To court a miko Chapter 3
Kagome returned to camp and was surprised to see water by a roaring fire.
Kagome looked around the camp glancing at each of her compainions saying "Sango you did wonderfully with the camp, thank you." She smiled at her and headed over to the place where she put her vegetables bag. "It's no problem Kagome, what did Lord Sesshomaru want?" Sango asked curiously.
"Oh, he asked if I could teach Rin-chan until he can find another tutor for her. So I'll teacher as I teach Shippo. Did you find anything else we can use for dinner?" Kagome asked as she started pulling out vegetables for their dinner. "No I couldn't. Jaken helped Miroku find the stream but that is all we could find. I'm sorry Kagome." Sango said as she frowned. Kagome looked up and sent her a reassuring smile. "That's okay, we'll just have some vegetables and the rice we bought. Did Inuyasha leave?" Kagome looked around the branches above the camp where the hanyou would be residing.
"Yes he did Lady Kagome." Miroku said as he came into camp, arms laden with more firewood. "Oh well. More food for everyone else! Haha" Kagome smiled big as she giggled. She pulled out the cutting board and her knife while Sango wiped the dirt off of the vegetables with her kimono and a damp cloth. Kagome chopped up the vegetables and tossed them in the pot with the water and rice.
"Lady Kagome, do we have any of that jerky left to go on the side of our dinner?" Miroku asked as he busied himself shining his staff.
"No, Im sorry Miroku. Were running low on everything right now because I haven't been able to run back to my time. Maybe we should set up some traps and go hunting tomorrow for some meat and fish and we can dry it. Then we can keep it and have jerky and meat for a long while." Kagome pondered thoughtfully as she cut up the vegetables. Pausing in her preparation she asked "Jaken-sama, would you let me to prepare you a bowl of food as well? It isn't much, but it is better than nothing."
"Ah, yes please. A vassal of Lord Sesshomaru certainly builds up an appetite." He replied, while bowing his head and fiddling with his staff.
"Alright then, I'll be sure there is enough for you as well." Kagome smiled at the bashful toad. Just then, Lord Sesshomaru came into the camp carrying a large deer. Carrying it over, he presented it to Kagome. She however, was so focused on chopping the vegetables for everyone that she did not notice that the lord was right beside her. Shippo looked between his okaa-san and the lord and realized she didn't notice him and the lord was getting frustrated. "Okaa-san, look!" "Yes, what is it Shippo?" Kagome looked up and around as she searched for her son. Seeing his finger pointing behind her, she turned and saw the demon lord with a deer draped over his arms as if he was trying to hand it to her. She looked at him in shock and said "Goodness Sesshomaru, is that for us?"
Nodding his head in the slightest tilt was her answer, and Kagome burst into a glorious smile. "Thank you very much Lord Sesshomaru! This is wonderful! It will be enough for everyone in our group for a good long while if we cure it right. This is wonderful, it is so large! Ive never seen one that big, it must have been very difficult to take down." Not answering her comments with more than a slight nod, Lord Sesshomaru took the deer over to the far edge of camp and began to clean it. 'I shall lead them to my cabin and tan this hide. Perhaps I'll give it to the miko for her and her kit to stay warm. She seemed very pleased with this Sesshomaru's catch.' Sesshomaru's mouth tilted ever so slightly into a smirk, that one would see if they were focusing closely on his face. Holding out one of the filets from the deer, he called his vassal.
"Yes milord! I shall take this to the Lady Kagome immediately!" grasping the meat offered quickly, he waddled over to Kagome. "Lady Kagome, Lord Sesshomaru has sent me with this gift of meat for the dinner tonight."
Kagome looked up in surprise and looked at Jaken, taking the meat from him and setting it on the cutting board, she sent a smile of thanks to Jaken for bringing it. She glanced over at Sesshomaru with an appreciative grin. "Thank you Lord Sesshomaru. My knife would not have been able to make such a beautiful cut. I am very grateful for the assistance." She bowed her head towards him and returned to preparing their meal.
Once she had completed putting the necessary ingredients in the pot on the fire, she turned about the camp observing her companions.
"Miroku, if you have a moment, could you please set up the tripod over the fire so we can hang the kettle? I think some nice herbal tea will go wonderfully with dinner tonight."
"Of course Lady Kagome, Im glad to be of assistance. Sesshomaru glanced over at Kagome as he set more thin cuts of venison on a plank to be dried. 'This should be plenty for our pack. The monk seems to be useful. I have not yet seen the demon slayer do much to assist in the readying of camp and meals however. Perhaps some lessons are in order for her as well.' Turning his eyes to Rin, he called her over to take the meat plank to Kagome to begin drying by the fire.
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The clearing was small. It was lit by the soft glow of the fireflies and music was orchestrated by the crickets nearby. Inuyasha padded his way through the thick underbrush, stepping out onto the mossy forest floor. Kikyo was resting between several tree roots, using them as support for what looked like her battered limbs. "Kikyo." Inuyasha said quietly as he slowed his pace as he neared her.
Kikyo looked up at the intrusion to her quiet, seemingly surprised at the unexpected guest. "Inuyasha." Pain evident in her voice as it trembled. "Kikyo, what is wrong? Where are you injured? What happened?" Inuyasha rushed towards her and gingerly took her hand into his own, helping her sit up into a more comfortable position. "I was attacked and was injured. I am healing as we speak, however it will take time." Kikyo said sadly, leaning her head back trying to ease some of her pain while closing her eyes.
"Who attacked you? What can I do to help you?" Desperate to bring her some comfort, Inuyasha brought her closer to his chest. "It was Kagome and the others.. She attacked me with her arrows and tried to take my soul.." She admitted, tears slipping from her eyes and sliding down her cheeks. Sending Kikyo a confused look, as he pondered out loud. "Kagome? She couldn't hurt a fly, she's so weak." 'There is no way she could have pulled off this much damage on Kikyo..' he added in his head.
"Do you doubt me Inuyasha? Do you not believe me? You must love her very much to protect her.." Kikyo looked down at her lap again, hiding her eyes and face. "I could never doubt you Kikyo.. It just doesn't seem like something Kagome could do." Inuyasha said his ears drooping down in discomfort. Trying to explain to his love that Kagome was unable to hurt much of anything, she wasn't strong like she was.
Kikyo's head snapped to look at his face. Anger radiating from her form she screeched "OF COURSE SHE DID THIS TO ME! How could you doubt my words Inuyasha! She wants me dead so she can have you all to herself!" Inuyasha looked away, pinning his ears to his head. He retreated into his thoughts for a moment, 'Kagome.. attacked Kikyo? She is injured.. And I don't see a reason why she would lie about being attacked by Kagome. So, she must have attacked her..' Shaking his head, he decided he wouldn't ponder more about it, and would try and help Kikyo heal more. "Kikyo, would you like me to get you some water? Your waterskin looks to be empty." Kikyo nodded slightly, "Yes, I am quite parched. I haven't been able to make the journey to the stream." Inuyasha took her waterskin from her and walked through the forest a bit until he found the stream Kikyo was talking about. His ears picked up Kikyo mumbling something but couldn't make out what she was saying. He filled the waterskin quickly and strode back to the clearing. As he entered the small clearing there was a bright flash of light, and then nothing.
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Kikyo stood from her spot in the tree roots, slowly striding towards Inuyasha, who had stopped at the edge of the clearing when the spells light had cleared. "Inuyasha, are you alright?" Inuyasha looked at her with grey eyes. 'Ah the spell is complete. Wonderful. Now for the plan.' "Inuyasha? Why do you allow my reincarnation to live, keeping me in this clay body? You know if she was killed I would regain my whole soul and we would be able to live together happily and in peace. Why don't you take care of her for good?"
"Take care of her….for good?" Inuyasha's brow crinkled in confusion.
"Of course Inuyasha, she knows my soul cannot live for very long without being complete. She is trying to kill me to take it for herself. If I am to live Inuyasha, she needs to die. I need you to kill her so I may live. Do you not want to live with me and enjoy our lives together Inuyasha?"
"I do Kikyo… I will kill Kagome to protect you.." Inuyasha's eyes remained grey and cloudy, brightening back to amber slowly as the spell and his task took hold.
"Oh thank you Inuyasha, I love you so much." Kikyo leaned in to him, leading her head on his chest as she hugged him close, a viscous smirk on her face as her fingers clenched into his haori. 'Soon Kagome. I will have my whole soul again.'