Part 6
A Strange Girl
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"Goodbye, Kirara! Thank you so very much!" Kagome brought her hands down away from her mouth and waved energetically at the departing youkai.
After a stop at the well and a hello and goodbye to Kaede, Kagome had collected her things and prepared to continue west. Kirara had insisted that she take them as far as they were going to go before returning to the others. And even then, she was reluctent to leave. Shippo and Rin had spent most of that time sleeping the night through pressed against Kirara's fur.
Kagome set her things down and looked around the clearing they had landed in. It was morning and the sun was shining brightly on the dewey grass. Both children were playing a wild game of tag and were laughing and tripping up while becoming fast friends. She felt a tug of happiness that the two children could have this time to be what they were. Shippo had been forced to grow up so suddenly that he had lost his childhood innocence. He actively participated in sharing the responsibilty of helping save the world from the threat of a tarnished Shikon Jewel and Naraku. He insisted on putting aside the cares of a child and being more than he was. He deserves more. Shippo needs what we can't give him. He needs a family that can take care of him so that he has the time to develop the things children learn when they are young. And he needs a father figure. Inuyasha is too much of a child himself to be any sort of role model. This is good for them. To be able to experience childhood with other children...
The idea of Inuyasha as a father caused Kagome to snort with supressed laughter. I pity the woman that has a child by that baka. Kagome paused. The idea of Inuyasha with another woman, and with a family that didn't include her did not seem to bother her. That was strange. Am I finally over that jerk? She twisted her fingers in her lap while staring at them and not really seeing them. She thought this over hard. I do not love Inuyasha! She smiled, suddenly very content with herself. So why does Inuyasha and Kikyo together still bother me? She was trying to puzzle out her feelings and so when the attack came, she was unprepared.
THUD! Kagome had her face in the dirt and two sets of arms were thown around her. The children had tackled her and were hugging her with all the strength they could muster. Kagome laughed until she was able to role over and pin them down herself. With a grin that could rival the criminally insane, Kagome tickled them until they had tears rolling down their faces. When they were too limp from laughter to cause anymore trouble, Kagome let them up.
"We can't stay here. It's too open. I need a place that is easier to defend." she explained.
"When we find a spot to stay I'll cook us some breakfast. I brought some extra things in my pack"
"Yeah! Whacha bring me?" Shippo leapt up on her shoulder. He turned to Rin. "Kagome always has the best food and candy and sometimes she brings something really special!" the kitsune jumped back down to stand beside Rin. He pulled something out of his pocket to show the girl. It was a collection of three brightly painted tops that Kagome had found in her own time. "and last time she went home she brought back icecream!"
Rin kicked her feet in the dirt.
"I brought you something too, Rin" Kagome confessed with a wink.
Rin's eyes widened. Kagome smiled again and set off. Rin kicked at the dirt again. When Kagome was out of hearing distance, Shippo tugged at the sleave of the green t-shirt.
"What's wrong?"
"Ummm...Rin doesn't want a gift. Rin wants Kagome to stay with her..."
Shippo watched the little girl carefully. Then he nodded solemnly. " I understand. Kagome is like my family now. She would make a good family for you too." He offered her one of his tops.
"Yes.." the little girl said happy again. Now all she had to do is wait for the rest of her family to arrive. Then they would all be together...
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Sesshoumaru was not very far off when he decided to stop and think. Something is strange. Rin was still with Inuyasha's wench and the Kitsune brat, but they never met up with his bastard half-brother. Sesshoumaru was not the type of person to rush in unprepared. Where are they going? What is their purpose? He did not like the way he was confused by their actions. He tried to remember everything that he could about the woman child.
Her smell...fresh. Clean like the world right after the rain. And flowers...a kind this Sesshoumaru has never smelled before. He didn't know if he liked not knowing the origins of her scent. As a matter of fact, he didn't like being ignorant of anything. And he didn't like the idea that he was dwelling on her smell. What else could he remember? That girl is a miko. She's always running about in that indecent outfit. She is always with my idiot brother... Except now...She is connected to the walking corpse Kikyo. She is strong for a human. Loyal, and spirited...he thought about the times she had stood up to him when he challenged Inuyasha. He frowned realizing that she was one of the few humans he had some respect for. She is a strange girl. Pity I will have to kill her when I catch them...he almost smiled in anticipation. The hunt would begin now. She did not stand a chance.
