Kagome hummed happily to herself as she sliced the dried venison into pieces small enough for stew. The rhythmic and familiar work allowed her mind to wander to more enjoyable thoughts. They strayed the same place they always seemed to these days: Inuyasha. She felt her cheeks heat slightly as she considered the handsome half demon.
When she awoke the night after the new moon, she had been alone in the bed with Inuyasha having departed much earlier. She would admit to being slightly disappointed, but also relieved to not have any awkward encounters that morning. Indeed, since that day Inuyasha had been quite a bit warmer towards her. Well, civil anyways, which was quite a bit of progress for the half-demon.
Inuyasha was out hunting for the day and had taken Shippo with him, leaving Kagome to herself to tend to her chores. There wasn't much to do, so she was leisured as she prepared lunch, hoping the cooking smell would reach them and let them know to return.
Looking up out the small window in the kitchen, Kagome smiled happily when she saw a male form in the distance approaching the small cottage. The smile quickly became a frown as she assessed the movement of the shadowed shape. It was clearly an awkward, plodding gait similar to her own through the deep show. Nothing like the graceful movements of her demons.
Kagome dried her hands on her apron and focused her attention on the approaching man. There were few who bothered to venture in to the woods this time of year and none with such purposeful intent towards the cottage. Who could it be? Were they friend or foe?
As they neared, they became more recognizable. There was no mistaking the familiar visage of the Revered Miroku, though it was twisted in determination as he continued his trek.
Kagome watched in shock as he stopped just at the edge of where she knew the barrier lie. He looked left and right, then looked straight ahead in to the illusion. He attempted to walk forwards but was hindered by the barrier. When he attempted a second time, he was knocked backwards off his feet.
Before Kagome could think of the wisdom of such a thing, she was already out the door of the cottage and caught herself on the steps. Should she reveal herself to the Reverend? What was he doing out here?
Wishing Inuyasha was home at the moment, Kagome hesitantly approached the edge of the illusion. She peered through at the Reverend's slightly blurred face.
"No..." he whispered to himself. "No, I must get through."
He stood again and approached the barrier. He seemed to give it an appraising look, as if he could see it but was uncertain how to pass through it. It shocked him again and he landed even further away.
He laid in the snow for a moment. The silence was deafening as Kagome watched him lay there, still uncertain what to do. Miroku slowly pushed himself up to a sitting position. "Dammit." He muttered, "I have to find Kagome."
Kagome watched in shock as he fell in to a kneeling position before the barrier. He performed the sign of the cross before folding his hands in prayer and bowing his head. "Please..." she could hear him whisper. "Kagome is the only one who can save Sango. Please, I will give anything!"
"Sango?!" Kagome gasped, stepping forward through the barrier. "Something has happened to Sango?"
Miroku looked up, his face draining of colour as if he had seen a ghost. "Kagome...?" He asked, his expression incredulous. His mouth gaped open slightly as he stared at her.
Kagome seemed uncertain when faced with the intensity of his stare. "Hello, Reverend Miroku." She said shyly.
"Kagome, what has happened to you?" He asked, standing and approaching her. He gently took hold of a lock of her hair. "You were lovely before, but now you are...you are radiant."
Considering how long it had been since she had used a mirror, Kagome dismissed him and dislodged his hand with a wave of her hand. "Oh, Reverend. You were always too kind." She demurred, then her expression became anxious. "What were you saying about Sango?"
His previous vigour returned. "Kagome, I must ask for your help! It's Sango! She...she has...fallen ill."
Kagome frowned, thinking on the previously healthy state of her friend. "Sango? How could she be ill?"
The Reverend shook his head, his eyes cast to the side. "The villagers believe it is consumption, but I fear it may be something more. Something worse."
"Something worse?" Kagome parroted, feeling overwhelmed at the new information.
"I...fear she may have been cursed." Miroku whispered, as if merely saying the words aloud would make them true. "She became mysteriously ill after a strange woman passed through town. The woman asked only for you, and when she found out you were gone, she was outraged. The villagers thought perhaps she carried an illness, but I couldn't believe it, for why else would Sango be the only one to fall ill?"
"A woman?" Kagome's brow furrowed. She thought of her only acquaintance who would be unknown to the village. "Was her name Kaede?"
"No..." Miroku looked thoughtful for a second before he cleared his throat in annoyance. "It doesn't matter. What is important right now is a need you to come back to the village with me Kagome. I need you to cure Sango." He grabbed hold of her hands and dragged her towards him.
She looked away. "I don't know Reverend Miroku." While Kagome's heart was with Sango, her brain couldn't help reminding her how dangerous and foolish it would be to go back to the village where she could very well be killed.
"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't desperate." He admitted, his hold on her tightening. "I'll admit I'll bring you back by force if I have to..."
A hand appeared and clamped on to Miroku's shoulder. "What the hell is going on here?" Inuyasha growled as he tossed Miroku away from Kagome into the distant snow.
Seeing the threat removed, he turned his intense stare to Kagome. "What are you doing outside the barrier!" He yelled in her face. "Are you stupid?"
"It was the Reverend! He said Sango needed help!" She replied sharply.
"So, what?" Inuyasha responded harshly, "They should have thought about needing your help before they turned you away. The most important thing is for you to stay safe. Now get back inside the barrier."
"No!" She yelled back, her hands on her hips. "I am going to help Sango."
"Not a chance." Inuyasha clamped down on her wrist. He used her arm to drag her over his shoulder, allowing no argument. "C'mon, we're going home."
"Unhand her, you unholy beast!" Miroku demanded, standing directly in Inuyasha's path. He threatened Inuyasha with a polished staff, challenging him to try to move past.
"Keh, stupid human. Back for more?" Inuyasha taunted. He raised a hand prepared to backhand the Reverend away when Kagome called from his back for him to stop.
"Stop, please Inuyasha." She said breathlessly, the air forced from her lungs by his shoulder digging beneath her rib cage. "They helped protect me once too, you know?"
He paused, seeming to consider this fact. With a heavy sigh he set her back down, allowing her to turn to speak with the monk but not to leave his embrace. They were both met with a shocked expression from the Reverend.
"What is it?" Kagome queried, looking back to Inuyasha before looking back to Miroku.
"Kagome...there aren't even words." Miroku said breathlessly. "Who is this? What is this?"
"Oh. My apologies! Where are my manners?" Kagome tittered nervously, "Ah, Reverend Miroku, this is Inuyasha. Inuyasha, this is the Reverend Miroku."
Her introduction was met with stony silence on the sides of both men.
"Well..." Kagome interjected into the silence. "You did seem to be in a hurry, Reverend. Should we be getting to Sango?"
That seemed to shake him from his reverie. "Yes!" His face brightened immensely. "Oh Kagome, you are truly benevolent to come to Sango's aid. I cannot thank you enough."
"Who said we were going?" Inuyasha interrupted.
"But, Inuyasha..." Kagome wheedled.
"She's dying." Miroku said quietly, but it was more effective than a shout. "Sango is dying. Kagome, I need you. Please, Inuyasha."
Carefully, Miroku knelt in the snow before them. "I will give you anything. Please, Kagome is the only one who can save her."
Kagome looked over to Inuyasha's extremely uncomfortable face. "Alright, alright." He relented. "Just get up already. You look even stupider down there, if that was possible."
Inuyasha turned to Kagome. "If we're going back there, you are not to go off alone, do you understand me?"
Kagome opened her mouth to refute, then thought better of it and just nodded. Seeming satisfied with her answer, Inuyasha turned to Miroku. "We'll go to your godforsaken village at nightfall. Have your woman brought to Kagome's house and we will meet you there."
Miroku nodded seriously. "Sango is already living in the hospice, as there was fear she had consumption." He turned to Kagome. "Do you need anything else?"
"Reverend Miroku..." Kagome bit her lip in anxiety, "I don't know anything about breaking curses. I can't guarantee I'll be able to save her."
He met her gaze evenly. "I know you'll be able to do it, Kagome."
Without further word, he walked off in to the woods back to the village. Kagome and Inuyasha watched him go before the retreated through the barrier.
Once back inside, Inuyasha rounded on her again. "Don't do something like that again!"
"I couldn't leave him out there like that! He was suffering!" She retorted.
"There were no guarantees that was even really your friend! Christ, Kagome!" Inuyasha snarled at her. "Don't you get it! There are creatures out there that want you. They want your power, and they will do whatever it takes to get it!"
"This whole thing with your friend could very well be a trap." He told her harshly. "From the villagers, or who knows! The only reason I knew to come back was I felt the flare of your aura when he grabbed you. I know for a fact that other demons felt it too. So much power will make them hungry for you."
"You...came back for me?" She asked shyly. "You were...worried?"
"Dammit, woman." He snarled, pulling her against his chest. Her arms wound around his waist as he clamped around her shoulders. His breath tickled in her ear as he whispered harshly, "don't...don't do that again."
They stood silently in each other's embrace for a moment before they slowly untangled. Kagome gave him a gentle smile. "The trip to the village will be fine. After all, you'll be there."
He looked at her earnest gaze for a moment before quickly looking away with a slight pink to his nose. "Keh."
Leaving her to walk over to the kitchen, he used his claws to pick up a small morsel of the venison she had been preparing. "So what is supposedly going on with your friend?" he asked, tossing the meat in his mouth.
Kagome seated herself on the edge of the bed, her expression thoughtful. "A woman had come through town asking about me. Apparently after her departure, Sango has fallen ill."
"Hmpff. Sounds like a trap to me." Inuyasha murmured between bites.
"A trap?" Kagome said with a frown. "Why would they want to make a trap for me?"
Inuyasha looked out the window for a moment with a thoughtful look on his face. "There are still a few hours until dark." He said quietly, "if we hurry, there is still time to get more information. The old hag Kaede usually knows when things aren't right."
In a blur of movement, Inuyasha gripped her and tossed her on his back. They sprung out the door and up in to the trees, headed towards the Fort. Kagome took the opportunity to tighten her hold around Inuyasha's neck and bury her face in his shoulder. Though she knew what she was doing was right, it did not make her less afraid of the return to her village. Their hatred had hurt her deeply and left scars on her heart. Though her happiness in the cottage had done much to heal the damage, she feared returning.
The prospect of facing her family again after so long an absence was also a joy as well as a source of anxiety. Would they hate her for staying away? Would they have forgotten her?
They landed silently at the edge of the woods, Inuyasha pausing to allow Kagome to slide down in case they were seen by any curious eyes. Kagome glanced at Inuyasha's exposed ears for a moment before withdrawing her handkerchief from her dress and using it to tie over his ears. He looked at her curiously for a moment before relenting and allowing the fabric to be tied.
Together they snuck in to the back door of Kaede's shop. Fortunately, just as they entered the back door the old woman was locking the front. When she turned to address them, she did not appear surprised.
"I thought I would be seeing you some time soon." She told them in her gravelly voice, not bothering with greetings. "There have been rumours of a strange sickness and I wondered when it would reach your village."
"What have you heard, old woman?" Inuyasha asked impatiently, "C'mon, we haven't got all day."
"Inuyasha!" Kagome hissed at him. She turned to Kaede. "I do apologize for him. Please, Kaede, we haven't much time. My dear friend Sango has fallen ill with this mysterious illness and her...well...her friend has asked us to come to see her."
"I see." Kaede said thoughtfully, easing herself down in to an old wooden chair. She sighed. "It is worse than I thought. If she knew to target your friend, she is more aware of details about you than I had realised."
"What do you mean she!" Inuyasha shouted. "Is there someone after Kagome?"
"As you and I both know, Inuyasha," Kaede said quietly, "there are many demons after Kagome's power. There are also humans who would seek it. You may have heard of the Witch Tsubaki?"
"That bitch after eternal youth?" He snarled. "Yeah, I've heard of her. Last I heard she was wandering the tundra, prolonging her life with glacier water."
"Well word of Kagome's strength has reached even her." Kaede said solemnly. "The rumor is that she believes she can achieve eternal youth by...well..."
"By what?" Inuyasha asked harshly, looking a ashen, as if he already knows the answer.
"If she were to consume Kagome's flesh, she would have what she desires." Kaede answered quietly.
Kagome stared at her in shock. "Consume...my flesh?" she turned wide, confused eyes towards Inuyasha.
"Dammit." He cursed, moving closer to her. He drew her close to his side. "There is no way in hell we are going anywhere near that village."
"I fear if you don't go, her friend most certainly will perish." Kaede warned. "Tsubaki's curses are most horrible. They drain their victim's energy and allow her complete control over their bodies."
"I have to go, Inuyasha." Kagome told him quietly. "I could never live with myself if Sango died when I could have saved her."
He stared at her and she met his gaze with unwavering certainty. She watched his brows furrow in a dark frown but he remained silent.
Taking his silence as agreement, Kaede took one of Kagome's hands. "Be careful, Kagome. Tsubaki is powerful and cunning. Believe in yourself and you will succeed."
"Thank you, Kaede." She smiled softly.
"I believe the sun has already set." Kaede said, walking behind her counter and rummaging around for a moment. She produced a small handful of arrows. "I noticed you are running low, Kagome. Please take these. I wish you both good luck."
Kagome gratefully accepted the small supply of arrows and dumped them in her quiver. With a nervous nod to Kaede, she stepped through the rear door out in to the dark of night. A full moon provided a small amount of light as she waited past the threshold for Inuyasha. He exited the shop soon after her, a faint blush on the bridge of his nose from whatever Kaede had said to him as he left.
"Are you sure about this?" He asked her, looking down at her with a serious expression on his face.
"I have to do this." She replied with a nod of certainty. "Though I am afraid."
"I...will protect you with my life." He told her seriously.
She blushed and smiled at him warmly. "Inuyasha..." she said breathlessly.
Without further discussion, he knelt and turned his back to her. She hopped back on to his back and tucked her face against him, fortifying herself for the difficulty to come.