Firakotsu had been travelling with the Band of Seven for a long while and found herself fond of them all. She would cup her hands and in meditation allow the creatures in nature like the butterflies and small birds to land on her form peacefully. Most of the brothers watched in amazement as the natural world seemed to embrace her when she sat in calm mornings. Jakotsu moved closer to her slow before sitting next to her looking at her as she continued to meditate.
She allowed a small smile to drift on her lips and without startling her company asked, "Curious Jakotsu?" She waited as she felt him jump next to her and grinned waiting for him to rest. "Just close your eyes…take a deep breathe. Focus not on anyone else but my voice and what it tells you." Jakotsu began to relax and began breathing deeply almost relaxing he had watch last night for the last four hours so he was worn out. "Feel your body with your mind starting from your toes and slowly travel up your body allowing each individual limb to relax."
The others watched almost hypnotized as Jakotsu relaxed, "Now I want you to focus on your center of balance just beneath your navel where you lower stomach balances your weight near your hips." Her voice was mellow and they could see Jakotsu's dark circles begin to disappear as if the meditation was renewing his energy. They then continued their camp cleaning duties allowing the morning meditators to continue their ritual. Kagome continued to speak softly, "There you should find a warmth almost like a light…do you see it?"
"I do…it's beautiful what is it?" Jakotsu said mesmerized by the light within his own body not sure what it defined, "Jakotsu…that warm beautiful light is your soul. Most people are never calm enough…or take the time to find it. Now you've found your center…it's time for us to begin climbing back to awareness." He found her voice soft like a whisper guiding his own. "You see a ladder before you and as you climb up the ladder the closer you come to awareness of your surroundings. Now slowly open your eyes."
Firakotsu had moved to stand with the others and watched as Jakotsu roused from his meditative state energized. "Feel better Jakotsu?" She gave her warm and happy smile and Jakotsu noted he felt energized as if he'd slept for hours. "How long did we meditate Firakotsu? I feel like I've had a full night's sleep."
Bankotsu gave a smirk, "Not even an hour. You literally only meditated for a little while," he allowed his cobalt eyes to gaze at Firakotsu's happy smug smile. "Seems your meditation stuff really works Firakotsu maybe we all should take a lesson from you." Firakotsu allowed her sapphire gaze to meet his, "I don't mind so long as you only meditate with me present until you've learned how to bring yourself out of that state on your own." She gave a cheeky wink, "Wouldn't want you to become trapped in your own body or mind after all!"
She allowed herself to grab her own weapons and pack from the ground next to Jakotsu and gave him a hand, "Rise and shine Jak, time to hit the road." She went to move forward when Jak tightened his hand around her own. She turned to give him a curious glance, "Jak?" She seemed almost hesitant when he gave a smaller and warm smile, "Thank you Imouto-chan." Firakotsu looked shocked but gave a warm and teary smile, "You're most welcome Oni-san!"
~In the future with the Higurashi Family~
Sora stood at the end of the table reading a letter that had been written by Sango the taijya and a man named Renkotsu detailing why she disappeared and what it meant. She looked at her father with a relieved smile before turning to Inuyasha.
"Thank you for delivering these do you mind waiting while I write responses to both of these people?" The half demon nodded hesitantly feeling responsible for losing Kagome. He watched as the woman happily brought a pen and some stationary to the table to write. She decided her first letter would be to Renkotsu.
Dear Renkotsu,
Thank you for writing to me about my daughter and how much she grew among you and your brothers. As a mother who cannot traverse the streams of time to see the world she is a part of I always worry for her safety both physical but, even more so the emotional aspect. I fear that much of Kagome's travels have been filled with pain and the feeling of being looked down upon for not knowing how to survive in their world.
Our world is so different from the world you live in. Here women are more than property they are people. Rapists and Murderers are locked away for many years in prison or executed depending upon the severity of their crimes. People have become more tolerant of people who are different where judgments upon race or skin tone are looked down upon as nothing more than ignorance. Kagome is who she is because of her upbringing in a world of equals. She will still respect people of rank so long as they respect her as another living being. Those who don't on the other hand will find her a bit of a hellion to deal with. There's a term here for women who have been offended.
"Hell hath no fury like that of a woman scorned."
Thank you and your brothers for making my daughter happy! I only wish that I could meet you all so I could give you my most heartfelt thanks in person. Dare to dream I suppose.
Sincerely,
Sora Higurashi (you and the boys can just call me Mom)
She also decided she would make some bentos for everyone for Inuyasha to take back to the Feudal Era. She pulled out different colored boxes and she grinned as Inuyasha perked up at the thought of homemade cooking. She began labeling names on each box and she withheld her snickers as she labeled come of the colored boxes for the Band of Seven Members.
Sora picked red and black for Renkotsu, blue and white for Bankotsu, green and orange for Shippou, green and blue for Suikotsu, green and white for Ginkotsu, light purple for Jakotsu, a black and white one for Kyokotsu, White and red for Mukotsu. Renkotsu, Jakotsu, and Suikotsu had chicken with white rice and some vegetables. Bankotsu, Ginkotsu, Kyokotsu, and Mukotsu had steak with white rice and vegetables.
She then filled a red and yellow bento with steak and rice, a pink and black with chicken and rice, a dark purple with rice and a mixture of chicken and steak, she even made a small bento for Kirara. And a solid white bento for Kaede of vegetables and mixed meats since she does not get these flavors often. Remembering a little girl and her group she decided to go all the way and pull out 5 additional bento boxes and filled the red and blue one with rawer meat and white rice and vegetables she labeled for Sesshomaru. She made a seafood rice bento in solid green for Jaken. In an orange and white bento she fully cooked chicken and steak with vegetables and a smaller portion of rice for Rin. She also made two meat only bentos for Ah and Un.
Sora gave a big smile as she placed the letter to the side and pulled out another piece of stationary for Sango.
Dear Daughter,
You have been nothing but wonderful towards your sister since they two of you have met. You have always been good at keeping her from harm and preventing her from getting too upset by sending her to me when you were out of your depth.
I have made bentos for each of your group and also for Sesshomaru's whole group along with the Band of Seven. Please don't allow Inuyasha to hoard them all! I added Shippou's bento the bentos for theBand of Seven. I know he isn't fond of his brother but, Sesshomaru and his were adopted as family by Kagome so they get their fair share too.
Thank you again for writing to me and passing me a letter from Renkotsu. I am enclosing three packets of stationary and three pens so you, Sesshomaru, and Renkotsu can keep in touch with me as Inuyasha or Kagome visits to keep me posted.
Love,
Mom (Don't be surprised if the boys start calling me Mom I gave permission!)
Sora packed the bentos for each group neatly into different bags placing a packet of stationary on top of each bag before sealing them shut. She had only written to Sesshomaru a month ago so she expected to receive a letter back soon.
"Here Inuyasha let me help you carry these to the well house at least." Sora stated with a smile as he nodded grabbing two of the four bags. "The two black bags are for the Band of Seven, the white bag is for Sesshomaru's group, and the red bag is for your group Inuyasha."
The half demon decided not to argue with the woman since her daughter was lost on his watch he didn't feel he had the right to complain. As he returned to his own time he made sure to travel back and get the second batch of bags. As he left for the final time he stated, "I will send Kagome to let you know she is okay as soon as she gets back."
Sora gave a gentle smile, "Thank you I'm looking forward to it. I hope you don't mind playing messenger from time to time." He gave a slight smirk and nodded, "Nah, it's fine!"
