Chapter Thirty-One

Twenty minutes later found both females in a clearing, baskets nearly full of various herbs and berries. They had made small talk, comparing their everyday lives. While Kagome busied herself with her herbs and prepping for the rainy season, Bai had been dealing with the Ape King as well as rude females.

As well as growing closer to Muir, which made Bai feel guilty as she knew it was wrong to get so close to someone who wasn't her mate yet Curtis had yet to show up. Kagome bit her tongue on the subject and instead tried to steer it away from the girl's love life.

"You mentioned you introduced a few people to rice flour and wood oil...have you showed them how to make other things with rice and wood oil?" Bai nodded, her eyes lighting up as she began to list off a few of the other things she had shown those who were willing to learn.

Kagome smiled, it would seem all of Bai's teachings were food-related and it amused her. Bai was quite the foodie it would seem.

"Oi, Kagome Shuu said you wanted to see me?" Kagome blinked at the female voice, turning to face Rosa as she entered the clearing, Bart by her side. Shuu must have sought out Rosa after he had left her earlier that morning, not that it was a bad thing, just that the subject she wanted to talk with the other woman about was not one that she wanted Bai to overhear.

Kagome blinked as Rosa let out a small hiss, her gaze beyond her shoulder. "What is she doing here?" The pure venom in her voice made Kagome blink, she had never heard that tone of voice from the other female. Turning to glance at Bai she could only blink as the younger girl seemed to shiver before plastering a small glare on her face, her lips turned into a scowl.

Uh oh.

The tension between the two was nearly visible.

"Uh, you two know each other?" Oh, how she wished she hadn't asked.

Both women began speaking at the same time, voicing their dislike and annoyance for each other which started a small argument. Feeling a headache begin to build she held her hands up and cleared her throat. "Woah, Woah.. hang on. One at a time please!"

Bai was quick to speak up. "She's the one I was telling you about. She hates me for no reason!"

Rosa snorted, crossing her arms under her chest. "You're after a male I've had my eye on for years! Of course, I'd have a problem with you!"

Kagome blinked, that was news to her...the only other male she knew Bai to hang around with was Muir...was Rosa after Muir? "You're after Muir? I thought you didn't like avain beastmen?" Rosa had voiced her aversion to those who were able to fly. Instead liking those who were more grounded, literally.

Rosa blinked, Muir? Who the hell was that? "I don't want no stinking bird. I'm talking about Parker! He's the son of the leopard king, our families have been close for years. Yet here she is trying to steal him away!"

Kagome's world seemed to screech to a halt at that, her mind playing and replaying Rosa's words... "Wait, what?!" She narrowed her eyes at Rosa and Bai, "Parker is my mate so why would he be after Bai?"

Rosa froze, her eyes widening, Parker was Kagome's mate?! That was news to her! Narrowing her eyes at the two females she felt her confusion give way to anger. "What do you mean! Parker isn't mated...he's been going after Bai, she told me so! One of you is lying!"

Kagome wanted to snap, yet instead forced herself to take a deep calming breath. Something wasn't adding up here and she had an idea it stemmed from Bai's habit of bending the truth. "Look, we all need to calm down, there's no point in snapping at each other and getting worked up. It's not good for your pups Rosa."

Rosa blinked, the concern Kagome had for her and the pups growing inside her made her pause. There was no reason for Kagome to lie to her, everything she knew about the other female made her pause and relent. She wanted to rage, to snarl and continue to argue but knew she owed her...friend...the respect to sit down and talk out whatever misunderstanding they were all having.

"Fine." Her voice was chipped as she glared at Bai, she didn't owe that bitch anything and would direct her ire towards her.

Bai shrunk back as if struck yet kept her mouth shut.

"Look, I don't know what's going on, just that Parker is my mate, so I have no idea how you've come to believe he's pursuing Bai. Plus I'm not trying to be rude but he's never mentioned you to me and I was sure to ask if he had anyone else he was interested in before we became mates." She had been very vocal about him not having any hang ups before she even considered letting what she felt for him bloom. She did not want to find herself in another love triangle...

Rosa blinked a bit taken back that Parker had never mentioned her...maybe he really hadn't been interested in her despite their shared past? Maybe just maybe she had misread the signs...even so she knew for a fact that Bai herself was the one who said Parker was seeking her out so if the girl was truly Kagome's friend why would she start such a rumor?

Rosa's eyes went to Bai, who shrunk back at the glare the woman had, "Then why are you lying about who is pursuing you? If you are her friend you would never spread such lies. To say such things when he is mated...do you have no sense!"

Kagome blinked hearing Rosa rip into Bai, a small part of her was amused by this, but knew she should stop her before Bai decided it would be smart to try to fight a pregnant woman. She saw Bai move forward, hand poking into Rosa's chest.

"You don't get to yell at me for things you don't under..."Kagome grabbed Bai's hand and pulled her away from Rosa. She was not letting the two fight not when Rosa and herself were pregnant. Kagome didn't want to get in the middle of a fight, and Rosa also didn't need to be in a fight in her condition.

"Stop it. She is pregnant so don't start poking or pushing her." Kagome told Bai, she didn't care who it was, if they are pregnant, you don't put your hands on them. No matter how much you disliked a person. She saw Bart move over to Rosa's side giving a nod to her in thanks before Kagome's attention went back to the younger human.

"Second, we are going to have a long talk later on what you have been saying to people." Kagome glanced around and pushed her powers out so she could see if Muir was around. Pinpointing him she gave a sigh in relief.

"Muir!" Kagome called out and a few seconds later Miur was standing a few feet away from the small group.

Kagome sighed, "Can you take Bai home. I don't need drama today. I will come talk to her at a later date."

Muir glanced at Bai, who had the look of betrayal on her face as tears came to her eyes. Muir put his hand on the small of her back as he lead a sniffling Bai way, saying something in low whispers to her as she gave small nods in return. Kagome didn't want to know what he was saying to her, but as long as he gets her to leave...that is all that matters.

"I do not feel well enough for this today.." Kagome whispered as she closed her eyes rubbing her eyes in pain as she felt a headache start to appear and her body was tired. She wanted to go home and sleep, the stress from the day piling up on her.

"...Kagome?" Rosa asked concern on her face as she looked the girl over. Kagome did look tired but nothing else seemed wrong.

"Are you alright?" Rosa didn't have any ill will to Kagome. She had been kind to her, she had never asked who her mate was...if she had asked Rosa would have might not made a friend with her.

"I'm fine...it just has been a long day. I already had an argument with Parker this morning...then Bai came over unannounced wanting to talk and hang out..." Kagome pushed some of the stray hairs out of her face.

"I have a lot of preparations to do before leaving to go to our old village to gather some belongings to bring back..."Kagome sighed again, ready to be done with the day. She was just so done and all she wanted to do is cry.

Kagome could feel the tears well up in her eyes and pushed them back as she looked at the purple-haired woman, "I didn't know anything about what is going on...and if you think I did...I apologize now..."

She liked Rosa. The two of them had been getting along great and hoped nothing ruined that for the future. She would miss her if this would be the last time the two really talked. Maybe keeping to herself would be a good thing to do in the future.

Kagome didn't need any more drama in her life...and people seem to bring drama so she could do without.