I'm horrible, I always forget to do this.
USUAL DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS.
VIII
The next day found them once again searching high and low, using scent, sight, hearing and Kagome's 6th sense for the Jewel to try and find any signs of it. Around mid day, Miroku suggested they stop in a village to rest and resupply. They figured they could ask around for rumors, or Naraku himself. Shortly after they ate, they decided to find a place to sleep for the night. Everyone agreed, and as they were headed up the path to the inn, they were approached by a young child.
"Excuse me, miss?" the child said, gently tugging on the bottom of Kagome's sweater. She ducked down so she was level with the child, and gave him her sweetest smile.
"Yes, little one? Do you need help?" she asked. The child hesitantly nodded.
"My name is Ikone. We've had problems with a demon in the forest to the south and we need your help! You're warriors, right? That's why you have the weapons?" he asked, worry sparkling in his brown eyes. Kagome put her hand on the child's shoulder in a comforting gesture.
"We are. I'm Kagome, this is Sango, Miroku, Lord Sesshomaru, Shippo, Rin, Jaken and Ah Uhn." she said, gesturing to everyone in turn. "What kind of trouble is this demon causing? Crops, livestock, villagers?"
"All of our livestock has been getting stolen! When they were almost all gone, it started taking people!" the child exclaimed. Kagomes eyes widened and she nodded.
"We'll take care of it. You hurry home, and we'll let you know when it's gone, alright?" she said gently. The child nodded and ran off towards one of the huts. She smiled as she watched him go before standing up right and turning towards her smiling companions.
"You've always had such a way with children." Sango laughed as she stepped up to Kagomes side.
"Yeah, all of them except my own little brother." Kagome laughed in return. Her face dropped slightly before she smiled again. "Shall we exterminate another demon?"
"Let's do it." Sango said as the two began walking.
"Comin' boys?" Kagome called over her shoulder. Miroku turned to Sesshomaru who stood looking slightly shocked.
"Might as well make sure they don't get outnumbered, right?" he said, smiling before following after the girls. Sesshomaru shook his head slightly as well.
The demon was of the ogre variety; and with a combined effort, they were able to take it down rather quickly. Unfortunately, Hiraikotsu was embedded in the skull, and though she was pulling with all her might, Sango couldn't seem to get it out.
"Gah! This has never happened to me, before." Sango said as she slumped against the giant boomerang. Kagome gave it a tug, not even shifting it.
"Well, there was a lot of power behind that throw. It's buried past the middle." she said, tapping it. Sango laughed tiredly.
"Yeah, I did throw it pretty hard, huh? It did take a lot of strength, and I'm pretty tired now." she said, trying to pull it out and failing again. Sesshomaru and Miroku walked up to the girls.
"Is it stuck?" Miroku asked. Sango and Kagome nodded. "That doesn't usually happen. Tired, Sango?" he teased, poking her side. She jerked and laughed.
"A bit, yeah. That last throw really took it out of me." She said as she moved to let Miroku try. He pulled, and it budged, but not enough. He pulled again, but it wouldn't move anymore.
"It's like it's caught." Miroku said as he slumped against it. Sesshomaru walked closer to inspect the demon, before looking back at his companions.
"This scar here," he said, pointing to a long jagged scar across the side of the ogres head, "is from a metal hook. Some ogres have been known to insert them, so if they are killed their enemies will not be able to retrieve their weapon before they are killed by the next ogre."
"So, we need to unhook the Hiraikotsu?" Kagome asked, looking at Sesshomaru then the fallen demon. Sesshomaru nodded, reached forward, and yanked to the right, then up, retrieving the boomerang bone with little effort. He passed it over to Sango, who took it with a thank you. He nodded and turned back towards the village.
"Let us return, and inform them of the beasts defeat." he said as he continued forward. The others walked right behind him.
When they entered the village again, cheers erupted from every direction. The child that had first greeted them ran up to Kagome again.
"Is it really dead? Did you defeat it?" he asked excitedly. Kagome smiled kindly and nodded.
"We sure did. In fact, Sango here, our demon slayer, defeated the beast herself." she answered, smiling and gesturing towards a blushing Sango.
"Please, Kagome, it was nothing." Sango protested. The young woman shook her head in return.
"No, you earned the praise. You're very strong, Sango." she finalized. While Kagome and Shippo explained what transpired with the ogre, Sesshomaru studied the curious Miko. She was strange, indeed, intelligent, well taught, kind, sometimes too forgiving, gentle, and yet she was motherly, strong, stubborn, dependable, and she had an incredibly warm soul.
"Miko, may I speak with you?" Sesshomaru asked when the villagers had dispersed to prepare a celebratory meal. Kagome looked at him tiredly but waved him on.
"Yeah, we can go over there, by that fallen tree. I think I need to sit for a minute." she said as she walked over. Half way there she began to favor her right leg.
"Are you well?" he asked, bending in front of her to inspect her leg after she sat.
"I uh..I think so. I felt a little twinge when I ran to help Sango after the ogre got its club. I probably twisted it a little." she said, gingerly removing her shoe and sock. Sesshomaru carefully lifted it, his long smooth fingers whispering across her leg. When he reached her ankle, she winced. Almost silently he clicked his tongue.
"Seems you are right. You have bandages, yes? In the hideous bag?" he asked, looking up to her as he slowly lowered her foot. She laughed and nodded, rifling through her bag till she found the first aid kit.
Sesshomaru took the bandage from her and wrapped her ankle to her specifications. When he finished, he gathered up her sock and shoe, placing them in her bag before looking at her again.
"Thank you, Sesshomaru. I've gotta be honest, I didn't think you'd know how to properly wrap an injury." she said sheepishly. A small smile curved the edge of Sesshomaru's lips.
"Demons heal quickly, yes. But in battle, blood loss is lethal. There have been many times I have wrapped a soldiers wounds before we rushed back into the fray." He replied, leaning back on his hands. Kagome smiled at him.
"You are not truly an Ice Prince, are you?" she asked. His eyes widened ever so slightly before returning to their cold facade. "What I mean is, you care very much for those around you, but you do not let them close to you."
"What makes you think you know anything about me?" he asked calmly and she chuckled in return.
"You are easier to study than you think, for someone who knows how to look." she said simply. "Now, you said you wanted to talk? I'm assuming it wasn't about this."
Sesshomaru briefly considered going back on what he was going to say. Or ask, rather. But still, the Miko was right. He had only one friend; and though this girl was human, she was a good companion.
"I have been contemplating our last conversation. What you said, about someone wanting you for you." he started and Kagomes eyes grew wide, and her face grew hot. "You are right. So I would like to ask, if you would consider being my friend?"
Kagome stared at him in silence for a second, completely stunned. Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.
"I have seen how you react to all those around you. Your soul is pure, warm, and bright. It is...a comfort. And you are a good companion." he continued, shocking her even more.
"It would be a great honor to consider myself your friend, my Lord." Kagome answered, a huge smile on her face. He chuckled at her.
"I believe, Kagome, that friends call each other by name, yes?" He rose to sit next to her on the fallen tree. Kagome nodded enthusiastically, still smiling.
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