InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Something Happens... ❯ Chapter Five ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is the property of Karan Johar. I own this computer…that's about it.

 

Kagome had been eight years old for little more than a hour. Wiping the tears from her face, she studied the picture of her mother that she kept by her bed. Always smiling, always beautiful she felt a connection with her and often looked to the picture for comfort. Now she looked at it searching for answers. I have to do this, for her…it is the only think she asked of me…but how? She needed help.

 

Briefly considering showing the letter to her father she dismissed it as being too obvious. He was stubborn and wouldn't like the idea of her mother setting him up. Who then? Her eyes lit up as she ran out of her room.

 

“Hey! I told you you're gonna hurt yourself!” Inuyasha called from the living room. She hid the letter behind her back.

 

“Sorry Papa.” she replied, schooling her features into a contrite expression. He came to crouch in front of her, concern evident in his gaze.

 

“You okay?” he asked, voice gruff.

 

Kagome felt a small stab of guilt. While she knew he loved her she also knew how hard this day was on him. It was on her too. And here she was plotting to deceive him. Mother asked me to. I have to do this, I have to try… she chanted silently. “I'm okay…are you okay?”

 

He smiled and nodded. “I'm okay.” Forgoing their - and now she knew Kagome's and his - ritual, he simply tweaked her nose and ruffled her hair as he stood. “I'm going to bed now. You should too. I don't want you falling asleep in class. They'll call me about it.” he teased.

 

“I have to go today?” she asked, eyes widening in surprise. “But it's my birthday!”

 

“Since when have you not gone to school on your birthday?”

 

“But I'm eight this year. I feel like I'm old enough to decide if I should miss a day.” she reasoned.

 

“I don't think so.“ he smirked, secretly admiring her logic. “It's the last week of school anyway.“

 

“Even more reason I shouldn't go. The only thing I'm gonna miss is the `what are you doing this summer reports'. And all I`m doing is staying at home with Granny.”

 

“Don't you want to know what your classmates will be up to?“

 

“Not really.” she muttered, her face settling into a pout to rival his own.

 

“You're going.” he stated before softening the statement with a smile. “We'll celebrate tomorrow night.”

 

“Will you be on time this year? Or will you be working late? Again.”

 

“I'll be on time, squirt.” he nodded kissing her head. “Goodnight.” he called walking toward his room.

 

“Good morning.” she called back as she headed back to her own. I'll ask for help in the morning…she thought with a yawn.

 

Peeking through the door, Inuyasha made sure she was going back to bed. Smiling at her exaggerated yawn, he closed it, careful not to make any noise. Picking up the well worn photo album on his bedside table, he turned to the wedding picture. A young couple full of hope beamed up at him. Tracing her face, he wondered if she had ever been more beautiful than that day. “Hey Kikyo.” He murmured, eyes scanning the two dimensional image. “It's been eight years…gods, I miss you.” Sighing deeply, he closed his eyes and focused. He could see her face as though she were right in front of him. Smiling, he continued his thoughts. “Our little girl is eight today. She's a good kid. Smart, like you. Has my temper though…” A small chuckle escaped him. “You'd be proud of her. I am.” He frowned slightly. “I don't know if you'd be as proud of me. I work. A lot. I mean my mom is here all the time - she's been a great help - and I make sure I'm home in time to tuck her in and check her homework but sometimes I think she's had to grow up too fast. Sometimes I worry that she doesn't know how important she is to me. Sometimes she looks so lonely…heh, I know how she feels…I want her to be happy, you know? That's why I work so hard…it's all for her. I just wish I could give her the one thing I know she wants.” Opening his eyes, they remained dry as they had for the past eight years. “A mother.” he whispered closing the album.

 

The next morning, Kagome kissed her father and shooed him out of the house. “You don't want me to drop you off at a school?” he asked confused.

 

“No, no. Granny will. The sooner you leave, the earlier you'll be home.”

 

“Okay…” he replied dubiously. “Happy-”

 

“Birthday. Thank you Daddy. Love you. Bye bye!” she rushed. He stopped and turned suddenly crouching down to her level. Narrowing his eyes, he pointed a finger at her.

 

“You're up to something.”

 

“Me?” she responded, blinking her eyes innocently.

 

“Hmph.” he huffed before standing and looking at his mother. “Make sure she goes to school, eh?”

 

“I will, son.” she smiled as her eyes strayed to her granddaughter. Usually she jumped at the chance to be with her father… Holding out his hands, she completed the handshake with him.

 

“Have a good day, squirt.”

 

“I will, dad,” She smiled up at him. Waiting until his car had pulled out of the driveway, she scrambled over to her grandmother.

 

“Now what was that all about?” Izayoi asked curiously.

 

“I need you to help me with something. But it means I can't go to school.” Her face was serious, wide gray eyes pleading with her. She felt herself weaken. “It has to do with Mother.” And crumble. Sighing, she wondered what on earth they were going to do with 57 cupcakes.

 

Later, Kagome opened the door to see the older woman standing there. “Aunt Kaede!” she cried hugging her.

 

“Happy birthday, my child.” she said with a soft smile. “I didn't expect to see you until tonight,” Taking on a more stern look she added, “And why aren't you in school?”

 

“She says it's important.” Izayoi said stepping out from the kitchen with a pot of tea.

 

“This is the important matter you called me about?” she asked, surprised. Nodding, Izayoi invited her to sit. Once settled with a cup of tea, Kagome stood in front of them, holding the letter gingerly.

 

“Once I was old enough to read my letters a few years ago, Granny stopped reading them to me. Since then, I've only seen them. What Mother's letter asks is…hard…so I want you both to read it and then I'll talk to you, okay?” Both women nodded and she handed over her precious parcel.

 

By the end of the letter, both women were in tears. “It came with this.” Kagome said quietly, producing a slightly aged photo of a girl with shaggy black hair, lively blue-grey eyes, and a bright smile.

 

“Aye, that is her. Kagome Higurashi.” Kaede nodded, wiping her cheek. “I had long wondered on Kikyo's choice in naming you…”

 

“Mother has never asked me to do anything in any of her other letters. I have to do this for her. And for Daddy. She's right, you know? He's not happy. I need help.”

 

“I also worry for your father. Maybe this Kagome would be what he needs…” Izayoi murmured. “I'm in.”

 

“This is what Kikyo would have wanted. I'm not sure what I can do but I will do what I can.” Kaede assured her.

 

“Good! I have an idea…”

 

Much later, Kagome kicked her legs impatiently as she sat slumped over the dining room table.

 

“Perhaps we should just cut the cake…” Izayoi suggested quietly.

 

“How much longer did Inuyasha say he was going to be?” Kaede asked, her voice hushed as well.

 

“He said he'd be here 15 minutes ago.” she said with a soft sigh. Leaning down and placing a comforting hand on her granddaughter's back she asked her opinion.

 

“I'm ready to make my wish.” she responded with a nod. Sighing gustily as she watched her light the candles, her eyes turned to the portrait of her mother that had been placed on the kitchen table. Following her line of sight, Kaede smiled and looked back at the despondent little face.

 

“I don't ever recall Kikyo being as happy as she was when she found out you were coming.” she told her conspiratorially.

 

“Really?” she asked perking up slightly.

 

“Oh yes.” she assured her with an authoritative nod. “Why, she would talk to you and read you stories. She especially loved to sing to you.”

 

Her eyes misted over as her response was interrupted by the door opening. Inuyasha bounded into the kitchen, anxiety evident in his expression. He sagged in relief as he saw the glowing cake.

 

“Didn't miss it.” he sighed gathering his daughter into his arms. “Sorry I'm late, squirt.”

 

“I'm glad you're here now, that's what's important right?” she responded with a subdued smile. A flash of guilt came and went before anyone could catch it as he kissed her cheek and set her back down.

 

“So, what's your wish?” he asked as she stared at the soft glow.

 

Kagome squeezed her eyes shut, images of her father and mother racing through her brain, stopping on an old photo of a stranger with her name. Summoning up all of the will in her little body, she made the wish from her heart: I wish I could find Kagome and make my mother's last wish come true…I wish for a family. A much softer voice added: I wish for a mother.

 

After the cake had been eaten and the presents opened, Inuyasha gave Kagome a piggyback ride to the door to see Kaede off. As the walked back toward the kitchen to help Izayoi with the dishes, she suggested a game.

 

“A game? He asked confused. “Now?”

 

“It's an easy game Daddy.” she assured him. “I say a word and you say the first thing you think of. Like if you say apple I say orange. So, the first word is: car.”

 

“Orange.” he replied with a straight face.

 

“Dad!”

 

“Apple?” he tried innocently.

 

“Come on!”

 

“Okay, okay. Car, was it? Noisy.”

 

“Um…house.”

 

“Mortgage.”

 

“Work.”

 

“Long”

 

“Granny.”

 

“Savior.” he replied beaming at the woman in question who grinned back.

 

“Daughter.”

 

“Irritant.” he teased.

 

“Best friend.”

 

“Higurashi.” Stopping as soon as he said it, he missed the wide eyed look that was passed from grandmother to granddaughter.

 

“Who's that?” she asked, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice.

 

“A girl I want to college with…” he murmured distracted as he deposited her on the kitchen counter. “Kagome Higurashi.”

 

“What was she like?”

 

“She was fun. Lots of fun. A really good runner. Almost like one of the guys, you know?” he smiled, reminiscing. “She was really nice too, anyone who needed help, she was there. And smart…way smarter than me…”

 

“Was she pretty?”

 

“Her?” he scoffed good-naturedly. “I don`t know if I'd say `pretty'. She was a tomboy. Most of the clothes she wore were mine. I don't see that changing much, she probably shops in the men's departments now.”

 

“Why Don't you ever talk about her?”

 

“She, uh, left school.” he said frowning and blinking rapidly. “I never saw her again.”

 

Opening her mouth again she saw her grandmother shake her head sharply. Nodding, she changed the subject to her father's upcoming business trip. As he talked about what he'd bring her back as a souvenir, her mind was working overtime. He does remember her! He likes her…she made him smile. Maybe this will work, Mother!

 

A/N: The response to this story has been so amazing! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, there are some that have been so detailed and insightful, thank you. Apologies for the differing chapter lengths but there are certain elements I don't want broken up. ThisIsMeSmiling, I'm glad you liked the movie! It's a pretty good one. I'm also glad that having seen the movie, you still like the story.