A/N: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its character's, so lucky you, Rumiko Takahashi. However, I suppose I own this fanfic plot and its original characters.
Readers,
Please note that this is my first attempt at fanfiction in 8 years. I have no beta, so please be gentle, but constructive reviews are more than welcome. I am in university studying as a RDH so I may not update very often, but once September starts, I will try to update at least 2x/mnth with at least 1000 words each.
Also, since this a canon loosely based on the last of the series, this will originally start out as a Kag/Inu pairing and there may be a lime/lemon in the first few chapters. Sorry in advance!
Enjoy!
Miss Killington, AKA Missy Misa
1. An Opportunity
"Ja ne! I'll let you know how my last two finals went!" Kagome yelled out while running out the main door to the shrine steps.
During her three years of high school requirements, the young miko often found herself melancholy. Her childhood friends Ayumi, Eri and Yuka noticed how lately Kagome would stare wistfully out the classroom windows and lose concentration on their class lectures. They knew that she missed her "bad boy" ex-boyfriend, but they did not know the full extent of how things had ended. Having exhausted their means of support, and tired of waiting for their usually chipper friend to recover from adolescent heartbreak, the trio, along with Hojo, started pulling away.
Kagome missed Inuyasha dearly, as well as the rest of her subjugate feudal family. But whenever she found herself on such a downward spiralling case of thoughts, she would chastise herself, 'My sorrow is nothing compared to the countless lives that were lost and saved. At least the shikon no tama was destroyed. They can live peaceful lives now.'
Having arrived just as the exam room murmur settled down, their sensei started handing out a noticeably large booklet to each examinee. "Alright everyone, this has been a tough semester for those of you whom that thought that taking an introductory class of Evolutionary Warfare as a social studies elective would be easy. But for the select few who have been asking the right questions, you will do fine. Please remain quiet for those who need to focus these essay questions. Thank you and good luck everyone!"
Upon opening her booklet, Kagome read her essay question, 'Please state the most commonly used weapons and warfare strategies in the warring states surrounding Edo, and their significance in contributing to its succession as modern Tokyo.' With thankful recognition albeit with bitter irony, Kagome began to write her heart out on everything she knew of archery, katanas, and political alliances.
Her following exam on human biology honours, was pleasantly easy, having contained various multiple choice questions on the different body systems and a mini essay on the significance of the cranial vascular system in relation to infections, possible treatments, and prevention. Kagome smiled to herself, 'Oh, this is so easy! The cranial veins have no valves so the spread of infection can occur faster than it would in other areas of the body. Antibiotics and fluids are the best treatment if serious signs of infection are noted. Otherwise, keeping the affected area(s) well cleaned and sanitized will help the tissue trauma to begin healing and prevent possible life-threatening conditions such as meningitis, septicemia, and even pneumonia via reoccurring sinus infections.'
Finished with her finals, Kagome waited for her friends to finish so that they could exchange 'goodbyes' and 'good lucks' to one another. One last time before their lives were overrun with jobs and university studies.
She simply wanted to go home and check on the well again.
For the one-thousand ninety-fifth time ...
***
"I'm home! Is anyone here?" The newly graduated, former time-traveler called out.
"Hai, I am Kagome-chan! Congratulations on graduating by the way!" A beautiful, strawberry blonde garbed in tradition miko clothing came out of the storage shed, waving to her. "Have you decided on what you want to do now that your studies are over?"
In order to help Kagome concentrate in catching up on her studies, her mother and grandfather decided to hire a new shrine maiden to help with cleaning and facilitating events after school. "I not sure yet, Kimiko-chan. My grandfather has been having difficulties running the shrine as of late, even with all your extra help... I'm worried I may need to stay to help take over, especially since we've been lacking in benefactors lately."
"Oh, so are you going to take a semester or two off?" Concern etching along her exotic features. Her dark brown brows furrowed under her bangs, shading her typically vibrant, dichromatic eyes with worry. Instead, rich, sparkling emeralds, outlined in a creamy caramel were a forest green, shrouded by mulch.
"Possibly, aren't you studying at Todai? What's your focus on?" The raven haired teenager asked, wanting to flip the line of questioning.
"I'm studying midwifery. I just love babies, I guess it's because they're so hard to conceive in the family. I have a few distant relatives, and one of them in healthcare said it has something to do with genetics." She lightly laughed with tiny smirk.
"I'm so sorry to hear that Kimiko-chan, I didn't know."
"It's alright, I learned this at a really young age, so it never really bothered me. My parents both felt bad when they realized the double meaning of my name. A child without a sibling is truly a child without an equal, I'd say." The bulky white haori swiftly lifted up, then down, indicating that Kimiko had shrugged her shoulders in defeat.
Kagome rushed up and hugged her, "I don't know or understand how you truly feel, but if you ever need a sister, just let me know okay?" Leaning back from the hug, shining sapphires locked with hazy emeralds.
"I would love that."
Suddenly, Kagome felt a bolt of lightning go through her. Her miko powers fluttered, as if she could sense several demonic auras across the shrine courtyard. Her eyes widened in shock, 'Did the well just reopen?!'
Trying to keeping the excitement out of her voice, she calmly stated, "Alright, I'm going to go sweep by the goshinboku and the well house, then I'll go make us some dinner. How does a miso based ramen sound for tonight?"
Despite being drawn back into the traditional ponytail, long strawberry waves bobbed as Kimiko bowed politely and giggled, "That would be most wonderful, thank you. The broom is leaning against the well house, I left it there for you since I took you for a creature of habit."
Feeling caught in a soon-to-be lie, Kagome blushed as she made her way to the sacred tree with broom in hand, "Yeah, I fell down the well once looking for Buyo, so I try to make sure it doesn't happen to ojii-san or Souta."
Once she was sure she was out of Kimiko's sight, Kagome peeped into the well house. It was faint, but even with a human nose she could smell the difference, in place of dust and the musky scent of old wood, she caught the crisp scent of summer grass fields.
In a brighter mood than she had ever been in over the last three years, Kagome rushed about her chores, and when her family came home in time for supper, she couldn't wait to tell them.
As soon as she figured out how to hide this new information from their new family friend.
***
Words: 1230
Kimiko - child without equal
Todai - abbreviation of University of Tokyo