After All This Time?

Confrontation ~Rin

The morning was gloomy and overcast. Were we expecting a storm? I couldn't see anything like a storm coming in the air, it didn't have the right smell. I shrugged it off for now but kept an eye on it.

I was carrying a small woven basket of apples to feed to the horses at the stables. While there, I brush the horses, feed them, and pet them since they always love the attention. Especially my favorite horse, Kuro, a gentle stallion with a black coat. I smile at him and he is always excited to see me. He'd nudge his head at me for me to pet him.

"You're such a needy horse," I spoke to him softly. Kuro grunts at me, nodding his head in agreement. I giggle softly, and rest my forehead against his, "we'll get out of this village one day my friend. Just you and me."
I feed him the last apple I had and left them for the day.

Instead of returning to the hut, I decided to go see if Kagome was home. I needed to ask her something and to explain to her what's been on my mind and heart for a while. I figured she would understand what I was going through.

She told me the stories of her struggles with her relationship with Inuyasha, even before they got married. I figured she would be able to give me some advice. I trust her enough to talk about these things, where I have a hard time sometimes talking with Kaede cause she's---well, Kaede tends to exaggerate things. It's not that I doubted her wisdom, I just need to hear a new perspective.

Once I reached Kagome's home, no one was there. I was disappointed at first, but then I saw someone walking towards my way--it was Kagome. I waved at her to get her attention. She notices me and smiles, waving back at me.

"Ohayo, Rin!" Kagome greets me, as we both stood in front of her door, "what brings you here today?"

"I wanted to see you about something," I spoke, with my cheeks turning rosy.

Kagome noticed my complexion and gave me a huge grin.

"Oh, is it about someone? Maybe, catching feelings for a certain boy?" She bumps my arm with her elbow and my face got redder.

"It's not the way you think it is," I replied, twirling my fingers around.

"Would you like to come inside to talk about it?" She asks, opening the door. I nod and enter her home behind her.

She prepared us some tea and hands me a cup. I take a sip or two and place the cup down beside me.

"Kagome?" I began, sounding nervous.

She gave me her full attention as she held her cup in her hands.

I wasn't sure how I was going to start or even explain this to her, I was beginning to doubt if she would understand what I was feeling.

I breathe in slowly.

"Do you have someone that you miss?"

She was taken by my question. She had this concerned look on her face, almost like Kaede did whenever I tried bringing this up to her before.

Kagome places her cup down to the side.

"I miss my family that I left behind in the modern era. Knowing that I won't be able to see them again hurts me so much." Kagome places a hand over her heart.

Oh no.

I didn't mean to have Kagome think about her family. I had lost my entire family so long ago, I sometimes forget that I even had one. But she won't ever forget them, not that easily.

"But I'm okay." She continued, "I have Inuyasha with me and Sango and Miroku, and I even have you and Kaede. You guys are my family now."

A warm feeling came to my chest. I had always considered Kagome as a big sister, but to hear her say that she also sees me like family, brought me such joy.