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It was morning.
Sesshoumaru promised himself the night before that he would have his bath today. He was NOT going to waltz into his castle smelling to high heaven, especially since the only residents there were demons: solders, servants and chefs. But all of them had the similar sensitive nose as Sesshoumaru.
Kagome was very bored; neither Sesshoumaru nor Miroku were here. Sesshoumaru walked off into the woods some time ago and Miroku went back to the hut to get Kagome's bag, she wasn't too keen on seeing Inuyasha getting cuddly with Sango. She was still very sore on the matter.
"Hey Rin, do you think another flower field is around here somewhere?" She asked the little girl sitting aside her. She wanted to get up and do something. When she was with Inuyasha he always was moving, and always doing something, so Kagome was now restless, having to stay here for a long time.
"I don't know Kagome-chan, why don't we go look?" Kagome could easily tell Rin was not the type of girl to sit and do nothing either. "Can we?" she pressed.
"Uh... I don't know. Sesshoumaru isn't here..." Kagome didn't want Sesshoumaru mad at her; he could cleave her head from her body in a fraction of a second and not think anything of it.
Kagome decided that she would take her bow and arrow and Ah-Un with them for protection and leave Jaken in the clearing in case Sesshoumaru or Miroku came back while they were gone.
oOo
Sesshoumaru walked through the forest, searching for the spring he saw the other day. His usual scent was covered up in the smell of woods and sweat, he couldn't stand it anymore.
As he walked he perked up his elfish-looking ears to try and catch the soft, trickling sound of water. Or try to seize the scent of water vapor sweetened with the smell of lush plants that would usually grow around a spring.
oOo
Ah-Un wasn't looking so well. Their eyes were cloudy, their scales had a dullish look to them, and they had trouble standing. He was weak.
"Rin…Maybe we shouldn't go after all, Ah-Un doesn't look so hot." Kagome said, looking at the demon with concern even though they insisted with nudges that they would still be willing to serve.
"Hot? Why would you want him to look hot?" Rin asked, not understanding the term.
"I meant that he doesn't look good." Kagome corrected herself.
"Rin thinks Ah-Un looks fine…see? He wants to go." Rin laughed as the dragon nudged her side.
"…Well…alright then." Kagome still looked unconvinced, but hoisted Rin onto the beast's back.
Sesshoumaru wasn't going to like it if Kagome hurt his pack animal, but she couldn't say no to Rin's adorable face. She struggled to drag herself up behind Rin then pulled the reigns to tell the immense beast to ascend. They flew straight up and over the canopies of the forest. Rin and Kagome looked around quickly, searching for a field.
"Look, Kagome-chan, there!" Rin cried out excitedly and pointed. Kagome swiveled in the direction Rin was gesturing. Clearly visible was a small multi-colored patch a bit less than a mile behind them.
"C'mon Ah-Un" Kagome grunted, pulling the reigns to tell them to turn. "We have to go this way." She motioned with her head behind them. The dragon turned slowly and headed toward the field.
At about half way the dragon underneath the two girls started shaking.
Kagome was worried for Rin's safety; if they were to be stranded without protection, besides Kagome's archery weapons, surely Sesshoumaru would never let her be around Rin again. And Kagome liked the girl very much. She also valued her own life. Being on the bad side of Sesshoumaru was sure to cast her in a dangerous shadow.
She pulled the reigns to signal the beast downward. Ah-Un couldn't handle carrying Rin and Kagome. So she decided to walk the rest of the way; when they landed, she got off.
"Rin, I don't think Ah-Un is very strong right now, I think it would be better if they just took you there. I'll come about ten minutes after you get there. Okay?"
"Ah-Un?" the dragon turned its heads in her direction, "keep watch on Rin till I get there, okay? Can you handle that?" She asked concernedly. The faithful pack youkai nodded its heads. "Thanks a bunch."
Rin nodded her head so Kagome patted Ah-Un on their hind leg and the beast kicked off the ground with Rin on his back. Kagome watched as they were lost from view behind the trees.
She mounted her bow over her shoulder, took a heaving sigh, and started to pick her way through the thick forest. Suddenly she heard the sound of gently splashing water and felt the change in the air: the crisp forest air turned warm, balmy. She looked around curiously.
Kagome spotted quite a large hot spring about fifty paces away; it had beautiful plants and rock and boulder formations all around it. She suddenly spotted a particularly striking flower 'Oh! Rin would love this one! It's beautiful!' Kagome excitedly thought.
In the thoughts of picking Rin a beautiful flower, then to rejoin her in the field, she strode quickly to the spring.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, a drenched, silvery-white head emerged and broke the crystalline surface of the spring…
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A/N: Hahaha, uh ohhh! What will Kagome do now! She got herself into quite a spot! ;)
Thanks for reading!
JA NE