After the very angry public display the villagers had put on in dragging Wolf off to Kami knows where, Kagome had dragged Pesha with her back to the barn where she immediately changed back into her clothes. Her movements were stiff and wooden, her emotions rolling into each other and bubbling into a mix of oozing anger, frustration and anxiousness. She honestly didn't know who she was more angry at, the villagers for their archaic thinking and actions or for Wolf for probably doing something foolish that may have set them off. Perhaps even herself for getting comfortable in an old role when she swore to herself to stay as far away from anything that resembled magic. It was the reason why she had moved to New York to begin with, anything magic there were either street performers or Broadway acts.
When she was done, the shepherdess dress was folded over her arms as her eyes focused on the ground before her. A headache began to form when her brows began to furrow, her stomach was unsettled with her unsureness of what to do. A soft tug on her sleeve had her eyes shifting to Pesha, his own hazel locking with her blues. He may not say much as of right now, but she was easily able to pick up his own worry. It wasn't impossible to see that Pesha had found some sort of role model in Wolf. Wolf had told her and Virginia how he had been the first other wolf that Pesha had ever come across.
Her lips wobbled in an attempt of offering a supportive smile, a silent way of saying everything was going to be alright. By the look on Pesha's face, he didn't really believe her attempts wither. Freeing a hand, she folded one of his into her own only to turn and face Tony and Virginia. Her friend had already changed into her own clothes and was sitting next to her father as they faced the mirror with excitement. Kagome was able to see the somewhat indecisive expression Virginia wore, though it disappeared when she turned to say something to Wendell. Knowing the supposed prince, he was more than likely berating Tony for what had happened as well as insulting Wolf simply because of what he was.
Walking towards her friends, she stared them down when they looked up at her. Tony was the first to break the silence, a large excited smile on his face. "Isn't this great? We can finally go home!"
"Uh, yeah, I guess. But what about Wolf? We can't just leave him here." her brows furrowed when a soft scoff that had her turning to Wendell.
"I beg to differ. He more than likely did what all wolves did. I could scent blood when I ran to the village. Most likely slaughtered some poor unsuspecting chicken coop or poor little lamb." he scoffed, snorting slightly as if to clear his nose of some foul smell.
Narrowing her gaze down on Wendell with a fist planted on her hip, she looked everything like a furious woman. "I'll have you know, that's a very stupid way of thinking when it comes to wolves." she attempted to pull of her best Sesshoumaru impression, that I-See-Your-Idiocy-Showing sort of look, a brow raised as well. "Dogs, are in fact decedents of wolves."
Wendell reared back slightly looking all the fact of a kicked puppy before his ears fell back and his lips twisted up in a silent snarl. If a dog could pull off disgusted, Kagome was sure she was seeing it right now. "I'll have you know, I've had the best tutors in all the kingdoms. And that is a rather... disturbing revelation."
Rolling her eyes, Kagome turned to Virginia and Tony, a brow shooting up at their confused expressions. "What?"
"I hate to break it to you, but isn't that a common way of thinking when it comes to wolves?" Virginia's gaze suddenly shifted to Pesha and her face morphed into a sudden and sheepish form of apology. "Sorry."
"Which is based on nothing but fairy tales. Big bad wolves that eat babies and small children as well as terrorize farming villages. Studies have proven otherwise." Kagome felt a little defensive, it could be due to her former friendship with Kouga and his wolf pack. Sure he had started off with eating humans, though that had changed after he met her.
"A little defensive, don't you think?" Tony chuckled lightly, trying to defuse the situation.
A somewhat harsh sigh escaped her as she combed her fingers through her hair. "Yes. And while we're here discussing the history of wolves and how people react to them based on fear, Wolf is out there have only who knows what getting done to him for something he may not have done. We should help him."
Silence was met with her words, Tony and Virginia shared a look where Wendell muttered something under his breath. When her friend looked back at her, she saw that Virginia would support her even if it would delay returning home for an unknown amount of time. The problem was convincing Tony.
"But... we can go home now." Tony quietly whined, his arms raised as he stood up to frantically indicate the large magic mirror that was propped up against the stacks of hay.
Lips pursing, Kagome stared Tony down. At first he simply continued to try and sway her by displaying the mirror that was reminiscent of a show model presenting a prize. His actions faltered as she continued to stare him down, until finally he seemed to submit. "Do we really? He's... he's a felon! And let's not forget a deviant."
Rolling her eyes, Kagome huffed, she didn't need reminding on his character towards her. "We have the mirror now, what is a few hours going to do?"
Tony's lips dipped downward as his shoulders slumped, though he turned hopeful eyes towards his daughter. All Virginia could do was offer a sheepish smile and shrug of her own shoulders as she gave him a soft apology. "Sorry, but she does have a point. Not only that, when you lost the mirror, he was the one helping us in finding it."
"Let's not forget him helping me escape the trolls or breaking the two of you out of prison." Kagome smirked when Tony threw her a pinched look. Hey, it was the truth, so Tony could be snippy about all he wanted.
Tony looked between the two of them, seeing that neither one was going to budge on the subject matter he let out a sigh, his entire posture slumping in defeat as he relented to their will. "Fine, alright."
Virginia offered a small smile as she turned to Kagome. "So, what did you have planed?"
"First I was going to go see what exactly was going on, then I was going to go from there." she finally released the folded clothes by dropping them where Tony had been sitting on a hay bale.
Wendell spoke up again, while she may not be able to see it, it was obvious by the tone of his voice that he was pouting from her earlier words. "Oh, why didn't I think of that? I know why, because it's a ridiculous. That's just you saying you have no idea and no plan."
Glaring down at the dog, Kagome felt her lip lift up in a sneer. "I'm not currently a dog, now am I."
Her comment got a soft growl from the golden retriever, to which Pesha stepped forward and returned with one of his own. Only it was softer, and slightly higher pitched making him all the more adorable. Spying Virginia's surprised expression, Kagome bit down on her lips to keep from smiling. Wrapping an arm around his shoulders, Kagome brought Pesha back to her, all the while trying to keep from snickering at Wendell's gob smacked expression at the still growling Pesha.
"Right. I'm going back to the village to see what is going on, can someone watch Pesha for me?" no sooner had the question left her lips did Pesha whip around to face up at her, his face easily expressing his hurt and why. Smoothing a hand down the side of his face, Kagome offered a soothing smile. "I don't think it's safe in the village. The villagers are highly agitated, in such a state there is no question what they'll do or how they'll react. I just want to keep you safe."
There was a few moments of silence until Pesha finally nodded his head, though he looked far from pleased. In face his grip on her hand tightened, an obvious sign of him being stubborn even if he did understand. Tony was the first to break the silence. "I'll watch him. You two go figure out what's going on then."
Nodding her head, Virginia stood up and quickly wiped the back of her pants waiting for Kagome as she promised to Pesha that everything was alright and that she would be right back. When he finally released her, the two then quickly made their way towards the village. There was an anxiousness that hung between the two of them that made Virginia somewhat uncomfortable, so she spoke up that made Kagome nearly tripped and just as squirmish.
"So... what was that back in the barn. Dad was right, your were really defensive, I don't think I've ever seen you like that. Wolf must mean something to you to be doing this." when her arms shot out to catch a stumbling Kagome, Virginia openly snickered. "I'll take that as a yes!"
"Oh go... kiss a dog!" even to her own ears that sounded stupid to Kagome, sadly she had nothing else at the top of her head.
Virginia raised a brow when she picked up on that little fact. "Kiss a dog?"
Throwing her nose into the air, Kagome took a few faster steps to be ahead of her friend. "Already stripped in front of one and then shared your bed with him, why not kiss him while you're at it?"
When a soft punch landed on her upper arm, Kagome grunted and threw a victorious smirk in at Virginia. With their joking behind, their nervous and anxiousness had lightened to something much more bearable. When they entered the village, things were buzzing, and not in a positive light. Spotting Wolf, Kagome separated from Virginia. As she approached him, her heart broke at seeing him caged up, the walls and bars thick and Wolf was pacing back and forth whimpering and whining more than not. His hands were raised either clutching at his head or he would slap the side of his head as he forcefully spat out every 'no'. When she stopped before the very open cell, her hands wrapping around the cool wooden beams and her lips pursed unsure of whether to call out to him or not, and if she did, what she would say or ask.
"Kagome!" large hands wrapped around her own as a feverish brow barely brushed against her own. "Kagome, whatever they said, I didn't do it! I'm innocent."
Kagome could only blink her eyes as his warm breath washed over her face, her own lips pursed in reaction unsure of what to say. Looking up, her heart twisted at the truly frightened and broken look Wolf wore. "We're, we're going to try and get you out of here. Virginia is trying to get something from some of the villagers. What happened Wolf?"
"I didn't do it, I swear to you Kagome that I didn't do it." he whimpered, his nose brushing against her brow.
A quite sigh left her as she pulled back that short amount to look him in the eye. "That wasn't an answer. What happened?"
Another whimper left him at the distance that was now between him and Kagome. "I... a girl was... hurt. I don't know! Someone said I killed this girl and dragged me into this cage!"
A murder?
Shock ran through her. It made no sense, the village had been as lively as a village could be with the festival and contests going on. So if everyone had been at the village, who could have possibly been murdered? The entire situation made no sense at all.
"Murdered?" she hadn't been aware that she had even said it out loud until Wolf whimpered a quiet 'yes'. "Oh I know it's not you, I believe you when you say you didn't do it!" she jumped to try and calm his nerves, as well as her own.
The idea that they had been traveling with a murderer the entire time was frightening. Gratefully though the most 'evil' Kagome had sensed from Wolf was when his heritage was more present as in like the previous night. He had been a little more wilder and a little more animalistic, but other than that and how he had been a little more on the touchy-feely side when it involved her, she had sensed no ill will or intent or anything remotely evil from him.
A sad little smile formed at her words, which only broke her heart all the more at seeing it. "We're going to do everything we can to get you out of here." her head fell to the side slightly as she watched him.
He was silently taking it all in, it was a little off putting. Her eyes fell down to where her hands were still wrapped around the bars, watching in an odd form as his fingers stroked her wrists. It was soft sweeps, almost as if he was afraid he would hurt her or should shatter or break or even disappear.
Pulling a hand back from the bar she had been holding onto, she cupped his face and directed his gaze to her. "Listen, we're going to help you, you understand that?"
Wolf nodded his head, nuzzling his face into her palm, even going to far as to press it to his cheek with his own free hand. His fingers once again petting and stroking this hand. She was just about to speak up once again, though her attention was immediately called away when Virginia called her name as well as quickly approached them. Wolf whimpered at losing her attention, now desperately holding her hand to his cheek.
"Well, there was a murder, and you will not believe who the victim is. Sally Peep." her expression was grim as well as twisted in confusion.
Turning to face her more completely, she didn't seem to mind that Wolf clutched at her one hand desperately. As Kagome stared Virginia down in complete disbelief. "Sally? But, what?"
"I know, it makes absolutely no sense. They're putting on a trial, and it looks like that is when we'll get our chance. I guess. This is all new to me." her lips pursed for a moment, locking her gaze with Kagome with a shrug. Her eyes darted to Wolf, her lips pursing and brows drawn together at the sight.
"That's good... that's good. When does it start?" Kagome was now watching the villagers as they began in building a crude burning stake, her gut twisted at the barbaric sight before her. She vaguely nodded her head when she heard Virginia's answer, her mind was currently busy going over and formulating plans on how to use the trial to her advantage. "Let's go get the others, we're going to need all the help we can get."
Wolf let out a soft whimper, knowing that Kagome would be leaving his side. He nuzzled deeper into her palm, his nose brushing against her wrist allowing him to breath in her scent. His throat constricted when she turned to face him with a small smile and began to pull away though she softly promised that she would return. His hand gripped tightly onto the bars and watched as she and Virginia hurriedly walked back to the barn, he was able to pick up bits and pieces on how they would help him. When they sharply turned a corner, he let his head drop heavily against the wood. When the villagers once again picked up their voices about what they were going to do to him, he let out a whimper and shuffled deeper into his cage until his back was pressed against the wall behind him.
It had taken a lot of talking to get Tony to agree to come along back to the village so they could attend the trail, and there was a lot to discuss on who would represent Wolf. Should it be Virginia, since she didn't have any actual personal feelings for him. In fact she wouldn't mind seeing him doing some time based on their first meeting, tying her grandmother up and sitting her in a deep dish next to the potatoes and carrots. Then there was if it should be Kagome, she did have a better understanding on how to deal with people that thought the way they did, and she did have the personal motivation to get him out of the sticky situation.
Even along the way with Pesha, Tony and Wendell behind the two, they were discussing, debating and arguing on who would technically be his layer. The three were left standing behind as the two women marched their way into the courthouse after the Judge. Tony kept a hand on Pesha's shoulder to keep him from following after Kagome, it was interesting how quickly the boy had grown attached to her. Wendell was huffing about how it made no sense for them to be working this hard to attempt in freeing Wolf from what was a natural way of things. They all perked up when they heard quick steps coming towards them, blinking at what they were seeing and who was stepping up to be Wolf's legal representation.
Kagome scratched at the wig she was needed to wear, her face scrunching up in distaste. Along with the wig, there was also the black robes. She felt like she had just took a few steps back in time, ironic considering her past and current situation. Shifting the books and documents in her arms as she then readjusted the wig after another scratch. At the gobsmacked expression on Tony, she raised a brow when she was finally comfortable, relatively speaking. When Tony began to speak, Kagome quickly shook her head. "Don't. I already know I look ridiculous."
Shifting once again out of discomfort, Kagome nodded to show that she was more than ready to start. Tony looked behind Kagome to see Virginia standing there with her lips pursed, though she offered a polite if not awkward smile and offered her hand to Pesha. He hesitated for a moment, but took it seeing as Kagome was not accompanying them. "Don't worry, Kagome's just going to save the day."
"Great, put all that pressure on me." Kagome muttered under her breath as she took one turn while the others followed a few of the villagers. Though her distraction was pulled else where when Wolf was lead towards the courtroom they all stood outside of.
"It's over. It's already over my creamy Kagome. The jury will be biased against me, sealing my doom." there was no gusto in his words, a low pitched whine hidden behind his words.
Rolling her eyes, she offered what she hoped was an uplifting smile. "Ah, juries can be swayed and shown the truth. So keep that chin up."
Entering the courtroom, Kagome ignored the loud echoing calls of the villagers though the same couldn't be said for the baahing and bleeting of the sheep that lined one wall. The jury was made up of sheep? What sort of screwed up village were they in?
Staring wide eyed at the rows of sheep, she barely noticed as Wolf was led to the stand behind her. What the hell? How was she supposed to sway the jury if they were sheep? Unless... were they magical sheep? Leaning in to get a closer look, she reared back when they simply continued to bleat. Nothing magical about them in the least... well, so sheep were just sheep in the magical kingdom. Pursing her lips, she stood her full height and moved to stand closer to where Wolf was.
"Jury made up of sheep..." shaking her head, she began muttering under her breath in Japanese. She completely ignored the confused looks she was getting, instead she got ready, placing the documents she had been handed down harshly onto the small desk that was situated before the stand.
"Kagome?" the quiet questioning tone from Wolf almost went unheard, but Kagome turned in her seat.
Blinking up at him, she let out an exhausted sigh. "I'm sorry, I'm just trying to adjust to the... jury." the way she had to bit around the word 'jury' it would have to take a deaf person to not hear who she was really talking about.
The villagers continued to sound their desires to see blood, which was shockingly frightening to see. Farmers and sheep herders were seen as sweet or hardworking, not bloodthirsty backwards thinkers. Their cries of outrage quickly quieted down when the Judge entered the room and climbed the stairs to get to his own seat, a high chair behind a high podium. A scare tactic to intimidate those being judged, she was sure of it.
"All rise for the honorable judge." the voice sounded from somewhere in the room, and unanimously the entire courtroom stood to its feet.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Kagome sat back in her seat as gracefully as she could the moment the Judge did as well. Like a wave, she felt and heard the villagers behind her do the same. It was an eery situation to be in, but she figured normal had been tossed out the window the day she turned 15.
The Judge leaned forward, his hands holding onto the edge of the podium. "It gives me no pleasure to sentence this wolf to death, for the terrible crime of-!"
While it was pretty amazing to see and hear that the Judge was rather calm and neutral about the whole ordeal, she snapped to attention when it appeared he was going to go on as if the trial had already come to a conclusion! "Excuse me your honor, but I object! There is no proof or show of evidence that he is the one that committed the crime!"
The Judge looked down at her in shock, it was something similar to seeing a person that just woke up for an afternoon nap. "I see... Well, let's move along, nice and briskly."
Pursing her lips with a sharp nod of her head, Kagome tried to recall all that she had picked up about law and trials. Sadly, it was severely lacking to whatever she managed to catch in the media back home, to a mock trial that one time her class had preformed... back in the 5th grade.
So, she had to address the jury directly, which would prove difficult since they were sheep, until she called upon various witnesses. Okay, she was seriously going to be pulling this one out of her ass, she hoped Miroku was watching down on her and willing to lend a hand. She was really going to need it.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury..." she trailed off as she face the row of sheep, feeling utterly stupid for doing this, but Wolf's life was on the line so she was going to do what it took to help him. "I mean... yews and rams... I'll prove to you today, that my client is innocent of the crimes pitted against him, but also reveal the true killer."
Sadly, the sheep continued to stand there and bleat, it was difficult to tell if she was actually getting anywhere with them. They were just animals.
"A pot of lemon tea and a slice of Rosy Peep's ginger cake." the Judge smiled down at the man that had stood at the foot of the podium with a slight smile.
Closing her eyes, Kagome could barely contain herself at it all. First a jury of sheep and now lunch orders were being taken. What next, a musical? Picnic? Or another contest to take place here and now? Quickly shaking her head, Kagome thought it best to move it along in hoped of getting out of there, with Wolf.
"I ask that you look at my client. Is he the killer? No, but he is a stranger. It's easy to make strangers to be the big bad wolf when something goes wrong, but it's wrong to do so. Strangers among your midst is hard to trust, but they should be given the benefit of the doubt!" she spun to face the villagers. "Innocent until proven guilty! Proven, guilty." she put extra emphasis on her words, hoping to sway the villagers now more so than the jury.
There were a few murmurs of agreement, a few more that were in disagreement, though the villagers were quick to break out into a rowdy crowd where the Judge had to call for silence. He looked down at Kagome with pursed lips. "If you're quite done, let's get onto the sentencing."
Narrowing her eyes in challenge. "Your honor, I'm just starting. I would like to call my first witness to the stand. Wilford Peep."
Once again murmurs broke through the villagers as the old man left his spot from among them, shuffling to take the witness stand which was odd considering that he had been more than hearty earlier that morning. Once he was situated in place on the witness stand, she sniffed as he glared down at her then also at Wolf.
"Mr. Peep, my condolences." she waited as he stiffly bowed his head in acceptance. "After this morning's competition, where did you go?"
"To the family barn." his answer came out in as a huff, with a slight sniff at the end.
"And was there any sign that Ms. Peep had been there before your arrival?" canting her head to the side, she blinked at the stiff twitching her question garnered especially how his answer came out.
"There was a bit of hay thrown about, she had just lost the shepherdess contest, but she was already gone by the time I got there. So I went to look for her." his lips pursed, making his already soured face look like it was in the midst of sucking in on itself.
A brow rose, she didn't believe it to be true what the old man was saying there were a few things that didn't add up and she was going to point them out in this courtroom. "And that's when you supposedly saw my client running from the scene of the murder?"
"As clear as daylight." he stood up and thrust an accusing finger in Wolf's direction. "It was him, he's the one. Burn him!"
The crowd broke out in agreement, jeering loudly as they banged their pitchforks against the floor or slapping their hands against the banisters. The Judge was also quick to jump in, stoking the flames.
Trying to get a hold back on the situation, Kagome cried out in a show that she wasn't done. "Mr. Peep!" it took a few moments for the people to quiet down, but when they did, she continued on with her questioning. "Mr. Peep, after supposedly seeing my client run away, you then called to arms and made to chase after him. About how long did it take till you finally caught up with him?"
With another sniff, Mr. Peep scrunched up his face made a sign that he was recounting that fact. "No less than 15 minutes. That wolf was tired, after eating poor Sally. It's always easiest to hunt a wolf just after they've eaten."
Murmurs of agreement rang through the men of the crowd, heads nodding and bobbing while a few snickered as they recalled a few hunting trips of their own. With a sniff of her own, Kagome pursed her lips before speaking up her next question. "And in those 15 minutes, my client made no stops did he? You kept the chase up until you caught him, correct?"
A pleased, and somewhat dark, smirk twisted Wilford's face. "Correct. Always easiest to just push a well fed wolf to get the job done fast."
Nodding her head, Kagome could agree with that as it was basic logic for hunting any creature. "I see." she moved to Wolf and raised his hands ignoring the curious looks she was once again receiving. "Then can you explain to me, how there is no blood on him? Anywhere?"
Wilford sputtered for a bit at her smirk, Wolf huffed and panted quietly behind her, mimicking her words with a smug air. A scowl once again twisted on Wilford's face as a few of the villagers began to softly ask that question themselves.
"He washed the blood off his hands. Probably licked it clean himself." His answer garnered supporting responses from the rest of the Peep family.
Releasing Wolf's cuffs Kagome stepped forward towards Wilford with a obvious expression of confusion. "Washed it away? So while he was being chased he stopped by a source of water and washed himself clean?"
"Yes!" Wilford let out a frustrated snarl that only a truly enraged man could pull off.
Turning to face Wolf, she flicked her hand to indicate that he raise his own once again. "But I see no signs that he stopped to wash his hands, his sleeves are dry. You yourself said you chased him straight from where your first saw him over Sally Peep until you caught him, making it impossible for him to have stopped to clean himself in those 15 minutes that you chased him. In fact, he looks remarkably clean for one that had committed bloody murder." murmurs once again broke out among the villagers as some began to see the truth in her words.
Virginia raised a brow as she watched the entire proceedings from a balcony that oversaw the entire courtroom. Wow, Kagome was, she was... Wow. For someone that didn't have any formal training in anything law related, Kagome sure was kicking butt and taking names. "I feel really embarrassed."
Tony turned to her with pinched brows, ignoring Wendell's side comments. "What? Why?"
"As we were discussing which of us should be down there to represent Wolf, the only example of experience that I could come up with was when I got you out of those parking tickets with that Polaroid." she shook her head with a half smirk as she watched Kagome continue to grill Wilford. "Kagome said she had had a class trip to a courtroom in the 5th grade where they held a mock trial, over a stolen cookie jar."
Wendell huffed from his spot between Tony and Virginia. "Well, there's no denying her skill, but there is much to question about her clientele."
Both Tony and Virginia looked down at the dog, Virginia feeling protective of her friend and more than a little glad that Pesha wasn't able to actually hear Wendell was still bashing about Wolf's heritage. "You should consider yourself lucky to have her as a friend. Imagine Kagome against you, trust me, it's a frightening concept. I've seen her get really mad only once, I still shiver from the memory of it."
Tony swallowed heavily as he also recalled the same memory, while also shifting in an unconscious move to check the family jewels. The man that had been with Kagome at that time was more than likely mentally scared, though he did deserve it for cheating on her. Virginia had spotted the first act, went to Tony and then the both of them witnessed it again, with a different woman than the one Virginia had seen. As much as it had hurt Virginia to break the news to her friend, she was glad she had in the end, it had been an awe inspiring scene to witness.
Finally Wilford left the witness stand with a smug look to rejoin his family, Kagome's expression was dark in comparison. Troubled was more like it. It was one the two of them were familiar with, Kagome had only worn that expression when she knew something was wrong but couldn't quite prove it.
"We gotta help her. Her questions were something that had Wilford squirming, but without any actual proof the man was able to walk without being able to further question him. Wendell let out a soft snort. "There is no way I'll be helping that... Wolf."
Tony pushed himself away from the banter, watching the proceedings below with only half of his attention. "You will unless you don't want to eat tonight."
A low whine came from Wendell, his head lolling to the side that looked like a much more physical alternative to rolling ones eyes. "Why?"
"Because I trust Kagome with my life." Virginia stated with a confidence that couldn't be shaken.
Tony smirked without looking at anyone. "Well, there's your reason. Kagome believes in Wolf, Virginia believes in Kagome and I believe in Virginia. So let's get going."
Virginia nodded her head at the questioning look Tony gave her before gently patting Pesha on the head, the boy didn't budge at once as he was far too interested in watching the trial that Kagome was fighting so fiercely for Wolf's sake. Watching Tony and Wendell leave, Virginia turned to back to pay attention to what was happening in the courtroom, perking when she saw there was a new witness on the stand.
"Now, Ms. Peep, what is it you that you do?" with a new witness, perhaps it was best to use a new tactic.
The young woman smiled primly from her spot and folded her hand atop the banister. "I'm a shepherdess."
Smiling, Kagome nodded her head. "Right. And you take your duties as a shepherdess seriously, do you not?"
"Of course, I couldn't call myself a shepherdess if I didn't." the girl looked completely affronted, becoming defensive at the mere idea that she was being called anything but dutiful.
"A point well made. Then explain to me, what were you and Sally Peep doing, away from your sheep, when we first entered the village?" blinking up at the girl.
The girl flustered for a moment before offering a very sweet smile. "Well, we became curious and decided to greet you. We don't get much for visitors, we are a small village after all."
Nodding her head, Kagome saw that as plausible. "I see, understandable. However, I have to admit, I didn't feel very welcome. In fact, Ms. Sally directed her... greeting directly towards my client. It was rather, provocative in its invitation."
The Peep family let out enraged roars, denying the slander on the poor girl. Kagome didn't like to speak ill of the dead, but she was trying to bring the truth about the horrible lies piled onto Wolf out into the open. So, if that meant revealing Sally's less than virtuous actions, then she would use them.
"They were not! Sally was a good girl!" the girl herself slammed her hands against the wood railing.
"Correct me if I'm wrong at any point. Sally Peep introduced herself and then began to compliment my client by remarking on how strong he looked. Which was then proceeded by remarking how 'if' her door wasn't locked he was free to come visit her at night to... how did she say it? Huff and puff to blow her clothes right off?" the girl's cheeks flushed a bright ruby red as she stammered and stuttered for words, the Peep family once again shouting denials, though there were a few twittering giggles buried beneath the loud and angry calls.
"No! No it wasn't like that at all. He wanted to... touch us girls... He wanted to show us his tail!" her cheeks were still flushed a bright red, though her words were less sure now even despite the villagers seemingly willing to back her up in quickly agreeing with her words or throwing their anger at Wolf for her accusations.
Shouting to be heard over the crowd, Kagome stared the witness down. "If I recall, it was you and Sally that had approached my client first, not the other way around. And once again, commenting on what was in his... trousers." she had witnessed the event before stepping forward to keep trouble from breaking out and thus them getting kicked out of the village.
A single voice cried out over the roar of the men that had the girl on the witness stand shrinking in embarrassment as her cheeks glowed ever brighter. "Clara Peep, you wouldn't dare!"
Brows shot up as her lips pursed, Kagome inhaled sharply through her nose and took a quick step back to get out of the line of fire. Seemed mommy dearest wasn't quiet so appreciative of Clara's inability to deny what the questioning had pointed out on how the girls truly acted with Wolf. If there was one thing she had learned while growing up, her Mama understood when she and her friends spoke of boys or their crushes on their favorite idols, but it was completely different to present ones self in such a manner as Sally had. It was simply inviting trouble for all involved and then some.
It took quite some time for the mother and daughter to quit their shouting across the room, the others also arguing amongst each other and then there was the Judge crying and calling out for order. Kagome was back at her original spot which was next to Wolf stuck in his own witness stand.
"Order! I'll have order in my court or I'll throw the whole lot of you into the stocks!" the Judge cried out over the unruly villagers, slamming his hand against the wood for added emphasis. A glare was swept across the entire room. "Now, it's come to truth that certain girls were not acting accordingly for their age and that the accused wolf may in fact be innocent of the crime against him. However I need to ask, were you the one responsible for the chicken massacre that took place earlier this morning?"
Kagome furrowed her brows, unaware there had been chickens involved with the death of Sally Peep. Unless... she had a sinking feeling in her stomach that she was about to learn something that may set back all her hard work in proving Wolf was innocent.
"Chickens? What chickens?" Wolf perked up, drumming his fingers along the the wood banister as he tried to play it innocent.
The Judge leaned forward. "I ask because this was found inside the chicken coop and it matches your shirt." a piece of worn red fabric was present to the courtroom, a few feathers stuck to it. One even drifted slowly to the floor and Kagome was sure those that weren't appalled by the news were following the trail of the feather as she was herself.
It was quiet for quite some time before Wolf let out a shockingly loud gasp before answering. "Oh the chickens! Yes, yes I killed those chickens."
Kagome turned slowly in her seat, her eyes falling on Wolf in disbelief, though she did catch an equally stunned expression on Virginia's face. Why was she just hearing about those chickens now? Though now that she thought about it, Wolf had been gone by the time they had woken up earlier that morning.
"Oh, and why didn't you confess to that crime?" the Judge pulled the scrap of fabric back as he reclined back into his seat.
"Because I didn't think this was about a few chickens. Besides, if I admitted to eating those chickens, you would think it hurt that girl. But I never touched her!" he nearly fumbled as he adamantly continued to cry innocent of Sally's murder.
It took a while and slowly, but the villagers were once again crying out for blood. It wasn't necessarily for Wolf's blood, which Kagome figured was an improvement, but they were apparently still needing something. Perhaps it was due to their rather docile and tamed lives?
The Judge pursed his lips as he stared Wolf down, weighing his decision before waving a hand and waved a few people forward. "Well, it was an interesting case. The jury will now judge the accused of his innocence or not.
Kagome watched as one man stepped forward and began to work a door that kept the sheep penned in the jury stand, only to whip her head around to where one man had tacked up a sign that had 'Not Guilty' painted on it and could easily assume that the other was for 'Guilty'. Moving from one ailse to the next, her anger boiled in her stomach when she saw that the one for 'Guilty' had a pile of food at the end. "I object! There's food at the end of this one, which is bribing the jury!"
Her words went unheard, the villagers cheered as the sheep nearly trampled her as they ran towards 'Guilty' bleating merrily the entire way. As soon as the last sheep passed under the 'Guilty' sign, two of the younger Peep men eagerly hauled Wolf out of his stand out of the courtroom. Grabbing the damnable itchy wig, Kagome tossed it aside as well as ripping the robe off as she took off after the angry mob. It had all been going so well too, but the villagers need for blood overrode their common sense.
With her petite size, none had taken notice or regarded her as troubling, but the moment she managed to catch up to the two that had Wolf, she began fighting to pry them off of him. She had been mere inches away from actually biting down on one of them when two sets of hands ripped her back. Her behavior wasn't exactly conduct that she usually exhibited, but she was getting to that point. Seriously, burning people alive? How dark ages could these people get.
"No, stop!" she attempted to kick out at one of her captures. A cry escaped her when a man muttered something along the lines of 'caught a feisty one' and what felt like someone copping a feel.
Wolf was struggling against the men as they hauled him up onto the stake and just as quickly bound him to it. The entire time Wolf cried and whined, most specifically towards Kagome and how he was thankful for her efforts in trying to save her or for her to remember him, well, the best of him. Kagome continued to struggle while asking the people around her to see some sense. During her struggles, she caught sight of Virginia holding onto a panicked Pesha.
"Pesha... Turn away, cover your eyes!" she pulled on her arms in an attempt of jerking them free to no avail. Her brows angled downwards at the distressed look that Pesha wore. Her heart went out to him, he had just recently lived through the loss of his family, he didn't need to witness this as well.
The Judge approached with a lit torch, the men done with Wolf jumped from the stake and joined with the rest of their family. The man wore a rather down face, as if he wasn't truly pleased with what he was about to do, but the people needed to calm down before chaos broke out among them. His frown deepened when Wilford approached the Judge, growing more upset at what the man then said.
"As Sally's grandfather, I should have the right to burn him." he presented a hand, waiting expectantly for the torch to be handed over.
The Judge simply stared the man down. "I have to disagree. Were the wolf found guilty without reasonable doubt I would have given you that honor, but the young lady pointed out some very important facts that cannot be ignored. Sadly, someone needs to pay for the crime." he pulled the torch away from Wilford so he could turn to face where Wolf stood atop the pile of tinder and wood and approach.
Kagome let out a desperate cry, sagging to a point that those that held here were her only support at the moment. She felt like breaking down then and there, her emotions were raw. It had been so long since she had to face the fact of mortality and how frail life really was. So deep in her thoughts, darker memories of the past that she barely heard Tony crying out for them to stop as he ran.
Lifting her head she watched as Tony managed to push his way through the crowd. "Wait, he didn't do it. He didn't do it!" he made his way to where the Judge stood and just barely stopped the torch from reaching the wood.
"What are you doing? I have to go through with the sentencing here!" the Judge struggled for the torch that Tony kept in his grip.
Wilford then stepped in, fighting and struggling to bring the torch back to the pile against both the Judge and Tony. "The wolf is going to burn for what he did to our Sally!"
"He didn't..." Tony managed to wrench to torch from the others. "... do it!" tossing the torch to the side and away from the wood and people. "Wolf didn't kill Sally Peep, and I can prove it!"
A hush fell over the villagers and Kagome pulled herself up to stand her full height. "The Peep family have been cheating all of you for years! How do you think they've been able to win the competitions year after year!" at this said family broke out in denials and angry shouts while the rest of the villagers broke into whispering amongst each other.
In their distraction, Kagome managed to break free of their hold, moving away from them before she end up in their clutches. Watching Tony heavily, she listened keenly to what he had to say, the other villagers included.
"When Sally lost the competition, she went back and destroyed your well, didn't she Wilford. And when you saw what she had done, you followed her up into the field and killed her, didn't you?" Tony was talking rather passionately, disregarding the rest of the villagers as he went one on one with Wilford.
At first, Wilford looked shocked, and it had been for but a second, before he screwed up his face and denied the accusations. "What are you talkin' about. We don't have no magic well!"
With a frustrated huff, Tony turned to the villagers. "Why do you think, they've won the competition year after year. Why do you think, their food always tastes so much better than yours."
As the Peeps and Wilford denied Tony's words, a single woman stepped forward in righteous fury, stomping her way to Wilford. "I believe him! I believe him! You Peeps have cheated us for too long!"
"What... Where's your proof?" head tilted up minutely, Wilford stared the woman down.
Tony threw Kagome a sly grin, waggled his brows before turning back to face Wilford. "Wilford, where's your jacket, the one you were wearing earlier this morning?"
When no immediate reply was given, Tony brought a hand up to his lips and gave a sharp whistle. Everyone looked around, but when Wendell came trotting in, a familiar jacket in his mouth with a large suspicious stain sullying it. Crouching down, Tony pulled it from Wendell and held it all to see, more specifically the large stain. "Sally wasn't calling out wolf, it was your name. 'Wilf! Wilf!"
Wilford stood there in shook, his form shaking"...the dirty little vixen, she destroyed us."
At first the whole square was shocked into silence at Wilford's words and confession of the truth, even Kagome couldn't believe that he would kill his own granddaughter because of a magic well. And then, the woman that was in charge of the tavern stepped forward, skirts held in shaking fists as she approached Wilford. "You, killed our Sally? I'm gonna kill you!"
The moment she pounced to attack Wilford, the rest of the village turned on the Peep family. Accusations went flying this way and that, and with the distraction, Tony and Kagome jumped into freeing Wolf from the stake. As soon as the ropes fell, they made a hasty retreat to where Virginia and Pesha stood on the sidelines, well out of harms way that was the large village brawl in the village square. They snuck out of the village, but once they were clear, Wolf practically pranced and skipped around Kagome in his cheer of escaping death.
"Free, I'm free! How can I ever thank you enough?" his words were light and joyous, he was constantly shifting and moving about, unable to stay in play for long. "You saved my bacon!"
Smiling in amusement, Kagome sooth a still somewhat upset Pesha as he clung to her, sharing a look with Virginia. She dutifully ignored the waggled brows and obvious pointed look Virginia gave her and then Wolf, who was currently thanking even Wendell. Unknown to Wolf, Wendell made a few snide comments that had Virginia snickering and Kagome leveling him with a glare.
"And you, my dear sweat Kagome. What a courtroom drama!" his hands waved about in the air with a flourish to emphasize to his words.
Chuckling softly, Kagome shook her head in good humor. "And how are you feeling? You look better."
"Oh, so much better. Though I'll have to admit, I don't remember much. There was a moment where you all laid down your lives for me, isn't there?"
She shook her head once again. "Not exactly... Next time you feel like eating an entire hen house, you can tell us." she nudged him gently. At the sight of his rather bashful expression as well as a light blush, she couldn't help but laugh lightly. A bashful Wolf, she didn't think there was such a thing. With a soft nod of her head, she indicated the barn that they were steadily approaching.
Bowing her head at the playful bow that Wolf gave her with a sweep of his hands, Kagome entered the barn with Pesha at her side. Waiting a few moments, her smile brightened when Wolf rushed to enter in after her, they all walked to where the others stood. Coming up from behind them, Kagome's smile dropped at the sight of their shocked faces. "What's wrong?"
Her question seemed to hit the restart button, Virginia was merely opening and closing her mouth as she stared ahead of her while Tony jumped forward with his hands outstretched and seemingly patting for something. "Where's the wagon? Where's our mirror?"
Her gaze instantly went from Virginia to where they had indeed hid the mirror in a wagon. Concern was washed away to make way for shock and disbelief. "It's... gone?" she took in the spot where the wagon had been to the large open door that lead to a well worn wagon path and away form the village.
"Oh, so you've come back!" all heads whipped about to face the owner of the barn, simply watching her secure that basket in her arms.
"What... where's our mirror?" Tony wildly indicated the spot where the wagon had stood previously.
The woman turned to the same spot for a moment, a bright smile on her face. "My son took some pigs to sell. He left, oh, about a few hours ago."
Virginia's shoulders slumped as she released a low and long suffering sigh. "Where to and how far?"
The woman shook her head. "That's not a trip you'll want to take by foot." with that said, she left them standing there as they stared at the empty space.
At the frustrated groan Virginia let out, Kagome pathetically patter her shoulder, but she felt just as cheated. All that hard work to look for it and then entering a contest to win it. And all for nothing. Poof. Gone. It didn't seem fair, or that there was something working against them from getting back home. It was rather frustrating really.
AN: And here's the latest update! When you have twin 6 year old cousins that want to dig through your nail polish collection, you tend to get distracted. A lot. And this sudden heatwave is giving me such a headache... arg. Anyways, I hope everyone enjoyed this update and I hope to get the next on up just as soon, if not quicker. Read, enjoy, and review!