Unexpected Variance

by Umiki

She had made the wish and was returning to the future when an unexpected variance occured in the course of fate. One that led to landing in an era, and quite possibly reality, where a certain yokai family was not broken.

4. Chapter 4

A/N: Hi everyone! Another chapter coming up! (mind you a small one but meh)

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16.

They later retracted their promise of pure humiliation when he presented them with presents.

For Shippo he got him kitsune trinkets, a charcoal set for drawing, and a dagger that, at Shippo's size, was more like a sword. For Kagome he got her, naturally, an exquisitely made bow and a collection of both battle and hunting arrows.

However, that was not all he got her. He also got her an iron-ribbed tessen with a beautiful image of golden summer lilac flowers drifting along a black canvas and, most shocking of all, a wonderfully crafted naginata.

Kagome was a long distance fighter by force; having a bow and arrow shoved into her hands by Inuyasha and Kaede and expected to know how to use it without any training, along with not really being pushed to learn anything else and having to dodge death on an almost daily basis afterwards, kind of made it hard to even think about learning anything other than shooting and how to patch someone up.

Sango and Miroku had done what they could to teach her on the side, but it had been few and far between. And by the time she had actually begun to show new interest in learning something besides first-aid and the bow, the chase for Naraku had risen to stronger heights as they closed in on him; forcing her to push any thought of such things to the back of her mind.

So to make a long story short, Kagome was not expecting a yokai, no matter their pride, traditions, and sheer amount of money spent already on clothes and supplies, to basically tell a miko to get stronger.

When asked about her gifts Takamaru replied to her truthfully, "We crane can tell a person's base nature easily Kagome-sama. From the first moment I saw you, I knew that you had the spirit of a protector, a warrior who battles not for themselves but for those they cherish; yet you abhor killing deeply unless necessary. And even then, you would regret the taking of life. However, no matter your principles there will always be a time for when violence is necessary. These shall be for when such a time comes."

Kagome did not know it then, but she would look back on this memory many times in the future with appreciation for the foresight and wisdom in Takamaru's words.

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A/N: hope you liked it thus far!

Next Chapter: the Higurashi clan have some interesting experiences as the seasons passed