Disclaimer: I do not claim to own or make money from any of the InuYasha characters. All Rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
Flash Backs
‘Thoughts’
“Speech”
“Beast”
Preview: Kagome’s Future, His Past
Sharp, rapid tapping on the oak door startled Kagome out of an almost trance induced state. Looking back down to the iron sword’s blade she had been translating the inscriptions from, the ex-time traveler shook her head and sat back in her leather desk chair with a creak of the old springs. Messy bun brushing the back of it, Kagome stretched her arms to get the kinks out of her body. Rubbing her stiff shoulder while looking at the time, Kagome groaned. She’d missed lunch, again.
“Mom is not going to be very happy with me.” Sighing, she sat up and shuffled closed her notes while cleaning up her desk. The young linguist call out, “Come in.”
The old but gentle, smiling eyes of the museum owner greeted her under big, bushy eyebrows and through half-mooned spectacles. With his long grey braid swinging behind him, almost brushing the wood floor, Mr. Taishou smiled, entering office and closed the door behind him. “Good afternoon Ms. Higurashi,” he greeted in his deep, raspy voice, while taking a seat before her desk slowly due to his age and laying a wrapped parcel in his lap.
She smiled warmly in greeting. It making her grayish blue eyes sparkle in the florescent lighting, Kagome stood, bushing her cream colored dress to free it of any wrinkles. Bowing respectfully before heading to her cupboard, she returned the greeting, “Good afternoon, Sir. Would you like some tea?” She gave a sheepish laugh at the lift of a bushy eyebrow and she explained, “I kind of missed lunch again today.” At Mr. Taishou’s nod, she continued to make tea. Glancing over her shoulder she said with a soft laugh, “I just can’t seem to pull myself away from these inscriptions once I start. It’s a glimpse into the past and,” Kagome took a breath as she turned around with two steaming cups of tea in hand, only to meet the dancing, laughing eyes of her boss. Clearing her throat, she handed him his tea saying a quiet, “Here you are.” before sitting back at her desk.
Accepting the tea with a nod and a slightly wrinkled hand, Mr. Taishou chuckled, “Yes, Ms. Higurashi, I know almost exactly what you mean.” Glancing over to the swords laying on her desk, he gave a small sigh of longing. Leaning back in his chair, Mr. Taishou cleaned off his spectacles, seeming to consider something before nodding firmly to himself. Replacing said spectacles on to his slight off center nose, he set the tea down then picked up the parcel, tapping it on his knuckles, “Ms. Higurashi, you’ve worked with us for many years now. We’ve been good to you, correct?” At her nod, he continued, “Well the simple fact is, your work is outstanding. The translations are spot on and don’t get me started on the restorations you’ve accomplished.” Sitting back he gave a snort as he watched her turn pink at the compliment and pick at her simple, cream colored dress under his scrutiny. Tapping the parcel in thought, Mr. Taishou narrowed his eyes, “Because of all of your talent and hard work, I believe you are the one that should take on this ‘particular’ project.”
The way he phrased this caused Kagome to sit up straighter and give it her full attention. Setting her tea cup down, she glanced at the parcel curiously. “What does this project need, translation or restoration?” She asked, watching how he held it delicately and close to his person.
Looking down at the parcel, he explained, “This is a historical document that is on temporary loan to us from one of the oldest families of Japan. The gentleman that lent it to us asked for it to be restored with a typed and translated copy made.” Kagome watched Mr. Taishou unwrap the parcel to reveal an extremely old leather-bound tome with chipped and faded writing on the cover. He looked up and delicately placed it on her desk, along with its wrapping, for her to get a better look. Standing back, he declared, “You are to focus only on this document and this document alone until this project is complete to the best of your abilities.” With a tilt of his head the light caught the corner of his spectacles, causing his muddy amber eyes to flash sharply as he regarded the petite woman, “Do I make myself clear, Ms. Higurashi? You report to no one but myself until the completion of this projection. Understood?”
Gulping, Kagome glanced nervously at the tome on her desk before meeting her boss’ sharp gaze, “Yes sir, Mr. Taishou. I understand completely. If there are any problems, I will either come straight to you or call you right away.” At his satisfied nod, she relaxed slightly, standing to gather the cups. “Mr. Taishou, would you like a weekly report as per norm?”
Smiling again in his normal and kind way, causing his eyes to warm and crinkle under big, bushy eyebrows. Mr. Taishou said, “That won’t be necessary, just update me when you feel there is something worth mentioning.” He turned and left. Leaving Kagome with a tome that now felt less like a project and more like a punishment.
Kagome reached up taking the pen and paint brush out of her hair. Shaking it loose to flow down her back in waves of blue and black, she sighed in bliss relaxing her shoulders more, “Much better. I just never know how to react to Mr. Taishou. He’s sweet and kind, but sometimes he can be intimidating for an old man. Now then,” She said as she looked down at the old tome on her desk. Picking up the giant book and scooting closer to her desk with an excited and curious gleam in her eyes at the prospect of a new adventure, “Let’s see what secrets you hold.”
A.N.: HI! So, yeah, this is my first FF in 11 yrs, please be kind! If anyone has comments other than Reviews (I love ‘em!) Please send me a PM, ;^) I’ll answer you as soon as real life isn’t chaos.
Beta Smo! Thanks Girly! This would have never seen the light of the webs if not for you!!!
Linguist: Someone who is skills in many languages. These people are sometimes employed by museums to translate old or even dead languages to a modern tongue.
Tome: A very large and/or old book. Sometimes they were as large as 2ft across, 3ft tall, 10inches deep, or larger. These were used as the historic documents or record for things like kingdoms. All of it, every page, was hand written until the press was invented.
Thanks,
Ceysna