Inuyasha

Fate's Course & Forbidden Love

Chapter 13

Oblivious Nostalgia Part II

"Sangou, it's time to get up." Rani addressed while kneeling besides her sleeping daughter. "Rise and shine, baby. C'mon your friends are waiting for you."

"Alright... just give me a little time to wake up, mama." Was Sangou's groggy reply.

"Now is the time to get up, dear. It's a miracle that I got Inuyasha to wait for you." She explained. "I've already got some of your weapons and a few clothes of yours packed." She stroked on her daughter's long hair which was still incredibly smooth despite it's frazzled appearance.

"Thanks mama." Sangou merited as she sat up in her futon. "By the way, is Kohaku going to be joining me on the road with the others?"

For a moment Rani's expression seemed apologetic for a moment. "I doubt it." Rani answered. "Kohaku is not as highly trained as you are in the field of survival and dealing with demons." Sangou too, knew that for a fact. Her little brother still appears timid when it comes to fighting even though he didn't have a choice the other day with the wolves. She thought it was safe for her brother to stay and train. "Maybe he'll agree to that too, Sangou. Besides he haven't been on a demon extermination with the others yet."

Sangou smiled reassuringly. She would soon be traveling with new friends from another city all the way to Edo. This was a perfect opportunity for her. A chance to see other areas of the country without her family and demon slaying colleagues for once. She was anxious for the exciting possibilities. "Then, that is for the best. I'll inform him that I'll be leaving today and I shall see him later."

Rani nearly cried, truly admiring her eldest child's noble heart. "Girl, you are just like your father." She said as she abruptly grabbed Sangou in a tight hug. "I'm going to miss you, Sangou."

"I'm going to miss you too, mama." Sangou replied as she returned her mother's hug. "I'll take care and if I just happen to meet father, I'll tell him what you said."

Rani immediately blushed. "Oh my. I nearly forgot about that. Please do that for me."

"Right. I'll go on and get ready."

"Damn. Any day now?" Inuyasha said with a pout. "What's taking her so long? I feel like I'm wearing out welcome in this village just because I'm a demon."

"Half demon..." Miroku commented.

"Shut up..."

"Have patience would you, Inuyasha?" Kikyou scolded. " Sangou is going to be leaving her home and family today. It's no wonder that she is taking her time and you should at least show some respect for that."

"Keh." The hanyou scoffed. "I'm pretty sure that she'll be taken care of. I certainly hope that she's not a crybaby like you. If so, not only we're trying to unravel the Shikon, we'll be babysitting a demon slayer."

"Insolence." Kikyou retorted. "Who are you calling a immature person?"

"You."

"Takes one to know one."

"Grr..."

"Okay, that's enough." Said Kagome. finding the argument between the priestess and the half demon to be amusing but petty at the same time. "I'm pretty sure that this is hard for her."

"Yes. Rani san is going to be shedding tears for the long absence of her daughter." Miroku stated solemnly. "A bond between mother and child is a strong and simultaneously a fragile one. Their love for each other is indeed strong but Sangou may feel alone and incredibly homesick after some time away from Rani-san."

"Wow. A bond between a mother and her daughter..." Kagome wondered with a slight skeptical tone. "I've always wondered what is it like to have a mother... a biological mother."

"Loved..." Inuyasha immediately answered.

"Cherished, safe, and secure." Kikyou followed. "A woman whom you can put all of your trust into."

"My goodness... are you serious?" Kagome queried, clearly amazed by the explanations.

"A person that can elucidate all the deep secrets of the fairer sex." Miroku added, earning burlesque gazes from his friends. "Well, it's true."

"A teacher, a protector..." Hikari stated. "A woman that encourages her offspring to live their life to the fullest no matter what hardships life will bring. In this cruel world, lessons learned from her is truly valuable."

"Really now," voice a young woman emerging from the dojo unto the foyer. "That sounds like quite an interesting woman. Tell me, are fathers in anyway similar?"

Inuyasha relayed an answer to Chi that was explicably clear with a snort. "Keh."

"Father was such a busy body." Kikyou surmised, as if she wasn't entirely certain of the memories of her male parent. "He was an 'in and out' sort of man. In my youth, I've seen him from time to time."

"Mine was the reason why I am such a honorable man." Miroku put in. "That man taught me the very tricks of the trade." That earned him skeptical glares from the girls. "Ah, if it were not for him, I wouldn't be so appealing to young and beautiful women today."

"Okay..." Kagome said in a voice meaning that she was totally unconvinced.

"My, such a twisted charm..." Kikyou commented.

Maybe she shouldn't, but Chi decided to examine his so called charm. And so, with a devilishly seductive leer aimed at the monk, she went to sit beside him.. "Appealing eh? I wonder, is that on of your more dominating aspects?"

Retaliating to the brunette with a smirk of his own, Miroku placed an arm around the said girl's shoulder. "So Chi-chan, are you willing to see the depths of this aspect that I am referring to? I'll be certainly delighted to show you... that is, if you do not mind."

Kagome tilted her head to the side slightly in confusion. "Eh? Miroku-sama... Chi-chan...?"

Processing what the monk was really talking about, Chi immediately blanched. "No! Not that kind of charm!" She chided as she snatched his arm off her shoulder. "Miroku, what did I told you about that?"

"About what?" The monk wondered.

"You really consider yourself a monk?" Kikyou commented.

"Of course I do." Miroku answered. "I'm a monk, not a priest."

"But, in a sense, a monk and priest are-- ugh! Never mind." Kikyou discontinued her explanation with a tiny frown. "You just be who you want to be."

Kagome gazed off into the distance, noticing the gradually overcast skies miles away. What she can guess those massive clouds up ahead were cumulonimbus kinds-- a strong possibility of a rain storm could occur. "Looks like we are going to have some rain on our travels. Don't you think we can get any shelter by the time it starts pouring down?"

"I don't know." Inuyasha answered to her. "If so, what's the harm of getting a little drenched on the road?"

"There is something wrong with that." Kagome retorted. "It's autumn and it's the time of the year when any of us can easily catch a cold. Furthermore, if it just so happen to be lightning when it rains, we could get struck so it's safe to seek shelter."

"Keh. You frail humans with your limited health and fears of lightning." Inuyasha muttered.

"Gee, what's with your disregard of humanity all of a sudden?" Kagome asked him in a petulant voice. "It's like you went through a sudden change since last night."

That statement made him recall his dream from the previous night. He gave Kagome a lingering stare that even made her wonder what was on his mind. 'Oh, you have no idea kid.' He thought. "Nah. It's nothing wrong with me. It's just that I'm ready to go, Kagome."

"Well it looks like it's time." Sangou stated approaching the gang on the front foyer from inside. "I'm ready to depart. Where are we going from here?" Her mother was beside her, a mixture of joy and sadness on her thin face.

Kagome studied the map she received from Yoriko. "Okay, since we're here... it's still a good trek to Kofu. Meaning we head northeast from here for several miles but we may have to stay at another place once more before we get to that station."

"Hmph. I can use the exercise." Said Sangou, chancing a quick glance at her mother. She was unusually calm and collected but Sangou knew that she's going to miss her all the while she is gone. "And if we just so happen to come across any nuisances leave it to me." She unfastened her huge boomerang and swung it over her head proudly.

"Ah, a little conceited aren't we?" Inuyasha scoffed with a smirk. "We may encounter monsters but just remember that these creeps may be far more powerful than those you ever fought before. So when the time comes, don't run away."

"What was that?" Sangou challenged.

"I just can't wait to see what the big bad demon slayer girl can do just in case there's a presence of a vicious demon." He sneered.

"Hmm. Care for me to demonstrate on you." Sangou retorted. "You may be that kind of demon."

"Interesting..."

"Inuyahsa!!" A fierce bellow from Rani caused the gang to cringed. "We taijiya are a proud group of warriors. We stick together and it's a big mistake to provoke our wrath! I suggest you curb your arrogance and treat my daughter with respect as you do the rest of your peers! Do I make myself clear, child?"

"Yes ma'am!" The gang minus Inuyasha responded. He was too flabbergast to respond.

"Children, I was not talking to you..." She stated powerfully. "I was speaking to him..."

"Yes ma'am..." He finally said.

That rage vanished just as sudden as it appeared. "Ah, that's my dog eared baby. You be a good little half demon, okay? And please people, take care of one another. Working together, you guys are unbeatable!" She made a proud pose, with her right balled into a strong karate fist before her.

"Isn't that rule number thirteen, mama?" Sangou inquired, blushing a bit. "But I'm the only taijiya with this party."

"It doesn't matter, Sangou." Rani replied, flipping her long brown hair proudly. "Taijiya, soldier, samurai, knight, or school of fishes, the rule's universal."

Kohaku and a small crew of adolescent slayers appeared. "You have our blessings Sangou. We wish you and your friends benevolent fortune on your journey." They stated. Kirara was in her alternate form roaring vigorously.

"Mama! This was uncalled for." Sangou pleaded slightly embarrassed right before a sad smile crept on her features. "But... thanks! I love you all! You guys are the best!"

Tears of mirth and sadness cascaded from both Rani's and Sangou's eyes. "You kids come back alive, now. I just know that you can do it. We will see each other again."

Kikyou bowed to her. "Thank you very much Rani-san, for sheltering us. We are grateful for your care and are in your dept."

"You children can repay me by returning safe and sound." Rani laughed, wiping tears from her face.

"We shall, Rani-sama." Miroku promised. "Sangou and I have much to live for."

Sangou immediately paled. "What did you just say?"

"You two considering marriage?" Rani inquired, slightly shocked.

"Why of--"

"No! Mother, I'm too young for things like that!" Sangou bellowed.

"Aw! But you two will have such wonderful children!" Rani beamed as her eyes filled with stars.

Miroku was surprised. "You think so, too!?"

"Moving on!" Sangou dismissed. "We must go and while I'm gone, I'll be sure to write you all. Kohaku, don't go trying to obtain a weapon that's bigger than mine. It takes a lot of time to make one."

"Aw!" Kohaku snapped his finger in defeat. "I was going to prove to you that I'm the physically stronger sibling."

"And take good care of Kirara" Sangou instructed to him. "Meaning feeding him and of course, cleaning her."

"If Kirara has to go, she should do so without my help." Kohaku muttered. Chi lightly tapped him on his shoulder. "What's up, Chi-chan?"

The brunette smiled, an unusually affectionate one. "It's been nice meeting you, Kohaku-kun. You've certainly getting better at chess. When all of this is over, I coming to check up on your progress. Understand?"

"Yeah, you do that." He replied. "Because I have to win against you at least once. There must be a first for everything, right? You're going to see some major improvement."

"That's good to hear, Kohaku-kun." Said Chi right before hugging him. "You take care of yourself. I'm going to miss you..."

"Umm... I guess so..." Kohaku replied, blushing a smooth shade of red. He wasn't sure whether to return her hug or not. Oblivious to them, Kagome was paying special attention to the two.

"Well, well, well... look what we have here?" She said with a sly smile. "You're hugging him a little too tight, aren't you not, Chi-chan?"

"Ack!" She yelped as she immediately releases Kohaku while blushing brighter than the younger boy was. "Kagome you did not see that just now. Besides, I'm just inviting him for our next challenge in chess."

Kagome smiled mischievously. "Ah, I see that you are inviting him for something... but it's definitely more than just a game of chess." The brunette blushed deeper at Kagome's comment. Kohaku was at a loss at what Kagome meant but he was certain that a hug from Chizaki definitely felt good.

Chi was about to retaliate with mouth open and a finger pointed. "Ah, it's nothing like--" But little Shippou came seemingly out of nowhere and landed on her shoulder. "Shippou..." She grumbled. "What are you up to now, you little twit?"

"Why so suspicious?" The fox imp siad in an innocent tone. "I just wanted to wish you luck. I probably won't see you guys again."

Chi raised a brow. "Huh? That's why you came all of a sudden? Just for that? You worry too much, kid. We're going to make it out just fine."

"I dunno," Shippou doubted. "On the way from here to Edo there are several dangers laying in wait, like: rogues, pirates, monsters, demons, renegade ninjas--"

"Okay! Okay! I get what you're saying: monsters, demons, and ninjas with the bad fashion statement as you. Gee, thanks for advising us you little brat."

Shippou wondered about what she just said with a completely innocent demeanor. "We dress that badly to you? Really? Hmm... the robes of ninjas may be baggy and all but at least we do have on clothes..."

Chi instantly noticed the pun he was meaning, whether the statement was intended to be one or not. She resented that, knowing the fact that she wore a short sea green yukata which was now sleeveless as well due to the inferno a few days back. "You little punk!! You'll pay for that insult!!!" She grabbed him off her shoulder and slammed him onto the ground and was just about to stomp the brakes off of him-- if it were not for the most of the gang stopping her. The way she was about to punish the little tyke, the feat can easily deem her worthy of being a demon slayer.

Inuyasha just had to sit back and chuckle at the entire tirade. He too, thought that the vulpine could get on his nerves when he really wanted to. A sudden pleasant scent invaded his breathing and from the corner of his eye, he saw Jun stood at the corner of the foyer. Her deep brown eyes held a serene gaze which was directed at him. Her elegant tresses and the creases of her kimono was caught in the autumn breeze. For a moment, he realized just how beautiful she was looking like that-- both inside and out. He felt guilty for acting so casual after the geisha confessed her infatuation towards him. So guilty to a point that it almost felt like regret. He knew deep down inside that any healthy young man would easily accept and settle down with a woman such as her.

But the one thing about Jun... was the fact that she was very empathetic. And that was a good thing. She deeply respect the friendship between him and Kagome because she knew that they were more than just 'friends'. Jun had no reason to be jealous-- and she wasn't. Actually, she think the two would make a cute couple and the kiss she gave him last night was completely chaste. It was the kind of kiss for endearment and reassurance, not necessarily a kiss meant for lust nor love.

A graceful smile made it's way to her face, with a whisper that Inuyasha was sure to hear, she told him, "Sayonara, Inuyasha-kun..."

The pleasantry accepted, it was somewhat short lived because Chi eventually gotten loose from the gang's grip and she was once again open to descend on Shippou once more. Yep, it was best for him to step in...

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"SANKON TETSUSOU!!!"

An large wasp demon was unfortunately shredded into pieces by one of Inuyasha's trademark techniques. "Ha! Ha! That's thirteen for me!" Declaring his victory proudly. "What's the score now... but never mind, I'm always in the lead!"

"We've been doing this for about a hour now." Kagome pouted, growing a little tired of dealing with the sporadic attacks of youkai insects. "Every sine we've left, all that we have been doing is encountering these creeps."

"Watch out!!" Hikari shouted, just in time for Kagome to notice another monster swooping down on her for the kill. The raven haired girl was about to avoid it but Hikari took that as an opportunity to take it out. With very quick speed due to her training with the sword, she lashed out in front of Kagome and darted through the insect-like monster with her steel. "There goes another one." She sighed. "I believe that was my fifth one."

Kagome rose to her feet from crouching position. "That was close. Thanks for the save, Hikari-chan."

"No worries..." She replied quietly.

"Keh! Five isn't any competition!" Inuyasha snorted at the brunette. "Don't you really think that you can catch up with my score."

Hikari gave the hanyou a mysterious smile. "Hmm... perhaps."

"Perhaps what?" He returned.

"HIRAIKOTSU!!" Sangou shouted in warning while tossing her weapon at a pair of monster bounded for the oblivious hanyou and swordswoman. The beasts crumbled under the strength of the weapon and the remains of them rained down on the two 'competitors'. "You two almost gotten whacked." She chided. "You don't have to be so competitive about this."

Hikari silently sheath her sword. "My apologizes. Inuyasha's challenge was a little too tempting to resist." She wiped the mess off of her clothes. "Although it could have been less messier."

There was a sudden thunderclap and it was followed by pouring cold rain. Miroku gazes at the skies thoughtfully. "The calm last a little longer than expected." He contemplated. "We may need to find the closest possible source for shelter. I have a feeling that this is not the full fury of this tempest."

"The sooner the better." Chi bellyached, clutching her garbs. "I've just bought this kimono and it's already getting drenched."

"I told you all to buy something to protect your heads from any possible precipitation." Kikyou admonished, discreetly seizing onto her straw woven hat by a hand. "It was quite certain that rain may occur according to the presence of these clouds."

Inuyasha jumped onto many trees throughout the forest. "The next open area may be for miles. These trees may be good enough for us until the storm passes over."

"But I'm not really fond of heights!" Kagome griped.

"Me neither." Chi followed. "So we can completely forget all about the trees. I had bad experience with them because I was nearly maul by angry bees and I've been afraid of climbing since."

"Oh that's right." Kagome reminisced. "Was it that time when you decided to climb a tree and pout on it because of that time you were upset with Yuka?"

"It was I who found those lost kittens five years ago!" Chi bellowed but immediately cringed when she received funny gazes from the rest of the gang. "Uh, you all did not hear that just now."

"So that what happened that day." Kikyou wondered. "I thought you had such experience because Neko chased you throughout the village. Neko was very upset with you because you kept bothering her whenever she sleep."

"Okay, enough with the memories!" Chi commanded. She hope that they didn't just so happen to remember another bad experience with trees. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her but she swore she could have seen a flash of white and black just now. "Eh? What's that in the shrubbery over there? Could it be..."

"It's another monster." Hikari noted while unsheathing her katana. "This one is mine." She made it straight to the point where Chi pointed at and scrutinized the bushes. After mere moments of rustling through the masses, she spotted the 'monster'. "Got cha!!"

"Hey! Wait a minute lady!" A once hidden woman shouted. "I'm not some monster that you can just slaughter so you might as well put away that weapon!"

Hikari backed away with caution and examine the woman. "A priestess?"

"Well I have to shelter myself from the rain." She explained. "Otherwise I'll catch a cold."

"Hey who are you talking to?" Said Inuyasha as he approached Hikari. Upon inspection, he saw a white hair priest woman whom he may recognize a few nights back. "Have we met?"

"I remember you." Said Tsubaki while she gather herself away from the shrubbery. "Our drinking partner from that tavern. The guy whom Iga lost that fight to."

Hearing that, the hanyou snorted haughtily. "Keh. You saw that eh? Yeah that creep pretty much had it coming."

"Actually that fight wasn't finished." Sangou intruded as she approached. "By the way, how do you know about our encounter with Iga?"

The black miko smile mischievously. "I have connections..."

"It's you!!" Came Kikyou's cry.

"It's been a while old friend?" Tsubaki taunted but still held an expression of contempt at the sight of her. "Unfortunately, I am not happy to see that you are still breathing."

"I nice to know that you still hate me so much, T-S-U-B-A-K-I... CHAN." Kikyou droned sarcastically, much to Tsubaki's ire. "Kagome, remember that talk we had about the nature of a dark priestess?"

Kagome piped up at the inquiry. "Yea, so? I remember her from the night when we first left home. But I wonder what happened to the other two?"

Kikyou pointed to Tsubaki, as though that she was a definition in a dictionary. "This woman who is in front of me is one of 'those' kinds of priestesses." Kikyou elucidated. "She's the perfect example."

"I though it was something peculiar about her." Kagome said in a slightly impressed tone.

Tsubaki gritted her teeth at the seeming ridicule of her. "Enough!" She roared right before taking on a more pleasant countenance. "So Kikyou... how's life being one of Yoriko's flunkies been treating you? I hope that you've earned at least a quarter of freewill by now."

"Uh, did I just heard right?" Kagome, Chi, and Kikyou inquired dangerously at the same time.

Tsubaki continued to smirk wickedly. "Why take offense? You three know that it's all true."

"Now wait a minute, sister." Kagome began. "Yori--" Kikyou halted her rebuttal with a raised hand.

"Leave Kagome and Chi out of this, Tsubaki-chan." Kikyou commanded.

"Stop calling me 'Tsubaki-chan'." Tsubaki requested distastefully. "For far too long I am no longer your friend you dimwit of a miko."

"Let's not start that again, Tsubaka."

"Damn you with your smug countenance and sarcastic remarks." Tsubaki growled. "I can't stand you, you...you-- milky pale daughter of a bastard."

"Damn it, Tsubaki." Kagura admonished as she appeared along with Yura. "Girl we can hear you from miles. Why does she irritate you so much?"

"I have unfinished business with her. That's why." Tsubaki complied, still glaring daggers at Kikyou. "Friends forever my ass..."

Kikyou sighed, a little sadly for her part. "...Tsubaki-chan... I still cannot fathom that you would turn out like this... even to this very day."

"What did I told you about that?" Tsubaki countered, clearly affronted by the honorifics.

"Whoa! Talk about hostile reunions." Chi commented while gazing back and forth at the quarrelling women.

"Keh. Let the Amazon and Plump Face do whatever they want." Inuyasha snorted as he leaned on a tree. "I got bet on the black priestess."

Miroku quickly chimed in to what Inuyasha said. "Great moment for a cat fight, wouldn't you say? It's raining and there's already a mud puddle gradually forming over there. I hope that they would wrestle in it."

Sango rolled her eyes at him at what the lecher just said. "What?"

"Pervert..."

"A guy's got to like something..." The monk replied.

"You're gone..." Sangou muttered, displaying the coo-coo expression, crossed eyes and an index finger twirling besides her temple.

"Interesting... you're still making concords with demons I see." Kikyou studied. "I wonder, are you familiar with a fiend that goes by the name of Naraku?"

"And if I am?"

"A terrible fate shall occur." Kikyou explained. "A bitter demise is indeed fitting for such a menace. If you are in league with him, I suggest that you should back down immediately."

"He's not all that bad." Kagura interrupted. "He's just ambitious. Naraku's willing to go to the extremes when he got his sights set onto a goal."

Kagome tensed at the said statement. "He's just ambitious? That creep nearly burned down the village of demon slayers and killing us in the process and you call that ambitious? I certainly would like to see what you consider menacing."

"Oh, you really wouldn't want to see that." Yura insisted. "He can get pretty ugly from what I can assume." A creature caught her attention as she gazed off into some shrubbery not far away. "Hey, that's a pretty nice horse over there."

Everyone looked towards the direction in which Yura was pointing to. It was a familiar coffee brown steed and it was quietly grazing on some fresh plants among the shrubbery. Recognition dawning on the faces of Kagome and Chi, the two girls shot their way straight towards the creature.

"Gosh. Could it be...? The raven haired girl wondered skeptically while stroking the steed's mare. "This fella looks an awfully a lot like him." The steed flopped his ears with a snort.

"Hideki! Man, have I missed you ole buddy." She scrutinizes the creature for any signs of their lost luggage. "Hey, what happen to some of our stuff that we've packed onto you."

"Well it has been a few days since we've been separated from him, Chi." Kagome explained as if the younger female was a little child. "So there's really no surprise that our belongings are missing. Either he got tired of carrying them or some gang of thieves must have snagged it off him."

"Well that's nice." Said Kagura in a dry tone. "Tsubaki, we should be making our leave. This is not a good time to be having a so-called confrontation." The consideration made sense-- either due to the fact that is was steadying pouring rain or the trio was outnumbered. "If you insist, then that means I could consider you crazy."

"I am crazy." Tsubaki retorted.

"That's really nothing new." Kikyou commented.

"Damn girl, we really need to get going." Kagura urged. "If we stay out here any longer then we are going to be sick as hell and I ain't planning on getting sick."

Knowing deep down that she was right, Tsubaki finally relented. "Fine. I'll back down for now." She turns away from Kikyou. "But I will say this: Kagura's definitely not going to be here to save you from me. Heed my words."

"It's about time. I'm plenty cold already." Yura griped while folding her arms across her chest. The trio strolled down the path, eventually disappearing from view.

A cold smile spread across Hikari's features. "And that woman told me not to slash her. By the looks of her attitude, she could be a nuisance."

"Wait a minute? You knew that it was a woman behind the shrubs all along?" Miroku queried in awe.

"Not really..." Hikari answered mysteriously.

"Should we take the other's example and find a place to shelter us from the rain?" Sangou stated after a sneeze. "I believe that I'm coming down with an illness already and I haven't been with you guys for an entire day yet."

Inuyasha agreed with her. "C'mon let's get a move on." Suddenly, he caught another scent. To his surprise, it wasn't another demon, or a vengeful woman for that matter. This scent was much like that of Kagome. "It looks like we got company once again."

"Could it be another demon?" Kagome inquired in alarm.

"No. It's not a demon." Inuyasha clarified. His face frowned slightly in confusion. "Come to think of it, whoever it is smells a lot like you."

Kagome blushed. "That's not funny. How could you joke around at a time like this?"

"No, I'm being serious."

The shrubbery shook all of a sudden, prompting everyone to be on the alert. Within moments, a small adolescent boy with obsidian hair emerged. He was discreetly holding onto the rain cloak that he wore on his shoulders and head. Once he surveyed the unfamiliar faces which were now around him, he declared, "Please don't jump me, I'm broke!"

"It's only a kid." Sangou confirmed.

"Listen, don't be alarmed." Kagome reassured. "We are not thieves. So there's absolutely no need to be afraid of us."

The boy seemed relieved by her statement. "Well that's good to hear miss. The only reason that I'm out here is because I'm looking for him." He pointed towards Hideki.

Chizaki immediately clung onto the horse. "No! But he's our horse!" She confronted.

The boy smiled. "Well what a coincidence. I've found him around the fields a few days ago chasing the females. He's been staying at my place since."

"In the fields you say?" Asked Kagome. "So that means that we're not far away from any shelter?"

"You're in luck, ma'am. My home is right up this path." He directed. "Why won't you all follow me. You can all stay until the storm passes."

"Really? That is so nice of you!" Chi beamed, hastily jumping onto Hideki. "Hideki, you know what time it is-- Giddy yap!!" The steed neighed proudly and reared on it's hind legs before galloping off towards his destination. "Last one there is an rotten egg!" She shouted.

Kagome smiled mischievously, counting on an 'incident' to occur. "Well, well, at this rate, she's bound to catch a lariat by a tree limb at that speed. Then she'll will be whining about it for the next few days." She began laughing to herself which earned her looks of concern from her companions. "What?"

They only nodded in response and followed suit along the path. Kagome gradually decided to trail after a shrug. Then she took notice of the boy. After what Inuyasha commented about them having almost the very same scent, she had to admit that the kid looked a lot like her. She even considered him a male version of herself-- the raven hair, the adorable wide brown eyes, the somewhat circular shape of his face... he was almost an ethereal double.

Noticing that the boy was examining her as well, Kagome asked him a simple question. "Say kid, what's you're name? You look kind of familiar... like I know you from somewhere."

The little boy answered sincerely, "Souta. And what's you're?"

"Me?" She pointed to herself. "I'm Kagome. It's a cute name isn't it?" She giggled as she followed. 'Nope, never met this kid in my life. But, why do I get this odd feeling of deja vu by merely scrutinizing him? Oh well...'

TO BE CONTINUED...