InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part IV): Power of the Purified Shinju ❯ Homecoming ( Chapter 29 )

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Homecoming

Kagome quickly pulled herself out of the well and rushed to her home. She immediately saw her grandfather and Souta standing in the front gardens talking to some tourists. She nearly began crying tears of happiness at the sight of them. She waited until they were free and then rushed towards them, pulling her little brother into her arms.

"Kagome, where have you been? Mom's been really worried about you." Souta exclaimed. Kagome didn't answer, she simply held her brother close to her before moving to her grandfather and giving him a much more subdued hug. She then asked if her mother was home.

"Yeah, mom's in the kitchen. She hasn't stopped cleaning lately. She's been so worried about you." Kagome felt guilt wash through her. Surely her mother was reliving the loss of her father again. Kagome ran to the door and found her mother in the kitchen wiping down the counter tops. "Mom!" Her mother stopped her movements and stood perfectly still for a moment, her back to Kagome. Then she turned slowly and took in the sight of her daughter standing in front of her safe.

"Kagome, where have you been? It's been weeks since you've been home." Kagome could tell her mother was flooded with relief, but it was quickly being replaced by anger. Kagome rushed forward and threw herself into her mom's arms. How could she even begin to tell her mother what had happened? She was fighting tears back, not wanting her mom to know just how trying a time she had been through.

Thoughts of her father came flooding back and she pulled away and looked at her mother. "Why didn't you tell me that daddy passed through the well?" Kagome watched as her mother's face showed shock and then sadness.

"I always hoped that you would never discover that well; and once you did, I always hoped that you would decide to forget about the feudal era and live a normal life." Her mother said and then took on a soft look. "But you are too much like your father. He would never give up on his quest, either."

Kagome's mother looked at her intently and then spoke in a soft voice. "If you know he traveled there, Kagome, do you know what happened to him?" Kagome remembered the sight of her father being hit with the arrow and slowly falling to the ground. She looked at her mother's hopeful eyes.

"I don't know. I was told he died a brave death, protecting someone." Kagome hoped the half-truth would suffice. After all, her father had died protecting her or at least the knowledge regarding her. Her mother nodded her head sadly and then turned away.

Kagome decided to give her mom a little time alone and went to her room. It felt so good to be back home for awhile. She quickly got out a change of clothes and went to draw a bath. She spent the next hour relaxing in the hot water, trying to only think about positive things. That night Kagome fell into a deep sleep and for the first time in a very long time, had no dreams to disturb her.

Nearly a month after her return home, Kagome decided she needed to go back to the feudal era. She had never stayed away from her friends for that long and was somewhat puzzled that InuYasha hadn't tried to drag her back to collect the rest of the jewel shards.

She was glad it was summer and there was no school, because her new powers seemed to be draining her. Kagome often fell asleep mid-day while watching TV or just sitting in a chair. Even her thoughts had been jumbled and she found she couldn't concentrate. She then gave thought to Sesshoumaru and hoped he didn't believe she had decided to stay in her time permanently. She just needed to be with her family and have some time to deal with her emotions that seemed to be running wild.

While Kagome was getting her pack ready, her mother knocked at her door. Kagome told her come in and turned when her mother didn't speak. "Is there something wrong mom?" Kagome's mother had a look of pity and questioning on her face.

"Kagome, how are things between you and InuYasha?" Kagome was confused by the question. "Umm…things are fine between us. Why do you ask?" Her mom asked her to sit on the bed and then joined her.

"Why hasn't InuYasha come to get you, dear? Did you have a fight with him? You've never stayed home for this long before." Kagome realized that her mother was going somewhere with this but didn't know exactly where. "InuYasha and I are fine, mom. What is it you really want to talk about?" Her mother bowed her head and spoke in an even voice.

"Kagome, I've been watching you a lot lately. Tell me the truth. Has InuYasha stayed away so long because the two of you have become sexually active?" The words shocked Kagome and for a moment she didn't grasp her meaning. Her mom looked up at her and finally put it to her bluntly.

"Kagome, are you pregnant?" Kagome felt a sudden chill rush through her body as she realized that she had not been keeping track of her own cycle or her body's subtle changes. She sat there in shock for a moment and then began to cry softly. Her mother looked at her disapprovingly. She was about to speak when Kagome grabbed her and began to sob violently. She held her daughter for a moment, anger rising until Kagome began to speak to her.

Kagome quickly told her mom what had happened to her, sparing all the morbid details. When she was done her mom was looking down at her with pity and worry.

"Kagome, who is Sesshoumaru?" Kagome glanced up at her mother. She could sense the slight disapproval in her mother's voice and face, though she tried to hide it. Kagome had been honest with her mother, even telling her about the way Sesshoumaru had comforted her. She could quickly tell that her mother did not approve of her being intimate with Sesshoumaru, especially after what she had been through with Naraku.

"He is InuYasha's brother." Her mother's eyes narrowed slightly. "So you don't know who the father is, if you are indeed pregnant." Kagome felt tears come to her eyes again. The way her mother said those words made her feel dirty. "No." she answered her softly. She asked Kagome to remain home until she returned. Less than half an hour later, Mrs. Higurashi appeared with a home pregnancy test. Even if Kagome was carrying the child of a demon, she was still human and the test would give her the answer she needed.

Ten minutes later Kagome sat on the bathroom floor crying. There was no denying it. She was carrying a child, though whose child she was carrying was still unclear.