AN: Let me know how I'm ding, guys! I'm still enjoying writing this and it's slowly working its way to the important parts! Any ideas you may have, throw them at me as well! And things you may want to see :)
The compound was comprised of two or three buildings, she wasn't sure exactly what the division was. The main building was a one story, with actual shingles. That in and of itself was a shock. To the left was another building that attached with a sort of roofed walkthrough into a garden. There was a stand alone building off to the right that seemed more open air than building. It reminded her of the wellhouse back home. Around the entire thing was a low waist-high stone fence. As soon as she got close enough, Kagome could feel the snap of Miroku's power against her own.
Shippo sank closer into her chest and she smiled, wrapping an arm up and around the kitsune to help shield him from the snapping. The touch of the monks energy had her almost feeling like he was right there, a familiar touch.. almost like a hug. It left a pang of pain in her chest as she realized that she was missing the lecherous man more than she let on. As they approached the wooden gate that opened into the building, the woman smiled and gave a nod to the man that walked out with what looked like a samurai at his back.
"Lady Miko.. It's a pleasure to meet you again." Kagome recognized Ashikita as he got closer, and moved out of the sunlight. Shippo turned his head to look at the man, hands still clinging to her haori. "And who's this fine fellow? I don't believe we've met."
"It's a pleasure, Ashikita.. This is Shippo.. He's a little scamp, but the best fox kit I've ever met." The demon in her arms gave a fang bearing smile at the headman before he shifted so he could better see them.
"Nice to meet you." See? He had his manners? Kagome bounced him lightly in appreciation of his greeting before she looked to the samurai behind Ashikita. He wasn't wearing full armor - which she didn't expect to see in this side of Japan.. Closer to Kyoto or Tokyo maybe, but not here. The hakama and haori he wore were a dark jade or black, depending on the light and she found herself impressed with the weavers workmanship - whomever it was. Kagome was certain he never wore it except for special occasions as the color had yet to fade. There were bands of colors on the sleeves, and a mark in white near his throat - she assumed the mark of Ashikita's house.
His sash was white, a stark contrast to the clothing, but his sword was also in a wood so white it was almost blinding in the bright morning sun. The wrapping on the hilt showed that it was well used and well cared for. Kagome gave the man a smile, her pride in him taking care of this village evident. "Master." The man nodded, his expression never faltering from the 'resting bitch face' but she knew he had accepted her greeting.
"What is it that I can do for you today, Lady Kagome?" The headsman's words brought her back to attention and she cast her eyes around before returning to him.
"I can feel Miroku's power around your home. I would like to check on his charms personally to ensure they're going to continue to keep your villagers safe should a demon attack." A happening she hoped wouldn't happen very often - if at all. The man nodded and bowed, gesturing to the stone fence.
"This way, Milady. I will show you the ones he placed." As Ashikta moved away, his man fell into step behind him, but between herself and his charge. It didn't bother Kagome - as she knew many in this time were distrustful and protective of their own. Shippo had remained quiet, but he was taking in the samurai's clothing and weapon with a keen eye.
"I bet Inuyasha would wipe that smug look right off his face!" The whispered words tickled her ears before she twitched her lips up into a smile and shook her head, pressing a finger to his lips. They were here as guests, and in good standing - upsetting the men of the village wouldn't do well in the long run. But, she couldn't help but agree with the kits assessment.
They reached the inside of the fence and Kagome felt the power before Ashikita pointed it out. "Get down, Shippo.. Stay back here and don't move." Crouching, she let the kit off and when she was sure he was as good as he was going to get, she turned to walk towards Miroku's Sutra. The holy power snapped at her fingers before she closed her eyes and focused on the energy that flowed through the tag.
Powerful, but she expected no less from Miroku. The priestess didn't try to change his sutra in any way, but was glad that it was on the inside of the fence. She could add her own secondary protections to the outside. "How long ago were these placed?" She moved slowly around the edge of the fence, touching each sutra in turn to make sure they still remained strong. Shippo paced her back and on her right to stay away from the monks holy powers.
"A few years, Lady Kagome. He occasionally comes and recharges them, I suspect.. But we've never seen him."
"How do you guess that?"
"We would have demons getting closer to the house from one attack to the next, and then they would be almost scared of it." Kagome nodded, for it seemed likely. With the power that remained in the sutras, he would have to have come recharge them. If Miroku was nervous about getting caught back here, she wondered if he would do so in silence.
"I think I have seen what I need to, Ashikita. I will add my own protections to what he has added - hopefully it will help keep your people that much safer." The man bowed, his samurai opting to remain standing, but she didn't mind.
"Thank you, Lady! That would be a great help." When he straightened, she nodded and turned back to the sutra she was standing next to. The man and his guard stepped away, and she sighed internally, knowing they were going to stare.
"Shippo... Go through the gate and around to the field and find a tree. This will take some time and I don't want you near it." When the fox darted off, she moved to the fence and simply climbed over it, walking the perimeter. Kagome could tell when Shippo got to his tree, and knew he'd be watching her just as intently as the headman was.
Unfortunately, her powers weren't 'spectacular' in that they weren't visible. The humans and Demon watching would be disappointed. Stopping at the first sutra, Kagome repeated the process she had done with Fumi's building and walked the perimeter, adding her own energy to the outside of Miroku's. She hoped that when he returned to charge them, had she not found him, he would recognize the feel of her powers and know she had returned.
The process took the better part of an hour, as she had to stop every few feet to reweave the sign. To those that had holy energy, they would see the symbol floating in the air, glowing a soft pink behind a slightly invisible barrier. But as none in this village had holy powers, she doubted anyone would see or feel the protection. As she completed her circuit, the woman felt tired, worn out, but knew that there wasn't time for a nap.
Returning to the gate, Shippo came running out of the field, and the headman and his guard came to greet her. Pausing a distance away - Shippo felt his hair stand on end, and his tail bushed out.
"You're okay to come closer, Shippo.. It won't hurt you." Slowly, the fox crept forward and stood at her feet, holding onto a leg and leaning into it. "I have done what I could to protect your home, Ashikita... I thank you for your hospitality.."
"No, thank you, Lady! This means more than you can imagine... But. you act as if you were intending to leave?"
"I am, in fact. Shippo and I have a long trip ahead of us, and we need to get moving before it gets too hot." As it was, she could feel the humidity as it started to gather in the early morning hours. Probably eight or nine by now she would recon, it was likely going to be like breathing in mud before the storm that was building broke.
"Allow us to send you with some supplies..." When Kagome opened her mouth to refuse, he forged on before she could speak. "You have offered us a gift that may save many lives.. It is the least we can do, and it would be my honor to see you supplied appropriately."
Worded like that, she was loathe to refuse and instead simply nodded, repressing the sigh. "As you wish, Ashikita. I will take Shippo to Fumi's and we will say our goodbyes." The woman turned to leave, hoping to be out of the village before he had gathered the things he was intent on sending her with. It wasn't like they had someone to pack mule it around other than herself, after all.
Once away from the humming wards she and Miroku had set, Shippo felt comfortable to once again jump into her arms where he tried to smooth the fur sticking out on his tail. The knowledge that Kagome and Miroku's barriers wouldn't hurt him helped, but it still made his fur stand on end. Arriving at Fumi's he waited until Kagome walked him through the door, once more shivering at the touch of her barrier before bouncing down and running to the woman who was talking with another.
Shippo shifted from foot to foot as Kagome gathered her bow and quiver, double checking the number before slinging the items to her back.
"Are you leaving us, Lady Kagome?" Fumi's voice was soft, but she smiled at the sad expression on her lips.
"Yes, Fumi... Shippo and I have to get going." As if his name summoned the permission, the little fox tugged on the womans yukata wrap.
"Thank you fer feedin' me an' lettin' me sleep here." The smile he graced her with had her squealing and lifting him up to give the little fox a tight hug.
"Oh, you are so welcome, Master fox! Please come visit again, okay?" She set him down and watched as he ran back to the miko, jumping once more into her arms where he settled as if he had belonged there. And maybe he did.
"We will!... won't we?" He turned his eyes up towards Kagome and she nodded down at him, tapping his nose with a finger.
"Yes, we will. Thank you again, Fumi... It was a pleasure to meet you." Kagome bent over, aware of her small charge before she straightened, smiling at the woman standing beside Fumi. "Apologies for ignoring you, Lady."
"It's of no consequence, Lady Kagome. My pleasure.."
The miko turned to leave, taking her fox kit with her and was greeted outside by Ashikita and a woman with hair greying at the temples. She assumed it was his wife based on how they stood.
"Lady Kagome, I would like you to meet my wife, Anko.. She has prepared your traveling provisions." Kagome shooed Shippo up to her shoulder where he balanced with a hand in a large chunk of her hair to accept the package.
"Thank you, Lord Ashikita, Lady Anko.. I appreciate the assistance in my travels." She took the leather bag and handed it up to the fox standing on her shoulder. Shippo took the offerings and worked to secure it on her back with her quiver in a way that wouldn't affect her reaching her arrows.
"Hey, 'Gome? You're runnin' low on arrows.."
"Oh, Do you require arrows, Lady?" This from the headsman's wife, and she smiled, shaking her head.
"I have plenty for what I am going to need, Lady Anko. I appreciate the offer.."
"Well, if you find yourself in need of more on your trip, our village is not one that runs into the expertise of arrows.. but there are many others. Hokishi to the Noth, and Kikika to the west both have a great volume of trade for them."
"Thank you.. I'm sure we will set foot in them occasionally. I bid you farewell - and good fortune with your village.." Kagome gave one last bow before she turned and headed down the main road out of the village. She was careful as she walked to make sure Shippo didn't fall - and tucked her hands into her sleeves to keep up the 'serene' miko exterior. It helped to think like Kikyo when she wanted to pass by without being pestered.
Once at the crest of a hill outside the village, Kagome turned to look back, smiling at the quaint little gathering of buildings and looked at Shippo. "Allright, Shippo, where are we going?"
"Maybe west? To see if we can find Inuyasha?"
"That sounds perfect.. Let's go west, and see if we can catch up to Miroku and Sango.. Which reminds me.. Why aren't you with them, Shippo?" She had started down the road, technically it went north, but it would meet a crossroads somewhere up here, she knew and she could turn and go west. The silence from the kit on her shoulder had her steps faltering, eyes glancing at him. "Shippo?"
"Yea... I'm here." He sounded sullen, even to his own ears, and she stopped completely, plucking the kit from her shoulders and holding him at eye level. He avoided her eyes, choosing instead to stare at the ground. It obviously upset him, whatever his reasoning was and Kagome heaved a sigh, returning him to her shoulder.
"That's alright. You don't have to tell me.. But I would like to hear it someday." The nod came against her ear and she smiled, reaching up and poking his stomach. They walked in silence for a time, neither saying much, but noth lost in their own thoughts as the air continued to get thicker around them.
At some point in their walk, around noon, Shippo jumped down off her shoulder and opted to walk on his own at her side. Kagome was quietly grateful for his courtesy as the body heat on her shoulder had started to make her sweat. They didn't see much of anything on the way, simply opting to enjoy the country side and the quiet companionship. It was a strange thing, Kagome found herself looking down at the small fox kit.
Normally, Shippo was chattering away, or rather he had during the shard hunt. Since she had come back, he hadn't been his usual chirpy self.. And even when he'd relaxed, she had noted a distinct lack of mischief making. Usually he couldn't go a day without causing some sort of trouble, yet here he was being downright mild. She really wanted to prod him for answers to his change of personality... but she knew that when people pestered her about her own issues, she clammed up and it made her uncomfortable.
Not wanting to upset the fox any more than he already was, she opted to remain quiet and simply choose to enjoy his company rather than pester the poor kit. She could tell that a storm was brewing to the west, the darkening clouds in that direction bringing her attention to the fact. Kagome frowned, wondering if Inuyasha was staying dry - if he was getting wet. Deciding to fill the silence, the miko looked down at her traveling companion.
"Will you tell me what happened while I was gone, Shippo? I want to hear everything." The demon looked up at her and nodded before he started to tell her of what happened when she had been sucked into the Meido. His voice was soft, and in parts, he practically whispered, but she hoped her presence here would help.
And it seemed to, as he would get to a part that made him upset, and she felt his hand close on the rough, red fabric of the hakama pants as if to reassure himself. He would then forge on with more gusto until the next part that saddened him. It was in the middle of a story that she almost saw the kit for who he had been when the rumble of distant hooves caught her attention.
"Shippo, let's get to the side of the road." The kit stopped in his bouncing reenactment and nodded, moving to jump into her arms, as the pair got to the side of the road. Kagome turned her attention back to him as he picked up his story where he left off, gesturing widely with his arms.
"...And then Inuyasha swung the Tessaiga with one big blow! WHOOSH!" Kagome had to hold him tighter when he mimicked swinging the sword down and used his hands to show an explosion. "And the windscar tore it to pieces! It. Was. Awesome." She laughed outright at the retelling of the story about how the meadow got damaged. He had such reverence for Inuyasha that she couldn't help but see the pride in the little fox's voice when he spoke of their half demon.
"And then, he walks out of the damage like NOTH-" His words were cut off as green eyes widened and the fox grabbed her hand as he jumped down, dragging the miko into the bushes beside the road. Shippo didn't stop there, instead continuing to pull the woman until they were well sheltered in the woods beside the dirt. When Kagome opened her mouth to ask him what was wrong, he made shushing sounds and patted his hands over her mouth, shaking his head so fast she was getting dizzy.
The horses got closer, four of them in total, ridden by men wearing the gaudiest armor she had seen. It almost reminded her of British armor for knights rather than the Japanese culture of samurai. The horses were bigger and more muscled than those she was used to seeing in Japan. Crouched in the bushes as they were, Kagome got a good look at the men as they trotted past, standards on pikes waving, but she couldn't make out the design. Swords that were more Eastern or European in make hung from their belts and she swallowed, hugging Shippo close.
After the men had passed, Shippo stayed hidden, using a firm grasp on Kagome's haori to keep her down as well until he was absolutely sure they had passed. When they were gone, he snuck out carefully, his tail about ten sizes too big before heaving a sigh of relief and plopping in the dirt on his butt.
"What was that about?" Whatever... or rather whoever it was had set him to running like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. The kit looked both ways down the road before he jumped up in her arms and wrapped his around her neck.
"We need ta keep movin' Kagome.."
"Okay.. but will you tell me why we had to hide from them?"
"They're called Kytes. They showed up a few years ago and they have a goal of killing any demons.. And anyone with powers." It's why Kagome hadn't been safe on the road either. "They go around and round 'em up and kill them..." He frowned, his chin quivering as he balled his hands into fists. "They found Miroku and Sango one night.. And Miroku shoved me on Kirara and we got sent away."
So that's why he had been alone.. But where was Kirara.
"What about Kirara? How did you two get separated?"
"We got found again, and she made me hide before she transformed and led them away. I don't...I don't know if she's okay." His breath hitched as he retold the story and he clung to her neck, burying his face under her chin. Kagome patted his back, smiling softly at him before she returned her eyes to the road. A whole new host of fears sprang up and she found it hard not to cry.. But as Shippo was doing exactly that, he needed her to be strong. She would have time later to break down and cry her fears out over their friends.
"Is that how you ended up back at Hikigan?"
"Yea...I went to Kaede's first.. and then I smelled you.. so I went to the next village I figured you'd be at." The demon grinned wide enough to show her his fangs before he frowned, the smile melting into something else. "Think we can find Kirara?"
"Maybe... She might have gone back to Sango and Miroku."
"What if they got Miroku?"
"I think he's alive and well, Shippo. Otherwise his charms wouldn't be so powerful. He's been coming back to recharge them I think. It felt like it was just placed." That news had him perking up and looking at her, his expression softening into something less fearful and more hopeful.
"You really think so?"
"I do.. Now.. Let's go see what we can find. Where did you leave them?"
"We were going west.. to try to get Inuyasha. So.. Let's go west!"
"West it is. Now.. What else happened?"
Kagome took the turn at the fork in the road and headed west with the little kit chattering away, filling her in on everything she had missed in the last few years.