Chapter One
The sun was setting on the horizon as a cool breeze sent the musky aromas of dusk dancing over the valley and into the small village that lay in its wake. A bundle of sturdy, straw roofed huts clustered together made up the little slice of civilization. They all looked typically similar, their foundations created many years before and still as sturdy. The only one that held a little uniqueness was dedicated to being a sacred shrine but again, the walls were as old as the village itself and the simple look of it was not lost so much on this building. Surrounded by rice fields and some farm land, it did not look like much but it was home to the people who inhabited it.
As the shadows began to gather, the face of the sun hiding behind the rolling mountains, the people began to take shelter in there homes. Mothers began shooing their youngsters as well as some of the more elderly inhabitants inside while the men of the village sat around little fires and discussed the harvest. It was a typical day's end.
An elderly eye watched the last of the sun's rays fade. It was a peaceful habit that she had picked up in her many years of living and often needed the time to draw together her ragged thoughts. She stood on the hill just outside the last row of houses, hands folded behind her aged and slumping back and her leg set apart to balance herself. While inhaling deeply, taking in the deliciousness of the approaching night, she remembered that her custom had been given company.
"It is a beautiful night, don't you think?"
When a reply was not heard from her companion, the elder sighed and let a smile pull at the corners of her wrinkled lips. Always the same, she thought amusedly as she glanced at the young man next to her. His moods were so predictable, it was not hard to see their comings. He had settled into a silent, distracted irritation as he had followed her to her refuge and was no doubt thinking about the girl.
"Give her time," the elder said quietly, her voice carrying concealed amusement. "She will come back when she's ready."
"She sure likes to take her sweet time though," he replied gruffly, arms folded securely over his chest as they had been for the last three days. "I don't see why she has to go home at all. There's a shard out there still and with her going home all the time, we're never going to find it. And who knows where Naraku is or what his incarnations are up to…"
"She has the right to freedom just as you do," the elder retorted, her voice taking on a more defensive tone. "You cannot ask her to stay when she is clearly not ready to…"
The young man stiffened at the comment but did not respond immediately. This was the sensitive subject he had been trying to avoid in conversation since trust had first blossomed between the pair.
"She also has been given a task and it will never be finished if she keeps leaving like this," the young man said eventually, interrupting the old woman's thoughts. "The world as we know it is in jeopardy and all she can think about is her stupid work-at-home."
"Studies are at the base of learning and evolving…"
"But there won't be any point to it if there's no world left to learn about! How important do you think studies will really be then, Kaede?"
The elder sighed and shook her head, letting her rising temper fall away. In all her years of living, no one had ever questioned her like this. But then again, who was she to question one young man's affection? Even if it was like no other affection that was normally expressed? No matter that he wouldn't admit to it, the elder could see right through his façade for she had seen the same distant adoration towards her own sister just fifty years ago. They both knew it was there, deep within him, even if only one was confident that it existed.
"Give her time InuYasha," she said, forcing a smile to return to her aged features. "She will return."
The young man before her snorted and turned from her, his sharp, yellow eyes once again scanning the road that led to the Bone Eater's well. The light breeze, the one that had brought dusk to the noses of the village, now brought the smell of night and played in the shinning, white hair of the young man. His ears switched forward, sideways and backward to pick up the sounds that surrounded him, surely listening for the return of the girl, Kagome.
Kaede watched him for a moment, taking in the ridged-ness of his posture.
"Anything else you want to bother me about, old woman," he grunted, glaring over his shoulder at her.
"Goodnight InuYasha," Kaede replied after letting out another sigh. He gave her a swift nod in response and returned his gaze once more to the winding trail.
'He's the very face of impatience,' she thought absently as she turned away, allowing him to keep her refuge. 'He hasn't changed in that respect. Hasn't changed in fifty years and I doubt he ever will…'
Author's Note: It's been a while since I looked at this story so I've decided to clean it up a bit and continue. I hope you enjoy the changes and I'll post a new note at the end of them when I've finished the chapter. Please R&R!