A/N – First! Thanks for the reviews and the favorites! :D I really appreciate it. I luffluffluffluff you guys. 3 Here we are, Chapter 2. Hopefully this will sate some curiosity. Be warned, however, this is a sad beginning. This part below takes place The same day as the news broadcast. I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters, just the story. :D. minimal Sesshoumaru in this one D:
Chapter Two - Point of View.
The familiar swirl of magic always made her stomach flutter, as if she were flying. Kagome smiled as she was pulled through the well, from the Feudal Era to the present. She'd gone back to retrieve some supplies, and study for a test she probably wouldn't pass very well, but as long as she passed her senior year, she was content. Inuyasha was always complaining about it, but she really couldn't see why he was upset. He went to visit Kikyo anytime she was gone anyway. Sighing heavily, she pushed the thought away for now. She knew she had to break away from him eventually, and she was trying very hard at the moment. Kikyo helped with that, of course.
Feeling the magic of the well stop, she glanced up to come nose to nose with a timber. Startled, she looked around the well, only to find a sliver of light coming through gaps in the fallen logs. Light? There shouldn't be any light coming through the roof. "Souta?" She called upward, listening closely. All she heard was the whine of approaching sirens. What's happened? Kagome thought, confused.
She pulled her way up past some of the timbers, then stopped when she heard a few men speaking loudly, a few feet away from the shrine. "How many people lived here?" One man asked.
"Four, I think." The other said.
"But I only found two of them, an old man and a woman." The first muttered, sounding a little confused.
A log was shifted above her head as she listened quietly. "Maybe they were at school or something. I heard that the other two were still going to school."
"Someone needs to call them, then." It was the man's last words that intensely worried Kagome.
She decided to call out to them. "Hello? Is anyone up there?"
"Who's down there? Are you alright?" One of the men asked, starting to move the logs out of the way in a rush.
"My name is Kagome Higurashi, I live here." Kagome called loudly, listening to the men move and shift what sounded like rocks and more rubble.
"Hang on, we'll get you out of there. Are you hurt?" More light was filtering through the darkness that surrounded them.
"No, I think I'm okay. What happened to my family? Where are they?" Kagome asked, her voice a little shrill with her concern.
Silence, but the men continued to work until they had the last log out of the way. "Here, give me your hand."
He reached down, and she took his hand. He was covered in dust and sweat. As he pulled her up, she kept asking. "Do you know what happened to them? Please, I'm begging you, tell me!" Kagome's eyes were misting, and she was scared. "Please. I have to know."
The man's eyes softened in... sympathy? Pity? And he placed his hands on her shoulders. "I'm afraid that when the house collapsed on top of them in the earthquake...they were killed. I'm so sorry." His eyes dropped, and he backed up from her.
Kagome stopped. Just... stopped. "Killed?" Tears spilled over and fell down her cheeks. "No!" Her voice became pained sobs as she fell to her knees. "They can't be. They just can't." Kagome said brokenly. It seemed then that the whole world was muted. Background noise. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she quieted her sobs, clutching her hands to her chest, and the gaping hole that seemed to be in it's place. Gramps. Mom. Gone. Souta was missing. She remembered the last time she saw Gramps. He'd told her to be careful, gave Inuyasha one of those distrustful glares. Her mom. She'd given her a hug and waved her off, telling her to be safe. "I love you, Kagome." Her mother's voice echoed in her head, and a knife stabbed her in the chest. The memories hurt even to think about them.
Barely aware, she noticed that one of her friends was kneeling at her side, with an arm around her shoulders. "Kagome... Kagome, calm down, you'll be okay." Eri's words were empty condolences, promises she couldn't keep. "Kagome, come with me. You'll stay at my house for now, okay? Come with me." Eri soothed, her hand rubbing circles into her back.
"Eri?" Kagome asked through a growing fog that was surrounding her. Her voice sounded odd and distanced, as though she were speaking through water. Eri said something that Kagome missed, and then the world fell away in a dizzying rush of blacks, reds, and blues.
"Someone, help me! She's unconscious!" Eri yelled. Kagome could barely hear her, could barely hear anyone. Grief coursed through her half conscious mind, sending her mind spinning.
The last thing she remembered was someone carrying her to a car, where she caught flashes of crumpled wood and stone; and then blackness. Empty, void, and alone. There was nothing she wanted more than for everything to go back to normal. And then sleep. Lots of sleep. The dreams she had were painful ones, flashbacks of her family. A flashback of her father, whom she'd lost twelve years ago in a fire that had consumed the building he worked in, and a few others. He was a good man. He'd always been able to make her smile. And it was his face that appeared in her dreams. Kagome. Do not worry. They are safe with me now. I will take care of them. He murmured softly, showing an image of her mother and gramps sleeping peacefully. The image faded away, leaving her again in black emptiness. Be strong, Kagome. Always be strong. Her father's voice echoed.
Kagome choked, startling awake. Her breath was fast, her eyes flashing around the room to find something she recognized. Nothing. It was all strange. Where am I? She thought, leaping up from the bed she seemed to have been put in. A wave of dizziness passed over her, and she had to lean forward, holding her head in her hands. The reality of the situation crashed into her, sending another crippling wave of dizziness her way. She staggered, feeling the grief of losing her loved ones crash onto her like boulders. "Mom... Gramps..."
Walking unsteadily, she made her way to the doorway, where soft light was coming through the slightly open door. She strained to hear the people talking down the hall. "...Poor girl. She can stay as long as she likes, as far as I'm concerned. Her house was destroyed." A woman's voice said, Kagome recognized it as Eri's mother.
"Well, knowing Kagome... She probably won't stay very long." Eri's voice floated down the hall, carrying sympathy with it.
Kagome winced, leaning against the door frame. Glancing around blearily, she looked at a clock. Five in the morning. Light was beginning to come through the pale blue curtains over the window. How long was I out? Goodness... I hope they found Souta. She thought, a desperate hope welling up inside her. If Souta was found... then bearing this pain would be a lot easier. "Excuse me? Eri?" Kagome asked weakly.
Footsteps came down the hallway, and soon Eri's face was staring straight back at hers. Kagome took a moment to gauge the emotions in her eyes. Sympathy, pity, worry, sadness. "Kagome! You're awake! How are you feeling?"
"Not great." As she spoke, Kagome was forming a plan of sorts. To honor her family. And then... Flashes of the well came back to her, the feel of the magic wrapping around her. And suddenly, all she wanted to do was run back to the well and never come back.
Eri was speaking. "...in the kitchen. We're having breakfast. Would you like some?"
Pausing, Kagome realized she was hungry. Pictures on the walls of Eri, growing up through the years, seemed painfully mundane compared to the Feudal Era. "Yes, please. How long was I asleep?"
Eri's dark eyes gazed at her, worried. "Not long, the earthquake was yesterday afternoon."
Earthquake... That seems so strange that I wasn't there to feel it. Kagome thought, pain lancing up through her chest. I should have been there. "Oh." Was all she could say.
The kitchen was bright compared to the half light hallway, it seemed too bright almost. "Good morning, Kagome." Eri's mother said softly from standing over the oven, her eyes alight with compassion. "I hope you're comfortable here. And our house is your house for as long as you want it to be." She said, placing her hands on Kagome's shoulders.
Kagome smiled weakly, true gratitude bubbling up in her. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Saito. I am in your debt."
"No, don't think anything of it." She smiled, and gave Kagome a hug, although somewhat carefully, as if she felt she'd break her.
"Do you know if anyone found Souta?" Kagome asked, hope flaring into her eyes.
Eri sighed. "Not that I know of, Kagome. But they didn't find his... body with the house, so he must be somewhere." She said the words awkwardly, not finding any easier way around it. "I'm sorry."
Kagome's hope dropped a little, but at least he was alive somewhere. That was what mattered. And as long as there was hope, there was no real reason for her to give up. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. Hope was good. It gave her strength, enough to keep her going. Opening her eyes, she smiled slightly. "Thank you."
Eri looked slightly confused, but if she was, she held her tongue about it. "There have been people calling you, Kagome. They want to talk with you about the property, the things left behind, and funerals."
The word funeral stung, but Kagome wouldn't allow it to take over. "I understand. Would it be alright if I used your phone later?"
"Of course, don't worry about it!" Mrs. Saito smiled warmly, handing Eri and Kagome plates of food.
After a short breakfast, Kagome took a shower. The hot water let her mind wander. If there's enough money left by Gramps and Mom, I'll use it for their funerals. This is a long shot, but if there's any left after that, I'll use it to rebuild the Shrine. High school is almost over, ends by next Friday. So finals, and then graduation. I don't think I'll bother with going to graduation. It seemed pointless, and she didn't want to stay there anyway. Besides, on the other side of the well, there were people that needed her. Shippo, Sango, Miroku. They were all worth abandoning this now-lonely life she led. A lot of the time, before the earthquake, she found herself wondering what she would do. Go to live in Feudal Japan, or live in the present time. Now that there wasn't much to keep her here, the Feudal Era, however dangerous, seemed a much more pleasing choice. Despite Inuyasha, and his affairs with Kikyo. When Kikyo's name didn't upset her like it usually did, she blinked. If Inuyasha's happier with Kikyo, then I won't begrudge him for that. Everyone deserves happiness. No one should have that choice taken away from them. It still hurts to let him go, but it's for the best. Surprised at her thoughts, she smiled. Life was moving on. There was no reason to be grieving, they were happy where they were, and, Kagome realized, they would want her to keep going. Honor them first, and then, her life was hers.
Somewhat satisfied, she knew she would miss them terribly. She already did. The truth was there, and she wasn't going to deny it.
0-0-0-0-0-0
Over the next week, she worked furiously on her homework, studying. Eri and her mother were slightly confused with her behavior, but at least she wasn't trying to throw herself out of a window. Turns out, Gramps left a lot of money, but Kagome only touched it for the funerals. They were beautiful, and yes, Kagome cried a lot. But for her, it was like a closure. Part of the long goodbye for this era. She sent prayers to the souls of her grandfather and her mother, hoping that they found peace.
After the funeral, Kagome went to where the house and the shrine used to be. Stepping cautiously over the rubble that was scattered everywhere. Reaching the ancient tree, which still stood proudly, throughout everything that had been thrown at it. About ten feet from the tree, used to be two large stones with old Japanese inscriptions on them, but now were big chunks of rock. The heavy roof tiles from the shrine had landed on the rock and cracked it, and then the added weight of a large beam had broken them. Shaking her head at old memories, memories of crying because of Inuyasha, of being scared as a child, and of running here when things upset her. The tree had an aura of it's own, a softly pulsing aura that exuded calm. Kagome knelt at the ground, picking up a small stone. Standing straight again, she looked at the stone. It's just gray, but it's a part of my childhood. Of me. Of my family. Memories came of her and Souta playing tag a few years ago, when he was still a little kid. They'd been running around the tree, just laughing. Kagome smiled, albeit sadly. She wondered where Buyo had gotten to. For some reason, Kagome knew he was still alive somewhere.
The news on the television were broadcasting Souta's face, asking if anyone has any information about Souta's whereabouts. No luck so far, though. Souta, where are you? I miss you. Kagome thought, holding the stone close to her chest. Two more weeks, she'd wait, and search for him. And after that, she'd take the things she had left, which included some of her clothes, Gramps' old holy beads, her mother's old necklace, and A picture of the four of them outside the shrine. Gramps was wearing a kimono, as always. Souta was sticking his tongue out, and her mother was just smiling brightly.
That night, at Eri's house, Kagome fell asleep studying the second time in a row. Eri didn't bother her much when she went into the guest room. Something scratched at the window, but it wasn't enough to wake Kagome. The scratching got louder until the window finally opened, barely even creaking against the hinges. White dog ears and light gold eyes peered up over the windowsill suspiciously. "Kagome?" he whispered. He poked his head in, finding Kagome with her head against the desk. Leaping agilely into the room, he padded silently over to her. "Kagome, wake up." He said, a little louder this time. He'd seen the rubble that was her house, and traced her scent to this strange apartment building about four blocks away from where her house used to be.
"Nnn." Kagome murmured, waving her hand at air. "Inuyasha?" She peeked up from the desk, her eyes bleary. They were more somber than they were a few days ago.
"Kagome, what happened?" Inuyasha asked, feeling bad that he hadn't come any earlier. But Kikyo had been there...
"Ngh, Inuyasha, what are you doing here?" Kagome asked, waking up with every second.
"I came to come get you, now are you gonna answer my question?" Inuyasha sounded a little bit agitated.
Kagome's eyes narrowed. "My mom and Gramps are dead. An earthquake took down my house." She said, grief still pricking her. "And I've been staying here, taking care of funerals and finishing high school."
Inuyasha looked... surprised. Kagome watched as several emotions flickered across his face. Sympathy, guilt, more guilt, and what looked like... remorse? "Oh... Kagome, I'm... I'm sorry. If I'd known, I would have come sooner."
Kagome nodded, a little curtly. "I know... You were with Kikyo?" She knew that she'd never have a romantic relationship with him, so she decided to just be friends. "No, no, don't feel upset or whatever. I don't mind. I know you're happy with her. So just... friends?" She held a hand out to a dumbfounded Inuyasha.
"Kagome..." Inuyasha realized that even though he'd only been gone a week, she'd done some growing up. He took her hand and shook it slowly, letting a smile come across his face.
She smiled back. "Don't just shake my hand. Come here, damn it." Kagome almost snickered at his expression before she hugged him. His arms came around her, just like old times, but this was different. Kagome knew that nothing would ever be between them like it had been, and that his heart belonged to Kikyo. He knew that he loved Kagome, but not like Kikyo. She was his best friend. She'd always been there, if maybe for the wrong reasons before. A sort of rightness settled over her.
"So... You're not mad about Kikyo?" Inuyasha asked as they pulled back from each other.
She gave him a funny look. "No, I told you. Friends, right?"
Inuyasha blinked twice, not sure what to make of Kagome at the moment. "Yeah. Friends."
Kagome tilted her head to the side. "So, what will you do now?"
Inuyasha balked. "You mean you're not coming back?"
"No, no, I'll be coming back in two weeks. I'm just graduating high school, and I'm trying to find Souta. He's missing." Kagome explained, spreading her hands out in a gesture of helplessness.
"Ah, I can find him easy. C'mon, let's head back to your place." Inuyasha turned his back toward her, holding his arms out. Kagome faltered, this wouldn't really help their friendship status. But it wasn't like they'd done anything while he ran with her. She climbed onto his back as his hands looped under her knees. Somehow, it felt different than it had a few days ago. She didn't get butterflies from his touch. She didn't feel giddy like she usually did. The city flew past them, and Kagome wished that she had some special ability. Her priestess powers, to her, were hard to access. And they certainly didn't give her superpowers.
Landing at her old house, Inuyasha began sniffing around the remains, pulling out something of Souta's. It was a t-shirt. He took a long inhale from it. "He's been here. Not too long ago, but heading that way." He said, pointing to the thickest part of downtown. "He's definitely alive, I'll tell you that much. He smells like fear." Inuyasha said, wrinkling his nose.
"Oh, no." Kagome murmured. "Will you be able to find him?"
"Of course!" Inuyasha said, indignant. "Come on." She got onto his back again, heading downtown. It was a good thing it was pitch black outside, otherwise, he would have stuck out like a sore thumb. Inuyasha stopped on a sidewalk, where people were mulling about, doing their own business. They didn't even notice the two. Inuyasha began sniffing around, looking confused. "Uh... I don't know, Kagome. He's around, sure, but I can't find him. Too many different scents. Sorry."
Kagome's hopes fell. "It's okay, Inuyasha. You tried. Can you take me back to Eri's?" She wasn't about to give up, though.
"Yeah." Inuyasha began running. "Hey, Kagome?"
"Mhmm?"
"You seem different."
"Yeah, I suppose I am." Kagome murmured.
"I like being friends." He sounded unsure.
"Me too."
The quiet, plus the sound of the wind brushing past them, was nice. At Eri's house, Inuyasha crouched in her windowsill. "If you wanna go back, Inuyasha, go ahead." Kagome said, sounding amused.
"Nah, I'll stick around until morning." He said, sitting cross legged.
"You sure?" Kagome asked, a little bemused.
"Yeah. Just go to sleep, would ya?" Inuyasha said, feigning annoyance. Kagome laughed, and flicked out the light. As she drifted, Inuyasha stared out the window at the stars, which seemed to be so less in number here. "You are different from Kikyo." He told her sleeping form as he watched the moon rise.
0-0-0-0-0-0
Inuyasha was gone by the time she woke up in the morning, but her alarm clock was across the room, unplugged. It looked like it'd been thrown into the wall. Kagome rolled her eyes. The week of finals came, and so did graduation, quickly and uneventful. Souta hadn't been seen or heard of in two weeks now. Inuyasha visited every couple of days, but Souta's scent kept getting lost in the smell of the city. Eri and her mother watched Kagome with confused eyes. She didn't seem depressed, just... a little less connected with the world, and the people in it.
Since Kagome planned on leaving, there must be some sort of reason for her departure, right? So she made it up that she was going to America, and she wasn't coming back. Eri and her other friends had been sad, but they understood. Now, five days before leaving, she stood at the Shrine, which, was being rebuilt. It didn't take a whole lot, it wasn't that big of a shrine, but it wasn't going to have the charm it did before. Kagome had had enough money to rebuild the Shrine and build a new hut over the well, which only took about two days for the workers to complete. The Shrine, however, was going to take a few more days to finish. Thursday, they told her. The day before she left.
"Souta, I swear, if I ever find you, I will beat you senseless for worrying me." Kagome muttered into the warm night air. She'd spent Sunday gathering things together; clothes, shampoo and conditioner, a toothbrush, her brush, a bazillion pairs of underwear and bras, etc. Now that I think about it, I might wanna get a haircut. She ran her hands through it, reaching her waist easily at the ends. Then again... I like my hair. I know it sounds silly, but oh well. There was an anxiety, a nervousness, in her bearing that showed she wanted to be somewhere else. In truth, she was somewhat excited to live in the Feudal Era.
The half built Shrine in front of her caused a pang in her heart. Wishing for things long gone, things that had been lost. The stone she'd picked up had been turned into a pendant for a necklace, which she wore around her neck at all times. It was a reminder of where she came from, who she came from. It had become her source of peace for the past week. She mourned at night, when daylight couldn't keep her dreams at bay. But she hadn't been crying lately. After Inuyasha visited, she had felt... accomplished. It calmed her. So she figured if she kept doing, her grief would be kept away. The only thing that kept her from leaving now was the glimmer of hope that Souta would come back. The television had stopped airing photos of him, the negativity of the general public losing interest, and thinking he was dead. Kagome shook her head. There was a letter she prepared to leave on the outside of the hut for the well, for Souta.
0-0-0-0-0-0
Kagome went through things in a little bit of a haze, totally oblivious to Hojo and his advances toward her. Which, after high school was over, had become even more persistent. It was good that she didn't have a cell phone, she mused with amusement. It was Friday night, and the Shrine stood proudly, looking regal and somewhat imposing. It looked different, but nice. It hurt a little to see a different Shrine in the place where the one she knew so well was. Walking to the hut that covered the Bone Eater's Well, she dragged the two absolutely humongous bags with her. Once she got to the door, she pulled the note out of her pocket, taped it to the door, and pulled the bags through. If someone were to read it, it wouldn't even make sense.
Souta. I hate to start a letter like this, but... If you're reading it, that means you've come back to the Shrine, and you're alive. And I'm gone. I went through the Well, and I'm probably going to stay there. But, I will come back two months from the date I put this up. If you're still around, meet me here at midnight.(October 9th, December 9th, February 9th, April 9th, and June 9th.) If you don't want to wait that long, then try going through the Well. It might work, considering all the craziness lately. I miss you, Souta.
Love, Now & Always,
Kagome Higurashi.
Not looking back to her world once, Kagome threw the bags into the Well, and, with a sigh, jumped in after. The magic whirled and flowed as it tossed her through time. There was something incredibly final about going through the Well this time, even though it wasn't going to be her last. When the magic stopped, Kagome looked up to find a dusky blue sky. She sighed, almost happily. Making a strange noise, she tossed one of the bags up and out of the Well, and then the other. She crawled up to sit on the ledge. I hate climbing. She thought murderously. As she sat, she thought about what she'd just done. Left her world, most likely forever, to live in this place. She caught the stone at her throat, running the pads of her fingers over it's rough surface. Mom, Souta, Gramps, all gone. Tears welled up in the back of her throat, but she stopped herself. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself, and sat straighter. I'm not going to let that rule me tonight. Determination flashed in her eyes. Taking the other note out of her pocket, the one telling Souta where to go if he got through, she placed it on the ledge of the Well, then taped it there.
Sighing, she got up and began dragging her bags to Kaede's hut. They were heavy, but she would do this herself. It was her stuff anyway. "Damn..." She huffed. "Earthquakes. Souta had better be alright." She grumbled, talking to no one in particular. The stars had come out by the time she reached the hut, but she smiled to herself satisfactorily. Then fell over on the bags to catch her breath for a few moments. She was completely unaware of the golden-amber gaze watching her from the shadows of the darkened forest. She laid out her sleeping bag, and then grabbed her pajamas. After she changed, she laid on her sleeping bag. And right when she laid down, she thought she heard... Something. But she dismissed it.
On the outskirts of Edo, she yawned. "I guess... I'll always be alone, huh? Even Shippo's gonna grow up sometime." Staring at the stars, caught up in the lonely sky, she sighed. "Goodnight Souta. Gramps. Mom."
End of Chapter 2 – Point of View.
A/N – I hope you guys like it! And please, don't hesitate to review or fav! XD haha. But seriously, very much appreciated. ;]
