Authors note: Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited, alerted and otherwise enjoyed this story thus far! I am so happy someone enjoyed it!
I still own nothing. ^-^"
Higurashi Kagome and her otouto, Higurashi Souta did not know how long they sat their or even that they had been their for a long time until when the moon was high in the sky, Higurashi Hanaki came out of the house and crunched on the freshly fallen leaves around them.
Kagome and Souta looked up to their mother with surprised gazes as they realized how long they had been outside in the autumn air.
Higurashi Hanaki herself was stunning and reserved as always. Her guarded chocolate orbs shone with pure love for her son and mere tired reserve for her daughter. She had long written Kagome off as not caring about her family or what pains her journey brought them. She wore a pastel pink nightdress and had two white fuzzy slippers on her feet. Her hair was dark mocha as ever. In her dainty hands was a cup of steaming hot Coco with fluffy white marshmallows on top.
"Mama. Kagome is home!" Souta happily told their mother with wary eyes on her face, knowing her stress lines were not because she did not care but because she did not understand. The woman's eyes softened on her son and their guarded nature returned when she went to face her daughter. "Welcome home my daughter. I expect you to be ready for your priestess duties in the morning." Her face softened again as she turned to her son who sported a wide eyed face at her lack of warmth and embrace to Kagome. "Here Souta, I thought you would need something to warm your insides. Please do not stay out here long. You have school in the morning."
Souta held the cup stunned as their mother walked off and slowly entered the house as if she had not just spoken to her once cherished daughter like she would an unruly shrine hand. His eyes lowered to his hot coco sadly. He loved his sister and his mother both. He hoped their grandfather had a better reaction.
Kagome herself sat with watering eyes as she sat in a whirlwind of emotions. She was finally home... but she was not welcomed here. Only her brother would ever treat her as anything more than a stranger now if her mothers reaction was anything to go by. Her slightly pinkened lips slightly parted in her own wide eyes stunned position. She didn't even realize she was still holding her brother as he starred into the cup of hot coco watching the marshmallows fade into the drink and the steam slowly slow it's decent as the hot coco because to cool in the nights chill. No, Kagome realized none of this. Nor did she realize the tears leaving her eyes until one fell into her brothers coco snapping them both back to the present.
Souta looked at his sisters stricken face seeing more hurt in her eyes than Inuyasha could have ever inflicted. He silently mused that if Naraku had made their mother reject Kagome, perhaps he would have had the jewel tainted by her pain as was no secret he wanted, even Souta could tell just by the stories alone.
It was then they both realized they both had tears running down their faces because while Kagome cried for the hurt of rejection, Souta cried for the torn family and for his sisters broken hearted pain crying out. He took the still warm cup and took a sip then handed it to Kagome. "Please drink up Kagomeneechan. I want you to be warm inside too." He knew he was a bit old for such displays but... if it made his sister smile he would do it and he would be happy about it... even if it only took a tiny bit of her pain away he would be her innocent little brother and act like he was still a little kid instead of the 17 year old brother sitting next to his 20 year old sister. He got the desired reaction. The pain in her eyes lessened and her lips upturned ever so slightly in thanks as she drank a small sip before placing it down slowly and launching herself into her brothers arms. The launching had not been his intent but he was very much content that she was in his arms. His sister had grown very... he stopped himself their. His sister did not need ever know he was starring at her ass... or imaging her with... again he redirected his thoughts to her tears. Ah yes, unpleasant but highly appropriate thoughts. As it was, Higurashi Kagome was crying in her brothers arms and while they were accompanied by "arigato" and it's variations "arigato soutaoutoto" and "arigato outotochan"... he would keep this to himself. His sister was pure and besides... their mother woudl die to know their families "only hope" was nothing more than a boy with a sister complex. Indeed.
Red eyes watched speculatively before a single black boot came into the light followed by black Hakama and finally... "It is interesting how one would dance a dance called 'Kagura' much better than the one named such ever could." Kagome looked up from her brother chest. "KAGURASAN!" Kagura watched with soft red eyes, her ruby lips upturned just a bit as the little miko left her brothers chest and launched into her arms to greet her as her brother had to her earlier. As the miko hugged her with eyes shut in bliss Kagura quirked a brow at the one she knew was too close of a relation to be having such scents in regards to his sister. The man child merely narrowed his dark chocolate eyes as if to say "not a word". He had heard of youkai and their senses and he knew they would know. the last thing he wanted was for one to tell his precious Oneesan that her precious little Otouto wanted THAT dirty thing with his pure hearted Kagome. Uh oh... changing thought process again. No need to think that route. He knew enough to know perverse love is how you got naraku and with his sister being the guardian of the Shikon No Tama that was the last thing he needed to think about. He had no desire to become the next Naraku.
Kagura further quirked a finely sculpted brow seeing the one she knew to be Kagome's brother with a darkened aura and then fight it off. She missed none of the males reactions to his sister. She would have need to alert the others and watch him closely. Their was something wrong with that human brother of Kagome's and Kagura had no desire to have that harm the precious and pure miko she held in such embrace. She finally decided to deal with it later and gave in to the hug placing her head on top of Kagome's and holding her snugly before letting go of the woman and wiping her tears away. "Konbawa Kagomesama." she said with a bow as her soil rich brown hair cascaded from it's secure tie on her head. Her lip quirked waiting what she knew would come in 3... 2... "Kagura! What have I said about 'sama'?" Her foot was stomped on the ground, her hands were on her hips, her cheeks were flushed beautifully and her lips were pouted. Kagura briefly wondered if her mate would allow her to have some fun on the side but pushed it away immediately. Kagome had enough suitors already and she wouldn't make the girl second best every again... in fact she aimed for the woman to never be anything but loved and held in nothing but a loving embrace reserved for her and her alone.
Kagome seemed to remember herself then, blushing in a way both brother and wind sorceress found endearing and captivating. "Ah. Soutaotoutosan, this is Kagurasan. She is my friend so please treat her well otoutosan?" Kagome gestured while initiating the greeting, a habit she never really grew out of and looked to her brother with pleading eyes. He stared into those deep azure depths so reminiscent of sapphires or perhaps the bottom of the sea... his sister looked so hopeful. Internally he sighed. He could deny nothing of his sister. He nodded and turned to the demon before him inclining his head to the side in a greeting as his sister had taught him was customary for demons. Kagura did the same, showing none of her surprise that the girl had taught her brother demon etiquette. Contrary to the miko's nature of running up to hug those she knew, it was very much not a custom in demon culture. In fact it could get her killed if done to the wrong demon... again, another aspect of this she put on her mental checklist to keep an eye on. Kagome was going to be the death of her. The miko drew more trouble... but it was her pure nature and the love her friends held for her that allowed for her good natured embraces to be received so. She need never know that demons were inherently devoid of care about gender or that both could produce offspring or impregnate a female if they so chose as long as their were two to perform the deed itself. She need also not know that her embraces were a very tough thing to handle in a race that was very much very sexual. If she wasn't careful someone would take that embrace as a wish for something more... much more. Indeed... she may need some help keeping an eye on this little one.
Back out of Kagura's thoughts Kagome was chatting animatedly with her brother as the male human yawned and she shooed him inside, promising to follow him later. Kagura caught his aura darken again. Every time it darkened it reminded her of something she couldn't quite place.
Kagome looked at Kagura's expression with knowing eyes as she looked at the wind sorceress. She wasn't stupid. Some things were hard to hide when you were hugging someone that closely. She too noticed the darkening aura and already knew what Kagura was sensing and why it seemed so familiar to her. "Kagura." That drew the attention of the wind Sorceress. "Kagura, promise not to hurt him." Kagura looked into the woman's tired eyes and sighed. "If he gives me no reason to harm him, I will not ever raise anything against him..."-a lip quirked-"Himesama." Kagome looked about ready to blow with frustration not at all realizing her hakamashita's position on her form had been messed up just enough by her damaged obi to reveal a creamy shoulder or that a tear in the cloth right by her chest had tore just a bit at what point was anyone's guess... but that tear showed just a just enough to be able to see the red lace bra underneath that had Kargura's mouth dry... nor did the Miko notice her flushed cheeks or hair in disarray... or how a tiny tear in the little miko's hakama hinted at the Miko's mismatched colored white lace underwear. Why did the woman insist on wearing such underclothes? Kagura would never know. Kagura fought to get her mind under control as her mind immediately supplied images of the miko if she had wore no underwear... she didn't know which option seemed more... alluring. Dammit. Why did she have to be so attractive?
Kagome was just finishing her rant as Kagura came out of her thoughts... which were of course very much of the variety that had her needed a very long night with her mate. No... a cold shower was for the unmated. She was going to have him several different ways that night... "Kagura? Your doing the miroku face..." Kagura turned a shade of pink at being caught and thought up a quick excuse. "Thinking of my mate." Kagome nearly squealed with delight. "Kagura! When was the wedding? Any children? When can I meet him?" ... "Hikazejun and myself have been together for about 250 years. We have several children, but only one of them is in anyplace to be met any time soon. You can meet her in the morning." Kagome nodded and Kagura waiting for her words to sink in... but kagome acted as if she had either missed the slip up or simply did not care. "My mate will be busy with me tonight, however I will send our son, Jin, to greet you later when Amaterasu kamisama has begun her decent to her rest. He may have others with him." Kagome looked to Kagura and nodded. She would need to prepare to adjust the wards so that they could come through the moment she felt them.
"Till we meet again on the morrow Kagurasan." Stated Kagome formally as she inclined her head to the side unwittingly bearing her neck to the already tortured, flustered wind demoness. "Till we meet again on the morrow Kagomesama." Kagura was gone before Kagome could scold her for using such high honorifics in her name.
Before heading in, an exhausted Kagome placed her long bow and her quiver in a small shrine by the Goshinboku before heading inside.
The cup of long forgotten once hot coco sat forgotten on the ground in the debris of the well-house as a tiny spider symbol swirled in the liquid for a millisecond before disappearing.
Inside his bedroom, Souta's sleeping eyes opened wide and red light just as his sister entered the home.
Special thanks to all my reviews. I apologize however I can't seem to keep up with all the alert and favorite alerts... but I do also thank those who have done such. It is an honor to have my story enjoyed so.
Thank you-
Lily887787
Words of Law
Diamondz-Love
secretsrsafehir
flaimingdarkfox
loveless an the living fantasy
TheElegantFaerie
-My dear reviewers for my first chapter. I hope you also enjoy this second installment.
-Shi