Kagome felt relieved when she was finally over the bridge. She remembered the first time she encountered that thing, back when she and Inuyasha shared nothing more than a rocky friendship. The witch Ursuae extracted her soul in order to fully resurrect Kikyo. It was a frightening experience from being surrounded by tough clay warriors to the bridge being sliced in half by Ursuae in her ploy to capture her. Kagome could remember the putrid stench of the peculiar substance and shivered. She was thankful she wouldn't have to go relive that same experience again.
The significant problem burdening her now is Saigen and her heart that he holds in his possession. After Kagura and Kanna died for their final time, she felt a load of sympathy for them. They never had the chance to redeem themselves and make something of their lives. They didn't have any lives that's why. Their only chance of freedom depended not on them, but on Naraku. He was the one who held their lives above their own heads, taunting and teasing them, painfully reminding them that they live under his reign. If they want to continue living, then they shouldn't displease him.
Kagome felt sorry for them, but never did she truly understand the depth of their pain, the magnitude of their hopelessness. She recalled the final time she and her friends encountered Kagura, after Hakudoshi's fate was sealed inside the Wind Tunnel of Miroku's hand, they swore to Kagura they would retrieve her heart to set her free if only she didn't die beforehand. Not long after that, they witnessed Kagura vanish in a cloud of miasma and Sesshomaru looking on forlornly. She then recalled Kanna, who shattered into million pieces of adamant in an attempt to take them with her. Kanna didn't want to perish nor did she wish to work under Naraku since she entrusted Kagome her final message.
Is this how Saigen is going to treat her? He won't let her leave just as Naraku didn't allow his incarnations to leave him. If she disobeyed him, he would make her suffer, clench her heart tighter and tighter until it bursts. Kagome gravely rested her hand upon her chest, where she should feel the rhythm of her heart beat pulse beneath her fingers. She was now doomed to partake in the same fate as Kagura and Kanna, perhaps even Kohaku.
As this dawned on her, she crumbled to her knees, leaning up against a random tree. People carrying a heavy load crossed her path, some leading horses and some bringing in injured men. She was near a village, but she didn't have the willpower to stay there. Seeing these people, laughing without a care in the world, smiling like they weren't being tied down, it sickened her almost.
She gasped as this thought intruded in her mind. Sickened? I'm disgusted at seeing people happy and free? More villagers passed by her, not even glancing at her. They were more engrossed in their current activities, just gossiping while working.
She closed her eyes, praying all these mirthful people would just disappear. Right now, she just can't bear to see what people have that she lost. She sensed someone towering over her and when she opened her eyes, she saw it was a fifteen year old boy. He knelt down beside her, his purplish blue eyes searching hers.
"Are you ok Miss?" He asked.
"You don't need to concern yourself with me. Go home where you'll be safe." Kagome said, the tone of her voice astonishing her. "Sorry, but you can't help me."
"Maybe Mother and Father can help you."
"Not to degrade your mom and dad, but I doubt them or anyone else can help me right now."
"You never know, they could. They are expert demon slayers so they could exterminate your own demons."
"I thank you for your concern, but really…"
"Hiroshi! Come on! Your mother and father are getting concerned!"
"Ok, I'm coming." Hiroshi exclaimed back, then looked at Kagome. "Come on Miss, what's the harm?"
Kagome mulled over the boy's words and found that there wasn't any harm. Her situation couldn't possibly get any more worse than it already is. She accepted the boy's hand and he tugged her up rather roughly. She almost tripped over her feet, prompting the young boy to snake an arm around her waist to hold her steady. With an apologetic grin, he released her but held her hand to make certain she wouldn't collapse on him again.
Ahead, an irritated voice continued to shout. Hiroshi sighed, telling him in an exasperated voice that he was coming. Kagome looked up, figuring out that the one calling the boy, was a demon. Kagome squinted, suddenly intrigued that this demon would be giving out orders in a demon slaying village. Not only that, but somehow, he looked vaguely familiar. His icy blue hair slicked back into a short ponytail, his emerald eyes gleaming in the sunlight. He walked closer, reaching out a clawed hand in an attempt to catch Hiroshi's wrist and drag him home, but suddenly, he halted. His eyes bulged out of his head and his hand that reached out for the boy, dropped unexpectedly.
He masked his surprise behind a veneer of cockiness. "Well Hiroshi, she's quite pretty, but you don't want poor Keiko jealous now do you?"
"Of course not Kisho, she just looked so depressed, I couldn't ignore her." Hiroshi replied.
Kisho? I know I heard that name before. Kagome thought.
The demon, Kisho, turned his eyes on her. Kagome bit her bottom lip nervously, meeting his gaze. His eyes softened then, walking up to her and slung an arm around her shoulders. She looked at the offending appendage, but decided not to brush him off. He was so familiar, his voice, his name, his eyes, she knew she had seen him somewhere before.
"Come, I'll introduce you to Master Miroku and Mistress Sango."
Kagome couldn't seal inside an audible gasp that stopped Hiroshi and Kisho in their tracks. Perhaps he did mean Miroku and Sango. She suddenly felt so light. It didn't matter anymore that this curtain of death loomed over her, which Saigen cursed her with by robbing her of her heart. She was going to see her wonderful friends, the two who stood loyally by her side. Moreover, seeing Sango and Miroku also meant she would see Shippo and of course, her beloved Inuyasha.
_ _ _
Steam drifted from the pot, carrying with it the alluring scent of tonight's meal. Sango removed the meal from the fire, laying it out to cool. She then exited the kitchen, looking for any hungry mouths, but only found her middle child, Amaya curled up against the corner of the hut, staring off into space. At the entrance of her hut, a younger girl named Keiko leaned up against the wall, her eyes vigilant on the outside.
"Could I assist you in making dinner Sango?"
Sango turned at the woman who addressed her, or she should she say demon. Half demon actually to be more exact, with flowing pink hair and dark russet eyes. "No, thank you Sakiko but it's almost done. You could help Kisho find Hiroshi or find Akina."
"Can I go find Hiroshi?" Keiko asked, her long russet curls flying around her face, framing her gorgeous blue eyes.
"Keiko, dinner is almost ready. You can wait child." Sakiko admonished. "I'll go look for the rest of the family."
Sakiko brushed past Keiko, walking into the sunset. Sango watched Keiko a while longer, her heart beginning to pound in worry. She was a mother in the feudal times after all, it was natural for her to feel concerned when her children weren't in sight. She had a feeling also that Sakiko didn't want Keiko wandering out in the dark by herself either.
Suddenly, Keiko laughed and rushed outside. Sango bounded for the door and even Amaya rose from her place. She followed her mother outside, cringing at the sight of Keiko wrapped up protectively in Hiroshi's arms. She looked further ahead, seeing Kisho with his arm around a woman shrouded in a tattered kimono. Her mother, Sango, walked forward to investigate. Hiroshi and Keiko joined her inside, their fingers entwined.
Sango ceased her walk in front of Kisho, her eyes falling on the woman next to him. The woman gazed at Sango, her eyes widening then suddenly welling with tears. The young woman stepped forward, outstretching her hand to lay upon Sango's supple cheek, the tears cascading down her face.
"Sango!" She threw herself at the older woman, wrapping her arms securely around her and sobbing.
Sango felt her body tense as the young woman continued to embrace her. She removed the hood that concealed the woman's face, revealing dirty raven tresses pouring down her back. The woman lifted her teary-eyed gaze and at that moment, the world vanished. She felt dainty, like she was walking in a dream. Her own eyes welled up and at the painful sting that accompanied it, she knew this was no dream. Kagome, she was here, alive and uninjured.
"Oh my… Kagome!" She squeezed the petite woman tightly, her tears of joy dampening Kagome's shoulder.
Kagome held her close, almost strangling Sango around the throat. It was a peculiar sensation that doused her. She was relieved to see her old friend, who she claimed as her sister, but there wasn't any happiness that came forward. She felt safe, protected, like nothing could cause her pain. However, though she waited for it, she didn't feel love encasing her, the tight warmness that usually accompanies a tearful reunion. There were no feelings of joy, just assurance. When her tears finally dried, she pushed away from Sango, smiling at her.
"Kagome, I thought… but here you are… now I… can't believe it." Sango blubbered.
Kagome nodded and stepped back, smiling the best she was able. Sango noticed however, that her friend's smile had completely changed. She figured it was because the weight of her journey took its toll on her and she was most likely tired. Sango draped an arm around Kagome's shoulder, leading her into the warmth of her hut.
Kagome stepped inside, earning looks from Amaya and Keiko, but an infectious smile from Hiroshi. Keiko looked back at him and he crawled over to her, whispering in her ear. Keiko nodded then and grinned at Kagome. Kagome returned the gesture with a smile of her own, but judging from their fallen expressions, they knew it was all a bravado.
"Kids, this is Kagome. She was a really great friend of mine a while back and she still is, I want you to treat her with the utmost respect. Oh and before I forget, Kagome, she is my middle child named Amaya, that is my youngest Hiroshi and his significant other, Keiko, and my oldest is outside somewhere, she's Akina." Sango replied. "Now, come help me in the kitchen, I'll make you some tea and we can chat."
"Can I help you ladies?" Asked Kisho as he bounded over to them, his intense gaze falling on Kagome.
Sango, oblivious to the powerful stare Kisho bestowed Kagome, shook her head. "No thanks Kisho, just find Akina. Sakiko left a while ago to track her down as well."
Kisho was hesitant to leave, his eyes never leaving Kagome even as Sango responded to him. He whirled around then, slowly leaving the hut. Kagome watched him brush past the bamboo mat, disappearing into the outside. She was brought out of her trance by the alarming weight of Sango's hand on her shoulder. She beamed at her, gesturing her to follow her into the kitchen.
Kagome concurred and she helped her best friend prepare the meal. After the meal was done, Sango stayed loyal to her word and brewed some tea. Kagome sat on the cushion as she waited for Sango to prepare them. Sango came over to her with a cup of tea, handing it to Kagome. Kagome only sat there, gazing into the depths of the dark beverage.
"Kagome? Aren't you going to drink? You should be thirsty after that long journey." Sango said.
Kagome nodded, but felt like she was lying. She didn't need a drink, neither did she feel hungry at all. Still, to appease Sango, she sipped her cup. She then set it down on the hardwood floor, just staring at her friend, wondering why she couldn't feel even a sliver of bliss.