InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Kagome ❯ If You Can Feel Them... ( Chapter 6 )

A/N : I do not own the characters featured in this work of fiction, they are copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. HOWEVER... I DO own an overactive imagination...

 

 

 

FINDING KAGOME

 

 

Chapter Six

 

 

 

Toweling her hair dry, after a shower, Kagome slipped on her fluffy terrycloth robe and padded barefoot through her too quiet apartment turning off the unnecessary lights. Picking up the few empty containers of their fast food repast, she carried them to the kitchen, stopping to switch on her small TV.

 

“Reporting on the city council meet we go to Ricky Takahashi, outside city hall... Ricky? What was the emergency meeting about tonight?”

 

It was the news. Kagome didn't care for the news but believed that she needed to know what was going on in the city, since she was trying to instill some sense of civic responsibility in her students. The news was more often bad than good, and it wore on her spirit to hear too much negativity. Even Sally knew this, and kept her shop talk to a minimum since joining the force.

 

“Jordan, the emergency meeting was called this afternoon to address concerns of the law enforcement community regarding a string of unsolved crimes within the city. A special request was made to increase the budget to allow for an additional 500 peace officers and support staff. There have been a number of break-ins and seemingly random acts of violence in the last week, focused in the Nob Hill district...”

 

“Heaven forbid those poor 'well to dos' have to deal with what the rest of us do. . .” muttered Kagome, as she sat toweling her hair some more. She wondered if Sally was going to be investigating any of those cases.

 

“... and the increased levels of private security forces, the council deemed that they would allow for 50% of the requested increase in funding. Here with me is Councilman John Bradshaw of the 45th district... thank you Councilman , for taking a moment with us...”

 

“My pleasure Ricky.” The politician beamed on the tiny screen.

 

“Councilman, just what is it that the local peace force is concerned about?”

 

“Well, as you yourself have reported recently, there has been an increase in the reports of break ins and the like,” the reporter beside him nodded, “what the renewed concern is about has to do with a sudden increase in homicides. The SFPD is investigating each one diligently, and finding very few clues. Also there has been an increase in missing person reports being filed, and that too is requiring more manpower.”

 

Kagome sighed. She herself had severely cut back on her post sunset activities lately. The streets just weren't safe anymore. If Sally was with her, being trained in multiple styles of self defense, she felt more secure, but Sally couldn't hold her hand all the time. “Maybe I should take up martial arts,” she pondered out loud.

 

“So do you think this increase in the budget will solve the problem, Councilman?”

 

“Well, it will be a start. Finding out what has brought about this trend will help us to really solve the problem.” The politician looked properly concerned.

 

“Do you think it is some religious cult?” prompted the reporter.

 

“Oh, I am hardly an expert on that kind of speculation.”

 

“An inside source at the SFPD has made that claim,” the reporter pushed, causing the politician to look nervous.

 

“Perhaps some of the evidence has indicated that there may be a community mind behind the attacks, but to speculate that it is anything other than organized is perhaps... premature.” The politician smiled grimly for the camera.

 

“Thank you Councilman Bradshaw” the reporter stepped forward away from the man. “Two known accounts of possible cannibalism are included in this last week's reports from the SFPD, one in the mission district and another from the grounds of the Presidio. This reporter is keeping her doors locked... from city hall, this is Ricky Takahashi reporting.”

 

“Thanks Ricky,” the female anchor resumed her pose before the camera. “In state news, no new word on the investigation of the Redwood Mangler, although 5 more bodies were found in a cave deep within Redwood National Forest this morning, in varying states of decay.” The picture changed to shaky footage, obviously hand held, of emergency personnel congregated around a large cave opening, two carrying a gurney with a black bag buckled onto it. “This brings the total to 35 people found, since the rampage began approximately 4 months ago.”

 

“We were hiking, over there...” a young man pointed off to his left, “and Joey, my buddy... he said he heard some strange noises coming from this direction, and as we approached... well... the smell...” he grimaced waving his hand in front of his face. “I found a leg over there,” he pointed off to his right, “it looked like it had just been... torn off!” the man shook his head in disbelief, as a ranger approached him and pulled him away. The picture came back to the studio.

 

“Did I really want to know this,” Kagome asked herself, as she picked up the remote, thinking about her mother up in Lake County. Switching the TV off she reached for the cordless phone, dialing home.

 

“Kagome!!” answered her mother, delighted to hear from her daughter.

 

“Momma, are you OK? How is everything up there?” Kagome rubbed her arm, finding the goosebumps there again. This was becoming ridiculous.

 

“Just fine, dear. . . it's slow, but that's to be expected this time of year. And you? How are plans for the festival going?” She could hear an exchange going on in the background. “Just a sec, hon. . . will you two please take it to the other room? I am on the phone here. . . OK , sorry about that.”

 

“Who's there Momma?” Kagome inquired, curiously.

 

“Oh just Taki and Bo, they are fleshing out the design for the new garden and have very different ideas on how it should look. I just told them to plant some cherry trees and it's become some kind of competition between them. . .” her mother sighed.

 

“I'm coming up tomorrow, and bringing Michael. . . is that alright?”she asked.

 

“Of course!! It's more than alright!! Taki!! Come here please. . . I need you fix up Kagome's room and the blue room, please”

 

Kagome could hear a, “yes Higurashi-sama” in the background.

 

“I haven't seen Michael in ages! Is Sally coming too? Those two haven't run off and gotten married yet have they?”

 

“No Momma, but soon I think. . . Sally has to work, she got promoted. . . we can talk more about that when I get there. . . Momma?” Kagome bit her lip.

 

“What is it, little one. . .?” Her mother could always tell when she was troubled.

 

“I am not so little anymore, am I. . .” Kagome smiled at the pet name.

 

“So you will be 25 your next birthday, you are still my little one, I don't care how old you get. . . now what is troubling you?”

 

“You remember when you explained to me how a miko can. . . sense things?”

 

“It's true, and much more, though you did look at me like I was from another planet when I told you that. . . why do you ask?”

 

Kagome leaned back in her chair, trying to formulate the words to describe just what made this sensation worrisome.

 

“Tonight. . . it started tonight. . . just this really weird sensation. At first I thought it was just some really lovely music that caused it, you know. . . appreciation for it. . . a physical response. . . but it's still happening.”

 

“Is it constant, or does it come in waves?” inquired her mother.

 

“Its more like. . . waves. . . like a chill that runs up and down my spine, but more than that. . . it's hard to describe, really. . . I kind of feel silly.” Kagome bit her lip again, as she waited for her wise mother's response.

 

“And a knot in the pit of your stomach, with goosebumps breaking out?” her mother added.

 

“Yes. . .” she leaned forward in the chair looking at the fresh set that had appeared on her arms.

 

“Youkai,” stated her mother flatly.

 

“No way. . .” Kagome was incredulous. Not in the city.

 

“Set a ward on your door. . . now” ordered the elder miko. “If you are feeling it that strongly, it is close enough to feel you too. Go, do it now, I will wait. . .”

 

“Oookay. . .” Kagome set the phone down and went to the desk across the room. Opening the bottom drawer, she pulled out a silk bag. Pulling the strings open she withdrew three slips of rice paper with ornate Kanji scrolled on them. “Never thought I would actually use these. . .” she pondered as she crossed to the door, checking the 5 locks to make sure they were all secure, she licked each of the Sutra and slapped them on the door across the crack where the door met the frame. Returning to the phone she said, “I feel like a superstitious fool, mother.”

 

“Better to feel silly and be protected, than have nothing at all between you and a Demon,” came the reply. “We really should work on some things. . . when you get here.”

 

“You know, I called you Momma because I was worried about you. . . with all these reports about bodies being found in the mountains. . .” Kagome sighed. “You probably have wards all over the place up there.”

 

“I do, it's part of my life. . . and it should become a more important part of your's,” her mother stated flatly. “The activity in the forest is most assuredly youkai. . . though modern law enforcement will never accept that. . . Demons are a fable from the past as far as they are concerned.”

 

“How do you know, though, Momma? Is it that you feel them?”

 

“Most assuredly. And more so lately. I fear that something is brewing and I don't like it one bit, but there is little that only I can do. So I put up my wards, and instruct those willing to learn on what they need to do to protect themselves. Beyond that, I live my days as any other.”

 

“I love you, Momma,” Kagome whispered into the phone. She felt so truly blessed to have this woman in her life, superstitions and all. She was a very old soul.

 

“I love you too, little one. Come see me, and bring your friend. I have someone also coming to see me this weekend that I want you to meet. I think you find him. . . very interesting.”

 

“Oh, Momma, you aren't matchmaking are you?” Kagome giggled.

 

“No, no, no. . .” her mother laughed. “He's certainly adorable, but not your. . type. . . I think you may take an interest in his family history though, he comes from ancient Japanese lineage, and has an excellent knowledge of our stories. He will be very helpful, I think, in your festival project!”

 

“Ah, I can certainly use extra insight, and hands as well. . . this is turning out to be more complicated than I had originally thought.”

 

“Well, get some sleep, little one. . . what time will you be arriving?”

 

“If these stupid chills would just stop. . . arrrgh. . . well, I am picking Michael up at 10 but you know he won't be ready, so count on us around 2ish?”

 

“I will have an early supper ready then.”

 

“Thanks Momma,” Kagome smiled, “for everything.”

 

“Be safe, little one. See you tomorrow,” as Kagome pressed the end call button she glanced over at the now warded door, brushing her arms. Stupid demons.

 

She glanced over at her window, which looked out onto the street, closed and locked. She padded over to it and looked out onto well lit street. It was late enough that there was little activity, as she saw a known neighbor pull up and exit their car. Up in the sky a jet flew, on it's way to approach the airport, passing in front of the crescent moon.

 

“I should pack, now I suppose,” she said to herself. “But first. . .” and she went to the silk bag still open on her desk, pulling out a handful of the Sutra. “ I spose one can't be too careful.” And she applied two to the window, then followed suit with her bedroom window, which also opened onto the street. Surveying her handiwork, she stood with her hands on her hips shaking her head. “My neighbors are going think I am nuts.” Biting her lip, she reached for the backpack that she used for a suitcase, and proceeded to pack for the weekend.

 

 

~ooO0Ooo~