A/N: A Halloween treat for those who are fond of the story and a trick for those who aren't.
Foolish Wanderings
Kagome sat upon her bed mat, staring absently out the open, single-pane window which looked out upon the grounds. She could hear the crickets making their song as an owl hooted in the distance, the noises soothing to her frayed nerves.
The supper had been unusual, to say the least. To everyone's shock Kanna had insisted on joining everyone at the table, foregoing her customary solitary meal. She had not partaken in the conversation of the table, even when Kagura attempted to bring her into the talk, but the child had merely stared at their guest. The guest, Setsuna, had gazed strangely at Kagome during the serving, apparently in an attempt to ignore the strange, pale child watching him.
The conversation had not drifted to the topic previously engaged in the evening before, even when Setsuna urged his host to bring the discussion to the forefront. Rather, Naraku had been silent during the meal, barely touching his food as he had scowled along the table, apparently at nothing. The air had been tense, as if a struggle of wills was being held, but no visible sign could be deciphered from the occupants of the table.
Thus the supper had ended on a sour note, no one fully enjoying the delicious meat Sango had cooked. She had grumbled in the kitchen about ungrateful employers but mentioned nothing else to Kagome about the matter. The servant girls, exhausted from their long day of work, had quietly cleaned the table and kitchen then parted ways to their respective rooms.
Now here she sat, gazing out into the darkness beyond the manor. The night now brought a calm which Kagome thoroughly enjoyed, especially as the stars were shining brightly amidst the clear sky. A large moon hung in the sky, tempting her to walk under its rays through the trees of the forest just beyond her sight.
"Why not?" she suddenly asked herself aloud, sitting straight from leaning on the small sill and nodding in affirmation.
Standing to her feet Kagome grabbed her shoes and made her way down the servant stairs to the kitchen door. Slipping on her warm, though worn jacket and her comfortable shoes she slowly opened the portal and walked into the cool, crisp air. Closing the door behind her she turned and breathed deeply, enjoying the many smells and sounds the night offered her.
With sure steps, with the moon as good as any torch, Kagome walked in the direction of the woods. She smiled as a small breeze blew past, leaves teasing her nose as the trees above her bent in command of the wind. The path she followed was well-worn with her many journeys, deep and lacking of any vegetation which may have hindered her. Upon either side the plants grew waist high, sometimes taller, and the vegetation blocked her view of the wondrous forest she was now visiting.
Arriving at the meadow she called her own, Kagome seated herself upon the cool grass and looked upward at the stars shining brightly above. Unfortunately, her thoughts of the moment were visited by the memories of the day. The short conversations she'd had with Kanna stood out most prominently, startling her from the joy of the night to the shadows which dwelled at the edge of the tree line.
Kagome could not fathom what the daughter of the house meant by her strange words, the idea of being stalked by a gentleman distressing to her. She knew of no man who even sought her body, much less one who wished her hand in marriage. The young woman believed herself plain before the likes of Kikyo and Sango, for they had gained a protector in their life while she still remained alone.
Again Kagome sat unaware of her surroundings, though the visitor which also occupied the meadows would have been unseen by all but those with a trained eye. The burning orbs watched the woman's face as she pondered the daily proceedings, the gaze shifting about her body in anticipation.
Sighing deeply, Kagome suddenly froze in her thoughts as the sound of a twig snapping came to her ears. She sharply turned toward the noise, her eyes wide in fright. To her relief the form of the manor guest quickly stepped forth from the shadows, a wide, apologetic smile on his face.
"I am deeply sorry for my quiet entrance" he spoke, realizing he had startled the young woman from her attentions and bowing in embarrassment himself. "But Lady Kagome, what brings you out here?" he asked, motioning toward the dark surroundings. "It is late and I have heard that there is much danger within these woods.
"They don't scare me" Kagome explained, giving the guest a small smile as she quickly climbed to her feet. Though he had apologized for his actions, Setsuna's smiling face appeared almost ghostly in the light of the moon. "Is there anything you need?" she questioned, for the moment forgetting where they stood as the words were habitual toward any of the house's guests.
"Do you often ask strangers why they wander the forests at night?" Setsuna pondered aloud with a laugh, walking before her as his eyes stared about them. "I enjoy the night, as much as it frightens others. Besides, there are other matters which bring me here" he added, turning his full attention to the servant girl. "But what brings you here to this secluded area? Not to clean rooms, I suppose?" he teased, grinning.
"No, I certainly am not" Kagome retorted, for a moment forgetting her place. She slapped a hand over her mouth but was too late to return her words, her eyes wide in surprise at her actions.
However, Setsuna seemed unaware of her outburst, his attentions turned toward the many branches of trees gently swaying in the breeze. His eyes were narrowed as his hand settled firmly upon the hilt of a sword at his hip, his stance becoming rigid in readiness. The young servant looked uneasily at the weapon, having not noticed the long blade before.
"Is something wrong?' Kagome asked, stepping warily away from the armed man.
"I thought I heard something" Setsuna answered, looking around them suspiciously. He strode a few feet from the young woman, attempting to penetrate the forest gloom. "Hello" he called, receiving no reply to his greeting. "Is anyone there?"
The only answer to his callings were the crickets about the meadow, chirping uninterrupted while the couple's anxieties only increased. Kagome peering futilely into the darkness of the woods, wondering if the noise had not been the guest's imagination. After a moment of nothing she sighed and shook her head, looking to Setsuna in suspicion and anger. The night was now ruined for her as the peace of the evening evaporated with her rising fear of the darkness.
"Very funny" she sarcastically commented, stomping past the guest as she strode down the path.
Setsuna slowly relaxed his stance, though his hand remained settled upon the hilt of his sword. He looked one last time into the darkness as he turned to follow the young woman back to the manor, not doubting the noise he had heard was not one made by the nature which surrounding him.
The sound had resembled a growl of sorts, similar to those he had heard wolves make upon the high mountains of the wild country. He well knew the beasts did not occupy the territory around Naraku's lands, but he would not admit a mistake in the noise which had fallen on his ears after his entrance into the meadow. Unfortunately, there was no way to validate his claims as the moon's light was not bright enough to venture a journey into the unknown depths of the woods. Forced to flee from the challenge and mystery which had presented itself, Setsuna vowed to himself to return the following day and investigate the strange meadow.
The couple did not notice as a tall shadow followed their path, striding silently behind them.
Kagome ignored the man following her, knowing she was being rude to the master's guest but uncaring as he had humiliated her with his foolishness. Stepping up to the kitchen door in righteous indignation, she grabbed hold of the handle and pushed forward.
To Kagome's horror, the door did not budge.
Cursing herself for her stupidity, and swallowing the pride which had arisen in her, she turned to Setsuna to gain his assistance in her dilemma. To her great disappointment the gentleman, in her time of need, had disappeared. Taking a step away from the door she looked around anxiously, biting her lip as she could not find any sign of the guest. Then her hands settled on her hips as she tapped her foot angrily on the ground, annoyed at the man's abandonment of her without even so much as a farewell.
Then did Kagome hear the front door of the manor quietly open, apparently the guest having been given a master key to use at his own discretion. Sprinting around to the front of the house she sought to catch Setsuna's attention before the portal was shut. Unfortunately her luck remained poor as a slam was heard when she had only reached the front bushes of the large structure. Slowly stopping she merely stood in place and pondered her predicament. There was no other way available to enter the manor.
Sighing, Kagome resigned herself to sleeping outside for the night, knowing any noise on her part to alert Sango would merely awaken the master and cause her termination. Naraku would have no one interrupt his sleep nor did he care the slightest for any of the servants, nor anyone else for that matter. Stalking to the side of the home she turned her steps toward the stables at the far end of the lane which stretched across the front of the manor. She would at least be warm amidst the animals, and would have Kohaku for company.
Muttering to herself about the stupidity of males and negligence, the young woman trudged onward. However, on the footpath which led to the stables Kagome suddenly stopped in unease. The nocturnal noises about her had suddenly ceased, leading to an unnatural silence. Then a noise behind her, as though a heavy foot had fallen upon the dirt path, fell upon her ears. She slowly turned to look over her shoulder, her form quivering in fright.
To her horror a tall figure stood along the path a mere few yards from her position. The person was still, unmoving but for the long cloak they wore which fluttered in the small breeze.With a gasp she looked forward and began sprinting the short distance left to the stables, hear ears listening for any sign of following. To her dismay she could hear the fluttering of cloth as the figure swiftly overtook her steps, on her heals as she came within view of the short structure.
"Kohaku!" she screamed, hoping to alert the boy to her predicament as she felt a cold hand hover over the shoulder.
To Kagome's relief the door to the stable entrance opened, revealing a sleepy Kohaku who rubbed his drowsy eyes. He looked quizzically at the young woman as she slammed into him, causing them both to fall onto the straw floor of the animal building.
"Kagome, get off!" he shouted beneath her, struggling to push off the heavier girl.
Kagome pulled herself off the squirming boy with an apologetic expression, her eyes quickly darting to the open door. To her confusion, though, no threatening presence stood in the doorway.
"Where did he go?" she almost whispered to herself as Kohaku stood to his feet, looking strangely at the young woman.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, rousing Kagome from her thoughts.
"Hunh? Oh, no one" she answered, shaking her head and slowly standing to her feet. She reluctantly tore her gaze from the open door and turned to the youth, smiling forcibly. "Could I stay here tonight? I kinda locked myself out of the house" she embarrassingly mentioned, scratching the back of her head in nervousness.
"Sure" Kohaku agreed, grinning widely at the company. "But Sango's not gonna be happy when she hears about this" he added, walking over and preparing a patch of straw for his guest.
"Yeah, I can't wait for tomorrow" Kagome answered, though her head slowly turned toward the door.
She settled her hand on the wooden portal and looked into the darkness of the night, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. The crickets chirped and the night birds called out their triumphs and failures in the search for prey. No sign was left of the strange figure she had seen along the path, not even a footprint upon the hardened ground.
Perhaps the night air was not so good for her as she had supposed.