Shards, Miko, Hanyou, and Daiyokai
Hello! Thank you for your wonderful reviews, follows, and likes. 😊
With that said, here is the list of ages for the characters in this story:
Kagome: 18 years old
Inuyasha: *
Sesshomaru: *
Rin: 11 years old
Shippo: *
Sango: 19 years old
Miroku: 21 years old
*Please keep in mind that knowing what age the yokai are is extremely difficult considering that the Inuyasha manga/anime is a contradiction of itself at the end as far as age goes. Yokai obviously age differently. Sesshomaru has lived for hundreds of human years, but he doesn't look any older than maybe 19 or 20. It stands to reason that most yokai don't measure age. I really would prefer not to give Inuyasha, Shippo, Kouga or Sesshomaru an age at all considering that it is understood from the manga/anime that they have lived a long time. As far as maturity goes, you can't really place a number on that either because every single person matures differently, and I'm sure that it's the same with yokai whether they are hanyou or not. No one knows for certain exactly how old Sesshomaru, Shippo, Kouga, or Inuyasha is. Nowhere in this story is their age gonna be mentioned. I would also like to say that if at any point during this story there is anything sexual... all parties are of age to decide if they want something like that to happen. At least for the purposes of this story.*
This chapter is going to be told in Kagome's POV.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.
Chapter 4:
I woke up the next morning feeling comfortable and warm. I looked down to see Rin and Shippo hugged close to me. They seemed comfortable and happy to be together. I was worried that Rin would feel bad about what Inuyasha had said the day before. She is such a nice girl and well mannered. I would hate for Inuyasha to make her feel bad. I slowly slid out from under the covers careful not to disturb the children too much. I walked over to the fire pit and started a fire, so that it would be ready to cook breakfast and so that I could make tea for myself. After I finished preparing the tea, I stepped outside. Sesshomaru was walking out of the woods close to Kaede's hut.
"Good morning, Sesshomaru. How is everything at the Western Fortress?" I inquire politely.
"Good morning, Miko. Everything is going well at the Fortress. I trust you have an answer for me about yesterday's conversation?" Sesshomaru looked at me with a questioning look in his gaze.
"I discussed it with the group and they agreed that it would be alright to have Rin in the group for a while. Rin seems comfortable enough with the situation. I would like to ask a question, if you don't mind?"
Sesshomaru shook his head after I finished speaking to indicate that he didn't mind my question.
"Why did you choose me to teach Rin?" I ask cautiously.
"This Sesshomaru has noticed, over the last few moons that we have been traveling, that you are very protective of the kit. You also took it upon yourself to mother the kit after he lost his parents. It takes great courage and strength to try to raise a full-blooded yokai. You have been successfully protecting the kit thus far and have proven yourself to have a strong character. You are the role model that Rin needs to learn from, so that she can grow into a woman," Sesshomaru was gazing at me with a strange look in his eyes.
He looked to be fighting with something internally. Instead of asking, I merely thanked him for his observations and continued to drink my tea. Sesshomaru sat down gracefully with his back to the wall of Kaede's hut, and I took a seat beside him. Inuyasha walked up to us carrying a skinned boar. He dropped it at my feet and turned to look at his brother.
"I guess you will be traveling with us then," Inuyasha said gruffly before walking inside.
After a few more seconds of silence I start talking.
"I was expecting more of a fight from him, honestly. He said that it was unusual for you to want to train someone like me, and I have to agree with him. You're essentially helping me learn how to kill yokai," I glance over at Sesshomaru as I speak.
"This Sesshomaru is helping you learn how to defend yourself against enemies of any kind whether it be human, yokai, or something else entirely," Sesshomaru corrected me with a stern look on his face.
"I apologize, Sesshomaru. I was merely saying that it is odd that you would help me learn how to fight being that I am a miko and you are a yokai. Others may talk if they see you helping me," I finished my tea after I spoke.
After a few seconds of waiting and no answer was forthcoming from Sesshomaru, I stood up and walked into the hut to get my knife and the wraps that I used to hold the freshly cut up meat. I walked back outside and proceeded to cut the boar with efficiency. I had to learn how to cut up the meat for us to eat on occasion. It seemed unfair for Miroku or Sango to have to do it all the time. Inuyasha insisted that he did enough by hunting and skinning animals that the rest of us should pick up the slack. Before long I had all the meat ready to cook. I stacked it on my wrap before I got up carry the carcass to the forest behind Kaede's hut to deal with later. As I came back around to the entrance, I grabbed the cut-up meat to carry inside with me. It was then that Sesshomaru spoke up.
"What you are doing for me is well worth the implications if someone were to see us," Sesshomaru spoke quietly enough that I would hear but no one else.
I paused a moment before walking to the hut and opening the flap to walk into the hut before pausing to look at Sesshomaru. I vowed to myself that I would think about what Sesshomaru had said when I had more time.
"Would you like to join us for breakfast?" I ask holding the flap open for him to walk in.
"This Sesshomaru has already eaten, but this one will come in with you," Sesshomaru answered following me into the hut.
Sesshomaru sat down next to Rin and Shippo. I noticed Shippo was awake and sitting beside Rin quietly. I sat on the other side of Rin and Shippo. I nudged his little arm with my elbow before giving him a smile. He smiled back at me showing his fangs. A short time later I noticed Sesshomaru shook Rin's shoulder gently to wake her up.
"Good morning, Rin. Did you listen to the miko while this one was gone?" Sesshomaru asked her quietly.
"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru. Rin wasn't expecting to see you so soon," Rin whiped her eyes and smiled toothily at him.
Sesshomaru pat her head a couple times and then let his hand drop to his lap. I started cooking the boar in the meantime while I noticed Sango, Kaede and Miroku getting up. They put away their sleeping stuff so that they could sit next to each other by the fire. Inuyasha was sitting on the far wall with his sword leaning against it.
"Good morning Kagome and Lord Sesshomaru," Sango greeted cheerfully.
"Ah yes, good morning, Kagome. Did you sleep well?" Miroku asked casually.
"I slept fine, Miroku. Thank you for asking. Good morning, Sango," I answer as I watch the boar cook.
After a time when no one spoke Sesshomaru broke the silence.
"This Sesshomaru is grateful that you are allowing the miko to teach Rin," Sesshomaru announces.
I can't help but stare at him in shock. This is completely unusual of the normally stoic and quiet daiyokai. I couldn't help but notice the shocked stares of Miroku and Sango. It would have been hilarious if it weren't for the situation they currently found themselves in.
"Y-you're welcome, Lord Sesshomaru," Miroku recovered first.
"We are more than happy to help Rin in any way we can, Lord Sesshomaru," Sango said quietly.
"Keh! Suck ups," Inuyasha griped from his spot against the wall.
"I need to go back to my home and get some supplies for Rin and Shippo. Shippo told me that he was getting close to the age that he would have to leave to go to Kitsune school. I want to teach him some of the things I want to teach Rin in case... Well, we really don't know what's gonna happen once I make the wish on the jewel. I want to do all I can while I can," I finish brightly trying to hide the fact that I am saddened that I can't control what happens when I do make a wish on the jewel.
I don't want to lose my friends. I don't want to lose my family either.
"This one will walk with you to the well once you are finished," Sesshomaru spoke up interrupting my thoughts.
"Thank you, Sesshomaru," I respond.
When the boar is finished cooking, I give everyone their share and we eat in silence. As soon as I am finished, I grab my bag and motion to Sesshomaru that I am ready as I walk out of the door. Sesshomaru follows me out, and we walk in silence to Inuyasha's forest.
"Miko," Sesshomaru grabs my arm and makes me stop once we are a little ways into the forest.
"Yes, Sesshomaru?" I ask as I look up into his face.
Sesshomaru releases my arm and takes a step back to give me my space before he answers.
"This one wants you to be back by the end of the day."
I nod my head to him in answer before remembering that I had wanted to ask him about Ah-Un. I hadn't noticed him if he was around, so I wasn't sure if Sesshomaru brought him back from the Western Fortress.
"Could I ask that you bring Ah-Un with us? I would appreciate his help with carrying my things. That's if you don't mind. It would also be helpful to have a place for Rin to ride should she get tired of walking. She is still young."
"It is a good thing that Ah-Un is already here," Sesshomaru said by way of answer as he began walking again.
We continued to walk towards the well in silence. As we approached it, I sat on the edge and looked at Sesshomaru. I realized that I never actually told Sesshomaru where it is I come from so falling into the well might come as a quite a shock.
"This well brings me back to my time. My home is 500 years in the future. When I was first dragged here by Mistress Centipede is when I found out that the well acts like a portal from my time to this time. I just wanted you to know that I realize it is a dry well, but the magic keeps me from hitting the bottom. You'll see once I jump in," I explain the well to Sesshomaru as calmly and as quietly as possible so if anyone was listening, they wouldn't be able to overhear.
"Alright, Miko. This Sesshomaru shall be here to meet you when you come back. This one would like to help you with your things," Sesshomaru answered after my explanation.
"Please just keep in mind that not many people know about the well and the only person who has ever been able to go to my time besides me is Inuyasha. My time is very different from this era," After a few seconds of sitting quietly I whispered," I better go or I'll never make it back."
I swung my legs over to sit with my feet dangling over the inside of the well.
"Your secret is safe with me, Miko. Now go. This one will be here when you get back."
Without a backwards glance, I jump into the well. The magic of the well comes up and surrounds me in blue before I land softly at the bottom of the well in my time.
"Kagome, you're back!" I hear a voice call to me as I work my way up the ladder.
***This chapter is kind of short. I wanted Sesshomaru and Kagome to have the conversation about the well as a means to show she is starting to trust Sesshomaru just a little bit.***