InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome's Realization ❯ Chapter 33 ( Chapter 39 )

Author's note: I'M BACK!!

Chapter 33

Kagome's eyes slowly opened. She jerked back when her eyes focused on white pages with blurred black letters. It was her math book. I got up and fell asleep doing homework? Kagome looked at the pencil in her hand. She struggled to recall what happened, what had gotten her up. She remembered falling asleep in Inuyasha's arms but then what?

Nothing came to her. She looked at her notebook. She saw solved math problems. She scanned further down the page and frowned when she read:

Wake up. You are sleeping. You don't want to wake up? Wake up.

The words looked as if they were written by a child just learning to write. Some words took up two or three lines, while others were turned slightly to the left. Kagome stared at the pencil in her hand, put it down, and very slowly she traced her fingers over the words. Is this supposed to mean something? She wondered to herself. She looked up from the page and slowly looked around her room. Everything appeared in order. She slowed her breathing down to less than a whisper of breath and listened for any sounds. She heard nothing.

"I have a strange feeling," Kagome said to herself softly. As quietly as she could she stood and left her room to look around the house. Before she opened the closed doors of her mother and brothers room she placed her ear to the door and listened. She heard only silence. She didn't expect to find anyone in the rooms but she looked anyway: empty.

Kagome jumped when she suddenly felt soft fur stroking her ankle. She looked down to see Buyo.

"Meow."

"Buyo?" Kagome said in disbelief.

"Meow." This time he was purring.

Kagome kneeled and stroked him. He turned this way then that way and even hiked his butt high in the air. He wasn't moving like a car had hit him. "Buyo?" Kagome said again gently rubbing the leg she knew to be fractured. Buyo responded by throwing himself onto his side then his back, and he reached out with his paws for Kagome's hand to encourage her to continue to pet him.

When a soft `cling' came from downstairs Kagome jerked her hand back and watched as Buyo jumped to his feet and ran downstairs, she saw no sign of limping or pain.

"It hasn't been long enough for him to have healed completely already." Kagome said getting to her feet and walking to the stairs looking down and stretched over the banister so she could see as far as possible in each direction. She also strained to hear any more sounds: she saw and heard nothing.

Kagome took two steps down and paused when she heard the soft `cling' again. "Who's there? She asked quietly. She was amazed at the sense of calm she felt.

"It's just me." Answered a soft, inviting voice from the living room.

"Just you." Kagome said to herself and took the rest of the stairs down and made her way to the living room.

He was absentmindedly-stroking Buyo, his attention focused outside, as he stood in front of the window that over looked the Sacred Tree. His dark, curly hair shining like silk when the sunlight hit it. From what she could see of his face, he looked cleanly shaved. He smelled wonderfully of soap and aftershave. Kagome could only stand and stare at him.

"Did I scare you?" He asked turning to face her, his deep brown eyes meeting hers. Then he smiled at her, his eyes warming with love. "I didn't mean to." He took a few steps forward.

Kagome could only shake her head in response, her eyes drawn to the now pouting Buyo.

"Did you fall asleep doing your homework again, Kagome?" The amused question drew her attention.

Kagome felt a playful smile tug at her lips. "Why would you say that?"

He laughed. A wonderful laugh, it surrounded and vibrated through her. She closed her eyes at the sensation. "You look dazed for one thing." Kagome opened her eyes at the sound of his voice.

He crossed the room to stand in front of her. He gently pushed a fallen strand of hair behind her ear. A shiver ran through her from the soft caress.

"And for another?" She asked in barely a whisper.

"You have sleep impressions." He whispered back, then reached out to rub his thumb over her forehead and temple. "You usually fall asleep when doing math problems."

Kagome chuckled. "Especially when I'm having trouble solving the problems."

"Meow."

They looked down to see Buyo walking back and forth between them, rubbing against their legs.

"Spoiled cat."

Kagome laughed at that. "It's your fault." She pointed out.

"I bed your pardon?" He asked looking up, his brown raised.

"I beg your pardon nothing." She smiled sweetly at him. "I know you heard me. Buyo gets what Buyo wants when you're around."

"Does he?" A twinkle was in his eyes.

Kagome nodded and just stood there, staring at him. "I was confused at first but I'm dreaming."

"Why were you confused?"

"Buyo wasn't hurt but seeing you, I know for sure."

"Seeing me, huh?" It was more of a statement really but Kagome answered anyway.

"You've been dead for years, Dad." Kagome said with extreme calm.

"For you maybe." He said smiling. "For you." He repeated.

"How long for you?" Kagome asked with curiosity.

"For me? Time matters not, Sweetheart. I can not give you a time frame." Again he smiled.

Kagome studied her father's features, drinking in the sight of him. She inhaled the forgotten scent of him. He looked so happy and peaceful she couldn't help smiling back.

"We've missed you." Kagome said after a few minutes silence. "Mother especially. It's very unfortunate Sota never got a chance to know you."

"Unfortunate that he'll never know me the way you do maybe but he knows me."

"He asks me to tell him stories about you from time to time." Kagome admitted.

"Have you told him about the time I nearly had a heart attack at the zoo when you managed to squeeze through the bars and walk right up to the Giraffes?"

Kagome laughed at the memory. "On more than one occasion."

"That was something that shall never be forgotten." He said a small smile pulling at his mouth.

"I was very young but I remember it vividly." She said.

Nothing was said as each watched the other. "I never knew how much I look like you. It's amazing." She whispered.

"Hard to tell by pictures, isn't it?" Came his lighthearted question.

"It is. I knew I looked like mother but our likeness is striking."

"It's almost like looking in a mirror." He added.

Kagome took a step forward and then another. When she was close enough to touch him she hesitated for only a second before she wrapped her arms around her father and hugged him. With no hesitation on his part, his arms were around her, his hands rubbing up and down her back before she settled her head comfortably against his chest.

Kagome closed her eyes at the wonderful warmth moving slowly up and down her back. She felt his breath against her hair as he rested his head on hers.

"I was beginning to think that you weren't going to hug me. You looked very unsure." He said into her hair.

Kagome felt him kiss the top of her head. She fought back tears. "I'm dreaming. I wasn't sure I could touch you without you disappearing on me." He tightened his hold on her. One of his hands came up to cradle her head, to draw her even closer.

"I would never just disappear without telling you I must go."

"Don't leave again. Stay with us." Kagome said tightening her hold on him.

"I am not meant to spend that time with my family, Kagome."

Kagome pulled back slightly so she could see his face. "Don't you miss us? We've missed you."

"The pain from losing me hasn't healed any?" He asked with his brow furrowed.

"It has but we've changed from it. The mother I had now isn't the mother I had before you died."

"Things happen because they are meant to. There is an ultimate goal or purpose that cannot be explained but even if they were explained you would not understand. It is not within the living soul to truly grasp the understanding."

"Do you?" She asked stepping back, taking his hands in hers.

"Do I understand the explanation?" His attention was on his hands being held by hers. "To the question of why?" His eyes meet hers.

"Yes."

"I have never asked for an explanation. The questions of why are for those loved ones left behind."

"Do you miss us?" She asked.

"Pain, fear, and sorrow are feelings I no longer feel." Seeing the slight disappointed look in her eyes he added, "I occasionally find myself longing for my family. That is why I am here now."

Kagome's eyes widened slightly.

"I have never visited you in your dreams."

"No, you haven't." Kagome agreed. "Why not?"

"You are the strongest. You feel the loss of me but not as strongly as others."

"Mom and Sota." Kagome said softly to herself.

"Yes but your mother the most."

"Yes." She nodded. "Are you in my dream because you longed to see me? Or because you have something to tell me?"

"I shall always want to see you. You are my daughter and I love you. And because I love you I have come to give you a warning."

That brought Kagome up straight. "A warning?" She asked.

"Yes." He said giving her hands a squeeze. "You have died and come back. It is your destiny."

"To die because of a burglar?" Kagome asked shocked to her toes by her father' words.

"Do not be so quick to judge the man you, in turn, murdered." He said his expression soft, his eyes filled with warmth.

Kagome considered his words. Her destiny? "I'm usually not so quick to judge but what I can remember is very frightening. Everyone wants to know what happened, there are some who have yet to question me, but I don't want to think about it."

"You also usually don't hide in fear. You face your fears and you conquer them. You shall have to deal with everything that has happened. I warn you that you shall not be able to do that alone. The paths have been set before you and you have chosen your way."

"I don't understand." Kagome complained.

"You shall." He said his expression turning more serious. "You are not exactly the same person you were before you passed. I speak not of innocence lost, although there is that, I speak of the power that surges through your veins. The part of you that you are not aware of shall come to the surface, setting itself free."

"Because I'm a reincarnated miko I shall now have to deal with the powers that come with that? Like the power I used against that centipede and …" Kagome struggled for something other than burglar. "That man?" she settled on.

He observed her for a long time. Kagome tipped her head to the side in question. "You are a reincarnation of a passed miko. You share some of the same talents and strengths of spirit but you are still an individual. You are capable of surpassing even your wildest dreams. I warn you to keep your wits about you and keep your feelings under control."

"My feelings?" Kagome asked.

"I must go." He said pulling away from her slowly.

"No!" Kagome cried and clung to him for dear life. "Stay and talk with me. Don't leave now. Not when I have so many questions. Don't leave me."

"Sweetheart, I've never left you." He gently lifted her off her feet, hugging her to him. "It was my time but I'm forever in your heart. You shall never forget me."

"How could I?" Kagome asked with tears in her eyes. "You're my father."

"It does happen, Kagome."

"It won't happen to me." She said with confidence. "Not when I've wished to hug you like this again more times than I can even begin to count. Not when I've wished you were alive again." She let out a surprised squeal when he spun her around in circles, the force pulling her legs out.

"Things happen for their own reasons. There is no guarantee that the people you know and love would be in your life if I hadn't died. Things could be so different. If you could have your father back would you sacrifice everyone else for it?"

Inuyasha flashed before her minds eye. Her heart squeezed painfully at the thought of choosing between Inuyasha and her father. But wasn't meeting Inuyasha and completing the Shikon no Tama her destiny? Is it possible they could never have met? What of Shippo, Sango, Keade, and Miroku?

"It's time for you to wake, Kagome."

"Not yet." She protested hugging him even tighter.

"Wake up now, Kagome." His voice turned gruff.

"Not yet, please."

"Come on, Kagome, wake up."

"You can't make me."

"You don't want to wake up? Too bad. Come on, open your eyes."

Kagome suddenly felt herself being shaken, not so gently either. "You were always gentle with me, Dad."

"Dad?" Inuyasha said frowning. "You are sleeping, Kagome, open your eyes." He ordered. "Open your eyes and see that it's me, that it's Inuyasha."

Inuyasha? Kagome's eyes fluttered open then shut instantly as the bright light in the room caused a sharp pain in her eyes and forehead.

"That's it. Let your eyes adjust to the light." His voice was smooth. "Wake up."

"Would you stop saying that, I'm awake." She whispered.

"No you're not." He said with a laugh. "Not until your either sit up straight and get out of bed, at least."

"Why are you waking me up anyway?" She asked again opening and shutting her eyes to the pain from the bright light.

"You've slept enough, it is time you eat. Come on, sleepy head, wake up."

Kagome just smiled, her eyes closed. Her smile fell some when she felt Inuyasha move and then his weight getting off the bed. In the next instant Kagome felt a sudden rush of air from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Her sleep-warmed body suddenly felt cold.

"Hey." She groaned as she opened one eye enough to see Inuyasha at the foot of her bed with her covers in his hands.

"Come eat." He said dropping the covers on the floor.

"Fine!" Kagome said forcing herself into a sitting position. "I'm up."

"Good. Now swing your legs over the edge of the bed." She did. "There you go, now stand." Kagome stood, her eyes still closed. "Good girl, come on." She felt Inuyasha's hand take hers and pull her towards the door. "Your mother is beginning to worry."

Kagome heard the soft creak of her bedroom door, the soft hallway carpet beneath her feet, and then she felt Inuyasha's hand release hers. "Mothers are natural worriers." She said opening her eyes; she let them adjust to the dimmer light of the hall before looking around for Inuyasha. He wasn't there. "Inuyasha?" Kagome called out as she peered down the stairs. He wasn't there. She turned and walked back in her room.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome called out again but he wasn't there. Kagome was almost out of her room again when she cast one last glance at her room. When her gaze fell on her bed, she froze. Her breath rushed out of her body. Another dream?

"I thought I was supposed to wake up?" Kagome whispered to herself. The sounds of a bouncing ball and laughing drew her attention to the window. She walked over. When she saw Sota run past she screamed his name, "Sota." She opened the window. "Sota." She screamed again but she only heard more laughter. Tossing on her house shoes on her way out room, she raced downstairs and out the kitchen door hoping to catch Sota when he came around.

She waited. When she heard the sounds of Sota's ball being bounced in one spot and his laughter that soon followed she turned slightly left. She slowly walked to the corner of the house, she took her time, and she didn't want to make any noise in case dream Sota decided he wanted her to chase him. Unsure of the purpose of this dream she didn't feel like running after her brother.

She barely stuck her head out so she could see where Sota was, but she didn't see him. Instead she saw his ball bouncing up and down as if someone had just bounced it. She walked over to the ball and caught it on its way up. She looked down to see Sneaks sitting quietly, observing the situation.

"Where's Sota, Sneaks? Which way did he go?" She knelt beside him and stroked the sensitive spot behind his ears. "Where?"

Sneaks stood and rubbed his head against her hand and legs before he started towards the well. "He's at the well?" Kagome questioned confused. Sota didn't like the well, never did. After he saw her pulled into the well and disappear for three days he made a point of staying clear of it unless necessary.

Kagome stopped just steps away from the well, jaw dropped.

"If I wasn't sure I was dreaming I am now." She said, as she stood in front of the undestroyed well house. "Why am I dreaming this?" She climbed the few steps it took to reach the sliding door. With a shaky hand, Kagome reached out and opened the door. She allowed herself a moment to adjust to the darkness of the well house before entering. Everything looked as it did before she destroyed it.

Shaking the thoughts from her head she called out for her brother but got no answer. She took a steadying breath and walked down the three steps to stand in front of the well, Kagome looked into it. And try as hard as she could she could not see to the bottom of the well.

Sighing, Kagome took one last look around before turning to leave. She was just about to cross the threshold when she head Sota's faint laugh.

"Stop playing games." Kagome said turning around. She let her eyes roam the well house. Where could he be? She wondered as she took a step down. The creak of the step almost covered Sota's faint laugh. Almost.

He's inside the well? Kagome shook the thought from her head. She reminded herself that she was dreaming and Sota's fears didn't count. She took the remaining steps and again stood in front of the well.

"Sota?" Her voice echoed down the well and back up. She received no answer. She looked at her rope ladder hanging down the well. Deciding she wasn't going to just stand around calling Sota's name. She sat on the mouth of the well and swung her legs over. Just before she could place her foot on the rope she felt a pair of hands on her back.

They shoved her into the well.

Kagome screamed by instinct as she felt herself shoved into the well. Her foot, which had been moving towards the ladder, suddenly found itself tangled in the rope. Before Kagome could register how she might end up landing she felt a hand grab her by the arm, stopping her from falling in headfirst. Instead, she slammed into the side of the well. Kagome heard and felt a snap in her ankle.

"What the hell are you doing, Kagome?" Came Inuyasha's voice.

"Ouch!" Kagome cried as she tried to pull her foot free. Tears filled her eyes.

"Stop struggling, I'll get you free."

Kagome was in too much pain to care how Inuyasha could hold her up and lean over and free her foot at the same time, all she knew was he managed.

"Inuyasha." Kagome groaned when he lifted her up and out of the well.

"I'm here, it's okay. Just relax, Kagome." He said placing her on the ground as gently as possible. He was very careful to keep her foot off the hard ground.

"Ow." Kagome said when she felt his hand checking her foot.

"It seems to be just a sprain." He declared.

"You sure? I heard a snap and it really hurts." Kagome said as she wiped away a few fallen tears.

"Sprained ankles hurt, Kagome." Inuyasha answered looking up from her foot. Even through tear blurred vision Kagome could still see the worry in his face. "What were you doing, Kagome?"

Kagome tried to focus on Inuyasha and answering his question but the now throbbing pain was making it hard to concentrate.

A bird chirping and the sound of flapping overhead caught her attention. She looked up. Her expression changed from in pain to pissed. Figures, Kagome thought as she looked around her. There was no well house, there was no Sota, there was no more dream; she grimaced, and there was no getting away from the pain of her now sprained ankle.

"I was sleep walking, it seems." Kagome answered turning her attention back to Inuyasha.

"I thought you were awake but when we stepped into the hall I guess you fell asleep again. I turned around and you were standing there with your eyes closed. When you did open your eyes they seemed unfocused and then you started looking around and you went back into your room and was just about to leave again when you looked at your messy bed, ran to the window and jerked it open and then grabbed your shoes and ran out of the house. It was really weird, Kagome. I followed you till you ended up out here. When you suddenly flung yourself into the well I reached out to grab you. You really could have hurt yourself if you had fallen into the well with your foot tangled in that ladder."

"I didn't fling myself into the well." Kagome protested.

"I'm only saying what it looked like. I don't know what you were seeing but I sure didn't see any of it."

"Seeing things?"

"Yes. You were grabbing at things that weren't there. I think you thought you were petting Sneaks."

"I followed him to the well." Kagome offered.

"Lets get you inside, your foot needs to be propped up."

"Okay." Kagome said softly. Then she was in his arms, her hands locked together behind his neck. Kagome bit back a groan as the pain increased from the motion. It was hard to believe that her ankle could throb more.

"There you are!" Came the voice of Kagome's mother. She came out of the kitchen door to meet them. I heard a scream and then I couldn't find you." She topped when she saw the pained expression on Kagome's face. "What happened?" She stepped aside so Inuyasha could carry Kagome into the house.

"I sprained my ankle." Kagome told her over Inuyasha's shoulder.

"How? And why were you outside? Weren't you upstairs sleeping?" She asked her confusion apparent.

"It's a long story but can it wait? My ankle hurts something terrible. Can I have some aspirin or something? Maybe some ice?" She said to her mother as Inuyasha set her on the couch. He pilled what pillows he could find on top of each other and carefully placed her foot on it.

"I'll get ice and your grandfather has herbs that should really help with the swelling." She said before disappearing into the kitchen.

Kagome leaned back against the arm of the couch and closed her eyes. She focused on relaxing and steadying her breathing.

"Here we are."

Kagome's eyes fluttered open when she heard her mother's voice. She sucked in her breath when her mother pulled off her house shoe and sock.

"Sorry." Was all she said as she dropped the sock and shoe on the floor and began rubbing, what Kagome though to be green slime, the mashed herbs on her ankle.

"I thought it just looked like slime but it smells bad too." Kagome said crinkling her nose. She tossed a glance at Inuyasha and saw him standing there watching, his sleeve covering his nose.

"It's supposed to smell. Once I wrap it up you won't notice it near as much and you won't care once it starts to work." Picking up an ace bandage she wrapped Kagome's foot, placed it back on the pillows and placed a bag of ice half on her ankle half on the pillow to keep the weight off her.

"How long before it should be completely healed?" Kagome asked trying to get comfortable.

"Any where from a few days to a week. It depends on how badly you hurt it." Her mother answered.

"I know I asked for it but why ice? I mean any time I've used ice to help swelling it always seems to make it feel worse."

Inuyasha dropped his arm. "It's the cold."

"Here." Kagome took a small white pill and a cup of water from her mother. "That will help with the pain as well. It should make you sleep so how about some oden soup? Put some food in your stomach."

"Sounds good." Kagome handed the empty cup back to her. "What time is it, anyway?"

"It's almost three-thirty." She answered as she walked to the kitchen. "I'll be right back with your soup."

"Okay." Kagome said turning to Inuyasha. "Would you get my pillow off my bed please."

Inuyasha moved slightly as if to leave, then stopped as if he suddenly realized something.

"Maybe it wasn't a good idea, you taking something that might make you sleep." Kagome dropped her attention to her lap. "What if you start sleep walking again? You could really hurt you ankle more."

Kagome looked up, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I've never done it before, who's to say I'll do it again."

"It's your suddenly doing it when you've never done it before that worries me." He pointed out.

"I have no answers, Inuyasha." Kagome said holding up her hands imploringly.

Inuyasha just nodded. "I'll go and get your pillow."

"And I'll fight against sleep when it tries to come." Kagome said grabbing his hand as he passed her. "Okay?"

With his other hand he reached out and gently stroked her tangled hair. Smiling he said, "How about your brush too?"

Kagome's hands flew up to her hair. "Oh no!" She declared. "Does it look that bad?"

Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders a couple of times. Kagome let out a squeal and covered her hair as much as she could with her arms.

Inuyasha laughed. "I'll be right back." And he was gone.

Kagome lowered her arms and huffed at Inuyasha's retreating back. Kagome heard a soft `cling' sound and sucked in her breath. She scanned the room, looking for anything that could have made the sound. She saw nothing. "I thought it was just part of the dream." She said to herself.

"Here we go." Came her mother's voice, snapping Kagome from her thoughts. She looked over to see her coming, a bowl of oden soup in her hand. "I want you to eat all of it."

"Okay, Mom." Kagome said taking the bowl. "I'm hungry."

"When you're finished you can tell me what happened."

Kagome paused momentarily then nodded. "Okay."

Author's note: Decided to keep my main author's note till the end, I thought you guys might want to read the chappie first, seeing as it has been a while since my last update. But my main author's note is to thank you all for being so sweet and wonderful. I got someone wonderful responses to my last author's note. Ppl who have never reviewed before reviewed to let me know that they were going to pray for my gma. And I told my gma about all of you and she says thank you so much, she can use all the prayers she can get. As for my gma she is feeling better but is no means well. She's been going up and down but we are all praying for the best and trying to make her as comfortable as possible. But like I said before I've been escaping into my writing and I've got pages and pages that need to be typed up so you shall have more to enjoy soon. Thanks again for all the well wishes and support. I love you all for your thoughtfulness and kindness. I've meet some wonderful ppl since I've started writing Kagome's Realization and I hope it continues.