Here's a new chapter for you guys! Thanks for all your support and kind words, and for putting a smile on my face everyday.
Kagome followed Sango as she opened a door to a hallway Kagome had never noticed before. She realized she had only ever seen the basic areas of Sango's apartment, never bothering to explore.
"This used to be my brother's room. The room on the other side of the hall is my parent's."
Sango moved boxes out of the way to clear a space for them to stand. The room was a little smaller than Sango's but had more windows. The shades were drawn, leaving sunlight to leak through the cracks and streak the room with spotty rays of warm sunlight. She could see the dust dancing in the warmth, disturbed by their sudden entrance. It was clear no one had entered that room for years.
Sango tested her weight on one of the boxes before sitting down on it. She pointed to a box next to Kagome.
"You can sit on that one, it's full of books."
Kagome sat down slowly, skeptical that there wasn't something valuable in there.
"After my parents and brother died, Sesshomaru sent someone over to box up all of their things. But I had them leave my parent's room as they left it. My parents were the last of the demon slayer tribe. The rest were wiped out a hundred years ago. So I went to live with Sesshomaru after that."
Kagome spoke before she could stop herself, "You lived with HIM? That must have sucked."
Sango laughed, "I don't have any other family, but it did suck sometimes. Sesshomaru was not a loving caretaker as I'm sure you can imagine. He pushed me very hard in training, especially when I first got there. I think he was trying to give me a distraction and an outlet for the pain."
"I wish I had something to distract me when my mother left," Kagome said quietly. When her mother left her all that took her place was fear. Fear of being abandoned, fear of trusting, fear of her father. She became so consumed in fear until it became normal. It wasn't until recently did she realize how afraid she was.
"What happened to your mother?"
Kagome shrugged, "My father was beating her, even when she was pregnant with the baby. And one day after he hurt her, pushed her down the stair or something, he told her she could be safe. He would let her leave, she could get medical help, and food, and everything else, but she had to leave me behind."
"Kagome that's awful. How could your father do that? And your mother gave in?"
"She fought it for a while but after the baby was born, It was harder and one day when I woke up she was gone. Just like that."
"I'm really sorry Kagome."
"It's okay," Kagome smiled at Sango, "I forgave her a long time ago. It was for the better. She had the choice between keeping the two of them safe or all of us suffering. She made the right choice."
Sango was silent for a moment, and Kagome could tell she didn't agree from the furrow in her brow. But when she spoke again the furrow disappeared.
"This is going to be your room. If we clean it out today, Sesshomaru will have furniture and all that good stuff in it by tomorrow. So you better tell him what kind of theme you want. You saw my room, he did all of that." Sango said standing up.
Kagome's heart was in her throat. She felt so happy, but she didn't know why. She had her own room before. Why was she so excited?
I've never had a home before.
The thought stung her. She had never had a place where she felt at home.
"I want it natural. Like really close to nature."
That sounded dumb, but Kagome couldn't find words for what she meant.
"You want a hippie room?"
"I think that's what I was trying to say."
Sango smiled at her, "Well I'll be sure to let him know. Let's start cleaning."
They blared the sound system throughout the apartment as they moved box after box out of the room. There were white shelves built in to the wall and Kagome couldn't wait to fill them with books and pictures. They dusted off the shelves and blinds. Sango even went so far to clean the baseboards. Finally after they did all that, they vacuumed the plush tan carpet. Kagome and Sango raised the blinds all the way before pushed open the windows in attempts to rid the dust that was floating in the air.
With the windows open the room was bright and setting sun illuminating the room just right. A blank new canvas for Kagome to start fresh with. She and Sango sat in the middle of the clear room and Kagome took a deep breath. The air was clear and had the faint earthy smell of the outdoors.
This is my room.
No one would be invading her space here. No one would lock her in a closet or kick her out for the night. She could come and go as she pleased.
Kagome felt filthy, covered in dust and sweat.
"Hey Sango, where can I take a shower?"
"The only bathroom on this side of the living room is in my parent's room, so we can share mine. I'll get you some clothes."
"Thanks." Kagome followed Sango, pausing at the linen closet to grab a towel and wash cloth. Sango handed her some clothes and Kagome sealed herself in to the bathroom.
While waiting for the water to warm up, Kagome smiled at her healthy reflection practically free of bruises and markings. She was getting used to her new features. And didn't find herself hating them as much, though she did feel a little weird if she stared at her face too long.
She stripped quickly and jumped into the shower.
She felt a little gross, it had been a week and a few days since she last took a shower. But in her defense she was asleep for most of it, and when she was awake she was too busy. The water ran over her body and hair and Kagome leaned over and turned the water hotter. She twisted the knob and stopped right before the point that it hurt. Kagome sighed long and heavy, raking shampoo through her hair and massaging her scalp with her fingers. Kagome felt happy. She watched the water swirl clear and bubbly around her toes, not the varying shades of red and pink she was used to. Kagome stayed in the shower till she turned pruney, and with a sigh she shut off the water. She dried off quickly and dressed in the yoga pants and long sleeve shirt Sango left her. Kagome wrapped her hair in a turban she made with her towel and exited the bathroom.
Sango sat on the edge of her bed.
"Finally! I thought you drowned in there or something. I have to pee!" Sango said as she rushed into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Kagome sat on the sofa as she towel dried her hair. Her straight cut bangs hung long in her face. Kagome raked her fingers through her hair, combing it out delicately. She went into the kitchen and grabbed a pair of scissors. Holding her bangs out in front of her she angled the scissors and cut. She found a mirror in the hallway. Her bangs were short over her left eye and longer to the right of her right eye. They were by no means perfect, but Kagome smiled anyway as she clenched the cast off hair in her hand.
When it grows out it will be. Just perfect.
Kagome returned to the kitchen and tossed the hair in the trash. The shower cut on. Kagome felt a twinge of guilt, she didn't mean to hog the shower so long. Kagome looked around bored. Now that she was at Sango's place, her walk to the bookstore was much closer than it was when she was in that house. Draping her towel on to the back of the bar stool, she grabbed her tennis shoes and pulled them on, not bothering to unlace them. She dug through her backpack and pulled out a sweatshirt and her earphones. She didn't remember packing them but she was glad she did. There were a few other articles of clothing stuffed on top of the books she always kept in there. She folded them up and set them in the corner of her new, empty room before throwing her book bag on to her back. She looked around the kitchen. Looking for a pen and paper, she searched the drawers, stopping at the drawer by the fridge. She scribbled a quick note to Sango.
'I'll be right back. Running to the bookstore!"
She drew a little stick figure running, or at least thats what it was supposed to look like. She grabbed her cellphone off the counter and left.
She locked the knob and pulled the door closed behind her. She walked the quiet hallway, shoving her hands deep into the pouch in the front of the sweatshirt, her hands toying with the cellphone and ear buds in her pocket. Kagome was freezing, probably because her hair was wet, but she pulled the hood up close to her head and walked on. With a sigh she popped an ear bud in each ear and plugged it into her phone. After skipping a few songs she settled one that featured a lonely sounding singer, whose voice warbled beautifully and carelessly through the notes as if she were making it up on the spot. The accompanying music was loud, and the orchestral sound of it all sent Kagome's heart soaring and plummeting all at the same time.
She matched her feet to the drums of the music, each foot fall marking a new beat. She trudged down the stairs, the walk down way easier than the climb up.
She pushed open the door to the garage, not knowing how to get to the lobby, and walked through the dim light briskly.
Kagome hit the street and took a deep breath. Sango lived passed the bookstore, further into the city than she had ever been before. The song changed as she crossed a busy intersection. A slow piano started, the notes coming sporadically, almost too quiet to hear before picking up. The pianist hitting the chords in a rhythmic fashion. The piano playing the part of percussion and soloist. She listened to the singer's rich dark tone. Her voice smooth as butter, and Kagome found herself wishing, like she always did when she listened to this song, that she could sing like her. This song was the best company she could have asked for on her walk. It seemed to transform the city around her from a dirty, lonely place, to one full of wonder. And Kagome took her time, stopping to take in the Christmas lights people had hung, the trees lining the street alive with icicle lights. Kagome side stepped a low branch, veering toward an alley. As she crossed the black expanse next to her she a chill creep up her spine. She froze, slowly turning her head to peer into the waiting darkness. She squinted but her eyes could not decipher what her body was feeling, whatever it was that made her feel like she wanted to run away. Kagome took a slow step.
Hands shot out of the alley, pulling her into the darkness.