The summer heat closed in around her as she walked the long stairway to the shrine. She felt suffocated by the day, and it wasn't just the mid-July heat closing in around her. "Who would want to hire me?" she lamented as she reached the top of the steps. She had become an 18 year old with a bare resume and poor test scores. Sacred Jewel Shard senses and blessings were hardly a 21st century skill to add to her work history. She had one of the most incredible experiences a teen could ask for, and she couldn't even share it with people outside her family. Kagome had missed her senior prom, her graduation, and apparently a chance at a normal life. She had given up normal experiences like having an after school job and study groups in favor of solving the problems of the Feudal Era.
It had been years since the well had opened. She glanced over to the well house as she made her way to the front door. It was too painful to dwell on it for long. She turned towards her home, desperate to shed the job hunting outfit unsuitable for the season. As she entered the house she heard her mother call out "Welcome home! Any luck today?"
"Not much," Kagome said, "I went by the employment center and dropped a resume at the new restaurant, Rome." The restaurant had popped up in the recent revitalization of her neighborhood. Trendy restaurants and shops were opening all around the shrine. It was great because she needed all the job opportunities she could get, but also a sad reminder that with her friends gone off to university she didn't have a reason to visit the new businesses for pleasure. Rome was an upscale restaurant that offered restaurant services by day and club services by night. She wasn't sure if such a place matched her desires. Her mother came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on an apron. "I'm sure you will hear back!" she said to Kagome's back as she languidly made her way up the stairs. The heat had followed her inside and she followed the cool air upstairs into the landing. She found her way into the bathroom she shared with Souta. Kagome wasn't really in the mood for her mother's positive remarks, the day had worn her down and all she wanted was a cool shower and her comfy clothes.
When she made her way down to dinner some 30 minutes later, her brother arrived had home from his evening classes. Souta was now about as tall as she was, and wore the uniform of the local high school. She couldn't believe how big he had gotten. He was doing so great, and Kagome was incredibly proud. Somehow in the years she had spent time traveling he had morphed into a young adult with skills and goals of his own. He was on track to be a successful adult despite the poor example she had set. He entered the kitchen, joining Kagome and her grandfather at the table.
"You know Kagome," her grandfather started, "The shrine could always use extra hands delivering blessings and Sutras." She couldn't help but think of the fake Shikon Jewels her grandfather had once peddled at their shrine. If only it was so easy to come by the jewel! The last thing Kagome wanted was to be reliant on gullible tourists. She had seen with her own eyes that her grandfather's tales had been based in truth, but never in this era. Sacred Arrows seemed mythical amongst all the modern conveniences of her everyday life, and it was almost as if it was impossible for them to exist here. "Thank you, grandpa, I'll keep it in mind." She said as she placed her napkin in her lap. "Hey sis, I made a new friend today who offers extra tutorials for entrance exams!" Souta said as he stuffed food in his mouth. He was so grown in many ways, but couldn't resist his mother's cooking. The way he devoured dinner reminded her of….but no. She couldn't bring herself to let the memory in. "I'm glad you are finally making friends!" she said with a sly smile to her brother. He was too smart to fall for her diversion and continued, "I bet he would make the time to help you pass your exams." She gave him her typical big sister look, as though he had ventured into her room uninvited. "I'm not taking the tests again, Souta. Something will come along for me." She said.
Kagome knew he only wanted to help, but she wasn't sure if she would ever be ready to take the exams again. She had missed so much and, anyway, would be behind her friends if she got back on track. "I'll think about it" she said, hoping that was enough to end the conversation for now. Her family had long since given up convincing her that she could do more with her life, and thankfully continued the conversation onto a more genial path for the remainder of dinner.
As Kagome made her way to her room that evening, full of her mother's cooking and clean from her shower, she wondered what she could do. She turned off the light and tucked herself under the thin sheet. It was the most cover she could stand on the summer night. A breeze gently blew through her window and for the briefest moment a scent that reminded her of the past floated by. Some kind of floral scent mixed with the fresh, unpolluted air of the Feudal Era. It was gone almost before she could recognize it for what it was. Kagome couldn't let herself get dragged down by thoughts of the past and tried to focus on her present. She didn't dare even think of the future, for it was even more daunting than the past. Of course, there was the small hope that one of her applications would earn her an interview, but she barely let herself get excited. If she had learned anything from being back in the future, it was that she should never let her hopes get up./span/p