shoulderbread: Ah, it is glorious to be back potatoes of the internet. Have some fanfic.

*

Kagome threw herself onto her bed, letting the smell of clean laundry envelope her. It felt good to be home after so long, a proper bath somewhat a rarity when journeying in feudal Japan. She unraveled her towel wrap, and Po jumped up to roll in it, his little paws flailing chaotically as he demanded attention.

I'm so relieved! Just imagine what would happen if he had left my room.

She let out a sigh as she scratched behind his pointed ears. For a puppy he was quite lazy, maybe dogs get jet lag too?

Kagome looked out the window, and the jealous Po writhed beneath her limp hand, revealing more of his soft underbelly.

"Huh?" A sudden rush of magical energy washed over her, filling all her senses. Such a powerful aura could only be one thing.

She sat up, eyes darting back and forth as Po looked on confusedly.

Nothing should be able to get me here… Although, it has happened before.

Having no desire to take any risks, she undid the latch and pulled open her bedroom window. The clear air flooded into the room, and Kagome searched the courtyard for a demonic aura or black shards.

There doesn't seem to be anything unusual…

"Hm." she scanned the property once more before finally ducking back inside. Deciding it was just mere superstition.

As she made her way back towards her bed, her eyes caught the uncorked bottle buried in the rug.

Kagome nearly did a backflip, startling Po, "How long has that been there!" she swiped it from the rug, and began looking frantically for the cap. The puppy cocking his head from across the room.

"Kagome, time for dinner!" Mama Higurashi called from downstairs, the subtle clanking of plates following after.

"I'll be right down!" she informed as she straightened from the floor, dusting off her pajama pants. "Oh well…" she mumbles as she places the bottle back on her desk.

She left her room, peeking back through at the last second, "Stay in here Po, I'll be right back!" she waved goodbye and shut out the puppy from the rest of the house.

Po grumbled at the closed door, complaining about something or another as he curled up in a little ball of hate.

*

He didn't have to check their pulse, for their chests all rose peacefully. He knew the witch had been there, her fading scent was evidence enough.

The air was laced with sticky sweetness, the smell somewhat dizzying even for himself. Cloudy specks of clustered dust floated around like glowing embers around him, yellow as a canary and small enough to be fireflies. He pulled the back of his sleeve over his nose and mouth, careful not to inhale them.

Sesshomaru kneeled next to the slumbering Rin, and ran his finger through her speckled eyelashes. The same shade of yellow caked his fingertips, the powdery substance soft to the touch. But he noticed early on that it was hardening and flicked it away before it could cement onto his hand.

He glanced at the other two, the strong smell of lavender swirling around them also.

He rose from the bodies then, if he stayed much longer he too would fall for the witch's trickery. He refused to be her fool.

Sesshomaru's feet leaped off from the mountain, his fur trailing behind him as he followed her wicked stink.

*

Dust billowed around the maiden's barefeet like smoke from a conquered village, the path ahead growing ever rough. She wiped her brow with the red sleeve of her kimono, careful not to brush aside the bandaging that protected her clouded eyes. The scrapes on her forehead stung from the grime she rubbed into it, the pain just vague enough to be bearable, easy to ignore considering the state her back was in.

She stumbled forward, thankful for her guiding stick she hung from then. She patted it appreciatively, still breathing hard under the blaze of forenoon and happy that she wasn't eating dirt. A gash on her knee wept nastily onto the roadside, filling her nose with the overpowering smell of metal.

If she carried on like this, her fate was sealed. A greedy demon or human would come along, and this time she would not be able to defend herself.

Her keen ears detected the bustle of civilization ahead, and summoning her last ounce of strength, she staggered weakly to her full height and dragged her injured body toward the sound.

A village. There is hope yet.

*

shoulderbread: Duck you all, I'm going to slep.

-ignores yanderes stealing panties and passes out in puddle of coffee-