Chapter 15

Homecoming

Koga felt he was stuck between relief and irritation. That arrow had been too close for comfort and the humans glaring all about them was an open invitation to attack. However, Kagome had stepped between them, blocking any chance they had of retaliating to the aggressive greeting.

Koga prepared himself to snatch his woman back if any of the humans dared to tighten the string on their bows. But, the old crone of a miko stepped further into the light when Kagome called to her, squinting the one eye she had in piercing concentration.

"Kagome?" the crone called in hopeful suspicion. "Be that ye, child?"

Kagome nodded with tearful abandon. "Yes, Kaede," she yelled back. "It's me."

Immediately, the priestess leveled her bow, her one eye locked in warning on Koga.

"Move away from them, child," she instructed quickly. "Whatever hold these yokai have on ye, we can help. Ye'll find we're not as helpless as we were before."

Koga snorted in derision. So much for the warm welcome.

"Kaede, wait!" Kagome called, raising her arms in defense. "They're my friends and came with me at my request. Please. They just want to help."

"It's true," the male, Hojo, shouted from Koga's other side, causing the Alpha's teeth to clench in barely contained resentment.

To think the day would come when Koga needed a simpering rival male to speak up on his behalf.

"They have been traveling with us for days," he continued. "They're only here to help us."

"Hojo," the old miko called in confusion. "Be that really ye?"

"Of course, it's me, Kaede," the male replied. "Just as it's really Kagome beside me."

The sudden prick of claws in Koga's palm snapped him from the red haze the claim the human male's words induced. He had to keep it together. Calm.

These villagers were already ready to attack. The slightest move could mean disaster to them all.

"It could be a trick, priestess," one of the humans beside the old miko whispered to her. "It is known both Hojo and Kagome came from here."

"How about me?" Sango called as she stepped forward.

"The taijiya," the grey priestess breathed before lowering her bow. "Lower your weapons! They are what they claim to be."

All at once, every arrow was dropped to the ground, causing Kagome and Sango to breathe a sigh of relief. However, Koga wasn't so easily placated. He could see the warning and suspicion in the villagers' eyes.

A quick glance towards his two betas told Koga they noticed the same thing. They'd be prepared.

Without a word, both quietly flanked Kagome; staying far enough back not to provoke attack from the villagers but close enough that they could defend their Alpha's woman should the need arise. For that, Koga was grateful.

The priestess, apparently not wanting to waste any further time, immediately stepped forward and wrapped her arms about Kagome's neck in a tight embrace; one Kagome didn't fight as she buried her head into the old woman's draping sleeves.

"Tis good to see ye, child," the crone soothed like she was petting a skittish colt. "Ye've been missed greatly."

A choked hiccup was Kagome's only response as she gave into the comfort of the old priestess' arms.

Koga shifted his eyes to the ground as he swallowed the lump in his throat. He didn't like seeing her this way. It stabbed at his heart and there was nothing he could do about it. But, he wouldn't deny Kagome what comfort she could get from the old woman. Even if she was currently leveling the one sharp eye she had on his with a confused scrutiny that had all his hackles rising in preparation.

He wouldn't start a fight but, if the old woman wanted to go, he'd meet her head-on.

Keeping an aged arm wrapped about Kagome in comfort, the priestess turned to face Koga directly, her eye never breaking contact with him.

"I hear ye are who I have to thank for keeping Kagome save," she replied calmly but tense.

Koga nodded tersely. If she was going to try and send them away, this withered old crone had another thing coming!

However, the priestess merely nodded decisively. "Then, let us offer you our hospitality," she stated. "We don't have much but, as long as you are among us, you are our honored guests."

"Priestess," one of the men argued before Koga could answer one way or the other.

"Yes, what is it?" the priestess asked with a tense calm that had the Alpha fighting the urge to straighten his spine at attention.

The old woman was formidable.

"The village elder won't like this," the human muttered uncomfortably.

The derisive snort from the priestess was a surprise to Koga. "Then, tell him he can take it up with me," she retorted with a shake of her grey head. "What? Shall I call his own son a liar?"

The male, Hojo, suddenly reddened in embarrassment, causing Koga to chuff. Again, this male was a saving grace to him. One he didn't even need!

Unfortunately, if it got the humans willing to not try and chase them off, he'd have to take this bitter brew and swallow it. He just hoped he didn't choke on it!

SSS

Kagome was grateful for Kaede's understanding as she stood up for Koga and the others to the men of the village. She knew Kaede would be hesitant but her confidence in Kagome's word meant a lot to the younger priestess.

Plus, it was better than nothing.

"Ye will be taken good care of," Kaede promised towards Koga's tense form. "It is the least we can do for your care of our Kagome."

"An ookami always cares for the pack," Koga answered, eyes leveled on her own in silent challenge.

Kagome swallowed as she worked her hands at her side, the nails digging slightly into the skin. Why did she feel so nervous all of a sudden?

"I see," Kaede replied evenly. "Of course. We value family here, as well."

Kagome didn't know what to make of the response from her old mentor. It wasn't what was said but, the tone was so self-assured. Like she knew exactly everything she needed to in the situation and already had a plan of action. A good trait in a priestess but….was that to their benefit or danger?

"Speaking of which," Kaede continued as she turned to focus on Kagome. "There are those who will want to see ye, child."

And, just like that, everything that she had worried about; all the stress and the fear and concern over what will happen, just stopped. All that had clouded Kagome's mind dissipated like mist as the realization hit her full force.

Her family. For the first time in years, she could see her family.

Unable to hold herself back any-longer, Kagome pushed passed Kaede and made for the edge of the village as fast as her legs would take her.

She didn't even need to think to watch where she stepped as she maneuvered over hidden bumps and ruts in the worn path through the trees. She knew the way blind. Had since she was a child picking wild-flowers with the other village girls to help replenish Kaede's supply.

Kagome's heart started to pound as she caught sight of the familiar thatched roof beyond the trees.

Her mother had always used it as a marker to know when Kagome had wandered too far. When she couldn't see the roof anymore, she needed to head back. And, just as when she was rushing to avoid a scolding from her Grandpa, Kagome pumped her legs to run as fast as she could.

This was it! She was returning home. To her mother and grandpa. And, Souta. She had to see them again.

All the adrenaline rushing through her came to a screeching halt as Kagome cleared the forest. The familiar scratch, scratch, scritch of her grandpa's old broom filled the calm air as Kagome stared at a scene that looked as if time itself had stood still.

Before the simple but clean house, Kagome watched as her grandpa's small stooped form brushed the front of their door with a meticulous concentration that would put a monk to shame. How long many times had Kagome woken to see this very thing? How many times had she complained about the noise and told her grandfather to stop; that there was no way he could possibly make the front of their home any cleaner?

Even now, Kagome could hear the miffed sniff he would give her and the thin voice that would tell her a miko should be more respectful to her elders. That a clean threshold was the best way to keep evil spirits from their door. That she should honor their family's traditions and not complain.

The lectures would annoy her to no end. But now, it was the only thing she wanted more in the world.

Her grandpa's grey-haired head popped up to look suddenly in her direction about the time his broom ceased its methodical movements. Kagome swallowed the emotion bubbling up her as she raised her hand to greet him but he only rushed back inside the house on the heel of his foot.

Kagome barely had a moment to wonder what was going on when another familiar form rushed to the door.

All composure she thought she had, every scenario in her mind, went completely blank when Kagome saw her mother rush towards her, arms opened to her. Tears misted over her eyes as she lunged into her mother's arms, shoulder's shaking with the force of her relief.

"Welcome home," her mother's soft voice whispered warmly in Kagome's ear.

It only increased her tears as she clutched her mother with the intensity of a child. She couldn't let her go. Not now. Kagome didn't know if she ever would be able to again.

"Did you have a good journey?"

Kagome hiccupped with a laugh as she cuddled closer to the one woman she'd needed for years but never knew it. Count on her mother to talk like she'd just been a village over.

Kagome nodded. "Yes, I did," she answered sobbing.

"Good," the older woman replied with a warm smile. "Would you like to come in and introduce your friends?"

Kagome blinked in stupefied shock. Her….friends?

"YOKAI!"

The sudden screech from her grandpa had Kagome startling in her mother's grip. Turning sharply she watched as her grandfather suddenly rushed Koga and the others, yelling like a mad-man and tossing handful after handful of some sort of soot on the scrambling ookami trying to make out what was going on.

Kagome knew the scene should worry her. She knew she should probably ask Koga not to gut her own grandfather or to tell her grandpa that Koga and the others weren't there to kill her. But, the whole scenario was just too familiar, too ridiculous, too…..right to what she knew.

Instead, she struggled to keep hold of a laugh jumping in her throat as she watched the ookami duck, bob and weave to avoid the filthy powder her grandfather was trying to toss on them in the effort to "purify them of their evil" and send them away.

"Well," her mother said pleasantly. "It looks like Grandpa is already starting to welcome with your friends. Perhaps we should ask him to welcome them less."

Kagome released the giggle bubbling up inside her as the tears in her eyes shifted to pure joyful mirth. Yes, she was definitely home.