Chapter 8: Into the Webs of Dreams


It was the middle of the day, and the only thing that seemed to change on their journey North was the drop in temperature and depth of snow. It was now freezing weather and they could only go so far for so long. Kagome had pulled Shippo from her hood to the inside of her jacket, and Kirara had transformed to block Sango from the howling wind. In the distance they could see a village with its farmers scavenging whatever crops were left after the morning frost.

"Why don't we stop here, it's going to get dark soon and we've travelled quite a bit since morning." Miroku offered. The village was of average size, with a small bridge connecting the path into the village. There weren't any fortified walls to keep demons or bandits out, but they did have two outposts where a few men were stationed at each.

"I agree. I can feel the temperature dropping, and this wind isn't helping one bit." Sango rubbed the sides of her arms, emphasizing her point. Inuyasha nodded, "alright, let's stop over for today. Any money on you, Miroku?"

"Of course!" Miroku countered.

"I'm starving, let's pick up the pace so we can warm up and eat!" Kagome took up the lead, fuelled by the growing hunger pains in the pit of her stomach.

Everyone smiled, following Kagome's quickened pace. They all couldn't wait to relax and warm their feet and hands from the long journey of the day.

When they reached the bridge, they saw a father and a young boy no older than seven carrying a bushel of sticks. They looked up at the group oddly, as many other village people have done in the past. Not everyone encountered a cohort of humans and demons travelling together peacefully, especially being led by a young, human woman. The boy ran to his father's side apprehensive of the strange group as they passed.

Kagome and Sango offered a warm smile, greeting the anxious family. "Hello!" The smaller boy slowly smiled, realizing that they were friendly. He gave both ladies a toothy smile as he had two missing front teeth. The older man was still skeptical of the group, but smiled seeing his son's happy response to the greeting.

Once they had walked up to the outpost, two village soldiers approached them promptly. "State your business," One rough-looking man with a scruffy beard and moustache said.

Miroku squeezed past the two ladies to speak to the man with fake kindness. "We are just a group of travellers looking for a warm place to stay for the night."

"You're not the first to come here today to ask for boarding, I doubt there's any room left," The other younger soldier piped up as he looked over each of the group members cautiously, noting the half-demon's sword with squinted eyes. Inuyasha didn't pay any attention to the way he was being watched by the younger soldier, he's experienced just about everything with the villagers of this era.

"May we at least ask the housekeeper of your village first?"

"Be our guest...but don't get your hopes up." The gruff voice of the older soldier answered lazily, already knowing that the village was at capacity.

They passed by the guardsmen, regarding each other wearily. Would they have to travel further today to find shelter? Miroku was usually the one who secured them a place to stay using his charming, diplomatic and overly-kind demeanour to win over the hearts and minds of the villagers.

"Don't worry, I'm sure there's gotta be some rooms in this village. Even if it's just two." Miroku rubbed his chin thoughtfully, of course looking back at Sango with mischievous, and perverted thoughts. With the way Inuyasha and Kagome were acting, there's a possibility that they would share a room in the near future.

Sango noticed the monk looking at her in that way she couldn't trust. She stared at him with a dead-pan kind of expression, knowing that he was dreaming up some sort of dirty fantasy about them in that lecherous mind of his. She couldn't deny that she liked him, at least for his other qualities, but it was this lecherous personality that turned her off on him. Like he was trying too hard, and then he would purposely make her jealous by flirting with other village women along their travels. Each encounter made her want to snap, and she couldn't help but get jealous.

"Don't even think about it, monk." Sango's voice turned into a warning and the monk sheepishly turned around holding the back of his head.

"I have no idea what you're talking about dear Sango," Miroku chuckled in defence. Kagome shook her head at the monk, wondering when he would confess his feelings to Sango.

They arrived at the boarding house where weary travellers come to rest. There was a curvy woman manning the front entrance and as soon as they walked in the door she motioned for them to turn around. "We have no rooms left," The woman had dark brown hair with fringed bangs covering her forehead landing softly against her brows. Her eyes were a striking powder blue against pale skin.

Miroku dashingly smiled at her, "M'lady, what a beautiful face of radiance you have. I'm so sorry to hear there are no rooms left. You see my friends and I have been travelling from the East and have walked all this way...are you sure there are no rooms in this village where we may stay?"

Sango rolled her eyes, and made a huffing noise in contempt at the whole display. She knew he was faking it, and it wasn't real, but it still bothered her nonetheless.

The young lady blushed at the compliment, sputtering to respond. "Um, well..I." She bashfully looked down to the floor. "I'm sorry kind monk, but we've been accepting travellers far and wide today and cannot offer any rooms at this time."

"My goodness!" Miroku took a dramatic step back in haste. "There is an evil presence in this room." The young woman gasped, believing every word Miroku was spouting out. "We must vanquish the demonic energy here!"

"Oh no! Please master monk, slay the demon! I must go get the master host" Without hesitation, the young girl pulled back one of the shoji doors separating the entrance from the main hall to fetch the master host of the cabin.

The master host ran in haste out of the shoji door and bowed in greeting to the monk. He was short and bald with small beady eyes. He wore a white haori with black pants. "Shirina mentioned that you have sensed a great demonic presence here! Please monk, I will give you my quarters to stay the night if you vanquish this evil! I cannot have my guests harmed by this demon!" The host bowed profusely to the monk.

Miroku faked smiled at the host as he put a hand on the man's shoulder. "It will be a few minutes, but I'm afraid my exorcism is performed best when I have eaten a nice meal."

"Of course! Of course. Well Shirina don't just stand there, go start dinner for these folks! We can't waste a second more." The master host shooed the younger girl away. "My name is Ruroki. If you need anything, anything at all I will be happy to provide it."

"Why thank you, Ruroki-san. My friends and I are thankful for your generosity." After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the man, they followed Ruroki through the doors Shirina had opened to the main hallway. Ruroki guided them through hallway after hallways until they had arrived at a larger room with cushions placed in a square formation. "This is the dining area, please sit and Shirina will have your food ready in a moment."

"Many thanks," Miroku replied. When Ruroki left the room, everyone glared at Miroku for again deceiving the host of the village.

"Really Miroku, how many times do we have to go through this? It's only a matter of time before all the villages catch on to your schemes." Inuyasha remarked pulling his hands into his sleeves as he sat down with crossed legs.

"By that time I'll be six feet under," Miroku shrugged, this didn't bother him in the slightest and everyone just sighed in silent embarrassment that they have to resort to these measures.

"Possibly from all the village housekeepers ganging up on you in anger." Sango mocked.

"And this is why I have friends like you to stick up for me." Miroku laughed. "If it weren't for me and my dashingly handsome smile, we would be all huddled up by a fire in the cold trying to survive the night."

"I really need to buy a thermal tent from my time." Everyone looked at Kagome with questioning looks. "What's a tent?" Shippo asked with bright eyes.

"It's a type of shelter made out of tough, water-proof material that you can sleep in outside. The thermal part of it keeps the warmth inside and the cold out. They are very expensive though, but it could work for us in the winter. I need to go home anyway after this trip. I'll see if I can get one somehow." Kagome explained, thinking about all the things she had to do and to catch up on in the modern era.

The group pondered the information, understanding the purpose and description of this contraption she had described to them. "That would indeed be a useful thing to have for us," Sango thought aloud. Then she wouldn't have to sit through the monk's fake compliments and deceptive tricks every night.

Without any warning, Shirina had half walked and jogged into the room carrying many bowls of rice from her hands to her arms. She set them down in front of each of the visitors and ran back to the door she came from to grab more food. When she came back, she had brought steamed fish and a bottle of sake for the group.

"Master Ruroki wants to express his gratitude for agreeing to vanquish the evil. He reminds you that after you have eaten he will join you to see you exorcize the demon from our house."

"Of course, thank you beautiful, Shirina-san." Miroku grabbed her hands in his, and looked deeply into her eyes. "Shirina, you have done a great service to us tonight in preparing this wonderful meal, may I ask you to bear my children?" Shirina's face grew fifteen shades of red at the declaration. "Oh monk! I would, but I'm afraid your lady friend doesn't look to pleased with you. Might you ask her instead perhaps?" As if seeing the murderous glare in Sango's eyes, Miroku had sunk back to the floor defeated.

Sango paled at the girl's request. "I'm not mad! I'm..just. We aren't together," Sango sputtered out a reply all too quickly. She felt embarrassed as everyone's eyes were on her now. She huffed, turned around and left to give herself some space. Kirara had mewed softly as she dashed off after her friend. Kagome's eyes softened, but then turned icy towards the monk. "I think I will leave now, I seemed to have caused a problem here," Shirina retreated back into the kitchen, and left everyone to deal with the situation.

"Why do you do that?" Kagome interrogated. Miroku looked at Kagome frowning as he knew that he had made Sango upset once again. She was right, it wasn't as if they were together. He was free to choose whom he wanted to be with, but he couldn't deny the feelings for her at the same time. She's just not as receptive to his advances as the other women, and it's foreign territory for him to be rejected.

"We aren't together," Miroku softly replied.

"You know, I'm going to say this as a woman and friend, and please listen to what I have to say," Kagome started. "There's only so much a girl can take until she gets fed up with your antics. You can't keep this up and think she will fall for you someday. It's been what? Two years of this ridiculous pattern of hot and cold. Put yourself in Sango's shoes. How do you think she feels when you give her attention like that and make advances, only to turn around and do the same to other women?" With that said, Kagome got up from her spot and walked in the direction Sango had left. "When I get back I better not see you flirting with anyone else!"

Miroku found himself leaning away from Kagome as she gave him a verbal beating. Now he knows how Inuyasha feels when he faces Kagome's wrath. Hell hath no fury than a woman's scorn indeed. As for the others in the room, they could only look up at the ceiling or floor in awkwardness. Inuyasha on the other hand couldn't help but think to the past with Kikyo and Kagome. Even if he hadn't seen it from Kagome's perspective back then, he sure did now. He was no better either, but Kagome had never really lashed out at him directly like she did at Miroku just now.

Inuyasha stared at the food in the centre. She was starving, but I guess she lost her appetite. Inuyasha piled some food onto his plate, and got up without any warning to the others.

"Hey Inuyasha where are you going?" Shippo called out.

"To get some fresh air." He mumbled out. Shippo looked to Miroku, then to the food, and back to where Inuyasha had left. He swiped some rice balls, and fish kabobs from the platter and followed the hanyou's suit. Miroku was left alone to contemplate his actions that caused such a ruckus. There was only one thing that he could do to remedy this. He piled whatever food was left from the platter and got up to go to the kitchen.

...

Sango had found the back entrance to the cabin where a porch overlooked an empty street. The yellow-orange glow of embers amongst the doorways were lighting up the rooms where families sat down to eat. Her stomach grumbled in protest. She didn't eat anything really today, and had forgotten in her haste to pick something up before escaping the confrontation between her, Miroku and Shirina. Kirara hopped onto the railing of the porch. Sango scooped her up in her arms to quell the pain of hunger. Kirara only pawed a bit at her owner's stomach hearing the incessant growling.

"I know...I just don't feel like eating right now." Sango whispered to the little neko. Kirara mewed gazing back into Sango's eyes.

"Sango..." Kagome slowly walked up to the slayer and put a hand on her shoulder. Sango wiped her cheek, a single tear had trailed down halfway before her fingers caught it.

"Kagome, why did I have to fall for him?" Sango couldn't help it now, she knew she was in good company as her best friend was always there to support her in these times.

"It's not your fault, Sango. Sometimes the heart wants what it wants. Sometimes we are blind to a person's faults because we believe so much in them. No man is perfect, as you and I are not perfect either. But no one deserves to be treated with disrespect like that. Especially not you."

"What do I do, Kagome? I just made a scene in there.." Sango replied, absorbing Kagome's words.

"You don't do anything. You didn't make a scene, you were a victim of it. Just take a breather until you're ready to come back to eat, or I can go grab our food and we can find somewhere else to eat too. Or we can enjoy the scenery until you feel better."

"Ok, I think I can do that." Sango breathed in a bit shakily. "Thanks, Kagome." Kagome smiled softly and looked up at the dusk sky.

When Sango had gained her emotional strength back, they had walked back into the warmth of the cabin to find Inuyasha standing along the wall of the hallway holding a plate with food. Kagome and Sango were stunned to find him there.

"Here." Inuyasha handed Kagome the plate of food he held. Kagome accepted the plate graciously and looked up at the hanyou. "You both walked out without eating. I'm not going to face a battle with you both on empty stomachs."

Kagome and Sango looked at each other in awe. They didn't expect him to find them, and give them food. They both simultaneously said, "thank you," before he walked away back down the hallway.

"Um, I didn't expect that." Sango commented honestly. Kagome shook her head thinking the same thing as she looked down at the luke warm food.

"I don't think I'm feeling well still, Kagome. I might pass on dinner and head to our room...wherever that is," Sango looked left and right trying to determine where they were staying. I'm going to go find the head master and find out." Kagome nodded. When Sango left, Kagome looked back at the plate and decided to find the generous hanyou. She couldn't help but take a kabob and nibble on it as she walked in the direction he had left. She had walked and walked, until she saw Miroku quickly leaving the dining room holding a platter of steaming food.

"Ah, Kagome! Where is Sango?" Miroku turned around suddenly being careful to keep the platter at 90 degrees. Kagome eyed the monk again.

"Well depends on what you want with Sango." Kagome huffed, still in protective best friend mode.

"Come on, Kagome. This stuff is hot." Kagome looked at the mentioned platter. "Is that for..." Miroku nodded.

"Yes, now can you please tell me where I can find her?" Kagome paused, she sighed. "She left to go find our rooms."

"Did she already eat with you?" Miroku eyed Kagome's scattered plate of kabobs and rice. Kagome shook her head.

"Nope, she didn't feel like eating when I was with her." Kagome said, but realized to correct her statement. "I don't think it would be a bad idea to drop this off with her though..." Miroku nodded and thanked Kagome, but not before handing her a steaming bowl of rice. "That's an apology and a thank you for the friendly advice."

"Oh...I'm glad you took the advice." Kagome replied.

"Oh before I forget, Kagome." Miroku said, "Inuyasha's got some good ideas for this kind of stuff. It wasn't until you left that he got up with the food and followed after you and Sango."

Kagome's heart skipped a beat. "Really?"

"Yes," Miroku adjusted the platter. "I should get going now before I serve this cold to Sango." Kagome chuckled as she watched the monk jog down the hallway in search of the demon slayer.

"You think she's going to accept that from him?" Inuyasha had snuck up behind Kagome. Kagome nearly jumped and lost all the food on the plate in the process.

"You need to stop sneaking up on me, Inuyasha!" Kagome whined. "And to answer your question. Who knows. Maybe half of it will be on his head and the other half she'll eat after realizing she can't waste good food." Inuyasha smirked, he was enjoying the fact that he was catching her off guard.

"I think he made that by himself. I saw Shirina leave after I had dropped off the food with you girls." Inuyasha pointed out. Kagome looked at him with a smile.

"Well I guess desperate times call for desperate measures." Kagome remarked jokingly. Inuyasha cracked a smile at the joke.

"Oh hey, I really appreciate you grabbing food for Sango and I. It was very thoughtful." Kagome beamed at the hanyou. Inuyasha turned a soft shade of pink at that. "Yea, uh, don't mention it."

"Did you eat?" Kagome wondered curiously. Inuyasha shook his head softly. Kagome's eyes widened. "And here you're telling me you can't go into battle with me if I'm on an empty stomach! Here have a kabob, I can't finish all this by myself. Sango stuck me with all of it." Inuyasha grabbed the offered kabob in thanks.

"Let's go back to eat. It's kind of dark in this hallway." Kagome said. As they made their way back to the dining area, Inuyasha replied sarcastically, "Keh. The eyesight of a human never ceases to amaze me."

"Yeah it must be a shocking reminder every time in your human form." They saw Shippo had finished a majority of the platter and he was now napping on the wooden floor. They had sat down quietly as they both enjoyed the rest of the meal that was left untouched.

"Damn kit."

"Growing boys need to eat." Kagome smiled softly at the kit.

"Feh."

...

Miroku walked until he saw the head master. "Ah master monk, why are you carrying a platter full of food?"

"It seems my friends went off in different directions. I'm wondering if we could bring this to the rooms instead." He didn't want to mention anything involving his mistake with Sango and Shirina.

"Well our agreement is that you vanquish the great demon and then earn your stay." The host reminded, and looked skeptical of the monk. It was then that Miroku noticed a small round insect demon on the host's neck.

"Here. Hold this, and don't move a muscle."

"What in the-" The host had no time to speak as Miroku had pulled out a sutra from his robe. "Demon...Be GONE!" Miroku had made such a noise and clapped his hands with the sutra before applying it to the host's neck. All it really did was squish the insect demon and the offending bug landed on the side of the platter with a small plop, unknown to the host.

"There the exorcism is complete. You were about to be possessed by this little blood-sucking demon here." Miroku had picked up the little demon, who happened to be Myoga the flea demon, for the host to see. Miroku whispered apologies to the poor flea as he ran over to the window and tossed Myoga into the bushes outside.

"Oh such is the life of a poor little flea like me." Myoga whined as he fell like a feather onto a frozen leaf stuck to the ground.

The host blinked a few times, before bowing profusely to show his immense gratitude. "Oh I am so deeply in your debt, master monk. I will show you to my quarters where you and your friends will be staying." Miroku sighed. That was good timing on his part for Myoga to show up, maybe not so much for the flea however. He would have to give blood to the flea for a week to make up for that trick.

...

Sango had found the host's quarter's easily and entered into the space where a small tea table was set up in the middle of the room. "Not a bad set up he has here." She remembered as a child that her grandparents had a similar living space with rooms raised on on platforms surrounding the main area inside. She opened a door directly across from where she had stood in the entrance and found a clean sleeping mat and head roll. Kirara had already bound over to the sleeping mat to get comfortable. Sango closed the screen door and placed her weapon to the side, propping it up against the wall before lowering herself to the mat. She just felt like going to sleep to rid herself of the constant ring of thoughts that circled her mind.

"I'll just close my eyes for a bit.." She felt the heaviness of her eyelids close as she fell into slumber with Kirara sitting curled against her back facing the doorway to the room.

...

Shirina had popped back into the main dining room after seeing that Kagome and Inuyasha had finished their dinner. "I hope you both are full from the dinner."

Kagome smiled, while holding her stomach completely satisfied. "Oh, I think we'll be sleeping good tonight." Inuyasha was lying down on the floor face up, and drunkenly agreed with Kagome. Shirina shared a few giggles before bidding both a good night.

Kagome giggled at Inuyasha's state of being as he laid down from the big meal. "Haha come on Inuyasha, we should get up and find the master's quarters." Kagome had stood up, and offered her hand out to Inuyasha to pull him up from the floor. Inuyasha peeped open an eye at her extended hand. He peeled himself off the floor, but didn't take her hand. Kagome slowly retracted her hand and pretended to smooth out a wrinkle in her clothing. Inuyasha set his eyes on her bag that had been pushed to the wall. He slung the strap of the bag over his left arm to rest on his shoulder.

Kagome couldn't help but feel a bit awkward after that, she didn't know what to say to make the silence go away. Inuyasha nodded his head, "ok let's go."

Inuyasha walked past her, opening up the screen door separating the room from the hallway. Kagome shrugged off his nonchalant attitude as she picked up the sleeping Shippo and nestled him in the junction of her right arm and proceeded to follow Inuyasha out of the room. They walked side by side down the darkened corridor, but Kagome felt Inuyasha wrap his clawed hand around hers. She was a bit startled at first but relaxed and gripped her hands in his. She was trying not to look at him because she wasn't sure if she'd be able to keep walking straight or stop looking at him.

Inuyasha was relieved to feel her hand wrap around his. He glanced sideways at her as he felt her quickened pulse throbbing through the veins in her hand and wrist. A slight blush creeped into her cheeks and ears. Inuyasha smiled inwardly, she looked adorable. But he wasn't quite ready to admit that to her.

They walked hand in hand while Inuyasha silently followed the scent of the monk.

...

After Miroku had 'vanquished' the demon, he allowed the head master to lead him to the quarters where his friends would likely be setting up for the night. It was a boring trip to the quarters as the host rambled on about his ancestors living with monks in buddhist temples across Japan. The steam had slowed on the food, and he had to make sure he got to Sango before the rice ran cold.

When they reached the entrance, Ruroki bowed to the monk and repeated his many thanks for his exorcism. Miroku backed into the room sliding the door open with his foot as he had no hands to pry it open. "Ah don't mention it. No, I'm serious, don't mention it." Miroku walked inside not bothering to shut the door behind him as he bid Roroki a good night. He glanced around the room, taking in the detail of the furnishing inside. He almost didn't see the little furry head peeping through a crack in the door across from where he stood. Kirara watched him intrigued by the smell of the food he carried.

"Hello Kirara." Miroku greeted softly. "Sango with you over there?" He made his way across the room and slid the door open to see a sleeping Sango.

"Sango..." Miroku had opened the door a bit wider, and Kirara padded over to the sleeping woman, licking her face adoringly.

"Hm, Kirara. What's going on?" Sango murmured in between sleepy yawns. It was then she noticed a shadow at the door. Startled she was going to grasp for her weapon, but her nose caught the scent of food quicker than her hand got to the Hiraikotsu. Looking down at the food placed on the floor beside two pairs of feet and the hems of Miroku's robes. She rubbed her eyes from her interrupted slumber.

"Miroku, what is all this?"

"Consider this my apology for earlier. I said the wrong thing. Did the wrong thing." Miroku started. "For that I am sorry to have caused you pain, Sango."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about."

"No, I think you do." Miroku bravely took a step towards her, and after she didn't refuse or back away, he knelt down so he was looking at her face to face.

"I care about you, more than you know, Sango. I know it's hard to believe." Sango looked at her hands thoughtfully. "One day soon I hope that you can see the way I look at you. You're not like any woman I've met, and I mean that truly."

"Miroku..." Sango was stunned at the confession. "I, don't know what to say. I do share your feelings. I'm confused and disheartened at why you show other women affection."

Miroku sighed, "I'm an idiot. I didn't see or know that you cared in the same way." Sango smiled faintly as he continued, "call me a coward, but I didn't think you'd fall for me."

"Well, I guess I tried to hide it, and felt that you were only having fun making me angry at the way you paraded women around yourself during travels." Sango looked him squarely in the eye. "It's going to take some time. Even though I care about you, I can't forget the past until I know you're completely committed to me." Miroku sighed inwardly, not quite expecting her not to forgive him so easily. But there was still hope in her answer, he could feel it in the way she phrased her words.

Feeling like a light had cleared a path for him to Sango's heart, he took her hand gently and looked into her warm brown eyes, "Sango, I will do everything in my power to regain your trust, and to not dishonour your good faith in me and in what a future for us can be like. I want you in my life, and through battles in your heart and on this journey to avenge your family, I want you to know you can confide in me. Even if in the end you choose not to be with me, I will always be there for you to protect you."

"Miroku..." Sango was beyond words. She didn't expect him to so eloquently pour out his devotion to her. Even if he had a knack with fancy words, he meant every ounce of this compassionate ode to her. She knew silently in her heart that she should give him a chance even if her mind was stubborn and tried to protect her pride. "Ok, I'll give you one shot, Miroku. Don't make me regret my decision." Miroku smiled softly, and looked at her affectionately.

"I promise to not let you down." Miroku turned around to leave the room, but not before his stomach growled. Sango quirked an eyebrow at him, "Did you not eat anything either?"

"I didn't feel like eating with you being upset with me." Miroku admitted honestly. Sango looked back down at the plate he had set down in front of her. There was enough to eat for two people.

"Here, I probably won't get to eat all this tonight. Help me finish it," Sango offered. Miroku was about to decline her kind offer, but his stomach protested that idea.

"Thank you, dear Sango." Miroku walked back over to take a seat next to Sango. Sango quickly snapped her chopsticks in half and handed the other half to the monk. "This will have to work for now."

Miroku felt his fingers overlap Sango's as the broken chopsticks were placed in his hand. "It's perfect."


Inuyasha and Kagome were steps away from opening the doors to the host's quarters when Inuyasha pulled Kagome back from opening the door. He could hear Miroku and Sango talking privately inside. Kagome looked up questioningly, "Is this the wrong one? Did we miss it again?"

Inuyasha shook his head. "No, it's alright. Miroku and Sango are inside.." Kagome listened intently to his words, but her eyes widened a bit after he finished. "Are they..?" It took Inuyasha a couple seconds to catch on to what she was inferring.

"Uh, no not like that...they are talking" Inuyasha awkwardly replied. His ears perked up at the sound of a door closing shut inside with no further footsteps to be heard of. He hoped that had been Miroku going to his room, and his queue to go inside as well. Inuyasha slid the screen door open to reveal what he had heard. He quickly surveyed the quarters and saw four rooms with one door shut. So perhaps the monk and demon slayer were...no it couldn't be, he would have smelled it. Instead he smelled the remnants of rice balls and kabobs wafting from the room. They were eating privately.

Kagome followed Inuyasha's line of sight and definitely jumped to the first conclusion she had made earlier. But Inuyasha shook his head confirming that it wasn't what she was thinking. Kagome's mouth formed an 'o' as she set her sights on which room she would be taking up for the night. A nice moonlit room to the far left peaked her interest. She adjusted the sleeping Shippo in her arms and Inuyasha followed suit with the book bag still slung over his shoulder. Inuyasha plopped the bag down softly at the wall for Kagome to unpack her sleeping bag. He would never understand the need to sleep in a bag of material when most of the times humans slept on thin bed rolls anyway, but this was Kagome. She always surprised him with her futuristic contraptions she brings back from her era.

"Well this room will do nicely." Kagome surmised as she knelt down to place Shippo on the white bed mat. Inuyasha made his way to the door and Kagome looked back at him. "Thanks, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha turned back slightly and gave her a nod and then continued to the room across from hers. He didn't think it a good idea to sleep next to Miroku and Sango's if anything progressed more romantically. He doubted it would with them being near, but humans were very unpredictable, and his feelings for Kagome were getting ever so complex. He wouldn't admit it to her that even holding her hand was torture in the way he just wanted to scoop her up and take her away to a private place where they could be together alone. His thoughts raced and he could feel his blood beating. He couldn't understand why he was feeling like this. With Kikyo he never felt this way, like his heart was ready to explode and his fangs throbbing. He couldn't stand the feeling of being distant to her, but wanting to wrap her in his arms. It was beginning to be absolute torture.

Kagome had watched him retreat to the opposite side of the room. She figured he didn't want to risk being beside Miroku and Sango's room, not that his hearing wouldn't be able to pick up any noise anyway. Kagome closed the door softly until she heard it snap close. After unravelling her sleeping bag she smoothed out the bumps from the uneven material. While picking Shippo back up, she shimmied her feet and legs into the opening of there bag and let the rest of her body fall back slowly to the ground. She could have just used the mat, but there was something about the comfort of a sleeping bag that reminded her of home and camping trips.

As her eyes drifted shut, she began to quickly fall asleep.

..

A soft breeze of warm air tickled the little airs on her skin. She felt like an electric current was running through her veins. Looking at her arms and hands, she could see a pale pink glow surround her hands. Was she exerting her powers. Looking around she found herself in a familiar place once again. It was Lady Giya's sanctuary and training grounds.

"I see you got here safely enough." Lady Giya spoke out elegantly as she walked towards Kagome with her hands in the sleeves of her priestess robe.

"How? Am I dreaming?" Kagome asked curiously. Wasn't she in the village with her friends?

"Of sorts. Don't mistake this, my dear. This is very much real. I beckoned your soul here once you were at rest." Lady Giya simply retorted as matter a factly. Rossi arrived beside the elder priestess with a brown package in between her arm and side.

"Ah, very good. Those are the robes I asked for you to bring?" Lady Giya motioned for Rossi to bring forth the package. Lady Giya took the parcel and offered it to Kagome.

Kagome, surprised, took the parcel in hand. "These will be your training garments. You will wear them, and discard your...attire, when you arrive next time."

"Next time? Hold on what is going on here?" Kagome wasn't too sure what they were expecting from her, but to train in her sleep. Now this had to be a dream. She wasn't going to be physically following the exertion that training imposed on the body if it was in the village resting. "This has to be a dream."

"Nonsense. You are here to train like we agreed on the last time we met. You are to complete your end of the bargain." Kagome was dumbfounded. She thought she would have had to travel far to train, but this was something else entirely. "Now undress and meet us in the training grounds past the bridge and tree of spirits."

Kagome looked around. Was she supposed to strip down here in the middle of the grassy meadow? Lady Giya and Rossi took their leave to give her privacy as she looked on with uncertainty.

When Kagome had found her way to what looked like a bridge with a large pink flowering tree at the other side of the bank, she gathered up the material of the hakama pants she had been given. It was a bit long, as the person who was the owner of these garments was a great deal taller than her. Her garments were highly unusual garments for that of a priestess. They were completely brown with a burlap sash tying the outfit together at the middle. She felt like a peasant of edo.

As she reached the tree of souls she could hear laughter, singing, and prayers murmured when the wind brushed against her hair and face. It sounded like there were actual people conversing nearby, but when she looked beyond the tree, there was no one. It reminded her of the time her friends encountered the demon tree whose fruits resembled human faces. This era had a power fetish when it came to magic trees. Her thoughts went back to Inuyasha when he had rescued her from marinating in that tub of tree gunk. He had seen her naked for the first time, in all her glory. It wasn't a particularly dignified moment of hers as she watched his eyes balloon into saucers. Suddenly a sharp zap coursed through her body.

Rossi had made another debut to usher Kagome to the training area. "You should feel honoured to have Lady Giya as your sensei. She has trained many prolific priestesses in her day. You must know that she only chooses one per decade to train, and it's quite the exclusive selection in all of Edo.

"I, am unaware, but I am interested to see what she will teach me."

"Don't mistake this with the usual village education that priestesses go through. This is not mediocre training, it is of life and death."

"What do you mean? She couldn't possibly kill me?" Kagome stopped in her tracks. Were they insane?

"Actually, she can and if you're foolish enough and don't listen, she will." Rossi didn't pay any mind to wait for Kagome to catch up, she could have very well heard the girl's jaw drop to the ground.

"Pick up your feet, girl. We've got little time until you wake up and we've got work to do."

Kagome reluctantly urged her feet to move as she looked back to the tree of souls wondering if this was how they had died. By the hand of a looney old bird.


"The things that Naraku makes me do. So pathetic that I have to watch this annoying brat, Kohaku," Kagura huffed as she eyed the human boy that had been running stealthily through the brush in the forest nearby the village his sister visited. His scythe and chain making soft noises as the twigs brushed past his arms and legs. He was making too much noise as he was trying to go undetected by the bigot guards watching the village entry.

She never understood why they bothered fortifying the village when demons could very easily clear any height. If anything they were caging themselves inside, and making it harder to escape from harm. It only made her wind attacks stronger as the wind has faster currents in the fortified village. Although she was ready and looking forward to play with that pesky half demon and his friends. Maybe today was the day she could finally detach that head from his shoulders, or maybe dangle his friends' dead bodies in front of him and make him fight off her dance of the dead attack. It was all too pleasing in her mind as she played out the possibilities evilly. She would do whatever would pass the time. It's not like she was free to do anything she wanted anyway, but this would have to do for now to keep her mind occupied.

Kohaku had reached the end of the path sliding his back against the wall of the fort. There were two men in their 20s guarding the entrance on foot. One was scrawny enough that he looked like he hadn't finished puberty, while the other had more muscle and with an unkept goatee. They were arguing about who was going to win the next drinking game and get lucky with one of the bar maidens in the tavern.

Kohaku paid no mind to their argument, but watched as they had each turned their backs giving him an opening to walk right in with no cause for worry on his part. He moved like silk, sliding past their watch effortlessly. He was in, and as he turned the corner, making sure to stay in the shadows of the wall, he noticed that the town was empty and everyone was asleep. He hated this part. It reminded him of his tragic past, murdering his comrades in battle. He remembered every bit of the fight and betrayal like a prisoner stuck in his mind. He was careful not to let on that he had regained his memories to Naraku, but in doing so, he still had to act like he was under his possession, like he was a mindless killer. A killer following direct orders from the master, but now a murderer with a choice and a conscience.

He remembered what his orders were, he was to stir chaos to cause his dear sister pain. To make her feel the anguish of having to stop him even if it meant ending his miserable life. He had wished they could both go back to simpler days where they slay normal demon-infested villages. He could feel the voice of Naraku begin to echo in his head. Even though he was no longer under his possession he was still attached mentally to him. It was the cause of his internal frustration as he knew he could never be rid of him until he perished somehow.

Kohaku stopped in front of the first hut closest to the entrance. His hand paused before opening the mat. His hand was shaking from the act he was about to commit. Another part of his soul would blacken and be cursed to the underworld for this act alone. He closed his eyes tight, and let out a ragged breath, and then he walked inside soundless as a burglar, robbing innocent people of their lives. And so it began. Every swing compelled by the darkness plaguing his soul, body and mind. This parasitic possession caused by one tainted jewel shard had no mercy, nor compassion for the innocent.

...

The smell of blood was fresh in the air. Inuyasha had just fallen asleep but the heavy odor of thick iron was becoming increasingly apparent and potent. He got up with a start and ran out of the room using his demon agility to propel him forward. He found the quickest exit through a window in the host's quarters. Through the empty room beside Kagome, he dashed out into the yard of the hotel. Screams were getting louder as some people were beginning to realize they were under attack. Suddenly the night sky lit up from a massive storm of demons heading towards the village. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at the hoard only to spot a swarm of demonic wasps leading the hoard towards the village. 'Naraku!'

Hopping back through the window he slammed open the door of Miroku and Sango's room. They had just fallen asleep as well. Miroku was leaned up against the wall under the window, and Sango lay flat with her back on the sleeping roll. Their dishes of food were discarded to the side. They were startled by the sound of the door slamming open with a loud crack. "Inuyasha! What-" Inuyasha didn't let Miroku finish, as he looked at them very seriously.

"It's Naraku. Get your things, we're under attack!"

Shippo, rubbing his eyes sleepily, wandered out of Kagome's room after hearing the commotion in the main area. "What's the matter?" His eyes cleared to see Sango and Miroku lugging their gear together in such a hurry. His eyes were wide in panic as he looked to Inuyasha who was headed towards him to wake up Kagome.

Kagome was sound asleep. Sometimes he wondered if she even had demon detecting abilities as she remained peaceful in a deep slumber. He knelt down next to her head, and placed a hand on her shoulder to wake her from sleep. "Kagome."

After one try she didn't budge, her breathing remaining steady. "Kagome! Wake up, we're under attack by Naraku!" Still no response. Shippo had heard Inuyasha getting agitated now, and poked his head in to see what was going on. It was as he heard, Kagome was not waking up even though she was still soundly asleep.

"What the hell..Kagome. Wake up." Inuyasha began to get rough as he pulled her up in a sitting position and started shaking her. Her head moved side to side as he shook her, and still no response.

"Inuyasha, what's wrong with Kagome? Why isn't she waking up?" Shippo questioned anxiously, not liking this one bit.

"I don't know. It's like she's under a spell." Inuyasha said worriedly. "Dammit!" Sango and Miroku ran over to see what the problem was, only to realize that Kagome was not conscious.

"Inuyasha..." Sango said with concern.

"Just go, I'll handle this...whatever is going on, just go! The smell of blood is getting worse." Inuyasha snapped back. Sango jumped a bit from the startling retort by the hanyou. Miroku placed a firm hand on her arm, urging her to get moving. "She'll be ok, I don't sense any demonic energy around her. She'll snap out of it soon."

"Inuyasha before we go, she could be in a deep meditation," Miroku pondered out loud. "It's not a particularly safe meditation as her conscience is completely unawares of her surroundings and puts her in immediate danger of a threat."

"How does she get out of it?" Inuyasha asked desperately.

Miroku shook his head solemnly, "she can't. Only the person who beckoned her to go into deep meditation can awaken her."

"Who would do this to her? I didn't sense anyone trespass inside here!" Inuyasha got up abruptly, angered by this development. How could he have let her get in this predicament.

Inuyasha slammed his fist into the wall, frustrated by this unforeseen problem. "Shippo..stay here and protect Kagome."

Shippo pulled his hand to his chest, nodding affirmatively, "With my life." Sango considered Kirara thoughtfully and decided Kagome needed the extra protection. "You too, Kirara. Stay beside Shippo and Kagome." Kirara nuzzled Sango's face affectionately before jumping off to guard her two companions.

As Inuyasha took one last look at Kagome, he turned around to confront the chaos that would soon overwhelm them. As his comrades followed him out the open window and into the hallway, Inuyasha couldn't help but feel a growing pit in his stomach.

Inuyasha dashed off following the potent iron stench in the air. He could hear the lighting cuts of carnage, as weapons sliced and silenced screams. They were running down the dirt path and when they turned the corner, they noticed a massacre of dead bodies strewn on the ground and in the centre of it all was Kohaku, and a smirking Kagura swinging the cord of her dreadful fan round and round.

"Well it took you long enough," Kagura teased. "To think, you could have avoided all this carnage if you had just killed Kohaku the last time we met."

Sango clenched her hand to her chest. The killings, and all the lives wasted for a mistake she should have corrected long ago. 'Kohaku.' She took a step forward out from behind Inuyasha, her head cast down in pain for what she was about to do.

"Kohaku, I'm sorry." Sango felt the tears roll down her face

"It seems Kohaku is having more difficulty each day fulfilling Naraku's request. Don't worry, this carnage was all me. But you should kill him now before Naraku finds out." Kagura taunted, she just loved playing with this group's emotions. It was too easy to get under their skin.

"Finds out..." Sango murmured, her heart thumping wildly inside her chest. "Kohaku, remembers..."

"Sango..." Kohaku should have known this would happen. Naraku knew he was regaining his memories again. If he had followed through with orders after walking into that hut, he wouldn't have seen his sister find out this way. "Sango, please. Take the shard out of my shoulder." Sango had reached Kohaku at an arms length away. She could end everything for him now, give him the peace he needs.

"Sango, it's a trap. This is what Naraku wants, please don't listen to Kagura." Miroku intervened, knowing Sango would give in to Kohaku. He wasn't quite sure if Kohaku was possessed or not. It was best not to assume he wasn't and regret raising everyone's hopes up.

"Kohaku..." She pulled him close to her, her arms enveloping his scrawny form. She had slipped a dagger out from underneath her sleeve, the handle wobbling in her hand as she tried to regain control over her emotions. "Never let fear undermine your actions during battle, and don't let fear dictate the final blow. Have courage young ones, and be confident in your decision" Sango said solemnly. They were words of strength she lived by daily. It made the pain less frightening for her as she rehearsed the words her father once spoke to her and Kohaku at their village.

Kohaku had a strike of recognition from those words his sister spoke. 'Father..those are his words before we left to face Naraku'

"I hate seeing you like this, Kohaku. There's nothing more I want to do than to end your pain right here, right now. I remember the anger and pain I felt when I was brought back to life. I remember everything. You're not alone in this life, or in this fight. I promise you as your big sister, I will fight for you. There is another way and I won't allow some lump of demon flesh force my hand to end your life. There is always hope and another option, and we will find it."

Kohaku was stunned, tears welled in his eyes. His life ever since the demon slayer mass murder had been shrouded in darkness. Completely covered in a cloak of remorse. He was given forgiveness, even as they all stand here. This light Sango brought into his life, was now shining at the end of the path. Hope, he thought.

"Enough of this squabble." Kagura bellowed out impatiently. "You've made the wrong choice yet again, demon slayer. You'll rue the day you didn't rip out that shard and that day has come."

As if on cue, Kohaku howled in pain and dropped to his knees clutching his shoulder. It pulsed a blackish aura where his shard was embedded. Sango tried to hold him up as she felt him slip through her fingers, but she felt a push from his hands send her stumbling back away from him. "Kohaku!"

"Stay away, I don't want to hurt you," Kohaku managed to speak out through gritted teeth. Sango fell to the ground in front of him, just utterly hopeless in her anxiety for his life. Miroku ran up behind her to console her, both his hands on her shoulders. It wasn't easy to see her younger brother in agony from Naraku's cursed shard.

"He's here." Kohaku gasped as his eyes went pale obsidian, and the familiarity was lost to all of them. The sound of Naraku's pitiful chuckles echoed from Kohaku's mouth. Kohaku stared on emotionlessly at them as Naraku used him like a tool to relay his message. "Naraku!" Inuyasha growled.

"So close, but yet not close enough, dear Sango. To think it would have been easier for you to put him out of his misery and now you must endure the torture of seeing him lose all recognition of you."

"Why can't you let him go?" Sango screamed out in anguish. "Stop playing with his life!"

"Now where would be the fun in that? If I give you what you want, what do I get in return?" Naraku/Kohaku pondered out loud. "Perhaps you would like to trade up your life for his?" There was a pause, and Sango cast her head to the ground, not able to look at the monster that had possessed her brother's body.

"But is your life more precious to you than that of your little brother?" Naraku/Kohaku taunted.

"Don't listen to him Sango, he's only trying to make you feel responsible." Miroku gripped Sango's shoulders tighter, hoping to snap her out of her head. "Like you said, there is another option. There is hope."

Sango slowly got to her feet. "You're right," Miroku released his grip on her feeling relieved that she came back to her senses. However, Sango had felt the grip loosen and took this as her chance to sprint forward towards Naraku/Kohaku. A sickening smile curved Kohaku lips into a smirk as he expected her to lunge at him. Sango held the dagger firmly in her right hand. "SANGO, NO!" Miroku couldn't believe what she was about to do. He sprinted after her to try and stop a regrettable act. "Sango! What the hell are you doing?" Inuyasha snapped.

Sango focused on the devilish smirk. Her body slammed into Kohaku's hunched form, tumbling them both to the ground by three meters. Sango pinned Kohaku to the ground and poised her dagger above his shoulder.

Miroku was almost to her when all of a sudden Sango punched her brother's face to the side with her unarmed left hand. The sound of her fist connecting with his head was too audible to forget. His head turned to the right from the force and he was knocked out instantly. Gone were Naraku's taunts. Sango slowly got up and dropped the dagger from her hand. She would never hold that to her brother again, and she would part with the weapon, leaving it behind here along with the thoughts of ending his life. "Sango..." Miroku said surprised by her sudden reaction.

"I was sick of hearing his voice through my brother's body." Sango murmured. Miroku looked solemnly at Sango. It was too hard to bear the pain she must be going through, he didn't even know if pain was a good enough word for it anymore.

Sango picked up her brother's unconscious body from the ground, hoisting him onto her back. "There's always another option, and we're going to find it."

"I'm afraid the boy stays with me." Kagura pointed out towards Sango with her fan. Her fan opened and she sent a gust of mini tornados their way. Inuyasha growled and used the Tetsusaiga to block her attack. The tornados ripped at an empty hut to the side away from Sango. Sango took this as her chance to escape with her brother. Miroku blocked Kagura's path to Sango and Kohaku, holding his staff horizontally in his hands. "Go no further, you witch!"

"I have no time to deal with you fools," Kagura threw a feather from her hair into the night sky, and quickly hopped onto the growing object. The feather along with Kagura flew off in the direction Sango ran.

Miroku quickly threw down his staff and opened his wind tunnel not realizing that the saimyosho were still in the area. Kagura fought to push forward but the wind from Miroku's tunnel prevented her from getting anywhere fast. The wind tunnel sucked up a few poisonous demon wasps in his effort to save Sango time in her escape. He could feel the pain throbbing through his veins up into his arm. He regretfully closed the tunnel and fell to his knees in pain. Inuyasha swung his tetsusaiga in the air releasing another powerful wave. It hit her back with a startling cry coming out of her lips. She moved the feather away from the resounding attack, and noticed in the distance the taijiya and the unconscious boy rounding the last corner near the end of the village.

Her eyes also caught something else and before she could move the feather to the side again, the weapon had already hit its mark, inside her shoulder. The arrow had pierced a hole between her shoulder and arm, completely severing the limb from her body and with that limb was her fan. Her appendage fell to the ground with a thump and she cried out in surprise. "You wench! How dare you!" Kagura looked below at Kagome half hidden in the shadows casted by the huts. "I'll make you wish you hadn't done that!"

Kagome ran out from the shadows of the houses. She scooped up the fan from Kagura's fallen appendage. "I don't think so. I wouldn't make another move, if you want your precious fan back." Kagome held the fan between both her hands in a motion to rip it to pieces.

"You wouldn't. Impudent brat!" Kagura seethed in fiery hate.

Kagome looked at the weapon and back up at Kagura, allowing the smallest tear to work its way into the fan. "One more word from you and this fan is toast."

Kagura opened her mouth to say something but she quickly shut her mouth into a thin line as Kagome threatened to tear off more of her beloved fan.

"Good. I'm glad I got your attention. If you want this fan back, you must leave Kohaku and Sango alone. You go after them and I will surely destroy your weapon." Kagome countered strategically.

Kagura growled impatiently. "Fine. I won't. Now be quick and give me my fan."

"No, I think I'll hang onto this for safe keeping until I believe you won't go after them. The next time I see you, will be the end of this fan."

"You think you're so cunning by stealing my fan. Let me tell you one thing, girl. Don't think Kohaku isn't still under Naraku's possession, he can still run off on his own accord back to us."

"Like I said, the next time I see you, will be the end of this fan." Kagome paused for a moment. "However, if you return Kohaku safe and sound to us in the event that he runs off, I will give you back your fan."

"My fan is worth more than the life of that human boy." Kagura bit back.

"Well then..you better make sure when he tries to run, that you reach him before he gets to Naraku."

"When I get my fan back, I will be sure to kill you slowly." Kagura said before she flew away staring menacingly down at Kagome. When Kagura was out of sight, Kagome looked at the fan more thoroughly. It had small fissures in the middle from where she had pulled it apart. She didn't dare use it, but she knew someone who would love to have it and possibly as payment for helping her friends out. She had no intention of waiting on Kagura to hold up her end of the bargain. For all that suffering Kagura had caused the wolf tribes and villages across Edo, she just knew this would be a handsome payment for the future help her group would be getting from the Eastern Wolf Tribe.

"Kagome! You're awake," Miroku said as he ran up to her. "We'll have to catch up on those events soon, I'm going to go after Sango and make sure she and Kohaku are ok."

"Sure thing," Kagome said as she watched him scurry off after Sango.

Inuyasha came up to her with concern in his eyes. "What happened? I tried to wake you, but you wouldn't stir."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I woke up, and I found Shippo and Kirara guarding me," Kagome closed the fan swiftly, and avoided his eye contact. Inuyasha wasn't happy with that answer and held her arms in both his hands.

"You know you can tell me anything. Dammit, Kagome. I thought some demon had done something to you," His eyes were searching hers as he tilted her head up softly. "I don't like the feeling when I can't reach you sometimes. Like you're shutting me out,"

"It's not that I don't want to tell you, Inuyasha. It's hard to explain. You know those things you can't explain and you just have to trust that everything is ok and will be ok...it's that sort of thing. I made a sacred vow with a higher being, and it prevents me from saying anything about it or what happened. I'm so sorry I can't say anymore. If I do...I will be taken away permanently. I had to make a decision, and you don't have to worry because I'm not in any danger."

"Not in any danger?" Inuyasha let go of her as if she had scalded him with hot water. "Kagome, you realize what era you are in? Any time of the day something could happen, and when you're asleep is the best time for danger to strike. I couldn't wake you, and there was a battle. You're telling me you weren't in any danger, but I wasn't able to stay with you to protect you or Shippo." Inuyasha shook his head. "And now you're talking to angels in your sleep?"

"You're making it sound worse than it is. It's something I knowingly agreed to because I knew you would keep me safe. You always do." Kagome tried to reason with him, but she could see in his eyes that he wasn't conceding.

"Kagome, you need to start taking into account that I may not always get to you in time. I hate thinking about it, and I refuse to think that way too, but things can happen in the blink of an eye. If I'm not there to protect you, I will never be able to live or die knowing that you weren't safe in the end."

"Inuyasha," Kagome softly wrapped her hand around his hand that gingerly held her chin. "I'm doing this for us. You must trust me, that I'm doing something good for all of us."

"I can trust you, just stop shutting me out it's pissing me off. You have secret plans that no one is allowed to be a part of for god knows why. This is our team, Kagome. And you can't forget that we started this team of misfits. If you can't tell Sango, Miroku or Shippo..then you can tell me. Secrets lead to weaknesses that opponents will want to exploit. If they know there is something wrong in our pack, they will look for it. Like that bit with Kagura. If they know the rest of us are surprised, they will know you act on your own and don't need the pack's protection. Kagura is going to be singling you out next time whether she wants her fan or not. I need to be on careful watch wherever you go now. Don't you understand? You may be smart, but you'll need some defensive moves to keep you from getting mauled by Kagura's wrath."

"Kagura's wrath isn't so terrifying without her fan." Kagome said with a slight smile. Inuyasha didn't smile.

Her expression changed to one of sadness. "We better start burying the dead. While you guys were fighting I got Shippo to warn the other half of the village of the demon attacks."

"Kagome...I'm not done talking to you about this." Inuyasha began, until he noticed that a few villagers were heading up the path to where they were standing. Two more minutes passed and half the village was following the others towards the battle area.

Kagome stayed beside Inuyasha to ward off any awful looks he might get from the villagers. She felt a couple people give Inuyasha strange, frightened looks and she felt protective of him. 'How quick people are to assume the culprit based on species.' She thought, and unconsciously she wrapped her hand around his waist looking at everyone solemnly as they passed by them. Inuyasha, startled by this embrace, looked down at her and back to the villagers. They were now taking their accusing eyes off him and mirroring her look of solemnity.

"Come on let's go get the shovels. We should leave this place by morning," Inuyasha unwrapped her arm from his waist and held her hand in his as they joined in the crowd to help those find their loved ones.

"But we hardly had any sleep," Kagome began to protest. Inuyasha kept walking forward, picking up his pace. He could feel Kagome slightly jogging to keep up with him.

"This is the first place she will look," Inuyasha explained curtly. "As soon as we are done here, we need to leave."

When the villagers found their dead kin, they began to mourn the loss of their loved ones. Families and friends gathered around the slain, wrapping them in blankets. Many of the men had picked up shovels from a shed nearby and started digging grave sites. The rest of their team, plus Kohaku, Shippo and Kirara had rendez-vous'ed and followed suit in digging graves for the dead. By the time they had finished digging, Miroku had visited each grave site to pray for the peace in the afterlife for these poor souls. They had bowed their heads in respect, and made their leave from the site letting the families be alone with one another.

"So, Kagome...you passed out on us. What happened there? Did you fall ill?" Sango asked curiously. Kohaku had regained his own consciousness, sporting a large bruise to the side of his head from where Sango had punched him. His eyes were back to their saddened brown.

"I don't know to be honest. I woke up and Shippo told me I didn't stir when you guys were trying to get me out of bed. I felt the presence of a sacred jewel and knew that's where you all might have been. I didn't expect to see Kohaku and Kagura in the village." Sango looked incredulously at Kagome for a few seconds. "Maybe it's a side effect from your soul returning to you."

Kagome felt a slight sting in her arm, "I don't know. I did eat a lot, so maybe it was the food coma."

Miroku laughed softly at that. "Well, we are glad you are back with us. That was some pretty quick thinking, to shoot Kagura and steal her fan."

Inuyasha huffed, annoyed that the monk was praising her for it. He wouldn't deny that it was quick thinking, but she had now put a larger target on her back.