Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, or it's characters etc. We've already established that you need mental help if you think I do. So please, heed that advice. Thank you.
Also, another special thanks to the ongoing support of my reviewers:
From Chapter 2:
MTNight (again! Thank you so much!)
Addicted2Reviews (another double reviewer! Yes! Thank you very much!)
NomadGirl66 (Thank you! And yes, she will be able to use her powers with the sword, and she might be able to use some special attacks, I don't know we'll see. But she will be pretty strong)
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Part III: Reflections"Good Kagome!" Sango said as she dropped her bokken to the ground. "That's good for now I think. So, how are you feeling?"
Kagome was sweating and was actually extremely tired. "I'm fine…"she said still huffing. "When do you think we'll be ready to move up to real swords?" She huffed and puffed some more and then collapsed to her knees. "I really want to know when you think I'll be ready."
Sango smiled at her. "Kagome, you've come a long way. We've been working for only a little more then 2 weeks and you're getting better every single day! I think that it's about time we get you a real sword. How about this: When we get to the town that Kaede was talking about we'll get you some battle armor and a sword, alright?"
Kagome was ecstatic. "Wow Sango, do you really think so? Do you really think that I'm ready for that step? Already?"
"Uh huh. I think that you are ready at least to carry a sword to defend yourself if you need to. You're at least proficient to carry a sword around. Now, that doesn't mean that you will be able to beat your adversaries. It means that you can defend yourself."
Kagome had a fake sort of smile on her face. "Why thank you Sango. I think. For your…confidence in me?"
They were still about 4 hours away from the town that Kaede described. It had been a few days since they had left on their little adventure and so far it was all very normal. No demons had tried to attack them. Nobody was after the Shikon no Tama. Everything was normal, and that was the way that Sango and Kagome hoped that it would stay. Soon dusk came and they decided to pack it in for the night.
"Sango?" Kagome asked when they were both around the campfire. "You've been fighting for a long time haven't you?"
Sango thought for a moment. She never really realized how much of her life she had actually been fighting for. "Yes, I suppose that I have been fighting for a long time. Ever since I can remember actually. Demon slaying used to be so normal to me, but now…everything is all sorts of gray."
Kagome was interested in the tangent that Sango seemed to be going on. "Oh really? How so?"
Sango was now gazing into the fire with a deep sort of gaze. Kagome could tell that she was digging through her memories in her mind. Although Sango's face was expressionless, it showed a real lot. She was thinking. For a good five minutes she didn't say anything, then she started to tell her story.
"Ever since I met you all, every demon was an enemy. That's what we did. We destroyed demons." She said with a tear in her eye. "It didn't matter if they were full demons, half demons, weak demons, or strong demons. A demon was a demon. And now, I've learned so much about the world that I'm just not sure. I still have that urge to kill every demon that I see. My mind still associates demons with things that are evil. That's why I like spending time with you Kagome."
"Me? Why me?" Kagome asked.
"Because…" Sango took a deep breath. "You see the world through such pure and non discriminating eyes. Things aren't automatically good and evil to you. That's one of the things I really like about you Kagome, and I admire that."
Kagome was taken back. "Wow…thanks Sango. I never thought of myself that way. I guess I'm like that…sometimes…I guess."
The fire was starting to go out. The moon was getting higher and higher in the sky and crickets were chirping all around.
"I'm so tired" Kagome said with a yawn. "I'll see you in the morning Sango…I need some sleep. Goodnight."
Sango was tired too. "Alright. Good night Kagome."
------------------- The next morning --------------------
"Wow!" Kagome exclaimed. "I can see the village!"
It was about noontime. The pair had been walking along for about 3 hours and they were starting to wonder if they would ever make it to the village. As they approached the gates, they noticed that this village was far more advanced and well protected then that of Kaede's village. There were two guards in front of the front entrance of the village. Each of them were holding beautifully crafted halberds. Each of them had dragons carved into the handle at the very bottom of the 4 or so foot pole that the blade was attached too. Each of the blades was different. One of them was more curved rather then pointed. The other was far more pointed. Sango approached one of the guards.
"Those are two very impressive halberds you have there." She said to one of them. "If I may ask, could you tell me where you purchased them?"
"In the marketplace of course." Replied the guard. "We have everything you could possibly need in this town. There is everything from weapons, to jewelry, to books, and food. Everything that you need is right in here."
Kagome interrupted him. "Would you by any chance know whether or not any mysterious illnesses have been occurring in your village?"
The guard seemed puzzled and confused. "Mysterious illnesses? That's a rather strange question to be asking. But if you must know, I have no idea. We do have many doctors and people who study the arts of remedies in this village. If you have any…specific questions, they might be able to help."
Kagome bowed to him. "Thank you. May we pass?"
The guard laughed. "Why wouldn't I let two pretty young girls pass through these walls, eh?"
Sango raised one eyebrow and noticed where his eyes were looking. "Kagome. I think we better hurry so that we can find out what happened to Lady Kaede. Now please."
Kagome nodded in agreement as she saw that Sango was agitated. The two of them began walking into the town noticing how large it really was. Sango was really excited.
"I…I have never seen a village this large before. It's…enormous." She said with her jaw dropped almost to the ground. "I don't think I could ever find my way around here!"
Kagome started laughing because it was extremely small in comparison to the cities she had seen back in her time. "I'll be able to get us around. Don't you worry. First thing is first though. We need to find one of the doctors. But to do that, we need to know how to get there…"
Up ahead Kagome saw the marketplace that the guard had mentioned to her at the gate of the village. "Maybe we can get directions there!" Kagome said.
Sango was still disoriented from the size of the town. "Al…alright…I'm…coming…"