Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

A New World
By : HanyouMiko15
Category: InuYasha > General
Views: 1758 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.
Chapter List
- 2
- 3
Disclaimer: Congratulations! You are the owner
of Inuyasha� (Author wakes up from dream). Oh, darn it, it�s that dream again.
Why must you torture me so! I guess the only place I will ever own Inuyasha is in
my dreams� (Author closes her eyes�) All will bow down to me!
I do not any real-life
characters that shall be presented in this story, nor do I take credit for any
historical ideas or concepts that are introduced.
I was able to explain why
Japanese inhabitants had to immigrate overseas by reading an essay and I also
found the treaty of Kanagawa. BUT I CAN'T WRITE THE URL! I have to give credit
to outside resources.
Author's Note: I am incredibly happy with the
positive reviews I�ve been receiving! It encourages me to work harder on my
writing and editing it so many times so that there are no mistakes (or a
few�hehe�I�m not perfect). I�m glad you are enjoying A New World so far. I
extend my deepest gratitude to the following reviewers: amber_eyes, Jebus, Rawben, Ardinae, skater~girl981, Samurai Slayer, Neko89, Emiko, quicksilver, three
anonymous reviewers, and last but not least Inuyasha�sWarriorMiko (I�m only
kidding Kat, so don�t kill me!).
Oh, and please�ALWAYS READ
the author�s note at the end of every chapter!
On to Chapter 2!

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Japanese
Dictionary
Diajabou ka: �Are you
alright?
Daikon: white Japanese
radish
Itai: �Ouch.� or �Ow.�
Karash: Japanese hot
mustard. It is usually served with oden.
Konnyaku: transparent
yam starch cake
Matte: �Wait.�
Ohayo: �Good morning.�
Sumimasen: �I�m sorry.�
Yuki: snow

--------------------------------------------------
I was fourteen years old
when my father left Mama, Souta, Ji-chan, and me.
My father was a humble
farmer, who would work diligently for hours on the rice fields to support all
four of us. But even the money he received was not enough to maintain our
family. We were not downright poor, but we were not downright rich either. We
were not even in the middle class. Just somewhere in between poor and middle
class. We appreciated what we had.
Why did this all happen?
Why did farmers and their families struggle?
A new era of
industrialization began in Japan, which created a huge impact among the
farmers. Soon, those that worked and lived of the money they made working on
the agricultural fields were finding less and less opportunities. The country�s
population grew and poverty spread, leaving immigration an attractive
alternative.
Even though I am a woman,
I am very aware of what is happening in my country. Women tend to be very
ignorant about politics and such, so I can never truly express my intellect
with others. Men believe females to be narrow-minded, unable to create
political opinions and theories. Though it is true for some, I do not classify
myself to be one of those girls�
There I go�I�m rambling
again. Let me get back to the point.
Farmers, such as my
father, were burdened with the new taxes and the fall in the price of rice.
Hundreds and thousands of peasant farmers were losing their homes and land�and
their lives�
Not a single day goes by
that I pray to Kami for blessing us. We have not lost our home yet. Yet being
the key word. We live a little better than others because we have money. It�s
not something that we brag like about. It would get a lot of the neighbors
curious and nosy�
How did this
industrialization occur? I had not even been born during this time. Thankfully,
my Ji-chan, Mama, and Papa were around to witness the arrival of the American
officials and were able to tell me the tale. It fascinates me and yet, many
feel that they are to blame for those who are suffering�
Commodore Matthew
Calbraith Perry arrived in Japan from the United States. He was a naval officer
and he, determinedly, negotiated for a number of months with Japanese officials
to accomplish the goal of opening the doors of trade with Japan.
The Japanese government
realized that their country was in no position to defend itself against a
foreign power, especially a super-power, and Japan could not retain its
isolation policy without risking war. On March 31, 1854, Perry received what he
had so dearly worked for--a treaty with Japan, know respectively as the Treaty
of Kanagawa.
The treaty provided for:
-Peace and friendship
between Japan and the United States.
-Opening of two ports to
American ships at Shimoda and Hakodate
-Help for any American
ships wrecked on the Japanese coast and protection for shipwrecked persons
-Authorization for
American ships to purchase supplies, coal, water, and other necessary
provisions in Japanese docks.
When I was young, I did
not understand why Japan was forced to go through this treaty. My father
explained that as deeply humiliating as the western show of force had been, it
was bound to happen sooner or later. Many realized that until Japan caught up
with the West technologically, the unequal treaties and their own perceived
inferior status would remain intact. While our culture and the arts had thrived
during the period of isolation, the scientific and industrial revolutions had
raged around the world, while Japan had be unaware of these sudden changes.
This had to change in order for Japan to compete in the �modern� world.
A New World
Chapter 2
The Letter
Your family and your love must be cultivated like a
garden. Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any
relationship flourishing and growing.

- Jim Rohn
My name is Higurashi
Kagome. I am sixteen years old and the daughter of a humble peasant farmer.
As I previously mentioned,
my father sought better job opportunities overseas, as did many Japanese
farmers in many regions.
We did not part on good
terms.
I remember well the
morning when he parted. As a young girl, I did not want to see his logic of why
he was leaving us. I did not want to listen to his explanations. All I
understood was that my father was leaving. He was not leaving for a day, or a
week, or a month. For all I knew, I would probably never see him again�
I have seen it all before.
Many families in the village were experiencing this tragedy. The father leaves
his wife and children to travel to America. Wives and children wait to hear
from their husbands and fathers, hoping to one day reunite with their loved
ones. Families wait for weeks, months, and even years, and still nothing is
heard from them. They never see or hear from them again�ever�
And now�the same
misfortune befell my family and me.
I was infuriated because
it happened all so fast. He left three days after he announced his journey to
the other side of the world. I had never felt so angry in my whole entire life.
Believing it would be our last moments together, our final farewell, I did not
bid him good-bye. I pretended that he was just going to work in the fields, and
I would wait for his return�a day that would never come.
I wanted to hate him. Kami
knows how hard I wanted. I remember the loss and the sense that all optimism of
life had fled from me. But�I could not hate my Papa. I could never despise him.
To this day, I can clearly
recall the last few moments I spent with my father. And they were not happy
ones�
Unlike other families, I
knew that my father was alive. Every few weeks he would send us money, which
was the reason we lived more comfortably than others, but we were not rich.
This was my only reassurance that my father was out there, somewhere�and alive.
One day, I thought what would happen if he stopped sending money to us. It
would only tell me what I do not want to know.
The idea still haunts me�

--------------------------------------------------

Flashback

1 year and 2 months ago
February 8, 1894
The young girl, known
as Kagome, shaded her stormy blue-gray eyes from the sun�s luminosity as she
cheerfully walked down the road to the market. She lived in an unknown village
in the outskirts of Tokyo, where modernization had not hit� yet�
Though the sun was
visible, it was still February. She tightly held her light blue shawl that
draped upon her slender shoulders to protect her from the winter�s cold. The
wind was icy and fresh. She could feel the frostiness of the snow as her
snowshoes made contact with the snow on the ground.
�YUKI!�
Little flakes of snow
slowly descended from the heavens, gently brushing against the young maiden�s
pink cheeks, melting as it touched her warm face. Still a child of fourteen,
she couldn�t help but giggle as the snow fell everywhere around her.
�Another beautiful day
of snow,� thought the young girl with a smile. �Hopefully, it will snow more on
my birthday!� The mere thought of rolling in a pile of snow made her smile
wider. �Not only would Mama feint out of shock; she would probably worry that I
would get sick again. Papa, on the other hand, would laugh and roll with me.�
In a few days, she
would be turning fifteen, almost a young lady. In a way, she was disappointed
because she was growing up to become a mature woman. Her mother had told her that
she was no longer a child and she would soon need to learn to be a proper lady.
�Ha! Lady�me! When
money grows on trees��
Her childish wonder and
fiery demeanor were loved by everyone in her town. Innocent and yet
free-spirited, it was impossible not to adore the sweet child that was the joy
of the town. She was young, but very intelligent when she spoke to others. And
because the world was imperfect, there were many that envied her�for multiple
reasons.
Her long ebony locks
were swayed by the winds, making her laugh with delight. As the town came into
view, she quickened her pace, enjoying the breeze as she ran. Already she was
hearing the distant voices of the merchants as they sold their goods to their
customers. No doubt that the markets were crowded and busy again.
�Kagome-chan!� called a
high-pitched feminine voice. Kagome looked around, searching for her friend
Ayumi. She recognized her voice anywhere. She turned to see her friend running
towards her. She wore a lavender kimono with a pale yellow obi wrapped around
her waist. Apparently, her basket full of groceries were slowing her down a
bit�
�Ohayo Ayumi-chan! Here
let me help you.� Kagome took some of her groceries and put it in her own
basket.
�Arigatou Kagome-chan!�
thanked the young girl, still trying to catch her breath. �I can�t carry this
all by myself. I�m such a klutz.�
�Don�t worry. I�ll help
you take this home. Why did you buy so much stuff?� she asked with much
curiosity.
�I�m having a few
relatives from the next town coming to visit for a while. My mom wants to make
a huge dinner for them, but I�m so tired from running all over the place, I
don�t think I can take another step. It�s okay. You don�t have to. It�s a lot
of stuff anyway.�
�Don�t be silly.
Besides, I haven�t seen your mom in a while. Let�s go!�
The two girls pushed
their way through the crowd, bumping into a few people now and then. The two
girls chattered away almost endlessly. They reached a small hut, a few meters
away from the town. Ayumi slid the door open, almost dropping her basket. Both
girls removed their shoes before stepping in the house.
�Mama! I�m home!�
called the young girl. �And I brought someone with me.�
�I�m in the kitchen,
darling. I have some hot soup in the pot. You must be cold.�
As they entered the kitchen,
delicious aromas filled their noses. It was also warm, which pleased both of
them after being in the cold for a while.
�Kenida-sama, it smells
wonderful in here!� The middle-aged women turned to see her daughter�s friend
beside her.
�Oh! Kagome! It�s so
nice to see you visit.� She embraced them both and took their baskets.
�It�s good to see you
too, Kenida-sama.�
�Come and sit down.
It�s so chilly outside. I made hot soup.� She took two bowls and poured the
soup in each one. She handed them the bowls and chuckled when they ate it with
much eagerness.
�You�re the best,
Mama.�
The middle-aged mother
smiled. �Would you like to stay a while, Kagome?�
�I�d love to!� she
answered, drinking the last of the soup broth. �But I�m afraid I can�t. I have
to go to the market to buy some ingredients for Mama�s oden.
�Oh, what a shame.�
�Thank you for the
soup. I best get going.� She hugged her friend and her mother before taking her
basket. �I�ll see you later, Ayumi-chan! Ja ne!
�Ja ne, Kagome! Say hi
to your mom for me!�

--------------------------------------------------
When Kagome finally
reached the market, she took out the list her mother gave her.
�She�s making oden
today! Oden! Oden! Oden!� she mentally chanted. �Hmmm�.� She looked down at the
list of ingredients�
-1 daikon

-2 potatoes

-2 carrots

-4 eggs

-2 blocks of konnyaku

-2 blocked of tofu

-4 fish-paste cakes

-8 dried shitake mushrooms

-1 small bottle of karash
�Ooo�karash! I love
that stuff! Especially on oden.� The petite girl skipped until she reached the
vegetable isle. She smiled at the man selling the vegetables.
�Ohayo, Shiyoi-san!�
Kagome bowed respectfully at the elder.
�Hello, little one.
It�s certainly a pleasure to see you. What do you need today?�
�Mama�s making oden today!�
She handed the list to the man as she jumped for joy. �She makes the best oden
in the world!�
He chuckled at her
lively behavior. �Let�s see now�two potatoes�one radish�two carrots�ack! I�m
out of karash. You know a lot of people make oden this time around. Go to
Kanari-san. I�m sure she will have more in stock.�
�Arigatou Shiyoi-san!�
She took out a small bag that contained a few coins. Already knowing how much
she owed, she paid Shiyoi and ran before any more karash was sold out.
The young girl was so
caught up in her attempt to reach Kanari-san first, she accidentally collided
with someone. They both crashed on the snow-covered ground. Thankfully, the
snow reduced the impact, making the pain on her hip more tolerable.
�It..Itai�� Kagome
groaned. �Darn it, that hurt! Who�s the idiot that I ran into.� She looked
beside her and saw a familiar face of a young boy. He had brown eyes and long
light brown hair that he kept in a ponytail.
�Hojo-kun! Sumimasen!
Sumimasen!� She bowed her head deeply every time she said it. �Gah! I�m such an
idiot!�
�Higurashai-san!
Diajabou ka? He asked as he offered her his hand. She gladly accepted it and
helped her up from the ground.
�Hai��
The young boy was
blushing and seemed very embarrassed as he held her hand. Kagome and the entire
town knew why. Akitoki Hojo had been in love with Kagome the moment they met.
That was five years ago. Kagome mentally rolled her eyes. Hojo was kind, yes,
and very noble. All the village girls found him quite handsome and he was very
charming. The village girls would glare daggers at Kagome because only she held
his attention. What they didn�t understand is that she did not want it. As
charming and polite as he was�the young girl felt no attraction whatsoever
toward the young boy. She found him rather dull. He was not adventurous as she
was and he had no desire to travel far from home.
It was no secret that
the young lad wanted to court Kagome. He was sixteen and Kagome would be
fifteen in a few days. Kagome simply wouldn�t allow it. She felt sorry for the
poor boy because he was unaware that she did not return his feelings. It was
his fault because she had done nothing to make him believe otherwise.
�How has your day been,
Higurashi?� he asked politely. It was obvious that he was trying to start a
conversation with her.
�Very busy,� she
answered with a smile. Being as dense as he was, he did not realize that the
smile was pretty much fake. �I�m sorry, but I can�t stay long. There�s so much
to do. Ja ne!� she waved and ran off.
�Higurashi! Matte!� he
called out, but Kagome pretended not to hear. She only ran faster until she
finally disappeared into the crowd. The young girl ran until she reached
Kanari�s store.
�Kanari-san!� She
waited until an elder woman appeared. A grin reached her face as she saw the
child before her catching her breath.
�Seeing that look on
your face�I�m assuming that you�ve encountered Hojo before you came here,� she
laughed as Kagome scowled. She handed her list to the woman.
�Do you want to talk
about it?�
�Iie��
�He�s a good lad.� She
filled Kagome�s basket with the required amount of eggs, konnyaku, tofu, and
fish cakes. Kagome handed her the necessary amount of money and let out a sigh.
�I know, Kanari-san.
But he�s��
�Dull, boring, and too
polite. Yes child, I know. You are a free spirit, Kagome. You don�t belong in a
small town such as this. And I hope that he will realize that someday. You need
to explore the world outside of Japan. One day�it might happen.�
�Really? You think so.�
�I know so.�
�You�re the best. I
feel a bit better.�
�Then hurry and go
home. According to what�s on the list, I can tell your mother is making
something special just for you. Am I right?�
�Hai! Ja ne!� Kagome
took off and took that road that would lead her to the place that was her home.

--------------------------------------------------
The young maiden
skipped along the snowy path, humming a small tune, until she reached her
shrine that was only ten feet away�
�HOW DARE YOU!� someone
cried from inside the residence. Kagome jumped in fear as she recognized the voice.
Never in her life had she heard her mother yell the way she was now. Her mother
was a gentle and her voice was pleasant-sounding and sweet. Who was she yelling
at?
�I KNOW WHAT�S BEST FOR
MY FAMILY!� another voiced hollered back. She recognized that voice too. She
almost dropped her basket at her sudden realization. Her parents were fighting.
�Mama�Papa�� She felt
tears pricking her eyes, but she held them back. Her parents never fought like
this. They had their disagreements, just like any family would, but never like
this�they loved each other too much�didn�t they? What had caused them to be so
angry?
The young teen quietly
slid the door open, hoping not to alert her parents of her presence. She was
relieved to see that they were arguing in the kitchen. Slowly, she crept
towards the kitchen, listening on to every word they were saying, unaware that
what she was about to hear will forever shock her.
�WHY ARE YOU DOING
THIS, HIRO!
�IT�S THE ONLY WAY!�
�BUT WE�RE DOING FINE
HERE!�
�WE�RE NOT AND YOU KNOW
THAT! I DON�T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO SUPPORT US ALL! TAXES ARE GOING UP FAST AND
SOON WE�LL HAVE NOTHING! DON�T YOU REALIZE THAT!
��
His voice lowered to a
whisper. �If we stay here any longer, everything we have will be taken from us.
We�ll live in the streets. Is that what you want? Think of our children.
They�ll starve and freeze to death in this weather. Are you willing to let this
opportunity pass?
�I�I�Iie.� The women
fell on her knees and wept quietly. Hiro walked towards his wife and embraced
her as he wiped her tears away.
�I have to go to
America. It�s our only hope.� He whispered in her hair. �I leave in three
days.�
Kagome gasped and
dropped her basket, unable to grasp what her father had just announced. Both
adults were startled by the sound. They turned their heads and came
face-to-face with their daughter. There was a long uncomfortable silence
between them.
Kagome opened her mouth
to speak, but her words failed her. She felt a tight knot forming in her
throat, preventing her from speaking. Tears pricked the corner of her eyes, but
she refused to let them fall. Her entire body was shaking�not of sadness�but of
anger�
�Kagome�� her father
called softly. Both adults stood up and tried to approach her. The young girl
backed away. �Stay away!� she screamed in her mind. �It wasn�t fair! It just
wasn�t fair!�
�Kagome�come here
sweetie.� It was her mother this time. Her voice was gentle and soothing and
Kagome almost gave in�almost.
�St�Stay away!� she
whimpered.
�We need to talk,
Kagome,� her father insisted.
�NO! I don�t want to!�
�Kagome��
�LEAVE ME ALONE!�
Not waiting for her
parents reply, she turned and bolted out the door.
And she ran.
�Now what do we do?�
asked Kohana.
Hiro looked at the
direction where his daughter had ran off. The open door allowed the cool air to
surround them. Hiro shivered and sighed. �Now, we wait.�
Knowing his daughter,
she would not return right away. Looking for her was not a good idea either.
She was very skilled at concealing herself. She had proven herself when they
used to play hide-and-seek. She would come home only when everyone had fallen
asleep. Souta would be home soon from his friend�s house. Ji-chan was still at
the market buying useless trinkets he thought possessed supernatural powers. It
appeared that Kagome was not coming home anytime soon. Especially since he was
around.
Kagome had a very proud
character, uncommon among women. Japanese women were very obedient to their
fathers and husbands. Kagome had always been different. She had an inspiring
intellect and was very opinionated. But she was still a child so that made her
appear adorable. If she were a woman, her attitude would have not been
tolerated as much. Hiro was rather proud of his daughter�s cleverness.
Her pride, however,
would prevent her from speaking to him.
�Just take care of
yourself, Kagome. Wherever you are��

--------------------------------------------------
The distressed girl was
now panting from the long journey she made in attempt to escape the truth. She collapsed
on the ground, gasping for air. She rolled onto her stomach and buried her face
in her arms as she allowed her tears to fall. The ground was cold, but it
didn�t matter. Why should it?
�Why am I hiding?�
Kagome thought miserably. �It won�t stop Papa from leaving.� She was hoping it
would. She hoped her father would come and look for her and forget about going
to America. She knew it was not possible. She was smart enough to realize that.
�He�ll miss my
fifteenth birthday.�
She turned and rested
her back on the frozen ground. She wiped her tears and gazed at the vast and
infinite afternoon sky. It was rich with puffy white clouds, very much like the
snow on the ground. The wind blew through her dark tresses and she slowly
inhaled the icy fresh air and closed her eyes. �There�s nothing I can do. I
know that,� she quietly told herself. �I was foolish for running. Papa won�t
come looking for me because I don�t want to be found�not right now� I�ll go
home when everyone is fast asleep.�
Kagome knew her father
was doing this for them�his family. �But why America? It�s so far away. What if
I never see him again?� Would the same fate, as those who also left overseas
and never returned, befall her father? She wouldn�t face. She wouldn�t say
goodbye. �I will not say goodbye. I will watch you leave, but I will not say
goodbye.�
Time flew by faster
than she expected. So caught up in her thoughts, she had not realized the
change of daylight to night. Her eyes fluttered open and her gaze met the dark
infinite heavens. The stars were bright and the moon illuminated the darkness
of the night.
�It�s late. I better
head back.�
With her thoughts
finally in order, the young girl stood and walked down the lonely path that
would lead her home.

--------------------------------------------------
Three days later

February 11, 1894
The morning of Hiro�s
parting had finally arrived.
Those depressing two
days and nights were silent. It seemed that only the adults understood the
situation. Kagome never said a word to her father and refused to do so. Her
father did not force her, but he was saddened further when his daughter did not
want to embrace him. Her face was stoic�so foreign�
Kagome�s smile was
enough to brighten any room. And now�she wouldn�t smile� And if she did, the
glint that shone in her eyes was gone.
�How I miss her smile.�
He thought with sadness. He was all packed and ready to go. He had his
traveling bag and money to exchange into US currency.
Souta had been more
understanding. He was, after all, only a child. They tried to see the good in
predicaments such as this. Kagome did too, but she was no longer a child. In
three days, she would be fifteen. He hadn�t forgotten about her birthday. It
pained him to know he would not be present. She had every right to be upset.
The question was: Did
she hate him? He didn�t believe so, but even he was not entirely certain. He
could not live with the thought of his daughter despising him for the rest of
his life.
He had woken up
exceptionally early, while everyone was still deeply asleep. He had wanted to
leave without his family watching. It would hurt too much. However, nothing
went as he had originally planned.
It appeared that
everyone knew of his early awakening. When he reached the kitchen his wife had
made him a wonderful hot breakfast and packed certain foods for his long and
unpredictable voyage.
When they went outside,
Hiro was surprised to see villagers outside his door. They all smiled warmly at
him and one by one they wished him all the best until it came down to his
family.
Ji-chan had given him
good luck charms that should, supposedly, bless him with luck and good fortune.
His wife tearfully embraced him and held him as though it would be their last
embrace. They shared a chaste kiss and they whispered endless strings of their
love for one another. Souta tackled his father and wept silently on his chest
pleading him to stay. Hiro reassured his son with promises of his return and
told him how proud he was to call him his son.
Kagome did not come to
him. He had been expecting that. To the villagers, it had no doubt looked a
little unusual that a daughter would not want bid her father farewell. She was
standing at the doorway, her spine stiff and her chin held proudly in the air
while keeping her face from expressing any emotion whatsoever. It pained him
not hold his daughter for one last time, but there was nothing he could do.
�Goodbye, my little
one,� he said with adoration. �We�ll see each other again. I promise.�
Kagome remained silent.
Knowing she would not react,
he smiled and waved at everyone as he mounted a mare trotted to the nearest
hill where he turned one last time to bid his final farewell. He waved until he
finally became obscured on the horizon.
End Flashback

--------------------------------------------------
April 20, 1895
That was the last time I
saw my father.
I had resolved myself the
night before that I would remain silent and emotionless that morning. Not a
single day goes by that I find myself regretting my foolish actions. We both had
known that this would have been the last time we would see one another for a
long time and I had not wanted to accept that. I regret not embracing my father
as Mama and Souta had done. I regret holding back the emotions I felt because
in the end, the pain had been unbearable�I had never felt such guilt and
remorse. I remember the nights when I was plagued with horrible nightmares and
remembered that Papa was not there to make the fear go away.
I had never felt more
alone in my life.
I long to embrace him. It
sounds childish, I know, but I can�t help it. I want to be fourteen again and
sit on my father�s lap while he tells me the myths and legends of Japan. He
tells them better than Ji-chan.
Although I wish to see my
father once more, I still bear a small grudge against him. I�m not upset that
he left�I came to terms with that a long time ago. I am upset because he never
wrote to me�at all. Am I supposed to be happy about this? I think not.
I wonder if he is angry
with me because I didn�t say good-bye. Did he hate me? I didn�t think so�
Mama and Souta miss him
too. Sometimes Mama would sit in the kitchen and stare out the window for
hours. She would sigh once in awhile. I guess she thought that maybe Papa might
one day come back�
And I would sometimes sit
down with her.

--------------------------------------------------

The young
maiden known as Kagome was sweeping the shrine grounds to rid the stairs path
from the frozen snow. Souta had already tripped down the stairs and she
couldn�t risk that happening to her grandfather or mother. She smiled as she
thought of her little brother rolling in the snow after tumbling down the
stairs. He wasn�t hurt, thank goodness, but she couldn�t help but laugh at his
clumsiness. He was still in his room sulking about it.
�Kagome! Come inside dear.
I made oden just for you.�
�Arigatou, Mama! I�ll be
right there!�
The shrine maiden sighed
as she stared out into the horizon. The days were becoming less cold, but not
warm enough to stay outside for too long. The sun was warm on her face as the
rays kissed her cheeks. Spring was right around the corner. The snow was slowly
melting, leaving roads and paths clear for traveling.
�Papa��
An unknown voice called
her back to reality.
�Eh?�
�Kagome-sama!� There it
was again. The voice sounded pretty distant from where she was standing. She
squinted her eyes and saw a figure running at her direction. �A messenger?
How peculiar��
As the messenger came
closer she became aware of his condition. The poor man clearly looked
exhausted. Even in this cold weather his face was covered in sweat and was
panting as he neared her. It didn�t take a genius to know that this man had
been on a terribly long journey.
The poor messenger nearly
collapsed on the ground, but Kagome caught him and stopped his fall.
�MAMA! BRING A BLANKET AND
HOT SOUP! HURRY!�
�Kagome, dear, what are
you yell- Oh my goodness! You poor thing!
�That�s what I was trying
to tell you.�
Be a dear and bring him
inside, Kagome. He looks frozen to the bone.�

--------------------------------------------------

The
messenger made himself comfortable inside the Higurashi residence. Kagome had
given him his blanket and soup while setting him near the fireplace. Souta had
come out of his room to see what the big deal was.
�Would you like some tea?�
asked the elder women with a smile. Goodness, her mom was insane sometimes�
�Yes, very much, thank
you,� was his reply. After gulping the rest of his soup down his throat, he set
the bowl down and searched through his cloak for something. He pulled out an
envelope.
�This is for you, my
lady.� He handed the envelope to the young maiden. Kagome�s eyes widened in
confusion�and excitement. There was no return address. Only her name and
location was written.
�Pardon me, sir, but who
sent this to me?�
�Your father, my lady.
Higurashi Hiro.�
Silence plagued the small room.
No one had mentioned ever mentioned his name�not once. It was too
painful for them. The messenger shifted uncomfortably, wondering if he had done
or said something wrong to upset this family. Kagome was the first to break the
silence.
�Thank you, sir.� She
smiled brightly, hoping to assure the man that he had done nothing wrong. Then
she quietly went to her room, leaving everyone behind her.

--------------------------------------------------

Ten
minutes had passed and Kagome had not even opened the envelope yet. She was
debating whether or not to read the letter or throw it away. She was dying of
curiosity to read her father�s letter that was lying innocently on her futon.
Then again, she was upset because it had taken him this long to write her a
personal letter.
�What would it say?� she wondered. �Argh! That does
it!� She seized the envelope, her hands shaking with excitement�and fear. She
removed the parchment from the envelope. Clearly, her father�s letter had seen
better days. It was wrinkled and torn at the edges. She took a deep breath.
�Well, here goes nothing��
To my daughter,
Higurashi Kagome

From her father, Higurashi Hiro
Lattimer, Pennsylvania
April 12, 1895
Dearest Kagome,
It has been a year
since I last saw you, my little one. I doubt that you smiling as you read this
letter. This has been the only letter I have ever sent to you. As your father,
I feel that you still hold a feeling of resentment towards me since I left. I
am aware that it was all so sudden, but I hope that you will find it in your
loving heart to forgive me. I hope you believe me when I tell you that I miss
you terribly. Not a day goes by that I do not think of you, my darling child,
as well as your mother and Souta. You probably have grown while I was away.
Everyday, I can only think when I will be able to see you all again. I hope
that you also long to see me, your father.
�Of course I do, Papa,�
the young maiden replied sadly. She read on.
I have no doubt that
you wish to know what America is like. You have always wanted to travel the
world beyond Japan as a child. I hope that you adventurous nature hasn�t
abandoned you. As a child you would wander through the endless forest behind
our shrine for hours. Your mother would always be worried sick about you and I
would always laugh when you came home with grass in your hair.
I digress. There are
more important matters that need to be discussed. My arrival to America was not
exactly a stroll in the fields.
I was so lost, my
dearest Kagome. So lost. Fate was not kind to me upon my arrival. I was
attacked by thieves and was robbed of all my possessions and money. I was
devastated. I had nowhere to go and no one to help me. No one would employ me.
Here in America, immigrants are looked down upon. Americans are very prejudice,
from what I have experienced. My only motivation was my family. Your kind smile
and gentle laughter always brought me such encouragement. My spirits were
always lifted and my will became stronger when I thought of all of you.
While Fate does tend to
betray you at one point, there is always hope that it would one day bestow good
fortune.
I was fortunate to meet
two young men, who still help me to this day, when I found myself in a horrible
predicament. They helped me in so many ways. It shows that there are good
people in the world, who use their kind hearts for good deeds. I was sick and
they took me into their home. One of them is a doctor and he nursed me back to
health. The other is a powerful leader in the coal mining industry. He offered
me a job in the coal mines. He is a very respectable man and I would like you
to meet him. This can be arranged.
Kagome, soon you will
be sixteen. Soon, you will grow to be the beautiful young woman I know you will
become. You have reached the age of womanhood. You are at an age where you are
suitable to find a companion.
�A companion?� she
wondered.
I don�t mean any
companion. I mean a companion with whom you will spend and share the rest of
your life with.
Now that I�ve got you
interested, I will enlighten you with what is really going on�
You need a husband.
�A HUSBAND!� she shrieked,
nearly falling of her futon. She read the line again and again, hoping she had
misread it.
Knowing my daughter, I
know that you are infuriated with me at the moment. I can see your face right
now. I know it has always been your dream to marry �the man you love�. I am
sorry, my dearest daughter, but sometimes, that alone is not enough. I have
found a suitable man for you to wed. He is very wealthy and is sure to provide
your life with luxuries that only the emperor himself can imagine.
Before you try to
refuse this proposal, I shall make this clear: This is not a question. It is a
request. You are to sail to America in two weeks. I already paid for your
steamship ticket. Your mother should have it since I also send her a letter. I
also explained the current situation. This is a very difficult thing I am
telling you to do. Please understand, Kagome.
I have spoken with your
future husband and he is willing to take you as his bride.
�Ha! We�ll see about
that.�
You must loathe me
right now. If you won�t do it for me, them do it for your mother. Do it for
Souta and Ji-san. They will never have to go hungry again. They won�t have to
suffer anymore. Please, Kagome, do it for their sake because I know you won�t
do it for yours�or mine. You want them to live better than they are now. Are
you willing to deny them a better future? Knowing your heart, you are willing
to sacrifice anything to see them happy.
Souta will finally be
able to go to school. Isn�t that what you always wanted for your younger
brother? An educated young man, who will prosper in the future because he was
educated? Ji-san won�t be sick anymore. There are good doctors in America who
can help him as he ages. We can be together again as a family.
My darling child, it
seems that all I�ve done is trouble you with this burden and all I wanted was
to cheer you up and lift up your spirits. I hope that in your heart, you know I
am only doing what is best for all of us. You want us to be happy, don�t you?
You will make a
beautiful bride. Please try and be a bit happy. It is my duty as your father to
choose a suitable husband for you.
Please take good care
of yourself and be safe. I promise to write again very soon. I love you, my
sweet child.
All My Love,
Papa
Kagome sat there, dazed.
Her heart thundered in her chest at what she had just read. She was going to
America in two weeks�Wait a minute. What was she thinking? No! She was not going
to America!
�HOW DARE HE!� she thought
angrily. �Does he really expect me to go through this!�
This is not a question.
It is a request�
� a request�
�Doushite, Papa?
Doushite!� She
felt something warm stroking her cheeks. She ran a hand against her face and
felt the dampness of her tears. She had not realized that she was crying. Using
the sleeve of her kimono, she wiped the grief from her eyes. She folded her
father�s letter and set it on her night table. She couldn�t believe that her
mother was also involved in this. How long was this planned? A gentle voice
interrupted her thoughts.
�Kagome?� Her mother�s
voice was uneasy.
�Mama,� Kagome began. �Can
we talk?�
�Yes. We need to talk.�

_________________________________________________________________
Final Comments on Chapter 2:
Kagome: Papa�doushite�?
__________________________________________________________________

Author�s Note: Yay! Another chapter completed! I
was very pleased with this chapter for some strange reason. I hope Kagome�s
character wasn�t too bad. I like to portray her as a very intelligent woman
with strong morals and a loving heart. I swear that this is the last LONG
flashback that I will give�for a while. You guys are probably tired of it,
anyway.
Anyways, as usual, I have
to clear a few things before the next chapter�
First, Inuyasha has lived
for a very LONG time. Over 200 years to be exact. In this story, he appears to
be, in human years, in his twenties. Kagome is sixteen years old. Remember, it
was not uncommon to see a father marry his daughter off to a complete stranger,
even if they are many years apart. Ha! My parents are 13 years apart! So, I
hope you guys understand the age differences.
Second, when I put that
great line, I hope you guys know that it means that the setting is changing,
etc. When something is written in first person, I am not going to write
Inuyasha�s POV, Author�s POV, etc. I don�t believe that it is necessary. But if
anyone has trouble with this please let me know and I will write it for your
sake.
Third, Lolz. Someone seemed to notice my sucky German skills. Thanks for offering your help and for being straightfoward. See! This is what I want. To this anonymous reviewer, thank you for being honest and I look foward to your assistance.
PLEASE READ: Since classes
have resumed once again for many of us, I have to be very honest. I am not sure
how long it will take to post a new chapter. I have a very tight schedule. I come
home at 5:30 pm and I need to do my homework and study. All my classes are
honors and I have one AP class. That�s not even my main problem. My mom is very
strict about my studies so it will be harder to find an excuse to use the
computer. She knows I�m up to something, but I respect her wishes on focusing
on my studies. But I guarantee one thing: I WILL NEVER ABANDON THIS STORY! I
have everything written out for two years! The only thing I was waiting for was
to get an e-mail account. I never typed it before because I never thought I
would get one. Lol. Also, my sister needs it for her story (YOU GUYS HAVE TO
READ IT!) as well. I really love how it�s turning out. And I get to know what
happens beforehand because I�m sneaky like that. And she knows what happens in
mine. It�s only fair.
Anyways, Chapter 3:
Farewell My Homeland will be posted on October 25, 2005. I
will be looking forward to the four days off I have in October. And so will my
sister�
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!
Ja ne!
Hanyou-Miko15
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A New World	By : HanyouMiko15 Category: InuYasha > General Views: 1758 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

A New World