With a deep exhale, Kagome let go of her tenuous connection to the ground. She slumped forward slightly, exhaustion leeching through her bones.
Wow. I forgot how tiring that was.
She could feel the thrum of the area around her, the blades of grass on the forest floor curling into her touch. With a heavy sigh and a deep grumble, she pushed herself up, dusting her pants off as she stood. When everything appeared to be in working order, Kagome met the far too calm eyes of Youko.
"What did you do?" He whispered, nothing in his tone awed or amazed. Rather, he sounded a little pissed.
She tried for an apprehensive smile. "Uhm…well…you see…"
"Priestess…"
"Look," she explained "it's a trick. Something about the type of energy I have and its connection to nature. One of my companions taught me how to do it, and it's only possible to do if I feel…safe." This way, if Shippo or Inuyasha try to find me, they can tell that I wasn't threatened.
She looked at the kitsune again. Okay, well I wasn't until now.
"You purified my youki." He stated, his tone only slightly less offended than earlier.
She nodded. "I did. It's just temporary."
"You friends will be able to tell?"
She was content to allow him the continued assumption that her travelling companions were entirely of the human variety. "There's a monk in my group – he'll be able to see."
Youko grimaced, but didn't disagree. "Alright. Now we shall go."
"Yup!"
Words: 252
AN: Thank you for all of the kind words! To the lovely folks telling me to slow down the stressing - oh how I wish I could! If you have any good techniques for soothing anxiety, I'm super keen to know! (And yes, I am aware of the dastardly lie that is midterms. How can midterms go from the first month of the semester to a week before finals, I ask you! I'm only a few semesters from finishing my degree and it still astounds me).
And also to those of you who may be growing tired of this rather drawn out conversation (hey, they need boundaries established!) fret not! Change is on it's way ;)
Your lovely words have inspired me to write! I have stored a few more updates so expect some excitement! (Although my conscious forces me to admit that I spent much of my afternoon off editing ABNW...but they've been waiting longer!).
All my love dearies 3