Calming her students down was impossible after the incident in the park. Not a single one of them had seen the dog or the blood trail but she couldn't hide the fact that her hakama was torn or the crimson stains on her hands. Her class buzzed with speculation. By the time Kagome returned to her dojo she could tell lessons were over.
She circled the girls together in the center of the training room and tasked them with making arrows for their next class. Some of the older girls began to protest, wanting to know what had happened beyond the gate, but Kagome ignored their questions. She instructed them to help their younger peers then excused herself to wash up.
The washroom in the dojo was tucked behind her office. It's placement allowed for privacy from her students while she cleaned the blood off her hands and changed into a new skirt. It also gave her a chance to sneak into her office.
Kagome searched online for a breed to match the type of dog she'd found. She wanted to follow through on making flyers. The community had supported her business endeavor. If someone nearby had lost their pet, Kagome would do what she could to ensure he was returned to them.
Especially given the fact his injuries were her fault.
Kagome grimaced thinking of how deep the arrow had gone. There was a risk of infection. She wished she would have been able to convince the dog to come back with her. Hearing the girls chattering just outside, Kagome changed her mind.
There was no way of knowing how the animal would act around them. As wrong as it was of her to harm him, it would be equally wrong to assume he'd tolerate children. Strays tended to be distrustful. A dojo full of loud, giggling girls wouldn't ease the beast.
Kagome scrolled through pictures of white dogs varying in size from medium to large breeds but none of the images matched. The closest she came to identifying the dog from the park was a dog/wolf hybrid. The hybrids resembled the dog she'd come across but they didn't match his size or the color of his eyes— that golden shade which was so abnormal yet familiar.
Almost as if he was...
She shook her head, pushing the thought away. Kagome knew any similarity she saw between the dog and Inuyasha was in her head. She was only seeing what she wanted to see.
Giving up on finding the dog's breed, Kagome searched the community websites to see if anyone had posted about a missing pet. There were no new entries. With a sigh, she left her office to check on her students.
They'd made progress in her absence, some more than others. Her eldest student, Hina, caught Kagome's eye as she surveyed them.
"Sensei?"
"Yes, Hina?"
"Are you alright?"
It wasn't until she asked that Kagome realized her hands were shaking. The Feudal Era was savage but Kagome had never taken a life unless she was forced to. Wounding a defenseless dog was horrifying. What kind of person hit an animal?
"I'll be fine," she managed to croak out.
It was clear from the glances amongst her pupils that they didn't believe her. They watched her closely throughout the remainder of the afternoon. When Kagome snapped an arrow in two, Hina handed her feathers to craft a new one. She didn't utter a word but Kagome felt the girl's steady gaze until she announced class was over.
She'd never been so relieved to see Hojo before.
"Kon'nichiwa, Kagome-chan," he greeted her in his usual friendly tone. "How are you today?"
"Fine."
Mei tugged on her father's hand. When he glanced down at her, she shook her head vigorously. Hojo's brow furrowed. "What's wrong, Mei?"
Mei pulled on his arm again until he lowered himself so she could whisper in his ear. Kagome overheard her tell Hojo that her sensei was lying. Kagome was torn between laughing at the girl's persistence and chiding her for her tattling.
"Did something happen during class? It's not one of your maladies flaring up again, is it?"
She inwardly groaned. Years later, she was still dealing with the consequences of Grandpa's excuses. "No, I'm perfectly healthy," Kagome assured her friend. "I accidentally shot an arrow over the fence earlier. It caused a stir."
Hojo stared at the pitch. "Wow," he said in awe. "That's got to be at least sixty meters!"
Kagome nodded. "Seventy-five."
"I don't remember you enjoying gym," Hojo commented, scratching the back of his neck, "but I guess you were ill a lot so it makes sense physical activity would be a strain."
She resisted the urge to bike over to the shrine and scream at her grandfather. "Archery is a hidden talent of mine."
"Right," Hojo agreed, beaming.
Kagome gave him a friendly smile in return, waiting for him to get the hint.
Mei picked up on social cues better than her father. "Papa, it's time to go."
"Huh?" Hojo looked around, finding that they were the only ones who remained in the dojo. "Oh, yes, well, let's go then, Mei." He took his daughter by the hand and led her out. "Bye, Kagome-chan!"
Kagome trailed behind them to lock up. Mei shared her day with her father, gazing up at him with pure adoration. It reminded Kagome of one of the rare memories of her father.
Mr. Higurashi had died in a car accident not long after Sōta was born. Kagome didn't remember much of their time together but she did recall how it felt to hold her father's hand. He'd walked her to elementary school each day on his way to work. During their morning stroll, he'd always ask her what she planned on learning that day. For Kagome, the answer had always been the same.
"As much as I can, Papa."
She swallowed thickly as she locked the dojo gates. If her father was here now, Kagome would have given him the same answer.
The only difference was that there was no one to teach her how to move on.
A symphony of sizzles played in her apartment as Kagome cooked up fresh pork and vegetables in separate pans. Beside her skillets were a bowl of sauce and rice, portioned out for two. Her Butadon wasn't as good as Mama's but Kagome knew she cooked the meat perfectly.
Her trusty yellow backpack was sitting on the kitchen chair with the top flap open. Tucked neatly inside were a thick, folded blanket, a pillow, some bottled water, an empty dish, her first aid kit, and her tanto blade. It was risky to take the weapon with her. Pocket knives were illegal. She prayed she wouldn't have a reason to use it.
Leaning against the chair was her sleeping bag. Kagome hadn't used it since returning from the past. There weren't many uses for a sleeping bag once one moved into their own home. It wasn't as if she'd be having a sleepover with Ayumi, Eri, and Yuka again.
Kagome glanced at her cellphone, wondering if she should let someone know her plans for the evening. Pursing her lips, she decided against it. Her friends wouldn't understand and her mother would only worry.
Once her meal was complete, Kagome made herself a plate for dinner, making sure there was enough pork set aside. She ate in silence. To Sōta's chagrin, Kagome had never purchased a television for her home. She'd grown used to a life without it and the constant stimulation of the city tended to be overwhelming. She preferred the quiet; it reminded her of her life before.
Sounds like the scraping of her chopsticks against the bowl or utensils clinking in the sink didn't bother her. Kagome found it soothing. Her home was modest but it was her own, filled with the sounds of her life and a small collection of possessions. It had a purpose.
With her dishes in the drying rack, Kagome added the sealed container of pork to the top of her sack and pulled the drawstrings tight. Slipping her arms through the straps was an odd mixture of familiarity and awkwardness. Despite the sensation, Kagome gathered up her supplies and left the dojo.
She passed through the rear gate into the park. There was no one around now that the sun had set.
Kagome retraced her steps from the afternoon, heading into the woods. She stopped by the bushes where the dog had been hiding. A tuft of fur was stuck in the branches. It appeared almost silver in the moonlight.
Tracking had never been a skill she honed, so Kagome decided to see if the dog would come to her. She unrolled her sleeping bag and set up her camp for the night. Her body moved on its own, remembering each step as if she'd never left the Feudal Era. Within minutes, everything was in its rightful place— everything except the lure.
Kagome opened up the bowl of pork and placed it several feet away from her sleeping bag. Sitting on the nylon top, she pulled her knees to her chest.
All she could do now was wait.
Beams of light cascaded down through the treetops and fell across her face. Kagome blinked against the warm rays, rolling over to block the sun from her eyes.
She'd stayed awake past midnight hoping the scent of pork would draw the beast but he never showed. Groggy from lack of rest, she propped herself up on her elbows and wiped the remnants of sleep away.
There was a pair of golden eyes watching her.
Kagome stared at the dog. He was sitting by the container of pork, which was still untouched. The dog seemed to be regarding her the way one would a willful child.
"Aren't you hungry?" she asked.
The dog stepped over the dish, approaching her. He stood less than a foot from Kagome, eyes still on her face. Her focus was on his side, which she could tell from the stained bandages had not healed.
"I brought my first aid kit," she told him as if he could understand.
Kagome rooted around in her pack until she produced the metal box. The dog's gaze dropped to the unfamiliar object.
"It's fine," she reassured him. "It's medicine to help with your wound."
He drew closer, giving Kagome his side. She went to work immediately, removing the makeshift bandages. Before she used the disinfectant on him, Kagome uttered a few words of caution. The dog didn't react. She bit her lip as she pressed the cold liquid to his wound.
The dog flipped around, snarling.
"I told you," she shot back defensively.
He growled at her but Kagome refused to flinch. They glared at each other in an intense stand-off until the dog huffed and returned to his prior position.
When she attempted to cleanse the wound again, the creature shuddered but didn't snap at her. Kagome was careful not to cause more pain than necessary. Her progress was helped by the fact the dog managed to stay clear of dirt and water. Though his wound remained open, it wasn't infected.
"There," she told him, patting his side as she finished. "Good to go."
The dog huffed a second time, appearing unimpressed.
Kagome didn't let it sway her from her next task.
Slowly, she set the empty bowl by the dog and filled it with the bottle of water. The animal sniffed it a few times before seemingly acceptable and lapping it up. While he drank, Kagome reached into her bag for her cellphone.
She snapped a quick picture, hoping it would be clear enough for printing posters. The dog startled at the sound, eyeing her warily.
"I need to find your owner," Kagome explained.
The dog made a grunting noise and went back to drinking.
Kagome busied herself with cleaning up the campsite. She needed a shower before she went over to the shrine. The heat would help loosen the soreness in her back from sleeping on the ground. She rolled her shoulders a few times, trying to work out the kinks.
The white dog ignored Kagome's motions, indifferent to her and her problem. However, when she stood to leave, he paused.
"I guess you don't like pork," she commented. Kagome tossed the cold slivers of meat onto the grass. The dog didn't move.
"I'll see if I can get some beef at the market on my way home," Kagome offered. "Try to keep your wound clean. I'll come back later to check on you."
With that, she made her way back to the dojo.
This time she wasn't alone. The dog trailed behind her like a protective shadow.
Kagome wasn't sure what to make of this development. On one hand, it would be easier to care for the dog if she could keep him confined to her apartment. On the other hand, she didn't know the first thing about owning a dog. The only pet she'd ever had was Buyo. The bobtail cat had been overweight and lazy, two traits Kagome couldn't apply to the dog.
"You need a name," she decided as they passed through the gate onto her property.
The dog didn't appear to have heard her.
"What about Fukigen-sōna rōjin," she suggested.
The dog growled in response.
She laughed. "Okay, well, you're a bit high-maintenance. What about Kosekose?"
Another growl.
"No? Alright, your highness. Why don't you pick a name then?"
The dog tilted his head at her as if to question how.
Kagome tapping her chin, thinking until an idea hit her. "Got it!" she cheered, happily. "Come on."
She led the beast into her apartment, telling him to sit (which he ignored) while she went to her room to grab her old school supplies. Kagome brought them out to the kitchen table. Using scraps of paper, she wrote out two dozen options before arranging them on the floor in front of the dog.
He paced around the choices a few times. His golden eyes scanned the various scribblings. Kagome stood off to the side, waiting. She considered starting another batch, in case this one was a bust, but before she could move, the dog placed his paw on the slip farthest from her.
Kagome walked over, kneeling to read his selection. She snorted and rolled her eyes. "Figures," she muttered. "How humble of you, your highness."
Shaking her head, Kagome threw away the slips of paper, set out a fresh bowl of water, and went to take a shower.
It never occurred to her that a dog like Shukun, shouldn't know how to read.