InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Lost the Real Dream ❯ To Pick Up Forgotten Shards ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: I claim no ownership of Sengoku Otogizoushi - InuYasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. InuYasha belongs to Takahashi Rumiko, Shogakukan, Viz Media, ShoPro Entertainment, and Shounen; while Yu Yu Hakusho belongs to Togashi Yoshihiro, Shueisha, Viz Media, and Shounen. No profit or money of any kind is made from this fan-created crossover.

She leaned against the doorway not wanting to interrupt the sentimental moment between brother and sister. A sad smile touched her normally stoic face as she gazed at the woman who looked so much like a younger, less jaded version of herself. Memories from a time long ago came to her mind as she thought about how many times they had been compared to each other, by each other and by others. It seemed only the two of them could tell themselves apart at first glance for there were so many differences that made them unique in their own ways.

The younger woman's black hair was shorter than hers and held a waviness to it that hers could never possess no matter what she did. She was also taller, thinner, and held the regal look that her previous position had conditioned her to be; while the younger woman was shorter, curvier, and held a child-like innocence and happy demeanor that showed even in her stance. And then there were their eyes. Her eyes were gray, while the younger one's were blue-gray, a fact most missed these days. All throughout the hospital, everyone knew of the similarities between the two women and never ceased to tease her about it whenever she was on break. Though she acted annoyed whenever anyone did this, it warmed her deep in her heart and soul to hear that they would dare compare her to this remarkable young woman.

Her gaze softened as the younger woman began to cry, pleading for her younger brother to wake up and get better. She walked over to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Higurashi-san, there is no need to shed tears over him. Tears should be saved for the dead, and that monitor says he is still alive... So please, no more tears.. And it wouldn't do for Minamino-san to be distressed at seeing you so depressed."

Kagome wiped away the tears with the back of her sleeve, and sniffled a little bit, "Minamino-san is here already? I can't believe it's gotten that late... You're right Kikyou-san, I shouldn't cry now. I need to be strong.. Thank you for your words, I should go meet her now." She gave her younger brother a fond smile and ran her hand through his hair. She turned and gave Kikyou a friendly, if a bit strained, smile before taking her leave.

Gray eyes looked down at the young boy as she listened to Kagome's footsteps become fainter, "Those are your words, Kagome."

Her slender, calloused hands gripped the straps of her yellow bag tighter, her nervousness causing her to fidget with anything on her. The hand of her second mother, Minamino Shiori, squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. When Kagome turned to look at the older woman who she so greatly resembled, a warm understanding smile greeted her. For a moment, in the familiarity and warmth of Shiori's smile, Kagome could've sworn she saw the woman she called Mama for nearly her entire life standing next to her. However when she blinked Higurashi-san disappeared and it was, once again, just her and Shiori standing outside of the house she would now be calling home.

Swallowing back her grief and the tears that were threatening to fall, Kagome turned her face away from Shiori and managed to get out, "You have a beautiful house, Minamino-san." Shiori's smile faded, the younger woman's distress did not go unnoticed. She gave Kagome's shoulder one last squeeze before leading her into the house.

"I'm sure you don't remember, but this is the same house from when you were younger. Not much has changed about it, though the outside is beautiful: Shuuichi does have quite a way with plants. Speaking of Shuuichi, he has been dying to see you! It has been quite a long time since you two last saw each other, but nonetheless, he can't wait to see you again! He should be home in a few hours, oh! Here's your room, dinner should be ready in a few hours. I'm making oden, it's your favorite dish still, right?"

Shiori never stopped talking as she showed Kagome inside. Mechanically, Kagome followed her through the house to her room, noticing things about the house that had been changed since the last time she saw it. Family pictures had been changed, though it was to be expected; nick-knacks had been moved or removed; her father's chair was missing. Kagome bit her lip as her thoughts began to turn to her amnesia. The fact that she couldn't recall the most recent, and seemingly mysterious, year of her life scared and worried her, especially since she could recall small details and events from her early childhood. It just didn't make sense to her. How could her amnesia be that selective?

At Shiori's question about oden, it became harder for her to conceal her grief. Even though most of her mind was still elsewhere, trying to remember, she still felt the full force of grief that question brought. Memories of Higurashi-san making her oden to cheer her up, for her birthday, on those special occasions she would come home... 'But come home from where? Why would I be gone?' With a feeling that she would be feeling this confusion, helplessness, and nostalgia a lot in the coming months, Kagome gave Shiori a small smile and nodded. "Hai, oden is still my favorite dish. Thank you so much for making it."

Understanding shone in Shiori's eyes as she took in the sight of her distressed step-daughter. Her eyes held too much pain and wisdom for her to be suffering from the loss of her family, and she felt like she was younger than Kagome. It was the same feeling that she also felt from her son. Perhaps they could forge the bond the lost woman needed. "I'll let you get settled in and call you when dinner is ready... Or perhaps you would like to know when Shuuichi gets home?"

Kagome took a steadying breath before turning to face Shiori. With a big smile at the mention of her younger half-brother, she shook her head. "No, just call me when dinner is ready. I'm sure Shuuichi would like to have a few moments to himself when he returns from school. There'll be plenty of time for us to catch up after dinner." Shiori nodded her head and closed the door to Kagome's room, giving her the solitude she needed at the moment. As much as she would love to smother Kagome with love, she needed space and time to grieve and she would be sure to give her as much as she needed.

When the door closed, and she heard Shiori's footsteps get fainter, Kagome slid to the ground, her bag falling from her shoulders. The grief she had been swallowing all day finally consumed her, tears ran unchecked down her face and her shoulders shook both from the effort to keep silent and the strength of her sobs. Memories of her family swirled in her mind and the feeling of being utterly alone in the world took hold deep in her heart as she clutched the clear bauble hanging around her neck. If anything that mysterious bauble was her only link and key to the past year of her life.

For once the young red-headed genius left school as soon as it ended. All his classmates wondered if he was sick today for he seemed to be highly distracted, was seen chewing on his pencil's eraser, and the emerald eyes that were normally so alert during class were distant. The object of their scrutiny cared not, today was different: his older half-sister was home where he could protect her. He had been worried for her safety ever since Hiei had managed to find him so easily. If one rogue hybrid demon could find his whereabouts so easily, it wouldn't take much to find out about his step-sister and use her to hurt him.

His gait quickened, wanting to make it home as soon as possible. It had been about fourteen years since he last saw her. Most children couldn't remember anything before their fourth year, however he wasn't just anyone. He was Minamino Shuuichi, the human vessel of the famed youko known as Kurama. And because of the youko soul in him, he could recall his sibling quite vividly. The wide curious blue-gray eyes of his older sister always intrigued him, and the images of her trying to tug on his non-existent fox ears had never left him. Kagome was the starting point of his human domestication, and when his father left and took her with him was when he turned cold to the world until Shiori risked her safety for his.

The grief of his older sister threatened to suffocate him the second he stepped into his home. His mother gave him her customary smile, though it was a bit duller than normal. It seemed as if he wasn't the only one who could pick up on Kagome's sadness. "Welcome home Shuuichi, you're home earlier than normal."

"I left once school was over, okaa-sama. How is onee-san?" Shuichi looked down the hall to Kagome's room before helingp Shiori set the table for dinner.

Shiori's shoulders slumped slightly as she mulled over her adopted step-child's state, "I'm not sure, Shuuichi... She's grieving, as expected, however there's more to it than that. Nothing was said to me about her condition until she was released earlier today, and not even the doctor's know how she's recovered as well as she has as quickly as she did."

"What do you mean okaa-sama?" Kurama had stopped his task and focused all his attention on his mother. It had been ages since he had had a good puzzle, and from what was just said, it seemed as if his sister would be his next one.

"The doctors said she was found at the bottom of the old well, looking as if she had been mauled by a large animal. She had lost a lot of blood from her wounds, and she was suffering from a concussion. They figured she hit her head on the well when she fell in it," Shiori shook her head sadly. Her hands finishing off cooking mechanically from years of doing the same actions. Kurama went back to setting the table, mulling over what his mother had just told him. "It's bad enough the poor girl had to wake up to the news of her family's passing, but she also woke up with no memory of the past year of her life. She woke up thinking it was her fifteenth birthday and clutching a gem of some sort that no one knows how she got. It's like it just appeared, they said, before she woke up. I don't even know what she's going to do during the days."

"Okaa-sama," Kurama placed a hand on her shoulder, bringing her mind back to the moment. Shiori shook her head again before moving to finish up dinner. "Okaa-sama, won't onee-san be going to school with me?"

"No, she can't. No school anywhere in Tokyo will accept her. She missed nearly the entire school year last year due to illnesses. But when those illnesses were looked into, most of them were ones she couldn't possibly catch and other's would've killed her. Only her little brother can give some type of answer to what happened until Kagome's memory returns, but he may never come out of his coma. I suppose we could see if she could get some type of work, but I doubt anyone would take her... Kagome could not be anymore unlucky."

Kurama comtemplated his mother's words. His older half-sister was starting to seem like a very intriguing puzzle that was crying out to be solved. And not just for the sake of his curiosity, but also for the sake of her sanity. Before his mother could tell him, he was already on his way to her room to tell her dinner was ready; he had waited long enough to be reunited with his her.

His knuckles connected with the wood of her door, just loud enough to hopefully catch her attention. However he heard no movement in her room, just her light breathing telling him she was asleep. He gently turned the doorknob and entered, taking in her new room and the lack of personal objects. Surely she had been able to bring more from her home than what he saw in here; he'd have to ask Shiori about that and possibly ask Keiko for a small favor. Yes, he would do that in the morning, but tonight... Tonight was his and his alone with his Kagome.

Old blue eyes drowning in grief and helplessness greeted him as he gently nudged her awake. Those eyes were ones he had seen before on others and in the mirror. Someone as bright and cheery as she used to be should never have had those eyes. As he enjoyed the warmth and love that flowed from her embrace, he vowed that he would help Kagome in every way get back to her normal self, even if it took the rest of her life.