"This was...my mother's room?" Akita asked.
"Yes," Sota nodded, "And you can stay here as long as you like."
Akita felt inexplicably uncomfortable. She knew so little about her mother, but still...anyone would be surprised to learn about something like this. Her hand rested on the desk as she soaked in the sight of her surroundings.
When she realized that Sota was watching, she felt the need to say something. "It's very...pink," she commented.
Sota laughed. "It suits you."
"Does it?" Akita had never really felt much like a girl. She looked down at her hands, wrapped and covered by gloves to hide her claws.
"Yeah." Sota gave her a warm smile, and his eyes were kind. "You remind me so much of Kagome."
A blush rose to Akita's face as she smiled. She never thought anyone would say something so nice to a demon. Is this what it meant to have family?
"Well, the bath is ready when you want it. I'll put some of Hitomi's spare pajamas on your bed for when you're done."
"Thank you," Akita bowed.
After he left, she stayed behind for just a moment, looking over the room. She tried to picture her mother here, smiling, but couldn't seem to; so with a sigh she left to take her bath.
When she had finished her bath, Akita returned to the room and pulled on the pajamas. They were a bit big and smelled strangely of flowers, but they would do. She slowly walked to the bed and laid down on it. When she stared up at the ceiling, she realized that she missed the stars.
She didn't know what to think of this world. It was nothing like home. She never thought she'd admit it, but she even missed Hideo and the children. Akita turned on her side, a troubled expression forming on her face. She belonged here, right? With her family? The well wouldn't have let her pass if it wasn't meant to be.
She tossed and turned for a long time, unable to sleep. Subconsciously, she reached for her bow, and fell into a fitful dream.
"Do you think she's awake yet?"
Akita woke to the sound of whispering from the other side of the door, and she sat up with a start. Her heart was pounding; for a moment, she had forgotten where she was.
"I don't know. Sota said we should let her sleep."
"I know, but I'm just too excited!"
"Kagome never would've minded."
"True, but Kagome was too sick to care most of the time."
Akita's mind still felt a bit slow from sleep. She pulled a spare handkerchief off of her bow and tied it tight around her head.
"Um...hello?"
The door slammed open, and Akita screamed.
"Good job, Yuka. You scared her."
"You pushed me, Eri! You were just as excited as I was."
"Come on, girls," the third woman said nervously. "Let's just introduce ourselves, okay?"
"Right," the other two nodded.
The short haired woman put her hands on her hips. "To keep a smile on her face!"
Eri fell to her knees and dramatically threw her hands in the air. "To save her grades through time and space!"
The woman with wavy hair appeared lovestruck. "We shall defend her love and grace!"
"We are...the Three Big Sisters!"
They fell silent, still smiling, and Akita stared.
"Great," Yuka said with a sigh. "We've totally creeped her out."
The other two nodded, dejected.
"No, no," Akita said, waving her hands. "I just, um...who are you?"
"Your new big sisters!" Eri said, throwing an arm around Akita's shoulders.
"Through thick and thin, we're here for you, little sis!" Yuka added, sitting on the opposite side.
"What they mean to say," the wavy hair girl commented, "Is that they are Eri and Yuka, and I'm Ayumi. We were Kagome's - I mean, your mother's-"
"Saviours!"
"Both her grades and love life would've been a disaster without us."
"-best friends." She finished with a smile, as though she hadn't been interrupted at all.
"You knew my mother?" Akita said quietly.
"Of course!" They chimed in unison. "To us, you're our precious little sister."
"Kagome would've wanted it this way," Ayumi added.
Their enthusiasm was contagious. Akita smiled. "Okay!" she answered cheerfully.
The three women stared. All at once, they tackled her.
"So cute!" they squealed.
Just as she was about to ask them to please get off, Akita's stomach rumbled. That's right, I haven't eaten since yesterday.
"What are we doing here?" Yuka boomed. "Little sister is starving!"
The three rose in unison to their feet, and Yuka pointed to the door.
"To the kitchen!" they cheered before stampeding down the stairs.
Akita sat in silence, stunned. With a sigh she lowered her head, but for some reason she couldn't stop smiling.
Just what have I gotten myself into?