InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Lost the Real Dream ❯ Pain is Normal, Right? ( Chapter 7 )

[ 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.

There had been a sense of foreboding following Kagome around ever since she woke up the next morning. It was nothing more than a feeling lingering around in the back of her mind, its dark fingers gripping her heart, that had her constantly looking off in the distance trying to see something that wasn't there. Or maybe it was and she simply didn't possess the sight necessary to see it. Maybe it wasn't the distance she was trying to look into, but more like the future. Was this dark feeling her punishment for trying to pry into her past?

Whatever the reason for the feeling, it was the main cause of her being sent home from work early that day. Both Kaede and Inuyaska agreed she needed to stay away from work until she had managed to get whatever was wrong with her under control. They didn't need her burning ramen or messing up orders even more that day. She wasn't doing it on purpose, honest, instead it was more like she just couldn't concentrate. There was something that her mind and heart was telling her she needed to concentrate on more. But she couldn't figure out what that was.

"Ah, Kagome-chan, what are you doing home from work early?" the ever-kind voice of Minamino Shiori caused her to smile despite her feelings. They hadn't had too much time to spend together since that first day, they both had work schedules that didn't mesh well together. Perhaps a nice chat with the older woman would be just what she needed.

"I wasn't really needed today, Minamino-san," she easily lied. Lying had never been her forte, in fact she down-right sucked at it, but for some reason, she found that she could do it rather well these days. Another thing from her missing year?

The smile on Shiori's face almost made her regret lying to the woman kind enough to take her in. "It's been so long since we last talked, would you mind joining me for a cup of tea?"

Kagome nodded her head eager for some soothing conversation over tea; for the first time since coming here, she actually wanted to talk to Shiori. She felt bad for going out of her way to avoid talking to her, and often using Shuuichi as an excuse, too. But the woman looked and acted too much like Higurashi-san that she was sure she would end up crying or breaking down before, but now... It seemed as if the grief was more bearable.

"How are you adjusting, Kagome-chan?" she could easily tell the elder woman was uncomfortable, having no idea how to break the silence that fell over them.

Kagome smiled and held out her tea cup for Shiori to fill, "I've been doing just fine... One of these days I must thank you properly for letting me stay here, for taking me in when you didn't have to at all. You and Shuuichi have been such good help... I truly don't know what I would've done if I didn't have you both to help me out."

"Nonsense, Kagome-chan! Anyone can tell by looking at you that you're a very strong woman, you would have made it through life just fine even if myself and Shuuichi were not around to help out," her step-mother took a seat across from Kagome after they both had their tea.

Her words caused Kagome to blush slightly, the feeling of being unused to such praise making itself known, "Ah, either way... I am thankful to have you both back in my life once again..."

"Is there something bothering you?" the knowing glint in Shiori's eyes showed just how much of a mother she was.

It seemed like every mother had it and could tell whenever there was the slightest thing bothering any of their charges. And it brought back so many memories she had of Higurashi-san always sending her off with sadness and that same knowing glint. But this was not Higurashi-san, this was Shiori, and telling herself that helped her push down the grief that was trying to come up.

The younger woman nodded not trusting her voice at the moment, but before their conversation could go any further, it was interrupted by one insufferable invention: the telephone. Shiori gave her a brief apologetic smile before getting up to answer it, while Kagome was left with her thoughts and memories, and she used the chance to get her emotions back under control. She didn't want to worry Shiori by breaking down in tears. However, it seemed as if the effort was unnecessary as Shiori came back, worry lining her face.

"That was the hospital, Kagome-chan... They say you're needed there immediately."

For Kurama, the day had dragged on just too long. While he knew the value of the education he was getting, it didn't stop the itch to go back to the ways of his previous life. There was a certain rush one could only get when one's life was on the line, of running freely throughout the land, of coming back with one's health intact. That kind of rush was one long forgotten by most, the kind a person couldn't get in the kind of life that required children to go to school. But for his mother, and for his sister, it was a life he would gladly throw away so long as it meant they would be safe from harm.

Even though that was true, it didn't erase the monotony of the days, nor did it make them pass faster. That was the price to pay, it seemed. Looking ahead to see two familiar figures, Kurama supposed that maybe today the monotony might be broken. He smiled as he drew closer to the two humans he could call friends, the ones he knew he would always want them beside him in battle.

"Yo, fox-boy! What's new with you?" Kurama had to chuckle at the nickname Yusuke loved to call him, and hoped that Kagome didn't pick up on that habit, too.

"Yusuke-kun, Kuwabara-kun.. What brings you both to this side of town?"

Both boys looked away, as if embarrassed to admit the reason they had come, and if Kurama wasn't mistaken they had most likely skipped most, if not all, of their classes. "Actually, we were just wanting to spend some time with you and Kagome." He didn't like the thought of them getting closer to Kagome; she was his sister, not theirs.

"Yeah, Kurama! You both keep hogging her to yourselves! I haven't seen Kagome in days, since you guys never invite me along! I still need to thank her for helping us out after that mission," Kuwabara said the last part more to himself than the other two boys near him, while they looked everywhere but at Kuwabara. It wasn't as if they intentionally didn't invite him... More like, they hadn't been thinking.

"I'm sure onee-san should be home by the time we get there. You're both welcome to come home with me."

And it was true, they both were welcome. He hadn't had a real friend since Kuronue, and he couldn't place the blame entirely on them for wanting to see Kagome. There was something about her that could draw in anyone. He wondered how many people had been ensnared by her nature.

"Alright! Hey, do you think she could make us some ramen?" Yusuke asked as if Kurama held any sway over Kagome's decisions.

However, Kuwabara and Kurama leveled glares at the young man, "Urameshi! You better not be using Kagome for free ramen!"

"I'm not that kind of person, Kuwabara!"

And so, another one of the infamous fights between the two friends began. If Kurama had not lived two lives fighting all the time, he would have been surprised at how well they could hold back on each other and follow him as they traded blows and insults. Though the fact that they were fighting over his sister (and the fact that she wasn't fully related to him didn't matter at all -- siblings were siblings) irked him to no end. As if either of them would even get his permission to take her out on one date.

He wished he could say that neither of them had any desire in Kagome in that way, that they just wanted to be friends, but he really couldn't. With Kuwabara, maybe, but not with Yusuke. He had watched them trade jabs and quips in a semi-flirtatious way far too many times for his liking. And if Yusuke wasn't careful, he just might have to steal away Keiko from him in an attempt to get him to stay away from his sister.

"Yusuke-kun, Kuwabara-kun... We're here, and please don't start any fights in the house. Kagome and okaa-sama do not need to see that side of you two," no sooner had those words left his mouth did he see the two of them separate, looking no worse for the wear. Only slight bruises marred Kuwabara, but that was to be expected, at the very least.

Entering his home, he slid off his shoes, "Okaa-sama, I'm home.. I brought a couple of my friends along, too."

Shiori greeted them with a soft smile and sad eyes, "Welcome home, Shuichi-kun... And who are your two friends?"

"Urameshi Yusuke."

"Kuwabara Kazuma."

Both of them answered at seeing the warning in Kurama's eyes. If there was one thing they had learned over the past weeks and missions, it was that no one messed with Kurama at all. His amicable demeanor and calm anger made him terrifying. They already had an idea of how ruthless the former thief could be, and had no desire to see more.

"Where is onee-san, okaa-sama?"

The sadness in Shiori's eyes became even more pronounced as she turned away from them, "The hospital called not too long ago for Kagome. Something about her little brother..."

The pain of waiting around for information was close to unbearable. Kagome wondered if having someone to wait around with would make it pass faster, but there was really no one she could ask to be here with her. Normally she would be here with Higurashi-san and Jii-chan, but they were already dead. Thinking of that was something she didn't need to be dwelling on; it made her face the possibility that Souta could die. That was not something she needed to be focused on, she needed to stay positive, for both their sakes.

All her earlier work at pushing aside her grief threatened to come undone with each minute that passed, taunting her with its reminder about how short the time spent one could spend with loved ones was. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if Souta died now without knowing how much she loved having him as her little brother. Throughout the time she had been awake, small memories were starting to come back to her, and she could remember just how much Souta did for her. Though faint, she did remember.

All the times her friends would give her the notes and homework she missed, all because her brother asked them to. Though she wished she could recall why she was missing so much school, the pretense of illnesses didn't seem plausible. But he was always there, making sure she didn't miss anything important going on.

His voice still echoed in her mind, threatening to bring her even closer to tears. It made her regret so much; she didn't think she ever once thanked him for all he did for her. That was why he had to live, so she could make it all up to him. Really, what had she done to deserve two spectacular little brothers?

"You just can't keep your hands to yourself, can you?" the angry, yet entirely female, shout brought Kagome's attention to the dark-haired woman, along with the attention of everyone else. It was a rather out-of-place sight in the waiting room: a beautiful woman standing akimbo over a man who had a very bright hand-print on his cheek.

"I couldn't help myself, my dearest Sango... You are simply too beautiful for your own good!" Kagome's eyes filled with tears as she chuckled at their antics.

She could almost swear that she knew them, but she had no memories of them. Just two people who acted similar to those she could nearly recall... Those times seemed so long ago, as if they were in the not-so-distant past, instead of just a year ago.

The names and appearances of those two who were once so dear to her were so close to being in her grasp. Just a little more time, and she would be willing to bet money that she could remember. They were such dear people to her, almost as if she could consider them siblings, and it hurt so much that that was all she could recall.

"Onee-san," she glanced behind her to see her other little brother and two of his friends. The genuine concern that shone in their eyes was all she needed to break down.

"Shuuichi-kun," was all she managed to get out before throwing herself on the aforementioned red-head, trusting him to catch her and provide the shoulder she so desperately needed.

A gentle, yet rough rocking motion was pushing her awake. She squinted her eyes closed, desperate to grab ahold of whatever it was she had been dreaming about.

"Hey, Kagome-chan," the shaking was becoming more pronounced as she realized it was Yusuke trying to shake her awake. Groaning, she pulled herself from the dream she was trying to hold onto and off of Yusuke's lap. "There's a nurse here who needs to talk to you."

"Kikyou-san?" Kagome asked, her voice husky from sleep and her eyes trying to blink away the post-sleep blurriness. The name seemed so familiar to her, she could only just recall it had made an appearance in her dream... Perhaps her presence was the reason why her name popped up in it.

The older version of herself with gray eyes stood before her, sorrow written into every crease of her face. "Kagome-san... Could we speak over there?" she pointed off to the side, and Kagome nodded before walking away with her. The three young men who had each taken up a spot near her could only look on as the two women talked.

After Kagome's initial breakdown on Kurama, she calmed down enough to tell them that Souta was in surgery as his body was starting to shut down. They didn't know what to say to her as she started blaming herself for not coming around to see him more, to talk to him and let him know that she still cared. It tore at them to see such a giving woman break apart right in front of them as they came to understand how close she had been to her other younger half-brother. Surprisingly, it was Yusuke who managed to get her to smile with some trademark smart-ass comment. Seeing her smile through her tears helped ease a bit of Kurama's anger when she then hugged the younger boy.

Their interest in each other really wouldn't be beneficial to Yusuke's health if it developed more. But he did manage to keep himself in check when Kagome fell asleep against the detective a little while later, even though he was close to seeing red. Kuwabara couldn't help but make a few comments about it that didn't help his mood at all, but thankfully, Yusuke realized that the only thing keeping him from being murdered by an over-protective brother was the fact that Kagome was laying on him. As if he would endanger his sister just to fulfill a homicidal urge. Not matter how strong that urge was.

But all three of them jumped up and ran over to the two women when they saw Kagome crumple to the ground. As they got closer, they could hear her sobs and see the tears that she couldn't stop. Catching the tail-end of what the nurse was saying was more than enough to tell them just what had happened: "...I am truly sorry for your loss."

Higurashi Souta was dead. Dead without knowing his sister's gratitude, and taking his link to Kagome's past with him. Once again the three of them were helpless, not knowing what to do to comfort a crying woman, especially one they considered a friend and a sister. Holding her and running his hands through her hair like she had done for him their first night together was all Kurama could do as she cried.