InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Siren Sisters ❯ Making A Living ( Chapter 5 )

CHAPTER 5: MAKING A LIVING

 

Kagome rounded the house, a small place that belonged to their grandfather. In her hands she had a few small pouches, each with a different knot or symbol on it. These were her herbs, and she was running dangerously low on them. So the best she could come up with, besides gathering them, would be to start growing them. So she had asked about having a little plot out back for seeding, and he was happy to give it to her. The pouches she had now were seeds. Chamomile, peppermint, garlic, comfrey, ginger, dandelion, and many others, all good for one ailment or another. She had a little shovel in her pocket too, only needing to plant them since she had turned the soil the day before. Smiling, she kneeled to the ground and went to work.

 

The work was gratifying, and left her with a pleased feeling. Once word got out that she was a healer, she was sure some people would come to her. She had a special gift she did, in the magic of healing. Her mother had taught it to her, her careful guidance and supreme knowledge of the plants gave Kagome great comfort in her abilities. And it wasn't people she had first used her skill on either. It was horses that had gotten the seal of approval form her mother. Her mother had been respected as a medicine woman, and was known through out the village and then some. So when Kagome had shown interest in healing, she was careful to train her daughter properly before actually letting her heal. And maybe that's why Kagome had a talent with horses too; besides the fact her father was a breeder.

 

She smiled more. Aye, that childhood was filled with it woes and happiness. She remembered her first time helping her father in birth. A mare was having trouble delivering, and no matter how hard her father had pulled, he couldn't dislodge the foal. He started panicking, and since her mother was away on a farm tending to an old man, he had no one to give the horse anything. Seeing how distressed he was, Kagome went back to the house and raided her mother's herbs, paying attention very carefully to what she was doing. Sango had watched every move, Rin in her arms, and Kagome forced her back to bed. Finally done brewing the editable salve, Kagome rushed back to the birthing barn and gave the horse the salve before her father said anything. It turned out to be a little colt, roan and had a white star on its forelock. Her father had been so proud, as well as her mother, that she was finally allowed to really heal.

 

Kagome had a reputation of her own in her village, and her mother was sometimes seeking her help on a matter. Not to mention Kagome became an active part in her father's breeding services, often holding mares in heat still as Da brought in the stallions, or examining how close a mare was to birth. She had many successful births, colts and fillies uncounted, with only one causality. It had been a little filly, the cord attached to her mother strangling her before she was born. Kagome had cried, and buried the little one in the hills, where she would have played with the other foals.

 

Kagome shook her head, how those days seemed long ago. Even now, she felt like an old maid fixing her herbs to grow, waiting for the next day to go by. But that's not she hoped for. She was going to marry, and have little chicklets of her own, running around collecting herbs for her, and helping their father with whatever chore he had. She'd be happy, as well as her family. Her sisters would run the pub as soon a she was pregnant, and then they too would marry one day. The sisters had not only been known to sing well, be well behaved, but to be beauties of their own right. Kagome was short, with small frame but nice build, a waterfall of hair gracing her head, and brown eyes that would put a puppy to shame. Sango was taller than her, with strong shoulders but hourglass body, and was the toughest of the lot. She had dark tan straight hair, always kept in a ponytail and her maroon eyes could change like an enraged dragons, going form soft to hard in a mere second. Rin was the bubbliest of the group, the features of their parents meshed into her. She had sharp green eyes, wavy warm brown hair, and was flirtatious in a nice manner. She had all the village boys from twelve to nineteen bringing her flowers for hope of a kiss. The only ones who got them were the twelve years olds, and that was but a peck on the cheek.

 

But Kagome, she was happy now, sitting here in her little garden to be, planting her steady supply of herbs and fantasizing about her life. But she often missed the farm, the breeding barn and stables, and the wide open pastures that the horses would graze and play. That reminded her, she'd have to write to Vinny and see how Midnight was. And Dolly too, and see how he was handling the farm for them. True, Vinny was just a boy, not even seventeen, but he had been around that farm as long as they had, seemingly adopted by the family since his father was a drunk and his mother had died giving birth to his brother. So he knew all the tricks and turns of the place, knowing what went where and who he could trust. She smiled, he was cute no doubt. Rusty red hair, bright hazel eyes and a boyish grin that he'd probably always have, wooing the little maidens from their feet. Even Kagome had an infatuation with him for awhile, and he her, but that had ended with a sloppy first time kiss and a lot of giggles.

 

“Kagome!” Kagome's head whipped around, and she realized she had finished her planting and was daydreaming; Sango frowned from the corner of the house. “Come on, we need help putting in the new floor, the lumber was just sent.”

 

Kagome nodded, wiping her hands clean, though she knew they'd only get dirty again. They rounded the house together and picked up a girly chatter as they neared the soon to be pub. They heard a bang, and some cursing. They looked at each other and went inside. And there Rin sat in the floor, rubbing her foot and staring hotly at some boards that were to replace the floor.

 

“How many times do we have to tell you? Wait for us before lifting things, it only ends in disaster.” Sango commented dryly, earning her a glare.

 

“I don't need help, I'm perfectly fine. That is, if it wasn't some out to get me! I swear, somebody hates me out there,” Rin grumbled, and picked up the end of a board a Sango did the other. Kagome shook her head, and got a wedge form the make shift tool box in the pub, getting on her knees to start prying the wood from the floor. She worked and finally got one up, only to be given a face full of dust and some shouting from downstairs. She coughed and looked through the hole she made.

 

“Granda?”

 

Granda was coughing a bit, dusting some major dust form his head. He looked up at her and frowned.

 

She smiled sheepishly, “sorry, didn't know you were cleaning the cellar.”

 

“Hurry up Kagome,” Sango said, and got another wedge, “we have to start putting in the floors today or we'll never get them done.”

 

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Miroku yawned beside him, his brown geld going at a sluggish pace. Too sluggish if you asked him. While the one beside him, was almost dead, the one beneath him was antsy for some speed. He really didn't want to leave Miroku behind, but he too wanted speed. But he just patted its white neck, reassuring her that he was coming up with a plan. He smiled when she calmed a bit. That was Orchid for you, one minute she was jumpy like a monkey, the next she understood and was playing it cool. She was a good mare, and met his needs accordingly. She was kept fine, her white coat shimmering and her mane and tail glossy. She had been a present from a breeder out west, by Sesshomaru, who he assumed got him the horse as a gift for his sixteenth year. She was speed demon by nature, but could be a baby when she felt like it.

 

Inuyasha looked to a half asleep Miroku, sagging his saddle, and felt the boredom creep on him too. It made him flatten his ears in annoyance.

 

“Hey monk!” Miroku jerked up and pretended that he hadn't almost fallen asleep, “what are we doing? Shouldn't we be racing or something?”

 

Miroku frowned a bit, “we would, but someone found it funny to give my horse bad hay.”

 

“Oh yeah, “ Inuyasha looked forward again, “but can't you make that nag run?”

 

“What do you think I've been doing the past hour?”

 

Inuyasha frowned deeper. Well, this was no good. They need something exciting, like thieves trying to rob them, or a damsel in distress. Anything.

 

Inuyasha's prayer was answered, when simultaneously, there came three shrieks, with the cracking of wood. His ears perked up, and he looked back to find Miroku blinking at the noise. He reined in Orchid.

 

“Shall we play hero valiant monk?” he grinned, and Miroku gave it back, giving his horse one good spike to the ribs, making the horse neigh and bolt for cover. Inuyasha grinned wider, and gave Orchid a light kick, that being all she needed.

 

Orchid bolted under him, her long legs eating up the ground at an unmatched speed. He easily caught up and went past Miroku, who was left eating his dust. He laughed as his Buddhist friend cursed him out in a very un-monk-like manner. And so he streaked through the woods, his mind switching to attack mode. Three screaming girls and the sound of breaking wood was never good. Contemplating what it could be, he came upon an old run down tavern, which looked to be under work. His brows rose when voices that seemed to be cursing hotly came to his ears, and he quickly went inside. Only to stop in time to prevent from falling into a gaping hole. Unfortunately for the girls, they weren't so lucky.

 

“I told you, I told you Sango, don't step on that board!” Kagome yelled, and picked a splinter form her hair.

 

“Well, I'm sorry! Backing into an old rotting board that I can't even see wasn't what I was trying to do! And pointing to it behind my back didn't help,” Sango hissed, and stood to wipe the dust form her skirt.

 

Rin sat up, groaning, and spat some dust form her mouth, making some nasty faces at the taste, “one piece of advice, never eat moldy bread, it's not very tasty.”

 

Kagome laughed and got up to help her sister, “remind me to make you some salve for the bruising later.”

 

“Well, if it isn't the wench sisters. What happened? You're fat asses fall through the floor?” all three heads snapped up, and saw a grinning Inuyasha leaning against the door way with arms crossed. Kagome's blood boiled instantly. Sango gave him a disbelieving look, and Rin looked taken aback.

 

“Did he just call me fat?” Sango squeaked and turned to Rin, who crossed her arms at the boy. But Kagome took action.

 

“You wait right there dog boy, I'm coming up kick your ass. Its bad enough you call me a wench, but calling me fat and calling my sisters wenches will not go unscathed!”

 

Kagome went right over to the stairs, going up them to leave her grandfather to help her sisters recover, and stopped in dilemma. Half the floor was missing, with only the support beams left, and he was on the other side of the hole she went through grinning like a fool. She narrowed her glare. Oh, he wasn't getting out that easy.

 

“What's the matter? Too afraid to jump a little hole?” he sneered, and looked smug at her uncertain glances at the hole. But they became determined.

 

“To jump yes, but to cross no. I'd rather risk a hurt bum than I broken leg,” Kagome shot back, and went to it. Holding out her arms, she starting walking, keeping a perfect line a she made her way across a support beam. Inuyasha seemed surprised at her stupid courage. This girl wasn't giving up, she really wanted to hurt him that bad.

 

But her sisters screamed as she slipped, losing her footing for a second before regaining it, and Inuyasha was about to jump to catch her. That had spiked his heart up a bit. He held out his hands.

 

“Okay listen, if you want to kick me ass that bad, at least let me help you across. I'm not about to have you break your neck for petty name calling.”

 

She paused and glared, “you stay there, I'll be burning your britches soon enough.”

 

“Kagome let him help you!” Rin shouted, cheeks flushed, “I'm not about to lose another loved one for the sake of a fight!”

 

Kagome ignored her, and kept making her way across. She shifted her arms here and there, keeping balance. All the while, Inuyasha kept tense in case she fell. She was a few feet from him, and he held out a hand.

 

“Come on, a bit closer, than we can have a right and proper brawl,” Inuyasha said lively, earning him a snort from her as she stared at her feet.

 

“Like I need your help. See I'm almost there, so get ready for—“ but it ended on a gasp.

 

Her foot went form under her, slipping a bit of mildew, and she went falling to the cellar. Her sisters screamed and went to catch her. Kagome's eyes went wide, as Rin's statement was about o come true, and she watched as wall flew by her vision. But just then, a strong hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her up and over to safety. To be pulled close to a rock hard wall, warm to the touch. She yipped, and dug her fingers into the front of the material on Inuyasha's shirt, closing her eyes tight in fright. Arms snaked around her waist hurriedly, making her secure in his hold.

 

Kagome opened an eye, and saw her hand buried in red cloth. And she blushed her own red as she realized where she was, and how she was reacting to it. She had only been held by one man in her life, and that was her father, but that had been comfy and warm, no this was different. This was hot, sizzling her skin from head to toe, and Kagome felt something new stir in her stomach. Her breath caught, and he felt his breath tickled her ear and he bent to talk to her.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

She gritted her teeth, and pushed away from him, trying to cool down her hot cheeks in a futile attempt. She dusted her front, avoiding his gaze at all costs.

 

“You're lucky you saved me, its gets you off the hook for now.”

 

He snorted and crossed his arms, covering the fact he was rubbing his tingling fingertips together to ignore the feeling he got when his hands rested on her back. “You're welcome.”

 

She huffed, and stood in the doorway, still not meeting the gaze that bore holes into her. They heard hooves, and turned to see Miroku trying hard to make a stubborn old nag to run. He gave up and got off to jog over, letting the horse go to graze. He ran up and doubled over in order to catch his breath.

 

“What took you monk? You missed the hero act,” Inuyasha chirped, getting more glares from Kagome.

 

Miroku glared at him, finally able to talk, “if it wasn't for your horse form hell, I could have kept up.”

 

“Hey, she's not from hell, she only wants you to think that.”

 

“You have a horse?” Kagome perked, and Inuyasha saw an interested look fall on her face. He quirked his brow, his ear turning as the other people form the cellar made their way, a safer way, to them.

 

“Well yeah, how else could I have gotten here?”

 

She frowned, giving him a dirty look, “no need for sarcasm, I was just asking.”

 

He shook his head, and put two fingers to his mouth, whistling that high pitched whistle. Kagome nodded, and turned to wait for his `horse from hell'. But what came galloping to them was far from hell, but closer to heaven. She was beautiful, frisky and carefree, loving the wind in her mane. As she neared, her deep brown eyes flicked form Inuyasha to her, her movement meaning she was becoming skittish. Inuyasha stepped to her softly, reaching out hand. Transfixed, Kagome stopped him, pulling his hand down slowly.

 

“What? It's my horse.”

 

She shook her head, “let me be introducing myself.”

 

Confused, Inuyasha was stopped in his questioning as she stepped forward slowly, letting her arms fall to her sides. Orchid backed a bit, snorting uncertainly. Kagome only smiled, and when she was few feet from the horse, stopped and hung her head, standing stock still. Sango and Rin entered the door way, and stopped when they saw her. Sango stopped him from asking again as she shook her head, keeping quiet.

 

Orchid jerked her head back, snorting in confusion, and pawed the ground. She didn't know this person, and she was sure the person wanted to touch her, but they had stopped right in front of her and didn't look again. Now horses were naturally curious creatures, and often acted up to get attention. So Orchid snorted again and danced in front of Kagome, but she never raised her head. The horse shook her head in annoyance and reared a little. She never looked up. Tiring of the game, and curiosity getting the better of her, Orchid stopped her dancing, and lowered her head, stretching her neck to come up under Kagome and pushed her head up. Kagome giggled, and did, raising her hands so Orchid could sniff them, and soon enough, she was massaging the horse's head, making her head droop on pleasure.

 

Inuyasha and Miroku stared open mouthed as the sisters smiled warmly. Inuyasha blinked and pointed at the horse and girl. “Never in all the days I've had her has that horse ever let someone new touch her. How did she do it?”

 

Sango grinned, “Years of practice.”

 

They turned as Miroku whistled, his head stuck in the door way. “Damn this place is a mess. You guys need help?”

 

Sango opened her mouth but was stopped by Rin holding her back. “Sure, we'd love some help. Hey Kagome! Let's get to work!”

 

Kagome nodded and left the horse to graze, and Sango looked at Rin like she was crazy.

 

“Have you lost your apples?! That guy is a total lecher, and his friend isn't any better!”

 

Rin gave her a sigh, “listen, I'm already bruised enough for one day. I'd like to keep my bones whole. So what, they're helping, what's the harm? Besides, you'll hit him anyways for touching you, so no big deal.”

 

Sango gave her an evil glare as they went in, “easy for you to say, you had boys drooling your feet since you could walk.”