InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Kagome ❯ Chapter 27

DISCLAIMER: I do not own InuYasha and company, however I DO own an overactive imagination...

 

 

 

Chapter Twenty Seven

 

 

 

 

The ride back to the city was longer than the ride from the city had been, or at least so it seemed to Kagome, since she made the trip alone this time. Well, as alone as one could be, being followed.

 

Michael hadn't cared for the idea, but Sally had insisted that he ride with her, promising they would caravan and keep a close watch on Kagome's car.

 

Both of them had become increasingly more protective and she was not so sure she liked that.

 

Not with her new goal.

 

She spent most of the trip honing the plans for it.

 

The phone call to make the reservation was going to be tricky. Especially if the both of them were breathing down her neck all the time. However. . . she had to do this, she had to know.

 

Could InuYasha be waiting on just the other side of that well?

 

She glanced over at the old fiberglass bow that she had left propped against the passenger seat.

 

Arrows. . . Need lots and lots of arrows. . .

 

Going to Tokyo so suddenly was definitely out of character for her. She was not the most spontaneous person, and everyone who knew her, knew that about her. The last time she went, she had planned for two years.

 

She debated requesting a leave of absence with the school district. Only three more months until school is out for summer, but can I wait that long?

 

She felt a sense of urgency that she couldn't explain.

 

A gnawing deep in her psyche, on many levels.

 

First and foremost, she was convinced that InuYasha was not dead. If he was, then why did she feel a sense of him so overwhelmingly? It certainly was no ghost haunting her dreams, and no ghost that was watching over her protectively during her meditations.

 

Why do I feel him so strongly??

 

She considered that it was perhaps wishful thinking. She had felt her loneliness more acutely in recent years, her jokes about finding her “Knight in Shining Armor” were becoming old, even to her.

 

If her search for InuYasha were to be unsuccessful, perhaps she would feel free enough to look for someone. . . to share her life with. Someone. . . else.

 

Maybe she could finally grow up.

 

She knew that was how her mother saw it.

 

A refusal to be realistic.

 

She only wants grandchildren. . .

 

and I would like to give her some. . .

 

someday.

 

Kagome's students had become her children by proxy. She grew attached to them, and was so very pleased when they would come to her looking for guidance. Some, having moved on to the next grade, had come back to see her. She loved watching them grow, and felt a sense of pride at their accomplishments.

 

Someday I will have my own. . .

 

Her mind's eye flashed on Connor with those big green eyes, wondering about her relationship with Michael. Those eyes. . . so very much like his grandfather's.

 

Their time with Shippou had been too short. She had been too shocked. . . too confused to ask the right questions. Other than the fact that InuYasha had not 'used' the Jewel, she knew almost nothing else. Only the legend, and what she felt in her dreams.

 

Is it enough? Enough to find him?

 

She unconsciously grasped the Jewel, feeling its power in her hand. That was the second thing gnawing at her psyche. What purpose did it serve? It strengthened powers she already possessed, but to what end? Was it fate?

 

In its appearance she had found something she hadn't realized was lost.

 

She had found herself.

 

She could feel the strength from inside herself, strength in knowing her power, strength in knowing her. . . past.

 

So what if it isn't this lifetime, I know who I am now. I don't remember everything, but I remember. . . enough.

 

Enough.

 

Enough for what?

 

“Enough to purify the youkai bastards that screwed up my place. . .” she hissed, suddenly shocked by the vehemence in the tone of her own voice. Wait and see how bad it really is. . .

 

 

~ooOO00OOoo~

 

 

Sally and Michael waited for her at the car rental dealership, as she finalized the transaction. The final total was what settled her mind on whether or not to wait the three months, and use her Summer vacation for the trip to Tokyo.

 

On seeing her frown as she exited the dealership, Michael got out of the car.

 

“Bad, huh?” he asked with a worried look, opening her door.

 

“It's ok. I'm glad I had a little nest egg,” and she made an effort to smile, not quite succeeding as she climbed into Sally's back seat.

 

“Well, think of it this way, 'Gome. . . You get to save it back up while you stay with me!” Sally interjected cheerfully, starting the engine and the expected high decibel assault of her music simultaneously.

 

“I'm going to be deaf by the time I'm 30!!,” Michael shouted back to Kagome, as they peeled out and into traffic.

 

“I'll buy you a case of ear plugs for your birthday!!” Kagome shouted back, with a smirk.

 

Conversation was impossible, as they drove to Kagome's apartment. That was fine with her, as she considered her financial situation, and the impact the round trip plane ticket was going to have.

 

The hanyou was going to have to wait a little while. She hoped beyond hope that he would.

 

 

~ooOO00OOoo~

 

 

As Sally pulled up in front of the converted Victorian that Kagome had called home for the last four years, Kagome had a quick intake of breath as she saw the broken window.

 

Turning off the engine, Sally paused a moment, before turning back to her, with a grim expression.

 

“It's bad, I told you that. . . brace yourself, ok honey?” and she exited the car.

 

Kagome pulled out her keys, and Sally just looked at them and shook her head.

 

“You won't need those,” she informed her grimly, before leading them across the street. “The door was demolished.”

 

“My stuff. . .” was all Kagome could say, and she felt that familiar creeping along her spine as they entered the building.

 

Glancing around for any youkai, or anyone strange for that matter, she found nothing.

 

“You can make a list of anything that is missing, 'Gome. . . I'll turn it in for you,” Selene told her as they climbed the stairs, she knew Kagome was going to flip over those pictures.

 

“Oh.. . Kami!!” Kagome gasped walking up to the door, running her hand along the splintered frame. She knew it was bad, she hadn't been prepared for. . . this.

 

Kagome entered what had formerly been her living room, her heart in her throat. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she wandered from room to room, picking up this item, or that, all the while feeling that familiar edginess that indicated a demonic presence.

 

“They dumped my food out???” she shrieked from the kitchen, before spying her first aide kit in the middle of the floor. Picking it up she wondered why food was dumped but the kit appeared intact.

 

Michael also wandered through the apartment, amazed at the sheer brutality it had taken for this much damage to be done. He shuddered to think of it happening while Kagome was home and alone.

 

“Kagome,” he found her picking at the mass of shredded clothing on the bedroom floor. “You're not going to come back here.” It was a statement, uttered in a low but commanding tone.

 

It was a tone she could not remember ever having heard come from Michael before.

 

She gave him a shell shocked look, then bent to pick up two empty frames near her dresser.

 

Glancing around for anything near that might have been pieces of what had been the contents of those frames, she found nothing and that made no sense.

 

“Where. . .” she continued to look, tossing around the torn bits of cloth that had been her underwear and night clothes, “. . . where are my pictures?”

 

“Kagome, did you have anything of value that might have been stolen?” Selene joined them in the tiny bedroom. “Any jewelry, or money stashed somewhere?”

 

“No. . .” She stopped picking. “Just sentimental stuff. . . like my pictures.” She frowned at the empty frames, her eyes brimming. She had copies of them in her room at home, but why would someone take them? There's no sign of either of those two being torn up. . .

 

“Can you think of anyone that would be angry enough to do something like this?” Selene asked her. “Someone that might have an interest in your pictures?” she nodded toward the empty frames.

 

Kagome took a deep breath.

 

The destruction was complete.

 

And demons were involved.

 

“No. . . I'm gonna need garbage bags. And a new broom, the bastards broke my broom handle,” she looked pointedly at her friends. “Spackle too, for the holes in the wall. . . The sooner this is over with, the better.”

 

“I'll go get some supplies, make that list 'Gome.” Selene turned to go out the door. “I'll be right back.” She was off and down the stairs.

 

“Murder is on my mind, Mr. Andrews,” she growled, looking at Michael with her arms stiff at her side, hands in fists. “Whoever the HELL did this. . . is DEAD!”

 

“Your anger is understandable, Miss Higurashi,” he put his hands on her shoulders, locking her eyes in his own, expression grim. “Just promise me. . . you won't try anything alone, that's all I ask.”

 

“I don't understand, Mikey!! Why did they single me out??” Her tears finally found their way down her cheeks, and Michael pulled her to him.

 

“I don't know, honey. . .” he held her while she sobbed, his own expression one of indignant rage, before softening as he tried to comfort her.

 

Time to let go. . . everything is different now.

 

He let her mourn the loss of. . . what? Normal? Everything we had grown comfortable with?

 

It had taken the loss of everything she owned to finally break through that Pollyanna attitude.

 

She was stronger than he had ever given her credit for, and now she was sobbing in his arms.

 

And for once in his life, he was unable to think of anything intelligent to say.

 

Nothing that could comfort her.

 

So he just held her, stroking her hair.

 

After a time, the sobs turned into sniffles and hiccups. She pulled back and as their eyes locked he was taken aback with the lost look in her eyes. He had never seen that look before. . . not on this face, not in this lifetime.

 

“Ready to scrub the youki outta this place? It stinks. . .” he said, wondering where that term had come from.

 

“You sound like InuYasha,” the lost look was fading, and was gradually being replaced with a look of determination. “That's what he called it. . . stink.” A hint of a smile. A deep breath.

 

Where ever the term came from, it had worked, and for that he was grateful.

 

“I'll start in the kitchen,” and she turned to leave, then stopped without turning around, her shoulders squared.

 

“Don't worry, Monk. You can come with me when I hunt the bastards down that did this. . . and purify 'em,” and she was out the door.

 

Michael stood there for a moment, transfixed on the spot where she had been standing. Kagome was changing, too.

 

His need to protect her was as great as his need to breath. His greatest fear was that she would foolishly take action on her own.

 

And he wondered if she meant what she said.

 

Because he had not seen her eyes when she said it.

 

 

 

 

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A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews!! They are the “pick me up” I need keep working on this project.

 

golden_kitsune:: I'm tickled that you are enjoying it!!

 

crimson reaver:: Thank you for your kind words... I think I will do just that!!

 

White Luna:: Oi!! You been reading my notes?? Dayum!! ok ok maybe I am that transparent...*sigh*

I will work on that... :P

I am honored that you are still following this, thank you for the reviews!! (bows respectfully)

 

 

It seems that the possibilities as to where this can go branch off like tributaries to a stream, and I find myself needing to explore where they go, hence every so often there is a delay in my posts, and for that I apologize. . . Just want it all to be consistent. Once it is complete I will be revising previous chapters as much for my bogus spelling errors as anything. I've learned a lot, and I know I will be learning more. . . thank you all so much for taking the ride with me!

 

But. . . it's far from over. . .

 

Until next time!!

 

Metsuki