The tantalizing scent of Hitomi's cooking failed to uplift Kisho's spirits as he descended the staircase. His mouth tingled, as though he had been slapped there. It certainly felt like it. He remembered the feel of her cold, unfeeling lips against his. Despite the absence of warmth, it was still a treat to have her lips on his, even if it was just for a split second. Once he felt her push him away, his eyes locked with hers, and his heart fell at the perpetual emptiness. They stood there, staring at each other briefly until wordlessly, Kagome turned and left him in the room by himself. Kisho, confused, but still exhilarated from the kiss, remained where he was until Hitomi's incessant breakfast calls shattered his reverie.
He had kissed her because the urge to subdue it was impossible. The vast emptiness in her eyes pained him, it was like she was beseeching for someone to love her again. Even if her emotions were locked inside her captive heart, she still had to feel some type of loneliness, the kind he desired to cure. He only wanted to be there for her, but perhaps he was coming on a bit too strongly. After all, the only man to have ever kissed her, the only one she willingly tore out her heart and gave it to, was Inuyasha. Kisho scowled, images of that arrogant and strong half demon flooded his head as he reached the final step.
Kagome was there, her eyes honing in at her coterie in the kitchen delighting themselves with a delicious meal. She seemed as though she wished to join them, but turned her head with that same vexing emptiness in her eyes. She locked eyes with Kisho for just a split second before walking to the front door. Kisho watched as she threw open the door and stepped into the fresh morning air.
"Kisho, come on. There's a seat for you too at the table." Hitomi said.
"Yeah, coming." Kisho replied, finally tearing his forlorn gaze away from the door.
Kagome huddled Hitomi's nightgown closer around her as the wind brushed across her face. Her skin chilled from the cold, but her freezing lips were more protuberant. She was uncertain now how to act around Kisho. Every part of her wanted to ignore him and let this awkwardness that formed between them recede.
When he kissed her, she felt nothing. She didn't feel that spark she had when her lips collided for the first time with Inuyasha. She didn't feel repulsion either. There was just no feeling. How could she tell him that? It was best to keep her thoughts silent from him. He should've known, that kissing her wouldn't change things. Did he think women were so gullible that once they are kissed they would fawn over the person? Didn't he understand the dead have no feelings except for bitterness and this excessive drive for vengeance?
I can't love. She thought, her mind conjuring an image of a half man with flowing silver hair and eyes as warm as the sunlight. Never again.
"Kagome? Hey sis, what are you doing out here?" Sota asked, running out of the house with Atsuko and Tarou in tow.
"Oh nothing. Is it time for school you two?" Kagome asked, turning her attentions to her brother's children, her niece and nephew that she never knew she had.
Atsuko nodded. "Yeah, I'm on my way, but stupid here is afraid of the big bad scary demons now that we know the legendary Dog Man is real."
"I'm not stupid!" Tarou said to his sister, then he looked at his aunt. "Are demons scary Auntie Kagome?"
The sentimental addendum to her name astonished Kagome. She wasn't expecting to become family to these children. How could she when she planned on returning to the dead after her duty to the Shikon jewel was fulfilled? "They can be Tarou, but there are some that do not deserve to be judged."
"Can you tell me stories Auntie Kagome?"
Kagome went to demur the request, but Sota beat her to the punch. "She will tell you as many stories as you want to hear Tarou, but only after you come back from school. Atsuko, will you please walk your little brother to school?"
Atsuko scowled. "Dad! I gotta hurry, can't you walk him?"
"I need to talk to your Aunt Kagome for a while." Sota said firmly. "Do it Atsuko."
Atsuko sighed. "Yes daddy, come on scaredy-cat."
Tarou hugged his father then looked at Kagome, almost expectantly. Finally, he threw his tiny arms around her, disregarding the cold that clung to her before rushing to catch up to his sister. Kagome stared after her niece and nephew, feeling almost nostalgic as the two jocular siblings bickered on the road.
Sota gazed at his sister, then stood and walked up to embrace her. Kagome reached her arms around him, clutching him tightly.
"I was so afraid, not knowing what happened to you. One minute we're arguing, and the next we're saying goodbye, but I never thought it would be so long. I often wondered if you and Inuyasha married, or you met someone else, or if you were… dead. I wish so badly it was the first two."
"Me too, but I guess this is the way the Gods planned it. Maybe Inuyasha and I were just not meant to be." Kagome said, turning her gaze to the sacred tree. She pulled away from her brother, laying a palm on the tree. "Even in my time of distress, I still feel a sense of peace when I'm under this tree."
"Then maybe it is meant to be sis." Sota said, earning a befuddled frown from his sister. "You said the Gods planned for you and Inuyasha not to be together, but if you feel secure when you're near the tree where you and Inuyasha first met, then perhaps you two are destined to be together."
Kagome scoffed. "Dear brother, I am the living dead and he is… dead. Why would he die before I am resurrected if we're meant to be?"
"The Gods work in ways we'll never understand, but it makes it much more amazing when it all works out in the end." Sota said, his face flushed as he recalled how Hitomi just wouldn't return his affections as strong as he had until Kagome went 'missing'. "It'll be alright in the end sis, you'll see."
Kagome nodded. "I hope you are right Sota."
"You know, you should go see Mama. She missed you the most I think, and I believe it would really make her day if you see her. I have enough money to purchase one subway ticket, it'll be easy to get it for you."
"See her and say goodbye again Sota? Break my Mama's heart again? I can't do that Sota, not when I'm not here to stay."
"Just think about it Kagome. I figured your initial answer would be no, but just think about it. Please?"
"Fine, I'll think about it." Kagome said, turning to face the sunlit heavens. I can't, it wouldn't be fair. Besides, I have a duty to fulfill. I didn't come here for family reunions, I have a job to do.
Haruka huddled inside the cave founded by her master and brothers. The wintry breeze seeped through the gaps, making her further uncomfortable. She would be grateful for some kind of shelter. Takeshi, Akito, and Saigen set out to find that shelter. She designated herself to keep watch over the cave, destroy any intruders that could rat them out. According to Akito, they're in danger more so here than back home, making Haruka uneasy.
She looked up at the sound of voices. She leaned up against the cave wall, poking her head out at the entrance. Two human boys wearing strange headgear and raiment walked up, jesting with each other. The one on the left indicated to the cave and Haruka panicked as she wondered if they spotted her. She flexed her claws, steeling herself for her first killing.
His companion looked warily at the cave, his smirk gone. "I'm not going in there! Didn't you hear what happened to Zenjiro's little bro? No way man, you do it!"
"Come on chicken! Just check it out, and I'll set you up with Higurashi."
Wait, isn't Higurashi the last name of that Kagome girl going against master Saigen? Haruka thought.
"Fine! If it means I get to spend one day with Atsuko." The boy caved, making his friend smirk in victory.
"That's right, so go do it."
The pusillanimous boy crept slowly to the cave, shadowed by deceased trees and homing about a hundred of cobwebs. All he had to do to earn a date with Atsuko Higurashi, was check it out. It seemed to be a simple task for anyone, but the truth was his friend, Zenjiro, came to school and hysterically cried about some monster devouring his little brother. Apparently, the two were throwing a ball around and Zenjiro had thrown it over his brother and in the premises of the cave. The younger went to fetch it, since he made the blunder of missing it, but then two creatures emerged from the cave and grabbed the boy. Zenjiro was too frightened to stay and he took off in the opposing direction.
"Kenji! Get moving!" His friend called impatiently.
Kenji scowled back at him, then continued with his mission. Haruka flattened herself against the wall, preparing. Kenji took a step, then another. Haruka shimmied closer to the entrance, still unseen by the boys. His foot stepped on a twig, frightening himself enough to backpedal away from a ghastly foe his mind created. The crackling sound was enough to trigger Haruka as she soared out of the cave and quickly slashed the boy's throat.
Kenji collapsed on the ground, cradling his gushing wound. He looked up at the woman who struck him down, seeing her to be perfectly normal save for the flashing of her orange gaze. She lifted her hand, shrouded in his blood and he caught a glimpse of the claws that robbed him of his life.
Haruka glanced up, ready to take out the other one only to find him gone. She scowled, berating herself for letting down her master. At least she caught one kill. Haruka grasped the ankles of her victim, dragging his corpse inside the cave.
Kagome dawdled aimlessly down the stairs of her shrine home. A destination was undecided, but she couldn't really care. She just needed an escape, relive those ingenuous moments before her life had altered. Atsuko and Tarou had returned from school, bragging about their special friends and Kagome couldn't bear listening to stories she never got to tell. She reached the bottom step when someone cried out her name, it was Kisho.
"Kagome! Wait up!" Kagome paused, looking over her shoulder. The demon rushed to her, leaping over the series of steps. She sighed, for the reason she was escaping was from him. Kisho reached out, grasping her arm before she could leave. His excitement melted away at her cold stare and he asked rather bashfully, "Where are you going?"
"Why is it your business?"
"C'mon Kagome, I'll escort you."
"I don't need an escort Kisho, I just need to be alone for a while."
He looked crestfallen. "Oh, alone huh?"
Before Kagome could respond back, a hysterical cry sliced the silence. Kagome and Kisho looked behind them to see a boy roughly the age of sixteen race to them. His face was dripping with sweat and his cheeks were a puffy red from the heavy exertion. His words sputtered and slurred as he struggled to explain the events that unfolded. He was so engrossed in his story that he failed to notice Kisho's eccentric features.
Kagome finally led the frantic boy up the long stairs and guided him inside the house. "Atsuko! Atsuko!" He cried.
His boisterous shouts enticed Atsuko and her father into the room. "Atsushi? What's the matter?"
"It's Kenji! He's dead!"
Sota and Atsuko were the only ones who wore the look of shock. Sota turned to his daughter, catching her before she could fall to the floor in a fit of sobs. Kagome watched on, remembering those ghastly memories of the tears people shed from Naraku's onslaught of terror. She remembered the heart wrenching tears from Sango, the serene mask Miroku wore to conceal his fear eating away at him, the emptiness in Inuyasha's eyes when Kikyo died for the final time.
She reminisced how she used to be in those situations. She would ensconce her friend in her arms and cry with her or caress her back while whispering promises she wasn't sure she would be able to keep. She would sit next to Inuyasha, peeling away slivers of his mask and making his worries evaporate by laying her head on his shoulder. That was how she was, caring nature, willing to display her heart to the world no matter how foolish it seemed to others. Now… she was dead, cold, and even make-believe.
"What happened?" She asked, flinching at her stoic tone of voice.
The distraught boy looked at her. "Kenji… and I… we wanted to explore that cave… the same one where Zen-Zenchiro's brother died in."
Atsuko gasped. "How could you!"
"It was a bet and he lost! Anyway that doesn't matter. Some freakish monster attacked him when he got close, and dragged him in, and I don't know what happened to him after that. I'm sorry Higurashi, I really, really am. He was my best friend! God I miss him already!"
Kagome bit the inside of her mouth, already knowing who to put the blame on. Saigen… so he's already killing off the people in this era…He's definitely Naraku's son!
Kagome left so stealthily, that her absence went unnoticed by the grieving occupants. She went upstairs, strapping her bow and arrows and then leaving the house, she had a devil incarnate to deal with.