Hey Guys! Sorry for the delay, and for the resulting short chapter.
"Kagome, you seem a little jumpy," Sango nudged Kagome lightly with her elbow.
Kagome had spent the whole flight fidgeting. Checking nervously behind her for the red eyed girl, until the stewardess closed the curtain separating first class from economy. Kagome felt her stomach finally settle after the pressure change of the plane taking off
Kagome turned to face Sango, her jeans squeaking loudly against the leather of the chair.
She forced a smile.
"Just nervous to fly."
Sango smiled back at her.
"Don't worry about it. You might wanna get some sleep. No offense, but you're looking a little rough today."
Kagome snorted lightly before popping an ear bud in each ear, effectively tuning Sango out. Kagome listen to acoustic guitar strums and violins as she closed her eyes. She was exhausted, and fell asleep rather quickly.
She was surrounded by flames. The streets and cars on fire, the sky a blood red.
'This must be hell.'
She could feel her life slowly leaving her, in a matter of moments she would be dead. She felt exhausted, keeping her eyes open was a struggle in itself. She struggled to look around and saw Sango's body on the ground, lying still and lifeless like discarded trash, her hair spread around her like a halo. Her eyes gazed unseeingly up at Naraku. Her blood still dripped from her head wound. Next to her lie Miroku. His eyes locked on Kagome's and as the life drained from his eyes Kagome felt her heart breaking. Kagome could feel the tears streaking down her face, the weight of her friends death weighing heavily on her heart. Naraku stepped into her line of vision. He grabbed her by her neck, Kagome's feet dangled in the air. She hung limply..
He pulled her close to him, and she could smell his stench. He planted a kiss on her cheek before trailing kisses to her ear.
"That's my girl."
He dropped her to her feet and she fell on her knees. Her eyes were half shut as she watched a girl with red eyes and short wavy hair drape herself over Naraku. Kagome's stomach lurched as she toppled sideways.
Kagome's eyes snapped open. She ripped her headphones out her ears and fought the urge to throw up.
"We are beginning our descent into JFK international airport. The temperature is 39 degrees. A beautiful day for the Big are right on time, so connecting flights..."
The pilot droned on while Kagome gasped for breath. She took a big sip of her ginger ale. Hoping it would calm her stomach.
Sango touched her shoulder lightly. Kagome jumped turning to face Sango with wide, teary eyes.
Sango looked panicked, "What's wrong? Did something happen."
Kagome leaned in close to Sango, her voice panicked and low.
"A girl threatened me in the bathroom at the airport. I think she's with Naraku, she said that she he knew where we were going."
"What?" Sango's voice was a fierce whisper, "How could you not tell me right away?"
Kagome shook her head, "I don't know! I thought she might have been bluffing"
Sango shook her head in annoyance, "You are not allowed to go anywhere by yourself from now on. Think of me as your shadow."
Kagome ignored her," Sango I had a dream that Naraku killed me. I've been having a lot of weird dreams and normally I can't tell if it's my memory, or one of my past lives, or the future. But I think this one was of the future."
Kagome was hysterical, whispering frantically and trying to keep her voice down.
"Kagome. Take a deep breath. Slow down." She waited, as Kagome took a few deep breaths. The tired hit the runway and Kagome jumped a little. She looked out the window at the gray skies and snow covered ground. Small markers whizzing by as the plane came to a stop.
"We have arrived..." The flight attendant gave her shpiel but the sounds of seat belts unbuckling almost drowned her out. The plane docked and passengers stood, collecting their luggage from overhead bins.
"In my dream I saw the girl from the bathroom, and Naraku was there."
"That could have been a memory from a past life, Kagome. Naraku is a demon and that girl was too, who knows how long they've been alive let alone worked together."
"No, I saw modern cars and buildings."
"That could have been your last life. Don't get too concerned." Sango made and attempted to stand and join the passengers already exiting the plane but Kagome firmly grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down.
"I felt myself dying." I saw you die.
Sango looked at her for a moment, "Well... Kagome, you always die."
They stood outside the airport waiting for Inuyasha to pick them up. Sango jiggling her leg causing the whole bench to bob drunkenly.
Kagome was barely holding herself together. She had just experienced her own death. She had already seen her final moments. Kagome glanced at Sango out the corner of her eye. Sango's face was stained red with blood, and Kagome looked away rapidly.
You always die.
Kagome stood up and folded her arms tightly.
A car came speeding into sight, driving like only Inuyasha could, and Sango stood up quickly with their bags and climbed in the car.
Miroku turned in his seat to face them.
Kagome couldn't even look at him. She didn't want to remember what it looked like to watch him die. It was enough that she would always remember how it felt.
"How was your flight?"
Sango gave Kagome a sharp look before smiling, "Short, we both fell asleep. Tell me about yours."
"It was terrible..."
Kagome looked out the window. This city was dirty, grungy, and edgy. Kagome's fear took on new life she looked out at the street art murals and compact streets. Every street held mystery and possibilities.
It felt like they drove for an hour in a mix of traffic and empty streets. They pulled up to a tall apartment building in Manhattan. Inuyasha let them out in the front, they climbed out quickly and he sped away to park. They passed the door man who looked at them skeptically but held the door anyway. The lobby was gorgeous Marble floors and countertops, gold trimmed columns and base boards. The place oozed money. There was a reception desk but Miroku lead them past it and straight to the elevators. Miroku placed his arm around Sango as he pressed the button for the 41st floor. Kagome felt her stomach shift as the elevator shot up.
"Now Kagome, I know you thought the mansion was too much. But wait until you see the penthouse," Miroku smiled at her.
"Penthouse?" Kagome knew what a penthouse was she just never thought she would see one. The elevator opened to a small private lobby. Kagome felt sick. It was already too much. A demoness opened the front door for them as they entered into a grand foyer. Kagome swayed on her feet. She kept her eyes down cast and followed behind Sango and Miroku. Sango was talking incessantly and it was starting to grate Kagome's nerves. Kagome turned toward the demoness who followed behind her silently.
"Could you please show me to my room?"
The demoness nodded, avoiding direct eye contact before she turned on her heel and headed a different direction. Kagome followed her, glancing back to see Sango looking back at her before she turned her attention back to Miroku. Kagome turned away angrily and kept walking. Her room wasn't far and the woman pushed the door open for her, holding it as she passed. The door shut behind her and she was alone.
Kagome collapsed on the bed in tears. She bit back the loud sobs that threatened to escape her mouth and instead a whimper escaped. She could only see the bodies of her dead friends lying on the ground when she closed her eyes. So she stared sightlessly at the wall, tears sliding down her cheeks.
There was a knock at her door.
"Kagome?"
Inuyasha. She didn't trust her voice to answer, though she was sure he could smell her tears. The door opened and the hall light illuminated the dimmed room. Kagome rolled away, putting her back to the door and drew herself in to an even smaller ball.
"Go away." Kagome's voice was no more than a rough whisper.
"Kagome are you okay?" Inuyasha sounded worried.
"I'm fine. I just don't feel well. Leave me alone, Inuyasha."
He hesitated a moment more before the hall light disappeared.
Kagome sat up slowly, her legs pulled closely to her chest. She took a few deep breaths, as she gazed at the door. She could see Inuyasha's feet standing outside her door. Kagome looked an extra moment before turning her back to the door.
If she told anyone what happened she would get Sango in trouble.
Kagome closed her eyes and tried to silence her mind. She let her thoughts come and one by one she let them go, instead of fixating. Eventually all that was left was the slight vibration of her powers buzzing under her skin. She held on to that feeling. She eventually felt the warm, encompassing feeling of her powers envelope her in a lavender light. She imagined it felt like her mother's embrace once did. She opened her eyes and looked at her hands. If she was going to die soon, she would atleast fight. She imagined her power being focused in her hands. Nothing happened. Kagome huffed in annoyance, dropping her hands. She lowered her legs and rested her hands on each knee. She envisioned her hands glowing. Kagome felt the warmth grow in her hands, and she dared to peek. Her hands glowed slightly brighter than the rest of her. She smiled, letting her power recede, and like a wave it surged before slowly ebbing. It wasn't much, but she would call it a win.
Kagome felt much calmer. She got up and padded to the slightly ajar bathroom door. She pushed it open and crossed to the shower. She felt disgusting, having thrown up so many times. She ran her hands under the warm water and gave a small smile. She stood in front of the mirror, and looked at herself. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes were red and puffy with giant bags. She looked like shit.
"I can't let this happen again." She spoke quietly to herself.
She didn't have time to keep breaking down. She had people to protect. Beyond the handful of people she knew she had a role to fill. And she couldn't possibly even begin to fill that role if she broke down at the idea of death.
'...You always die.'
Death is an inevitability. I will die to protect my friends.
Kagome felt a tear making an escape down her cheek. She let it fall. It would be her last.