InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome's Return (sequel to Kagome! Where are you!? ❯ The Higurashi family ( Chapter 11 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Kagome's Return chapter 11: The Higurashi Family . . .

author's note: in my story: When friends find out. Kagome's three girl friends from school, find
out about the well. Since then, Kagome has told them, in rough detail, about her adventures.

from chapter 10:

"Where are Inu-yasha and Sesshomaru?" Mrs. H asks, as she looks around.

Everyone looks at Kagome. She blushes, "They had to stay on the other side of the well, Mother.
And, you'll need to return with me, through the well, as well."

"Why?"

Kagome licks her lips and looks at the ground, "In order to find your soul, I had to make a deal
with Kikyo."

"Stop." Mrs. h orders. She pauses, "do you have to return quickly?"

"Huh?" After a few seconds confusion, Kagome continues, "I don't think so, mom, but, they will
get suspicious if we stay on this side too long."

A pause . . .

"Mother?" Kagome asks. She can see her mother thinking hard.

Mrs. h nods, sharply, once. "I would like to speak with Sango and Miroku, alone."

"May I ask why?" Miroku says.

Mrs. H smiles, "because, I owe you two something for all the times that you've helped my
daughter. And this might be the one and only chance I have to say this to your face."

Miroku and Sango look at each other. After a quick glance, Sango bows to her, "Of course,
mother of Higurashi Kagome, we would be honored."

Mrs. H bows back. She waves her hand at her house, "Come, let's show you my house. We can
put your brother in a real bed, get something to eat and drink, and then, we'll talk."

Miroku and Sango, after she picks up her brother, follow her into the house, closely followed by
Sota, Rin, and Shippo.

Kagome looks at Akane and Ranma. Akane smiles, "We'll go home, it sounds like you've got
enough to worry about."

"Thank you, Akane. I was going to ask that." Kagome sighs.

"I've still got problems with that Shippo." Ranma growls.

"Is Sango your best friend?" Akane asks in a soft voice.

Kagome nods. "You're also a very good friend." Kagome smiles, "And she's probably stronger
and a better fighter than you are."

Ranma's eyes spark, "Stronger and better than Akane, that's nothing, anybody." He stops talking.
It's hard to do that when your flying away, thanks to Akane's fist.

"Call me." Akane says, "I would like to meet her."

"I will, if I can." Kagome replies.

Akane nods and leaves.

Kagome enters her house.

Kagome's grandfather body is left at the base of the god tree, for now.

On the other side of the well . . .


"How long before they return?" Kikyo asks as she glares at the empty well.

Sesshomaru, also looking at the well, but from the other side of the well from her, remarks, "It
could be a while. She'll no doubt have to explain what happened to her parents. And, Rin,
Shippo and her little brother were apparently left alone. Who knows what chaos they created?"

Kikyo's lips curl in disgust.

Inu-yasha, standing next to Kikyo, adds, "There is also Sango's brother. She'll want to do
something about him. From Kagome's stories, sometimes it takes a while for a doctor to show
up, and since Sango's brother, isn't from her world, that also might cause problems. She was
always going on and on about me being careful. She didn't want me to show myself, since I
wasn't from her world, that would be problems." Inu-yasha pauses. "I never really understood the
details."

Kirara looks on from the trees and thinks, ‘I've also heard Miroku and Sango, especially, talk
about all the miracle items on that side of the well. I'm sure that they'd want to explore
Kagome's home.'

"Master!" Jakken calls as he, finally, shows up.

Sesshomaru looks at him. "Where have you been?"

"My lord and master!" Jakken falls onto his belly in front of Sesshomaru's feet. "I beg your
forgiveness!"

"Forgiveness? For what?" Sesshomaru's voice is low and hard.

"For not organizing a rescue."

"Insignificant." Sesshomaru interrupts, "Why was Rin injured while you were supposed to
protect her?"

Jakken's eyes pick up a Sesshomaru's face. He buries his face into the dirt. "Naraku tricked me,
lord, and then, when he attacked, I was injured and I'm only just getting to my feet."

Sesshomaru bends down and picks up Jakken. "Rin will be here soon. You will find and make a
bouquet of flowers for her. You will apologize to her for your incompetence. IF she is unhappy
with the flowers, you will die. If she is unhappy with your apology, you will die. IF you fall in
this, you will die a long and horrible death."

Sesshomaru throws Jakken over the horizon.


Back on Kagome's side on the well . . .

"Kagome, why don't you and Sango place her brother in your room?" Mrs. H suggests. "That
way you can show her your room." Kagome nods. "I'll call nurse Chika and ask her to come by.
And, I've got to call your three friends, Kagome."

Mrs. H fakes a glare at Sota, Rin and Shippo, "they were supposed to be here, to watch the
children."

"I am not a child." Shippo growls.

Mrs. H raises her eyebrow, "Are you not my grandchild?"

Shippo opens his mouth, then closes it.

Sango, as she was following Kagome to the stairs, stops and blurts out, "You finally adopted
Shippo, Kagome?"


Kagome turns and nods. "Yes. During my travels, I had a chance to really think about things.
And that was one of my decisions."

"A wise decision." Miroku nods. "And, if you don't mind me saying, overdue."

Kagome nods to Miroku. "Shippo?" she bends down. He runs to her and she picks him up.
"You're right, Miroku. Too be truthful . . . " She pauses, "I was always afraid to make a
permanent connection to anyone from our group."

"The well?" Sango asks.

Kagome sighs, "I . . . That was the excuse I used." She shifts Shippo to her shoulder and reaches
out to grasp Sango's hand. "But, it was a lie. I was afraid of the commitment."

"And now?" Sango asks, quietly.

"And now, I tired of waiting. I'm through with delaying. Choices will be made." Kagome says, in
a low, hard voice.

"I see." Miroku hisses.

Sango nods.


Kagome looks at Sango, she sighs, "come on, up to my room. We can put your brother on my
bed, and we can talk, until the nurse shows up."

Kagome, with Shippo on her shoulder walks up the stairs. Sango, looking around, with her
unconscious brother in her arms, follows her.

Miroku looks around the living room, his eyes pausing at each new object.

"Sota, please get our guests a coke or a can of tea, please. I need to make some phone calls." Mrs.
h orders. She looks at Miroku. "I would make some tea, but, time is of an essence, so I will use
some modern shortcuts."

He bows his head to her. "I have tasted Kagome's canned drinks before, and have enjoyed them."


Mrs. H picks up the phone. "Your opinion?"

"Of the tea?" He pauses, "I've tasted worse, sometime much worse. And I've tasted better. The
drink she calls coke, I have nothing to compare it to."

Mrs. h smiles, "thank you, Miroku." She dials the phone.

Sota returns with a can of coke for Miroku and Rin. They accept and sip. He goes over and turns
on the TV. "This something I know that you guys don't have." He says, proudly, like he was the
inventory of TV. He flips the channel to his favorite anime.

"Is that real?" Rin asks as she sits next to Sota. Miroku is, also, paying very close attention.
"Nah. It's just cartoons." He flips the channel to a news channel. "That's real."

The news channel begins to show a commercial . . . about a new beach resort opening on
Okinawa. The commercial, of course, features several female models almost not wearing some
bikinis . . .

A pause . . .

"Miroku?" Mrs. H says as she taps his shoulder.

He blinks and looks around the room. Everyone is staring at him. He closes his mouth, blinking
some more as he releases that he opened his mouth without thinking. He clears his throat.
"Excuse me. The customs of this time." He begins to explain.

Mrs. H smiles, and it grows. "It's fine, Miroku. I understand."

The front door bell rings.

"Sota, if you could, please answer that."

Sota opens the door. Kagome's three friends, Yuka, Eri and Ayumi are standing in the doorway.
They are wearing their traditional school clothing.

Ayumi, as soon as, the door opens, begins to speak, "We're sorry, Mrs. Higurashi, Eri had a
problem, so we're late . . . " her voice trails off as she sees Rin and Miroku in the room.

"Hi! I'm Rin!" Rin stands up and bows to the three girls.

Miroku, his eyes gleaming, bows as well.

"Ayumi, Eri and Yuka, may I present a couple of friends of my daughters, Rin and the monk
Miroku."

Miroku bows again, "It is a pleasure to meet new friends of Kagome."

"Rin?" "Miroku?" "From the well?" the three girls ask at the same time.

"Yes. From the well." Mrs. H replies. "Sango and her brother are here as well. But, he is hurt, so,
please stay downstairs."

"Kagome?" "Inu-yasha?" "Are they here?" the girls ask.


"Kagome is upstairs, but Inu-yasha is on the other side of the well, for now." Mrs. H replies. She
pauses, and looks around, "I hate to be abrupt, girls. But, I would like some time alone with
Miroku and Sango." She smiles, "especially before you three decide to give them the third
degree."

"Mrs. H!" Eri cries. "We'd never."

"You'd never spend a couple of hours quizzing Miroku over the differences between the
different sides of the well? Or about his adventures?" She interrupts.

The three girls look at each other. They look at Miroku, who is faintly smiling.

Yuka sighs, and says, "Ok, Mrs. H. We would. What do you want us to do?"

"Just be here with Rin and Sota for now. Shippo is upstairs with Kagome and Sango. If any of
them come downstairs, you can visit. But, please, don't go upstairs."

"Why?" Ayumi asks in an anguished tone.

"Because Sango's brother is hurt and he is upstairs, and I don't want them bothered." Mrs. H
says in a hard voice. "Chika will be by in a few minutes, let her up, but otherwise, please stay
downstairs."

The three girls look at each other, sigh, and chorus, "yes."

"Thank you," Mrs. H bows. She turns to Miroku and grabbing his arm, guides him to her room.
"I would like to talk to you, alone."

"It is always my pleasure to enter a bedroom." He replies.

Kagome's three girlfriends giggle, as they hear that.

Mrs. h's mother quirks upward. "I'm sure it is. But that is not why I wish to speak with you." She
says in a low voice.

He nods.

Mrs. H closes the door behind them. She waves to the bed, "Please sit."

Miroku, after a quick look around the room, pats the bed and sits down on it. "Is this similar to
what Kagome sleeps on?" he asks.

"Yes."

Miroku smiles, "Now I know why she occasionally complains about laying on rocks. Very soft."
He says. ‘I wonder, what it would be like to make love on something this soft?' a gleams appears
in his eyes.

Mrs. H, who is still standing, smiles, "And, I am sorry, but I won't be giving you a demonstration
about how it feels when making love."

He sighs.

"However, if you and Sango wish to use it, I can sleep elsewhere."

He pats the bed, feeling the satin sheets. "We may not have time. We are needed on the other side
of the well."

"Inu-yasha and Sesshomaru are about to fight?" Mrs. h asks.

He shakes his head, no. "Not yet, but something is happening between them." He quirks an
eyebrow at her. "Kagome?"

"That is for her to say." She replies. "But if it's not them, than who? Since I'm alive, and since
Sango's brother is alive, I assume you won against Naraku?"

"Naraku is dead."

"Good."

"In order to find your and your father's soul, Kagome had to make a deal with Kikyo. She is
waiting." he says in a low, dead voice.

Mrs. h blanches at that. She sighs, "It's time for that to be resolved."

He nods. "And, she wishes to see you, alive, so, you'll have to come with us."

A pause . . .

Kagome's mother shakes herself. ‘I've thought about Kikyo, ever since Kagome confessed to me
about her. I wonder what can I say to her?' she thinks.

Miroku clears his throat. "You did wish to speak with me about something?"

Mrs. h draws in a deep breath. "I do." Her mouth twists into a smile. ‘What a thing to say to a
monk, especially one that I know would be happy to enjoy a marriage bed.'

He raises an eyebrow at her smile.

She sits down beside him. She reaches out for his hand, the hand that never had the curse, "May
I?" she asks as she gently grabs it.

He nods and allows her to hold his hand. She squeezes it softly. ‘His hand, the callouses on it and
I can see small scars on it. His life was never a simple one.' She thinks.

"Miroku, tell me the truth, please." She begins to say in a low voice. "I know that your father is
dead."

"Yes." He replies. ‘Where is she going with this?' he thinks. ‘Is she asking me these questions
because of Kagome? As a possible match with her?'

"Your mother?"

"She died giving birth to me." He replies in a dead voice. "I've always suspected that my curse
sucked her soul out."

Mrs. H squeezes his hand hard. "I am sorry." She whispers.

"Any other living relatives?"

"An old monk that raised me as his son, but no one else."

Mrs. H scoots closer to him, releases his hand and places her arm around his shoulders.

He looks at her face, which so close to his . . .

"For your friendship with my daughter, and for all the help that you've given her, I want to give
you something." Mrs. H begins to whisper.

‘What?' he thinks. ‘She isn't?'

"I want to give you the best thing that I can give you." Kagome's mother continues. "My family."

A pause . . .

"I would like to adopt you."


Miroku clears his throat. He looks down at his hand. Her other hand has reached across her body
and has captured it. He opens his mouth, then closes it. "Lady Higurashi." He begins.

"Please call me mother."

Another pause.

"You are aware of the practical problems?" he says, finally, as he avoids calling her anything.

Mrs. h shrugs. "That, in all likelihood we'll never see each other again. That, except for the
letters that Kagome can bring through the well, we'll never communicate with each other, again.
I am aware of them. And I refuse to let them change my mind."

"But . . . " He begins to say.

"Shsh. Let me finish." Kimiko Higurashi says in a low voice. "I've been considering this for a
long time, Miroku. I've even written letters to you, offering this." Her lip's quirk into a smile.
"But, I've always held off. I've always been hoping that, when I did it, I would be able to look
into your eyes."

She releases his hand, grabs his chin and looks into his eyes. "Please, address me."

They stare into each other eyes . . .

He looks away and quickly stands up.

"Miroku?" she asks in a hurt voice, "Why? Were you really planning on asking for my
daughter's hand in marriage?"

Miroku shakes his head, no. "Not really, oh, I've dreamed of that. But that was nothing more
than a dream." He pauses, then. "I've always been alone." He replies in a low voice.

"Is joining my family that terrible?"

He twirls and looks at her. "Terrible?" he says in a strained voice. "Never." His eyes cloud up
and he twirls away from her.

"Miroku?" Mrs. H stands up and moves behind him. She gently places her hands on his
shoulders. He stiffens, but doesn't move. "Son?"

"I've never called anyone mother before." His voice is choked with emotion. "I've been offered
many, many precious and beautiful things in my travels. But this? How can I accept?"

"How can you refuse?" she whispers.

A pause. He slowly turns around. They look into each other eyes.

"Mother." Miroku whispers.

Mrs. H hugs him, tightly. "Thank you."

He hugs her, tightly. "I should warn you, I may not be a perfect son." He whispers.

"I never thought that you would be." She pauses and in a light, teasing voice, says. "However, I
did think that you might've waited a few minutes before squeezing my ass." She does not stop
hugging him.

He clears his throat. "Ahhmm?"

Mrs. H, finally releases him from her hug. She steps back away from him. "In case something
does happen to the well, I do want you to help Kagome."

He nods. "Of course."

Mrs. H reaches up and caresses his cheek. "I wish . . . I wish that you could live here. I wish that
I could remove you from the violence in that world. But, I can't."

He slowly nods, "Thank you." He whispers.

Mrs. h clears her throat. She turns from him and begins to rummage through some drawers in her
chest. "I have something in here." She says as she's looking. "For you. Kagome had something
similar in her bag, but, I noticed that during her travels that bag got lost, and so did most of the
items in it."

"May I ask what it is?" he asks.

Mrs. h turns around and hands him a rolled up magazine. "A gift. From me and Kagome."

Miroku unrolls the magazine. His eyes open wide. He looks at Mrs. H. She nods. "I would
suggest that you don't show it to Sango."

Miroku looks at the magazine and then back at his adopted mother. "I never would have thought .
. . " he says. He bows, low to her. "I will treasure it."

He places the x-rated, fetish magazine into his robes . . .

She smiles. "I would like to make the announcement about you joining my family, at my time
and place of my choosing."

"Of course." He nods.

"Come on." She grabs his hand and begins to lead him to the others. "I want to talk to Sango, and
then, I'll make the announcement."

"I understand." He says as he follows her.

"Oh, Miroku, my son." His adopted mother whispers, "I would greatly appreciate it, if Kagome's
three girl friends don't interrupt Sango and I."

"I knew that there was a reason that I hesitated accepting your offer." He whispers his replies,
humor in his voice. "Now, I have to follow orders."

"And?" she replies humor in her voice.

He sighs. "I can watch that TV thing?"

"I'll tell them to find something, like a swimsuit contest, for you to watch."

A few minutes later.

Mrs. H opens the door to Kagome's room. Kagome and Sango are standing next to her bed.
Sango's brother, still unconscious is on it. Shippo left earlier and is downstairs.

The nurse and family friend, Chika, is also the room.

"Well?" Mrs. H asks as she closes the door.

Chika purses her lips. "As far as I can tell, he's physically heathy. From the story that Kagome
and Sango told me, I'd say that he's suffering from some sort of psychological problem." She
sighs. "I'll know more once he wakes up. But, Kimiko, psych isn't my forte."

"Sango?" Mrs. H asks.

Sango, whose face is showing some dried tear tracks, says, "I don't know what to do . . . "

Kagome grabs her friend's shoulders and whispers, "everything will be fine, Sango. All that
mind control. It had to hurt him. I trust Tenseiga. He'll be better when he wakes up."

"Tenseiga . . . "Chika whispers, shaking her head as she remembers the explanation that she was
given.

"He's welcome to stay here, Sango. As long as necessary." Kagome's mother states.

"You mean that?" Sango asks. "But, you've never."


"Shhh." Mrs. H says, "I'm not going to kick him or you out of my house. Ever."


Sango looks at Kagome. Kagome smiles. "My mother means that."

Sango replies. "I know. It's just." She sighs, "I wish I could do more."

Kagome squeezes her shoulder. "I know. So, do I."

Kagome thinks, ‘I'd hate to have to try to enter his soul, like I did Sesshomaru's. That was an act
of desperation, doing that trying to fix his mind, I don't know if I could do that again.'

"Sango?" Mrs. H asks, "I would like to speak with you, alone?"

Sango looks at Kagome and Chika. "He'll be fine. If there's any change, I'll call you." Kagome
says.

"Of course, Kagome." Mrs. h nods.

Sango nods, "I would like to speak with you as well, mother of Kagome."

Kagome and Chika remain in the room. Chika begins to ask Kagome about Tenseiga and her
healing spells.

As Sango and Kagome's mother past through the living room, Shippo, with his shape-changing,
and Miroku are playacting some of the fights that they've been in. (Both of them are showing off
for the girls . . . )

In Mrs. H's room.

"Please sit." Mrs. h says as she points to the bed.

Sango sits down and looks at her. "Lady Higurashi?"

Mrs. h smiles, "please, not so formal."

Sango nods.

Mrs. H sighs, "he's your only living relative, right?"

Sango replies. "There are a few distance cousins, but, I've never met them."

Mrs. H sits next to Sango. She reaches out and grabs Sango's hand. ‘It's even more calloused and
even harder than Miroku's.'

Sango looks at Kagome's mother, a silent question in her eyes.

"You are my daughter's best friend." Mrs. h begins. "You've helped save her life in. . . . I don't
know, how many adventures."

Sango nods, "yes, but what are you asking about?"

"I want to give you something, Sango." Mrs. h pauses, "I want to give you the best thing that I
have."

‘Is she?' Sango thinks.

"My family. Sango, I would like you to become my adopted daughter."

Sango hugs Mrs. h, who returns the hug.

A few minutes pass, as they hug. Both cry, as well.

Sango eventually breaks the hug. "I've got one question." She wipes the tears from her eyes.

"What?"

"Since you talked with Miroku, did you offer him the same?"

Mrs. h smiles, "yes, I did."

Sango looks away, "aaaa. I don't know how to say this."

"What about if you and him decide to stay together?" Mrs. h asks, a smile on her lips.

Sango nods.

Mrs. H, continues to smile, "Most mothers only have one reason to be joyous on wedding days.
I'll have two. I think would be wonderful."

Sango's mother drops open. She squeaks out, "you mean that?"

Mrs. H nods. "Of course." She sighs, "chances are I'm not going to be there, with the well and
all. But, other than that, I'll be happy."

"Laws?"

Kagome's mother snorts, "what laws." After a second's pause, she continues. "You don't exist
on this side of the well. There can be no paperwork. And if I have to create some, I can easily
name you and him as my blood children. And on the other side of the well, there will only be
Kagome. Both of you can claim to be her siblings, and no one would know the difference."

She hugs Sango. "All I want, all I've ever wanted for Kagome, Sota and my family, is for them to
be happy."

"Are you sure?" Sango asks in a quiet voice.

"Yes." Mrs. H says in a very definite tone. "I want you to be my daughter." She smiles, "I've
always wanted a second daughter."

Sango smiles, "What about Shippo?"

Mrs. H smiles back, "My family is increasing. I love that. And, Once Kikyo is disposed of, my
family will grow some more."

"Are you sure about that?" Sango asks.

Kagome's mother nods, vigorously. "Of course. Everything will work out." She smiles, a little
crookedly, "Of course, it may not work as planned, and there will be surprises, but. Kagome is
my princess and she will live happily ever after."

"I wish." Sango whispers, "I had your faith . . . "

Mrs. H hugs her. "Borrow mine."

A pause as they hug each other.

"Sango?" Mrs. h whispers. "Do you accept?"

"Yes, mother." Sango whispers.

End chapter 11


prevue chapter 12 Kagome vs. Kikyo

"Inu-yasha." Kagome says in a very tight and controlled voice, suppressing her emotions. "If you
wish to go with Kikyo, I will not stop you. I love you enough that I trust you make your own
decisions."

thank you for reading
jeff shelton