After her first few months, no one would have suspected that she hadn't grown up in the village. Her role in the village was already so strong it seemed like she'd known everyone for years. Kagome became skilled in preparing herbs and in her purifying. Just a day ago she'd managed to put up a barrier, however weak it was. Every passerby was charmed by their kind priestess. She was kneeling by her littlest patient, a young boy named Hiro with a small gash on his knee that seemed to weep as much as he did. She gently wrapped the offending wound as he sniffled into his hand.
"W-will it get better," the boy mumbled though his tears. She smiled at the poor thing.
"it will! But only if," she reached into her basket, "you eat this." She placed a tiny sweet into his hand. Seldom having such a treat, he seemed to immediately forget that he was ever hurt.
"Thank you, Lady Kagome! I'm gonna show my mom!" he chimed as he eagerly and comically hobbled away.
The husbands were due to be home within hours. An overnight extermination of many bird yokai in a village a few hours west. Luckily, as Miroku had put it, rumor stated that the birds nested in the home of a local nobleman. Any extra rice that came home tonight, Kagome planned on sharing with some of the poorer villagers. She began to walk towards a family with many sick children, her most palatable medicine in store, when a middle-aged farmer's wife approached her.
"Forgive me, Lady Kagome," the woman began, her plea seeming to crease her brow. "My daughter has been married for months, and no children have yet come from the union. Please, give her a prayer to the gods to ask that she may bear children."
Kagome returned the woman's plea with a gentle smile, and began to give her prayers for the young woman's fruitfulness.
"I know a medicine that may help," she began, "let me give you this tea for your daughter."She produced a bundle of small dried leaves and flowers from one of the many surrounding herb baskets.
"Tell your daughter to drink this each morning," she said as she placed the herbs into the older woman's hand. She gave a slight bow. "I will continue to pray for your daughter's fertility".
The woman smiled.
"Thank you my dear. May the gods grant your wishes." The woman bowed in return, and continued along her path, presumably to visit her daughter. Kagome lifted her basket, and went on to give medicine to the ailing family.
By the time the sky deepened in color, the men were coming up on the village, Inuyasha carrying the bulk of the payments, while Miroku carried bags of rice over his back.
"You know Inuyasha," Miroku began, obviously crafting his best tease, "I do feel much less guilty now that you have the warm embrace of your own wife to return to. They always will miss you dearly-OOF!". His sentence was interrupted by a blunt kick to the chest from the blushing Inuyasha. He continued walking without the dirty monk, who was struggling to stand once again while trying to lift the heavy bags from the ground. He stood up and began to dust off his robes with a sigh.
"If your shyness about the subject speaks anything about the bedroom, then I do empathize with our poor Kagome." Inuyasha stopped.
In the village, Sango, Kagome, and Shippou began to walk outside as the twins ran circles around them, the trio having sensed Inuyasha's nearing presence. Before anyone could speak a word about the missing husbands, a purple blur came flying out of the forest, sliding and digging a groove into the ground as it stopped just before Sango's feet.
"Teasing again, I see?" Sango sighed, arms crossed.
The girls jumped onto their stunned father.
"Daddy's flying again!". Inuyasha walked out of the forest behind him, and placed their rewards down, wiping his hands together. He was obviously annoyed.
"Are we going to eat yet?" he asked,placing a foot on the dazed monks head. Sango and Kagome giggled to themselves. Sango knelt by her husband.
"We'll be having our friends over dinner, Miroku." She smiled coyly as she spoke. "I hope you can behave yourself for the evening".
Soon the large group poured into the home, gathered around a hot stew. Sango and Kagome rushed through dinner and quickly ducked outside with lamps, being excited to divide their payments. They ooed and ahhed over silks and linens together, when a white silk printed with red flowers caught Kagome's eye. Sango smiled, knowing full well why it caught her friend's attention.
"That would look beautiful on you," she said.
Kagome ran the silk through her fingers. "I don't even know what I'd make," she said, mostly to herself. They were startled by a cry coming from the hut, followed by a sprinting Shippou. The girls tumbled after him. The women laughed as Shippou jumped onto Kagome's shoulder. She ran a hand over his head.
"I guess it's time to get ready for bed, isn't it?". Shippou nodded, pitiful tears welling in his eyes. The men stepped outside to help. Sango spoke before anyone else.
"I think we're going to get the kids ready for bed, dear". Miroku smiled, knowing full well this was never an easy task. He scooped the girls into his arms. Inuyasha, being happy to retire for the night, placed the wrap Kagome prepared over his back. The friends waved each other off with goodnights. Kagome and Inuyasha disappeared into the forest, fingers linked as they walked together in peace.