InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Under Anothers Watchful Eye ❯ A Day In Kaedas Village ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha and Company. Soul rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi

Sango, Miroku and Shippo leaned aginst the walls of Kaedas hut, talking. The fire flickered lighting the dim room. It was almost sun set and still, Kagome and InuYasha had not returned.

"Whats takeing them?" Shippo asked. He missed Kagome dearly. In the young foxs eyes, this was his family. He never really seemed to find out who played the dad. Prehaps thats because no one could replace the memories that surfaced his thoughts. InuYasha seemed like a very protective older brother to him, in his own unique way. He may go around hitting him, and chaseing him, but at those moments he felt truely close to him. Saying that it is hard to becaome an allie of InuYasha is an understatement.

'Everyone suffers from a tragic past. I have lost my father to the Thunder brothers, Sango lost her entire village, and her family because of a trap, set by Naraku.
Miroku saw his father die from his own right hand and may suffer the same fate himself. But InuYasha suffered his heart being torn in two. I dont know what it would be like to see those I love try and kill me. The very thought makes me sick.' As the thoughts swirled around Shippos head, he heard a rustle of trees near by.

"Is that Kagome?!" He ran out of the hut into the black sky, but no one was there.

"Are they here Shippo?" Sango belowed out.

"No, I dont think so." He said in reply.

"Well come back inside then, ye will catch cold." Kaeda said warmly. She was right. It was chilly out. Shippo hurried inside the hut leaveing the darkness behind
him. As he walked, a set of eyes followed him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Through the darkness, a yellow bag was thrown over head. Kagome and InuYasha had just come through the well that connects the two times together.

"What do you have in here Kagome?" InuYasha said as he jumped out of the well. He lowered his hand to help Kagome up from the dryed up bone eaters well.

"School books mostly, I am falling really far behind. I can barely keep up when I'm in class." She said excepting his hand.

"Its not like you use them."

"I do so!" She claimed, defending the load of text books she carried.

"Yeah, when you go back home."

Kagome didnt need to see through the darkness to know that InuYasha was giving her a smug look. He picked up her bag and they began to walk to Kaedas village. The hoot of an owl was heard, and it made Kagome jump.

"What was that?!" She asked, clinging to InuYashas arm.

"Relax, Its just an owl." He said, but instead of moveing her away, he continued to let her hold on to him as they walked on. InuYasha looked off into the horizon.

'I wonder whats up with him?' Kagome thought. As they approched the hut, Shippo leaped out, knocking her out of InuYashas arms.

"Kagome! You have come back! We were waiting all day for you, I was starting to think that you were not going to come back to us Kagome."

"Im sorry I worried you Shippo." Kagome said with a smile.

"Ah, Kagome, you've returned. I assume that everything is okay between you and InuYasha now, right?" Miroku said, as he and Sango emerged from the hut.

"Ahhh..."

"Butt out." InuYasha answered for her. The wind picked up, and Kagome began to shiver.

"Lets go inside, I brought back some snacks."

"Huh! Yay!" Shippo cried, as they entered the hut. Kaeda smiled, as she saw Kagome sit down and unpack her bag. 'She is such a strange child,' Kaeda thought. 'But a good one. With every moment that passes, she is healing InuYashas heart. And he needs it more than anyone.'

The night began to hit them, and sleep started to take its toll. Since the moment Kagome returned, InuYasha had not said much. He only talked when spoken too, and he seemed lost in thought. Kagome was seriously worried about him. 'It was not like him to be in the group and get that way. When he needed to think, he did so on a high branch, away from every one, not surrnded. What is up with him?'

But sleep came for Kagome quicker than she wished, and as she tossed and turned in her dreams, InuYasha sat gaurd and watched her, before falling victum to sleep too.

In Kagomes made up reality of her dreams, she was sitting down at a spot, close to Kaedas hut, she and her friends gathered around in a circle, with food spread out around them, almost like a picnic. The ones she held so dear were all enjoying them selfs, as was she. The whole thing was with with out dialoge, and mimed out. As if some one had said something funny, every one started to laugh. For some reason, she turned her head over her shoulder, a smile on her face. But soon, a dark figure came in sight, and the smile that tugged at her lips faded away instintly. Shippo ran towards the person installing so much fear in her, covered by shadows. Kagome sprang up to her feet to call after him, in a protest to stop him. As if realizing for the first time that she was mute, she put a hand to her throat. She gave a nervious glance back to the spot where her friends had once been. But, just as Shippo had faded off into the dark creature before her, her friends had
evaporated. Now all that was left was she, and the person who dares not to touch the light. The preditor began to move forward to her, a Kagome tired to walk backwards. The figured person looked over at her, leaning that it was almost visible to see the features and out line of the face. But not close enough. for the room was now completely shadowed in darkness. He reached a hand out for her.

In reality, she stuggled. She was finding it harder and harder to breath, and her heart rate was speeding up with every passing second. Her black locks that were fanned around her pillow and back, were now clumped together in sweat. In an effort to run, to find an escape route, from her dream, she began to move around. At first glance, it looked as if she was haveing a muscle spasm.

InuYasha had awoken when he smelt Kagomes fear in the air. He stood up, and walked over to the body that was helpless to the torment it currently was
receiving. As he moved closer, he could hear her struggle for each breath. But with each time she inhailed, he could sense her hearts beat increaseing. Some thing was wrong, never had a dream caused such horrible results before. Desperate to get her out of this state, InuYasha shook Kagome fiecrely. It was almost morning, so he hoped she wouldn't be too mad at him. But he would do anything to make her re-acting the way she was. When she had no response, he shook her more vigorously.

Kagome awoke, breathless. Her body sprung up into a sitting pose, and her eyes darted around the room. She gasped for air while doing so, and inuYasha sat next to her, bewildered. He put his hand onto her upper arm, as if to notify her that he was there.

"Kagome? Are you okay?" She jumped from the unexpected touch, and turned her head to face him. Her yes softened, and hot tears started to form.

"Inu..Yasha..." Her body grew limp, and gave out. He caught her in his arms, and began to stroke the back of her head.

"What happned to you Kagome? What were you dreaming about?"

She tried to think back. She tried to remember. Kagome stared out vacantly as InuYasha held her close. What had gone on in her dream? As she tried to find one detail, one thing that could jog her memory as to why she had waken up breathless, drenched in sweat, and... and scared. She was scared. What was it that had put so much terror into her dreams that had once been so peaceful. And yet, she couldn't remember. Prehaps, that scared her the most.

"K...Kagome?"

"I...I dont remember...." She managed to say in between sobs. InuYasha could feel his haori begin to dampen. He pulled her close in an effort to try and comfort her. For the first time, he felt a sadness towards Kagome that didnt involve him. Often, he had been the reason for her tears, and he always felt remorse. But this time it was diffrent. He had nothing to do with this, yet he still felt bad. No one had made him feel this emotion since... since Kikyo had made him regret the words he said, for they pained her sad heart. But this... Kagome was scared, Kagome needed him to try and re-group herself. His own heart was breaking, trying to calm the tears that flowed so easily from her eyes.

"It was only a dream Kagome. Its over and it cant hurt you. I wont let anything hurt you, do you understand what I'm saying?"

Kagome understood perfectly, she trusted InuYasha and never doubted for one second that he would protect her. But thses were dreams. He cant come in and save the day. Anything in this reality is possible, but InuYasha saveing her from her minds own dimention wasn't.

"Yes, I know it wasn't real... Its just... I dont..." Was all she could manage to get out.

InuYasha pulled away to look at her face. For some reason, she seemed distant, and on the look out for this unknown preditor that would never come.

"What?"

"I dont remember what I was so afriad of..."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As morning came Sango awoke to find Kagome curled up on top of her sleeping bag, with InuYasha by her side. He sat up aginst the wall as he so often did, but Kagome was almost laying on top of him. Unknown to anyone but the two, one of InuYashas hands was down by Kagomes side, in an attempt to comfort her. Sango smiled at the scene, but was oddly confused at the all of a sudden burst of closeness the two shared. Sure InuYasha had never been close to any one like he was to Kagome, but it was odd to them like that. 'Maybe the stubborn jerk has realized what hes got, and what he could lose.' Sango let out a yawn, as her eyes once agian drew to a close. It was still early, so there was no need to wake them. She laid back down and tried to sleep once more, but thoughts kept raceing threw her mind. ' One of these days Kagome isnt going to return. What will I do then? She is my dearest friend, almost like a sister to me. If InuYasha makes her leave, I will never forgive him.'

A few hours later, Kagome awoke, and let out a small yawn. She sat up, a little confused as how she had gotten so close to InuYasha with out her knowing. As she began to rub the sleep from her eyes, she felt her cheecks stiffen. From the pain, the memory of her crying from fear onto InuYashas shoulder all came into mind. What had scared her so? These dreams she had been suffering from only seemed to get worse as time progressed on. But what was even more frightening, was that Kagome could feel her loss of breath when she awoke. Kagome saw all the bodys of her sleeping friends, and was equally glad. She was unsure why she had antisipated them all to not have been there, but a rush of thanks swept over her when she saw that they were. Kagome stared at InuYasha and stuided his features for a moment. He seemed troubled by some thing. Inwardly, Kagome cursed her self for being so immautre that she had caused her friend to worry about her, becuase she couldnt handle a bad dream. Kagome heard Kaedas voice from outside, then thought it best to wake every one. She set her sights on InuYasha, and began to shake him as gental as she could. Kagome pressed her palm aginst the flow of red fabric on his shoulder, and he began to stirr. InuYashas ears twitched, and he opened his sleepy, amber eyes.

When he looked up to meet her gaze, he began to get a shot of worry that something was wrong. What had Kagome done that had caused her to have such dreams that were so unbefitting to her? She was a good person, with a heart bigger than anyone he knew. All Kagome was was forgiveness. No matter how badly he could screw up, he knew Kagome would forgive him, but it always hurt more afterword. She didnt deserve this... To be tormented and not even know what she was afriad of. Once agian, he cursed the gods along with the fates, for their insatiable love to toy with emotions.

"K...Kagome?" She looked up at him, a forced smiled upon her lips.

"Whats wrong Kagome?"

"Hmm? Its morning. Kaeda has already been up for a while, we should get going." Kagome looked around the room at her sleeping friends. Peaceful looks haunted their faces. Mumurs from dreams slipping threw their mouths at odd times. Kagome smiled. It was day light, and she was atleast a little more rested than before last night, so she should be able to stay awake a little later tonight. Kagome welcomed the light, and embraced it with open arms. However, when the sun started to set, fadeing its way so that the void left is replaced by darkness, the only light, is by the moon, and sleep came out to claim its victums, thats when she would start to become scared, and resented the day for passing by so quickly.

"I guess we should wake them, it has to be atleast 7."

"Yeah, I guess so." InuYasha replyed. He sat, planted firmly in his place, while he watched Kagome make her way to their friends.

Kagome made her way to Miroku, and began to shake his shoulder.

"Miroku? Come on, you need to wake up." The monk opened sleepy eyes.

"Ka...Kagome. What a wonderful way to wake up." He said happily. As he was about to make his move, InuYasha grunted and Mirokus hand fell to the floor agian.
Kagome went to Sango next.

"Sango? Are you awake Sango?"

"What...What is it Kagome? Is somethng wrong?"

"No, you just need to wake up. Its atleast 7, and we still haven't gotten breakfast yet."

"Yes, I guess we did sleep kind of late today." Kagome smiled and nodded.

Kagome walked over to Shippo, who layed sleeping in her sleeping bag. She shook him carefully.

"Shippo? Shippo wake up." Kagome said loveingly. InuYasha watched her stroke the young fox kits hair away from his face as he awoke from his dreams.

"Good morning Kagome!" Shippo yawned out.

"Good morning Shippo." Kagome said with a giggle. He could always make her laugh. He was lively with energy now, just as a child of 8 would be.

"Did you sleep well?" Kagome asked.

"Yes, but it was pretty cold last night." 'That must be because I didnt sleep beside him as I usually do.'

"Yeah, I know what you mean, I had trouble sleeping too." Kagome rustled out her hair brush from her yellow bag, and began to tame the rebelious ends of her raven hair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kaeda had been up hours before the group had awoken. She had been about, helping with chores and tending to children. When Kagome walked down to find her, she was picking herbs from her garden.

"Good morning Kaeda!" Kagome said cheerfully.

"Good morning child. How are ye today?"

"Im fine, how are you?"

"I am fine. Ye are up late Kagome."

"Yeah, I couldnt fall asleep last night."

"Do ye see this, child?" Kaeda pointed to a herb in a back row, then picked it up, pulling its roots from the ground.

"What kind of herb is it?"

"This is a herb that is needed to reduce fever. When combined with others it makes a powerful mixture. If ye will pick these herbs, I will show ye how to make such a medican."

"Sure thing." Kagome said with a smile. She moved to the back row and began to pull out the herbs. When ever they returned to Kaedas village, it was expected that Kagome be taught diffrent mixtures. Kaeda enjoyed teaching these lessons, and Kagome enjoyed learning them. The things Kaeda taught her proved useful along their travels.

After Kagome and Kaeda had finished, they brought the medican over too a family. A small child was sick, and needed was in need of their help. When Kagome looked at the child, he had several cuts that were infected. She looked at Kaeda.

"Kaeda, if these are not cleaned off, they will get infected, do you want me to clean them off?" This child was no diffrent than any other in these times. In a retro- spective, the small boy welcomed the sickness, if nothing, to get him out of his chore of working the feilds at least.

"Yes, that would be a big help. The poor child doesnt need any more suffering."

Kagome retrived a bucket from Kaedas hut and filled it with water. She hurried back and set the water down by the sick child and began to wash away the dirt from his arms and legs. With each stoke of water brought to the childs injuries, he cried out in pain, earning a sad look from Kagome and suspisious eyes from the parents.

"How sick is he, Kaeda?"

"He is not bad. It will be over in a day or two." When they finished, it was nearly noon.

"Thank you for all your help Kaeda." The parents of the boy called out.

"It is no problem. I will be back to check on ye later." Was all Kaeda could reply.

"Thank you too, Kagome."

"Oh, your welcome. Im sure he will be okay soon. His fever has gone down."

"Yes, thank you both." With that, Kaeda and Kagome walked on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sango found Kagome picking the last of the herbs that were needed with Kaeda shortly after they had returned from help ale the sick boy. She walked toward the two prestistes to find the two chatting away pleasently, and approched them with a little haste. Sangos hands were folded neatly as she walked on, resting a little lower than her hips. Kagome spoted her very easily in her colorful outfit, and waved her hand to greet her, as if giving her the okay that it was safe to join the two.

Feeling a little better, that she had been invited to join them, that she would not be bargeing in on them unwantingly, she walked a little faster than her original pace. Kagome started to ramble on about the poor ill child and Sango nodded in agreement. Kaeda smiled and respectfully withdrew from concersation. At odd times she would shake her head, as if agreeing to statements only she could hear, but she did so with a smile. Kagome noticed how quite Kaeda had become than turned to face her, as if to incluede her in their idol chatter. All the while Kaeda listened, throwing in her opinion whe she felt she could contribute useful information.

In all truth, at first, Sango had felt awkward toward Kaeda, and in many ways, it was true for the miko too. Sango and Kaeda had never truely been introduced to one another, she was just accepted as another member of Kagome and InuYasha group. They had very little in commen, where as the monk and Kaeda could speak of things very few knew about. Kaeda loved InuYasha, because she understood. Prehaps, she was the only one who understood the whole story, beside Kagome that is. In so many ways Kaeda and she differed, but Sango tried to always be pleasent and not interupt in Kagomes lessons. The less she could do to anger the old miko, the better. Looking back at it now, Sango laughs at the shy feelings and how calm her voice would become when Kaeda spoke to her.

Sango may not have been the topic on Kaedas mind, but Kaeda still saw her as important. It took a while to earn trust, no matter the case. And Kaeda was no execption. It had seemed strange that a female demon slayer would carelessly follow around a half demon, and have a demon for a pet herself! Is killing demons not what she had done for a living? In all aspects, everything seemed strange. But then Kaeda would say to herself, that we are dealing with the Shikon No Tama, so ofcourse it is expected that things would be so.

Shippo, being wise for his years, saw the way Sango would react around Kaeda. The kitsune was more than willing to subside those feelings. Kaeda served as a grandmother for him, and often he called her so. Haveing no children of her own, only the small ones that some times strung around her, she welcomed the young foxs percepitation that she was family. While Sango would have nothing to do, Shippo would lead her into Kaedas path, and the two would get to know each other better. The two seemed to get along fine, with or with out company. Ofcourse, their realtionship had never gotten to the point as where if they had gone to the village, Sango would drop in just to say a quick hello, but atleast there was no longer any tension. But still, at times, Sango would often find herself back to her old ways when approching Kaeda alone.

As they lesson drew to a close, Kagome helped Kaeda bring in the herbs that they had been studying. Small baskets alined aginst the hut to Kaedas walls, and Sango stared in confusion.

"What is going on here, Kaeda?"

"These herbs will expire soon enough if not picked. Therefore, we must harvest them now."

"Oh, I see." Sango added.

"Will ye be going soon child?" Kaeda asked, turning towards Kagome.

"I think so. I'm almost positive the next time I see InuYasha he will make us go."

"I should imagine. Ye have been here for almost three days. And ye know how he can get when pushed to his limit."

"We should try and avoid that as much as possible." Sango said with a sigh.

Kagome rummaged threw her oversized yellow back pack; She pulled out her school books, and clothes, bathing supplys and hair items in an attempt to orginize the clustard mess. Next to come out were the mass amount of food, spreading in variaty from Ramen to choclate covered donuts, and chips to fruits and sodas. Kagome folded up her clothes into neat squares, then packed them away in the middle compartment, along with shampoo, a hair dryer, a comb, and several towels. She next stacked the food in the largest compartment, which was the back, and then struggled to shut it. In the front half, was all first aid things such as gauze and anti-biotics. Kagome sighed, and tried to stand up, while lifting her heavy back pack onto her shoulders.

Just as she had accompolished her mission, only did Kagome realize that her school books remained on the floor. She sighed.

"Kaeda?"

"Yes, child?"

"May I leave my school books here. I dont have any room for them."

"Ofcourse ye can leave them here. I shall look after them myself."

"Thank you so much Kaeda."

The old miko just smiled in reply.

Kagome and Sango said word of good bye, and headed on to find InuYasha.


InuYasha caught sight of Kagome walking up the hill with Sango a little while later. He moved toward the two laughing girls and stopped them in their tracks.

"We have to get going." Sango nodded in agreement

"Yes, we really dont have time to waste."

"Yeah. Lets go find Miroku and Shippo and then we can leave." The three of them made their way to Kaedas hut where Shippo and Miroku stood outside.

"Kagome! We have been waiting for you to come back here. Miroku said it was best to wait in one spot." Kagome glanced over to where Miroku had been stareing. A group of young women were near.

"You mean better for him right?"

"Your such a leecher Mioku!" Sango shouted. Then began to walk off ahead of the group. Kaeda called out Kagomes name and the group stopped.

"Kagome, here are the herbs that ye made today, save them if they are needed."

"Sure thing, but wont you need them?"

"No, I have more."

"Okay then" Kagome said waveing as Kaeda walked off, and the group started to do the same.

"What did she give you?" InuYasha asked.

"A mixture for fever. It worked wonders on that little boy today." Kagome carefully stored it away in her back pack, and the group moved on.