Chapter 1

"Hey sis, rough day?" Sota asked as Kagome walked into their hut.

He noticed she had been a bit depressed lately, but she looked even more dejected this evening.

Kagome sighed, "Half the garden, the entire east end, is infested. I don't know if I'll be able to salvage the vegetables in that area. I'm not even sure I can prevent the bugs from spreading to the whole garden."

"Oh that's not good. But don't worry sis. We always manage. We'll get by."

Her silence worried him, so he continued, "Hey, chin up. Is there something else bugging you?"

Looking down, she pondered her response. She'd been dealing with a sense of guilt for a long time. Living with her younger brother was humbling enough, but his family was growing quickly and she knew she was close to out staying her welcome.

She managed a small smile and said, "I just know your wife wouldn't have let this happen if she were the one tending to the garden. But I'll still do my best. I'm going to go wash up. I'll cook up some dinner when I get back."

Her sister-in-law had just delivered her second child, another little girl. The delivery had been difficult and for a while no one was sure she would recover. During that time Kagome was glad she could be of use to her brother and his family. But as Yuki was nearly recovered, Kagome knew she was about to become a burden yet again.

Once the baby grows older, there simply won't be space for me anymore. I wish I knew what to do. I wish I had someplace else to go.

She went to the river and undressed. As she bathed, she pondered some more on what her life was like.

What purpose do I really serve? Look at Yuki. She's an amazing gardener, and mother to two children and probably more to come. And Sango, she's a freaking demon slayer! Plus raising 3 children. How do they do it? I love my brother so much, but I hate being such a burden for him.

Thoughts like these continued to swirl around in her mind, causing her to doubt her life's value. Get a grip, girl, she finally said to herself as she dried and dressed in fresh clothes. I should try to visit Sango soon. She then headed to Kaede's for a surprise visit.

"Kagome dear, it's so good to see you. How's Yuki and the baby?" said Kaede, and she poured tea for them. Kagome wondered how she knew to already have water heated. Did she sense she was coming?

"They are doing well thanks to you! Yuki is already back on her feet, and I'm sure by next week she will be back to 100%."

"Oh glad to hear it. And, sweet child, how are you?"

Kagome thought about lying and pretending she was okay, but thought better of it because Kaede always saw right through her.

So she took a deep breath, and said, "I don't know."

"Out with it child. What's on your mind?"

She chuckled to herself at being called child when she'd been a grown woman for a few years now, but she appreciated the sentiment.

"I...I feel like such a burden to Sota and Yuki. They never show any kind of frustration that I'm there, but I just can't shake this feeling I don't belong there anymore. And to be completely honest, I'm feeling sorry for myself that I don't have any prospects for marriage."

Instead of looking Kaede in the eye, she eyed her cup as she sipped her tea.

"I thought you may be feeling something of the sort. I've wondered a bit myself about how your family dynamic is doing as Sota's family is growing."

That statement made Kagome feel even worse, and she wondered if she was the talk of the village.

"Kagome, I know I don't have much to offer, but please know you are always welcome to come live with me. Food may be meager at times, but you'll always have a roof over your head. Plus, I'm getting older and could use some young hands to help me from time to time."

Now she's just being patronizing. The old lady is healthier than many of the young men around here!

"Oh Kaede, this is so kind of you to offer. Are you sure though?"

"Of course! I would not have offered it if I didn't mean it!"

"Well I will certainly keep it in mind. I may just have to take you up on that." Kagome stood to leave.

"Oh sweetie, can you run an errand for me? I've been so busy tending to people with illnesses and have not had time to do it." Kaede went on to describe an herb that grew near the river she had bathed in earlier.

"Sure thing. I'll be back with it soon." Kagome knew she would be back home late for dinner, but Yuki had been cooking more lately so she knew she could handle it. The thought served as a reminder of her predicament and brought sadness to her again.

Half an hour later she had found the herb patch in the forest not too far from the river. She squatted down, started pulling up the plants by the roots, shook off the dirt and placed them in her bag.

Inuyasha grumbled as he pulled his fire rate kimono back on. He had just bathed after picking some herbs for Lady Kaede.

I don't even know how that old bat roped me into doing this for her. At first she's thanking me for warding off that nasty demon from the village, and next thing I know she's got me doing something else for her! As if slaying that demon wasn't enough, I gotta be her damn errand boy too.

In the middle of his thoughts, he heard someone walking nearby. He jumped up in a tree to scope out who it was. He sniffed and immediately knew it was a young woman. He jumped a couple trees over to get a better view.

Kagome dropped the bunch of herbs in her hand when the rustle of the tree branches startled her from her daze.

Geez, Kagome, get a hold of yourself. Why am I so jumpy?

Assuming it was an animal, she looked up and to her surprise saw a hanyou.

"You scared me. Whatcha doing way up there?"

Surprised that she didn't scream or run away, Inuyasha jumped down but hesitated to answer. His hesitation gave her time to study his face and body. It was apparent she noticed his ears and claws, yet her eyes lingered on his bare feet.

"Don't like shoes, huh?"

He darted his eyes to the side, and said in a scruffy voice, "Nah, too restrictive. I don't understand how anyone can be comfortable in those things."

She laughed and shot back, "I suppose, but I don't want to risk stepping in anything icky an animal might leave behind!"

"Keh," he said, but with the slightest hint of a smirk on his face.

"So you never answered my question. What were you doing up in the tree?"

"I...uh...I heard something and came to see what was going on. And then you looked up faster than I could get out of sight," he lied, knowing full well that he could have easily moved out of sight before she glanced up at him.

Why didn't I run away? Then he caught another whiff of her scent. Oh yeah, that's probably why.

"Oh I see. Well I was just gathering up herbs to bring back to the village priestess," she offered, not really knowing why she felt the urge to tell him that.

He closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and let out a chuckle. "No kidding. I guess she felt she couldn't depend on me to get the job done," then he pulled out a bunch of herbs that were tucked inside his kimono.

"Really? That's funny." Kaede, you sneaky lady sending me out here when you knew he was here too. "Do you want to walk back together?"

The offer caught him off guard. "You...you mean you're okay walking back with me? Being seen with me?"

"Why not? Might as well since we're heading to the same place," she responded gracefully, but knowing full well that many humans had prejudices against demons and half-demons.

He nodded his head, and they walked side by side toward Lady Kaede's.