama," Usagi replied.
"From Kagome? Ye mean Higurashi Kagome, do ye not?"
"Hai, Kaede-sama, I do."
Kaede went to a back room, and a minute later, Miroku, Sango, and Shippou walked back out with Kaede.
Sango asked, "You are here on an assignment from Kagome-chan?"
"I thought she went home. Why would she be sending us letters in this era when she can just come see us?" Miroku questioned.
"Onegai, minna-san, sit," Usagi asked. "I just have one more question.
"InuYasha isn't here, is he?"
"No, he is not," Sango replied.
"All right." Usagi threw up an impenetrable barrier around the hut. "He won't be getting back inside until we're through here.
"I hold here messages from Kagome-chan, to all four of you. She requested that InuYasha not be here when you read them, so that he doesn't know she's alive. She believes that he thinks she is dead and gone," Usagi explained, handing out the messages.
The quartet read their letters.
LettertoKaedelettertoKaedelettertoKaede
Kaede-sama,
This is Kagome. I'm sorry I haven't gotten in touch before now.
I'm safe, and I'm living in Sesshoumaru's palace right now. He rescued me from InuYasha six months ago, and I've been living with him ever since.
I miss all of you so much, and I wish you were here with me.
I must keep this short. If you wish to visit me, then come to Sesshoumaru's palace.
Lots of love,
Kagome
LettertoMirokulettertoMirokulettertoMirokuMiroku,
This is Kagome. I'm sorry I haven't gotten in touch before now; I've been really busy.
I'm safe, and I'm living in Sesshoumaru's palace right now. He rescued me from InuYasha six months ago, and I've been living with him ever since.
I must keep this short. If you wish to visit me, then come to Sesshoumaru's palace.
From your friend,
Kagome
LettertoSangolettertoSangolettertoSango Sango-chan,This is Kagome. I'm sorry I haven't gotten in touch before now; I've been really busy.
I'm safe, and I'm living in Sesshoumaru's palace right now. He rescued me from InuYasha six months ago, and I've been living with him ever since.
I miss you all, and I wish you were here with me. It's been hard.
I must keep this short. If you wish to visit me, then come to Sesshoumaru's palace.
Love from your adoptive sister,
Kagome
LettertoShippoulettertoShippoulettertoShippouShippou-chan,
This is Kagome-mama. I imagine that my absence has been the hardest on you. I'm sorry I haven't gotten in touch before now.
Listen, Shippou, and listen well. InuYasha thinks I am dead, I know he does. It is extremely important that you do NOT show him this letter. I don't want him to know that I'm alive and healthy.
I'm safe, and I'm living in Sesshoumaru's palace right now. He rescued me from InuYasha six months ago, and I've been living with him ever since.
I miss you most of all, and I wish you were here with me. It's been hard.
I must keep this short. If you wish to visit me, then come to Sesshoumaru's palace, with Sango, Miroku, and Kaede. Just make sure that InuYasha doesn't follow you.
Love from your adoptive mother,
Kagome
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The quartet looked at each other, and Sango and Shippou shared a hug. "I can hardly believe it… Kagome-mama is all right!" Shippou cried.
Sango and Kaede didn't say a word; they just let their tears of joy run down their faces.
Miroku looked at Usagi. "So, Kagome is living with Sesshoumaru now, hmm? Well, as long as she's happy, then that's good."
Usagi smiled. "I knew you would say that."
The quartet looked at Usagi. "Can you take us to Kagome now?"
"Unfortunately, no. InuYasha might get suspicious if he shows up and none of you are here. Kagome-chan told me that InuYasha was to be kept ignorant of this for as long as possible. She wants nothing to do with him. And I can't really say I blame her. If any man hurt me as much as he hurt her, I wouldn't want anything to do with him either," Usagi replied.
"What do you mean, InuYasha hurt Kagome-chan?" Sango asked.
"Yes, please explain," Miroku added.
"You mean, you never knew? Ever?" Usagi asked. When everyone shook his or her heads no, she began. "InuYasha, whenever he and Kagome were alone, would beat Kagome. She still has scars from where he hit, kicked, or slashed at her.
"He was doing that for the last two years before Kagome disappeared."
"He WHAT!" Sango yelled. Miroku put a hand on her shoulder. She continued, "InuYasha will die for what he has done!"
"Sango-sama! Calm down, please!" Usagi cautioned. "Just because I have a barrier up doesn't mean that InuYasha can't hear what we're saying!
"Now," Usagi continued in a hushed voice, "I have to go back to Sesshoumaru's palace. As Kagome more than likely said in her letters, if you wish to visit her, just come to his palace. You will be welcomed."
With that, Usagi removed the barrier, and walked out.
FinalbreaklineforthischapterWell, I hope you liked this chapter!
Namida sae mo niji
ni kaeru tenshi no hohoemi.
An angel's smile will turn even tears
into rainbows.
Jii-chan - grandfather
Matte - wait
Onegai - please
Shisuta-chan - sister
Ookamiyoukai - Wolf demon
Miko - Priestess
Houshi - Monk
Taijiri - Demon slayer
Minna - everyone
