She stayed outside longer than she should've, only returning when her mother dropped an extra shawl around her and guided her back inside.
Kagura's joking remarks were quickly silenced, pursing her lips before offering to hunt by herself. "Take it easy today," she said, squeezing Kagome's shoulder.
Kagome inclined her head, pulling the shawl closer, unable to stave off the chill that had settled into her bones since he'd left. She'd watched him disappear through the trees until the last remnants of his youki dissipated.
He'd never once looked back.
The house felt empty, lacking, and even though the temperature was warmer than it had been in months, Kagome continued to shiver.
"You've given yourself a fever," Emiko remarked, placing the back of her hand on her forehead.
Was that why she felt so off?
She refused all the food her mother offered, even the sight of it turning her stomach, eventually giving in to her command to go to bed. She automatically moved towards the fire, a strange noise escaping her at the site of the vacant hearth.
Emiko wrapped her arms around her, Kagome's sobs muffled as she led her toward her room. "He'll be back," she said, combing her fingers through her hair.
"How do you know?" Her bed was stiff and cold, and Kagome wondered how she'd ever slept there in the first place.
Emiko's expression was conflicted as she tucked the blanket around her. "Inuyoukai imprint on those important to them. He'll be thinking of you even if he's not here." Her mother's words were comforting but not comforting enough, loneliness settling deep in her heart.
