40: Consequences of Truth

"What a man believes upon grossly insufficient evidence is an index into his desires -- desires of which he himself is often unconscious. If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way."

-Bertland Russell

The scattering sea green pieces of lettuce were somehow ironic considering the petals that Kagome had often witnessed floating around the captain. Though she didn't have time to think about it given the fact that her grandfather had followed the food filled missile out the door and was pointing accusingly toward Byakuya.

"You cradle robbing sicko." The old man was furious. "You have to be twice Kagome's age at least. Do you have her doing things for you in bed, that why you want to steal her away from her family without telling them?"

"Oh god." Kagome groaned mentally as she realized that her family had to have found out about their 'engagement'. "Grandpa!"

"Oh, please tell me that you are still pure Kagome." The old man was getting on her nerves. "I know you are a teenager and that you'll feel certain urges, but don't let this old pervert convince you to do anything for him."

"What the hell do you think I'm doing?" Kagome protested in anger, clenching her fists.

"We don't know anymore." The calmer sad voice from her mom made her rage at her grandfather die down. The words hurt more than she wanted to admit.

"Mom, it's not what you think." She sighed, at least Byakuya was just being quiet. "There...well...you see..."

She was at a loss as to how to explain herself.

"Kagome is not at fault, do not blame her for anything." Byakuya spoke up before she could figure out how to tell the story. His voice much as it normally was. "You are aware that she is learning of her powers as a priestess in the soul society. We were unjustly ordered into an engagement, she thought it best not to tell you."

"That isn't acceptable." Her mom was being a lot calmer than she'd expected, it was sort of frightening. "Kagome, you are done going to this other place. Whatever this stuff is with your powers, you'll need to give it up. I've been understanding up until now, but this is too much."

The teenager didn't know what to say, her chest hurt a little. The fact that her mother was so disappointed she didn't even raise her voice or do anything other than look dejected was painful. After everything her mother had done for her she just kept managing to be trouble.

"I'm afraid that we had already thought of that." Byakuya continued to speak for Kagome, she seemed too discouraged to say anything herself. "If Kagome was to let them know that she didn't intend to go through with this they would likely seek her life. I am doing what I can to try to find a way by the orders as they were given. Many people are covertly researching what laws can be brought to bear."

"What, why you piece of garbage..." Her grandpa seemed like he was about take a swing at the sixth squad captain. Until her mother interjected.

"Dad, Kagome, go in and check on Souta. I want to speak with Mr. Kuchiki alone." Her voice was a little strained but her self-control given what she'd just been told was amazing. Kagome didn't even hesitate, her grandfather started to protest but a sharp look from his daughter told him it was in his best interest to follow her request.

Kagome's mom had always been the understanding doting parent. She knew that between herself and her husband before his loss that they had done a good job in raising their children to be both careful and caring.

She knew Kagome was special and that she had faced a lot of danger in her travels in the feudal era. Choosing to look the other way whenever her daughter asked for food and medical supplies in the knowledge that she was doing what she thought was right, this was a different case altogether.

"You..." She paused, she did want to toss a string of insults at the man sharing the porch with her, but she was wise enough to know that it wouldn't help anything. "...do you care about Kagome?"

"It is my duty to protect her, if I would have known that the royal family was going to put forward this dishonorable ultimatum I would not have told them about her." He replied, ever dutiful.

"I appreciate that, but it's not what I asked." Kagome's mom pointed out, watching the unreadable captain. "Do you care about her past some random order that someone else gave you?"

The question gave the captain pause, he nodded lightly though...it was hard to admit but at the very least he considered her a friend. "Yes."

"Then you'd better do your assigned task and take care of her. I expect to see her back here sometimes and I want her to continue her schooling." She put her hands on her hips as she listed her demands. "I suppose I'm not in a position that what I think would matter, but I expect you to keep an eye on her as you are the one that got her into all of this."

"Everything in my power." Byakuya accented, it was annoying that the mortal woman was reminding him of his own shortcomings but her response to the information had been infinitely better than the old man.

"Okay...I don't like this." She reminded him. "I'm going to go speak to Kagome."

"One moment." Byakuya paused her, raising a hand and setting it on her shoulder gently. "There is an option I didn't want to bring up in front of her. An old ally of hers that lives close to where she goes to school would be able to protect her. I asked her to utilize him as a way to return to her life but she refused because it would be harmful to my title. I would still like her to take this course but she is too headstrong to listen to me."

"She is a stubborn young woman." Kagome's mother agreed. "I will ask her about it when I speak with her. Thank you."

She was surprised to a point that he'd shown that much care for her daughter. He was so prim and proper that a part of her believed he'd only agreed to caring for her to give her a bit of comfort. An honest show of it did make her feel a little better. The mom moving back inside and ignoring the muttering of her angry father, finding her daughter in her bedroom crying.

"Kagome." She sighed and closed the door after coming inside. Sitting next to her daughter and putting a hand on her back. "Why weren't you just honest with me?"

"I didn't want to worry you anymore." She sniffled and pushed herself up to look at her mom. "You always were so nice and understanding about everything I did in the feudal era, even though I know it had to bother you every time I decided to jump into the well. I didn't want you to have to go through that again."

"Kagome, I'm always going to worry about you." She smiled and hugged the girl close to her, holding her a moment before leaning back to look at her as she spoke seriously. "He told me that you have the option of staying here, that someone else could help you avoid the people from his world."

"Yeah..." Kagome frowned a little as she answered. "But, it would really hurt him...and that's not fair. I don't want to hurt him to save myself from their ultimatum."

"It might be better for you Kagome." Her mom sighed a little at the sad expression on Kagome's face. "What do you want to do?"

"I'm not sure." She answered honestly. "I can't just leave him to get in trouble or even executed cause of me though. I'm sorry if you don't agree mom, and that I'm going to make you worry about me more, but I can't do that. I'd never be happy knowing someone else suffered for me."

"Guess I did too good of a job raising you." her mom smiled at her words. "Like I said, I'll always worry...but I couldn't forgive myself if I didn't let you go back and you were always unhappy. But, you have to come back and see me and you have to take care of yourself and your school work."

"I know mom." Kagome laughed at her mom's words as she rolled her eyes. "Um...can I ask you for something though?"

"Depends, what is it?"

"Will you talk to Grandpa before we leave? I don't want to."

Her mom laughed, leaning over to kiss her forehead. "Yes I'll talk to Dad, get some rest. We have to drive back home tomorrow."

Kagome smiled and reached for some tissue, so that wasn't nearly as bad as she had been dreading. Now that her mom knew and was okay with her decision she felt a lot better about the situation as a whole.

End Chapter

Well, I guess this chapter is sort of short but I hadn't planned on it being long. It was a transition of sorts. Kagome's family had to learn of her situation sometime and she needed a little reassurance before she'd be able to really look at her own feelings for Byakuya.

Also, with all the fangirl obsession I've had with Sand from NWN2 lately I felt the need to give some love to my Rebirth fans. Feedback is welcome, as always.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Evil RULZ - Yeah I did enjoy writing the first kiss scene a lot.

ANBU Lady Aria - I turned back on anonymous reviews, we'll see how that goes eh? :) I'm glad that you like the pairing. Feel free to pursue the other media I've made for them. Links are on my profile page.