Chapter 3: Kaede's Hut
Kari slowly opened her eyes and looked around. She was in a small hut filled from wall to wall with herds, jars, and poultices. To her right lay Kili, who had yet to wake from her slumber. "Kili!" she whispered. She tried to rise but failed and fell back down into the bed.
"Ye should rest. Do not sit up, stay still," A voice said from behind. An old woman circled the bed and came into view of Kari. "Ye are strong, and so is yonder friend of yours," she said gently. She pulled back the covers to reveal clean bandages. "Ye had a nasty wound, but ye are well on your way to recovery."
"How long have I been unconscious?" Kari asked meekly.
"Ye both have been asleep for a day and a night, young missy," she replied. "Do ye mind if I may inquire as to what your name may be, child?"
"Kari, and she's Kili. We're the..."
"Double K, I know child," she said softly. "Don't ye be worryin' now. Ye are safe here." With that Miroku poked is head in the doorway.
"So you're awake! You are a miracle worker, Kaede! You are looking even more beautiful now than you did at our last meeting! So, I was wondering..."
"Ye will wonder nothing and ye will leave the poor child alone! Now be off with ye and tell the other two to come here. If I find ye near these poor missies again ye will find something a bit nasty in your dinner! Now go!" she said while she pushed him out of the door. Kili started to stir in her sleep. "She'll be waking soon," she said much more gently.
"That was Miroku, right?" Kari asked.
"Yes, child, and I warn ye, stay clear of his hands," she replied with a smirk.
"So he's always like that?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes," she said shortly, for then walked in Inuyasha and Kouga. "There ye are! I need ye to get some more herbs, for the ones used to help take the magic from their wounds are in low supply. Ye must find them for me."
"I am not a herb collector or an errand boy, Kaede," Inuyasha said curtly.
"Don't be stupid, doggy! We can do this faster and get it over with if you don't grumble, anyway. She needs the herbs, we are going to get them," Kouga said kindly and walked outside.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me doggy?" Inuyasha yelled after him. He stalked out of the hut muttering under his breath.
"Are they always like that, too?" Kari asked.
"There is no living with them," Kaede said with a shake of her head.
"I'm hungry. Is there any food around here?" Kili said from her bed.
"There is no living with this one either. She'll eat you out of house and home!" Kari said with a chuckle.
"I see," said Kaede. "Well, then ye'll be eating my potions to heal ye, and I think that will stay your appetite!" Kaede said teasingly.
"What? No pickles?" Kili cried. "I can't live without pickles!"
"Did I mention she loves pickles more than her sword...by the way, what happened to the sword, and all of our weapons?"
"Don't tell me that we almost got killed only to have Naraku toying with my blade!" Kili wailed.
"No, Kagura's sword is safe along with the rest of your weapons," Miroku said from in the doorway, "safe away from you two! Oh, now you're awake! May I say that you are absolutely lovely this morning? If you don't mind..."
"She minds!" Kari interrupted.
"I was only going to ask if you minded if I asked..."
"...If you could have a 'moment alone'?" Kari asked hotly.
"No! I want to ask why she called it her blade when Kagura had it," Miroku said innocently.
"Right..." Kari mumbled.
"Well, you see, we were innocently minding our own business when Kagura stumbled across our path. She saw my sword and wanted it. Apparently when she wants something, she gets it. She stole it in the middle of the night, but not without leaving a present for me in return," and with that, Kili pulled back her hair to reveal and thin scar running along the right side of her hairline. "We tracked her for two weeks to that palace. I thank you for helping to retrieve my most cherished possession."
"Oh, it was nothing," Miroku said modestly.
"Yeah, thanks for helping us," Kari grumbled. Suddenly there was a thunderous crash and then Inuyasha appeared on the floor of the hut with the remains of part of the roof.
"I am going to kill you, Kouga!" he screamed. He jumped up through the ceiling, creating another hole in the roof, and landed outside. Kouga flew over the roof of the house and landed on the other side.
"It was just a joke!" he yelled at the rampaging hanyou.
"Joke my butt!"
"Ye will not fight around this hut with these poor missies inside! Take your fight somewhere else or cease!" Kaede yelled. She peered outside to find them frozen in action; Inuyasha biting Kouga's foot and Kouga pulling Inuyasha's hair. "Now!" They scrambled to their feet and walked grumbling in different directions.
"How long do we have to stay in bed?" Kili asked.
"A day or two, but if ye want to go outside I am sure that Inuyasha or Kouga will be willing to bring ye out for fresh air," Kaede said reassuringly.
"Can we go now?" Kili asked excitedly.
"I think we should wait until morning," Kari interjected. "They probably need time to cool off." Kaede gave them each a sleeping potion so sleep would come easily to them. After they were fast asleep she had Inuyasha and Kouga take turns standing guard in front of the door to keep certain girls in and a certain monk out. Soon night settled in and everyone slept.
The sun rose to a beautiful morning in the forest. The sun dappled the forest floor and sprigs of Forget-Me-Knots lay scattered about the undergrowth. The birds chattered and a waterfall could be heard in the distance. It was a peaceful place filled with serenity and lethargic airs. Or at least it would be but for a certain monk and his wandering hands.
"YOU HENTAI!" yelled an enraged Kili. A resounding smack could be heard by anyone within a league. Miroku stumbled out of the hut with a handprint tattooed onto his face. "And don't you ever, ever come near me again!"
"How did you get past me?" Kouga asked.
"I used the hole in the roof," Miroku replied with a grin.
"I don't think you'll be making that trip again."
"No, I am getting the feeling that they don't like me that way, if you know what I mean," he said sincerely. Kouga shook his head.
"You need help, and lots of it."
"Let me guess, Inuyasha is hunting?" Miroku asked.
"I have no idea," said Kouga nonchalantly. Then Kaede burst out of the hut.
"Miroku, come here now!" she ordered. He put on a brave face and walked up to the old woman. She grabbed him by the ear and dragged him to a well. "For the rest of the day ye will be drawing water from this well and watering my herb gardens. And ye won't stop till I tell ye. Now get to it!" With that she shoved a bucket into his hands and walked away. Kouga sat there trying very hard not to laugh.
"I better get started then," he sighed and started to draw water from the well.
Inuyasha had left the camp at midnight to go and practice with the Tetsusaiga, as he did frequently. He was in a clearing with three dead deer off to the side which he had killed for that night's dinner. Kouga watched him from a distance.
"You should widen your stance, doggy. It'll make it easier for you to swing," Kouga called for his hiding place.
"I know what I am doing, wolffy. Mind your own business," Inuyasha said smoothly. Kouga jumped from his hiding place and tossed Inuyasha a staff. Inuyasha threw his sword aside and swung at Kouga. Kouga easily blocked it. They continued to spar in silence. Kouga was first to speak.
"So what do you think we should do with those girls? Turn them in, let them go free, or what?"
"I don't know. They'll be fine enough to go off in a day or two. Do you have any idea why they were fighting Kagura in the first place?"
"Yeah, Miroku asked them about it. Apparently Kagura had stolen that sword from them and they wanted it back. It is a fine blade.
"They were fools to go after her."
"Brave fools," Kouga said while deflecting another of Inuyasha's blows. He quickly spun around and knocked the staff out of Inuyasha's hand, but not before Inuyasha had bruised his arm. "Let's bring the deer back. It's getting late." They took up the deer and ran back to the hut. When they arrived, Miroku was sitting outside the hut with twin handprints on his face along with a smile and a large bump on his head.
"I don't want to know!" Inuyasha and Kouga said.
"I suggest you stay away from those girls from now on," Inuyasha said.
"I have to agree with doggy boy here," Kouga said with a smirk.
"Before you guys get into a fight, again, the girls want to be brought outside. I graciously offered to help myself but they told me to 'go away and never come back.' I can't imagine why!" Inuyasha and Kouga rolled their eyes and put the deer down by the cooking fire.
"Tell Kaede that we brought food," Kouga told Miroku and they went inside the hut. When they walked in Kari and Kili burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Inuyasha demanded.
"Nothing!" Kari managed to say through her laughter.
"Really, what's wrong?" Kouga asked. The two continued to laugh and didn't answer. Tears were starting to stream down their faces. Kouga and Inuyasha gave each other a look and then turned to walk out of the hut.
"Wait!" Kili shouted after them. She turned to Kari who then burst out laughing again.
"What is with you two?" Inuyasha screamed. He stomped over to their beds. His face was turning redder and redder with each second and his stared at the two demons who were trying to control their laughter.
"Well..." Kili said.
"It was nothing!" interrupted Kari. "Absolutely nothing." She gave Kili a look and then quieted down. "Would you mind taking us outside for some fresh air?"
"Sure," Kouga said while walking over to Kari's bed. He lifted her up and carried her outside. Inuyasha followed suite with Kili.
Kari slowly opened her eyes and looked around. She was in a small hut filled from wall to wall with herds, jars, and poultices. To her right lay Kili, who had yet to wake from her slumber. "Kili!" she whispered. She tried to rise but failed and fell back down into the bed.
"Ye should rest. Do not sit up, stay still," A voice said from behind. An old woman circled the bed and came into view of Kari. "Ye are strong, and so is yonder friend of yours," she said gently. She pulled back the covers to reveal clean bandages. "Ye had a nasty wound, but ye are well on your way to recovery."
"How long have I been unconscious?" Kari asked meekly.
"Ye both have been asleep for a day and a night, young missy," she replied. "Do ye mind if I may inquire as to what your name may be, child?"
"Kari, and she's Kili. We're the..."
"Double K, I know child," she said softly. "Don't ye be worryin' now. Ye are safe here." With that Miroku poked is head in the doorway.
"So you're awake! You are a miracle worker, Kaede! You are looking even more beautiful now than you did at our last meeting! So, I was wondering..."
"Ye will wonder nothing and ye will leave the poor child alone! Now be off with ye and tell the other two to come here. If I find ye near these poor missies again ye will find something a bit nasty in your dinner! Now go!" she said while she pushed him out of the door. Kili started to stir in her sleep. "She'll be waking soon," she said much more gently.
"That was Miroku, right?" Kari asked.
"Yes, child, and I warn ye, stay clear of his hands," she replied with a smirk.
"So he's always like that?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes," she said shortly, for then walked in Inuyasha and Kouga. "There ye are! I need ye to get some more herbs, for the ones used to help take the magic from their wounds are in low supply. Ye must find them for me."
"I am not a herb collector or an errand boy, Kaede," Inuyasha said curtly.
"Don't be stupid, doggy! We can do this faster and get it over with if you don't grumble, anyway. She needs the herbs, we are going to get them," Kouga said kindly and walked outside.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me doggy?" Inuyasha yelled after him. He stalked out of the hut muttering under his breath.
"Are they always like that, too?" Kari asked.
"There is no living with them," Kaede said with a shake of her head.
"I'm hungry. Is there any food around here?" Kili said from her bed.
"There is no living with this one either. She'll eat you out of house and home!" Kari said with a chuckle.
"I see," said Kaede. "Well, then ye'll be eating my potions to heal ye, and I think that will stay your appetite!" Kaede said teasingly.
"What? No pickles?" Kili cried. "I can't live without pickles!"
"Did I mention she loves pickles more than her sword...by the way, what happened to the sword, and all of our weapons?"
"Don't tell me that we almost got killed only to have Naraku toying with my blade!" Kili wailed.
"No, Kagura's sword is safe along with the rest of your weapons," Miroku said from in the doorway, "safe away from you two! Oh, now you're awake! May I say that you are absolutely lovely this morning? If you don't mind..."
"She minds!" Kari interrupted.
"I was only going to ask if you minded if I asked..."
"...If you could have a 'moment alone'?" Kari asked hotly.
"No! I want to ask why she called it her blade when Kagura had it," Miroku said innocently.
"Right..." Kari mumbled.
"Well, you see, we were innocently minding our own business when Kagura stumbled across our path. She saw my sword and wanted it. Apparently when she wants something, she gets it. She stole it in the middle of the night, but not without leaving a present for me in return," and with that, Kili pulled back her hair to reveal and thin scar running along the right side of her hairline. "We tracked her for two weeks to that palace. I thank you for helping to retrieve my most cherished possession."
"Oh, it was nothing," Miroku said modestly.
"Yeah, thanks for helping us," Kari grumbled. Suddenly there was a thunderous crash and then Inuyasha appeared on the floor of the hut with the remains of part of the roof.
"I am going to kill you, Kouga!" he screamed. He jumped up through the ceiling, creating another hole in the roof, and landed outside. Kouga flew over the roof of the house and landed on the other side.
"It was just a joke!" he yelled at the rampaging hanyou.
"Joke my butt!"
"Ye will not fight around this hut with these poor missies inside! Take your fight somewhere else or cease!" Kaede yelled. She peered outside to find them frozen in action; Inuyasha biting Kouga's foot and Kouga pulling Inuyasha's hair. "Now!" They scrambled to their feet and walked grumbling in different directions.
"How long do we have to stay in bed?" Kili asked.
"A day or two, but if ye want to go outside I am sure that Inuyasha or Kouga will be willing to bring ye out for fresh air," Kaede said reassuringly.
"Can we go now?" Kili asked excitedly.
"I think we should wait until morning," Kari interjected. "They probably need time to cool off." Kaede gave them each a sleeping potion so sleep would come easily to them. After they were fast asleep she had Inuyasha and Kouga take turns standing guard in front of the door to keep certain girls in and a certain monk out. Soon night settled in and everyone slept.
The sun rose to a beautiful morning in the forest. The sun dappled the forest floor and sprigs of Forget-Me-Knots lay scattered about the undergrowth. The birds chattered and a waterfall could be heard in the distance. It was a peaceful place filled with serenity and lethargic airs. Or at least it would be but for a certain monk and his wandering hands.
"YOU HENTAI!" yelled an enraged Kili. A resounding smack could be heard by anyone within a league. Miroku stumbled out of the hut with a handprint tattooed onto his face. "And don't you ever, ever come near me again!"
"How did you get past me?" Kouga asked.
"I used the hole in the roof," Miroku replied with a grin.
"I don't think you'll be making that trip again."
"No, I am getting the feeling that they don't like me that way, if you know what I mean," he said sincerely. Kouga shook his head.
"You need help, and lots of it."
"Let me guess, Inuyasha is hunting?" Miroku asked.
"I have no idea," said Kouga nonchalantly. Then Kaede burst out of the hut.
"Miroku, come here now!" she ordered. He put on a brave face and walked up to the old woman. She grabbed him by the ear and dragged him to a well. "For the rest of the day ye will be drawing water from this well and watering my herb gardens. And ye won't stop till I tell ye. Now get to it!" With that she shoved a bucket into his hands and walked away. Kouga sat there trying very hard not to laugh.
"I better get started then," he sighed and started to draw water from the well.
Inuyasha had left the camp at midnight to go and practice with the Tetsusaiga, as he did frequently. He was in a clearing with three dead deer off to the side which he had killed for that night's dinner. Kouga watched him from a distance.
"You should widen your stance, doggy. It'll make it easier for you to swing," Kouga called for his hiding place.
"I know what I am doing, wolffy. Mind your own business," Inuyasha said smoothly. Kouga jumped from his hiding place and tossed Inuyasha a staff. Inuyasha threw his sword aside and swung at Kouga. Kouga easily blocked it. They continued to spar in silence. Kouga was first to speak.
"So what do you think we should do with those girls? Turn them in, let them go free, or what?"
"I don't know. They'll be fine enough to go off in a day or two. Do you have any idea why they were fighting Kagura in the first place?"
"Yeah, Miroku asked them about it. Apparently Kagura had stolen that sword from them and they wanted it back. It is a fine blade.
"They were fools to go after her."
"Brave fools," Kouga said while deflecting another of Inuyasha's blows. He quickly spun around and knocked the staff out of Inuyasha's hand, but not before Inuyasha had bruised his arm. "Let's bring the deer back. It's getting late." They took up the deer and ran back to the hut. When they arrived, Miroku was sitting outside the hut with twin handprints on his face along with a smile and a large bump on his head.
"I don't want to know!" Inuyasha and Kouga said.
"I suggest you stay away from those girls from now on," Inuyasha said.
"I have to agree with doggy boy here," Kouga said with a smirk.
"Before you guys get into a fight, again, the girls want to be brought outside. I graciously offered to help myself but they told me to 'go away and never come back.' I can't imagine why!" Inuyasha and Kouga rolled their eyes and put the deer down by the cooking fire.
"Tell Kaede that we brought food," Kouga told Miroku and they went inside the hut. When they walked in Kari and Kili burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Inuyasha demanded.
"Nothing!" Kari managed to say through her laughter.
"Really, what's wrong?" Kouga asked. The two continued to laugh and didn't answer. Tears were starting to stream down their faces. Kouga and Inuyasha gave each other a look and then turned to walk out of the hut.
"Wait!" Kili shouted after them. She turned to Kari who then burst out laughing again.
"What is with you two?" Inuyasha screamed. He stomped over to their beds. His face was turning redder and redder with each second and his stared at the two demons who were trying to control their laughter.
"Well..." Kili said.
"It was nothing!" interrupted Kari. "Absolutely nothing." She gave Kili a look and then quieted down. "Would you mind taking us outside for some fresh air?"
"Sure," Kouga said while walking over to Kari's bed. He lifted her up and carried her outside. Inuyasha followed suite with Kili.