Chapter Six:

The Village

Kagome stayed by the hanyo's side as she had promised as the group walked down their path toward Hiroshi's village with the human man in the lead.

They had been traveling for five days now and should make it to the village by nightfall that night. As they had traveled half the week Kagome had began to feel a little odd about Hiroshi. He seemed to always try to approach her when he thought InuYasha wasn't around but as soon as the hanyo would make his presence known the man would change his direction and find something else to do.

InuYasha had also noticed the human man's interest in his young miko, which in turn put him on full alert.

As they walked InuYasha made sure he stayed close to Kagome making sure she wasn't out of arms length so Hiroshi wouldn't dare try something stupid.

"We'll be there soon." Hiroshi said as he looked back to the group following him. His eyes fell on the beautiful priestess at the red clad hanyo's side. As he studied her he could practically smell the innocence radiating off of her. The goodness of her heart and the vitality of her life force was mouth watering. Yes she would do nicely.

"Oi what the hell are you looking at?" the hanyo snapped as he moved slightly closer to Kagome not liking the way he was looking at his charge.

Hiroshi looked to the hanyo and glared. "Can one not admire a beauty without wishing ill?"

InuYasha glared as he pulled Kagome closer.

Figuring making the hanyo angry would be a bad idea Hiroshi turned around and continued leading the group to the village he had come from.

Sundown Hiroshi's Village

The moment they had stepped foot into the village InuYasha knew that something was wrong. The atmosphere was to tense and the humans would only peek out of their huts with fearful eyes. Out of habit the hanyo reached out and pulled Kagome toward him and then slightly behind him so if there was an attack he would be the one to take the burnt of it.

Shippo perched on the young miko's shoulder began to shake as the unsettling feeling upset the young fox and the demon slayer and the monk also closed ranks around the miko and hanyo. Meanwhile Hiroshi begins to call out for the villagers to come from their homes.

"Come my friends I have found warriors who will rid us of the demon!"

Almost as if he had been waiting for permission to approach the group the headman timidly stepped into the open.

"Greetings travelers and friends. Please follow me, you will stay in my home."

The old man's greeting sounded almost rehearsed to Kagome and she became nervosa as she clung to InuYasha's kimono sleeve causing the hanyo's own protective instincts to heighten.

"It's alright Kagome." He murmured so only she and those with demonic hear could hear.

They followed to old headman to his home and the room the group would be sharing.

As his need to care for and see to his friends safety InuYasha began to regret agreeing to this but he also knew that he wouldn't be able to leave now not after seeing the frightened faces of those who still has something to loose and the hopeless expressions of those that had lost already.

"Miroku you talk to the villagers and I'm going to look around the village before it gets too dark."

The monk nodded and left to do as InuYasha had suggested. Before leaving InuYasha looked to the women giving Sango a serious look.

"Be careful, don't let your guard down you got it Sango? If this demon is after virgins you and Kagome could be targets as well."

Sango agreed with hanyo and ensured him that she wouldn't let her guard down while Kagome's face became as red as a tomato. As soon as he left the hut Kagome looked to Sango.

"How the heck did he know that?" She asked. It wasn't that she was ashamed of being a virgin but at the same time she wasn't going to just blurt it out, especially to InuYasha. It was just too personal and there was no way the hanyo should know whether she was or not.

"Kagome he's half dog demon, his nose is sharp enough to track scents days old it's not that far a stretch to that he'd be able to detect if you have ever been with a man."

Kagome blushed as she looked anywhere but the door that InuYasha had just left through.

"Kagome have you talked to Myoga? I figured he'd know more about the coming of age then me."

Kagome nodded quietly. "He said that InuYasha's Yokai had chosen me as his wife or mate or something like that."

Sango nodded. "Yeah did he explain how you should act should InuYasha's demon side take over?" Kagome shook her much to Sango's dismay.

Of course Myoga only gives half the story.

"Alright," the taijiya said as she prepared herself to explain to her friend what being married to a demon means because she was sure that Kagome would readily agree to being with InuYasha no matter what the cost.

"I've never heard of a hanyo making it their coming of age but I don't think its that different from a full blooded Yokai. Dog demons like wolves mate for life, they have great respect for the females in their lives especially their mothers and mates that being said there are some things that InuYasha will want you to be submissive in, your safety being the main one."

Sango thought about what else to say.

"You do know that if InuYasha comes to you then there is a very likely chance you will get pregnant."

Kagome nodded. "Yeah Myoga mentioned that."

Sango nodded. "I'm afraid thats about all I really know. Demon slayers are trained to kill demons so we don't know a lot of their mating habits. I'm sure InuYasha will explain it if he ever mans up and asks you."

The girls laughed at the taijiya's comment causing the young kit that had been ignoring them in the corner with his coloring book to look up in confusion.

"Hey what's so funny?" he asked as he scurried over to the two women.

"Nothing Shippo just talking about girl stuff." Kagome answered. Shrugging his shoulders Shippo went back to his book as the women continued their conversation unaware of the man slowly opening the sliding door with the intent of attacking.

A/N: Please review, Rumiko Takahashi owns InuYasha & Co.