Sorry for the late update.

~~~~CHAPTER IV: The Open Road is a Dangerous Place~~~~

I've said my goodbyes with Sango. I do not wish to describe how it went, for I am afraid that I might start crying again. Kaede and Souta took it much worse, that much I will tell you. They kept wailing about how they were going to lose two sisters of value to them; well, Souta did, anyway. Kaede displayed silent tears. Mama and Papa regarded Kikyou's and my leaving most honorably, I wished to do nothing more than to give them a warm embrace, but the presence of Sesshoumaru and Inutaisho prevented us from doing so.

Right now, I am wearing the Priestess clothes that Mama had instructed me to wear. I complained, asking why, because Kikyou was dressed in beautiful kimonos, and here I was dressed in a simple miko outfit. After a few minutes I was used to the outfit, and even commented that it was more comfortable than the lightest of silks. Kikyou approves that the white gi and deep blue hakama brought out the color in my eyes. This lightened me a bit.

And so now here I am, outside Palace walls. I've been told to go to the place where the carriages were, where I was to sit inside a carriage for 3 full days with Kikyou in our journey; but I overlooked those orders and instead sneaked into the stables and retrieved my valued horse, Toh. I've had her since I was a child of 11, and she, a pony, and there was no way I'd leave her here.

~

I pulled myself up and sat on Toh's back. "It's been a while since I last rode this horse," I muttered to myself. "GO!"

At the simple yet firm command, Toh galloped out of the stables. I had to clutch around her neck to keep myself from falling backwards. "Looks like you haven't changed at all!" I laughed merrily as she galloped freely.

"Lady Kagomee!!" a maid cried shrilly. "Please! It is time to go!"

"I'm coming, Sakuhaku-san!" I yelled, pulling on Toh's reigns a little bit. "Calm down, Toh!"

Eventually, Toh slowed to a stop. I grinned shamelessly down at the worrying maid.

"Kagome-sama, are you planning to ride that horse all day?"

"No, I'm bringing her with me in my journey," I answered. Sakuhaku's eyes downcasted, and I understood what she felt. "Sakuhaku-san, I will miss you and all of the others very much," I added, getting off my horse and holding onto her reigns. "You've all been so kind and understanding." I was referring to the servants and maids (who've I've all made friends with), but I didn't want to refer to their status rudely.

"Kagome-sama, you've been a delight to us," Hakusaku smiled, her eyes twinkling. "In all my years of servitude, I've never had such a polite and kind child to aid. We will all miss you, as well as your sister of course, and so we made a little token of our love for you."

I blushed appreciatively. I did not know that so many people admired me!

She handed me a sheet with different square patterns, and my eyes lit up in happiness and gratefulness. "Each of the workers here had sewn a piece of their best kimono here," Hakusaku told me. "It looks of little value, and I know that Lady Kikyou would probably prefer a fine silk kimono, but we are not very rich. I had an idea that maybe you would appreciate it, so here it is." She looked at me with hopeful eyes, probably hoping that I do not turn down her gift.

"It is more valuable to me than the treasures of the world," I said. That was the truth. To have so many people caring for me is dearer than gold, or diamonds or the finest silk. I am different from all of the other girls, who usually want accessories instead of sentimentality. Mama pointed that out often.

"Thank you so much, Hakusaku-chan," I bit my lip to keep my tears from falling. This was goodbye to all my dear friends.

I gave her a hug, and bid her my farewells. If I could, I would've said farewell to everybody I knew, but I was given little time.

I wished to see Sango again, but the thought of her face shining with tears wrecked my heart. So, with Toh's reigns in my hands, I made my way to the Palace fronts.

~

Once I reached my destination, I saw a few carriages, each drawn by six horses, two-by-two. A few men were walking around, the guards, I think. But something about these men made me curious....

 I was going to investigate, when I caught glimpse of the sleeves of Kikyou's kimono from the pulled up curtains inside one of the stagecoaches, and I let Toh go for a while to go have a chat with her. I ran to the window and pushed the curtain up further a little bit to see Kikyou's face.

"Konnichi wa, Onee-sama!" I chimed. Kikyou smiled at me. "Hello, Kagome! Are you going to get in yet?"

"I don't wish to sit inside a carriage," I answered sheepishly. "So I'm riding a horse."

"Ah. I know how you feel. I wish to ride on a horse, also, but as a future Court Maiden, I am not aloud to. My actions must be precise and elegant," Kikyou said with a troubled note. "Sesshoumaru-san and Inutaisho-sama are not to arrive for another few minutes. Come inside, I wish to tell you something."

Nodding, I entered the cart and sat next to Kikyou, who was looking out her side of the window.

"More than once, I have wished to be an ordinary girl, Kagome," she said softly. "I wanted so much to ride horses freely in the country, to walk around villages unnoticed by the village people. To blend in."

"You're not the only one," I ensured her. "Kaede, Souta, and I-"

"-I feel like a yellow canary amongst white ones," Kikyou uttered sulkily. "I stick out so well from you three- I do not mean that in the worst way."

"I know," I said.

"I'm sorry," Kikyou said sorrowfully, wiping a few unshed tears from her eyes. "I needed to make a profession with someone- and that someone had to be you."

"I am honored," I smiled. "But don't be so troubled with your fate. I know that you WILL find freedom and happiness one day, and you won't carry the burden of the world on your shoulders. Perhaps your happiness lies within that man you are to marry, that Sesshoumaru."

"I'm not certain about that," Kikyou shook her head. "Sesshoumaru is only ONE of the sons. I am to meet the other one as well."

"Oh," my hands tightened against the fabric of my hakama. "So you'll get to choose which one?" I asked, trying to keep envy from itching into my words.

"Kagome! People are not treated like objects, you should know that!" Kikyou scolded me. I smiled. "Right. Then whichever one you fall in love with."

Kikyou blushed. "Well..."

"Don't embarrass yourself with an answer," I said, shaking my head. "I think I'll go out now. It was nice conversing with you, Kikyou-sama."

"..Kagome-chan," Kikyou called to me. I turned slightly. "...Yes?"

"Are you sure you will ride on horseback?"

"Yes. I'm more comfortable that way. And plus, I'm wearing suitable clothes for horseback riding," I waved and walked over to my horse.

~

By Toh, I secretly stole glances at the guards. They were wearing such stylish clothes, and they looked well groomed compared to my family's sentinels, who were ragged and sometimes smelled of alcoholics.

I scrutinized each guard; each wearing unique-styled armor, unlike the usual sentries who pretty much have the same face, armor, clothing, and hair. They aroused my curiosity, so I decided to have a chat with one of them. I was surprised to see that one of the guards was a woman; with her hair tied up in a delicate knot and held by pretty Chinese-style pins. Her eyes were dark blue, and she was wearing about two layers of yukata and a little bit of armor.

"Hmm? What is it?" she asked boredly.

"Um, Ma'am, I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me," I answered. The woman's face lit up. "You FLATTERER!"

"Huh?" I was confused now.

"You're lying!" she giggled giddily. "I bet you were doing that to get my attention!"

"...Excuse me?"

"He's a guy," said a male voice. Turning around, my eyes met a guy with his hair up in a plait. He had sharp blue-gray eyes and slightly long fangs, like Sesshoumaru. I bowed to show respect, and he just stared at me in lazy attire. "What was your name again? Kikyou or Kagome?" He scratched his cheek.

"K-Kagome," I stammered, baffled by the man's lack of mannerism when he addressed to me.

"'Kay. My name's Kouga. This is Juno, he's got a mental problem. You can tell by the way he dresses," Kouga jerked his thumb towards Juno's direction. I did not know whether what he said was fact or joke, so I remained silent.

Juno pouted childishly. "It's called 'being in touch with my feminine side,'" he whacked Kouga (who was taller than Juno by half a foot) over the head. Kouga staggered forward, hands on his scalp. Juno was pretty strong for someone who looks so fragile and frail! I stared in amazement.

"DAMN IT," Kouga howled. "Can't you take a joke?!"

"I don't make fun of you, so don't you make fun of me! You're such a hypocrite, I mean, you wear furry skirts and you tell ME that I have a mental problem? Pull another one like that and it will be my Junotachi," Juno huffed smugly. "You'll be flying fifty feet into the air with one swing!"

"Yeah, whatever..." Kouga shrank away with comical fear. "See that? One comment about him and he starts nagging at ya...."

An unexpected soft giggle escaped my lips, which made Kouga look at me directly. He grinned. "So, you gotsa sense of humor, eh? Well, that certainly proves that you Higurashi's ain't a bunch of stiffs-"

"Oi, Juno, Kouga, come ova here!" yelled another guard from the other side. I could not see because the horses and carriages were blocking my way.

"What is it, Hiten?!" barked Kouga.

"Check this out! I found another one!"

Juno and Kouga's expressions converted to serious. The two guards walked to the other side. What could be going on?

Curious as ever, I quietly followed after them. Of course, they were aware of me following.

~

"It looks like another one was on our trail, the bastard you see here was found under one of the carriages," snarled a heavy voice that belonged to a rather large deformed looking man. "I've tried to get him to speak several times. He wouldn't even look at me."

"Manten, of course he would not speak, you idiot," a handsome looking guy snapped at the deformed man. "Would YOU speak were you to be caught by some enemy?"

"...Forgive me, Hiten, I made a foolish mistake."

"Whatever," Hiten rolled his eyes. "So you say he was hiding in the wheel? That's almost clever."

"This is exactly why I don't trust these damned thing called carriages. We're better off on foot than to have some sneaky culprit hiding in the friggin' wheel," Kouga snarled. I had an idea that I was being ignored, but didn't mind.

"So, did good ol' Kumoshiwa send you, you brute?" Juno spoke up. That's when I finally turned my attention to the 'enemy' that they've found. He had particularly long, off-white-purplish shade of hair, and dark emotionless blue eyes. Chains bound him to himself.

"I answer to no one," he said viciously in a cold, dark voice. I continued to observe him in my questioning state of mind. This man had been clinging under one of the carriages? 'This is quite mind boggling,' I thought to myself.

"It's a wonder how we didn't sense or smelled his presence before," Kouga commented. "Sesshoumaru-sama or Inutaisho-sama would've sniffed'em out by now."

"Maybe he jumped on halfway throughout the trail," Juno suggested.

"Without us seeing him?" Hiten asked flatly.

"How did you get on?" Kouga asked the man conversationally.

The blue-eyed-man glared at Kouga in response. Then, out of the blue, our gazes met and locked.  He glared into my eyes.

"Who is she?"

Kouga smirked and put his hands to his waist. "None of yer business. Are you in any condition to interrogate the enemy?"

The captive man said nothing but continued his icy glare.

"Maybe we'll answer your questions if you answer ours," Juno said softly.

"I answer to no one," he repeated in a dead tone. His malicious blue eyes were still drilling on me.

Abruptively, I felt myself being sucked into something; it was an indescribable feeling, but I felt it- when I was looking into this man's eyes, I felt as if I was being sucked in. Sucked into his mind.

A hand fell on my shoulder. I blinked out of my mesmerized state and glanced into Juno's version of blue eyes. Juno shot me a soft look. "You okay?"

I nodded and turned my eyes back to Juuroumaru.

Juuroumaru.

His name was Juuroumaru. How did I find this one out? "Juuroumaru is your name." I blurted.

"What?!" Kouga, Juno, Hiten and Manten exclaimed, finally paying attention to me.

"I'm not sure how I know," I gulped, wishing I were not the entity of their attention.

"You are.." Juuroumaru's eyes were wide, but they still fixed in its glowering condition. "You are a priestess. I must inform..." he struggled inside the chains, trying to break them. The chains began to crack ever so slowly.

"Oh no ya don't," Kouga snapped, delivering a punch to Juuroumaru's stomach. The pale antagonist doubled over in pain as Kouga continued to beat him, and I felt pity welling inside me.

"I'll see to it that you NEVER get back to that damned clan," Kouga laughed malevolently, now presuming to be kicking Juuroumaru. "But I'll make sure that you suffer before you die."

 I watched in horror. "Kouga...Kouga, that's enough!!"

"You don't know anything, missy," he growled, ignoring my pleas. "If I let this piece of scum go, Kumoshiwa will know that..."

"Can't you just keep him imprisoned or something?" I asked frantically. "This man has done no wrong.."

Kouga sighed and glared down at the silent mysterious man. "Fine- but if he does anything fishy..-"

A horrible sound cut Kouga off. Juuroumaru looked as if he was going to retch. His eyes were widened to a considerable size, and his mouth was thrown wide open with light coming out of it. He seemed to be facing me directly.

Kouga appeared to realize something. "Kagome, look out!!"

Before I could move, a bright white light flashed before my eyes and I saw a deformed little version of Juuroumaru with scythes for arms. He raised a scythe and prepared to swing down –I closed my eyes in fear- when suddenly I heard various ruffles of clothing and a swift slashing sound.

I opened my eyes and saw Sesshoumaru's back; he was facing the opposite direction of me. I peeped over his shoulder and saw the deformed version of Juuroumaru twitching with its scythes hacked off; blood was pooling around it.

Juuroumaru jerked violently in his chains. "Kageroumaru!!" he hissed in an awful tone.

Sesshoumaru turned his head slightly and spared me a reprimanding glance. "Mercy is a weakness," he said blandly. He raised his right hand and jerked it downwards, as if he were holding a whip. A golden belt of light lashed out of one of his claw-like nails (I had a nagging feeling that they really WERE claws) and struck Juuroumaru, killing him in instant cold blood.

I watched with horrified eyes as he whipped Juuroumaru over and over, effectively slicing and dicing him. My eyes closed automatically.

"Kagome-sama," Juno said from behind me. He pulled me away from the gruesome site and to the other side of the carriage and horses. Kikyou was standing outside of her carriage, looking bewildered and confused, and not knowing what was going on.

Juno smiled blankly at me. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

I let out a choked sob, and tried to regain posture. "It's... it's okay. I'm just not used to seeing things like... I'm sure that you've seen more explicitly gory scenes than that..."

"If it makes you feel any better, I have," Juno said, smiling as if the topic was something to be talked about with tea and tempura.

I stared at him unbelievably and said in a flat tone, "That does not help at all!"

"Hahaha, I was only joking," Juno said in a boyish tone that alienated his feminine structure. "Lighten up, Kagome-sama. You will see a lot more horrifying things in the future."

"Oh thank you, your words of insurance helps so much," I said in a sardonic tone. Juno and I laughed, but my merriment was cut short when guilt fell over me. "Ohh..."

"What's wrong now, Kagome-sama?" Juno asked.

"I can't be laughing after someone's death... it's not proper."

"Look, they're enemies, their lives don't matter here, understand?" Juno put his hands on my shoulders and shook me a little as if to knock sense in to me. His advice seemed wrong... Nonetheless, I smiled and nodded.

"Good. Oh, here comes Sesshoumaru-sama," Juno muttered under his breath. He instantly kneeled on one knee and bowed down his head. Sesshoumaru walked towards us and I found my heart increasing its beating. Not in the pleasant way like when I was with Hojo, but when I was alone in a dark room; in other words, when I was afraid. I swallowed a lump in my throat, realizing that everyone around me was bowing except for myself.

Sesshoumaru sent me a glance laced with disgust and interest, and motioned for me to come with him. I followed, and pretty soon we were walking off into a small tree-filled area of my family's lands.

His steps were fast and graceful, whilst mine was quite the opposite in my opinion. I took small steps and literally always looked at the ground to make sure there were no twigs or roots capable of tripping me. Sesshoumaru seemed to walk with his head held high as if he owned everything.

"I need to make you aware of something," he stated, purging my thoughts. I looked up at him, who still seemed to be staring ahead of him.

"Yes?"

"The way you handled yourself with that demon is inexcusable," Sesshoumaru stopped and turned abruptively, causing me to falter in my steps to prevent myself from crashing into him. His cool eyes seemed to be scrutinizing every inch of my body- that said not being in a perverted way. I felt as if he were silently criticizing each blemish in my being and comparing me to the beautiful flawless Kikyou, and these conclusions alone were enough to make me feel extremely self-conscious.

"Mercy is not something that I approve of, or tolerate. The open road is a dangerous place," Sesshoumaru said in seriousness. "Mercy does not exist in the path that we are going to walk. If you do not change your ways, you will forever stay weak and unstable."

I nodded silently. Just let this conversation be over with! Even though only he's the only one doing all of the talking....

"You need to learn not to mourn for the enemy nor for the ally."

Something inside me snapped. "What..?"

"I know that you heard me clearly, human."

Confusion. That explains what I am feeling right now. Did he just call me 'human'? I shook my head. "What do you mean by not mourning for even the allies? Do you even bury the dead?"

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, making me shiver. "Burying and funerals are wastes of time. It is best to let them rot where they die."

"That's totally inhuman!" I cried, then understood my audaciousness and looked down with my sleeves raised and covering part of my face. I trembled, fearing that he would get infuriated for my shout-out. Sesshoumaru sent me a chilly soft smile. "So you've noticed..."

~~~

Short update chappie. Sorry. And it was late, too.... well, it's partially because I finally updated Shinjite!! ^_^ Well, cheers and see you in the next chappie. Please leave a review!!!