A/N: Quick note here. Umm, I have no idea why I haven't posted the next couple of chapters of this, seeing as they've been archived on my flash drive the whole time. Sorry guys. It's been a really busy couple of years. Got divorced, was depressed, my son is starting kindergarten this year, and I've returned to school myself. Also writer's block. Like, severe writer's block. I can't say for certain if I'll be able to resume posting regularly, but I'll do what I can. Just remain patient with me, please!
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Kagome hummed an indistinct tune under her breath as she gently swung her grocery bag in one hand, the other clutching an umbrella that she was pretty sure she was going to have to use before she made it home. Though only a block away, the sky looked dark and threatening enough to unleash a downpour any second.
A moment later, said downpour started, and the miko skillfully flipped open her umbrella, suffering minimal damage. Her hair was going to curl no matter what, though, and she resolved to put a little frizz-out in it before she went to bed tonight. Otherwise she'd wake up looking like she'd put her finger in an electric socket. Kagome blinked slightly when she took note of the pretty auburn-haired woman situated underneath a tiny awning, staring up at the sky with a miserable expression. The small amount of shelter was leaking, dripping rain onto her shoulders and arms as she rubbed them together to ward off the chill in the air.
The former time traveler stared at the woman a moment longer before glancing up at her umbrella and sighing, making her decision easily. Approaching the older lady, the school girl stopped and closed her umbrella, holding the handle out to the surprised woman and getting soaked in the process. "Here. Take it."
"What? You must be joking, young lady!" she cried, staring at the drenched teenager in shock.
"Nope. You look like you need it more than I do. A little rain won't kill me, but that's a silk shirt you're ruining, so I suggest you take it and get home."
"I... I can't. My car broke down a few streets back and I was searching for something called a payphone because me cellphone's battery is dead. It's a phone that everyone can use and-!"
"I know what a payphone is, lady," Kagome grumbled, reaching out and taking the woman's left hand. Briefly noting the expensive looking wedding ring on her perfectly manicured hand, the miko slapped the umbrella in her hand and turned to walk away. Her groceries would survive. They weren't anything that got ruined by the rain. Sighing to herself, she pulled one water-drenched lock over her shoulder to look at it and glared. "Stupid chivalrous 'Help the poor rich lady!' crap."
The rain suddenly stopped pouring on her, and the girl looked up to see her umbrella covering her. Turning, she regarded the redhead giving her a motherly smile and decided that maybe not all rich people were like her grandmother. She was being proven that at school, after all.
"I understand that I am a complete stranger to you, miss, but I have children at home and as a mother, I simply can't leave you to walk in the rain to wherever you're going without a clean conscience."
Kaogme gave the woman a blank stare before blowing out a breath and letting a half smirk dominate her features. "Fine. You can use my house phone to call someone to come get you. I'm pretty sure Mama won't mind."
"Thank you, dear. There are so few people as sweet as you in this world," the woman sighed, amber eyes that reminded the shrine maiden painfully of Inuyasha softening in gratitude, "My name is Hitachiin Yuzuha."
"Higurashi Kagome. Nice to meet you Hitachiin-san," the teenager answered, bowing politely and straightening. With a gesture, the two females started walking.
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"Shoes go here, Hitachiin-san," Kagome slipped off her own waterlogged sneakers and pulled out an extra pair of slippers from the closet. Tapping her slippered feet in the doorway, the miko announced her prescence. "Taidama, Mama!"
"Okaeri, Kagome! I'm glad you made it home safe-! Good heavens! What happened to you! You're soaking wet!" Yuzuha winced at the concerned tone in the older woman's voice as she rounded the corner. The designer watched the way Kagome's mother fretted over the state of her daughter as the young girl sighed, a soft smile on her face. She remembered doing that with her boys just last week.
"Yeah, I gave my umbrella to someone that needed it," glancing back, blue eyes met amber, a spark of humor in their depths, "Her car broke down and she was stranded under a little awning looking for a payphone. I hope you don't mind, but I brought her back with me."
Mrs. Higurashi started and met the other mother's gaze. Then, those brown eyes warmed and she nodded, smiling at Yuzuha.
"I understand. Welcome to our home. Did you need to use our phone to call someone?"
"That would be wonderful. I'm sure my husband and sons are getting worried about me," the Hitachiin matriarch replied.
"I'll make some tea, Mama," Kagome called out, a soft smile forming on her lips as she watched her mother chatter happily with the other woman. Maybe this Hitachiin Yuzuha would make a nice friend for her solemn parent.
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"Mom? You in here?" Kaoru Hitachiin called out, opening the door to his mother's design studio. It had been a week since she'd come back from a surprising outing where her car had broken down, and for some reason, the woman had been a whirlwind of activity since. She was always babbling about a pretty saviour with enchanting blue eyes, and it was starting to show in her designs. A lot of what she was coming up with was an ocean blue color with a traditional twist.
"I'm here! Kaoru, sweetie! What do you think of this?" Yuzuha exclaimed, whirling a piece of shimmery fabric in his face and making him blink rapidly.
"It's..." He was intending to say it was fine, but upon closer inspection of the top, he had to actually admit it was, "It's pretty, Mom. When did you make this one?"
"I finished it last night. I'm so excited! I'm planning on presenting it to Kagome-chan as a thank you for being so sweet!" the designer replied, smiling happily and carefully setting down the fabric. "I just have to finish stitching a seam and tagging it. It'll be a one-of-a-kind original."
Kaoru wasn't really paying attention to what his mother was saying. The moment she'd said 'Kagome', his mind started whirling. "Hey, Mom. This Kagome, does she have long black hair and blue eyes. Shorter than me and Hikaru?"
Yuzuha came out of her happy trance and blinked at her son. "Why, yes. She does! Do you know her?"
"Yeah! She goes to Ouran. She's in Honey-sempai and Mori-sempai's class."
"Wonderful! Then you and Hikaru can give this to her tomorrow when you see her. Make sure she knows it's an original and how grateful I am to her."
Kaoru blinked when a package wrapped in silver was deposited in his hands.
Well, Damn. Now he and his brother were going to have to do something for the girl.
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