Chapter 1

Hello and Goodbye

Kagome swallowed the lump in her throat as she lowered her forehead to the cool earth again. The scent of charred wood and soil bit at her nose but she ignored it as she sent another prayer towards the smoking remains of her friend's pyre.

'I'm so sorry, Hojo. Please find rest and know that your father is safe.'

Kagome hadn't gone to Hojo's burning. She didn't think she'd be welcomed anyway and refused to upset his father further when he laid his son to rest. Miroku had told her it had been a solemn, quiet affair, just a small group to witness the body taken by flames and his father, and Kagome knew that was for the best.

As the Village Head, Hojo Ueda had not had a moment's peace since the village was nearly destroyed by Urasue's clay army. With all the rubbish left in the surrounding areas and the fields possibly damaged, it had been a mad scramble for Ueda and the others.

Everyone had been so busy, including her.

"So, this is where you disappeared to," a deep voice said before Kagome heard a large body kneel down beside her.

Kagome smiled gently as she slowly lifted her head to meet Koga's bright blue eyes.

"I just wanted to say goodbye."

Koga nodded before he looked around the clearing, ever on the alert. Once he'd recovered from the attack, the faint scent of Naraku had been carried to him on the surrounding wind. Since then, he and the other hunters had gone to patrol the forests, looking for any clue of a trail. Unfortunately, their search had come up empty thus far.

"How did your rounds go?" Kagome asked before rising to her feet carefully.

Koga chuffed, causing Kagome to place her hand on his arm in comfort.

"We will find him, Koga," she promised. "He can't hide forever."

Koga sighed before encircling her hand and bringing it up for a quick kiss. "I just can't believe he was so close. That he was right there and slipped away."

"I know," Kagome replied. "And, you'll get another chance."

'Unlike some.'

Kagome swallowed the words. There was no point in venting her frustrations on Koga. The ookami viewed death differently than they did, anyway. To Koga, Hojo's body was just that; a body, an empty husk that the soul already left. The ookami stripped the dead to the bones and then either placed them in a spot of reverence or used them for more practical reasons. Nothing was wasted.

"Come on," Kagome added, not wanting to linger, "let's go see how the guys are doing. Most-likely they're wanting something to eat anyway and—"

A gentle but firm grip on her arm caused a gasp to leap up Kagome's throat. Slowly, carefully, Koga's clawed hand drifted down her arm to clasp her hand in a tight comforting hold.

"I didn't know him," Koga replied softly. "Hojo seemed alright but I didn't know him like you did. So, I don't know how to grieve for him. But, if you want to, to cry and such, that's okay. And, if you need me to stay, or to go, or to just shut up and let you do whatever you need to, then I will."

Warmth bloomed in Kagome's chest as she shifted her fingers to interlace them with Koga's. The reddening on his ears and nose showed just how out of his element he was but he was trying. And, that meant everything to her.

"Thank you," she answered, squeezing his hand in reassurance before he flashed a bright but sheepish grin. "Come on."

With an answering squeeze, they turned from the site and began to head back towards the village.

Kagome closed her eyes as she let the breeze comb through her loose hair. It was a nice day, for all it was sad. The sky was clear and the air held a gentle warmth that soothed and rejuvenated at the same time. The fields and trees were full of green; fresh and young. Hopeful. She prayed that lasted. The last few days had been crazy but things seemed to be settling.

Any previous tensions the village had over Koga and the others was pretty much gone. Saving their home apparently was all they had to do to get into the people's good graces. Now, people were eager to help the ookami in any way they could, from scouting around the area with them to feeding them from their own homes. To the village, they were heroes and Kagome couldn't have been more relieved. And, the ookami's attitude had changed as well.

Ginta had relaxed significantly and, as far as Kagome could tell, it looked like they were going to be alright with time. They weren't all the way back to start but….things were calm, even if Ginta was still staying on the shy side. Hakkaku, on the other hand, had immersed himself so deeply into the village, there wasn't a time you didn't see him surrounded by people, especially girls. It was almost funny.

Glancing up, Kagome caught a glimpse of pink cloth before it disappeared through the trees. There went Sango….again. Kagome shook her head as she continued on.

Sango had been antsy lately; looking for Kirara every day and constantly on alert, but that wasn't unexpected to Kagome. Truth be told, she was impressed Sango had been this calm without her as long as she had been. Kagome wasn't exactly sure what Sango was waiting for but she hoped it came about soon. And, Miroku seemed constantly busy with Kaede, helping where he could and just practically falling into bed every night. He was really determined to be useful.

So, they were basically biding their time but, for what?

It wasn't that Kagome was eager to get moving again, she was enjoying the familiarity of her home. But, Naraku was still out there and the jewel hung about her neck like a stone. They had to do something.

"Has Shipo seen anything?" Kagome asked, hopeful some news would snap her from the growing frustration. However, Koga just shook his head with a grunt.

"Little trickster has been distracted," he muttered.

"Distracted? What do you mean?"

"He seems more interested in wasting his time with the humans than be on patrol," Koga answered.

"You mean play?" Kagome challenged with a smirk. "He's still a child, afterall."

"He calls himself a mighty warrior," Koga argued.

"Like all kids do," Kagome countered. "He's just trying to have some fun. And, who knows when he'll get the next chance."

"If we ever leave," Koga muttered before quickly throwing an apologetic grimace towards her.

So, he had been feeling the strain too. That was understandable. It went against an ookami's nature to remain outside of their territory anyway, and with all the trouble Koga's tribe went through in the previous months, it was no wonder he was eager to get-going and return to them.

"Sango believes Kirara will return soon," she replied with a shrug.

"And, then what?" Koga asked. "We need to find Naraku while the scent is still fresh. That was one of the reasons we came here, right?"

"Yes, but, didn't you lose the trail?" Kagome asked, causing Koga's face to redden further.

"So?" he muttered.

"So, there's no point in running around blindly," Kagome replied. "We need a plan and if Kirara can help us with that then, we might as well wait. Unless you just want to be grumpy."

Koga looked at her slightly shocked before bumping her shoulder with a huff. "I'm not grumpy."

"Just not used to sitting still," Kagome added with a giggle.

Koga rolled his eyes but Kagome could see the corner of his mouth ticking upwards in amusement.

"Well, with any luck, we won't need to wait much longer," Kagome soothed as they grew closer to the village's edge. "I mean, how much longer could Kirara—"

A sudden shadow moving over her head caused Kagome to snap her eyes upward. Koga joined her, prepared for anything that could be on the attack. All they saw was a large figure that soared in the clouds above their heads. However, the trailing fiery glow from the tail had Kagome stepping back in surprise.

"Is that….?" she asked.

"Come on," Koga said, tugging on her hand as Kirara disappeared over the trees. "Let's find out what the hold-up was for."

Kagome didn't bother answering as Koga started to drag her towards the forest.

So much for quiet.

SSS

Hachi sighed as he waited for the bait on his line to take. He really needed a catch soon or he was going to have to go scavenging for something to eat. But, there was no rushing things; he couldn't make the fish bite, afterall. It was too bad Master Miroku wasn't there to help him.

Another sigh, bone-deep this time, escaped Hachiman's lips as he propped his rounded chin on his palm.

'I'm sorry, Master Miroku,' he mused pitifully. 'I'm so sorry.'

He knew abandoning the temple was a cowardly thing to do but….what else could he have done? That thing, Naraku, was unlike anything he'd ever seen before. He couldn't believe something that evil could actually get in but, with three reiki users, surely they could handle it….right?

Again, guilt weighed heavily in the tanuki's gut. Of course, they handled it. He'd heard the stories of how the young master had helped save a whole village from a witch's undead army. Still, he couldn't shake the shame of his abandoning his Master to that monster's cruelty.

"Please, forgive me, master," Hachi bemoaned right before his line tugged sharply in his hands.

With a delighted cry, he dug his feet into the lake bed as he tried to pull as hard as he could.

"Come on," he grunted as he pulled. "Come to Hachi…."

Unfortunately, his foot slipped onto the bordering mud and before Hachi could cry out, he found himself face-down in the muddy water. Pushing himself up, Hachi spat furiously before sighing again in defeat as he watched his line slip under the water and out of his reach.

Looked like he was digging up dinner afterall.

"You dare to ignore me?!"

A voice screeched from the bank, causing Hachi to jump to his shaking feet as he desperately searched for its source. He just blinked in shock when he saw the tiny green figure glaring at him in righteous indignation.

"Uh…what?" Hachi asked, dumb-founded.

"Don't you ignore me, you stupid fool," the kappa sneered before tapping a long staff in his hand on the muddy ground. "I asked you a question and you will answer it this instant."

Hachi was….at a loss. What was he supposed to say?

And, apparently, he didn't answer quick enough. The uppity Kappa squawked indignantly before smacking Hachi upside the head with the end of his staff.

"You will tell my lord where the Shikon miko's village is, at once!"

Hachi groaned as he rubbed his throbbing head. "Your lord?" he demanded. "What lord?"

"How dare you!" the annoying little imp squawked. "If you don't even recognize my lord's greatness, you must be a greater fool than I thought. I should burn you to ashes for you ignorant stupidity! Why I never—"

"Jaken."

The voice was calm, smooth, but Hachi felt even hair on his head and neck stand on end as terror made his back tighten.

"May I present," the imp announced grandiosely. "Lord Seshoumaru of the Western Lands. The Blade of the Land and Upholder of Justice and Power.
'You will now show the proper respect."

Hachi didn't have to be told twice. Without hesitation, his face hit the water again as he landed on his hands and knees. The evil little toad looked like he could puff up twice as big with his pride but Hachi didn't care.

"I am your devoted servant, my lord," he replied, desperate to save his own life.

"Then, answer the question," the pale lord answered. "Where is the home of the Shikon miko?"