Chapter 6: Naoke's Mission

"What? So you changed your mind," Emi said as she followed Naoke into the library.

"Yeah, if my mom won't tell me I'll find him myself," Naoke sighed at the thought, thinking it pathetic to have to do so. They went straight for the genealogy section of the huge library.

"I thought you said you don't even know his name," Emi pointed out as the arrived in the small room.

Naoke started going through the books, "I don't, but maybe we can find me or my mom and that will tell us something, it's all I have Emi."

Emi nodded and helped Naoke go through the books and papers that listed thousands of people, dead and alive. Naoke grabbed a book that looked promising, but when she went to the table, sat down and looked through it, she realized it wasn't what she was looking for. After about ten books later, Naoke was ready to give up, closing her eyes and shaking her head in defeat. She then remembered the old newspapers there and hurried over to them.

"Naoke," Emi said frowning in confusion.

Naoke darted her eyes over the dates on the papers and finally grabbed a few. She sat down next to her friend and looked through the obituaries.

"Maybe he's not alive; maybe it will have our names for the families of the deceased."

Emi shook her head, knowing it was useless, but she didn't want to make her friend feel worse, she knew that a part of her knew it was useless too.

Naoke finally gave up and just stared blankly at the papers in front of her. She quietly got up, grabbing the papers and putting them back.

"I'm sorry," Emi told her friend.

--

Meanwhile

"She's growing up Kagome, she'll almost be a teenager, she just wants to know these things," Kagome's mother said.

"I think I just need some time alone mom," said Kagome as she got up from the couch, sat her tea on the coffee table and left the house.

She headed towards the sacred tree where she did most of her thinking alone. Her mother used to tell her a long time ago that the tree always seemed to help when she had doubts or just needed peace of mind and as Kagome grew into an adult she realized the same thing.

She stopped and looked over at the family shrine. Every time she did she got a mix of emotions. Her destiny had started in that shrine, it was her way of getting to Inuyasha and her friends and it always brought back the memories of her grandfather which she still missed. Most important though it was where she had started her family and unfortunately where she had split them up.

-Flashback-

Kagome held Naoke as the one and a half year old saddled onto her mother's side. Inuyasha stood by trying to get the courage to say goodbye. They were close to the well and had to hurry because a demon was after him and his precious daughter.

"Go ahead Inuyasha!" Miroku yelled back as he held his staff steadily in front of him, "We'll take care of the demon."

Inuyasha stared at his daughter with a sad expression. He turned as he saw his friends battling with the ferocious looking demon he turned back as Sango yelled, "Hiraikotsu," and let go of her weapon to occupy the demon.

The sound of the boomerang rang through Inuyasha's brain, telling him he had to hurry.

"I'm so sorry," Kagome told him with tears in her eyes.

"Promise me you will protect her," Inuyasha said stroking the back of Naoke's head with his hand as he stared at his daughter.

"I promise," Kagome said with a nod. She handed her to her father with more tears. Inuyasha hugged Naoke close to him, "I love you," he said as a tear escaped him, "I hope one day we can see each other again."

Sango looked back at the family with a grim expression as Miroku took over; it killed her to see her friends having to go through this. Inuyasha kissed the top of Naoke's head before handing her back to Kagome.

The demon knocked Miroku aside causing Sango to come to his aid. Time was running out. Inuyasha kissed Kagome on the lips then she turned and ran towards the well as quick as she could, knowing he would be able to take care of himself. Inuyasha took a deep breath watching them leave with a dismal look. He closed his eyes fighting back his tears.

"Dada," Naoke cried sorrowfully as she stretched out her tiny hands over Kagome's shoulder. Inuyasha turned to the demon with rage. It had started, the search for Inuyasha and his daughter and the only option was for Kagome to take her away from the place, to protect her.

Sango got a nod from Inuyasha and as soon as she helped Miroku out of the way he lifted up his sword to use the wind scar. Kagome didn't even look back as the wind scar cut through the ground and destroyed the demon completely. Naoke stopped crying a little in awe as it was the last thing she saw her father do before Kagome dropped through the well, holding onto her firmly.

-End of Flashback -

Kagome hated the way things turned out and she hated knowing that her daughter had cried for him and called out for him. She hated that Naoke had only learned to say 'dada' only a few times before she had to be carried away from him.

She took a deep breath as she continued to the tree. She sat down on the bench in front of the mighty tree and looked up in thought.

-Flashback-

It was a beautiful spring day and one year old Naoke was getting her first lesson of walking from her two proud parents. She was dressed in a cute pink flowery short sleeve shirt and matching shorts and cute little white tennis shoes that Kagome had got her from her time.

"That's it, come to mommy," Kagome cooed as Inuyasha held Naoke steady by the sacred tree. Naoke smiled at her mother as Inuyasha let her go. Naoke cautiously took a few steps to get the hang of it, wobbling in the process. Kagome laughed a little at the cuteness.

"You can do it Naoke," Inuyasha encouraged behind her.

"Come on," Kagome persisted with a smile.

"Ma..ma," Naoke said as she stretched her hands towards her wearily making her way there. Kagome's smile widened with pride, her daughter was walking.

Finally Naoke made it all the way to her mother and Kagome scooped her up in a hug, "That's my big girl, you walked," she congratulated her with a kiss on the cheek.

Inuyasha walked over and picked Naoke up and held her up in the air above him, smiling up at her, "You did it Naoke, daddy's so proud of you." Naoke laughed happily at all the attention she was receiving.

-End of Flashback-

Kagome rubbed the tears from her eyes as she noticed her daughter angrily walking up the stairs and heading to the house. Kagome quickly got up and followed her, "Naoke," she called, but her daughter kept going.

Naoke opened the door and went in the house and Kagome went inside before she had the chance to get the door shut in her face.

"Naoke," Kagome said again.

Finally Naoke turned, "How come there isn't any information about dad in the library, huh mom?"

Kagome was shocked to hear her say 'dad' instead of 'my father' like she always used to do, but then realized what she said, "You tried looking for him?"

"Yeah, so," Naoke challenged.

"So, I told you to leave it alone, you're supposed to do what I say, I'm your mother," Kagome shot back.

"Yeah it's ok for you to lie to me though, why isn't there anything about who my father is in the library?" Naoke asked again.

"That's none of your concern," Kagome told her trying to remain calm.

"None of my concern," Naoke couldn't believe her, "this is my dad we're talking about, my father, the guy that got you knocked up to have me," Naoke said bluntly.

"Young lady, where have you learned to talk like that," Kagome asked her all motherly.

Naoke shrugged, "I don't know."

"Well it wasn't from this family, so I want you to stop talking like that," Kagome ordered.

"Yes mom, but don't you see it's all about family, I just want to know mine, I mean I couldn't find my dad or grandparents, aunts, uncles cousins, nothing," Naoke said frustrated.

"Well you can stop," Kagome told her.

"Why are you going to tell me something," Naoke asked hopeful.

Kagome shook her head, "No."

Naoke slumped, "Right, I mean how do I know you're not keeping siblings from me too."

Kagome squinted her eyes and gave her a look, "No, you are my one and only child, I promise."

"I just want to know my father, my grandparents, all my aunts, uncles, cousins I might be missing out on."

"Look Naoke you have me, your grams and uncle, that's all you need to worry about, ok, you'll understand when you're older."

Kagome started to walk off, hoping to end the discussion, "I don't want to understand when I'm older, I want to now!" Naoke almost yelled.

Kagome turned and saw the determination in her eyes, the same determined look that she had when she promised Inuyasha to protect and the same look he gave her in return to protect his family. She then saw both of them in Naoke's eyes. Then a sudden thought crossed Naoke's mind and she frowned, "Wait," she flashed back on all those times her mother wasn't there when she was at school.

"You see him don't you," Naoke questioned Kagome with an unbelievable expression, how could she not have seen it before.

"What?" Kagome asked.

"You go out and see my father when I'm not here, I can't believe I thought you actually go to the park or shop, you're with him, but you don't want me to go anywhere near him," Naoke couldn't believe it, her mother had really betrayed her trust this time.

"Naoke…" Kagome started, but Naoke stopped her, "Just tell me the truth for once, do you see him when I'm not here?"

Kagome had lied so many times to her already and though her brain told her to lie again her heart took over and she nodded.

Naoke opened her mouth and wanted to cry in disgust. She was even more confused and all she felt like doing was running away. So she did. Turning quickly she left the house. She started running for the steps that would lead her to the city when she saw her cat, Kibou, pawing at the shrine door.

Curiosity told her to check it out, but she knew she wasn't allowed in the shrine. But curiosity got the best of her and she looked back to see if her mom was following her. She figured her mother wanted to give her time to cool off. So without hesitating she ran over to her cat and picked him up. She opened the door and looking back one last time stepped inside.

Naoke took in her surroundings of the old shrine and her eyes fell on a well that was in the middle of the room. She heard a voice that startled her.

"You want to know more about your family," the voice asked.

Naoke frowned as her eyes widened, knowing it had to be the weirdest thing to happen to her.

"I can show you your family, I can show you your destiny," the small voice said from the well. Naoke seemed to be drawn by the oddness, though she was desperate for answers.

Kibou squirmed in her grasp and finally clawed his way from her arms and ran out of the shrine, frightened by the whole thing.

This had brought Naoke to reality and she stopped, "Who are you?" she asked cautiously.

"I'm your friend, I know your mother and father's and I want to know you, I can tell you want you want to know, all you have to do is come near the well," the voice explained.

Naoke easily walked down the last couple of steps before stopping at the well.

"Kibou," Kagome asked as he ran inside. She looked near the front door with a confused expression.

"That's it, it's been so long since I've seen you, I can't wait to see you again," the voice said.

Naoke finally made it to the well and peered over the side. A gush of wind whipped from it and forced the door shut with a slam.

Kagome ran to the front door, "Oh no," she said knowing it was the shrine door, "Naoke," she called, but didn't receive an answer.

"Don't be afraid, I'm your friend, I'm your family's friend," the voice called. Naoke finally put her hands on the well.

Kagome got a bad feeling.

-Flashback-

Two-year old Naoke tried seeing over the well as she placed her hands on it, "Well," Naoke said.

"No Naoke," Kagome said grabbing her and rushing out of the shrine.

Naoke looked at her mother confused, "Listen to me Naoke, you must never go in here ever again, ok," she then hugged her before going back inside.

-End of Flashback-

"Naoke no," Kagome said hurrying to the shrine.

Naoke climbed into the well and disappeared within it.

A/N: ok, I'm tired of writing right now and it's late so yeah, hope you're enjoying the story and please read my new one 'When Destiny Crumbles' please oh and review please:)

Btw do you mind the flashbacks, I don't think I'll have too many more if any, just curious.