Scroll Three:
There are days when things are normal, when the war escapes us and we live. But those days are far and in between and the tattered village is a constant reminder.
"Rin-san," I paused my work and titled my head. My sugegasa blocked the sun so I could see the little boy running to me. He held a leaf, waving it about for me to see. I smiled to him as he made it by my side.
"Is this one?" he asked and held it out to me expectantly. I retrieved my hands from the mud that I was working in, wiping it on a nearby clothe and I held my hand out so he could place it in my palm. He did so and I inspected it, poking the fragile leaf with trained fingers. The boy waited for my assessment, hands clasped behind his back. He rocked on his toes and watched me watch the leaf. Satisfied, I looked back to him with a smile.
"Kagome-oba-san will be glad you found this herb. It is good for a sore throat." The boy beamed and ran away cheering to his friends. I smiled and watched him return to digging through the ruined garden. The rain lasted far longer than any of us expected. In consequence, the medicinal and flower garden planted in the village was virtually washed away. It was something that Oba-san and I planted together, her herbs and my flowers. But now, I had to employ the children to help retrieve whatever buds could be useful in replanting the garden.
I dropped the medicinal herb into the designated basket and continued my dig. The ground held much more water than normal and a few inches into the dirt revealed mud. I couldn't dig too far, least I risk valuable buds being crushed by accident. So far, we've collected enough to start the garden again. But, as I watched the children laugh with joy; I couldn't bring myself to tell them to stop. All of the village children joined in, digging all around in small group. A competition had formed between the slightly older children; girls versus boys. So far, the girls were winning and the boys were not happy at all. The younger ones stayed close to me, bringing whatever their little hands touched, rocks, weeds, fragments of every kind. I accepted them all of course, placing the miscellaneous items in a separate basket. There was laughter, flowers often had that effect. I can remember walking through open fields, having free rein to explore the flowers to my heart's content.
"Rin-can, come quickly." My head snapped up as an older woman approached me. Normalcy lasts but a moment. I wiped my hands and stood in alert. She came to a halt to catch her breath and I waited as she did so. Could she have the news I have waited years to hear? Has he finally come back? My heart raced and my face betrayed the calmness I was trying to keep. A tugged on the back of my kimono made me turn away from the woman. A little girl held up a rose bud to me. I knelt to take it, but when I did she did not move. Instead, she stood there waiting.
"Is something the matter?" I egged on "Your bud is beautiful, it will make a wonderful rose one day." She nodded half-heartedly and held her head down.
"Is Rin-san leaving again?" she inquired into the mud. My anxiety left with her words and I smiled to reassure her of my next statement.
"Only for a moment," I glanced at the woman who seemed ready for my attention "But I'll be back very soon, okay?"
"Okay!" she said brightly and I patted her hair and gave her a gentle push to go back to her work. I told Airi-chan to watch them as I walked with the woman. She waited until we were out of earshot of the children to finally speak.
"There is someone at the village gate. Miroku-sama is waiting for you to greet them with him." Her faced showed no excitement and I was hesitate to ask if it was who I had hoped.
"A traveler?" I asked instead and she nodded. I hid my disappointment and remained silent until Oji-san's figure came into view. His face was stern and I knew then that all hope was lost. I noted that Inuyasha-oji-san wasn't present and this led me to concern.
"Oji-san" I greeted him and he dismissed the woman turning back to me, his arm in his kimono sleeves and staff tucked between them.
"Kagome-san will join us as well."
"Is it one of them?" I inquired, looking at the gate then back to him. He sighed and turned to face the gate as well.
"I don't know. But for precautionary measures, Inuyasha-san and Jinenji-san have been asked to hide not too far from the village. Of course," he turned to me then "Inuyasha-san had a few choice words about it." a smile played on the corner of his lips. It was silent for a moment and in that moment my thoughts wandered to hopelessness.
"How can a traveler get through these woods?" I asked in haste, to keep the bad thoughts way. Miroku-san waited, thinking before he answered.
"It's possible if one is deliberately trying to find a secluded village. Things may be different but some stay the same. People need shelter from the elements and this forest is very unforgiving. Either way, precautions should still be taken." I nodded and we both turned as Kagome-oba-san's hurried steps reached us.
"Sorry, I had to put Osamu-chan, Inueiji-chan and Inukazuhiro-chan down for their nap, trust me they did not want to go."
Miroku-san chuckled and looked skyward. "As stubborn as their parents I see. And the sutras?"
"It should hide any of the boys demonic aura. Inuyasha-san wanted to take them with him but I know Osamu-chan would want to go with his cousins. I think they should be safe here though."
"Yes, he doesn't like to be alone. I think maybe you should have a daughter soon, Kagome-san. That way he can have a real companion." Miroku-san wiggled his brows and Kagome-san rolled her eyes and walked towards the gate. I followed and Miroku-san closed the rear. Kagome-san signaled for the gatekeeper to open the gate. I glanced at my Oji-san and Oba-san, both faces had turned serious. I tried my best to look the same, but in truth, my heart was faint. The entire front of the village had been cleared, and the children played in areas unseen from this vantage point. As the wheels turned and the heavy doors dragged against the earth, my heart leapt. I bit my lip as a the crack widened. A gentle brush touched my fingers. I looked up to see my Oji-san giving me an encouraging smile. I forced a smiled back turned back to the gate. Oji-san walked up first, being the monk and main caretaker of the village. Oba-san stayed close behind and I next to her. I could make out a sugegasa. The person, I'm assuming was a man, was very tall. He wore brown hakama, as brown as the dirt below my feet. They were bound at his ankles to his black shoes. His kimono was black, with green flowers woven into the sleeves. Strapped to his back was something giant, wrapped in clothe. He held his head down. The hat covering his face, but his hair stick out in the back in a short low braid.
"State your busy here." Miroku-san said. At that, the man raised his head. Small freckles sprinkled his cheeks and, despite the maturing of time I still recognized those deep brown eyes.
"Haku-kun." I said and moved forward but Oba-san stopped me. I looked at her bewildered. It was Kohaku-san, could she not see that? Her face never changed, but her eyes showed sadness. I tried to find the meaning, looking at Haku-kun who's gaze was fixed on me. The war had not escaped him either. Gentle eyes were still gentle but set, wise in some ways. I had not seem him since he last went to Totosai-sama to train.
"I said, state you business." Oji-san said again, his tone the same as earlier. I waited anxiously for Haku-kun to answer. He said nothing for a moment, before turning to face Oji-san.
"Miroku-sama, Lady Kagome, Rin-san," my heart fluttered as he said my name in a voice so rich and deep I hardly recognized it. " I mean you or Inuyasha-sama no harm. I just came to visit." he reached into his kimono and pulled out the tiny four tailed cat that had hidden in there. Kirara stretched and jumped from Kohaku-san's hands, running to Oji-san. She brushed against his leg and purred, Miroku-san's face relaxed and he bent down to pick her up.
"I've missed you too." he spoke to her. The cat purred at his touch, rubbing her fur covered face against his. I looked to Oba-san and she nodded in approval. Haku-kun walked into the gate but I ran to him, unable to contain my satisfaction. He was so tall, and up close, bigger than I remembered. I pushed my sugegasa back to get a better view. He had scars, one above his brow barely hidden by the straw hat, another on his cheek. Two vertical ones tracing his jaw line, deep cuts I'm assuming as the bugled unlike the others. As a demon slayer, I should expect nothing less. Even Sango-oba-san had scars. That didn't stop the sinking in my chest.
"You shouldn't frown Rin-kun, it doesn't fit you." Haku-kun said, a deep rumble that stirred my heart. His eyes met mind and I searched for something, anything that showed he was at least happy.
"Keh, you got some nerve kid." Inuyasha-Oji-san said, walking beside me. Haku-kun held my gaze. Jineji-san also walked through the gate whispering a hello and moved to stand close to Oba-san.
"Inuyasha-sama," Kohaku-san said before slowly inclining his head in that direction, "I'm not allowed to come visit?"
"A warning would have been nice ya idiot. Nearly scared the village women to death."
"My apologizes, that was not my intentions." Kohaku-san responded coolly
"Perhaps it would be best to caught up inside, no?" Miroku suggested and we all agreed.