Kagome walked in silence with Inuyasha until they were out of the village. She was relieved that Inuyasha was a person of few words who didn't push her to be open with him. She was thankful that he was easy going and didn't demand answers from her at the moment. Inuyasha was not dumb, she didn't need to spell out her reasons to him. She knew that he understood her and she understood him. And she knew that Inuyasha was feeling just as angry and vengeful as she was.
As they walked along they stopped each person and group that they crossed paths with to ask about Youkai movement in the area. It wasn't until late in the evening after they had built a fire and stuck their rabbits through with sticks to roast them over it that they finally caught a break.
"Evening." An elderly man said as he limped his way near their fire. Kagome glanced up from her skewered rabbit and met the mans eyes. Inuyasha nodded from the other side of the fire but gave no reply. "Is it ok with ye if I share your fire for the night? My old bones and eyes are not what they used to be. There was a time not so long ago that I could make the trip from Naka-Ku to Edo with the ease of a twenty year old. Take heed you two, age will slip up on you before you know it."
Kagome watched as Inuyashas nose twitched as he took in the old man and became weary as his eyes took on a tensed focused quality. Smiling at the old man, Kagome nodded pleasantly and welcomed the man to their fire. "Sure, you are welcome to our fire for the night."
"Thank you, Miko." The old man said to her as he took a seat.
Kagome tensed up. She looked closer at the old man as he slowly took a seat. How did he know she was a miko? She looked down at her clothing. Though she had begun wearing hakama pants and a haori top, she still was not anywhere near dressing in the traditional Miko garb. "Sorry, have we met before?" She asked once he was settled in and munching on something he had pulled from a bag at his side.
"Oh, hai, hai," He said as he nodded his head several times. "I've seen you around Edo village. Though I do not reside in Edo, I have visited it a few times over the years." He gave them a gap toothed grin. Showing off blackened teeth and red inflamed gums. Kagome inwardly grimaced at the sight and wished for her tooth brush.
"What brings you to Edo this time?" Inuyasha asked before shoving his skewered half cooked rabbit into his mouth. Blood dribbed down his chin a bit before he wiped it away with his finger and sucked the blood off it. Kagome remembered when she first arrived in the Sengoku Era, how she used to be bothered by the messy eating habits of the day. Now her own manners left much to be desired as well.
"I've come on an errand for my village. We have noticed an increased level of demonic activity in recent days and I have been sent out to seek out Tiajiya. There used to be a prosperous village of them near Naka-Ku, however it was destroyed a few years ago and the survivors were left scattered around Japan to start their own villages once more so that the Tiajiya would not become mere history, but would spring forth once more. The last time I came to Edo to visit a distant cousin I was told of you, Miko, and your group of misfits." He nodded his head at her and waved with his hand full of food in her direction. "I saw you then with this half demon. You were sitting at the bottom of great tree while the halfling sat up high in a branch of the tree. If I had not seen it for myself, I would never have believed the tale of a Hanyu and a Priestess who formed a formidable bond of friendship such as yours."
"Keh," Inuyasha muttered as he tossed the remainder of his rabbit within the fire to burn off. The mention of the Tiajiya caused his chest to tighten and he could hear Kagomes soft gasp of pain. The warm brown eyes of their fallen friend haunted them both. He shook his head slightly and demanded of the old man, "Just tell us more about this demonic activity. Where is it centred and what of your own miko and monks? Naka-Ku is a large village. last I was there it had plenty of its own mikos and houshis. Why do you seek out more and the aid of the Tiajjiya as well?"
Kagome glanced at Inuyasha and back to the old man to hear his reply. "I come seeking more, because we have lost some of our mikos and monks. They set out to scout around the village and they never come back. First it was just those going off on their own. However the last two to leave the boundary of the village at night never came back. Ren is one of our strongest Mikos' and we have not heard naught from her in days. We have begun to fear the worst. The children playing in the fields have run home screaming more often in the last week than ever before. They tell tales of strange demons moving slowly towards them but when we go to check there is no demon to be found. Simply put, we are afraid and are seeking out help!"
Silence fell for some time before Kagome broke it. She was loath to utter the words but she was sure that Inuyasha was as well. "I'm afraid that the Tiajiya you seek in Edo has passed on. The monk is now retired and in poor health from his many travels. It was no small secret that he was very much in love with the Tiajiya and upon her passing he has begun to fall ill. We are all that is left of our group. We had a fox youkai traveling with us as well, but he is young still and has been left in the village with the hope that he will grow roots and prosper so that he may live and learn to love life once more." She glanced at Inuyasha before she spoke again. "At day break, we shall set off for Naka-Ku. We have been searching out word about troublesome youkai and it seems you have just brought us it."
The old man bowed his head and heaved a long sigh. "It is unfortunate to hear of the Tiajiya and the Monk. It seems a waste to have come so far only to be met with such news. However, it has been a long time since I've traveled to Edo to visit distant family. I might as well continue on and do so. I need a rest before I can begin my journey once more to home." He rolled to his side and placed his bag under his head. "Thank you both for sharing the fire tonight."
Kagome looked at the old man, rolled up in a ball with this back as close to the fire as possible and then looked at Inuyasha. She watched him stand and leap to the closest branch to her and settle in for the night. Kagome pulled her satchel from her shoulder and stretched out on her stomach on the opposite side of the fire from the old man and tucked it under her head. Every now then she missed her sleeping bag and camp supplies. After a year or so spent in the past, Kagome had given up trying to stay comfy and had accept the uncomfortable terms of the past. She had found that traveling was much easier and the lack of added weight had allowed her to cover much more ground. Which was something that had quickly become much more important to them than comfort could ever be. The search for Naraku had heated up and they needed to move fast. "Goodnight Inuyasha," she whispered to the air and heard a light grunt in reply before sleep claimed her fast.