Monster

by akitokihojo

A murderous demon taints the world with unforgivable crimes, taking out his weakness in secret. Unfortunately for him, it isn't that easy. He thinks he's unstoppable, but his arrogance blinds him to the war blooming before him. Kagome and Inuyasha, both powerful in their own way, and even more so together, step forward to try to put an end to things.

2. Chapter 2

"Sota." God, she seemed so crushed, so unstable. To him, somehow, seeing her this way always made her appear so small and fragile, and it was on one hand that he could count the amount of times he'd actually seen her like this. Her head was hanging and she wasn't making eye contact. Like, she felt shame on top of her anguish.

"Kagome, climb. I'll be right behind you." He promised as reassuringly as possible.

Finally, she moved. Kagome pulled her sleeve over her wounded palm and then grabbed the ladder, her shaking fingers gripping tighter than normal to prevent her from incidentally falling with her current, unsteady state. She went as fast as she could to get to the top, ignoring the adrenaline-dulled sting on her left hand until she reached the sturdy, wooden flooring of the treehouse, and crawled inside. Sota was quick to follow her up as soon as he was clear, always faster than she'd been up the damned thing.

He was cautious as he approached, watching her as she stared at the ground she sat on between her parted thighs. Kagome's back was against the wall, but her shoulders were slumped forward, defeated.

"I'm fine now." She softly mentioned. "You don't have to worry."

"You don't have to lie." Sota returned.

"I'm just a in a bit of shock is all."

"It's not your fault." He said after a brief moment of silence. Kagome hung her head a little lower. "It's not, Kagome. You can't control everything, especially what you don't know. You can't hold yourself responsible for another conjurer getting killed."

"Sota, stop. Please." Kagome was beginning to cry, he could hear the wetness as she spoke, though she continued to hide her face and hold her breath.

"You put too much on your own shoulders, sometimes. It's not right."

"I didn't choose this." She whispered tremblingly.

"No, you didn't. So, you're allowed to not know what's going on, and you're allowed to not know how to fix things, and you're allowed to make mistakes, and you're allowed to not be the hero. That doesn't make you a villain, though. And, it doesn't put you at fault."

Kagome broke then, sobbing as she folded forward, her arms clutching over her chest to hold herself securely. Slowly, Sota scooted himself closer, gently unfurling his older sister just enough to have her rest against him, her head on his shoulder while he held her and provided warmth. She cried so hard she coughed, shook, and nearly hyperventilated, but Sota did as their parents had done with them when they cried. He stayed still, didn't budge, rubbed the length of her back with his fingers, and waited patiently for the stress to filter out of her system.

"You know," Kagome spoke between trembling breaths that rocked her chest, a lingering affect from the hard cry. "I think we've got the roles reversed here."

"What do you mean?" Sota asked.

"I'm the big sibling. I'm the one that's supposed to be comforting you." She lightly giggled, shaking her head and sitting upright as she wiped the remaining tears from her eyes.

"You're also the crybaby of the two of us." Sota shrugged.

"Says the sissy."

"You call it being a sissy, I call it not getting my butt kicked in the middle of town." He teased. "Those are also referred to as, survival skills."

Kagome chuckled, her throat cursing her for the slight aggravation even that had caused, but she ignored it. It wasn't all that bad. Not in comparison to the headache she was now sporting. Feeling a little crusty on her face, she took her sleeve and wiped again, noticing a good helping of dirt come off on her shirt.

"Oh, god." She groaned, continuing the motion to clean off her face of what she knew were the remnants of somewhat-dried mud. "How bad do I look right now?"

Sota frowned slightly, shaking his head. "I don't feel like you want the answer to that."

"That bad, huh?"

"Awful."

"Nice." She shrugged her brows, giving up on any further attempt at cleaning her face. She could feel the filth on her clothes, in her hair, on her forehead. It was taking extreme effort not to look at her stained sleeves and her soiled hands. At this point, she didn't even feel the cut on her palm anymore, completely muted by everything else.

"I can't -" The serious expression was back on her face, brown eyes drifting to the far, low wall as she receded back into her guilt-riddled mind. "I can't believe that I ever thought that just by being present, I would be able to prevent another's death when all I did was stand there."

"What are you talking about? You were never prepared for something like this." Sota countered.

"No. I guess I wasn't, was I? I always thought if someone was falsely accused, I would immediately stop it. But, there was actually another conjurer all along. I had no idea. And, I just - it happened so fast."

She noticed her little brother flinch minutely, his own eyes falling to the floorboards they sat on. It must have been so hard for him to watch, too. It was terrible, and he had to witness it all from the sidelines, no doubt holding their mom back while watching his sister get yanked away by the hair and thrown against the wall, only making matters worse. Knowing him, he was probably holding his breath the whole time, hoping she wasn't found out as a conjurer, herself. And yet, here he was comforting her because he knew she was scared. He must have been terrified.

Reaching over with her non-wounded hand, Kagome softly ruffled his dark hair, waiting until his attention wandered up to her.

"Sorry." She whispered.

"It's okay." Sota shrugged. "I'm just glad it wasn't worse."

"I don't know what I was thinking, I - I just had to try something. You understand, right?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "You wouldn't really be Kagome if you didn't."

"What?"

"Well, you're kind of notorious for never minding your business and sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. You're also a little reckless, extremely impulsive, and have a bad habit of not thinking of the consequences of your actions until after you've already done the thing."

Kagome's mouth hung agape, taken aback by her apparent reputation. "Hey."

"Tell me I'm wrong."

The thing was, she couldn't. She knew these details about herself, it was just a hard pill to swallow when it was all bundled into one. So, she huffed in defeat instead, nudging his head away.

"Just, next time, can you fight back? At least a little?" Sota asked, chuckling. "How are you supposed to help bring Naraku down if you can't even manage to throw a punch?"

"Why are you harping on me so much? Aren't you supposed to be rooting for me?"

"Just because you're my sister doesn't mean you get my support by default."

"That's exactly what I'm supposed to get." Kagome argued.

"It's kind of embarrassing actually. The name, 'conjurer,' alone, is intimidating, but on you it's like -"

"Finish that sentence and I will flatten you." She threatened.

"How?" Sota laughed. "That's that problem, sis! You can't fight! Your power move is your backtalk, and you can't even speak without your voice cracking right now, so what the hell are you gonna do?"

Without missing a beat, Kagome shoved the heel of her palm into the center of Sota's forehead. It wasn't strong enough to push him back or hurt him by any means, but it was definitely the perfect amount of force to shock her brother and shut him up, the pre-teen now too busy laughing and rubbing the spot of his head she'd just offended.

"Punk ass." She huffed.

"Okay, okay! I'm sorry, I was just kidding!" Sota smiled, the expression slowly fading to one of interest. "So, mind if I ask you something?"

"Hm?" Kagome couldn't help but be a little suspicious of the question on his tongue, given he was just teasing. She could tell, though, with the change in tone and the look in his brown eyes, that his curiosity had been curbed for long enough now.

"How'd you do it? The test, I mean. How'd you manage to hide that you were a conjurer?"

"I hide it every time." She reminded him, kind of dismissively.

"Yeah, but no other time was like this? They narrowed the age group, and I don't think they've ever strategized to this degree. It was like a foolproof plan; they seemed so confident. I mean, they even got…" He stopped there, unable to finish that sentence. "I just don't really understand what happened."

Kagome sighed, giving in what she felt was too easily but also justified, crossing her legs to sit a little more comfortably as she braced her elbows on her thighs. It'd been a secret for a while, and though she'd hoped it'd stay that way for a while more, she wasn't about to attempt to lie to Sota when he would not only be able to see right through her, but also deserved the truth. "They were going for our receptors to stress. They typically do that every time, except not to this extreme. By cutting us, with our fight-or-flight response already revving, the pain and undeniable evidence of physical danger is kind of like a kick to our adrenaline levels. Throw in their darkness against our natural instinct for light, and you've got yourself a mess. To be honest, I don't know the exact science behind it; this is just the only explanation that makes sense to me. So, when I saw them go about it with the first girl and figured out exactly what they were trying to do, I knew how to counter."

"Wait, what? How?" Sota asked, almost more confused than before.

"I've - um - I've been practicing."

"Practicing what, exactly? What's there to practice?"

"A multitude of things." Kagome stated. "Like, sensing demons, how much power is necessary to kill one, how to purify, how much is too much and how much is too little - because situations vary, how to channel my power into my arrows, and in this case, how not to react at all."

Sota's lips slowly parted in slight awe. "You can do all that?"

"Sort of." She replied, giving a one-shouldered shrug. "I struggle with a few things still, but I'm not helpless."

"Who were you training with? You know someone who can help?"

"No, not necessarily." She shook her head. "It's just been Miroku, Sango, and I."

"What?" Sota's brows furrowed considerably, appearing upset as he processed her admittance. "You guys were - since when!? You guys have been training and I was never a part of it!?"

Kagome sighed, head falling back for a split second in exasperation as she received the exact reaction she'd been expecting. "Sota, I'm sorry, okay? We couldn't get you involved, though."

"Why the hell not!? You know how badly I want to learn how to use a sword, and I never got to train with papa and uncle like you guys did!"

"Because, we're doing this for a reason. It's not just to keep up with what papa was teaching me, it's to get way better than I was ever expected to become. Papa was teaching me basic skills, and yes, he really helped ground me when it came to channeling my spiritual power into my arrows as I shot them, but that was it. I wanted - no, needed - to get better, and develop my conjurer abilities for the sake of myself, you guys, and everything happening around us. Would you rather me be defenseless?"

"No, of course not, but -"

"Then, okay!" She cut him off. "Now I'm not. You weren't included because we didn't want you to know, Sota. We didn't want anyone to know. Mama doesn't know, Sango's dad doesn't know, no one knows."

"That doesn't make sense, Kagome! This isn't fair!" He argued, cheeks hued with an angry pink.

"You want to talk to me about unfair!?" Kagome shouted, her own face growing hot with frustration. "You don't know the half of it!"

"Hey, you've at least got some powers to work with! Throw in your bow and arrow, and you're set! I don't have crap! Papa died before I was old enough to learn a damn thing, and Sango's dad's too much of a stickler to train boys younger than fifteen!"

"First of all, watch your language! You're still a kid!" He huffed at her stern tone, and she could literally see the annoyed rebuttal on his lips, so she continued before giving him the chance. "Second, I like how one minute you pity me for my powers, and now all of a sudden I'm lucky to have them because you somehow think you've gotten the short end of the stick!? Pick a side, you selfish brat! You should enjoy the fact that you don't need to know how to use a weapon, Sota!"

"You had your first lesson when you were eight!"

"Is this about me, or is this about papa?"

"It's about the fact that I feel useless!"

"You don't need to know how to fight to be useful!"

"I might have been able to save you today if I did!"

Oh. Oh.

Kagome took a moment to compose herself, exhaling heat from her tightly-clenched throat as she re-evaluated her younger brother's reasoning for being so mad. She's known how badly he's wanted to learn how to fight, and she's known that he would resent her for multiple reasons when and if he found out the three of them had kept up the training their fathers had started them on. As much as she would have enjoyed including him, it was for his own safety that she hadn't. They were doing something dangerous, and truthfully, it was only in preparation of something even more dangerous. Sota didn't need to be involved in that mess. He deserved to be free of that stress and responsibility. She'd even said Miroku and Sango shouldn't be involved, but that easily went ignored as if she'd never brought up the argument in the first place. Her cousin and she were incredibly close, he was as protective of her as an older brother would be, and Sango was, admittedly, the biggest help of all, being the most skilled in combat, demon knowledge, and with weapons. Without them, their patience, their observations and constructive criticism of how she could better her techniques, and even their willingness to learn alongside her and offer suggestions, she most likely wouldn't have gotten this far. Not on her own.

She felt like a total ass for calling Sota a selfish brat. She'd assumed his point of view was more superficial, when all he really wanted to do was contribute. All he wanted to do was help her when she'd gone and gotten herself into trouble. She knew better than anyone how entrapping it was to feel so helpless in dire situations.

He wasn't looking at her anymore. Sota was defiantly staring at the wall behind her, his arms crossed over his chest to silently communicate that he was peeved. Which wasn't at all necessary. She got the point.

"Alright, I'm with you." Kagome tried. "I understand where you're coming from now."

Sota looked further away.

"I was only trying to keep you safe by excluding you."

Still no response. Knowing she was clear to make an aggravated expression, Kagome slowly and dramatically rolled her eyes, leaning away so her back and head rested against the wooden wall.

"I don't think you're a selfish brat."

"I don't really care whether you do or don't." He finally spoke, but his attention remained diverted. "You always try to dismiss me by calling me names, and it's just your way of neglecting to see my side of things."

Big words for a twelve year-old, Kagome had to admit. And, as much as she wanted to fight him on his statement, to deny his half-true accusation, she bit her tongue.

"You had your first lesson when you were eight." Sota repeated, this time steadier. "I didn't get that. I didn't get that time with papa, the skill training, the confidence, the knowledge, none of it. By the time you were my age, you had something to work with. You weren't really supposed to use your power, and the training papa gave you was more to manage it than anything, I get that. But, even if you take that away, you could still shoot straight. I don't even know the right way to hold a sword. I don't know the first thing about a blade. I don't have the slightest idea how to pull an arrow through a bow and make sure my shot counts. You know what I know how to do? Stand back, stay quiet, and hold mom's hand." He finally looked at his sister, his brown eyes, a degree lighter than hers, deep with animosity. "You don't know the first thing about what I felt today, and you want to call me selfish? You promised not to do anything stupid, and you ran out blindly, started talking about Kikyo like it was a casual topic, and got manhandled by a demon three times the size as you. As if it wasn't traumatizing enough to watch a girl get murdered just a few feet away from me, I almost had to watch the same happen to my own sister within the same timeframe. You talk about feeling horrible for just standing there and watching a stranger get killed, well think about having to stand there while your family is the one being threatened. I understand that you didn't ask for the circumstances that you have no choice but to deal with, but we're riding the waves alongside you, sis, and just because I'm the youngest doesn't mean I don't deserve some consideration."

"I'm not saying you don't." Kagome softly said. "My intentions for keeping you out of it weren't to belittle or disregard you by any means, Sota. I've said it before and I'll say it as many times as I need to: I only wanted to keep you safe. You're my little brother. That's my job. And, what I'm doing is dangerous. And, crazy. But, it's something I have to do. You don't. So, that's why I never wanted you mixed up in it. Yes, you're involved in the mayhem of these inspections, and I can understand how it's frustrating to feel so powerless, but I'm going to be honest with you, no matter how much experience you have, that'll never change. Even the demon slayers can't stop them; you've heard what Sango's dad has said. Miroku can fight, but you watched him take a beating, too. He got it worse than I did, all because he was trying to stop them from hurting me. What would have happened to you?" Kagome shook her head as the idea of her younger sibling getting kicked in the side and pummeled into the wet dirt filtered through her mind. She blinked her eyes shut as if to block the images from coming again. "No. Sota, I can't have you getting hurt like that. I'm sorry that you feel it's unfair that you don't know how to protect yourself, but that's just the way things have to be for now."

Sota had calmed some, she could see it in his face. He was never really the kind to stay mad. Not for long, at least. Sota was the sort who got it out of his system in one swing, and was level-headed enough to see another's point of view thereafter. He took after their mom. Kagome, on the other hand, constantly had her temper pointed out to her. She was definitely more passionate, more dramatic, more hot-headed, and held the thrown for sass in their family. She was her father's daughter.

Kagome scooted an inch or two closer to her little brother, nudging his arm. "You aren't useless. A weapon doesn't define your worth."

"Easy for you to say. You can fight. Apparently, better than I thought you could."

"I mean, just look at what you did for me today. Look at what you did for mama. You're so patient and kind, and you brought me all the way here as quick as you could so I could cry in private. And, I'm positive you did your best to keep mama as calm as possible. You think the act of holding someone's hand through something difficult is simple, but it's not. It's grounding and supportive. Sota, that's a lot to offer. Not everyone has the heart that you do."

"You're corny." He murmured, leaning against her shoulder.

"Alright, I'm done being nice to you." Kagome dully remarked, her attitude quickly shifting, though she was unable to fight her own, small grin. Neither of them moved away, and she allowed him to rest against her, thankful that he didn't mind the mud she was covered in. It was a little late to think about it, anyway; he'd held her earlier, which got some on his own clothing.

The silence between them was comfortable. The thunder was oddly soothing. Her mind was relaxing finally, her nerves returning to their normal state. What once was cushioned with epinephrine and numbness was now beginning to ache and burn. Still, she made no move to head home just yet. Kagome was in no rush to go back to reality.

"You said this was something you have to do. Training." Sota mentioned, his voice somewhat hushed. "Why?"

Kagome didn't answer; not immediately.

"Why, Kagome?"

"You know why. I can't be expected to help fight against Naraku if I don't know what I'm doing."

"Wait, but you're -"

Kagome nodded.

"So, you're really gonna fight?" Sota breathed.

"Yeah."

"When?"

She didn't answer, which was basically all the answer he needed.

"Kagome, are you about to do something insane?"

"I - I am." She confirmed.

Sota sat upright, brown eyes meeting brown eyes. He took a moment, waiting to see if she would explain herself, but as her plush lips remained closed, and her stare held steadfast, he read what was on her mind. He'd been in the room during her countless retellings of this phantom Kikyo telling her the responsibility was theirs. He knew there was a possibility that Kagome would take that to heart. He knew that she wanted to help defeat Naraku. That all entailed the same result. "You're leaving, aren't you?"

Kagome took in a slow, deep inhale, nodding as she exhaled. "Yes."

"Is there any way I can talk you out of it?"

"No."

He sighed, hanging his head for a moment in a defeat that came much easier than she would have ever predicted. "So, when do you guys go?"

"It's actually just me." Kagome admitted, sitting up to match his body language. The ache in her hand was growing, so she unconsciously switched back and forth between twiddling her fingers and clenching her fist to distract herself from the cut that no longer bled. "I know I said the three of us were training for a reason, but Miroku's hurt. And, Sango's not going to want to leave Kohaku on his own. She'll want to wait until her dad gets back. So, I'm leaving tonight. On my own."

Just as she finished her sentence, a huge rumble of thunder roared overhead, shaking the little treehouse they resided in. Sota's attention shot out the door by instinct, drifting back to her as the noise died down. "Of course, you are. At least wait out the storm, will you?"

"Alright, yeah." Kagome scrunched her nose slightly. "I'll wait it out as long as I can."

"You'll come back?"

"I'll come back."

"You promise?" Sota held out his pinky to her.

She couldn't help the warmth that flooded over her, a small smile curving at her lips as she stared at his finger. Finally, she took it with her own. "I promise. In return, you have to promise not to tell anyone. You're the only person who knows I'm going. Keep it that way."

"Gonna be hard to keep it a secret if you're literally missing, sis." He mentioned.

"I meant, until morning." Kagome rolled her eyes. "Don't tell them until I'm gone."

"Deal." Sota begrudgingly obliged, pulling his pinky free. "Come on. We should get back before it starts raining again. Mom's probably doing that thing where she's going crazy with worry so she's smothering Miroku. By the way, he's gonna kick your ass when he finds out."

"Language." Kagome tiredly reminded him, following him over to the edge.

"What are you gonna do? Fight me?" He jokingly mocked, beginning his climb down the rope ladder. Once he was far enough away, knowing she couldn't do anything to him even if she wanted to, he continued his mindless taunting. "I don't care what you say, or how much training you swear you've done, I still watched you get your shit rocked today."

"I'm gonna spit on you, you freaking dweeb." Kagome threatened, inching over the siding of the floorboards as she watched him sway slightly on the rope to hurry down. He knew she was serious, and she liked seeing the panic on his face.

When his feet met the ground, Kagome positioned herself for her own climb down, having to be more careful than before with her hand. She figured, in fact, that climbing up the way she had didn't help her situation any. She may not have felt it in the moment, but it was easy to tell now that the gash was swollen and highly irritated. Kagome had to move slow, hooking her left forearm through the rope instead of grasping it with her fist.

"Don't fall, okay? Be careful. I'm right here to catch you." Sota assured from below. Kagome appreciated the protective offer, but she knew damn well that Sota would be more of a cushion to break the fall since he lacked the muscle - and size - necessary to prevent it.

"You know, your mood swings give me whiplash." She said through stressed breath. "One minute you're nice, the next you're teasing me, the next you're nice, and the next you're yelling at me."

"Yeah, and you're mood swings give me a migraine. So, I guess we're even." Sota countered. It was actually a fair response that Kagome couldn't even argue against, instead bobbing her head back and forth in agreement.

Her boots reached for the ground, and she felt Sota's hands instinctually grasp her low back as she gained her footing. As a silent thank you, she ruffled her brother's hair, notching her head in the direction of their home.

"Will you teach me how to use a sword when you get back?" Sota asked, walking beside his sister. "At least the basics? Please?"

"I don't know what 'bow and arrow' mean to you, Sota, but I'm crap with a sword." She replied.

"But, you have a knife."

"Hate to break it to you, but this is definitely a scenario where size does, in fact, matter."

"What - wow." He laughed.

"I can teach you how to shoot. Or, maybe I'll be able to convince Sango to teach you how to use a sword. She's awesome with one."

"Miroku may be better off convincing her since his tongue is always down her throat."

Kagome was the one to laugh that time, cringing slightly. "You're probably right. Either way, this is only when I get back and if things have calmed down."

"It's you. You're the most stubborn person I know. I know for a fact things will be better when you get back." He said, approaching the front door of their home and stomping the mud off his boots.

"You do?" Kagome smiled, feeling encouraged.

"Well, yeah. You literally won't have it any other way. I'm assuming if anyone tries to stop you, you'll just claw their face off with your unyielding temper." Sota replied, looking at her with a grin as he made a clawing gesture with his furled fingers.

Kagome deadpanned, entirely unsurprised by the last jab he served her. She raised her fist, quickly jerking it back in an empty threat to hit him, and he threw the door open to run inside.

"Oh, thank goodness. You're back." Their mother breathed as soon as they'd appeared, rushing over to them from Miroku's side on the couch.

"Sorry." Sota spoke for the both of them, his serious demeanor returning. "We just needed a moment. I know it was a bad time to run off, but -"

"Sota, honey, don't worry. I understand." Their mom assured. "Are you two okay."

"Yeah." He answered, and their mother's attention diverted to Kagome.

"Yeah." Kagome echoed, giving a curt nod.

"Come here." She walked over, her cold, gentle hands cradling Kagome's jaw as she turned her face about to check for damage. Kagome knew it was fruitless, though. She was filthy. Still, she looked at her as if her vision could see through thick, dried dirt. Her hands glided down Kagome's left arm and to her hand, inspecting the cut on her palm. "Let's get you cleaned up, love."

"But, Miroku." Kagome mentioned, peeking over her mom's shoulder at him. He laid on the couch, his arm planted over his eyes with a light blanket covering most of his body. He was shirtless, looked clean, and seemed almost comfortable, though she could see that a mass of deep red and purple had made home on his ribs.

"I'm on drugs. Leave me alone." He grunted, not even peeking over at them.

"I gave him some herbs so he would be more comfortable." Her mother smiled.

"The strong stuff?" Sota asked, taking a seat at their circular, dining table.

"The good shit." Miroku said.

"Where's Sango?" Kagome asked.

"Well, she wanted to take Kohaku home and get cleaned up, herself. I invited them to stay, especially for dinner, but you know Sango. She's as independent as ever."

"She's fucking hot." Miroku murmured.

Kagome cringed and groaned, eyeing her cousin. His perverted grin was unmistakable, even from behind his forearm. "You're on drugs. Shut up."

"Come on, dear. I just drew up a fresh bath; you're timing couldn't have been more perfect." Her mom pulled her, guiding her to the bathroom where she shut the door behind them.

Carefully, her mother helped Kagome undress, peeling the muddy clothes off of her, overly cautious not to hurt her since she wasn't sure what state her body was in. Kagome, knowing this provided a sense of comfort for her mom - caring for her in her vulnerable state - allowed her to do as she pleased, taking things just as slowly. Truthfully, her aching muscles, now more noticeable than ever, were as grateful for it as she was.

The water was hot as she sunk into the tub, plugging her nose and dunking her head entirely. She took the rag that was offered, gently cleaning off her face and body as her mom took to washing her hair.

"Mama, I'm sorry." Kagome softly spoke through the silence.

"Shh."

"I didn't -"

"Shh." Her mother hushed her again, gently massaging her scalp with her fingers. "All that matters to me is that you're okay. Nothing else, Kagome."

Kagome sighed, leaning back into her mom's touch. "I am."

She bundled up in a towel after drying off, her long, raven hair, though still dripping, beginning to wave as it fell over the front of her shoulders. Her mother once again gently tilted her head back and forth to inspect the damage, running her thumb over her cheek. When she extended Kagome's neck, Kagome couldn't help but wince slightly, the swallow she'd unintentionally done at that exact moment sliding down her swollen throat uncomfortably.

"We're lucky he didn't crush your trachea."

"Yeah, I suppose." Kagome whispered with a wry grimace as her mom released her to look at her hand. Kagome tried to swallow her hiss, but couldn't stop it from sliding off her tongue, her mouth hanging open as her mother stretched out her palm to observe it closely.

"Sorry." She breathed sympathetically. "It looks irritated. Definitely inflamed. I've got the salve out on the table. Let's get you dressed so I can clean and bandage it up."

"Are you gonna have to amputate it, doc?"

"Unfortunately, that is a possibility."

"What?" Kagome's expression shifted to fearful shock, studying the red cut on her hand as her mother giggled.

"I'm kidding."

"You said it with a straight face and everything." She whined.

Her mother merely kept her smile, her fingers finding the ends of her daughter's hair and running them through. During the silence, she couldn't stop herself from traveling higher, twisting the waving locks, fixing her messy bangs, and then combing her now-trembling fingers all the way through the length of her hair again. She'd realized she was fidgeting in a sense, losing her composure, but the fight was no match. Her chin quivered and her bottom lip jutted out slightly as she pulled Kagome into a tight hug and pinched her eyes shut, trying everything she could to keep the terrifying image of her daughter in that little girl's place at bay.

"Mama? What's wrong?" Kagome gently asked, holding her in return.

"Nothing." She lied, though she convincingly held her tone steadier than she felt.

Kagome could feel her fear, her anguish, and the relief that they were together right now. She could understand, much like Sota's disturbance, how difficult it must have been for her mother to witness everything that had happened today. None of it was easy for anyone, so Kagome tightened her grip, sullenly resting her chin on her mom's shoulder.

"Sometimes, I wish you weren't so brave." She finally caved, openly crying, shaking into her firming hold.

It only took that one sentence to bring Kagome to crumble, herself. Her expression twisted sadly and hot tears washed to her eyes, spilling over as she hid her face in her mom's shoulder.

"It doesn't always feel like I need to protect you from the world, Kagome. It sometimes feels like I need to protect you from yourself. How can I do that? You're always ready to sacrifice yourself for others, always ready to fight battles that aren't yours when your own is hard enough. I don't know how to save you from this. Any of this." Her mom sobbed. "I had no choice but to stand there and watch you get hurt, and I just… I can't do that again, Kagome. I can't - I won't…"

"I'm sorry." Kagome cried, voice faltering worse than ever.

"If I could take your place, I would in a heartbeat."

Kagome fervently shook her head against her mother's shoulder.

"I would." She nodded, leaning back and taking her daughter's face in her hands. "I would be able to protect you then. You're my little girl. You're good, and you're pure, and you're feisty, and you're strong, and you're brave, and you're beautiful, and you're resilient, and you're kind, and the world has no business hating you." She wiped her thumbs back and forth over Kagome's cheeks, clearing the fresh tears that streamed down her face while her bottom lip quivered.

Kagome's mother took a deep, unsteady breath, pulling her closer to place a sweet kiss on her forehead before looking into her glossy eyes again. "I know I can't, though." She whispered. "And, I will never ask you to be less than what you are. So long as you stay alive. Please."

Kagome nodded, sniffling, hardly able to see her mother's face through her tears. She could feel the heat building, and no amount of swallowing helped, a dense lump growing in her swollen throat and air clogging in her lungs as if she'd lost the ability to properly breathe. Her fingers quaked and her muscles felt weak, her legs slowly folding to bring Kagome's pitiful figure to the ground. Her mom followed, shushing her, pulling her close and petting her hair to provide as much comfort as possible, but nothing helped pull Kagome out of it. She was lost to the darkness in her mind, the burning in her veins, the image of the young girl still on the ground, cold, bleeding engrained behind her eyelids for her to vividly see.

"I just - I just wanted to save her, mama." She brokenly sobbed.

"I know, baby. I know, you did."

"She deserved to live."

Her mother rocked her back and forth as soothingly as possible, lulling her with a gentle shush as her daughter got the pain out of her system. It tore her apart to know her daughter's innocence could never be spared. She felt nauseous just knowing there was nothing she could do to fix it, or make it better, or heal her broken heart.

"I tried. I - I tried. I tried." Kagome kept repeating, her brain on loop and unable to filter anymore words free. Like a broken record skipping, scratching, on its last leg before the music is shut off.

Kagome's mother wasn't aware of how much time had passed. Quite frankly, it was irrelevant. Her daughter was quiet now, resting her head on her thighs, her towel-draped body curled on the bathroom floor, eyes blinking drowsily as she zoned out. Every now and then, she'd see a tear escape from Kagome's eye and glide over the bridge of her nose. Her own tears had stopped, her cheeks dry, lips tingling from the hum of the melody she continued to comfort her daughter with. She knew and accepted, as difficult as it may be, that there was no physically protecting Kagome from a thing. Not Naraku, not demons, not the world, not fate, and not herself. Kagome was a fighter, and Kagome was the light that made your day better. Kagome was an angel and a beast all in one. And, if all she could offer was her lap, her solace, her arms, and her song to bring her daughter some form of peace, then nothing in the universe could stop her from providing it.

"I am so proud of you, little bird." She whispered, raking her fingers through Kagome's almost-dry hair, thick and wavy and neatly pulled away from her face. "You always try to do the right thing, no matter what. Your bravery may scare me, but that's only because I'm your mother. Your bravery also amazes me. You've grown from this little girl afraid of spiders to a woman still afraid of spiders that will challenge demons without so much as a second thought."

Kagome gave a weak giggle, snuggling just a little closer to her mom. It wasn't often that her mother used her father's nickname for her, but when she did, it was one of the most comforting things that seemingly quieted the world around. The thunder didn't even stand a chance. With the heavy droplets of rain spilling from the edging of their roof to splash in the puddles on the ground, the pitter-patter hitting above them to create a continuous white noise, Kagome was finally stabilizing and grounding down to actuality.

"Spiders are gross." Kagome muttered.

"I agree." Her mom giggled. "Eight legs is just excessive."

Kagome groaned, muffling her laugh. "And, don't even get me started on centipedes."

"The worst of all multi-legged insects."

Slowly, Kagome lifted herself off of her mom, smiling slightly as her mother continued to comb her dark locks from her face.

"Your bangs are getting a little long." She mentioned. "Want me to spruce them up tonight?"

"Please?" Kagome asked, nodding.

She grinned, caressing her daughter's soft cheek. "Let's get your hand wrapped and some food in your belly first."

Kagome finally picked herself off the floor, following her mother out of the bathroom and parting in the small hall where she insisted she was well enough to dress herself. As soon as she shut the door to her room, Kagome released a deep and dreadful sigh, resisting the loud groan that could have easily accompanied it as she braced her weight on the wood of her door. Her decision was easy to make in the moment, while she was pinned to a wall, angry, and horrified, but after watching her mother breakdown, she struggled with it now. Leaving everyone behind for an undetermined amount of time would be extremely difficult. Leaving her mama behind to hurt and worry was the worst feeling in the world.

Because, truth be told, despite the promise she'd made her younger brother, there was no telling if she'd actually succeed.

There was no telling what she'd encounter beyond her village's limits.

There was no telling anything.

Kagome wasn't naive. She wasn't an idiot. She knew she had no idea what she was getting herself into, that there was no direct path to her objective, that there was no given timeframe to count on. Hell, she didn't even know what Naraku looked like.

Overall, she knew that she knew nothing. Other than she had to try.

As heavy as the guilt weighed to upset her mother, her family, in this way, Kagome wouldn't be able to forgive herself for not trying. It was like rolling over, belly up, surrendering to more deaths, more chaos, more abuse and oppression. It made her stomach churn and her heart race. It made her blood boil from the fire building up in her abdomen.

She wouldn't say she didn't care about what happened to herself, because that wasn't true. There were plenty of reasons to tend to her well-being, and no matter how reckless she naturally was, she vowed then and there to be as careful as she could. Leaving didn't mean she was going to parade her powers about, nor openly proclaim that she was a conjurer. She was bold, not stupid. She would be cautious, watch her step, mind her P's and Q's, but take no shit when it came down to it.

Fine line, thin line, grey area and all, this was the best Kagome could offer right now.

How was it possible to be so dead set and confident on a decision while second-guessing yourself? Kagome could feel these negative thoughts slithering through her mind, reminding her that she wasn't as physically strong as Sango, and she wasn't as clever as Miroku. Running aimlessly through a region of unknown was idiotic, and she would be lucky if she wasn't killed within two days. The loudest voice of all told her that she would never be able to take down Naraku on her own. And, she was a fool to think otherwise.

Kagome took a deep, steady breath, sighing out even slower as she tried to ease those thoughts away. She busied herself, lighting the candle on her nightstand for some extra light and dressing in some comfortable pajamas.

"Is this what you want?" She quietly asked herself, staring at an empty bag she'd splayed on her bed. When she pictured herself putting the bag away, saying no, and walking out of the room, she felt wrong. It felt wrong. When she pictured herself packing it with some clothes and necessities that could only be saved for last minute, she felt terrified. But, it felt right. "Yes."

So, she discreetly went about her room, collecting a few items of clothing to alternate through, especially undergarments, little things she may want along the way, like something to tie her hair back with, a brush, and the fresh box of matches in her drawer. Her bag had plenty of room leftover, which was planned, and she tucked it under her bed - next to which she placed a pair of dark pants, a green blouse, and her most comfortable, short bodice. As far as materials were concerned, Kagome was ready to go.

She stopped as her fingers gripped the handle of the door. Her decision, though right, was nerve wracking. She felt sick, scared, discouraged, and she wasn't even on her way yet. The thoughts, the plaguing negativity, like a flashing, red light going off and distracting her from her objective, were what was deterring her strength. She needed to silence them, needed to sway them for good.

You aren't as strong as Sango.

No. She wasn't. That was a straight fact and there was no competition. Sango was a badass, came from a line of badasses, and lived by the motto, "kicking ass and taking names." She was fast, though. Kagome was nimble and reacted almost as well as Sango would. She deserved credit in that area.

You aren't as clever as Miroku.

That was only somewhat true. Miroku was sixty percent brains and forty percent brawn. Sure, he was smart. Kagome, on the other hand, was resourceful. Miroku was cunning, and Kagome was witty. Miroku could talk others into doing something, while Kagome could talk herself and others out of trouble. Together, they were a pretty good team, but they could still survive apart.

You're going to get yourself killed. You don't even know where you're going.

If she was meant to do this, then she'd pull through. But, she'd rather die trying than accept life as it is. Kagome could figure this out. By no means did she believe any part of this would be easy, but she refused to believe it wasn't possible.

You will never be able to take down Naraku on your own.

Kagome let that one sit for a moment. It wasn't to let it eat at her, it was more to feel it out. Would she? Honestly, when she pictured it happening, the scene was a blur. Naraku was there, he just didn't have a face or a body. Kagome could feel it though, the sensation overwhelming in her gut. She would, no doubt, meet Naraku at some point or another. The only thing was, peculiar as it may be, she wasn't alone. Her intuition was showing her not just one, but a number of people at her side. All of them ready to end things with this horrible, wretched demon. It may be the conjurers, but something told Kagome to wait and see. So, she gripped the knob of her door a little tighter, a little more confident. The thought gradually became impertinent. She wasn't worried about facing Naraku alone, because she wouldn't be alone. From what she'd like to guess, to hope, far from it.

"Don't touch it, Sota." Kagome heard her mom say as she wandered out toward the living room.

"But, he said he couldn't feel it." Sota responded.

"For real, Auntie! I can't feel a thing." Miroku declared. "It's like magic."

"No, it's like medicine. Eat your soup."

"How much did you give him?" Kagome asked skeptically as she joined her family, side-eyeing her cousin as he smiled goofily from his spot on the couch. She was surprised to see him sitting up, and even more surprised from his apparent bleary state that he hadn't dropped his bowl yet.

"Well, I might have given him a dash more than what's recommended." Her mother sheepishly replied, hiding her face as she scooped stew into a bowl with her ladle.

"A dash?"

"A pinch."

"How much is a serving?"

"A - um - tablespoon?"

"Mama, why was that a question?"

"Mom, how much did you give him!?" Sota guffawed, leaning forward over one of the chairs at the table.

"Look, he doesn't feel any pain, so as far as I'm concerned, I gave him enough." She defended, cheeks a deep shade of pink.

Both Sota and Kagome failed at biting back their humor, doubling over from laughing so hard. She glanced at her cousin, her complacent, happy, clueless-looking cousin and sauntered his way.

"Hey, buddy. How's it going?" She sweetly asked, giggling.

"Pretty good." He nodded, grinning wider. "Definitely can't complain. This stew is delightful."

Kagome bit her lip, bating her breath as she turned on her heel to look at her mom. "Mama, he said 'delightful.'"

"Yes, I heard him."

"To die for." Miroku dramatically added.

Kagome resisted her knee-jerk reaction to take the loosely-gripped bowl from his one-handed grip, seeing he was clutching it just tight enough to keep it from spilling. She bit down on her bottom lip harder, trying as hard as she could not to laugh as Miroku took a long and loud slurp of food off of his spoon. Behind her, she heard her little brother snort into his arm, trying to stifle himself, too.

"How you feeling? A little high?" Kagome queried.

"High? No, I'm sitting."

She lost it then, laughing so hard she wheezed, clutching her sides and folding over again.

"Alright, alright, that's enough." Kagome's mother sighed as she set two bowls of soup on the table. "Yes, your cousin is heavily medicated but at least he's comfortable. Now, come eat, please."

"Hey, mom, can I have a pinch over a serving of whatever was on his menu?" Sota asked, taking his seat and gesturing to Miroku by pointing his thumb over his shoulder behind him.

"You may not." She said, unamused.

"It's for science."

"Yeah? Tell me one scientific thing you know." She tested, her level expression holding strong.

Sota froze, mouth hanging agape as he pondered, his brown eyes drifting away from his mother as he grew nervous. "Uh, rain - rain comes from clouds."

"Mhm, good job. Eat your food." She dismissed. She pulled out the chair next to Kagome as she sat at the table, bringing the disinfectant, salve, cotton balls, and bandage wrappings closer. Once Kagome got situated, swallowing what remained of her laughter and pulling her bowl of stew closer, she ushered for her left hand.

"It can wait, mama." Kagome said. "You should eat, too."

"I would feel much better knowing this was taken care of first."

"Then, I'll do it myself. You don't have to worry." She stated sincerely, but with the slightly sad slant of her mother's eyes, she regretted the innocent suggestion immediately.

Who was Kagome to deny her mother a simple, tender, and loving act that would most likely, in turn, provide her with a sense of comfort? As much as Kagome didn't want to think of the circumstances of their evening, or the happenings of their day, it played a significant role in the lack of glimmer in her mom's eyes. She couldn't prevent the harm that Kagome endured today, but she wanted to clean up the mess.

Steadily, Kagome turned her wrist palm-up and slid it over the wood of the table toward her mother. She let her do as she pleased, once more studying the inflamed wound while Kagome minded her own and blew on the spoonful of stew in front of her mouth. She was lucky that she hadn't choked as she gasped at the same time she'd taken a bite, hearing the sizzle from the disinfectant while her mom continued to use a generous amount on her cut.

"I hope they don't make this sort of inspection a habit." Her mother grumbled.

Kagome kept her mouth shut, feeling like her mom was passed the sad and disturbed stages of the incident, and had transitioned to the angry phase. Her mom wasn't the type to outright express her frustration. It was more visible in her body language and the deeper set tone she'd carry. She often busied herself with something, like cleaning or cooking, in an attempt to either distract herself or keep from coming off harsh in any manner. It was a classic way to dissipate her anxiety so she could come out of it calm and collected. Kagome figured tending to her hand was a two-birds-one-stone sort of deal.

She swallowed the stew on her tongue, allowing the heat from the meal to glide down her throat. It was slightly painful, but simultaneously soothing. She knew it wouldn't be a comfort like hot liquid to a sore throat would be when you're down with a cold, but it was still mildly satisfying to feel it go down. She avoided the large chunks of meat for the time being. She knew her mom would be happier if she ate everything in her bowl, but swallowing anything more than liquid right now just wasn't appetizing.

Kagome peeked over at her little brother, not at all surprised to find him looking back. He held a wary look in his eyes, a brow slightly cocked, and she knew it was due to the way their mother had leaned her face just inches away from Kagome's wound, little huffs of agitation coming from her nostrils as she paid close attention to clean every little centimeter of the surface. It wasn't big by any means. Sure, it was larger than Sango's, but her hand, itself, was relatively small as it was, and the gash went from the center toward the side. Maybe two inches at most, and angled crookedly. There was no way into their mother's head, but Kagome was willing to bet she was being diligent for her own peace of mind as well as the fact that Kagome had not only gotten a good helping of mud in the cut, but also another's blood. It was important to be thorough, and Kagome wasn't about to complain. Not with the life of her palm in her mother's hands.

Sota made a very subtle gesture at Kagome, one that wouldn't catch their mom's peripheral vision. He pointed in her direction then made the "OK" sign with his fingers, asking if she was alright. Kagome responded with a tiny nod, fighting back a wince when her mom tightly wrapped up her hand from the base of her fingers to her wrist after slathering it in ointment.

"Not too tight?" Her mom inquired, giving Kagome her hand back.

"Nope. It's perfect. Thanks, mama."

"Does it hurt?"

"A little, but it's bearable."

"Okay, love." She stood, kissing the top of Kagome's head. "Eat as much as you can. At least some of the vegetables, please. I'll make some tea. I want you all in bed soon."

No one had an argument for her. Not even Sota. It was typical of him to want to stay up, but tonight, no matter what the time actually was, it felt exceptionally later. Again, Kagome found herself looking over at him, unsurprised to find him returning the stare. The end of their night also meant their goodbye. And, she could see the uneasiness in his eyes. How could she convince him that everything would be alright? How could she make him drop the obvious concern so the rest of their family wouldn't notice and ask what was wrong? The only thing she could think to do to rest his anxiety was to smile. So, she did. Kagome gave her brother a small, reassuring grin, but all it worked to do was make his eyes fall away. Much like their mother, he busied himself to hide his emotions, bringing his bowl up to his face to drink the remainder of his broth.

The tea was like heaven, the hints of chamomile and honey the most comforting to her throat. The house had grown quiet, the tension from outside beginning to trickle in. Miroku rested his back against the arm of the couch, still seemingly pain-free. He'd only taken a couple of sips of his tea before closing his eyes and releasing an unsteady sigh, and Kagome wondered if there was a bit of discomfort he wasn't showing, if the medicine was making him drowsy, if he couldn't stomach anything more, or all of the above. Sota, Kagome, and their mother all continued to sit at the small table, embracing the silence. Much like she'd expected the moment the demons left their village, there wasn't always going to be something that could be said. There wasn't always going to be something that could make them forget, because there was no possible way to do that. What had happened - the terror, agony, heartbreak, and failure - it all was going to demand to be recognized.

The thunder had calmed momentarily, the rain still falling, though not quite as hard. And, as if the universe was working to solidly confirm that Kagome's initial assumption was correct, a dreadful, broken, gut wrenching cry was heard from several homes over.

Kagome's attention shot toward their door, her heart dropping into her pelvis. It was the mother of the conjurer grieving, releasing her sorrow, and Kagome could only imagine the horrible feeling of having to inhabit a house where her daughter could no longer dance around, and play, and laugh, and bring the joy a nine year-old girl naturally does.

She missed the thunder immediately. She missed her cousin's natural instincts to lighten the mood with terribly-timed and inappropriate jokes. She missed yesterday when this misery had yet to exist.

"Oh, your bangs." Kagome's mom said, louder than her typically soft tone, as if to both busy herself and distract them all from listening to the crying. She decidedly spoke every word that came to mind, announcing her thoughts and letting them fumble off her tongue to keep her children's attention as she stood from her seat and wandered about the room. "Now, where did I put those scissors? You know, when Miroku still trusted me to cut his hair, I thought it'd be a good idea to use a bowl to shape it. I honestly don't know what I was thinking. I pictured it coming out as this neatly-tousled look since his hair naturally holds some waves, but that was certainly not the case. Miroku, you remember this, right?" She paused for his answer, turning around from the little drawer she rummaged through to find her nephew giving her this distasteful grimace.

"Do you realize we almost went fifteen years without mentioning that?" He muttered.

"Oh, hush. It wasn't that bad." She dismissed with a meager wave of her hand, going back to shifting about as she sought out the scissors.

"You gave him a bowl cut!?" Sota chuckled. "No wonder he doesn't trust you to cut his hair anymore."

"No, no, that wasn't the kicker. Tell them, Auntie. Tell them what you did to me." Miroku grumbled. He was groggy, his body feeling stiff and heavy as he melted further into the couch, the medicine leaving his head and flowing through the muscles of his arms, torso, hips, and legs. But, he knew what his aunt was trying to do, and this was all he could offer to contribute to the conversation and keep words flowing to help drown out the crying that haunted their town.

"I - uh - oh! Here they are!" She said brightly, presenting the scissors. "I accidentally missed."

"Missed?" Kagome asked.

"I missed." Her mom nodded.

"She missed." Miroku confirmed.

"What did you miss?" Sota asked skeptically.

"The hair - his hair. I missed - I missed his hair. Um, you know how I take the strands in between my fingers and trim the ends beneath? Well, instead of that, I went above. Above my fingers. By a lot."

"Wh- how!?" Kagome pressed.

"I was a little distracted. And, apparently, your cousin knows how to hold a grudge."

"Well, Auntie, how about I give your hair a trim and we call it even? No pun intended."

"Hah! How about not."

"What were you so distracted by?" Sota asked.

"Your father. He was - uh - talking to me."

"He was shirtless, you heathen!" Miroku shouted, his voice cracking from the emphatics.

Kagome stifled her snort, her attention landing on her mother's reddened face, who could only give an awkward grin. She started laughing at both the embarrassment on her mom's cheeks and the fact that something like that had ruined Miroku's hair and trust.

"Oh my god, is that why you wore that hat for, like, two months straight!?" Kagome asked, her mouth hanging agape.

"She had to even it out the best she could while both of our dad's laughed, and let me tell you, the style did not suit me." Miroku replied.

"I thought it was cute." His aunt shrugged.

"Well, you would. It was your handiwork."

"It was more that your cheeks were so round, and your head was so big, so super short hair really helped make it pop."

"Hey! I did not have a big head!"

"Yeah, you did." Both Kagome and her mother chimed synchronously.

"Awe, man. No fair. I don't remember any of that stuff." Sota groaned.

"Sorry, Sota. I think that happened when Miroku was, what? Seven?" His mom said, unsure.

"Eight." Miroku corrected.

"Right. So, Kagome would have been five or six, and you would have just been born."

"Actually, I think you were still pregnant with the munchkin. Explains why you were so thirsty for -"

"Ah! Okay, no! I was not thirsty, first of all! Second, how are you still so inappropriate right now? Go to sleep! Kagome, let me see your bangs." Her mother directed, clearly flustered and ending the subject there.

Kagome couldn't help but back her seat away as her mama approached to sit beside her, the wooden chair legs scraping against the wooden floor. "I'm gonna have to ask you to calm down first, thank you very much. Considering how easily distracted you've been proven to be, I'm not sure this is such a good idea with your current state."

"Fine. Sota, would you do the honors?" Her mother sarcastically asked, sliding the scissors across the table.

"Gladly." He grinned.

"Wait! No! Why would he do it!? Why would your first suggestion be to hand the scissors to him!?"

"Would you like me to trim your bangs?" Her mother cocked a brow, a slightly proud smile curving her lips.

"Yes, please." Kagome grumbled in defeat, scooting her chair back to where it was and presenting the hair at the front of her brow.

"That's what I thought." Her mom giggled, taking the scissors back from her son and kissing Kagome's forehead. "Sota, go hop in the bath, please. I want you clean and warm before bed."

He nodded, rising from his seat, and as he went to walk by, she stopped him, pulled him down by his arms, and planted a sweet kiss to his head, as well.

Steadily, she spruced up Kagome's bangs, even going so far as to shorten up the little layers she'd given her a while ago at the sides of her face to frame her jaw. Her daughter was serene beneath her touch, fully trusting, and she thanked the tea and the loudening rain for soothing Kagome's nerves from what they were in the bathroom.

The crying from the mourning mother was, once again, drowned out for the most part. Now and again she could be heard, and quite frankly, she felt the mother should be heard. She should be heard all over the country, the world, and her cries should echo in the ears of the demons who had the gall to take her baby from her. Her wailing should be the only thing they're sentenced to listen to for the rest of their days, and if they have ever done this to another, all those mothers should play over each other. Like an infinite ringing of misery for only the assailants to hear. She could imagine their prideful smiles at first, but like anybody else, they would eventually fall to their knees and beg for the agony to end.

They had the audacity to call humans selfish. Humans, at least, had hearts.

"There. All done." She grinned, placing the scissors on the table and dusting the trimmings of dark hair from Kagome's shirt. Gently, she cupped her daughter's cheeks, staring into her big, brown eyes for a moment before leaning forward and kissing her forehead again. "Let's get Miroku into bed."

"Don't worry about it, mama. I'll get him. I can handle it." Kagome said, turning around to glimpse at her resting cousin.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Alright. I'll make him a little mixture that'll help him sleep through the night. I'll be in the room in a moment."

Kagome stood from her seat, sauntering over to the couch were she softly rubbed her fingers over Miroku's sternum. He didn't move, so she tried again, whispering his name. When he didn't rouse that time, she tapped his collarbone, knowing, for whatever reason, that he hated being touched there. Miroku cringed, like a shiver was running down his spine, and squished his shoulder up closer to his ear to stop the weird sensation.

"Hm?" He grumbled.

"Come on, time for bed." Kagome continued to whisper.

"Why can't you ever wake me up a normal way?" He asked as he very slowly began to sit up, his voice raspy.

"Because, I don't want to." She replied simply, noticing his slight flinch. "Are you in pain?"

"Don't ask."

"Too late."

"It's not that bad. It comes and goes because of the medicine."

"All depending on your positioning, huh?"

"Yup."

"Alright, let me help." Kagome extended her hand to him, and when he took it, she gripped it tight, pulling it closer to her chest for stability, and firmly grasped his elbow with her other. "Ready?"

He nodded, taking a deep breath and holding it in as he pushed his legs to stand and she yanked him up the rest of the way. It was all he could do to swallow the gasp of pain his throat went to release by reaction, only allowing an airy hiss to glide from his lips. He wrapped his arm over Kagome's shoulders once his feet got situated beneath him, knowing she could handle the weight he braced on her. His muscles just weren't working with him - whether it be due to discomfort or just a lack of mobility. He blamed the medicine for the latter. He felt lightheaded as soon as he was vertical and had to really take a moment to shut his eyes and gain his bearings. His cousin was patient though, standing still, holding him up with only minor swaying, and waiting for him to initiate the walk forward.

With only a few stumbles here and there, Kagome managed to get Miroku into his and Sota's shared room in one piece, slowly and carefully lowering him onto his bed at the far end. She helped him get situated beneath the covers, making sure he was comfortable as he allowed his body to sink into his mattress.

"Mama's gonna come in with more medicine for you." She said softly. "Bet you miss your high now, huh?"

"It was short-lived, I'll admit." He chuckled.

She giggled in return, taking a moment to find the matches and light a candle in the corner of the room for just a little extra light.

"Hey," Miroku spoke. "Come here."

"I wasn't leaving yet." She mentioned, shaking the fire of her match out, setting it in the trash, and walking back over to him. Cautiously, Kagome sat on the edge of the bed beside him, giving a meager smile.

"How are you?" He asked with sincerity, and it was clear he was referring to what had happened earlier that day.

"Don't ask." She said.

"Too late." He bounced her own reply off of her.

Kagome couldn't find it in her to give an answer to that question. She felt an immense amount of guilt for everything going through her head, for her decision to head out on her own, and especially for the beating he'd taken earlier. He was down for the count, while she was the one who'd gotten him into that trouble. Yet, she was perfectly fine, walking around, with only a soreness in and on her neck and a throbbing headache that would, no doubt, go away quicker than the ache in his ribs.

"Are they broken?" She asked, avoiding his own question.

"Don't know. I don't think so, but we gotta wait for the doc to determine whether they are or not."

Kagome nodded in acknowledgment, bowing her head and eyes for a small moment before looking back into his dark blue irises. "I'm sorry."

"I knew that was coming." Miroku chuckled. "Shut up. You know I don't blame you."

"It's my fault."

"Is it?"

"Yeah." She shakily replied.

"So, you were the one who kicked me repeatedly?"

Kagome winced at the visual.

"You were the one who ordered the demons to attack me?"

"Miroku -"

"You were the one -"

"I get it. No." She interjected, stopping him from taking her mind back to the scene.

"But, it was because you ran out in the first place that the whole thing happened, right? That what you were gonna say? And, also because you mentioned Kikyo, which was how the whole thing escalated so drastically?"

"Is it wrong?"

"Yes and no." He stated with a shrug of his brow. "I mean, would I have gotten my ass kicked if you'd stayed in line? Maybe not. But, that's much worse, in my opinion. That means we all would have just stood by and watched. It's almost as bad as the culprits if you think about it. And, you mentioning Kikyo isn't that out of pocket. I probably would have done the same thing if I were in your shoes. Saying something like that, as impulsive as it may have been, and as dangerous as it had proven to be, doesn't put you in the wrong. You had solid and good intentions. You didn't expect anything that had happened today, so get your head out of the toxic mindset that I know it's sitting in. Focus on what I'm saying, okay? I ran in to try to get him off of you because you're my family. I'm going to protect you the best that I can. Not once did I think, 'Oh man, there goes Kagome, getting herself into trouble again.' My thought process was, and still stands, that they had no fucking right to touch you. The only thing going through my head was to make sure he didn't kill you. And, I took an ass whooping because I wasn't strong enough to handle them. Apparently, brute strength isn't my forte."

Kagome couldn't stop her little laugh from escaping. She shook her head, her little grin remaining as she bowed down to rest on her cousin's chest, not quite placing much of her weight on him.

"You know damn well that if I felt something was your fault, I'd tell you. Bluntly." Miroku mentioned, rubbing her arm.

"I know." She giggled again. "But, I still feel bad."

"Well, stop."

"On it." She grunted sarcastically. As if it were that easy.

"One more thing, and this is the most important part, okay?"

"What?" Kagome asked into his chest, feeling it was safe enough to place a little more weight on him when he hugged her, pulling her closer so he could whisper in her ear.

"Not a single one of us knew there was another conjurer nearby. Don't you dare begin to think that there was anything you could have done to prevent her death."

Slowly, very slowly, Kagome pushed herself to sit up. It probably wasn't the hardest thing to do to guess one of the most plaguing thoughts on her mind - she really wasn't a difficult person to read - but it was still a thing Miroku could easily point out, even in the most difficult of moments.

"You and your frankness." She sighed.

"You're gonna be fine, Kagome." He reassured her, noticing the way her brown eyes couldn't meet his. "We all are. This won't last forever."

Kagome nodded, not able to respond before her mother came in with his next serving of medicine. She used the moment to lighten the mood a little, giving her cousin a side glance.

"Have fun in your coma."

"Ha - haha - ha. So funny." He remarked, cringing at the ill-tasting mixture of ground herbs coming his way.

She wished him goodnight then slipped out of the room, sauntering to her own and getting comfortable on her bed. It wasn't too long before her mom came in to turn things down and make sure she was comfortable. Kagome had to put valiant effort into not making her emotions obvious when she was hugged close. She had to remind herself not to hold on for longer than normal, or cling tighter, or become the least bit shaky, knowing this was the last time she'd see her for a while.

If not the last time ever.

Kagome took a steadying breath, forcing that negative thought from her mind, and when her mama looked at her, she was as composed as ever. Those bad thoughts had no place seeping through. If she was going to do this, which she was, she was going to have to be as strong as possible.

"Goodnight, Kagome. I love you."

"Love you too, mama." She smiled, enjoying her warm touch before she left the room, leaving the door cracked.

It was only moments later that a small knock on her door greeted her, bringing her attention back over as her younger brother snuck through, quietly closing it all the way.

"Hey." Sota whispered, seeming uncertain where he lingered. Kagome knew what he'd shown up for though, so she crawled out of bed. It's almost like her welcome served as his initiative, and he moved forward, somewhat hurriedly, meeting her halfway and colliding straight into a hug.

His arms wrapped firmly around her sides, fingers gripping into the back of her shirt as his cheek pushed uncomfortably into the bone of her shoulder. He didn't care. Sota only pulled his sister closer, unable to take a full breath from the frazzled nerves that kept him from letting her go just yet.

"Come back."

"I will." Kagome responded softly.

"Be safe."

"You, too."

Sota somehow managed to pull her even closer, holding her as tight as his arms would allow. "I mean it, Kagome. I know you can do it. So, prove it."

Kagome appreciated the challenge. He knew it was something that got her heart sparking and the gears in her mind turning to find solutions.

He felt the nod she gave, her own arms matching his fervor as they wrapped snuggly around his shoulders. "And, you're sure there's no way I can talk you out of this?"

Kagome giggled lightly, shaking her head. "Come on, you're really gonna say that after giving me encouragement?"

Sota chuckled, himself. "Worth a shot." He said, finally releasing his sister and taking a step back. "Do you have everything you'll need?"

"I think so. I should be good."

"Do you know what you're doing?"

"Isn't that the question of the century." She stated more than asked, the sarcasm clear on her tongue. Broadening her shoulders, Kagome leveled her expression, her brown eyes locking with Sota's. "Look, I need you to do some things while I'm gone. You're going to have to be strong. Don't worry about having to be strong enough for the both of us in my absence; I don't want that pressure on your shoulders. But, you'll still need to amp it up a bit, buddy. Keep mama safe, and help Miroku with the heavy duty stuff - he won't be able to lift things for a while. Things are going to be tense when they find out I'm gone, so expect a spike in stress levels, okay?"

"Okay." He gave a curt nod.

"Help mama. I know this is going to be hard on her. Tell her I love her. Please."

"I will."

"When and if Naraku's men come back, whatever you do, do not bring attention to the fact that I'm missing. Hopefully, they won't even notice, but I made the mistake of standing out today so there is a possibility. If they do happen to notice, make something up. Tell them I'm out at the market or something. You know the drill. And, lastly, I need you to take care of yourself. You can't help if you're sick or hurt. Mama would be devastated if anything happened to you, and I'm not going to be around to protect you. So, here's your first lesson in fighting: prioritize your safety and wellbeing. Can you do that?"

"Yeah." Sota appeared to have stood up taller as he said that, nodding again as his brows twitched with determination. "What about Miroku?"

"He can't do much in his current condition. Hopefully, he'll be back on his feet soon, but as of right now, he's out. We're covered with wood and food for a while, and Sango and Kohaku will be more than happy to help out - and most likely will without even being asked - but that still means you'll have to compensate here and there. When it comes to Naraku's men, he can take care of himself, but he can't step in for anyone at the moment. Just - I don't know - do whatever you feel is the smartest thing depending on the situation. You're pretty clever, so I have faith in you. I'm assuming once Miroku's back to normal, or close enough, he'll be on my tail."

"I figured that, too. Good luck whenever that happens."

Kagome let out an overwhelmed snicker. "Thanks. I'll need it."

"Anything else?" He asked, seemingly taking mental notes on everything she tasked him with.

Kagome took a moment to rack her brain, unable to come up with something off the top of her head. She kept opening her mouth to say something, her tongue clicking, but she'd stop herself every time because she'd realized she'd only be repeating herself. Resolutely, she shook her head.

"Right. Well, I've got things covered here, sis. You don't have to worry about it. Just focus on your goal."

"Big words." Kagome grinned, admiring her younger sibling. "I'm not worried about a thing. I trust you." She saw his shoulders widen at the confidence she presented him with, observing how his smile was one of pride. "Remember what I said, okay? This is officially your first bit of training."

"Right."

"Good. Now, go back to bed. Mama's still awake, and she might notice you're up soon." Kagome said, ruffling her brother's hair.

"Okay. I guess this is goodbye." There was a slight waver in his lips, in his tone.

"No." Kagome gave a scrunch of her nose. "I'll see you later."

"See ya." He mouthed, the whisper of his tongue hardly notable. Sota gave her one last glance before slipping from her bedroom, shutting the door on his way out.

Kagome listened to the rain with as much contentment as was possible in the anticipating moment, the thunder never returning from it's earlier pause. She felt they were on the latter half of the storm that would soon calm and clear away, and figured it would only be another couple of hours before she could slip out and begin her unnerving adventure. Laying her head against her pillow, she got comfortable, eyes on the dancing flame of her candle as she busied her efforts to keep the nervous thoughts at bay. She wondered where she was meant to go and what, exactly, she was meant to do out there. What did Kikyo mean by this being their responsibility? Were other conjurers actually in the mix? Would she meet them soon after leaving here? Or, was she bound to be alone until joining the group immediately before their fight with Naraku? Additionally, how soon was that fight going to be? Tomorrow? Next week? Months from now? Sometimes, Kagome felt that not knowing the answers was the worst form of lack of control to exist.

But, then the earlier thought returned to her mind. What if there were no other conjurers? It didn't mean that there were no other surviving conjurers out there, it was more like she was the only conjurer Kikyo was in communication with. Was that the case? For some horrible reason, Kagome had the gut wrenching feeling that it was true. When Kikyo said "ours," she meant Kagome and herself. It didn't make sense, though. Why? What about Kagome attracted Kikyo's undivided attention?

It was an idea that Kagome told herself over and over to put to rest. There was no use in figuring out someone else's thought process. There was no use fighting for control over something she didn't even know how to gain control over. There was only flowing with the process, trusting it, and figuring things out along the way. What was stronger than the gut feeling that she may potentially be the only conjurer Kikyo was referring to, was that things would eventually sort themselves out. Things would be okay. She just had to take it all one step at a time.

As soon as she'd closed her eyes, Kagome found herself at the base of the tree line at the back of their house. It was dark, barely drizzling, the mud beneath her feet more of a liquid than a clumpy mess of wet dirt. She was dressed in what she wore earlier that day, her hand bleeding, dripping of her own and the child's blood. Her cheek still stung from the slap she'd received from that monster, her throat aching with the reminder of each finger he'd wrapped around her neck, and her head a confused and clustered mess of unsorted thoughts. She was soaked through, shivering from the anxiety and the cold, and when she looked through the break in the trees, as dark as it was, she saw a woman's figure looking back at her. She stood beside the rope ladder that led to the treehouse Kagome and Sota's father had built for them, her fingers hooking around the rope to make it swing.

Kagome blinked profusely, trying to make her eyes adjust faster to the lack of light, trying to make her eyes focus on each detail of the woman several feet away from her. She had skin as light as pearl, the curves of someone a little more mature than she, eyes that were too dark to catch a shred of a glimmer but still, somehow, held the evidence of someone who'd seen too much for her age. Her hair, long, ebony, straight, hanging loosely over her shoulders and down to her hips was the dead giveaway. Kikyo. It was Kikyo.

"You." Kagome breathed.

"Wake up." Kikyo said, walking closer. She was dressed in perfectly-fitted pants, a tucked and loose blouse - so loose, it looked like she may have taken a man's shirt and made it her own - and leather boots that met her knees. Over her shoulder sat a leather quiver filled with arrows, a bow strapped right next to it.

"What?"

"It's time to go."

"Go? Go where?"

"Kagome, stop asking questions."

"You know my name?"

"Of course, I do. I know plenty about you and what you offer; you should know that by now. Now, I need you to listen to me very carefully."

Kagome held her breath, waiting for the words this powerful conjurer was about to say. Her stomach twisted and knotted, her lip trembled with nerves she couldn't fight, and all aching in the rest of her body went silent. This was surreal. It was the clearest she'd ever seen Kikyo. It was the loudest she'd ever heard her. This wasn't a pre-recorded memo delivered to her unconscious state; Kagome actually felt like she was living out this moment.

"It's time to go."

Kikyo stood at the edge of the tree line. At the edge of the forest. Her dark eyes locked with Kagome's, not a single thing about her unsteady, unsure, or fragmented.

Her lips parted once more, her tone more demanding and direct. "Wake up. It's time to go."

Kagome gasped, eyes shooting open as she stared at the weakened fire of the candle she'd never blown out. Had she fallen asleep? For how long?

She listened carefully, taking in her surroundings. There was barely any sound of rain, the house was painfully quiet, and the world outside seemed at peace. Still, her mind was loud, energetic, alive with Kikyo's statement. It was time to go.

Kagome got out of bed, lowering to her knees to reach beneath and pull her things forward. Hastily, she dressed in her chosen outfit, tying her bodice securely and then shoving her feet into the boots beside her closet to pull up and sit snugly mid-calf. In her little mirror, she fixed up her face and ran her fingers through her hair, feeling as satisfied as one could feel in a spontaneous moment to leave.

And, it needed to remain spontaneous. Kagome couldn't allow herself a moment to look back at the room, the house, and bask in the nostalgia and happy memories. If she did, the doubt would only have a crack to seep back through. Kagome couldn't allow herself a moment to wish her family well and say goodbye. Spontaneous meant now, and now it was. It was time to go.

Silently, Kagome pushed her window open after strapping her bag over her shoulder. The air was nippy and she wished she'd thought to grab her cloak, but it hung in the entryway of their home. There was no easy or worthwhile way to grab it. She'd be fine. It wasn't winter, so no matter what, she wouldn't freeze to death. Kagome climbed over and out, hanging onto the windowsill until she knew her feet would meet the ground without slipping from beneath her.

It was like the action of leaving simultaneously stole the breath from her lungs and gave her vigor. It was terrifying and happening, but nothing was stopping her right now. She kept her sloshing footsteps as quiet as she could, making her way around the siding of their home and toward the back where she'd seen Kikyo.

She wasn't there. Kagome wasn't all that surprised, but the dream had seemed so vivid. It was like the conjurer had literally stood just feet away a mere moment ago, and yet the gap in the trees remained as empty as ever. Still, Kagome pushed herself to follow through, resisting the fluttering sensation in her chest to turn around one last time. To give a mental goodbye. She couldn't.

Somehow, walking through the forest line felt like she was walking through a barrier of sorts. She'd traveled through numerous times, but this time was different. It was like passing through a wall, the boundary holding everything back but her, signifying the beginning of whatever Kagome was bound to face.

She walked up the little path, her eyes still wandering about, looking for Kikyo. When she'd caught something moving to the left in front of her, her attention snapped that way immediately, surprised with the sight of the rope ladder gently swaying. There was no wind to be had, the drizzle of the ending storm barely making it through the treetops to freckle Kagome's cheeks.

"Kikyo?" She asked, her voice still raspy from the damage she'd taken - and, she figured it would remain that way for a few days at the very least.

No answer.

"Kikyo, are you there?" Kagome tried again, approaching the ladder and grabbing it to stop the rhythm.

Silence.

"Where do I go?" But, as soon as the question had left her tongue, she felt in her core that she knew the answer. She had a plan to head to the cave they'd always trained at on the far outskirts of the village. That's where they'd hidden their supplies for the day they'd eventually leave. That's where her bow and arrows were.

Kagome headed that way, her pace quick. There was no way in hell she was about to be alone in the dark, traveling the woodlands without a weapon to keep her safe. The entire way there, and especially as she got closer, she kept her senses alert. If there were demons around, she needed to be careful. Thankfully, she felt absolutely nothing in the air. She was safe. So, she ran through the entrance of the cave, traveling toward a nook, and pulling out the bag.

She found herself mentally apologizing to Miroku and Sango for, what felt like, thievery. Hopefully, if they ever decided to come after her - which was a terrifying thought, because she couldn't imagine her cousin going easy on her when they caught up - they'd think ahead to restock. She could imagine them being impulsive, grabbing the items, and heading off without realizing she'd taken some important things, but knowing Miroku, as smart as he was capable of being, he'd realize Kagome wouldn't walk out empty-handed.

The medical supplies were on the top of her list, so she fished them out and transferred the kit into the bag she planned to carry. Then some dried food they'd recently collected, because she really wasn't the best hunter. She could catch fish pretty well, but when it came to land animals, for some reason, it was a completely different story. The half-full water canteen was next, and she went ahead and took a sip of it before sliding the bottle to sit at the side of her bag. Kagome shoved her hand to the very bottom of the sack, wriggling her fingers to find the handle to something that must have gotten buried beneath everything else by accident. When she felt the cold end of the metal butt, she grasped for it, pulling free the small hunting knife that used to belong to her father.

It was something he'd always carried on him, something he'd purchased before she was even born, and when his ashes were buried, she'd not-so-subtly stolen the knife away so it wasn't taken with him. She slipped the sheathed blade into the side of her boot, moving her leg around so it fit comfortably in between.

There was a pocket on the inside of the bag, and she reached in, pulling out a pouch of money they'd raised together doing little side jobs around the area and even outside of town. That one she felt the worst for taking, but there was no way she could do this without something to fall back on. It was for emergencies, and she would be frugal. Once Kagome had grabbed all that she'd come for, she walked to the opposite side of the cave. Behind a large rock, safe and tucked away from plain view, sat Sango's sword, Miroku's staff, and Kagome's own bow and quiver of arrows. She carefully made sure the other weapons didn't fall as she pulled hers free, adjusting the quiver and bow to sit securely over her shoulder.

Feeling confident that she had all that she needed, Kagome headed out. Without stopping to figure out a direction, she let her feet and gut lead the way, careful of her footing over rocks until she met the muddy path that guided her deep into the forest. It was still pitch black out, the moon hidden behind thick clouds that once roared over their village. Kagome couldn't move as fast as she wanted at the moment, her eyes refusing to completely adjust, and therefore having to mind what she walked over carefully.

She walked until light began to show over the distant mountains, a very patchy, blue and grey glow greeting the new day. It had been hours and Kagome was fatigued, willing to bet she'd only dozed off for a short amount of time before she left her home. The morning smelled of dew, the clouds above her were thinning, little sections beginning to break away for the first time in several days.

The ground wasn't as wet here, having apparently managed to travel far enough away from the center of the storm. Her heels didn't sink into the earth, and the air didn't smell of rain. Hadn't in miles. She felt no demonic or dangerous forces around, didn't hear the wake up call of the animals, and knew she was safe and alone.

The mere thought of wandering further at the moment was exhausting. She'd gotten far enough away from her town, and didn't recognize a single thing around her. So, she located a small clearing a little ways off of her path, one that seemed dry and cozy enough - relatively speaking, of course. She gathered wood and kindling that wasn't wet, which was a feat on it's own; she was ready to give up before she found enough to start a little fire for warmth. And, as Kagome got it going, bathing in the heat it provided as it grew to a moderate size, she leaned back against a tree, snuggling up to herself. Honestly, she'd meant to stay awake. Her intentions were merely to rest until she could gather enough energy to continue on and find an inn of some sort far off. Evidently, her eyes had a plan of their own; a more domineering plan. They grew heavy, they stung with weariness, and they closed of their own accord, dragging Kagome to sleep.

—

Boots clapped against the ground, amber eyes, illuminated and daring, locked on their target. He smiled crookedly, tongue gliding over his fang while he shrugged his brows. His silver hair, held back in a high ponytail, swayed to the side as the hanyou cocked his head slightly, his sword braced over his shoulder.

"Why'd you run?" Inuyasha asked.