InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Strange Wishes ❯ Contrition ( Chapter 6 )

Kagome disposed of the wrapper from the eighth Crunch Bar she’d eaten since she, her mother, and Souta had arrived at the hospital. She took her seat on the wobbly chair betwixt her younger brother and the vending machine, both of them humming, the candy machine with the power of electricity and Souta with his gurgling snores.

The schoolgirl peered up through tired eyes at the clock. It was three-thirty in the morning. Kagome yawned, then shut her eyes as another throbbing wave of pain overcame her in the form of a headache. She gingerly touched her face, massaging her temples. She wasn’t particularly taken unawares by the sudden onslaught of illness. Actually, it would have surprised her if she didn’t at least have a headache. A day containing a brush with death in the form of a fox-like youkai, having her first kiss bestowed upon her by her best friend and object of admiration so spontaneously, then topped off with discovering her grandfather had collapsed in the well house while he was tending to the shrine was not exactly a cup of tea. Not to mention the phantasm that was Sesshoumaru’s grave that now haunted her every waking thought. At present the voice of the doctor only a couple of hours ago was stuck on replay in Kagome’s mind, refusing to allow her even a minute’s rest.

Doctor Yamamoto invited them into Grandpa’s room after his condition stabilized, which had been after nearly five hours of waiting. Her mother stood close to her children, and Kagome held Souta’s hand as the boy held back tears at the sight of Grandpa’s feeble form in some stage of sedation on the hospital bed, the tubes and monitors enveloping him as banal as his ofudas and spiritual wards once had been.

The female doctor and her mother shared a meaningful glance. Her mother nodded, and the doctor turned to Kagome and Souta.

“Your grandfather has suffered a heart attack, but he’s doing much better now.” The doctor bit her lip, then continued solicitously, “Skilled surgeons will be performing a triple bypass on him within the week. The operation will heal him significantly and he will be able to function almost normally. Your grandfather is quite old however, and it is not expected that he’ll live longer than another year.”

“Less than a year,” Kagome bemoaned. “Grandpa....”

They were too much for Kagome, the experiences of the past twenty-four hours that clogged her brain, and before she could stop it a great tear rolled down her face, splashing onto the bandages wrapped around her arms that were neatly folded in her lap. She had been in such a hurry to leave the Sengoku Jidai, then was shoved into her mother’s car with Souta so they could chase the ambulance carrying Grandpa to the hospital. It wasn’t until she was sitting in a nervous heap in the waiting room that she realized she must look a dreadful mess, and when a nurse (who looked down upon Kagome with pity) offered to bandage her up for no cost.

“Kagome?”

Still crying, the girl raised her chin to see her mother enter the waiting room, her face vitiated by stress lines. Casting a fond glance at her sleeping son, Kagome’s mother sat down beside her daughter, who tired desperately to hide her tears.

Mrs. Higurashi had a way with people however, and at the resting of one maternal hand on her daughter’s wet cheek the raven-haired girl broke down completely, sobbing all the day’s events into her mother’s spring parka.

“Why did this happen, Mama? Grandpa’s never had heart problems. He never...,” She choked on her tears.

By now her mother was crying as well, “I’m sorry. I wish I would’ve done something sooner. Grandpa has always been suspicious and adamantly independent of modern technology and medicine, being a Shrine Priest.”

“But it’s not fair. The doctors say he’ll only live for another year.”

Kagome’s mother stroked her daughter’s hair as she continued to weep, “Everything that happens has some purpose in the great scheme of things, Kagome, though we may never come to realize it.”

Kagome nodded exhaustedly, despair twisting her insides, “When--Will Grandpa come home?”

“The doctors hope that he’ll be out of here in a month, but things may not turn out that way.”

At that moment Souta’s body fell over, his snoring head landing in Kagome’s lap.

“Let’s get him out to the car. We all need some sleep.”

The ride home was very subdued. Kagome felt dead on her feet as she walked up to her room, her mother carrying her growing brother up to his. The schoolgirl made to change into some nightclothes, but stopped when she saw what lay on her bed.

“Mom,” Kagome called softly over her shoulder.

“What is it, Kagome?” Her mother stepped through her open door and saw what Kagome was staring at, “Oh, yes. I took the liberty of buying your dress when I saw Houjou’s parents at my dinner party. They told me about his asking you to that formal school dance. I didn’t think you’d mind, seeing as it’s tomorrow night.”

Kagome’s mouth hung open slightly, Houjou’s parents said what? And Mom just assumed I’d go with Houjou when he asked me. Well--it isn’t like I turn him down very often.

“I--I’m not going with Houjou, Mom.”

“Oh?”

Her lips moved mechanically, “I’m going with InuYasha. Tomorrow is the new moon.”

“Oh yes, the night he’s human.” To her surprise her mother brightened considerably, “Well then, I’ll have to return this dress.”

“Huh?” Kagome gawked as her mother gathered up the dress from her bed.

“Well Dear, since I thought you were going with Houjou I was going for modest here,” She pointed out the demure cut of the fabric. “But for InuYasha I’d suggest a more flattering dress. I trust InuYasha.”

Kagome flushed, “Mom....”

“So is tomorrow afternoon around six okay?”

She grinned, “Yeah, but we might be getting a little more than my dress. My book bag and everything in it sort of got...destroyed.”

“That’s fine, Honey. We can’t forget InuYasha’s outfit either.”

That night, after thinking over the previous day’s happenings as she stared out at the thumbnail moon, Kagome cried until she drifted off into a fitful sleep. - * - *- * -

The next morning’s light was dimmed by a thick blanket of fog. Kagome awoke from bed very tired, but also very determined to stop wallowing in the grave of depression she had dug out for herself. It was only the goal of getting her mind off of yesterday that made her climb into the shower, change into her high school uniform, then go down and prepare breakfast for herself.

“Morning, Mama,” Kagome greeted from over her cereal bowl as the elder Higurashi breezed into the kitchen.

“Here, Honey--you can use Souta’s extra knapsack,” She dropped it beside Kagome’s chair, then ran to slip her shoes on hurriedly.

“What’s up, Mom?” She queried, inwardly praying nothing else had happened.

Her mother rushed over to her, “Sorry that I’m in such a hurry, I’ve had to arrange some things. Souta will be staying at your aunt Marumi’s house so--”

“Aunt Marumi? Why?”

“I’m going to be working more hours to pay for Grandpa’s surgery, and on weekends I’ll be staying at the hospital, so I really won’t be here anymore save for weekday nights. Your Aunt Marumi is retired and I figured you’d be fine; you’re in the feudal era more often than the modern one after all.”

Kagome blinked, “What about the shrine?”

Mrs. Higurashi sighed, “It’ll just have to wait until I can afford to hire help.”

Her mother left the house with an easy smile, and Kagome found herself inspired by her mother’s refusal to be knocked down even when slapped across the face by a life altering tragedy. She managed a small smile herself as she hiked to school with her near empty backpack slung over one shoulder.

As she walked up the cement path to the front doors of her school she wasn’t surprised when her three good friends, Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi, ran out from within the hoards of students milling about to meet her.

“Kagom--Kami! What happened?” Eri exclaimed, eying the bandages all over the girl’s body in dismay.

“It’s--um--my latest illness. I’m not exactly sure what it’s called, but I thought I should try to come to school anyway.”

Her friends nodded in understanding, then Yuka pinned her with her famous no-nonsense look, “Kagome, don’t tell me it’s true that you chose your psycho boyfriend as your date to the dance over Houjou.”

Kagome laughed humorlessly, surreptitiously trying to walk around the human bulwark her friends formed, but with little success.

Yuka jabbed her with one newly manicured nail, “If you keep doing this to him you’re gonna loose him! It won’t belong before Houjou realizes there’s other game to hunt.”

Which is what I want, Kagome scowled.

“How can you stick around with some jealous bad-boy when Houjou is loyal, kind, loving....”

As the list went on something in Kagome snapped, and she flared with a furious fervor, “Because I love him, okay! I love InuYasha!”

People had turned to stare at the schoolgirl’s paroxysm, and her three friends were speechless as they waited for the girl to catch the breath she had expended.

“I...I have to get some new books,” Kagome muttered, shoving past her friends and running, head hung low, through the front doors.

Throughout the morning classes anyone who sat near Kagome was of the opinion that for such an unfortunately disease-ridden girl she surely had the work ethic of a scholar. The girl herself however, was scolding herself every five minutes when she emerged from la-la land once again, her eyes having bored two holes through the blackboard.

She was beyond help. Needless to say, the distraction of school was just not the same remedy it used to be, and she might as well have stayed and swept the shrine grounds. At least then she wouldn’t have to wonder if InuYasha had come back through the well or not.

If Kagome thought she couldn’t possibly become more stressed out, she was wrong. Not only would Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi be in her upcoming gym class, but Houjou too. But by that time Kagome was fed up with sitting idly by while her emotions got the better of her, and she strode out onto the lacrosse field in her leotard and sweatshirt with fresh determination.

I’m going to tell him. No matter what, today I am telling Houjou that I don’t like him as more than a friend.

Her thoughts and her steps ceased abruptly when an old woman in a tracksuit jumped in front of her, “Higurashi Kagome?”

“Hmm?”

The old woman smiled up at her toothily, “Hello. I’m your Physical Education substitute today. You may not know me, but I’m an old friend of your grandfather’s.”

At the mention of Grandpa, Kagome felt as if a bucket of gelid ice had been dumped down her sweater and was sliding down her spine, “Oh.”

“He’s told me a lot about you. I expect you’ll enjoy helping with today’s activity,” And with that the sensei hopped off to take attendance.

“Kagome!”

“Oh--” She had been about to say ‘oh no’, but then she saw that it was Ayumi alone who was coming toward her from under a small coppice at the edge of the sports field, “Ayumi?”

Her friend came to a stop before her, looking contrite, “Kagome...I’m sorry about Yuka this morning--”

“It’s okay, Ayumi. I’m sorry too. Things have just been--stressful--lately,” Kagome said as they joined the others in their class out on the green. The fog from that morning had cleared, and the sun was shining as a calm breeze blew past them.

“Oh. I hope it’s not too bad. You’ve seemed better lately though. I was surprised when you got into the same high school as us, even with all your absences.”

“Higurashi?”

Both girls turned to face a more sheepish Houjou than usual. As he approached them however, he only had eyes for Kagome.

She drew herself up to her full height as they met each others’ eyes, Alright Kagome, just think of this as another battle against a demon. You’re brave enough in the face of Naraku. Houjou is nowhere near as scary!

With all of her mustered courage she opened her mouth to speak, but at that exact second the sensei called for the class’ attention.

“Today’s activity is one you all have undoubtedly been waiting for, but I know very few of you are prepared for it. Thankfully, one of your more experienced schoolmates is present for a demonstration. Higurashi Kagome!”

Kagome tensed as all eyes switched to her expectantly, some curious, others skeptical. The sea of students in front of her part to make way for her, and she froze at what she saw.

Oh God....

“That’s right!” The old woman clapped, “Today we’ll be practicing archery. Higurashi, if you’ll kindly show everyone how it’s done?”

Houjou and Ayumi stared, open-mouthed, as the girl timorously approached the single plastic bow that had been set out for her, several arrows laying in the grass parallel to it. Kagome’s entire body went torpid as she stood looking down at the familiar equipment as if it were a grenade with the pin pulled.

What am I supposed to do? None of them know about my purity arrows or the two years worth of battles I’ve fought on the other side of the well, Kagome’s brain panicked, there didn’t seem to be any way to escape this.

A gentle hand touched her taut shoulder. The sensei’s face loomed beside her, smiling, “Don’t be modest. Your Grandfather has boasted to me of your skills for nearly a year since he began teaching you.”

Even as Kagome ogled the target that had been erected across the field, her nerves wracking, the thought of her Grandfather began to steel the faith she had in herself and that she so desperately needed. She could feel the eyes of all of her classmates burning into her as she stood there indecisively.

It’s okay. I just have to keep calm and not put any miko energy into the arrows.

She glanced down at the modern bow and began to recall all of the battles she’d fought. To her amazement, she found that an untapped reservoir of courage was taking hold of her. She stood stock still before the bow, the quaking in her limbs slowly receding as she became more sure of herself.

Just when her classmates suspected she’d become paralyzed, Kagome swept up her bow and one arrow, handling them as if they were nothing but extensions of her arms. She nocked the arrow, and had only just pulled the bowstring back when she let it fly. The plain arrow soared on a perfect horizontal until it struck the target dead center. It had all been done with such celerity; it might have taken less than less three seconds.

“What an arm!” Someone exclaimed.

Before anyone else could give voice to their awe, Kagome coolly nocked her second arrow. With a twong it was sent speeding after its predecessor, hitting the mark centimeters away from the first one.

It went on, Kagome shooting one bulls-eye after another as the gym sensei looked on with satisfaction. The other students were struck numb as the schoolgirl they thought they knew let her last arrow fly, her eyes glinting with a fire none of them had ever witnessed there.

When the arrow hit the target the onlookers gasped as it exploded, hay and cloth and the shafts of the other arrows flying out like fireworks before falling to the earth.

Oops. Well, I guess I put a little miko power in that one.

“Alright! Excellent!” The sensei hollered after she had regained the ability to speak (She had been staring, her jaw slack, at the explosion of the target with Kagome’s final arrow). “Now that you know how it’s done, everybody come over here and grab a bow while I go set up the targets.”

Kagome dropped her bow to the ground, feeling out of place as the flood of high school students swarmed the archery equipment. She had half expected to turn around to see a ferocious demon-slayer with her Hiraikotsu, or a hanyou cracking his knuckles, but all that met her eyes was a very excited Houjou.

Higurashi, I never knew you could shoot like that! You didn’t even break a sweat.” He was gazing at her with adoration, the same way InuYasha had only two nights ago, “That look you got when you fired the last arrow--I’ve never seen that look in your eyes before.”

Kagome blushed at his ardent praise. She didn’t lower her chin however, and met his eyes stubbornly. The adrenaline rush of the archery demonstration had inflated her with a courage she hadn’t realized she had a rein over, and she wasn’t about to waste the perfect opportunity to divert his affections away from her.

“Houjou--”

“Hey, Higurashi!” Both Kagome and Houjou turned toward the blaring voice.

Stomping toward them was renowned slacker and tough guy, Burimoudou, and his hooded brown eyes were trained on Kagome, a cruel smirk playing across his mouth.

“You’re a real shot, Higurashi. How’d you get so good with that bow and arrow? Did one of your boyfriends teach you?”

Kagome stood her ground as he laughed in her face. Houjou clenched his fists.

“When are you gonna figure out that it’s not worth it to cheat on your man with someone like Houjou, here. Your time would be much better spent with me,” Burimoudou made to grab her, but Houjou quickly sidestepped in front of Kagome, keeping his meaty hand in check.

“Leave her alone, Buri. She’s too good for me, so I’d hate to think where that puts you,” Houjou bit out.

“Too good for me, huh?” Burimoudou’s amusement seemed to pique as he balled one fist, “Try sayin’ that to me after I’ve beaten your face in, punk.”

Kagome looked between the two boys with intense trepidation. Experience was telling her this wasn’t going to turn out very different from many of InuYasha and Kouga’s meetings. A small crowd of students that had left their bows to watch the scene had gathered about them. Kagome knew she had to intervene.

“Don’t worry, Higurashi. Houjou won’t be much competition for me after I’m finished with him,” Buri sneered.

“Get back, Kagome,” Houjou warned her in a tone that was most unlike his.

Kagome however, was not to be ordered around or deterred by two testosterone driven human boys. She hastily stepped around Houjou and planted herself between the two, bravely putting one of her hands on each boy’s chest to hold them back.

“No, God dammit! I’m not some piece of meat to kill each other over! And I’m not cheating on InuYasha with Houjou or anybody else. Get a clue Koug--er, Burimoudou. Get lost.”

Both boys blinked at her outburst, fist fight all but forgotten.

“Hmph. Your loss,” Burimoudou huffed as he stalked off after throwing a dagger-filled glare at Houjou, the gathered crowd dispersing.

Kagome was breathing hard when she heard Houjou’s voice from behind her, “InuYasha...he’s whose taking you to the White Day Dance tonight.”

Kagome cringed as a sympathy pain constricted her heart. She may have discovered new courage for herself, but she was still Kagome, and she turned around to lay a comforting hand on Houjou’s shoulder. She was about to destroy all his delusions of being with her once and for all--hopefully.

“My parents saw him at your house a couple of nights ago at your mother’s dinner party, but they didn’t really tell me anything more than that he looked foreign.”

“Houjou--”

“No Higurashi, it’s fine. You’re right; you aren’t just something to win over. You have the right to choose who to be with.”

Kagome smiled sadly, genuinely regretful of the way things had turned out for him, “Houjou...I’m sorry. Please know that--our friendship means a lot to me.”

Houjou sighed, “I understand.” Then, to Kagome’s bewilderment, he chortled, “Well, I’ll be going to the dance with my friends anyway, so at least I’ll finally get to meet the famous InuYasha. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind giving me just one dance with you.”

Kagome sweatdropped, I wouldn’t be so sure about that.

Houjou was shuffling his feet, and Kagome watched helplessly as he drew something out of his sweatpants pocket.

“Don’t take this as being rude, Higurashi, I just wanted to get you a present for White Day,” He said, proffering the little wrapped package.

Kagome tried to mask her exasperation as she held up her hands, pushing it away from her gently, “That was very thoughtful of you Houjou, but I--”

“Kagome!” Three girls’ voices called in unison, curtailing her refusal of Houjou’s gift.

Running across the green were none other than Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi, all of them in some stage of horror or anger, not one of them slowing down as they drew nearer. The miko braced herself.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Yuka shouted as she and the others barreled into Kagome, grasping her arms.

Somewhere in the fray one of the girls lost her balance, and in the struggle to pull Kagome aside something unexpected happened. - * - * - * -  

“It’s just a stretched ligament. You shouldn’t have any trouble walking. I’ll just be going to get your painkillers,” The nurse bustled off to another room to get Kagome’s medicine.

Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi had escorted Kagome to sickbay after her rather nasty fall. The word ‘sorry’ had become trite, and by now they had stopped repeating it to her.

“I can’t believe you dumped Houjou,” Yuka grumbled from her chair.

Kagome frowned, “We were never together in the first place!”

“Calm down, Kagome. Yuka doesn’t know what she’s saying,” Ayumi tried placatingly, but Kagome noticed she and Eri looked rather put out as well.

Yuka gave a snort of umbrage, “Were you and InuYasha dating seriously this whole time?”

“N--no. I mean....” What do I mean? Ugh! I don’t want to think about him right now, Kagome heaved a frustrated sigh.

Yuka crossed her arms, “I just don’t see how you could pick him over Houjou.”

“Yuka...,” Eri said carefully.

Kagome glowered at the girl, “You don’t even know him! Not like I do! I’ve been InuYasha’s friend for almost two years, and he’s a better man than I could wish for. I’d choose him over Houjou even on his worst of days.” Kami, that’s really how I feel, isn’t it?

“Just his friend, Kagome?”

Kagome turned to Eri, and her cheeks pinked, “W--well...not exactly.”

Three pairs of eyes glanced at one another before the girls leaned into their friend, “Enlighten us.”

Kagome swung her feet nervously from where she sat on the examination table. Her friends were all staring at her expectantly, “We--um--kind of...kissed.”

Her friends were out of their seats and in her face immediately.

“When did this happen?”

“Kagome, why didn’t you tell us?”

“Was it so romantic? Was he shy? Outdoors or indoors?”

Kagome was blushing furiously, “Not too long ago. I--It was raining out, and we were talking;” And he was licking my wounds, “He felt bad about something that happened earlier.” He was poisoned pretty badly. He held me close to him. He told me he was afraid. “Then we just--”

“Made out?” Yuka interjected slyly.

“What? No! I...I dunno. I’ve never kissed a guy before.”

Her friends’ mouths dropped, “You mean...he gave you your first kiss?”

“Yes,” Kagome answered in a meek voice. She didn’t think it was possible for her blush to worsen, but it did.

“So are you guys going out now?” Ayumi asked dreamily.

Kagome thought, a faint frown line marring her brow, “I don’t really know what’s going on with us now.”

“Kagome--don’t tell me you pushed him away when he kissed you,” Yuka insinuated disbelievingly, her eyes spurning her.

Oh my God! How did she know?

Kagome’s face must have been a portrait of blatant guilt, because Yuka’s expression darkened, “You did. Not a good move, Kagome. Breaking away from a kiss is a big no-no, especially when this guy has his ex-girlfriend to go back to.”

Kagome stiffened, Kikyou....

“Did you not want him to kiss you or something?” Eri asked confusedly.

“Yes--I mean no!” Oh Kami, what have I done? What if InuYasha thinks I’m rejecting him? What if he’s with Kikyou right now?

Kagome suddenly felt sick to her stomach. Luckily the nurse chose that moment to come back in, bearing gifts of pills and a cool glass of water. - * -* - * -

Going home from school that day took longer than it normally would have. The fact that she now had a bit of a limp and could not run caused her to miss the bus, but she decided to ply the distance herself rather than wait for the next one.

Kagome’s head was spinning as she made her way back to the shrine. She was unsure if InuYasha would even come for the dance, promise or no promise. Some part of her wanted him to break his word, and if he did she wouldn’t have blamed him. The fault, as far as she was concerned, lay with her alone.

In hindsight she saw her decision to push him away as foolish. She loved him, but she’d let her fears and qualms get the better of her and broken away from the kiss that she’d so longed for. Now the only fear she realized was the chance that she might not ever get to tell InuYasha how stupid she had been.

A sudden and very chill wind slapped Kagome across the face, putting her thoughts to rest as she held her skirt down.

“Not more rain,” Kagome groaned upon seeing the penumbra of the sky above her. Oh great, I’m going to start crying again.

She most likely would have had not the mournful creak of a gate distracted her, and when she turned toward the origin of the sound she felt as if she really had been slapped across the face.

“The cemetery,” Kagome breathed, watching as the open gate she and Houjou had walked through just days ago swung on it’s rusty hinges, at the indiscriminate mercy of the wind.

She walked through the gate, the only thing on her mind as she made for Sesshoumaru’s tomb the undeniable need to quench her curiosity. She limped toward the zenith of the hollow hill where the mound of carved stone stood, rather how she supposed Sesshoumaru would have, imposingly and apocalyptically, still as stone against the steadily darkening sky.

Will I be coming here to visit Grandpa by this time next year? She thought, looking around at the graves as she neared Sesshoumaru’s.

She wasn’t sure what she meant to accomplish by coming back to his tomb, but she had to try. Something strange was going on with Sesshoumaru in the Sengoku Jidai, and she would take this opportunity to find out anything she could, even if it meant combing through that epitaph until it started pouring. When she reached the top of the hill however, all of her plans were candidly forgotten.

“Toutousai?”

Standing before the colossal memorial, his outstretched fingers brushing the name of the inuyoukai lord, was a slightly more hoary looking Toutousai than she remembered. There was no mistaking it in Kagome’s mind as he turned, his bugged out eyes fixed on her.

“I was wondering when I’d run into you, Kagome,” The old sword smith said in his spacey voice.

“Did you--come across the well?” She asked him dazedly.

“No, I did not come through your magic well.”

She fish-mouthed at him for a couple of seconds, “Then...you must be, what, a thousand years old?”

Toutousai laughed, holding his stomach, “You flatter me!”

Kagome walked up to stand beside him when he turned to lay his shriveled hand upon the gravestone once more, “Um, Toutousai, what are you doing here visiting Sesshoumaru’s grave?”

He turned his lamp-like gaze her way, “I could be asking you the very same thing, young missy.”

Kagome resisted the urge to whack the old geezer. Still as frustrating as ever, I see, “Well, I asked you first.”

Toutousai ran his hand over the ancient Kanji etched into the tomb’s face, “I’m not here for Sesshoumaru. I’m here visiting my swords.”

“S--Swords?”

“Yes. The brother fangs, Tenseiga and Tessaiga.”

“Te--Tessaiga?” Kagome parroted shakily, her knees giving way as it dawned on her, “InuYasha--InuYasha’s dead?”

Kagome gasped for breath, hardly able to believe what she’d heard. It had been unsettling enough seeing the tomb of someone she knew to be alive and killing, but she had been satisfied that InuYasha had remained living by the lack of his grave. Even the simple fact that Sesshoumaru was dead had mollified her, leading her to believe that InuYasha may have been victorious in a final battle with his supercilious older brother. She had been scared to death by the possibility that InuYasha might be no longer, and now that her nightmare had come true she felt she might die herself. His grave may not have been there, but just the fact that InuYasha had been separated from Tessaiga--that was acquired by Sesshoumaru no less--attested to his certain death.

Is he okay? Where is he? Oh, InuYasha!

Toutousai kneeled down beside her as tears began to roll freely down her cheeks, “Now, now...no need to turn on the waterworks. InuYasha is alive on the other side of the well, is he not?”

“I don’t know that!” Kagome screamed at him angrily, almost hysterically. “Oh God!”

Toutousai grew nervous as the girl sobbed harder, “Calm down now. I’m sure there’s nothing to fret about. Is there anything you wish to know?”

Kagome paused, sniffling, “What...would I wish to know?”

“Perhaps when InuYasha’s death occurred?”

Kagome sobered quickly, wiping at her moist eyes, “You were there?”

“Not per say, Myouga came and told me about what he saw after it happened,” He told her, a far away look in his eyes.

“Well, when did he die?” Kagome pressed urgently, her hands shaking.

“Three years to the day after you first came through the magic well.”

Kagome let out the breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding, tears flowing anew, It’s bad enough that I have a countdown to when Grandpa will die, but now InuYasha too.

“Toutousai,” Kagome pinned him with her austerest glare, “Tell me what happened.”

He helped her to stand as best he could, “That’s quite a tale your asking for, little miko.”

“What’s the time?”

She watched as he tipped his beak of a nose toward the crepuscular pool of light that was the sun among the mass of gray storm clouds.

“It’s gettin’ on five-thirty.”

“Five-thirty...,” Oh no! I have to leave to go shopping with Mom! “Oh, Toutousai, I have to be somewhere. Can I meet you sometime later this week to talk?”

“That would be advisable. Come to my shop tomorrow around noon and we’ll talk over tea.”

Kagome nodded, her feelings about discussing InuYasha’s death over tea more than ambiguous, “Okay, tomorrow’s fine. Where’s your shop?”

“It’s only a block away. You know the antique swords shop around the corner?”

“Yeah, I know it,” I should’ve known the owner of that place would be some senile old sword lunatic. “I’ll come in tomorrow around noon. I’ve got to run.”

“Alright. Goodbye.” Toutousai waved to the girl as she made her way down the hill and out of the cemetery, when suddenly he remembered something important, “Oh--wait!”

But it was too late; she had already disappeared, “Oh well, she’ll probably figure it out. She was always bright, that one.” he then turned back to rest his hand on the grave stone.

Kagome managed to limp home before the downpour started, all the while wondering what kind of story she could possibly be in for the next day. She arrived home to her mother only a little paler than usual, and the two left the shrine as planned as soon as she had assured her mother that she was fine, off to get her and InuYasha’s outfits.