This chapter is dedicated to The Philosopher's Queen, who made my week and agreed to become my RP partner!
Disclaimer: Inuyasha isn't mine. It's hard to disclaim in rhyme.
"So, Arashi-san, why did you save a human?" Kagome asked. "If you think youkai and ningen are so different, and considering the amount of tension between our species..." She trailed off.
"Different doesn't necessarily mean bad, only different. Having different opinions means that we have more ways of looking at a problem, and more options is always a good thing. Besides, you had not done anything which warranted leaving you in the woods with such dangerous people around. It would have been dishonourable to leave you." He replied.
Kagome was starting to feel for this youkai, in a time when nobody understood his beliefs. They were kindred spirits, in a sense, both trapped in a a time where everybody around them subscribed to silly superstitions and prejudiced thoughts, and any suggestion of co-existence was met with a "are you kidding?" look. Kagome wished that there were more individuals out there like Arashi – honest, kind, noble and gentle.
"So, Sakura-san, what is your opinion on coexistence? We have talked at length about my feelings on the matter, but have yet to discuss yours." He turned to her, a genuinely interested look in his golden eyes, his attention rapt on her.
"Well, I think that youkai and ningen should be able to get along. If they did, imagine the good that could be done! If villages no longer had to dedicate men to protection, and youkai no longer needed armies, more food could be produced, and more education provided, for example!"
"Sakura-san, you are a visionary like myself, I believe." He seemed content to end the conversation there, a satisfied gleam in his eyes.
They continued travelling together for hours, until the sun was high in the sky, without any trace of the panther youkai they were hunting. They stopped for a quick lunch as the temperature soared, and Kagome's outfit began sticking to her skin. Arashi was frustratingly intact, the weather seeming to have no effect on him.
"This brother of yours, Sesshoumaru, what is he like?" Kagome decided to fish for information about the youkai lord they had met during their travels so many times, but still knew nothing about.
"He's standoffish, and arrogant with the power to back it up. Still, he is a fitting heir for my father. If this one were his heir, anarchy would descend upon our house, as my fondest dream is to explore our land. That would not mesh very well with being the Western Lord, I imagine!" He exclaimed, as though greatly amused by the thought.