Encounters In Small Meetings by Angelic Memories

Seeking to Belong

Theme: Searching

Minimum 500 words - 796 words used

Thanks to Reannaleco for betaing

Seeking to Belong

A fort night had passed since she had last seen Rin. In that time, Kagome continued to travel back and forth between her home in the future and her home in the past. More and more she was finding herself lingering in the past with her adoptive family. However, she had come back from her blood family which had celebrated her brother’s birthday. Arriving in the feudal era was a relief as she found herself hating the hassle of dealing with her mother’s constant babble of needing to move on with her life. Becoming more… and most of all: finding herself.

If that wasn’t enough, her mother told her she seriously needed to reconsider her choice in lingering in the past where she could be changing the future. Kagome needed time to think and with the spring solstice festivities underway, there was no silence nearby.

Her walking led her through the forest to where a nearby, rarely used hot spring laid among wildflowers and large boulders. Kagome didn’t bother for once, as she had bathed at home already and instead, choosing to let her feet soak since they still ached from many days of travelling with Inuyasha. It wasn’t an odd way to spend her time. Recently she found she needed time away. Time to think away from those who would suffocate her with their concerns for her. Time to be alone. It was these times that she thought perhaps her mother was right. Maybe Kagome needed to find herself. But where was she supposed to start?

A flicker of power reached to stroke against hers. It was an unwilling reaction of her semi-trained abilities. Something powerful was drawing near… and she had forgotten her bow in the village. At moments like these, she pondered why she was forgetful. Of all of the weaknesses to pick up on, she had a poor memory which didn’t balance well with her clumsiness.

I wish I was graceful… like Sesshomaru. Only more feminine… wait he is feminine looking. Kami, I should be running, not thinking about that overconfident bastard! During her scolding, she jumped to her feet and was about to run through the line of trees to head back to camp when the approaching aura darting quickly to block her path. Upon seeing the face to match the presence the miko realized the familiarity she had missed before.

“Sesshomaru…” she tilted her head to the side with her recognition. But she wasn’t sure what she was seeing. “Uh, don’t take this to be rude or anything… but what happened?”

After being with Rin on and off, she was certain she needn’t worry for her life. Sesshomaru had yet to threaten to kill her for some time. But there were times he would stare daggers in her direction. At the moment, the silver haired inu stood covered in white powder. His face was pale naturally, but he looked like a ghost in his current state. From the looks of it, the powder in question was flour, the wet bits clinging to his hair and clothing appeared to be dough. It made the miko wonder if someone had been trying to make Sesshomaru into a bun.

Of course it would be an improvement… at least he’d be warmer.

“Rin,” he bit out, “wished to attempt to make sweet buns for her meal this evening. The experiment,” he paused for a moment, “went poorly.”

“Oh, I suppose you want the hot spring,” she whispered, “I was just leaving.”

“Miko, you appear to be in deep contemplation.” It was Sesshomaru’s way of asking what was wrong.

“I…” she stopped to think about this opportunity before her. Talking to Sesshomaru about her problems wasn’t anything she ever expected. But it could help her search. “I think I am lost.” The inu lord was silent as he moved to the edge of the spring, his attention on her as he began to clean. “I don’t enjoy travelling back and forth. I want to settle down and start my life. But I’m afraid I might pick the wrong path.”

“Miko where does your mind linger the most?”

“My mind? I don’t think I understand.”

“Do you think more of this time or your home with your blood kin?”

“I haven’t really thought about it. I suppose because I am here I think more about being here. It’s a bother to go back to my life in the future. My many years here ruined any real chance of creating a life in the future.”

Sesshomaru smirked; she could pick up the twitching muscle before realizing what she just said.

“I guess my search is over. I belong here. This is my home… and my life. This is me, because this is where I choose to be.”

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Ja ne

Angelic Memories

© 2009

Edited 2010