Chapter: thoughts

Hi, what I'm going to do * close the door behind you *

Chapter 8: Thoughts

The chirping of birds slowly awakened Kimie from her sleep that morning. With her eyes still closed and still half asleep, she first wondered where she was actually. But when she noticed the soft pillow she was lying on and the warm blanket, she knew that she was in Kagome's parents' house.
Now Kimie opened her eyes and found herself in the guest room. The rays of the sun penetrated the room through the windows and lit the room in a very pleasant way.
> For a moment I thought I was still there. <, thought Kimie and slowly sat up. Her gaze fell on Inuki, who was sleeping on the floor next to her bed.
It was hard to imagine for her that she and Kagome had been back in modern times for a week. But every morning Kimie felt like it had all happened yesterday. She sighed.
> Actually, I should be satisfied, but somehow I don't want to succeed. <Finally, Kimie threw back the covers and got up. At that moment Inuki raised his head, stood up and greeted his mistress happily. The girl gently stroked the dog's head. "Good morning, Inuki. Did you sleep well?" The mongrel barked once, as if to confirm. Kimie smiled slightly. "Then you have a bit ahead of me in that sense." Inuki tilted her head a little while she picked up a few things and then left the room to go to the bathroom.

At breakfast Kimie was very thoughtful. When she put a small bite in her mouth with the chopsticks, she seemed to keep the ends of the chopsticks in her mouth for an indefinite period of time before preparing a new serving. Kimie didn't really seem there at all, which of course wasn't hidden from Kagome and her family.
"Cousin, are you not okay?" Souta asked curiously. "You've been so weird for a week since you and Kagome came back from the other era.""Souta, don't be so curious!", Kagome warned her little brother, although she had to admit to herself that she would also like to know what was bothering Kimie. But she hadn't asked her yet. Should she still do that?
The two girls had told the family what had happened in the other epoch, but Kimie had limited her part of the story to a few rough details. She didn't really seem to want to talk about it either.
Despite the warning from his sister, Souta asked his cousin again: "Tell me, this guy who didn’t take him, so Inuyasha's brother, how is he? Kagome just keeps saying that he is by no means what you call him friendly guy next door and Inuyasha doesn't seem to like him that much either. "
"Souta! Didn't you just listen to me?", Kagome asked a little irritably. Her grandfather raised his hand soothingly."But children, don't argue early in the morning. As the saying goes: the morning hour has gold in its mouth. And we should stick to that."
There was brief silence at the table, as if those present had to sort out what had just been said before Souta broke the silence: "Grandpa, the saying was somehow inappropriate now."
“Hm?” The old man gave his grandson a questioning look as Kimie was now putting her dishes together. "I'm done.", She said curtly and got up. Kagome's mother looked a little surprised at her niece. "You haven't eaten much again, Kimie. It's been like this all week. Aren't you feeling well?"
"No, it's nothing.", Kimie replied with a slight smile and shook her head as she put her dishes next to the sink. Then she sat down at the table again.
"Are you really all right?", Asked Kagome's mother, whereupon Kimie nodded. "Really."

After breakfast, only Kagome and Kimie remained at the table.There was silence for a while, but at some point Kimie said calmly: "Tell me, Kagome, don't you want to stop by your friends in the Middle Ages? Maybe they are already wondering." Kagome hadn't been to the other epoch for a week either . The younger one smiled and shook her head. "That's okay. I actually thought that I would stay here as long as you are there. I told them that too. Especially since you don't want to go back to the other epoch, as you said. Otherwise we could both go there, of course . "
"Hmm ..." Kimie looked down. Kagome watched her cousin with concern. She didn't want to question her, but she didn't like just watching either. So she took a deep breath and then spoke again: "Kimie, I can't get rid of the feeling that something is bothering you. You have been so different all week."
"It's nothing, Kagome," Kimie replied, as she had all along.But Kagome could clearly hear from her voice that her cousin was not doing as well as she wanted her to believe, but one glance was enough to determine that. After a short pause, Kimie continued: "I only think about the events in the Middle Ages from time to time."
Kagome listened. She had already thought of something like that. "Has it ... something to do with Sesshoumaru?" She asked hesitantly. "Has he done something to you?"
"What? No!" Kimie immediately held up her hands in defense. "No, he didn't! That's not the point at all!"
"But what's bothering you then?" Kagome asked worriedly. Kimie didn't answer. She couldn't really explain her own behavior to herself.
Kagome was silent for a moment before she continued quietly: "You know, Kimie, actually I didn't want to question you because I thought that if something is bothering you, you should be able to decide for yourself whether you want to talk to someone about it or not .But now I think so. Of course I can't force you to tell me what's on your mind, but you should know that I'm there for you. If I can help you in any way, tell me, will you? "Smiling, she looked at Kimie, who was silent at first, but then nodded gratefully." Thank you, Kagome. "

But Kimie didn't say a word about the events in the Middle Ages all day. Most of the time she spent in her room, thinking. Kagome left her cousin alone, she didn't want to impose herself on her. Still, of course, she continued to worry.
It was now afternoon. Kimie was sitting on her bed, Inuki was lying on the floor in front of her and watching her carefully. Somehow he seemed to sense that something was very preoccupying his mistress.
Kimie sighed. "Jeez ... Since I've been back here somehow I feel so different. As if I was missing something ..."
She looked out the window. Occasionally there were a few small clouds in the sky, which slowly passed by."What is going on in the other era?" She wondered thoughtfully. "And what about Rin, Jaken and Sesshoumaru?"
Kimie had to admit that over time she had felt safe around Sesshoumaru, even if she wasn't with him for long. He had saved her from ending up as fodder for demons and above all he had saved her from these robbers.
"And I didn't even thank him ..." Kimie thought with a feeling of regret. > But that doesn't really matter to him anyway. <
With a sigh, she lowered her gaze. Inuki hadn't taken his eyes off her the whole time. Now he got up and came up to her and put his front paws on the bed right next to his mistress. The mongrel nudged her gently. Kimie looked at Inuki and stroked his head with a slight smile. "Well, Inuki? I guess I'm getting on your nerves with my mood, right?" The dog laid his head on Kimie's lap. It seemed like trying to cheer her up a little, but that nagging feeling stayed with her."I miss Kimie-san and Inuki.", Rin said with a sad undertone. "Why did you just leave without saying anything?"
"Don't complain now, Rin! It's no use!", Jaken said indifferently. "No matter how much that bothers you, the two of them won't come back. That's the way it is!"
Rin looked down in disappointment. "Nevertheless..."
She stroked one of Ah-Us's heads. The dragon lay on the grass and dozed off. The group had stopped on their way and would probably spend the night in this place. It was already getting dark.
While Jaken didn't waste much thought on the whereabouts of Kimie and Inuki, Rin now turned her gaze to Sesshoumaru, who was sitting a little apart from the others in the shade of a tree.
"And Sesshoumaru-sama has also been completely different lately.", The little girl said thoughtfully, but Jaken waved her off. "Now don't talk nonsense! Sesshouamru-sama is the same as always."
"No that's not him!", Rin contradicted and looked down again." He's acting differently than before. "
Jaken stopped short. He had to admit that the little girl was indeed right on this point. From the outside his master seemed to be the same as always, but he was a little different nonetheless. And one more thing made the toad demon thoughtful too. > I would like to know what is in this larger, elongated bundle that Sesshoumaru-sama has been carrying with him lately. "
After a moment's hesitation, Jaken ran towards Sesshoumaru. He wanted to ask him about it now.
Sesshoumaru sat in the shade of the tree in silence, eyes closed. However, he did not sleep. He was quite aware of his surroundings.
After a while he opened his eyes and let his gaze wander.
“Sesshoumaru-sama?” Jaken's voice suddenly caught Sesshoumaru's attention and he looked at the toad demon who was now standing next to him. "Forgive me, noble sir.I definitely don't want to bother you, but I have a question for you. "Jaken pointed to the bundle that was lying in the grass next to Sesshoumaru." It's none of my business, but what's in there? I mean, would you have the grace to tell me what this is all about? "
Sesshoumaru directed his gaze briefly to the bundle mentioned before he took it and got up from his resting place.
"What do you have, noble sir?" Jaken asked confused. Indeed, Sesshoumaru's behavior seemed rather strange to him. "Please don't get me wrong, but lately you've been somehow different than usual." But the youkai ignored this remark. Instead, he turned away from the toad demon and walked away.
"Sir, where are you going?" Asked Jaken, feeling a little like ordered and not picked up. Just like Rin, he could only look after the youkai in silence while the latter separated himself