Chapter 6: A visit
"Kagome has passed all her tests with an A," Kagome's principal said to her mom. "Well, is something else the matter?" Kagome's mom asked, even though she already knew the answer. "All of her teachers say she hasn't been acting quite like herself," The principal said, running his hand through his balding hair, "her friends say that Kagome's pushing them away. We just wanted to make sure everything was all right." "Everything's fine," Kagome's mom said, but on the inside she could've sworn her heart was tearing into two.
She called for a taxi to take her back to the shrine. As they drove, she couldn't help but think how Kagome had been doing that to everybody, not just her friends. "But she's passing all her classes with high averages now," Kagome's mom tried to think cheerfully, then sighed, "but only because she spends every waking moment studying..." She paid the taxi driver when they arrived at the destination, and got out. She walked to the house, and once inside, immediately went to Kagome's room.
Kagome was inside, studying her math book. "The principal said you passed all your tests with A's," Kagome's mom said. Kagome only grunted and kept reading. "Kagome, will you at least look at me?" Kagome's mom said, trying not to cry. Kagome looked up and Kagome's mom had to force herself not to turn away. Kagome had dark circles under her eyes from having difficulty sleeping, and her eyes held a bitter cold look. Kagome raised a brow, indicating she was listening.
"Aren't you happy about that?" Kagome's mom said, "Don't you want to go celebrate it?" "To answer both of your questions," Kagome said, her voice as cold and bitter as her eyes, "what else would you expect, as much time as I spend studying that I wouldn't get A's. Its nothing to be happy about, it was bound to happen. And celebrating the inevitable is a waste of a time."
"Kagome stop this!" Her mom shouted, tears in her eyes, "does he really affect you this much!" Kagome's eyes darkened as her mom hinted about Sesshomaru. "Why?" Kagome asked, narrowing her eyes, "do you care all of a sudden?" Her mom's shoulders slumped in defeat, and she said, "Well, fine then." She walked down the stairs and begin to cook teriyaki for dinner. "Mom," Souta said, taking a deep breath of air, "I think you should let Kagome go back to the feudal era, she's not the same without it. "I know," Kagome's mom said, "just give her some time okay sweetie?"
Kagome's mom left the kitchen to sit in the living room with Souta. She zoned out, thinking about Kagome when the smoke detector went off. She hurriedly ran back into the kitchen, and, picking up a fire extinguisher, sprayed the now charred food. "Souta I'm gonna take Kagome out to try and make her feel a little better," Kagome's mom said, realizing the food was now inedible, "do you want me to bring you back the usual?"
Souta nodded eagerly. Kagome's mom brought down a disgruntled Kagome, and walked out the door. "Grandpa!" Souta called, "its time for operation R!" "Don't worry, you find the key, and I'll handle the combination!" His granddad yelled from upstairs. "Meow?" Buyo said, sniffing his food bowl. "Not now Buyo this is important!" Souta said, and ran up the stairs. He searched the house top to bottom, which had taken a whole 2 hours, in every crook and nanny, and still couldn't find the key.
Souta himself had come up with the idea for operation R, operation retrieval, after noticing how strangely Kagome acted. His mom had happened to leave, and he relayed the plan to his Grandpa. He was to find the key and unlock the safe which held another safe the keys were in. His Grandpa was supposed to undo the combination that kept the second safe locked, and retrieve the keys. They would then be given to Kagome safely. "Operation Retrieval," Souta thought sadly, when Buyo jumped onto his chest.
"Well look at that," Souta said stroking the cat, "you got a new collar. When'd you get that Buyo?" Buyo simply meowed, and Souta took the collar off, immediately becoming excited with what he saw. The inside of the collar had a small zipper compartment. He unzipped it and, low and behold, a key fell out! "I found it Grandpa!" Souta said, running up the stairs. He unlocked the first safe and took the second safe out when he saw Kagome and his mom get back.
"I'll distract them!" Souta said when he saw his Grandpa had noticed their return as well. He ran down the stairs, put Buyo's collar back on, and ran out the door.
"Mom!" Souta said running towards them. He gave his mom a big hug, while Kagome snorted and walked back into the house. "I brought you your ramen just the way you like them," His mom said handing him the bag. She started to walk towards the house when he said, "Won't you eat outside with me?" She smiled and said, "I'd love to honey but I already ate. You'll just have to eat inside."
"But I was really looking forward to watching the stars while I ate tonight," Souta said, making his voice sound really disappointed. His mom stopped again and sighed. "If you put you Grandpa's ramen in the house, I'll sit out here and eat with you." Souta gave a really bright smile; he wouldn't want to have it any other way.
xxxx 9:00 P.M. xxxx
"What do ya mean she changed the combination?" Souta whispered in a desperate tone when they got back into the house. "The old combination doesn't work anymore," His Grandpa responded, "but if she ever happens to tell it to me, I locked it back and hid the key under your mattress." His grandpa then winked and went into his own bedroom. "Operation R failed," Souta thought, slumping down onto the nearby couch. "Hey honey...," His mom said coming into the living room.
"NO FAIR!" Souta yelled and ran up to his room, locking his door behind him. "Not you too Souta...," Kagome's mom muttered and, sliding onto the couch, stared blankly at the T.V. screen.
xxxx In the feudal area a week later, Sesshomaru's mansion xxxx
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken yelled, "We need to get on with finding Naraku!" Sesshomaru cast a glance his way before simply getting up from his desk and walking past Jaken to the door. "Lord Sesshomaru," Jaken whispered to the receding back. At that moment Rin walked by Jaken and hurriedly tried to go the other way but Jaken had already noticed her.
"This is your entire fault child!" Jaken yelled, "For having him bring that wretched human in the first place! Now we'll going to stay here till the day we die!" "You could always leave Master Jaken," Rin muttered, staring down at her feet, "If being here makes you that unhappy." Jaken gasped and his eyes widened to look as if he had been greatly insulted. "How dare you even suggest such a thing," Jaken finally got out, "I would never leave Lord Sesshomaru's side!"
"Then you'll help me convince Kagome's mom to let Kagome come back?" Rin asked a smile lighting up her face. Jaken made a face, realizing what the little girl had done, and could only sigh. "I will go inform Lord Sesshomaru that we're taking A-Un for a scouting trip," Jaken muttered, and Rin jumped up and down excitedly and ran off to get ready.
xxxx At the Bone eater's well xxxx
"This is where I went in," Rin said pointing down the well. "Are you sure it's that simple?" Jaken asked, staring at the well reproachfully. A-Un snorted off in the distance, but the two paid it no mind. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure," Rin said, still staring down the well, "I'll show you."
Rin jumped into the well, and when Jaken didn't hear a thump he figured the little girl must've known what she was talking about and soon followed her down. In the distance A-Un, who had been tethered to a tree, still tried to attack the bee that was bothering him. The bee finally flew off, and A-Un settled down.
xxxx Naruku's hideout xxxx
"Thank you for showing me this Kanna," Naraku said as the image on the mirror faded, "and did you not say that Kagome also traveled through this portal?" "Yes," Kanna said softly, "I saw her when she went off on her own. She was not paying attention to her surroundings." "Good, and besides these... two, there is absolutely nothing to stop me from going into the portal and taking the sacred jewel pieces?" Naraku asked, wanting to be sure of the new plan forming in his head.
"Inuyasha's group has already left the village," Kanna said, "and it seems like they aren't exactly getting along at the moment. There is no concern here." "What about them coming back for the sacred jewel pieces?" Naraku asked, "Doesn't that sound like something Inuyasha would do?" "I cannot tell you what exactly transpired," Kanna said, thoughtfully, "but it seems as if Inuyasha is avoiding Kagome. Whatever Kagome has done was enough to set him off his path. I sent some bees to spy on him. He is very... distraught." Naraku smiled faintly and said, "Go and get your sister Kanna," Naraku said, "we're going to have to pay Kagome a visit."
xxxx Inside the shrine xxxx
"How much further?" Jaken asked Rin panting. "The hole is almost big enough for both of us to go through!" Rin said, still digging. Upon climbing the latter out of the well, they had also discovered that the shrine door had been locked by what sounded like chains. Jaken was babbling on about how he knew something like this was going to happen, when Rin noticed light coming in from the left corner. A patch of loamy soil had been burrowed by something, and if made a little bigger they could both get through.
"Done!" Rin said, and eagerly climbed out of the shrine. Turning around, she saw Jaken pushing his staff through first, and then crawled out of the hole like Rin had done. "Where in the world...?" Jaken said as he looked around. "Kagome said this is the future!" Rin said, and begin to walk towards the house. "I take it Kagome lives there?" Jaken said, jogging a bit to keep up with the excited girl.
"Yup!" Rin said, and reaching the door, turned the knob just to find it had been locked. "Well, that's rude," Rin said, and begin to knock on the door. "What!" A voice yelled that gave Rin chills. "I-I came to talk to Kagome's mom!" Rin said, drawing in a deep breath. She could hear footsteps coming down the stairs and heard Jaken mutter, "and I thought Lord Sesshomaru sounded cold at times..."
"Well while you're at it tell her to go to he-...," The person started, unlocking the door and pushing it open, but froze when she saw who it was. "Kagome?" Rin said, staring at her in shock, "you look... awful." Kagome seemed not to hear the comment as a smile danced across a face that hadn't done so in two weeks. "Did Sesshomaru come back?" Kagome said, the ice in her voice starting to thaw.
"No," Rin said, deciding she tell Kagome again later about her appearance, "but I came to talk to your mom. To convince her he's not all bad! Just like I convinced you!" "I also, came along," Jaken said, perturbed at not being noticed. "Now Kagome," Rin said, in such grave seriousness it was almost funny, "me and Master Jaken have business to attend to." Rin and Jaken walked past Kagome into the house, and then stopped and turned back around asking, "Where's your mother at?"
A small smile caught the tired face, and Rin studied it now. Kagome had deep dark circles under her eyes, she looked completely drained, and not to mention since she hadn't did her hair, it only added to the look. "Right up stairs," Kagome said, squirming a little under Rin's unwavering stare, "follow me." Kagome then proceeded to go up the stairs, stopping at the second door on the hall. "Kagome, you don't look so good," Rin said, and she could've sworn Kagome cringed when she said that.
"I know," Kagome said in a small voice, and Rin made a promise to herself to make Kagome feel good again. Kagome knocked on the door and then said, "Two of my friends want to talk to you," Rin was a little shocked at how fast Kagome's mom got to the door. "Hello," Rin said, in a formal voice, "Master Jaken and I would like an audience with you ma'am." Kagome's mom looked down at them, furrowing her eyebrows together. "Kagome how..." Kagome's mom started before noticing Kagome had already left.
Rin also thought this was very rude, but it seemed like Kagome's mom was used to it because she only flashed them a tired smile and let them in. Her room was in, two words, a shipwreck. Kagome's mom apologized for the mess, and sat down upon the bed after pulling up two chairs. Rin and Jaken sat down, and to her surprise once again, Jaken spoke first. "My Lord has been very miserable without the human," Jaken said, "he has not moved from his desk to do anything but eat, and has not slept since the day you split up my Lord and her."
"And besides, Lord Sesshomaru told me he wasn't mating her," Rin piped up, "he said it was a morning kiss...or something like that... I couldn't hear his angry mumbling past the things crashing into the wall..." Kagome's mom stared at Rin dumbly when she said that, "So this whole time..." An explosion interrupted her sentence, and the house shook.
"Earthquake!" Kagome's Grandfather could be heard yelling. After the shaking stopped, Rin hurriedly ran down the stairs followed by everybody else in the house. The shrine door had been blown open and three menacing figures walked out. "Kagome," A voice said sending chills down all of their spines, "I think it would be in your best interest to give up the Sacred Jewel pieces." The dust cleared and Naraku, Kanna, and Kagura could now be seen.
Kagome kept the jewels on her person, and right about now she was wishing she hadn't. A crack of thunder sounded and it started to pour down torrential rain. Kagome took a glance at the looks of the frightened humans and demon behind her and made her decision. "You're going to have to catch me first!" Kagome yelled, and ran. She could see everybody else running as well, the three evil ones chasing her, her friends and family scattering elsewhere.
She threw a glance behind her shoulder and could tell they were gaining. "The construction site!" Kagome thought trying to stay calm, "that'll throw them!" She made several twists and turns once she came to an alley, and knew the heavy rain was obscuring their vision and killing her scent trail. She reached the construction site and climbed up the stairs rapidly. When she reached the top of the unfinished building, it was only then she realized how exhausted she was.
"Naruku's bees can't fly in this rain," Kagome thought, now thoroughly soaked, "neither can Kagura, and Naraku is lost as well." Kagome gave a sigh of relief and tried to catch her breath. "You've let yourself go Kagome," A voice said, from behind her. Kagome's eyes widened and she turned and looked at the menacing figure approaching her and it all seemed to happen in slow motion.
"And to think I actually considered the possibility of letting you live if you gave the Sacred Jewel shards over peacefully," Naraku sneered, drawing a sword back, aiming for her heart, "your death will be swift and painless." Kagome put both of her arms in front of her chest instinctively to try and deter the attack and closed her eyes. Blood splattered onto the metal of the construction site only to be washed away by the rain. There was a thud then silence.
"Didn't I tell you, I don't like you corralling around with other guys?" A weak voice said, "Didn't I tell you I'd lop their head off if you did?" Kagome cracked her eyes open and saw Sesshomaru standing in front of her, a sword protruding from his body. "Sesshomaru!" Kagome yelled, the rain now mixing in with her tears, "we need to get you help, we have to go!"
She put his arm around her and almost screamed when he wouldn't budge. "Its no use Kagome," Sesshomaru said, his breathing labored, "this wound cannot be healed, not in this time period." Sesshomaru pulled his arm from her grasp, and collapsed upon the ground. Kagome became wild with anxiety and tried to recall what she had done to deserve this. She had endured the sleepless nights of being without him, she had pre-occupied her time with distractions to try and bide her time without him, and she had even pushed people away when she knew she would be a depressant to them.
Sesshomaru pulled the sword from his chest, wincing as he did. "Sesshomaru stop!" Kagome yelled, and grabbed his hand. A pink light begin to trail down his arm, and the wound began to heal slightly. Kagome stared down at the wound in shock, but quickly gathered her wits about her. She could help him now, she knew what to do.
She pulled the sword out the rest of the way out, and quickly covered both hands over the gushing wound. The pink light returned, and Sesshomaru sighed as his pain lessened. Kagome closed her eyes, and concentrated on the good memories of her and Sesshomaru. The pink light became a bright field of energy and Sesshomaru could feel its warmth heal the new wound completely, and move on to an old one.
His arm came back in a chronological order, bones, muscles and veins, skin, and even the deadly claws were returned. Kagome collapsed onto him, but after a quick check-up he found she was only sleeping. He flexed his arm's muscles, savoring the feel of having it back. Sesshomaru picked Kagome up and held her bridal style. A flash of lightning showed that Kagome had not been faring well since he had left. He looked back at Naraku and knew he was going to have to come back for him later, but first he had to make sure Kagome got home and got some rest.
*************** Well, this is my 6th chapter! Yayzzz! :D I know you guys think I'm crazy for killing the bad guy... but I wanted the chance to make my own bad guy. Naraku... just not working for me. So I killed him. :) And I just wanted to say, for all the people who don't like my story, and think you can write one better, than by all means please do. But this is my story, and I dictate what goes on in here, and I want to stress. IF you give me a bad review, I WILL NOT change my story to appease you so please, don't waste your time or mine. I do not own Inuyasha.**************