Looking out the plane window, Kagome took a deep breath. Holding for five seconds, on the fifth she let her breath go.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Josh settled his left hand on her right knee, soothing the skin there. She turned her head away from the window to face him, humming, and gave him a slight smile.
"I'll be okay," she nodded at his responding smile and faced back to the window. The clouds were wispy white, enveloping her in their stillness. She appreciated the moment of pause.
Zoning in on the largest white poof in her vision, she sighed. Window seats were her favorite. Every time she flew, she felt close to a feeling she had been chasing for the past ten years. The expanse of clouds, like an endless field, embodied the feeling of being at a standstill but moving through time. The rush of peace that settled in her bones at the stillness yet being in movement was one she welcomed.
For a quick moment, she closed her eyes, imagining her days jumping into a dusty old well on her family's property in Tokyo, enveloped by a bright blue-ish white energy: floating in space, yet traveling in time. Her heart gave a slight ache.
Opening her eyes, she settled her right hand over Josh's left, which was still placed on her knee. She felt the plane descend and the telling trill of the fasten seatbelt sign rang out.
"Attention passengers, we are about 20 minutes out from Tokyo International Airport. For the rest of the flight please keep your seatbelts fastened and stow away—" Kagome's attention stopped there as she turned to Josh.
"Finally," she sighed. Josh responded with a grunt and a soft squeeze to her knee before he turned to his laptop to stow it below in his passenger bag.
Kagome had been spending the past two years living in San Francisco. At 24 years old, after spending two years in corporate Japan affairs working as an editor for a publishing company, the travel itch she had ignored since she was a university student became too much. She had finished her studies, held down a decent job while doing her own writing on the side, and helped secure enough money to keep her family comfortable. Because of this, she felt it was time for a change of scenery. That and the constant reminder that she would never see him again had finally settled into her bones. She asked to transfer her position to a different office, one that just so happened to be in the United States.
Having studied English her whole academic career, her language skills were top notch and she felt comfortable biding her time traveling to somewhere new and starting over. Having done exceptionally well her first two years at the company they granted her promotion: junior editor and head publishing consultant at their small San Francisco office.
She had been thrilled.
University had granted her the space away from living at home and being surrounded by the constant reminder that he was not experiencing any of these new and exciting things with her. He would never. They would never. University was an easy escape, a distraction from her pain.
Kagome had moved back home after university though, and the day in and day out of being back where it all began for them was a constant toll on her mental health. She had thought she had broken the habit of longing for him but her two years living back at the shrine proved her wrong. An escape out of Japan was the perfect way to rip the Band-Aid off and let her hope finally fade into the past. She had hit her breaking point.
Eight years.
Kagome allowed herself to believe the well would open for eight full years. Eight years spent in agony over a thread of hope that just would not dislodge itself from her heart. Eight years of dreaming of starry nights, campfires, and the thrill of holding his shoulders as they sped through the forest. Eight years of aching at the thought of never seeing Sango or Miroku again. Not being able to watch Shippou grow into an angsty teenager. Never learn from Kaede again.
Eight years without him.
The first year was the worst. Upon his sudden departure from her time, Kagome crumbled to her knees and wept. The time spent in the jewel compounded with the fear that she would never see him again had finally sent her over the edge. She broke.
She spent every night the following week sleeping at the bottom of the well. Mama allowed this, understanding Kagome's need to feel close to the ones she worried about: her friends, her adopted son, her love.
Life had to go on though. Mama would not let her fade away into a shell of who she was. After that first week of nights spent on the dirt of the bottom of the well, in which Mama could hear her daughter awake in loud cries, she coaxed Kagome into only sleeping there only once a week. This meant spending the other six days in her own bed, surrounded by the modern comforts that Mama wished could potentially help keep the nightmares away.
They didn't. But Kagome continued this agreement, not wanting to cause her mother any more anguish.
Six months into this arrangement, Kagome deep into the studies of her high school career, Mama suggested she focus her intention of being close to her friends in the past on a weekly try at getting through the well opposed to sleeping in the dirt. Mama and Jii-chan had to beg her to agree to this.
That weekly night in the well would derail her every time. Mama, Jii-chan, and even young Sota could not watch it anymore. Any progress she made at healing was shoved back down into her heart. It was a constant routine. She would spend the night at the bottom of the well, retelling the occurrences of her week to her friends as if they were together, sitting by a campfire. She would start out happy, excited to connect. But once the time to settle in and sleep came, she would transition into the ghost of herself. Tears would flow freely, sobs escaping her lips. The dread laid deeply in her heart. She missed them, she missed him.
On a moonless night in August, that week's night for Kagome to sleep in the well, Mrs. Higurashi decided enough was enough. She had heard her daughter's cries, her pleas that the well let her through to him, to make sure he was safe.
Sliding the door to the well house open, Mrs. Higurashi slowly descended the stairs, taking a deep breath before looking over the edge to peer at her daughter.
"Kagome, sweetheart," she hummed to her daughter, pulling her sleeping robe closer to her body.
"I can't Mama, I can't do this anymore. I don't want to live without him. I don't want to be alive in a time where he isn't. I love him so much. I need him, I—"
"Kagome," her mother called down once more, seeking her daughter's attention. It did nothing. Kagome's cries continued.
"I'm coming down," Mrs. Higurashi grabbed a hold of the rope ladder that led to the bottom of the well. Inching down the ladder slowly, Mrs. Higurashi's feet softly hit the dirt.
Turning and facing her daughter, she reached out to grab ahold of Kagome's chin. The darkness of the night made it hard to make out the features on her daughter's face, but she knew them well enough to know that her eyes were pleading for her mother to stop the pain.
"Kagome, he wouldn't want you to spend your time like this. Inuyasha would not want you to wish for an end. He would want you to continue. To begin again. To live," she moved her hand from under her daughter's chin to place a lock of her raven hair behind her ear.
Kagome let out a large sob, her face falling to look at her hands, "I don't think I can do it without him."
Her mother understood this greatly. Having lost her spouse after only 10 years of marriage was a constant ache in her heart. A hole that would not fill—although a hole that did get smaller as the days moved on and she allowed herself to feel joy. Joy at having two beautiful children. Joy at feeling the cool summer breeze on her skin as the leaves as Goshinboku rustled. Joy at having loved her husband at all.
"Kagome, I know this pain. I felt it and feel it so deeply for your father. But you can do this, you can live and learn to love life again. I promise. I will help you, okay? You aren't alone," she let her hands settle over Kagome's own, hoping the warmth of her physical presence and emotional understanding would sway her daughter to the right decision. She would not let her daughter suffer alone.
Kagome's mind was reeling. Her body felt like it was trying to break itself free from within its own shell. Her soul cried out continuously as she grabbed ahold of her mother's hands, lifting her head to look up at the ceiling of the well house. She let out a loud sob.
"I'll love him forever," she declared firmly.
"I wouldn't expect any less, darling," Mrs. Higurashi brought her daughter in for a long hug as Kagome let the tears color her cheeks. At that moment, surrounded by her mother's love, she decided she would try. She would try to live but she would not give up hope. She loved him too much. In this moment of realization, she felt a piece of her soul settle itself into the wood of the broken well.
That was almost ten years ago. Now, at 26, Kagome fully understood that the well would never reopen, she would not see Inuyasha again, and that even though she loved him, she was not meant to live in a world where their love would physically manifest. Their brief time of traveling the Feudal Era was their only fate: destroy Naraku and bring peace to that period.
Falling in love along the way was not predestined and their love was not meant to withstand time. When their fate was brought to fruition, Kagome's place in that time was over. She was not meant to live there. She was not meant to build her life in the past. It took her years to begin to accept this, and in her return to Japan now, she felt confident that although she may have moments of sadness being surrounded by so many reminders of her past, she would be strong.
She had to be.
Her Jii-chan's passing is what was bringing her home. She had missed the cremation, having been stuck in San Francisco on a deadline but she was determined to make it home for the celebration of life and the Sunset Shrine's acceptance of a huge monetary donation on behalf of her Jii-chan's life.
"Kagome?" Josh's voice broke her out of her train of thought.
"Oh, Josh, sorry. I—" she began.
"Hey, no worries. We can exit now, I just wanted to let you know," he smiled while turning to exit their row and grab their belongings.
Kagome had met Josh during her first year in the states, they bonded over their love for fiction. Josh was a literary editor, securing a large portfolio of works from varying writers of all genres. Kagome's company worked with Josh often, the writers they brought on occasionally using him as an editor, or them offering Josh's contact information if the writer did not yet have an editor.
Upon her first client meeting with Josh, he and Kagome just clicked. He was witty and direct. She was short and disciplined. He got straight to the point in meetings and often saved Kagome the headache of having to push a writer along. Josh always held up his end of the job, encouraging his writers to do their job and meet deadlines. Kagome appreciated the reliability. She also appreciated his local understanding of San Francisco and his abundance of humor. She loved his homemade mac and cheese and the fact he was neither a cat nor dog person— he appreciated both. And of course, Kagome loved his editing skills. While Kagome enjoyed helping others secure their work with the publishing company she was employed by, she also dreamt of the day her own words would be in a book for all to read. She craved to be a published author. Josh understood this. He understood her.
That first meeting between the two was now two years ago and since then Josh and Kagome were like two peas in a pod. Josh has introduced her to his friends, showed her all the best local San Fran spots, and even helped her find a more appropriately priced apartment for the Bay Area. Kagome helped Josh with his dating profile, producing witty prompts for the interested to fill out. She helped him get into running; they now spent every Saturday morning running along the water. Most importantly, Kagome accepted Josh for who he was, never asking him to be someone he wasn't. Asking him to go with her on this difficult trip was easy. He made his own hours, so taking the two weeks off to explore his best friend's homeland was an easy yes. Being there for Kagome during one of the hardest times in her life? That was an easier yes. Josh knew how much Kagome loved her Jii-chan and was devastated for her. He knew she had avoided going home for the past two years and saw the regret etch itself into her face over the past week since her learning of her grandfather's passing.
Kagome's hand reached out to grab Josh's shoulder before he could exit completely, he turned over his shoulder to send her a smirk.
"Thank you," she whispered. His smirk grew wide, he nodded, and exited the row. Grabbing their bags, he motioned for her to exit the row and walk the aisle before him. She smiled.
"Are you ready for this?" he asked as they exited the plane and strolled into the airport.
"I am," she spoke, determination thick in her voice. "I'm excited to see Sota, I haven't seen him in so long."
"I'm sure," he nodded, "I can't wait to meet the kid."
As they made their way through the airport to the baggage claim, Kagome's mind was stuck on auto pilot. She was mentally running through everything she needed to do in the next 72 hours before the celebration. Her mom and Sota had covered most of the items already, but it was her job to finalize the run of show with the benefactor.
The Takahashi's were an extremely wealthy Japanese family. They had their name in almost every field: technology, health care, automobiles, energy, even swordsmanship. The fact that the Higurashi's Sunset Shrine was taking on a donation from them was a huge thing just in and of itself— what made it even more special, and groundbreaking was that it was in honor of her Jii-chan. Just thinking of that fact brought tears to her eyes.
Josh had been watching the baggage claim waiting on their bags when he noticed Kagome's tears. Quickly, he shifted his stance to wrap his arm around her shoulders and bring her closer to him.
"Hey, everything is going to go great. And I'm here for whatever you may need, okay?" Kagome let her head sit on his shoulder.
"Thanks, Josh. I really appreciate you coming with me, I know it was last minute and you don't really know my family, but they are going to be so thankful you came," she let her lips turn up just a smidge at the thought of Sota having to meet the new man in her life. She couldn't wait.
"Hey, anything for my favorite client," he shrugged his shoulder into hers, sending her off to the left a little and she laughed.
"Hey! I am more than a client," she let her right pointer finger jab him in the chest.
"Yes, yes you are my dear. Don't worry that little head of yours," he winked and ruffled the edges of her bangs a little before focusing his attention on the baggage claim. Kagome scoffed, a slight blush painting her cheeks.
At that moment, their bags came through on the carousel. Josh moved forward to grab Kagome's first, a bright yellow hard case. He lifted it, set it down, and then rolled it over to where Kagome was surveying the pick-up exits, her eyes drifting over her cell phone and back up to the signs. He then made his way back to the carousel to grab his own bag. Upon reaching for his burgundy suitcase, he bumped into another person.
"Oh, I'm so sorry—" he started. His eyes grew wide at the man who had reached for his bag.
"No problem at all, here you go," a tall man with jet black hair smiled, grabbing Josh's bag, and then placed it near his feet, "thought that was my bag, my apologies."
"No biggy, man," Josh replied, "thanks for grabbing mine for me."
The stranger nodded to Josh and smiled, "This may sound crazy, maybe even a little creepy but I promise the best intentions," he waved his hand towards to where Kagome stood, currently oblivious to the interaction between the two men, "is the woman you are with Kagome Higurashi?"
Josh's eyebrows rose drastically, his mouth agape, "It is." He shut his mouth before continuing, "Who's asking?"
The man smiled, "My name is Koji Takahashi," he then extended his hand to Josh.
Josh's jaw, once again, was drawn down in shock. He shook Koji's hand.
Kagome stood around ten feet back, now watching the scene unfold. The mystery man talking to Josh was tall. At least 6'4. His hair was loose around his shoulders, a jet black that had a glint in it when the overhead lighting hit it just the right way, exemplifying how silky it was and making it appear to have a hint of silver. Kagome was transfixed on the stranger. His suit was well tailored to his form, emphasizing his build. Something in his jaw structure stood out to her, a sharp jaw angle could really capture her attention and she was most definitely staring. 'Wow,' she thought, 'That is one sexy man. His suit fits his body so well, I wonder what it looks like under—' Kagome was abruptly brought out of her thoughts at the sound of Josh's voice.
"Kagome?" Josh smirked.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she cleared her throat. Shifting awkwardly towards the pair, she smiled, "What did you say?"
Josh smiled back at Kagome, a humorous glint in his eye. He could not believe that of all the people to run into, they had run into the grandson of the benefactor who was donating to Kagome's family shrine. He also could not believe Kagome had just been openly ogling said man. He motioned to Koji.
"This is Mr. Takahashi's grandson, Koji, Kagome," he motioned for Kagome to come near to shake the man's hand.
Kagome's blush grew darker as she realized just who was standing in front of her. Takahashi's grandson. His extremely attractive, sexy, grandson.
"Oh wow, what a small world. We just arrived back in Tokyo," she smiled, walking over the short distance and reaching her hand out to introduce herself. Her eyes locked on his and she gasped. They were the most brilliant mix of dark brown with a hint of indigo.
"I figured," he chuckled, taking her hand, and shaking it firmly. Koji Takahashi was extremely surprised to see Ms. Kagome Higurashi this evening. Having just got in from Kyoto himself for the celebration of life for Kagome's grandfather, he had inferred she had been in Tokyo since the news of his passing. He had realized it was Kagome from her side profile, a profile he had become familiar with over the past few months, being one of the people in charge of the donation process to the Sunset Shrine. He had noticed Kagome next to the blonde American man and knew he wanted to make contact. He felt an instinctual pull to the woman.
His grandfather would be pissed at him for overstepping, but he wanted to play with his luck, "You have a meeting with my grandfather later this evening, do you not?" he asked.
Kagome smiled but shook her head no, "I actually moved it to tomorrow morning, with the midday flight and all," she shrugged.
"Of course," Koji started, giving her a small smile, "I'll look forward to seeing you then."
Kagome gave him a bright smile, "Yes! Of course, please give my hello to your grandfather and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow." Kagome then offered a polite bow.
Walking around the baggage claim carousel to grab his bag, Koji continued, "I definitely will, he will be happy to hear you made it safely to Tokyo," he gave a big smile, "it was nice meeting you both." Nodding once more while adjusting his bag over his shoulder, Koji took his leave, leaving behind two very befuddled travelers.
"That was…" Kagome started.
"Yeah. Wow. Never been that close to a billionaire's hot grandson before," Josh chuckled and Kagome elbowed him on the ribs, giving him a glare.
"Ugh, hey!" he laughed, directing them towards the pickup area, "Not my fault you were salivating like a dog. Sota is probably waiting for us, no more time to pine over the sexy grandson."
Kagome let her head fall back in laughter, not denying the claim, "You're right, let's go."