Haunting past by Ava 365

Coming Back Home

This story kept coming to my head over and over, so I decided to give it a try and write it down. I intend for it to be a short story, with not many chapters. I hope you enjoy it. Tell me what you think...

HAUNTING PAST

BY

AVA 365

Summary: He had done the unthinkable, making her run away from everything she knew, her family, her safety… and him. She had to get away from that monster. But the Kamis couldn’t let that go unpunished.

CHAPTER 1. COMING BACK HOME

How long had it been?

Eight years if she was not mistaken.

Eight years without setting foot on her beloved city, the city where she grew up, where she made friends.

While she was driving her rented car she recalled or her past memories, most of them good, as she drove through the city, passing by the different places that brought memories from her past. The school, the place where she used to hang out with her friends, the movies…

She parked by some long and steep steps. She remembered running them up to the top as a child, when she was carefree and she believed there were no bad people in the world. Except for the Grinch, of course.

“Are we at grandma’s yet?”

Her baby’s sweet voice got her out of her musings.

“Yes sweetheart, we just have to climb up the stairs.”

“YAY! Will uncle Sota be there?”

“I think so, he said he would be.”

She couldn’t help but smile at her seven-year-old son antiques.

“Now, Kenji, give me your hand and let’s go.”

She sighed. She loved her son dearly, but he was so much like his father. She despised the child’s father. She despised what he had done to her on that fateful night when she had been too drunk to stop his advances, and when she realized what he intended to do it had been too late. She was already naked and beneath him, and although the effects of alcohol in her brain had automatically vanished when she realized what was about to happen, she had been too weak to stop him. She had to endure the pain and the humiliation.

When he was done with her she had curled in a fetal position and had cried. But he never comforted her, or thought he had done anything wrong. He merely slapped her buttock and said to be honoured, because she was one of the few he had taken an interest in. He merely turned around and left the motel room leaving her lying on the floor naked, he didn’t even bother to cover her.

She had returned home after spending hours in the motel’s shower, under extremely hot water, trying to wash away the pain, the humiliation and the feeling of constant dirt she felt covering her skin and her insides.

It was the humiliation and the feeling of guilt that had made her go as far away as she could. Her mother had wanted to go to the police, but grandpa knew better. The Taisho’s had a name and a reputation; they were the one of the richest family of the city. Everybody knew they were untouchable, and no one would believe a girl coming from a modest family. And even if she had told them she had got pregnant, everyone would think she had seduced him to get to his fortune. It was a lose-lose situation.

Looking back to how her life had been away from her home city, she decided she had made the right decision. Her aunt Kaede had accepted her in her home with open arms. She had helped her during her pregnancy and when Kenji was born. She couldn’t afford to go to college, but she had found a job in a book shop that she adored. She had always loved reading, she devoured books, one after the other, and she had proved to be a good book adviser. People used to come to the store because they knew she could give them the book they were looking for, no matter how far up in a shelf it was.

They reached the top of the stairs out of breath and she stopped to take in the view. The well house, just as she remembered. The Goshinboku tree was healthy as always. At the far end by the house stood her mother sweeping the floor. Her shoulder seemed to be a bit slumped, as if she was carrying a heavy burden on her shoulders. Kagome bit her lower lip; she knew her absence had been hard on her mother.

The middle aged woman raised her head, as if she noticed a presence in the vicinity. And she saw her, her baby girl. Tears flooded her eyes and threatened to fall down her cheeks. Kagome and Kenji walked towards the lady and fused in a warm embrace.

“I’m home mum.”

Mrs. Higurashi sniffed.

“To stay?”

“Yes mom, Kenji and I are here to stay.”

Mrs. Higurashi released Kagome from her embrace.

“Are you sure, baby?”

“Yes mom.” Mrs. Higurashi looked her daughter up and down. There was something different in her. She stood proud and confident, very different from the shy and insecure Kagome from some years ago.

“You look…different.”

“Yes mum. I did nothing wrong, so I shouldn’t be the one hiding and living away from home.”

Mrs. Higurashi dried her tears and smiled.

“Well, come on in. Kenji I made some muffins this morning. Would you like some?”

“Yes grandmother. Thank you”

Mrs. Higurashi smiled sweetly at her grandson. They hadn’t seen each other very often and the boy was a bit shy around her. But nothing a few days together couldn’t solve.

Kagome followed her mother and son into the house. She had today to settle and tomorrow she had an interview with someone Mr. Okawa, her former employer, had contacted and that would give her a job in another book shop, this one, near home. She breathed in deeply. Yes, she was home.

He woke up with a start, his sweaty hair glued to his face. There it was, that dream again, haunting him. It was a dream based on memories. He remembered the girl clearly.

She lived in a shrine, along with her mother, brother and grandfather. She was very quiet and always focused on her studies. He had found her boring and uninteresting, but he had noticed the way she blushed and had smelled her excitement when he was near. He was repulsed by her obvious interest in him and he did what he always did to girls like her.

She hadn’t been the first one. Every time he found a girl interested in him, although they were all unworthy of his attention, he had bedded them. He was no fool; he knew they hated him after that. But he didn’t care. They deserved it. They had it coming. He was just too good for them.

However he had never felt any remorse until her, the Higurashi girl. He had left her lying on the floor, naked and weeping. But after a while he began to feel remorse. Why had he regretted taking advantage of her and not the others, he didn’t know. But the image of her moans of pain and her tears had haunted him for the past eight years.

He had tried to find her, to make sure she was alright. He even found where she lived and stood there for several days to see if she happened to see her. But she didn’t seem to be there. Finally he assumed she had left, because her scent had been strong at first until it vanished after a few days.

He stopped looking for her, but he endured the images and the guilt every night. However lately, the dreams had changed a little, after he had wronged her she stood up with fury and pointing her right hand index finger she told him that he would pay for his actions. At that point he would wake up all sweaty and full of remorse.

He decided to take a shower to wash away the grime and the guilt. Today he had an agent to visit about a new writer. His father entrusted the finding of new talents to him because he had a sixth instinct were that was concerned. He always knew when an unknown writer would become a hit. His instinct had brought enormous benefits to the editorial his family owned.

Beep!

Beep!

Beep!

The annoying sound made the body under the covers stir and stretch in a feline manner. Kagome groaned, she had been talking to her mother until past midnight and she would have slept a bit longer if she hadn’t had to take Kenji to school. It was good that her mother had already made sure to register Kenji before she arrived, and he would attend the school near the shrine, where she and Sota had studied. And she also had an appointment for today, late in the morning.

She got up and went to have a shower. After a good shower and some breakfast she would be her cheery self again.

An hour and a half later Sota found his sister reading the newspaper while seeping her coffee. He smiled, because beside her was an empty plate that had clearly contained scrambled eggs and bacon, as well as some toasts. He looked around and noticed that she had made enough breakfast for him to eat.

“Morning sis.”

Kagome raised her head and noticed her brother standing by the door. She smiled sweetly at him. He had grown a full head and a half. They had talked along with mom and grandpa until late at night. They had spoken a lot during the years she had been away, and had seen each other scarcely because the shrine kept them busy every day.

“Want some breakfast?”

“Sure do!”

“Sit down. Don’t get used to it though. I feel like spoiling you a bit today.”

Sota smiled and sat down taking the newspaper.

“So, what are you doing today?”

“I’m meeting this Miroku Houshi. Mr. Okawa gave me his number and I set an appointment with him before I came. Mr. Okawa said he might have a job for me in a book shop.”

“Where is Kenji?”

“I already took him to school.”

“Already?”

“Yes sleepy head. I hope you don’t get up this late every day. You know grandpa is not as strong as he was and he needs our help.”

“I know sis. I don’t, I promise. I usually help him with everything I can before I go to college and then I have a part time job to help with the bills.”

Kagome smiled sweetly at him.

“Sorry Sota. I know you are being helpful. I guess I’m feeling a bit guilty I was away from you guys.”

“No harm done. But, Kagome, I’m glad you are back. I wish I had been old enough back then to defend you. I would have punched that tight assed bastards. In fact I could ….”

“No more Sota. He is not worth it. I rather have you by my side than in jail.”

“Well. If you change your mind…. I have to get going. Bye sis!”

She cleaned up the kitchen and got ready to go.

He was reading the résumé in his hands. His friend Okawa had sent it to him via e-mail yesterday, and he was expecting the girl any minute now. They had agreed to meet in the same shop she would work. If what Okawa was right and she was such a valuable worker then he didn’t need to ask much, just see her in action. Okawa never praised unless justified. And he highly praised her.

The bell sounded signalling someone was entering the shop and Ayame greeted the visitor.

“Good morning. Can I help you?”

“Good morning. I’m here to see Mr. Houshi.”

“Yes. He is right over there.”

Kagome looked to where she was pointing and noticed a young man sitting in an armchair reading. She frowned. There were no other men in the shop, so he had to be Miroku Houshi. He was younger than she had expected.

At that moment the man decided to raise his head and was rendered breathless by the lovely sight in front of him. That was the girl? Higurashi? He stood up to greet her.

“You must be Kagome Higurashi?”

“Yes, then I suppose you are Miroku Houshi.”

The man nodded and they shook hands.

“Please, sit down Miss Higurashi.”

“Thank you.”

“Well, you are greatly recommended by my good friend Okawa.”

Kagome blushed and nodded.

“I see in your résumé that you have a lot of experience and great knowledge of many different type of books. How is that?”

“Well, I enjoy reading very much. I read every night before I go to sleep.”

“Yes, I understand. But do you read children’s books too?”

Kagome blushed again.

“Well, in a way I do. I have a child and I read a little to him every night.”

“Are you married, then?”

Kagome cleared her throat and looked to the side.

“No I’m not. I’m a single mother.”

Miroku cleared his throat.

“Don’t get me wrong, Ms. Higurashi. I’m not here to judge you past actions. As long as you do your job well I don’t care what you do in your spare time.”

Kagome breathed again, not having realised how she had been holding her breath.

“Thank you Mr. Houshi. I really appreciate it.”

“However...”

She sighed, ‘there we go again’ she thought. ‘Just because I’m a single mother he will think I’m easy.’

“... I would like to see you work” Kagome raised her head in surprise and focused her attention on her boss-to-be.

“Don’t look so surprised Ms Higurashi. It’s not that I don’t trust Okawa, but I would like to see for myself.”

“No, of course. When shall I start?”

“In a moment. First I want to talk about salary and shift.”

“Of course”

“Good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon.”

A middle-aged woman had just entered the book shop while Kagome was putting some books in a shelf. He companion Ayame was in the back office going through some papers.

“Can I help you?”

“Well, I was looking for a book for a four-year-old girl.”

“Yes, come with me, please. Here is the section of books for children.”

“Oh, there are so many books!”

“Were you looking for a specific book?”

The elegant woman in front of her brought a finger to her lips.

“I really don’t know. My son adopted a child six months ago and I’m meeting her tomorrow. I wanted to get her a present to start bonding with her and I thought a book could be a good start.”

Kagome smiled and nodded her head.

“It’s a good choice. Here you have some books that are quite the hit amongst the little ones. Feel free to have a look at them. I’ll right over there if you need me.”

The woman hesitated for a bit and then addressed Kagome.

“Could you recommend one? I’m really new at this and I’m not sure...”

Kagome smiled sweetly.

“Of course.”

She picked up one of the books.

“My son Kenji used to enjoy this book very much. He started to read with this book. If you want to bond with that child it’s good to spend some time with them, show them that you care.”

The woman smiled.

“Thank you. I really appreciate your help. I’ll follow your advice and I’ll take this book.”

“Sure, come with me. I’ll put a nice wrapping.”

The woman smiled again. It wasn’t often that he found such competent shop assistants.

“May I ask your name?”

“Of course, my name is Kagome.”

“It’s been nice meeting you. My name is Makoto.”

“It’s been nice meeting you too. Enjoy your day Mrs. Makoto. I hope your son’s child enjoys her present.”

“I hope so too. Have a good day.”

As Makoto Taisho was walking down the street with her purchase firmly held in her hand she kept thinking of a way to make amends with her son. She had forbidden Sesshomaru to adopt that human child Rin, but he did it anyway. Out of pride she had stopped contacting her son after a particular violent argument with her son. She couldn’t understand why he would adopt a human. Lately she had realised that she missed her son and that she should take the first step to reconcile with him, she had been wrong and it was the right thing to do to make amends. She had also discovered that humans were not as bad. That girl, Kagome, was a good example. And she had met many over the last years.

“Mrs. Taisho?”

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed the man standing in front of her.

“Good afternoon Miroku.”

Miroku pointed at the bag she was carrying.

“I see you have been to the book shop.”

“I just bought a book.” She looked shyly at him. “For Rin.”

“Sesshomaru will appreciate it.”

Makoto smiled.

“I really hope so. And I hope it will allow me to spend some time with Rin too.”

“I’m sure she will.”

“By the way, there is a woman in the shop that is a real treasure. I’ve never seen her before. Is she new?”

“You mean Kagome?” The woman nodded. “I hired her today. She comes highly recommended.”

“She recommended the book I purchased.”

“I’m glad.”

“Well, I have to go now. I want to meet Sesshomaru before he goes to pick up Rin.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

Miroku watched the woman walk away. The woman had sure changed over the years. He remembered the high and mighty attitude she held herself with before she was assaulted by some youkai because her mate Toga had refused to hire them. As a sort of vengeance they had attacked her viciously and left her to die in a dirty alley. She was found by a human woman and brought to the shrine where she lived and nursed to health.

Since then she had become an anonymous benefactor. They never knew who was behind the amount of money sent every month, but she made sure the Higurashi shrine never went through hardships again. That had been five months ago, after her argument with Sesshomaru, and her views on humans changed drastically.

Miroku realised she had been easier to deal with since the incident. Even Inuyasha had noticed some change in her demeanour towards him. Things had become easier at the Taisho manor.

Kagome walked with a light step to pick up Kenji. Miroku had hired her; he said he was impressed with her knowledge and how she seemed to know what costumers were looking for. She hadn’t known what to answer to that, she felt so embarrassed.

She waved at her son, who came running all the way to her awaiting arms giving her a bear hug.

“’Afternoon sweetie!”

“Hi mum.”

“Want to go to the park for a while before we head home for supper?”

“YAY!”

She was glad she had found a job so soon. She had been surprised to know the night before that the shrine was doing fine, better than fine, actually. Her mother told her that they had an anonymous benefactor giving them money every month, thanks to that they could hire help and the shrine was doing great.

While she went with Kenji to the park she couldn’t help but wonder who could be so generous. She stopped believing in people’s good side a long time ago. Eight years ago, actually.

She sat on a bench at the park and watched how her son interacted with other children. Some were human, some were youkai, and some were hanyou, like him. Nobody seemed to mind. The grownups taking care of the little ones didn’t seem to care. In fact those adults seemed to interact with each other as well. Things had sure changed since she left. When she still lived with her mother, before the incident happened, youkai didn’t tolerate humans or hanyou. Whatever happened she was glad, because it would make things easier for her child.

“Mom.”

Her son got her out of her thoughts.

“Yes baby?”

“Can I play with Rin?”

She followed his finger that was pointing at a little girl with brown long hair.

“Sweetie, she is too little for you.”

“No she is not. Besides, everyone is ignoring her because she is too little. I want to show her how to make sand castles.”

“OK baby, but you know the rule. Treat her kindly; she is much younger than you.”

“Yes mom.”

Sesshomaru got home after a long and hard day at work. As soon as he put his brief case on the floor and hung his jacket, he began to loosen the tie. Suddenly he felt little arms surround one of his legs and hug tight. He looked down to see his sunshine smiling brightly at him.

“Good night daddy.”

“Good night Rin. How come you are still up?”

“I begged Jaken to let me wait you up. I have something very important to tell you.”

He put his hand on his daughter’s head and both went to the kitchen. While Sesshomaru ate Rin narrated what she had done that day.

“But the best thing daddy is that today I met Kenji Higurashi and his mother at the park.” Sesshomaru stopped eating; the fact went unnoticed by his daughter. “The funny thing is that she is human and he has white hair like you and the same colour of your eyes. He also has the same mark on his forehead that you have.”

‘Higurashi, that was the girl’s name, Kagome Higurashi’. His daughter kept talking oblivious to his father’s distress. ‘Had he found her finally?’

“Rin.”

“Yes daddy”

“Is this boy...”

“Kenji?”

“Does he go to your school?”

“No he doesn’t. Is he my cousin? You told me grandpa, uncle and you were the only dog youkai in the area.”

“I don’t know sweetheart. Do you know where he lives?”

“Well, he told me he lives in the Higurashi shrine and that he attends the school near it. It is also near the park where I met him. He said he would try to convince his mother to go to the park tomorrow and asked if I would be there, can I daddy?”

“Hn. Go to sleep Rin, there is school tomorrow and you need your rest.”

“Yes daddy.”

“And Rin, I will accompany you to the park tomorrow.”

“Yay!”

Rin bounced all the way to her room, happy that his daddy would go with her to the park tomorrow. Hopefully he would meet Kagome there and he could apologise. Could it be that he had sired a son the night he had taken advantage of Kagome?

T.B.C.