Chapter 8

Two years later

Kagome laughed at something Sango said, relaxed and at ease. They were traveling like always, on the back of their horses, trotting along at a leisurely pace. They had been traveling nonstop for three days and were looking for a place to shelter. The horses needed to rest just as much as they did.

The sun was high in the sky, wind cold from the autumn breeze. Snow would be falling soon. At night temperatures dropped to near freezing, making their breath visible. The trees were bare, the ground covered in rivers of red leaves. It was beautiful, both the beginning to the end of a season, and the start of a rejuvenation period, a metamorphosis that would leave the earth green and new in just a few short months.

"My Dear Sango, your wit is as quick as ever." Miroku pouted, rolling his eyes. Sango had shot down his perverted remark, leaving Miroku verbally spurned. Calthal threw his giant head up in a whinny, laughing right along with Sango and Kagome. Miroku glared down at his horse, shaking his head. "Is no one on my side?"

Calthal shook his head, his black lush mane flipping through the air. Alastar was huge, but Calthal was a giant. He stood nearly half a foot taller than Alastar, and was far bulkier. Alastar looked like the beast he was, but Calthal was otherworldly in his size. Kagome sometimes wondered if Calthal had a bit of demon in him, though the lord that had given Calthal to Miroku had said he didn't. The lord had just said Calthal was a Brabant and left it at that. At two hundred years old, Kagome should probably learn more about horses. Poor Yumi, Sango's black and white paint was tiny compared to the two males.

Kagome shook her head at her twin brother, looking back out towards the field of tall grass. It grew up to the horse's knees, thick and lush, though the flowers had fallen off and wilted due to the season. It was all they could see for miles. At this rate, she wasn't sure they would find somewhere to rest at all. A disconcerting thought.

"Maybe we should change direction." Kagome reached up, pressing tender fingers to her scar. It hurt during cold weather. The rough skin dried out more than the rest of her face, leaving her feeling itchy and sore. There was nothing she could do about it.

"Here." Miroku reached into his robes, pulling out a vile of ointment. Kagome hesitated. She didn't want to admit that after five years her scar still hurt, but she knew if she didn't put something on it now, she would be left in agony later. With a sigh, she grabbed the ointment, scooped out the cream and rubbed it on her skin with a sigh of relief. When she handed back the ointment, Miroku sighed. "Which way should we go, Kagome? Every direction is more grasslands."

Frowning Kagome looked around once more. He was right. They could choose any direction, but they had no idea where they were going to be heading. Going back would take them hours. They would reach the first tree until well after night fall. They needed shelter by then.

"There's some sort of pillar over there." Sango pointed out, and the twins looked over, eyes narrowing. About a mile out a pillar stood just above the grass, barely able to be seen. It wasn't a shrine or anything of importance, but it was there all the same. Something seemed off about it.

"Maybe it has a map?" Kagome looked up at Miroku who frowned at the small stone statue.

"Or it's a trap. We would know of any shrines nearby, Kagome. If that pillar has no importance, why is it there?" Miroku looked back down at his sister. She gazed up at him, then smiled.

"It could be personal, Miroku. It could be a grave. It could be a memory. Someone could come visit it when they see fit. Just because we don't know about it, doesn't make it evil." Urging Alastar forward, Kagome ignored Miroku's distressed sound. "Besides. The horses aren't reacting negatively. Trust them to feel if anything was amiss."

"You're too trusting, Kagome." Miroku yelled, a moment later he followed Kagome, alert.

Kagome kept her attention on the pillar. It only took a few minutes for them to walk the mile towards it. When she came up on it, she slid off Alastar's back, taking the few steps needed to kneel down in front of it. There was nothing inscribed on the pillar. Just a stone covered in moss. There were no rocks piled on top of dirt and grass, no grave for a body. It was just a carved stone that said nothing.

Reaching out, she brushed her fingers against the cold stone, immediately yanking her hand back as a thrum of demonic energy washed over her. The ground beneath her began to vibrate, causing the horses to nicker in panic. Alastar grabbed Kagome's top in his teeth, pulling her back as the ground beneath the pillar split and separated.

Kagome felt herself get yanked back just as the ground beneath her feet gave way. Alastar was practically dragging her as he ran away from the eroding ground, the earth crumbling from his back hooves with each step he took. Miroku and Sango yelled, trying to contain their horses while keeping an eye on Kagome.

The rumbling stopped as soon as it started, the ground beneath their feet secure once more. Alastar finally stopped, huffing and panting as he let Kagome go with a glare that could cut through ice. She patted his neck, thanking him while staring back at the gaping hole that had formed where the pillar had once been. Alastar stomped his front hoof and threw his head back in exasperation but he went ignored.

The stone pillar was gone, and in its place was the entrance to a cave. It went down into the earth at a steep level, the roof and walls lit up with small glowing stones of various colors. It went down deep into the earth, but how far, they were unsure.

"Look, shelter!" Kagome held her hands out wide, her curious nature getting the best of her.

"Kagome!" Miroku yelled as she and Alastar walked inside the cave opening, looking around at the entrance in awe. Miroku and Sango caught up to her quickly, both of them stopping their horses in front of Kagome and Alastar. "You can't just go walking into strange caves that appeared out of nowhere."

"You worry too much. I felt the demonic energy before the cave mouth opened up. There was no ill will." Kagome just stared up at her brother, both of them refusing to give in. It was the sound of laughter that had them spinning around, trying to locate the source of the laugh.

The mouth of the cave began to close shut, quickly locking them in. The glowing stones in the walls of the cave kept their vision intact, but there was now an ominous feel swirling through the darkness. Footsteps approaching had Miroku summoning his staff from midair, holding it at the ready for an attack. Sango pulled her sword off of her side, waiting much like her husband was. Kagome rolled her eyes at both of them, and greeted the human that rounded the corner with a smile.

"Greetings." The male bowed respectfully to Kagome and Miroku, knowing they were spiritual by their attire. "I am Kenshin. I mean you no harm."

"When I touched the pillar, I felt a demonic presence. They were welcoming and kind." Kagome stepped forward, ignoring her brother's grunt of disapproval. He didn't trust anyone easily. "I want to thank them for offering their home."

"Ahh. Yes. Yuna, is her name. She offered you more than her home." The man held out his hands, gesturing to the cave. "Yuna is all around us. She is a demon, and this cave is her body. She felt your need for shelter and could sense your kindness."

"Oh." Kagome looked around at the cave with a new light, then smiled again. "Thank you, Yuna."

The cave wall rumbled and vibrated, small rocks falling loose from the cave. Slowly rocks started to push out from the wall, morphing and changing until a humanoid demon stood in front of them, a tether pushing from her back and into the cave wall. She was naked, her skin rock hard, but still looking as fleshy as a human. "You are welcome, Kagome." Yuna turned her grey eyes towards Miroku, then back towards Kagome. "He yelled your name a lot. He isn't very trusting, his heart guarded. I can feel his walls."

"He doesn't mean any insult. It's not often we can trust blindly without some sort of repercussions." Kagome could tell Yuna was almost childlike, innocent in her thinking and curiosity. Slowly Yuna reached out, a rock finger brushing over Kagome's scar. Kagome gave a sad smile. "I was attacked. I thought he wouldn't physically hurt me. I made a mistake in thinking that."

"Your regret weighs heavy on your heart." Yuna trailed her fingers down to Kagome's heart, pushing there slightly. Kagome blushed, refusing to look at her brother or Sango. She did regret some things. She had said things she never would have normally. No matter who they were, she didn't wish for anyone's death. That just wasn't who she was. Now, after two years, no one, not even Touga had heard from Sesshomaru. They had no idea if he was even alive. The way Sesshomaru had looked at her before he left would haunt her for the rest of her life, especially if he had died. She didn't hate him as she had told him she did. She wanted nothing to do with him, enjoyed the peace she had with him not being there, but she didn't want him hurt, let alone dead.

"I said things I shouldn't have. Because of it, a father lost his son." Kagome still went to see InuYasha, Touga, and Izayoi every three months. Each time, she saw how worried Touga was for Sesshomaru, though he never said anything to Kagome about it. She knew that was because he didn't want to upset her. Because of her, Touga may never see Sesshomaru again.

"Your heart is too kind." Yuna's second hand came up, pressing against Kagome's scar. Her heart and her scar were connected, both tied together by a single male. "Your heart is damaged, and still, you want him healthy and unharmed?"

"I am not one to wish harm on anyone. If I have a choice, I will always choose not to pursue violence. He may have hurt me. I may not want to ever see him again. But I will never wish for his death." Kagome stepped back from Yuna. She didn't want to talk about this anymore. "Again, I thank you for allowing us to rest here for the night."

"Stay as long as you want." Yuna offered, then gestured towards the older male standing silently to the side. "Kenshin will see to your needs." Yuna smiled at all of them, then retreated back into the stone wall, the cave thrumming around them welcomingly.

"This way. There are several rooms in the back you can all choose from." Kenshin began to lead them deeper into the cave, the horse's hooves clopping loudly on the stone.

"If you don't mind me asking, Kenshin, how did you and Yuna meet?" Miroku was still looking around the cave, more at ease, though still tense.

"She is my soul bonded. I have had a blissful thirty years with her." Kenshin sighed happily, and Kagome looked down at the ground. A demon and human soul bonded. Like her and Sesshomaru. More like what she and Sesshomaru could have been.

It never failed. Anytime she ran into someone soul bonded, she thought of what she had lost, what Sesshomaru had taken from her. She had accepted it long ago. The moment she cut his name from her wrist, she knew there would never be anything between them. Yet, she still longed for someone to cherish her the way Kenshin seemed to cherish Yuna. It wouldn't be Sesshomaru, but maybe there was someone out there who could take Sesshomaru's place.

...

Here it is guys! I was going to post Wednesday, but with everyone's help, we reached the goal I set within a few hours. So here is the chapter you have all earned. It's just a little more insight into Kagome's heart. She has never been one to wish harm on anyone, and she has always been forgiving. No, she hasn't forgiven Sesshomaru and won't for a very long time, but she doesn't want him hurt or dead. Remember Yuna and Kenshin. We will see them again. Monday I'll post a new challenge with the normal update. I'll make it a little bit harder. lol. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!