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Chapter 2 - a dream

"That's the last order for today Tatosai!" I hollered after Kohaku and I placed the fixed wheel on the carriage.

"Good work boys let's pack it up and head over to your home Sota." He took a hefty sniff of the air after placing down his hammer. "Seems Kagome's cooking is as good as ever if I can smell it from here."

I chuckled at him. "You can smell it because your a demon Tatosai Kohaku and I can only smell the horse patties were going to be shoveling out tomorrow." Kohaku laughed along with the old man.

We were making our way to my home when I saw Koga walking over the bridge from our house. "There a reason your coming away from my house when my sister is all alone Koga?" I asked bitterly. I never did like the way he treated her and it would be a cold day in hell when he would get my blessing for her hand.

"Just visiting my future wife that's all." Smiling with confidence as he continued to walk past us.

"She'll never say yes to you Koga. In fact she's turned you down plenty of times already it's no different now than it was before." I smiled confidently as I crossed my arms.

He whipped his head around as if the statement was news to him. "You no nothing you pathetic whelp."

"That's enough Koga." Kohaku said as he stood in front of me. "Sota is right and you shouldn't treat Kagome like some object. If you love her at all you would do better in the way you treat her." He further stated as he pointed a finger at him.

Koga was about to march up and blow his top even further until Tatosai stepped up at placed a hand on our shoulders. "Enough you youngsters. I'm tired and hungry and I don't wished to break up such a stupid dispute." He said in a surprisingly calm tone. "I know for a fact Kagome can handle her own personal issues and wouldn't like to see you get invoked Sota."

"Ha shows you right you whelp." Koga barked.

"And as for you, wolf demon, I suggest you mind the way you talk and treat Miss Kagome or your head will be the next one to hang on your hunting lodge's wall." He said while staring deep into Koga's eyes.

"You making a threat old man."

"Oh from me, of course not but Kagome on the other hand it's to be surely expected." He gave a final pat on his shoulder and shoved me forward to home. "Let's go boys I believe Kagome is waiting for us to devour he wonderful creations I think it's best if we hurry and give respect to those creations don't you?" He said hurriedly as he tried to distract our attention.

"I agree master Tatosai I would love some of Kagome's good cooking." Kohaku said brightly. Even though he lived with Tatosai I knew he envied me and sis since his disappeared when he was young. Kagome often calls him her second brother and I always smile at it wishing it were true.

We made our way over the bridge and walked up the path to our house but I found it strange that I didn't hear the annual neigh from Buyo whenever I would return home. "Master Tatosai go ahead and go inside with Kohaku and make yourselves comfortable I need to check in something." They mearly nodded and let themselves in while I went investigate.

Buyo was gone, the chickens were feeding from a pile of seeds and there was no singing from the kitchen window meaning...

"Sota, Kagome left a note and she says.."

I held up my hand to stop him. "Let me guess she said she went for a ride and to start without her." Kohaku nodded and handed me the note and I chuckled at her angry scribbles. Something tells me Buyo is going to have a happy tummy by the time Kagome is done with him today.

"I feel sorry for Kagome. If she was my sister I'd take my sickle and take off that stupid demons head." Kohaku said angrily. I turned to find him in a defiant stance and it made me chuckle.

"If she was your sister head be dead the moment he hit on her." We both laughed at that and then walked back into the house.

I sat down and skimmed over the food and if the sight of it didn't kill me the scent of it did. Fresh mashed potatoes with gravy, buttered corn fresh salad greens along with a choice of a fruit salad and of course the main dish the deer stew. I wiped my mouth to make sure I wasn't drooling. "Do we wait for the lady of the house." Tatosai asked fork and spoon in hand with his napkin tucked at the neck of his shirt.

"No Kagome is off for a run so she said we can start without her." He mearly tipped his head and began to fill his bowl and plate. Leaving a good human amount for us growing boys and the young lady of the house.

Just as I was about to take in the first bite after Tatosai and Kohaku began eating I heard the distinct sound of the ground being beaten. Smiling inwardly I took a bite and listened for the sound of Buyo's neighing and the stomping off of Kagome's shoes that always seemed to get muddy during her runnings with Buyo. Most likely visiting the lake that she and our mother used to play ocean with.

Kagome thinks I don't know what she does or how she feels of things but I've seen her go through so much that's hard not to tell what she's thinking. It's sad to say I only add to that heavy burden.

By my third mouthful I heard her making her way up the steps and opening up the door entering the house with a breathless sigh.

"Kagome?" I asked with a full mouth. Can't help talking with a full mouth when I'm hungry and I want to hurry and make sure she's all right.

She walks in a little dirty from a harsh ride but a well needed one on her account. She smiled. "Are you enjoying your meal gentlemen?" She said politely. While waiting for an answer she went over to water bucket in the kitchen and began washing off the grime on her hands.

"Yes." All together.

"Good, I was a little worried I might have salted the stew a little too much." She giggled then sat and began to make her plate.

"You know sis for a girl I'm surprised at how you manage to salt things rather than sweeten them." She gave me a playful scowl and continued on with her task.

"So how's your invention coming along Sota."

"As well as can be expected for now sis, but I'm having to put it on hold until the parts I need get here." I said with a disheartened tone. If I would a had it my way that body of metal would be done and I'd be well off to the fair.

"Yeah I can't wait to see what your working on even Kagome won't tell me what it is. It's making me want to sneak a peek."

"Oh don't you dare." Kagome said trying to smother a laugh while speaking. "You'll loose your friend and the surprise reveal, Kohaku. Besides even I don't know what it is but I have a few good ideas from some hints." She placed her index finger on her chin and let her face go to the side and her gaze to be draw upward as if deep in thought over it.

"You don't have a clue sis." I said in confidence.

"Oh really? Then tell me Sota, why is there such a large amount of wood along our house and I see no muscle growth to answer for it?" She poked my arm just tease but I just poked her back. Obviously Kagome wasn't as stupid as I assumed her to be. If she had a large education with me and our father as I did she'd be even smarter than me but then again even I don't know how to fix some of the things she does or calm crazy animals. Of course as some people like to call it, the gift.

"Still I hope your able to finish it by fall Sota." Kohaku said while patting my shoulder softly. "Then you can enter in the fair, win the prize money, then go on to have your invention sold and then take half the profits."

"Which he will share with us and his sister of course." Tatosai added.

"I'll be happy to pay you both back for the help you've given me. You for the parts master Tatosai and Kagome for being so supportive." She smiled and took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Although I just hope to have enough to ease kagomr out of some jobs so she can spend more time at the book shop and get Koga out of her hair." We all laughed at that and then continued in with our meal.

The conversations went off and on throughout the meal and I heavily enjoyed the number of table occupants as well as the bellows that echoed out as we slowly savored the sweet bread from the cupboard as well as some sweet jelly to go with it.

"Well." Announced master Tatosai. "I believe it is time for me and the young lad Kohaku to retire to our beds this evening."

"Oh already?" Kagome asked sadly. I knew she loved having more life in this house but as much as I agreed with her I had to sympathize with my fellow blacksmiths as I too was beginning to feel the gravity pull towards my hard bed which seemed so soft tonight.

"Yes I'm sorry Kagome master and I have to get some shut eye if there is going to be any...work tomorrow like there was today." He said with a long yawn that caught him mid sentence.

Kagome chuckled at him and gave him a loving hug. "Well if you get worked too hard by this old grouchy demon here, just know you have a place here if you ever need it."

He softly chuckled and smiled. It seemed to hold a slight sadness before he turned and followed our master out the door home.

Watching Kagome in the spot where our mother always was I almost believed our lives were as they once were. Father asleep in the basement after a hard day of work, Kagome in her room and mother cleaning away the last remnants of the day.

She turned and she looked as if she was about to cry and it wasn't till she walked across the room the room that I probably looked the the same way. I sighed into her and gave out a sigh. "I miss them sis." She sniffled as if to answer.

"Me too."

We released our embrace and chuckled at ourselves at how emotional we were even after all these years. I then held her at arms length staring her straight in the eyes. "Don't worry sis someday I'll have the money to take care of the house and the shop. Then you can go to the ocean just like you always wanted...I promise."

She tearily smiled. "Just so long as you don't get hurt in the process Sota. Your all I've got left I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you." She kissed my forehead and began to finish the last of the chores before she bid me good night leaving me to silently tinker in the basement.

Lighting a few lamps to illuminate the small dark space I found the tall sheet that stood off the ground and gave it a large pull as to pull it off of my ever problematic invention.

It was the ultimate timber chipper. It would save so much time for many people when cutting wood for their fires or even trees that would take ours to cut down and then some. I had made it from one of my fathers idea journals with a rough sketch but ultimately I designed it. Still I would dub it after my father out of respect of his memory.

Looking it over it still seemed even worse than the sketch for now but I knew it would soon turn into a well needed machine. (Picture it like the one from the movie)

"Well." I said as I rolled up my sleeves while walking over to my work apron. "Guess it's gonna be an all nighter." I just hoped that this would make our dreams come true.