chap. 3: A Date and a Death
Kagome was still not home and that had worried Mimiko some. But, she had more important things to worry about now. She had a date with Tachi, and she couldn't be happier.
It didn't take her long to get ready. She had stolen some of her mother's clothing. A black skirt with blue trim and a shirt to match, along with her own strappy, black, high-heels. She had to say that for her first date she didn't look half-bad.
She stood in the full-length mirror in her room. With her hair curled and the right amount of make-up on she could pass for her mother. She thought to herself, ' I look good. Not bad for a 15 year-old quarter demon.'
She grabbed a black purse and quickly ran out the door; she was going to be late. 'Note' she thought ' I should leave mom a note.' She took another glance at her watch. 'Nah, I just explain when I get home! She'll understand' and she resumed her fast paced walking to the cinema down the street.
000
"Mimi, I'm home. I sorry I'm so late I went shopping with Hojo." Kagome hung her coat in the hall closet, then went to the kitchen and turned on the stove. "Mimiko are you hungry because I'm starving!" Kagome waited for an answer.
Nothing.
"Mimi did you hear me? I asked if you want something to eat."
Nothing.
Kagome's maternal instinct was kicking in and she began the trip to her daughter's bedroom. "Mimi?"
000
Mimiko walked in the door and scanned the faces in the lobby. She didn't see Tachi's familiar face. 'He must be running late, too' she thought. 'I'll just wait for him here.' She leaned against a wall and looked at her watch again. 'He'll be here'.
000
"Mimiko?" Kagome reached for the doorknob to her daughter's room. 'If she has those stupid head phones on again I swear I'll kill her' Kagome thought.
The door swung open and the ebony haired woman looked around. Mimiko's bed was made, her desk had no papers on it, and the stereo wasn't on…if Kagome didn't know better she would say that Mimiko hadn't been home all day.
Kagome's eyes widened and panic filled every ounce of her body. She frantically hurried out of the room and looked in every other room in the house, but nowhere to be found was Mimiko.
Kagome ran to the nearest telephone. Her finger's quickly dialed Hojo's number. "Hello Hojo? This is Kagome. Unlock your door, I'm coming back over. I can't find Mimi and I think something has happened to her!" With that Kagome was out the door and on her way to Hojo's humble abode.
000
Mimiko had been waiting over an hour. Disappointment and heartbreak began to set in. "Kami, if you love me let him show up, please." Mimiko mumbled quietly to herself.
000
Kagome's running had lessened to a high-speed walk. "Mimiko, where are you? What ever I did to make you angry I'm sorry!"
Kagome went on with her rant a ways down the street before she stopped. "The well. I didn't check the well house. I'm so stupid!" For a moment Kagome's worry was gone as she turned around to walk back home. But it rushed back the moment she felt a hand on her shoulder.
000
"That's it. I know when I've been stood up." Mimiko quickly walked out of the building before anyone could see her tears.
"How could I have been so foolish. Guys like Tachi don't ask girls like me on dates." She told herself. She looked up at the gray clouds over head. "Would you just rain already!" And just as she had demanded, the rain came. Heavy, cold and hard it came down upon the unhappy half-breed. "Could it get any worse?" She asked herself. On her walk home is seemed the harder she cried the harder it rained. She tuned the corner and could see lights on in her house 'Mom will know how to make this better. She always knows.' Mimiko felt better knowing her mom was home now. She walked a little more and relief soon turned to fear. Two Tokyo Police cars sat parked in her driveway. 'Oh my god. She called the cops on me!' Mimiko ran inside in fear that her mother might be more worried then she had anticipated. She thrust open the door to see not her mother but two policemen and Hojo sitting at her dining room table.
Mimiko took deep breaths to calm herself but where was her mother and why were the cops at her house was all she could focus on.
Hojo approached her very slowly and she dared to ask, "Where's my mom, Hojo?" Sadness nestled into his face. He kneeled so that he was about her height, took her delicate hands. He looked lovingly at her face. All though her mascara dirtied her cheeks and she was soaked to the bone, she still reminded him of Kagome.
Once again Mimiko asked, "Where's my mom?" She was worried by the fact that no one answered her right away. She looked away from Hojo to the policemen still sitting at her table. They to had looks of sadness, no…pity on their faces. Their hats were off and the blue shirts were stained with rain.
Mimiko was getting angered by the fact that no one would answer her so she attempted to get a straight answer one more time. She looked Hojo square in the eye and enunciated so that he understood every word she said. "Hojo, where is my mother?" She noticed his eyes were tearing.
Hojo had heard her the first two times she had asked but how could he tell her. How could he tell her the most horrible news she could ever hear? So, he just plain out said it. "Your mother is dead." Lightning illuminated the room as Mimiko stared at him with tear filled eyes.