Eyes Wide Shut

Yes my computer is fixed! Woot hoot! Okay, excuses for this chapter: Got sick (twice) then finals and studying for A.P. tests (speaking of, someone’s phone went off when I was taking one of my A.P. tests… all of our tests could have been invalidated!) have kept me away from writing. That and laziness.

(Please check out my devaintart account: http://cinnamon-ish.

Twelve: Pumps and Things that go Bump

‘Riiiing! Riiiing!’

‘Phones’, Kagome thought, ‘ are instruments of Satan…’. Kagome was laying face down on her couch, in a pool of what was suspiciously close to drool, her legs splayed to make a contortionist envy. She had been up late the previous night studying for an upcoming examine, the TV on only for background noise, of course, when she had drifted off. Now her phone seemed hell bent on ripping her from the arms of the sandman. Kagome shot upright, groaning at the sudden rush of blood to her head, before lumbering towards her phone. As her hand whirred down to beat the receiver into silence, her answering message clicked on. She cocked her head, listening with awe to her cheerful mantra. ‘How could I ever be so cheerful?’ She winced involuntarily as the sound of Kouga’s voice.

“ Kagome…” She grinned, she could practically see him steeling himself. “ Kagome, I don’t know what Inuyasha did, he won’t tell me, but please we need you for this… please”. As his voice faded, so did Kagome’s smile. She slowly retreated to the couch and sank slowly down. All she wanted was for certain individuals to get their head of out their asses, not cause so many problems. Although, looking back she should have known better… Looking back she probably shouldn’t have done a lot of things. Kagome sighed and ran a hand through her hair, grimacing at the oily feeling of it. When she had planned the “I quit” situation, she had intended on staying away about a week and half or two. She hadn’t planned on another murder. There went her plans. There was no way she could let herself hinder the investigation simply because she wanted some breathing room and respect. Okay, her problems weren’t that minor, but they were minor in the face of slaughter Kouga and his men were trying to stop. So now she had to figure out how to not quit, and do it without making herself look like a spoiled little girl. That and make sure Inuyasha knew he was so not off the hook. Reluctantly she stood and walked over to the phone. As she reached out to pick up the phone, she noticed her hands were shaking. Kagome abruptly let her hand fall and took a slow, steadying breath before reaching out again. She dialed, to her relief, the answering machine picked up.

“It’s Kagome… don’t pick up okay? I’ll keep working, I just need to settle some things…. I’ll call you later.” She took pride in the fact that she managed to put the phone back into its cradle on her first attempt.

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Hot water can completely change a person’s mood for the better, okay maybe not completely, but it helps. Kagome leaned back against the cool tile of her shower and simply let the water run over her. She truly wanted to just sit, not think about anything and become a prune. Tell that to her mind. Kagome simply could not stop thinking about shoes. For a good reason, sort of. Tonight was the long awaited, Kagome meets Shippo’s kids night. And it was too late to call in sick. She had no idea what shoes to wear. Kagome had decided earlier to simply wear her favorite black slacks, cranberry silk T, with an optional matching light jacket if she needed to go formal. But she didn’t have shoes. And she most likely needed some sort of matching bag, and jewelry. She needed to go shopping. Maybe some makeup, and hair accessories. There was a new shopping mall that just opened on the East side. Apparently it had some designer stores and-

‘How can I think about shopping at a time like this’ Kagome thought with revulsion. ‘People are dying, I’m hurting people around me…’ Suddenly, without thought her hand shot out and wrenched the nozzle all the way to cold. Kagome let out an involuntary scream as the cold water hit her previously warmed muscles. Instead of returning the water to hot or turning the water off entirely, she sank down and wrapped her arms around her knees. She sat in the freezing water until her entire body was shivering convulsively.

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As much as she hated to admit it, she actually needed shoes. Walking through the mall at 10:00 A.M made her distinctly aware of how much her life had changed. Take it as an indicator of her mood that the mall her contemplate her life. When she was time jumping, simply being able to be in the mall would have made her cheerful for days. Now it simply made her want to run up to some young girl and tell her never ever to fall in love. That or become a lesbian. And when her life beyond the well had come to a close, she would simply wander around, watching. For years afterwards, whenever she was in a crowd or a public place, she simply could not stop look for amber eyes, or pointed ears. When she went to the mall, if she wasn’t searching for a man that didn’t want her, she would watch people interact. She would watch people meet, watch them talk, watch them live. As she observed, she couldn’t help but place herself into their shoes. Depending on what mood she was in, she either imagined herself as a woman whose past didn’t include time jumping wells or as a woman married to an irritable half demon.

Now she simply walked through the mall as if there was a thirty minute time limit on shopping. During most periods of her life, shopping was an explosion of happiness. Truthfully, that was true for her present life . But at that exact moment, she simply couldn’t handle the press of humanity and its emotions pressing in around her. Slipping past a woman younger than herself with a baby, she eased into a shoe shop so trendy it would make Tommy H cry. Her eyes darted around the perfectly lighted and organized shelves of overpriced shoes. Luckily, the young, perfectly manicured, size 0 woman working there was busy with another customer. Good, enough time to spot, grab and buy without conflict. She walked quickly; hopefully not giving off the aura of caged an animal, over to the shelves. Within a few steps, she spotted a pair of dark red, almost black, pumps. Not just pumps, but fuck me pumps. The type of four inch spike, silk tie pumps that every good girl wants to own. And wear in front of exes. With hands that barely shook, Kagome reached up and picked them up.

‘If they don’t have my size, one less person will walk out of this place’. Thankfully for the rest of the patrons, the shoes in her hands were her size. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the sales woman ring up the last purchase. Time to get moving. She turned swiftly on her heel and turned towards the opposite set of shelves. Thankfully, there was a pair of cranberry leather flats.

‘ The hell is going on in my life?’ There were actually in her size too. Shoes in hand, she walked to the counter.

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Feeling as if she was about to be attacked to make up for her good shoe luck, Kagome walked slowly towards the exit. Once she had managed to get past her Inuyasha induced psychosis, she found she truly loved being in crowds. It was like flowing through a river of flesh. Heat, heartbeats, and limbs pushing everyone towards a common goal. Sometimes when it was hot, her lungs would feel like they were pressed down with big hands. She would walk faster and revel in the feeling of her body fighting against the man made bubble of hot air. She simply felt safe in crowds. The anonymity of simply being and not being Kagome was terrifying free; like she was about to lose her entity and be swept along. When she was still settling back into herself, crowds were a way to connect to others without having to actually connect. Suddenly, she felt a rush of cold air along her spine. Her head jerked up, doing a good impression a of a horse poking its nose out of a herd. Looking around wildly, she didn’t see anything out of the ordinary or anyone suspicious. She turned back towards the beckoning mouth of the exit, tension drawing chords of pain across her shoulder blades. It would have been reassuring to have felt a blast of cool air upon her exiting the mall. Too bad it was a sweltering 90°. As she walked to her car, she tried to convince herself that the reason she felt so vulnerable with both of her hands occupied was simply because of her bad mood. And not the growing tension in her body.

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She didn’t quite realize how wealthy Shippo actually was until she was standing outside the building that housed his pent house. Leaping Dragons Tower. Nice. She was standing outside because she didn’t have a key card, or Shippo’s number. And somehow, the temperate went from 120 freaking degrees to – 120 freaking degrees in a matter of hours. And her cute silk T so did not cut it. She crossed her arms protectively over her chest, protectively because there was a creepy old guy sitting on the bus bench who kept sneaking glances at her. It was really cold and her bra was really thin. Glancing up at the menacing monolith of wealth, she debated calling Kouga to ask for Shippo’s number, which would mean talking to Kouga… As she was reaching into her purse, a deep male voice behind her startled her into whipping around.

“I’m guessing your in need of a little help” the man standing behind her was as attractive as his voice. Dark hair, she couldn’t tell if it was black or brown, was cut in an expensive imitation of just out of bed hair. He had strong defined bones that framed a pair of eye shaped emeralds. And that voice… He smiled, revealing a set of perfect teeth.

“Lost your card?” he asked, smiling indulgently. Kagome winced inwardly as she replied.

“No I’m meeting some… some new family members.” His grin widened.

“ New in laws? That is sure to be fun” Kagome opened her mouth to correct him, but she was cut off by him chuckling loudly and sidling up to her. He deliberately leaned in, pressing his chest to her and reaching out to slowly insert his key card in to the slot. Kagome was a little to hormone overwrought to do anything but stand there. At the sound of the doors opening, he leaned slowly back and gestured for her to enter.

“Ladies First”

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“So, is this where we spilt huh?” Kagome half turned to stare at her rescuer. He was leaning languidly against a column, his shirt pulled tight over a delicious looking chest. Although you wouldn’t be able to tell by the look in his eye, she didn’t think he was truly serious, so she refrained from spouting the awkward “I have a boyfriend” line. Instead she smiled. “Not quite, I still don’t know what floor to go to and I think you need a card for the elevators”. At her reply, he grinned again and shook his bangs out of his eyes.

“Dang” A few years ago, his tone would created a blush and shivers, now it simply sped her heat rate and sent dozens of polite versions of “I’m taken” running through her head. She swallowed, before answering.

“Since I’m a little bit of a ditz tonight” Kagome winced inwardly again, and told her hormones to stop making her flirt, “I lost his number so I’ll have to call and get it.” He threw his head back and gave her a full body laugh. It took her a few seconds to drag her eyes from the sight of his chest muscles rippling. Definitely for her benefit. Since she had no idea what to say to that, she reached into her purse for her cell phone. As she dialed, she was distinctly aware of his eyes dragging over her figure. She did her best to ignore it.

“Hey Kouga,” out of the corner of her eye she the mans smile falter. “I need Shippo’s number. No, not for work. Tonight is the “big meet Grandma Kagome.” Kagome smiled as Kouga gave her a chuckle and sardonic “have fun”. She hung up with a matching laugh and turned back to him, smiling brightly. “Got the number!”

He looked like he was swallowed a frog “You’re Kagome? You raised Dad?”

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Kagome decided she simply set Nataseria scent mark her or something. She doubted demons actually did things like that but… or he should just live with her and she would just kind of roll all over him every time she went out. That way, she grandchildren wouldn’t try and pick her up. That might work, and she doubted Nataseria would mind. At all. After her sort of grandchild, now identified as Michael, had recovered from the shock of hitting on his sort of grandmother he offered to simply take her up. Standing side by side with him in an elevator, albeit a big elevator, went down in her top ten of very awkward moments.

“When Shippo said “kids” I was thinking… kids.” Kagome decided that that wasn’t too bad of a start. Glancing out of the corner of her eye at Michael, she noticed a wry grin twisting its way onto his lips.

“If it makes you feel any better, David is three” He tilted his head towards her, his hair, now identified as the same rich brown as Rosemary’s hair, falling into his face. As he did so, it suddenly clicked. He looked just like Shippo. Same jaw, same mouth, same eyes… it was amazing that she didn’t notice it before. Seeing the look of recognition on her face, he smiled again.

“I look just like him, I know.”

“I’m shocked that I didn’t notice it before, well maybe not that surprised. I’m going to admit that it was pretty hard to concentrate with you trying so hard to be eye candy.” As the words slipped passed her lips, she deiced that she should not be allowed in social situations. Ever. Thankfully, Michael seemed to have a spectacularly flexible sense of humor. He let out another of those full body laughs, and although he didn’t pose for her benefit, she decided she envied the woman who would catch him. Thankfully their conversation didn’t have time to go stagnant because the doors opened to reveal Shippo’s smiling face.

“Oh, good! You’ve met!”

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Dinner, was of course delicious and uncomfortable. When she asked Rosemary if she had cooked, she sparked a round of familial laughter. Shippo explained. He had met Rosemary during WWII in America. He was there due to warnings left behind by herself. Rosemary was an honest to god Rosy the Riveter. After war and wooing end, they come to an agreement that Shippo would always do the cooking. Always. And Rosemary would handle technical thing. To Kagome’s surprise Rosemary had created most of the technologies that Shippo’s company has famous for. Kagome offered to help clean up, and found herself alone with Rosemary in the kitchen.

As she slowly wiped the clean plate with a rag for the eight time, Kagome took a deep breath.

“I’m glad he found someone. I always worried about him…” She snuck a look at the other woman out of the corner of her eye. Kagome was gratified to see her smile.

“When Shippo met me I was working in an aircraft plant… and my husband had been dead two weeks.” Rosemary set her plate down and turned towards her.

“Kagome, our story is a long, complicated, and very personal one, I might tell you more later. But I will say thank you for whatever you did.” At her words, Kagome felt like her heart of been squeezed violently, like someone heavy was sitting on her chest. She had lost a son, lost the chance to see him grow. Lost the chance to know him. Rosemary was a living representation of that.

“I… I lost the chance to truly know him. All I did is help him start out. I’m guessing you’ve helped him more than I did.” The words left her mouth dry. Rosemary stepped closer and gave her a self-conscious one armed hug.

“You helped him more than you know… truthfully we both have different sides of him” Rosemary cracked a sardonic smile. “In fact, you inadvertently named my children.” The woman grinned wider at the stricken look that made its way onto her face.

“I’m guessing you noticed that my children’s names are both western. That was not my influence, Shippo saw the names in an art book you showed him… that and I like both of those names.” Kagome grinned shyly back. She was getting the distinct impression that it was the latter cause that was the true reason her children’s names weren’t Japanese. In fact, she was getting the feeling that she was being evaluated. But she wasn’t sure if she was passing or not.

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Stepping out into the cold night, Kagome felt she had barely escaped. In a good way, if that made any sense at all. Shifting her purse higher on her shoulder, she started walking in the general direction of the parking garage. Since it was rare for people to have person cars in Japan, the garage was five blocks away from Shippo’s building. But that night wasn’t that cold once the started moving. In fact, she enjoyed the feeling of the cool soft air caressing her exposed skin. Speaking of which, maybe her goose bumps were a little big for a simple breeze. Maybe that shadow was a little too big for that light post. Kagome gingerly slipped into second sight and pushed her aura outwards. As she walked the light created by her aura grew steadily brighter. And several shadows retreated a little too fast. Kagome reached into her purse, still walking normally, and slipped out her little 3” pocket knife. Not much, but it gave her something to channel through. At the sight of her knife, whatever was following her back off, just a little. Only a block left. The shadows seemed to be uncertain as of what do to. Desperately, Kagome walked faster. The shadows thickened. In response, Kagome pushed her aura out further and filtered some of her purifying power into her knife.

There! The parking garage. If she could just get to the garage, maybe these shadows wouldn’t push their luck in front of security camera’s and guards. Maybe. She broke out into run, her last attempt at safety. She was twenty feet away when something hit the back of her knees, She went down. And the shadows closed in around her.

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As he leaned into the window seat and looked out the window into the cold night, Michael reflected on his grandmother. Beautiful, great rack… and she was his grandmother. He doubted that he had ever felt so embarrassed in his life. He was glad that she took it in stride… and that she didn’t tell his parents. After they had gotten over the initial discomfort, over dinner he discovered he actually liked her. Maybe she had a sis- his thoughts were cut off by a bright white light flaring a few blocks away. He leaned in until his nose touched the cool glass. The light seemed to be moving. Suddenly it stopped its strength stippled. Then it stopped abruptly. Michael leaned back with a curious “huh”. He stared out the window, fixating on that spot for at least half an hour. But he didn’t see the sight again.

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Thanks for reading! Hope you liked this chapter! (sorry for any mistakes, its really late)