~Chapter 10: What is Truth~
Hey all! The results from Chapter 8's references will be at the bottom.

"Sango, it's been an hour. Where is this flea guy anyways?" Kagome questioned, placing both hands on her hips, "Isn't he supposed to be your friend or something? Don't you know where he lives?" It had been a relatively quiet journey, with Sango not really knowing what to say and Kagome clearly lost in her thoughts as she awaited to finally know what exactly happened and whether or not she had been lied to and deceived by Inuyasha. But it appeared her patience was running a bit thin now, which was because, of course, she was worried that Inuyasha would be out there hunting down Kikyo while she was chasing some maybe-truth.

Sango bit her lip, knowing full well that Myoga just kind of showed up rather than stayed in some residence until the gang came to get him. If she was being honest, this was the first time she ever sought him out without Inuyasha, and was not completely sure where he really was. They've stayed relatively close to Kaede's village, where he spent a lot of his time, but had no luck in finding him.

"Myoga... well he doesn't stick around with us all the time..." The slayer replied, "He's a bit of a coward, and we get in a lot of danger which doesn't mix very well. So he runs away a lot."

"Coward, huh?" She scoffed, "What's the deal with him anyways? How do you all know such an old flea?"

I'm not exactly the best person to give background on Myoga... To be honest, I've never taken much of an interest in his life and past. He's just always been that annoying bug that sucks our blood. Sango thought, scratching her head a bit as she tried to come up with something. But... I think I've heard enough bits and pieces to put together some sort of background on that guy.

"Well, he served Inuyasha's father until he died, and now serves Inuyasha. I know that he was assigned the to protect the secret of Inu no Tasho's grave, up until Sesshomaru figured it out and everything..." She paused, glancing over at Kagome to see how her story was faring. The priestess just nodded along, processing the information with her lips lightly parted in anticipation, "And now, he roams and comes around to give information to Inuyasha. But of course, he flees when it gets too dangerous, the little coward." Sango's brows furrowed as she thought of the demon, remembering how he always managed to disappear when things got tough.

And well, things are a little tough right now, aren't they? The slayer snickered to herself as they continued to wander about aimlessly. But that's when it hit her. Myoga hated danger, and always stayed a safe distance from it until the coast was clear. He never seemed to stray so far though. In fact, he was almost always close to Inuyasha and the gang, hidden and watching. So, maybe, just maybe, he was right under their noses right now.

"Hey, Kagome..." The slayer continued, pausing in their walking and looking around the area, scanning everything carefully, as carefully as she could to see if she could catch a glance of the little bugger hidden within the scenery, "Like I said, Myoga steers clear of danger. And the last time we saw him, we told him you'd been resurrected and attacked Inuyasha in the forest surrounding Mt. Mujitsu. Maybe we haven't found him yet because he thinks you're dangerous. I mean, we haven't seen him at all since you visited the well at all, so all he knows is that you want Inuyasha dead." A smirk appeared on the girl's face, knowing all too well that the flea will stay close enough to see the danger but far enough to stay safe.

"Oh? He's scared of me?" Kagome scratched her head, ruffling up her black locks a bit and pouting as she realized that if it were true, his fear may complicate the mission, "So, how are we gonna get to him, then?"

"Call him." Sango's grin widened. He was probably too far to hear their conversations and didn't know that Kagome had no plans of hurting him, but if she shouted loud enough and he was around, his old ears would get the message, "Tell him we need information and that you won't hurt him."

Cocking an eyebrow, the priestess only nodded in response, looking a tad suspicious as her eyes wandered curiously around them. They were wandering on a trail in an empty valley, with nothing but a few trees and shrubbery to conceal this little bug. She sensed a small, weak demonic energy nearby. In fact, she had sensed a few demons during this journey, which wasn't odd considering they were walking around the wild, and weak, harmless demons roamed just about everywhere. But she was skeptical that one of those energies could be who they were looking for, following behind them at a safe distance.

She took in a deep breath, now glancing over to where this demonic energy was coming from, noticing that the source was somewhere near a small bush located several yards behind them. "Myoga! It's Kagome!" She began shouting out, "I'm not going to hurt you, but we need to talk! Come out, please!" She sighed, staring off, her gaze narrowed and intense with the burnt umber brightening with curiosity. She paused, lips parting as she analyzed the the little bush, it's small green leaves shifting around in the wind so she couldn't tell if there was anything moving inside.

A few seconds passed like clouds in the sky, so slow and untouchable. The priestess continued to peer over at the bush, almost ready to turn back to the slayer and announce the plan had failed. At this point, she was just about ready to give up and handle Inuyasha herself with the knowledge she did have on the situation. She knew that the longer she took, the more danger Kikyo may be in. If by chance, the hanyou was in fact an evil liar, than that meant she couldn't trust anything she thought she knew about him, which meant that, while she didn't peg him as the type to kill Kikyo for talking, she couldn't rule it out. Not completely. And if, while she was on this tedious adventure with Sango, he did manage to re-kill that poor soul, Kagome was not so sure she would be able to forgive herself. Especially since she was ever so aware of the risk.

"Nothing. It doesn't look like this Myoga fellow is even around here." The priestess asserted after a few more seconds of waiting. However, as she began to turn to the slayer, she felt the demonic energy shift quickly, hopping about behind her until she looked and found a small creature perked on Sango's shoulder. Her eyes widened as she leaned in to see better, noticing it was a small flea in clothes, his wide, circular eyes staring back with hesitance.

"Huh. I knew you would be around here, Myoga. Keeping an eye on us from a safe distance, of course." Sango grinned, feeling accomplished as she watched Kagome gawk at the little guy.

"W-Well, of course." He replied, still shivering under the priestess's stare, "When I saw Kagome attack Inuyasha at the village, I decided to keep an eye on her."

"Yeah, right. You thought Inuyasha was too dangerous to hang around, so you stayed neared us because you were scared." She scoffed, "As usual, you've proven to be nothing but a coward. But, it worked out this time since we need some information from you."

"So, you mean, Kagome really won't hurt me?" He questioned, looking as though he was ready to just run away again in case.

"Of course not." Kagome replied, backing away to give him space, "Trust me, you're safe."

"Well, in that case, it is quite wonderful to see you again." He nodded in her direction, "You have grown into quite the beautiful woman."

"So I guess you knew me, too, huh?" She cocked her eyebrow, "I'd say that it's nice to see you, too, but I wouldn't really know. Though, you seem like a nice little fellow. Tell me, what's your take on Inuyasha, then? Hero? Villain?"

"Somewhere in between, I'd say. Though after meeting you, I'd say he leans more towards a hero." Myoga shrugged, "Although, based on your last interaction, I can assume you don't hold the same view."

"No, I can't say I do. I've been told he murdered a priestess named Kikyo." She replied, her tone more serious as she narrowed her gaze and awaited his response.

"Kikyo, you say? Well, whoever told you that is either just wrong, or wants too see him dead." The little flea furrowed his brows as he tried to think of who might have said such a thing. The main suspect was, of course, Naraku. He wondered if maybe he had gotten to her first and told her this lie with hopes that it would motivate her to kill Inuyasha. But, last he knew, Kikyo was traveling with the pack, so wouldn't she have been able to straighten it out? "Who said such a thing, anyways?" He asked curiously.

"It was Kikyo herself. So, excuse me if I'm a little reluctant to take anyone else's word over her's." Kagome watched as his face twisted into that of shock, "But, I've been told that there is someone out there who can clear this up, a demon named Unmei."

"Have you ever heard of her, Myoga?" Sango asked, picking him up and placing him on the palm of her hands to get a better look.

"Unmei, you say? Why, yes I have, but not in a while though." He answered, thinking hard as he recalled her, "She is, if I'm not mistaken, the demon of vision. Based on what I gathered, you want Unmei to use her powers to show exactly what happened the day Kikyo was killed... Clever idea, no doubt. Although, she can be quite difficult... Quite the eccentric old soul. Yes, an odd woman no doubt. Not exactly someone you want to spend quality time with..."

"Myoga, focus." The slayer asserted, "We need to know where to find her."

He shook his head, "Right, where to find her... Well, last I knew, there was a small island in the middle of a dark and dreary swamp. She built a little hut there where she lives her lonely life, spending her time watching over the battle between joy and destruction. If I remember correctly, that swamp lies east from here, in wolf demon territory. Thousands of years ago, she saved the tribe from a terrible fate, and the leader promised to protect her hut from anyone who sought her. However, as the generations passed, she was forgotten, especially given that she could hide her aura quite well. Though, I don't think she minded very much. I wouldn't doubt that she was still there."

"East... near a wolf demon tribe..." Sango bit her lip before looking up nervously at Kagome, then back at the flea, stress lines appearing on her forehead as she processed everything, "You... you don't mean Koga's tribe, do you?"

Myoga thought for a moment, having forgotten all about the wolf demon that had caused Inuyasha so much grief. Then, he reluctantly nodded, "Yes. Yes, it is actually. Perhaps he will aid you in your journey."

"That's great then!" Kagome exclaimed, completely clueless as to who Koga was, "If this Koga is a friend of yours and part of the tribe, he'll probably know where the swamp is since its in his territory."

"Yeah..." Sango sighed, not really feeling the same way. If he finds out what happened to Kagome, he'll probably want Inuyasha dead, too. Not to mention, I'm gonna have to deal with his annoying displays of affection the whole time. I wouldn't doubt he'll try to convince Kagome that they were lovers or something. This is so inconvenient. She could feel her insides practically scoffing at the thought of having to be alone with Kagome and Kouga. While the former didn't bother her, she knew she might just puke because of the latter. It took all of her effort not to roll her eyes at the thought. She could just hear his voice declaring his love already.

"You don't sound so convinced." The woman said, easily tuning into the slayer's irritated mood, "Is Koga not really a friend?"

"No, it's not that... it's just..." She bit her lip, wanting to phrase this as best as she could, "Well, he cared a lot about you, a little too much honestly. But you see, you wanted to travel with us and Inuyasha. So, there was an expectation that Inuyasha would keep you safe, but if he found out you died, he'd most likely try to blame and then kill Inuyasha. So, it'd probably be best not to mention that part."

"Huh? Well what am I supposed to say then? If he knew me, I'm sure he'll be wondering what the hell happened." The priestess cocked an eyebrow, slightly understanding these weird circumstances. Sure, she didn't have to mention that she died, but what else could she come up with to explain why she looks older and can't remember a damn thing about her past?

"Uhh... well I don't know. You can still talk about your training and all, except it was all voluntary of course." The slayer placed a calculating finger on her chin, tapping away as she cooked up a plan, "Oh! Well, why don't you say that while training, you used too much of your spiritual energy and passed out, and you haven't been able to remember a thing since. I'm sure he'll accept something like that, especially seeing how strong you are." She internally clapped as she conjured up the lie, "I'll even do the talking on that part if you don't want. You just have to play along. Then, he'll definitely help us. We can also say we need Unmei to help you finish your training."

Taking all of it in, Kagome looked down, her gaze grazing the long blades of grass that caressed her calves as the winds moved them. But she looked back at the slayer, straightened her back and nodded, "Listen Sango, if you need me to play a part, I'm your girl. Anything to just end this whole thing."

"Well, off you both go, huh?" Myoga interrupted, scratching his head nervously.

"You mean you're not coming with us?" Kagome questioned.

"I've got things to take care of. My own little missions, yada, yada."

"What he really means is he doesn't want to get mixed up in the wolf demon tribe. Little coward." Sango pursed her lips in attitude as the little bug hopped off her shoulder and down to the ground. The two women watched him hop around for a bit before he turned back again to face them.

"Not a coward! Just, uh... busy!" He claimed before rushing off into the distance, his small body lost among the scenery as he disappeared from sight. The priestess giggled inwardly at the little flea's retreat. Sango had said he was a coward, but it was still humorous the way he ran off. She wondered how many times he had done this while she was traveling with everyone, and if she found it as funny as she did now. She hoped she did. She hoped she found it frustrating and funny at the same time. Finding the humor in things every once and a while was something she had learned to do to stay sane, but Kagome hoped that in her previous life, she never had to have learned it like a harsh lesson. She hoped the old Kagome had always found the humor in life.

The slayer noticed the small smirk on the priestess's face as she watched the old flea run off to who knows where, and began to smile, too.

"So, we should get going then. It'll be easy to get to the wolf demon tribe, especially if we use Kirara." Sango placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder to bring her back to reality, and she turned her head to meet the other woman's gaze.

"Kirara... that's the nekomata you travel with?" Kagome asked, remembering the small and adorable two-tailed cat demon that traveled with Sango. She was aware that nekomatas generally had the ability to grow in size and fly, so she didn't have to ask how a nekomata would be able to quickly get them to this wolf tribe. Sango nodded in response, pleased to see that Kagome was able to identify Kirara's heritage and did not seem off-put by it. Some people find nekomatas as bringers of calamity, almost like bad luck or evil creatures. But it didn't seem as though Kagome had much of a problem with hanging out with one, just as the old Kagome had.

"She stayed back at Kaede's hut to rest while waiting for us, since I didn't plan on using her to find Myoga." The slayer explained, now beginning to walk back in the direction of the village, with the priestess quickly following suit.

"Well, I guess we're on another adventure." Kagome explained, catching up and walking alongside Sango. The two seemed to walk the exact same, with the same glint of determination in their dark eyes. Strong, confident, and prepared to take on anything. And they didn't even realize the similarities.


Inuyasha huffed as he walked through the outskirts of the village, realizing that Kagome was not there. He was not sure if he should be glad or upset, but all he knew was that he needed to figure out a way to convince the woman that he was innocent. And since she hadn't come after him, he had been somewhat hoping that she had calmed down enough to talk it out before she ripped him apart. But, she wasn't around. In fact, from the scent, she had left less than an hour ago, meaning she must have stayed for a bit before leaving. And since he didn't smell any blood, it meant she hadn't gotten into any more fights since he left searching for Kikyo.

Kaede must have calmed her down enough to talk to her for a while. He thought as he looked around. Which means that old hag probably has some idea of where Kagome went. While on his way back from his unfortunate encounter with Kikyo, the hanyou had thought a lot about what his next step should be. While he hadn't originally decided to return to the village, he knew that, if he could get her to fucking listen he could convince her not to kill him. He knew her all too well to know that she didn't want to kill, so he knew he needed to give her a good reason not to until everything got cleared up. That's right. He didn't have to convince her completely that he was innocent. He just needed to convince her to give him time to prove it.

"The beads." He mumbled to himself, his clawed hand reaching up towards the necklace that he had hated with all of his might for such a long time, "If I show her she's got a way of stopping me from doing all the evil shit she thinks I might do, she won't have a reason to see me as an eminent threat to anyone's life. I'll tell her about the beads of subjugation so she can feel confident that she can just 'sit' me if I'm out of line."

Originally, he had hated himself for even thinking of it. Giving this new, aggressive Kagome the power to subdue him whenever she wanted? He almost pegged himself for a masochist. But as he walked, back straight and golden eyes narrowed, he knew it was the only way. And he would take a million sits just to have her trust him again.

His face was stoic as he approached Kaede's hut, not concerned about anything else around him. His hands remained on the beads around his neck, rolling them around between his fingers as he walked. While his appendages shifted around towards any loud conversations the villagers were having, he wasn't paying attention to any of them. He just tightened his jaw and hoped that his plan didn't backfire completely.

"Yo, Kaede!" He called out as he walked in. The older woman had been organizing her herbs, while Kirara rested, all curled up in the corner. When she looked over and saw the half-demon standing tall in front of her, her eyes widened in surprise.

"What brings ye back here so quickly?" She questioned, the lines in her face deepening with worry, "Are ye a fool or have ye a death wish?"

"Keh, shut it. I ain't here to die. I came back to talk to Kagome." He scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest in defense, "When that crazy wench ain't come after me, I figured she must have cooled down or something. So, I took my chances and came back. Though, it's clear she ain't here."

"Yes. Kagome and Sango left in search of Myoga." Kaede replied, "Though, I would advise against approaching her, even now. She is not convinced of your innocence."

"Myoga? Why in the hell are they looking for that old flea? Don't tell me you all think she'd believe him if she didn't believe any of us." Inuyasha cocked a brow. The flea demon wasn't even around at the time of Kikyo's death, so it seemed ridiculous that they'd waste time talking to him about this. If anything, Kaede would be a better witness. And it was clear that Kagome hadn't listened to her, either.

"Sango suggested that Kagome find Unmei in order to straighten everything out. If Unmei could show her Kikyo's death, then Kagome would see that you are not guilty for the murder." Kaede began to organize her herbs again as she spoke, "However, not many know her whereabouts. Rumor has it that only those old enough to have seen her at her peak would have a clue as to where she is now. So, I suggested they give Myoga a try, given his old age. The flea does seem to know a lot of strange people."

Unmei? Why didn't I think of that? That old demon showed me Kagome's death in the first place, so I bet she can show Kagome Kikyo's death. The hanyou nodded in understanding, and for a moment, just stood there like a looming statue, contemplating what to do now. He hoped they had found Myoga by now and were on their way to finding Unmei to clear everything up. Maybe he wouldn't have to tell Kagome about the beads of subjugation after all. Of course, it's not like he wanted to condemn himself to more sits if there wasn't a good reason behind it. And if Kagome is on her way to getting to the truth, then he may not have a need to talk about it.

"Inuyasha, what were ye going to tell the girl, anyways?" Kaede questioned, eyes still on her the herbs, "Ye must have had a plan if ye returned. I hope ye did not just risk your death on impulse."

"Keh, yeah I had a plan. But it ain't important if Sango is off with her now." He shrugged off the question, not wanting to divulge into it with her. He turned his head to the side, sticking his nose up into the air defensively, golden eyes shut. "Just gotta hope that old demon does the trick."

Kaede shook her head, "You are quite lucky. Steer clear of her for now, she is as stubborn as she was back then. Except this time, she is stubborn and fierce... Once again, even in another life, I find her nothing like my sister. In fact, I was beginning to notice that, though she appears to be the age Kikyo was at the time of her death, she's grown to look almost nothing like her. Tanner, wavy hair, and those eyes... well, nothing is the same. They went from being so similar to being truly different."

"What the hell are you going on about? So what if they don't look alike anymore?" The hanyou growled, always hating having to listen to comparisons between the two. He had learned long ago that Kagome was Kagome, even if she had once looked like Kikyo. Being a reincarnation had never stopped Kagome from being her own person.

"It is just an observation. Ye can get so riled up." She replied, holding a wrinkly hand up to halt his aggression, "It is curious, though. I was just wondering what was causing her to stray so far when she had once appeared to be growing into my sister's appearances. I do not think that if we put the two side by side, anyone would be able to guess the connection."

Now that she mentioned it, it was a bit weird. Not even Kagome herself saw any abnormal resemblance to Kikyo when they first met in the forest. If she had still looked the same as before when they were almost identical, she might have caught on to their connection. Or at least noticed it.

"Keh, it ain't important, anyways." He scoffed, though he did wonder what changed, "It ain't like they were ever really alike in anything but looks and power." Still, he couldn't shake that it meant something more. The hanyou sighed and fell into a sitting position, his legs crossed as usual, his body looking like a mesh of red material given the loose way his clothes fit him. His features remains still and rigid as they, his lips slightly parted like opposing sides of a magnet. He wasn't quite sure what he should do now given Kagome and Sango had gone on their little journey. So, he sat with a complete lack of purpose, his arms crossed over his chest. Leaning his head back against the wall, he let his eyes slide shut, not even sure what to think. It was like there were so many things to think about and do, but nothing in particular at the same time. He took a deep breath and just plainly existed for a bit.

Kaede continued to work, placing the organized herbs in a basket with much care. After, she placed the basket on a shelf on the opposite side of the room, and glanced around the room, picking up a broom to sweep all the dust everyone dragged in outside. She noticed the way Inuyasha was sitting, almost like he didn't even want to be relaxing. His body was slumped and tense at the same time, jaw clenched without him even noticing it. She knew he was stressed, and of course she couldn't blame him. The girl he had cared so deeply for died not soon after he pushed her away and is now trying to kill him. Not to mention, apparently, it was because of his past lover.

Her eyes widened momentarily, "Inuyasha. Ye did not mention if ye talked to my sister."

He flinched, taking in a quick, deep breath at the mention of Kikyo. Little did she know, there was a reason he didn't mention it. "Keh, it ain't your business, ya old hag. Go back to sweeping or something."

"I suppose that means ye did not find her?" The older woman questioned, "I wouldn't have guessed that ye would have returned without finding her first." She looked and saw the strange, scrunched up expression that was on his face, unsure of how to interpret it. She had known that he left to find her and clear everything up wit Kikyo, but hadn't even mentioned her once since his return.

"You don't know anything, dumb hag." It was all he said, but his tone was dark. Not really threatening, but dark and serious. And it lacked the same lively and cocky attitude he usually displayed when he spoke.

Don't tell me... you did find Kikyo. And she refused to clear everything up. Kaede thought to herself, the inner corner of her brows lifting in sympathy. Or worse, maybe she even admitted to saying it. Maybe my sister does still bear hatred for Inuyasha. Or, as Sango suggested, she is letting her jealousy of Kagome blind her... Oh, my sister, what have you become...?

She didn't say anything else, but just swept the dirt outside. After a few minutes, she looked outside and sighed. Miroku was helping some of the villagers, impatient for Sango and Kagome's return, as well. The older priestess had informed the monk of their journey, and while he was proud that the slayer had come up with such a plan to prove Inuyasha's innocence, he worried as well. If Kagome was reacting because of her hurt feelings of being betrayed, he didn't find that she was in her right state of mind. While he doubted she would do anything, he still feared for Sango's safety. She noticed the way he would pause and look around, brows furrowed, before going back to his work. And Shippo was right by him, now, too.

She walked back inside of the hut, giving a final glance to the hanyou before turning to make more tea.

"Inuyasha." She spoke gently, her back turned to him, "Do ye believe staying here is a good idea?"

"Keh, I ain't going nowhere. Stop bothering me." He asserted.

"Just as she is, ye are. Stubborn." She added, this time with a bite. Still, he pitied the half-demon and all of his troubles.


As the women made their way towards the village to collect the nekomata, Kagome noticed something very familiar in the air. A demonic aura. She stopped, Sango taking a step forward before noticing the halt. The slayer turned to see what the problem was and saw the priestess's eyes narrowed in agitation. And her gaze was straight ahead towards the village.

"He's there. He came back." Kagome growled, her pink aura beginning glowing around her clenched fists. She couldn't believe it. She didn't expect that the hanyou would have so carelessly came back. It almost felt disrespectful. The priestess began stomping forward, now needing to investigate what he did when he left to ensure Kikyo's safety. Her feet were pounding on the ground, teeth grinding against each other as she pushed on with her conviction. Everything about the way she moved spelled out her rage, and it worried the slayer, who ran to grab Kagome's shoulder.

"Hey! You can't hurt him!" She called out.

Kagome stopped, pausing as she turned to look at the woman who had basically pulled on her in such an aggressive way. To be honest, she hadn't expected the slayer to ever react so aggressively towards, mostly because of how powerful Kagome was. But when she saw her brown eyes staring, they looked hard and purposeful. With the same determination that were in Kagome's own eyes.

She took a breath. Damn. I kinda like this girl. People here seem to walk around me carefully, but she's not even scared right now. In fact, she's forceful.

"I am not going to hurt him. I said I'd find Unmei, first." Kagome huffed, turning back and continuing her walk, "But that doesn't mean I can't talk." She pushed on, and the slayer followed right behind.

"Alright, but I'm going with you." Sango asserted, toughly.

The priestess only chuckled. "Ya know, Sango. I think I misread you." She flipped her hair from her shoulders nonchalantly, completely ignoring the half-threat evident in her voice, "I thought you were some softy. But you talk like a warrior, so stern. I'm impressed. But I'm not going to hurt the guy, so don't worry. I'm a woman of my words, even if it seems like that can be hard to come by."

Sango cocked a brow, a little insulted that her threat wasn't even taken serious in the slightest, but also feeling connected to her in some weird way. She was impressed by Sango, and the way she smiled, it looked like she even liked her. It was like becoming friends all over again, except with a twist.

They walked together, heads held high and hips swaying with confidence. Kagome was calmer, now. The aura had disappeared, and so had any sign of her aggression. She felt ready to talk with him, feeling in control of all of that pent up rage that had made its way into her heart. The betrayal, the trust she had put in him, none of it meant anything right now. The truth was suspended in the air right now. And his guiltiness was as well. She couldn't judge him completely, not yet. And she needed to keep her cool for this. Lives were at stake.

They made their way into the village, heading towards the hut with all eyes resting on them.

But their arrival wasn't just known by those outside. Inuyasha could smell them, and he jumped up into a standing position, but didn't make any other moves. Rather he just stared at the exist in anticipation.

"They're back." He said, feeling every part of himself tense up. Suddenly, his blood was flowing with passion, heart pumping with purpose, as if his entire body came back to life at the scent of her. He needed to do this right. He would do this right, because dammit, he had to.

Kaede's eyes widened, "Inuyasha, what is it ye have planned?"

"Keh, my plan is just to see what happens." Was all he said.

The women stopped a few feet from the hut, both looking at each other. Each with a warrior's look in their eyes, disciplined and ready to face whatever was going to happen. Then, Kagome took the first step forward, pushing towards the entrance, the sun fading from her skin as she entered the shadows of the inside. She stopped a few steps in, leaving just enough room for Sango to enter behind her.

When Inuyasha's golden orbs met with Kagome's, he felt the pressure like gravity was betraying him. She didn't seem phased by him though, which was better than her attacking him, at least. Although the silence was torturing him, like each second was an arrow piercing his skin. He didn't know who would speak first, but he figured it'd probably have to be her because, frankly, he couldn't get himself to say a thing.

A few more moments passed, and the room just seemed to disconnect from reality as they entered a dimension of suspense. The air was littered with restlessness, the kind that circled around your neck and squeezed, and everyone was struggling to take a good, deep breath. The world was at a standstill, while the two were at a standoff. And everyone waited for the person who would cock their gun of words and shoot. Kagome was unblinking, her demeanor dark, yet unsettlingly collected and strategic. She was calculating her next move, her mind racing through the possibilities. But then it stopped, and it was visible in the way her stillness was interrupted by the quickest twitch in the corner of her mouth.

She walked around him, analyzing him for any evidence of blood or something, but when she found nothing, she made her way to his front, standing a foot away from him.

"Well, Superman," She mocked, placing a hand on her hip, "You're in luck. I'm not gonna kill you right now. Your lovely friends have convinced me to give you a chance, so I'm doing it. I'm going to find this Unmei and have her show me the truth. And if you're guilty, that's it. No more chances. Kikyo deserves her rest."

Superman? Keh, is she really patronizing me right now? "And when I'm not?" He countered, observing her. She had been so laid back and almost fun to be around when she had thought of him as a former friend. But now, she was a completely different person. This is how she handles her enemies. And damn, she's pretty scary. Of course, he wouldn't admit that out loud. He wouldn't admit that she was probably the most sharp and threatening presence he's ever been forced to reckon with. She was the kind of woman who could cut him down in ways he never thought was possible.

"If you're not, which I find unlikely, I guess I'll owe you an apology." She tilted her head to the side. He's not worried. Either he's feigning some sort of false confidence to throw me off or Kikyo really did lie to me... She shook off the doubt. She needed to remain strong right now, and until he's proven innocent, she resolved to remain stoic and threatening to scare him from doing anything else evil. It was like insurance to her. She couldn't appear to be a pushover in an sense, no, she couldn't let any possible bad guy see her as anything but the one who will make them answer to their crimes.

"Yeah, well, I'll be waiting for that one." He huffed, crossing his arms and looked away from her.

"I just need to know..." Kagome began, looking at him with dark, half-lidded eyes, "...did you hurt her?"

He narrowed his gaze onto her, both stares colliding in a explosion of intensity, "No, dammit. I didn't hurt her, and I would never hurt her. Keh, but I guess you'll learn that eventually."

She cocked a brow, wondering how he was so comfortable with having such a poor attitude when she could literally rip him apart right now if she felt it would do society some good. Prideful. Cocky. Arrogant. Yet, he had managed to be so sincere and pleasant before. Who are you, Inuyasha? She shook her head and turned from him, looking back at Sango, noticing that Kirara was already in her arms.

"Let's go. Hopefully this Koga guy can lead us to that demon." The priestess began heading towards the door, not noticing how the hanyou's whole expression changed when she said that name, his eyes narrowing first on Kagome, then on Sango, who instinctively met his gaze.

"Koga?" Inuyasha hissed, "What the hell does that mangy wolf gotta do with anything?"

"Listen, Unmei apparently has a hut in his territory." The slayer tried to explain, "It'll be impossible to go to her without running into him. I already told Kagome not to mention her death so don't worry."

"I ain't worried about that bastard coming to kill me. But he better not put a filthy hand on Kagome." His golden orbs darkened as he continued to let his anger talk, "Or I'll rip his fucking arm off."

"Put a filthy hand on me? What are you going on about?" Kagome inserted, turning her head and wearing a pouty-insulted expression, "Don't ya think I can handle myself? Besides, this Koga guy is supposed to be a previous friend of mine. Why would he put his hands on me?"

"Keh, it ain't about him hurting you, it's about him trying to court you." He retorted all matter-of-factly, "I'm coming with you. There's no way in hell I'm letting you near that bastard alone." Inuyasha rolled up his sleeves, showing off his pulsing forearms, and began marching towards the door. That is, of course, until the priestess placed a hand on his shoulder and shoved him back, her brows furrowed together angrily. He stumbled backwards a bit, regaining his balance and staring her right in the face in demand of an explanation. Although, any witty or arrogant remark he may have made retreated back to the safety of his throat when he saw the fire in her eyes lighting up again.

"Like I said, I can take care of myself. If Koga makes unwanted moves, it'll be taken care of, and if he makes any wanted moves, well, I can also deal with that." She hissed, clearly not showing any appreciation for Inuyasha's usual protective and jealous ways as she might have at one point, "So, why don't you just take a seat here and wait. The last thing I need is to have to deal with you the whole time. I just need to figure this out on my own, Inuyasha. You aren't my guard dog."

He sucked his teeth in agitation, but decided against pressing the matter any further. The last thing he needed was to piss her off any further before sending her into Koga's loving arms. Nope, he needed for her to figure out his innocence and return as soon as possible. And for her to want to return, he needed to show her that he wasn't as annoying as she probably thought he was right about now. Although, the little comment about Koga making wanted moves stung a bit more than the hanyou would have preferred.

"Alright, fine. I get it." He said, biting his tongue so hard it surprised him that it did tear right off, "But dammit, if he tries anything, just kick that pathetic wolf's ass just as hard as you kicked mine." The last part made his face turn a little pink, just because he hadn't meant to admit that in front of her and Sango that she had successfully kicked his ass, even if everyone already pretty much knew.

I swear, if he does anything, I will go to wolf territory and rip him to shreds with my bare hands. But for now, I just gotta suck it up, even if it's fucking bothering me that Koga's gonna be there without me. Keh, at least I know Sango will have my back if that scrawny wolf tries anything.

He noticed the rage disappear from her face, like it was draining from her body. It was then that he swore he saw a tiny smirk momentarily appear, "Like I said, I'll deal with it." Both women turned, the little nekomata with them, and left the hut to find Unmei. Kirara transformed and welcomed the both of them on her back, Kagome finding the cat-like creature quite comfortable. Inuyasha walked out of the hut in time to watch them speed off into the distance, a flash of pale yellow and black fading until it was gone.

"She sure is a feisty one." Kaede commented as she walked out, "Very tough. And very good at what she does."

"Keh, and what would that be exactly besides tryna kill me?" The hanyou questioned, turning his head to glare at the older woman, his silver bangs bouncing on his forehead.

"She is a warrior, Inuyasha. More than that, she is a trained assassin." Kaede motioned for him to follow her back inside, to which he did quietly, both hands tucked away in the sleeves of his robes. He was curious to hear her analysis of the new Kagome, who proved to be nothing more than a pain in his ass. "While she may appear rigid and threatening on the outside, she is not fully convinced of your guilt. I can tell by the way she looks at ye, like she's trying to figure everything out. But, ye are still a possible target, so she must not expose her doubts and treat ye only as a subordinate until you are proven guilty. She wants you to be wary of making any unwanted moves, for fear of what she will do to you."

"Keh, so you're saying this whole aggressive thing is some sort of act? It ain't real?" He scratched his head as he thought about it, liking this explanation a bit more.

Kaede nodded her head, "While I may not understand the power used to bring her back from the dead, I do understand the human soul. And what I understand is that, while life may mold it, it retains its base." She continued to do chores around the hut as she spoke, "Kagome is very much Kagome. But she is a Kagome that has gone through a lot. Her soul has experienced death, and not a peaceful one, and she has been through what I imagine to be rigorous training. She, a woman who detested suffering from anyone, had to learn how to be a killer. And what we are seeing is a mind game used to keep suspected villains from doing anything undesired until a final decision can be made. She does not only want you to refrain from killing Kikyo, she wants you to sit tight and make no moves until she returns."

So, the wench is playing some sort of trick, is she? Keh, well that's fine with me. I'll sit back and wait for that apology, if that's what she wants. He thought as he sat back down, closing his eyes and relaxing, feeling confident as ever as he waited with more patience than he ever had in his life. Kagome admitting she was wrong would be sweet. And then after, there would be nothing in the way of getting her back to all of them.


"We're so high up!" Kagome exclaimed, looking down at the trees below them, "I feel like I can see the whole world from here."

Sango cocked a brow, not really expecting to hear something like that from the priestess, who had previously just acted pretty venomous. She was almost in awe, like a small child, and almost seemed to be having some sincere fun. Initially, when they had gotten on, Kagome had made a few comments about how amazing Kirara was, but it was nothing like the joyful remarks slipping from her mouth now. She sounded like... Like she did before, back when everything amazed her. The slayer thought to herself.

"Yeah, Kirara can go pretty high." Sango replied, cracking a smile.

"How long have you both been together?" Kagome asked, petting the yellow fur of it's back, enjoying just how soft it felt.

"As long as I can remember, honestly." The slayer responded, "My father passed her down to me when we were very young, and she's been a great friend to me ever since. She's always been by my side. I couldn't imagine my life without her."

"That sounds great, like you've both shared a lot of memories together." Kagome's voice recoiled a bit as she spoke that word. She didn't really mean to, but she really hadn't any experience talking about memories unless she was moping about not having any of her life before this. She woke up a 15 year old being thrust into such a dark and complex world, that it just happened that when she was admiring a beautiful relationship that has extended through childhood to adulthood, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous. She hated it, being jealous like it was a stain in her personality; it was a dent in her character. She immediately retreated back to her silence, not saying another word.

But Sango was more intuitive than that not to hear the strain, when a string of speech begins so cheery and ends so despondent. And she knew it was because this Kagome was an adult from the moment she opened her eyes. No lifelong friends, no childhood memories. She had essentially been brought into this world strictly to be used for whatever real purpose her master conjured up.

"You know, Kagome..." She began, as they continued to glide gracefully through the air on the nekomata, "You have some memories with Kirara, too."

"Oh yeah?" The priestess responded, seemingly curious now.

"Yeah, and let me tell you, she's happy that you're safe." The slayer pet the fur on Kirara's head as she spoke, earning a purr from the demon, "You used to play dress up with her a bit, and whenever you got into a spat with Inuyasha, she'd fly you back to the well so you could go home. You both even fought side by side. And trust me, a demon like her never forgets her friends."

"I like that. Learning a bit about your past that has no complications. No family who's grieving me. No confusing half-demons." Kagome pet the fur as well, and Kirara purred again, "In fact, I think I could be Kirara's friend again. She has such a pleasant presence, ya'know?"

"Yeah..." Sango nodded, "I do."

The nekomata flew like a yellow cloud in the sky, her paws emitting flames as she went. She continued to purr every so often, to let the priestess know she was welcome, because, of course, Kirara was fiercely loyal no matter what. And she would be to Kagome, too, even if the priestess didn't remember anything.

However, as rain began to descend along with the darkness of night, the three knew it was time to find a place to rest. While no one really minded traveling in that kind of weather, it was clear that the hours spent in the air were tiring the cat demon, whose eyes became droopy. So, they landed, Sango opting to carry her in her small form so that she wouldn't have to lug around the rest of the way. And in their short journey, they managed to find a small cave deep in a forest. Kagome let the slayer stay with Kirara as she went to gather wood for the fire. She was used to everything like that by herself, especially since survival was one of the first topics covered in her training.

Sango placed the small cat demon on the ground, and watched as she curled up, snuggling against herself and closing her eyes to get some sleep. Then, she sat, too, leaning her back against the wall and sighing indefinitely. It had been a long day, full of odd surprises. And now, she was on this journey to find a demon to prove Inuyasha innocent to the one person who used to never doubt him.

"Hey, this is enough, right? I had to find dry wood in all this rain." Kagome came back with a pile full of wood that she carried in both arms, placing it smack dab in the middle of the room before analyzing the quantity, with her mouth turned to the side. Sango nodded and the priestess subsequently began to start the fire, the flames coming quickly and lighting up the shadowy cave interior.

"Hey, Sango, how'd you get mixed up in all this?" Kagome asked as she took a seat next to the other woman, "I mean, it's such an oddball group. A half-demon, a demon slayer, a nekomata, a monk, and a demon child. It's all so peculiar. I may not have grown up in this era, but I got the gist of what the social norms are here, and it's rare to find such a diverse group of travelers."

The slayer blinked, looking over at the priestess before thinking back to how it all began, and she proceeded to stare in the fire as she spoke, "I came from a village of demon slayers who would take on requests for help, destroying demons who were tormenting other people. But one day, the best of our slayers were summoned to a castle, where my brother was possessed by a demon who used him to kill everyone, including himself." Her stare didn't waver, but Kagome could see her muscles tensing.

"I saw spider webs attached to him and knew he was under someone's control, and when I went to investigate, I was told that it had been Inuyasha. So, I went after him and tried to kill him, but..." The slayer took in a deep breath, "He didn't want to kill me. And, in the end, you were able to convince me that he was innocent and I had been tricked. It was Naraku who slaughtered my friends and family. And when he realized that his plan to get me to kill Inuyasha failed, he used a shard to manipulate my brother. He still has him, too. So, I joined the group to avenge everyone's deaths and free him."

Kagome was awestruck at the tragic tale. While Sango had seemed tough to the core, she hadn't imagined that it was because any soft side had been calloused by disaster. She needed to be tough to get through everything okay, and given that she didn't appear to be a mess at all, Kagome knew she had succeeded. This Naraku fellow was appearing to be more sinister than she could have imagined, meanwhile Inuyasha was appearing much more heroic than his demeanor let on. And the tale of Naraku tricking people into hating the hanyou continued to b relevant. Could it really be that Naraku also tricked Kikyo? Does he have something against Inuyasha that makes him seek out ways to have others kill him under false pretenses? The priestess thought, following the slayer's gaze to the ever glowing fire that illuminated the room, crackling and sending out little flames that dissipated in the air.

"Sango, I... I'm so sorry. That's just horrible." Kagome's eyes glazed over, "No one should ever have to go through anything like that."

"Yeah, well, we all have sad back stories. Shippo's got dead parents, Miroku is cursed, and Inuyasha... well, I'm sure you know." Sango bit her lip before hesitantly looking back over at the priestess, "What about you? I mean, I know your past, but not what's happened the past few years for you. I'm sure your story developed since you've been resurrected."

Now, it was Kagome's turn think back, shutting her eyes as she did and leaning her head against the wall, "I don't know, it's weird just kind of existing one day. I know that I have a past life, but I don't really remember it, but I have all these skills and knowledge. I can talk, make sense of things... I have this drive to do something, but I don't know where it all comes from. And I opened my eyes and there's my master, like a father, standing before me and he started teaching me all the grand things. And he gave me a purpose, and it feels good. I feel like I have an identity through that." She sighed, wondering if this was going to be cathartic or just plain traumatic to talk about this so openly with someone, "But I'm stuck. Because there's a life before me, that taught me the things I knew before I was resurrected. Sometime before I died, I had learned how to speak, I had developed the capacity to feel and I grew compassionate. Everything I know now has a foundation in that life, I don't have any recollection of those things. I just remember..." She stopped abruptly, shutting her eyes tighter and clenching her jaw, realizing that she couldn't truly say it.

The slayer looked over at her in confusion, trying to make sense of what she was saying. Did she just allude to actually remembering something from her past life? I thought she didn't remember anything. She narrowed her eyes, noting how tense the priestess was at the moment, shaky breaths vibrating her chest as she breathed in and out like it was a struggle. But Sango needed to know, she just had to.

"You... you remember something from your past life?" She asked, leaning in and watching as the breathing stopped, Kagome's body stilling at the question, almost feeling as though she was caught.

"I... I do." She whispered, "The forest. The men. Dying in a pool of blood. How it felt. I remember that. We all remember how we died. Everyone who was brought back only remembers how they died. Ironically enough, it's the only real proof we have that any of us were really even alive."

So... she knows how she died. While Unmei didn't show me, the vision of Kagome's death was enough to bring Inuyasha to his knees. To wake up and have that be the only thing you know about yourself... I can't even imagine that. The slayer stayed quiet for a moment, her thought imbued with the sympathy she had for her old friend, whose eyes were still closed as she rummaged through that memory. The crackling of the fire echoed through the cave like whispered conversations, all while casting the light that shined perfectly on Kagome's aged face, letting Sango really get a good look at her pain filled features.

"Kagome..." Was all that could escape her lips.

"Like you said, we all have sad back stories." Kagome whispered, the movements of her lips slowed, "But, that's what makes us strong, right? That's what makes us warriors."

Sango thought long and hard about that. There was a new passion and fire in Kagome since her return. A new strength facilitated by her intense vigor and purpose, and it did make her seem stronger now. And then, she thought about herself. She had never felt so strongly about something until she lost everyone and had something to fight for. And since then, she had grown stronger, became a more threatening opponent. But she had also grown wiser, too, in many ways. More understanding of pain. And the experiences that came from her losses only opened her more to life and sacrifice. It made her all that she was.

"Yeah... I guess you're right." She leaned her head back as well, and the two woman fell into a deep sleep, the sound of the fire made into a lullaby to bring the two to peace, humming along until morning. And in between them, a connection was forming like a magnetic pull, the feeling of content companionship growing like a once neglected garden, or like hope in the midst of darkness. And they slept, peacefully and undisturbed until morning's light woke them, their mission pushing them onward.

Phew, honestly, I am not going to lie. This chapter was painfully boring for me to write. It's one of those rather uneventful chapters that sets up the next one, but I'm happy I did it because I am so psyched to start chapter 11 immediately!

Are you all ready to venture into wolf demon territory? What do you think will happen when Koga sees Kagome? And will they find the truth with Unmei? Comment your ideas and let me know what you think!

Inuyasha Reference
In my story, Kikyo tells Kagome that Inuyasha is a vile beast and that she hates him, also calling him a loathsome half-man. Well, in the episode 'Return of the Tragic Priestess' Kikyo confronts Inuyasha, still having believed that he was the one who betrayed her and caused her death. She says "You vile beast! I despise you! You loathsome half-man!" To which Inuyasha sees blood on her and says "Got a problem, Kikyo?" At this point, Inuyasha also believed he was betrayed.

Movie Reference
In this story, when Kagome accuses and attacks Inuyasha on the basis that he killed Kikyo, she uses the line "You'll never know love or friendship, and I feel sorry for you." Of course, I didn't make this up. It was used by none other than Harry Potter, who says the same thing to Voldemort towards the end of the fifth movie The Order of the Phoenix. It happens in the scene shortly after Bellatrix kills Sirius. Voldemort appears to kill Harry, but Dumbledore comes and they battle. Voldemort disappears and it seems the battle is over, but he possesses Harry. Of course, Harry is able to regain control by remembering his loved ones, using that same line.

Alright. I've gone no references this chapter, but let me know if you want me to do more for you all to figure out! Til next time!