Children of Mirrors by Inu Guardian

My Dearest Friend

Disclaimer: I do not own "Inuyasha" or the characters therein.  I make no money from writing this. 

A/N: This hit me in the face when I was looking in the mirror, being reminded of my own childhood friends.  Both real and imaginary.  The first chapter is sad, mainly on Sesshoumaru's part.  It's going to be necessary for the flow of the story.  Please, tell me what you think.  I must know.

Chapter One: My Dearest Friend

Ikuko Higurashi didn't think much of her two year old daughter, Kagome, sitting in front of the mirror and talking to herself.  She knew that all young children had an imaginary friend.  She honestly thought the babblings of her little girl were quite sweet.  She didn't have to worry about where the little girl was, as she spent most of her time talking to her friend.  She was quiet, she was behaved. 

Ikuko would only pull Kagome away from the mirror for meal times, when they had to leave the shrine they resided upon, and when she wanted Kagome to go play with the play group she and several other mothers started before their children were born.  Kagome would leave on her own when she wanted to go.  She always apologized to the other child in the mirror when she had to leave.  It didn't worry Ikuko at all.

Kagome looked over her shoulder as she saw her mother passing by to check in on her.  She smiled at the woman she loved so much before turning back to her friend.  She didn't know what to call the boy.  They had tried exchanging names, but were unable to hear each other when they said them.  She didn't mind.  He was still nice to talk to.  He listened and joked with her, like her friends in play group.  But she told him more than she did any of them.  He was her very bestest friend.  She often wished sometimes they could play together, but they had enough fun sitting and talking in their own little ways.

She turned her eyes back to the mirror and saw her friend sitting there, waiting for her to answer him.  She just looked at him.  She adored his white hair.  It wasn't white like Grandpa's.  His hair was long and almost silver.  It was different, and she loved it.  His eyes were pretty too.  She didn't know anyone who had gold eyes.  Her play group friend, InuYasha, had eyes almost like his, but InuYasha's were darker.  Her mirror friend's eyes were exactly like golden honey.

"I sorry," Kagome said to the boy.  "Momma checkin' on me.  I'mma hafta to go to play group."

"I know, but I come back after lunch time."

"I'mma miss you too!"

"Bye."

Kagome stood up and walked away from the mirror.  Down in the living room, her mother was finishing packing a travel bag for their trip to the park.

"Are you ready to go, Kagome?" she asked as she heard the little footfalls enter the room.

Kagome nodded her head.  "Yes, Momma."

Ikuko grasped Kagome's hand and lead her out to the car.  The trip to the park was full of Kagome singing her sing-along CD.

- - - - - - - - -

Little Sesshoumaru sighed and turned away from the mirror.  He hated it when his friend had to leave.  He looked around his room wished he had a play group to go to.  As it was, it was just him and his mother.  He stood and walked down the staircase to the study, looking for his mother.

"Momma?" he called as he opened the door.  He found her, sitting on a large chair with a drink in her hand.  He walked over to her and smiled as sweetly as his two and a half year old self could.  "Momma?  Will you take me to the park?"

Keila looked down at the boy beside her and turned away.  "You have all you could want in your room and out in the yard," she slurred out.  "Why in the world would you want to go to the park?"

Sesshoumaru tilted his head to the side.  Wasn't the answer obvious?  "I want someone to play with.  I want friends."

"Friends? Ha!"  She took another swallow from the glass in her hand and waved him off.  "Go play with your toys."

Sesshoumaru looked down at the floor sadly as he walked away.  What good were toys when you didn't have someone to play with you?  Instead, he walked out to his swingset and sat on one of the lowered seats.  Letting his feet dangle, he let the wind push him back and forth.  His thoughts immediately traveled to his friend in his mirror.

She was so nice.  She listened to him.  She cared about him.  She was his only friend.  Her pretty black hair framed her face.  Her hair brightened her eyes to an almost sky blue.  He thought she was pretty.  She knew everything about him, just as he knew everything about her.  He liked hearing about her play group and what she did at the park.  He would often close his eyes and pretend like he was there with her.  He didn't know her friends' names, but he knew that he would have liked them.

That thought made him wonder about his father.  He knew his father had a little boy with the lady he left with.  If he lived with his father, would he and the other boy be friends?  Would the new lady be nice?  He didn't know.  Keila didn't let him go over.  And the only time his father came over was when it was okay with her.  Which was hardly ever.  He didn't know why his parents didn't live together anymore.  He just accepted it.

Thinking of Keila saddened him.  She used to play with him, when he as a baby.  There were pictures of them.  But now, she didn't.  He would ask, but she would wave him away.

He told all of this to his friend.  She had cried.  He asked her why, and she said that it was very sad.  She wanted to be able to play with him, to make him happy.  He told her that she did.  She talked to him and they played games through the mirror.  That was enough for him.

Sesshoumaru jumped off of the swing and made his way back up to his room to wait for his friend.  She would be back soon and someone would come to get him for dinner.  Someone always did.

End Chapter