Chapter Four-Promises of Protection
"I wonder what's taking them so long. They should've been here hours ago." Sango looked around. "You don't suppose they got into trouble,do you?"
"Trouble? Nah. They'll be here." Miroku stared at Sango. "Besides, this is Inuyasha we're talking about. "
Just as Sango was about to reply, she spotted the hanyou with Kagome, Shippou and a little girl. "Who's that I wonder…."
"Something we don't need." Miroku commented.
"There's probably a logical explanation." Sango replied, as she and Kilala went to meet them. "Good afternoon."
"Hey, Sango." Kagome smiled, snuggling the little girl close to her. "This is Saraku."
"Nice to meet you, Young Saraku." Sango looked at Kagome questioningly.
"I'll explain everything after we eat. It's been a long journey. Inuyasha's on his high horse again, because I refused to take the Shikon shard from her."
"She has a jewel shard?" Sango was staring at the child now who stared right back. "How old are you, little one?"
"Seven and a half." She wriggled away from Kagome, seeing the cat. "Can I play with her?"
"Well….Kilala doesn't normally play with people…." As Sango was saying this, Kilala pounced on the child lightly, licking her. "That's strange…."
"Perhaps because she still young. Kilala is protective of Shippou too." Miroku spoke up from behind them. "Inuyasha, how was the scouting trip? Did you find anything?"
"Only her." Inuyasha muttered, pointing to the little girl. "Her family was killed by demons, who were looking for a shard they stole."
"How sad!" Sango said softly. "Poor thing….."
"She said we can call her Sara. That's her real name. I like it." Shippou said to Sango. "Her hiding name is Saraku. Kaede-sama called her that."
"Hiding name? What do you mean?" Kagome asked Shippou. She'd missed out on that conversation.
"Her parents were from another time period, Kagome. Like you. They lived in the Middle-ages. Sara was born on this side of their portal though. When the people of Kaede's village attacked them, she re-named her Saraku." Shippou watched the girl tussle with Kilala, who seemed to be enjoying herself as much as Sara was. "It's really sad, what happened to her family though."
"How is it this girl, who had the Shikon shard, got away from the demons?" Miroku asked suddenly.
"We haven't questioned her about the massacre yet, Miroku. It's too soon. We're trying to gain her trust." Kagome looked over at Inuyasha. "Well, some of us are."
"Look, Kagome! The last thing we need is a little brat following us around while we're trying to fight off Naraku!"
"She has a piece of the Shikon No Tama, Inuyasha. And unless you wanna remain half demon, we have to get it from her." Kagome tried to persuade him from another angle. The truth was , she didn't want the child in the wilderness alone. Some demon would kill her for the shard.
"Feh….fine! But if anything happens to her, I refuse to take any responsibility for it!"
"Fine!" Kagome glared at him, before walking over to Saraku. "Come and let us eat, Sara. I smell something really good!"
Sango smiled. "I attempted to cook, but I doubt it's any good."
"I'm sure it'll be just fine." Kagome picked Saraku up, and followed the monk and the demon slayer to the camp site. "This I will promise you, Sara. With my last breath, I will protect you from harm. Never again, will I let a demon attack you."
"I second that. I may be small, but I can do my best to be your friend, and protect you in any way I can." Shippou stated, as he settled beside his friend once more.
"I too, make that vow." Miroku said after a few minutes. "No child should have to be in the middle of such dangerous matters, but if it is to be ,than I will help protect you."
Inuyasha mumbled. "I will help as well." He didn't look at Kagome, but he knew he'd surprised her once again.
Sango nodded in agreement. "Alright then. It is settled. We have promised to protect the youngest bearer of a shikon shard until such time, we can acquire the shard for ourselves."
"That'll be a never. The shard she carries was her father's." Inuyasha said, as he tore into a piece of meat.
"We shall see." Sango replied.
All the while, Saraku listened to their vows of protection. Was this what a real family did? No one had protected each other in her caravan. They'd all tried to save themselves. She couldn't even remember her mother screaming for her to run. "Are we a family?" She asked suddenly. Every one of them turned to stare at her.
"Well…..in a way, I guess we are. We look out for one another constantly." Miroku replied.
"You are a part of us now." Shippou told her. "Like my sister or something, okay?"
"Okay. I promise to be your sister,and friend for as long as I can." With that, Saraku finished up her meat. She wondered what kind of adventures she was fated encounter, and how she would fare in comparison to these seasoned adventurers.