The Adopted Hinamori

Chapter Three

Artistic and Blunt

Kagome decided it was best to give her sister some time on her own. She was grieving over the prior incident. She was rejected in front of the entire school.

Kagome decided to go for a walk. The weather was nice, and the sun was brightly shining. Floating beside her was her chara Ishi. Kagome gave a sad smile yet didn't say anything. Ishi floated in front of her face. "Hey Kagome! What's the matter? You seem down. You want me to do a character change? I can beat someone up for you," she asked excitedly rubbing her hands together with a large smirk.

Kagome looked at her chara with grateful eye. "I'm not sad. If anything, I am happy that you are here Ishi. It's just... I can't remember anything before the age of five. Something has always felt... missing. Now that you are here, I can begin to feel that empty part of myself filling itself."

They walked into the park. They were going to meet up with Amu at school. They had woken up early. They still had an hour to kill. They walked in the park. Ishi and Kagome were by a fountain. They watched the clear water fall. It was a nice sight.

Kagome and her chara began to travel to the bench were they could sit until she had to go to school but stopped when she saw something. Ishi and Kagome could see a Chara peeking its head from behind a bench.

"We can see you!" Ishi crossed her arms as she called, "'There is no point in hiding!"

The unknown chara seemed to reluctantly come out. When they had a good look at her, Kagome and her chara noticed that the chara was female. She looked half like a priestess and half like a samurai. "Hello Kagome. I apologize. I didn't mean to interrupt."

Kagome looked at the new chara strangely. She was certain that she had never seen her before. She still had her other two eggs on her, so she couldn't be hers, yet for some strange reason Kagome felt connected to her. Ishi floated to Kagome's shoulder and sat down. She glared at the newcomer.

"Do I know you?" Kagome continued to stare at the chara confused. She continued, "Whose chara are you?"

"I am no one's chara in particular. You could think of me as a special case. I was born from a soul that resided in a powerful jewel, however, that jewel no longer exists. Some have adapted to calling me Embryo, but my true name is Midoriko. You may call me that. I have been watching you from afar for quite some time Kagome."

Kagome was more confused as Ishi now looked curious at Midoriko. "Why would you be watching me? What is the embryo? I keep hearing it, but I have to clue as to what it is."

Midoriko knew she had to be careful about what she said. She couldn't reveal anything about Kagome's past. Because of this, she had to bend the truth in parts of her explanation. "You are special Kagome. You could also think of it as me repaying my debt. As for the embryo... it is a wishing heart egg. I can grant a wish." Midoriko went into more depth explaining the situation.

Kagome suddenly realized the time. "I'm going to be late." She sighed. She would have to run to make it in time. "Sorry Midoriko, I must go."

Midoriko smiled. "It is alright, child. There are things I need to do. I just ask that you do not speak of me to anyone. It would cause chaos."

Kagome had to ask something before she left. "Why do you trust me then?"

"As I have said before you are special. Besides I know you wouldn't use me. You don't like to rely on things with me to gain what you want."

Kagome knew she was right, however, didn't know how she knew that. Kagome couldn't waste more time though. She had to head to school... NOW! "Ishi! Let's go!"

Amu was walking into the classroom. She wouldn't meet anyone's gaze. She was fairly certain that rumors would have started with her. She was wrong when a bunch of girls approached her. They complimented her and she blushed to the comments.

"You were so cool yesterday."

They then began to talk about Kagome. "Kagome was cool too."

Another girl said, "Yeah, I never knew she had that side to her. She was so cold and protective."

Amu listened to the girls' conversation. 'Yeah... protective. That sounds like Kagome. Growing up she was always there for me. She acted so much older during those times. It was almost as if there was a larger age difference than a few months.' Amu was remembering those times.

Nadeshiko had entered the classroom and approached Amu. Only Amu had heard what she said, but everyone had easily discovered that she was invited to the royal garden.

Kagome was had stopped running and began walking down the halls of Seiyo Academy. Fortunately, she had arrived on time. Walking down the hall, Kagome and Ishi came into contact with Nadeshiko.

She approached her and said, "Ah, Kagome! There you are. I would have thought you would have been in class with your sister."

'There still isn't something right with... her?' Kagome took a closer look at Nadeshiko's features and trusted her senses completely. 'That's it! She's a he? I think that's it. I'll have to confirm my suspicions later.'

"I was running behind schedule." Okay, she was ready early, but talking to Midoriko was setting herself behind schedule.

"I see..." She took out an envelope from beneath her cape and handed it to Kagome. "We will be awaiting you in the Royal Garden after school today. You're sister, Amu, has already received her invitation." Nadeshiko began walking off to her first class. Kagome put the invite in her bag before entering her own first period class.

It was currently gym. Their class was doing high jump. Amu was not so thrilled because she lacked in athletics. Kagome on the other hand didn't mind. She loved sports, running, and exercise. Anything athletic she was just as good as she loved it. It was in fact her turn at high jump now.

Kagome stood getting in position. She was giving a composed smile. She looked at the bar. She gave a small smirk as she began running to the bar. On her last step she gave a lot of force into the ground as she jumped up. Kagome made it high above the bar and landed on the couching. Kagome lied on her back with a smile.

Several from their class chanted, "SUGOI!"

"She got another school record."

"That was higher than last time."

Her pinkette sister looked at Kagome's chara. "Did you do that to her?"

Ishi glared at Amu. "Sports aren't my thing. You should just admit that Kagome is better at athletics than you." Kagome's chara stuck her nose in the air. "I mean look... you have to rely on that pink thing."

Not only did Ishi not get along well with Amu's first cheerleading chara, but she hated the color pink as well.

"Hey!" Amu and Ran whined together to Ishi. The rebellious chara smirked at Amu before going over to congratulate her bearer.

The third grade gym teacher then asked for the fifth years' assistance. He needed someone to show how to go backwards on the horizontal bar. Kagome would have been happy to show them. She was going to volunteer until Ran took over of Amu. Before she could say anything, she watched her sister run leaving a trail behind her. She spun at an amazing pace, but ii was forward not backwards.

Kagome saw her sister come out of the bathroom. She had just had a chat with her chara. Kagome felt sorry for Ran. Kagome wasn't blind. Amu didn't have much belief or faith in the charas. "I lost the blue egg." She had just made of what her sister said. Kagome watched Amu's back as she made her way to next period.

Kagome glanced at Ran who was still behind. Kagome looked at her with sad eyes. 'I wish I could do something, but this is something Amu must make a choice on.' "I'm sure she will come around Ran, so don't lose hope."

Ran smiled thankfully. The pink chara pumped herself up. "Who said they were losing hope? Not me! H-O-P-E- Hope!" She cheered all down the hall following the direction Amu had gone.

Kagome smiled over to Ishi. "Let's go too Ishi."

The darker chara nodded her head with a smile. She liked Kagome. Her being her bearer also made her respect Kagome more. She was one person she liked, unlike Ran.

It was art class. Everyone taking art was in the arts and crafts room. They were supposed to get into partners and draw each other.

Saya, the class drama Queen, was ranting to her partner, Amu, that it must be perfection. Kagome rolled her eyes. She almost pitied her sister… almost.

Kagome turned to see who she was paired up with only to see Nadeshiko. "Nadeshiko? You're in this class. I don't remember you being here." 'Well not that I have been paying close attention.'

Nadeshiko smiled. "Yes I am in this class. It should be fun working with you, Kagome. So, who should draw who first?"

Kagome mentally sighed. Her earlier thoughts still haven't disappeared. "I'll draw first. I don't mind." The two sat down. Kagome began drawing. 'How can I speak my thoughts? You can't just ask someone about their gender. That would seem rude. Not to mention awkward.'

Kagome had most of the outlines done before she knew it. Before she added more physical features to it, she thought, 'I wonder what Nadeshiko would look like in the boys' uniform and with his/her hair down.' Kagome began to draw of what she thought.

As Kagome sketched she mumbled, "So ah Nadeshiko... are you- um- are you?" 'Come on! This shouldn't be this hard to ask. If I am wrong I will just be laughed at, so why is asking so difficult.' Kagome mentally sighed. 'I can't usually say what is on my mind. I am also closed off too even if I may not appear it. I want to be more opened but...'

Nadeshiko and Kagome both heard a voice say, "No buts... don't be scared and take a chance. From a girl closed off to one that is opened. Character change!"

A red lily appeared on Kagome's uniform. The flower made it look as if she was going to be attending some formal event. "Nadeshiko are you male?" Kagome had asked, but her voice was low so the two of them had heard. The Queen chair's eyes widened whereas Kagome immediately slapped her hands over her mouth.

'Did another one of my eggs hatch-?' Kagome stopped her trail of though when she saw Amu run out of the room. Knowing that something was up, Kagome stood from her seat, dropping her sketch, and chased after her sister.

Nadeshiko was frozen still from shock. 'When did she...?' Nadeshiko picked up the sketch book that Kagome had been drawing in. The picture was amazing. It wasn't over dramatic like the one Amu had made and people were staring at, but it was very well done and looked realistic.

Nadeshiko's hair was no longer tied up but down. Kagome had also put her in the boys' uniform. It was simple, and the details were only as much as necessary. However, the proportions were nice and she had shaded nicely giving it a realistic tone to it.

Nadeshiko ripped it gently out of the sketch book. She/he looked at it with gentle eyes and a soft genuine smile. He folded the photo and placed it in her cape.

Chasing after her sister, Kagome had realized that the red lily had disappeared. If one of my new charas' had hatched... where is she?

Kagome caught up to Amu. There were two charas in front of them. One was blue. She had a little handbag and a blue hat which had a spade on it.

The other had vibrant red eyes. Not a blood thirsty red but a calm caring red. She had waist-length brown hair that was tinted red and tied up high with a large red ribbon which was used to form a bow. She wore a red Victorian dress and red flats. She appeared cute yet elegant.

Ran asked why they were running away. The blue one answered, "I'm Miki. I am Amu's would-be-self. However, if Amu doesn't believe in me then I will disappear soon."

The red one nodded sadly. "My name is Akahana. I'm Kagome's would-be-self. Unlike Miki I am in no threat of disappearing, but when I saw Miki she was just too adorable to leave alone upset!" replied Akahana as she glomped on Miki.

"No way..." whispered Amu. She told her charas that she would believe in them... a little.

Akahana floated to Kagome and Ishi. She curtsied. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

"So you were the one that made me blurt that..."

"Blurt what," Amu asked curiously.

"Oh nothing," Kagome never did get an answer. Even if she was right there had to be a reason for it to be a secret... right? When they had returned to class, it was already over. Kagome never got to apologize for her outburst.

It was now after school. The two sisters and their charas were headed to the Royal Garden. Kagome had to admit that it was a nice play. Well appearance wise.

When they entered, they were greeted, "Welcome Hinamori-sans. Welcome to the royal garden." Kagome saw Nadeshiko and remembered the earlier incident. She looked to the side and slightly blushed. It still felt awkward.

They all sat down for tea and Kagome had a feeling that this tea party was going to be about more then they originally thought.

AN: Yes, the pairing is Kagome and Ikuto. This was discussed with DarkVoidPrincess21 who is the original author. If you don't like the pairing, don't complain about it and just go away. It's highly annoying seeing your reviews about hating one pairing or another.