A/N: A new chappie for my lovely readers! Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha's or Akatsuki no Yona's characters or plots.


Chapter 9

Stepping into the tent, Yona questioned, "Yoon, how are they doing?"

"They're both resting." The pretty boy smiled back and informed, "I put the senjusou on their wounds, so their injuries will heal faster."

"Thank goodness!" Yona said sitting down in front of Shin-Ah's sleeping form. Inwardly, she lamented at the return of his mask, but realized that after everything that happened yesterday it was probably for the best.

Suddenly Zeno burst through the tent's entrance, followed shortly by Kija.

The yellow dragon plopped down next to Yona eagerly yelling, "Shin-Ah! Kagome! Can you hear Zeno?!"

"Hey, Zeno! Don't make such a racket." Yoon reprimanded.

"Are you alive? Feeling good? Want to play?" Zeno continued ignoring Yoon.

"They can't play!" Yoon stated, "They both need rest. Of course, this is because of their physical injuries, but for Shin-Ah, it may also be caused by his releasing all the power he was suppressing up until now all at once."

"What about his paralyzed body?" Kija asked, concern tinging his tone.

There was an awkward pause.

"That… well…" Yoon trailed off while looking between Yona, Shin-Ah and Kagome uncertainly.

Yona saved him by saying, "I think… Kagome healed... whatever was causing that…"

"Healed the paralysis?" Yoon asked wide-eyed. "How?"

Yona hesitated, "…I'm not really sure."

They all looked at Kagome in varying amounts of consternation. Yoon couldn't help but to think of all the suspicions he'd initially had when Kagome first joined them in Awa. Throughout their travels since then, Kagome had only proven herself a hardworking and compassionate individual who didn't appear to mean them any harm in his opinion. The events of yesterday only solidified this. That's why he had yet to confront her about her past or her future intentions. Most people have a secret or two, but magical healing powers? That was… something else entirely.

The tense silence was interrupted by the subtle pitter patter of Ao scurrying into the tent with an acorn clutched in his tiny paws. Everyone watched his progress with a sort of avid fascination that was mostly rooted in their desire to distract themselves from the questions they all had that would remain unanswered, at least until Kagome woke. The squirrel climbed onto Shin-Ah's chest and attempted to push the acorn into his mouth.

Instead of trying to stop the small creature, Kija just said, "Shin-Ah. Don't overexert yourself. Tell me if you need something. I'll do anything."

Zeno pointed to himself happily and insisted, "Zeno too, Zeno too!"

Yoon looked at the two dryly. "You realize he can't hear you, right?"

Kija continued as if Yoon hadn't spoken at all, assuring, "It's difficult to control your dragon power if you're not used to using it. If there's anything you're at a lost about, you can consult with me. I'll listen to anything."

"Zeno too, Zeno too!"

Kija whirled on Ouryuu. "All you do is fool around in battle! You don't even use your power, do you?!"

Unfazed, Zeno replied back grinning, "Zeno's role is to cheer everyone up!"

Yoon berated them both, "White and yellow over there! If you're going to cause a racket, get out!"

Just outside the tent, Jae-Ha and Hak rejoined everyone.

Jae-Ha announced, "We're back."

Yoon and Yona came out to greet them.

"We threw the bandits out on the road. Officers will pick them up sooner or later." Jae-Ha handed Yoon a dead bird saying, "I caught this while we were out."

"Oh. Thank you," Yoon responded appreciatively.

"Princess," Hak's voice rang out solemnly, "it looks like they're holding a burial for the kid that was killed by the bandits."

Yoon looked away uncomfortably and Yona nodded gravely.


The smell of burning wood and the sound of anguished crying filled the night sky. Yona and Yoon stood side by side, watching the plume of smoke dance hauntingly upwards.

"Kagome would've wanted to be here…" Yona commented sadly.

"…I couldn't help him," Yoon stated in an almost detached grief.

Yona glanced at him and reached for his hand giving it a firm squeeze of support.

"…Yona. I've thought about whether or not I can multiply the senjusou." Yoon spoke of the medicinal herb that Yona had been tasked with acquiring by Captain Gi-Gan to prove her worth in the battle of Awa. The plant is a remedy that can cure sickness and heal wounds three times faster than normal, but only grows along the Vanishing Cape in extremely small amounts thus it is highly valued by those few who know of its existence. "If I can, I might be able to heal everyone's illnesses and injuries. I have to study more on medicine."

"…Yes," Yona replied. "I will do my best, too. Let's purge this sight from the Land of Fire."


When they returned to camp, it was late and everyone was preparing for sleep. That was when it occurred to Yona.

"Oh, that's right. I can't use the tent today," she remarked to Yoon.

"Sorry. Kagome and Shin-Ah still haven't recovered, so I'll tend their sides…" He trailed off apologetically.

"It's fine. I'll sleep outside."

Kija anxiously protested, "Oh no… Princess, you can't sleep outside. There are bugs outside!"

Jae-Ha eagerly offered, "Yona dear, you can sleep by my side."

She smiled, the picture of naivety, and said, "It'll be fine… because I'll sleep with Hak."

There was a loud clattering noise as Hak dropped all of the firewood he'd been carrying.

"No?" Yona asked and looked at him in surprise.

He busied himself with picking up the pieces of wood replying, "It's not really…"

"Yona dear, that's dangerous. The Thunder Beast is a beast," Jae-Ha warned.

Hak chucked a log at the green dragon's head. "Don't group me with you, Droopy Eyes."

Kija turned away holding a hand to his heart and wondering to himself why his chest felt so tight.

Zeno glomped Yona from behind and suggested giddily, "Miss! Sleep with Zeno for a change!"

"Sorry, Zeno." The princess smiled sweetly. "Hak's good."

Hak fell over and everyone else froze in muted shock.

Zeno came out of it first asking, "Is that so?" He wrapped Jae-Ha forcefully in a one-sided hug. "Then Zeno will sleep close to Ryokuryuu! If you need Zeno, just call!"

"I'll pass," Jae-Ha adamantly refused.

Kija shakily pled, "Yoon, I have an emergency. My chest hurts terribly."

"I can't fix that," Yoon stated dryly.

Kija's eyes widened fearfully. "It's an incurable illness?!"

Ignoring the dragons, Hak joined Yona sitting against a nearby tree trunk.

"…What's going on?" he asked her suspiciously.

She looked at him innocently. "What?"

He gave her a deadpan stare.

She smiled at him amiably. "When doing this… it's just like the time the two of us traveled together, right?"

He stared at the three dragons huddled around them with blankets and pillows. Kija and Zeno snuggled against each other.

"Not at all."

Minutes later…

The rustling of fabric, a dulled thud, and a feminine gasp disturbed the otherwise quiet night.

"What do you think you're doing, Princess?" Hak asked her, one hand trapping her wrist in a firm, but gentle grip. The dagger she'd been attempting to pilfer had fallen to the ground between them.

"If I can't even do this, how will I convince you to be my swordsmanship partner?" She questioned a tad dejectedly.

A tick of irritation formed at his temple. "So you were planning this from the beginning?"

Yona nodded.

"…Please come over here for a bit." His tone was clearly annoyed as he pulled her up leading her away from the others sleeping.

"Sorry. You were sleeping and I woke you up," Yona apologized for the lesser of her crimes.

"…So," he started slowly, "swords again?"

She looked down. "I know you still oppose it, Hak… even though you gave me permission before. Kagome was teaching me yesterday, before the bandits… But she's hurt now and if I do it alone, there will be limitations. Never have I regretted my own powerlessness as I did this time…"

"It isn't your fault that you couldn't help that child," Hak said matter-of-factly.

"But Kagome… I couldn't do anything to help her except to run away and find someone else who could. And Shin-Ah, he― If I had the power to save that child… if I had the power to keep Kagome and Shin-Ah from getting hurt… More… More…"

She bowed deeply. "Hak, please. I… want strength. Teach me the sw―"

"Stop," he interrupted her. "You are my master. A master should never lower their head for a servant," he told her solemnly righting her by gripping her shoulders.

She looked up at him desperately. "What… should I do?"

He gazed at her seriously. "You should order me. If you earnestly order me to do it… I can't refuse it."

She stared at him surprised for a moment, but then she pinned him with a determined look and commanded, "Hak. Teach me the sword. That's an order."

He lowered himself to one knee; head bowed and replied, "As you command."


The next morning…

Kagome groaned softly as she slowly became conscious. Her body was achy all over and swore she hadn't felt this drained since right after the Final Battle against Naraku. She felt like shuddering just at the thought. She sat up carefully looking around herself curiously. She was inside the tent she and Yona usually shared at night to sleep away from the guys. Slightly crumpled bedding to her left, between her and the entrance, suggested someone else had been resting beside her at some point. She blinked. Oh yeah… The bandits attacked… and Shin-Ah went crazy…

Suddenly the tent 'doors' flapped open to reveal the genius pretty boy. He looked at her in pleased surprise.

"Oh. You're awake. How are you feeling?" he asked professionally.

Kagome smiled back wanly. "Like I fought a bunch of bandits and then ran a marathon, but other than that fine."

His brows furrowed. What the heck is a 'marathon'?

"…Well that's good," he started unsurely. "I'm just gonna check your wounds. They probably need to be re-bandaged."

She nodded at him in acquiescence.

He worked quietly, in what usually would have been amicable silence, but today Kagome felt like it was strained. And she had an idea as to why…

When he was just about done she said, "Yoon. I'm guessing Yona told you what happened that time… You probably have a lot of questions for me and I'll answer them, but I'd like to do so with everyone else present. You all deserve to hear what I have to say."

His hands froze in the middle of tying a knot, and then he nodded his head and quickly finished bandaging her up.

"They're all outside…"

She smiled at him courteously. "Alright, let's get this over with."

Kagome winced as the morning sun forced her to blink painfully waiting for her eyes to adjust. Everyone was milling about the campsite doing one chore or another. Yona was the first to spot her.

"Kagome!" The princess rushed over immediately pulling her into a heartfelt embrace mindful of the older girl's injuries though.

"Are you okay? I'm so sorry for everything that happened! I―"

Kagome cut her off waving a dismissive hand in the air. "I'm fine, I'm fine. You don't have to apologize to me for anything, Yona. Everything that happened… none of it was your fault. It was the bandits'."

The priestess was firm in her assurances, but it was clear that the princess wasn't going to be swayed from her guilt quite so easily.

"Miss Kagome, it's good to see you up and walking!" Kija said with a relieved smile.

"Miss had a close call! Zeno was by yours and Seiryuu's sides all of yesterday until Yoon banned Zeno and Hakuryuu from entering!" Zeno jumped in ever-energetically.

Yoon glared at them. "You two idiots were making too much noise!"

Kagome sweat-dropped and smiled lopsidedly. "Thanks guys…"

"It's a relief that you are alright," Jae-Ha said pleasantly, "but I'm afraid I have to ask what is on everyone's minds…" Here he turned serious. "What exactly happened that time…?"

Everyone's expressions became serious at the reminder.

Kagome let out a soft puff of air in resignation. "I guess it is time, huh?"

She sat down on nearby rock and waited until everyone else followed her lead making themselves comfortable as well. They all looked at her in varying states of expectancy, interest and worry.

She took a deep breath in to try and collect her thoughts and then began her tale…


"…and then I found myself here, in the Earth Tribe. I had no idea the well would take me here. It's never taken me anywhere other than the past or my present, but as soon as I climbed out of it I could tell I wasn't in the Feudal Era like I'd hoped. After 3 years of waiting and finishing my education, I thought I'd finally be able to go back to live out the rest of my life with the friends that'd become a second family to me… but obviously that didn't happen. I tried jumping back into the well, multiple times. I even sprained my ankle before I finally gave up. It wouldn't let me back through. So ever since then, I've just been traveling from one village to the next searching for some kind of clue of how I can return home. The more I've traveled though, the more I've wondered if I'm not supposed to be doing something here. My friends from the Feudal Era and I had long suspected that the only reason I was transported there was to rid the world of the Shikon Jewel and after that was accomplished… I was sent back to the modern era…"

Silence stretched throughout the campsite, everyone consumed by their own thoughts. Kagome had just told them everything. How she was originally from some place called Tokyo, Japan and how she time traveled into the past and discovered she could fight demons by using something she calls spiritual powers because she's a priestess. It sounded like quite the tale. Eventually, Jae-Ha was the one to break it.

"You don't honestly expect us to believe all of that, do you?"

His face expressed his skepticism openly.

"You're telling us that where you come from, there are others like us," he gestured to himself, Kija, Shin-Ah and Zeno, "roaming around freely and more powerful than any one of the Four Dragons?"

Kagome shook her head. "Not… exactly like you. It's hard to explain, but your auras are similar. I mean I can sense that you're different from other humans in the same way that I can sense a demon, but… I wasn't sure that my spiritual powers would work the same way on you as it does on actual demons."

"You mean how it purifies them?" he questioned sharply.

She flinched at the accusation. "…Yes, but I wouldn't ever attempt to do that on any of you―"

"Then what would you call what you did to Shin-Ah?" he interrupted her.

"That's… that's different!" she insisted pleadingly.

The green dragon looked at her challengingly. "Oh? How so?"

She floundered for a second trying to find the words to explain it. "It's… I… Look, when you use your gift, your dragon's leg, you command it… You control what it does and manipulate it to do what you want it to. My powers are no different in that aspect. If I wanted to purify you, which I'm not even sure that I could, it would look exactly the same as if I was trying to heal you. But I need you to trust me when I say that I would never try to harm any of you… unless you were endangering the lives of others… maybe not even then." At this, she turned to look at Shin-Ah apologetically.

The blue dragon looked down, the shame from his recent actions still fresh in his mind. Kagome looked around to all of the somber faces of the people she'd come to think of as friends. She'd gladly give her life for any one of them… She looked down and willed away the sting of tears.

"…It was wrong of me to hide this from you all for so long… and I don't expect you to believe me… So… I promise that I won't tell anyone about Yona or any of you… I'll just… go pack my things." She stood up with the little dignity she still had and turned to go grab her belongings from the tent.

"Wait!" Yona's voice stopped her. "That's it? You're just going to leave?"

Kagome looked at her confused. "I thought…"

"Droopy Eyes was just giving you a hard time," Hak said before proceeding to punch the green dragon in the head. Hard.

Jae-Ha absently rubbed the back of his head. "I was merely testing you, Kagome, dear. I'm afraid I took it a bit too far."

"I'll say. Damn beasts. There's no way I'd be able to take care of all these idiots without your help Kagome," Yoon said glaring at said beasts.

"Zeno doesn't want Miss to go either! Then Zeno wouldn't have anyone to play with!" Zeno stated with a childlike grin.

"Of course we don't think that you would harm any of us, Miss Kagome!" Kija assured her sincerely.

Her battle to not cry ended up being a lost cause. The tears were streaming down her face by the time Shin-Ah gently laid a strong hand on her shoulder and simply said, "Stay."

She let out a wobbly laugh and continued to cry happily when they all gathered around her in one huge group hug.

Maybe she'd found a new place to call home again after all…


A/N: Hope you all liked it! Reviews, faves and follows are all greatly appreciated!