Author's Note:
Thanks to all the reviewers who leave a word and to the readers that just read!
Sobering
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Stressed WordIt had been a week since Kagome had returned to the village. Inuyasha began to notice that she kept to herself and ignored people around. She only seemed to react to the fact that Sesshoumaru left without a word. Inuyasha couldn't understand why his brother would just leave after all this time. Kagura had sat outside on top of a tree as she let the wind blow through her hair. Shippo was the only one that Kagome treated the same, since he was her kit. The group had decided that it was time to leave and get the last shards. Shippo had stayed at the village because Kagome ordered him to.
"Kagome," Sango whispered.
"Yes?" Kagome asked as she looked over at the packing Taijiya.
"Are you well enough to travel?" Sango asked.
"Yes, it is only my spirit that is still a little sore," Kagome, joked.
"We will travel slow for you," Miroku offered.
"NO! I will not be a hindrance," Kagome said.
"Very well, lets go," Sango, said.
Kagome sat next to Kagura on her feather and they took to the air towards where Kagome felt the shards. Kagome couldn't help but smirk at the how easily they had been fooled by her act. She watched Inuyasha run below them and couldn't help but feel a pull at her heart. She moved her attention back to Sango and Miroku and grinned. She knew she could have so much fun with their emotions. Kagome clenched her fists in anger when she felt something put a stop to her thoughts.
"It's called your soul," Kagura whispered, sensing the girl's struggle.
"I must do this and if I do, I shall enjoy it," Kagome quietly growled.
"Do not ruin our chance of escape," Kagura whispered.
'Damn these emotions!' Kagome cursed.
'Does my heart still long for you Inuyasha?' Kagome thought as her hands unclenched.
'Even after all the pain you put me through?' Kagome continued as she stared at the drops of blood that started from her palms.
"I will not jeopardize yours or mine freedom over pathetic emotions," Kagome growled.
'I wonder if she notices her change?' Kagura questioned as she flew.
Kagome remained quiet for the rest of the trip in hopes to silence any thoughts. She knew that if she dwelled and doubted herself that she could end up dead. She refused to end up dead or back in Naraku's horrid body. She looked down at her hand and watched as the youki within her began to spark with her anger. She quickly looked over to Miroku and Sango and saw him watching her out of the corner of his eye. She looked ahead of Kagura and closed her eyes. Letting her Miko ki out she searched and found that the Shikon shard was not activated. Kagome frowned and remembered all the times that Sango had encountered her brother.
'Damn emotions!' Kagome cursed herself.
"I see a village up ahead!" Sango yelled out.
"I sense the shard…but it's not active," Kagome called to the rest.
"Will you let the boy live?" Kagura whispered to Kagome.
"Maybe, nothing was said about him," Kagome answered as she walked ahead of the group.
Kagome noticed that the nearest villager ran off from her. She walked to the center of the village and came face to face with a man in armor. He studied her form before he gave her a glare. She glared at him before her friends decided to join her side.
"Why are you here?" The man demanded to know with a frown.
"I'm looking for a young boy about thirteen," Kagome said as she ignored the man's demand.
"Answer me first," the man commanded. Kagome's eyes narrowed and briefly her eyes flashed red before returning to her normal brown. Kagura snickered before she held out a sheathed katana to Kagome. Sango and Miroku looked worriedly towards each other while Inuyasha tensed.
"If you value your life…you will tell me about that boy," Kagome growled out.
"Like you could harm me," the man laughed. Kagome took the sheathed katana from Kagura's hands and shoved it into her sash before brandishing the sword.
"Does she know how to fight with a katana?" Miroku asked Sango. Sango shrugged but prepared to fight if Kagome needed help.
"Show yourself," the man ordered. Kagome's ears picked up noises such as shuffling. She quickly threw up a barrier that blocked the attack of arrows that flew towards them. Her Miko ki was a blood red that gave Miroku a worried look.
"Fool," Kagome spat as her youkai blood begged for blood. She ran towards him and in a flash he was on his back with her katana at his throat.
"Please…don't…"
"Pathetic!" Kagome spat. "Begging already."
"The boy is in the last hut chained to the wall," the man cried as the blade pressed into his throat. A small droplet of blood trickled onto the blade.
"If I see you again, you will die," Kagome whispered as she licked her blade clean.
'What happened to her,' Inuyasha thought.
"I think you may have scared him to death," Kagura commented as she walked next to Kagome.
"Good," Kagome said as she made her way to the hut.
Kagome was disgusted by the condition of the hut. She could see various weapons of torture on the ground covered in old blood. She walked over to the boy that was chained to the wall and held her hand out to him. She held him till he partially conscious. Sango and Miroku carried him to Kirara who flew him to Kaede's village. Kagome held the shard in her hand noted that it took a few moments to purify.
'My youkai is canceling my Miko ki already,' Kagome thought as she merged it with the jewel.
"Will he live without the jewel?" Sango worriedly asked.
"Yes, the jewel shard was healing him already," Kagome answered as she smiled.
"Then we better go find Kouga," Inuyasha growled.
"Is it okay if I go to Kohaku?" Sango asked with shame.
"There is no shame in caring for your brother," Kagome warned.
"How will you get there?" Miroku asked.
"I'll take her," Kagura volunteered.
"Thank you," Sango warily said before she followed the wind youkai.
Kagome and then were already outside as they watched the two leave. Inuyasha noted that Miroku had no ride to find Kouga. He also noticed a far away look on Kagome's face. She smiled at him and Miroku nodded at her. They then began to walk towards the woods into Kouga's territory. Kagome could faintly make out the smell of wolf as they neared the border. Inuyasha just grimaced as he continued to follow the scent.
"When did you learn to wield a sword?" Miroku asked as the continued to walk.
"Naraku," Kagome truthfully answered.
"What?" Inuyasha growled as he grabbed her by the arm and swung her around to face him. What he didn't expect was the fist that connected with his nose. He immediately released his grip and held his nose.
"Sorry, reaction," Kagome impassively said.
"Whatever wench!" Inuyasha growled.
"What do you mean Naraku taught you to use the sword?" Miroku questioned as he tried to break up the fight.
"He tried to turn me into his little pet, and he trained me," Kagome casually said with disgust on her face.
"Let's go," Inuyasha said as he began to walk away.
'Has he found me out?' Kagome thought.
"Yes, we are wasting light," Miroku, agreed.
The group had only managed to travel a good ten miles before they had to stop for the night. Kagome stood on top of a tree and watched as the sunset into darkness. Inuyasha had already hunted a deer for their dinner. Miroku had also skinned it and cleaned it without any protest. She finally jumped down and walked over to the small camp to see that Inuyasha was the one roasting the deer. Kagome laid her katana against the log she now sat on and stared off into the distance.
Miroku had noted that Kagome had been most quiet around them only. He looked down at his hand and saw that his curse was gone. He had doubted the reality of it being gone when he remembered the whole Kaguya incident. He glanced over at Kagome and wondered if what she claimed was the truth. He had proof by just looking at the palm of hand. He sighed in aggravation before he just closed his eyes. Kagome softly growled and smacked her cheek. Inuyasha and Miroku both looked over at her in confusion.
"Lady Kagome, what a pleasure," Myouga said.
"Myouga, what are you running from now?" Inuyasha asked with a snort.
"I have news," Myouga said as he sat on Kagome's outstretched palm.
"Which is?" Inuyasha growled as he made a continue motion with his hands. Myouga rolled his eyes before he jumped onto one of Miroku's staff rings.
"Naraku has released a new incarnation," Myouga said as he watched silence come over the group. Inuyasha remained still before he started laughing. Myouga's look of surprise turned to one of anger and confusion.
"Naraku's dead," Miroku informed as he stared at the flea.
"I know that!" Myouga yelled.
"Then it's not an incarnation," Inuyasha informed.
"It was right before his death that he released this incarnation," Myouga quickly said. Inuyasha and Miroku turned to face Kagome, who had her eyes closed.
"I didn't see anything," Kagome answered before they could ask.
"What's going on?" Myouga asked.
"Kagome, is the one that defeated Naraku," Miroku spoke up. Myouga closed his eyes and appeared to be thinking before he suddenly thought of something.
"What's this so called incarnates' look?" Inuyasha asked.
"That is not known. All I know is that she is a female with the ability to she Shikon shards," Myouga answered.
"That's impossible!" Inuyasha yelled.
"That is highly impossible that another besides Kagome can see the shards," Miroku said.
"Not true…there's Kikyo," Kagome spat with hidden rage.
Everyone remained silent to Kagome's calm anger. She quickly stood and walked away into the forest with her katana in hand. Myouga stared at Inuyasha and Miroku curiously before asked for an explanation. Inuyasha sat Indian style and closed his eyes leaving Miroku to explain the story. Myouga listened to the story and remembered the way Kagome's blood had tasted. It wasn't a human's blood, as he thought he just listened with his own speculations inside his head.
'That damn flea is to close to the truth,' Kagome thought as she punched a tree down.
"Naraku wishes to know how your progress is," Kanna softly whispered. Kagome looked behind and cursed herself for not sensing her.
"Only two shards remain and I plan to have fun with my prey first," Kagome answered.
"Do not let any old emotions rise," Kanna softly warned before she faded into the night. Kagome flicked the now empty area off before she growled and concealed her scent.