Disclaimer: I don't own anything never will peeps!
A/N: Next part, the last installment, is coming soon. I'm sorry for the super late update. Thank you all for the support.
Title: Promises of the empty
Author: Adorkablebanana
Part II: Fugue
Figuring out the past, Has its toll on the future…
- Garrison Bob.
Pink fluffy clouds floated by the sun dyed sky. The sky was very pretty, the pastel hues smearing the sky above her reminded her of those paintings you could fall in and never come out. She watched enthralled the soothing beauty moving in the air, the whole atmosphere surrounding her, flooding her with a peace that seemed artificial. Almost relaxing and something more…
How can she put it? It all seemed bleak. A meager kind of sensation, but nevertheless it raked in her attention.
Did she forget to lock the door at home again?
Forget to turn off the stove?
Twist the bathtub faucet close?
No…? She felt as if she forgotten something she needed to remember…but what?
Kagome nibbled on her bottom lip pensively, thinking hard into the situation. She, over the past few years, became so forgetful it became frighteningly comical. Well, not for her really. 'What did I--huh?'
"What in the world?" Suddenly aware of her hand's excessive decoration, Kagome examined herself. Lace? Last time she checked she never once wore lacey white gloves. Nor bright pink hair bows and pink fluffy dresses. 'Huh? What's going on here?'
Her legs seemed to work because she got up on her feet easily. She was wearing white lace stockings, white leathery Victorian ankle high boots, and much more lace. Kagome's expression twisted into a more perplexed bewilderment. "Why do I look like a doll…?" She spoke out loud outside of habit, but truthfully at this point hoping for someone, anyone to answer her question.
And to her luck someone did.
"Ms. Fleur, what are you doing standing over there?" Kagome turned around to see none other than …a chestnut brown rabbit dressed up in a sparkly black tuxedo and top hat. Doing what normal cuddly rabbits shouldn't do—crossing his arms across his chest and tapping his fuzzy foot—paw impatiently. He almost appeared to be mad.
But for what? Kagome stared at him for a good minute till the rabbit snorted and said, "Ms. Fleur, stop fuddy-duddy and move along. We need to be at Ms. Sumire's tea party in less than six minutes!" he exclaimed. Kagome just stared. Was this normal? Maybe he was tested with toxic products before? Kagome made a mental note to check the label on her shampoo bottles next time.
"Whose this 'Ms. Fleur'? I think you have the wron--"
"Rubbish! Ms. Fleur, come now, let's get going. We don't have time for your games," said the rabbit, adjusting his black sparkly top hat. He hopped over to Kagome's side and his tiny paw clasped onto her gloved hand. "We must get a move on. Ms. Sumire would be very much displeased if we arrived late."
"Late for what? And who exactly is this 'Ms. Sumire,' Mr.…err…Rabbit?" Kagome asked tentatively, trying to keep up with the rabbit's hopping pace.
The rabbit did a double take hearing Kagome's question. The reaction displayed on the rabbit's fuzzy face exposed a mistake Kagome obviously made. This didn't look good. What did she say that was wrong?
"M-M-Mr. R-Rab-b-bit? Mr. Rabbit! I have you know, Ms. Fleur, my name is not 'Mr. Rabbit' as you so casually put it. It's Mr. Cottontail, thank you very much," the rabbit snapped indignantly. The name 'Rabbit' poked a sore spot in Mr. Cottontail. Kagome really couldn't see why he sounded so angry (Mr. Cottontail sounded more ridiculous than Mr. Rabbit), but either form felt a stab of guilt for insulting the hare. She never had a cute bunny yell at her before.
"I'm sorry," she worked up the bit of spare energy to say. She was now running to keep up with the rabbit's pace. Mr. Cottontail didn't answer. He lead her to a large pink teakettle shaped house, it was enormous! Kagome gaped in all awe fascination, never seen a big structure shaped like a teapot. Then again who did? How strange. "Uh? What's with the huge teapot Mr.…Cottontail?" She remembered to call him by his actual name. Her eyes bulged taking in the entire site.
"Tsk, tsk, Ms. Fleur. This is Lady Sumire's palace. And she has invited you as guest of honor," he informed her quite arrogantly, his pink nose twitching. "You should feel proud Ms. Fleur and stop gawking, it is very unladylike."
She nodded numbly, snapped her mouth shut. Escorting Kagome very gentlemanly, the rabbit locked arms together showing her off inside the teapot shaped castle. Inside the marvelous edifice, Kagome's eyes took in everything her eyes could see. If she found Mr. Cottontail strange all the…individuals she found inside were even more bizarre.
Cute penguins wearing sparkly black bowties waited on every creature--err--guest at each of the round glass tables. A couple of outlandish animals Kagome seen in magazines and in the zoo, like her rabbit host, dressed in elegant gowns and suits and ties. Kagome felt positively left out, sticking out like a sore thumb being the sole human there. "Quit staring Ms. Fleur," whispered the hare disapprovingly at Kagome, who was entranced by a passing peacock dressed head to toe in fringe.
The peacock noticed this and instantly snapped its beak crossly at her. "Well, excuse me Ms.! Haven't you ever seen a peacock dress up before?"
"Um, I—"
"Oh, a smart one, eh? Listen here you, I may not be a female, but my soul feels like one! What matters is on the inside not the outside! It's not my fault I'm so beautiful!" the indignant peacock chirped swishing around proud striking Kagome in the face with his lovely feathers.
Everybody stared at the scene until the interest broke down they slowly returned to their business. Kagome gaped, baffled by the fast occurrence. What did she possibly do to make a peacock angry? Fine. The thought to pluck and steal one of the radiant feathers to use for a pen did cross her mind, though she did nothing of the sort to cause another conflict. Who knew birds could be so nasty and overly sensitive?
A dull rose coloring appeared across the hare's fuzzy face, blazing. He scoffed then jerked her to the other side towards a particularly large heart shaped, glittering crystal table. Kagome smoothed her hand over the table's surface, her attention stolen from the fuming tuxedoed rabbit to the shining tabletop. Pretty. Very pretty and sparkly!
Kagome seated herself on a heart shaped armchair that matched the table—it sparkles! Mr. Cottontail pushed her seat in and seated himself to her right side, silently still carrying the ireful expression. Kagome wanted to ask him if anything's bugging him, but took a wild guess of the cause for it.
"Mr. Cotto--"
"Just WHY did you feel the need to insult a guest? Tell me, please, or is the idea cross-dressing squeamish?"
"C-cross-dressing? Who--"
"Cross-dressing, Ms. Fleur! Cross-dressing! Madam Sparrow is male and likes to carry off as a female. Don't, but, don't tamper with it!" the hare warned severely.
Kagome leaned back avoiding the advancing proximity the hare's paw pointed as he scowled and lectured her. And to think Kagome use to think rabbits were cute. "I get the point, rabbit!" snarled Kagome, feeling already cornered to the limit. She had enough of his harping.
Mr. Cottontail narrowed his brown, beady eyes. "Why--I--"
A pattering chink interrupted the puffed-faced hare, his brown long ears twitched irate and forced to contain his rage to himself. A very well jeweled jaguar with silk pastel sashes entwined round her thick, long, furry neck, stood beside a chimp dressed in a bright blue tux, tapping a spoon against his wine glass, drawing everybody in the room's attention.
"Simmer down," the chimp began, everyone hushed, waiting for what the chimp offered to say. "First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who came here today," he paused permitting the applause to fade over. "We are gathered here today to honor a special quest our queen has invited specifically. Let's give a welcoming applause to Ms. Lilac Fleur," the chimp proudly announced as the entire ballroom cheered animatedly.
Kagome clapped too, looking around for this special guest. Mr. Cottontail's beady eyes shot her an incredulous look. He shoved her urgently on the shoulders to get up. "That's you, Ms. Fleur! I told you before! Go up there, you dolt!"
The news sinking in, Kagome promptly stumbled to her feet and strutting, very stiffly, her way up the platform where the smiling chimp extended a hairy hand to her. She never touched a monkey before and was surprised by the chimp's gentle grip. The hand seemed almost human. She flushed pink feeling the audiences' attention all on her, scrutinizing her head to toe. She remembered this nasty feeling back when she attended school, whenever a teacher called her up for an oral presentation. Those were the good old days.
The chimp accompanied her to the top alter, she recently begun to notice visible. That wasn't there a moment before? The smiling chimp cut her thoughts short once they climbed the last dazzling step. More sparkles?
"I would like to introduce you to our queen, her majesty, Queen Sumire," the chimp dramatically presented his queen, bowing low to the throne. Kagome quickly curtseyed once she remembered she wore a dress. Well, actually following the rabbit's order. Bowing wasn't as expected from a girl as it should be.
"You may rise," came the queen's intone. Kagome and the chimp rose and to shockers' fate sitting poise right there on the throne sat Sango! The major difference between the Sango she assimilates with and the Sango sitting there is the distinct taste in…attire.
The "Queen" presented herself in the most revealing, body hugging, glittery silk garbs Kagome's eye ever came across. This Sango dripped in gemstones and had the two most magnificent butterfly wings embedded in her back. If she didn't know any better she swore she gazed into the eyes of a goddess. What is this? Some kind of fantasy tale?
"S-Sango?" Kagome stuttered, convinced the queen is indeed her old friend Sango.
"Pardon?" said the queen, appearing thoroughly perplexed. "I don't know this 'Sango' you speak of Ms. Fleur, as much as I appreciate the humor it is of the essential you address me properly."
"S-Sorry. Forgive my foolishness, your, um, h-highness," Kagome apologized, the unsure feeling hanging there. She frowned, positive the queen before her is pulling her leg, but for the sake of that annoying hare she might as well play along in the charade.
"Very well, I hope you're ready for the tea I'm having prepared for us," said the queen, smiling brightly. She snapped her manicured fingers and instantly a table materialized. The queen beckoned Kagome and Mr. Chimp to sit in as her guests' of honor. "Ms. Daisy!" she bellowed, Kagome and Mr. Chimp cringed.
Seconds later a young woman in a lacey maid's uniform came in tow bearing a cart full of gourmet desserts. Kagome recognized her as the once living Kikyou. She blanched. How on earth did a priestess suddenly change to the occupation of a French maid? "Tea, ma'am?"
"...N-No, thank you," Kagome managed to say. Her throat felt dry and raspy. Kikyou smiled, moving on to offer the queen what her heart desired. One thing for sure, Kikyou wasn't in the character role she knew her by and frankly she did wear the maid outfit well. This was getting scary.
The queen picked a sweet or two to compliment her tea. She took a few sips of her tea then she directed Kagome with a look of inquiry. "Is the food not to your liking?"
"Yes, it is. I'm just pretty full now."
"Oh, then," Queen Sumire sighed, "I may as well move onto the judging."
"Judging?" Kagome raised a brow, straightening up in her set --wait, when was there a chair? She didn't remember sitting down. And why were her hands and feet strapped down? "What is this?"
"Yes, judging. You see I am the one who decides whether to allow the condemned, which is you, to pass the judgment," the Queen explained.
"...What happens if you don't pass?"
"Fated to eternal damnation, what else? But you already failed the test, I'm afraid," the Queen said sadly. Shaking her head.
Kagome's eyes widened. What! How did that happen? "Wait a minute, I didn't do any test! How did I fail something I didn't do?"
"You did take the test, my dear. You see; you didn't accept the tea."
"Tea?! Tea! All this because I didn't drink some stupid tea!" Kagome lost her attachments of polite civility. She struggled within her trappings.
The queen glared, everyone around them frightened a notch. Like she dropped a bomb. "This tea is made from the leaves of the Tree of Light, refusing to partake is proof you're rotten to the core. I've seen enough evidence to support my judgment. I sentence you to eternal damnation," she announced, in a cold tone enough to shake a mountain. A frightened servant went to her side, supplying her with ominous scythe. "Off with your head!" One powerful swipe, she hacked Kagome's head clean off her shoulders.
She was screaming inside, her throat humming under the vibrations. Her mouth felt stiff and immobile.
A smooth voice kept prodding her on and on. She focused on the voice.
"Kagome…Kagome…" Who was calling her? She hardly recognized the owner of the voice--but it sounds so familiar.
"Kagome…please..." There it went again, calling after her. She tailed the voice, the one summoning her. Kagome followed, uncertainty and insecurity beating inside her chest. She fluttered her eyes open, her vision sluggishly adapting to the blotchy image. Carefully Kagome adjusted to the blur gradually clearing to a young man's persona. Waitshe knew him. It's Souta!
Blinking, Kagome's haze diminished and she stared up at Souta's concerned face. Her face composed to a tedious demeanor and couldn't say much to smooth over the tension between them. "Souta…"
"Oh, thank goodness, Kagome! I thought…well, all that matters is that you're alright," Souta said, blowing out a breath of relief. He sat at the edge of her bed, his fingers brushing hers, comforting almost. Kagome's eyes followed his movements and the white wrappings binding her hand up her wrist continuing up her forearm strung an alarm. What's this?
"Souta, what--" She lost her words, analyzing her surroundings. The room was white everywhere and she's alone. Where is she! Her breathing quickening, Kagome frantically scanned every corner of the room. Souta leaned in, sweeping her sticky bangs to the sides and he patted a cloth to wipe the cold sweat dampening her forehead.
"Relax, you're just in the hospital for your wounds. You took quite a fall there, but thankfully its nothing to stress over," he whispered pacifying and she succeeded to relax a notch, though the knowledge she's confined in a hospital did not rest easy with her. Souta's earlier words returned to haunt her.
"If it's nothing then why is my arm all bandaged up? A fall isn't that bad," Kagome said, breathing quickly, frightened like a child.
Souta put on his best happy expression, the one that said nothing was wrong when it was. He didn't want to say what the woman who phoned the ambulance said. The woman told the paramedics Kagome went into a sort of trance no one could reach her. Kagome peeled and clawed at the scrape, her fingers digging out the flesh on her own arm before she passed out from blood lost. Souta smiled again, reassuringly. "It's nothing. The fall scraped your arm is all."
Kagome wanted to believe him, but the feeling it wasn't going to be all right hung there. 'Don't leave me here…' She trembled, swallowing her urge to cry out. For everything she valued, she begged her brother wouldn't dare lock her in the asylum. She didn't belong there. She wasn't insane.
"Sis, I'm sorry."
'He's sorry? For what?' The apology was an unexpected twist on things. She searched his face for a valid reason she could identify. He would be sorry if he made a decision for her she didn't agree on--then is he going to lock her in! Panic flickered across her face. Souta shook his head, remedying his mistake. "I'm sorry about, you know, suggesting to put you in a home…" Remorse clearly showed on his profile. Souta clutched the thin fabric beneath his fingers, crinkling the sheet as he reflected over his early actions. "You didn't deserve to hear that from me. I just wanted the best for you, so I flew off the top to keep you safe…I don't want anything bad to happen to you, I really care about you."
Swallowing her guilt, for thinking he would do her in without her consent, she prepared for him a dull, but genuine smile. "I appreciate the concern, but there's nothing you can really do for me that will change the way things are now. You have to accept the way everything is, Souta. You have a life set for you. Try not to upset the balance by sticking next to me," she said very passively. Like her earlier tantrums never happened. It sends a chill down Souta's spine. Her words hurt, they hurt because the truth is the truth. He didn't want it to be so, he refused to hang the towel and call it a set and done deal. No! Kagome can't…she…
Kagome frowned watching the frustrating emotions flicker across his face. She reacquainted herself with regret to disrupt the hopes he held. Yet, her intent awoke the truth he's blind to and she, at least, was satisfied knowing Souta will take the truth into consideration and go on. Maybe if he dropped his Boy Scout honor. Fat chance that'll happen.
"By the way, how's your arm?" she asked. She meant to ask him about his condition after she remembered why he could've taken the chance to put her away. She noticed the bandages dressing his arm. They plagued her. She done him a pain he did not deserve. Why did she do it? Why did she want to rip the entire arm off at the moment? "I'm terribly sorry…" The disbelief he willingly stood by her and concerned about her frankly surprised her. Halfway she thought she knew he was just like her. A poor sucker, a loyal puppy that remains loyal even after you beat it. They really are brother and sister. "I thought maybe you would hate me," she muttered, glancing elsewhere, somewhere Souta isn't.
"It happens. Forget about it, it's really nothing and I can never hate you. You're all I got now," he sincerely said, shrugging the injury inflicted over his arm. Souta reached to the bedside table grabbing a brown paper bag, he set it on a tray a nurse gave him and stacked the contents. Kagome quirked a brow when Souta rolled up the brown paper bag tossing it in the receptacle a good foot away. He had good aim.
"And that is?"
"Food I bought for you, you haven't ate in a good two days since you've been here." Souta shoved the food filled tray onto her lap and he spooned some soup from a small container, he held it up expecting her to open her mouth.
"What are you doing?" Kagome inquired, ire rising in her tone. Kagome took a moment to analyze the situation, he shouldn't be moving around with his bad arm injured, and yet he insisted to fore fill a duty.
"I'm feeding you, what else does it look like?" Souta answered unceremoniously, neglecting to care his sister's dignity sized up to impossible, she always preferred managing her own things. Too bad it's not happening for now.
"I can do it myself, Souta!" She made a grab for it, but winced in mid motion, feeling the prickling stinging streak up her arms. God did it hurt. She hissed and moaned her discomfort. She regretted lifting her arms. "Argh!"
"Can you really? I don't think so, you scraped your arms pretty bad so until the bandages come out I'm going to help you," Souta informed her, his tone edging parental. Kagome twisted away favoring the option not to bite his head off for patronizing her so. "It's only for a few more days until your scrapes scab up and don't bother you. Come on, open the hatch," he insisted motioning the spoon to her mouth.
Degrading as the deed was she had no other alternative. "Fine," she mumbled childishly. She glowered him and opened her mouth.
When she was sinking in her inescapable distressed a long, lankly hand dripping in crimson scratched the walls, deafening her ears.
"Get rid of it," she frequently whispered. Souta or whoever accompanied her at the moment fixed her puzzled looks; she would be forced to concede they were blind to it. They are blind to it. How she wish to cut her eyes out to join in the blindness.
"Tell me, how do you feel about living with your brother now?"
"Fine."
"Are things fairing well between the two of you?"
"Yes."
"How do you feel about your brother? Is he treating you well?" The psychiatrist adjusted his lens as he implored his patient.
Kagome was still as a rock, dull and emotionless as she spoke. No one knew she wasn't in control of her body, her dominating half few knew co-existed in her for some time now and he was in control. The blank expression in her eyes twisted to a grim, morbid side that never belonged to Kagome in the first place. "Oh, he certainly is. I can't do a thing to thank him."
The ominous eyes of blood sometimes stared at her through the mirror perversely over her reflection. She would scream and sweat cold sweat when no one understood and was blind to what surrounded her.
Why can't they see it!
Why can't they see what she sees? Why can't anyone hear him whispering in her ear, "The hours are passing by. What will you do then, priestess?"
"Leave me alone…I already know!"
Souta jiggled the knob. Souta's frantic beating of fists and continuous calls; asking her to open the door. She locked the door when she trapped herself inside. No, her little brother has to stay outside. He cannot come into the darkness.
"Your time is almost up."
"Go away!" Kagome trembled, hugging herself. The red eyes glowed. She screamed, crashing a fist through the mirror in hopes of banishing the eyes.
More bandages bound her arms.
What else is new? The material stiffen movements, she couldn't even scratch the itch the bandages made.
The doctor said the damage wasn't too serious and if she's lucky the scars won't be bad. How many times has she inflicted pain to her hand now? She lost count. There was nothing available to utilize to slay the eyes of the devil, she had to use the last of resources.
Souta's mad at her, of course. Right now they're waiting for the nurse he hired to arrive. She's paid for overnight services. Hooray, Kagome thought sarcastically. Can her situation get any better?
Frankly she cared less and less what Souta did. He assured her it's all for her own good. Going against the truth of the matter never worked in her favor.
Bit by grating bit, Kagome was beginning to grow tired and spent. In the end she decided for the greater good (for Souta and those who bother with her) to play, to comply, act like obedient sister listening to Souta's wishes. He knew better anyway, everyone agreed so and her psychosis (says the doctor) is becoming more frequent.
She didn't believe she was ill yet did it matter? In her family there's no history of mental disorders and to suddenly develop one is farfetched, as it seems. Kagome was never the lucky one. Maybe she's the first of the line of many horrors to come.
Living with Souta put Kagome on restricted terms.
She wasn't up to cooking meals for him or for anyone in particular. It's the girls, Ayumi, Eri, or Yuka, who volunteered to cook for her or Souta himself. Souta took away the privilege after catching Kagome, on one of her very off days where she would mumble to herself or sunk in depression, digging up the neighbor's garden up and unburying the family pet's carcass.
She claimed the dog's corpse was lonely, needed feeding and he couldn't breath underneath the earth. "Pon-chan's hungry. I came to give him food," Kagome had said in that eerie, childish tone one couldn't have mistaken for as real innocence. She petted the deceased dog, barely recognizable with the dirt stained fur and flesh clumps hanging on ripping strands of flesh, infested with ants and worms tunneling through the rotten meat.
Souta made sure the neighbors did not hear of it. The kids down the block took the blame for it, which coincidentally wreck numerous gardens and lawns. What's one more scolding for them?
The nurse was an extremely kind and beautiful woman. Dressed in the white uniform she appeared heavenly as an angel roaming the earth in a human body. If Kagome wasn't in her right senses (at the moment anyway) the nurse could have passed by as a modern day Ayame. She did look a lot like wolf demoness who was infatuated with Kouga, the wolf prince. No question there, minus the elfin ears, fangs, and claws.
Maybe she was Ayame of the white wolves clan? No one would believe her and when Kagome asked Ayame she giggled, brushing off her commentary as a joke. Tch!
The nurse went by the name of Shinobu but Kagome always called her Ayame. Shinobu didn't seem to mind and either way it suited Kagome just fine, just dandy because having to lay eyes on her everyday brought hopes of the past she would never most likely see.
Souta trusted Kagome's care in Shinobu, he paid her well and this lightens the load and stress when he went off to work or school. Ayumi and the girls couldn't see Kagome all the time and he started noticing they're more cautious around her.
What had Kagome done to frighten them?
Or perhaps they couldn't bear the sight of what became of Kagome. He did not blame them because some days he wished to run away from all this distress but he wasn't strong enough to go on the whim. The thought of abandoning Kagome left him distraught. She couldn't live on her own if her episodes continued and after the incident of hiring a random girl from his school to cook and clean the house for them who can he trust?
For heaven's sake he came home and found the woman having her way with Kagome. She was on top of her, tonguing her chest and swirling her fingers inside her. Souta narrowly had a heart attack. That woman had a lot of nerve to do that with his sister inside his own place.
The dirty little whore even dared to say Kagome beckoned her to do it. That his sister initialed the act and she had a passion of a hungry man that overwhelmed Motoko's common sense. She lured her like a passionate man would.
He wouldn't hear of it because it was not true. Kagome didn't provide any statements going against or with the woman's word. She just lied there, quiet, naked and disoriented. She said nothing to help the case.
Souta honestly felt hopeless. He relied on the nurse to steer a clear and professional relationship with Kagome. He held no doubts she could do her job as directed.
He took over. He did it. Not her. She swore it. He found it funny and laughed when reality snapped back into her.
He did it. She didn't stop him either. Maybe she is as dirty and corrupt as he is?
Sometimes when he took over and 'did' things she normally wouldn't do on her own she had moments where regret and hopelessness seemed as far away as the clouds floating in the sky were.
Like little Motoko. Yes, she had called her that when she accidentally let him slip in and he did what he desired to do.
She did her hair today, no longer the long, brass, graceful fall past her shoulders. Bouncy brass colored hair cut in neat layers framing her pretty face, it almost emphasis the rich glow of her almond colored eyes. She was the right height to match Kagome's. Kagome watched her cross the room back and forth, cleaning the place. Dusting here and there.
Her eyes followed Motoko carefully, with a calculated and imploring look a person beyond her years could only accomplish. Motoko hadn't pay much mind to it, Kagome did do the strangest things time to time and with that reason didn't take her little stare down seriously.
Kagome stood. It seemed like strings of a puppet pulled her up. Motoko froze looking at her from the mirror. That wasn't normal. People, the living and breathing, didn't rise up like that. Motoko stopped breathing all together when Kagome came over and wrapped her arms around Motoko's shoulders. She smelled the fragrance of lilies on her neck. Motoko is wearing a new perfume. Kagome leaned close to the woman's ear, just a breath's away from the shell of her ear. "This one suits you, it smells very...good."
Motoko had difficulty finding her breath having Kagome so close to her, invading every inch of her personal space. "T-Thanks...could you..."
"What's wrong, Motoko-chan? You seem troubled?" Kagome said, her hands moving down slowly, one sliding down the side of Motoko's hip, the other resting over the gap of her V-neckline. "What troubles you?"
"S-Stop. Kagome-san, please, this is..."
"This is what?" her voice lowered. Kagome was gone. He was in charge. "I can see you sweating, are you scared?"
Motoko, for some reason or another, couldn't utter a word. She couldn't push Kagome back or scream out 'get the hell away,' nothing at all. She remained transfixed, staring at the woman in the mirror holding her. Touching her.
"That's a good girl, Motoko-chan. There's nothing to be afraid of, little one." Motoko gulped, her nerves of steel withered away. Kagome tilted Motoko's head back, the trembling woman looking up into Kagome's brown--no wait, red eyes. What? "All I'm going to do is show what naughty schoolgirls like best." Kagome's mouth moved over Motoko's and the poor girl couldn't do a thing about it.
God, someone help her. Kagome couldn't erase what he showed her in her mind. Flashes of that day and the humiliation of her brother coming in replayed over and over. 'Why won't you leave me alone?'
"Ayame, let's go out for a while. This place is getting kind of stuffy for me."
"Alright." Shinobu saw no harm taking her out for a walk. Although half the time Kagome's outside the world of logic she did have her good days. This was one of them.
The city is a place the world moved on forward and fast. No longer did she belong here, even Ayame meld in the modern day world. Kagome clasped Ayame's hand hoping the glow of acceptance surrounding her would flow into her too.
Ayame smiled, showing her to the shopping districts, spending the day like not a trouble in the world existed. For a nurse, she didn't treat her as a patient. She treated her more as a person. The change is nice. They went out and Kagome could've sworn she seen someone in the tree watching her. Her imagination running wild again, she reasoned. To point it out would ruin her freedom and Ayame would see her as the patient she took care of.
At times, when Ayame (She's not Ayame! She's Shinobu! Kagome repeats to herself.) took her out for a stroll, she would see the occasional pale blond and her heart would skip a beat. It's habitual. She always anticipated reuniting with her first man, InuYasha, again. She long left that dream aside, but frequently the nostalgia and buried feelings would resurface. Whoever said you'd forget your first has never truly loved.
More and more she wished she wasn't like 'this' and back to the way she was before all this mess began. Maybe, then Shuuichi Minamino, or otherwise known as Kurama, would still be beside her. Of course, she always knew it wasn't a permanent setup.
She was happy with him although they did have their issues concerning the people surrounding him. Shiori didn't like her associating with her son, which was understandable really. Who would want his or her grandchildren ill? Shiori also made a few things obvious to why she didn't like her. She even went as far as to say she was crazy enough to kill her own child one day. That hurt Kagome the most. And the sad truth one day it might come down to that.
Known of his friends agreed on his choice, but he pushed all their opinions and criticisms aside. Kagome felt guilty he done so much for her and yet, they ended up this way. There were moments she regretted not picking up the phone and calling him back so he could take her back and….
But all that were illusions. Falsehoods. Kagome didn't understand why Kurama picked her of all people to stay with, she still couldn't crack that code and she was tempted to approach him one day, once he moved on with his life, and ask him why did he like her?
The truth might hurt to know.
And…yet, she still wanted to know to thank him for giving her the affection she longed for. Even if it was an artificial one, Kagome was sure of it.
Ayame left her tucked in bed, after giving her a few tranquilizers. Kagome felt edgy today and as night came the edge didn't seem to want to disperse. Ayame slept in the other room. Kagome felt as passive as the aid of medication would allow her to, but the restlessness blew the chances of soundless sleeping away.
The quietness spreading the room could make a pin-drop sound endlessly sharp and loud. Kagome didn't try sneaking around like a nervous mouse slinking corner to corner. Shinobu, "Ayame", was sound asleep. Nothing Kagome could do could drag her out of that slumber. Kagome wasn't going to test that theory. If Ayame--err--Shinobu decided to bunk in the same room as her, Kagome wasn't guaranteeing the nurse's safety. She liked Shinobu. She didn't want to bring harm to her.
Kagome debated whipping up a quick snack and turn on the television. The pouring of rain always made it difficult for her to sleep. For one, she's afraid of thunderstorms and rain always brought back the ghosts of her past.
Fruits sounded nice, Kagome decided. She walked down the dark rooms, switching on the light never occurring to her.
The kitchen, compared to the other rooms, leaked a little moonlight or something like it from the fire escape window. Kagome watched the rain dribble down the windowpanes for a second. She shook her head and resumed to the task at hand. Feed her stomach. Kagome washed and sliced an apple, slipping a piece into her mouth.
Before having the chance to munch on another juicy piece a clanking thud had Kagome hiding behind the refrigerator door. What the heck was that? Kagome peeked up and there it was again. The thud was louder and she thought for a moment it cracked her window. She peered closely at it and through the watery fog obscuring a clear view of outside the fire escape she saw the outline of a person.
Kagome swallowed. She held in her squeal of fright and surprise. A Burglar!
The knocking continued and Kagome was pretty sure Shinobu awaken from the noise. A word out of nowhere appeared through her line of thought, shoving all frantic worries to the side. Open.
Where did that thought come from? She shivered. Hugging herself tightly. Running to bed and hiding under the covers wouldn't work—but it would make her feel better.
Open…
Kagome slowly walked to the window. Reaching up to the lock, she unlocked the window knowing how she'll regret it. She stepped back, blocking the droplets of cold rain from touching her. The figure in black came in, jumping off the sill. He shook the water drenching him head to toe. Kagome noticed even soaked his hair remained spiky, defying gravity.
The spark of surprise in her eyes didn't leave the moment she realized who this person was. She felt numb standing there. "What are you doing here?" She asked once her voice worked again.
He stared at her with a gaze depleted of emotion or life. She anticipated venomous animosity, not this. He removed the soaked jacket Kagome, to this day, didn't know what to call exactly, hanging it on a hook to dry off. "Personal reasons," he replied, calmly.
"Hiei…" Kagome slowly stepped back to the counter, trying not to seem readable. "Why? Came to finish me?" Her back met the counter where the apple slices and knife lay unforgotten by her.
Dewdrops dotted his hair and eyelashes. For a flying moment there he appeared young, so very young. He looked like a teenager and she, his senior, by a couple of years.
Kagome's hand slide behind the countertop casually, she dipped her head, long hair falling in a stream of wavy darkness down her face and shoulders. "Well? Why are you here? Kurama no longer dwells with me. He chose another woman as you could see."
"You act as if I haven't heard of the news. A miracle such as this would bring me endless joys," he said.
Hiei didn't look at her. His eyes seemed distant and bleak. He closed the window and for a moment he blended in with the darkness swallowing them. Kagome shivered with unbridle anger—and him here made everything unfair. What does he want from her? Kurama isn't with her, that's what he wanted, right? Why come to mock her on her loss?
You cruel, cruel man. His mere presence brought back memories she long buried and held deep inside hoping they won't come back and haunt her. "Get out," Kagome said, her voice thinning to a raspy whisper. "Out, out, out. Get out. Leave me alone."
Hiei tilted his head, leaning casually against the counter where the majority of the cabinets stored the pots and pans. "I can't do that," he merely said.
That's when Kagome snapped. She grabbed the kitchen knife, lounging at him intending to thrust one big blow to his chest and end all the mockeries and cruelties he represented. Clip one end of her suffering. She pushed her weight into launching her attack.
Hiei caught her wrist easily though the surprise in his eyes unsettled a part in him the demon didn't appreciate she inflicted. Stupid girl. Hiei shoved her person away from him, still holding her wrist snug in his grip. Kagome squirmed, jerking to pull away. "Let go!"
Hiei jerked her to her feet, the force stumbling her to her knees and at Hiei's feet. He kneeled, in a low tone he said, "I can crush this flimsy wrist and hand along with it in a single squeeze. Don't temp me to go through with it, human." He gave a single squeeze enough to emit a whimper out of her. He plucked the knife from her aching fingers. Examining it closely. "This won't do much damage to me."
Kagome breathed in and out shallow breaths. "Let me go, Hiei!" she hissed. The intrigue Hiei put on the knife unsettled her in a way she needed to scramble out of his grip.
"Lost that audacious nerve I see." Hiei's bright crimson eyes reflected on the steel length of her weapon of choice. Kagome's free hand trembled. She would've slapped him right here, right now if she wasn't scared. Hiei snatched her other hand, roughly slipping the knife back in her hold.
Kagome whimpered, biting her tongue to not scream. Shinobu, help!
Hiei raised her hand to meet the side of his face. The fine tip of the knife hovering over his flesh. "Is this what you wanted to do?" He dragged the sharp point down the side of his face. A deep, thin bloody line dripped out and down his face.
Kagome gasped, numb in his hold. "Oh, good God—"
"Do you get a rush cutting me up? I implore you to try," Hiei said harshly.
She squirmed in his hold, pulling back and demanding him to release her. "Let me go, let me go, dammit!"
Hiei pushed her away; she skidded across the floor and stopped against one of the kitchen table's leg in a thud. Kagome shivered. Claret eyes glowed in the darkness, locked only on hers.