Chapter 4

Kagome sat on a rock near Old Lady Kaede's hut, watching the moon and stars come out of their hiding, after the brave sun fell with all its glory. After she arrived to the village in Inuyasha's arms, word of her arrival was spread across the village like wildfire. She felt much like she did when she first arrived, and rumors were spread about her being the late priestess's reincarnation.

'I suppose it isn't that bad. At least all this talk is about me being myself…even if I do feel guilty that I was gone so long,' Kagome thought to herself. She let out sigh that caught the half demon's who was sitting beside her, attention. Inuyasha hadn't let her out of his sight since she got back. Another thing that made Kagome feel guilty was the feeling of duty that Kagome's appearance brought on. She had a feeling it had to do with what she said to him before he left that night.

"You can't even protect me from this." The words haunted both of their minds as they sat next to each other as the cool night air swept by them.

It seems that Inuyasha has taken it upon himself to make sure Kagome always had someone to be with her through thick and thin. He hated to have seen his closest friend as helpless as she was the night she found out about her grandfather. Her return could have only meant one thing; the death of her grandfather. He was sure that she had grieved in the future, but by no means could she have been done. And if she was going to, he wanted to be the one to comfort her to make up for when he couldn't.

As they sat together looking at the stars, Kagome began thinking back to when they entered the hut together. She was instantly the center of her friends. Every one of them had to welcome her in there own way.

"KAGOME!" the yelps from her friends warmed her heart. As they all embraced her, she was reminded of what she missed. Her brother was right; she couldn't have gotten better in the future. She needed her real friends. The friends that she would lay her life down for and they would gladly return the favor. This is why she needed to come back.

After all the greetings were exchanged the all sat down and informed Kagome of things she had missed out on. Kagome sighed again thinking about the information. Again the sigh did not get pasted Inuyasha. His ears pricked forward as he turned to look at her.

"Kagome?" he asked. Kagome tore her gaze away from the moon and stars to look at her half demon friend.

"Yeah, Inuyasha?" she asked oblivious to her own earlier sighing.

"Nothing," he said shifting closer to his friend that had him so worried for so long. Now that she was back he still wasn't quite sure this wasn't a dream.

Kagome returned to her thoughts about the news her friends have given her: The news that disturbed her upon hearing it, causing her distress that she was careful not to show. Apparently everything across Japan was quiet. There was an occasional discordance of demons, but that was to be expected. But as far as Naraku…there was nothing. It was like he never existed. There was no miasma or word. Not even a stone out of place. The feeling was much to like before, to have Kagome at ease. It was just strange.

"Kagome, I am going to get something. Think you will be all right?" Inuyasha asked out of the blue.

Kagome was started out of thoughts by his question. She looked at the half demon's worried face. She nodded, and Inuyasha stood up.

"Okay, just scream if you need me. I won't be gone long," Inuyasha assured her, as if she needed to be. Once he was gone, Kagome stood up herself, listening to her stiff joints crack and pop. She took a nice long breath of fresh air and let it out much more slowly then she took it in. Kagome closed her eyes listening to the sounds around her; the babbling of the river, the crickets, the night owls, and the footsteps of the villagers. It was such a peaceful evening…maybe she was over reacting to the lack of news. Maybe it was out of desperation to keep those dark thoughts from coming back. Maybe…

The blood on the young sprig of grass excited him, for soon the fun shall begin. Bankotsu began searching for other signs that would lead him to his targets quicker. It wasn't terribly hard to find and follow. By the looks of things, these targets weren't worried at all about attacks at there resting place.

Good, that will make this go by much more smoothly.He thought to himself. It didn't take Bankotsu long to follow the trail to a village. After weighing the decision he decided to stay off the road leading into the heart of the village. No reason to alert anyone and blow his cover.

After a while, Bankotsu came to a hut near a shrine on a hill. Well this looks promising. If the young priestess and her companions aren't by the shrine then the old one should be. Now time to wait and watch... Man, I hate this part. With a long wait ahead of him, Bankotsu found a secluded spot, to watch and study his assignments. It was his job to find something every one of his targets found of importance. One thing…this was going to take a while.

He watched as a half demon and a young woman walked into the hut. He watched as the calm hut turned into a place of excitement and joy as they welcomed the girl inside. He watched as the villagers talked of the girls return and the substantial length of time that she was missing. Bankotsu also watched how the half demon spent every moment watching her protectively; almost as if he was worried something might drop from the sky if he so much as blinked. He also observed the hidden worried looks the monk, fox cub, and demon slayer sent her way every time her back was turned to them. He took notice the way the young woman would sigh when she was in deep thought and how her eyes would tear up out of no where. Then how, she would pull herself together and put on a façade for her friends so they did not worry. The more Bankotsu watched, the more interested he became.

Why were her feelings so important to this group? They all seemed to alter their own actions to assure her happiness? Why was she gone so long? It seemed that this was all new to the woman too. From what Bankotsu saw, it wasn't like this before she left.

As he watched the five go about their tasks, the wheels in his brain began churning. Everyone had been worried about her, everyone still worries. To Bankotsu and apparently to everyone else, she is still or became unstable with her emotions. Maybe possibly…her sanity. To have such of an effect on these people and demons, surly she must be important, and being a human makes her irreplaceable. It appears that he has found what he will take.

I know I know way short! But I thought I had made you suffer enough with all the backround story, so here is the chapter where things start to unfold...sorta. PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE HERE PEOPLE! This is my first Bankotsu and Kagome pairing, tell me if I am doing something wrong. thanks