InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Something New ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Two days… four hours… twenty minutes… since I got stuck in this backwoods place.

Bailey swirled her feet in the stream's chilly water. The small fish swimming near her toes nibbled gently as she sat on the river's edge. The grass cushioned her rear as she stared into the distant trees. She looked down to her watch again.

Two days…four hours…twenty-two minutes…

A shrill voice rang out in the relative calm of the forest. It was a recognizable voice, one that belonged to a young fox kit.

“Bailey, look what I found!” Shippou cried out as he burst through the undergrowth. He scampered to her side at the river and placed a small object in her hand. It was a small, jagged stone. Its red color glimmered in the sunlight and Bailey stared at the precious stone in awe.

“Wow, Shippou it's beautiful. Where did you find it?” she asked as she twirled the stone in front of her.

“I found it in the grass. There are pretty stones like that all over the place, if you know where to look.”

“You sure seem to know all about finding nifty things around here, little one,” she commented.

Shippou puffed his chest out proudly and smiled at her.

“I sure do!”

Bailey giggled at his antics, happy to have such entertaining company. She looked out into the forest surrounding the river after Shippou had skittered off in search for more treasures.

Yoko must be so worried.

Yoko's short hair hung in her face as she made her way into the apartment complex. It was one of many in Tokyo, similar to the one she lived in. She carried with her a picture and a purse, slung around her right arm. The blue dress she wore fluttered in the wind as she opened the building's door. Yoko ascended the stairs in lieu of the elevator; taking them two to three at a time. Upon reaching the landing she was looking for, she opened the metal door and walked into the hallway. She walked some more until finding the door with the numbers 407 on it. She knocked on the door politely, waiting a step back.

It was a few moments, but then a young woman opened the door. Her bright brown eyes stood out in the harsh lighting of the hall, and her glossy black hair shone with a healthy gleam.

“Um…hi,” The girl greeted Yoko with justified suspiciousness.

“Is this the Higurashi residence?” Yoko questioned.

The woman nodded.

“Yes it is, I'm Kagome Higurashi.”

Yoko stepped forward and extended the picture in her hand.

“Hi, my names Yoko, and I was wondering if you've seen this girl. She's been missing for two days now.”

The woman took the picture and looked it over carefully. After a moment, she shook her head.

“I'm sorry; I've never seen her before.”

Yoko sighed in defeat.

“I'm sorry to have bothered you, it's just…she was supposed to go to your family's old shrine, and then come home…only she never came back. I called the police, and they did a search…but they didn't find anything useful…but her flowers were there, so I know she'd been there…but…oh I don't know…”

Kagome placed a consoling hand on Yoko's shoulder.

“I'm sure the police will find her, you should go home and rest.”

Yoko sighed. Perhaps she was right; after all she'd been up for a few days, resting only a few hours in between the calls to the police station. She'd hoped for updates, only to receive the impatient secretary informing her of nothing useful. Yoko sighed again, thanked Kagome, and began the walk home.

Kagome watched the young woman leave. When she'd closed the door to the stairs, Kagome walked back into her family's apartment, and sat on the couch, deep in thought.

Disappeared? Just like me when I went through the well? No…that's impossible…I made sure it was sealed…but… the fire could've done some damage…no…grandpa put more sutras on the well, there's no way she could've…

Kagome stood, suddenly anxious. She looked to the shelves on the wall that held the family's pictures. The one in the middle stood out, for it was the only one with a bright-red clan hanyou. On his back he held Sota in his arms, a bright smile on the boy's face. On Inuyasha's right stood Kagome, a beaming smile across her face as her mother held her with one arm. Grandpa stood to her mother's right, a stern look on his face. She quickly glanced to the floor, a tear in her eye.

It's been so long…I can't go back…not to where he died… it'd be too hard…too many memories…but that girl…if the seal had broken…

Kagome made up her mind. She grabbed her small purse and headed out the door, intent on returning to the shrine.