Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters. Thank you reality, you have just mortally depressed me!
Chapter four- I'm afraid of the Dark.
"Yeah wench, who are these Miroku and Sango," Inuyasha seconded Kagome's question.
"Oh, I forgot. Ye would not know them Inuyasha. You were stuck to the tree at the time I met them. Such a nice people, but you have to watch out for the monk Kagome. He has a cursed hand." Kaede warned as though it was as normal as day. Kagome thought for a moment and giggled.
"You make it sounds like on occasion it is possessed to toss a salad. I always thought curses were more serious." Kagome giggled again at the thought of a boy being pulled around a kitchen by his hand.
"There is a curse upon his entire family by Naraku, the same Demon that stole half the jewel. For each generation a wind tunnel is passed down, and each generation it gets bigger. The wind tunnel is on the palm of his right hand, and when it is not covered by pray beads it inhales everything in its path. It will continue to get bigger until it sucks in its host, and the family blood line will be no more." By the time Kaede finished her tale, she had already put some tea on to boil. Kagome squished herself back into the wall, and felt terrible for what she said.
"I'm sorry lady Kaede. I had no idea." Kagome drew her hands into her lap, and looked down at them. Kaede flipped a smile at Kagome and nodded. Inuyasha, who had been listening to the conversation like a spectator's sport, grew tired of standing, and sat on the cot next to Kagome.
"Ye need not to worry about that Kagome. It is more of his treacherously perverted mind that I am worried about. His cursed hand tends to wander along female bodies."
"What?! He gropes innocent girls, and you trust him with Kagome over me?!" Inuyasha barked. He blistered with a slight tinge of jealousy, but he turned from Kagome to hide his redden cheeks. It was only Lady Kaede who caught the sight, and turned her lips into a tiny grin.
"Calm down. Sango keeps him in check. I believe she has feelings for him, and he for her. Miroku is careful to watch himself around her. It's so nice when people are honest about their feelings. It makes everything easier." Kaede dropped it in, trying to give a low hint. Inuyasha's face burnt out a frown like a short fuse.
"So what is Sango's story for being here Lady Kaede?" Kagome asked sweetly, trying to change the subject.
"Sadly we are all here due to Naraku, and her story isn't any different. Her whole village was slaughter thanks to Naraku. She and Miroku have been hunting him for a year or so now." Kaede neatly folded her hands in her lap, and looked back at Kagome's and Inuyasha's sadden faces. Suddenly the Hanyou's nose twitched.
"Someone's coming this way... Feh, nothing to be worried about; they smell human." He calmed down after a few more sniffs of the air.
"That must be Miroku and Sango now. What impeccable timing. If there is anything to say about those two, it is about their impeccable timing. So punctual they are." Lady Kaede finished her praise just as a little bushy tailed fox demon scurried into the hut. "Shippo, how was your visit to the other village?" Kaede asked kindly.
"Oh it was great. I had a blast. Even though we were helping out, all the children..." The young fox demon was talking a mile a minute until his words hit a traffic jam. "We have company!" he noticed with an energetic bounce onto Kagome's lap. His nestled his head against her stomach, and smiled. "You smell like wild flowers."
"Thank you," Kagome giggled petting his head. It's so nice to have a welcome wagon. I'm Kagome by the way." Inuyasha grew slightly more jealous at how content she made Shippo.
"All right all ready, don't smother the woman you little twit." Inuyasha pulled the fox demon away from her. "And what do you mean it's nice to have a welcome wagon? Didn't I all ready welcome you?" He asked annoyed.
"Since when is trying to scare someone in a new place a welcome?" Kagome jabbed back.
"Just be happy I didn't' kill you." He retorted.
"I don't think you would have killed me. You are just trying to act tough, and you have a soft spot I know it." Kagome stated triumphantly.
"You want to test that theory?" Inuyasha said as he stood up and loomed over her.
"Then why have you been trying to protect me?" she asked innocently. Inuyasha relaxed, turned around, and folded his arms in a resented sort of way. His face blushed, and once again only Kaede caught sight of the embarrassed Hanyou. 'Why do I want to protect her,' Inuyasha thought. 'There is just something about her soft brown eyes. If she gets hurt I'll never forgive myself.'
"That's enough children," Kaede emphasized the last word. "Let's calm down you are scaring poor Shippo." Everyone placed there attention on the little fox demon who had curled himself into a ball in Kagome's lap.
"Aw, I'm sorry." Kagome soothed as she scratched behind his little triangular ears.
"Apologize accepted." Inuyasha cut in.
"Uh, never mind you are helpless Inuyasha." Kagome sighed.
"What, What did I do?!" The Hanyou's confusion was cut short by the voices of another bickering couple.
"But did you really have to rub her butt to perform an exorcism?" A tweaked sounding young lady asked.
"My dear lady Sango, I was only doing my duty as a monk." Kagome knew it must be Miroku from his description. He had the voice of a smooth talker. The kind you could never stay mad at. As soon as the two walked into the hut, Miroku focused on Kagome almost as eagerly as Shippo had.
"Dear Maiden, will you bear my children?" There was a sudden clonk and Miroku fell to the floor with a dazed expression.
"That's enough Monk! That line is getting really old!" Sango retracted her large boomerang from the monk's head, and placed it back over her shoulder. "I'm sorry for his rudeness. My name is Sango, and who might you two be?" Before Kagome or Inuyasha had a chance to extend their greeting, Lady Kaede spoke up.
"There is much to be explained. Everyone please come sit at the table." Once around the table everyone grabbed a cup of tea, and put their listening caps on for the long spill about formal greetings, Kagome's story, and everyone's common goal to get Naraku. Two pots of tea later, Miroku sat scratching his chin.
"This is great." Sango piped in, "Why don't we all work together to get back the other half of the jewel, and kill Naraku?" Everyone nodded. "We can start tomorrow. I can't wait to have extra company." Sango grinned.
"I'm afraid ye will have to wait. Kagome still must come into her powers." Kaede responded.
"Yes, about that," Miroku paused, "What do you need us for?" He asked while pointing to him and Sango.
"Don't' forget me!" Inuyasha said eyeing the monk.
"Yes, and him," Miroku added.
"Let me explain how the herbs work first. It will cause Kagome to go temporarily blind, which will force her to naturally rely on her other senses and powers. Plus it adds the needed boost to find them." Kagome gasped at Kaede's words. The priestess nodded and took a breath before continuing. "Yes, temporarily blind. That is why I need ye to protect her while she is still vulnerable. Now that she has part of the jewel, Demons will be looking for her. Are ye up to it?"
"Yes," Miroku agreed.
"Me too," Sango seconded it. "But how long will it take? I hope we can get on our way before Naraku's trail goes cold again."
"Well, normally it takes about two days for the vision to come back and the powers to be in full, but she has my sister's blood so it should only take 24 hours. Ye want to do this right Kagome?"
"Yes. I would like to help get back what I have lost." Kagome nodded.
"Good then it is settled. I'll give ye the herbs to night. The only thing left is who wants to take the first shift of watching ye tonight." Kaede stated.
"If you don't mind Lady Kaede, Sango and I are still tired from our trip. It will have to be Inuyasha's turn first."
"I could do it all night if I had too." Inuyasha said matter-of-factly.
"That's fine and all, but we need people bright eyed and busy tailed, so ye will watch her through the first half of the night, then Miroku and Shippo for the second, and Sango has the day shift."
"Why does Shippo have to help me?" Miroku whined.
"As much as we love you, monk, ye hand can not be trusted." With that Kaede tended to the mixture of herbs on the stove. After a few minute the hut smelt strongly of sage and mint. The monk stood up and excused himself from the table.
"I am going to place a few charms around the hut, so demons can't find it." Miroku said while staring at the Hanyou
"That's a good idea, but make sure it is specific so Inuyasha can watch Kagome. We need him." Kaede instructed. Miroku cracked a smile and laughed to ease the tension.
"Of course I will, Lady Kaede." As soon as the monk exited, the priestess took the mixture off the stove, and told Kagome to go lie down in the back room.
"You'll need plenty of sleep through this process. I'll come back there in a second to give you the herbs." Kagome did as she was told, and entered a dimly lighted room. She rested on the cot, and sighed. Kaede came in only a moment latter, trailed by Inuyasha. Kagome lied back on the cot in wait. "Here ye go child," Kaede said as place two drops in each of Kagome's eyes. Slowly everything dazed from a tented blur into a bleak shade of nothingness.
"It's working; I can't see anything," Kagome responded to let the priestess know.
"Ok dear. Ye get some rest now." Kaede commanded and she left the back of the hut.
Inuyasha settled down noisily beside her cot. There were no words shared between the two for the first few minutes. The Hanyou listen to Kagome thrash about. 'What's wrong with her,' he thought.
"I can't get to sleep Inuyasha," Kagome sighed again.
"What do you want me to do about? I'm no teddy bear." He said stating the obvious.
"I know, but I have something to confess." Kagome squirmed uncomfortably. Inuyasha turned and rested his hand on the cot so he could look at Kagome.
"What is it?" He asked. Kagome took Inuyasha's hand in hers, and fumbled her way out of bed until she was in his lap. "What are doing Kagome?" He asked in a surprised voice. 'Why is she in my lap?' He thought to himself as well.
"I'm afraid of the dark," She explained in almost a whisper as she hugged tightly around his waist. Not knowing why, Inuyasha was slightly disappointed by her response. Exhaling deeply he listened as Kagome's heart beat as it slowed into a distant sleep. 'I wander what she dreams about' He wandered as she curled her fingers tightly around some material on his red shirt. A gust of wind blew throw the hut causing Kagome to shiver. Inuyasha pulled the blanket from the cot, and rapped it around them both. Unknowingly, He began a low content purring sound, and drifted into a deep sleep with Kagome snuggled in his lap.