22AN: What? Another fic? Yes. Another fic. I'm only a little bit sorry. Enjoy, my lovelies. R&R 3
Five shirts. Two pairs of jeans. One pair of leggings. One skirt.
She was only leaving for three days. She could always reuse some of her pants, but she couldn't do that with shirts. Who knows what could happen? It's better to bring extra shirts just in case.
"Should I bring a dress?" Kagome thought out loud. "But then the question becomes what kind of dress. A casual, summer dress or a semi-formal dress?"
From the corner of her eye, she spotted her brother running past her doorway. "Hey Souta?" She called out, ignoring the loud groan down the hall, "Come here and help me a bit."
Kagome laid out two dresses onto her bed. One was a sleeveless, yellow dress with decorative white flowers. What she liked about this dress was that it hugged her top then flared out at her waist and the fabric was soft and stretchy, allowing her flexibility and freedom. It was perfect for a casual outing.
On the other side of the bed, she had a light green dress. It was form fitting and stopped just above her knees. The sleeves stopped at her upper arm with white cuffs at the ends. The whole outfit was finished off with a small white belt around the waist. It was a simple but elegant dress.
"Kagome, does it really matter what dress you take?"
"Of course, it does," Kagome replied exasperatedly, throwing her hands up in the air. "I need to make a good impression on Hojo's family!"
"But sis, you already met and made a good impression on his parents. What more could you do?"
"Souta, I'm meeting his aunt. It's still his family, and I want them to think well of me."
Souta peered at the dresses, assessing them both with critical eyes. "The formal one may seem like you are trying too hard. Go for the yellow one," he said.
"Okay, thanks!" Kagome moved to fold the dress before stopping short. Souta was already halfway out the door when she called out again. "Souta, are you sure?" She continued talking and laid the dress back on the bed, "This is the aunt that was very ill. The doctors said she wasn't going to make it, but she got better! It's a miracle, they called it. Since it's a celebration of sorts-"
"Bring the green one then," Souta interrupted.
"But what if-"
"Then bring both, Kagome!"
The girl thought for a second then beamed. "That's a great idea, Souta! Why didn't I think of that?" Soon, she was zipping around her room as she finished up the last of her packing while murmuring about what kind of shoes she should bring.
"That's because you don't think," he said under his breath. He cried out when a sandal hit his head.
"I'm so happy that you could join us today, Kagome," said Hojo's mother, Miyuki, as they got off the train.
"Thank you for inviting me, Miyuki-san! Though, I can't help but feel that your husband should be here instead of me."
"Oh, hush now," the woman scolded lightly, "He wanted you to be here in his stead since he had too much work this weekend. This may be a family trip, but you are practically part of it now, Kagome."
She didn't really know what to say to that. It wasn't that she was uncomfortable with that statement, but it didn't exactly sit right with her. So Kagome smiled in response instead.
She had been dating Hojo for about two years now. The well had closed up once she wished the Shikon away after the inutachi defeated Nuraku. She remembered being whisked away to the present without any time to say goodbye to her family in the past.
After a year of depression, Kagome made a point to pick herself up again. None of the members in the inutachi would want her to waste her life away. They would want her to live happily and make the best of things just as she wished for them.
With that in mind, Kagome worked hard to get her grades back up so that she could get into a good high school. After some coaxing from Eri, Ayumi, and Yuka, Kagome finally gave into Hojo's advances. Since then, they began dating and soon became the star couple.
Now three years since the well closed, Kagome had been accepted into Hojo's family. Hojo was still very much enamored with her, but she couldn't say the same. The spark disappeared ever since she met Inuyasha, and that was a long time ago.
She really did try to work with this old life of her and move on with the new. At this point, she accepted that this would be her life now. No more demons or jewel hunting. No more flying high above the trees with the wind in her hair. No more adventure. No more fun.
The more she thought about it, the more she wilted. She didn't hate her life, but some days, she really felt like she could.
Hojo's voice broke her thoughts. "Come on, Kagome. I can't wait for you to meet my aunt. She is like you in a lot of ways. Kind, loving," he listed as he took hold of her hand, "Funny, and I'd say pretty too." Hojo leaned in closer to whisper in her ear, "But you are far more beautiful, Kagome."
The young woman squeezed his hand in response. What could she say? Hojo just compared her to his aunt. It was sweet, but it was also a bit strange. Kagome walked in relative silence as she listened to Miyuki and Hojo talk about the local shops and food in the area.
Kagome froze. A familiar shiver ran down her spine causing her to whip her head around. Looking. Sensing.
"Kagome?"
She swung her back to the sound of her name barely registering that it was just Hojo who call out to her. She met the two questioning gazes in front of her.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah. I just-"
-thought I sensed a demonic aura.
"It's nothing," she said. "Just thought I heard something."
When they made it to the doorstep, Kagome actually felt a little nervous. She couldn't help her insecurities that whispered in her ear. Her experience with Kikyo really did a number on her, and even now she had trouble getting over it.
The door opened and she was greeted by a smiling, black-haired woman.
"Miyuki," she exclaimed happily, "I'm so glad you made it!"
"Shiori!" The women embraced each other.
Kagome studied the woman's soft features. She was very pretty, Kagome had to admit. Before she could continue her down spiraling comparisons, Shiori set her brown eyes on Kagome.
"You must be the Kagome I've been hearing so much about," the older woman said, her eyes twinkling.
"It is nice to meet you, Minamino-san," she greeted with a bow.
Shiroi laughed, "I'll be having none of that, my dear. Please, call me Shiori."
"Thank you, Shiori," Kagome said with a smile.
"Why, Hojo, what a polite girl you have got yourself," she winked.
Kagome blushed as Hojo said, "I am very lucky, Aunt Shiori. Kagome is a wonderful girlfriend."
"You must tell me how you two met. Please come inside."
Once the four of them were situated in the living room with tea and snacks on the table, Miyuki spoke up.
"Now spill the beans, you two. I only know you were classmates, but I am very curious about the details!"
That was what she liked about Miyuki. She was casual and fun, someone that Kagome would willingly be friends with. It was like having her girls with her, but with a maturity that Kagome was used to. People in the feudal era were forced to mature faster because of their circumstances. She wasn't an exception to that.
From what Kagome had seen so far, Shiori seemed similar to her sister, though she was subtler than Miyuki. She felt that she would become quick friends with Shiori just as she did with Miyuki. Kagome mentally sighed. She wished that she became friends with these women for friendship's sake and not because she was dating Hojo.
"Well, we are waiting," Shiori pressed.
That brought Kagome back to the matter at hand.
"You," she started, "Want to know how we got together?" Kagome watched and the two older women nodded in unison. She looked at Hojo who was busy blushing and avoiding eye contact with his mother and aunt.
She was about to give a very short summary of their relationship, but to her surprise, Hojo spoke up. "We've known each other for years, being classmates and all. I've always thought she was pretty, but when she started getting sick in middle school, I realized that I really liked her."
Kagome smiled with a small blush on her face, though she wasn't sure if it was because she was flattered by his confession or because she was embarrassed for lying to him for all these years.
"Liked me indeed. You kept giving me medicine and gift baskets. You also kept asking me on dates whenever I was free."
"How romantic," Miyuki cooed.
Kagome mentally cringed. Romantic was not the word she would have used. It was sweet, but she really wasn't sick so it just became annoying. At least her grandfather was able to use some of the medication.
"Believe it or not, Kagome didn't agree to be my girlfriend at first."
Oh. Oh no.
"H-Hojo…" She tried to interrupt, but she was drowned out by the shocked exclamations of Miyuki and Shiori. Unfortunately, Hojo went on undeterred.
"We went on a few dates here and there when she was feeling well enough, but I don't think we were really able to complete a date for a long time. Finally, we managed to complete a couple of dates then I asked her to be my girlfriend."
"Oh my," Miyuki said, covering her smile with her hand, "Such sweet dedication, Hojo. I'm sure it was all worth it."
Shiori was smiling however. "But why?" She asked.
Oh, you know, I always had to go back to the feudal era because I have huge responsibilities that none of you can understand. Also there was this dog demon that kept following me…
Hojo's cheerful tone dimmed a little. "She was already in a relationship."
The sister looked toward Kagome. She flinched a bit and said, "I had this...thing...with a guy when I was fifteen. It was complicated but-"
"She refused to leave him," Hojo said almost bitterly.
Kagome automatically jumped to Inuyasha's defence, "He needed me!"
"He was using you, leaching off of you. He was a two-timing punk! He wasn't good for you."
Kagome felt her ire rise in her chest. They always argued when it came to her past relationship with Inuyasha. He didn't understand - could never understand - why she chose to stay with him.
She couldn't stop the words from spilling from her mouth. "I loved him, Hojo. I loved him then and I love him now. There will never be a day where I won't stop loving him."
Silence filled the room at her confession.
Kagome took a breath and stared at the table. Finally she said, "Even so, we had to go our separate way. I let him go and we both moved on with our lives."
"Where is he now, Kagome?" Miyuki asked softly.
"He passed away not long after we...broke up. That was three years ago."
Shiori put her hand over Kagome's hand. "I'm sorry. My husband also passed away. I understand how it feels when someone you love leaves you."
Kagome smiled sadly but genuinely, "I'm sorry too. I know they are both happy wherever they are now."
The young miko looked over to Hojo and his mother. Miyuki was looking at her with sadness and shock written all over her face. Hojo was staring at his hands with his mouth pressed into a thin line.
Kagome mentally sighed. "I spent a year to myself until I remembered that the people who are no longer in my life would want me to be happy. It was hard getting back to a normal life, but Hojo was very helpful. He kept me grounded and reminded me where my place in life was."
She watched as Hojo lit up like a child receiving sweets not realizing the sad truth to her words.
The conversation moved on to a much lighter topic for the remainder of the afternoon.
The sisters were preparing dinner in the kitchen. Kagome offered to help, but Hojo and his family refused her. They told her that they wanted to treat her so she was stuck sitting at the dinner table idly chatting with them as they worked.
Miyuki looked at the clock as they set the food on the table. "Shiori," she began, "Where is Shuichi?"
Kagome looked at Shiori questioningly. "Shuichi?"
"My son," the woman explained. Turning to her sister, she said, "He was spending time with his friends today. I forgot to tell him that you were coming, but I didn't want to stop him today. You know he's never had a group of friends be hanging out with. I didn't have the heart to stop him."
"I don't understand why he doesn't have many friends. Shuichi is just as popular as my Hojo and he has a lot of friends."
"He's never been one to get close to people. He's always so reserved that I was getting worried he would never make friends, much less get a girlfriend," Shiori sighed.
Suddenly, a new voice made itself known, "Mother, gossiping about me again? It's becoming a bad habit."
"Shuichi!" Miyuki rushed over to her nephew and crushed him in a hug.
"Hello, Aunt Miyuki," he said with a chuckle and returned the hug. As he pulled away, he added, "I didn't realize you were visiting. Had I known, I would have-"
The redhead froze when his eyes landed on the young woman sitting at the table. Likewise, Kagome's eyes widened in disbelief. Her aura pulsed involuntarily in reaction to his demonic energy. He pulse even stronger in response.
Demon.
