Chapter 3 – Sesshoumaru?
They were all starting to awaken. First Songo, then Inuyasha who had woken the others. Before departing the village, Sango decided to take a bath in a nearby pond. The water was warm, though not nearly as warm as the air. She was washing her face when she noticed a young boy in green and black garments hiking through the valley to her right. Though the water on her face made her vision fuzzy, she was sure of the form he'd taken.
What is Kohaku doing here? She thought. He was about to enter a cave. She wasn't sure of what he was up to, but this was her best chance to find out.
"I'll be right back you guys!" She yelled behind the boulder between them.
Sango quickly gathered her clothing. Putting them on, she started her jog towards the green and black figure.
***
Kagome and the others were almost ready to go.
"Shouldn't we wait for Sango?" Kagome suggested
"Sango could take care of herself." Inuyasha said selfishly. "I sense Naraku nearby."
Inuyasha looked over to Kagome, scrambling her things together on the grass.
"Hurry up, Kagome!" Inuyasha hollered.
Once Inuyasha caught a trace of Naraku, there wasn't anything that could change his mind. Miroku's expression grew worried.
Inuyasha walked a few feet in front of the others, sniffing out the distinct scent of Naraku. Kagome couldn't get the feel of paranoia off of her mind. She'd looked around, side to side, ahead and behind. Before her eyes could follow the noise, Kagome heard the sound of leaves rustling from over her. She gasped, though Inuyasha was too interested in finding the jewel shards to hear her. The others noticed, though Kagome assured them it was nothing. She passed it off as being a little shaken up by her nightmares. The wind slightly picked up, and the sound repeated, leaving a shadow that passed her on the ground.
"Did you see that?" She questioned.
"What is it, Kagome?" Shippo asked.
"I'm sure I saw something passing us." She said.
"I wouldn't be surprised." Miroku responded. "There are many demons wandering these forests."
Inuyasha started to seem irritated.
"It's more then that. I think it's follo-"
"Will ya shut up already!" Inuyasha shouted "I can't sense anything with all your yammering!"
"Don't be so mean!" Shippo interjected. "She was just trying to help!"
Kagome began to walk closer to Inuyasha, a smile returning to her face. Inuyasha looked confused.
"SIT, BOY!" Inuyasha immediately fell to the ground.
"SIT, SIT, SIT!" she repeated. The earth under him was beginning to break under the pressure.
It took Inuyasha a minute to recuperate.
"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" he roared. They continued to fight.
"It looks like they're at it again." Miroku said to Shippo
"That's the third time this morning" Shippo retaliated.
After a few minutes of hostility, the five of them kept moving.
The wind was calmer now. Whatever was there before was gone now, or at least was tamed. Kagome looked into the sky, appearing to be as blue as the ocean. The sun welcomed her gaze, causing her to squint her eyes. It was as she was about to look down when she noticed a white material, almost impossible to distinguish from the sky, falling gently down. She laid out her palm, allowing it to fall lightly into her hand. She instantly recognized the fur in her hand. It brought her back to her last encounter with Sesshoumaru, when the material of his pelt had blown off. The mokomoko, she thought. It had to be Sesshoumaru who was following them earlier.
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It was early morning, the sun hadn't yet appeared. Rin and Jaken were curiously awaiting Sesshoumaru's return.
"Do you think Lord Sesshoumaru will be okay?" Rin asked worriedly.
"Of course he will, foolish child!" Jaken answered. "Lord Sesshoumaru is much stronger than Inuyasha!"
The bushes started to sway. Lord Sesshoumaru parted the shrubs and continued to walk. Rin follow closely behind
Rin held onto the mokomoko warn around her protector, feeling safer that she was holding on to her Lord. After a moment of silence, Rin noticed the fur of the pelt she was holding in her hands started to shed.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, the fur on your pelt is falling!" Rin informed him.
Sesshoumaru glanced quickly over his shoulder.
"My Lord, let me mend that for you!" Jaken yelped, grasping the pelt.
With one foul sweep, Sesshoumaru hit Jaken over the head with his fist, leaving him momentarily unconscious on the ground. Before long, he was able to lift himself up.
"Wait for me, Lord Sesshoumaru!" Jaken called in the distance.
***
"I'm hungry," Shippo announced, "Can we have lunch now?"
The question was directed to Kagome. She hadn't heard Shippo; she was too entranced in thought. Both Shippo and Miroku turned around when they noticed Kagome stopped nearly a minute ago. She looked up.
"W-what was that, Shippo?" She asked.
"Is it time for lunch yet?" He repeated.
Their lunch today consisted of leftovers and snacks given to them by the village where they had resided the night before. Kagome searched through her bag when she recovered the fur from a few minutes ago, triggering a thought in her mind.
"Do any of you mind if we go to Kaede's Village after lunch?"