InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Strictly Taboo ❯ Scream of the Butterfly ( Chapter 3 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: chelseatygers 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Drama / Hentai / Psychological / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.24.2014 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 706 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Drama / Hentai / Psychological / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.24.2014 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 706 | Status: Work In Progress
*Song for the chapter: Scream of the Butterfly by Acid Bath*
The sun was just beginning to set when he arrived at the sprawling, three-story mansion. It needed a new coat of paint and the wood was rotting in several places, its overall appearance a far cry from what it had been when he had visited before. Inuyasha stood at the front door, combing his hair back with his claws, trying to get it to stay flat in front. He began to put his hair up in a knot, remembering how much Kikyo liked neat appearances, but stopped himself. The old suit and the hairstyle she preferred put together would be too much. They were no longer a real couple. It would be good if he reminded himself of that as often as he could to avoid slipping into old habits.
As he reached out to ring the bell, the door flung open. He jumped back a step, startled, and out from the house came a young Kikyo, younger even than when he had known her. She wore some sort of school uniform and he stared at her, stunned, not quite believing his eyes.
“You’re him! We’ve been waiting for you. I’m so excited!” The girl smiled brightly and took his hand, shaking it gently yet enthusiastically. He was now positive this was not some sort of Kikyo clone standing before him, as this girl’s voice was slightly higher than his former lover’s and possessed a happy, musical quality to it. The mystery girl continued to hold his hand, dragging him inside the house and right into the parlor.
“Mother, your fiancée has arrived!” she sang out happily, her eyes never leaving his.
“Kagome, what have I told you about intercepting guests? I apologize, Inuyasha. She was told to wait upstairs. But she always was a willful child.”
The girl dropped his hand quickly and looked guiltily in the direction of the floor, shoulders slumped. Inuyasha took a closer look at her. When Kikyo had mentioned she had a daughter, he had imagined a child, someone under the age of ten. This girl was in her mid-to-late teens but did have this sort of naïve air about her, appearing child-like but not childish. He had heard that raising teenagers was a terrible, terrible nightmare and he felt the beginnings of panic set in, trying to remember centuries back when he had been her age and coming up with nothing he could relate to her with, as he had already been head of a huge business and an accomplished warrior. What did teen girls like now? Crayons? Fishing? Sewing? All this flashed through his mind in about a second.
Kikyo came out of the hallway, breaking his reverie. She wore a flowing red dress and looked absolutely regal, her long, dark hair braided around her head like a crown. No jewelry decorated her body, but she had never really needed any to appear spectacular. The mere force of her presence was more than enough.
“Uh, it’s no problem, Kikyo.” The way she spoke to her daughter was making him feel uncomfortable.
“Nonsense. Apologize, Kagome,” she said sternly, her gaze piercing as she looked at the young girl.
“I am very sorry, Father,” she murmured with her head bowed. He could smell the tears starting.
“It’s, um, it’s really alright. Thank you for showing me inside, Kagome.” He didn’t know if he liked being called “father”, but what the hell, he was going to be stuck as her guardian for a few more years so might as well.
“You are welcome, Father,” the girl said gravely. He missed the refreshing exuberance she had possessed before. Now she appeared to be attempting to imitate Kikyo, and with her looking the way she did it really started to creep him out. One ice queen was enough. He could already tell she was a naturally happy, energetic girl.
“You are excused, Kagome.”
Kagome shuffled toward the wide staircase, glancing back at him over her shoulder.
Inuyasha cleared his throat and asked, “Isn’t your daughter going to be joining us?” The girl had been so happy. He hated to see her head off looking so defeated like some sort of beaten dog.
Kikyo turned her icy gaze on him. “It is Kagome’s study time. She will have her supper after we are finished.”
He leaned in close to whisper, “I think now would be a good time for the two of us to start getting used to each other, don’t you?”
She appeared to be considering it and gave a small frown. “I suppose you’re right. Kagome, go to your room and change into the dress you wear for company. You may join us after you have washed your face. Remember, no one wants to see a woman cry.”
The girl made a sort of happy squeak sound and bolted up the stairs, slipping a bit with her socks on the thick wood floor, her excitement back full force despite the harshness of her mother’s tone and words. Inuyasha stared after her, surprised at the interaction he had already observed between mother and daughter. He didn’t care for Kikyo’s stern manner with Kagome and wondered how the girl had managed to continue to be so naturally sweet when Kikyo seemed to be attempting to squash it out of her at every turn.
He felt a hand at his harm and turned to see his fiancée with a small smile on her face. She silently led him to the dining room, which was just as splendid as he had remembered it. It was a high-ceilinged room with Renaissance-style murals on the wall and a giant, solid wood table in the middle. The chandelier was missing a few bulbs but it didn’t detract too much from the overall feel of the place. It was something that belonged in a museum, and a look at the dust settling over everything but the table made it seem as though it was in some sort of forgotten back room of one.
“Kagome does not know about Suikotsu and I would prefer to keep it that way, Inuyasha. I have been telling her about you all her life and she thinks of us as some couple in a fairy tale, reuniting after so long apart. And really, is that view so far off?”
He hummed and asked, “Why do you not want her to know about Suikotsu? ‘Cause of his brothers?”
“Yes and no. Suikotsu was Kagome’s first pediatrician and she developed this strange, unreasonable fear of him. That girl has always been difficult. She was so afraid of getting her vaccination shots that she created a story about him having some kind of other personality that enjoyed hurting children. She would throw these frightful tantrums before every check-up that no amount of punishment would stop and finally I gave in and took her to a different physician. She took to that one and Kaede still treats her to this day. I thought to re-introduce them earlier this year, but she still has nightmares about him. I just don’t understand it,” she complained, shaking her head sorrowfully.
“How long have the two of you been together, anyway?” he asked, mentally filing away the story she had told him.
“We’ve been exclusive for about seven years now. I do wish Kagome would get over her childish hysteria. It is so difficult having to meet in secret.”
“She seems like a good girl, I’m sure things will work out,” he said, trying to be helpful without taking sides.
“That really all depends on how you define ‘good’. She is disobedient and lazy and does not even attempt to try and achieve scholastically. However, she is my daughter, and I will stop at nothing to make her a success,” she said firmly, her eyes flashing.
“That’s certainly… admirable,” Inuyasha murmured, feeling awkward again. That girl did not seem like any of the things she had described her as, but really, who was he to say? He had met Kagome briefly not even five minutes before and Kikyo was her mother. She had carried her in her womb for nine months, raised her for years. How old was that child, anyway? He suddenly wanted to know exactly.
“Just so you are aware, Kagome decided to call you ‘father’ all on her own. I informed her you were to be addressed as Mr. Taisho, but she has always wanted a father in her life more than anything. I do apologize.”
“Not at all. Er, so Kagome has never met her father?” Kikyo nodded and he continued, “Who…who is he?”
Her mouth curled upward in a small, humorless smile. “To be perfectly honest with you, I do not know. I was attempting to be rebellious and spent a wild winter in Europe, and then Kagome showed up in August. She was a couple months early, so rude and not even able to speak yet.”
Inuyasha nodded, not believing her for a second. The father was Onigumo, she just didn’t want to upset him and risk him terminating their deal. A wild winter in Europe? Please. Kikyo had never had a wild anything in her life. Kagome didn’t look a thing like Onigumo, but then again she didn’t really look like anyone but Kikyo.
“I’m finished, Mother!”
They both turned towards Kagome’s voice, him guiltily and Kikyo as calm as ever. Kagome was in a dainty white dress, eyelets on the short puffed sleeves and edge of the skirt. The bright light from the vacated parlor shone behind her, highlighting the inky darkness of her hair and reflecting off like a halo. Inuyasha thought to himself that she looked like one of those Christmas angels you placed on top of the tree, the crowning ornament. She smiled a soft, genuine smile at him and his heart skipped a beat and then went very fast, almost like it was trying to make up for it.
“Kagome,” Kikyo began, voice steely, “you know how to announce yourself when you enter a room. Now go out and do it again.”
Some of the light left her eyes and his heart twinged as she left the room and reentered, saying softly, “Present, Mother. Present, Father.”
“You are to call my guest Mr. Taisho. I went over and over this with you, why can’t—“
“Actually, Kagome, you can call me anything you want.” He had never before interrupted Kikyo, but the crestfallen look on Kagome’s face just did something to his insides. He knew what it was like to long for a father.
Kagome glanced at him before looking to her mother as though asking permission. Kikyo’s lips were pursed together tightly and Inuyasha feared he had overstepped his bounds, but then she waved her hand in a dismissive gesture and said, “You heard Inuyasha, Kagome. He is an adult and can do as he pleases.”
Kagome glanced back at him and he saw that light shining in her eyes once again. He let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding, shoulders relaxing slightly as he did so. He knew Kikyo was a very proud woman and in the short time he had been at her home he had seen how strict she was with her daughter. Inuyasha knew contradicting her would not be the best of ideas, but he honestly did not approve of her parenting tactics. They were going to be married and that meant he had an equal part in bringing up Kagome. Right? Maybe a ready-made family wasn’t quite what the doctor ordered. He shrugged mentally. He had nothing else going on and company would be nice.
Kikyo sat down stiffly at the head of the table and Inuyasha and Kagome followed, him sitting at her right and her daughter at her left. The table had been set with beautifully painted china dishes depicting different flowers, and he was sure the silverware was actually real, solid silver. He sat as rigidly as Kikyo, suddenly feeling like a peasant in the court of a queen. She had never made him this uncomfortable while they were dating. Kagome, however, could hardly hide her smile. He imagined her feet swinging back and forth carelessly under the table and his heart warmed, making him feel somewhat more at ease. Kikyo took her spoon and rapped sharply on Kagome’s plate twice without even looking at her, the sound startling him, and Kagome immediately straightened, folded her hands in her lap, and turned her eyes downward to gaze at her empty plate.
“Urasue!” Kikyo called out icily, then turned to Inuyasha, saying softly, “I have foregone the salad course this evening. I remember how much you hate those.”
Double doors at the far end of the room swung open and out shuffled an ancient woman, bent over with age. She rolled a cart in front of her, muttering unintelligibly. Her bugged out eyes rolled around in her head and Inuyasha suddenly lost his appetite, a truly rare occurrence.
The elderly servant pulled a lid off a large metal pot on the cart and somehow produced a ladle and three bowls from thin air. She served Kikyo first, her handling of the steaming hot bowl surprisingly quick and steady. Inuyasha was next and he gazed into the bowl at the soup. It was some sort of clear broth and had a single leafy thing floating around in it, probably spinach. He grimaced and set to work, wishing he could hold his nose so he wouldn’t be able to taste it. He glanced up at Kikyo and saw her still sitting rigidly straight, bringing the spoon to her lips and consuming the liquid silently. Her eating habits had always unnerved him. It was like watching some sort of trick that belonged in a sideshow; the thing was just not natural. He suppressed a shudder and turned his eyes to Kagome. Unlike her mother, she ate with gusto, almost like she hadn’t seen food in a week. He wondered how anyone could enjoy the bland yet disgusting soup so much, but then again Kagome seemed the type to either love or hate things with everything in her.
The meal continued in silence, Inuyasha feeling self-conscious and more embarrassed with every accidental slurp he made, Kikyo stoically gazing at the contents of her bowl and Kagome giving him a reassuring smile from time to time. Finally they were finished and the old hag came to collect their empty bowls. He moved to stand but Kikyo laid a hand on his wrist, eyes still on the table.
“It is time for the fish course, Inuyasha.”
The words gave him a mini anxiety attack but he pushed it down, scooting his chair back closer to the table, wincing when it made a loud screech across the wood floor. Kagome giggled and he shot her an unamused glare, the half-smile on his face softening his eyes. Her happiness was contagious.
The doors slammed open again and Urasue wheeled out the same cart. She placed a cut of salmon in front of Kikyo and one in front of Inuyasha. It was garnished with a thin slice of lemon and a sprig of parsley. He sighed at how boring it all was. The old woman shuffled out, the doors closing behind her. He took a fork, hoping it was the right one, and dug into the fish. He placed the bite in his mouth and glanced up, noticing Kagome again sitting with her eyes cast down and her hands folded in her lap, no salmon dish in front of her. Inuyasha cleared his throat and broke the silence, saying, “Kikyo, your, uh, maid forgot Kagome’s serving.”
Kikyo slowly finished chewing and placed her fork down on the edge of her plate. “Kagome has been placed on a diet. She gained six pounds quite rapidly in this past month and her caloric intake has been cut.”
Kagome’s head bowed lower and he could practically feel the heat of her blush. He looked back and forth from Kikyo to the slim girl, vaguely wondering if this was some kind of dumb joke.
“She looks fine to me.”
Kagome shot him a quick, grateful smile and his heart did that strange skipping-then-speeding-up thing again. Kikyo chuckled. “Inuyasha, you are too kind. You’re going to give her a big head. With her height, Kagome needs to be exactly one-hundred pounds in order to be at her fittest and become captain of the archery team this year.”
“I… I guess. Weren’t you captain of the archery team when you went to school?” He was hoping to change the subject from this very awkward, very personal one to something safe.
“I’m surprised you remember,” Kikyo said, obviously pleased. “Yes, we won every one of our competitions when I was captain. I led the team all four years of high school, the youngest captain in the school’s history. No one’s beat my record yet. I was hoping Kagome could have at least done the same, but unfortunately she has clumsy fingers, poor aim, and she detests practice.”
Inuyasha nodded and took a large gulp of water while Kikyo went back to her food. He had completely lost his appetite and no longer wanted to eat even to be polite. His eyes fell on Kagome’s hands which were still clasped in her lap. They were folded so tightly they were strikingly white, except for the pads of her first two fingers on each hand, which were bright red with the beginnings of blisters. He noticed her hands trembling even as she tried to hold them still. Inuyasha knew Kikyo only wanted the best for Kagome and wanted to make her outstanding to ensure her success in life, but Kagome was a delicate girl. It was already obvious to him that she would never be exactly what Kikyo wanted and she was very aware of it, that knowledge not stopping her from trying but still tearing her apart inside.
“How old are you, Kagome?”
“I turned fifteen in August,” she spoke quietly, sounding slightly surprised at being addressed directly. She was a new fifteen since it was now early October. So young, he thought, his heart twinging again.
“And what do you want to be when you grow up?”
The girl glanced quickly at her mother who was still silently eating, and she whispered her response so quietly that he almost couldn’t hear her even in the muted room. “A nurse.”
Kikyo snorted, somehow a delicate sound when coming from her. “Kagome is to take my place as President and CEO of Shikon. She is well aware of that, and wanting to play nurse is just another one of her childish whims.”
“But mother—“
Kikyo silenced her daughter with nothing more than a firm look.
Inuyasha felt guilty. He had thought it a safe question. He tried again, “Well, uh, what’s your favorite subject in school?” There was no way something like that could cause tension.
Before Kagome could answer, Kikyo butted in. “It’s best not to discuss school with Kagome. She’s been doing worse than usual this year and that’s really saying something when you know her history.”
Not wanting to turn the evening into a hurt-the-little-girl’s-feelings party, Inuyasha said, “That’s odd. I’ve just met you, Kagome, but I can already tell you are an exceptionally bright girl.” He smiled apologetically at her. He wasn’t used to dealing with kids and was unsure of how to act towards her. All he knew was that focusing on her in such a negative way couldn’t be good.
“That’s it, though, you’ve only just met her,” Kikyo said with a smirk.
“My teachers all say I’m doing well,” Kagome said quietly, somewhat unsure of herself now. He could hear the hurt in her voice and he knew it ran deep.
“A B-minus in geometry is not ‘doing well’, Kagome. What are these teachers thinking? Perhaps it’s time to switch schools again.”
“Mother, please! I was just starting to make friends!” The anxiety in her voice was present in her face as well.
“I had hoped you would finish at my alma mater, but it appears as though that was not meant to be,” Kikyo said as though she had not heard her daughter’s anguished words, cutting her remaining salmon into bite-sized pieces and then cutting them in half.
“I’ll bring my grade up in geometry and study four more hours every day and all weekend,” Kagome said, the tears she had been holding back since the evening started now beginning to make their way down her face. Inuyasha felt invisible and helpless, wanting to help but not sure of his place yet.
“It has already been decided, Kagome.” Kikyo’s voice was a few degrees cooler than it had been and even Inuyasha shivered.
“Mother!” Kagome stood up so fast her chair fell over backwards, her hands shaking as they gripped the edge of the table.
“You are excused. You may go to your room and study.”
A sob wrenched out from Kagome’s throat and she turned and ran, footsteps echoing loudly. He heard a door slam.
Kikyo chuckled. “I hope that little display of hers did not change your mind, Inuyasha. Teenagers are like little bundles of insanity.”
He sat still, eyes on where Kagome had been sitting. Were things always like this between the two of them?
“What the fuck, Kikyo!”
“Excuse me?” She raised her eyebrows very slightly in a cool, aristocratic manner. She didn’t even look surprised by his outburst, she just seemed like she was waiting for him to apologize.
“What the hell was all that with Kagome? Are things always like this?”
“I warned you she was willful,” she sighed. “If you don’t want to do this anymore, I could always go with my back-up plan and send her to boarding school and try to hold on as long as I can.”
Inuyasha’s mouth dropped open in consternation. Did Kikyo not realize that what she was doing to her daughter was horrid? Or… was this because of the disease? He knew people dealt with death in different ways, some becoming peaceful and resigned, others lashing out at everyone around them. Kikyo fell into the latter category, he guessed.
“Move in with me.”
“Excuse me?” she said again, eyes widening slightly. So that’s what shock looked like on her.
“I want you and Kagome to move in with me before the wedding.” Maybe with his company Kikyo would start to lay off of Kagome. At the very least, he could get Kagome some decent food.
“This is far too sudden, Inuyasha! I only just proposed our arrangement this morning. You haven’t thought—“
“I have. I have thought this through,” he lied, thinking quickly to make up for it. “I have six extra bedrooms just collecting dust and there’s a good private school nearby where all my colleagues send their kids. Please move in with me, Kikyo. Let me make your last days comfortable. Shutting yourself up in this scary old place isn’t good for you,” he pleaded. It was really selfish of him and he knew it. Just having someone to talk to would make him content, he realized in surprise. He had not known how lonely he truly was.
Her eyes softened a tad. “Very well. I’ll have you know that I do not intend to stop working and will be in the office or away on business quite a bit. My spiritual powers keep the majority of the pain at bay so I can keep up appearances. Every weekend I am home will be spent at Suikotsu’s.”
“Of course. I will not interfere with your routine.”
Was this how she and her daughter lived? Was Kagome neglected and then controlled, over and over again?
“How do you think Kagome will feel about this?” he asked, not wanting to cause the girl more anguish. She obviously wanted to stay at her current school, but Kikyo’s mind seemed made up. He would do what he could for her.
Kikyo laughed. “She’ll be delighted. Kagome has always hated this place despite not ever having lived anywhere else.”
Inuyasha nodded. A girl like her did not belong in this dark place, overcrowded with expensive, ancient objects that themselves seemed condescending. He could already picture her in his home, doing her schoolwork in the bright sunshine that always came in particularly nicely through the kitchen window, sitting at the small table where he drank his coffee every morning. He smiled at the thought.
“Thanks for dinner, Kikyo. I better get going.”
“Didn’t you have something you wanted to discuss?”
He had completely forgotten. “We can do all that when you move in.”
“I want this wedding as soon as possible,” she stated, placing her hand on his, eyes boring into his with intent.
“Well then, move in as soon as possible.”
Kikyo sighed, sounding somewhat exasperated. “You are beginning to remind me of Kagome. So willful and stubborn. But alright. Urasue will give you the remainder of your meal to take home with you. I remember your horrid dietary habits.”
He started to refuse out of loyalty to his precious ramen, but then remembered Kagome.
“Sure,” he nodded.
No sooner than he had spoken, the double doors banged open and out shuffled Mother Time herself, holding several Tupperware containers. He took them from her and nodded his head goodbye.
“Call me, Kikyo. I’ll find my way out, don’t trouble yourself.”
He walked to the door quickly, not waiting for a reply, anxious to find Kagome and then be on his way. He closed the heavy wooden front door as quietly as he could and trotted around to the back of the large, crumbling house, intent on finding Kagome’s room. He knew from past experience that all the bedrooms were in the back of the second floor and all had balconies. Inuyasha had spent many nights lurking around here while courting Kikyo. Only one room had a dim light coming from it, a little one all the way at the end. He smiled up at the glow. He could feel her.
Bending down, he used his strong eyesight to locate a handful of tiny pebbles. He flung them up at the glass and was pleased when Kagome appeared immediately. It took her a few seconds to spot him, but when she did she opened the French doors and slid out onto the balcony. His smile grew and, balancing the stack of Tupperware on his hip, he jumped up and landed next to her.
“Woah…” Kagome breathed, eyes wide and glowing softly with a child-like wonder. He chuckled at her expression. His heart was beating very fast and he briefly wondered why, as he had not exerted himself at all.
“Why are you here, Father?”
He ignored her question and looked beyond her, into her room. It was small and plain, containing only a narrow bed with a sheet on it, a desk with spindly legs, a chair in front of it that looked like it was about to fall apart, and a closet. The door to her closet was open and he saw few articles of clothing inside, one being the uniform she had been wearing when he entered. There was a shapeless flannel nightgown laid out on the bed and he wondered if anything was less fitting for her.
Shaking himself from his thoughts, he held out the Tupperware to her.
“Here. You should eat.”
“But this belongs to you, Father,” she said, even as she took it from him. Inuyasha chuckled again. Something about her just made him feel lighter somehow.
“I’m giving it to you, Kagome.”
She bowed her head slightly. “I am very grateful.”
He reached out a hand and ruffled her hair, lingering to savor the surprisingly silky texture of her waves.
“No need to be so formal. It doesn’t become you.”
The girl stared at him, silent, and just as he was about to excuse himself and leave, she dropped the Tupperware and threw her arms around him in a fierce embrace. He was startled but quickly returned it, cradling her head against his shoulder, inhaling her happy scent.
“May I call you… Papa?”
“Huh? Uh, sure. Whatever you want…” he murmured, distracted by her softness. She was a bit old to be calling him that, but he remembered what Kikyo had told him about her wish for a father. She’d probably grow out of it after it stopped being a novelty and then they would become friends.
“Papa Yasha. I like it,” she said, followed by a sunshiney giggle.
She left his arms and he suddenly felt very cold, much colder than he had been before their hug, as he watched her pick up the scattered Tupperware, which thankfully had stayed lidded.
“See you soon, Papa Yasha,” she whispered, closing the door behind her and drawing a curtain.
“See you, Kagome,” he whispered to no one, staring at the French doors for a short while before jumping off the balcony and to his car.
Kikyo had told her stories about Inuyasha ever since she was a little girl. Her mother’s eyes would soften and glow when she spoke of him in a way they never did at any other time. Kagome had always wanted to meet the man her mother obviously loved, imagining him to be strong and kind and gentle, worthy of her mother.
She had been surprised when she opened the door and saw Inuyasha standing there so nervously, but had tried not to show it. The guy looked hardly older than her! Kikyo had mentioned that he was a half-demon and she knew people with demonic ancestry aged differently, but she had still expected someone older and more mature looking, someone like her mother. Shrugging it off as opposites attracting, she had easily regained her enthusiasm and tugged him inside.
Kagome could definitely see what her mother saw in him. He was very, very handsome, so much more attractive than what she had imagined when Kikyo described him. She knew he was kind, he had demonstrated so repeatedly throughout the evening. Yet still, there seemed to be a wildness in him that could not, would not be tamed. She shivered just thinking about it. And those puppy ears! They sang a sort of siren’s song to her, like they were begging to be touched. They just looked so soft and twitched so unexpectedly in such an interesting way. But her mother would have scolded her even worse than usual if she had given in.
Kagome usually took her mother’s rebukes in stride. She was used to that kind of treatment and corrected her behavior almost without thought. However, Inuyasha witnessing her verbal punishments embarrassed her and she reacted much more emotionally than she would have under normal circumstances. She had desperately wanted to make a good impression. She had been praying for a father all her life, after all. Kagome used to pray for a sibling as well, but one day Kikyo overheard her litany of secret wishes and laughed, saying one pregnancy was enough for a lifetime and adoption was out of the question with a child so prone to misbehaving already her responsibility. So at the age of six she gave up all hope for a little brother or sister and instead doubled her prayers for a father. She just hadn’t expected to get such a young, good-looking one.
Blushing, she pushed those thoughts far, far away from her mind, instead pondering what to do with the now empty and licked clean Tupperware. Kagome knelt down and pried up a loose floorboard carefully, going slow so as to be quiet, and slid the containers inside. She would wash them while Kikyo was at work and Urasue took her usual drunken nap.
Sighing, she rose to her feet and slipped out of her company dress and tugged it onto a hanger, wishing she could wear it more often. She only owned that, her school uniform, and two casual outfits consisting of plain white blouses, a black skirt, and a pair of khaki pants. Her mother said that if she had more clothes her head would get bigger and she would become vain, materialistic and worthless. Kagome changed into her nightgown and went to her small bed, turning the desk lamp off on the way. She climbed under the single, thin sheet and closed her eyes, thanking heaven for the gift of Inuyasha, the new member of her family. He would make her mother happy and that would make Kagome happy. She drifted off with a smile on her face and dreamt of white dresses and whiter puppy dogs.
The sun was just beginning to set when he arrived at the sprawling, three-story mansion. It needed a new coat of paint and the wood was rotting in several places, its overall appearance a far cry from what it had been when he had visited before. Inuyasha stood at the front door, combing his hair back with his claws, trying to get it to stay flat in front. He began to put his hair up in a knot, remembering how much Kikyo liked neat appearances, but stopped himself. The old suit and the hairstyle she preferred put together would be too much. They were no longer a real couple. It would be good if he reminded himself of that as often as he could to avoid slipping into old habits.
As he reached out to ring the bell, the door flung open. He jumped back a step, startled, and out from the house came a young Kikyo, younger even than when he had known her. She wore some sort of school uniform and he stared at her, stunned, not quite believing his eyes.
“You’re him! We’ve been waiting for you. I’m so excited!” The girl smiled brightly and took his hand, shaking it gently yet enthusiastically. He was now positive this was not some sort of Kikyo clone standing before him, as this girl’s voice was slightly higher than his former lover’s and possessed a happy, musical quality to it. The mystery girl continued to hold his hand, dragging him inside the house and right into the parlor.
“Mother, your fiancée has arrived!” she sang out happily, her eyes never leaving his.
“Kagome, what have I told you about intercepting guests? I apologize, Inuyasha. She was told to wait upstairs. But she always was a willful child.”
The girl dropped his hand quickly and looked guiltily in the direction of the floor, shoulders slumped. Inuyasha took a closer look at her. When Kikyo had mentioned she had a daughter, he had imagined a child, someone under the age of ten. This girl was in her mid-to-late teens but did have this sort of naïve air about her, appearing child-like but not childish. He had heard that raising teenagers was a terrible, terrible nightmare and he felt the beginnings of panic set in, trying to remember centuries back when he had been her age and coming up with nothing he could relate to her with, as he had already been head of a huge business and an accomplished warrior. What did teen girls like now? Crayons? Fishing? Sewing? All this flashed through his mind in about a second.
Kikyo came out of the hallway, breaking his reverie. She wore a flowing red dress and looked absolutely regal, her long, dark hair braided around her head like a crown. No jewelry decorated her body, but she had never really needed any to appear spectacular. The mere force of her presence was more than enough.
“Uh, it’s no problem, Kikyo.” The way she spoke to her daughter was making him feel uncomfortable.
“Nonsense. Apologize, Kagome,” she said sternly, her gaze piercing as she looked at the young girl.
“I am very sorry, Father,” she murmured with her head bowed. He could smell the tears starting.
“It’s, um, it’s really alright. Thank you for showing me inside, Kagome.” He didn’t know if he liked being called “father”, but what the hell, he was going to be stuck as her guardian for a few more years so might as well.
“You are welcome, Father,” the girl said gravely. He missed the refreshing exuberance she had possessed before. Now she appeared to be attempting to imitate Kikyo, and with her looking the way she did it really started to creep him out. One ice queen was enough. He could already tell she was a naturally happy, energetic girl.
“You are excused, Kagome.”
Kagome shuffled toward the wide staircase, glancing back at him over her shoulder.
Inuyasha cleared his throat and asked, “Isn’t your daughter going to be joining us?” The girl had been so happy. He hated to see her head off looking so defeated like some sort of beaten dog.
Kikyo turned her icy gaze on him. “It is Kagome’s study time. She will have her supper after we are finished.”
He leaned in close to whisper, “I think now would be a good time for the two of us to start getting used to each other, don’t you?”
She appeared to be considering it and gave a small frown. “I suppose you’re right. Kagome, go to your room and change into the dress you wear for company. You may join us after you have washed your face. Remember, no one wants to see a woman cry.”
The girl made a sort of happy squeak sound and bolted up the stairs, slipping a bit with her socks on the thick wood floor, her excitement back full force despite the harshness of her mother’s tone and words. Inuyasha stared after her, surprised at the interaction he had already observed between mother and daughter. He didn’t care for Kikyo’s stern manner with Kagome and wondered how the girl had managed to continue to be so naturally sweet when Kikyo seemed to be attempting to squash it out of her at every turn.
He felt a hand at his harm and turned to see his fiancée with a small smile on her face. She silently led him to the dining room, which was just as splendid as he had remembered it. It was a high-ceilinged room with Renaissance-style murals on the wall and a giant, solid wood table in the middle. The chandelier was missing a few bulbs but it didn’t detract too much from the overall feel of the place. It was something that belonged in a museum, and a look at the dust settling over everything but the table made it seem as though it was in some sort of forgotten back room of one.
“Kagome does not know about Suikotsu and I would prefer to keep it that way, Inuyasha. I have been telling her about you all her life and she thinks of us as some couple in a fairy tale, reuniting after so long apart. And really, is that view so far off?”
He hummed and asked, “Why do you not want her to know about Suikotsu? ‘Cause of his brothers?”
“Yes and no. Suikotsu was Kagome’s first pediatrician and she developed this strange, unreasonable fear of him. That girl has always been difficult. She was so afraid of getting her vaccination shots that she created a story about him having some kind of other personality that enjoyed hurting children. She would throw these frightful tantrums before every check-up that no amount of punishment would stop and finally I gave in and took her to a different physician. She took to that one and Kaede still treats her to this day. I thought to re-introduce them earlier this year, but she still has nightmares about him. I just don’t understand it,” she complained, shaking her head sorrowfully.
“How long have the two of you been together, anyway?” he asked, mentally filing away the story she had told him.
“We’ve been exclusive for about seven years now. I do wish Kagome would get over her childish hysteria. It is so difficult having to meet in secret.”
“She seems like a good girl, I’m sure things will work out,” he said, trying to be helpful without taking sides.
“That really all depends on how you define ‘good’. She is disobedient and lazy and does not even attempt to try and achieve scholastically. However, she is my daughter, and I will stop at nothing to make her a success,” she said firmly, her eyes flashing.
“That’s certainly… admirable,” Inuyasha murmured, feeling awkward again. That girl did not seem like any of the things she had described her as, but really, who was he to say? He had met Kagome briefly not even five minutes before and Kikyo was her mother. She had carried her in her womb for nine months, raised her for years. How old was that child, anyway? He suddenly wanted to know exactly.
“Just so you are aware, Kagome decided to call you ‘father’ all on her own. I informed her you were to be addressed as Mr. Taisho, but she has always wanted a father in her life more than anything. I do apologize.”
“Not at all. Er, so Kagome has never met her father?” Kikyo nodded and he continued, “Who…who is he?”
Her mouth curled upward in a small, humorless smile. “To be perfectly honest with you, I do not know. I was attempting to be rebellious and spent a wild winter in Europe, and then Kagome showed up in August. She was a couple months early, so rude and not even able to speak yet.”
Inuyasha nodded, not believing her for a second. The father was Onigumo, she just didn’t want to upset him and risk him terminating their deal. A wild winter in Europe? Please. Kikyo had never had a wild anything in her life. Kagome didn’t look a thing like Onigumo, but then again she didn’t really look like anyone but Kikyo.
“I’m finished, Mother!”
They both turned towards Kagome’s voice, him guiltily and Kikyo as calm as ever. Kagome was in a dainty white dress, eyelets on the short puffed sleeves and edge of the skirt. The bright light from the vacated parlor shone behind her, highlighting the inky darkness of her hair and reflecting off like a halo. Inuyasha thought to himself that she looked like one of those Christmas angels you placed on top of the tree, the crowning ornament. She smiled a soft, genuine smile at him and his heart skipped a beat and then went very fast, almost like it was trying to make up for it.
“Kagome,” Kikyo began, voice steely, “you know how to announce yourself when you enter a room. Now go out and do it again.”
Some of the light left her eyes and his heart twinged as she left the room and reentered, saying softly, “Present, Mother. Present, Father.”
“You are to call my guest Mr. Taisho. I went over and over this with you, why can’t—“
“Actually, Kagome, you can call me anything you want.” He had never before interrupted Kikyo, but the crestfallen look on Kagome’s face just did something to his insides. He knew what it was like to long for a father.
Kagome glanced at him before looking to her mother as though asking permission. Kikyo’s lips were pursed together tightly and Inuyasha feared he had overstepped his bounds, but then she waved her hand in a dismissive gesture and said, “You heard Inuyasha, Kagome. He is an adult and can do as he pleases.”
Kagome glanced back at him and he saw that light shining in her eyes once again. He let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding, shoulders relaxing slightly as he did so. He knew Kikyo was a very proud woman and in the short time he had been at her home he had seen how strict she was with her daughter. Inuyasha knew contradicting her would not be the best of ideas, but he honestly did not approve of her parenting tactics. They were going to be married and that meant he had an equal part in bringing up Kagome. Right? Maybe a ready-made family wasn’t quite what the doctor ordered. He shrugged mentally. He had nothing else going on and company would be nice.
Kikyo sat down stiffly at the head of the table and Inuyasha and Kagome followed, him sitting at her right and her daughter at her left. The table had been set with beautifully painted china dishes depicting different flowers, and he was sure the silverware was actually real, solid silver. He sat as rigidly as Kikyo, suddenly feeling like a peasant in the court of a queen. She had never made him this uncomfortable while they were dating. Kagome, however, could hardly hide her smile. He imagined her feet swinging back and forth carelessly under the table and his heart warmed, making him feel somewhat more at ease. Kikyo took her spoon and rapped sharply on Kagome’s plate twice without even looking at her, the sound startling him, and Kagome immediately straightened, folded her hands in her lap, and turned her eyes downward to gaze at her empty plate.
“Urasue!” Kikyo called out icily, then turned to Inuyasha, saying softly, “I have foregone the salad course this evening. I remember how much you hate those.”
Double doors at the far end of the room swung open and out shuffled an ancient woman, bent over with age. She rolled a cart in front of her, muttering unintelligibly. Her bugged out eyes rolled around in her head and Inuyasha suddenly lost his appetite, a truly rare occurrence.
The elderly servant pulled a lid off a large metal pot on the cart and somehow produced a ladle and three bowls from thin air. She served Kikyo first, her handling of the steaming hot bowl surprisingly quick and steady. Inuyasha was next and he gazed into the bowl at the soup. It was some sort of clear broth and had a single leafy thing floating around in it, probably spinach. He grimaced and set to work, wishing he could hold his nose so he wouldn’t be able to taste it. He glanced up at Kikyo and saw her still sitting rigidly straight, bringing the spoon to her lips and consuming the liquid silently. Her eating habits had always unnerved him. It was like watching some sort of trick that belonged in a sideshow; the thing was just not natural. He suppressed a shudder and turned his eyes to Kagome. Unlike her mother, she ate with gusto, almost like she hadn’t seen food in a week. He wondered how anyone could enjoy the bland yet disgusting soup so much, but then again Kagome seemed the type to either love or hate things with everything in her.
The meal continued in silence, Inuyasha feeling self-conscious and more embarrassed with every accidental slurp he made, Kikyo stoically gazing at the contents of her bowl and Kagome giving him a reassuring smile from time to time. Finally they were finished and the old hag came to collect their empty bowls. He moved to stand but Kikyo laid a hand on his wrist, eyes still on the table.
“It is time for the fish course, Inuyasha.”
The words gave him a mini anxiety attack but he pushed it down, scooting his chair back closer to the table, wincing when it made a loud screech across the wood floor. Kagome giggled and he shot her an unamused glare, the half-smile on his face softening his eyes. Her happiness was contagious.
The doors slammed open again and Urasue wheeled out the same cart. She placed a cut of salmon in front of Kikyo and one in front of Inuyasha. It was garnished with a thin slice of lemon and a sprig of parsley. He sighed at how boring it all was. The old woman shuffled out, the doors closing behind her. He took a fork, hoping it was the right one, and dug into the fish. He placed the bite in his mouth and glanced up, noticing Kagome again sitting with her eyes cast down and her hands folded in her lap, no salmon dish in front of her. Inuyasha cleared his throat and broke the silence, saying, “Kikyo, your, uh, maid forgot Kagome’s serving.”
Kikyo slowly finished chewing and placed her fork down on the edge of her plate. “Kagome has been placed on a diet. She gained six pounds quite rapidly in this past month and her caloric intake has been cut.”
Kagome’s head bowed lower and he could practically feel the heat of her blush. He looked back and forth from Kikyo to the slim girl, vaguely wondering if this was some kind of dumb joke.
“She looks fine to me.”
Kagome shot him a quick, grateful smile and his heart did that strange skipping-then-speeding-up thing again. Kikyo chuckled. “Inuyasha, you are too kind. You’re going to give her a big head. With her height, Kagome needs to be exactly one-hundred pounds in order to be at her fittest and become captain of the archery team this year.”
“I… I guess. Weren’t you captain of the archery team when you went to school?” He was hoping to change the subject from this very awkward, very personal one to something safe.
“I’m surprised you remember,” Kikyo said, obviously pleased. “Yes, we won every one of our competitions when I was captain. I led the team all four years of high school, the youngest captain in the school’s history. No one’s beat my record yet. I was hoping Kagome could have at least done the same, but unfortunately she has clumsy fingers, poor aim, and she detests practice.”
Inuyasha nodded and took a large gulp of water while Kikyo went back to her food. He had completely lost his appetite and no longer wanted to eat even to be polite. His eyes fell on Kagome’s hands which were still clasped in her lap. They were folded so tightly they were strikingly white, except for the pads of her first two fingers on each hand, which were bright red with the beginnings of blisters. He noticed her hands trembling even as she tried to hold them still. Inuyasha knew Kikyo only wanted the best for Kagome and wanted to make her outstanding to ensure her success in life, but Kagome was a delicate girl. It was already obvious to him that she would never be exactly what Kikyo wanted and she was very aware of it, that knowledge not stopping her from trying but still tearing her apart inside.
“How old are you, Kagome?”
“I turned fifteen in August,” she spoke quietly, sounding slightly surprised at being addressed directly. She was a new fifteen since it was now early October. So young, he thought, his heart twinging again.
“And what do you want to be when you grow up?”
The girl glanced quickly at her mother who was still silently eating, and she whispered her response so quietly that he almost couldn’t hear her even in the muted room. “A nurse.”
Kikyo snorted, somehow a delicate sound when coming from her. “Kagome is to take my place as President and CEO of Shikon. She is well aware of that, and wanting to play nurse is just another one of her childish whims.”
“But mother—“
Kikyo silenced her daughter with nothing more than a firm look.
Inuyasha felt guilty. He had thought it a safe question. He tried again, “Well, uh, what’s your favorite subject in school?” There was no way something like that could cause tension.
Before Kagome could answer, Kikyo butted in. “It’s best not to discuss school with Kagome. She’s been doing worse than usual this year and that’s really saying something when you know her history.”
Not wanting to turn the evening into a hurt-the-little-girl’s-feelings party, Inuyasha said, “That’s odd. I’ve just met you, Kagome, but I can already tell you are an exceptionally bright girl.” He smiled apologetically at her. He wasn’t used to dealing with kids and was unsure of how to act towards her. All he knew was that focusing on her in such a negative way couldn’t be good.
“That’s it, though, you’ve only just met her,” Kikyo said with a smirk.
“My teachers all say I’m doing well,” Kagome said quietly, somewhat unsure of herself now. He could hear the hurt in her voice and he knew it ran deep.
“A B-minus in geometry is not ‘doing well’, Kagome. What are these teachers thinking? Perhaps it’s time to switch schools again.”
“Mother, please! I was just starting to make friends!” The anxiety in her voice was present in her face as well.
“I had hoped you would finish at my alma mater, but it appears as though that was not meant to be,” Kikyo said as though she had not heard her daughter’s anguished words, cutting her remaining salmon into bite-sized pieces and then cutting them in half.
“I’ll bring my grade up in geometry and study four more hours every day and all weekend,” Kagome said, the tears she had been holding back since the evening started now beginning to make their way down her face. Inuyasha felt invisible and helpless, wanting to help but not sure of his place yet.
“It has already been decided, Kagome.” Kikyo’s voice was a few degrees cooler than it had been and even Inuyasha shivered.
“Mother!” Kagome stood up so fast her chair fell over backwards, her hands shaking as they gripped the edge of the table.
“You are excused. You may go to your room and study.”
A sob wrenched out from Kagome’s throat and she turned and ran, footsteps echoing loudly. He heard a door slam.
Kikyo chuckled. “I hope that little display of hers did not change your mind, Inuyasha. Teenagers are like little bundles of insanity.”
He sat still, eyes on where Kagome had been sitting. Were things always like this between the two of them?
“What the fuck, Kikyo!”
“Excuse me?” She raised her eyebrows very slightly in a cool, aristocratic manner. She didn’t even look surprised by his outburst, she just seemed like she was waiting for him to apologize.
“What the hell was all that with Kagome? Are things always like this?”
“I warned you she was willful,” she sighed. “If you don’t want to do this anymore, I could always go with my back-up plan and send her to boarding school and try to hold on as long as I can.”
Inuyasha’s mouth dropped open in consternation. Did Kikyo not realize that what she was doing to her daughter was horrid? Or… was this because of the disease? He knew people dealt with death in different ways, some becoming peaceful and resigned, others lashing out at everyone around them. Kikyo fell into the latter category, he guessed.
“Move in with me.”
“Excuse me?” she said again, eyes widening slightly. So that’s what shock looked like on her.
“I want you and Kagome to move in with me before the wedding.” Maybe with his company Kikyo would start to lay off of Kagome. At the very least, he could get Kagome some decent food.
“This is far too sudden, Inuyasha! I only just proposed our arrangement this morning. You haven’t thought—“
“I have. I have thought this through,” he lied, thinking quickly to make up for it. “I have six extra bedrooms just collecting dust and there’s a good private school nearby where all my colleagues send their kids. Please move in with me, Kikyo. Let me make your last days comfortable. Shutting yourself up in this scary old place isn’t good for you,” he pleaded. It was really selfish of him and he knew it. Just having someone to talk to would make him content, he realized in surprise. He had not known how lonely he truly was.
Her eyes softened a tad. “Very well. I’ll have you know that I do not intend to stop working and will be in the office or away on business quite a bit. My spiritual powers keep the majority of the pain at bay so I can keep up appearances. Every weekend I am home will be spent at Suikotsu’s.”
“Of course. I will not interfere with your routine.”
Was this how she and her daughter lived? Was Kagome neglected and then controlled, over and over again?
“How do you think Kagome will feel about this?” he asked, not wanting to cause the girl more anguish. She obviously wanted to stay at her current school, but Kikyo’s mind seemed made up. He would do what he could for her.
Kikyo laughed. “She’ll be delighted. Kagome has always hated this place despite not ever having lived anywhere else.”
Inuyasha nodded. A girl like her did not belong in this dark place, overcrowded with expensive, ancient objects that themselves seemed condescending. He could already picture her in his home, doing her schoolwork in the bright sunshine that always came in particularly nicely through the kitchen window, sitting at the small table where he drank his coffee every morning. He smiled at the thought.
“Thanks for dinner, Kikyo. I better get going.”
“Didn’t you have something you wanted to discuss?”
He had completely forgotten. “We can do all that when you move in.”
“I want this wedding as soon as possible,” she stated, placing her hand on his, eyes boring into his with intent.
“Well then, move in as soon as possible.”
Kikyo sighed, sounding somewhat exasperated. “You are beginning to remind me of Kagome. So willful and stubborn. But alright. Urasue will give you the remainder of your meal to take home with you. I remember your horrid dietary habits.”
He started to refuse out of loyalty to his precious ramen, but then remembered Kagome.
“Sure,” he nodded.
No sooner than he had spoken, the double doors banged open and out shuffled Mother Time herself, holding several Tupperware containers. He took them from her and nodded his head goodbye.
“Call me, Kikyo. I’ll find my way out, don’t trouble yourself.”
He walked to the door quickly, not waiting for a reply, anxious to find Kagome and then be on his way. He closed the heavy wooden front door as quietly as he could and trotted around to the back of the large, crumbling house, intent on finding Kagome’s room. He knew from past experience that all the bedrooms were in the back of the second floor and all had balconies. Inuyasha had spent many nights lurking around here while courting Kikyo. Only one room had a dim light coming from it, a little one all the way at the end. He smiled up at the glow. He could feel her.
Bending down, he used his strong eyesight to locate a handful of tiny pebbles. He flung them up at the glass and was pleased when Kagome appeared immediately. It took her a few seconds to spot him, but when she did she opened the French doors and slid out onto the balcony. His smile grew and, balancing the stack of Tupperware on his hip, he jumped up and landed next to her.
“Woah…” Kagome breathed, eyes wide and glowing softly with a child-like wonder. He chuckled at her expression. His heart was beating very fast and he briefly wondered why, as he had not exerted himself at all.
“Why are you here, Father?”
He ignored her question and looked beyond her, into her room. It was small and plain, containing only a narrow bed with a sheet on it, a desk with spindly legs, a chair in front of it that looked like it was about to fall apart, and a closet. The door to her closet was open and he saw few articles of clothing inside, one being the uniform she had been wearing when he entered. There was a shapeless flannel nightgown laid out on the bed and he wondered if anything was less fitting for her.
Shaking himself from his thoughts, he held out the Tupperware to her.
“Here. You should eat.”
“But this belongs to you, Father,” she said, even as she took it from him. Inuyasha chuckled again. Something about her just made him feel lighter somehow.
“I’m giving it to you, Kagome.”
She bowed her head slightly. “I am very grateful.”
He reached out a hand and ruffled her hair, lingering to savor the surprisingly silky texture of her waves.
“No need to be so formal. It doesn’t become you.”
The girl stared at him, silent, and just as he was about to excuse himself and leave, she dropped the Tupperware and threw her arms around him in a fierce embrace. He was startled but quickly returned it, cradling her head against his shoulder, inhaling her happy scent.
“May I call you… Papa?”
“Huh? Uh, sure. Whatever you want…” he murmured, distracted by her softness. She was a bit old to be calling him that, but he remembered what Kikyo had told him about her wish for a father. She’d probably grow out of it after it stopped being a novelty and then they would become friends.
“Papa Yasha. I like it,” she said, followed by a sunshiney giggle.
She left his arms and he suddenly felt very cold, much colder than he had been before their hug, as he watched her pick up the scattered Tupperware, which thankfully had stayed lidded.
“See you soon, Papa Yasha,” she whispered, closing the door behind her and drawing a curtain.
“See you, Kagome,” he whispered to no one, staring at the French doors for a short while before jumping off the balcony and to his car.
***
Kagome placed the Tupperware on her desk and dug in, eating with her fingers. There was filet mignon (Kagome was not allowed to have beef), garlic mashed potatoes (also forbidden, potatoes were unhealthy) and a rich, fudgey cake (sweets were allowed in small portions on birthdays and Christmas). She ate quickly, enjoying it immensely, savoring the delicacies and thinking of her new father all the while.Kikyo had told her stories about Inuyasha ever since she was a little girl. Her mother’s eyes would soften and glow when she spoke of him in a way they never did at any other time. Kagome had always wanted to meet the man her mother obviously loved, imagining him to be strong and kind and gentle, worthy of her mother.
She had been surprised when she opened the door and saw Inuyasha standing there so nervously, but had tried not to show it. The guy looked hardly older than her! Kikyo had mentioned that he was a half-demon and she knew people with demonic ancestry aged differently, but she had still expected someone older and more mature looking, someone like her mother. Shrugging it off as opposites attracting, she had easily regained her enthusiasm and tugged him inside.
Kagome could definitely see what her mother saw in him. He was very, very handsome, so much more attractive than what she had imagined when Kikyo described him. She knew he was kind, he had demonstrated so repeatedly throughout the evening. Yet still, there seemed to be a wildness in him that could not, would not be tamed. She shivered just thinking about it. And those puppy ears! They sang a sort of siren’s song to her, like they were begging to be touched. They just looked so soft and twitched so unexpectedly in such an interesting way. But her mother would have scolded her even worse than usual if she had given in.
Kagome usually took her mother’s rebukes in stride. She was used to that kind of treatment and corrected her behavior almost without thought. However, Inuyasha witnessing her verbal punishments embarrassed her and she reacted much more emotionally than she would have under normal circumstances. She had desperately wanted to make a good impression. She had been praying for a father all her life, after all. Kagome used to pray for a sibling as well, but one day Kikyo overheard her litany of secret wishes and laughed, saying one pregnancy was enough for a lifetime and adoption was out of the question with a child so prone to misbehaving already her responsibility. So at the age of six she gave up all hope for a little brother or sister and instead doubled her prayers for a father. She just hadn’t expected to get such a young, good-looking one.
Blushing, she pushed those thoughts far, far away from her mind, instead pondering what to do with the now empty and licked clean Tupperware. Kagome knelt down and pried up a loose floorboard carefully, going slow so as to be quiet, and slid the containers inside. She would wash them while Kikyo was at work and Urasue took her usual drunken nap.
Sighing, she rose to her feet and slipped out of her company dress and tugged it onto a hanger, wishing she could wear it more often. She only owned that, her school uniform, and two casual outfits consisting of plain white blouses, a black skirt, and a pair of khaki pants. Her mother said that if she had more clothes her head would get bigger and she would become vain, materialistic and worthless. Kagome changed into her nightgown and went to her small bed, turning the desk lamp off on the way. She climbed under the single, thin sheet and closed her eyes, thanking heaven for the gift of Inuyasha, the new member of her family. He would make her mother happy and that would make Kagome happy. She drifted off with a smile on her face and dreamt of white dresses and whiter puppy dogs.