A/N Before I start the story, just wanted to let you know that I'm starting fanart for this fic. I've only got one piece semi done, but when I'm done I'm going to be posting it to I have a few pieces that I've done, but no fanart yet. If you want to check me out go to: sun-streak . diviant art . com. Sorry about the spaces, fanfic . net is being retarted.
Now onto the story!
Chapter 15: Lyrics to the Song of the Heart
Kagome sat in the limo, across from Hojo, who was impatiently tapping his foot and looking at his watch every five seconds, then sighing and looking out the window. "How much longer are they going to take? I did say seven sharp, did I not?" Hojo asked.
Kagome sighed to herself, Hojo's fidgeting was wearing on her patients. "Hojo, dear, it's just now seven o' clock, give them a few more minutes. My family won't be late, but my mom is probably going through her check list for the second time, making sure everything is turned off and all windows and doors locked. Oh look there they are now." Kagome said as she saw them approaching from the shrine.
Kagome made a move to open the door, but Hojo stopped her. "That's the driver's job. Just sit here." Hojo explained. Kagome nodded and just as Hojo said, the driver stepped out of the car and came around to the side and opened the door for the approaching family.
They got in and immediately greeted Kagome and Hojo. Sota took interest in all the gadgets that came with the car. "Sota, the window isn't going to do magic tricks if you keep pressing the button." Kagome advised her little brother who, like a twelve year old, was pressing all the buttons of the limo.
"So Hojo, I've heard that you might be receiving a grant for your cancer research?" Kagome's mother inquired after they rode in silence for a while.
Hojo nodded and smiled. "Yup, depending on wether or not I get this grant depends on if I can continue my research." Hojo beamed with pride. "If all goes well tonight, my research will be able to progress a lot quicker. I'll finally be able to update all my equipment and get new stuff as well. Not to mention I'll be able to make enough money to start a family of my own." Hojo looked at Kagome and blushed as he finished the last part.
Kagome lightly sighed and looked out the tinted window of the limo. 'Start a family? Wouldn't that be nice. I guess I'm not getting any younger and I should be thinking of a family of my own as well.' Kagome thought. Kagome glanced back over at Hojo and noticed that he was fidgeting around in his seat. It wasn't like Hojo to fidget like that, he was always so straight forward and outspoken. But something about him tonight was totally different. Kagome just figured Hojo was having a case of jumbled nerves about the big banquet dinner.
"So Kagome, I was also thinking. Maybe if I get this grant, I can widen your practice. Give you a better pediatric clinic with a real staff. How does that sound to you?" Hojo questioned.
Kagome blinked in bewilderment. "You mean I get a real staff? Like actual schedulers?" Kagome smiled widely. Her practice had been pretty much a one man or woman show. She had a nurse, but that was pretty much it. She answered the phones in the morning and set up the appointments herself and although she had a lot of help from her nurse, her practice was still very hectic and busy.
"Yup, what ever will make your work easier." Hojo smiled the first genuine smile of the day.
"So Kagome, something I've been meaning to ask you for a while now." Etsu broke in. "If you're able to extend your practice and have some extra room for more patients, would you consider being our baby's pediatrician?" Etsu smiled, her eyes twinkling in glee. A sparkle that only existed in the eyes of a mother to be.
"Even if I don't get the extra practice, I'll still be more than happy to be your baby health care provider. You think I'm going to let you trust my niece or nephew's health to any other doctor?" Kagome said with conviction. It never even occurred to her that Sota and Etsu might consider a different doctor for their baby. It just made more sense that Kagome would be the baby's doctor, not only would the parents be comfortable with the quality of the care given, but it would be a whole lot cheaper as well.
"Hey, Kagome, look. We're here." Hojo said as he rolled down the window and watched the huge building come into view. It was surrounded with lights and posters. All the highly respected physicians would be attending tonight, and although it wasn't the Oscars, it was still a big deal. The whole future of medicine depended on this night and Hojo desperately hoped that he would be a big part in that transformation.
Everything inside the banquet hall was nothing like the exterior of the building. It wasn't as noisy or as busy. People came in and pretty much found their seats right away. Only people nominated for the different grants had dining tables up front towards the stage. Currently, an orchestra played in the pit, below the stage which had it's curtains closed so the going ons in back were unseen.
"Hojo, I know you're nervous, but you need to stop fidgeting." Kagome scolded.
Hojo just looked up at Kagome and smiled. "Oh, sorry." Was all Hojo replied. 'Kagome, if only you knew how nervous I really am.' Hojo's mind said. He was breaking out into a cold, nervous sweat. Hojo continued to watch Kagome as she and her family rattled on about how fancy the dinner was and how wonderful everything tasted. He smiled to himself, thinking of all the years he lusted after her, and now he finally had her. He remembered back in highschool, how 'ill' she was and how he poured his heart into helping her get better and graduate, only to find out at the time she had a boyfriend. He knew something awful happened to them a few years ago, but Kagome never talked about it, so Hojo just figured it was to painful to bring up. Hojo decided it was about time he helped her heal from all the pain she had been through since highschool.
Hojo was snapped out of his daze when a sudden roar of applause started up. He turned to see that the curtain was open and the host of the evening was on stage, taking his place at the microphone. The host went on to talk about all the advances in medical science and how this was the year for even more change. It really was a long speech and poor Hojo's heart was fluttering around in his chest in anticipation as he waited for the awards to be handed out.
"And now we'd like to announce the candidates for this years two-million dollar grant. It sounds like a lot of money to be giving out, but to the right person, it really is just a leg up in the advances of medicine." The announcer started to call off names as the spot light aimed at the tables of the nominees.
"God, I thought he'd never get to this part. Good luck, hun." Kagome whispered in Hojo's ear.
When Hojo's name was called, he stood and smiled politely and even gave a little wave as the spotlight trained on him. Like in most award ceremonies, the spotlight swirled around the room when the host announced "drum roll please. And this year's winner of the two-million dollar grant is..." Hojo held his breath as he waited for the results to be called.
"Hojo and his cancer advance research! Come on up here and claim your hard earned prize." The announcer called as the spot light was thrown directly on Hojo and the table. The Higurashi family all stood and clapped wildly for him as he stood and made his way toward the stage.
Hojo waited for the applauding to die down before starting his speech. "Well, as you all know, I've spent several years trying to find ways to change how we treat cancer of all types. And we're making great progress! I'm in high hopes that we will be curing cancer in our life times and if I can help it, cancer, like small pox, will be just a disease of the past." Hojo exclaimed and a roar of cheering and applause came up. Hojo waved his hand, indicating he had more to say and the audience died down. "I have one more announcement to make before I leave the stage here tonight. This has been one of the biggest nights of my life and I hope that some one here can help make it even more important." Hojo smiled and looked directly at Kagome.
'Hojo? What are you doing?' Kagome's mind cried in bewilderment.
"Kagome Higurashi." He said her name so officially. "You've been by my side through all our struggles and I'm so happy to have had you there as a friend, but I hope that in the near future, you'll be so much more for me." Hojo said as he took the mic from the stand and reached in his back pocket. "Kagome, if you could just come up here for a moment?" Hojo requested. A hush fell over the crowd as Kagome nervously got up and made her way to the stage, acting as if everything was perfectly normal and took her place next to Hojo.
"Kagome, please, this is the biggest thing I have ever done in my life." Hojo started as he lowered himself to one knee, causing Kagome's breath to catch in her throat. "We're going to make leaps and bounds in the history of medical science and nothing would complete my life more than if you would be my wife. Kagome Higurashi, will you marry me?" Hojo asked in a strong voice.
Silence.
Every one seemed to hold their own breath along with Kagome, waiting for her to reply. Kagome eyed the burgundy velvet box, revealing a huge diamond sitting on a beautiful gold band. She sighed, knowing this would be just one of the many steps she'd have to take in her life if she wanted to continue moving on from the past.
"Yes, Hojo, I will marry you." Kagome announced and as quickly as the words left her mouth, the crowd began to cheer wildly and applaud. Hojo smiled widely and took the ring from it's box and slipped it onto Kagome's ring finger on her left hand. He stood up and gave her a kiss on her blushing cheeks.
Kagome received hugs and 'congratulations' from her family as they sat down at their table. She sat there, between Hojo and her grandfather and just blushed as the host got back on stage and reviewed the events that just happened. While he talked and gave his congratulations to the couple, Kagome's grandfather leaned over and whispered in her ear, "what about Inuyasha?".
What about Inuyasha? Kagome's mind was racing with so many questions. She almost felt ashamed for promising herself to another man. But she also knew that if Inuyasha were here, it'd be a different story. But he was gone and Kagome didn't see any way back. She did love Hojo, don't get any ideas that she didn't, she just didn't love him as much as Inuyasha. 'Maybe I'll eventually forget and love him even more as time goes bye. I'm sure of it.' Kagome concluded in her mind.
That night the limo dropped the family off at the shrine and Kagome gave her family a tearful goodbye as they continued to congratulate her and Hojo and talk of the wedding to come. Kagome kicked off her shoes as she entered her home and yawned loudly. She couldn't shake the image of her grandfather, sitting across from her in the limo, just glaring at her as if she were a disobedient child. Did he feel that she was being unfaithful to the first man she promised to marry? How could he even hold that against her. These things are just unavoidable and when the unexpected happens, you have to be prepared to move on, right? Kagome decided she would sleep on it and confront her grandfather tomorrow, when she had her head on a little more straight.
"Kagome." Hojo's voice came from behind her as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the back of her neck. "Thank you." He said. Hojo let go of her to shed his jacket and remove his shoes, humming a soft tune.
"Hojo, where do you know that song from?" Kagome asked.
Hojo looked quizzically at her and said, "I really don't remember. I think it's something my mother use to hum to me. Actually, I do remember, I asked my mom about that tune, told her it was pretty and asked what were the words." He smiled as he recalled the past.
"Oh yea? What are the lyrics?" Kagome asked?
Hojo scrunched his nose up and smiled, the way he did when he didn't have the answer to something. "Funny thing, my mother said that the tune was as old as music itself and that the lyrics were lost as the melody passed through time." Hojo laughed. "My mother is what you could call an old time romantic."
Kagome smiled weakly at him. She knew that song perfectly well. She recalled, back when she was still traveling through the well, Sango use to sing it while visiting her family's graves. She use to tell Kagome that most of the time it was a simple tune that was easy to hum, but she could never remember the words, except for when she stood at her father's grave. "When ever I come here, the words just come to me as if I've always have known them." Sango's voice rang clearly in Kagome's mind as she listened to Hojo hum.
Suddenly, Kagome's chest tightened and found it hard to breathe as a wave of memories came washing over her. She remembered hearing that song before Sango as well. It was just something she took for granted in her adventures in the feudal era. She even remember hearing her grandfather sing the lyrics to her as a child, sick in bed. Or even the night her father never came home, he sang that song to her.
"Hojo, how can you not know the lyrics?" Kagome asked.
"Huh? That song's famous for it's forgotten lyrics." Hojo said, light hearted. Kagome's jaw hung slightly slack as she stared at him. Hojo looked perplexed at her expression. She might as well have called him an idiot with her voice. "What? That's why it's such a popular instrumental piece. Why do you look like I'm lying to you?" Hojo questioned.
"It's just that I've grown up listening to my family sing that song, lyrics included. So I just figured that it was a popular bed time song that was a favorite song to play on instruments and in orchestras." Kagome commented.
Now it was Hojo's turned to look a bit shocked at her. "You're kidding, right? You mean your family has held on to those lyrics through all these generations?" Hojo asked.
"Yea, I guess so." Kagome stated, nonchalantly.
"Wow, that kind of knowledge is absolutely priceless. I hope to hear the lyrics some day." Hojo said as he smiled at her and went to the kitchen. "You should get some sleep, no doubt your mother is going to be harassing you early in the morning to start planning for a wedding now. I remember how she was with Sota." Hojo said as he stuck his head out from behind the open fridge door.
Kagome sighed, she was tired, it had been one hell of a day. She was hoping to look at some more of the things Shippo left behind, but figured that they've waited over five-hundred years, they could wait another day. "I guess you're right. It has been an exciting day, hasn't it?" Kagome smiled at Hojo warmly and he returned her smile with a loving and warm one of his own.
"Good night, Kagome, my love." He cooed out.
"Good night, Hojo-kun." Kagome sighed. She entered their room and changed into her nightgown and flopped on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She foolishly wondered if the ceiling would change after they were married. Climbing under her covers, she practically jumped at a light that moved when she did. She looked and saw that it was only the moonlight reflecting off the diamond. It really was beautiful, but somehow to Kagome, it was just a hard, cold piece of coal that, like Inuyasha, was left along for many, many years.
Tears pricked up in Kagome's eyes as she recalled all the times she had been separated from Inuyasha and how when they were united, he always reminded her of a lost little boy after he had just been reunited with his mother again. The image of that lost little boy was enough to break her heart all over again and the fact that she knew that this time, she had left him alone for good and there was nothing she could do to change that. That piece of reality was a cold, hard lump that Kagome painfully swallowed down.
"Inuyasha, I'm so, so sorry. I still love you." Kagome whispered with a tearful voice. She let the darkness swallow her whole and welcomed the sleep that had threatened her since the car ride home. 'At least I can still see you in my dreams.' Kagome's tired mind thought as she left this realm of reality.
.:End of Chappy:.
A/N And it's now time to let my own tired mind slip out of this realm of reality and bring me to the unknown world of Morpheus. But before I go I have to thank one special reviewer that has been the greatest asset since I started this story. SlummyRedDragon, you're the best! Oh and I love your 'criticism', it's been a big help and don't worry, I don't take criticism to hard any way. .
And also, I'm not asking for like every single one of you to review every freakin' chapter you read, all I ask is that when you're done reading, you review what you think! One review for that last chapter kinda tweaked me a little, but thanks to the helpful tool of story stats on I know my story isn't going completely unread. I just wish I knew what you all thought of the story. Out of the 46 hits I got on the last chapter in the last week, only one person reviewed:again, I'd like to thank SlummyRedDragon for making me feel special:
And this chapter is only opening a path for the emotional flood I'm about to send your way. Some days, I just feel so evil! Mwahahahahahahahaha! Just remember, I'm not evil-incarnation, I'm just mischievous and greatly misunderstood.
Peace and Love
-Sunny