Kagome got up, yawning.
Today marked the seventh day since she'd been back in the modern era and the well no longer functioning.
She got up, quick to change out of her pajamas, and made her way downstairs where she could smell her mother's lovely cooking coming from. After eating, she went about her daily routine. It was the weekend, so there were sure to be a visitor or two. Before that, she wanted to check out the well house.
Kagome grabbed her Azusa bow and headed inside, where the well stood as still as it had the days prior. There was no energy flowing from it and no call for her to jump in to the past. She walked down the few stairs and leaned over the top, her hands rested on its ream and holding her steady. Just as the first day she was back in her era, she felt nothing. Not even an ounce of magic. Had she not already known this well to possess some, she might have assumed it was ordinary like any other.
She sighed.
Kagome pulled herself over the rim and jumped down. She knew before her feet landed at the bottom, yet the pain that followed still bit at her legs and she stumbled onto her behind. All that greeted her was the rough ground.
She cursed herself.
She cursed the well.
A week had already gone by and still nothing. What was she doing wrong? Surely by now she should have been able to go back. Inuyasha and the others had to be waiting for her on the other side. The Shikon may be gone now but the adventure was not over. It couldn't be. She refused to believe it.
Not for the time since coming back Kagome found herself crying. It was pathetic, just how weak and powerless she was. Fate was cruel, playing with her emotions. Taunting her. Reminding her that she had no say in her life.
From atop the well she heard the ruffling of clothes. Kagome wiped the tears from her eyes and forced herself to get up, grabbing her bow with her. She'd only meant to jump in for a quick attempt, not sulk the whole day away in here. Her family had already been so patient and understanding with her through the past year, the least she could do was keep them from worrying about her as much as possible. She could not give up hope yet, nor could she let her family know just how anguished she felt.
"Souta? Or is that you, Grandpa? Mind giving me a hand up?" Kagome called out.
No answer.
She sighed. Guess she'd climb out the well on her own. She pulled her bow over her shoulder and got to work getting out. They really should get a ladder down here for her.
The first thing that greeted her atop the well was familiar emerald eyes and the ever-present expression of nothing. Stoic as always. "I was not aware that jumping down wells was a human past-time."
Was that a joke? It felt like a joke. Kagome had no clue with him, though. He was too hard to read, his voice too monotone to tell his emotions.
"Ha. Ha," Kagome said, pulling herself over the well. "What brings you back here?"
"I was merely curious," he replied honestly.
Good for him, she thought. Now she was embarrassed. It was one thing to have her family catch her in the act of jumping down the well, but a total stranger was another.
Well...
Could she call him a stranger? They weren't friends yet, that was for sure. He still hadn't given his name, either. So she decided for now, they were acquaintances.
"So Mr. Silent-but-Deadly, did you need something from me?" she asked. There was a hint of annoyance in her words and a subtle want for him to finally give his name. Yet, whether intentionally or not, he ignored it.
"I wish to learn more about the Goshinboku."
Amazing.
Kagome brushed passed him, giving him a look that said she was not happy with him as she exited the well house. He followed after her, seemingly unfazed. Or simply too dense. She didn't know what it was he was really after, but at least she was starting to learn that he was not the type to mindlessly hurt others. Still, she could not be certain he wouldn't try if given the chance.
"You know, the longer you go not giving your name, the less inclined I am to answer your questions," she said.
"My name is not of importance."
Kagome snorted, rolling her eyes. "To me it is. Or do you prefer I keep giving you weird nicknames in place of it?"
He didn't immediately respond.
They stopped in front of the Goshinboku, where Kagome could see her grandfather prepping the gift shop for potential visitors. It didn't seem he noticed their guest yet, for he hadn't come up screaming about exorcising demons. Not that the man was one. Hollow, was it? She still didn't quite get what that meant, but by his explanation last night she kinda understood that he was something like a corrupted soul. She briefly wondered to herself if perhaps that meant he needed purifying or help passing on. Ghost business was not her forte.
"Ulquiorra," he finally said.
She jumped. "What?"
"My name is Ulquiorra," he repeated.
Kagome smiled. Finally! Now what was his question...?
He seemed to sense it. "What is this tree? You said last night that it had a hand in healing me."
Right, now she remembered. How to explain this though.
Her grandfather noticed her at that moment and walked over. Kagome was confused to find that he didn't question Ulquiorra's presence - in fact, didn't even seem to notice him standing beside her. Sensing the question, he explained simply that ordinary people could not see him. So basically, she looked like she was talking to herself or an imaginary friend right now. Great. Whether this was a blessing or not, at least that meant that so long as she didn't tip her grandfather off, there would be no exorcising attempts here.
So, Kagome asked her grandfather to explain the history of the Goshinboku in her place. He was all too eager to do so, exclaiming how proud he was that she was starting to gain interest in the history of the shrine and her priestess. She rolled her eyes, but did not dispute it.
"The Goshinboku, also known as the Jidai-ju or Goshinjidai-ju, has stood for many generations - well over 500 years now," her grandfather began. "It is said to have the power to transcend space and time, and connect the present with the past and future..."
Kagome listened along with Ulquiorra as the old man babbled on. There were exaggerations of its powers here and tales that she was sure never happened there, but she didn't question him. She was not an expert in the tree, but knew at least that the basis of it being connected to time was true. Ulquiorra could come to his own conclusions of her grandpa's story.
The morning turned into afternoon by the time he was finally interrupted. Kagome's stomach growled and she decided she would not stand outside for another hour more. She ushered her grandfather to go inside for lunch, promising him that she would help him around the shrine after they'd eaten. He didn't appreciate being pushed to leave, but she didn't give him a chance to fight back. Once he was gone, she walked back to Uqluiorra, who looked deep in thought.
I think,she thought.
He was like Sesshomaru, where it was near impossible for her to read him.
Kagome gave him a moment to himself, then another. When he didn't seem to break from his thoughts, she moved to place a hand on his shoulder in concern.
He stopped it with his own, turning to her.
"Fascinating tale," he spoke, breaking the silence. She could've sworn she heard just the inkling of sarcasm in there. "Yet it does not answer my original question."
Kagome shrugged helplessly, taking her hand back. Not that she had an answer, either. "I told you what I knew already."
He was not happy with her answer, that even she could tell. Kagome wasn't sure what else she could even tell him. Whether he chose to believe in an ancient magic-possessing tree or not, that was up to him. If she hadn't bore witness to its powers before, she knew if she wouldn't believe it, either. Even now, she was also still skeptical of how much of a hand it had in helping her that night. That was the truth though. Whatever he was hoping to hear, it would not come.
"What is your hypothe-"
A call was heard from inside her home. Both turned to the source and found Kagome's mother at the door, waving her over. Lunch was ready and it seemed there was someone on the phone wanting to talk to her, too. She turned back to Ulquiorra, about to ask if he wanted to join them for food. Yet, she saw no one. He had disappeared again without a sound. She couldn't detect his aura anywhere, either.
Oh well.
Kagome hopped inside and went for the phone. Yuka greeted her on the other line.
"Sooooo..." Ayumi began.
They were inside a Wacdnalds, where her and the two other girls had insisted on meeting. The girls had been excited to hear from her, as they had worried she was 'sick' again, and requested to go for some food and hang out. It had been a while since they'd done so, after all. However, she hadn't felt up to it, not yet ready to engage once more with the modern world - especially after another failed attempt to go back to the past.
She had tried to reject the offer kindly, but that was when she came to realize the strain on their friendship.
Normally, when she did find time to go back to the modern era for school and to see her family, she jumped on the chance to hang out with her friends. It was the normality that she did not have in the past. That was what kept their faith in her and their friendship. She was willing to engage, despite her constant absence in their lives. They never questioned her reasons, always taking her 'sickness's in stride. Always supporting her.
This however, had been the rare few times where she was seemingly well and yet rejected them.
They were not happy.
While they did not outright say it, she could feel a sudden shift in the mood. In their relationship. The way they spoke to her. She'd heard Eri huff in the background and Ayumi had snatched the phone from Yuka, quickly assuring Kagome that they could just hang out another time. Yet at that moment she felt that if she let them go, it would be harder to stay friends. So she retracted her words, telling them that she could just push her plans to later and that she would meet them at their regular spot.
Kagome realized for the first time why they were always so invested in her relationship with Inuyasha. Being so absent from the present, she had gotten out of touch with it. Her romance troubles were the only thing they had that connected them now. As she sat at the booth in silence, trying to think of something to talk about, she was painfully made aware of how little she knew of the latest ins and outs, or even the troubles in the girls' lives.
"What's going on, Kagome," Eri finally spoke up.
She wasn't sure where to start.
Yuka was trying, really she was, to stay happy and not let slip the mask. "Listen, Kagome. If you're not feeling well or have other plans, then it's okay. We can do this some other time."
Kagome shook her head, sighing. "I'm sorry," she apologized. Really, she was. She just wasn't sure what to say right now. Inuyasha was a sore subject currently but outside of that, she didn't know what to talk about. So she apologized again, because it was all she knew to do. It wasn't them, it was her.
Ayumi, bless her soul, decided to take over. She was always the most empathetic of the group, though usually also the most oblivious. "So high school's around the corner. Are you excited for the new semester?"
Kagome's shoulders slumped. Okay, she had two sore subject matters. "I don't think I was accepted."
Ayumi moved closer, patting her shoulder sympathetically. "Cheer up, Kagome. There's always another school."
"Yeah, but I was really looking forward to going to the same one as you guys," Kagome admitted.
That seemed to have eased some of the initial tension, though now they looked concerned. It was something, at least. She didn't like this subject of matter, but if it helped them ease into conversation, she would suck it up.
They ordered some food and talked for a while. She hadn't gotten an acceptance letter yet, but with the other girls already getting theirs, Kagome would not hold onto hope. They talked about other schools in the area and of how they could still meet up even if they went to different schools. Kagome learned that Yuka was currently seeing someone and she congratulated her. Eri also currently seemed to be crushing on someone, though who the girls seemed to be hesitant on saying. With a little probing though, Kagome was surprised to find out it was Hojo. He was the most popular guy in school, after all.
She mentally kicked herself, how had she not noticed?
The subject changed to idols and Kagome mostly sat back and listened to them gush about their celebrity crushes. Kagome remembered that Ayumi had a passion for music, but was surprised to hear that she hadn't settled on a career in the arts. Likewise, the other two were still deciding on what to pursue after school.
What to do after school, huh...
It was something she didn't know, either. Up until her first time jumping through time, she figured she'd live out a normal life. Maybe she'd aim to become a teacher or a caretaker. Her grandfather had always insisted she become a shrine maiden and take over when he retired. After meeting Inuyasha and the others, her future became uncertain. The only thing she could think about was at least keeping up in school and destroying Naraku. There had never been time for her to stop and consider what she wanted out of life.
Even now, she couldn't picture herself doing anything in the present.
Perhaps it was the denial, but she still wished to go to the past. Maybe she'd take over Kaede's role as the village's priestess and settle down with Inuyasha. She would still be able to hop back and forth between the two eras, and sometime in the future she'd welcome some children.
That dream was slowly being smashed to smithereens the more days that passed with the well's sealment.
Kagome sighed, taking a sip of her soda. She focused back to the conversation at hand. It seemed they had gone full circle and were back to the subject of romance. Seemed like Yuka was fretting over what to get for her boyfriend's birthday.
"What do you think, Kagome?" Yuka asked.
All eyes turned to her and she gulped, not liking the attention. "Wait, why are you asking me? Wouldn't it be better to ask someone else who knows him better?"
Yuka rolled her eyes and Ayumi giggled to herself.
"Think about it, Kagome. You're the only one out of our group who's had a boyfriend. You gotta know better about what to get your boyfriend than us," Ayumi said.
Yuka nodded. "Yeah, that's right. Come on, give us some ideas. What did you get for Inuyasha when it was his birthday?"
Kagome gulped down the lump in her throat, yet it remained stuck there. She really thought she could get away not talking about him for one evening with the girls. Obviously, she was wrong.
Yuka noticed and stared in suspicion, so did Eri. Ayumi still seemed oblivious.
"Kagome," Yuka started. When Kagome tensed even further, she sighed. "Tell me you two didn't break upagain."
Ayumi gasped, near knocking her half-empty drink over the table as she leaned closer. "No way, tell me you didn't!"
Now she definitely was not getting out of this conversation.
Kagome shrunk in on herself under the eyes of her friends, wishing to crawl into a hole. Why had she gone out again? Right, because she valued their friendship. She glared at her lap, wishing so badly to change the subject. She could feel the sting in her eyes and did not want to cry in a restaurant, surrounded by her friends and people she didn't know.
"Oh Kagome..."
Ayumi and Eri hugged her, while Yuka placed her hands over Kagome's. She almost wanted to bite out that they never wereactuallydating, as if that would ease the growing tension and change the subject once more. She knew better though. Once her friends were onto Inuyasha, they wouldn't let go.
"Don't be sad, Kagome. He wasn't good enough for you, anyway," Yuka said.
Eri nodded. "Think of it this way, there's plenty of fish in the sea and you just haven't met your perfect match yet. You'll find eventually."
That was not helping.
Kagome fumbled with something to change the subject before she actually started crying, which thankfully the three girls didn't press further. For once they seemed to have a sense not to keep poking and dropped it.
For now.
She could tell this wouldn't be the last time, though.
After finishing their meal and drinks, they got up and left. Kagome wasn't sure where they were going, but they settled at a park. As she watched two kids fighting over the slide and another slipping by while they were preoccupied, she couldn't help but think. So much had changed in the last few months, yet it all seemed the same. This was the same park she had first met Mayu at, yet the girl was likely no longer in the living world. Life continued on, even without her.
"Come on, Kagome. Let's go get some ice cream," Ayumi said, taking her from her thoughts.
They headed over to the venue and began ordering. Kagome couldn't help but think that the season was a little too cold now to be having any, but the sky was still clear and fall would still protect them for a little longer before winter fell. So too would the snowflakes.
Kagome heard the rattling of a chain and looked to the playground not too far away. It took her a moment to find the source, and she was greeted with a woman who looked like she was in her mid to late forties. She excused herself from her friends, promising she'd only be a moment.
"Hello there, ma'am," Kagome greeted.
The looked hesitant and confused. She pointed at herself. "Are you talking to me?"
Kagome nodded.
The woman gawked. "You can see me? But how, no one else can!"
Kagome assured the woman she could and in response, she cried and hugged her. She introduced herself as Arima and pointed to a child on the swings, being pushed by a somber middle-aged man. It was her son and grandson, she said. The woman had suffered from a sudden heart attack and despite how hard paramedics fought to keep her alive, she had slipped from life. Her son was a single parent - his wife having left him right after giving birth to their child. She regretted leaving so suddenly and worried for the two's health.
"He's always been a clumsy man," she explained. "When my husband died in a car accident many years ago, he blamed himself. He had begged my husband to go out to the park that day, as it was his one day off from work. On the way there, a drunk driver had ran into them on the walk. I was at work when it happened and when I got to the hospital, my son was a wreck. The police told me that the only reason he had kept his life was because my husband had pushed him out of the way. It took him years to work through the guilt and shame, and then I suffered a heart attack and died while he was at work."
Kagome hugged the woman. This was the regret that anchored her to the living world, preventing her from passing on. She could sympathize with the man, as she understood what it was like to suddenly lose a parent, her own father passing when she was still a child in a manner much like this woman's husband. The weeks following were a blur and the depression weighing her down like a boulder too large and heavy for any normal person to carry. She recalled how her mother would fret over her well-being, while simultaneously juggling to care for the newly-born Souta. It was one of the hardest times in her life.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Kagome asked.
The woman sighed, shoulders slumped. "I just wish to see my son let go of his guilt and my grandson to grow up healthy. They're all I have left," she said.
Kagome understood.
"If you'd like, I can act as your voice. It might be difficult for them, but if there's anything you'd like to tell them, I can at least relay it," she said.
"Would you really do something so kind?" her voice waved, and Kagome held back a tear. She nodded.
Kagome moved from the ghostly woman and to the father and son duo. She tapped his shoulder, startling him. When he turned to meet her, she couldn't help but notice the defeat and despair in his eyes. His son giggled in the toddler seat of a swing, oblivious to the situation.
"May I help you, young lady?" he asked.
She hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. Arima stood behind her, where she could feel the older woman shake and fight back sobs. "I'm sorry to bother you, but could I have a moment of your time? It's about your mother."
That got his attention.
He stopped the swing and pulled his toddler son from it, much to the child's displeasure. The two walked to the edge of the park and away from the children and parents, where they would not be bothered. His son wiggled in his arms, sensing the tension in the area and threatening to cry. He lightly bounced the baby in his arms, encouraging him to quiet down and relax. Kagome couldn't help but think that it would only be a matter of time before the child's patience would snap and he'd go into hysterics.
"How do you know my mother?" he asked.
Kagome turned back to Arima and offered her a hand, to which she took. The two stood in front of the man, though he could only see one of them. "I know it may be hard to believe, but she's standing here beside me and wanted to talk with you."
He, very predictably, did not believe her and said so. She didn't blame him. In the span of a second, the man had turned from curious to mad. Obviously, he believed her to be crazy and disrespectful.
"Oh, my dear Tetsuo-chan, my dear Haruki-chan. I know you can't see me, but I just wanted to say how sorry I am to have passed so suddenly. You've been through so much and you must be blaming yourself for not being there for me. Please don't worry about me, I'm fine. Instead, worry about yourself and Haruki-chan. He needs his father more than ever now," Arima said.
Kagome faithfully relayed it.
There was a pause. And then fury. He lunged at her, one hand still holding his son while the other grabbed her neck. She should have expected this response, yet she still gasped. Arima moved to stop him, only to phase through him and stumble to the ground. Heads turned as he screamed.
"How dare you! Do you have no respect for a grieving man?! What do you know of my mother?! You have no right!"
The toddler was crying.
Kagome's friends were immediately at her side, seeing the commotion. Yuka and Eri pulled and screamed at him to let go of her, while Ayumi cried for someone to call the police. She gasped for air, trying to pry his hand off her neck. Just when she thought she was finally getting somewhere, she felt his other hand over his first. In the madness, he had dropped his son. Thankfully, while Yuka and Eri still were still trying to pull him back and others were quickly joining in to help, Ayumi had taken the toddler and was trying to calm his cries while guarding him from harm's way.
"Tetsuo, stop!" his mother begged.
Yet he could not hear her.
In the chaos that ensued, Kagome could joke to herself about how awful her life was. Nothing ever went her way. Yet really, what was she expecting prancing up to him like that and claiming to hear his mother? She felt her consciousness slipping and in a last ditch effort to get him to let go of her, she kicked him in the groin. He yelped, throwing her to the ground. That was when two things happened.
One, she felt a pair of hands grip her shoulders, catching her from the painful fall to the ground.
Two, Arima momentarily glowed upon touching her, where she was in the process of also attempting to catch her. Somewhere deep inside her, she felt something pulse.
For a moment, the world froze.
"Mo... mom?" the man gasped.
Kagome and Arima were just as confused.
"Tetsuo?" Arima asked.
Kagome only now noticed that the police had arrived and were making their way to the scene. It wouldn't be long before he was arrested for assault. She took a shaky breath, looking to see who her savior was. Emerald eyes impassively stared back.
Ulquiorra.
Kagome thanked him and steadied herself. She looked to the mother and son, where she saw the man had broken down in tears and confusion. She didn't know how he could suddenly see her, and a look around the crowd told her he wasn't the only one. She looked down at her wrist, where Arima had grabbed right before that flash of light went off. Her energy flowed over her form, blanketing her protectively still. She noticed Arima too, was lightly blanketed in Kagome's own energy. If she hadn't been out of it from the strangling, she would have worried she was about to purify the ghostly woman.
And yet, the woman was unharmed.
She was seen.
Eri and Yuka raced to her side, asking if she was okay. Ayumi shot her a worried look from where she stood to the side, still trying to calm the distressed child while also trying to explain to the police the situation. Whatever was going on, they would ignore it until they were sure their friend was okay. She thanked them first, but assured them that she was fine. The bruise beginning to form at her neck told them otherwise. Still, this wasn't exactly the best time to question her.
As if there wasn't enough chaos, Kagome heard a very familiar and unwanted screech.
Of course it just had to get worse.
"Hollow," Ulquiorra stated.
Thanks, genius. She figured that much out already.
Panic ensued in the group. With another screech, the Hollow lunged at them. The man wrapped his arms protectively around his mother, while the rest of the group dispersed from the scene, running away from the monster. So they could also see it, too. Her group of friends looked to each other, and then to her. Obviously, they did not want to leave her behind, but she could see they were too terrified to decide on what to do. Kagome pulled away from Ulquiorra and the girls and in front of the Hollow, arms spread out to shield them.
"Kagome!" her friends cried out.
There was another flash as the Hollow collided with her energy. She gasped, barely keeping herself from falling backwards from the shockwave. In front of her, she realized, was a shield. Her shield. She froze in shock.
Big mistake.
The Hollowed screeched once more and punched the shield, shattering it along with her concentration. Kagome panicked.
"A little help here, Ulquiorra!" she screamed at him.
He didn't move.
Just watched.
Only watched.
Well shit!
Kagome cursed, looking for something to use to combat it. She was weaponless, what with her Azusa bow and arrows back at home. Behind her, was the mother and son duo. To her side, were her friends. As touched as she was that they refused to leave without her, she really did not want them here right now. She was anything but battle ready.
The Hollow distanced itself from her, much to her surprise. She didn't have time to question the move as it opened it's large mouth and energy formed between its teeth. It was readying to blast an attack.
Not good.
Kagome looked desperately around once more, yet found nothing she could use as a weapon. She screamed for her friends to run away, but they were too stun-locked to moved. The monster fired it's attack and Kagome shut her eyes, bracing for the hit.
It never came.
"Pathetic," came Ulquiorra's voice.
Kagome peaked an eye open and gasped. He was standing in front of her, hands pocketed, having tanked the attack. How, she didn't know. The Hollow pulled back again and then, a second later, lunged at him. Without thinking, she moved in front of Ulquiorra and reached out to the Hollow. Another light flashed and a final screech pierced the air. In another breath, the Hollow disintegrated, leaving nothing behind. Her legs buckled under her and she stared, shocked she had killed it. The moment was ruined with the scream of an infant and Kagome snapped out of it.
"Mom! Mom, are you okay?" came a cry from behind her.
Right, those two.
She'd nearly forgotten.
Her friends snapped out of their shock and rushed to her, checking her over. From behind her, she heard Ulquiorra move. "A Shinigami is on the way," he said, before disappearing like he always did.
In another moment, a man clad in black appeared.
Author's Note
Originally, I had planned to split this into two different chapters. But then I realized that I was falling behind the chapter plans. So here's a longer chapter than usual. Hope you guys enjoy!
Also, thank you to the few who reviewed. I am always so happy to hear from you.
Frommetoyou:I hope to not disappoint in my portrayal of Ulquiorra, but make no promises that he won't suffer just a little, either.
ZoyeZest:Thank you for the kind offer, however I'll have to decline as I'm in no position to commission people. But I'm honored you feel this story is good enough for a visual. Thank you, though!
redbeantaro:Thank you, I'll work hard to provide you some good Ulquiorra and Kagome food.
To my lovely readers, before I end this I just have another question. What kind of genre of story do you most prefer reading? Totally not for any reason at all.