In canon events (of, at least, the anime), Kagome is returning to the modern era, again, from Fuedal Japan at the very beginning of the episode, potentially implying that a significant amount of time has passed again. I completely changed that to fit the narrative of my version of events. Just letting you know.
Technically uploading on a Monday and not a Sunday but whatever. Editing took a bit. 4am, bitches.
Kaori sheepishly strolls into Kagome's unoccupied bedroom, rotating her previously injured shoulder, which is now sore after rehealing from purposely being rebroken by a doctor just recently. She'd gotten the injury four days ago.
How was I supposed to know that we'd be here longer? she thinks, looking embarrassed. Her thoughts focus on her adoptive mother's reaction to the "newfound" information.
Kaori had been waiting to return to Feudal Japan with Kagome, so that Kaede could correctly align her shoulder, as a means of avoiding the risk of exposing demons to the doctors in the modern era. However, Kagome never made a move to head back, so in the end, Kaori took the risk and managed not to do anything unnatural.
Her adoptive mother hadn't been very happy to learn about the injury, especially four days after the fact, so Kaori got a very stern talking to about keeping it to herself.
The recent memory fading from her thoughts, Kaori flops onto Kagome's bed, sighing. I don't understand why Kagome is still trying to get an education here, she thinks, staring at the ceiling. It's a complete waste of time, all things considered; there's something far more important that she should be focusing on.
Gathering the remaining jewel shards of the Shikon Jewel. Inuyasha and Shippō are likely wasting their time, waiting for the sisters to return. Kaori can only hope that Kagome "remembers" her duties soon before another argument ensues between them.
However, Kaori's concerns about it briefly jump out the window when Kagome returns with interesting news.
"I don't know what happened," Kagome explains. "My friends and I were eating ice cream, watching some kids enjoy fireworks with their mothers, when this little girl appeared and ruined everyone's fun. I followed her, of course, and these flames surrounded us before she just vanished. And, get this, I was the only one who saw her; my friends said it looked like I was talking to myself."
Kaori scratches her face. "So, long story short, you can see dead people and your friends now think you have Psychosis on top of everything else Gramps told them?"
"I… I guess so?" Kagome rubs the back of her head, sighing. "Don't mention that to him, please; it'll just give him another ridiculous lie to tell once we're gone again."
Kaori raises an eyebrow. "Oh? And here I thought we'd be staying indefinitely."
Kagome glares at her. "Oh, don't you start."
Kaori holds up her hands in mock surrender. "My bad, my bad. Was just saying—Nevermind. Whatever." She crosses her arms. "Anyway, about the little girl, normally, I'd just say to pay her no mind but considering she surrounded you both with fire, no one else saw her, and crazy shit happens even in this era now, I suggest keeping an eye out for her."
"And do what?" Kagome asks. "Chase after her again?"
"Well, yeah, pretty much," Kaori answers. "Not much else you can do unless you suddenly know how to deal with mischievous spirits."
"I suppose you're right," Kagome says with another sigh. "Now, get off my bed."
Kaori would be lying if she said she's never felt like backhanding someone because, right now, she is really tempted to do so as Kagome complains. Again. For the umpteenth time. As always.
"Why do I have to take you to see your friend in the hospital?" Kagome questions, walking ahead of Kaori and Sōta, who are holding hands (for Sōta's safety). In Sōta's other hand, he's carrying a chain of paper cranes in various colors. The three of them are inside a busy subway, walking down a staircase. "It's not fair," Kagome continues.
"We were the only ones available, considering Mother is busy, Grandpa is…doing grandpa things, and no child can ride a train by themselves because that's just asking for a kidnapping," Kaori answers, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
"Yeah, yeah," Kagome answers, practically waving away Kaori's good points. "But I don't want to stay there all day, okay?"
"Then, you should've stayed home," Kaori says. "He can stay with his friend as long as he wants because we both know that you'd do the same for one of your friends." She pulls up the hood of her black sleeveless jumpsuit, officially going through yet another costume change; after a while, she'll likely switch to yet another outfit for combat, all depending on her mood, she supposes.
Kagome hmphs. "Whatever."
Before long, the three eventually make their way onto a sidewalk, heading for their destination.
Sōta breaks the silence. "Do you think evil ghosts really exist?"
"…That's oddly specific," Kaori points out, side-eying Kagome. "…But if demons like Inuyasha and I can exist, then why can't ghosts? The Noh Mask was technically the spirit of a tree. I think. I could just be pulling that information outta my ass, honestly; I paid no attention to any of the villain monologuing it did, outside of 'the shards, give me the shards'."
Sōta hums, taking her words into consideration.
"Why do you ask?" Kagome questions.
"No reason," he mumbles. "Just wondering."
The sisters share a look with each other. Is the girl that Kagome mentioned before truly a cause for concern?
Sometime later, the three siblings make it to the hospital. Inside the room, a very young boy (Satoru), around Sōta's age, is lying unconscious on the bed, a gas mask over his face and drips injected in his arms. The boy's mother stands near the bed. Kagome and Kaori stay silent as Sōta interacts with his friend's mom, giving her the paper cranes; the two sisters take notice of the burn scars on her hands.
The woman notices their concern immediately and makes an attempt to explain the fire incident from six months beforehand, which caused her injuries and her son's current condition, but then, the tube of the drip is yanked by an invisible force and the drip shatters, startling everyone in the room.
For a split second, Kagome (and only Kagome) sees the little girl again, hiding underneath the bed. That's the same girl I saw in the park! The little girl vanishes. What's going on?
So, we have a vengeful spirit on our hands, not a mischievous one like I was hoping for, Kaori thinks with mild concern. Our chances would've been better with the latter; a vengeful spirit could kill someone, if they're determined enough. She glances at the unconscious Satoru as his mother goes to tend to him. Case in point.
The siblings didn't stay in the hospital for too much longer after the incident. On their walk back home, another conversation erupts between them.
"Why were you asking about evil ghosts before we got to the hospital?" Kagome asks Sōta.
"What do you think?" Kaori retorts. "He asked about evil spirits because an evil spirit is tormenting his unconscious friend. What more do you need to figure that out? It was pretty self-explanatory from the second he asked."
Kagome glares at her. "I just want to know all the information. We have nothing to go by, except that a supposed evil spirit is apparently targeting a little boy."
"Fair enough," Kaori concedes. "You may proceed with the explanation, Sōta."
Explain, he does. "Some people in our class think there's an evil ghost after Satoru. He's been in a coma for six months now, right? Everyone from the class used to come and visit him, but then all kinds of weird things started happening when they came to see him. Like, they were pushed down stairs, almost hit by cars, and other stuff. Everyone's scared to visit him now. His sister, Mayu, died in the fire, you know? Some guys in the class think maybe she's doing all the creepy stuff."
Ultimately, their walk leads them to an apartment building. A few floors up, they can see exactly where the fire happened; the damage remains.
Seeing it with her own eyes makes the information Sōta gave them finally click with Kaori, who covers her mouth in silent horror. The little ghost girl, Mayu; she burned alive in that apartment, didn't she? Oh… Poor kid. I'd be vengeful, too, no matter the circumstances…
"And that's where their apartment was?" Kagome asks Sōta for confirmation. Kaori feels like hitting her upside the head for asking such a dumb question, again.
He nods shortly. "Yeah. They kept trying to clean it up and rebuilt it after the fire, but every time someone got near, there was another accident."
From the burnt apartment, a flower pot floats over the railing and drops, heading towards Kaori, Kagome, and Sōta. They leap out of the way. Kagome covers Sōta with her body, Kaori doing the same for her. The pot smashes to pieces beside them.
"See?! I told you there was an evil ghost around!" Sōta exclaims, pulling away from Kagome before fainting.
Kaori catches him as he falls over. "...You know, I was wondering when something crazy would make him faint. Interesting how a floating mask chasing after us in the dead of night didn't make him pass out but a little dead girl dropping pots did."
"...I see your point," Kagome comments. One of those was deadlier than the other, and scarier, but equally as dangerous. Must've been adrenaline that night. She looks up towards the burnt apartment to see Mayu standing on the railing of the balcony. "No! Get off of there!" Kagome yells, a reflex despite knowing the girl is dead.
Mayu jumps down and lands in front of the three siblings; she's in an oversized red coat over a blue top with yellow flowers, a dark blue skirt, and white socks, with her black hair tied in pigtails with red balls, and she's covered in burns from the fire that killed her. She looks at Kagome with brown eyes, annoyed by her reaction; Kagome had embraced for impact, expecting a body splattering on the ground. Again, a reflex. "Duh! I'm dead! Don't you get it?!"
"She's a bit slow," Kaori comments, holding the unconscious Sōta. "But even I came pretty close to calling out, so really, it's just a natural response to seeing someone do what you just did." Mayu turns her annoyed look towards Kaori. "Right, sorry. Carry on, then."
"You're Mayu, Satoru's sister!" Kagome exclaims.
No shit, Kagome, Kaori thinks, letting out a very long sigh.
"Why are you being so mean?!" Kagome continues yelling. "You don't really want to hurt people, do you?!"
"Kagome, now is definitely not the best time to be yelling at a dead person who can get rid of us a lot easier than we can get rid of her…" Kaori mutters, sweat dropping. "Seriously, shut up…"
Mayu turns her back to them, giving them a side-eye. "I don't care about anyone, especially not my mommy." She turns her head completely, fists constantly clenched. "Mommy couldn't stand me. She didn't even care that I died! She left me in the fire. She only saved my little brother."
"Hey, now, I'm sure there's a logical explanation for why that happened…" Kaori says. She's just hurt, taking her anger out in such malicious ways. There must be something we could do to convince her to stop.
"Yeah," Kagome agrees. "I'm sure you're wrong about that. We've talked to your mother, Mayu. I'm sure she loved you as much as your brother."
Mayu turns back towards them, yelling. "What do you know?! You'd better stay out of my way or I'll have to kill you, too!" She vanishes from their sight. Around them, plants uproot from the soil. Kaori holds onto Sōta protectively, Kagome huddling close, as all of the uprooted plants start crashing down around them, narrowly missing them but covering them in soil.
"...I'm glad Sōta fainted," Kaori comments, shifting her head to the side to spit out some soil that landed in her mouth. "He'd have lost his mind if he saw any of that."
The tune of a flute can suddenly be heard from somewhere behind them. Kagome and Kaori turn their heads in its direction. Floating in the sky is a yellow spherical demon with a long scaly tail and two thin arms. "What is that thing?" Kagome wonders aloud. The demon makes a sound similar to a whale. "'When the eyes open wide…'," Kagome translates. In the blink of an eye, the demon vanishes. "It's gone!"
"Oi, would you stop narrating everything?! I have eyes and ears, you know!" Kaori exclaims.
"What was it trying to tell us?" Kagome wonders, ignoring Kaori.
"How should I know?" Kaori questions. "Go ask someone who does."
"I can't believe she actually listened to me for once…" Kaori grumbles, looking inside the sacred well, which Kagome just recently vanished inside. "I suppose if anybody knows about that demon, it'd be…literally anyone from over there." She crosses her arms and taps her foot. A few seconds go by. "I should've gone with her; waiting is boring the shit outta me."
She goes back up the steps and leans against the railing of the staircase, resting her head against her palm. For some unknown reason, she chooses to stay there for thirty minutes, waiting for Kagome to return. When she doesn't after that amount of time has passed, Kaori decides to just roam around their home for a bit and return later to wait some more.
She soon finds herself standing in the dining room, watching her adoptive mother work in the kitchen. She's making pork buns, ramen, and parfaits. Kaori can't help but to continue staring at her, thoughts turning towards the ghost girl and her apparent hatred for her family but more specifically her mother, even though her brother is the target she's aiming for.
…No matter how annoying my siblings can be, I'd never try to maim or murder them, she thinks. Swat them on the head really hard, maybe, but nothing more than that. She keeps watching her adoptive mother silently, barely managing a smile whenever her adoptive mother would glance her way. …And I could never hate my mother or grandfather… Mother is the best and Grandfather is…weird as shit but harmless.
Seeing such a young spirit with that much anger for her family is really making Kaori think about her own. She's not biologically related to any of them, but they're family, nonetheless. And… She's almost out of time to be with them. Sooner or later, she'll fully transform and probably won't be able to return. And if she does, she'd have to wear something that would hide anything unnatural since not just her family hangs around their land.
She looks at her palms, frowning. She'd been so terrified of hurting them with her newfound power, she lost some precious moments with them. Maybe Kagome was right; maybe she should stop worrying and spend however much time she's got left before everything officially changes. And if her power acts up, at least the smoking hands will give enough warning for her to jump away from her relatives.
Decision finally made, Kaori carefully hugs her adoptive mother from the side, considering the woman is still currently cooking.
Mama Higurashi smiles for a moment but then frowns when she sees Kaori's expression. "Is something the matter, sweetheart?"
Kaori looks down, trying to hide her face, and the tears that are threatening to spill suddenly. "...I'm sorry for being so distant lately."
Mama Higurashi gives her a sad but considerate look. "Oh, honey, it's alright. I understand why you did it." Kaori explained her situation some days ago, after all.
"...Can I help you finish the food?" Kaori hesitantly asks.
Mama Higurashi smiles again. "Sure. You can get those parfaits started."
And so, for the remainder of Kagome's absence, Kaori spends her time assisting her adoptive mother with preparing the food. And eating some of it when it's finished. And saving a few pork buns for later because that shit is delicious. By the time she returns to the sacred well, Kagome is climbing out of it in a hurry.
"So?" Kaori wonders. "What's the verdict?"
Kagome starts rushing out of the small building, prompting Kaori to immediately chase after her. "Long story short, we have to save Mayu from becoming an evil spirit or she'll be dragged into Hell!"
"What?!" Kaori exclaims, running alongside Kagome. "But she's a kid! Is a demon seriously gonna send her to Hell?!"
"Yes!" Kagome yells. "That thing we saw is called a Soul Piper! It plays music for children until they find the peace they need to move on! Mayu is being held back by jealousy and hatred, so she can't! We need to help her before it's too late!"
"You don't have to tell me twice! Let's save that kid!" Kaori yells.
By the time the siblings run up to the hospital, night has fallen. Satoru's mother is stepping out from the entryway when they sprint up. She looks at them, confused. Kagome wastes no time in getting to the point; they need to hear exactly what happened to Mayu. As expected, Mayu is angry over a misunderstanding; her mother didn't leave her there on purpose because she didn't know she was still there, hiding in a closet. Kaori gives the grieving, crying woman an awkward pat of comfort on her shoulder, grimacing.
Suddenly, they hear glass shattering. They look up at the hospital; the window to Satoru's room is completely gone and a light inside flickers. Immediately, the three of them run into the building. Secret be damned, Kaori leaves them in the dust, being the fastest because of her non-human nature.
The lamp is broken, completely shattered. Almost all of the medical equipment is broken, sparks flying everywhere.
"Damn, you spirits have power!" Kaori exclaims, looking around until she spots Mayu standing where the window pane once was. "I know you're pissed off about dying, anyone in your position would be, but this has all been a big misunderstanding!"
Kagome and Mayu's (and Satoru) mother finally make it to the room. Kagome basically repeats, in different words, the same thing Kaori just said. And the poor woman behind them, after realizing it's her deceased daughter causing all the trouble, gets tossed out of the room, crashing into the wall, falling to the floor unconscious; a kimono inside her bag falls out slightly.
"Damn!" Kaori exclaims, rushing out the room to check on the woman, to make sure she's still alive.
"Don't blame your mom!" Kagome begs. "Try and think back! Your mom didn't abandon you in the fire! Do you understand?! She didn't think you were at home when the fire happened! Remember?!"
Mayu actually pauses for a moment, pondering those words, thinking back to that horrible day. She speaks softly. "...I left my scarf over the stove. It must have fallen and caught fire. It was my fault our apartment burned down. Mommy didn't know I was home. I forgot that…" She gets angry again. "But it doesn't matter because I still hate her!"
The floor falls apart, the pieces floating in the air. Satoru's bed flips over, throwing him out the window. Kaori and Kagome sprint towards the broken window, Kaori making it there first but the bed is blocking the way to Satoru.
"Damn it, no!" Kaori yells, throwing the bed against the nearby wall, breaking the bed in half. She leans out, looking down sorrowfully. Kagome joins her, equally upset.
Suddenly, they hear Inuyasha's voice beside them. "Can't you handle anything on your own?" They immediately look to their left and sigh in relief; Inuyasha is holding Satoru, recklessly but still, and he's using his sword as support for hanging off the wall.
"Oh, thank fuck for that…" Kaori breathes out. "I was having a heart attack… I really thought we got a kid killed…"
"Inuyasha!" Kagome cheers. "You came to help us!"
Inuyasha has a neutral expression for once, not looking annoyed or irritated or angry. "Good thing I did, too, or this kid would be in trouble." He glances towards Mayu, who is floating a little ways away from the hospital. "Give up on the girl. It's too late for her." He hands Satoru over to the siblings before jumping onto the window ledge. "Even if you do make her realize what happened and make her stop, I guarantee you she's not going anywhere near Heaven."
"I refuse to believe that," Kaori says softly. "Even if it's just a small little fraction of hope, it's still a chance for us to make this right." The Soul Piper chooses then to unfortunately appear behind Mayu, its eyes open entirely. "Are you shitting me right now?! Didn't you just hear what I fucking said, you asshole?!"
Chains leave its body, wrapping around Mayu tightly; she struggles. The demon drags Mayu away from the hospital.
"No, damn it! I'm not letting this happen!" Kaori lunges herself out the window, landing on the ground with a thud, sprinting off into the night by herself, trying to keep up with the demon. Inuyasha better be right on my ass with Kagome on his back because I don't think I can succeed on my own. She glances back; she doesn't see him anywhere. …Am I faster than him now? …It's because I'm a cat, isn't it? Fuck it, I'll just hope they can get there in time, wherever there is going to be.
She follows the demon to Mayu's old apartment, where it makes the room glow an ominous pink light. Without thinking, she climbs up quickly, almost falling a few times but she pushes through, getting into the building. As soon as she enters, the apartment is suddenly doused with raging flames.
"Fuck me, what a terrible way to go…" Kaori mutters before frantically looking around, unbothered by the fire. "Mayu! Mayu! Answer me right now, damn it! Please!" As she steps further into the apartment, Kagome suddenly appears behind her. "Took your sweet ass time, didn't ya?!"
"Did you find her?!" Kagome yells, looking around.
"Does it look like I've found her?!" Kaori yells back, still looking.
"Is that you, Mommy?" they faintly hear Mayu say.
"Where did that come from?!" Kaori exclaims, looking frantically again.
Kagome sees Mayu open the closet door. "There you are!" Both sisters sprint over, beckoning her towards them, trying to coax her out of the closet. "Come on, Mayu! Let's get out of here!"
Mayu glares at them. "How many times do I have to tell you?! I'm dead, you stupid idiots! What's your problem?! Why don't you-!?" She screams; the floor behind her splits, revealing a fiery void. Chains shoot out and grab her, dragging her in. Kaori and Kagome nearly jump into the damn hole as they reach for her, grabbing ahold of her hand and arm.
Kaori pulls with all her strength but is unable to lift the poor girl. "Damn it all, Hell really wants your soul, kid!" But we're not gonna let it have you! She refuses to let go of Mayu. "Release her already! She's just a kid! She doesn't deserve this!"
"You have to go home! Go home and make up with your mother!" Kagome yells. "Your mother loves you now and she always did love you! Don't you want to make up with her before you say goodbye for good?!"
The chains tug harder at Mayu, making it more difficult for the sisters to keep holding onto her.
"...Isn't Mommy mad at me?" Mayu softly asks, looking sad. "Are you sure Mommy's not mad?"
I'll be mad if you don't get your shit together soon, kid! Kaori aggressively thinks, clenching her teeth.
Kagome smiles. "She's not mad, really. She just loves you and misses you, that's all." Mayu starts sobbing. "Mayu, you know your mom better than anyone. She'd never be mad at you."
"Mommy!" Mayu cries out. "I miss you, Mommy! I want to say sorry to you! I've always wanted to make up with you! I'm sorry, Mommy!"
Suddenly, the chain breaks, falling into the void below. Easily, Kagome and Kaori can finally pull her up. As Mayu clings onto them, the flames of the apartment vanish, and the room returns to its burnt state in the real world, where Inuyasha awaits them.
The next day, Inuyasha, Kaori, and Kagome sit on top of the apartment building, on the ledge. Inside, Mayu is having her final moments with her mother. Kaori kicks her legs, sighing, mentally hoping for the best. Inuyasha is side-eying Kagome. Kagome is looking at the horizon.
"I hope Mayu's alright now," Kagome says.
"Me too," Kaori mutters.
"What were you thinking, going in there all alone?" Inuyasha questions, looking at Kagome still but speaking directly to Kaori. Before speaking directly to Kagome next. "And you, what were you thinking, following her? That girl could have easily pulled you both into Hell and I wouldn't be able to save you."
It was worth the risk, the sisters think together.
A week passes by.
Kagome and Kaori stayed in the modern era the entire time. While Kagome continued attending school and doing her work, Kaori started spending as much time as possible with her adoptive family, whenever they weren't busy with something.
And then, Satoru gets released from the hospital, having woken up from his coma the day Mayu nearly went to Hell. While Kaori is out, spending a night out with her adoptive mother and brother, Kagome does her homework in her room. During such, Mayu pays her a visit to give thanks before she officially moves on, dressed in the kimono her mother made her. The conversation ends as quickly as it started.
Kagome watches as the young girl flies away. Mayu, I don't think you were ever an evil spirit. You were just an ordinary little girl who loved her mom more than anything.
My delay this time for updating was multiple things. Firstly, anxiety over getting my wisdom teeth removed. It was...not even bad, honestly. No pain, just aches. Currently still healing the holes in my mouth. Secondly, my sister and I entered the "My Hero Academia" fandom and have loved just about every second of the adventure; we're caught up now. Lastly, we're currently in the middle of moving to a new household, packing up things and the like, so bad timing for this schedule to start, huh?
Fair warning, we likely won't have internet for a bit when we got to the new place. Many apologies for another long wait. I was hoping, with the new schedule of doing it every Sunday, I'd update more often since I'd be working on it once a week but again, kind of bad timing on my part. There's still hope, though.