Chapter three: Injunction

Kagome stood calmly with her bird in hand, assessing the throngs of people as they shared laughter and tears at what had been her funeral. It was so ironic that she felt like laughing, but did not. She kept herself eerily calm. In fact, all those who had confronted her had asked her how she felt.

She couldn't bring herself to answer the emotional question with an unemotional response. So she merely nodded and kept up her façade. She knew that everyone thought she was different, and in fact, no one tried to touch her. But she wasn't sure if that was because she was a Megami or because she had kept herself emotionless. Every time she sensed their emotions, there was always a lace of fear in them, no matter how small it was. Even Sango and Shippou had avoided her touch. It made her feel a bit dangerous, like a predator.

Kagome barely felt peeved at dying. And all her memories from before were still there. Although, she could express what she felt, she didn't feel much.

And the strangest part was that she could feel their emotions; it was something she could do even when she was human. Of course the idea of suddenly becoming a Kami-sama was slightly ridiculous, but they wouldn't pull a prank like this on her, would they?

For now, she knew she was alive—sort of. Technically she had died a day ago or so. But she could breathe air, and could move, though she wasn't certain she had a heartbeat or not.

Her bird shimmied in her hands before leaping to her shoulder, its long golden red tail swaying gracefully over her back.

It had only been a few hours since she had been "reawakened", and most of the townsmen and women had dispersed and some youkai returning home as well. She had not seen InuYasha at all since she awoke, and that made her wonder where he was.

Rin had caught her eye in that instant, and almost shyly she walked to greet the Megami. Kagome knelt on one knee, getting eyelevel with the young girl. Rin smiled at Kagome before launching herself into a hug. Kagome's eyes widened but accepted the young girls comfort and lightly held onto the girl. Rin pulled back but still remained in Kagome's arms; she frowned in confusion at Rin.

"Are you not afraid like the others?" She asked, though she already knew that the young girl was not.

"Rin is happy you are alive!" She smiled happily, then looked around at the remaining few who had ogled Rin for the close contact, "Why should they fear you? Rin thinks of you as a mother, Kagome-sama!"

Kagome graced the young girl with a heartfelt smile, one that was real. Rins emotions were so pure and warm that Kagome could not stop herself from feeling her happiness as well.

"Tell me, Rin-chan, how has InuYasha been? I did not see him…"

"InuYasha left before you… woke up… Kagome-sama. Rin thinks he was sad."

"I think so too…" Kagome trailed off, letting her senses travel farther away, searching the auras for the Inu. She found an Inu alright, but it was not InuYasha.

"Rin-chan, Lord Sesshomaru is here, would you like me to take you too him. I have a feeling he cannot stay long." Rins eyes sparked and her smile reached her ears.

"Oh yes! Rin would like that very much!"

Kagome stood up and took Rins hand with a small pleasant smile and lead her out of the village towards the Goshinboku tree. Halfway there, she noticed that Kohaku had opted to follow them. Glancing up at the tree as she passed it, she could feel the reiki and youki swirling together in harmony within the godly tree.

Kagome stopped them a few kilometers from the base of a tree and she looked up at the silver Inu perched there.

"Well hello Lord Sesshomaru. Rin-chan wanted to see you, so I figured I would lead her to you," Kagome stated neutrally.

Sesshomaru stared down from the tree and Kagome stared right back.

"You are confused. And concerned. I am merely delivering Rin to your capable hands. I'm sure Kohaku didn't follow me just to make sure that I wasn't going to kill your pack mate," She said, giving Kohaku a sideways glance. Kohaku blushed and looked at his feet, feeling guilty.

"Why do you assume to know what you do not?" Sesshomaru bristled.

"I do not assume; I know. I can feel it; your emotions, her emotions. The sick melting pot of emotions from the village," Kagome's eyes trailed towards the village.

"You are a Megami." It was a statement.

"I feel what you do; therefore, I know. Leave it be and I'll leave your pride be," she warned in a level tone.

"Threatening is no way to start your Kami-given life, Megami," He returned.

"I do not wish to threaten; that is not my directive. I know my role. What's yours?" Eyes flickering up from the village to Sesshomaru, she assessed his youki flow, immediately realizing that she had said the wrong thing. His youki swirled angrily, entwined with his aura of killing intent.

Kagome turned carelessly and strode towards the village again. Rin looked surprised by her sudden coldness, but didn't comment on the matter. Sesshomaru, on the other hand, was internally fuming. Even with her back turned she felt his coldness threatening to invade her bones.

Perhaps in the near future she would indulge into a conversation of wits with the Inu, but she had another Inu to find.