Life Continues Forward

Chapter 3: Threat

"Get a Grip." Kagome scolded herself as she looked at the less adorable now that it was dead rabbit. Having run out of food the day before Kagome had gone hunting, caught the poor creature laying in front of her, and now she had to make it edible. This of course involved skinning it and removing the organs which she did not want to do. Suddenly, she really missed her old traveling companions as they had always done this gruesome part for her. Should would rather eat at a village or even with some traveling merchants as she had done in the past, however, she had been hopelessly lost without a road in sight for about a week now. If she didn't hunt now there was no saying how long she would go without food.

Taking a deep breath, she stood, grabbing the rabbit around it's chest and squeezed, shuddering at the slight warmth the creature still held. Bringing her arms up Kagome swung down as hard as she could between her legs and gagged as she watched the little creatures organs spill out of it's own body. Although she was thankful she didn't have to worry about cutting into the organs and spoiling her kill, it was still a gruesome method. Eyebrows furrowing in concentration, she began to cut the rabbit down the stomach, removing and cutting what was left of it's organs and removing the fur. It was a difficult process for someone who had never done it before, but eventually she had long strips of Rabbit meat to consume. When everything was in her cooking pot, she couldn't help but feel a little proud of herself. She did it. All on her own.

When her not so delectable food was cooked, Kagome packed up and decided to eat on the go as there was a few more hours of daylight she may as well take advantage of. InuYasha would have been so proud of her for not 'sitting around', the slave driver that he is. Had been. Really, she ought to thank the energetic boy for her outstanding stamina. She could walk an entire day without getting tired now. "I can even manage to walk without tripping." she said aloud, the birds around her silencing at her outspoken declaration. She really needed someone to talk to or something more to do besides walk, eat and sleep. This routine was getting rather boring.

It wouldn't have even been so bad if she had come across a river or spring to bathe in, she mused. Her hair was getting to ridiculous levels of unmanageable, and she wanted nothing more than to rub her skin raw. Really, being unable to bathe made her one grumpy miko and she feared that if a youkai tried to attack her it would die from her smell alone. "Kagome, shikon miko, destroyer of noses!" and as if on que, Kagome looked over to see a man whose eyes were wide as he regarded her.

Resisting the urge to laugh in embarrassment and doing her best to smile sweetly while looking as sincere and not crazy as possible. "Good day!" she called, walking in the direction of the man she now recognized as a youkai. "Are you from a nearby village?" she asked, hope colouring her voice at the prospect of food she didn't have to skin herself. Not to mention a bath. What she did not expect was for the man to turn tail and run away. Well, that was rude of him. She'd certainly never had anyone run away from her before and wondered if he was scared for his nose. Sighing, she extended her aura and began following him, hoping that once she reached what she thought might be a village, they wouldn't attack her.

Trudging through the brush she came up to where the man had stood and saw the unmistakable teltale signs of a road. Doing an internal jump for joy, Kagome began walking down the road with her new found energy in the quickly dwindling sunlight. Finally! No more getting lost, no more hunting, and no more stinking! This day was the best she'd had in a week, though it wasn't saying much.

When Kagome saw a large stone wall with open thick wooden gates she couldn't help but grin widely. She had never seen a village with stone walls let alone gates before, but she figured it probably just had more wealth or housed a lord. Maybe they had merchants! Dare she hope for a proper bath house? As she stepped through the gates, however, her smile faltered at the armed men that came up to her on all sides, essentially stopping her from escaping. If she had wanted to. She regarded the men warily, taking note that they appeared to know what they were doing. They were also youkai. Though, she learned a long time ago that appearances meant nothing. Being youkai, however. A little more concerning.

"You will come with us, Miko." she heard one of them call. Looking to the man with fiery red hair and bright green eyes, she placed her hand on her hips and pursed her lips. "I don't think I'm going anywhere without an explanation as to what's going on." she retorted, brows furrowing. She'd be damned if she just allowed someone to coral her off!

"You had intent to attack one of those under our protection." he replied as he and the others started moving as if trying to get herd her. Firmly planting her feet on the ground, she flared her aura in warning, causing the youkai to stop. She noticed, with a bit of pride, that those she could see had wide eyes and looked as if they wanted to bolt. Good. Let them be scared. "I asked the man if he came from a village then he ran away without a word. I followed the road. I didn't attack anyone. Especially without reason."

"You are Miko."

"Well I'm different!" she nearly stamped her foot like an indignant child and settled for crossing her arms instead. Really, it seemed she was better off wearing that skimpy green school uniform! At least then she could get by mostly without trouble. If you didn't count the unwanted suitors. She held eye contact with the green eyed man lifting her chin in what she fancied looked like a dignified manner, exuding her inner Sesshoumaru. Or so she hoped.

"Lord Sesshoumaru will be your judge."

"What?" she responded, all thoughts of looking dignified gone. The man gave her a funny look then, as if second guessing her intelligence. She didn't care. Apparently Sesshoumaru was going to judge her and she didn't like that notion one bit! She would die! There was absolutely no way he didn't loathe her guts! She gave his brother their fathers sword, shot arrows at him, and was in general an annoying teenage girl every time she was in his presence! He would behead her for being a "nuisance"! Her entourage started moving again.

"NO! Please! Anyone but Sesshoumaru! He'll kill me!" The redhead shook his head and looked away from her now.

"You shouldn't have trespassed on his lands."

"Trespassed!" she yelled, getting slightly angry now. "I was lost in the woods for kami knows how long and all I wanted was some food and a bath!" Maybe they didn't need to know that, but damn was she tired. Tired of a lot of things at this point. "I will not be seeing Sesshoumaru." she clipped while building her aura around her, causing reiki to crackle around her. She would just leave. It might not be easy, but anything was better than giving Sesshoumaru a chance to condemn her.

"Miko."

Freezing, Kagome slowly turned around, bringing her aura back to her like the snap of a rubber band. With eyes wide, it took all of her power to stand tall before the demon lord, getting little confidence from the bowing guards.

"Sesshoumaru?" she said dumbly.

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Sorry, this chapter was a but rushed but I didn't want to read it over. Again. I just can't be happy with this one.

I also realized I need to explain to you all that I'm a Canadian and that as a Canadian, I apparently spell some things differently. "Colour" is one among other words i can't think of off the top of my head.

Chapters will not be posted over the weekend.

Thanks again for your lovely reviews! I'm glad some of you are excited about my story. You give me the warm fuzzies.

I always imagined blue being a very rich taste. If it had a taste.