A Dream of You

Coming Clean

Kagome pulled out her small radio, placing it on the dresser. It was late afternoon the next day, her mother had thought of everything it seemed. Down to her clothes, personal items, her small radio and her bow. As far as she knew the only ones here now were Yusuke and Hiei. Keiko had went shopping for food and she had no idea where everyone else was. She had just stepped out of the shower and gotten dressed. Hiei had been in the room with her while she was sleeping.

Kagome cut the radio on and stepped near the window. It was open allowing the cool breeze inside. She let it brush across her face as a single tear escaped. The same thought kept coming to mind, She was Kagome. She was never able to be Kikyo for Inuyasha, she couldn't be what either those two wanted. She didn't know what that was but it didn't matter. Having someone love her for someone she wasn't didn't sit well. Nor was she a quiter. She'd accepted her responsibility when she'd shattered the jewel, she would do so now.

She stepped out the room, of course Hiei followed her but she didn't mind. She walked out the front door and stood in the small yard. The wind was picking up, she just stood there with her face lifted towards the sky eyes shut.

Hiei just stared, he couldn't understand why she would just want to stand there. Though he had to admit she made quite the pretty picture. Her long hair was being blown to the side showing off her slender neck. He scanned the area, nothing was out of place. So he leaned against the wall and watched.

Kagome felt the first drop of rain hit her cheek. She continued to stand there as the sky opened up. When the drops came relentlessly she spread her arms wide and started laughing. A feeling of enlightenment filled her soul, like all her worries were being washed away. It felt so wonderful she started spinning in circles, smiling.

Yusuke walked outside to be pelted in the rain. First one he saw was Hiei leaning near the door. "What the hell are you doing out here man?"

He nodded towards the girl but didn't say anything. She was a sight to see, dancing in the rain. He could feel the tension around her finally leave. Seemed she was coming to terms with everything. Yusuke just started laughing at her antics.

Rain was pouring but all three stayed outside until a blue car pulled into the parking lot. Three people stepped out, all grabbing bags before trying to rush into the apartment. Yusuke ran to grab the bags from Keiko. "Did you get everything?"

"Yeah," She turned to the girl still, as they say, dancing in the rain. "What the hell. Why are you and Hiei letting her outside in this weather?"

"Yeah like we are going to get purified, just to tell her to go back inside."

"Fine, I'll get her. You help them get the stuff in." Keiko saw that Kagome had her eyes closed. She walked up to her, "Kagome."

Kagome opened her eyes and saw Keiko staring at her with a worried expression. "Keiko."

"What are you doing?"

"Coming clean."

"Huh?"

"Try it, spread your arms and lift your head to the sky and close your eyes. You're already soaked." Kagome smiled at her. Deciding to humor the girl Keiko did just that. They both stood there and let the rain wash down on them.

"You're right, I remember doing this as a child and dancing in the rain. Its been so long." Keiko started dancing, it really felt good and fun. Kagome soon joined her once more.

Yusuke and the others had the groceries in the house along with Kurama's stuff. He stepped back out with everyone, "What the hell? Great now Keiko's lost it too."

Laughter could be heard coming from the girls. Kagome felt so good she was suprised. She knew that both Kurama and Koronue had returned but it didn't matter. She was alive and so were they. Even if they didn't love her or like her. She was Kagome and she loved them both.

A bolt of lightning came down, lighting up the sky. They stopped at the sound, without saying a word they pushed the men aside to quickly get inside. Keiko grabbed Kagome's hand and led her into the bathroom. They started laughing as soon as the door shut.

Keiko leaned against the sink while Kagome sat on the edge of the tub. "That was fun, though I'm sure I'll hear it from Yusuke later."

"Yeah, thanks for the dance." Kagome smiled up at her. "Maybe we should get dried off."

"Yes, I need to put up the food. I don't let Yusuke do it. He has a habit of just throwing things in there."

"Sounds like me," Kagome took the towel offered.

Keiko handed her a robe also, "Here, put your wet clothes in the bath. I need to go get changed also. Then I need to head into the kitchen."

"Need some help?"

"Sure just meet me in the kitchen."


Kagome quickly got dressed in her room. She wondered where everyone else was sleeping. Of course there was a small cot in the corner of her room. Last night Hiei had slept there, who would be sleeping there tonight? She pulled her brush out the nightstand and combed through her tangled hair. She could feel someone standing outside the door. There was a soft knock and she went to open it.

To her relief it was Keiko, "I'm done, everyone else is getting dried off. I'm about to go put everything away then make dinner. I was wanting to ask how good a cook you are. I try but you know."

Kagome saw her embarrassment, "I'm okay. Not five star but its edible. I'll make dinner if you want."

"Great."

They went into the kitchen and started going through the bags. Kagome quickly saw how everything was set up. It was very neat and organized. She could understand how Keiko didn't want Yusuke to come in here and just start throwing things in.

Keiko put up a can of vegetables and decided to have her curiousity appeased. "So how sick are you?"

A blush crept up her face. "Well, about that. I'm actually very healthy. All that was my grandfather's fault, he told everyone those things to explain my absences from school. Since I spent most of my time back in the fuedal era."

Keiko stopped for a minute thinking. "I remember Hojo telling me his girlfriend was very ill one day and I felt so sorry for him. As a matter of fact I saw him yesterday. He told me that you two had broken up but he planned on winning you back. Umm, hope you don't get mad but."

"Please, don't tell me that he knows I'm here."

"Yeah sorry, I told him you were actually spending some time with me. I wasn't thinking, I guess."

Yusuke walked by and snorted. "That would be a first."

"Shut up Yusuke or I'll make dinner instead of letting Kagome do it."

"Riiiggghht. I'll just go outside and eat some grass." Keiko picked up a can off the counter and hurled it at his head. It impacted and bounced to hit the wall. It landed in a clutter to the floor. "Dammit Keiko."

"Get out of my kitchen, now."

"Fine, us four will just sit out in the living room praying." He grabbed a six pack of beer out of the fridge. "Maybe if we are drunk, it'll be edible."

"So what should we make for dinner?" Kagome asked trying not to laugh.

"Kagome, I'm really sorry about Hojo."

"It's okay, I can handle it." Oh yeah she was use to dealing with unwanted attention. Hojo actually kind of reminded her of Kouga. Both swore to be in love with her, showering her with unwanted affection. Yet those she loved, oh well best not to think on it.

"Well, we have plenty of cans if you need help."

"I don't think Hojo's head is as hard as Yusuke." Kagome heard a yell from the living room. "I heard that."

"So you actually went back and forth in time. Must have been exciting."

"Somewhat. It was scary at first, especially when I first went through. But then I met Inuyasha and Kaede."

"Lets have this," Keiko took out some noodles, chicken and vegetables. Kagome decided to saute the chicken and veggies. She looked to see what kind of sauce there was to put on the noodles. Keiko handed her some sauce. "So who were they?"

"Kaede was an old miko or priestess of the local village. She found me right after I found Inuyasha pinned to a tree. She mistook me for a youkai at first. See the thing is I was pulled through the well by Mistress Centipede, while I was at the village she attacked. She was once again after me, so I ran into the forest back towards the well. As I was running I ended back up where Inuyasha was. To my suprise after fifty years of being sealed he was awake. Of course the first thing out of his mouth was rude. He was mistaking me for the woman that had sealed him."

"So what happened?"

"Well, the centipede caught up by then. Before I knew it there I was being lifted into the air in her mouth no less. She managed to remove the jewel from my body. Then I was crushed against Inuyasha against the tree, I didn't want to die so I removed the arrow holding him there."

"Was he thankful?"

Kagome laughed at that thought. "Oh yeah he was grateful. Long enough to kill the centipede that had just swallowed the jewel. Kaede and the others had arrived by then, she told me how to look for it. I pulled it out her flesh. Then Inuyasha proceded to try and kill me."

"Nice way of saying thanks."

"Yep," Kagome stirred the food adding seasoning. "We eventually became friends after I accidently shattered the jewel. So began my two years of hell."

"If it was so awful, why are you smiling?" Keiko decided she could at least make the bread.

"It wasn't awful. I'd do it all over again. Well maybe without Naraku, I wish I could have seen him die. I know thats bad to say but it would gave been great to see. To see that cocky ass evil grin of his wiped off that face."

"Were you glad when you finally came home?"

Kagome dropped the wooden spoon, the question suprised her. How to answer that one? She'd been glad to know that Naraku was finally dead. She'd been glad to see her real family again. But she'd left all the people she loved there. All her friends, Inuyasha and Koronue. Her friends would have known what happened, that she was sent back to her own era. But she'd left without telling Koronue how she felt. And now it was too late. "Yes and no, I was glad it was over finally. But I had to leave everyone I loved behind."

"Thats so sad." Keiko placed the bread in the oven. "How bout some music?"

"Sure, if we can hear it over that television. Which one is deaf?"

"That would be Yusuke."


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