The Tree from the Forest
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Inuyasha series
Chapter One: A Strange Rumor for a Strange Miko
Kagome had always considered herself to be a fairly normal girl, despite having fallen into the past visa her family's well. She got mad when demon's and human's alike insulted her, screamed when she noticed the insects in the grass around her and wasn't afraid to let her feelings be known. It didn't matter if she was in her birth time or the past, she stayed true to self. She stood out somewhat in the past, but for a modern woman she didn't feel particularly special. She helped people when she could, even if she had to go a bit out of her way because that was simply who she was, her nature. Going the extra mile to protect people, to make their lives easier if possible, was so second nature she barely noticed she did it. To be honest she only really noticed when her friends brought it to her attention, either through Inuyasha's constant complaining, or Miroku and Sango's bemused expressions when she insisted she could walk a few more hours to make it to the village that night.
When they heard a story of a village in need of assistance, she turned her feet in that direction, even if it meant it would take twice as long to get back to Kaede's village. They had just completed a similar task in the southern region; bandits were attacking villages for their food supplies for the coming winter months. The bandits were a mix of low level demons and rouge humans and their raids were leaving the village with little in supplies to take care of their sick let alone food to eat, which was why the whole band had gone. It was an easy task with the four of them, a well oiled machine that tracked, then captured the wrong doers and assisted the villagers in getting their supplies back. They were traveling back along a merchant's path when the man who Kagome was purchasing some herbs from told them of the strange story after hearing their tale. The merchant that had told them a story of a large bug youkai that was repeatedly attacking the village he had stopped in a month ago. He told them of the strangeness of the villages in that area, how none seemed too concerned with being attacked and had advised them against causing trouble in that territory, but beyond that, had given them all the information he could on how to get there and what the cause was.
"Wench, I'm telling ya there is something fishy about this story. For such a large trading village, why have we only heard one rumor come out of it? Are you seriously gonna drag us off in the wrong direction of home for a single rumor!" Inuyasha complained, more stating then asking the last bit. He'd been rather crabby lately for he and Kagome had been fighting more and more lately and the last time she declared she wouldn't bring him back any more ramen until he apologized properly. It wasn't his fault she was too naive to notice how males looked at her. Like hell he'd let one of them bastards taint her. No, it was better for her to be a mad at him then to let her heart be broken by some lowly male who wanted to use her and leave her, but damn did he miss his ramen!
"Inuyasha has a point Kagome-sama," Miroku said, a thoughtful look on his face. "Usually we would have past at least a few people who would have tales of the village's problem. Having a demon carelessly trample upon their harvest is no small matter, and yet all we have heard is this single story. We have been travelling the merchant's path for a while now, and the merchant said he visited a while ago. Stranger yet that no formal request was put out, at least that we know of. We should have been informed of such a thing, especially if the local army couldn't handle it." It wasn't that he didn't want to help; on the contraire such a prosperous village usually rewarded their help quite handsomely. However he couldn't help but notice that his lovely Sango hadn't been hitting him as hard as she usually did when his cursed hand enjoyed the sweet curve of her backside. It made him worry and he selfishly desired to return to the village with his wife as soon as possible to have her checked out by the village miko.
Kagome glanced at Sango, whose facial expression showed that she agreed with her husband's words. She knew the slayer had been feeling unwell lately, and even suspected why though she didn't think Sango had figured it out yet. The slayer was indeed looking forward to returning to the village and speaking to the old miko there. Although she could have requested Kagome to exam her for illness, she didn't feel that her health was so bad as to use up what few herbs Kagome had left. She suspected she was merely tired and required rest within the village and wanted to confirm it with Kaede.
"You guys, I think that's exactly why it should be checked out. The merchant said that when he was in the village he witnessed that bug demon attack the village's harvest, poisoning it. It caused some people to be sick but no one seemed too concerned, which is strange in itself. Then the village doesn't ask for any miko or monks to help them? The army is only useful for small demons, but this was a large one! We haven't heard any requests in this territory in a long time either, but now this rumor comes up. I want to know what's going on!" Kagome said passionately, she wasn't going to give up. "I want to check it out, so I can go alone." She saw the immediately denial on their faces and held up a hand. "I'm a grown woman you guys. Sango, you haven't been feeling well lately and there is no way I'd ask your husband who should be at your side to come with me. As for you Inuyasha," here her voice dropped a few degrees in warmth. She just couldn't get over his attitude lately. She was already in her twenties and still didn't know what it was like to have a boyfriend thanks to him. She loved Inuyasha, he was her best friend but lately she wanted nothing more than to strangle him with his long snow white hair. There was only so much a girl, a woman, could accept in a man's protective behavior and he'd been crossing her line lately. Interrupting her conversations when she spoke with prospective men, barging in when she would have dinner with them, purposely being rude to them or telling them embarrassing things about her, true or not, to drive them away and when that didn't work he went to his default of threatening them if they even looked at her in an impure way. None were good enough for her in his eyes, and all she wanted was a chance at love. It felt like he didn't want her to be happy, even though she knew that wasn't true, she just needed some space from him and his new attitude of late. "I think we both know we need a bit of space right now. You've been driving me crazy and you need to trust me. I can protect myself, haven't I proven that enough already? This trip will give us a couple of days to calm down before talking again."
When she heard his growl and saw that he intended to still deny her, she bowed her head, "Please Inuyasha…I..I love you but I can't keep living like this. Please," she trailed off, her voice soft. Inuyasha felt his heart squeeze painfully, and knew that he would give her what she wanted. He had messed up too much when Kagome was a teenage, going between her and Kikyo. He managed to harm the girl he had come to love, in ways he hadn't truly understood until it was too late. He was grateful that they manage to end things as friends, best friends but it changed everything. The sweet and innocent girl who fell down a well, who stumbled though the past and barely managed to get by finally grew up. She had experienced her first war, first love, her first heart break and her first acceptance that life wasn't fair, or what you expected it to be. While Kagome had always insisted on her studies from the future, she started to demand those of the past as well. She practiced her aim and strengthened her body with the hand to hand combat she learned with the slayer, strengthened her mind with the monk. As time pasted and she grew, so did her powers and soon she was serious about the tutelage that Kaede gave her as well. In the end, he knew she was capable of traveling the past alone as any miko was but he didn't have to let her, or like it when she insisted on doing so. It wasn't often that she did which he was thankful for, but she was so damn stubborn when she did request it. He knew she needed this independence, that lately she was feeling smothered by them, by him, feeling like her past self when she relied upon everyone else to carry her through the battle instead of being the one to protect them.
With a sigh and a scowl he gave in, "A week wench. If you're not back in a week, I'm coming after you and if I find you injured you'll regret it!" He turned then, stomping his way down the path before he could change his mind and followed her at a distant. She'd catch him if he did and things would only get worse between them. Sango and Miroku were a little shocked how quickly their friend had given in, but understood at the same time. Inuyasha wanted nothing more than to protect Kagome from the world and all that was in it, while she wanted nothing more than to explore every inch of it all. Even if that meant being hurt; something the hanyou couldn't fully understand. "Kagome-chan, take Kirara with you okay? That way you can come back quicker and stay longer at the village if need be." The slayer reasoned, though she also just wanted to make sure her friend was safe. If something went wrong Kirara would return to the village and alert them. She knew if she said that though her friend would feel smothered and she just got done saying she wanted them to trust in her abilities but Sango couldn't help but feel protective. She knew Kagome understood how she felt when she reached out and hugged her, accepting the fire neko on her own shoulder.
"Don't worry you guys; it's just one demon, even if it's a bug!" The pretty miko shuddered at the thought, making her companions' chuckle softly. "Stay out of trouble Kagome-sama," the monk said embracing her, keeping his hands on her shoulders. The only bottom that he wanted to touch was that of his wife. "You too pervy monk," She said with a wink. With one last good bye they were separated, the couple headingNorth East to their home village and the pretty miko heading North West to the mystery that waited her.
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_ I wrote a few chapters of this, though I don't plan for it to be very long. Maybe 6 or 7 chapters long, and each no longer than about 3 pages in Microsoft word. It's not very in depth, it's just a fun little idea that poped into my head and I wanted to write so I did. Productive day off lol Anyways, I just thought it would make for an interesting perspective on things. We will see how well it turns out, and I'm not even sure how I plan to end it yet either, but yeah lol thoughts would be great! Tell me you love it, tell me you hate it, say you want to destroy it or steal it or whatever.
Love SunMoonNeko