Chapter Ten

"You are Rin, right?" Haruna asked the girl standing behind Kaede. She was wearing a beautiful kimono, it contrasted with Kaede's clean but obviously old red and white priestess robes.

"I am. When Sesshomaru-sama saved us you fainted, I was afraid you would die. I asked Sesshomaru to help you and he took you to the nearest village. I'm so glad to see you are alright!"

"Thank you, and me too! To see you're okay I mean." They smiled at each other.

"So this is the woman you've talked about Rin," Kaede said, "welcome to our village. Well, I suppose here in the middle of the street isn't the best place to discuss matters. Will you all please follow me to my hut?"

"Ah, alright," Haruna responded.

"I owe you no explanation," Sesshomaru told Kaede. Kaede stared at him blankly for a second, already having plenty of experience with Sesshomaru's personality and turned to Haruna.

"But you will clear things up for us, won't you Haruna-san?" she asked. Haruna nodded.

"I think this could concern us all," she told Kaede. She inconspicuously tried to look at Sesshomaru wondering if he'd get upset since he wasn't prepared to explain the matter himself, but he showed no sign of annoyance.

"Seems you're not needed, Sesshomaru," Inuyasha said with a grin.

"Owh you, Inuyasha, why are you always looking for a fight," Kagome sighed annoyed.

"It's that smug look of his, he looks too full of himself ever since he got bakusaiga," Inuyasha retorted.

"Don't test my patience, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru was glaring at his younger half brother.

"Yeah? Well I'll be happy to take you on anyday!" Inuyasha said grabbing hold of his tessaiga and pulling an enlarged blade out. Haruna raised her eyebrows. The sword that had seemed regular inside its sheath was now huge! He held it high above his head, ready to jump forward to his brother.

"Inuyasha... sit."

A light shone around the beads of his necklace and he crashed to the ground.

"Uhm, is that okay?" Haruna asked insecure and looked from Kagome to Inuyasha. She realized Inuyasha had a spell on him by now that reacted to a key word.

"Owh he'll survive, he should have gotten used to it by now," Kaede replied. She, Rin and Kagome were already starting down the path to her hut.

"I'll never get used to this," moaned Inuyasha with his face in the dirt.

"Serves your right!" Jaken called out as he passed Inuyasha who lay flat on his belly.

Once they were inside of Kaede's hut, Sesshomaru stood outside of the door but within hearing reach of what was said. Rin was outside tending to her garden, momentarily distracted by a monarch butterfly landing on a bed of flowers close to Kaede's house. She had learnt from the half-demon Jinenji how to attend to plants and gathered seeds of various types of flowers. Rin goes into the wilderness close to the village to collect them, or whenever she could when she was travelling with Sesshomaru. She planted them all around Kaede's house, which was now possibly the most colorful hut in the entire region. Sesshomaru didn't care for flowers, but he did care for Rin's feelings. "Flowers make people happy!" she had said when Jaken once inquired why she'd go through so much trouble to grow them. She hoped she could grow a hundred different ones. Jaken was inside Kaede's hut, sitting close to the door and Sesshomaru, who looked at Haruna and Inuyasha's company from the corner of his eyes. They were waiting for Sango, Miroku and Shippo to arrive.

"So where do you come from?" Inuyasha asked Haruna. He was sitting with crossed legs, arms folded and his sword rested against his shoulder.

"From Yamanakako, near mount Fuji," she replied.

"Mount Fuji? It takes a long time to get there from here," Kaede said, "and you're a priestess? Yes, I can sense you have the gift of purification."

"I got that from my mother I believe," she answered. Involuntarily she fumbled with her kimono sleeve. Kagome noticed.

"Did something happen to your mother, Haruna?" she asked softly.

"She passed away during a mission for the Order, her body was never returned to me. I had already lost my father when I was very little, my mother was the only relative I still had. I have very few memories of my father, but my mother and I used to spend a lot of time together when she was home, in the temple that is. I was seven when she died."

"That must've been hard on you to loose your mother," Kagome replied.

"Yes of course, but... everyone has a story to tell, everyone suffers from some form of pain. Losing your parents is nothing special in this era. I try to commemorate my parents by thinking of the good memories we shared. My mother would've wanted me to live with my chin high, without fears or regrets. Besides, I wasn't alone, there were people to take care of me."

"It sounds like your mother was a good person," Kagome told her. Something about her seemed a little melancholic as well.

'Perhaps she thinks of her mother too.'

"You asked us to come?" It was Sango's voice. She stepped into Kaede's hut followed by Miroku and Shippo.

"So Sesshomaru-sama is here as well," Miroku stated, "it must mean something is going on."

"Yes Miroku-sama! Please sit down so everyone can be informed," Myouga told him from Inuyasha's shoulder.

"And who's this beautiful lady?" Miroku asked out loud.

"That's Haruna, she's come with Sesshomaru and she saved Rin's life in the past," Kaede answered. He knelt down and grabbed hold of her hand and stared earnestly into her eyes.

"I'm Miroku, pleased to meet you! A friend of Rin is a friend of mine too. Hopefully we can get to know each other..."

Haruna was a little startled and smiled uncomfortably, this Miroku was intense! In the meantime the atmosphere around Sango turned electric and chilly. She fiercely grabbed him by his earlobe.

"Now, now Miroku dear, isn't this a little too much for an introduction?" She pulled him away from Haruna.

"At least he didn't ask her to bear his children," Kagome whispered to Inuyasha and Shippo.

"More children? He already has three!" Shippo whispered back.

"Don't mind my husband please. My name is Sango," she said while sitting down next to Haruna. She gave her a genuine smile. Haruna was happy Sango wasn't angry with her.

"Well, let's get started. Haruna, explain what you and Sesshomaru are after. It seemed serious," Kaede told her. And so Haruna began to talk. She explained that they had crossed upon a demon village and what bloodbath they had seen there. She told them about the old woman mentioning the Ino no Taisho, a seal, Sa'keeth and the Order. She showed them the scroll she had in her possession. Lastly she described the strange black puddle that she had purified.

"So there's a powerful enemy out there...one or more..." Inuyasha said.

"It seems that way, it's best you all keep on the lookout," Haruna replied seriously.

"We will indeed, thank you," Kaede said, "so this seal has something to do with your father Inuyasha and with a special order of priests. I have heard stories about a school for priests and priestesses on the base of mount Fuji, but never about an Order."

"I'm not surprised, they're not unlike other priests apart that they devote themselves to exclusive causes in secret. They don't share their knowledge and few know about their activities besides the normal duties of a priest. Frankly, even I don't know everything..."

"What are you going to do now? Look for someone of your Order?" Kagome asked.

"I guess I'll have to if we want to find out the true implications of all this..." she sighed.

"If you need help, let us know. In the meantime we'll make sure everyone here is save," Inuyasha said to Haruna. For a moment he also eyed his brother standing close to the door opening. Kagome smiled softly. She understood that with that look he meant to say to Sesshomaru that he'd protect Rin in Sesshomaru's absence. Everyone knew that without question, but that little gesture meant that somewhere Inuyasha did care for Sesshomaru's thoughts. She hadn't lost hope that in the future the two brothers would start to get along... perhaps even like each other. She sighed in thought. No, maybe that was still too much to ask...

Rin walked into the hut and sat down next to Kagome.

"We need to leave soon," Sesshomaru spoke. It was the first time he had said something. Normally he would've taken off if he wanted to, but he realized to his irritation that he needed this human woman to help him understand his father's affairs. It quite hit a sensitive snare.

"Please stay for the night!" it was Rin this time.

"Hnn..." Sesshomaru replied.

"Would you like to stay tonight, Haruna?" Rin asked turning to the older girl.

"Yes, I would. I would also like to take some time to check out this village's merchandise. I need a new rosary and paper for sutra charms..."

"Well, then you should get proper clothing too! You're a miko, but you don't look like one. You should be proud of your profession!" Kaede told her and chuckled.

"Heh... I suppose you're right," Haruna replied with a timid smile.

"Have no fears or regrets, to be a priestess is hard but also gratifying," Kaede told her with a warm smile, reminding Haruna of what she had told them earlier about her mother. Haruna nodded.

'I should be true to myself. Despite the fact I turned my back on the Order, that doesn't change I'm a miko. There is no need to hide.'

Kaede was old but her eyes never betrayed her. Being the sister of Lady Kikyo, she too possessed strong spiritual powers, though not as grand as her late sister. She was able to read people from their movements and expressions and it was as though she could see in their hearts. In that moment Haruna straightened her back a little as though part of a weight had been lifted. A light within was shining slightly brighter. Kaede realized that Haruna was subconsciously suppressing her skills with her emotions, but no one could help Haruna. If she thought it beneficial for the girl she would. But with these kind of issues, to become stronger Haruna would have to deal with her inner demons herself.

Haruna spent the rest of the day with Kagome, Sango and Rin while they looked after Sango's children: twin sisters of four years old and a boy of about two years. They talked and she began to quite like these women. She found out they had met on a quest to kill the giant spider demon Naraku. Stories of Naraku drifted to the temple where Haruna used to live as well. She heard he was big enough to block the sun from shining on the land and that the fumes he emitted killed all life that came in touch with it. She knew this was true: the miasma dispersed on the wind but small concentrations of poison in the air were registered by the priests around that time, already five years ago.

"I admire you for your courage, Kagome and Sango. I do find it hard to believe you're from the future though, Kagome..."

"Well, I can prove it," Kagome said triumphantly.

"Ehh? How? The well doesn't work anymore Kagome..." Sango replied.

"I still have two or three cup-ramen packages," she said grinning.
"How can you still be able to eat that? It's been two years since you returned!" Sango asked increduously.

"In the future food is sealed in a special way that preserves it... If I remember correctly it expires by the end of this year. It should still be edible..."

"What is cup-ramen?" Haruna asked.

"It's a type of soup, with noodles. Shippo and Inuyasha love it. I kept a secret stack for myself to enjoy from time to time, but I'll let you try. Be right back!" she got up and hurried to her own house. Haruna couldn't think how soup could prove someone came from the future, but was curious what Kagome was going to bring back.

"I'll boil some water then," Sango sighed.

Half an hour later the cup-ramen was ready. Kagome handed the hysterically colored cup to her. What strange material it was made from... solid, smooth and quite flexible at the same time. The inside was perfectly white. It smelled spicy. She brought it to her lips and took a sip.

"Ahh, I forgot to ask, you like chili I hope? This is extra spicy..."

Kagome sure wasn't lying. The soup was hot already but the chili made it worse, her tongue burned.

"I guess it's nicer if you just eat the noodles," Kagome giggled. Haruna tried the stringy food and was pleasantly surprised by their taste.

"Hey... this isn't all that bad Kagome! So you eat this in the future all the time?"

"Hmm well, it's more like a snack than a meal."

"Maybe I should ask Sesshomaru if he wants to try..." she mumbled.

"Sesshomaru?" Sango exclaimed looking at her as if she said something crazy.

"Sesshomaru-sama doesn't like to eat human food," Rin told her.

"Ah well, never mind then."

Sango and Kagome shared a look.

"Sooo... what's he like? Sesshomaru... To be honest, we're all surprised to see you came with him. He usually doesn't like company," Kagome told Haruna while she wrapped her arms around her legs.
"Oh, is that so?" Haruna asked chuckling, "I notice he's not very talkative... He's not nice in the regular sense of the word, like people who are outrovert or warm towards others, but he didn't turn me away either and he seems to respect me in his silence, yeah, so I guess I do think he's nice."

Rin smiled. "Yes, Sesshomaru-sama is more kind than meets the eye!"

"He did change the past few years since we first met him... didn't he Kagome?" Sango mumbled. Kagome nodded in return.

The rest of the day Haruna explored the village and bought some things she would need for travelling. She got a pouch from Sango made of demon leather and thus very durable in which she could keep medicinal herbs she bought from Kaede. She got herself a straw hat and a new pair of shoes, and through Miroku (under Sango's watchful eye) obtained a rosary and paper for sutra charms. She filled her inkwell and finally bought dried rice and vegetables from the farmers. Kagome gave her a pair of red hakama pants and white kimono top so she could dress like a priestess. The next day she was all set. She had slept in Kaede's house while Sesshomaru and Jaken where somewhere in the wild, not too far away she assumed. They were waiting for her in the morning anyway.
"Come out, or we're leaving without you!" she heard Jaken from outside Kaede's hut. She was just enjoying some fruit as breakfast.

"Be there in a minute, Jaken-san!" she yelled back at him. She had a good sleep and felt refreshed. It was a good day to set out traveling again.

"This is goodbye, Kaede. Thank you so much for welcoming me in your village, I'm sure I'll return." She gave the older woman a short bow to show her respect.

"You'll be more than welcome," Kaede replied.

Haruna stepped out into the morning light and saw Jaken sitting on Ah-Un while Sesshomaru stood closeby. Haruna stretched her arms and legs.
"Goodmorning!" she said to them and climbed behind Jaken on Ah-Un.

"Let's go to Yamanakako. Mount Fuji is south-west from here," Haruna said to Sesshomaru and Jaken. Kaede was standing outside with Rin waving goodbye. Ah-Un jumped up and started flying higher, going after Sesshomaru. Kaede's village was getting smaller and smaller under them. In front of them the wilderness stretched out and in the distance they could make out peaks of several mountains. Little did they know someone else was watching their departure other than Kaede and Rin. A black smoky hand rested on a tree trunk as a pair of eyes peered into the sky, then the creature backed down and melted with the shadows...

A/N: Sorry for not having updated in a while! I've been busy. I'm going on a short holiday, so you can expect next chapter to be up next week. This chapter wasn't the most exciting, but hope you enjoyed anyway ^_^
I also received some wonderful reviews, thanks for that! Knowing others enjoy your writing makes it all the more worthwhile.
Til' next time, Demiyah ~