"I don't know you!"
The woman throws her back and laughs. "But you do!" she sends a winning smile at her. "In the future!"
All Kagome has time to do is mutter a strangled "what?" before she throws up and blacks out.
•••
The puking is unbearable. Kagome retches on a bucket, and this time only droll coming out of her mouth. She has emptied her stomach a long time ago, through storms in the open sea and the lulling shake of the boat. The woman taking care of her speaks nonsensical things about her body cleaning itself from impurity. She vehemently explains that it's trying to drain itself all the tainted energy she absorbed.
The taint she speaks of is the blue-black liquid that comes out of her mouth now and then. It persists even in her excessive sweating, make her skin glow with an unnatural sick color and her tears paint dark tracks along her cheeks. Every pore of her body burns, she
It's a painful process for Kagome. Cringing from the pain, she looks inside the bucket, watching as drops of droll fall into the black-blue mass. The stench is terrifying.
She falls back into her bed, putting the bucket beside it on the floor. Inside the cabin, it's unbearably hot. Her sheets and clothes are drenched in her sweat, stained in black and blue. Every pore of her skin burns, every organ inside of her throbs, every bone is under strain, muscles clench involuntarily. The shaking is as much painful as the puking.
It's been so for days now. Her body wracked by terrible pain shakes uncontrollably. Danvers worries over her, incapable of doing much as the blue —infection, disease, impurity — is expelled from her body.
Alone with a stranger, sailing the seas away from her birthplace, illness getting worse each time the sun rises and falls beyond the horizon; Kagome is terrified for what it may become of her.
•••
Day and night blend into a horrible, endless nightmare. The acute pain and illness brought by the infection takes away all of her senses, makes her beg for the warmth of her mother's arms and the comfort of grandpa's wise words. How much she wishes to gaze upon Souta's young face, cheeks still full of that baby fat and eyes shining with hero worship.
Drifting through unknown waters, moving farther and farther away from her lands, Kagome cries for her family. Carol Danvers, the stranger who saved her and claimed to be her friend, worries over her sickness. She frowns heavily, her nose scrunches up every time she enters the cabin to check on her, her eyes are a telling on how much she is lost in this situation.
There's a pain in her eyes when she needs to restrain Kagome; when the shaking turns out to be too much. Kagome's powers flare wildly, enhancing her strength and threatening to pierce the hull. Still, the blond woman holds her firmly, guilt and worry in her eyes as she watches over her.
Her face is haunting. She is foreign to Kagome but treats her with so much care and fondness. There's a genuine feeling to her, something that bonds them tightly, truthfully and lovingly. "Who—who are you?!" Kagome once gasped out, tears staining her face before arching her back on the bed, pain so great her scream turns out to be silent.
The woman had taken hold of her glowing arms, sad eyes and a firm set to her mouth as she straddled her, holding her legs with her own while her hands held tightly to Kagome's arms. "A friend," was her firm answer. Kagome had sobbed, shaking her head and coughing. The woman had been quick to let her go, turning her on her side and directing her head over the edge of the cot so she could throw up that horrid liquid.
Delusional, Kagome had gasped the name of a friend that had been as headstrong as her savior, "Sango…"
The woman had sounded ever so sorrowful when she replied, "No, Kagome…I'm Carol. Just Carol."
•••
Kagome thinks she is going to die.
The pain is too great, and her arms are getting thinner, her strength diminishing. She is tired all the time, her insides burn and turn. She can't eat or drink and keep it in her stomach.
Should she feel relief over the fact that she can finally leave this nightmare behind?
•••
"InuYasha…" she calls, tears streaming down her cheeks. Danvers watches with a heavy heart. She holds the hand of the one who is salvation, closes her eyes, and hopes.
("You only need to take me out. I'll heal just fine by herself.")
Carol isn't as much sure now.
("Do not interfere too much, Danvers. We don't know what could happen to her if you did so when she's so…vulnerable.")
Kagome flinches again, gurgling something ugly as the bile comes. The tainted liquid bubbles out of her mouth and Carol is quick to turn her face to the side while holding her torso up. It's clumsy, but she's got her to throw the stuff mostly into the bucket. Kagome retches painfully, her chest expanding painfully. Carol can see her ribs pressing on the shirt.
("You can't interfere with the past. It can destroy us. Destroy her.")
"But what if I'm letting her die?" she asks herself, a heavy frown twisting her features. "What if I can help, but…" Time is a fickle thing, Kagome would tell her, a glint to her eyes that Carol could never hope to understand.
("You need to trust your gut.")
Kagome moans, tears tuned pitch black and glowing blue fall from her eyes. Her skin is glistered with a sickening blue liquid.
("This is important. You can't—")
"—mess it up." She gulps down the dread, works her jaw and sets it into a hard line. "I can't mess it up," she fists her hands, power firing through them. Tendrils of soft golden energy rise up from within, twirling about lazily, coiling upwards and then down. They caress her friend's skin, a current of electricity surging upon contact with her tainted sweat. It, her powers, seep into her body. Carol watches it with dread, instantly locking down her powers.
Her eyes watch frantically, searching for any negative reaction. Kagome keeps gasping for air, keeps sweating and crying and moaning in pain. The glow from Carol's own energy travels under the younger girl's skin, and soon the gold and orange are joined by pink energy she's familiar with. Raw, they travel up and down her veins until dissipating into her.
Kagome sighs in what could be relief, relaxed for once.
•••
"You're getting better." Danvers says softly, pressing a damp towel to her forehead.
"Doesn't feel like it," Kagome replies brokenly. It hurt to breathe. "How long have we…?" She sighs, a slight frown to her brow before she looks up at the narrow window, watching the seawater splash at the thick glass.
"Two weeks now," she answers reluctantly, putting the towel aside and getting up on her feet. "I've been delaying our journey for your sake but…" Kagome purses her lips, frustrated at her own incapacity to heal herself. Danvers doesn't notice, her back turned to Kagome and focus redirected to the map glued on the opposite wall. "You're taking more time than expected to clean your system."
Her powers won't heal her. It's like they burn instead, hot like fire beneath her skin. Because of this, the taint must bleed out slowly, painfully. Not allowing her powers to destroy it, she became a burden in their voyage to freedom. Looking away with a heavy frown, Kagome bites on her lower lip, hands curling into tight fists.
"I think we should hit land in two weeks, or three," she continues, sighing and turning back to Kagome. "We've been going about the coast, but it's time to move. By then, you should stand on your own. We can leave the boat behind and trek through the woods." She crosses her arms, determinate set to her mouth. "We get in through Clear Water Bay Country Park, trek until we reach Tai Au Mun train station, and then we reach Hong Kong."
Kagome blinks. "Hong…Kong?"
Danvers smiles wanly, "that's where you told me to take you."
•••
"For— ugh, how long ha…have we know each—" she growls, looking skyward and biting her lip in frustration. After three days since she has finally been told of their itinerary, Kagome has enough strength to sit under the sun and watch the odd woman, but sometimes it still hurts to talk or breathe too much without throwing up.
"How long have we know each other, you mean," she completes the phrase, a soft smile on her lips as she goes about the cockpit, then out towards the bow. There's a comfort to her movements, a routine that has become familiar to Kagome. "And I can't tell you that, you know it."
Kagome smirks without really meaning it, leaning back tiredly and turning her face to watch the endless blue waters. "Doesn't hurt to ask."
There's a lull in the not-silence that looms over their heads. The sound of the water hitting the hull, the sails snapping in the wind, whispering sweet nothings in her ears. Some of their trinkets roll about, accompanying the movement of their sailboat.
"Where did you learn how to sail?" Kagome snaps back to the present, focusing on Danvers tying a knot. Her hair is pilled up on top of her hair, darker roots a stark contrast with her lighter tips. Like a reverse of her own hair.
"I don't," she replies, tilting her head. "Sail, that is. I don't know how." Danvers actually looks up from her work, a confused look on her face. Her mouth is open in surprise like she hadn't expected her answer. Do I know how to sail in the future?
A teasing smile takes over the woman's surprise. "You don't?" Kagome only shakes her head, pulling her blanket tighter around herself. Danvers snaps her mouth shut, tilting her own head and narrowing her gaze on her. "How do you feel about me teaching you, then?" Kagome blinks and she grins in response, shrugging. "It wouldn't be too bad to have some help around here," bullshit, Kagome thinks, shivering. They both know well enough Kagome can't move much without falling into her own vomit these days. And she hates herself for it.
Still, she managed to come out of the bed, right? It's something for her to do. So, with great pain, Kagome gets up on shaky legs, grabbing everything near her and pulls her ass to sit beside the woman. Danvers shifts slightly, allowing Kagome to see the thick rope in her hands. She undoes the knot and the first lesson begins.
•••
They're one week away from their destination when Kagome throws up for the last time.
•••
Kagome looks at Danvers — really looks at her — and sees for the first time.
There's terrible power within her. A beacon of light and energy that feels infinite. For so long they've been together, alone on this sailboat, but Kagome had never noticed it; a connection between them, two symphonies of power that harmonize. There's a call to her, a piece of music that only Kagome can hear, that makes it so easy to relax near her.
It makes Kagome wary.
She wonders if this is how InuYasha or Kaede felt; a connection to someone that seems so familiar but isn't exactly what they expect. Was this what Kikyou felt? A connection to a stranger who held power so similar and as unique as hers, but who she had never even met.
Carol Danvers sings to her, calls for her. The flames of her power lick at Kagome's own, intwining softly in the air between them even when they are not actively using them. Kagome takes comfort from the fact that this awkward revelation is something only she understands and feels.
But then, Danvers seems so close, maybe she already knows it.
Maybe Kagome has told her about it in the future, maybe it's what brought them together. Danvers is awfully familiar with her, knows her so well when all she is a blank slate to Kagome. She touches Kagome's arm, shares quips, and stories. She is open and understanding. Utterly caring every time Kagome as much as sways in faint weakness. She is careful with how she holds her, how she speaks to her. Her eyes are soft at night when they seat at the cockpit under the stars.
They each take their own time to maneuver the tiller, keeping the boat on its path as the wind takes them. Every night, they share quiet intimacies with soft eyes turned upwards, watching the stars. Danvers tells her of them — the stars, suns, planets, galaxies that she visited —, of her travels, of how her own self is still out there helping others find their own homes. Kagome teaches her how to use them for travel, the bare basics of human travel she picked up in the past. What is North, where is it, how to find their way home.
It's in these moments of closeness that Kagome feels their connection soar higher than ever. Watching the stars and sharing pieces of themselves, their souls fills into each other. In her soft eyes, Kagome sees friendship and…something. Something like "thank you". There's awe in her eyes like she can't believe the little bundle of at least three blankets taking one entire half of the cockpit is her.
Kagome wonders what she sees. She wonders what she did in the future to earn such…adoration. Such love and loyalty that this woman actually traveled to the past with the sole goal of taking her out of that place, of nursing her to health with ultimate patience.
She doesn't ask though, afraid to know the answers, afraid of knowing too soon. So she ties the ropes, she moves through the boat with purpose, and when land is finally on the horizon, they share a joyful laugh of triumph as their powers flare into a crescendo.
•••
Dread pools low in her belly as they slowly drift near land. The thick forest looms tall over them, the beach is rocky and deserted, mist moving out over the water from the treeline. Danvers uses a photon blast to push them to the beach. Kagome holds tight, closing her eyes as they come to a violent stop. Her backpack is heavy and she's dressed lightly to fight back the heat of summer despite the slight chill in the morning air.
Danvers jumps out, and she follows with only a second of hesitation. They've already cleaned the boat of their presence, and Carol is firm on abandoning the expensive thing despite Kagome's reluctance.
"We can't have anything leading to us."
"We could sell it. It's expensive!" And, gods, Kagome knows the value of money now.
"We'll be doing a kindness to whoever finds it first then. Let's go!"
Kagome stares at the rocky path up, then back down at Danvers bravely marching forward. "It's too high!" she calls to her companion. The blonde only turns to face her, a little smirk on her face as she walks backward.
"There's no such thing as too high," then her legs are blazing gold with power, overflowing and shining brightly as she bends her knees and jumps. Kagome gapes at the space she had just stood, then at the smug woman who just landed high up above her on the treeline, beyond the rocky cliff face.
It's on the tip of her tongue to demand her to come down and take her up, but the glint in Danvers' eyes stop her. The older woman stands way above her, chin high and proud even as her eyes look down at her, searching, challenging. The Kagome of the past would need help. She'd either have to ask for it or crawl up these rocks to reach the top.
She's not that little girl anymore.
She's not a girl anymore.
Taking a deep breath, she allows her energy — asleep for so long — to travel down her legs. It flares brightly, licks at the air with power and strength unknown to even her. She bends her knees and jumps.
She shoots in the air, memories of her hard training with Sakuya roaring in her head as the sky comes closer. She stops for a moment, her hand reaching blinding at the blue expense above her. For the first time, it looks as if it's within her reach. She snaps her gaze back down when she falls.
("Keep it activated until you reach the ground, you idiot. If you turn it off before landing, you'll just break yourself.")
She braces for the fall and hits the ground with a boom. There's a small crater at her feet, the same as Danvers', and she takes a moment to laugh at the glorious feeling of freedom and power coursing through her veins once more. It's breathtaking, and she's hugging Danvers close before she can restrain herself. There's no pain, no sickness, and Kagome is safe. She's alive and free.
"Thank you," she sobs into her shoulder, the weight of what they — she— escaped finally settling on her shoulders. Danvers chuckles, a wide grin on her mouth as they part. He hands are heavy on Kagome's shoulders and her fingers are quick to move a few stray hairs from her face as they share joyful giggles. "Thank you so much, Carol." The other woman's grin widens so much her eyes are almost closed.
"It's no problem at all, Kagome."
•••
"Kites," Kagome's slender finger points at the flying objects at the highest point near them. It's faint and difficult to see through the treetop, but the vibrant colors make them easy to spot through the green.
"Good," Carol answers promptly, squinting her eyes at the distance. "That means there are people nearby, probably a trail or a park. We can be mistaken by tourists going off the trail." She nods decisively before looking back at her. "You know Mandarin?"
Kagome shakes her head, "not a bit." Carol cringes, snapping her tongue before continuing.
"English?" she asks hopefully as she ducks under a low branch. Kagome only shakes her head when she passes by it to find the woman looking at her expectantly. Carol curses, making Kagome's eyebrow twitch involuntarily in annoyance. "No spells, dammit."
"What was it?"
"Nothing!" She snaps back forward, not looking back as her voices turns suspiciously high. "Let me do the talking, yeah?"
Kagome purses her lips and narrows her eyes at her back, but agrees.
•••
It's unnerving how easily Carol changes languages and speaks so fluently in both languages.
They stand amongst civilization for the first time since what feels like an eternity. Kagome revels into the familiar weight of her old summer clothes and backpack. Her thin shirt and shorts, the kimono over it all like an overcoat. Her worn boots are a welcome weight on her feet, and standing on land is all the more joyful after days on uncertain feet. The voices of the crowds around her, children running around eyes glued to their soaring kites. The feeling of not being unique, of being just one more in a crowd.
Despite the relief that is to remember she's not alone in this world, she's dreadfully tired.
Carol speaks in quick, rapid-fire mandarin. She switches just as easily to Japanese when speaking to Kagome. After a few more inquiries to a couple of girls hanging out at the park, they point them down what Carol calls Clear Water Bay road. They walk a better part of half an hour down a road surrounded by trees. The sky is high above them, relentless with its rays. Kagome is used to it though, even if her body is not at its peak condition.
They finally arrive at a roundabout, taking a pause there to go to the public toilet, eat and drink. Carol strolls leisurely, like they aren't here, in China, illegally.
Not that Kagome has much of a problem with it. Everything she does lately tends to be illegal.
Carol actually pays for their food before they leave, which baffles Kagome to no end. "Where did you get that money?"
She snorts as they walk to the bus to in front of the restaurant. "Future you gave me enough that we won't call attention by stealing." Kagome reels back and looks wide-eyed at her. Carol doesn't bother to stop beside her stupefied self, strolling casually ahead to the bus stop.
"Future me has money?!"
•••
The bus ride is a long one, full of tired tourists, sleeping soundly in their seats. Though they are both tired, Kagome and Carol look out their window with wide eyes of wonder. There's something pure and untouchable in their shared wonder and quiet whispers.
Despite the heaviness of her eyelids, Kagome watches as the green scenery blends with civilization, as the rich mansions give away to tall building and apartments. As the small road becomes large enough to fit four, five, six and more cars. They watch in wonder as they enter the city proper, with too many roads and streets and viaducts that tangle together to form something that could lose them in a blink of an eye.
Walking out of the bus is a daunting task, and as they step on the sidewalk with the crowd, they take a minute to look up and around. The looming viaduct on the other side of the narrow street looms over them along with the shops and building lining up the sidewalk.
Carol's hand finds hers, squeezing hard as Kagome turns to face her. She has a soft smile on her lips that Kagome matches slowly, fingers tangling between hers as she returns the comfort. They walk up the long stairs leading to the Kwun Tong train station, and by the time they fall into their seats, Kagome's eyes are closing despite her stubbornness.
She sleeps the whole train ride.
•••
Carol wakes her up, her indecisive face turning fierce and mischievous. Kagome warily follows her into the city but stops once they reach a fancy-ass hotel that reaches high towards the sky. She plants her feet on the sidewalk, the woman stopping and turning to look back at her with a lifted eyebrow while Kagome stares at her with a frown. "Are you mad?" Kagome shakes her head, pointing at the hotel while tugging her away from it. Carol doesn't move. "We can't go there!"
"Sure we can," Carol answers, that dirty smug ass smirk on her face. Kagome wants to throttle the woman.
"Did you drag me here just to take me to—to—a fucking hotel?! We could've gone to one. IN JAPAN!" She stomps one foot down and grits her jaw as the other woman only cocks her hip and tilts her head to the side, an amused smile on her tired face. "We don't have money—we don't have documentation!"
"Sure we have," Carol shrugs.
Kagome points at her with both her hands, gasping, indignant, at her casual replies. "You're an alien!" She whispers furiously, ignoring the 'not really' the smug idiot fires back. "From the future!"
Carol shrugs, again. Infuriating woman. "Who has lots of cash," with that, she twirls around and strolls, again, to the hotel entrance.
Kagome is so tired, but she still tries to move her away. Doesn't work, and, somehow, they end up at the Cityview's penthouse.
•••
Entering the lobby, walking among these pristine people, Kagome feels lower than dirt itself. Her boots leave behind bits of dirt on the shining floor, her clothes are too thin and the chills from the AC make her have goosebumps all over. Her hair, a mess of tangles and curls and a disgusting old painting job, make people turn their nose away in disgust at the sight of her.
She feels dirty as the attendant clearly twists her nose in disgust, words that mean nothing to her but a tone that leaves its intent clear barely start before Carol smacks a stack of notes on the front desk. The lady's eyes snap down to the money before meeting Carol's with a big and fake smile.
They treat them with the utmost respect.
•••
Kagome takes a bath for the first time with no rush, using an actual showered, soap, shampoo and conditioner.
There are a soft towel and a bathrobe waiting for her by the end of it, and no matron or guard ordered her out for taking too long.
Carol waits for her by the sitting area with a full meal on the table for them both.
The TV is turned on. They watch a stupid romantic comedic that leaves them sighing wistfully and laughing until they have tears sneak out of the corner of their eyes.
Kagome brushes her teeth.
Her feet are snuggling warm inside their slippers.
She lays on a bed. A full bed, just for her. She wears sleeping clothes Carol bought for her nearby while she bathed.
She tucks herself in, the AC is on and the blankets are clean and crisp and warm.
There's an actual pillow under her head. Her hair is smooth and silky, no lumps or big knots digging into her head.
Kagome cries.
She cries so much—she sobs loudly, buries her face into the softness she hasn't even remembered existing and weeps loudly. She hugs the blankets close, buries herself into this luxury, into this heavenly comfort she had forgotten to even miss.
This dream, this…it's not home. It's not familiar.
But it's comforting, it's warm, it's soft, it's clean.
It's—It's—It's….
Kagome loves Carol, then, for giving her this comfort — this gift — before whatever happens the following day.
•••
They eat breakfast together the following morning, and if Carol notices the way her eyes are red and swollen or had heard the loud sobs coming from her room the previous night, she doesn't mention it. Kagome savors the food even as her stomach twists into itself. She sets her cutlery down before facing Carol's calm eyes.
"Where will you take me, Carol?"
She takes her time to answer, staring at her in silence with narrowed eyes that look but don't really see what's in front of her. She sucks in her lips, looks down with a slight frown and a slow tilt of her head. Nodding to herself, Carol looks back at her with a small grin and a determined face. "We could go to the hair salon. Maybe take a dive into the pool."
She purses her lips, looks down at her empty plate. "Don't play with me. You brought me here for a reason. I had a reason to tell you to bring me here…" she gulps down the fear, the desperate wish to follow to her suggestion, to fall back into a dream of halcyon days and leisure. "And if I know myself well enough," she looks back up to meet her gaze, blue eyes hard. "It's not to play tourist."
Carol puts her elbow on the table, resting her cheek on the palm of her hand and smiling softly at her. "No, it isn't," she agrees easily enough. "But," she breathes in, leaning in close and pushing her hands' palms up on the table, close to her. Kagome hesitatingly puts her hands on top of hers. "We can afford to play tourist. We have the money for it. We have time for you to rest."
She knows; it's what Kagome thinks, looking into her kind eyes. She knows of her nights sleeping on her precious cardboard bed, of the shelter and the park benches and the days without food or shelter or warmth. Of the massacres, of the fighting and the merciless training, and the children, and the torture. Maybe even about her fa—
It's a pity, perhaps. Sympathy— that makes Carol so open, so willing to help her in such a useless way. What does leisure and luxury matter when Kagome is trying to escape shadows? She should proceed with whatever her future self had planned. There's no use to lay herself on a bed of roses, to breathe while her pursuers loom over her.
Her sight flashes, the world twists upon itself. Carol emits a bright blue light, intercepting with the vision. She sees the empty lab as the Scepter flares brightly, then a golden chamber with a green jewel on a pedestal at its center. A shadow cuts through all three visions, bringing her to where she should be.
Carol still looks at her with patience, waiting calmly for her answer. Her decision. The weight on Kagome's shoulder increase, the memories cut deeper. Carol offers respite, but what use does it have? I take no pity, she wants to hiss back, as InuYasha would once do.
Does it matter? She asks herself, tired. Does my pride prevent me from accepting this?
Kagome stares into brown eyes that are kind and understanding. She takes a deep breath and looks down, grinding her jaw and frowning.
"I—" she stops, mouth hanging open before sighing quietly and looking down. "One day…," she bits on her lower lip, closing her eyes. "We can stall for one day," and her breath hitches at the thought, her face scrunching up as Carol's hold on her hands tightens.
Carol's answer is just as soft, "so we will."
•••
She wears the same clothes from when they first arrived when they step out into the lobby again. The receptionist bows to them, smiling blandly and wishing them safety as they leave the building. The morning is hot. The sun shines brutally on their backs, the humidity absolutely insufferable. They shop for clothes, swimming ones, and simple dresses. Flip-flops and lighter clothes that are not durable enough to Kagome's tastes.
The sun is higher in the sky by the time they find a salon. Wary, Kagome almost snaps at the hairdresser when she approaches her with scissors. The last time someone approached her with scissors and blades, it was with the sole intention of cutting her open and turning her insides.
The workers fawn over her hair, over how its color is ghastly, how its tips are deplorable or how dry it feels. They work in tandem, using their best products, washing and hydrating and painting it black as she wishes, despite their begging her not to.
Looking in the mirror is easier when she looks a bit more like herself.
Carol has practically all of her hair chopped off in a stylish cut. Kagome tells her she looks beautiful and the woman actually blushes, returning the compliment.
Carol leads her to a ramen place, after. It's late in the noon, too late for lunch, so the place they go to is almost empty of patrons. They seat, and she orders ramen for her and oden for Kagome. Kagome cancels the order, another one's voice ringing in her head, offering her favorite dish in a similar way to Carol's.
Thankfully, the other doesn't comment on it.
They walk back to the hotel by sundown. The streets light up with life, people mingle, cars speed past. Nightlife starts to bloom around them as they enter the lobby. Carol drags her to their room, pushes her swimming clothes into her arms and tells her she will wait. They soon leave the room once more, Carol chats with her, not stopping for a minute as they proceed into the pool.
First dipping her toes into it, Kagome sighs as the warm water embraces her skin. A soft gasp leaves her lips as she tips her head back, gaze directed at the far sky, clear of stars, poisoned by their light. She blinks as her body sinks, her feet touching the bottom of the pool. Her body feels heavy, there's no lightness in the tightening of her muscles. The water glows bright blue with the pool lights, painting her vision with cool tones.
It filters the ugliness of the world. Maybe the sky turns out to be less of a void, her skin less white from spending who knows how long hidden from the glare of the sun. There's softness in the color, on the warmth that caresses the tension out of her. Her eyes close, and she lets herself fall.
Sound is muted, diluted. Warmth presses all around her. Her feet leave the ground.
She floats.
Muscles unclench, breathing stops, her body turns. Nothing grounds her anymore, and she floats. The silence screams at her.
In the darkness behind her closed eyelids, light blooms. Visions become vivid, full. There are colored lines, infinite in number, leading away and around her. They shine brightly, each a different color, a different path, a different flavor. They hum to her, with her.
They are an orchestra, the instruments, ready to be played by her tune. Time is…irrelevant, but not. She feels it passing, she counts each second, she sees the motions of the universe as it moves forward and forward and forwardandforwardandforward—
It passes by her.
She rises up, feet on the ground again pushing her up and up and up— she breaks the surface with a gasp, blinking furiously, pushing her hair away of her face. Kagome gasps for air and looks around, finding Carol sitting on the edge of the pool. She has one knee up, hugging her leg close to her chest while the other kicks softly at the water. She's pensive, searching.
Kagome decides to ignore her, falling back on the water. Her body floats on the surface, and she looks up, at the vast sky— At the unknown.
She floats and, this time, she has her eyes wide open.
•••
Waking up the next morning, she feels like an entirely different person. Her body doesn't ache the way it once did. Her mind is silent, void of any voices and her vision is clear. The crisp and clean scent of the bedding is heavenly. Her skin is smooth, clean, it feels as if the sheet is caressing her skin.
The curtains are drawn, and their bedroom is so far away from the street no sound reaches them. There's no tired fog clouding her mind. Her hand moves, petting the soft sheets with something close to fascination.
Kagome doesn't want to get up; but for the first time in the longest time, it's just because she's so comfortable.
(She remembers the cardboard, the streets. She remembers not wanting to get up, not wanting to face the struggle of life again. Her cardboard could shelter her for a bit longer. Maybe if she remained, everything would fix itself.
Hunger rumbled in her belly, her throat was dry, begging for water she didn't have.
Maybe if she didn't move, it would all go away.
Maybe she would go away.)
Her belly didn't protest, but as a delicious smell invaded her nostrils, it made its desire know. She feels no pain accompanying it, a novice. It brings a reluctant smile to her lips that dies the moment she steps out of her room.
Carol is finishing their breakfast, putting it all on the table when Kagome joins her. Dread laps at the edges of her mind, but Kagome ignores it in favor of helping the older woman. They sit, Carol keeps babbling as she usually does. Kagome thinks it's to put her at ease — Carol doesn't really look like the type of person who talks as much as she does.
Kagome doesn't really answer her, focusing on her food — will there be food for her wherever they are going — trying to eat as much as she can — she needs to have a full belly, who knows when they can eat again — and bury the wariness and bitterness rising in her heart — why is she trusting this woman — instead. Carol eventually falls into silence, stops to eat completely and watches while Kagome devours their meal.
Tired of her gaze, Kagome slams her utterly on the table and leans back on her chair with crossed arms and pursed lips. She breathes heavily through her nostrils, trying to calm her pounding heart. She meets the Captain's heavy gaze with her own.
"Where will we go?"
Carol smiles, slowly, "somewhere where you can learn."
Kagome blinks at her, annoyance creeping into her voice. "Learn what?"
•••
A/N: way more than a weekend late, but it has been a hard month and a half. well, no excuses. let's get into the good bits.
surprisingly, not many edits to carol's part? even her power? like, i had 2/5 of this chapter ready by the time captain marvel came out, and it all flowed...marvelously?
most of the following time was taken to make their route to where i wanted. as always, every place and route mentioned is real, even bus route. i actually followed the bus route in the street view so i could describe the fucking ride. i thought of trying to learn, theoretically, how to sail a sailboat. but i was honestly super lazy about that, so i google some parts and quick studied some others and bullshitted my way forward. completely unprofessional of me but hey, give a break ok.
not many visions here, but it's mostly quiet. i'll try to post again friday, then, if i'm back in schedule, we'll have a chapter each week for a while again. no promises tho, i have a sign language assignment glaring at my back and i need to read some books and do some research and shit.
also bananarock509 totally guessed who is takumi. i'm speechless. i took so long to research properly muahauhauhuahuahua. kudos to you. the man who never sleeps indeed.
shoot your ideas. WHO HAS ANY IDEA WHERE THE FUCK CAROL IS TAKING KAGOME?
~mari