Kagome and Sesshoumaru approached the village. The passage through the well had been uneventful. Neither Kagome nor Sesshoumaru had referred to the events of the previous evening, although there were many stolen glances between them. Many "accidental" brushes of clothing or flesh as well. The silence between them was weighty, but patient. Eventually the topic would have to be addressed.
Along with bowls of stew, Kaede offered her comments. "Miroku said you would be back some days ago."
"Something came up," Kagome murmured. "Say, where is Inuyasha?"
Shippo hopped down from the rafters into Kagome's lap after she put down her empty bowl. "He ran off into the woods again a few days ago and hasn't been back since. Did ya bring me anything?" He looked longingly at her yellow pack.
It was not like the hanyou. Sesshoumaru had expected him to be hovering and to throw a tantrum as soon as they returned. Kaede had mentioned that when Inuyasha returned after they left, he had been incised at the idea of Sesshoumaru accompanying Kagome to the future.
"The monk and the slayer have gone to look for him and to investigate rumors of odd deaths in the next village," Kaede said.
"So we didn't have to hurry back," Kagome commented. She pulled a stick of pocky out of her bag and handed it to Shippo. "Why don't you go tell Rin she can have one too, when she comes to see her 'otou-san'." She glanced sideways at Sesshoumaru to see if he reacted to her teasing.
The next morning, Miroku and Sango returned. Over breakfast, they told their tale. "Kirara trailed him through the forest until she reached a barrier across the trail to the heights," Sango began.
"Since there seemed to be no way through or around the barrier, we backtracked to the village below," Miroku continued.
"Couldn't either of you break the barrier?" asked Kagome. Kaede also listened with interest.
"It was too strong. There were traces of vampire magic in its weaving," Sango elaborated.
"The barrier used a form of magic unfamiliar to me," Miroku added. "In the village we learned that three of the village men had been found dead in the forest."
"They had been drained," Sango asserted. "Just as alarming, half a dozen children have gone missing. There are vampires hunting in the area," she concluded.
"Then we have found the enemy we seek," commented Sesshoumaru.
x x x
Shippo scrambled through the door hanging and leapt straight to Kagome's lap. His tail was fluffed and he was shaking. Kagome patted his head and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Him. His smell is all wrong. It's scary," he gasped.
"Whose smell is wrong?" she asked.
"Inuyasha. He's back. I saw him in the forest while I was going to see Rin at the midwife's house," Shippo explained.
"Report what you have observed," Sesshoumaru interrogated in a calm monotone.
Shippo took a few deep breaths, swallowed, and straightened himself. "Inuyasha is headed this way. I don't think he saw me. His aura is way different, like he just won a battle. Triumphant, I guess," he described.
"His smell," Sesshoumaru prompted.
"Strange, not carrion smell like before. More like he's been around something dead, but not stinky. Cold, dark, powerful, maybe like a big snake or a dragon, not the firey kind," he elaborated.
"Maybe he's found some new allies," Kagome put in, looking hopeful.
"Or he has been consorting with the enemy," Miroku added thoughtfully.
Sango said nothing, but pulled out her sword and began honing it. The conversation lagged. The group continued their various tasks silently.
A noisy crunching on the gravel path approaching the hut announced the visitor's approach. "Inuyasha," whispered Shippo and moved behind Kagome.
"Keh, why is everybody hanging around here? Don't ya have anything better to do?" Inuyasha stomped through the door.
"Why you still here? You bin 'There' and you're back. Now go home or I'll . . . " he raised his sword.
Sesshoumaru snorted, "Hanyou . . ."
Kagome glared, "Inuyasha, I'll say it . . ." She gestured to Sesshoumaru, "And you. Just stop it."
Inuyasha sat against the wall furthest away from Sesshoumaru. "I'm hungry. Fix me some ramen, bitch."
Kagome growled but moved to comply. Sesshoumaru instantly towered over the hanyou, intimidating, ready for a fight. "It is not your place to command the miko."
Kagome paused in fixing cups of soup. "It's okay, Sesshoumaru. He's always been rude."
Sesshoumaru uttered a scoffing snort. "Courtesy should especially apply to the key members of one's pack." The two inuyokai glared at each other.
"I'll meet you outside after I've had something to eat, you prissy son of a bitch," Inuyasha growled while slurping his noodles, his mouth full of food.
Kaede rose painfully from her nest of blankets in the corner. She hobbled over next to Inuyasha. "Where have ye been, Inuyasha? You were gone for days."
Inuyasha gave her a troubled look. "She's back. She's different, but it's still her."
"Who is back?" Kaede inquired.
He shook his head as if in disbelief, "Kikyo."
Sesshoumaru had heard the tale of Kikyo and Inuyasha. He had seen his half-brother pinned to the tree fifty years before and had been intrigued when he heard of Inuyasha's release at the hands of Kagome. "Impossible," he commented.
"Unless, perhaps, there was some powerful dark magic working," countered Miroku.
Kagome silently observed her companion. Her sometime protector, friend, and travel companion was of a concrete, literal nature and not given to flights of fancy. He seemed simultaneously troubled and elated. His half-way attraction toward her appeared gone. She could only be grateful for that; whatever the cause.
"Kikyo wants to meet with all of us," Inuyasha told the group. "She has information about Naraku and the shards. The group looked at each other and Inuyasha. Kagome shrugged.
"This is way too easy," murmured the monk thoughtfully. In his experience, nothing concerning their adversary came easily.
"Yeah, it could be a trap," piped up Shippo.
"Obviously . . ." concluded Sesshoumaru.
Kagome suddenly recalled the notes she had taken during Sesshoumaru's game play in the future. Many of the successful outcomes had included the Kikyo character's assistance. She moved over to Sesshoumaru and put a hand on his arm. "Still," she began. "Remember . . ." The reference to the game was silent and implied as they had not told the group of their experiences in the future.
Sesshoumaru looked at her sideways and gave am imperceptible nod and replied, "Hn." Continuing he addressed the group, "The risk is acceptable. Inuyasha, go and arrange the meeting."
The hanyou replied, "I'll have to wait until sunset; she only comes out at night."
Sango startled and gave him a suspicious look. "Vampire," she whispered and fingered her katana.
Sesshoumaru stared at her, acknowledging her comment audible only to youkai hearing. "Inuyasha, be on your guard."
"Keh," he agreed and turned to Kagome, "How about some more ramen."
x x x