Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inuyasha or any of the characters. This is a work of pure fiction and mostly a daydream of how I wished the anime went according to my ship. Here I shall let it sail.

New Beginnings Chapter 5:

Kagome groaned in defeat. Things were not going her way. She looked at Shippo who was currently sniffing the air from her shoulder. He had been certain he would be able to remember the way back to Sango's village. She was steadying the bike with one foot on the ground and the other resting on the pedal, ready to kick off. When several minutes passed by Kagome decided to take matters into her own hands.

"Do you smell any humans nearby? If we are close to a village, we could ask for directions." Kagome said patting the top of her kits head.

Shippo briefly thought about swatting at Kagome's hand away. He was annoyed. Not at Kagome but at the fact that he couldn't find the village. It should be around here. He nearly growled out, wanted to gnash his teeth. His mother was counting on him to get her there. This place smelled right. He may be a kid still, but he was a demon. His nose never lied before.

Kagome rubbed his scalp with her delicate fingers and all anger evaporated a purr nearly replacing the negative emotions. Kagome had sensed that the kit was getting worked up and knew this would calm him. It was rare for Shippo to get so upset. He seemed so sure they were close and then seemed disoriented and confused. As the fifth or sixth day came, she was beginning to lose hope.

She suddenly felt guilty burdening him with the responsibility. He was still a child, and she should've been the one to remember the way. It had been too long since she'd been to Sango's village. She was utterly embarrassed when she decided to set out to the village only to understand that she was clueless on how to get there.

"It's a secret village. Do you think anyone will know?" He questioned thoughtfully. He was all but Shippo goo under Kagome's reassuring touch.

"From demons sure, but how would humans contact them for an extermination then?" she said her words reassuring her. Shippo nodded and hopped off her shoulder into the basket on the front of her bike. He knew Kagome was right. Someone would know where it was.

He took a big whiff then and caught the faint scent of a human village. "That way!" He said gleefully.

Kagome nodded and kicked off on her bike. They had been in the middle of a forest for the last two days trying to figure out which direction to go in. She pushed her aura out. She couldn't go far but she didn't sense any demons. It was strange. They had been traveling several days and she hadn't come across any recently. She had been bracing herself for a fight, hoping whatever came her way she could defeat until she was in the safety of Sango's village.

The thought darkened her mood. How could she have allowed herself no training? The fact that she had winged her own safety on luck was both depressing and aggravating. In hindsight her lack of training could've gotten her, or worse, everyone else killed. The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

While she knew she was not defenseless she was appalled at her own lack of control. When she shot her arrows, she didn't even try to surround it with reiki, it just did. When she actively tried to use her reiki, nothing. How it happened that way she'd never fathom it.

Shippo glanced at his adopted mother who seemed lost in thought. The trees thinning out as she peddled, legs pumping. Shippo knew she was tired. They had made camp while eating nothing but ramen and drinking water from the nearby streams. He knew Kagome was running on fumes. A night in a hut and more than noodles in her belly would perk her up. He knew it would perk him up. He liked ramen as much as the next kit, but meat sounded mouthwatering.

Shippo glanced again at his mom as she swayed the bike to keep from running into the tree in front of them, vacant look on her face. He was worried. She'd folded into herself. Kagome was usually an open book. When she first got back, she had been so happy. Inuyasha wanted to try for a relationship, and she'd been elated. Then she slowly began to withdraw, hiding her inner thoughts and becoming solemn. It was heartbreaking to watch. He missed his mom. He missed her easy smile, her quick temper, and her endless chatting. To see it stuffed down was a shame. She had so much to give.

Her power had grown too. Shippo watched as she tried to control her reiki. Kaede didn't know how to help her as her powers grew far past Kaede's ability to train. With her other trainee Ami, the villagers needing her medical knowledge, it didn't leave much time for Kagome. Every time Kaede tried to direct her the more frustrated both became.

A village finally came into sight and Kagome looked on in relief. They were quickly running out of supplies. She didn't exactly plan on fleeing. Luckily, she had some money and she hoped it would last until she had to trade her limited Miko capabilities for favors. To her it seemed disingenuous to demand payment for assistance. While Miroku never had any qualms, it made her uneasy.

She had created a huge mess with the Shikon and felt she owed this time…something. Not charging anything for her abilities, especially because they weren't dependable even though they've proven to be powerful.

As they entered the village, the whispers and the stares began with open curiosity and hostility. She could hear the not-so-subtle whispers about her attire and her demon kit, who clambered up to perch on her shoulder once again.

"Ok Shippo let's get these supplies and information and get out of here." She said as they began looking at the market stalls.

"Maybe we should stay the night here. A village this size should have an inn." Shippo commented, taking a glance around.

"I have some money but not enough for an inn and supplies." She sighed. A bathhouse or hot springs sounded amazing.

"You could purify something." Shippo suggested.

"I don't want to make promises I can't keep."

She approached a stall with a withered old lady minding shop. Displayed were various sized bags of rice. She debated but a larger bag would be heavier to carry. She selected a smaller size and dropped the coins into her withered hands. It was just her and Shippo.

"I smell jerky. Can we get some?" Shippo begged, giving big emerald, green eyes. He knew she couldn't resist. She gave him some coins and gave him a small list along his way.

The villager's tune changed when they saw the travelers were going to buy supplies. The girl may be strange, and the demon was but a child, their fears assuaged. They tried to pitch their wares as they passed by. Kagome warned Shippo not to get sucked in, to only buy what they needed, and he bounded off.

Kagome figured it best to ask about Sango's village herself. Shippo was a child but still a demon. She doubted the villagers would take kindly to that. So, she started at the stalls and began asking her questions. Most of the villagers either wanted her to purchase something or completely denied her requests for information.

I thought this would go much better. Kagome internally sighed. How was she supposed to find Sango and Miroku if no one would tell them where they lived? Approaching another vendor Kagome tried again.

"Sir, may I please have a moment of your time?" she asked kindly to the middle-aged man. He was selling vegetables and fruit at his stall and regarded her curiously.

"By chance, are you the one asking about the demon slayer village?" he asked. Kagome looked at him in surprise. She didn't think the word would spread that fast. This village was much larger than most. Clearly a hot spot for selling goods, they had blacksmiths, pottery, fine silks, and a large assortment of food wares. The fact news had spread so quickly could only mean one thing.

They know exactly where the taijiya village is. They must be warning against telling the strange woman and her demon companion. Those shits.

"Yes. Could you point me in the right direction? I got lost. I don't remember the way." She contained her irritation, shoving it down. Switching tactics, she revealed she had been there before. He'd be willing to part with information if she gave a little herself.

"Been there before, have you?" he asked scrutinizing her face. Trying to snuff out a lie no doubt. That's when she noticed a delicious smell. She leaned over the stall to see he had an assortment of fish as well and was roasting them on a skewer. How she had missed it before she didn't know.

Her stomach rumbled very loudly. "Are you selling any of those?" she asked mouth filling with saliva. The stall owner laughed loudly, clearly amused.

"Of course! You have passed several fish stalls though. Being as hungry as you are why did you not buy any?" he asked. He took notice of a little drool coming out of her mouth and grinned.

"Yours is the first to smell this delicious!" she hummed. "Can I have five please?"

"Five!? For a small woman, such as yourself?" he boomed. He grinned. He was happy with her response. All the other villagers said he wouldn't sell any fish being the owner of a vegetable stall. He scoffed internally. As if being a fruit seller meant he could not cook a measly fish.

He began placing her fish on the spits and began to cook them over his fire. He had teased her about her small stature but was pleased with the sale. She was his first fish customer, the other villagers snubbing him. This would show them.

"Well three are for my kit." She replied, not taking her eyes off the fire. She took notice of the seasonings he applied. Much more than the average villager in these times. She was hardly containing her excitement at the food, giddy it wasn't ramen.

"Your kit? The demon companion you traveled here with?" he asked curiously again at her words. He rotated the spit to keep the underside from burning.

"Yea my kit," Kagome growled a little, possessive of her adopted child. He could judge all he wanted. She wasn't going to appease his discrimination with untrue words.

"You have been to the slayer village, you say?" She was surprised he did not comment any further about her son, only making a contemplative hmm and moving on. She was relieved. She didn't want to eat the fish of a bigot even if it smelled enticing.

"Yes. After they were slaughtered by Naraku. We came across it and buried the dead."

"Why that was years ago! Incredibly sad indeed." He said solemnly, thinking back to when he'd heard the news.

"Yes. I'm looking for the lone survivor, Sango. We're friends." She shrugged. He raised an eyebrow. "I was told she's rebuilding, and I wanted to visit."

He passed one of the finished fish and she held out her coin. He took it happily. She shoved the fish in her mouth, munching delightedly. He grinned widely at the noises of content she was making. The other villagers, pretending not to be eavesdropping, looked on in interest. She wasn't a very polite eater. He grabbed another spit and she snatched it as soon as he grabbed it from the fire.

"Greedy thing isn't ya?" he remarked. She ignored him ripping off a chunk of the newest fish. It was scalding hot, and she started making noises he had never heard from a young lady. She was attempting to cool down her bite without removing the fish from her mouth.

"It's so good!" she moaned happily. He laughed again. He liked this strange girl. "The best fish anyone has made me lately." She said truthfully.

He took note of the murmurs in the gathered crowd. Her tongue felt melted off, but she was content. She hadn't had meat since they left Kaede's village. Five or six days ago. Only Ramen. She could've tried to catch some fish, but she didn't have the supplies to make a makeshift pole and she was too tired the day they came on the first stream, three days in. Shippo had offered but she only wanted to eat and sleep. She had thanked him for the offer but declined. She should've let him, if she knew they would have another two- or three-day's left before finding a village.

"You say you know Sango?" he asked when she was done inhaling her fish. He wrapped the remaining fish in paper and handed them to her.

"Yes. Do you…?" before she could finish her sentence a loud growl sounded, and she looked up. Flying at her was an exceptionally large fire neko.

Kirara pounced on her, tongue flicking at her cheek. Kagome squealed excitedly as she gripped her fur, rubbing her cheek into her old friend. Shippo slid down off her back and hopped on Kagome's head.

"Look who I found 'Gome! What luck!" he said. He took a whiff of the air and grabbed the fallen fish, wrapped in paper, off the ground. He opened it up and looked at Kagome.

"Are these for me?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes, go ahead Shippo." She laughed, still trapped under Kirara. Kirara didn't seem to be in any rush to stop her ministrations.

The villager's looked on in shock at the display. They watched in fascination as Shippo also inhaled the fish, singing the vendors praises. He replicated Kagome's behavior exactly. He had been with her for a while.

"What are you doing here Kirara? Where's Sango?" she asked looking around, expecting to see her friends at any moment.

"Sango sent her to run some errands. Apparently, this village is where they get their supplies." Shippo commented with a mouth full of fish.

"Don't talk with your mouth full." She admonished but not really upset. A blush touched her cheeks as the vendor looked at her pointedly. She then noticed the satchels on Kirara's back, laden with food and medical supplies. Shippo handed Kagome the list.

He took a gulp to clear his mouth and said, "I was helping with her list, that's why I was gone so long."

She read over the list and grinned when she saw dried fish. The man's fish was cheap and delicious. Sango would love it.

"You got any dried fish in this fruit stand of yours?" she asked handing the list to the man. He grinned widely.

"Yes, I do! My friend you can call my Akio with this order! I cannot wait to speak to my wife. She did not think I would get much business with the fish. Serves her right for questioning my skills!" his laugh booming. His hand on his hips. "I'll wrap your order right now."

Kagome grabbed the pouch Kirara had on her neck and counted out the coins after he quoted his price. She was vaguely impressed that the vendors hadn't taken more money than they were owed and voiced this to Shippo as he rubbed his full belly.

"Kirara has been doing this for two years now. Sango had the same concerns and made sure the villagers knew she would be tracking the money. She said she'd let a demon terrorize the village and wouldn't help if they stole." He grinned.

Kagome knew Sango would never really leave the village defenseless but grinned at the threat. Sango could bluff with the best of them.

Akio came back with a parcel, and they exchanged hands once again. She leaned over the stall and looked at him pointedly.

"Your fish is much too cheap for the quality. I suggest raising your prices." She winked at him, after whispering her advice.

"I'll do that! For you though, my first customer and for the slayer village you will always get a discount!" he whispered back excitedly. He looked back to the forming line at his stall, wide enough to give the neko berth. This girl was good luck, he decided.

"Thank you!" she beamed and secured the fish satchel to the waiting Kirara. Then her and Shippo clambered on and gripped her fur. Kirara took to the skies.

Kagome hummed, brimming with happiness. She felt the anticipation build as she thought about seeing Sango and Miroku again. She didn't even realize today was the first day she didn't think about Inuyasha. Or wonder why he hadn't come looking for her yet.

She didn't know today was the first day of healing.