"So sis, how are you here?"
"Came through the well of course. Sakiko is actually half priestess and she knew of a spell to get all of us over here."
"No, I mean, here here."
"I'm not following you…"
Sota sighed and dropped his gaze. "Alive is what I mean Kagome."
It was Kagome's turn to look away, searching for an escape from this question. She didn't want her kid brother to know. Even as her eyes found something else to focus on, she could feel the heat of his intense stare penetrating her. She couldn't ignore him any longer, she was just going to have to tell him.
"How did you know?"
"Well, other than the fact you said goodbye and we never saw you again, let's just say a brother knows." He stood, walking over to sit next to her, draping an arm around her shoulders. "You're really cold and your eyes are just so emotionless. Even while we were squabbling, I noticed you sounded more mundane than normal."
Kagome sighed. "Alright, yes, I am technically dead."
Sota chewed his lip in an attempt to fight back the tears. "How? How did you die and how are you alive now?"
Kagome licked her lips, a habit of discomfort that stuck with her. She had the words to say in her mind, but they just didn't find their way to her tongue. She stood abruptly, her hands clenched at her sides, a scowl plaguing her features.
"It doesn't concern you Sota." She said.
Sota jumped up, deftly catching her wrist before she could leave him. Kagome whirled around, her glare resembling molten lava. "Tell me. I am your brother."
Kagome shook her hand free. "You are the youngest and therefore, the older sister's business is hers alone."
"Damn it Kagome." He came up to her again, this time hugging her from behind and squeezing her incredibly tight. "I'm not letting you go. We're family, and whatever is your business is mine too."
Kagome struggled against him, but found his firm grip was impossible to escape. She slumped in his arms, prompting him to relinquish her slightly. "I died in the Final Battle with Naraku and revived by who I think is his son, Saigen."
"And that's why you're here? Saigen is here?" Sota asked, sounding quite frightful.
Kagome nodded. "Somehow, he made it through the well. And the Shikon jewel exists here in this era. By your countenance I trust you understand my dilemma."
Sota's face twisted into a bewildered frown. "The hell? Seriously Kagome, drop this whole serious attitude and loosen up. You sound so uptight."
Kagome sighed. "I sincerely apologize little brother, but if you've seen what I've seen, endured what I have endured, you understand why your sister has changed so much."
Sota's heart ached as his sister's face looked so downcast. He reached out to hug her, but she spun on her heels. Sota sighed and followed the suffering woman into the kitchen. The clatter of plates and forks diving into the delicious food crafted by Hitomi Higurashi was the sounds that reached Kagome's ears. She watched as Sota dipped his finger in his bowl of stew and taste it, then complimented his wife with an appreciative kiss to her cheek. Hitomi giggled and blushed, prompting Kagome to look away.
Kagome's party readily acquiesced to all the offers of Hitomi's cooking. No one seemed to be able to quench the hunger raging in their bellies. There was only one seat that was vacant and Hitomi looked to her sister-in-law, asking her to take a seat. Kagome caught Sota's glance before he fell back into eating. She politely excused herself, telling her she just wasn't hungry.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Then she was gone. Hitomi looked to her husband, concerned. "Is she alright?"
Sota looked despondently where his sister stormed out abruptly. Kisho, Sango, and Shippo arose from their places at the dinner table. Miroku appeared he was debating whether or not he should follow his comrades and wife. After a bit of thinking, he concluded Kagome needed all of their support, including him. He bowed his head to Hitomi, thanking her for such a satisfying meal then left the table.
The friends found Kagome outside, standing in front of a heap of dirt coated in leaves of the fall. Kagome knelt, her hand brushing away the leaves to uncover a headstone with Gramps' name engraved in cursive grey lettering. Sango walked up to her best friend, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. Kagome gently grapsed the woman's hand, thankful to have some support.
"You ok?" Sango asked.
"I will be." Kagome said, standing. "Don't worry about me."
"You know we are here for you Kagome, just as you were there for all of us." Miroku said.
Kisho came up, catching her hand in his own. "He's right Kagome."
Kagome nodded, gingerly prying her hand out of his. "Yes I know, and I thank you all, but please, let me have a few moments alone with Gramps."
"Sure Kagome, if that's what you need." Sango said, stepping back and shooing everyone else away from Kagome, leaving her all alone.
Kagome clasped her hands together, closing her eyes and envisioning her lively grandfather. It felt so peculiar, even in her state of heartlessness, that he was dead. It seemed like he would outlive all of them with his abundant energy.
"Sorry I didn't believe your stories before Gramps. Maybe if I had just listened to you, I would have known what to expect and how to overcome it. Thank you Grandpa for looking out for me, and I'll always be your little granddaughter even though I've seen things I never should had witnessed."
Kagome retired inside her old house, walking as though she were floating in a dream. Never did she waste her time thinking she would see her family again. She always had this lingering feeling, through all the battles she fought alongside her friends, that she wouldn't make it. Perhaps it was the fear of being killed or will to live that made her feel that way, but when the final battle finally approached, she wasn't as shocked as she thought she would be when Naraku's tentacle pierced her chest.
She dismissed the issue and sunk down on the couch. Just as she did, the sliding door was pushed aside. Kagome looked up to see a teenage girl and a little boy at her side.
"Who are you?" The girl demanded, pushing the little boy behind her.
Kagome stood. "I'm Kagome Higurashi, and you are?"
The girl still looked distrustful. "What are you doing at my house?"
"I beg your pardon, your house?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah, we're Tarou and Atsuko Higurashi." The boy piped, earning a glare from the vexed girl.
"You mean… you are my niece and nephew?"
Before the conversation could progress further, Sota and Hitomi intervened. The children hugged both adults and enquired about Kagome. Sota astonished them all, except his wife, by draping an arm around Kagome's shoulders and announcing her as his sister. Sota then informed Kagome of her niece and nephew.
Atsuko, the fifteen-year-old girl now occupies Kagome's old bedroom she once owned when at that age. Atsuko was blessed with Hitomi's beautiful locks of brown hair and penetrating blue eyes. Tarou, the ten-year-old boy, occupied Sota's childhood room and was the exact splitting image of his father when he was younger, save for shorter raven hair.
Once again, Sota relayed the story behind Kagome and her past. Atsuko and Tarou were absorbed into the story, their mouths running off with questions and leaving Kagome to answer them all.
"So it's true then, Dog Man really did exist." Atsuko replied in astonishment.
Tarou stuck his tongue out at her. "Yeah, so you better apologize for calling me an idiot!"
"In your dreams… idiot!"
"Wait, Dog Man?" Kagome asked.
Tarou nodded. "I first heard about him in the first grade. Some woman claims Dog Man saved her from a burning building when she was a little girl. She's drawn so many pictures of him and they've been put on the news. There were also some strange happenings thirty years ago. At least, that's what I heard."
"What kind of strange happenings?"
"Like snow falling in the middle of spring, a mysterious sword just flying through the sky, and some mask devouring people's flesh." Atsuko quivered. "I can't believe it's all true."
Kagome nodded. "Yeah, I lived through it."
"Weren't you scared?" Atsuko asked.
Kagome smiled almost genuinely. "At first, yes, I was scared. I didn't know what was happening to me nor did I know why. I felt so alone because Inuyasha didn't care at all about me during that time. Then, I met a monk who burdened a foul curse, a demon slayer with a dark memory, a little fox demon who sought vengeance, and of course, a half demon with a troubled past. Going through blood, sweat, and tears for them broke me, but it didn't deter me from my mission. As our bond strengthened, I felt courage and determination to fight alongside them until the end. Honestly, if I was given the chance to relive those moments with Inuyasha and the others, I would without a second thought. That was my life and it's a part of who I am."
That night, Hitomi picked out bedrooms for Kagome and her posse to sleep. Tarou had to give up his room of bunk beds to Shippo, Amaya and Shokora. Hiroshi and Akina hooked up together in a spare room adjacent to Atsuko's. Sakiko preferred sleeping on the living room couch, prompting Keiko to join her. Sango and Miroku occupied the last bed in the spare room next to Tarou's. Kagome opted to take Gramps' old room and Kisho, wanting to be close to her, roomed with her.
Kagome lingered by the window as Kisho entered in only the boxers Sota loaned for him. He was reluctant at first, but the heat of the room bothered him and so, he let Sota show him how to slip on a pair of boxers. Kisho looked down at his body, a bit embarrassed that he would have to share a room with a girl. Not just any girl though…
Kisho's eyes drunk in Kagome's petite form, clad in a form fitting gown that belonged to Hitomi. Her hair cascaded down her shapely back, washed and brushed. Her skin glowed ethereally as the moonlight danced on her. He approached her, finding her gaze lost in the night sky, like she was detached from the world.
"Kagome?" Kisho asked, chiding himself for the croakiness he allowed to seep in.
Kagome turned from the window and was mildly surprised at the muscular body of her roommate. She remembered him, two decades ago, as a delicate twig from famish. Seeing him now, she couldn't retain a gasp. Kisho smiled at her, revealing his pearly white fangs. Kagome fought back her shock and adopted back her stoic face, blank of emotions.
"I have to say, I'm surprised to see you all muscular. I remember you as a weak little whelp who needed rescuing from a larger demon."
He cringed at that memory and scowled to himself. "But you see what you did to me Kagome?"
"What do you mean, what I did to you?"
Kisho slapped a hand to his face, growling at himself. I should've kept my mouth shut. I should've known strength in the body doesn't associate with strength of the heart. Inside, I'm still that weak whelp she was talking about. "Never mind, let's just get some rest. I'm tired."
Kisho plopped down on the bed, resulting in loud squeaks from his pressure. Kagome sat down gently on the bed, sliding her legs underneath the covers and closing her eyes. It was no use though, sleep just wouldn't come to her. She was just so cold. She turned, nuzzling into Kisho's body for warmth. Kisho was startled when Kagome's freezing skin caressed his. Her lithe arms encircled his waist, pushing herself as close as she could against him.
Kisho reciprocated the embrace, but pleaded for his heart beat to pacify before she unraveled the mystery of his feelings towards her. He had been doing a decent job concealing those feelings, except for just earlier he let it slip.
Kagome could hear the frantic racing of his heart, triggering a twinge of envy. The beating of his heart was a clear tale of his state of being alive and able to feel emotions she couldn't. She was incapable of feeling happiness, love, peace, serenity, or warmth. She only received a smidge of relief a couple, but fleeting times. She dreaded though that she would never relish in those moments again.
Therefore, she pressed herself up close to Kisho's warmth and the beating of his heart, pretending it all belonged to her.
A/N: Before anybody asks, no, this is not going to be Kisho/Kagome. Inuyasha will be reuniting with Kagome shortly, so stay tuned for that!