Travel

Sesshomaru walked to the village slowly. Kagome was trailing behind him, idly. She had been comforted by Sesshomaru's words that the killing didn't matter. Nonetheless, she was confused, and would, soon enough- get the answer from the demon lord himself.

A figure's bare feet tore into the ground as he halted. Kagome turned to see who it was, then heard the complaints. It was Riku, clad in an incredibly simple dark blue kimono, accenting his black hair, which had been brought up in a small ponytail, but still looking masculine. His feet had the simpler Japanese sandals with socks. Kagome realized he must have had trouble running in them, unlike her. He looked like someone of higher class that didn't make as much money.

"Wench, why the heck did you have move so freaking fast?" Riku said, glaring at Kagome. His arms were crossed and he reminded Kagome, though she didn't know why, of a child who had lost his toy through the bars of his crib. Well, minus the pouting face. Still, he was obviously mad.

Kagome grinned at him teasingly. "I had something I needed to do, Riku. Sorry, but it was incredibly important." Her eyes glittered. Now the relationship between them reminded her of Rin and Jaken, except she wasn't sure if Rin annoyed Jaken on purpose.

Riku scowled at her. "Importance is not important to me." He glared at her intensely as Kagome fought not to laugh. What a funny thing to say! What a pun! What a pun, indeed!

Sesshomaru didn't turn his head around, but made an effort, a successful one, to comment on Riku's play of words. "Riku, you do realize that statement was faulty, correct?" He asked, formally, but still mocking, but not in a harsh way. Riku was the last bit of life remaining of Rin.

Riku grunted at Sesshomaru while glaring. Sesshomaru could tell it was a yes, while also meaning 'shut up'. And that yes was a yes to different things. It was yes to 'Sesshomaru is a complete idiot', 'Sesshomaru is a freak of nature' and others that would fit the description.

Sesshomaru responded with the same tone as he had used before. "'Importance is of no importance to me.' It indicates that you place no importance on… importance? How can you rate the importance of importance? Does importance only refer to the other person's feelings of importance? Or does it refer to your own importance as well. In that case-"

He was cut off by Riku's yell. "Shut up, you old man!" Riku bellowed to him. His fists were clenched and his face was turning red, which did not look attractive in the least. He was like a kid, used to getting his way.

Sesshomaru grinned. No one could see it because he faced forward, but all the same, 'twas a mocking grin from the Lord Sesshomaru who had a heart of ice. If anyone would have seen, it would have been awkward. No one saw, fortunately. "Don't cut me off. I haven't finished yet. That was rude." His tone was no longer formal, but playfully mocking. "In that case," He began again, ready for an interruption. Sesshomaru received none. "You were incorrect in your statement and should try to correct it."

Riku glared at him even more severely than before. "I can explain, you old fool!" He bellowed to the elder. Riku's face was now a full-fledged red and his palms had marks in them from his tight grip.

Sesshomaru grinned even larger at the younger half-demon. He was glad the Riku couldn't see it or Kagome. "Then will you grace Lady Kagome and me with your detailed explanation?" He asked, pretending to be formal.

Riku looked as if he was about to burst, Kagome saw it, and Sesshomaru sensed it. They both fought to hold in laughs.

"Eh, you see, um, I, meant, uh," Riku tried to explain but even though he had a large amount of intelligence, and if calm could explain it quite well, could not at the moment. Obvious to say, he was incredibly embarrassed.

Kagome and Sesshomaru thought that that was incredibly funny, and Kagome showed that. She did one of the most insulting things someone could do to Riku, in his opinion. She laughed. Lo and behold, it was a loud laugh, not just a little chuckle or giggle like one of a normal teenage girl.

Riku gave her a glare so severe Kagome instantaneously shut up. His eyes had seemed to pop out and turn red. Eek. (AN: No, that is not because he is evil, just something funny to point out!)

Sesshomaru turned around and gave him a scolding look that a father would give to a son when he had broken his wife's favourite vase. Riku glared right back at him, but shut up.

They were silent for a few minutes as they padded along the grass field that Sesshomaru had said would take them to the village. All had their heads bowed, except for Sesshomaru, who kept his head up, now formal and straight. They looked like a small army, with Sesshomaru leading the two, who looked, to any outsider, like obedient troops.

There was no gate, nor pavement to symbolize that the village began when it began. Sesshomaru guessed it began with the circle of huts that circled the outside. He could sense activity rushing around the village. Sesshomaru was quite sure they were preparing for battle.

Riku and Kagome's thoughts mirrored the white-haired demon's. Riku flexed his fingers, preparing to use one of his favourite attacks. He never really got the chance to spar. The attack he wanted to use was pretty powerful, and only he knew about it. He had only tested it on harmless dummies.

Kagome wished she had a bow and arrow, but she doubted Sesshomaru or Riku just happened to have one. Just in case, by a strike of faith, there was a quiver and bow on the back of her dress, she reached over her shoulder to find nothing. She would probably have to concentrate her miko powers. How, she did not know. If she couldn't do so, she would be left defenceless.

The three were now only steps away from the village. Sesshomaru spun around slowly to look at Kagome. "Kagome," He said gently. "I know you have no bows or arrows, and the person whose grave we passed through blessed me with them. Perhaps he only wanted you to use them at the right moment." Sesshomaru reached inside one of the layers of his kimono and took out a quiver of arrows, all very nicely made, and a beautiful wood bow, with swirls and carvings delicately whittled.

"Thank you, Sesshomaru." Kagome said as she tenderly took the bow and quiver from his hand. She was touched at the kind gesture. Even though he probably could have used the bow and arrow, he gave them to her to protect her. He gave them to her because he didn't want her to die. Kagome had always known that Sesshomaru had a loving heart.

Sesshomaru gave her a soft smile and Kagome smiled at him in return. It wasn't because it was polite, or because she felt obligated to, but because it felt so right smiling at Sesshomaru. It made her heart warm.

"Let's get moving already!" Riku said, and stepped into a small space between two of the huts. Little known to him, someone was waiting for him and his comrades…

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: I know, I know, Sesshomaru didn't explain this chapter. Too bad. He had other things on his mind. Like fighting with Riku and Kagome. I know it was a filler chapter, too. Next chapter will be, er, surprising to most, I think. Did all my characters remain in character? Tell me!

I realized that this wasn't the best chapter, and I wasn't as early as usual (internet was down 'cause my dad messed with it. We still have a few problems!), so I put in the cute part with Sesshomaru and Kagome. I know it wasn't big, but I want their relationship to go slowly. That's why this fic will be going on for, like, a long time. I hope you will still find it interesting then.

PLEASE REVIEW! But do not flame. It's really insulting to get flamers. When people get flamers, they feel bad. I once said that I had a question about the stuck-up behaviour of someone in a story, because it was insulting to me, but it was not a flame. It was a polite question. No, I am not just saying that.

REVIEW! And flamers, you know what I will do, and it includes not so nice things with marshmallows.