Chapter 3
The comfort of the small hut was like a vacation from a vacation, something much needed. A fire in the center of the room made the smell of cooking fish intensify, drawing in all the inhabits of the home. Kaede watched the interaction between the two younger women, one of whom was pregnant.
Sango laughed at the antics made by Shippou, who thought he was stronger than Inuyasha. The half demon was not fond of the notion, and gruffly stormed out of the room. "That's proof that I'm better! I don't walk away from a fight!" The small kit puffed put his little chest, making both girls laugh harder.
It was three weeks since the first time they wrote to each other. Kagome found out a lot about Shinpi. Even though she would ask every night, he would never tell his real name, which upset her greatly. Kagome felt like she knew him her whole life. It was a feeling that she had never had before.
She had never told any one about her rendezvous' with Shinpi. Everyone merely thought that it was some of her 'homework', and left it at that. Sometimes Kagome was really glad that she got homework.
At one point she asked Shinpi if he knew anything about half demons, his response They're pathetic creatures. Kagome scolded him for saying something so mean. She told him that she had many friends that were half demon, and that he should not be so bias. It took up almost a whole page and ten minuets to write her point of view. He made a comment that she was dedicated to a useless clause. That put her thru another frenzy of writing, but by the end of it all, she was laughing. Shinpi, on the other had seemed perplexed at her words.
Forget the words, just remember their meaning. Was the last thing she said, before they parted their books.
Sango noticed that her friend had a much happier look than normal. The demon slayer thought it odd, with the fact that Inuyasha had become more distant from everyone. When anyone came to close to him, he would run off with out a word. It was strange behavior, and she had nothing to explain it. Normally, Sango would think 'Poor Kagome' but with the odd girl, there seemed no point. She appeared to have moved on.
Miroku followed their changing companion out the doorway. "Where are you going?" A still laughing Sango questioned. Her husband stopped and looked at the fallen priestess and his wife.
The monk gave a small sigh before answering. "Inuyasha needs to be talked to. I think we all agree that there is something strange going on with him." The nodding of four heads further proved his point. He continued his walk out the flap.
All excitement stopped at Kagome's words, "Sango? Do you know what's going on with Inuyasha?" The demon exterminator shook her head. No one knew what was going on with the half demon. Apparently it was not a natural behavior of any known demon.
A sad air hung about the hut after that. It was purely depressing and no one wanted to be a part of it. Kagome decided that she would visit her family for a few hours. With Inuyasha not being there, there were no complaints, so it was easier to get home.
Walking to the wooden well, the young girl entered the depths of a world unknown to others.
oOo
Someone must have told the sun to shut up, because the days were now cooler. Whoever they were, a lot of people must have given them many thanks, for the sun would have killed all the crops before they were harvested.
Rin sat upon her scaly friend, humming some nonsense. Jaken walked along the beast, mumbling to himself about all that was wrong with the world. All three had been left to themselves, told to get to the woods near a small village, in just two days. Too bad the village was exactly a two day walk, without breaks, not even to sleep.
The rumbling of Rin's stomach stopped the noise that came from her vocal chords. Sliding off Ah-Un, the girl told her speaking companion to wait up for her. "Where do you think you are going, girl?" 'Lord Sesshoumaru will not like this at all!' If Jaken let Rin starve (For he did hear her stomach), he would get in trouble. If they were late, he would get in trouble. Choices, choices.
"Master Jaken, I am hungry! I promise to be real quick." The girl ran off before the imp could protest.
oOo
Sesshoumaru walked towards an elder tree. It was not the fact that the tree looked old, but the fact it was old. Stopping short of ten feet of the odd wood, the demon Lord spoke. "What do you know of half demons?"
Bokusenou slowly opened his eyes, revealing that the tree was a demon itself. Two blank stares came upon each other. "Lord Sesshoumaru, what brings this up? Is something happening to Inuyasha again?"
"No." Sesshoumaru was not one to ask a question like that, unless it had to do with himself, so the old tree was surprised at the dog demon's response. If it had been a month ago, Sesshoumaru himself would have been surprised as well. In truth the pale creature was only here because of Kagome. She had asked if he knew anything about hanyous. After fighting with Naraku, he decided it would be best to say they were pathetic. She went on some crazy rage telling him that he should not 'judge a book by its cover'. It was quite amusing, he had never been told off by a female before. The next day she told him that she knew a half demon that seemed to be drastically changing. Since they were courting, he decided that he should find this information for her.
"What do you want to know?" the dry voice of the tree brought Sesshoumaru out of his thoughts. He seemed to be getting distracted easily as of late. Ever since he started writing to Kagome, he looked at life in a new light. She was so open, and easily asked him to help her with her problems, which took some time getting used to. Being a demon Lord, he was rarely questioned, so it felt weird helping someone he had only known for three weeks. He easily found out a lot about her.
"Have they been known to change in their persona?" it was short and quick to the point, very Sesshoumaru-like.
"Come to me in two weeks. I will have the information for you." Bokusenou carefully stated. A swift nod and the demon Lord left.
oOo
A blue bird sang its normal tune, unaware of the danger underneath it. A cat, mostly brown in color, silently clawed its way up the tree, digging its nails into the bark. Slowly, oh so slowly the predator moved closer to the prey. Five feet. Four feet. Three feet. Two feet. A foot. The cat raised its paw, and was about to swipe, when a loud scream ran thru the woods.
On her way to finding food, Rin stumbled and fell on a root. She screeched, not from the pain, but from the shock. Getting up, she dusted herself off. Hearing a hissing sound, the child found a brown cat threatening her. Squatting down, Rin inched over to the cat. The noise from the creature became louder with each movement. Not realizing the danger the cat produced, she brought her hand to pet it. Claws extended, the feline scratched the adolescent.
A howl escaped Rin's lips. The poor child did not think that such a cute, but scruffy animal would harm her in any way. Looking at her wounds, blood seeped out of the scratches. Tears welt in her eyes, as the pain reached her head.
"Rin, be quiet." The cold non-caring voice echoed the woods, reaching the ears of the youth. Instantly the wails stopped.
A grunt escaped a bush, and a staff poked out. Jaken's mumbling could be heard by both. "Jaken, we leave." And off they went. To where? Only Sesshoumaru knew.
oOo
Kagome sat with her brother, watching as he defeated another boss on his video game. For the past week she would come visit her family for a few hours in the day. Most of the time was spent helping around the shrine, or hanging with her friends. After her friends in the feudal era had defeated Naraku (a very had accomplishment), Kagome decided that she was going to permanently stay in the era of Wars.
"Ha! Beat that!" Souta barked as he got a swipe at the large monkey. Kagome watched as her mother came in unsuspected by the young boy. Smiling, trying hard not to laugh, Kagome's mother reached for the consol, and pushed the off button. "What!" freaking out, at why the screen went black, Souta saw his mother and sister burst out laughing. Greatly upset, the boy stormed out of the room.
Kagome smiled up at her mother. "I think I should head back now. I'll see you tomorrow." Getting up the two women hugged each other and said their goodbyes.
Jumping in the well, Kagome could not wait to write to Shinpi. They had become very close, only talking at night, when both had the time to do so. She had found out a lot about the mysterious demon, from how he would scare servants as a child, to how his mother died. He did not seem as interested in her life, but her likes and dislikes. (She was the one who asked him about his past).
Climbing out of the well, Kagome hurriedly walked to Kaede's hut. It was close to night, and she wanted to get ready for another talk with Shinpi. 'I've been thinking about him a lot. I don't think that this is healthy.' With a quick 'hello', the girl from the future greeted her friends from the past. Inuyasha was not there yet, and most likely would not come until late into the night. That was when Kagome would usually depart from her written conversations.
It took a few hours before anyone was ready for bed, but Kagome waited patiently. Pulling out the leather bound book, she flipped to the most recent page. Hey!
After a few seconds a response. Hello Kagome. How are you today? She smiled at his words. Not many people would ask her how she was, but Shinpi did so everyday. Somehow that warmed her heart.
I am doing great! What did you do today?
oOo
A small fire crackled. Four figures waited just outside the shadows. Rin curled up, tired from her day, was sleeping next to Ah-Un. Jaken, not far from the duo was sprawled on his back, a bubble coming out of his nose. Sesshoumaru was up against a rock, book in hand.
Placing an ink pen he had gotten from a trip, he placed the end to the book and began to write. After a few seconds he paused, seeming to read what he wrote.
Placing the pen back on the paper he wrote, I talked to an old advisor, but nothing else worth mentioning. He was not going to tell her what he talked about, just that he did so. Kagome?
Yeah? The female asked back. Sesshoumaru was learning to trust this girl, knowing full well that anything untrue could not be written. He had not tested this part of the book, but he did know to believe the old man.
I would like to meet you in person, if that would be alright with you. I believe that we should take our relationship up a level. Get to know each other better. There was a long pause before he got his answer.
oOo
Kagome could not believe it. Shinpi wanted to get to know her, just from talking to her. Of course she knew of the risks from her time. She had, after all heard about girls being tricked off of the internet. But in this time I don't think anyone would think of things like that, and be able to get a hold of these kinds of books. Her demon friend and courtier had told her that the book was most likely hard to gain, and he had only heard about it from an old man, a friend of his father's.
Looking around the hut, Kagome noticed that Shippou somehow managed to slip in between Miroku and Sango as they slept. Kaede slept in a corner opposed from the writing girl, but was still close to the fire. As the years had passed the old woman's body became slower and less lively. While no one was anticipating her death, they waited patiently for her soul to pass on to the next realm.
Thinking of what to write to him, the girl decided that she really would like to know Shinpi, even if he would not tell her his name. Alright. It will be hard on me to move around, because of my friends, so you will have to come to me. Do you know where Inuyasha's forest is?
She waited for his response for just a few seconds. Yes.
I live in the village right outside of it. To the west a bit. And thus the two 'friends' decided to meet.
Yeah! Another chapter! Sorry it took so long, but I do have a very busy life, and restricted computer access. Okay some one wanted to know why Kagome could use the book. It is because the books are meant for demons to use, but humans can use it too. Another question is what is going on with Inuyasha. Plain and simple. I can't tell you. It would ruin the story, so yeah.
Thank you all who have reviewed this story. I am so glad that there are people out there that like my story. Spring Break is this week, so I should hopefully have the next chapter up soon!
