A/N
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. Original Characters belong to me.
Temptation's Flower is the first part of this series while Enraptured by You is the second and final part of the series. The first part focuses on Kagome maturing in the Feudal Era and realizing that in order to protect those she loves, she must learn to quell the darkness surrounding the Sacred Jewel. Romance and Plot will not begin until Enraptured by You, but Youko will make an appearance a few times in Temptation's Flower.
Year 1990
June 1st
A chorus of applause echoed within the Omori Senior High School gymnasium as proud parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings all stood before the stage watching the students step up to receive their diplomas one by one. The students wore in their required uniforms; the girls in their navy-blue blazers and plaid blue skirts, while the young boys wore the usual black blazers and black pants.
Higurashi was called next, followed by her three friends, Eri, Yuka and Ayumi. Once receiving their diplomas, a hardback small book containing their achievements, the four gathered together with their families, snapping pictures and selfies with one another.
Many parents and grandparents wore in the traditional Kimonos of various colors and lengths. Among them were Kagome's mother and grandfather, who wore their own traditional garb. Grandfather wore his normal priest clothes while her mother was donned in a stunning black Kimono with beautiful pink and white cherry blossoms stitched into the fabric while her hair framed her face in a gentle curl.
Souta, who was also standing beside his mother and grandfather, smiled at his sister. He wasn't dressed up like his family, but he wore a simple button down white shirt with his sleeves folded up at his wrists with black dress pants; over three years, he had grown much taller and was now in his first year of Middle School, popular among his classmates, and had even made captain of the soccer team.
"Congratulations, sis!" Souta yelled, alongside his mother and grandfather.
Kagome smiled and blushed. Both her arms were entwined by her friends and Yuka took many pictures, laughing here and there at their celebratory gestures towards the camera.
Once the students received their diplomas, everyone was dismissed, but those who remained resigned themselves to enjoying a feast within the school's cafeteria. The Higurashi family, however, stepped outside the school, with Kagome and her three friends following behind, each conversed in light conversation concerning their future careers.
At the entrance of Omori High School, various decorations surrounding the site greeted them where they were all saying their goodbyes to each other. Some people had remained, and as Kagome and her friends looked on, they noticed a good portion of the boys ripping their buttons off their blazers and giving them to the girls, some who were flattered to receive.
Eri and Yuka smirked at Kagome, who looked at them in obvious confusion. While Kagome had never gotten a button, she thought the act was rather precious. From what she had seen in middle school, the second golden button closest to the guy's heart was torn from the uniform and given to their significant other. When she thought about it, Kagome couldn't help but smile.
When Mrs. Higurashi and grandpa separated to converse with some of the other parents nearby, the girls caught sight of a familiar brunette surrounded by a crowd of blushing and smiling girls.
"It's Hojo," Kagome said, and her friends laughed at the boy's awkward attempt to flee the crowd. "It seems everyone is after his button."
Yuka laughed. "Well, from the looks of it, it seems he's saving it."
Eri exchanged a knowing look with Ayumi and Yuka. "Bet you anything he's saving it for someone special."
"Oh it's so romantic!" Ayumi gushed.
It was at this point that Kagome looked over at Souta, curious about his graduation from grade school. "That's right. Pretty soon you'll have girls asking for your button, Souta," Kagome teased.
Souta blushed at her reply. "Well, mine is reserved for someone else."
The girls smiled at his remark, and Souta couldn't help but blush. From what they remembered a while back, Souta had confessed to Hitomi back in grade school, and although he'd been too shy and shot down by the girl, with the help of his sister, he expressed his fondness for her. It was surprising the two were still together, often going out on small dates, and the two were lucky to be in the same class again.
"Aww, look, he's blushing!" Eri teased. "Now that you are captain of the soccer team, what about your girlfriend?"
Still blushing from their teasing's, Souta rubbed his neck. "Well, she joined the gardening club, and she's also started cheerleading." Among all the girls at his school, Hitomi was the smartest and beautiful girl with large blue eyes, somewhat similar to his sister's, and she had a gentle side for animals.
Although Kagome's friends were both single, not interested in the boys at their school, they were however given a button from a few boys that day, however it was returned as mutual friendship.
As Hojo struggled to escape the girls surrounding him, he found a small gap just wide enough for him to squeeze through. As soon as he was out, he noticed Kagome and her friends a short distance away. "Kagome!"
Turning away from Souta, Kagome saw Hojo running up to her, waving. It seemed he escaped from his fan girls. "Hello, Hojo. Congratulations on graduating."
"Thanks. You too, Kagome," He said with his everyday enthusiasm. "I was afraid I would miss you after the ceremony."
Kagome's friends looked on, pulling Souta away as they waited for the moment Hojo would give his second button to their friend. They were all smiles, except Souta, who looked on in confusion.
"I heard you were going to college to become a doctor?" Kagome asked.
He nodded. "Yes. I've been studying hard during summer vacation. I only need to pass the college entrance exams soon."
"I wish you the best of luck, Hojo. I know you will get into a good college!"
Hojo blushed. "Thank you, Kagome."
The two fell into a brief conversation, discussing their plans for the future. Kagome revealed she didn't plan to go to college because she wasn't sure what to major in. Instead, she planned to help around the shrine grounds until she figured out what she wanted. Hojo accepted this, also explaining that whatever Kagome wished to do in the future, career wise, she would do great in.
"I have to get going soon," He said. "My family and I are having dinner, so I can't stay too much longer."
Understanding this, Kagome bowed to her classmate. "No worries."
"But before that…" As his face reddened somewhat, and Yuka, Eri and Ayumi held their breaths, Hojo tore off his second button and held it out to Kagome. "I wanted to give this to you. I hope you will accept it."
Surprised he was giving her his button, Kagome blushed. To be honest, she didn't hold the same feelings for Hojo as he did for her, but she took it anyway. The understanding that nothing more than just friendship would blossom between them was obviously noted, and although her friends had hoped for more, they accepted their decision.
After Hojo left to rejoin his family, Kagome and her friends said their goodbyes before separating. As Souta and Kagome followed behind their mother and grandfather, Souta couldn't help but ask Kagome about her relationship with Hojo.
"Huh?"
"He gave you his button, but I thought maybe you would both start going out. Do you not feel the same way about him?"
Kagome shook her head. "It's not that I don't like him. I know he held feelings for me for a long time, but I only saw him as a friend. I don't think I've ever gone out with anyone in school."
Souta laughed. Although his sister was beautiful, as weird as it was for him to admit, he was surprised she remained single. He was sure some guys had asked her out over the years. Even his own friends had gossiped about how good looking she was.
"Why are you so interested in who I date, anyway?" Kagome asked.
Souta gave her a smug look and put his arms behind head. "Well, if you keep turning down every guy, you're going to become a lonely old grandma."
She narrowed her eyes at her brother, and her mother laughed from the front seat. Looking back at the siblings, she offered Kagome a knowing smile. "It's because Kagome is waiting for the right man to come along."
"Mom!" Kagome blushed.
Souta only shook his head. "I guess, but sis, you need to stop being so picky," He joked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked, hands planted on her waist.
Laughing at her reaction, he ducked away from her when she raised her hand to smack him, causing his sister to chase after him until they arrived at the stairs to the shrine house.
"I'll race you!" Souta said before sticking his tongue out at his sister. After which, he started up the stairs sprinting.
Somewhat annoyed, Kagome chased after. "Stop acting like a child! Get back here!"
Once at the top, Kagome caught her younger brother and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, ruffling his hair, much to his disdain.
"Hey stop that!" When Kagome refused, he gave in and apologized.
Letting go, Kagome smiled. That was more like it. As she looked around the yard, Kagome couldn't help but breathe in the fresh air. Finally. No more studying, at least for a while.
Yet as she stood there, something seemed different in her surroundings. Looking around the yard, Kagome couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. Buyou was lazing around the yard as always, and nothing seemed out of place.
"Since today is a special day, I made soba noodles and steak. How does that sound?" Their mom asked as she stepped onto the porch, looking out at her children in the yard.
At the mentioning of food, Kagome and Souta turned around and smiled. "Sounds great!" They said.
As she and grandpa disappeared into the house, Kagome's gaze shifted around the yard again. Why did it feel different? Maybe it was because she graduated?
The sound of a ball bouncing near her shifted her attention toward Souta. He tapped the ball on the ground and kicked it in front of him with his knee.
"Hey Kagome. Can you help me practice?"
"But you're already captain of the team."
That was true, but that didn't mean he had to stop practicing. The more practice he got, the better he would do in upcoming events. "I was supposed to practice with the guys today, but they changed their plans."
Kagome guessed it wouldn't hurt to help him out. The problem was they didn't have any nets which he could shoot the soccer ball into. As she looked around the yard, she placed herself just right of the Goshinboku tree, with a short distance between them.
"Okay Souta. Just visualize this point here as the net," Kagome said, spreading her feet apart.
Nodding, Souta kicked the ball up in front of him a few times, watching his sister before focusing on the goal itself. He knew it wouldn't be as easy kicking the ball out of her reach, given that Kagome excelled at sports. During Kagome's time in Middle School and High School, she had taken up Volley Ball and Tennis with her friends and that alone would serve as good competition.
"Alright. Here I go!"
With careful distance, Souta sprinted forward toward the ball and it flew straight for the goal. Souta almost shouted in victory until he saw Kagome move. To Souta's absolute disdain, his sister jumped and grabbed the ball before it could fly past her before smirking at him.
"That was a good kick, but try better."
Disappointed by this, Souta didn't give up. For a while, the two practiced, and little by little, Souta improved. Although his sister wasn't into soccer, she gave Souta a few pointers here and there, since she had gone to quite a few games to see him perform.
Since it was almost dinnertime and he smelled the soba noodles cooking on the stove, Souta gave one last kick. The ball flew, spinning as it shot towards the enormous tree in the yard. It had missed the goal by a fraction, and Kagome leaped toward the tree, placing herself between it and the ball with her arms outstretched.
She caught it effortlessly, but the momentum behind the kick had propelled her backwards against the tree. The bark rubbed against her back, but it wasn't enough to deter her. "I think that's enough practice for today."
Her brother nodded, wiping the sweat from his face. "Yeah. Thanks, Kagome."
Grinning at her brother, she placed the ball onto the ground near her, but before she could walk towards her brother, she heard a whisper. "Huh?" Turning, she was met with the familiar bark of the Goshinboku Tree. It sounded like someone spoke in her ear.
Not noticing Kagome's distraction, Souta began walking towards the house, the smell of mom's cooking much stronger from the porch. His stomach growled at the thought of food. Before entering the house, he realized his sister wasn't behind him, but was instead looking around the yard. "Sis, what are you doing?"
Maybe she was only imagining things. Looking back at her brother, Kagome shook her head. "It's nothing."
"The time has come…"
Kagome froze at the voice. No, she wasn't imagining things! Something was whispering to her, but as she turned once more, nothing was there except for the tree. The time has come? What did that even mean?
"Sis? Are you okay?" Souta asked from the porch.
"Return to us Priestess… Save us…"
Placing her hand against the bark, Kagome wondered if it wasn't her mind playing tricks on her. The bark felt as rough as usual, though she thought she felt something off about it. There was a slight pulsing feeling against her fingertips, and she had the urge to place her ear up against it.
"Sis?" As he stepped off the porch, his ears flooded by her startling cry. Of course, her cry could have been from several things such as a small bug or cut, but her scream was different this time; there was fear in that scream, and in an instant, he sprinted toward her. As he neared, he saw an unbelievable sight. Her arm was caught inside the bark of the tree.
She couldn't move her arm. Somehow, the tree had sucked it in, and she tried pulling it, but it was futile. She was stuck. "Souta get mom and grandpa!"
Despite her calls, he stood before her, looking at the sight in obvious confusion. How in the world did this happen? "How is this possible? Kagome, what did you do?"
"Nothing! I was just touching the bark, and something pulled my arm in! I can't move. Hurry, get mom and grandpa!"
When she said this, Souta was about to turn toward the house, but he was surprised when he saw the bark of the Goshinboku distort around her arm. Within seconds of this happening, it pulled Kagome deeper into the bark, until her entire shoulder and left leg were no longer visible.
"What's going on?!" He asked, grabbing onto his sister to pull her away from the tree. It was useless. He couldn't do anything, and he doubted he would have enough time to get his mom and grandpa. This wasn't happening, was it? "Don't worry, Kagome. I'll get you out!"
"Thus is your fate…"
As her vision darkened, Kagome watched helplessly as the rest of her body was pulled away from her brother. The last thing she heard was Souta's cries and the next, absolute silence.