Kagome sighed in relief. Having made it back from the Cape of No Return in one piece, she was grateful. Clutching the bag of cheonsu flowers closer to her chest, the woman froze in her tracks.

There was a strangely familiar aura here. Sapphire orbs began to cloud with past memories of a feudal fairytale.

An odd group of a inu hanyou, a girl from the future, an orphaned kit, a flirtatious monk, a survivor of a massacred demon slaying village and her feline companion, that traveled around the countryside in a race to collect the shards of a cursed jewel against a spider hanyou.

Shaking her head from her thoughts, the miko probed at the green aura with her pink one. There was a slight shift in the aura in response, but that was it. The aura didn't seem hostile and it irked her. Surely, it had sensed her? What confused her even more wasn't the being's lack of reaction, but their overall presence. It wasn't demon and it definitely wasn't human. More and more questions were flooding the mind of the miko's and as her trek back to the ship, it dawned on her that she was growing closer to the unknown aura.

Kagome's pace began to quicken and, soon enough, she broke out into a run. Whoever it was, they were at the ship. Before long, the miko saw the vessel in sight, anchored and floating along the shore. Running with her last ounce of energy, she sprinted aboard the ship and paused in her tracks, watching the scene before her with avid interest.

"You'll do anythin' if I let you stay?" Captain Gi Gan drawled as she took a puff of her pipe. Her lips parted and white smoke curled about her face.

A young boy was kneeling before the captain, his medium length emerald locks tied at the base of his head. Face flat of any emotion, Kagome couldn't help but feel the sharp pain in her heart. His clothes were torn and his body were covered in scratches and bruises. He must've been through a lot.

The miko's blue gaze rested on the captain, silently praying the boy would be allowed on board.

"Stupid snot nosed brat." She snorted as she stood. A look of panic passed the boy's face. "Don't ya know any decent pick up lines?" With that said, the elderly woman walked away, presumably, her room. It occurred to her, the senchou hadn't threatened to kill the boy. A good sign.

She quickly ran up to the boy when she saw him stand with a crestfallen look adorn his features.

"Ara, ara. Those look serious." Upon closer inspection, Kagome realized the scratches were actually deep cuts, most likely from a sharp knife or an arrow, some of which were still bleeding. "Come on." She grabbed the boy's hand and began to lead him down the stairs, leading to the lower deck. "I'll lead you over to your quarters. And," she looked over at his disheveled appearance, "get you freshened up."

Arriving at a spare bed in the quarters of the other pirates, who weren't there at the moment because they were fishing, the miko sat him down. He was told to wait and she quickly left the room. He didn't have to wait long before the girl returned with clean clothing, a tub of water and other medical supplies.

Kagome sat down on the bunk next to him, setting the supplied down next to her. "May I?" With a slow nod, he slowly untied his sash and let the top of his yukata fall to his torso, showing her the full extension of the wound on his arm. Suddenly, horror flashed in her eyes as she gazed at him.

"Gomen ne. Where are my manners?" She flashed a lovely smile at the green haired boy and he couldn't help but flush a little at the cheeks. "You can call me Kagome."

The miko dunked a washcloth in the tub of water and used it to dab at the dirt and dried blood after wringing out the excess water. With a little hesitance, he replied. "Jae ha." He lowered his gaze, the blush growing more prominent.

A find smile tugged at her lips. "Jae ha no kawaii."

His head shot up and it was then did Kagome see that his face was as red as a tomato. "C-chotto!" He sputtered. Everyone in the Ryokuryu Village had avoided him and his predecessor, going as far as to isolating them in a hut far away and chaining him down. He really didn't have much experience with other people, much less pretty women. Though, he had to admit, her aura did seem strange compared to the other humans he'd come across. Nonetheless, he didn't dislike her coddling, to say the least.

Using the salve she had made earlier that morning, Kagome spread it down the pale arm and a bit across his right shoulder blade.

"Ne, Kagome-san-"

"Kagome."

"Ara?" His head cocked to the side. He observed her as she wrapped his arm with white linen bandages. For a moment, she met his gaze with a soft smile. Sapphire clashed with emerald.

"Just Kagome is fine. I'm not too keen on formalities."

"Uh, h-hai." With a stutter, he began again. "If it's alright; what are you exactly?"

So he was able to sense her. "Why the question?"

"Well," he couldn't see the harm in trusting her so he proceeded with, "your aura doesn't feel like any other human's."

Almost done bandaging, she smiled softly. "I'm a priestess with active spiritual powers, that's probably what your were sensing."

Jae ha's jaw slackened with awe. "A priestess."

"Now, if I may inquire," she patted his arm lightly, done with the bandages. The miko turned to the boy, resting her chin on her palm with her other arm resting over her lap. "What are you?"

He lowered his gaze, bright emerald darkening to an olive green. His aura clouded with bitterness. A slight frown marred his features. "I'm the Ryokuryu." A self deprecating laugh spilled from his lips and the miko's gaze became sympathetic with concern. "Or at least one of its descendants."

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." She assured in a soft voice, the one she used to comfort Shipoo when he was scared.

"I'm sorry."

"Iie. Don't apologize." She stood up which earned her his attention. "I can tell you've had a long journey. There's clean clothing on the bed. Change into that. Dinner will be ready in a bit and that's when you'll meet the others." Upon seeing the look of panic flash through his features, she said. "Don't worry, I know you'll get along with them just fine. Until then, rest up. Ja." With a wink, she left the quarters. However she popped her head back in. "Oh, and Jae Ha-kun?"

"Hai?"

She beamed at him. "Welcome aboard!" And with that, she left him once more. Jae Ha couldn't help but feel a warmth swell in his heart.