Through Blood and Fire

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha. He belongs the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi!


Chapter 2 - Bittersweet Memories

10 years earlier, Summer.

“Kagome! Kagome, where are you? Kagome!”

Nico ran faster. She had to escape the horrible children chasing her. They kept throwing rocks at her and shouting rude words at her. She knew if she slowed down, they would beat her to a pulp agai

“That’s right you filthy half-breed. Run like a scared little bitch!” one of the bigger boys yelled. “Call for help. It won’t get you before we do!”

Nico looked frantic. Running as fast as she could in the direction of home she screamed again.

“Kagome! Please help me!”

Tears began to run down Nico’s cheeks. She was truly afraid that she would not survive another beating by these kids. They always tormented her. They were the local native American kids off the reservation her mother was born on. They also attended the same school as Nico, where humiliating her was a regular occurrence. She was always getting beaten up or told horrible things because she was only half native American and not full blooded like her mother. What was worse though was that she wasn’t half ve Ave American, half white American. That would not have brought on such daily beatings. No, she was half native American and half Japanese, which made everything a lot worse. Then, to add the icing on the cake, her mother, even though full-blooded native American was a mixed-blood. She was half Houma and half Choctaw. That wasn’t a good thing at all for Nico, use use the Houma and the Choctaw hated each other. Her father had told her once of the awful hell her mom’s parents went through to marry and of the awful childhood her mother had endured because of it.

“We’re gonna get you, you stupid dirty-blooded bitch.”

The kids were gaining on her and she was quickly becoming tired. She looked back just in time to see a rock fly at her head and duck to miss. She didn’t see, though, the pot-hole in the road. She ran straight into it, tripped, and came crashing down, her head making a sickening thud on the ground. She was dizzy and her vision blurred. This was it. She was gonna really have it now. All of the sudden a blur ran past her and jumped into the air. It brought it’s leg down into the side of the lead native boy’s head. He fell to the ground. Then the blur turned and punched the other large boy in the stomach and jump-kicked him in the face when he doubled over. The blur then continued to fight off the rest of the group bringing them all to the ground, moaning in pain or completely unconscious. Nico moaned in pain as she tried to clear her vision and see who had saved her. The blur hearing this, quickly came to Nico’s side and knelt down next to her.

“Nico, are you okay?” came the familiar voice from the blur.
“Kagome? Is that you?”
“Yes, Nico. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get to you sooner. I ran as fast as I could.”
s oks okay Kagome. I knew you would come. I never doubted you.”

Kagome help her younger cousin up off the ground. Every time she came to visit her American cousin, she was always defending her from the other kids. Kagome couldn’t understand why they were always so mean to her. Recently, Kagome tried to teach her some of the martial arts fighting that Kagome’s father was teaching her. At eight years old, she was quite good.

“Ow! My ankle hurts”, yelped Nico.

Kagome looked down at the swelling appendage. It looked badly bruised leaving Kagome to think Nico may have broke it. But there was no way of knowing for sure until they gor hor home. Kagome put Nico’s arm around her neck, and her arm around Nico’s waist.

“Come on Nico, I’ll help you back home.”
“Thanks Kagome. I don’t know what I would do with out you.”

Kagome pulled Nico up to her good foot and togther they made their way back to Nico’s house.
An hour later they arrived at the house. The sun was setting the the house looked empty and dark. Uncle Keichi was probably out again. He had taken to leaving Nico home alone sometimes to go to the local bar and get a few drinks. Lately though it had been more than a few drinks. Last night he came home reeking of saki and drunk beyond recognition. He made it through the front door and passed out on the couch. Nico and Kagome had come downstairs to make sure he was okay. Then they put a blanket over him and let him be.
Kagome opened the front door, which was habitually getting left unlocked, and sure enough it was empty. Kagome walked her cousin over to the couch and set her down. She then walked through the house, turning on lights and making sure everything was locked. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed an ice pack, some aspirin, and two popsicles. She then walked back out into the living room. She laid everything on the table and then turned to Nico. She grabbed a pillow and ordered Nico to pick up her leg. She gingerly placed her leg unto the pillow. Kagome then placed the ice pack on Nico’s swollen ankle and gave her an aspirin. After Nico had swallowed the pill Kagome gave her one of the popsicles and popped on the couch next to her cousin. She grabbed the other popsicle and the remote and turned on the t.v. She flipped channels until she came across her and Nico’s favorite show, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Kagome put on Japanese subtitles because she was still just learning English. Her and Nico loved this show. They would watch it and then pretthatthat they were ninjas fighting with the turtles. It always cheered Nico up.
After the show was over, Kagome shut off the t.v. and helped Nico off the couch and up the stairs to their room. She put Nico on the bed and went to the dresser and pulled out their pajamas. She put hers on and helped Nico with her pants. The ankle looked a lot worse than before. Kagome walked down the hall to Uncle Keichi’s bathroom and got out the first aid kit. She then walked back to her and Nico’s room and jumped on he bed next to Nico’s foot. She opened the kit and pulled out some elastic gauze. She began to wrap it around Nico’s ankle. After she was done she put the kit on the floor and pulled the covers down. Kagome crawled next to Nico and pulled the covers up around their necks, tucking her younger cousin in tightly.

“Thank you Kagome.”
“For what?”
“For rescuing me and taking care of me.”
“Well why wouldn’t I? You’re my little cousin and I love you.”
“I’m only younger than you by one year.”
“That still makes you my little cousin.”
“Kagome?”
“Yes Nico.”
“Could you hear me again?”
“Yes Nico. I heard you in my head calling for help and then I felt your pain and fear. So I came as fast as I could. I knew I should have gone with you to the store.”
“No. It’s not your fault. Besides, if you keep teaching me those fighting moves, I might be able tke cke care of myself one day.” re yre you feeling better Nico?”
“Yes. Thanks to you.”

Kagome closed her eyes, welcoming sleep. She was very tired after the fighting and then taking care of Nico. But she would gladly do it everyday. Nico was like the sister she never had and had always wanted.

“Kagome?”
“Yes Nico.”
“Do you think Do~da doesn’t love me anymore?”
“Why would you think some awful thing like that?”
“Because he’s always gone and whenever he is here, he never talks to me. He ignores me like he doesn’t want me anymore.”
“Oh Nico. fat father loves you. Why would Uncle Keichi not love you? I think he just gets upset sometimes because he misses Aunt Chenoa.”
“I miss Na~ha too. I just wish he would remember I’m still here. Sometimes, it’s like he thinks I went with mama to Galv~lati.”
“I know Nico but trust me. Uncle Keichi still loves you. He always will no matter what. You’re his daughter and no father could ever not love their daughter.”
“Your so wise Kagome. You know so much. I hope I can be that smart day day. I love you Kagome.”
“I love you too Nico.”

Kagome and Nico snuggled up to each other and Kagome wrapped her arms around Nico in a protective hug.

“I’ll always love you Nico. I’ll always protect you and I’ll never leave you alone.. Never forget that.”
“Promise Kagome.”
“I promise with all my heart.”

They both soon fell asleep, off into a world of dreams.