"Oro…" He stood in the doorframe for a moment, his mind attempting to register the images the light of the fire made clear to him. There, staring at him with a bewildered look, was a young girl, clad in an odd set of clothing, sitting next to what seemed to be a very pale, very sick, sleeping man with dog ears and… FANGS!
He shook his head and decided that the health of the unconscious woman in his arms was of far greater importance at the moment. Clearing his throat in an attempt to get the sore muscles working again, he made no attempt to mask his concern as he spoke to the girl.
"This one is very sorry for intruding miss, but it is very cold outside and my companion and I seem to have gotten lost. This unworthy one would be extremely grateful if you would kindly let us stay here for a few hours until she is well enough to travel again."
She stared at the dark figures in the doorframe, straining to make sense out of the blurred forms. For a moment, she considered that they might be more enemies, come to attack them while her companion was injured, when a thought struck her.
This man is being awfully polite, I doubt anyone who'd be after us would be this nice before trying to kill us… looking back up at the two travelers, any remaining fear was immediately washed away. "Oh my gosh! Why are you still standing there! Bring her inside and put her by the fire before she gets any worse!" she chided, as if she'd been the one concerned for the girl in the strange man's arm to begin with.
Thank you Kami-sama, for this girl's kindness, he thought in silent prayer. Rushing to do exactly as the girl in the short green skirt said, he stepped into the cabin and gently laid his precious cargo on the floor in front of the fire, next to the strange dog-like man who, he noticed, was in about the same state as his companion. Turning back towards the door for a moment he looked up at the young girl from his position on the floor.
"Thank you for sharing your cabin with us miss! This unworthy one truly appreciates it, indeed I do!" he said with his characteristic grin.
"Oh! You're welcome, but this cabin isn't mine. I only found it a few minutes before you walked in!" she said with a nervous laugh and sheepish grin.
His smile never wavered. "Well, judging by the condition your friend is in, this unworthy one thinks it was lucky for all of us, that it was! Speaking of which, your friend certainly looks-"
"It's not what you think!" she started defensively, not wanting him to finish what she was sure would be a speech about how all demons are evil, or something to that effect. "He wouldn't hurt anyone! Just because he's a half demon doesn't mean he dangerous! And besides I'd trust him with my life because-" she slapped a hand over her mouth before the rest of her confession had a chance to spill out of her.
He merely smiled again, this time with warmth and understanding. "Actually, this one was merely going to say that he looks very sick, and perhaps this unworthy may help you take care of him as payment for your kindness. Though that certainly does explain the ears and fangs, that it does." He turned back to the two lying side by side on the floor, if we can manage to find a blanket or two we should be able to warm them up quick enough. I'll just ask miss, oh… He turned back to face the girl once more.
"It just occurred to me that we haven't been properly introduced yet, that we haven't. My name is Himura Kenshin, and this," he said gesturing to the young woman he had come in with, "is Miss Kamiya Kaoru."
She noticed that as Kenshin said Kaoru's name, his beautiful amethyst eyes became filled with a look of love and, a sort of pained longing. What could possibly be behind that look, she didn't know, though she was trying to figure it out when she realized that Himura-san was staring at her strangely.
"OH! I haven't told you our names yet, have I? How silly of me!" she said with a forced laugh, trying not to bite her lip in embarrassment. "My name's Higurashi Kagome, and this is Inuyasha. It's very nice to meet you Himura-san!"
Kenshin smiled again, realizing that this young girl seemed to be just as trusting and kind as his beloved Kaoru. "I am honored to meet you as well, Higurashi-dono, but please, call me Kenshin."
"Alright, and you can call me Kagome. After all, it looks like we'll all be spending the night here, so there's no need to be so formal" she said with a genuine grin; her first in several hours.
"As you wish, Kagome-dono."