It took only moments to gather her weapons, her bow and arrow tied to her back and the slim sword she'd received at her 18th birthday at her hip. Now all she had left to do was pray.
Dropping to her knees beside her grandfather, she did her best to quell the fear, the nerves, anything that would distract her. Forcing herself to calm, Kagome took a deep breath and lit the incense before she started the prayer, her voice mingling lightly with the rough cadence of her grandfather. 'Please protect me, Mother Goddess,' she thought as they ended the chant. 'Give me strength to fight and to win, so that I may return to my family and life unharmed.'
When Ji-chan rang the bell that signified the end of the prayer, she pressed her forehead to the floor for only an instant, before she stood. "Give Mama a hug for me?" she asked, voice soft.
He shook his head and stepped back from her. "You will return unharmed. You may hug her when you return."
Kagome smiled, his words extra reassurance that calmed and soothed the rest of the worries in her mind. Taking his hand for only a moment, a firm squeeze of thanks, she turned and strode out of the hall.
o.O.o
Word Count - 220
