Relief soon gave way to shock, Kagura's expression shifting in mimicry as Kagome stared at the demoness. "What?"
Inukimi raised an eyebrow. "Did I miscommunicate in some way?"
"N-No, but—" Kagome sputtered, unsure what to say. She'd followed Inukimi's lead in bringing the wind back to corporal form, but she hadn't meant to tie her down in any way. Her fan suddenly connected with Kagome's head, Inukimi smirking at her.
"You humans think too much."
Kagome opened her mouth again, but Kagura slumped against her, splintering her attention.
"Come along. There are plenty of places for you to rest inside." They tightened their arms around Kagura's waist, helping her inside. Kagome could feel her frustration, ruby eyes flitting towards their host, but she said nothing.
Inukimi led them to an ornate room, placing Kagura down on an elaborate futon before returning to the doorway and speaking to the nearest attendant.
"I'm sorry," Kagome whispered.
Kagura raised an eyebrow, absently rubbing her chest. "For what?"
She sighed, tucking her feet underneath her. "You tried so hard to get away from Naraku, to be free, and now you're back and…" Trailing off, she picked at the seam of her robes. She hadn't meant to trap her friend in any way.
And Kagura was a friend, regardless of whether she was an element or youkai.
Kagura leaned back on her hands, then shrugged. "Unless she starts demanding I kidnap kids, it's fine for now."
Kagome managed a giggle. "Maybe an elaborate tea party, from what I've seen."
Kagura blanched. "That's just as bad." Both women dissolved into laughter, the weight of Kagome's guilt lessening.
"Still," Kagome said, "there must be a way to separate you. Maybe the bond dissipates over time?"
"Unlikely, little miko," Inukimi replied, settling down on the other side of Kagura. "She still requires my youki to survive."
"So, it's power then." She gave Kagura a considering look. "Is it possible to give her more? From another source?" Kagura hadn't been able to take more than a few steps before almost collapsing to her knees; that was no life to live.
She'd been given her freedom only to be forced into a gilded cage.
Kagome bit her lip, going over all the spells and rituals she could think of, but came up empty. "My lady, is there someone you know who would be knowledgeable in this?"
Kagura raised an eyebrow. "Planning on doing something reckless again?"
"How is asking questions reckless?"
The window youkai smirked. "Since it's you."
Inukimi chuckled, the sound muffled behind her fan. "You two are so charming. Such a lovely friendship."
Sighing, Kagura leaned back on her hands. "More like mother and daughter. Who knows what kind of trouble she'd get into if I didn't keep an eye on her all the time?"
"Hey!" Kagome shoved her but couldn't help the smile from blooming on her face. "See if I help you out anymore."
"You will," Kagura said confidently. "Because it's you. And you can never leave well-enough alone."
Kagome's expression turned sombre. "You're not 'well enough', though. Don't you want to be free?" Kagura shrugged, but the stilted movement belied her underlying concern. Determination set root in her heart, and Kagome made a silent promise to help her in any way she could.
"Guess there could be worse places to be stuck," Kagura mused, looking around the room. "At least there's more furniture here. And a window."
Inukimi gave her an odd look, and Kagome's heart clenched at the thought of the inhabitable places Naraku would've kept his underlings. Especially one as strong-willed as Kagura.
"Well, if you are planning an adventure, I must insist that I join you."
Kagome couldn't stop her mouth from dropping open. "You want to come with me?"
"Why not? I would be able to steer you in the right direction, especially since many of the older youkai may not be as amenable to your company without an escort."
Kagome winced, realizing she had a point. As strong as Sesshoumaru was, having his mother with her might bridge the gap needed to get the information she needed. And if not, Kagome would show them how strong humans could be.
"Guess that means I'm coming too," Kagura said with a resigned sigh.
Kagome mentally cursed—of course that would mean Kagura had to join them. She couldn't even be across the room from Inukimi, let alone anything else. She tried to devise a quick solution, but Kagura flicked her in the forehead instead.
"Ow! Why is everyone hitting me today?" she groused, rubbing her face.
"Maybe because you keep arguing and trying to take on everything yourself," Kagura replied, resting her chin in her hand.
"I didn't even say anything!"
"Your emotions are written clearly on your face, miko," Inukimi chuckled. "It is quite entertaining to watch."
A faint blush stained her cheeks as she pursed her lips. "I've always been like that."
"It is nothing to feel embarrassed about. Unlike my son, I feel it is healthy to show and even rely on one's emotions." Golden eyes slid to the doorway, the other two women turning around to find the stoic lord hovering in the hallway.
"Being emotional allows your enemies to anticipate your next move and is therefore a weakness, Mother."
Kagome would've snorted if Inukimi hadn't beaten her to it. "If only I had been able to choose which of your father's traits you inherited, dear son. You would have made a far more interesting child."
Sesshoumaru glared but didn't move from the doorway, a conflicted expression on his face. His mother smirked, gracefully fanning herself.
"It seems you have not forgotten all of your manners." His hand tightened around the hilt of Bakusaiga, golden eyes narrowing. Kagome looked between them in confusion. "He is not allowed to enter the room of a female unless expressly given permission," Inukimi explained.
Kagome was slightly taken aback. Maybe youkai were not as backward thinking as the human males of this time.
"You are surprised by this," Sesshoumaru said, Kagome again cursing her inability to hide her emotions.
"Sort of? Human females are seen more as property. Even in my—" She bit her tongue. "—village, advanced as it is, there are lots of men who would never think twice about entering a woman's room. Especially if they're already inside the house."
The air around her became icy, all three youkai displeased at the information.
"Such barbarians," Inukimi sighed. "Unable to see just how useless they would be without us."
Kagura leaned closer to Kagome. "If that Akitoki guy comes near you, I will find a puddle deep enough to drown him in." Kagome's laughter quickly dissipated their ire, and she idly wondered if it was too soon to hug her friend. Or if Kagura would even accept it.
Inukimi placed a hand on Kagura's shoulder. "You will rest here tonight. I have informed the cooks of your presence but let me know if there are specific things you require." Kagura gave their host a silent nod, eyes flitting between her and her hand.
"Guess that means I should find my own room?" Kagome got to her feet.
"You, little miko, will head straight to the healer so she can deal with the injuries you neglected to inform me of upon your arrival."
She would've argued, but Kagura and Inukimi both pinned her with a glare, and she threw her arms up in the air. "Fine! But it's really not that bad."
"I will be more inclined to believe you once the healer has looked you over."
Resisting the urge to stomp out of the room, Kagome bowed. "Of course, my lady. I appreciate your concern. And hospitality." She didn't miss Inukimi's smirk as she left the room, Sesshoumaru trailing behind her.
"Making sure I actually go to the healer?" she asked, glaring at him over her shoulder.
"You are welcome to try and find her chambers by yourself."
She sucked in a cleansing breath, counting to ten to calm herself down. He was right. She had no idea where she was going. "Sorry. I'm not angry at you."
"It would be strange if you were."
Chuckling softly, she stretched her arms above her head, wincing as pain shot through her ribs. Maybe she was more injured than she thought.
Not that she'd admit it.
She slowed her pace, allowing Sesshoumaru to pass her, though still keeping herself beside him. "We're going to try and figure out a way to separate Kagura and your mother," she said, wondering how much of their conversation he'd heard.
"Hnn."
"Guess it'll give you some time alone—"
"I will be accompanying you."
Kagome nearly tripped over her own feet, suddenly remembering that she needed new shoes. "What? Why?"
"I would not leave you alone with my mother," he replied, as if that answered everything.
"I can handle myself," she said, eyes narrowing.
"Your ability to do so has nothing to do with it." He turned a corner, then motioned to an open door, the familiar scent of herbs and potions emanating from inside.
"Oh?" she asked, hand on her hips. "We don't need your protection." He looked her over, silence descending to the point of her feeling uncomfortable before he smirked and turned around.
"Perhaps it is everyone else that I fear for."