InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Silver Winds ❯ Revolving Shadows ( Chapter 8 )

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“Are you positive?” came the short, worried question.

There was that familiar pause, before the fretful answer was spoken.

“Yes, I am positive. I’m sorry guys, I can’t make it.”

Kagome hurriedly paced the kitchen, throwing together a lunch from whatever she could find. She couldn’t tell which activity she was paying more attention to; making the lunches, or listening to Eri, and Ayumi beg her to join them at the movies. She figured she wasn’t doing either correctly, because she had answered “yes” when she was asked how she was feeling, and almost ended up pouring tomato sauce and sweet peppers into her salad.

She grabbed a few ingredients and bumped the cupboard closed with her hip, her arms full of things which she knew would be a big pain putting back. She listened to the ramblings of her friends on the other end of the line, holding the phone between her shoulder and ear, while clearing the counter for space to make the sandwiches.

“Come on Kagome! You have to come with us! I Am Myth is playing today and we gotta go see it!” her friends pleaded, keeping her attention divided amongst the tasks.

“Yes! We haven’t seen you for at least a week! Hojo has been asking for you too-“

“Yeah! He’s getting desperate Kagome, he even got a haircut!” The voices on the other end sounded so excited, Kagome felt as if they had enough energy for the three of them.

“A buzz cut?” Eri inquired.

“Yes, you saw it?”

“Yeah, last weekend at Yuka’s party. Ugh, did you see her shoes?”

“With the lace straps?”

“And her hair?”

“Yes, ugh she is just trying to attract trouble. And she used to be such a nice girl.”

Kagome suddenly felt excluded. Excluded, and annoyed. She heard them prattle on about unimportant things, and she found herself almost putting down the phone, but deciding it would be rude, just tuned it out.

She heard the oven ding, and she grinned in the warm light, leaving the almost finished lunches on the counter. She appeared by the oven, bending down to see if it was ready. She let out a small giggle, and a smile lit her face for a moment before she went back to the phone. Her friends were still stuck rambling on about something, but she quickly interjected.

“Hey guys.” She murmured into the phone. There was a small pause and ruffle before she heard her friend’s voices.

“Oh, Kagome, we almost forgot you were there.” She heard Ayumi say.

She kept from frowning and wavered a moment, sighing into the open air.

“Are you sure you can’t make it Kagome?” they inquired once again, the question icily slanted as if they were being refused a most inherent prize. Her words were soft-spoken; swollen, like words one didn’t really want to say.

“Yeah, I’m sure.” She paused in disappointment, almost visualizing the forlorn expressions on her friend’s faces. She spoke a bit softer. “I’m sorry guys, but there’s something special going on today and I don’t have time for anything else. Maybe some other time though?” she replied. She strained to hear their voices, yet there was another long pause. There was finally an answer.

“Well if you can’t make it, then we can’t change that.”

“Yah, we won’t make you go. We just thought it would be fun.” She heard them say, regret in their voices.

She felt a tad guilty, as she knew she shouldn’t turn down an offer to be with her friends, but she had somewhere important to be. After all, it was a very special day.

She fixed the sandwiches, and packed them in with everything else, cleverly leaving space for whatever else she might decide she needed. She reached back for the cream colored phone, and pressing her ear into it, spoke once more.

“Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I’m really sorry I couldn’t go, but I’ll be free next time, I promise!”

She heard a few echoes of what were short “Good-byes”, and hung up the phone, scrambling back to the oven, and turning to her pack.

Her friends were good friends. They had been trying to keep in contact with her, but most of the time she would refuse their calls, simply not picking them up and laying in bed, staring at the caller ID, as if it was starting right back at her.

This whole month, had been so…unreal. Some strange picturesque dream, in which she had lost her will to the darkness of slumber. She spent most of her time inside; when she found sitting in the dark to be less than entertaining she began practicing using her miko powers. Since then, she had secretly begun a goal to further herself to Kikyo. The fact that Kikyo had been raised as a priestess and had vast amount of battle experience didn’t deter her from her goal, nothing could. At that moment, it was the only thing she had; a goal.

Each day, her power grew stronger, her natural ability that laid dormant was finally flexing, and allowing itself growth. She felt the power course through her body, bursts and flares of bright light erupted behind her eyes as she pushed herself further, gradually gaining tremendous experience.

The faint echoes of light that she possessed, strengthened and blossomed tremendously throughout her entire being. Everything about it changed; the light, once a soft pink or purple, suddenly flexed and shimmered into a disorienting blue; if anything it only continued to change as it went along.

She could feel the heat coming from the very light that could erupt outside her palm. It flickered and quivered, shaking with the newfound control in her hands. Her power…it had actually taken form-- It was like fire; it was simply, amazing.

Occasionally, the light would become white and cloudy, shimmering with other faint colors; blues and greens, all vaguely surfacing, only to fade and leave her disorientated. She felt, at those times, she had tampered with something far greater then just her own power. Why did she feel as if she was drawing her strength from somewhere else?

“It’s something much greater then me, I know it. I just… I know I couldn’t control it though, even if I tried.”

Nevertheless, she would also practice with her bow. In the past she never had a good opportunity to practice; she never had a proper target, and the possibility of losing of her few arrows was daunting. Though, she had to admit, it wasn’t like a certain hanyou would cooperate and give her time to freshen up anyways.

She had almost put her first target on Goshinboku, but deciding that would be extremely disrespectful, had it moved to the grove of trees to the east of the house. Ever since, her aim was officially considered a threat. The simple phrase, “Hit the mark!” always seemed to guide the arrow on its course. It wasn’t necessary, simply comforting.

The practices she did during the month took up her time, and though gruesomely difficult, gave her more reason to get up in the morning. She wondered why she was doing these practices… just why was she so adamant on becoming better? She wasn’t seeking acceptance, no. She was seeking…many things. Happiness, companionship, adventure and friends. The thrill of another day, each with its own flurry of dangerous and exciting events. She wanted…well…the things she could only get in the feudal era.

She wanted to be good enough for her friends. She wanted to be deserving of being with them again…and if furthering her skills would prove her worthiness, then she would practice well past her hearts content.

It seemed she had become so accustomed to hazardous surroundings that anything besides that just seemed to bore her. The Feudal Era was a dangerous world, yes, but her world; wasn’t real. It was safer sure, but it wasn’t real.

Her people, over time had adapted a simple plan in order to ensure one’s success. Schooling, Jobs, marriage, and retirement. Where was her choice? What say did she have in the crazy existence that her people permitted to live by? None. The worlds government was in shambles, and her people lived an unending cycle of working, and living; she couldn’t name a soul that had truly found real happiness in life. Only momentary joy; and even she found that it passed as well. That was why people strived to live on. They continued to look for something that would make them happy.

It was sad because, she knew that she would never find hers here.

Her happiness was still back in a place different from the Japan she had known all her life. She wasn’t all together miserable though; this was her home! This was where she was raised and born. She would be crazy not to love this place.

But that was the thing.

She might have been happy living an ordinary life, had she not been shown a world different from her own. A world known as the Feudal Era. She would have been fine because she didn’t know better, like a child content with poverty because he had never known luxury or wealthy-ness; but now she did. If she truly didn’t care for the Feudal Era, she would have left and never come back a long time ago. But she was sure destiny had more in store for her. After all, there was a reason only her and Inuyasha could pass through the well. She just didn’t know what that reason was.

She paused a second to think that over, wondering why fate was so confusing as to map out her life in riddles. I wonder if I’m doomed to die without knowing any of those mysteries…

“Hmph,” she snorted, unraveling the blanket that she thought was customary to be brought with her to the feudal era. She snickered at the doggy-eared pattern that dripped across the red-velvet surface, unknowingly trying to pinch the picturesque dog-ears. She sniffled.

In the Sengoku Jidai, her life was her choice; she could do whatever she wanted. She wondered, if the Feudal era was truly better then her own home, where had her people had gone wrong in the last five-hundred years, and why had they not tried to fix it? Maybe because they didn’t notice the changes as they happened before their eyes.

“Kagome, don’t forget to turn off the oven!”

Kagome stiffened, unbridled fear pressing in her chest. “Um, yah, thank you for reminding me!” Quickly shuffling into the other room, she put on her mitts, hoping nothing had sat long enough to burn.

With a quick hand, and a steady eye, she hastily opened up the hot oven, pulled out the tray, and closed it up; but not before turning off whatever heat was still going. She smiled as she looked down at her homemade creation.

Homemade gingerbread-men, German at that, steaming and smelling of spices and flour grains. She noticed the golden-brown crust, the perfect shaping, the taste and delightful crunch when she bit into her first cookie.

Perfect; absolutely heavenly. If not for her mothers warning, the cookies could very well have been ruined; Kagome almost teared at the thought. She had put a lot of work into these, anything less then perfection warranted nothing less then a safety helmet.

Gingerbread men weren’t even of Japanese origin, yet she had the strongest urge to make something new, something she knew they would enjoy.

She wanted them to smile when they took that first bite; she wanted them to appreciate the hard work she had put into these. The recognition, that she had put effort into something to make their lives just a little bit more pleasant.

She couldn’t help but feel there was more to this obsession with cooking today then what it appeared. She had the sense that she wanted to please them, make them happy, if not to see her, then for at least what she would bring them. She feared they would not welcome her with open arms.

“Quit it Kagome, just hurry it up.” She snapped to herself, quickly decorating the gingerbread men with gumdrops, and thick, fluorescent frosting.

Each gingerbread-man had a neatly fastened frosting-made tie, and gumdrop button down shirts, each with unique expressions on their faces. Some looked up happily, as if they were elated to be able to fulfill ones hunger, and found joy in every day of life. Others looked quite sad, each looking downward as if not wishing to be seen. Some were angry, and some were melancholy.

Most of them however, seemed to be on the border of anxiety; some manner of expectancy, just waiting for something to happen, something important. Just like her.

She cleared away the mess she had made, and quickly, yet very gently packed away all the lunches, including the gingerbread men into her worn yellow pack. She had almost decided against the sandwiches, but not knowing what Kikyo would enjoy, made them as a sort of “fall back” lunch. Even Kikyo deserved a nice lunch.

She found it odd, how though she had spent the whole afternoon making lunches, when she herself had not touched anything. She had forgotten to make something for herself. Well, she could eat any time she figured, right now, her friends lunches were more important then her own hunger.

She had picked all of the group's favorites; Shippos lollipops, Inuyasha's ramen, Sango's rice balls, and Miroku's vegetable dish. Everything had to be wonderful. Everything had to be just right…

She stopped mid-step instantly, mouth agape, eyes widened. Containers and toothbrushes fell to the floor, yet she made not move to pick them up.

It was just like that day.

And it was there.

The feeling; the pressing consciousness that stirred in the back of her mind. A voice, a whisper, a force that kept echoing out to her. The same message, every time, willing her to stop and turn around, now.

Don’t Go…

They were so real; the voices seemed so genuine, as if another person was really inside her head, talking to her from a place which should have been her own, her personal and inner mind.

Don’t Go…

She grasped at her pendant in reflex, and reluctantly, the voices waned away, and slowly died among the discarded memories and ideas of her mind.

Now what…

She felt the undying need to run to the well and leave. Pure instinct directed her towards the well house, but she was so frozen on what decision to choose. Inuyasha hadn’t come to visit yet…but that was expected, since it was only mid-day and the new moon wasn’t ‘till tonight. But these feelings, they were sending chills up her spine; they made her feel very uncomfortable, like the kind of passing cold that sweeps by when there’s a ghost near. Something just wasn’t right about it.

But the voices….

Should she listen to this impulse? This greater force which seemed to beckon on her to turn away? But what would good would it do? No good would come of only waiting here, and letting fate pan out for her! No, she was determined that she would make her own decisions now, and no strange vibes would stop her.

She shook off the shiver that clung to her spine, the feeling of some omnipresence in the air. The lingering stillness and heaviness that pressed down on her shoulders, that of a knowing dread, of a foreboding intuition, struck her feeble body like some manner of De ‘ja vu.

She somehow knew.

She knew by some greater power, for that second at least, exactly what would happen if she went down that well, and came up the other side that day. But as quick as it had been there, before she could even manage to step away, the knowledge was gone, leaving her drained and frazzled.

Biting her lip nervously, she looked down at herself.

She wore the same school uniform that she always wore to the feudal era, the one she had rid herself from wearing almost a month prior. It was such routine, and she almost wouldn’t feel right if she didn’t wear it. It wouldn’t be the same experience. She could recall various times she worn blouses to the past, including dresses, skirts, and other types of sweaters; but somehow when the schooldays started up she had simply stopped trying to diversify herself, and settled into one distinctive set of clothes. Her school clothes.

She wasn’t lazy. She just wasn’t that stylish.

A small part of her also hoped, by wearing this, maybe everything would be just like it use to. That there was no Kikyo, no argument, and she was just going back to the feudal era like always. That small part of her hoped to revive her old spirit, that of the 15-year-old girl she used to be, the one who faced off against demons and always fought with everything she had.

She wanted to be that girl again. And she would be, if she had anything to say about it.

She hurried to the well house, ignoring her grandfather calling from inside, and her brother Souta around the bend. She even ignored her own thoughts as she raced inside and found solace in the lights of the well.

She hadn’t a clue of what to expect, but she knew, she had to be ready. If her instinct proved true, she knew she had to be prepared for anything. But if all this was true, then why did she feel more nervous then ever?

***

“Hello? Is anybody there?”

It was of no use. No one was at the well now. Not today.

She climbed up the viney foliage of the well, the same as it had been so long ago, when she had first come out of the wells rim. Pulling herself out, she tripped, and tumbled onto the forest floor. Unfamiliar…was that what it was? Yes, she hadn’t made that climb in a long while. She watched the green trees for a moment, the brown bark and the ever extending shadows of the forest. She peered through the bushes and saw the trail, walked so many times before, and yet she could only smile as she walked it once again.

She was here. She was really here.

It had been so long. So long since she had walked this path, the one which had led her to start this journey, and where she supposed, she had finally finished it. Her leg of this journey was over, and now Kikyo was taking the reigns. She somehow doubted she would have trouble managing; the fact was Kikyo would probably end up dazzling everyone with her superior skills, leaving only a hollow husk of a memory where Kagome once stood by their side.

She frowned at the thought. I know Sango and the others wouldn’t be so quick to forget me… She pursed her lips angrily. But what about Inuyasha? I knew he’s not quick to forgive but, in this case… I’m… She lowered her head indignantly. …I’m not sure I can win him back…

The problem haunted her mind a while, as she walked to the borders of the forest, listening to the sounds of the trees, and of the winds.

***

It struck her vitally.

She wasn’t sure how to approach thought, but it seemed she could only look at it in its plainest view. Had Kikyo won her friends over?

The thought was a legitimate one, though she found it unfair, as it seemed all her friends would be stolen away from her. It had happened in the past.

In her world, the modern age, it was impossible to tell who your true friends were, she had found out. Most people only befriended you if it happened to benefit them later.

Because the fact was, after a certain point, most people didn’t think you wanted to be friends-- at least in her school; after a certain point, all the positions had clicked. The groups were made, the friendships were formed, cliques established. If you tried to make a friend with someone you didn’t know, somehow the whole system would come crashing down.

Maybe that’s why she stuck with Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi. They were her friends, and she didn’t need anymore then those three. Actually, she didn’t need anymore then her friends here; Sango, Miroku, Shippou, Koga, Inuyasha, Kaede, and the whole lot. They were sometimes her family, other times her teammates, but at all times, her friends.

She stopped to tie her shoe, looking at the soil underneath her feet. It seemed for some reason, it was the last thing to convince of what she had been trying to comprehend: She was finally back, and she had come of her own free will. In a stunned motion, she got up off the dirt and floor, and dusted off her knees. Without a word or glance, she blindly strode forward, walking in silence for a while, pondering over what to do.

Her relationship with Inuyasha was… strained at best. She couldn’t know where they stood until she saw him in person. But something still made her frown.

He hadn’t even apologized.

Even after the night they’d spent together, he’d not said a word of the fight, and it only made her ache even more. She could only push the thoughts away, as they couldn’t help, and wouldn’t solve anything.

What are the chances they’re at Kaede’s? They could be anywhere in Japan!

Her hope faltered for a second, but she regained it after only a moment.

It doesn’t matter; she can tell me where they went and point me in the right direction. Inuyasha knows he’s supposed to meet me today. He’s no doubt on his way back!

She ran a little faster, and jumped from rock to rock on the rougher parts of the trail. Yes, she would find Inuyasha and bring him home. Then they could talk…just like last month. But not before everybody got to try her meals!

She pressed on, the village suddenly coming into view. It was only a short time until she would finally be reunited with Inuyasha. The pounding of her heart grew ever faster, blocking out the signals of warnings the back of her mind struggled to free.

***

Little did she know, a shimmering presence followed from behind, careful to stay out of her sight. Should it stray and go off course, its mission would fail, and the consequences would be very severe. The apex was nearing, the purpose of its long journey finally drawing to its end.

But sadly, it knew the flow of time would not be swayed, or halt to save ones life.

As the wisp of air observed from afar, it briefly sensed the fragrance of death, and the stench of metal on the approaching winds, leading to the not-so-distant future. It hovered in question, only a moment, wondering if its alluding goal could ever be achieved; if it could truly try to change the face of history, and succeed. That in-itself was deemed impossible.

If it tampered with time any further, the energy would crack and rend open the void, shattering existence and life as we know it. So, it could only observe.

So without a second thought, it started its route.

It continued along in the rungs of the trees and the roots, and silently mused if it would be too late… for the wheels of destiny were set in motion, and if not deterred, could never be stopped in time…

***

Miroku sighed.

The sun grazed over the far off edges of the hills, sending splashes of yellow and orange over the breaking skies. The sun rose late in the Sengoku Jidai, and although noon had just struck, the sun was only now entering the line of sight.

Off colored silvers and blues came through the clouds, shafts of light sparking and flowing through the atmosphere, making the slow day-break a more beautiful and clearer one.

A ray of sunlight hit his eyes, and Miroku had to shield his view with the back of his hand. The silence of the morning was pleasant enough, but now the fields of the village and the trees off its sides were rippled in an uncomfortable silence. But that would be remedied soon enough, after all.

The children were coming out to play.

Miroku had yet to decide if this was a good or bad thing, blessed fortune, or poor. If Sango were there, she could keep him occupied, but she had refused to go up alone with the monk, and he had ended coming up here himself. He couldn’t help but be offended at what she was possibly thinking. It wasn’t like he was sneaking off with Sango to have his way with her! And yet…

“Monk Miroku!” came the yell.

Miroku shifted himself in the grass, and unsteadily made his way back to a standing position.

Far off, at least a fields worth or so, a dozen children all scurried towards the monk, each with different and decorative kimonos. Not all of them were women either.

Even the boys he noticed wore the same manner of kimonos, but the designs looked different, and the patches near the shoulders told him they were either hand-me-downs, or poorly fashioned. He knew for a fact they didn’t usually wear them, and saved them for only special occasion. He was familiar with the farm rags they would usually wear.

A breathless girl reached him first, one with a checkered orange kimono, red hair and star-shaped freckles. It was clear she was not native to this country.

“Master Miroku!” she exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms, and curling to look upwards at him.

He smiled. “Please,” he stated. “Just Miroku is fine.”

He saw the girl frown a bit, and the girl bit her lip in frustration. “Mommy says that we must show proper respect to all monks that pass through.” She furrowed her brow. “She says that they trained all their life for a special calling and deserve respect!”

“Yes,” he replied, shaking the olive leaves that fell on him from above. “But if I say it’s ok to call me by name, you may feel free to do so.”

He saw her nod her head in agreement. “Thank you…Miroku” she said.

He pulled her into his lap as the others grew closer. He could hear the sounds of distant laughter as they drew near, and before it he could stop them, they all pummeled into him head-on, toppling him forwards and away from the children.

“Whoops–“

“Sorry! “

“Owch–“

“Hey, Watch out!”

His muscles ached as he got up reluctantly, giving them all a knowing look, and watched unsurprisingly as they frowned and kicked the dirt. “We’re sorry master Miroku, we couldn’t stop in time.”

He looked at them deviously before brushing himself off and going back to sit down. He knew very well they could have stopped, they just weren’t paying attention…that or they were aiming at him dead-on. And the worst part he found was that they wouldn’t leave him alone.

Somehow over the course of these last two and a half days, he had become responsible for occupying the children and keeping them out of trouble. He was their personal babysitter. And he certainly couldn’t argue; if he didn’t bite back every word of sarcasm he wanted to say, Sango would unleash all of hell on his ass and he would be rubbing slap and bruise marks for weeks on end.

“It’s alright kids,” he said reassuringly, committing himself to another injury later on, he was sure. “Just watch your footing next time. If that little stunt happened at the river, the lot of you would be swimming for your lives right now.”

He saw them blanch, and he smiled in amusement. Although true, he was only striving to prove a point. Maybe they would learn someday.

He saw the girl with long red hair bound towards him again, and he raised an eyebrow in question.

“And who are you, my young lady?” he asked in a leveled tone.

“Shizi Akimoto,” she replied quickly, grabbing her arm behind her nervously. “The…other kids were wondering if you could tell us a story?” she said.

He grinned slightly. If he didn’t have to keep tabs on every single kid, then the afternoon would go by much faster. “Yes, of course,” He replied. “Any story your parents will permit me to tell.”

She squealed in excitement and clambered back to the group of friends. They spoke in hushed tones, and he was only sure of what they had said when they were finished. “Thank you, master Miroku!” said one of the smaller boys. Another boy spoke faintly; he was pale and had a lack of warmth in his eyes. “We need to have lunch before we can play any more, so we’ll be back later.”

Even better, he thought. With a friendly wave, he watched them head back down the hill towards Kaede’s village, and stood with a satisfactory smile. His afternoon was now completely free; no more kids, no more work, no more surprises. He didn’t need anymore surprises….

“Miroku!”

…But that didn’t mean it stopped him from getting them apparently.

Miroku got up to see the one and only priestess of the future, striding away from the woods with a yellow backpack in hand. If not for the powerful feel of her aura pressing against his, he would have been sure she was not truly there.

“Kagome!” he cried.

He crossed through the field, arms outstretched, only to have her stop a few feet away from him, staring down with a nervous glance. Apparently, he wasn’t getting a hug.

“What is it?” he said, dropping his arms with fervor. “I do not get a hug from a friend I haven’t seen in so long?”

He saw her tighten her fists, and he pursed his lips in false anger. “It’s not that Miroku…”she bemused silently, scratching her arm in irritation. “It’s just that…um...”

“You don’t trust me” he said pointedly.

Her eyes widened. “No!” she screamed. She bit her tongue in protest. “I mean I do, really, it’s just…I–“

“Enough–“

He raised his hand in effect, and Kagome giggled happily.

She held out her arms, and he sequestered his fake scowl, pulling her close and not daring to make a move that would jeopardize their reunion. She smiled, and her face lit up brighter as she embraced an old friend.

“It’s good to see you, Kagome” he said. His hot breath reached her neck, making her quiver in his arms.

She pulled back expectedly, but with a slow and deliberate smile. She shrugged off the feeling she was being watched, and let out a brilliant laugh. “It’s good to see you too, Miroku.”

***

“I’m so happy you’ve returned,” he said slightly suspicious. Her arrival raised many a question, and he couldn’t answer even one. “But why?”

Her expression suddenly darkened, a change so abrupt he could see the haze of grey uncertainty fall behind her eyes. Whatever smile had once been there, had vanished from this world. It was such a sad look that replaced it he instantly wished he had never spoken the words. She looked down silently, suddenly appearing much smaller. “I don’t see why it matters.”

He raised an eyebrow, cocking his head to the side in a questionable manner. “But why now of all times?” he muttered, letting out a breath through closed teeth.

Faint worry blossomed in Kagome’s chest. What did Miroku mean? I don’t understand… I said I’d drop off supplies and things, so they should have expected me at some point… the thought drew Kagome an eerie picture of what could possibly have happened in her absence. Is he trying to hide something from me? Or maybe… maybe something is wrong–she cut herself short, knowing she would only cause herself more confusion than the situation called for. But just the way he talked, she knew something was different, something was wrong. He’s hiding something…

The priestess shook her head again. The summertime heat had been so intoxicating, it felt as if the air itself was giving off warmth, and Kagome had only wished to take off her shoes and lie down. But suddenly, she felt very cold. She became very pale, and her lip trembled at the question Miroku had asked her. Why…had she come? She visibly shivered, as her eyes unsteadily began to shake; she couldn’t bring her mouth to move, or her mind to form the question, or answer it even. The girl almost looked as if she was going to go into shock.

Miroku, instantly noticing the change, grabbed her by the shoulders. Even through the thin, cottony material of her school outfit, he could feel her cold skin; so much so, he was almost tempted to pull away. His coarse hands gripped her shoulders, clamping on almost forcefully as the girl didn’t even seem to notice their proximity. He unexpectedly felt very guilty; guilty and concerned. He garnered the strength in his voice. “Kagome? Kagome, are you okay?” He shook her again, unable to contain his nervousness. She looked up again, almost reluctantly, as if she didn’t recognize him. She peered at him with such fascination that he almost stopped to question her.

She swallowed bitterly, looking down. “Yes–” her body betrayed her words, almost giving way when Miroku began to let go of her. His grip tightened. “I…just feel very faint.”

He brought her chin up. Her eyes, they were so droopy, even in the poor sunlight. “Kagome, I am sorry. Whatever I said to upset you, please disregard it. We shall never speak of it again.” He noticed her eyes focusing a bit more at the statement, her head rising up a bit further. She seemed to recognize something far away and look back at him with question, making him heavily concerned.

“…Never?” she asked.

He shook his head. “No, never…” he noticed her pause, and took her hands to help keep her steady. Her balance seemed regained, and she stood up shyly, looking away almost embarrassed.

She nudged her eye. “I’m so sorry Miroku,” she breathed, her sudden exhaustion loosening under Miroku’s steady gaze. She bit her lip. “I…must have…stood up too fast–“

Miroku didn’t believe her for a moment. She had never lied to them before, but there was no sure-fire way she was telling the truth. If her aura had not told him, it was her eyes. So shame-filled. She was hiding something.

Nevertheless, she still might have needed his help. “Do you need me to carry you?” He smirked down at her, trying to lighten her mood, and smiled when she seemed to recover from her bout of depression.

“No, I think I’d feel safer in Sesshomaru’s hands...” She giggled, giving him a snip as she passed by. She rethought it a bit. “…Even considering he would drop me.” Miroku watched the school girl regain her posture and reaffirm a strong footing. Maybe she was feeling better after all. “Well, let’s get going silly!”

The change was so fast, it was almost dizzying. It was as if she had completely forgotten the incident which happened twenty seconds prior-- Somehow, though it should have made him feel better, it only made him more concerned. The only remnants of her sudden affliction were the cold tones that kept her voice solidly fixed in worry. He would have to make it a priority to talk about this with Kaede and Sango.

The monk nodded almost grimly. He seemed to understand her hurry to get to the village. “Right, Sango’s probably down by the huts.” He replied gently, the soft light of the afternoon sun hitting his eyes. “If memory serves, I believe she was near Kaede’s.”

He relayed this all with such boredom, and the sweat dripping off the front of his hair was giving sign of his exhaustion. The group must have been working him like a pig; that or this monk was not getting his good sleep.

She swung an arm and hit him by the shoulder. “Alright then, let’s get to it!” Miroku could only give a weak smile, and nodded off to the direction.

The calm area put her impulsive mind at ease, as it had pounded, thrusting shades of dark color into her vision, and making her dizzy and lightheaded. Her body shifted unstably under her, giving her a sense of vertigo, before she quickly righted herself before the monk could notice. As a way to drum up conversation, she asked: “Where’s Inuyasha?”

When she saw that Miroku not only didn’t answer, but also didn’t even acknowledge the question, she took it as a cue to keep silent. Still, the blossom of fear only continued to grow inside of her. It swirled and rose, threatening to spill out of her chest. Her legs wobbled beneath her.

The monk shifted his weight to his staff, walking along the stiff grass with only his wooden sandals to protect his bare feet. They walked along the outskirts of the village, unknowingly attracting the attention of the villagers in the fields. They gawked at her in such an unfamiliar manner, that Kagome began to get nervous. She leaned into Miroku, pressing towards his ear in a strange fashion.

“Why are they all looking at me?” she whispered, clutching his arm a moment while walking.

He smirked a bit headily, and wiped his face off with his Shoji sleeve. “The villagers most likely have not seen you in a long while. And you are aware that today is a holiday, aren’t you?” he stated, keeping his direction straight as the terrain became less jagged.

Kagome shook her head involuntarily. “No, I didn’t.” she replied feverishly, her fingers trembling suddenly. “I figure I would have known, seeing as we would have celebrated it in my time, right?”

He nodded. “It’s possible, Lady Kagome.”

“Then why do you sound so unconvinced?”

He shrugged. “This celebration is more of a ceremonial practice then it is a holiday. And besides, five-hundred years is a long time Kagome, many things have changed. You’ve said this yourself, have you not?”

She blushed slightly, looking him in the face a moment.

“It’s possible, Miroku.”

The village was the same as it had always been, she could see the fields and the spaces in-between the roads which shone with translucent water. It glimmered in the warm view of the sun, and there were kids that iridescently splashed and waded through the waters. She could see the crops were doing well this year, and the seasons had brought green plants back to the village, including the flowers which appeared once a year.

Kagome’s breath grew heavier as they began down the hill, which though steep, made Miroku take no notice. After about a minute’s silence, he spoke again. “Lady Kagome?” he said.

She glanced over slightly annoyed. “What is it?”

“Well now that we are on the subject of things that change in the future,” he began wistfully. “Do you think that the women have changed at all? Or perhaps their shapes?”

As if on cue, his karma appeared in the form of a tree root, and he tripped, falling helplessly down the hill like the frame of an old wooden barrel.

Kagome laughed outright. She looked at him with a smile of reassurance. It was sharper then she expected. “You’re hopeless Miroku,” she said, giving out a hearty laugh before helping him up with a hand. He took it with earnest. “And if you’re so interested, I guess my figure can be the judge of that.”

“Duly noted.”

Miroku looked her up and down for once in a long while, and Kagome couldn’t help but feel extremely vulnerable. His stare was so penetrating; all she could see was long and pale violet eyes, shimmering like the ripples and echoes of water. His eyes had never looked so deep and mystifying before. Finally he gave her a sly grin, and continued walking. “Then I am certain the women of the future are very beautiful.”

She blushed until her cheeks turned red, and she let out a breath in dismay. She caught up to him wagging a playful finger. She gave a face to match. “You devious flirt!” she said, her words dripping with sarcasm, yet mild appreciation.

“I do what I can.” He said simply.

“You do what you want.”

“What I can do, and what I want are of complete dis-relation.” He muttered, giving off a keen smile. He noticed her scowl and nodded. “But when I see a beauty I’ve missed for such a long while, I find it hard not to compliment.”

He shrugged it off as if it was a common statement, but Kagome could only listen in helpless shock. If she didn’t know any better, it would sound as if Miroku was flirting with her! But that couldn’t be right, she and Miroku were just friends; no doubt he was just catching up on a months worth of idle flattery, which would hopefully stop when they reached Sango, for his sake and hers.

Kagome lit another scowl as they reached the bottom of the valley, and eagerly fled towards the village with Miroku in tow. The old monk was just playing around with her. She shouldn’t let it get to her…she had bigger things on her mind.

***

The old hut was silent, and to Kaede the priestess, this was just the way she preferred it. The ornaments and headdresses of the mikos past were displayed on the walls, and the place was rather decorative compared to the simple drab of the rest of the village huts.

And through all the work that was put making this place more homely, it seemed Inuyasha and his rag-tag group never noticed the effort put into the design. The only one, who seemed to take notice, was the priestess who used to travel with them. Even her own sister looked at the place with slight-distaste. Kikyo never did like her job as a miko.

The small platform which rose from the center, housed an old soul; a woman of incredible age, and a spoiled eye. She wore her traditional miko garb, the striking colors of the sheet red and alpine white always a reminder of her duty, her responsibility to the people. These people deserved a woman of the light in such dark times. Countless villages fell, bandits roamed the valleys, and the demons fought for territory in the northern lands. The seas only served as walls to those who sought to conquer Japan; people like Naraku. Priestesses became rare in the passing centuries, and what was once a proud and noble profession, dwindled to a mere band of women who were the only ones capable of using the holy power. Kaede never found a day she couldn’t take her responsibilities seriously.

Without a doubt in her mind, her duty was stuck in her mind; To aid those in need, protect those who suffer, and most importantly, to live for the sake of living. That was something Kikyo had never allowed herself to do.

Her hands, so old and wrinkled, reached up to touch her face. Years of farm work and gathering herbs had made her hands calloused, and rough. The only gentleness she could offer now was through words; her advice aided the many who came to her, though she often wished there was someone who could have helped her in the past. When Kikyo had died, Kaede alone was left as a priestess; she alone had to take charge and discover the true essence of being a miko. There was no one to guide her, no one to lead. So many years, so much time taken from her to find the answers to questions left behind. Her childhood, robbed of her.

She touched her eye. Such a thing was also lost in her childhood. She felt, sometimes, it was her strongest connection to her past. Her eye, once able to see the physical world, somehow made her feel much more connected; to something she couldn’t see, but something she could feel.

It was a feeling she could never rid herself of.

It was only once the flap of bamboo quivered behind her that she noticed that someone had entered the room. It was a welcoming surprise.

“Ah, young Kagome” the old lady crowed, leaning away from her boiling stew, and holding out her hands. “Come here, child.”

Kagome complied willingly, greeting the elderly miko with a warm, endearing hug. She smiled as she wrapped her arms around the old woman, vaguely reminded of times with her grandmother, before she had passed away. As far as she was concerned, Kaede was the second-best thing.

“Kagome, it is good to see ye are alive and well.” The woman gave her a healthy pat on the back, before shrinking away from the embrace and going back to stirring her cooking broth, all the while angled towards the duo. There was a slight shift in atmosphere as the group settled into place.

“I have heard many things from both Inuyasha and Sango, though I truly cannot distinguish the truth from either of them.” She settled her spoon-like utensil to the side, letting it fall to the wooden floor and turning back to them. “Would ye mind telling us why ye left us, Kagome?”

A sudden chill entered the room. There was a long silence with it. The girl responded with a blank-like stare, before innocently scratching the back of her neck and looking away.

“I must find Sango first.” Her hands dropped. She sighed. “She needs to be here too.”

Kaede only nodded before gesturing at Miroku with the spoon-ladle-like utensil and turning back to her brew. Miroku turned his attention her way. “If she’s not here, she must be off practicing with Hiraikotsu. You should find her up by the lantern-flowers.” He pointed off in a general direction with his hand. “It’s in a big, yellow field. Oh, and if I may, perhaps I could use your assistance.” The sentence wandered off a moment, before he leaned in closer. “The children wish me to tell them a story later, but I cannot… eh… think of anything–“

“Ok.” She interrupted simply, giggling with preemptive excitement. “It’s no problem; I know plenty of good stories!” She brought her hands up quickly to help represent exactly how many of these stories she knew. She fixed blue eyes on his with absolute certainty. “I’ll think of a good one, I promise.”

The monk nodded curtly, and reminded her once more. “The field is just up to the west, I doubt someone as intelligent as you will be able to miss it.” His smile was coy and charming, and Kagome somehow found herself engrossed by it. Years of practice had made his smile a winner. He’s certainly a keeper Sango…

He pushed a hand through his hair and grinned mischievously, giving her a look that made her nervous and excited at the same time. Just what was he playing at? He took a finger, and gently pressed it to her nose. “Find her quick, we have things to discuss.” He turned and left her, exiting without another word or look, in such a way that she almost felt disappointed. The monk would never cease to entertain her.

She stood silent only a few moments more, before looking over to Kaede and sighing a big sigh. Kaede looked in no position to offer her advice; she didn’t even seem willing to talk either. It didn’t matter much anyways, as she knew she had to go and collect Sango from the fields. She vaguely wondered how her forget-me-nots were doing, the spring flowers she had planted with the children over a year ago. She found the thought welcoming, and left the memory alone with her flowers in mind.

On a regular occasion, Kagome probably would have offered to help with Kaede’s brew…whatever it may be, but she knew of course, this wasn’t any ordinary occasion. Her friends, they were waiting for her to tell them why she had left. She’d remembered giving the dreadful news of her departure, but she was sure that Inuyasha or herself had never mentioned why…

And maybe it was time they discovered just that. They deserved it.

She lifted the flap gently once again, and hesitantly peered outside. The afternoon shown bright on the village; the children had come out to play, and the day was warm and breezy like no other. She somehow wished she was just as warm on the inside. She was still cold, and she didn’t feel quite right. It felt as if something dense was clouding her thoughts and judgment. She wasn’t sure at all if she liked it.

With a tentative step, and look either way, Kagome strode through the town, and past the fields where she hoped her friend was waiting.

There were lots of things she needed to tell them. Hopefully they would wait for her answers.

***

The village was seasoned with people, all ages and ethnicities scurrying under the abundant displays of sunshine. She found the smell of copper grains relaxing as she passed a small meditation hut along the path.

If she was correct, a meditative expert had moved here just recently, and ever since, the people’s attitudes seemed to be at ease, as the smell of incense wavered unflinchingly through the streets. She found it nice that she wasn’t downwind of the smell, as she preferred the simpler aromas carried off the winds. They smelled faintly of ocean shells and fine white sands, though she was certain this region was nowhere near the ocean.

Along the way, she continually thought of Miroku’s problem. I do know a lot of stories… but which ones would be appropriate? And isn’t it a holiday? I wonder if the kids are expecting a certain type of story for the occasion… Unable to answer the questions stirring in her mind, she pressed forward.

She passed friends and children along the way, all giving her warm welcomes as they had not seen her in so long. She always returned a warm smile, though she felt a shade darker each time someone mentioned her absence. Anger. Embarrassment. Guilt. All seemed to flash through her eyes as people unknowingly kindled a burning fire.

“Hello!” a voice beckoned out to her from her side. Obviously off-set by the man, she eyed him curiously. He was a street vendor set up among many others, though something about him seemed prominently distinctive. Maybe it was just the way he wore his smile, but something about him made her heart flutter anxiously. It unnerved her.

She swallowed her nervousness, for some reason forgetting to say she wasn’t interested. Truthfully of course, she was.

“Um, hi.” She began intelligently, scratching the back of her uniform. The man’s gaze strayed across her form, giving off predatory chills; she felt she needed the flow of conversation to continue or she would only get more vulnerable.

He spoke. “Ah, my young lady. Such a rare one you are…” his admiring smile showed pointed canines, and white, nearly-sparkling teeth. He waved his hand gracefully. “Would you care to see my wares?”

She took a breath for reassurance, yet couldn’t find the strength to say ‘no.’ Grudgingly, she looked through his collection of things, unknowing of what to find. Of course, she probably wouldn’t have guessed any of the things she found, partly because she didn’t know what half of them were.

The variety of items astounded her: of all the things she recognized, there were scrolls, lamps, jewels, swords, glasses, a long sliver of wood, a dark pair of leaves in a jar, and a thickly bound, leather covered book. The rest looked like nonsensical bobbles, inedible fruits, and spiral shaped chairs; as to what they really were, she had no clue.

Her eyes paused over something briefly, and she recognized it as a book. She felt the merchant’s eyes burn all over her body. Suddenly intrigued, she uncovered the book, and blew dust hastily off the cover. It was an old fashioned story book; so old fashioned, it was old even by the Sengoku Jidai’s standards. She felt a tug of interest pull the book closer to her. She wanted to get it. Did she have any money?

“Ah yes…” the mans low, rumbling voice startled her. The voice was so low and smooth, and the man could only have been twenty at his best; it was filled with passion and knowledge, what could only be described as masculine youth. He smirked. “A book I encountered along my travels in Kouta, a village much farther to the south.” He eyed her not aggressively, but warily, as if unsure whether she would value the knowledge. “A fine example of old myth and tale. It has been said not one fable in that book is a lie.”

Kagome eyed the book again, desperately aware of how much she wished to purchase it. She shrank low, holding the book out with her arms. “I… I do not have any money with me.” She eyed the book hungrily, but reluctantly made herself let it go. “I’m sorry.”

The man took on a questionable face, one much akin to Kouga, as he pondered something within his head. Kagome, not knowing what else to do, began to walk away. It was only then he stopped her. “Wait.”

The simple command was firm, yet it seemed, as many things had lately, double-jointed, as if there was another emotion fit into the word. It was oddly suggestive, of what though, she wasn’t sure. “Although I would rarely do this, it is a special occasion...” he sank back daringly along the edge of his wares. He grinned mischievously. “How about a barter, doll face? I have gotten pretty hungry.”

Suddenly remembering the back-up lunch sandwiches in her bag, she hastily took one out, and then looked at it. Being the good actor she was, she acted as if she was letting go of it reluctantly, and carefully switched the sandwich for the book. Inuyasha would understand; he would eat his ramen, he needed no backup.

Kagome nodded generously, waiting for the man to say something; but quickly becoming aware that he would not, she thanked him again and walked around the corner, out of sight.

The man sat unblinkingly against the banister, and slowly took a bite of his sandwich. Giving only a moment’s reprieve to grumble, “Hmm, not bad…” he leaned against a wooden wall, and cautiously went to sleep.


Kagome stared at the book in her hands, her fingers trembling with excitement. All her mothers old stories, all her grandfather old tales straight from the source of their original print. The very thought made her arms shiver with anticipation. Her eyes set on the book, she thought back to Miroku. “Well, this should solve the problem of what story he’s going to tell them.”

Sullenly, she took the book and placed it in her pack, and once again set out to the borders of the city. She spotted her friend Anika along the way, a brunette girl wearing a silver-dashed kimono. The girl gave her a delightful hug, but said she couldn’t talk long, and ran off without another word. Just as well, she still had to find Sango. Without a single doubt in her mind, Kagome strode away from the village to nearby flourishing hills, a newfound weight lingering in the depths of her backpack.

***

“Always tilt to the left…”

The small murmur of words came to her ears as she finally had Sango in her sights.

The trek to the fields had left Kagome exhausted, yet she could only whimper with cursed luck as she gazed up at the gigantic hill that lay before her.

Mt. Hakurei might as well have been an ant hill in her mind.

Kagome had found the hill to be extremely inclined, compared to any of the other ground she had traversed in her last hour here. She of course had had to climb steep hills in the past, though with her last month of being out of the action, it was a strenuous exercise. To think that Sango was training up here, she hoped that her friend wasn’t training herself too hard. Sango had a tendency to push herself past healthy limits.

Goodness…you’d think people invented escalators for stuff like this alone-- of course the thought only held her briefly. …Miroku didn’t even mention how high this hill is! I bet he let me climb this thing just so he could look up my skirt– The thought startled her, and she instantly looked down, blushing when she saw no one there. She took a hold of some roots as leverage, and began to climb up again. She blew her hair away irritated. Well it’s not like he wouldn’t do it--

As much as Kagome had loathed her way up, she didn’t focus on anything else on her way there. There were still some things she hadn’t bothered to look over and she felt flushed as she reached the peak. If Sango had already left, there was no way she was walking back down. Heck, she would roll down sooner then she would even try to place a foot over the edge.

Sango… are you up here?

As Kagome had finally reached the top of the nearly vertical climb, she gasped for air; not just out of the exhaustion, but of amazement. She grasped her face with both palms out of pure admiration for the beauty around her.

The top of the hill was a beautiful glade, surrounded by a half ark of trees that spiraled on the other side. That meant this direction was the only way up.

Out of pure interest, she looked over the trees with wonder. It looked like the semi-circle of trees had gashes and crevasses deep within their bark; they looked as if they were etched out of random, angry slashes, though she knew they had been placed there by well aimed, perfectly executed attacks. Somehow, the whimsical uncounted marks made the place seem even more fruitful. The whole glade seemed fully alive.

The rest of the glade was filled with yellow, luminescent grass. Kagome heard the soft humming that came from the ground and knew that what it was; it was Itvero’s blanket, a special greenery which was extremely rare and favored throughout all Japan. It had grown since the ancient times of the gods, and she counted herself lucky to be able to look upon history. This mythical plant was absent in the present time. She wondered if it was purely because overuse, or lack of belief in the gods as stories dictated. She couldn’t know, so she stopped thinking about it.

She mentally slapped herself. How hadn’t she remembered? Itvero’s blanket was the only place lantern flowers could grow. And of course, it only grew in high areas. Maybe Miroku had assumed her to remember that; she hadn’t. Education-1 / Kagome-0.

The whole place seemed to shine underneath her, giving an ethereal feel to the environment. She placed a nervous step forward, starting to walk through the knee high grass.

She stopped. The whole glade seemed to turn green as she moved forward, then slowly reverting back to the glowing yellow it was. Itvero’s blanket changed colors at different angles.

As she moved forward, she saw, among all the eluding colors, was the last professional demon slayer, Sango. She appeared oblivious to Kagome’s presence, which she found strange. Being a taijiya, you almost always sensed another presence as soon as it was in the vicinity. Sango must have been tired. Or didn’t care. Or both.

She had her back faced to the edge, her body rigid with stress and completely stationary. Hiraikotsu was held high in the air, wavering with her hand, as her strength seemed to flit about in her grasp.

The muscles in her back were clenched and flexed, the physical toll on her body coming out of the heaves for air that shook her being. Her whole body looked stock-still, besides for the little motions of panting she noticed from afar. She was aiming. She was practicing.

So Kagome waited.

With a deaphening cry, Hiraikotsu was hurled through the air, snapping viciously against a tree, and returned to her calculating grip. There was a moment of crackling silence. As soon as she began to move forward, the tree she had struck cleaved into two pieces, collapsing echolessly against the dirt.

Kagome drew in a gasp of air, before running to greet her friend. “Sango-chan!” She nearly fell forward as hostile eyes were turned towards her, boomerang in hand. There was a flash of recognition, before the eyes tightened with excitement, and a great laugh followed. “Kagome!” The two met in a big hug, squeezing tightly before giggling and falling onto the ground. There was a few, colorful moments as the two stared at each other through the grass, before Sango thanklessly turned away. She looked up from the ground and admired the blue, cloudless skies, Hiraikotsu fixed cleanly at her side. Kagome looked at the decapitated tree again, before sitting up.

With an interested air, she looked towards Sango. “Nani suru tsumori?”

Sango looked at the trees curiously, before releasing a hasted breath. Moving into a crouch, she looked forward. “I was just practicing with Hiraikotsu, like usual. It wasn’t until recently I was actually able to visit this place.” She looked down sheepishly, before standing up and holding out her hand. Kagome took it gratefully. “To be honest, I’m supposed to be up here to get the lantern flowers…” she pointed to the effervescent sun-colored flowers a few feet away. “… but I got caught up in target practice and I’ve been training ever since. Please don’t tell Kaede!”

Kagome laughed feverishly, and waved her hand dismissively towards her friend. “It’s ok, I won’t tell a soul. But when I came up to get you, Miroku already knew you were practicing up here.”

Sango and her shared a look as they bent to collect the flowers. She sneezed as she confronted a flower. “Yes I know,” she commented, rather unsurprised. “Miroku and I always tell each other where we will be since Inuyasha can’t keep tabs on us. Last I remember, Miroku had me begging to stay with him and watch the kids, but he knew I was busy–“

“Inuyasha can’t keep tabs on you?” Kagome’s innocent question began stirring anxiety within Sango, and she plucked the last flower quickly. Without a word, Sango strode to the edge, where Kirara suitably appeared from below. There was a moment of split-silence as the two looked in opposite directions, sensing a sudden draft of youki in the air. Hoping it was far away, Kagome slid a silent prayer through her mind and clutched her necklace tightly. She mounted the cat demon wordlessly, as the pair set flight and began to spiral down.

When Kagome had nearly forgot the question, Sango muttered a response. “He’s not here.” Kagome immediately perked up at this dribble of information, and she bit her lip in worry. Her question with Miroku flooded back to her, remembering his complete lack of responding to her question. Why would he have hid this from her? Where could he have possibly gone that would keep him from telling her? Fear gnawed at her insides. “Wh–where is he?”

“He left on a whim with Kikyo.” The sentence was instant and indirectly cold. Kagome’s face instantly fell, flat and broken as a silver lock of wind edged past. The pulsing in her head returned, throbbing blacks and reds surfacing through her vision, keeping her from receiving anything clearly. He’d left with Kikyo…

Her body itched with irritation, her doubt and folly clawing on her insides as she felt a dark presence graze against her soul. It was a shadow: Of fear, of doubt, of every crushed ambition that had arisen since their argument, assaulting her mind with cruelty, anger, and a strangely bitter remorse. Why had he left them? Why would he be gone, on this of all days? There was only explanation. He’s left with Kikyo… which must mean…

He’s abandoned us…

He was going to leave the group permanently, abandon his friends, crush her heart a second time. Even still, of most importance, he was going to leave their agreement to rot in the dark. She felt hot, stingy tears well up inside her, as she struggled to understand. She didn’t want to understand though; she didn’t want to be conscious of his betrayal against their friendship. With a breath whisper, she lowered her head. “Why…?”

“Yamete!”

Sangos barked out with a threatening out lash, as she whirled around, fire in her eyes. She instantly regretted it. Kagome began to shrink into Kiraras fur, desperately trying not to cry, as the neko youkai grew closer to the ground. Sango turned towards Kirara’s ears and lowered her head. “Matte.”

The cat slowly halted her descent until they were hovering gently in the air. Sango turned with an aging frown and embraced Kagome tiredly. Kagome restrained her tears, until she finally lost the urge to cry. Sango patted her back gently. “Gomen… Gomenesai.” The apology was soft and fragile as the words left her lips, the sunny air cradling them in the sky.

Kagome tried not to hug back desperately, but she felt so detached from her friend. Why would Sango ever snap at her? It was so out of character that it made her realize how far she had drifted from her team. She wanted to embrace them all, and promise she’d never let go. Having them away from her, she realized how much pain she must have left when she departed. Maybe this was something that was her fault entirely.

Sango’s eyes glistened in the light, catching sight of a bird as it drifted away from them. Sango wanted to say why Inuyasha had left, but knowing how confused Kagome may have been already, she didn’t want to upset the silent girl.

Thus, she only said: “They went looking for something.” Kagome looked up at her, emotionless. “So deska?” The demon slayer nodded faintly. “Hai.”

Kagome straightened up and looked her in the eyes. Her rash thoughts of abandonment were starting to fade, yet still, why would Inuyasha not be back by today? And as she thought on it longer...“Where’s Shippou?” Sango gave a wary glance, before turning away towards the ground. She merely stretched her neck away and let her hands fall to the sides. “He’s not here either.”

Leaving it at that, Kagome looked on in silence, as the taijiya seemed to stress something over in her mind, before looking up again. “Excuse me, for the outburst, it’s just you reminded me of…” the sentence dripped threateningly in the air, until Kagome dared to finish it. She didn’t want to be right. “Kikyo?” The taijiya glanced over weakly, before whispering shamefully, “Hai.” Kagome looked stricken, raising an arm with a genuinely hurt expression. “Itai…”

“No, onegai, don’t be upset!” Sango reached out comfortingly, before Kagome batted her hand away and embraced firmly her instead. “I forgive you… but please,” she whispered. “Don’t make me feel like that again.” The two resigned themselves to their seats, as Kirara continued her descent to the ground. The rest of the flight down had a downtrodden feeling, as it seemed their personal reuniting had been effectively ruined. Even the sun-bent flowers in her hand did nothing to cheer her up from her current mood.

So much was going on, she didn’t even think she had the stomach to explain anything else for today. Maybe her answers would just have to wait a little longer.

It wasn’t until Miroku came down the hill he finally saw the two.

He greeted them cheerfully, but seemed to notice the brandished looks of shame and injury that had found homes on his friend’s faces. Ignoring the children and villagers that tried to say hello, Miroku ushered them towards Kaede’s. Without any other words of welcoming, the trio found their way inside the hut, giving her all faint “hello’s”.

Sango gave up the flowers willingly, muttering a soft excuse as to why they had taken so long to get. Kaede had dismissed the matter entirely, turning once again to Kagome.

“So child, are ye ready to enlighten us all?” There were expectant gazes all across the room, until she finally lowered her head, refusing to yield. “No.” It was so soft and firm that it seemed like there was no persuading her. She simply wasn’t ready to say, and her determination seemed unbreakable. Kaede nodded grimly.

“I see,” was all she said at first, until she turned to the others in question. “Maybe ye should all have lunch outside? I’m sure it would ease whatever troubles ye may have for the time being.”

There were agreeing faces in every direction, though some still grimaced from previous events. The others complied almost excitedly, ready to leave the room, as they filed out quickly, Kagome matching their pace with conviction. When they finally reached the green field, they all sat at the wooden table with hungry looks ablaze.

Kagome noted amused that the table always reminded her of a common picnic table, and it served them perfectly each time. There were just a few spots empty this time. The tree over to the left was where Inuyasha always watched them from above, or where Miroku and Sango sat together, or even where Kagome would catch up on some reading. Geometry was always her friend by that tree, and when she was free of homework, she even caught up on regular books. It was a shame she had lived a life more exciting then her books for the last few years. The memories made her smile, and she regained a more pleasant mood.

Miroku leaned back pleased, issuing his informal brand of comedy. It wasn’t until Kagome and Sango told him firmly he was not funny that he gave up on comedy…and then quickly moved to flattery. Luckily, his affections were aimed back at Sango, though it still earned him as much as a slap as it did every other time. He still smiled though.

Miroku, undaunted by anything else that day, rubbed his hands together excitedly. “So, what will we be having today?”

Sango nodded in something of a strained agreement, before eagerly clapping her hands in delight. “Yes, ever since practice I’ve been starving!”

Kagome grinned as she saw her companion’s enthusiasm, and quickly unveiled her backpack, which she had retrieved. “Here!” she giggled shyly, “This dish is for you…” she passed the vegetable dish to Miroku. “…and these ones are for you! I know you love them!” she passed the rice balls and onigiri to Sango, her eyes glazing over at the sight of home-cooked food. Kagome took Kikyo’s sandwich from the bag and placed it in her lap. It wasn’t like she would be joining them, which she was once again thankful for. The cookies remained untouched in her bag, as she planned to save them until Inuyasha came back for her. It was afternoon already; knowing him he wouldn’t take long to get back. She also kept the book, knowing it would be better to give it to Miroku when he asked if she had a story in mind. He would be so surprised, she knew it!

As they all ate, they talked about things she had missed, but all mostly about the shard hunts, impressively strong demons, and the going-ons of the local villages. Somehow, Shippou became absent in some of their stories entirely. She knew he didn’t do much, but it seemed they were cutting him out completely. She found it slightly strange, but gave it no mind.

After lunch, they all sat under the tree, and soon enough, though she couldn’t remember how, they all began wrestling. They began tackling each other, rolling around, and laughing the whole time while doing so. It was honestly the funnest thing she had done in the month. After the escapade of wild laughter, teaming up, and repeated tackling, the team rested by the tree, giggles escaping randomly once in a while. As she sat back with a smile, she watched the others tire out, and leaned against the bark of the tree.

“Just like old times, hey Kagome?” the others remarked with a grin.

She smiled pleasantly, hiding the small fear in her heart. “Um, yes, just like.”

She bit her lips nervously as Sango’s previous words washed over her; Inuyasha had left with Kikyo to look for something, and that was all she got out of her. The obvious question stirred the throbbing colors back to life. Blacks and reds, cloudy and dark, all edging out the sight of her minds eye. The “negative”, as she had come to call it, clawed at her insides again, and she felt the cold ravage her body. Her lips chilled blue, until the heat returned, and the shadows vanished. Yet the obvious question nagged her again.

He would come back in time wouldn’t he? Yes, he had promised to come back so they could see each other again! He knew it was the night of the full moon, so she knew he must be coming back in time. It was still just past noon, he had plenty of time to return and fill her arms with a much-needed hug.

But the fear in her heart wouldn’t be tamed. She watched the sun move anxiously as the wind brushed past her, giving her a breath of fresh, summer air. A flicker of grey slipped past her, making her turn her head, only to find naught but space. It was so familiar, yet now her imagination was quickly becoming her enemy. Every minute gripped her heart tighter and tighter. He would come, he would come…

He had promised.

Her anxiety clutched at her heart, and kept her asking: He would come, wouldn’t he...?

It was the last of the strength she had left to answer. It still wasn’t enough.

…Wouldn’t he…?

***