Age of the White Dawn

Chapter 4: A Different Look

Kagome was abruptly pulled from the land of slumber by the loud slam of a door. Dazed and confused, she lay on her back for at least ten minutes trying to identify where she was and why her body ached. When she finally recalled all of the events that had occurred, she chose to avoid dwelling on her current situation and instead began to lazily observe her surroundings. Focusing on the faded pink wallpaper pealing above her head caused a lot less emotional stress then attempting to determine where Inu Yasha was taking her.

Unfortunately, Kagome had the attention span of a three year old and she soon found herself leaving the comfort of her room in search of something more interesting, namely Inu Yasha. After several wrong turns and a flight of stairs she finally found him in the common room. He was seated at one of the tables in the corner with a mug of ale in one hand and, to Kagome's surprise, Mr. Toodles curled around his bare feet.

"How did Mr. Toodles get here?"

"The damn cat followed us. I walked down here to eat and there it was, sleeping on t he table." He looked down at the cat with a sneer, his ears twitching in annoyance.

"Well, minus the fat cat, you look like the ideal mysterious traveler tucked away in the shadows." She teased, pulling up a chair and joining him. He didn't respond. With an annoyed sniff she grabbed for the mug he held, but he snatched it away before thinking otherwise and handing it to her.

"At least tell me where we are." She muttered, taking a sip of his ale and gagging at the bitter taste. Smirking, he took the mug back,
"We're in Maesta Carta at the Rusty Gate Inn."

"Maesta Carta…isn't that at least twenty-five miles away from the school?" she asked, absently watching an old woman walk by. Their eyes met and she nodded politely, but instead of nodding back, the woman seemed alarmed. She hurriedly left the room, dropping the basket of laundry she had been carrying.

"Yeah," Inu Yasha replied, oblivious to the old woman's strange antics, "We made good time, so, instead of eating on the road, I'll let you eat here."

"How nice of you," she murmured, just spotting the funny old woman coming back through the door. Clutched to her chest was a package which she placed on their table when she hesitantly walked over to them. Before either of them could say anything, she had stepped in front of Kagome, gave a small bow, then in a heavily accented voice explained, "She told me to give this to you and to say that you must be strong and that no matter what is said, Mother is always with you."

Kagome's stomach suddenly performed a series of impressive acrobatics and her heart was threatening to beat itself right out of her chest.

"Y-you knew my mother?"

"Er…well, no. A beautiful stranger came into town one day and told me to give this package to a girl who looked like her except much younger. I almost forgot about it, it was so long ago but…" she trailed off noticing Kagome's nervous state.

"Stop the tricks old woman. 'Cuz trust me, no one's laughing here." (A/N: …not that that was lame or anything…-_-*) Inu Yasha spoke up suddenly, his voice laced with menace. The woman's eyes widened at the comment,

"'Tisn't no life! Why, I remember her eyes. They were beautiful gray blue, a lot like yours. In fact she looked a lot like you. Her hair was longer then yours, though, and she seemed a lot sadder. She looked as if she was crying even when she smiled, but you seem as innocent and happy as my three year old grand child…no. The lady I speak of is no made up parson sir. Now, I must be getting back to my laundry and leave you to your breakfastin." She gave one last bow before scooping up the laundry she had dropped earlier and once again exited the room, just as a barmaid placed a plate stacked with bread, fruit and porridge in front of them.

"Uh…let's eat before you open the package that weirdo gave you."

She nodded silently and reached for a roll, ignoring the fact that it was still steaming hot. The meal continued in silence, thoughts of the package, its contents and who it was from ever present in her mind. After debating with Inu Yasha who would eat the last of the glue-like porridge, and finally agreeing that Mr. Toodles would like it, Kagome hastily excused herself.
"You go fifteen minutes wench."

She gave Inu Yasha a weak smile, "The name's Kagome."

Taking the steps two at a time, she managed to find her room with little difficulty. She opened the door and locked it behind her, not wanting an interruption, even from Mr. Toodles. With trembling fingers she undid the rope that held the cloth bundle shut and dumped its contents onto her bed.

'Clothes?' she stared blankly at the articles of clothing on her bed and gulped nervously.

"They're so…tiny." She squeaked holding up a skirt. Unlike the modest pastel robes she usually wore, these clothes were a sharp, dark green and white and…she gulped again…innocently provocative.

"I hope my mother's taste in clothes doesn't reflect her personality…" she muttered, reluctantly pulling on the small, dark green skirt. Next came the white shirt with the green sailor-like collar, the weird shoes and all that was left was a red piece of cloth. She stared at it. 'Where does it go?' After tying it on various areas, she decided it looked stupid in her hair and just tied it to the front of her shirt like a kerchief.

Done with that task, she cringed and slowly turned towards the large mirror next to the bed and blinked at herself in surprise. The clothes…they fit! Not just physically either. In the soft mute-colored robes the school provided her with, she appeared pale, wraith-like and weak. In the clothes her mother gave her, small as they were, she still portrayed innocence but strength as well.

There now no doubt left in Kagome's mind; her mother had definitely been an oracle. But what had she seen? Why, of all things, did she leave strange clothing for her daughter? And why had she abandoned her in the first place? With these thoughts racing through her head, she rolled her school robes into a small bundle and was about to place it into the cloth her new clothes came in when something soft suddenly brushed against her leg.

"Gah!" she barely managed to stifle her cry of alarm.

"Mr. Toodles?" she looked over at the door, it was still locked. Picking up the cat she asked, "How did you—" there was a loud rapping on the door.
"Fifteen minutes are up."

"Just one min—"

"Nope. Right now or I knock down the door wench." Inu Yasha rapped the door again for emphasis.

"Yeah, yeah." She grumbled, grabbing her stuff and stomping out the door. She was halfway down the hall when she realized no one was following her.

"What?" she demanded. He didn't say anything for a while, then,

"That's what she gave you?"

"Oh, yeah," she smile embarrassedly. "Like it?"

"It…you…you look erm…different." He finished lamely.

"Basically ridiculous."

"Feh, not—"

"Yeah, okay." She cut him off. "Let's go now."

With an exasperated sigh he snapped, "Fine! Since you're so eager to leave, why don't you tell me where we're going next?"

"The devil's nest, of course." She grinned triumphantly.

"After a two day walk across the Yedlad Desert." She groaned rubber her, now, bare already sore legs.

"Hey, no one's forcing you to go, wench. If you're giving up…"

"I never said I wouldn't go." Kagome snapped, eyes flashing in determination. Inu Yasha smirked,

"Feh, sure. Whatever."

Eyes narrowed, she began walking down the hall again.

"Inu Yasha?" her voice was sugary sweet.

"…what?"

"Sit."

SLAM

A/N: Standard disclaimers apply. Blech. Stupid internet's crapping out on me…