InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Separation ❯ Separation ( Chapter 1 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: King Baka 
A sinister design unfolds, realizations are made, and new plans are formed.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Action / Romance | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 07.17.2008 | Updated On: 10.14.2013 | Pages: 3 | Words: 6.3K | Visits: 2.0K | Status: Completed
A sinister design unfolds, realizations are made, and new plans are formed.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Action / Romance | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 07.17.2008 | Updated On: 10.14.2013 | Pages: 3 | Words: 6.3K | Visits: 2.0K | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha or any of the publicly known characters, plot, etc. I’m just renting them from Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, etc. I do own the plot of this story and any original characters I’ve created. I will make no money from this fic; I write for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment of my readers.
Fanfiction of the Week: Demons in the Night, by BlackMamba07
Separation
“Four days! You’ve gotta be shitting me! You get two, and that’s it!”
Kagome sighed. Here we go again. They were almost to Kaede’s village now; Kagome could practically taste her mother’s oden. Inuyasha knew he had to ‘allow’ her to go home, but unfortunately the length of time she would be ‘allowed’ to stay there was still up for debate. It was the same old argument, which would probably yield the same old results: Inuyasha getting sat and Kagome taking all the time she wanted. She tried explaining it to him every time, but somehow it never made a difference.
“Inuyasha, be reasonable! I have exams two days in a row, and I need two more days to study for them.”
“So why the hell can’t you just study here?”
She rolled her eyes. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to study here? There’s always some youkai attacking or some other distraction!”
Miroku chose that moment to interject, hoping to head off the argument before it escalated into something they would later regret. “I’m sure Kagome-sama would like to spend time with her family as well, Inuyasha. Anyway, Sango and I would not be opposed to remaining in the village for a few days.”
“Keh! Lazy humans,” Inuyasha muttered. Nonetheless, the hanyou now realized he was outnumbered, and had little choice but to cave. Huffing, he turned his back on them and stuck his nose in the air. “Fine, go take your stupid tests! Take as long as you want; see if I care.”
Kagome bristled at his remark, but her retort died on her lips as she gazed at him. On first glance, he appeared to really not care how long she stayed away, but a closer look at his posture revealed otherwise. His shoulders were slightly slumped—you would only notice of you knew him—and his ears were drooping as well. Then his earlier comment came back to her: ‘So why the hell can’t you just study here?’ He was almost acting as though he would actually miss her if she left.
“You know, I never said you couldn’t come with me…” she hinted hopefully.
Inuyasha stuttered for a moment, and for a moment Kagome thought he was actually going to accept her invitation. But she had put him on the spot, in front of the others no less, and an old defense mechanism chose that moment to rear its ugly head.
“Wh-why the hell would I wanna do that? I just don’t wanna delay our quest for the jewel shards.”
Hurt and disappointed, Kagome spun on her heel and marched off so he wouldn’t see how much his rejection affected her. Inuyasha did, however, catch the scent of the two tears she let sneak past her defenses. Suddenly realizing how cruel he’d been, and not wishing to bear the accusing glares of their other friends any longer, Inuyasha too stalked off to find solitude. At least if he was alone, the only voice of reproach for his behavior could come from within.
She sighed. Deep down she knew, or at least suspected, that Inuyasha didn’t really mean it when he said things like that. His body language had indicated that he would miss her, despite his words. Besides, she had come to know him better over the course of their journey, and knew that he liked to be by her side, though to what extent she could not say. Still, when he sunk back into old, hurtful habits, it both frustrated and wounded her. Was their friendship not strong enough that he could open up to her, even just a little? He could have easily agreed to accompany her through the well; she wouldn’t have even made him admit that he actually wanted to! But no, he was just too damn stubborn—
She shook her head to clear it, not wanting to stay riled up. Soon she would be with her family, enjoying a nice vacation in the modern era and pretending to be a normal schoolgirl again. And she would try not to think about him too much, though that effort would probably be futile. She knew that much from experience.
Despite her melancholy, Kagome smiled softly when the old wooden structure came into view. Her family’s company, her mother’s cooking, and a twentieth-century bath were all things she could look forward to.
Kagome gasped, stumbling back a step as something whizzed past just inches in front of her nose. It had been moving too quickly to see, but it had sounded suspiciously like an arrow…
“Don’t move.” The voice, cold and unwavering, confirmed Kagome’s worst fears as the turned to face her attacker. She would rather take on Naraku than her preincarnation, the woman who looked so much like her, and yet seemed superior to her in every way. Especially because she held the one thing Kagome wanted more than any other: Inuyasha’s heart.
Kikyou stood motionless, another arrow already strung and aimed directly at Kagome’s chest. Ten seconds ago, Kagome would have stated with a fair degree of confidence that Kikyou no longer wished her harm, especially given recent events. Seeing the fierce look in the older miko’s eyes, however, she wasn’t so sure anymore. And she certainly wasn’t about to try her luck by disobeying Kikyou’s order; she would try to talk her way out of this one. I’m no threat to her, so why is she doing this?
Unfortunately, Kikyou had other plans. On some unspoken signal, her shinidamachu swarmed around Kagome, tightly encircling her body from head to foot. Kagome’s trepidation was a palpable thing; Kikyou had already tried to kill her once before. Was she back to finish the job?
“What are you doing, Kikyou?” she demanded, failing to keep the panic from her voice. The older miko did not reply, but she did at least lower her bow. Kagome’s momentary relief was smashed, however, as Kikyou quickly approached and tore the bottle of jewel shards from around her neck.
“The Shikon no Tama! Give it back!”
Kikyou’s only response was to once again raise her bow, effectively stilling Kagome’s struggles. “Why, Kikyou?” she pleaded miserably.
“You do not belong here,” Kikyou declared curtly. “Go back to your own world, and leave Inuyasha to me.”
Her words were neutral enough, but Kagome could detect the underlying fury behind them. Then their meaning sunk in, and Kagome gasped in horror. She intends to throw me in the well, and I won’t be able to get back! Heedless of Kikyou’s threat, or the arrow aimed at her chest, Kagome renewed her struggles. Pure energy flared around her, burning the youkai holding her captive. Kikyou, however, remained calm; she had planned for this.
The attack came from the side, as several more shinidamachu shot from the forest straight into Kagome. The force of the impact knocked her sideways and jarred her bow and quiver from her shoulder. Then her knee met the lip of the well, her momentum carrying her over the edge. She plummeted head first into the well, her scream echoing in the small space as she disappeared through the time slip. Her lost weapons clattered to the dirt at the bottom, unable to pass through without their owner’s touch.
Kikyou wasted no time celebrating her victory. Her co-conspirator was already approaching, having come out of hiding when he heard Kagome’s scream. Yes, Kikyou knew Naraku had been lurking closer than she would have liked, but she also knew that he would never dare attack both of them at once. Turning to face him, she adopted her iciest glare.
“Now seal the well, Naraku. And do not even contemplate harming Inuyasha.”
Naraku chuckled darkly. “Do not worry, Kikyou. I shall allow you a chance to drag Inuyasha to hell.”
Kikyou bristled at the amusement rolling off him in waves, but said nothing. Instead, she simply handed him the jewel shards and stalked into the forest. From his robes Naraku removed his own nearly complete piece of the Shikon no Tama, darkened to black with malice. Summoning his miasma, he wrapped it around the jewel, creating a virtual whirlwind of evil energy. Quickly the power of the jewel spread to the poison gas, until the miasma itself became as black as night. Only then did Naraku lunge forward, plunging his miasma deep inside the well, sealing the time portal as a massive cloud rose from the opening and enveloped the small forest clearing.
Only the sound of menacing laughter penetrated the dense cloud. The dark hanyou held the small bottle of shards up for inspection; already they were dimming, losing their purity as they surrendered to the pull of the larger jewel in such close proximity. So entranced was he by his new possessions that he failed to notice the arrival of a new enemy. His only warning was a vicious battle cry.
“Kaze no Kizu!”
Now, he would never actually say any of that aloud, but he didn’t need to treat her like dirt either. Though he still felt that he had been justified in protesting over the four days, he had been a total ass. And a partially justified ass was still an ass.
“Fuck,” he cursed softly, resigned to a lonely evening. Eventually, maybe he would find the courage to go and attempt an apology, but not today. Kagome was probably as mad at him as he was at himself, and he didn’t want to face her until she calmed down. Dammit. If I wasn’t such a dumbass, I could be sitting in her house tonight, playing with that fat cat of hers and eating her mom’s cooking. But for now, all he could do was bide his time and try not to think about her too much. Not that any effort along those lines was likely to meet with much success. He could never keep her out of his head when she was gone. It was indeed going to be a long night.
But fate apparently had other plans. Inuyasha suddenly froze, not quite believing what his nose was telling him. He took another sniff, confirming Naraku’s foul scent on the breeze. He did not dwell on why Naraku was here, but instead took off following the scent, his movements so swift that he practically glided along the ground. A feeling of dread settled in the pit of his stomach as he began to recognize the forest around him. I’m heading directly for the well! Shit! He increased his speed, pushing his legs as hard as he could. Hang on, Kagome!
By the time her faint scream reached his ears, he was in a near panic, his mind filling with horrible visions of Kagome wounded or even— He forcefully banished those thoughts from his mind. Kagome wasn’t helpless; she could stay alive until he got there. She had to...
Then he was there, skidding to a halt as he watched Naraku hold Kagome’s bottle of jewel shards up to the sunlight. He didn’t give himself time to question his friend’s fate; he paused only to verify that she was not in the line of fire before swinging Tetsusaiga with a thunderous roar.
Naraku had been taken by surprise; his barrier was down and Tetsusaiga’s blast sliced through his body like a hot knife through butter. Miasma gushed from the severed flesh, roiling out in all directions. Inuyasha could barely see ten feet in front of him, even with his enhanced vision, but he could hear his enemy’s maniacal laughter just fine.
“Kukuku…so nice of you to finally make an appearance, Inuyasha.”
“Bastard! Where’s Kagome?! What did you do to her?!”
“Do not concern yourself, Inuyasha. Kagome is safely on the other side of the well, though you will both find it impossible to pass through. How do you feel with the knowledge that you will never see Kagome again?” With that, Naraku transformed into a tornado of miasma and rose into the sky. In moments, he was gone.
Inuyasha stood stock still and stared into space, his mind racing over what Naraku had said. No, it can’t be true...Naraku would never have told me the truth. Still, his senses were telling him that the bastard’s words were in fact genuine. Not even Naraku’s poison could have erased all traces of fresh blood from the clearing, but his nose could not detect even a drop of Kagome’s blood. The miasma had wiped away most of the other scents in the area, but he knew the strength of the scent of blood.
Inuyasha’s eyes could detect no signs of struggle, no holes in the earth, no scratch marks on nearby trees. Faced with no other option, he leapt into the well…and landed at the bottom. He squatted down, his sensitive nose working in overdrive. He was reassured by Kagome’s scent; it was very faint but she had been down here recently. Something crunched under his heel, and looking down he found Kagome’s bow and arrows. The weapons were partially dissolved, as if they had been bathed in acid. Wisps of black smoke rose from the bottom of the well, and the earth seemed glow with a wicked light. The ground pulsed, and Inuyasha’s feet began to burn. He paid no heed; pain was something he could deal with. What he was quickly finding that he could not deal with was cold, harsh reality. Kagome was trapped on her side of the well, and he was trapped on his. There was no way for either of them to pass through; Naraku’s poisonous seal made sure of that. Kagome was gone…forever.
No! She can’t be gone! A crippling despair gripped Inuyasha as he fell to his knees, an unfamiliar sensation taking over his eyes. Reaching up with his hand, he found fresh moisture trickling down his cheeks. It was the first time he had shed tears for her—for anyone since his mother all those years ago, in fact—but if he never saw her again he knew in his heart that it would not be the last. He had always known this day would come, that eventually Kagome would return to her own time for good and live a normal life. He had believed that the knowledge that she was safe would be enough for him, but now he was seized only with great sadness. Why? She would be safe in her time. He knew that she was unhurt; he couldn’t explain how, he just knew. How and why Naraku had stolen her jewel shards without drawing blood was a mystery, but Inuyasha had discovered no evidence to dissuade him from his conviction. So why did he want to see her again so badly? Why did he so desperately want what he couldn’t have?
Inuyasha’s gaze hardened, and he wiped his rebellious tears away. Now was not a time for reflection; it was a time for action. Perhaps Kaede would know of a way to reverse the seal. Inuyasha leapt out of the well and raced to the old miko’s hut. Unfortunately, Shippou had sensed his approach and wasted no time in rebuking him as soon as he entered the dwelling.
“Inuyasha, you jerk! Go apologize to Kagome!” Only after he had finished his reprimand did the fox kit notice the hanyou’s stricken expression and the tattered remains of Kagome’s weapons in his hand.
“Inuyasha, what has happened?” Miroku asked, as calmly as he could manage. “Where is Kagome?”
“Kagome’s safe,” Inuyasha hastened to reassure them. Looking down, he suddenly found it impossible to make eye contact with anyone as he continued. “She’s in her world. I smelled that bastard Naraku, but I didn’t get there in time. H-he sealed the well…we can’t get through anymore.”
“What?!” three shocked voices exclaimed in unison. Only Kaede remained silent; the old miko knew the stakes involved here, even better than any of the young companions. Kagome meant something special to each of them. Her absence could be ruinous, and not only to their mission. Already Inuyasha appeared completely heartbroken. But perhaps all was not lost yet.
“Come,” she said, rising to her feet. “We shall see what can be done.” She left the hut, the others followed earnestly in her wake, fearing the worst while at the same time hoping for good news.
Every member of the group could feel the strong demonic aura emanating from the well as they approached. Kaede asked Miroku for one of his sutras, which he readily provided. Both knew that while the monk’s spiritual powers were stronger, the old miko’s knowledge of spells and enchantments was far superior to his own. Muttering a short incantation, Kaede flung the sutra down into the well. The paper sparked before bursting into flames less than halfway down, prompting a dejected sigh from the miko.
“It is as I feared,” she admitted. “Naraku’s spell is strong, and I sense the influence of the Shikon no Tama in this. It seems that he buried his miasma deep inside the time passage. This is a spell meant to stay in place for all eternity.”
“Can it be undone?” Inuyasha demanded immediately, his tone colored with desperation.
But the old miko only shook her head. “I know not, Inuyasha. However, it stands to reason that because the spell was cast with the power of the corrupt Shikon no Tama, it could also be undone by using the pure, completed Shikon no Tama.”
“So we just complete the damn jewel and open the seal!” Inuyasha declared, somewhat encouraged.
“I fear that task will not by easy, Inuyasha. It will be much more difficult to locate the shards and destroy Naraku without Kagome’s aid.”
“It was never easy, Babaa,” Inuyasha replied, some of his old confidence returning. Though how much of it was false bravado no one could say. “Besides, we don’t need to find the jewel shards; we already know where they are. That fucking wolf has two and Naraku has the rest.” Even if one of them is in Kohaku’s back.
Miroku was next to speak. “If that is the case, Inuyasha, Naraku will surely go after Kouga soon. We need to warn him, perhaps even join up with him to force a confrontation with Naraku.”
“Keh! No way I’m gonna travel with that fleabag mongrel! We’ll find Naraku on our own.”
“Listen Inuyasha,” Sango interjected heatedly, startling both men. “This is no time for your male posturing! If allying with Kouga is the best way to get Kagome-chan back, then that’s what we should do!” Quietly, she continued, “I would do anything to bring Kagome-chan back, and I hope you feel the same…”
Inuyasha hesitated for a moment before replying, “Fine. I’ll think about it.”
Satisfied, Sango spun and began walking back toward the village. “Come on. If we’re going find Kouga tomorrow, we’ll need our rest.”
Miroku and Shippou followed in her wake, and Inuyasha was just about to join them when he heard Kaede’s quiet entreaty.
“Inuyasha, I would speak with you.”
“What d’ya want, Bab—uh, Kaede-babaa?”
Raising her eyebrows at the hanyou’s uncharacteristically respectful inquiry, Kaede nevertheless chose not to mention it. Perhaps he’s just hoping for some good news.
“I have heard rumors of a very powerful youkai who lives in the mountains north of here. I have been told that he specializes in spells and sorcery. Should you delay your quest to find Naraku, perhaps this youkai could lend some assistance in breaking the seal.”
Inuyasha was excited about this new revelation, but confused as well. “Why didn’t you want the others to hear this?”
“Because they care very much for Kagome, but she feels closest to you. I thought that it should be your decision.” With that, the old miko turned and headed for home, confident that this time Inuyasha would make the right choice.
The hanyou leapt into Goshinboku’s branches, settling down in a contemplative posture. So that’s my decision, huh? Either go after Naraku and use the jewel to open the well, or go talk to this youkai. Keh! Like any full-youkai would help a hanyou! Well, at least not willingly. Inuyasha knew that he could be very convincing, but was not sure that this was the best course of action. They could just stick with the original plan of tracking down Kouga and finding Naraku that way.
That idea left a sour taste in his mouth, and it had nothing to do with the wolf-youkai. Naraku had become adept at hiding himself, and who knew how long he would wait before going after Kouga’s shards. The bastard could at this very moment be planning another elaborate trap; he never was one for doing his own dirty work. The more Inuyasha thought about it, the only reason not to accept Kaede’s suggestion was because it would delay the quest for the jewel shards.
Fuck the jewel shards. Inuyasha was mildly surprised that the answer had come to him so quickly. But he had known that Kagome had become more important to him than the Shikon no Tama, a long time ago in fact. Truthfully, he didn’t really care about the jewel anymore. But he did hate that Naraku, who had caused him and those he cared about so much misery, was still alive and using the cursed thing for his insidious purposes. This decision was almost ridiculously easy.
And now he found himself a little peeved at Kaede, for apparently harboring even a small doubt that he would not place Kagome first. But perhaps she had just wanted him to make the decision, rather than being mercilessly pressured by the others. Because Miroku, Sango, Shippou, and Kirara would most certainly agree with him on this one.
Although, perhaps he should have been more diplomatic about the manner in which he informed them, judging by the fire that blossomed in Sango’s eyes when he simply told them later that they were not going to find Kouga. Inuyasha hastened to explain before his eyebrows were singed.
“Kaede-babaa told me of a youkai who might be able to unseal the well. I’m gonna ask for his help, and then when he tells me to ‘fuck off,’ I’m gonna make him help us.”
The others remained silent for a moment, not astonished by any means that Inuyasha had put Kagome first, but somewhat surprised to hear him admit it so easily aloud. The hanyou seemed to sense the direction of their thoughts.
“The fucking jewel can wait,” he declared. “It’s been nothing but trouble, anyway.”
“But what if this youkai can reopen the well?” Shippou asked hopefully. “How will Kagome get through without any jewel shards?”
Inuyasha contemplated that question for a moment before smirking devilishly.
“I’m sure that mangy wolf would be more than happy to let me borrow one of his shards.”
His companions shook their heads, knowing that the hanyou would never willingly return Kouga’s shards to him. It would definitely take an ‘osuwari’ to accomplish that. But that was a worry for another day, and if they ever heard Kagome utter that word again, they would be thrilled. Hell, perhaps even Inuyasha would be glad to hear it.
But of course, said hanyou was a bit put-off and embarrassed by how pleased all of his friends were with him. He could only take so many smiles and endearing looks directed at his person before old habits returned again.
“Don’t get any ideas,” he said gruffly. “It’ll just be easier to track Naraku down with the wench here.”
Not a single person in the hut took his comment seriously, however. Inuyasha’s actions had spoken far truer than his words.
Fighting back the unnerving sense of despair, she hastened to reassure herself. I can’t go back, but Inuyasha will definitely come for me in a few days. But can I really tell him what happened? Can I bear to see his face when I tell him that Kikyou tried to get rid of me again? She was broken from her reverie by an ominous, yet familiar presence emerging from the ground below her. Her heart froze in her chest as she realized to whom the aura belonged.
No, it can’t be! But there was no mistaking the feel of Naraku’s aura, or the appearance of his miasma rising out of the ground. Kagome scrambled up the ladder, managing to avoid being burned for the most part. To her relief, the poison seemed content to remain at the bottom of the well, but it showed no signs of dissipating.
The reality of the situation sunk in slowly for Kagome. This dark aura was the strongest she had ever felt; there was no way she would be able to break such a powerful seal. And that’s what it was: a seal. She was trapped in her time, away from her friends. She would never see Inuyasha again.
The sudden realization hit her like a ton of bricks, bringing her to her knees as she flopped against the well for support. She had mentally prepared herself for their eventual parting, when he joined Kikyou and she returned to her world heartbroken. But the suddenness of her banishment got to her; she was not ready for this, and could not stop the despairing tears from falling.
She did not know how long she knelt there crying, but eventually her tears dried up and she could shed no more. Standing on shaky legs, she made her way out onto the shrine grounds. The sky had darkened considerably since she had left the feudal era, but she could not say whether it was because of waning daylight or the sinister-looking storm clouds overhead. She sat on the low bench next to Goshinboku; she had always felt close to Inuyasha when she was here. Inuyasha…how she missed him already. Would she ever see him again? Would she ever be able to tell him that she loved him?
She thought of their foolish argument, which had led to her being at the well by herself. As angry as she’d been, she should have known better than to go off without her protector for even that short distance, as helpless as she was. That thought only made her mood gloomier. Maybe Inuyasha would be better off without her. Kikyou had tried to tell her that once, she seemed to remember…
Kagome bolted upright, holding her hand to her chest in sudden fright. Kikyou had pushed her into the well, and Naraku had sealed it…there was only one possible conclusion. Oh, Kami! They were working together!
Her next deduction was even more disturbing. There was only one reason why Kikyou would ally herself with Naraku. The dead miko’s words came back to her. ‘You do not belong here. Go back to your own world, and leave Inuyasha to me.’ Kikyou had laid a clever trap, and now Inuyasha was in mortal danger.
“Please don’t go, Inuyasha,” she pleaded through a sob, willing him to hear her. “You don’t deserve to go to hell. You deserve to live. Please…”
She was begging, because in the end she had no idea how Inuyasha would react. Would he even resist Kikyou’s advances? Would he go with her willingly? Since she, Kagome, was safe in her time, would his duty to protect her be at an end? Would he…forget about her?
At some point the clouds opened up, sending torrents of rain earthward. Kagome didn’t care; the weather matched her mood perfectly. It made her feel oddly better, as if the Kami themselves shared her pain. She was soaked to the bone by the time a voice interrupted her bleak musings.
“Kagome, what are you doing out here? You’ll catch a cold!”
Looking up, Kagome spied her mother running toward her, umbrella in hand. “Mama,” she murmured softly, before leaping up and enfolding the older woman in a bone-crunching embrace.
“There, there, dear,” her mother soothed. “Let’s get you inside and you can tell me what happened.” Hugging Kagome to her, she helped the girl into the house, up the stairs and into her bedroom. Sitting her daughter on her bed, she hurried to the bathroom to grab some towels. Upon returning, she helped Kagome out of her wet clothing and into a clean, dry set of flannel pajamas. Even so, the girl was still shivering, she noted with a frown. But far more pressing at the moment was what was making her so miserable.
“Why don’t you tell me what happened?” she said gently.
Kagome managed to hold back a fresh batch of tears as she recounted the day’s adventure. She told her mother everything, from their argument to the encounter at the well to her reflections afterward.
“He’ll probably just forget about me,” she muttered despondently.
“Nonsense!” her mother declared. “I’ve seen the way that boy looks at you, Kagome. He cares for you a lot more than you think. Why, I bet right now he’s trying to come up with a way to undo the seal!”
Kagome knew her mother was just trying to make her feel better, but she also knew the older woman wouldn’t lie to her. Her eyes brightened as she allowed cautious hope to blossom within.
“Really?”
Her mother smiled. “Of course, dear. I know in my heart that you will see Inuyasha again.”
Overcome with emotion, Kagome once again embraced her mother, letting a few fresh tears leak out onto her shoulder. It was only when she tried to disengage from the hug that she noticed something was wrong. Ugh…my head feels so heavy. And why is it so cold in here?
“Um, Mama…I don’t feel well.”
Sighing in exasperation, her mother pressed her hand to her daughter’s forehead. “Yep, you’ve got a fever. Get in bed and I’ll get you some aspirin.” She left the room and returned with two aspirin and a glass of water.
“I’m sorry, Mama,” Kagome rasped, after downing the medicine.
Any thoughts Mrs. Higurashi had entertained about lecturing her daughter for sitting out in the rain immediately vanished. If love could lead people to do foolish things, then so could heartbreak.
“Don’t be, dear,” she said instead, with a smile. “What are mothers for? Now get some sleep. Hopefully you’ll feel better in the morning.” Turning to leave, Mrs. Higurashi paused briefly in the doorway when she heard Kagome’s voice again.
“Mama…thank you.”
Grinning once more, she turned off the light and closed the door behind her.
Fanfiction of the Week: Demons in the Night, by BlackMamba07
Separation
“Four days! You’ve gotta be shitting me! You get two, and that’s it!”
Kagome sighed. Here we go again. They were almost to Kaede’s village now; Kagome could practically taste her mother’s oden. Inuyasha knew he had to ‘allow’ her to go home, but unfortunately the length of time she would be ‘allowed’ to stay there was still up for debate. It was the same old argument, which would probably yield the same old results: Inuyasha getting sat and Kagome taking all the time she wanted. She tried explaining it to him every time, but somehow it never made a difference.
“Inuyasha, be reasonable! I have exams two days in a row, and I need two more days to study for them.”
“So why the hell can’t you just study here?”
She rolled her eyes. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to study here? There’s always some youkai attacking or some other distraction!”
Miroku chose that moment to interject, hoping to head off the argument before it escalated into something they would later regret. “I’m sure Kagome-sama would like to spend time with her family as well, Inuyasha. Anyway, Sango and I would not be opposed to remaining in the village for a few days.”
“Keh! Lazy humans,” Inuyasha muttered. Nonetheless, the hanyou now realized he was outnumbered, and had little choice but to cave. Huffing, he turned his back on them and stuck his nose in the air. “Fine, go take your stupid tests! Take as long as you want; see if I care.”
Kagome bristled at his remark, but her retort died on her lips as she gazed at him. On first glance, he appeared to really not care how long she stayed away, but a closer look at his posture revealed otherwise. His shoulders were slightly slumped—you would only notice of you knew him—and his ears were drooping as well. Then his earlier comment came back to her: ‘So why the hell can’t you just study here?’ He was almost acting as though he would actually miss her if she left.
“You know, I never said you couldn’t come with me…” she hinted hopefully.
Inuyasha stuttered for a moment, and for a moment Kagome thought he was actually going to accept her invitation. But she had put him on the spot, in front of the others no less, and an old defense mechanism chose that moment to rear its ugly head.
“Wh-why the hell would I wanna do that? I just don’t wanna delay our quest for the jewel shards.”
Hurt and disappointed, Kagome spun on her heel and marched off so he wouldn’t see how much his rejection affected her. Inuyasha did, however, catch the scent of the two tears she let sneak past her defenses. Suddenly realizing how cruel he’d been, and not wishing to bear the accusing glares of their other friends any longer, Inuyasha too stalked off to find solitude. At least if he was alone, the only voice of reproach for his behavior could come from within.
* * *
“Baka!” Kagome growled under her breath as she stormed toward the well. “Why is it always about the damn Shikon no Tama?” She sighed. Deep down she knew, or at least suspected, that Inuyasha didn’t really mean it when he said things like that. His body language had indicated that he would miss her, despite his words. Besides, she had come to know him better over the course of their journey, and knew that he liked to be by her side, though to what extent she could not say. Still, when he sunk back into old, hurtful habits, it both frustrated and wounded her. Was their friendship not strong enough that he could open up to her, even just a little? He could have easily agreed to accompany her through the well; she wouldn’t have even made him admit that he actually wanted to! But no, he was just too damn stubborn—
She shook her head to clear it, not wanting to stay riled up. Soon she would be with her family, enjoying a nice vacation in the modern era and pretending to be a normal schoolgirl again. And she would try not to think about him too much, though that effort would probably be futile. She knew that much from experience.
Despite her melancholy, Kagome smiled softly when the old wooden structure came into view. Her family’s company, her mother’s cooking, and a twentieth-century bath were all things she could look forward to.
Kagome gasped, stumbling back a step as something whizzed past just inches in front of her nose. It had been moving too quickly to see, but it had sounded suspiciously like an arrow…
“Don’t move.” The voice, cold and unwavering, confirmed Kagome’s worst fears as the turned to face her attacker. She would rather take on Naraku than her preincarnation, the woman who looked so much like her, and yet seemed superior to her in every way. Especially because she held the one thing Kagome wanted more than any other: Inuyasha’s heart.
Kikyou stood motionless, another arrow already strung and aimed directly at Kagome’s chest. Ten seconds ago, Kagome would have stated with a fair degree of confidence that Kikyou no longer wished her harm, especially given recent events. Seeing the fierce look in the older miko’s eyes, however, she wasn’t so sure anymore. And she certainly wasn’t about to try her luck by disobeying Kikyou’s order; she would try to talk her way out of this one. I’m no threat to her, so why is she doing this?
Unfortunately, Kikyou had other plans. On some unspoken signal, her shinidamachu swarmed around Kagome, tightly encircling her body from head to foot. Kagome’s trepidation was a palpable thing; Kikyou had already tried to kill her once before. Was she back to finish the job?
“What are you doing, Kikyou?” she demanded, failing to keep the panic from her voice. The older miko did not reply, but she did at least lower her bow. Kagome’s momentary relief was smashed, however, as Kikyou quickly approached and tore the bottle of jewel shards from around her neck.
“The Shikon no Tama! Give it back!”
Kikyou’s only response was to once again raise her bow, effectively stilling Kagome’s struggles. “Why, Kikyou?” she pleaded miserably.
“You do not belong here,” Kikyou declared curtly. “Go back to your own world, and leave Inuyasha to me.”
Her words were neutral enough, but Kagome could detect the underlying fury behind them. Then their meaning sunk in, and Kagome gasped in horror. She intends to throw me in the well, and I won’t be able to get back! Heedless of Kikyou’s threat, or the arrow aimed at her chest, Kagome renewed her struggles. Pure energy flared around her, burning the youkai holding her captive. Kikyou, however, remained calm; she had planned for this.
The attack came from the side, as several more shinidamachu shot from the forest straight into Kagome. The force of the impact knocked her sideways and jarred her bow and quiver from her shoulder. Then her knee met the lip of the well, her momentum carrying her over the edge. She plummeted head first into the well, her scream echoing in the small space as she disappeared through the time slip. Her lost weapons clattered to the dirt at the bottom, unable to pass through without their owner’s touch.
Kikyou wasted no time celebrating her victory. Her co-conspirator was already approaching, having come out of hiding when he heard Kagome’s scream. Yes, Kikyou knew Naraku had been lurking closer than she would have liked, but she also knew that he would never dare attack both of them at once. Turning to face him, she adopted her iciest glare.
“Now seal the well, Naraku. And do not even contemplate harming Inuyasha.”
Naraku chuckled darkly. “Do not worry, Kikyou. I shall allow you a chance to drag Inuyasha to hell.”
Kikyou bristled at the amusement rolling off him in waves, but said nothing. Instead, she simply handed him the jewel shards and stalked into the forest. From his robes Naraku removed his own nearly complete piece of the Shikon no Tama, darkened to black with malice. Summoning his miasma, he wrapped it around the jewel, creating a virtual whirlwind of evil energy. Quickly the power of the jewel spread to the poison gas, until the miasma itself became as black as night. Only then did Naraku lunge forward, plunging his miasma deep inside the well, sealing the time portal as a massive cloud rose from the opening and enveloped the small forest clearing.
Only the sound of menacing laughter penetrated the dense cloud. The dark hanyou held the small bottle of shards up for inspection; already they were dimming, losing their purity as they surrendered to the pull of the larger jewel in such close proximity. So entranced was he by his new possessions that he failed to notice the arrival of a new enemy. His only warning was a vicious battle cry.
“Kaze no Kizu!”
* * *
“Damn wench,” Inuyasha muttered under his breath. For the last few minutes, he had been unsuccessfully trying to convince himself that their most recent fight had been entirely Kagome’s fault. She had been damn greedy to ask for four days in her time; that would delay their quest too much. He grimaced; not admitting the real reason for his harsh reaction to her request was the reason he was in this mess in the first place. The fact was that he didn’t want to go that long without seeing her. He was able to relax with Kagome as he could with no one else, show bits and pieces of himself that no one else had ever seen. Her very presence soothed him, made him grateful for his current existence, glad that he had endured all the previous loneliness and suffering to reach this point. She was, quite simply, very important to him. And to try to probe deeper than that into his feelings for her was sure to result in a headache; he knew that from experience. Now, he would never actually say any of that aloud, but he didn’t need to treat her like dirt either. Though he still felt that he had been justified in protesting over the four days, he had been a total ass. And a partially justified ass was still an ass.
“Fuck,” he cursed softly, resigned to a lonely evening. Eventually, maybe he would find the courage to go and attempt an apology, but not today. Kagome was probably as mad at him as he was at himself, and he didn’t want to face her until she calmed down. Dammit. If I wasn’t such a dumbass, I could be sitting in her house tonight, playing with that fat cat of hers and eating her mom’s cooking. But for now, all he could do was bide his time and try not to think about her too much. Not that any effort along those lines was likely to meet with much success. He could never keep her out of his head when she was gone. It was indeed going to be a long night.
But fate apparently had other plans. Inuyasha suddenly froze, not quite believing what his nose was telling him. He took another sniff, confirming Naraku’s foul scent on the breeze. He did not dwell on why Naraku was here, but instead took off following the scent, his movements so swift that he practically glided along the ground. A feeling of dread settled in the pit of his stomach as he began to recognize the forest around him. I’m heading directly for the well! Shit! He increased his speed, pushing his legs as hard as he could. Hang on, Kagome!
By the time her faint scream reached his ears, he was in a near panic, his mind filling with horrible visions of Kagome wounded or even— He forcefully banished those thoughts from his mind. Kagome wasn’t helpless; she could stay alive until he got there. She had to...
Then he was there, skidding to a halt as he watched Naraku hold Kagome’s bottle of jewel shards up to the sunlight. He didn’t give himself time to question his friend’s fate; he paused only to verify that she was not in the line of fire before swinging Tetsusaiga with a thunderous roar.
Naraku had been taken by surprise; his barrier was down and Tetsusaiga’s blast sliced through his body like a hot knife through butter. Miasma gushed from the severed flesh, roiling out in all directions. Inuyasha could barely see ten feet in front of him, even with his enhanced vision, but he could hear his enemy’s maniacal laughter just fine.
“Kukuku…so nice of you to finally make an appearance, Inuyasha.”
“Bastard! Where’s Kagome?! What did you do to her?!”
“Do not concern yourself, Inuyasha. Kagome is safely on the other side of the well, though you will both find it impossible to pass through. How do you feel with the knowledge that you will never see Kagome again?” With that, Naraku transformed into a tornado of miasma and rose into the sky. In moments, he was gone.
Inuyasha stood stock still and stared into space, his mind racing over what Naraku had said. No, it can’t be true...Naraku would never have told me the truth. Still, his senses were telling him that the bastard’s words were in fact genuine. Not even Naraku’s poison could have erased all traces of fresh blood from the clearing, but his nose could not detect even a drop of Kagome’s blood. The miasma had wiped away most of the other scents in the area, but he knew the strength of the scent of blood.
Inuyasha’s eyes could detect no signs of struggle, no holes in the earth, no scratch marks on nearby trees. Faced with no other option, he leapt into the well…and landed at the bottom. He squatted down, his sensitive nose working in overdrive. He was reassured by Kagome’s scent; it was very faint but she had been down here recently. Something crunched under his heel, and looking down he found Kagome’s bow and arrows. The weapons were partially dissolved, as if they had been bathed in acid. Wisps of black smoke rose from the bottom of the well, and the earth seemed glow with a wicked light. The ground pulsed, and Inuyasha’s feet began to burn. He paid no heed; pain was something he could deal with. What he was quickly finding that he could not deal with was cold, harsh reality. Kagome was trapped on her side of the well, and he was trapped on his. There was no way for either of them to pass through; Naraku’s poisonous seal made sure of that. Kagome was gone…forever.
No! She can’t be gone! A crippling despair gripped Inuyasha as he fell to his knees, an unfamiliar sensation taking over his eyes. Reaching up with his hand, he found fresh moisture trickling down his cheeks. It was the first time he had shed tears for her—for anyone since his mother all those years ago, in fact—but if he never saw her again he knew in his heart that it would not be the last. He had always known this day would come, that eventually Kagome would return to her own time for good and live a normal life. He had believed that the knowledge that she was safe would be enough for him, but now he was seized only with great sadness. Why? She would be safe in her time. He knew that she was unhurt; he couldn’t explain how, he just knew. How and why Naraku had stolen her jewel shards without drawing blood was a mystery, but Inuyasha had discovered no evidence to dissuade him from his conviction. So why did he want to see her again so badly? Why did he so desperately want what he couldn’t have?
Inuyasha’s gaze hardened, and he wiped his rebellious tears away. Now was not a time for reflection; it was a time for action. Perhaps Kaede would know of a way to reverse the seal. Inuyasha leapt out of the well and raced to the old miko’s hut. Unfortunately, Shippou had sensed his approach and wasted no time in rebuking him as soon as he entered the dwelling.
“Inuyasha, you jerk! Go apologize to Kagome!” Only after he had finished his reprimand did the fox kit notice the hanyou’s stricken expression and the tattered remains of Kagome’s weapons in his hand.
“Inuyasha, what has happened?” Miroku asked, as calmly as he could manage. “Where is Kagome?”
“Kagome’s safe,” Inuyasha hastened to reassure them. Looking down, he suddenly found it impossible to make eye contact with anyone as he continued. “She’s in her world. I smelled that bastard Naraku, but I didn’t get there in time. H-he sealed the well…we can’t get through anymore.”
“What?!” three shocked voices exclaimed in unison. Only Kaede remained silent; the old miko knew the stakes involved here, even better than any of the young companions. Kagome meant something special to each of them. Her absence could be ruinous, and not only to their mission. Already Inuyasha appeared completely heartbroken. But perhaps all was not lost yet.
“Come,” she said, rising to her feet. “We shall see what can be done.” She left the hut, the others followed earnestly in her wake, fearing the worst while at the same time hoping for good news.
Every member of the group could feel the strong demonic aura emanating from the well as they approached. Kaede asked Miroku for one of his sutras, which he readily provided. Both knew that while the monk’s spiritual powers were stronger, the old miko’s knowledge of spells and enchantments was far superior to his own. Muttering a short incantation, Kaede flung the sutra down into the well. The paper sparked before bursting into flames less than halfway down, prompting a dejected sigh from the miko.
“It is as I feared,” she admitted. “Naraku’s spell is strong, and I sense the influence of the Shikon no Tama in this. It seems that he buried his miasma deep inside the time passage. This is a spell meant to stay in place for all eternity.”
“Can it be undone?” Inuyasha demanded immediately, his tone colored with desperation.
But the old miko only shook her head. “I know not, Inuyasha. However, it stands to reason that because the spell was cast with the power of the corrupt Shikon no Tama, it could also be undone by using the pure, completed Shikon no Tama.”
“So we just complete the damn jewel and open the seal!” Inuyasha declared, somewhat encouraged.
“I fear that task will not by easy, Inuyasha. It will be much more difficult to locate the shards and destroy Naraku without Kagome’s aid.”
“It was never easy, Babaa,” Inuyasha replied, some of his old confidence returning. Though how much of it was false bravado no one could say. “Besides, we don’t need to find the jewel shards; we already know where they are. That fucking wolf has two and Naraku has the rest.” Even if one of them is in Kohaku’s back.
Miroku was next to speak. “If that is the case, Inuyasha, Naraku will surely go after Kouga soon. We need to warn him, perhaps even join up with him to force a confrontation with Naraku.”
“Keh! No way I’m gonna travel with that fleabag mongrel! We’ll find Naraku on our own.”
“Listen Inuyasha,” Sango interjected heatedly, startling both men. “This is no time for your male posturing! If allying with Kouga is the best way to get Kagome-chan back, then that’s what we should do!” Quietly, she continued, “I would do anything to bring Kagome-chan back, and I hope you feel the same…”
Inuyasha hesitated for a moment before replying, “Fine. I’ll think about it.”
Satisfied, Sango spun and began walking back toward the village. “Come on. If we’re going find Kouga tomorrow, we’ll need our rest.”
Miroku and Shippou followed in her wake, and Inuyasha was just about to join them when he heard Kaede’s quiet entreaty.
“Inuyasha, I would speak with you.”
“What d’ya want, Bab—uh, Kaede-babaa?”
Raising her eyebrows at the hanyou’s uncharacteristically respectful inquiry, Kaede nevertheless chose not to mention it. Perhaps he’s just hoping for some good news.
“I have heard rumors of a very powerful youkai who lives in the mountains north of here. I have been told that he specializes in spells and sorcery. Should you delay your quest to find Naraku, perhaps this youkai could lend some assistance in breaking the seal.”
Inuyasha was excited about this new revelation, but confused as well. “Why didn’t you want the others to hear this?”
“Because they care very much for Kagome, but she feels closest to you. I thought that it should be your decision.” With that, the old miko turned and headed for home, confident that this time Inuyasha would make the right choice.
The hanyou leapt into Goshinboku’s branches, settling down in a contemplative posture. So that’s my decision, huh? Either go after Naraku and use the jewel to open the well, or go talk to this youkai. Keh! Like any full-youkai would help a hanyou! Well, at least not willingly. Inuyasha knew that he could be very convincing, but was not sure that this was the best course of action. They could just stick with the original plan of tracking down Kouga and finding Naraku that way.
That idea left a sour taste in his mouth, and it had nothing to do with the wolf-youkai. Naraku had become adept at hiding himself, and who knew how long he would wait before going after Kouga’s shards. The bastard could at this very moment be planning another elaborate trap; he never was one for doing his own dirty work. The more Inuyasha thought about it, the only reason not to accept Kaede’s suggestion was because it would delay the quest for the jewel shards.
Fuck the jewel shards. Inuyasha was mildly surprised that the answer had come to him so quickly. But he had known that Kagome had become more important to him than the Shikon no Tama, a long time ago in fact. Truthfully, he didn’t really care about the jewel anymore. But he did hate that Naraku, who had caused him and those he cared about so much misery, was still alive and using the cursed thing for his insidious purposes. This decision was almost ridiculously easy.
And now he found himself a little peeved at Kaede, for apparently harboring even a small doubt that he would not place Kagome first. But perhaps she had just wanted him to make the decision, rather than being mercilessly pressured by the others. Because Miroku, Sango, Shippou, and Kirara would most certainly agree with him on this one.
Although, perhaps he should have been more diplomatic about the manner in which he informed them, judging by the fire that blossomed in Sango’s eyes when he simply told them later that they were not going to find Kouga. Inuyasha hastened to explain before his eyebrows were singed.
“Kaede-babaa told me of a youkai who might be able to unseal the well. I’m gonna ask for his help, and then when he tells me to ‘fuck off,’ I’m gonna make him help us.”
The others remained silent for a moment, not astonished by any means that Inuyasha had put Kagome first, but somewhat surprised to hear him admit it so easily aloud. The hanyou seemed to sense the direction of their thoughts.
“The fucking jewel can wait,” he declared. “It’s been nothing but trouble, anyway.”
“But what if this youkai can reopen the well?” Shippou asked hopefully. “How will Kagome get through without any jewel shards?”
Inuyasha contemplated that question for a moment before smirking devilishly.
“I’m sure that mangy wolf would be more than happy to let me borrow one of his shards.”
His companions shook their heads, knowing that the hanyou would never willingly return Kouga’s shards to him. It would definitely take an ‘osuwari’ to accomplish that. But that was a worry for another day, and if they ever heard Kagome utter that word again, they would be thrilled. Hell, perhaps even Inuyasha would be glad to hear it.
But of course, said hanyou was a bit put-off and embarrassed by how pleased all of his friends were with him. He could only take so many smiles and endearing looks directed at his person before old habits returned again.
“Don’t get any ideas,” he said gruffly. “It’ll just be easier to track Naraku down with the wench here.”
Not a single person in the hut took his comment seriously, however. Inuyasha’s actions had spoken far truer than his words.
* * *
When Kagome regained her senses, she found herself lying on her back in the well, staring up at the roof of the well house. Her left side throbbed; she was sure she would have quite a bruise by morning. It had all happened so quickly. Kikyou and her shinidamachu had appeared out of the blue; she had been caught completely unawares. So here she was, lying on the ground in her time with no jewel shards. Staggering to her feet, Kagome climbed halfway out of the well before dropping back in. She was not surprised when her feet touched dirt, but she would have been remiss if she hadn’t tried it at least once. Fighting back the unnerving sense of despair, she hastened to reassure herself. I can’t go back, but Inuyasha will definitely come for me in a few days. But can I really tell him what happened? Can I bear to see his face when I tell him that Kikyou tried to get rid of me again? She was broken from her reverie by an ominous, yet familiar presence emerging from the ground below her. Her heart froze in her chest as she realized to whom the aura belonged.
No, it can’t be! But there was no mistaking the feel of Naraku’s aura, or the appearance of his miasma rising out of the ground. Kagome scrambled up the ladder, managing to avoid being burned for the most part. To her relief, the poison seemed content to remain at the bottom of the well, but it showed no signs of dissipating.
The reality of the situation sunk in slowly for Kagome. This dark aura was the strongest she had ever felt; there was no way she would be able to break such a powerful seal. And that’s what it was: a seal. She was trapped in her time, away from her friends. She would never see Inuyasha again.
The sudden realization hit her like a ton of bricks, bringing her to her knees as she flopped against the well for support. She had mentally prepared herself for their eventual parting, when he joined Kikyou and she returned to her world heartbroken. But the suddenness of her banishment got to her; she was not ready for this, and could not stop the despairing tears from falling.
She did not know how long she knelt there crying, but eventually her tears dried up and she could shed no more. Standing on shaky legs, she made her way out onto the shrine grounds. The sky had darkened considerably since she had left the feudal era, but she could not say whether it was because of waning daylight or the sinister-looking storm clouds overhead. She sat on the low bench next to Goshinboku; she had always felt close to Inuyasha when she was here. Inuyasha…how she missed him already. Would she ever see him again? Would she ever be able to tell him that she loved him?
She thought of their foolish argument, which had led to her being at the well by herself. As angry as she’d been, she should have known better than to go off without her protector for even that short distance, as helpless as she was. That thought only made her mood gloomier. Maybe Inuyasha would be better off without her. Kikyou had tried to tell her that once, she seemed to remember…
Kagome bolted upright, holding her hand to her chest in sudden fright. Kikyou had pushed her into the well, and Naraku had sealed it…there was only one possible conclusion. Oh, Kami! They were working together!
Her next deduction was even more disturbing. There was only one reason why Kikyou would ally herself with Naraku. The dead miko’s words came back to her. ‘You do not belong here. Go back to your own world, and leave Inuyasha to me.’ Kikyou had laid a clever trap, and now Inuyasha was in mortal danger.
“Please don’t go, Inuyasha,” she pleaded through a sob, willing him to hear her. “You don’t deserve to go to hell. You deserve to live. Please…”
She was begging, because in the end she had no idea how Inuyasha would react. Would he even resist Kikyou’s advances? Would he go with her willingly? Since she, Kagome, was safe in her time, would his duty to protect her be at an end? Would he…forget about her?
At some point the clouds opened up, sending torrents of rain earthward. Kagome didn’t care; the weather matched her mood perfectly. It made her feel oddly better, as if the Kami themselves shared her pain. She was soaked to the bone by the time a voice interrupted her bleak musings.
“Kagome, what are you doing out here? You’ll catch a cold!”
Looking up, Kagome spied her mother running toward her, umbrella in hand. “Mama,” she murmured softly, before leaping up and enfolding the older woman in a bone-crunching embrace.
“There, there, dear,” her mother soothed. “Let’s get you inside and you can tell me what happened.” Hugging Kagome to her, she helped the girl into the house, up the stairs and into her bedroom. Sitting her daughter on her bed, she hurried to the bathroom to grab some towels. Upon returning, she helped Kagome out of her wet clothing and into a clean, dry set of flannel pajamas. Even so, the girl was still shivering, she noted with a frown. But far more pressing at the moment was what was making her so miserable.
“Why don’t you tell me what happened?” she said gently.
Kagome managed to hold back a fresh batch of tears as she recounted the day’s adventure. She told her mother everything, from their argument to the encounter at the well to her reflections afterward.
“He’ll probably just forget about me,” she muttered despondently.
“Nonsense!” her mother declared. “I’ve seen the way that boy looks at you, Kagome. He cares for you a lot more than you think. Why, I bet right now he’s trying to come up with a way to undo the seal!”
Kagome knew her mother was just trying to make her feel better, but she also knew the older woman wouldn’t lie to her. Her eyes brightened as she allowed cautious hope to blossom within.
“Really?”
Her mother smiled. “Of course, dear. I know in my heart that you will see Inuyasha again.”
Overcome with emotion, Kagome once again embraced her mother, letting a few fresh tears leak out onto her shoulder. It was only when she tried to disengage from the hug that she noticed something was wrong. Ugh…my head feels so heavy. And why is it so cold in here?
“Um, Mama…I don’t feel well.”
Sighing in exasperation, her mother pressed her hand to her daughter’s forehead. “Yep, you’ve got a fever. Get in bed and I’ll get you some aspirin.” She left the room and returned with two aspirin and a glass of water.
“I’m sorry, Mama,” Kagome rasped, after downing the medicine.
Any thoughts Mrs. Higurashi had entertained about lecturing her daughter for sitting out in the rain immediately vanished. If love could lead people to do foolish things, then so could heartbreak.
“Don’t be, dear,” she said instead, with a smile. “What are mothers for? Now get some sleep. Hopefully you’ll feel better in the morning.” Turning to leave, Mrs. Higurashi paused briefly in the doorway when she heard Kagome’s voice again.
“Mama…thank you.”
Grinning once more, she turned off the light and closed the door behind her.