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Of Butterfly Wings

Chapter Ninety-Seven: Heart to Heart

Kagome held her sister's hand as she greeted her at the door.

Just as she'd promised during their call last night, she'd made her way over to her sibling's house first thing in the morning. Touya had told her that he could handle the kids on his own and that she should head on out. He was just going to take them out later and meet up with some of the friends and family while she was gone.

It'd been a relief to know that she had reliable husband that she could count on. Now, she just had to focus on the real issue at hand.

Kikyou ushered her inside their home. It was nestled in the middle of the city and was wedged between two perfectly manicured houses that looked nearly identical. The main difference between her sister's home and those around her were the vast array of plant life that she'd purposefully planted in order to liven up the exterior. Delicate vines grew up the entire length of the front wall while lattice archways in the front yard had the same vines growing over them, creating a near mystical like feeling of stepping into another world.

The inside of her home was extremely tidy. Even now the faint scent of lavender from the wall flowers created a soothing atmosphere. Tiny pots full vary flowers and ferns were placed in virtually every windowsill.

"It's a hobby," Kikyou quickly explained when she'd noticed what she'd been looking at.

Kagome merely offered her a reassuring smile.

"So you said that the hospital left you a voicemail?" She opted to skip right past the pleasantries.

Her sister nodded.

She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. She opened up the message and then flipped it to speaker so that Kagome could hear it for herself

Hello Ms. Higurashi

The message started. Kagome fought the urge to roll her eyes as clearly their mother failed to inform the staff that Kikyou had gotten married. Given how things went down the last time those two saw each other, she wondered if Momo even knew Kikyou's new surname at all.

I'm a nurse for Fukuoka General Hospital. We have your mother here who needs hospice care.

She and Kikyou both looked at each other when they'd heard the mention of the word 'hospice'.

Could you please get in touch with us so we can start arranging her end of life care? We would like to reach out to your sister Kagome as well.

She fought the urge to roll her eyes at that. Yeah, she had a feeling she knew who put the nurses up to calling them.

Your mother is asking to see you both. Please let us know what you'd like us to do.

With that the message came to an end.

"So," Kagome crossed her arms over her chest. "Do you want to take bets on whether it's heart disease or cancer?"

That got Kikyou to laugh.

Their mother was still quite young. She'd have to be in her late forties or early fifties at most. Which meant that this call was coming at least two decades too soon. The only things she could thing of were undiagnosed heart problems or cancer. She was betting on the latter.

"I was thinking about going," Her sibling confided. "But whenever I look at Shu and our beautiful daughter, I can't help but think about all those horrible things she'd said the last time I saw her." Her lips pursed into a thin line, "I don't know if I'll regret not going, but I feel like I'd regret giving her what she wants even more."

It made perfect sense to Kagome.

Kikyou had held out hope that their mother could change and actually be a better person. However Momo was no Enji. Even until the end she'd refused to accept her wrongs.

Kagome took her sister's hand into her own, "You should decide what you feel is right. Don't let anyone guilt you into thinking that you're making a mistake." She gave her hand a reassuring pat, "Your feelings are valid and there's a reason why you don't want to go. So don't force yourself."

Kikyou fought back the tears as she used her free hand to wipe her eyes.

"I'm sorry," She struggled to restrain herself. "I know our mother is a terrible person but I can't feel happy about this at all."

Kagome shifted to take the seat beside her twin. She folded her arms around Kikyou's form and began rocking back and forth like she did for her own children when they were upset. Kikyou's sobbing grew louder as the realization of their mother's death gradually dawned on her.

"I'll be going to the hospital later today." Kagome informed her sibling after she'd calmed down somewhat. "There are things that I need to say to her and it won't be a pleasant experience for either of us."

She'd been preparing for this day since the moment her mother had kicked her out of the house all those years ago. Maybe it was low of her to stare a woman who was facing death and tell her 'I told you so' but she wanted the satisfaction of knowing that her egg-donor would wallow in the knowledge that she'd brought this ending upon herself.

A sad, lonely and incredibly painful death.

Kikyou drew back as she finally collected herself, "Are you sure you don't want me there?"

Kagome shot her a pointed look, "Do you really want to watch me bury her ten feet under in guilt before she dies?"

Her twin gave a faint laugh before she shook her head.

"I get your point," Kikyou dabbed at her eyes as the last of her tears dried. "Will you be taking Touya with you at least?"

Kagome paused as she thought about it.

She was sure that Touya would take enjoyment in watching her tear Momo down, but he was currently out with the kids visiting friends and family. As much as she'd love for him to back her up during this, she also wanted to just get it over with.

Kagome smiled at her sister as she threw on her coat, "I'll be fine. Besides, I think it's time to take out the trash. I can handle that on my own."

She bid her sister one final farewell before she left for the hospital.

Today, everything would come to an end.