Day Six

Prompt: Vagary. Noun. An unpredictable instance, a wandering journey; a whimsical, wild, or unusual idea, desire, or action.

Universe: AU

Genre: Tragedy, Angst, Horro(-ish).

739 Words

"Sesshoumaru!" the woman cried. Her hair was dishevelled, panic laced her voice, and she wrung her hands.

"Kagome?" the tall man questioned, his voice deep and calm. "What's wrong?"

"It's Naraku," she explained hurriedly. "We just found a new shard, see?" she opened her palm, showing him her treasured possession. "But then Naraku attacked us and Inuyasha got hurt really badly. I think he's still after us. He wants the shard. He wants me. He's going to come and kill me."

"Calm down," the man told the distressed young woman, trying to still the nervous babbling.

"You have to help us," the woman pleaded, her wide blue eyes agitated.

"You are safe here," the man reassured her. "Naraku cannot get to you, and no one's going to kill you."

"No," she shook her head, wildly looking around. "He's still after me, I know it. The Shikon told me that he will kill me."

"The jewel is talking to you again?"

"Yeah, it won't shut up. I wish it would shut up."

"Is it talking to you right now?"

"Yes. It says I shouldn't trust you."

"Kagome. You know I want to help you."

She stared at him and fidgeted; her knuckles white as she held the jewel shard in her fist. She chewed on her lip but did not reply.

"There's someone who'd like to see you," he continued in his soothing voice. "Would that be alright?"

"I guess," the woman replied after a while, picking at the hem of her shirt.

Sesshoumaru nodded to someone and then an older woman stepped forward, hesitantly standing by the tall man's side.

"Kaede!" Kagome exclaimed, her face breaking in a smile. She rushed to the woman and hugged her. The older woman's shoulders shook slightly as her arms wound tightly around the young woman.

"Did you hear? We managed to get another shard! We have almost half the jewel pieced together already! I think when we find a few more, we can – Kaede? Why are you crying?"

"It's nothing," the old woman said, wiping her eyes. "I'm just glad to see that you're safe."

"We're still in danger, though," Kagome told her gravely. "The more of the jewel we gather, the more attention we will get from Naraku. He wants the Shikon, and he's going to stop at nothing to get it. He attacked us and hurt Inuyasha. I will be next."

"I think you will be fine, dear," Kaede replied, stroking Kagome's hair. "You just need to stay strong."

"We need to go now, there's something we need to discuss," the tall man told Kagome.

"Are you coming up with a plan?" she asked.

"We are, yes."

"To defeat Naraku?"

"To keep you safe," the man reassured him.

The older woman embraced her again.

"I'll come to see you again, Kagome, okay? I love you."

"Sango will keep you company," the man told her before he escorted the older woman away.

Kaede Higurashi sat down in the doctor's office, her heart heavy in her chest as she wearily looked as Doctor Taisho seated himself behind his desk.

"Kagome seems to be doing a bit better," she said.

"She is certainly more responsive, but as you can see Mrs Higurashi, your daughter is still deep in psychosis. Now we could medicate – "

"No," the woman interrupted, shaking her head. "She didn't respond well to that."

"There are new medications that have been developed since the last time."

"I'd rather see her lost in her own world than completely shut down," Mrs Higurashi insisted, her hands trembling.

"The paranoid delusions she's having are causing her considerable anxiety," the doctor pointed out. "We've tried to address her fears in therapy and I think it has worked somewhat."

"Thank you for all your efforts, doctor."

"I have to be frank Mrs Higurashi, your daughter's prognosis does not look good. Her case is very severe, the early onset of the illness and the genetic predisposition both make the chances of her recovery slimmer."

"I understand, doctor."

"I promise you, though, that we're going to do whatever we can."

"Thank you, I appreciate it." The woman paused, her hands twitched in her lap. "Might I be able to see my husband now?"

"Of course, Mrs Higurashi," the doctor agreed in a kind voice. "Would you like me to accompany you to the B wing?"

The woman shook her head.

"It's fine," she sighed. "I will manage."