"Talking"
'Thinking'
StressedThe rain softly danced on their roof as she watched the fire pit cackle. She leaned back against his chest and listened to the steady rhythm of his heart. He had finally been able to change out of his dirty clothes. This time he didn't have to wear the priest robes, but a standard hakama and haori. Kagome rolled her eyes up and noticed that Bankotsu was sleeping. The steadiness of his breath hitting her head assured her of this. His arms tightened around her waist as he grumbled something. Kagome softly chuckled and turned her eyes Inuyasha. His amber orbs reflected the light of the fire much like a cat's eyes.
"What's wrong?" Kagome softly asked. His left ear twitched and he moved his eyes to stare at her.
"Nothing," he simply sighed. Kagome frowned at this answer.
"Fine, what's bothering you?" Kagome rephrased.
"I'm…I'm worried," Inuyasha said with a light blush. Kagome's features softened.
"The guardians are defeated, there is nothing to worry about," Kagome assured.
The silence entered the hut again, and this time it was an awkward silence. They both knew there was a darkness coming, but known of them knew that it was coming from her. She had decided to just play this darkness out day-by-day. The shadows that moved along the wall seemed to be mocking her. It was destined that they find out about her darkness. She just didn't want to worry them anymore then she had to.
"What about him?" Inuyasha asked as he motioned to Bankotsu.
"What about him?" Kagome questioned back.
"Are you really going to take his courtship seriously?" He questioned.
"Of course," Kagome said.
"How will you survive…he has no way to provide for you," Inuyasha stated with a frown.
"He'll find a way," Kagome spoke with a smile.
"Will you leave the village without a Miko so soon?" Inuyasha questioned.
"Is this still about last time?" Kagome snapped. Inuyasha shook his head.
"I'm truly worried for you. I was your protector first, and I want to make sure your new mate will be capable," Inuyasha clarified with a frown.
"I already have a Miko ready to take over for me," Kagome answered.
"Really?" Inuyasha questioned.
"Really, they're already trained. All they need are a few tips," Kagome happily said.
"Who is it?" Inuyasha questioned.
"You'll see," Kagome slyly said.
"You won't allow him to provide for you as a mercenary." Inuyasha stated more then asked.
"No," Kagome answered.
"He's off to a rough start," Inuyasha grunted as Kagome sighed.
"I don't want to wear pink," Bankotsu mumbled in his sleep.
"There goes his chances at Kimono modeling," Inuyasha teased.
Kagome softly giggled at this as Bankotsu frowned. She closed her eyes and thought of the different things he could do in the village. He had to earn his keep somehow. Kagome only hoped that his skills as a mercenary could be directed toward another line of work.
Walking up the stairs to the temple was not always a good thing in the morning. The stairs were slippery from last night's rain, and her zori were the wrong pair. They were too big. Kagome finally reached the top without slipping. A smile of triumph found its way to her lips as she turned around to survey the village. Her smile feel to pieces as her left eye began to twitch. A horse stable was on fire and the smoke was steadily rising.
"This better be the only incident," Kagome growled as she took off running down the stairs.
Kagome looked up to the sky when she saw a shadow pass her by. Kirara was traveling to the stable with a bucket of water. Men were running toward the stable with buckets of water. Kagome arrived to find many of the villagers pulling the horses out. She walked around and made sure that everyone was safe. The fire was put out before it could spread.
"Why the hell did you take a torch candle into the stable!" One of males shouted. Kagome turned around and her eyes landed on Bankotsu.
"It was dark!" Bankotsu shouted.
"That is why we pull back the window covers!" The man growled.
"Bankotsu," Kagome calmly called as everyone turned her way.
"Sorry," he offered with a shrug.
Kagome turned her stare to the man and said, "He will help rebuild the stable."
"Coddling your lover?" The man sneered.
A jangling was heard and the man fell to the ground unconscious. Miroku stared down at the man with a lighthearted smile. His Shakujou was still slightly titled from hitting the man.
"Oops, I thought he knew that the rings alerted him to my presence," Miroku calmly said.
Kagome smiled at him with a grateful look before she turned to the other men.
"I am the Miko, and as such I deserve respect. Just because I am being courted doesn't mean I forget where my duty rests. Until I do something to earn disrespect then I want none of it," Kagome firmly said. "Get back to tending to the horses."
"Kagome-sama, so much chaos," Miroku teased as he walked over to her. He purposely stepped on the unconscious man.
"Chaos is something we're used to," Kagome supplied as watched Bankotsu walk over to her.
"What would we do without it?" Miroku teased.
"Die of boredom," Kagome grumbled as she raised an eyebrow at Bankotsu.
"I didn't do it on purpose," Bankotsu defended.
"What happened?" Miroku asked as he looked at the blushing ex-mercenary.
"It was dark and I didn't see the horse," Bankotsu mumbled.
"But it's a horse stable," Kagome dryly said.
"I know that! The damn thing kicked me and I dropped the candle," Bankotsu grumbled.
Miroku sighed and patted his shoulder. Bankotsu raised an eyebrow waiting for a comment. The violet eyes met his and he knew a comment was coming.
"It is hard to do such physical labor…that is why I choose the life of a monk," Miroku said.
"I don't want to be a monk," Bankotsu almost growled.
"But you also don't want to wear pink," Miroku pointed out.
Bankotsu opened his mouth to retort, but Kagome bopped them both on their heads with her bow.
"What did I do?" Bankotsu whined.
"Kagome-sama, why do you abuse me so?" Miroku cried.
"Bankotsu, that was burning down a stable, and Miroku…that was for being you," Kagome justified.
"So unfair," Miroku sighed.
"I doubt they'll let me near anymore stables, so what am I supposed to do?" Bankotsu questioned.
"Work in the fields?" Miroku suggested.
"But all the woman are there," Bankotsu pointed out.
"How blessed you are," Miroku sighed as Kagome fumed.
"You know how to repair weapons and armor right?" Kagome asked.
"I know a bit," Bankotsu answered as he wracked his brain for something.
"Then I will take him to meet the village smith," Miroku said as he began to walk away.
"Good luck," Kagome replied as he stared at her suspiciously.
Bankotsu shrugged and walked off toward Miroku. He had to find a way to support him and Kagome. With a new amount of determination and a cocky grin, he walked off. Kagome softly chuckled before she walked to Kaede's hut.
Kaede groaned as her back cracked, she wasn't getting any better with age. Kagome stepped into the hut and smiled at the old woman. Kaede turned her eye to Kagome and offered a smile.
"How have ye been?" Kaede softly asked.
"Well enough," Kagome assured with a smile.
"No more messages from the gods?" Kaede teased.
"Thankfully…no," Kagome sighed.
"Something is troubling ye, what is it?" Kaede firmly asked.
"There is never a moments peace. It has been so silent and I wish to know why," Kagome answered with a frown.
"Do not let the tension of the past affect you now. It is best just to relax," Kaede offered.
"I can't help but feel as if something will happen," Kagome sighed.
Kaede nodded in agreement before she put the kettle over the fire. Kagome watched the fire dance as she thought about the darkness. She couldn't help but dwell on it. It was something that consumed her thoughts, and yet she knew nothing about it.
Izanami glared into the river as she watched the Betsushimiko. In her opinion, the Miko was too in touch with her heart. She didn't think the Miko would make the necessary sacrifices in order to stop the darkness. Amatsu-Mikaboshi was rushing his plans because he had found the opportune moment to strike. Izanami glanced over to the god of evil and glared at him. His black hair reflected in the light of the Hitodama as he smirked at her.
"Soon, you will be alone in this miserable pit," Mikaboshi stated as she frowned.
"Your father had good reason to lock you down here," Izanami snapped.
"He is not my father! He feared my power," Mikaboshi growled.
"I think he feared your stupidity more," Izanami mocked as he glared her to death.
"Once I enter through the Miko I will be restored to my former self," Mikaboshi reminisced with glee.
"Yes, you will no longer be a spirit," Izanami answered.
"I will gain my body and immortality back," he spoke to the image of Kagome in the water.
"That is why you die, because your spirit is fading," Izanami reminded.
"Will you take her once the snow falls again?" Mikaboshi asked.
"Yes, they have forgotten…but I haven't," Izanami assured.
"Do you wish to sentence me to my death," Mikaboshi spoke with hurt.
"I never wished you dead," Izanami confided.
"Then why do you try and stop me? Why do you try and kill your son?" Mikaboshi asked with hurt.
Izanami looked away with a sorrowful expression. He was her son and no matter how evil he was; she would always love him. Just like before, duty had to come before everything else. If she were to allow her son to win, than the world would fall into darkness. She knew about sacrifice, that is why she always demanded it of others. Sacrifice showed her that the person was truly ready to ascend into their next life.
The moment she had forgotten her sacrifice she had created the ultimate evil, and it was made out of love. That was what hurt her the most. Her love had created the evil in the world today. She didn't curse the day she fell in love with him for she could never hate him. Izanami just cursed the day she found out the consequences of a Goddess and human joining. Those rules were what created the evil she gave birth to. Those same rules were what also killed the man she loved. The day she fell in love was the day she created evil.
"Lost in your memories?" Mikaboshi questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Every second is but a memory to me," Izanami replied.
"You're thinking about father," Mikaboshi asked.
"Yes, I can't help but think of him," Izanami answered.
"He could be here with you, but you allowed Izanagi to kill him and destroy his soul," Mikaboshi bit out.
"This was our punishment for falling in love," Izanami sighed.
"Your punishment was a human-god mix, that is why I have a spirit. This is also why I die," Mikaboshi reminded.
"You die because you are half-human, but your death was sealed when you created Naraku in an attempt to bring death to the land," Izanami hissed.
"I will stop him from giving life, I will stop him for everything he did! And then we will beforever!" Mikaboshi growled as he vanished.
Izanami sighed and dropped her illusion. She gazed at her figure in the water and realized that even though she looked like a monster, her son was the monster. He couldn't understand the way of the gods because he was half-human. He would never understand because they never gave him a chance. A tear dropped into the river and blurred her image.