Chapter 4
Time was something he had never thought to loathe so much as he did now. Nor had he ever had such vile hatred for words. However, the all consuming rage held in special regard for that impossible, deranged, idiotic, crazy tree was surpassed by none.
Under water, you shall go, to the one who will know. Deep and dark, where all fears are thick and stark, Deep, one will travel, to this riddle one shall unravel. Skins, thick over hides, skins, to those that hide. With skins they have lied, and with skins they will guide.
His brow twitched as the words repeated again through his mind. The only thing that made sense was that what he was in search for was under water ... and nothing else was coming together. Of course, Bokusen would know the answer but refused to let him know on the basis that he had to figure it out himself.
Excuse his vulgar use of a euphemism, but that was utter bullshit. Not something he would say aloud, but he was free to express his ire within his own mind.
"Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru!"
It soothed him to hear the words of his ward as he stopped again at her village. Of course, Kagome was there along with the mutt, but that was a moot point. "Rin."
"Oh, milord, I had not expected you to visit again so quickly!" She paused in her speech, noticing the slight twitch in his brow. "Is anything the matter?"
The girl was bouncing on the balls of her toes, her large dark eyes brightly shining in joy. He patted her head, rubbing the smooth silken tresses. " ... I have been given a riddle. It is most unusual."
Rin looked up at her father figure and smiled. "Maybe I can work on it too? Please, Lord Sesshomaru?"
The demon tilted his head as he recited the words, watching her guileless face as she scrunched her nose in thought. If he had been a more demonstrative being, he might even say it was an adorable trait. "With skins they have lied? But, milord, there are not many stories about such things. But, I have heard stories from Kaede-san about the Mer-people."
He watched as she tapped her lip, his own thoughts screeching to a halt. How had he not thought of those low beasts? Even if they would normally be beneath his notice, this was not the time to ignore the obvious answers.
"Hn." Rin beamed up at the demon lord, and with one last pat to her small head, he moved away, villagers in awe of his beauty and power ... as it should be, of course.
A week had passed slowly and Kaelie was sitting in music class staring out the window, reminiscing. If it hadn't been for the sore body and broken bead of her necklace, she might not have thought it real but a freaky dream drudged up by her subconscious. Of course, she wasn't sure she could even imagine a man that damned pretty, yet so bitchy much less dream it. It helped that Kagome's pack was with her, something her Aunt had immediately recognized without fail. Kaelie was still reeling over the older woman's tackle-hug.
However, it wasn't the first spine cracking embrace she had experienced the day she returned to the modern time. The first had been from her featherbrained boss. When she landed on her rear back on the attic floor and began to contemplate kissing the dusty wood floor a high squeal made her cringe. Sho yelped lightly and jumped behind her. When Kaelie opened her eyes from the cringe, her boss was pulling her into a hug that, Kaelie was sure cracked her ribs, or at the very least bruised them.
"Kaelie! Kaelie!" A hand waved in front of her face and she glanced over to the girl who was leaning across her desk. Suki Amane smiled brightly at Kaelie, her dark pigtails bouncing. The girl had become quite attached to the blonde in the few weeks since Kaelie had started at the college. Suki and Kaelie had become close friends in the past week, because Suki had caught Kaelie up on her missed work. She was a very kind girl and Kaelie liked her a lot.
"Hey Suki." Kaelie smiled and stood up from her seat. Suki hugged Kaelie tightly with a light squeal, Kaelie laughed lightly and hugged back. Suki released the blonde and stepped back, folding her hands in front of her.
"So, I was thinking about going to Shibuya today for a little bit of shopping. Would you like to come with me?" Suki bounced on the balls of her feet as she spoke to Kaelie. Kaelie smiled gently and glanced over to the clock on the wall.
"Well, I have work in a little while… But, I guess I could go." Kaelie shrugged and turned back to Suki. She squealed again and hugged Kaelie with a resounding, "YAY!" Kaelie barely had time to grab her bag before she was being hauled out of the door. They road the rail to Shibuya and were there in about three minutes, compared to the twenty minute walk. Kaelie secured her bag across her chest and followed after Suki who bounced off the train. The girls went to many stores, where Suki made Kaelie try on many different fashions. Many Kaelie was opposed to, but a few she liked. She couldn't really buy any clothes, since her father was paying for her schooling, it was still a burden on him so she wanted to help out and still have money left over. Suki however bought just about everything she tried on and even a few shirts for Kaelie, despite the blonde's small protests. Kaelie just couldn't get past Suki's pouty face. She sighed and waved the girl away to pay for the things.
Kaelie dug in her bag for her cell phone to check the time. It was almost time for her to go to work. She told Suki she'd be waiting outside for her and after the girl's bouncy reply, she stepped outside and watched the heavy crowd pass by. Again she was left to her thoughts, and for some reason they fled back to the feudal era. Was it right that she left Bokusen-on to worry about who would seal the gate? She touched her necklace. She did have the necklace and he did say that only someone who had it could seal the gate. She just hated being around that asshole of a dog demon. Maybe she would go back sometime soon, maybe. Suki danced out of the sliding doors and handed Kaelie a few bags to carry. They pushed their way back through the crowd to the train and squeezed on just in time. Kaelie and Suki chatted on the way back. As they talked about the days events, a young boy stood up in his seat behind the blonde and chewed his bubblegum noisily. He hid his face when the girls looked back at him then looked to his mother who was reading a book.
"Mama? Teach me how to blow a bubble! Please, please, please?" His mother placed her bookmark inside her book and smiled up at him.
"Okay, son. Pull the gum all around your tongue, like this." She showed him with the piece of gum she was chewing. He did as she told him and faced forward. The mother smiled at her son's antics. "Now, blow." When the young boy blew, his gum flew from his mouth, right into the blonde girl's hair. The mother covered her mouth as Kaelie reached back and touched the sticky mess that was now tangled in her hair. The little boy sat back down in his seat and looked down. "Sorry miss lady…"
Kaelie turned in her seat, her hand still on the gum in her hair, to look at the young boy.
"It's okay. Don't worry about it, it's just a little gum." Suki asked Kaelie to turn her head so she could inspect the damage.
"Ew. That's not going to come out easily." Suki brought her hand to her mouth. Kaelie really wanted to yell at the little boy, but his mother would probably just get pissed at her. Kaelie knew the gum would have to be cut out, there was no other way. Pulling it out would just make the situation worse. Suki's hand dropped from her mouth.
"I know a good beautician close to where you work. We may have just enough time to run in there so they can cut it out." Kaelie nodded and kept her hand on her head, covering the gum. The last two minutes of that train ride must have been the longest moments in Kaelie's life. When the train stopped, Kaelie and Suki scurried off and down the street to the hair stylist.
Kaelie stepped inside the door to the antique shop for work. It felt odd to not have the weight of hair against her neck, her fingers nervously running through the short ends repeatedly. Hikari-san came running from the back, looking as harried as ever. The older woman's face brightened, her squeal of joy ringing in the blond's ears as her boss hugged her tightly. "Missed you too, boss," she wheezed. "Can you let me go now?"
"Oh, oh! So sorry, Kaelie-chan!" The smile on the woman's face said otherwise and the blond grinned in return. Hikari-san picked at Kaelie's now short hair. "You're so different with your hair short, almost boyish." Kaelie ran another hand through her hair and looked down. "I like it!" Her boss laughed and Kaelie smiled at her. "Now, quit standing around and get to work, young lady!" Hikari-san chirped and patted Kaelie's head.
Kaelie out right laughed, flapping her hand at the crazy woman. All too soon the two were going through the motions of cleaning and categorizing all the antiques. Sneezes were par for the course as dust flew like snow and layered itself in their hair and clothes. Kaelie upended a box filled with wooden trinkets when her cell phone startled her, the sound of Sephiroth's One-Winged Angel accompanying her squeak of surprise and banging boxes. Scrambling into her pocket, she drug the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Hey! How is daddy's little girl?"
Kaelie started, falling even farther under the boxes and flat against the floor. "Dad!" she smiled as she wiggled from under the mess, crawling one handed to her knees. "I haven't heard from you in a while. How's camp?"
The deep chuckle made her feel safe and secure, something only this man had been able to do all her life. "Fine, little girl. I'll be in Harajuku for a day or two next month." There was silence on Kaelie's end, her breath caught as joy filled her.
"Really?" she breathed before her father laughed uproariously. She guessed that meant yes. Her scream of joy had her boss rounding the corner at a flat out run, the woman looking terrified.
"Good heavens, child! You'll give this old woman a heart attack!" Kaelie bounced in place as she celebrated the good news, smile stretching her face wide. Giving Hikari-san a giant hug, she danced away, phone to her ear and mouth moving a hundred miles an hour. The older woman shook her head at the girl. "Crazy girl!" She turned back to the boxes, throwing her hands up. "And such a mess!"
Kaelie danced on cloud nine the rest of the day, humming as she worked and smiling extra sweetly to the customers and her boss when called on. Hikari chuckled at such antics and her happy worker. When the girl was ready to leave, her boss pointed to a large parcel, the thick brown paper wrapped around it with a white string holding it in place. "To you, Kaelie-chan, for working so hard these past few weeks." Kaelie's face screwed up in confusion as she stepped over to inspect the large square shaped package.
"What it is?" She began to unwrap the brown paper.
"It's that mirror from the attic you seemed to like so much." Kaelie paused and gave her boss a horrified look over her shoulder. "I thought I'd give it to you since no one seemed interested in buying it and it's been up in the attic just taking up space." Hikari-san went on. Kaelie straightened and rubbed the back of her neck nervously. She turned to her boss. It was amazing how much the woman could miss. Kaelie had hoped she would never have to see that thing ever again. She hated it.
"I don't think I can take this, Hikari-san. I mean it's so old and someone might pay a lot of money for it." Kaelie said.
Hikari wagged her hand at the girl. "You have to take it Kaelie. It belongs to you." Kaelie's eyebrows pulled together in confusion.
"What?" Kaelie glanced back at the wrapped mirror and when she turned her head back to look at Hikari-san, the taller woman was standing in front of her. "Hikari-san?" Kaelie looked up and saw Hikari-san's eyes flash from brown to gold. She smiled and placed a hand on Kaelie's shoulder.
"I know what happened to you two weeks ago. Why do you think I was able to give an excuse to your aunt?" Hikari-san's eyes were still a brilliant gold color. Kaelie blinked, feeling as though she'd seen those eyes before. She had found it odd that Hikari-san had taken her week disappearance all-in-good-stride and that Aunt Asaka hadn't seemed all that worried. Of course, Kaelie's aunt had immediately known where Kaelie had been when she saw Kagome's backpack, but that was a moot point. Hikari blinked and her eyes went back to that chocolate brown Kaelie had grown used to. Oh she knew where she had seen the golden eyes before, she just didn't want to believe it. Her boss turned away flapping her hands energetically as she spoke.
"Well, even if you don't want the mirror, you have to take it with you. Just in case you change your mind and decide to go back." She turned then and touched her forefinger to her cheek. "He does need you. Even though he doesn't act like he does." Pah! As if Kaelie could EVER believe that statement. It would be a million years before the great dog demon asked for her help. Hikari-san got a stern look on her face. "Take it. I don't want it in my attic anymore. It belongs to you, so take it." Kaelie sighed, her shoulders slumping. How could she ever say no to that? HIkari-san was her boss after all.
She mumbled through gritted teeth as she turned to try picking up the mirror. She tried once, barely able to lift it from the floor. She was going to need some help, so she dialed Suki's number.
After getting the large parcel up the shrine steps, into the house and up to her room (after taking many breaks a long the way and with the help of Suki), she plopped down on her bed and just stared at the brown wrapping. She felt like Pandora after Zeus gave her the tiny box that held all of hell's greatest creations. Only Kaelie wasn't the slightest bit curious what lay behind the brown paper. She already knew and she didn't want to relive it again. Sho hopped around the room, playing with a ball of yarn that Kaelie's aunt had given him. He trotted up to the mirror and sniffed it, then barked at her affectionately.
"I'm not going back. Not even you can talk me into it." She stuck her tongue out at the little creature. Sho tilted his head at her then started chasing the yarn ball around the room. Kaelie laughed and shook her head. She stood up from her bed, stretched, then moved over to the desk. It was time to get started on the loads of homework she had to make up.
After dinner, Kaelie was still trying to sift through the mountain of homework. After working for four hours there came a knock on the door. Kaelie plucked the ear buds from her ears and turned in her chair. It was her aunt, carrying a small plate of rice balls. Kaelie smiled at her Aunt Asaka.
"Thanks Auntie. I was just thinking about coming to make myself a snack." Kaelie rubbed her burning eyes. Asaka placed the plate on the desk next to Kaelie and took a rice ball. Kaelie took one as well and took a big bite. The older woman stared out the window for a time as she sat on Kaelie's bed. Then she spoke quietly.
"How is school going?" Kaelie nodded and smiled, giving a thumbs up because her mouth was full of food. Her aunt giggled lightly then looked down at her barely eaten rice ball. Kaelie swallowed and went to take another bite.
"Are you going to visit the past again?" Kaelie paused, the rice ball inches from her mouth. Her hand dropped to her lap and she looked away from her aunt.
"I-I don't know…" She replied. She wanted to go back and visit Kagome again. She did. It was just… The whole 'getting attacked by a demon' thing that scared the crap out of her. Not only that, but going back meant she would have to take up the responsibility of sealing that gate. She looked over at the mirror, still wrapped up then looked back at her aunt. Kaelie had told her aunt a summarized version of her story when she got back to the house. Leaving out the part about sealing the gate and the Centipede demon. It was amazing the kind of strength that Kagome's mother had. Knowing that Kagome was living in the past and that now…Kaelie had been put through almost the same thing. Kaelie watched the older woman rise from the bed and place her hand on Kaelie's cheek.
"I don't know what exactly happened when you fell through that mirror. I do know that it must have been for an important reason or you wouldn't have fallen through." She looked Kaelie in the eyes, tears brimming. "If you choose to go back, I'll help you pack your things and give you a farewell hug and kiss goodbye. I may not be happy about it and I may worry about you. But if it's something you need to do, who am I to stop you?" Asaka stroked the blonde's cheek with her thumb then leaned down and kissed her forehead. Why was she telling Kaelie this? Kaelie had already made up her mind, she wasn't going back and that was that. Her final answer. She didn't care if the world fell down around her. That old tree was probably senile anyway.
Excuses. All of them. She didn't care. She placed her hand on her aunt's and smiled.
"Thanks Aunt Asaka, I really appreciate it. Honestly, I don't know what I'm going to do yet. I have school and it'll be a miracle if I can catch up now." Asaka nodded and pulled her hand away. She wiped the small tears from the corner of her eyes.
"Okay, well good luck finishing your homework. If you need anything let me know, and don't stay up to late." Asaka folded her hands in front of her, still holding the uneaten rice ball. Kaelie just smiled.
"Thanks. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Asaka smiled, nodded once then left Kaelie to her homework. Kaelie put her forehead down on her book and sighed. After awhile of having her head on her desk, she started to get a crick in her neck so she sat up and began working on her homework again. She spent a couple more hours on it and finally quit to get ready for bed. She stretched and felt several bones, including her spine pop and crack. "Ugh…" She had been sitting for far to long. Sho wandered into her bedroom, hopped onto the end of her bed and curled up. "Where have you been?" She asked him and he just opened one eye, looked at her then closed it. She shook her head. "Well fine then, don't answer me."
She brushed her teeth, and changed into a camisole top and shorts. After turning out the lights, she slipped under the covers. Sho grunted at her because she woke him up. He curled up a different way and went right back to sleep. Kaelie blinked a few times waiting to fall asleep. The moonlight shone into her room and she watched the shadows dance across the walls. Her eyes grew heavy and finally closed as she fell asleep.
Hot. Something burning and sharp pains in her stomach. Crying. Her tears? Yes. Another sound. More pains in her stomach. Choking on smoke. More crying. Not her. A baby…? Yes, a baby. Someone talking. Hot, too hot. Baby still crying. Then… Nothing.
Kaelie gasped awake, clutching her comforter tightly in her hands. Sweat ran down her forehead and her sheets were drenched in it. She looked around the room wide eyed. What…? What. Was. That? She tried to breathe slowly, in her nose out of her mouth. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and ran a shaky hand through her sweat soaked hair. Sho was looking at her from the edge of the bed, but after a few minutes he put his head back down. Everything about that nightmare was dark and she couldn't remember specific details from it. Only the horrible sound of a crying baby and the feel of fire on her skin. She rubbed her eyes then looked at the clock. It was just after five a.m.. Two more hours and she'd be up for school.
She tried for the next thirty minutes to calm herself. It worked enough so that she could fall back into a restless sleep. When her alarm went off at seven she pressed the snooze button and rolled over. She woke up thirty minutes later to Sho jumping up and down on her back and barking. She rolled over causing Sho to move from her back. Kaelie groaned and pulled the pillow over her head. Sho kept on barking, he even grabbed her comforter between his teeth and pulled it down in attempt to get her up.
Kaelie rolled out of bed and started her morning regime. She found out the good thing about having short hair is that it took less shampoo and it dried quicker. After her shower, she got dressed for school and trotted down the steps, Sho quick at her heels. She made a couple pieces of toast for breakfast and poured herself some juice. She probably had about fifteen minutes to get to school.
"Gah… I'm so tired." She rubbed her eyes and then tossed Sho a bit of toast. She found a note on the refrigerator from her aunt saying that she'd gone to the store and that she'd see Kaelie after school.
Over the next few days, Kaelie's dreams progressively got worse. She barely slept fours hours a night sometimes three. The dreams were always the same as the first one, except the sensations became more real. Kaelie sat at her desk in class, cheek rested in her palm. The teacher was talking about the importance of chords and which ones to use when writing music. Kaelie blinked a few times and before she knew it, she was asleep.
Her skin burned and the smell of smoke choked her. Then someone tapped her head, pulling her out of the dream. She looked up through half open eyes at the teacher.
"You need to stay awake Ms. Ward." The teacher scolded and continued her trek around the classroom to wake any other students. Kaelie rubbed her eyes furiously and pinched her cheeks so that maybe she would stay awake for the duration of class.
At lunch Kaelie stood on the roof of the school leaning against the railing looking out at the city. She was really just spacing out from lack of sleep. She heard the door to the roof shut behind her so she turned her head to look. Suki walked to her friend and handed her a box lunch and chopsticks from the cafeteria and also the change from the money Kaelie had given her. Kaelie turned around and sat down against the railing.
"Thanks Suki. I think I probably would have fallen asleep if I had stood in line." She opened her lunch and heard her black-headed friend giggle lightly.
"It's okay Kae-chan. I can tell pretty easily that you're tired. Have you been getting any sleep at all? I don't mean to pry, I'm just worried." Suki opened her lunch and sat down beside her friend. Kaelie took a bite of her food, swallowed then spoke, "I've just been having these weird dreams lately. Nightmarish dreams, where I can feel everything, but can't see anything."
Suki nodded as she ate. "I can see why that would keep you awake."
Kaelie took another bite, "Yeah, I just hope they don't last very long."
Suki simply nodded again and continued their lunch in silence.
The next week she was leaving classes for the day, utterly exhausted, ready for dinner and sleep. Or at least she had felt that way until she saw a tall blond man cutting a stark contrast against the natives. He was tall, blond, and clearly in the service with the standard buzz cut. The tanned face zeroed in on her before the stern expression melted away by the biggest smile. Kaelie felt her chest stutter before beating harder. This man… "Daddy?" The man waved and she let out a squeal very unlike her. "DADDY!" She ran to him, arms catching her easily and tossing her up like a small child. "Daddy!" He grinned, hugging her close, Her feet dangling over a foot off the ground. "I missed you…" She said tearfully.
'I missed you too princess. Let's go get something to eat. I think my stomach is trying to eat itself." Kaelie giggled, holding a finger on his left hand. "Okay."
Over the meal Kaelie waited patiently for her daddy to speak.
"Baby girl, I won't be here long. Your aunt has let me stay with you until tomorrow afternoon. Unfortunately, I won't get to stay longer…"" Kaelie sighed.
"I understand. I just wish you stay and hang out for a couple days." Her father sighed, reaching for her hand. "Sweet heart, I'm not trying to make this hard, I promise. But this is the best I can do right now." Kaelie sighed and turned her hand so that her fingers laced with his.
"I know, Daddy. It's just so hard to.. I dunno, give up all we had. It still makes me freak out when I try and see you and you're not there." Her father sighed and bowed his head.
"I know baby girl. But, in a few months, I'll have leave and then I'll be free for nearly a year!" Kaelie grinned at his enthusiasm and like that, all the awkward feeling vanished. Here was her daddy, the greatest man in her world. She was his girl. She would always be his girl. They could do this. "Sure Daddy."
Walking from the restaurant, Kaelie swung her hand with Liam's, humming under her breath a Gaelic song. Liam chuckled at his daughter and added the words smoothly in a deeper bass, his voice like a dark velvet croon. If there was one natural talent held by her daddy, Kaelie knew it had to be singing. The man had a voice angels envied.
"Daddy?"
"Hm?"
"Do you mind if I have a boyfriend?" Liam choked for a moment before regaining himself.
"Now where did this come from?"
Kaelie shrugged. "I just wanted to make sure in case I do find a guy, ya know? I want you to approve at least a little bit." Liam became grave. "Don't push yourself, Kay." The small blonde smiled sadly and hugged his arm.
"Oh Daddy, I can't live in a tower forever. It hurts still, but if I don't move on, it'll keep eating at me and eating at me. I will not let that bastard win. He is not worth that heartache and sorrow." Liam curled his arm around her tiny -in comparison- shoulders and held her tightly.
"I know, baby girl, but I would never want you to push at something like that. If it makes you feel better, I don't mind, but I want Asaka to check them over. That woman is an excellent judge of character." They were silent as they walked for a moment, just absorbing the conversation around them as their thoughts settled. It was not a bad silence, but one respected by both parties.
Kaelie grabbed his hand and pulled him with her to the brilliantly vibrant market section, giggling when he gave wide eyes to the large fruits and veggies. Also from the fact that people stared at the very tall non-dark, very military man. It was soon getting late and Kaelie didn't want to take the bus or a taxi. If they hurried, they could make the next to last shuttle that would take them about three blocks from Aunt Asaka's temple. "Come on, Daddy. We have to hurry to meet the shuttle or we'll be here all night!" Chuckling, the man gave over to his dramatically lamenting daughter, letting her lead him and talk. He smiled, eyes a little too bright. His baby was growing up and getting ready to fly from his nest. He just prayed desperately that nothing would harm her. Not again.
Aunt Asaka was thrilled to see Liam again. She greeted him like a long lost brother, squealing and hugging him until he was blue in the face. She near dragged the man to the table, settling him on the cushions. He was hilarious to watch, Kaelie thought, since he was not built to be able to sit at such a low table.
"Thank you, Asaka," Liam murmured around the fish, sighing at the taste. "Real food!" Kaelie chuckled at him. "I swear daddy, I might have to send you care packages now." Liam nodded, mouth too full to talk. He swallowed loudly.
"That would be great, really. Rations tend to stick with you."
Dinner was fairly quick, all considered. Kaelie sat on her bed, Liam was beside her, hugging her to his side. "Will you be okay without me for a while longer? And I mean it this time. No platitudes or soothings or such nonsense." Kaelie snuggled into his side, feeling all that little girl comfort wrap around her like a soft warm cloud.
"Yeah. I do mean it. I might miss you-"
"Might?"
"-But you are MY Daddy and nothing will change that. I'll wait for as long as I need to."
"Just don't wait forever," Liam cautioned.
"Yes sir!" She snapped off, saluting in her awkward position Liam ruffled her hair and kissed her brow before standing.
"G'night, baby girl."
"G'night Daddy."
Kaelie sat staring out the window, mind only halfway on the lesson though her hand moved easily to take notes. What could she say, it was a talent of hers. Still, her professor figured she was ignoring him and decided to call on her.
"Miss Ward, please answer the question!"
"It is 5.6873 percent over 9."
"That is…Correct." The professor murmured stunned. Kaelie sighed and continued her note taking. The herald of the shrilly ringing bell did call her from her stupor. She was so scattered today, but she had a valid excuse. Liam, her beloved Daddy, had gone back to being in danger. She had seen him off yesterday, amidst tears and her crying messily. Today, early in the morning, he had called to let her know they were five minutes from launching off. She'd been a worse mess ever since.
"Miss Ward? Are you okay?" It was her Philosophy Professor, the man fairly tall for his ethnicity. Kaelie shook herself and sighed. Her professor nodded slowly understanding that the conversation should wait. "Meet me after class and we will discuss the issue."
After class Kaelie stepped up to his desk once all the other students had left.
"Tanaka-sensei. I might need to take a small break in the near future. Is there any way to complete independent study at my Aunt's as I sort through some issues?"
Tanaka nodded solemnly to her question. "Thank you for being able to come to me. I do believe that there may be something to help you. I…I heard that your father had come to visit and has gone back out. If there is anything that I or the other staff may do for you, please let us know. Asaka-chan is a wonderful friend of all of ours."
Kaelie dashed away the sudden tears. "Thank you Tanaka-sensei. This means a lot." The man patted her shoulder awkwardly before going to his next class leaving her in the room with nothing to do for the next hour and a half. No feeling up to eating or sitting or anything really, she walked off campus, slowly wandering without thought. She blinked when some time later she came upon the shop, her work place. That knocked her thoughts to a stop. The mirror! She had it! How had she forgotten so easily?
"Cure all for depression." She murmured before deciding something momentous for herself. She was going back.
Two days later saw her carrying every book she would need up too many stairs. She wasn't out right weak, but dammit! Did the frigid shrine have to have so MANY?
"AUNT ASAKA! HELP PLEASE!" She whined at the top of her voice, hoping to catch the woman's attention.
"Kae-chan?" the woman responded looking down a few moments later with a broom in hand. "Oh my!"
"Help?" Kaelie cried, her puppy-dog eyes making her appear so sad and lonely. Asaka just laughed, setting her broom to the side and walking over to grab a small bag. "You silly girl. Why didn't you call before now?"
"I forgot I had a phone." She confessed, blushing bright tomato red. Her aunt shook her head.
"Only Kae-chan. Now, are you really going to try?"
"Yes."
"May I ask why?"
Kaelie stopped for a moment thinking about it all.
" I kind of need a mystery or something engaging to keep me…preoccupied. Daddy's gone for months again and I just can't handle not being in the thick of things. So…" She shrugged. "It's shallow and probably a stupid reason, but I need this. If I sit in class one more day, I'll get depressed and be all mopey and bleh." She walked to the temple doors, sliding one open with her foot and dumping her purchases and books on the living room table. "I need this." Asaka patted her hand lovingly. kissing her temple. "I understand, and, no, it's not really selfish. If I could go, I would jump through with you!"
"Auntie!" Kaelie exclaimed, mildly shocked before giggling into her hand. "How naughty of you!"
"But true."
It was coming upon the new moon, the night sky almost solid black but for the sliver of silver riding like a grotesque smile among the diamonds. Sesshomaru was sitting up in a tree, Rin soundly asleep by their camp fire below with Jaken snoring noisily beside her. He was not a patient man by any stretch, but at this moment, in the true dead of night, he gained a peace and serenity not often found in the more personable hours of the day. Or it would have been if he hadn't smelled the his half-brother's female walking toward them. He curled his lip in a scowl, no matter how he showed his distaste she kept speaking to him as if he were her older brother. Older yes, brother no. He stayed in the tree not wanting to meet the girl halfway. She could come to him if she wished council. It seemed she was only checking on Rin as he watched her bend down to pull the strange cocoon like cloth up around Rin's shoulders. She had insisted Rin take the silly thing if she was camping out wit Jaken and Sesshomaru. As if the child needed such a thing, but it did seem to give her comfort so Sesshomaru let it be.
He closed his eyes and lay back against the tree trunk. He remained that way, even when the young Miko turned and spoke softly to the stillness. "Sesshomaru-Nii-san?" The nickname made him cringe inwardly but still he said nothing. He heard the rustle of footsteps as she stepped closer to his tree. "I have this strange feeing. I've felt it before, I'm just not sure what from, but something is building power out there." He opened one eye and looked down at the girl. So she wasn't terribly useless after all. Yes he had felt a strange power growing and had already decided to travel to the great tree in the morrow to ask him of questions regarding the riddle. Of course all this information he kept to himself.
"Hn." He watched Kagome's hands fall from where they had been clasped in front of her chest. He wondered why she had confided in him instead of his idiotic brother. Maybe it was just that. His half brother being an idiot. After a few minutes she sighed ad left him. Yes he would get information from that old tree and find a way to finish what his father had started so many years ago.
Two days later, after unpacking and repacking all of her books. As well as anything she would need for the journey ahead, Kaelie was ready to head back through the mirror. For the first time in almost three weeks, she touched the brown paper wrapping that hid it from view. Sho was at her side, he had hidden himself well when her father had been here. She had been to afraid of what her Daddy might have said or done, had he found out about Sho and her journey to the past. He never would have believed it.
She ripped the paper away from the familiar shape of the mirror and touched the smooth magnolia wood. She breathed a sigh before pulling her - kagome's- bag closer to the mirror. Sho barked excited about finally going back to his time and that Kaelie was going with him. She stood up and went downstairs to say her final goodbyes before she crawled through the glass. Sho bounced along after her heels.